Hager Bahar

I would attribute my success to my determination and my perseverance. Since I grew up as a first-generation, low-income computer science and psychology student, I've understood what the background it takes to grow from zero to beyond. Coming from a family where my parents did not go to college, it was a new learning experience to understand how the system works and how to navigate it from high school through college. This background has taught me to keep pushing forward and to never give up, even when facing challenges that others might not have to navigate.

My advice to women who are just starting out or beginning their career is to always keep learning and understand the technologies you have. I want you to understand that there are days you may not feel like you're enough, but you will be enough, and you are enough. You'll continue to grow and learn, and it's okay to trip up some days. It's okay to want to grow more and take up space in the room. Don't let perfectionism hold you back - keep moving forward, understand where you are now, and use it to keep moving forward and grow.

The opportunities I see include programs like Influential Women and other initiatives that allow women to talk and document being professionals and leaders within their respective industries. Programs like Major League Hacking (transcript says 'Major Hack and League') allow new and upcoming professionals to develop their own hackathons and connect at networking events. I've also created my own opportunities with Bits and Bites of Women and through my advanced computer programming supplemental instruction, as well as connecting with my professors to access networking avenues. As for challenges, I would say that across disciplines, as I'm learning from more experienced women and professionals, there are moments where women can feel doubted, especially as an upcoming professional. As a woman, you can be written off as less trustworthy or less professional. I remember specific instances where I would go to a conference, and the specific organization there would just kind of be distant from the female or women professionals. I remember discussing and connecting with a female and woman leader at a specific company, and it was interesting to get to know her more and connect with her. Even the challenges I've faced, I've moved forward and connected with them as opportunities.

The values that are most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, trust, and always keeping moving forward. Integrity plays a critical role when I'm working with my board, my professors in my program, or when I'm connecting with other networking professionals. Integrity is critical because that's how you build long-lasting relationships, both professional and personal. Trust is necessary because that's how you understand that integrity means something beyond just the personal product or personal relationship you have for this specific instance. And moving forward is critical as well, because I believe a lot of working professionals, especially women who are founding organizations, can get perfectionistic. Keeping moving forward means understanding where you are now and using it to keep moving forward and grow.