Dr. Melissa Sassi is the Chief Penguin at IBM Z. She discusses her passion for the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and empowering underrepresented youth. Her volunteer experience teaching coding led her to discover her life's passion for digital inclusion. This volunteer work helped her land a job at Microsoft and then a role at IBM as Global Head of Student and Entrepreneur Experience. She is now a recognized thought leader speaking on entrepreneurship and skills building for students. She encourages others to volunteer and find their purpose through mentorship.

1. DR. MELISSA SASSI - CHIEF PENGUIN, IBM Z
Volunteer to Propel YOUR
Purpose-Driven Career
@MENTORAFRIKA

2. @mentorafrika
Dr. Melissa Sassi
MY PURPOSE & PASSION
BE AN AND. NOT AN OR.
The intersection of tech, entrepreneurship
& empowering underrepresented rock star
youth.
Founder, Intrapreneur, Digital Inclusion
Advocate, IBMer, ex-Microsoftie, Academic,
UN & WEF Speaker, IEEE Digital Skills Chair,
Avid Volunteer.

3. Make the
impossible
possible.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE
STANDING BETWEEN
THE CURRENT YOU &
THE FUTURE YOU!.
@mentorafrika

4. Step 1: Define your vision.
BE AN AND. NOT AN OR.
WHAT'S YOUR PASSION?
IMAGINE THE WILD DUCK IN YOU.
@mentorafrika

5. Yes? No? Maybe? Dunno?
The United Nations Sustainable
Development goals are a great (GREAT)
place to start!
Do you have a
passion?
Find your passion today: globalgoals.org

6. Step 2: Document your
skills & experience gaps.
BE A LEARN IT ALL.
FIND KINDRED SPIRITS.
BE WILLING TO INVEST.
@mentorafrika

7. Step 3: Give yourself space
& time.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS.
PRIORITIZE & ORGANIZE.
THINK & REFLECT.
@mentorafrika

8. Step 4: Create your plan to
fill the gaps.
OWN YOUR PATH.
ESTABLISH GOALS & A TIMELINE.
TAKE BABY STEPS.
@mentorafrika

9. Step 5: Go beyond your
everyday.
TAKE ON STRETCH ASSIGNMENTS.
VOLUNTEER WITH A STARTUP.
GIVE FORWARD TO NONPROFITS.
@mentorafrika

10. Step 6: Gather your thrive
hive.
SEEK BITESIZED INSIGHTS.
RECIPROCATE.
BE A FRIEND.
@mentorafrika

11. Step 7: Document your
journey.
BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND.
BE PRESENT ONLINE & OFFLINE.
NETWORK.
@mentorafrika

12. Step 8: #DoTheThing
CREATE.
MAKE.
DO.
@mentorafrika

13. DISVOVERED MY LIFE'S WORK
By volunteering to teach youth to code, I
discovered how passionate I was about
digital inclusion.
LANDED A NEW JOB
I applied for a new job at Microsoft and I got
the job based on the volunteer experience I
added to my CV.
TOOK A NEW CAREER PATH
My volunteerism and my new job at Microsoft
led me to another role as Global Head of
Student & Entrepreneur Experience at IBM.
BECAME A THOUGHT LEADER
I started to write, speak, and take part in
events on both entrepreneurship and
student skill-building, leading to me being
recognized as a worldwide leader in the field.
@mentorafrika
Volunteerism
changed my life

14. JOIN ME.
EMPOWER STUDENTS IN
STEAM.
INSPIRE ENTREPRENEURS
ON THEIR JOURNEY.
@MENTORAFRIKA

15. Students!
ibm.biz/studenthub
Entrepreneurs!
ibm.biz/hpa-2021
5K STUDENTS
100 STARTUPS

16. LEARN NEW
SKILLS
WIN PRIZES
BUILD YOUR
NETWORK
GIVE FORWARD
Register now: ibm.biz/studenthub

17. LET'S CONNECT!
@MENTORAFRIKA
Let's Talk

18. THANK
YOU
@MENTORAFRIKA