Planning a mini-hackathon in less than four months is ambitious, crazy even.
Planning a mini-hackathon for women and gender-diverse students for the first time at uOttawa with primarily hardware tracks is even crazier. Well, we did it. Here’s how it went. Like most great ideas, this one came to us when we were extremely sleep-deprived. It started with the vision to redefine the narrative surrounding diversity and inclusion in tech. It started with a question: how many women do we know in our advanced hardware classes? After some reflection, we realized there was a need for something that celebrates the incredible talent among women and gender-diverse people. Then we thought, what about a beginner-friendly hardware hackathon? The amalgamation of these ideas sent our team of 70 people into a frenzy of endless meticulous event planning.
Over the next three months, we spent countless days and nights putting together HackHers - a one-day, beginner-friendly mini-hardware hackathon to provide a welcoming space for women and gender-diverse people to explore, learn, and innovate. From securing funding to curating workshops, challenges, planning out all the logistics, assembling panelists, mentors, and inviting collaborators, every aspect of this event was crafted to ensure our vision shone at the forefront of the event.
After pitching this idea to countless representatives, we found three incredible collaborators who saw the vision for HackHers and provided support in terms of funding, mentors, volunteers, and guidance. Huge shoutout to CSE, uOttawa IEEE, and uOttawa WIE for making HackHers happen!
With the groundwork laid, stage set, and teams prepped, HackHers began on a crisp Saturday morning, with organizers, mentors, participants, and collaborators entering the venue.
Arguably one of the most critical aspects of this hackathon were the challenges.
The competitions team worked tirelessly to build an entire story plot following the journey of Hack the Hill’s newest mascot Zen as they navigate crashing onto earth and their adventures after. Every idea we shared had one goal in mind: how do we make this the most approachable, comfortable, and creative space for our hackers. We achieved this by introducing wellness and creative rooms. The Community team ensured that the wellness room was a relaxing space for hackers so they could unwind and take a break from hacking. The creative room included paints, origami papers, QR codes on the tables with instructions for different kinds of origami projects with ambient music, of course!
The logistics team was also able to set up the "Latte Lab," offering participants energy and warmth amidst the hackathon frenzy. Led by the charismatic barista Steven Li, the Lab welcomed hackers with freshly brewed coffee, options for hot, iced, and an array of syrups and toppings. More than a coffee station, Latte Lab aimed to engage the community not just for the much-needed caffeine but for camaraderie, connection, and connection.
As the mission statement of HackHers also mentions, celebrating the people in the tech field is very important to us. We were able to curate a dynamic panel of experts from Ciena who shared their experiences and gave incredible insights and guidance to an audience that will go on to become the technologists of tomorrow.
And when the dust had settled, winners announced, and rooms cleaned out, the legacy of HackHers was clear. What made HackHers so impactful? Was it the shawarma lunch and Chinese dinner? The endless coffee and snacks? Was it the ingenuity of the hackers’ approaches to the challenges? The answer is all of the above and more! With each idea shared, each line of code written, each test of the hardware, the spirit of collaboration could be felt through the halls of Learning Crossroads. HackHers became more than just a hackathon - it was the friendships formed, the sense of belonging, a melting pot of innovation, a testament to the things we could achieve as a community that hopes for a more meaningful tomorrow.
HackHers was immensely eye-opening for us. Navigating the process of marketing to attract a very specific demographic, overcoming logistical hurdles, balancing the levels of challenging the hackers, and ensuring all stakeholders were satisfied with the event was invaluable, and we are extremely grateful to all the people who made this happen.
As we reflect on the Saturday of February 2nd, 2024, one thing lingers with us as we move on. The future of technology belongs to those who dare to dream, to those who are willing to cause disruptions, step out of their comfort zones, and defy. With HackHers, the future has never looked brighter.
