Six Companies, One Day of Possibility
On Friday, September 25, college women from WIT Campus chapters across Georgia stepped out of the classroom and into the workplaces of six leading WIT Strategic Partner companies: The Coca-Cola Company, Cox Enterprises, Fiserv, Norfolk Southern, Salesforce, and State Farm.
Women in Technology (WIT) Campus Career Exploration Day gives students a real look at what a career in technology can be. Over the course of the day, they toured offices, worked through case studies alongside company teams, experienced practice interviews, and interacted directly with women leading in tech.
The Results
Campus Career Exploration Day exceeded all four of its program goals. WIT surveyed students before and after the day, and the change showed up in every area:
- Job readiness: 98.7% agreed they have the skills and preparation to apply for jobs, up from 67.4%.
- Career pathways: 91.4% agreed they understand the career paths open to them and the roles that fit them, up from 70.3%.
- Connections: Every student who responded left with at least one new contact in technology, and 71.1% made three or more.
- Belonging: 94.7% felt they belong in the tech community, up from 68.6%.
Uncertainty nearly disappeared. Before the day, about one in four survey answers were neutral. Afterward, fewer than one in twenty were.
Afterward, many of them posted about the day on LinkedIn. This recap draws on what they wrote about their experiences.
There’s No Single Path Into Tech
If one message came through louder than any other, it was this: there is no one right way to build a career in technology.
A computer science student entering her final year at college said hearing from women already at State Farm reminded her “that there isn’t one perfect path into tech.” Another student, who has many interests within tech, called the day “a great reminder that there isn’t one set path you have to follow.”
At The Coca-Cola Company, students heard from women working across a wide variety of technology careers. One student said it showed her how many different paths exist in technology, and how valuable it is to learn from women willing to share their experiences and advice.
At Salesforce, a panel of professionals talked about how many shifts a career can hold and how rarely the path is linear. For one student who changed her major from healthcare into tech, that advice landed close to home. She said it felt like someone telling her, “you’re exactly where you need to be in this moment.”
At Fiserv, an information systems student interested in marketing learned that you don’t have to stay in one role for your whole career. Seeing how people moved across different teams showed her how to explore, discover what she enjoys, and keep growing.
For students still deciding where they fit, that permission to explore matters. It turns uncertainty into curiosity.
Seeing Technology and AI at Work
Students didn’t just hear about technology. They saw how it runs real businesses every day.
At State Farm, an AI prompting game let students test how changing the way they communicate with AI changes the results they get. One computer science sophomore who has been exploring AI through her own projects said she “loved getting to see that in action.” A senior said it was rewarding to see concepts from her coursework applied outside the classroom. Another student heard directly from software engineers about how AI and prompt engineering are used on the job.
At Fiserv’s Alpharetta office, students learned how technologies like Clover, tap-to-pay, and AI show up in everyday transactions and are shaping the future of financial services. At Norfolk Southern, a graduate student was struck by how a company with roots in the 1800s has transformed into an organization built on data and innovation, including AI-driven approaches to rail safety. She said it gave her “a new appreciation” for how technology keeps transforming traditional industries.
Learning by Doing
The most memorable moments came when students rolled up their sleeves.
At Norfolk Southern, teams took on the “Hurricane Lucille: Railroad Response Team Challenge,” a case study on how the company might respond to the operational fallout of a major hurricane. One student called it a chance to practice problem-solving, collaboration, and decision-making. Another worked side by side with employees from Engineering, Safety, IT, and the Network Operations Center, exploring how GIS mapping, signal monitoring, sensors, and large-scale data keep trains moving. A few students also tried a train-control simulation.
At Cox Enterprises, students went behind the scenes of the hiring process, picked up tips for building a standout resume, and participated in mock interviews led by Cox early career recruiters. One student said the feedback and conversations were “incredibly valuable” as she prepares for her next career step.
