The NYU e-Inclusion Network and SAP Next-Gen Labs converged for a networking event in midtown Manhattan on Friday, October 13th, to bring together women and underrepresented talent to support and celebrate diversity in STEM entrepreneurship. Hosted at the SAP Leonardo Center in Hudson Yards, the views and the messages from the two organizations inspired both collaboration and ingenuity.
The event kicked off with a presentation by Jin Montclare, Director of the CIE Institute and Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon. Professor Montclare gave brief overview of the e-Inclusion Network and the Convergence of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), which supports women and underrepresented groups in STEM entrepreneurship programs. Professor Montclare also introduced the NYU Summer I-Corps Program 2018. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the I-Corps Program provides student teams the funding to develop their ideas and transform them into a viable commercial product through the “Lean LaunchPad” methodology. Upon successfully completing the program, the teams are eligible to apply for additional funding up to $3,000.
Following Professor Montclare, the next segment proved to be a highly-motivational and engaging presentation led by Ann Rosenburg, Vice President as well as head of Global SAP University Alliances and SAP Next-Gen Labs.Ms. Rosenburg’s message drew on the concept of “innovation with a purpose” and highlighted recent events and pioneering technologies. The “SHE INNOVATES” program by SAP, held every Thursday, encourages Women in STEM to innovatively develop their ideas into full-fledged research projects. Currently, SAP is in the process of developing an app that will help women hone their technical skills and learn new ones. This app will aid companies to meet the Next Generation women and invest in their ideas with the goal of increasing women entrepreneurs.
Above: Ann Rosenberg speaking about United Nation’s 17 Global Goals
Ms. Rosenburg then spoke briefly about aligning SAP’s efforts with the United Nation’s 17 Global Goals for sustainable development. While gender equality is a crucial goal, others include: decent work and economic growth, quality education, industry innovation and infrastructure, and more. Before showcasing a video explaining the role and importance of the Global Goals for our future, Ms. Rosenburg introduced her team of interns working relentlessly to make the Global Goals a reality.
The concluding presentation by Satya Chheda Patel, Assistant Director of the NYU Wasserman Center in Brooklyn, focused on “Networking Made Easy”. The interactive session helped the students in attendance learn about networking and inculcating the skills in themselves. The students engaged in a number of activities that helped them overcome what previously prevented them from effectively networking. Ms. Patel stated that the point of networking is not just about talking to people who are willing to share career information and advice, but also to build a professional relationship with them through follow-ups. By encouraging everyone to work on their professional pitch and how to make the most out of every meetup, Ms. Patel provided a productive summary of Do’s and Don’ts of networking.
Above: Satya Patel speaking about the key aspects of Networking
Overall, the event successfully enlightened students as to the trends in STEM entrepreneurship, the importance of inclusion and increasing women representation, as well as the tips building a network.
Join the next e-Inclusion and CIE-sponsored event by following Tandon’s Events page, and learn more about CIE on Social Media links found below!
Facebook: @NYUTandonCIE
Twitter: @NYU_Tandon_CIE
Instagram: @nyucie