2023 was off to a great start for IEEE YP at the Rising Stars Conference, with the IEEE Young Professional (YP) track being one of the major highlights. The conference, held in Las Vegas from January 3-5, was packed with insightful keynotes, workshops and panel discussions on a wide range of topics.
On the first day of the conference, attendees had the opportunity to participate in the YP Leadership Workshop, which featured a packed agenda with several informative sessions and engaging discussions. The workshop began with IEEE YP Past Chair, Emre Ayranci, providing an overview of the IEEE YP organization and the benefits of being a member. Following this, Alberto Tam Yong led a session on “IEEE Tools and Resources,” where attendees learned about the various resources and opportunities available to them through IEEE.
After a short break, Binesh Kumar led a session on “Project Leadership,” where attendees learned about the skills and strategies needed to be successful in leading projects. This was followed by an interactive “Guided IEEE Discussion” activity, where attendees participated in team discussions on various topics related to member engagement and visibility of IEEE volunteer efforts.
Following the lunch break, Chad Kidder led a session on “Helping Your Team Succeed,” where attendees learned about strategies for building and leading successful teams. This was followed by an “Ideas to Actions” activity, where attendees participated in team discussions on how to turn their ideas into action.
The afternoon continued with a session on “Micro-Mentoring”, facilitated by Emre Ayranci, where attendees learned about the benefits of hosting micro-mentoring sessions during conferences and had the opportunity to hear from and interact with several experienced mentors including IEEE 2023 President Saifur Rahman, IEEE 2023 President-Elect, Tom Caughlin, and IEEE Region 6 Director, Kathy Hayashi.
The day ended with closing remarks by Alberto Tam Yong, who summarized the key takeaways from the day’s sessions and encouraged attendees to continue to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them through IEEE.
On the second day, the conference featured a presentation by the past chair of IEEE YP, Emre Ayranci, who provided an overview of the IEEE YP and Volunteering platform. This was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from Region 3, 4, and 6 – Alberto Tam Yong, Binesh Kumar, Ben Strandskov – who shared their experiences and perspectives on being a young professional in IEEE.
During the panel, the representatives provided their perspective on how staying involved with IEEE can and will benefit personal and career goals. They discussed the various opportunities available to young professionals through IEEE, including networking, professional development, and volunteer opportunities. They also shared their own experiences and how IEEE has helped them in their careers.
The panel discussion was a valuable opportunity for attendees to hear from experienced young professionals and gain insights on how to make the most of their IEEE membership. The panelists emphasized the importance of being active in the IEEE community and encouraged attendees to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them.
Overall, the IEEE Rising Stars Conference 2023 was a great success and provided valuable opportunities for young professionals to network, learn, and grow. We hope that those who attended had a great time and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year!