What’s been happening in August…

A word from Mahsa…

🌟 Kia ora <<First Name>> 🌟

We’re closing in on the final stretch of 2024 and it has been such a great 10th year for us. From hackathons to AI events, we’re full on at She Sharp — so full on in fact, that we’re sending this newsletter a bit later than originally planned. Our biggest apologies!

August was an action-packed month for SheSharp! We kicked off with the fantastic "AI for the Environment Hackathon" 🌍🤖, hosted with AcademyEX, where brilliant minds came together to solve real-world environmental challenges using AI. Our talented winners will now present their innovative ideas at the 2024 Aotearoa AI Summit! 🏆✨

Next up, we teamed up with Fonterra for the second year running, bringing together over 150 attendees to explore how AI is saving them 150 years of manual labour! 🤯💡 The event was filled with hands-on experiences, inspiring talks, and lots of learning.

We also celebrated a huge milestone in our Mentoring Programme 🎓❤️, with our first cohort of mentors graduating and sharing their incredible journeys of growth and connection. With spots for the next cohort already filling up fast, it's clear our community is more vibrant than ever!

But the excitement doesn’t stop there! 🎂🎈 Join us as we celebrate 10 incredible years of SheSharp—a decade of empowering women in tech, building communities, and creating opportunities. Don’t miss out on our biggest event yet! Check out the website for more information and keep an eye out 👀.

Ngā mihi nui

Mahsa McCauley
Founder and Chair
She Sharp Charitable Trust

Our Next Event: She Sharp turns 10! 🎉👏✨

Join us for a special celebration as we mark a decade of bridging the gender gap in STEM! SheSharp is on a mission to challenge misconceptions about the tech industry and empower the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEM through events, networking, and career development opportunities.

This milestone event will feature inspiring talks from key industry figures and honor our long-time ambassadors, who will share their remarkable stories and experiences as women in tech. The evening will conclude with a networking session, giving you a chance to celebrate and connect with industry leaders and fellow professionals shaping the future of tech.

Check out the website!

Exciting insights from Fonterra's AI journey! 🤖🤝

Last week’s event with Fonterra marked the second year of collaboration and was an incredible success. With over 150 tickets sold, attendees learned how AI is saving Fonterra 150 years of manual labor. The event featured hands-on experiences, including a masterclass in prompt engineering, interactive HoloLens demos, and marble run challenges. Special thanks went to the Fonterra team guest speakers for sharing inspiring talks. The event was not only focused on technology but also on building connections and sharing experiences.

Check out the photos!

AcademyEX and SheSharp AI for the Environment Hackathon 🌍🏆

We're absolutely grateful for the inspiring event hosted by AcademyEX and SheSharp, where attendees utilised AI to address real-world environmental issues. It was not just about learning and networking, but making a significant impact too. Winners from each region were selected by the national AIForum judging panel to present their innovative ideas at the 2024 Aotearoa AI Summit in Auckland on September 11th.

Check out the photos!

Mentoring Program Highlights 🎓

We are excited to announce that our first cohort of mentors has successfully graduated! This initiative has been a tremendous success, providing numerous opportunities for growth, guidance, and meaningful connections. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the mentors who attended Thursday’s event and shared their highlights. Spots for the second cohort are already filling up, so don’t miss out on this chance to become a mentor and make a difference in someone’s life.

Check out the program!

Want to be our next featured member?

She Sharp’s very foundations are built on the work that you do, so we want to hear from you! If you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned software developer or anything in between — get in touch with us! We’d love to hear your story and inspire the rest of our community.

Get in touch!

Industry Gossip 🗣️

Here’s what’s been happening in the tech industry this month…

Google’s Quantum Breakthrough: A Step Closer to Quantum Supremacy: Google has announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing with its Sycamore processor, claiming to achieve a feat that would take classical supercomputers thousands of years to complete. This development has sparked a debate on the potential impact on cryptography, data security, and computational tasks, with experts calling for new security standards to protect against quantum threats. Stay tuned as this technology continues to evolve and reshape the tech landscape. Click for more
Meta Expands Horizon Worlds Beyond VR: Targeting Mobile and Web Users: Meta has revealed plans to extend its Horizon Worlds metaverse platform beyond VR, aiming to launch on mobile and web by the end of the year. This move is intended to increase accessibility and user engagement, especially after initial user growth slowed. With new interactive features and partnerships in development, Meta hopes to redefine social interaction in the digital realm. Click for more