Coral’s Journey to GHC 25 

Coral Miniel’s path to Grace Hopper Celebration 2025 was bold and unconventional. It started with a Google scholarship in 2023, followed by internships at Deloitte, Dell, and UKG, all while building her personal brand online. 

Her “delusional challenge” semester pushed her further: speaking in NYC, cold-DMing influencers, and going viral on TikTok with her dream salary ($650,000), which led to mentorship from a Latina millionaire. 

She then pitched herself as a GHC influencer, sending cold emails and sharing her video with social media and encouraging friends to share. In the whirlwind that followed, AnitaB.org gave her the opportunity to attend the tech conference. Reflecting on it all, Coral says: “I’m so delusional, I didn’t even know how I was going to be there.” 

Experiencing GHC 25: Energy, Inspiration, and Networking 

Coral’s arrival in Chicago set the tone for an unforgettable week. Luckily a connect offered to share her room, she survived a Spirit Airlines flight, and braved the cold, but it was all worth it. 

The opening plenary was electric, featuring speakers like Vivian Tu, Adam Cheyer, and Brenda Darden Wilkerson, AnitaB.org President and CEO. Coral recalls: “Like, whoa, okay, just on a regular Tuesday, this is what we’re doing. It feels like you’re seeing your future in real life.” 

Networking was everywhere. She reunited with her LinkedIn and TikTok mutuals—Aimen Moten, Jaiden Price, Monica Para to name a few—and connected with FIU friends Ashley Prado and Samantha Fernandez. Everywhere she went, people were collaborating, sharing ideas, and supporting each other. 

GHC’s sessions and workshops left a lasting impact. Coral highlighted Aimen’s AI design thinking workshop, which drew 300+ attendees, and the mentorship circles led by Monica Para. She even co-hosted an impromptu resume-review meetup with over 50 attendees, showing firsthand the power of influence and the value of putting yourself out there. 

Coral’s Side Project: FixUrFeed 

Building on her GHC experience and career advising background, Coral launched FixUrFeed, a 20-second quiz that helps students discover quality LinkedIn creators. In the first 48 hours, it saw 3,000 visits and over 50,000 views, with endorsements from 40+ LinkedIn creators. 

FixUrFeed is now expanding to include a student-vetted database of creators outside the tech industry, ensuring everyone can find mentors and inspiration tailored to their interests. Coral explains her ethos behind the project: “Anything you do to give back always comes back to you.” 

Her goal is simple but powerful: humanize recommendations and reduce imposter syndrome, helping students see the possibilities in their careers sooner rather than later. 

Grace Hopper Celebration 2025 Highlights & Stats 

GHC 25 was invigorating, to say the least. This year’s Braindate experience sparked meaningful conversations across the entire conference, with: 

• 16,769 total Braindate connections 
• 1,127 one-on-ones 
• 582 group Braindates (that’s 10 new connections per group!) 

These sessions gave attendees a space to exchange ideas, get advice, and build relationships that will carry far beyond the week in Chicago. 

We also loved seeing everyone at the Faire Marketplace and Da Book Joint Bookstore. Thank you for stopping by, supporting local creators and booksellers, and enjoying our Unbound Beats pop-ups, as our featured DJs kept the vibes high all week long. 

Over at the Tech & Talent Expos, attendees explored cutting-edge demos, met companies ready to hire, and made connections that could spark their next big move. It was a powerful space to network, pitch your skills, and take a bold step toward your goals. 

 Our 2025 Abie Award Winners 

Announced live on the GHC 25 main stage, this year’s Abie honorees continue to inspire us with their impact and innovation: 

• Emerging Technologist Award: Spriha Deshpande, Senior Software Engineer, NVIDIA
• Technology Entrepreneurship Award: Meagan Turner, bio coming soon

Lifetime Membership Winners 

Congratulations to the attendees who won a Lifetime AnitaB.org Membership at GHC 25! 

Pritilekha Adhikari, Amy Swasey, Pallavi Maheshwari, Alana Giordano, and Lea Vega Romero. 

We can’t wait to see how they continue shaping the future of tech. 

Coral’s Advice & Takeaways 

Coral’s journey to GHC 25 and beyond underscores the power of boldness and putting yourself out there. She encourages aspiring technologists to leverage their skills not just for personal gain, but to create meaningful impact: “Your knowledge is leverage, but leverage without human-centric design is underused potential.” 

As a first-gen Latina, Coral emphasizes the importance of representation: showing others what’s possible when they see someone like them in tech. She also highlights the value of mentorship, networking, and creating visibility, reinforcing that building connections and sharing knowledge amplifies opportunities for everyone. 

Don’t Miss GHC 26 

For Coral, GHC is a life-changing, career-accelerating, and community-driven event, more than a tech conference. From inspiring keynotes to hands-on workshops and connections that last a lifetime, it’s the place to see your future in real life and to put yourself on the path to achieving it. 

Want to relive the magic? Check out Brenda Darden Wilkerson’s Opening Remarks and get inspired all over again. 

Don’t miss your chance next year! Sign up for the GHC 26 interest list today. Be bold. Be delusional. Be there.