Why LGO?
Before applying to LGO, I wanted to get involved with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social justice projects. I was inspired by Dr. Joy Buolamwini who spoke at a Women Transforming Technology conference and discussed the social implications of AI. I started to understand the tremendous power of AI in advancing our society, as well as the serious negative consequences if such technologies are not designed properly. I was keen on building safe and reliable AI systems that push our society towards a positive direction. LGO was the perfect intersection of building my technical expertise and understanding the operations of successful businesses.
Almost two years later, I can definitively say that LGO is amazing because of its people. My peers and the LGO staff bring together a community that feels like family. Our class of 2022 went through a lot, especially because we started during the pandemic. Despite the setbacks, we’re still very close and resilient. I’m positive that we’ll stay connected for life, even if some of us move across the world.
What has been your biggest takeaway from your time at MIT so far?
Do the right thing and stay true to your values. During MBA orientation week, we participated in a workshop called “Design your Sloan Journey”. Their activities gave me time to reflect on my internal board of directors, my North Star, and my biggest dreams. My internal board of directors consists of individuals who all stand up for what’s right, put service above self, and prioritize relationships, among many others. This easily translated to my core values: faith, family, and service. Once I understood my North Star, I was able to use it as a guide to make decisions. I know that every decision I make may not be perfect, but I’ll be satisfied if I can stay committed to my values.
What are your hopes for diversity in LGO and in industry?
Over the past few decades, women are increasingly making gains in the traditionally male dominated workforce of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was #BreakTheBias, so let’s briefly dive into this: Women only make up 27% of the STEM workforce in the U.S. Women are underrepresented in some of the highest-earning STEM occupations, particularly computer science and engineering (Source). My hope is that programs like LGO and industries across the world continue to give women equal opportunities to thrive in STEM careers. I hope that our society will move faster to narrow the gender pay gap, ensure a sufficiently diverse and representative STEM workforce, and prevent biases in the products and services around us.
How have you been able to engage with communities of women at MIT and LGO?
There are so many communities across MIT that welcome women-identifying members like Sloan Women in Management, Graduate Women in Course 6 (GW6), and Women of LGO. I’m mostly engaged with Women of LGO, which includes SOs. Because of the pandemic, we would coordinate in our WhatsApp group “Fight Club 💪” and meet in smaller groups for cooking nights, book clubs, or other hang outs. We genuinely care about each other’s well-being. Recently, I had a minor safety incident and when I shared my experience with the group, I had an overwhelming amount of love and support. I feel very blessed to be in a community of women that look out for one another and are happy for others’ successes!
Do you have any advice for prospective LGOs?
First off, always keep in mind that you are worth applying to MIT. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise! It’s better to try and fail than to not try at all.
Once you cross this line, dig deep to understand yourself. If I could go back in time, I would scream to myself, “Don’t spend all your energy on the GRE scores!” I feel that it’s much better to invest time on other aspects of your application – reflect on why MIT, why LGO, and your aspirations in life. The cover letter, essays, video, and interviews are all geared towards understanding your uniqueness and what you bring to the table that others don’t. I would highly recommend carving time out of your schedule, which can even be a minute per day, to journal and reflect on who you are and what you stand for. Here are some questions that I reflected on: What are your values? What values are most important to you? How does your background shape who you are? What are you good at? (Pro tip: ask your close friends and family this question too) Why do you want to attend graduate school? What will you get out of it? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
