SBWiSTEM x SONOS
“Speed Networking Workshop”
By, Angel Pacheco
With fog horns signaling the introduction of a new ice breaker —
questions like “what are your two most used emojis?” — the Santa Barbara Women in STEM Speed Networking Workshop Sept. 26 felt like it was far from the typical industry meet and greet.
The free event at Sonos’ Santa Barbara campus brought together more than 100 professionals — male and female — from many disciplines and backgrounds, meaning it was likely a welcome change of pace.
The slew of casual questions and random groupings meant the evening was more meaningful than munching on some snacks with the coworkers you came with, as well as welcoming for those who popped in solo. Instead, attendees temporarily paired with a stranger -- a local grad student, a tech veteran, perhaps a recruiter -- and walked away a LinkedIn contact richer, maybe even with a job interview.
Attendees also heard from speaker Jessica Kinnahan, of Dudek, about making the professional contacts that can change your career when you least expect it.
This marked Women in Stem's second networking event. C'est Cheese Santa Barbara generously fueled the event with some amazing hors d'ouvres and Sonos offered up its beautiful Chapala Street space.