Every year, Women Techmakers hosts a series of summits at Google offices around the world in celebration of International Women’s Day. Women Techmakers is a new and growing program created by Google that empowers women through increased visibility, communication and resources. By encouraging diversity in the workplace, Women Techmakers helps create the right environment for a successful tech industry.

From Bangalore to Seattle, the summits bring women together to participate in hands-on coding workshops, be inspired by speakers and learn about networking opportunities. On March 5, sophomore ICT student Kelby Mahoney attended the summit in New York City.

Mahoney shares, “My favorite part about the summit was just being there. Being in the presence of so many powerful women is an out-of-body experience. Learning from their mistakes and pursuing my own was a comforting feeling to leave the day with.”

The summit began with an opening speaker who talked about white elephant opportunities, or unexpected opportunities that turn out to be a blessing, and a discussion panel led by five women. Participants could then break out into two groups: code lab or design sprint. Mahoney chose code lab, and created a weather app that could be accessed without an Internet connection. The day closed with a fireside chat and reception.

Participants must fill out an application and be accepted in order to attend. If you’re interested in attending, follow this link for information about upcoming events and how to apply.