Ana Laura Gonzalez Rios

IEEE Vancouver Young Professionals, an energetic group of talented people, kicked-off the year collaborating with the organizing committee of Think Engineering 2018, an annual networking event organized by the IEEE Student Branches at UBC, SFU and BCIT in conjunction with the UBC ECE Student Society. In preparation for this annual networking, Young Professionals, along with Women in Engineering, presented the topic How to network and approach industry representatives. With the main goal of empower undergraduates, from freshmen to seniors, Ana Laura Gonzalez Rios (IEEE Vancouver YP Chair) and Selyn Chen (IEEE Vancouver WIE Chair) shared the importance of networking and 10 essential principles, how to know themselves using metacognitive strategies, how to know and approach industry representatives, and the advantage of envisioning themselves as a company. The Affinity Groups also invited all the attendees to become IEEE YP and WIE volunteers by setting up a booth during the event.

Towards the end of January, Young Professionals partnered with SNC Lavalin to organize a meaningful workshop about Discrimination in the Workplace. During this workshop, a study case was presented, and a panel of 5 HR experts and leading female engineers commented on the actions and initiatives developed by companies to decrease the discrimination in the workplace, especially that affecting gender inclusion. Led by Sean Garrity (IEEE Vancouver Past-Chair), this workshop provided relevant insights on the importance of creating strong corporate policies to alleviate discrimination at different corporate levels, as well as the relevance of ingraining confidence, respect, and tolerance among the new generations.

In an effort to bring IEEE and local industry closer, Young Professionals co-hosted the annual IEEE YP-WIE Networking event at Sierra Wireless on March 6^th. During this event, over 20 attendees had the opportunity to learn more about this Vancouver-born, IoT pioneer company. From its presence worldwide, and different fields and applications that are taking advantage of its developments, to its corporate culture, the audience was able to better know this prominent wireless designer and manufacturer that is “… empowering business and industries to transform and thrive in the connected economy.” The networking event closed with a tour to the facility, showcasing its research and test laboratories, office spaces, and support center to the attendance.

In addition to these networking, community building, and professional development events, Young Professionals co-hosted the first workshop of the Blockchain Series on March 15^th alongside Women in Engineering and the IEEE Special Interest Group on Blockchain. With the content designed by Chelsea Palmer, this was an introductory workshop to the blockchain computing platform and operating system, Ethereum, and the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. At the end of the event, Chelsea Palmer presented the IEEE Blockchain initiative, she also explained its relevance and impact in this world’s leading software platform for digital assets.

All in all, IEEE Vancouver Young Professionals had developed and is continuously planning impact events to achieve its mandate of “helping young professionals evaluate their career goals, polish their professional image, and create the building blocks of a lifelong and diverse professional network,” being the 2018 Pacific Northwestern (PNW) YP Conference its biggest event. On August 4^th, this will be the 2^nd annual cross-section event between Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria Sections, which final purpose is “to expand borders for PNW Young Professionals and foster growth with relevant activities and discussions to Inspire, Enable, Empower, and Engage YPs.”

 Keep posted for further details on the 2018 PNW YP Conference or contact us to participate as a speaker, sponsor or content organizer at YPVancouver@ieee.org!