Using the Power of Technology and Diversity to Lead in the COVID-19 Crisis

Seven of Ada’s Team’s nine executive members.

The experience of COVID-19 is to be both a mass participant and a singular individual. Everyone has their own tales to tell, and mine is the story of a Chinese international student; a woman studying computing science at the University of Alberta. I came to study in Canada to encounter a different culture and to share my knowledge with my classmates. Moving online necessarily transformed that experience. And even though I had a sense that the university would close after hearing about the preventative measures my family was taking back home in China, the online transition of classes, extracurriculars and an internship was still a bit of a bumpy ride.

As an international student and a woman in a male-dominated discipline, I’m keenly aware of the benefits of inclusion and gaining perspectives from worldviews other than your own. Moving online diluted the experience of learning and sharing that I came to Canada for, but diversity also afforded enriching engagement in the digital sphere. For example, the in-person events planned by Ada’s Team⏤the student group I’m in⏤had to be cancelled, but together, the group was able to organize and execute our final, and most important event of the year: our Annual Election.

Ada's Team's online election

Associated with the Computing Science department, Ada’s Team aims to promote diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), with an emphasis on technology. We support and provide opportunities for the advancement of marginalized groups including but not limited to gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, sexuality, and class. Ada’s Team was the first place I felt seen and had a sense of belonging in Canada, and in my first year, they funded me to attend the Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing⏤the largest gathering of women technologists and allies in the country. For the group’s 400 plus members, Ada’s Team provides a safe space to attract and retain diverse students in technology. From the growing number of members, sponsors, and international opportunities awarded, the student group exemplifies the power and the success that can be found in collaborating with individuals from diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

To maintain our standing as a student group, we have to host an annual election, which traditionally occurs in person. To digitally host an election, we had to devise an efficient and secure process to collect eligible votes. Recognizing the talent on your team and providing opportunities to shine are important leadership skills. Thanks to the diverse STEM expertise in Ada’s Team, we could call on a multitude of skills and perspectives. Our executives had experience in building web applications, databases, and project management, so we decided to create an app to automate and facilitate the election.

We had multiple virtual meetings discussing the architecture and the technologies to be used in the app, decomposed and allocated the tasks, and communicated updates with one another regularly via Slack. I played a major role in the execution of this project, leading the development of the database and deployment of the application on a website our members can access. We were able to complete the online application within two weeks and successfully conducted the election in April, thanks to teamwork and effective leadership and followership.


A photo of the homepage taken from the Ada’s Team election app.

Technology and diversity are tools to lean on during challenging times

I’m proud of our team’s ability to address the adversities and adaptive leadership challenges that were part of making our annual election a success. Despite our various obligations, including classes and internships, we were passionate and dedicated to seeing this app to completion⏤an indication of how highly Ada’s Team ranked among our priorities, even during a crisis. The student group’s impact, mission, and legacy resonated deeply, providing an anchor during uncertain times.

We require a collective effort in solving the world’s problems and we must not exclude anyone from contributing, especially during a worldwide crisis. If we take the extra steps to ensure inclusivity, then we will find diverse, driven individuals motivated to produce elegant, sustainable solutions that address the needs of everyone in a timely manner. I believe using the power of technology and diversity to lead can expedite progress in addressing COVID-19. Tapping into those talents will enable people to walk out of their homes and greet the sun, knowing we’re one day closer to the end of the pandemic!

Xinyue Xiang is a Peter Lougheed Leadership College Scholar and an Undergraduate Computing Science Student.

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