Summer of STEM: Women@Waymo and Silicon Valley Education Foundation Team Up to Inspire Students

Students from Silicon Valley in California should have the chance to see technology pioneered in their backyards up close and connect directly to the people building it. That was the vision that inspired a team of dedicated Waymo employees to invite a group of local middle school students to Waymo’s headquarters in Mountain View. 

During the visit, a student named Justine assessed Waymo’s autonomous driving technology: “This looks like advanced engineering – it’s one of the coolest cars I’ve ever seen! I think it’s good because people won’t get drunk or distracted and get into a car crash.” 

The students were taking part in summer programming through the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SV[e]F). SV[e]F is the largest nonprofit advocate and provider of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in Silicon Valley, with a mission to inspire all students to succeed in college and careers regardless of their background. 

Although Silicon Valley is famous for its tech innovation, some public schools in the area operate on shoestring budgets with limited resources. SV[e]F expands access for students at these schools to learning and career opportunities through high-quality STEM education.

Women@Waymo is Waymo’s employee resource group for women, a forum for support and connection in the workplace. Women@Waymo is dedicated to growing and empowering women, and aims to give back to the community and create pipelines for talent by engaging like-minded partners like SV[e]F. 

Women@Waymo wanted to inspire young students – especially girls – to consider careers in STEM and feel included in the future of mobility.

“This initiative supports our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring that all voices are represented in the future of technology", said Monika Sharma, analysis expert and community engagement lead for Women@Waymo. "We are grateful to work with SV[e]F to inspire students and show them the diverse opportunities available in STEM." 

This initiative supports our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring that all voices are represented in the future of technology.

Monika Sharma, Analysis Expert and Community Engagement Lead for Women@Waymo

SV[e]F Chief Development Officer, Erika Evearitt said, "Waymo plays a vital role in the broader mission of SV[e]F by helping to bridge the gap between education and industry. Their involvement provides our students with access to innovative technologies and professionals in the field, fostering a deeper understanding of STEM subjects. This collaboration supports our commitment to empowering students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a tech-driven society."

At Waymo HQ, the students learned about Waymo’s autonomous driving technology, participated in a panel with employees, and got a close-up, first-hand look at Waymo vehicles. 

Waymo's Head of University Recruiting, Kathleen Ruffner, spoke to the students about career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.

“How many of you know what you’d like to do when you grow up?” Ruffner asked the students.

Many of the students kept their hands lowered. 

“I’m actually really pleased to see so many hands down,” Ruffner said, encouraging students to keep an open mind about all the careers they could pursue.

She also shared advice for those students who may not have a parent or role model who went to college.

“I’m also a first generation college student,” Ruffner revealed. “My advice is to connect with people and resources around you for support.”

When a student asked the Women@Waymo panelists if they needed to attend a school like Harvard to work at Waymo, the panelists were eager to explain that Waymo employees attended all different kinds of schools and come from many different backgrounds. 

“I work with people from all kinds of schools and countries everyday,” said panelist Apoorva Sachdev Lakshmanan, software technical program manager, autonomy behaviors. ”It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, it only matters where you want to go and how much effort you put in. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to fail.” 

Panelist Maria Terres, a simulation data scientist, emphasized the importance of following your curiosity and interests. “I loved math as a student, it made sense to me, it comforted me. But I also felt like an outsider sometimes – often I was the only girl in my class. So I’d say: pursue your interests, but continually check in with yourself about what you want to do. You’re allowed to change your mind if you want to.”

The Director of District Partnerships at SV[e]F, Seung Lee, said hearing stories like these directly from Waymo employees help young SV[e]F scholars imagine future careers for themselves.

“The partnership with Waymo provides opportunities for our students to interact with engineers, automotive designers, and data analysts so they can one day see themselves in those roles,” Lee said.

A student named Alexa, who is studying computer science, said she could easily imagine the benefits of Waymo’s autonomous driving technology.

“I think that being in the passenger seat, with the car moving by itself - you don’t have to worry a lot,” Alexa reflected. “You can just get to your destination - it’s easy!”