Smiley Bhayee, an MBA '25 candidate, participated in the first Microsoft Women's Day in AI and Security event on January 17. Hosted by Ivey Career Management and Microsoft, the event brought Microsoft executives to Ivey to lead training sessions on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology for women in Ivey’s HBA, MBA, and MSc programs, while also providing networking opportunities. In her blog below, Bhayee shares key takeaways from the event and reflects on how the experience deepened her interest in technology.
Igniting the future of women in tech
Gowri Sivanathan, HBA ’20, Partner Technology Strategist at Microsoft U.S., returned to Ivey with a mission: bridging the exposure gap in the technology industry for female students. Now working for one of the world's most influential tech giants, Sivanathan and her team shared their expertise and passion for technology with more than 70 Ivey students. The event was a full-circle moment for Sivanathan and set the stage for an extraordinary day of learning and inspiration. Being part of the first cohort to experience this event was a privilege. It exceeded all expectations, leaving us grateful to the powerhouse team that made it all possible.
Diversity is a superpower: Why inclusion matters in the tech industry
When I signed up for this event, I was eager to fast-track my career in technology, but uncertain about how to begin without a tech background. The opportunity to train for the AI-900: Azure AI Fundamentals certification provided a valuable first step in my journey.
The event began with a keynote by two exceptional Microsoft leaders: Rekha Narang, Partner Technology Director Americas, and Betty Rhiger, Services Partner Strategy Leader Americas. Narang set the tone for a powerful discussion on the challenges and victories of women in tech, emphasizing that “DEI is not just a moral imperative, it’s a business imperative.” As a woman of colour, she shared her experiences navigating the industry, and her insights resonated deeply with me as a South Asian Sikh woman pursuing an MBA. She highlighted how “microaggressions have macro impacts” – a sentiment that struck a chord with everyone in the room.
Rhiger’s approach to leadership – as a motivator, supporter, and cheerleader – reinforced the value of working alongside people who believe in you. She told us to remember, “You got the job because you’re a well-qualified, resilient, and exceptionally talented woman,” which was a powerful reminder to embrace our worth. Narang and Rhiger embodied exemplary mentorship and truly showcased what inspiring leadership should look like. This keynote inspired me to stop self-selecting out of opportunities and instead seek mentors and allies who will champion my success.
Overcoming self-doubt and embracing the challenge of tech
I dove into the world of Gen AI and Co-pilot alongside 35 other students in a dynamic training session led by Microsoft AI Track Trainers Tiffany Joseph, Partner Technology Strategist; Arturo Quiroga, Sr. Partner Cloud Solutions Architect; Lucy Rak, Cloud Solution Architect; and Alex Drenea, Cloud Solutions Architect. Simultaneously, another group explored security training with Microsoft’s Hannah Wood, Partner Solutions Architect – Security; and Leonardo Cruz, Partner Solutions Architect – Security.
The trainers excelled at making complex topics accessible, even for those of us with limited tech experience. Not only did I grasp the material comfortably, but I now feel confident discussing these subjects. A key highlight was our discussion on the six principles of Responsible AI: Fairness, Reliability and Safety, Privacy and Security, Inclusiveness, Transparency, and Accountability. These principles are foundational to ethical AI development and will be crucial as we build our careers in the field .
It’s always exciting to see classroom concepts come to life in new contexts. I didn’t expect to revisit regression models, which I learned about in the Decision-Making with Analytics course in the MBA program, but we learned how they are used in supervised machine learning to develop predictive models. It turned out I had background knowledge on something after all! The comprehensive four-hour session covered AI workloads, followed by brief knowledge checks, and hands-on demos using our free student Azure subscription – a game-changer! My Azure subscription to Microsoft Learn is now bookmarked on my browser and I’m eager to continue self-learning and advancing my journey as a woman in tech.
Stepping forward: Building bonds and breaking barriers
My deepest gratitude to all the Microsoft representatives who visited Ivey and opened doors to endless opportunities in tech. This event was invaluable and gave me the opportunity to learn alongside some of the most brilliant and courageous women at Ivey. Together, we will continue building a community of support and growth, while remembering that embracing challenges will help us realize our true potential. This experience has strengthened my determination to pursue a tech career and also inspired me to foster a supportive network for women in this dynamic field.
Here's to breaking barriers, challenging the status quo, and leading the future of women in technology. Let’s keep pushing forward, learning, and supporting each other every step of the way!
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