CED 2026 Agenda

Inyong Kim & Joseph Doyle AutdeskPanel | ROOM 1A Join Autodesk employees and SJSU alumni as they share their career journeys, lessons learned, and insights into building a successful career in industry. Panelists will discuss how their roles have evolved, the technical and professional skills they have found most valuable, and advice for students preparing to enter the workforce. Featured panelists include Inyong Kim, Autodesk Vice President and SJSU alumna, and Joseph Doyle, Senior Director of Information Security Engineering at Autodesk and SJSU graduate. Together, they will offer perspectives from leadership, cybersecurity, responsible AI, and other areas of the technology industry while encouraging students to explore the many paths an engineering career can take.

Smriti Jha | ROOM 2B When we see someone land an elite role or achieve a major breakthrough, we love to call it "luck" or "overnight success." Why? Because calling it luck protects our ego—it gives us a convenient excuse to stay comfortable. But behind every major win is a massive, hidden volume of failure that nobody posts on LinkedIn. Out of 68,000 global applicants for Google’s Associate Product Manager cohort, only 15 received offers—a 0.02% acceptance rate. I was rejected after seven grueling rounds of interviews. I accepted another job, moved on, and closed that chapter. Then, two weeks before the program started, I got an unexpected phone call: a spot had opened up, and they wanted it to be mine. In this high-energy session, I’m challenging the way we view failure, discomfort, and perceived disadvantages. You’ll learn why success is actually a volume game, how small daily habits compound into massive opportunities, and how to stop running from rejection so you can start using it as fuel.

Monique Michel | ROOM 1B Led by Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development leader Monique Michel, this interactive professional development workshop is a great starting point for beginners and beyond to build essential skills and stand out in interviews and careers. Through targeted exercises and practical frameworks, attendees learn how to align their unique strengths with their career goals to build an authentic personal brand and master modern networking strategies.

Melinda Mendolla, Irfana Asif Applied Materials | ROOM 3 Join Applied Materials professionals as they share their personal journeys from college to careers in engineering and technology. Through real-world experiences, challenges, and lessons learned, panelists will offer valuable insights into navigating the transition from academia to industry, exploring career opportunities, and building a path toward professional growth and success.

Sahiti Hibane | ROOM 2A An interactive workshop designed to help engineering students turn their college experience into real career opportunities. Through practical exercises, students will learn how to identify and communicate their skills, turn class projects into strong resume experiences, network authentically, leverage AI responsibly, and approach internships and entry-level opportunities with greater confidence. The workshop will combine personal lessons from a recent SJSU Software Engineering graduate with hands-on activities and an open Q&A.

Karen Pham & Max Rothe | ROOM 4B Build a paper airplane prototype as a mini project that encompasses certain technical specs and a scope. After, present to the customer (Max and I) on why certain design was use, what type of paper for production & why, and any other features they would include w/ pros and cons.