We count our lucky stars on a regular basis that we’re able to call Dr. Debbie Berebichez our Chief Data Scientist. She boasts a remarkable resume, filled with hard-earned degrees, impressive professional roles, and countless hours of invested time in helping young women and girls who are interested in STEM educations and careers.
Because of these accomplishments and her continued work in technology, she was selected to give a keynote address at this year’s Grace Hopper Celebration in Orlando, Florida. If you’re unaware of the magnitude of this growing annual event, attendance has jumped from 4,500 in 2013 to more than 18,000 in 2017, according to the conference website, making it the largest gathering of women technologists in the world.
Debbie’s keynote address centered on a three-part message, encouraging the audience to Think Deeply, Be Bold, and Help Others. She used this framework to discuss her own journey to success in technology, being open and honest about the difficulties she experienced growing up in Mexico City, where she was discouraged (by family, friends, educators, culture) from pursuing her passions related to math and science. She also talked about the help she received along the way, particularly from one mentor who inspired her deeply by encouraging her to repay him by paying it forward, providing the same time and care for others in the field.
Hear all of that and more in her full keynote address below:
