I was honoured to receive a full scholarship to attend the NZ GirlBoss ‘We the Women Hackathon’, a two-day event dedicated to using technology for social impact. Selected from hundreds of applicants across NZ, I joined a team of young women to develop solutions addressing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality, and specifically Target 5.2, aiming to end all forms of violence and abuse against women and girls.
In just 24 hours, my team designed an emergency keychain linked to a mobile app that sends an instant SOS alert to a user’s emergency contacts at the press of a button. After developing our idea into a business pitch, we presented it to a panel of judges. Following the preliminary rounds, our team was one of six selected to pitch in the finals to the Spark NZ leaders, technology professionals, and NZ GirlBoss founder Alexia Hilbertidou, where we were awarded Second Place Overall.
While the competition was unforgettable, it was the people who made this experience truly special. Despite the fast-paced challenge, the environment was one of the most welcoming and uplifting I’ve ever experienced. I left with genuine friendships, incredible connections with like-minded young women, and invaluable lessons from mentors and industry leaders whose encouragement was undeniably empowering.
I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and to Mr Sharma for encouraging me to apply.
~ Ekam Minhas 13B7