Achsah Jojo: Building a Future-Proof STEM Career / A Blueprint for Leading with AI and Human Skills - 009

In this insightful episode of Lunch with Leaders, host Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya speaks with Achsah Jojo, a computer science student, researcher, and community builder. Achsah shares her transformative journey from an uninvolved freshman to a campus leader, offering a masterclass in turning curiosity into impact.The conversation delves into proactive career-building, innovating from personal experience, and the art of thoughtful leadership, including succession planning.From founding her university's first hackathon to creating a research tool that debugs AI-generated code, Achsah provides actionable strategies for amplifying visibility and influence in tech.Detailed Timestamps & Topics1. Introduction and Setting the Stage ([00:00:00])[00:00:00] Show opening and mission: empowering women in STEM to amplify their visibility, influence, and impact.[00:01:15] Introduction of guest Achsah Jojo, highlighting her roles as ChatGPT Ambassador (OpenAI), President of Women in Computer Science, Apple Innovation Scholar, and Bloomberg Tech Insight Scholar.2. The Journey into Leadership and Impact ([00:04:30])[00:04:30] Start with One Step: Achsah’s journey began when a professor advised her to get involved on campus. Joining the Women in Computer Science club was her first, pivotal step.[00:05:45] Finding community in WICS fueled her passion for building inclusive spaces.3. The Art of Transition and Self-Leadership ([00:12:30])[00:12:30] Conscious Decision to Step Down: Achsah strategically stepped down from the WICS presidency to focus on her career and self-care.4. Navigating Complex Leadership Dynamics ([00:18:00])[00:18:00] Challenges of leadership: managing conflicts and being on-call.[00:19:15] Balancing Leader and Friend: Maintaining professionalism with friends on the board by using formal communication channels.5. Building a Campus Tech Culture ([00:23:45])[00:23:45] Identifying a Need: Inspired by CalHacks, Achsah saw a need for an accessible hackathon at her university.6. Innovating in AI: From Personal Problem to Research Project ([00:31:00])[00:31:00] Innovate from Experience: Achsah's research was sparked by spending two days debugging an error from GitHub Copilot caused by two missing parentheses.[00:33:45] She applied last-minute to the Apple Innovation Scholars Program, which funded her research.7. The Role of Mentorship and Networking ([00:41:00])[00:41:00] Organic Mentorship: By being a visible leader, she naturally attracts peers seeking guidance.[00:46:40] Paying It Forward: Her mentorship is inspired by the guidance she received from her professor.[00:48:15] Network with Personality: At events, Achsah builds genuine connections by discussing non-technical interests, letting her personality shine.[00:52:30] Being personable is more memorable than reciting a technical script.8. Achsah's Legacy and Final Advice ([00:56:00])[00:56:00] Legacy of Proactivity: Achsah’s core philosophy is to ask and apply for opportunities, even against low odds.[00:59:45] Final Advice for Students:Start with one step.Build genuine networks.Innovate from your own experiences.Always plan for succession and sustainability.Social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/achsah-jojo-32066a245/Website: https://ajojo7.wixsite.com/achsahjojoEmail: [email protected] with African Women in STEM on Social Media:Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya LinkedIn Profile: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaeze-iloeje-udeogalanya⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠African Women in STEM Company LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/african-women-in-stem/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/africanwomenin_stem/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.africanwomeninstem.com/MEMBERSHIP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://africanwomeninstem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch my ⁠⁠⁠⁠TEDX Talk⁠⁠⁠⁠ Here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/xYcVJJKBQrY?si=KaTO5Qn19LSc-LfM⁠⁠⁠