Why are you involved with IGNITE Worldwide?
IGNITE is close to my heart. Growing up in India with no mentoring, sponsorship and guidance for my path in STEM, I have made a decision that I will share my story with world that If I can make it to STEM , they can too. We all have the superpower to do the best, we just need that “somebody” sometimes to nudge us, guide us and show us the path. Even though, the women in tech is still a problem, but the change starts with each one of us and that’s why my engagement and involvement with IGNITE is so crucial and I joined forces with Cathi and team to be the force multiplier and be the change as well. I have shared my stories in panels, led Microsoft event to invite young girls for a tour and coding sessions.
How has IGNITE Worldwide inspired you?
I feel the joy in sharing my story, my triumphs, my failures with these girls, lighten up their faces and they connect with my message. And this platform is given by IGNITE to me, to them! IGNITE gives me an opportunity to fuel the “why blend in when you are born to stand out” message and that STEM Is not hard to these girls and support them from ground up.
What would you like our wider community to know about IGNITE Worldwide?
I am always in awe and inspired by the leaders of IGNITE who frankly are genuinely dedicated to give opportunities to girls so they understand STEM and persue it. It creates a place to have open conversations about how they fit into a place and bring tech leaders from industry to share their own stories informally. It provides a forum of support and encouragement for girls to go after their dreams and break through barriers. If you want to get engaged with IGNITE, I will be happy to chat with you as well. there are multiple ways you can be involved and volunteer. Lets change the numbers one girl at a time.
Bio
Harpreet Kaur is a 1st gen Senior Technical Product Manager at Microsoft with proven track record of leading business/ digital transformation, managing teams and shipping high quality products/solutions. Harpreet has been in the tech industry from almost 2 decades and is an experienced Product, People and Change Management expert with strategic leadership experience in multiple industry domains, not limited to, IT, Sales and Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Devices, Modern Management (Cloud) domains. She is well known speaker and thought leader across the industry on the topics not limited to technology, personal/career branding and diversity & Inclusion. When she is not doing her these jobs, she can be found to be just a mom of 2 and an abstract artist. Connect with her on Linkedin, Instagram and Whyblendin.com