Have you ever been interested in attending a conference but weren’t sure where to start or what to expect? We’ve been there too! Hear from some of the Rewriting the Code members who attended Harvard WECode in February as they share their experiences from the conference weekend.
From virtual attendance, local undergraduate students, tech fellows, and more, they all have different experiences at the conference and hope to share those with you.
Paula Sefia
Northeastern University, Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology
Over the past 4 years, I have attended roughly 10 conferences, from virtual ones like Rewriting the Code’s Virtual Career Summit, to local ones in Tufts and Brandeis, to conferences located throughout the United States, like NSBE and WE. Yet, somehow, WECode 2026 was my first in-person WECode.
Once you step foot in any conference, you might have this overwhelming feeling as you see so many people at one time, all looking ready and prepared. As a socially anxious introvert, it took me several years to spark conversations with people I’ve never met before. I recommend not taking as long as I did to lean into the discomfort of meeting new people. Especially in conferences like WECode, the attendees are some of the nicest, most ambitious, and hardworking women you’ll ever meet.
Plus, since WECode is a global conference, you can meet the coolest people just by saying hi and asking what they have been working on at their respective colleges and what experiences they’ve had from around the world. For example, I met someone on the first day of the conference who made a resin-decorated RFID keychain that, when you scan your phone over it, loads their LinkedIn page.
I was so inspired not just by the senior leaders that the Harvard Women in Computer Science team brought in to host talks, but also by my peers who discussed their research projects, where they had interned, and what careers they hope to pursue after graduation. I personally felt humbled by how many younger students already knew what they were passionate about. At their age, I was still playing Roblox in my free time, and even as I am about to graduate in late April, I’m still figuring out what industry interests me.
Speaking of the senior leaders, the WECode speakers were also phenomenal! My personal favorites were Barbara Bouza who, as an architect, shared how cross-functionally working with technologists at Disney helped to create a more global and inclusive set of theme parks, especially during renovations when the parks were closed during the peak of the COVID pandemic, and Professor Laurie Leshin, who shared in her keynote about the possibilities of life in the cosmos and the work she and her team in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab are doing to explore that possibility. They both made it clear to me that, regardless of the industry I hope to break into as I progress in my career, it is possible for people like me to be orchestrators of technical progression, as opposed to being neglected from having a seat at the table. If you are an underclassman hoping to break into the tech industry with no experience or no idea what you would want to pursue, I highly recommend attending at least one conference. WECode in particular has been such an empowering weekend for me, even though I’m at the end of my college career, so I can only imagine how it can inspire you to make your mark in tech.”
Lauren Frank
Washburn University, Computer Science and Physics
WeCode Tech Fellow
As I sit in a hotel lobby snowed in by the blizzard hitting Boston the day after the Harvard WECode Conference, I’m reminiscing on the fantastic experience I had attending this conference! From first hearing about this conference in 2024 (right after I took my first programming class), to being a first-time attendee in 2025, then this year as a Tech Fellow receiving the Distinguished Leadership award and as a Girls Who Code ambassador, it’s been such a full circle journey to get here. I wish I had known earlier in my academic career about conferences like WECode and how I could start learning from leaders even before I felt like I had everything “figured out.” The truth is, you just have to commit to showing up and pay attention to get something out of a conference.
I attended many keynotes, fireside chats, and solo talks this weekend, but three really stood out to me.
The first keynote of the weekend, Francoise Brougher, opened us off strong with “whatever you think you are today, may not be who you are tomorrow.”
On the second day of WECode, I attended the final fireside chat with Tammarrian Rogers, and from her perspective, learned more about intuitive curiosity and how she approaches leadership from that intuitive stance. Intuitive curiosity consists of asking questions purely because you have the feeling that it needs to be asked. These questions may not always make sense at first, and that’s okay! It’s part of learning how to make space for that intuition to exist. A consistent theme that I noticed from the responses to questions being asked by the students was that there are values in being the only one who doesn’t fit into a group. Trying to fit yourself into that mold muffles a part of yourself, and it’s important to be okay with others’ discomfort that comes with not changing yourself for them. This really hit home for me and left me feeling encouraged! It showed me that being bold and taking a big step, like attending a conference, could allow you to be curious and show up in unexpected ways.
