Hey, I’m Joanne.
Introduction
Hi, I’m Joanne Wijetunga, a third-year Computer Science student with a strong interest in data science and project management. What I enjoy most about my program is how versatile it is, it opens the door to a wide range of opportunities across industries. Over the past year, I’ve explored different paths through hands-on experiences. As a STEM Research Mentor, I guided high school students through a sustainability-focused project using computer vision and sensors, helping me grow as both a leader and a problem-solver. Currently, I’m working as a Business Systems Analyst under the eCRM Applications team at CIBC, where I’ve had the opportunity to learn Salesforce. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience, and I believe it’s opened many doors for me.
Artifacts
This is a photo of the ElleHacks organizing team, a group I’m incredibly proud to be part of. Last year, I joined ElleHacks as an IT Executive, and this year, I stepped into the role of IT Director, leading the development and maintenance of the hackathon’s technical infrastructure. My responsibilities included overseeing the event website, building a user dashboard for participants, and implementing a QR code system to streamline logistics during the event.
Being part of ElleHacks has been more than just a technical role, it’s allowed me to grow as both a leader and a collaborator. I’ve learned how to manage a team, delegate responsibilities, make quick decisions under pressure, and deliver accessible, reliable tools to hundreds of users. Most importantly, I’ve had the chance to contribute to a space that supports women and non-binary individuals in STEM, a mission I care deeply about. As a woman in tech, helping build an inclusive, welcoming environment through my technical contributions has been one of the most meaningful parts of my undergraduate journey.
About Me
In this video, I talk about my first co-op experience as a STEM Research Mentor, a few of the projects I worked on, and my goals at the time. It’s nice to look back and see how much has changed since then, both in terms of what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown.