Women in Tech Unite at Grace Hopper Celebration
By Angela Apolinar, WGU MSCSIA student
This piece features excerpts from Angela’s story, originally published in Cyber Defense Magazine on November 28, 2025.
A New Kind of Tech Landscape
Walking into the Grace Hopper Celebration as both a reporter for Cyber Defense Magazine and a graduate student at Western Governors University (WGU), I had no idea how deeply it would impact me.
At this event, women were everywhere. Thousands of them, an ocean of talent with a current so strong it set the room buzzing with optimistic energy. Every photon hitting my retina reflected back the presence of women, no longer being the rarity, but the majority! The sight caused an overwhelmed sense of pride that has yet to fade, a beautiful echo I still feel every time I think back on that moment.
“When You See Us, You Can Be Us…We Lift While We Rise”
I had the opportunity to attend a fireside chat starring Linda Calvin, vice president of the School of Technology at WGU. She opened the room with the topic of mentorship, not in the corporate checkbox kind of way, but as a deeply human need. She emphasized that mentorship is essential because this industry is challenging to navigate alone. That is why having people who can offer encouragement and honest feedback can change the trajectory of one’s career. She urged every woman to build what she calls a “personal board of directors,” a concept that represents the people in our lives who provide us with guidance and support.
Linda spoke about mentorship not as an added benefit, but as a necessity for sustaining women in technology. The way she articulated the impact had everyone in the audience captivated by the truths she shared; her message was deeply felt. It is beautiful to share that I can attest to the importance of mentorship through my own journey. A special acknowledgement to two of my lovely mentors, Gary Miliefsky and Professor Russ Alizadeh, whose guidance has been pivotal in building my confidence in this field!
Linda also spoke about growing up without seeing people who looked like her in tech, and how differently her path might have been if she had. She stressed the importance of that truth in one line: “When you see us, you can be us… we lift while we rise!” It was a clear reminder that representation is catalytic, and that visibility shapes what women believe is possible for themselves.
WGU’s Commitment to Women in Tech
After attending Linda Calvin’s keynote, I had the opportunity to sit down with her and Paul Bingham, executive dean of the School of Technology at WGU. Having a conversation with both of them felt like a full circle moment. It was inspiring to hear directly from leadership about the intentional efforts being made to uplift women in technology.
WGU is a nonprofit that is built on the belief that education should be accessible. Their message centers on creating pathways for learners who have been historically overlooked, and that commitment is deeply evident within their School of Technology.
Linda shared an incredible statistic that captured the impact of WGU’s efforts. Since 2020, the School of Technology has experienced a 264% enrollment growth among Black, Hispanic and Indigenous women. That kind of growth at WGU truly reflects a rising confidence among women entering tech. It also speaks to the supportive environment WGU fosters.
Paul expanded on this with a perspective that was just as meaningful. He shared that WGU’s growth is not only fueled by strong programs, but by people. Specifically, by the students who succeed, and then turn around and encourage others. “Our best marketing is from happy students,” he said.
He explained how one positive experience creates a ripple effect, where students inspire each other into opportunities they may not have sought otherwise. I smiled hearing that, because that is exactly how I found WGU. Through someone who believed in me and my abilities and said, “You would thrive there.” Now here I am, a Latina in tech, part of the 264% rise, another happy link in that chain of possibility.
In the end, my conversation with Linda and Paul underscored what WGU is truly doing. Their commitment to mentorship, access and representation is clearly visible. I walked away proud to be at a university that genuinely invests in women stepping confidently into the spaces where we belong.
About the Author
Angela Apolinar is a reporter for Cyber Defense Magazine and a Women in Cybersecurity scholarship recipient. She is pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity at WGU, has earned multiple certifications in IT, networking and cyber defense, and served as the first female president of her college’s Computer Science and Cybersecurity Club.
