Online GLAM Event with eBay and iTalent Digital: Oct 2024
On October 26-27, 2024, Girls Leadership Academy Meetup (GLAM) hosted an inspiring and dynamic online STEAM education and leadership development program with eBay and iTalent Digital. The girls logged on from over a dozen cities globally and all were eager to explore their potential and build their skills! With more than 30 women volunteering as keynote speakers, coding facilitators, and business pitch judges, eBay and iTalent Digital showcased their commitment to mentoring and empowering girls and young women.
Keynote speakers
The event kicked off with a series of engaging speaker sessions from exceptional eBay women leaders who shared their personal stories, leadership insights, and advice. One of the highlights was a powerful presentation by Ilina Singh, who shared her young entrepreneurial journey, showing the girls how determination and passion can lead to success and impactful change.
Presenters
Stephanie Luna-Lopez, Operations Specialist at GLAM
Renée La Londe, CEO and Founder of iTalent Digital and GLAM
Xiaodi Zhang, VP of Seller Experience at eBay
Inna Kirkilevich, Dir of Software Development at eBay
Michelle Warvel, VP of Product for Seller Experience at eBay
Ilina Singh, CEO and Founder of Ilina’s Art Throb and Young Author at HarperCollins
Julie Cheng, Sr Director of Advertising Engineering at eBay
Rucha Patel, Architect Lead 2 at eBay
Saniya Pazhyannur, Operations Intern at GLAM
Chelsey Baker, CEO and Founder of National Mentoring Day
The event also featured some highly anticipated sessions with Chelsey Baker, an award-winning public speaking and business pitch expert. Chelsey’s mentoring sessions were invaluable, as she provided personalized guidance on developing strong public speaking skills and delivering compelling business pitches. The girls walked away with tools and techniques that will help them excel in any future leadership roles. We were delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of National Mentoring Day with Chelsey as she mentored and empowered our attendees!
Computer coding
The girls concluded Day 1 with interactive computer coding sessions, led by eBay and iTalent Digital volunteers. The Scratch coding language was used to create sustainable gardens, inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), while building critical problem-solving and programming skills. It was amazing to see how quickly our attendees grasped new concepts and embraced the challenges, all while having fun!
Coding volunteers
Alekhya Kodali, Software Engineer 2 at eBay
Andrea Lopez, Student at UC Merced
Cecilia Landeros, Dir of ESG and DEI at iTalent Digital
Chintal Patel, Software Engineer at eBay
Crystal Martinez, Business Analyst at iTalent Digital
Emily Li, Senior Software Engineer at eBay
Gowri Ganesan, MTS2 Engineer at eBay
Isela Lopez, Student at Merced CC
Jasneet Kaur, MTS1 Engineer at eBay
Nandita Shenoy, Software Engineer at eBay
Navya Mayavan Venkatesh, PTS Analyst 4 at eBay
Neha Sharma, SDE 3 at eBay
Nisha Shenoy, Student at MVHS
Robin Hamilton-Pennell, iOS Architect at eBay
Rucha Patel, Architect Lead 2 at eBay
Yudi Xia, SDE 2 at eBay
Business pitches
The culmination of this event was creating and delivering a business pitch. The girls were guided through the key elements of a business plan, from identifying a problem to offering innovative solutions. They also received live mentoring sessions from world-renowned public speaking and business pitching expert, Chelsey Baker. Her expert advice helped the girls refine their pitch presentations and build confidence in their public speaking.
After two weeks of offline preparation and hard work, the girls submitted fantastic business pitches! Their business ideas all have an environmental component and incorporate several of the UN SDGs. Each pitch demonstrates the immense potential of these young women to become real change makers and leaders in their communities!
eBay judging volunteers reviewed and scored the pitches, providing positive as well as constructive feedback to help the girls improve and refine their ideas. It was clear that the girls had gained not only the technical and business skills needed to succeed, but also the self-confidence to pursue their dreams!
Business pitch judges
Elisabeth Rommel, GM of Global Advertising Growth at eBay
Jasneet Kaur, MTS1 Engineer at eBay
Lavanya Lingam, Senior Engineering Manager at eBay
Nahndi Kirk-Bradley PhD, Technical Program Manager at eBay
Navya Mayavan Venkatesh, PTS Analyst 4 at eBay
Top business pitches
It was incredible to see how many girls centered sustainability and the environment in their business ideas. They all incorporated aspects of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which we explored during the event. The girls did not make it easy for the judges and we are SO proud to announce these awards to the next generation of environmental leaders!
Suchitra, age 9, 1st Place, CHiLout
CHiLout, Children’s Outdoor Life, is community-based outdoor events service that allows children to connect with nature. The program helps children meet new friends and build community through group activities such as nature walks and gardening. The judges were impressed with her creative business idea built on an inspiring mission to reconnect children with nature. Watch Suchitra’s pitch.
Radha, age 8, 2nd Place, ECObin
ECObin is an AI-powered recycling app to help users identify the correct waste bin to use. The app includes educational videos, local sorting rules, and trash collection schedules. Radha’s enthusiasm for her business idea and product demonstration earned her high marks from the judges. Watch Radha’s pitch.
Maanya, age 9, 3rd Place, Zero Waste Wonders
Zero Waste Wonders is an eco-friendly solution to gift giving where customers can order their custom, 3-D printed gifts. The judges were impressed by Maanya’s dedication to reducing waste and promoting sustainability, as well as her presentation skills. Watch Maanya’s pitch.
Sophia, age 8, Honorable Mention, Squishy Lemon Ice Tea
Squishy Lemon Ice Tea is an eco-friendly, locally made, ice tea syrup that can be enjoyed hot or cold. The judges appreciated that Sophia is bringing healthier drink options to the market for both children and adults. She is also encouraging sustainable practices by offering customers a fifty-cent discount for returned bottles. Watch Sophia’s pitch.
With our appreciation
This online GLAM event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from eBay contacts Rucha Patel and Sidney Green, as well as the dedicated employees at eBay and iTalent Digital. The volunteers truly made a difference, sharing their time, expertise, and encouragement with the girls.
In addition, we recognize the GLAM mentors who supported the girls throughout the two-day event. We had four returning mentors and two new mentors.
Mentors
Aashna Bhatia, Valley Christian High School
Ashwithaa Raja, San Jose High School
Eisha Yadav, Menlo High School
Medha Karnam, Evergreen Valley High School
Nikita Kanike, Lynbrook High School
Nisha Shenoy, Mountain View High School
Support GLAM
Help bridge the gender gap and reduce gender bias in STEAM, business, and leadership by engaging with us! Watch some program content on GLAMtv, read some recent blog posts, encourage your business partners to sponsor a GLAM program, follow @GLAMReadyToLead on socials, donate, or email us for more information.
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