My story with Microsoft Ignite 2019

Everything started in September 2018. When I was embarking in my TechWomen journey, Algerian TechWomen follows (Fatima Zohra Benhamida and Ouafa Benterki) were speakers at Microsoft Ignite 2018 .It was inspiring to see them on stage talking about their experience to professionals from around the world. They represented the role model of women in technology from North Africa and I wanted to do the same.

Through my participation in Microsoft Ignite 2019, I wanted to inspire women in Algeria to get involved in STEM field and I was delighted to represent Algeria as a woman who support women in STEM.

On June 27th ,2019 , being a TechWomen fellow ,I received the call for application to Microsoft Ignite 2019 scholarship the deadline was July 17th ,2019 and I was busy preparing myself for flight chaperone duties to accompany TechGirls Algeria team from Algeria to the US.

To make my decision either to apply or not ,I met Fatima night before our TechWomen TechGirls Alumnae Summit and asked her: "Fatima you attended Microsoft Ignite last year and you know me very well.Do you think that Microsoft Ignite fits my profile ?"

Fatima : "Microsoft Ignite is a big conference for IT professionals you can find what you want in Diversity & Tech sessions where they invite professionals to talk about leadership ,work-life balance , Burn out ...you can check the website of Ignite and you will find all the confrences related to Diversity & Tech so you will have an idea that helps you make your final decision "

It was a crazy week of travelling between Hassi Messaoud and Algiers , preparing Algeria TechGirls for their journey,preparing myself as their flight chaperone ,preparing an article about the alumnae summit ,finishing my commitments at work before leaving for days off ,preparing myself for my trip to the US and applying to Microsoft Ignite 2019 ...

Instead of preparing my luggages to travel with TechGirls , I spent the night before my flight exploring Microsoft Ignite plateform and I submitted my application 2 hours before my flight with TechGirls .

Guess what happened after ?

The day I cameback to my city Hassi Messaoud from my TechGirls journey , I received an email from TechWomen "Congratulations on your selection to receive a fully sponsored registration to Microsoft Ignite 2019"

I was jet lagged but ready to start , I took my phone "Hi Fatima , I have been selected to attend Microsoft Ignite 2019" .Fatima: "Surprise ,You are not alone we are two to attend Microsoft Ignite 2019 :) "

It was an excellent surprise :)I'll travel with my mentor :) We will do something together :)

It took 3 months of preparation ...all what I can say now "It worth it"

As an attendee of Microsoft Ignite 2019, I applied to Humans of IT sessions where I learned a lot about mental health, depression ,burn out, mentoring, personal branding, travelling, building communities, movie making, volunteering,diversity & Inclusion , impostor syndrome,work-life balance ...how we achieve our full potential by being authentic and using our superpower .

We were more than 30.000 attendees , I worked to expand my network by exchanging my ideas with different experts and professionals in the tech industry.

As a blogger and a TechWomen buddy nominated by Microsoft, I summarized Microsoft Ignite sessions through my Linkedin ,Facebook and Twitter accounts (Stay tuned more content coming soon inchallah )

Recently ,I confirmed my passion to become a journalist during events. I love involving my community on social media and make everyone feel like he/she is attending the event that's why my favorite part was interviewing people about their career and sharing the content on my Youtube channel "Salma Bekkouche"

Special Guest |Fatima Zohra Benhamida |Speaker and Panalist at MSIgnite 2019

Special Guest |Maryann Hrichak |Coaching & Mentoring in TechWomen

Special Guest |Natalya Tyudina |Visit Fairs & Find Your Next Opportunity

Fatima and Ouafa were speakers and panalists for the 2nd year and I was very happy to be there supporting them live (1...2...3 Viva l'Algerie ) and document their experience on my Youtube Channel "Salma Bekkouche"

Fatima Zohra Benhamida Talk |How volunteering and mentorship pays more than your job?

Ouafa BENTERKI Talk |Microsoft Regional Director

As a TechWomen fellow, connecting with this powerful community has always stimulated me to pursue my objectives and pushed me beyond my limits.

Special Thanks to :

My Impact coach Maryann Hrichak

My old and new friends,TechWomen fellows from 2011 to 2018 cohorts

Algeria Fatima Zohra BENHAMIDA ,Ouafa BENTERKI and Chahinez DEKKAR

Jordan Nabila Bashir and Afnan Saqr, BPM

Morocco Hanane LHANNAOUI, PhD, Eng. and Lamia Ben Hiba

Tunisia Rafiaa Boujbel

Egypt Mona Hasan

Nigeria Pamela Chukwuemeka and Chioma Ezedi Chukwu

Uzbekistan Sevara Siradjeva

Tajikistan Natalya Tyudina

TechWomen’s Social Media Analyst Molly Fiffer

And Shona B. ,Product Marketing Manager and Humans Of IT Community Lead at Microsoft

#MSIgnite #HumansofIT #twimpact #twconnect