Sneak Peek into the Life of a Stanford Women in Computer Science

by Jialin Zhuo

I hope everyone’s been enjoying classes! My name is Jialin and I am a sophomore studying Computer Science. Though I have now fully adjusted to Zoom University life, I definitely still miss grinding psets last minute at Green Library and going out for chicken tenders at 1 am.

What I’ve Been Up To:

This quarter, I am taking “History44Q: Gendered Innovations in Science, Medicine, Engineering, and Environment,” which has been one of my favorite classes at Stanford so far! In class, we analyze the historical background that structured the scientific community, examine gender anatomically, and explore different gendered innovations. We have also done many activites on topics such as gender norms, sex, and stereotypes. Examining these issues with different lenses has given me a more well-rounded understanding of these topics.

This week, my professor showed us a very memorable presentation about gender bias on https://leanin.org/gender-bias-cards. It highlighted more than 50 specific examples of bias against women at work, encouraged participants to brainstorm solutions together, and offered research-backed recommendations for how to address bias. I had always been aware that women face many challenges in the workforce, but seeing some of the facts on the cards still made my jaw drop.

Here are some shocking statistics I learned from the presentation:

The presentation was also useful because it presented appropriate solutions to sensitive situations:

It also touched on intersectional topics:

Many of these stereotypes contribute to the growing imposter syndrome women face when entering STEM fields. During a recent Goldman Sachs event, I had the opportunity to meet Stephanie, a 20 year-long Goldman Sachs employee who is now a Senior Engineer in Algorithmic Trading. She shared with me her experiences as a woman in the fintech industry, and I would love to share her insights with the WiCS community.

A) What do you like most about your job/career path?

Working in the FinTech industry allows me to learn about Finance and the market, which I find fascinating. In my field, Algorithmic Trading, we solve challenging problems that come from automating trading decisions. We are constantly looking for ways to evolve the platform to make it smarter, faster, and more scalable.

B) What made you get into CS / how were you first exposed?

I was studying Biology in college and decided to take an elective course in Computer Graphics for fun. That was the year when Toy Story came out, and it completely blew my mind with what Computer Science could do and what applications it could have. I fell in love with programming and switched my major to Computer Science, which turned out to be the best decision of my life.

C) Advice to current CS students/ tips on imposter syndrome?

The imposter syndrome is real. I often feel inadequate compared to my peers and doubt my own abilities. It discouraged me from taking certain opportunities and held me back in my personal growth.

For example, several years ago, I turned down an opportunity to speak at a large tech conference because I felt unqualified and unable to contribute any noteworthy perspectives. When I was asked again the following year, I finally mustered the courage to agree and gave a successful talk. I was glad to have finally participated, but not every opportunity presents a second chance: think of how many others I missed because of self-doubt!

Imposter syndrome never really goes away, but here are few tips that I found helpful to combat it:

1. Recognize the syndrome. When you are having self-doubt, catch yourself in the thought and tune it out.

2. Sometimes, even if you don’t feel fully ready for the task, take the plunge. What is the worst that can happen compared to the cost of missed opportunity?

3. Recognize and celebrate your achievements rather than dismissing them to build confidence.

I have always been fascinated by technology’s ability to apply itself in and contribute to a multitude of different fields. After hearing about Stephanie’s experience and tips on combating imposter syndrome, I feel encouraged to take a stab at goals that seem out of reach. In addition, it is always nice to know that I am not alone when facing setbacks and challenges. I am super glad to have the WiCS community by my side, a community that is always welcoming everyone with geniality and support.