Amira Boutouchent, Julie Tousignant and Catherine Proulx, Ubisoft Women in tech ambassadors, visited Silicon Valley last April 29 to May 3 as part of the trade mission seeking to promote Quebec’s expertise and to draw inspiration from technology giants.
They share their thoughts on this exceptional adventure.
The mission started in almost familiar territory at Ubisoft’s San Francisco offices. My colleagues in California organized a warm reception for us at the welcome seminar. There were presentations on Silicon Valley and what makes it such a fertile area for tech and innovation of all kinds.
I’m thrilled to be surrounded by so many inspiring women during this journey, including my peers from the Women in Tech initiative: Amira and Catherine.
Our next stop was Airbnb’s headquarters. After going through security worthy of the White House, we went on a tour to get immersed in the company’s vibe. Three employees came to speak with us about their career path and the day to day at Airbnb. They were so authentic and transparent that I loved hearing about their experiences. This stop seemed a good omen for upcoming meetings and set the bar high.
Third stop: Facebook. The social media giant has to live up to its global popularity. The company has become a genuine tourist attraction and teems with visitors from around the world. This visit was a bit less exciting but nonetheless impressive. And why shouldn’t it be topped off with some delicious ice cream?
We finished the day on Plug and Play’s beautiful, sunny terrace. This company connects tech startups with renowned and well-established companies in the industry. After speaking with a few of the company’s representatives (not enough!), we Montrealers got together to talk about our respective experiences.
It was a lively day that set the stage for what’s to come.
Julie Tousignant
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. As a result, the Chamber cannot be held responsible for published content.
About the trade mission to Silicon Valley
The trade mission to Silicon Valley, led by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal in partnership with Ubisoft, was presented by the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation. The trade mission was made possible through the cooperation of CN and the participation of the Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec, Montréal International and our official carrier, Air Canada.