At Salesforce, workshops helped students explore different roles and experience day-to-day responsibilities. Students also had their resumes reviewed and toured the company’s tower.
At State Farm, workshops and hands-on activities, like learning how important AI prompts are to creating quality output, gave students practical skills they could take straight back to campus.
Career Skills You Don’t Learn in Class
Beyond the technology, students left with advice they can use right away.
At Fiserv, one student came away with guidance on owning the room with confidence, understanding the difference between a mentor and a sponsor, staying open to pivots, and preparing for future opportunities. Another valued learning how to present herself professionally, build connections, and navigate her career with intention.
At Norfolk Southern, a panel of women leaders encouraged students to reflect on each day, build strong critical-thinking skills, and know their values well enough to write them down. Another student summed up her biggest takeaways from the panel: stay curious, be adaptable, build meaningful connections, and never be afraid to use your voice.
These are the lessons that often take years to learn on the job, yet, thanks to this experience, WIT Campus students got a head start in a single day.
Confidence and Belonging
For many students, the biggest shift wasn’t about skills. It was about seeing themselves as part of the technology workforce.
A senior at State Farm, graduating in December, shared that balancing classes, a capstone project, and a job search had left her unsure of what comes next. After a day of conversations with the women she met, she said her energy and confidence “grew exponentially.” One line she heard that day stayed with her: “We all received help at some point to get where we are today.”
A sophomore left “reminded that I don’t have to have everything figured out yet.” Her takeaway was simple: keep showing up, keep learning, and keep putting herself in spaces where she can grow.
And a graduate student said the day reminded her why she chose technology in the first place: “There is always something new to learn, problems to solve, and industries to transform.”
One computer science student was so inspired that she made WIT Campus Career Exploration the subject of her very first LinkedIn post.
A Community That Lasts Beyond the Day
WIT is more than a network. It’s a community, and WIT Campus Career Exploration Day showed that in action.
Students came from college and university campuses across the state of Georgia. One chapter president traveled from Statesboro to Atlanta with three fellow Georgia Southern members to spend the day at Norfolk Southern together.
A WIT Campus chapter president who spent the day at The Coca-Cola Company left excited to keep growing, networking, and building her future in technology, alongside the other women she connected with there.
The connections didn’t end when the day did. Students’ LinkedIn posts filled up with comments from peers they met, often from different schools and even different host sites, saying how glad they were to have connected. Host company professionals joined in too. One host professional told a student her “curiosity, initiative, and eagerness to learn really stood out.” At Salesforce, another told a student, “You’re gonna absolutely crush it in tech!”
For one student at Cox Enterprises, the day made a long-held goal feel closer. She has admired Cox for years and left hoping to one day call it her workplace.
Thank You to Our Hosts
WIT Campus Career Exploration Day is only possible because WIT corporate partners open their doors. Thank you to The Coca-Cola Company, Cox Enterprises, Fiserv, Norfolk Southern, Salesforce, and State Farm, and to every panelist, volunteer, and team member who gave their time, shared their stories, and made students feel welcome.
When companies invest a day in students, the impact reaches far beyond it. Students leave with sharper skills, clearer goals, and the confidence to pursue them. Host companies meet the next generation of tech talent up close.
Hosts felt the impact, too. At The Coca-Cola Company, one host told students, “We loved spending the day with all of you!” One of the Norfolk Southern leaders who helped build the partnership said the students “asked thoughtful, engaging questions and demonstrated genuine curiosity.” As she put it, “Investing in future talent is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.”
At Cox Enterprises, a product manager who helped lead the day saw herself in the students. Just two and a half years ago, she was in their seat, wondering what a career in technology would look like for her. This time, she was the one showing them, and reminding them there’s a place for them “no matter their major, specialty, or experience.”
Explore What’s Next
The WIT Campus program connects college women interested in tech with career opportunities and mentorship. Whether you’re a student ready to explore or a company ready to host, there’s a place for you in our community.
Explore. Pursue. Persist. Lead.
