Give To Gain: When Support Leads to Success
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give To Gain,” emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. But what does that look like in practice?
For Devanshee Vankani, it meant giving her time, leadership and energy to uplift other women in engineering and IT and gaining a career opportunity in the process.
Her journey reflects the very heart of the Women in Engineering and IT (WiE&IT) Program in the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University.
From Graduate Assistant to Sorority Builder
As a Graduate Assistant with the WiE&IT Program during her time as a Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering student specializing in Software Engineering, Devanshee played an active role in strengthening the student experience for women in the field.
She helped run events and study sessions designed to bring students together, introduced them to mentors and industry professionals, and supported initiatives that created meaningful career and networking opportunities. Her work helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional pathways.
Devanshee valued the opportunity to create connections beyond academic work.
“A new undergraduate student came to me sharing her fear, as it was the first week and she wasn’t confident about the field she had chosen. We had an hour-long conversation about how she could figure things out. I ended up sharing some of my very personal stories that I had never told anyone before. We developed quite a nice bond; even though she wasn’t from the same field as me, we still had this connection,” she shared.
Creating a sense of belonging and confidence became her motivation. By helping others step forward, she also strengthened her own leadership and professional skills.
Setting Up the Standard
Now celebrating its five-year anniversary, the WiE&IT Program was one of the first initiatives of its kind in post-secondary institutions in Canada.
It was created to intentionally support women in fields where they remain underrepresented. Through networking, mentorship, peer support and soft-skill development opportunities, the program has built a structured environment designed to foster both academic success and professional growth in hopes of closing the gender gap in STEM.
Over the past five years, it has created opportunities that have impacted the lives of nearly 1500 women students and also changed trajectories.
Devanshee’s story is one of the many that demonstrates the program’s impact.
When Uplifting Women Comes Full Circle
Through the events she helped organize, Devanshee connected with representatives from Fullscript, one of the program’s valued partners.
Partners play a critical role in the program’s success. Their contributions make mentorship initiatives, networking events and professional development opportunities possible. By actively engaging with students, they invest in the industry’s future.
In time, those connections can lead to opportunity.
“At the WiE&IT Career Fair is where I found Fullscript. I spoke with many companies and was looking for something very specific. It felt like the best match for me, so I contacted them about my interest and got the chance to interview and then join them full-time,” recalled Devanshee.
Today, Devanshee works as a Developer II, Fullstack at Fullscript. In addition to her work as a developer, she has applied her leadership skills, now mentoring her first intern at the company.
“During my time as a Grad Assistant, we ran study sessions for women students who would like to get some assistance in academics or in life in general. That was exactly where I learned how to teach and be patient, because I observed that every single student was unique. Everyone has their own way of grasping things, their own pace for learning and that is exactly what I am applying right now,” she added.
Her journey reflects the essence of “Give to Gain.”
By dedicating her time to supporting and empowering students, she gained confidence, professional experience and meaningful relationships in the industry. By investing in the program, partners like Fullscript gain access to motivated, community-minded talent ready to lead and overcome barriers.
“Devanshee has grown from a fresh intern into a core member of the team who now owns significant parts of our work and drives them independently. She consistently follows through, takes initiative and delivers at a high standard. She’s someone the team genuinely depends on, and we can’t imagine our team without her at this point.” said Vladyslav Kalashnyk, Engineering Manager at Fullscript and Devanshee’s direct supervisor.
“Fullscript first connected with her through a Carleton University event and we’re grateful to the university for creating spaces like that. It’s a direct and effective way to meet strong talent and build meaningful long-term connections,” Vladyslav added.
Five Years of Impact and Work as a Community
As the WiE&IT Program marks five years of impact in 2026, it does so with gratitude.
Stories like this are made possible through the commitment of our partners: CAE, Gastops, Alstom, CIRA, Ciena, Honeywell, PCL Construction, Ross Video, Amdocs, The Department of National Defence – Digital Services Group, EllisDon, Ericsson, Ford Canada, Fullscript, Hydro Ottawa Group, March Networks, Nokia, Solace and WSP Canada.
Their support, along with the support of past partners, has helped sustain a pioneering initiative that continues to expand support, networks and build confidence among women in engineering and IT.
On March 8 and Every Day, The Work Continues
International Women’s Day has been observed for 115 years, since 1911, as a testament to the enduring effort to advance equity and opportunity for women.
Programs like this at the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University demonstrate what advancement looks like in action. When institutions create intentional spaces for support, when partners invest in emerging talent and when students step forward to uplift one another, lasting change becomes possible.
Today, the program stands as proof that when we give (mentorship, advocacy, opportunity), we all gain.
And for students like Devanshee, that gain becomes transformational.