While Harvard WECode was a huge opportunity to attend, the truth is that it can have a higher cost barrier that may make it difficult to attend. If you know of a specific conference you would like to go to, I suggest seeking out scholarships, either from the conference itself or external ones. If your school is like mine, it might even have student grants specifically dedicated to students to attend conferences. However, this isn’t available to everyone. One option is attending virtually; you can still have a great experience while listening to speakers and networking with attendees online! Another great option for a conference is to take advantage of similar events happening all around the country. Try to check out regional events near you that offer lower transportation costs, or go with a school group to split housing costs! This can be a great option for your first conference, and it can be less stressful than some of the bigger ones, like Grace Hopper Celebration.”
She reminded us to be open to what life has for us, and to not be afraid of a non-linear career trajectory. In fact, she even encouraged us to be curious about everything and to try any experience we’re interested in (including designing jewelry for a bit, as an example)! Her constant refrain of learning how to define success for yourself is an encouraging reminder to not compare ourselves to others and their definitions of success. This stood out to me as someone who took a non-linear path to computer science, as I didn’t even take my first programming class until my fourth year of college. I felt like I was so behind, especially as I had to graduate later because of my choices in adding a major. But this keynote reminded me that those other degrees I have make my path unique and may open up other opportunities that may not be open to me had I been purely CS throughout college.
Kiana Nunez
Kean University, Computer Science
WeCode virtual attendee
“I’ve never been to a conference before, in person or virtually, but WECode left a huge impression on me.
I was lying in bed, scrolling through the Rewriting the Code Slack, when I saw someone mention the WECode conference coming up soon and to grab a ticket. I looked through their website and thought, “Wow, I could join this conference, especially since there’s a virtual option. ” So I bought a discounted ticket, thanks to Lauren Frank, a WECode Fellow.
I bought it because I have never been to a conference before, and my goal in 2026 is to go to as many conferences as possible and put myself out there. WECode was amazing! I was a bit nervous to talk to people as a self-proclaimed introvert, but it was actually better than I thought! I joined through Gather, which looks like a video game. I was wondering what the graphics reminded me of, and it looks so much like Undertale! I created my own character and joined, and it was so cute; the controls, the dancing, all of it was amazing. It made me think, “Wow, I want all virtual conferences or even just meetings to be on Gather.”
When I joined, I instantly bonded with so many other amazing women from across the world. This virtual option made it accessible; you can be at home (as I was) and still be able to make connections and learn about women in tech’s experiences just through a screen.
I went to panels and talks and watched a documentary, all while hearing about the struggles women face getting into a male-dominated industry and how they ended up where they are now. It was such an informative and thrilling experience to be a part of. I even signed up to meet with a mentor, Zanele Mureverwi. She provided me with many different resources and even told me to talk to her whenever I needed help so she could put me in the right direction. It was incredibly kind of her to offer that support, and it made me realize just how supportive this community is in its efforts to help other women reach their goals. The women, the dancing, the information, just all of it, felt so reassuring as someone who is a Latina in Tech.
If you’re a woman and you’re an undergraduate next year, I highly suggest going to WECode, whether in person or virtually, as both can help in so many ways. But remember to put yourself out there, or else opportunities won’t come to you. Networking really does work!
I hope to attend WECode in person next year. Thank you for having me!”
Preparing for your first tech conference can feel overwhelming, but as RTC members shared, the most important step is simply committing to show up. Whether you are a socially anxious introvert or someone who feels behind because of a non-linear path, the most important part of a conference is showing up and being curious.