Two students win US apprenticeship with global data center giant

Park Place Technologies has been doing its bit to promote gender diversity in the IT industry.

The data center hardware maintenance provider has today announced the winners of its apprenticeship competition, in partnership with I Wish (Inspiring Women In STEM).

The initiative is intended to teach young women more about career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Emma Brennan, from Cork Institute of Technology, and Amy Dolan from University College in Cork, both graduating in 2021, have been chosen from entrants across Ireland to win a 10-day externship with Park Place Technologies including an all-expenses paid trip to North America.

The students will visit Park Place Technologies' offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Cleveland, Ohio to work with mentors within the firm, gain insight into career opportunities and experience working in a technology business and participate in leadership training to develop their leadership and communication skills.

At the end of the placement, both winners will deliver a presentation to Management and C-Suite Executives.

"The lack of female participation in STEM means we are leaving 50% of our talent pool behind. The opportunity for women in Irish and global STEM careers is unlimited. As a leader in our field, we believe we have a responsibility to help address this imbalance and this is one of the key reasons why we set up this initiative in partnership with the IDA and I Wish," says Park Place Technologies chief marketing officer Jennifer Deutsch.

"The judging process was incredibly difficult and many of the entrants would have been great ambassadors for Park Place Technologies. We look forward to meeting competition winners Emma and Amy and welcoming them into our offices. We are confident this initiative will foster STEM ambitions among Ireland's young women".

I Wish co-founder Caroline O'Driscoll is excited about the new partnership.

"Each year we welcome thousands of girls to the I Wish events, but we want to continue to support these girls as they enter STEM courses in college and onwards into the workplace so that they remain connected to the I Wish family," says O'Driscoll.

"Hands on experience in STEM with a global company is an amazing opportunity and I am sure that Amy and Emma will have an incredible experience.

In regards to their selection for the initiative, Amy Dolan and Emma Brennan are looking forward to the opportunity.

"I am honored to have been selected onto this placement and the opportunity to gain valuable experience with a company that is so passionate about innovation. The theory you learn at college is of course important, but this will give me the opportunity to experience first-hand what a career in STEM is really like and I cannot wait to get started," says Dolan.

"I'm so grateful to have been chosen as I can imagine the competition was fierce for such an opportunity like this. I am both nervous and incredibly excited and want to make sure I make the most of this unique opportunity. I hope I will look back on this moment in the years to come as the catalyst for my career in STEM," says Brennan.