10 takeaways from Campus 1871

On February 20 and 21, 1871 partnered with THINKChicago — World Business Chicago for Campus 1871. The exciting event connected students and tech professionals through networking, workshops, speaker panels, and more, for the purpose of bolstering the future leaders of the tech industry.

Students from 1871’s partner universities, including University of Chicago, DePaul, and University of Illinois Chicago, had the opportunities to hear from accomplished speakers — like Umama Kibria, founder of Head of Social, Makunde Martin, co-founder of Chi Tech Collective, and Debra Giunta, founder of Prismatic — build their own startup through the Innovation Studio, and network with representatives from top companies like BuiltWorlds, Why of AI, TransUnion.

And the event’s inspiring energy did not end when students left the space. Attendees walked away with invaluable advice gleaned from professionals in all sectors of the industry, from social media consulting, to software engineering, to venture capital. Here are the top ten takeaways from Campus 1871.

1. Connect with mentors above you, below you, and beside you

During her keynote conversation, Umama Kibria stressed the importance of having three distinct types of mentors: above you, below you, and beside you. Mentors above you are people who are where you want to be — they have that dream job or succeeded in starting their own business. These professionals serve as role models and can provide tangible advice that will help you achieve your goals. Mentors below you, though seemingly counterintuitive, are integral because they help solidify confidence in your experiences. Serving as a mentor to someone else reinforces your knowledge of your industry and your understanding of your personal brand. Finally, Kibria encouraged everyone to find mentors beside them; individuals who are in the same place in their careers as you are. These are people who can help you navigate challenges, support you at events, and offer unique advice related to your current position that someone further along may not understand in the same way.

2. You don’t need technical skills to work in tech

Well, it’s smart to have some technical skills, but you definitely don’t need to know how to code. During the Classroom to Career panel, Drushya Musham, who founded Taptic while still in college, admitted that she doesn’t know how to code. Instead, what she brings to the table is knowledge of how to run a business, how to get investors, and how to drive growth. Her advice? “Find a co-founder who compliments your strengths and weaknesses.”

3. Network with intention

While networking should feel more like a conversation and less like an interview, it is important to enter a conversation with predetermined talking points. “Think about what it is you’re looking for,” said Debra Giunta, Founder and Executive Director of Prismatic, whether it’s a job opportunity, career advice, or expertise. This will help you guide the conversation and achieve a productive outcome. Remember, the people you network with are donating their time — make it worthwhile through an intentional approach.

“Think specifically about what you want people to remember you by,” said Giunta. Putting in that extra effort will guarantee that you leave a stronger impression.

4. Build an approachable vibe

5. Break down the buzzwords

Early conversations aren’t the time to throw people off with your language. While you should keep it professional when networking with new people, don’t assume that others will understand terminology or acronyms specific to your industry. Dissect the jargon and take a more conversational approach. A great way to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge is to take something technical and make it digestible for a wide audience.

6. Your identity is an advantage

There are infinite reasons you might hold yourself back or think you’re not good enough. You don’t have a specific certification, you changed careers late, you don’t belong to a certain identity group — the negative thoughts are endless. But whatever you bring to the table is an advantage if you make it one. Musham discussed the struggles she faced with founding a startup as a full-time college student. She described situations where investors didn’t take her seriously because she was in school. But Musham learned to flip that narrative — being a student made her accomplishments all the more impressive, being a student made it possible for her to continue picking up new skills. Billy Ndizeye, Innovation Labs Program Manager at 1871, said it best: at the end of the day, you can’t change who you are. However you define yourself, your identity can be leveraged.

7. Like, comment, and post!

Don’t be afraid to share your journey on social media. Today, it’s easier than ever to connect with people who share your passions or have careers you look up to. Use social media as a tool to showcase your skills, your interests, and even your mistakes (and how you learn from them). This will help you identify your personal brand and package yourself to employers, investors, and colleagues.

8. Be everywhere

Whether in person or virtually, there are countless events happening every week that offer the chance to learn something new, form meaningful connections, and immerse yourself in motivating circles. “No matter what I pursue, community will always be a baseline,” said Kibria. Once you begin showing up, “you’ll start coming up in rooms you’re not in, and that’s what we want.”

9. How you show up is part of your brand

Securing your place in tech, or any industry, is about more than just your skills. Everything from personal style to weekend hobbies contribute to your individual brand. Find the balance between professionalism and authenticity, because while technical skills may help you land an interview, at the end of the day, the people you work with are more than their job descriptions. Don’t be afraid to showcase your personality, even in more professional settings.

10. Have the will to learn

Makunde Martin, software engineer at Google and founder of Chi Tech Collective, shared with students that, in addition to the coding he does at work, he takes courses and continues to learn outside of the office. “Wanting to solve complex problems is a necessary skill in this industry,” he said, and a persistent desire to learn is integral to one’s growth and success. Whether you are a student, a recent graduate, or fifteen years into your career, don’t stop learning. You never know what new skill might take your career to the next level, or what passion you’ll uncover by learning something new.

Thank you to THINKChicago — World Business Chicago for partnering with us on this event.

Thank you to all of the speakers that offered crucial insights and inspired the next generation of technology leaders: Umama Kibria, Debra Giunta, GiGi Hernandez, Billy Ndizeye, Megha Balamurugan, Drushya Musham, Makunde Martin, Salvado Duenas, Ernesto Alvarez, Paige Michals, Sarah Vicino, Deena Siegel, and Ashley Gonzalez.

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