CISI X Girls Who Impact

On an evening centered around questions such as “Should I join a big company?” “Should I start my own business?” and “How do I break through career bottlenecks?”, the Carnegie International Student Institute (CISI) was honored to support and participate in this career networking event co-hosted by Matchify and the Northwestern University Chinese Students and Scholars Association (NUCSSA). We believe that authentic and diverse career stories are essential to young people’s growth.

The forum brought together professionals from well-known companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, and CRA, as well as speakers with extensive experience in consulting, investment, and entrepreneurship. The atmosphere was highly engaged, with in-depth discussions throughout the evening. Participants explored topics including how to identify the career path that truly fits you, how to balance ideals with reality, and the journey from early-career professional to cross-disciplinary talent, gaining valuable insights and perspectives.

🎙 Speaker Highlights:

Chenlin (TPM at Microsoft & Co-founder of a startup)
Shared how to build strong product capabilities within a large tech company while simultaneously engaging in AI healthcare entrepreneurship, exploring the real-world impact of technology implementation.

Mitch (Former Product Manager at Cisco & Real Estate Entrepreneur)
Discussed his transition from Silicon Valley tech to Texas real estate investment, and how product thinking can support structured decision-making.

Patricia (Strategy Consultant & Co-founder of Matchify)
Explained how she empowers early-career professionals through platform-building, helping them develop intrinsic motivation for career exploration.

Vanessa Wang (Strategy Consultant at CRA & Co-founder of Matchify)
Drew on her experience in consulting, entrepreneurship, and women’s community building to examine the possibilities and flexibility of diverse career paths.

🎤 Selected Participant Feedback:

“Not empty buzzwords, but real experiences that truly resonated.”
“It was my first time hearing speakers discuss careers from the perspective of stepping outside traditional paths—very inspiring.”
“Hope there will be more sessions like this: relaxed, yet full of substance!”

CISI remains deeply committed to the real academic and career development needs of young people in the United States. Moving forward, we will continue to support youth-led, youth-focused, and practice-oriented career exploration events—helping more international students find their own direction across diverse pathways.