Women across cybersecurity, AI and robotics challenged Bermuda students with real career paths—and reminders that skills, not stereotypes, open doors.
Bermuda’s next wave of tech talent got a vivid, behind-the-scenes look at what careers can look like when women lead.
About 50 female senior school students gathered at Bermuda College on Thursday for International Girls in ICT Day, an event designed to pull young people into the fast-moving world of information and communication technology.. Hosted under the theme “Bermudian Girls Building the Digital World,” the day brought speakers to the room who spoke directly to the barriers they’ve seen—race, gender, and the quiet doubts that can follow when a field feels “not meant for you.” For many students, the stories landed as more than motivation; they sounded like a map.
Lashonna Smith, an educational therapist at The Berkeley Institute, moderated the program and steered the conversations toward what the students could take home: practical advice, career direction, and hands-on exposure to emerging areas like AI, cybersecurity and robotics.. The session also created space for networking, where the message wasn’t just “follow your interests,” but “here are the ways people actually break in, build skills, and stay resilient.”
The lineup covered multiple parts of the digital economy, from healthcare-linked innovation to data engineering and AI governance.. Kameron Young, the founder and chief executive of Tombolo Research and a robotics and AI readiness advocate, described how her journey began with competition.. In 2017, she took part in the First Global Challenge, where only six teams were all-female among 157 countries—and her team won.. She later connected her interest in genetics to research during her time as an International Baccalaureate student at Bermuda High School, tracking potential links in Bermuda to “sweet tooth” traits associated with diabetes and obesity.. Her work, she said, eventually moved her into bioengineering and later a Master of Science in AI and Machine Learning.
Young’s presence at the event mattered because it challenged a common assumption: that technology leadership is only for people who fit a narrow profile.. As a Black woman working in healthcare, she said she faced challenges, yet still built a path that took her beyond local boundaries.. That “you can be the first” framing echoed throughout the day—especially when the conversation turned toward making robotics more inclusive for people of colour.
Cybersecurity was another anchor.. Alexis Smith, an information systems security officer with the Ministry of National Security, explained the work in plain terms: protecting people.. Her role, following the September 2023 attack on government systems, is not abstract.. She talked about the risks that can start with phishing scams and escalate into cyberattacks—threats that affect phones, bank accounts, social media and, at a national level, entire systems.. She described how the field splits into different functions: analysts who watch for unusual activity, teams focused on securing systems in advance, those working with police on cybercrime, and even roles that consider psychology—how attackers think and why victims fall for certain scams.
Cha’von Clarke-Joell, working in AI ethics and governance and data protection in Britain, spoke through a recorded video about human-centered technology.. Her focus was on ensuring AI systems are fair, safe and accountable, and on the unintended consequences that can come with adoption—bias, increased surveillance and misinformation.. The message she carried was blunt in its clarity: decisions still have to be made by people, which makes governance and responsibility as important as the technology itself.. She also emphasized that a degree can serve as a baseline, but that certifications and real experience can matter greatly.
While the event covered high-level technical topics, it also made room for personal routes into work.. Ashley Cruz-Singh, a business analyst from Puerto Rico who has lived in Bermuda for five years, described how she left behind the expectation that a woman’s place would be limited to home life.. She said she moved from New York to Washington DC to pursue education, and she framed her career as proof that people do not need a specific kind of institution or a pre-packaged résumé to succeed.. Her work, she said, sits at the intersection of people, workflow and technology—often in the places where departments “aren’t talking to each other,” and where better systems can make organizations run more effectively.
For the students, one of the most engaging parts was the scenario-based discussion.. They were asked to think through questions of trust and decision-making in digital systems—such as whether AI could be relied on to help determine if a student should be placed in an advanced class based on grades, behaviour and attendance.. Students pushed back in a way that felt grounded: AI may be strong with numbers, but the human side of education remains hands-on and personal.
There was also practical career coaching.. Students heard about the importance of building an online professional presence, particularly on LinkedIn, where recruiters look for talent and where opportunities and professional connections can form.. Erin Telford-Brangman, a third-year pupil at The Berkeley Institute, said she was inspired by hearing women talk about not allowing minority status to shrink ambition.. She said it felt encouraging to see role models in these spaces—women who want to be leaders and help others move in that direction.
At a speed-networking session afterward, Telford-Brangman said she aimed to connect with Cruz-Singh and appreciated advice about speaking up in rooms.. The day ended with breakout workshops in AI, cybersecurity and robotics, but the real takeaway for many students seemed to be that technology careers are built through steps—mentorship, credentials, curiosity and the willingness to keep showing up.
Misryoum