When the best women technologists in the world converge, the result is a marvelous learning experience for the attendees. The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC) is the world’s largest gathering of female technologists. And Bengaluru hudugi Sahana Gururaj has been chosen to co-chair their Open Source Day Hackathon, a popular event which sees coders from all over taking part in it.
“It’s a half-day hackathon featuring open source technologies which try to solve a humanitarian problem or create social impact. We want to encourage first time participants, especially girls and students who have been intimidated by hackathons, which are typically male-dominated. We want to give them a safe and inclusive environment,” reveals Sahana. Interestingly, the hackathon has previously seen coders mining and analysing data to prevent child abuse.
For Sahana, her association with GHC began in 2012 when she decided to stretch her leadership skills outside her work environment. The conference has now gained so much popularity that it willbe held in Bengaluru this December.”
It attracts more 10,000 women technologists who congregate from over 60 countries like USA, China, Israel, Nigeria, New Zealand France etc, to learn and connect with each other.The event celebrates the accomplishmentsof women technologists and introduces them to latest technology trends,” she shares.
A software engineer at Microsoft, Sahana’s job profile includes building cool services and features for the company's products like Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc. “If you use any of these products in various languages, it is highly likely you are using code that I have written! I also work on features that are across platforms like Windows, Android and iOS. This is exciting because I get to see the instantaneous impact of my work on millions of users. It also helps that I can easily explain what I work on to my grandmother and she gets it! “ she quips.
As she chats about her education, she reveals that she did her schooling in Baldwin Girls' High School and later pursued a Master's degree in Computer Science at J.S.S Academy.Post that, she went on to do a Master's degree in Computer Science at The University of Texas, Austin.
As someone who lives away from her home town, this hard-core south Bengalurean misses her regular haunts like Corner House, Cafe Coffee Day and the Jayanagar 4th Block Complex. “My childhood was spent learning the basics of Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam, as well as playing sports in and around Madhavan Park,” she says.
Sahana not only misses the people and weather here, but also yearns for masala dosa from MTR and sweets from KC Das. "I also miss my grandmother’s and mother’s home-cooked meals! Bengaluru’s familiarity is comforting while its dynamism is surprising. This is the city I grew up in and despite being away, it will always be Nanna Bengaluru,” she says.
