Breaking Through Barriers to Reach New Heights at Cornell Tech: Noor EL-Hawwat

Noor El-Hawwat’s journey into the tech industry began with a simple decision to follow in her sister’s footsteps and major in computer science. However, what started as a straightforward choice soon blossomed into a passion for tech, combined with a drive to uplift underrepresented minorities, set her on a path that would lead her to Cornell Tech—first through its Break Through Tech program and now as a master’s student in the Master of Engineering in Computer Science program.

Founded by former Verizon CIO Judith Spitz, Break Through Tech is a Cornell Tech initiative that aims to provide Black, LatinX, Native American, low-income women, and gender non-conforming individuals the technical skills training, professional readiness support, and real-world project experiences to break into influential tech roles.

Currently, women make up only 35% of the tech workforce in the US. Break Through Tech’s programming works to bridge the gap by helping women from underserved backgrounds secure tech internships and launch their careers. They excel on their paths toward the industry through the opportunity to partner with companies in the wider tech industry, with more than 7,000 women from nearly 300 universities across the country participating to date.

Break Through Tech played a pivotal role in El-Hawwat’s decision to pursue her master’s degree at Cornell Tech. Reflecting on her experience, she describes the program as “unlike any other,” emphasizing the unique opportunities it offered. “It really sparked this positivity and optimism in me to get into other extracurriculars and become my best self – as a leader and advocate for marginalized groups,” she shared.

For El-Hawwat, the program was more than just a stepping stone; it was a transformative experience that helped her build confidence and solidify her passion for tech. “When I met the Break Through Tech participants and leadership, I felt like Cornell Tech and the tech industry would be places where I could belong,” she said.

Originally from Cedar Grove, Noor El-Hawwat received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Rutgers University-Newark. During her time in the Break Through Tech AI Program – a one-year extracurricular experience that equips undergraduate students with the skills needed to secure a job in the fastest-growing areas of tech, El-Hawwat participated in a machine learning foundations course, where she applied skills like data analysis and machine learning to tackle real-world challenges that pushed her to think creatively and collaborate closely with her peers.

As part of the program, El-Hawwat and her teammates were assigned a challenge project where they worked with industry-relevant tools and data-sets to identify the best location for a new coffee shop opening its first location in New York City. El-Hawwat and her team conducted extensive research on which factors made cafes in New York City successful, ultimately putting together a presentation that explored neighborhood datasets on everything from crime rate to budget and from access to transportation to foot traffic. El-Hawwat shared, “It was a very successful experience that brought out my best optimism to be an entrepreneur in the industry.”

El-Hawwat’s experience with the program also showed her how central the values of diversity, innovation, and entrepreneurship are to Cornell Tech’s mission. “As someone who wants to become an entrepreneur, the Break Through Tech program was something that stood out to me and made me eager to continue my journey with Cornell Tech,” she explained.

Her decision to pursue her master’s at Cornell Tech was inspired by a Zoom meeting she had during her time with Break Through Tech, where she had the opportunity to learn from current Cornell Tech students about their experiences. “I was really inspired by the thought of being in a space that embodied inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs,” she said. “Cornell Tech is made up of diverse and innovative individuals who want to contribute to the next generation of AI, who mutually inspire each other to create and work toward changing the world, and who can develop new creations through access to Cornell Tech’s resources. It’s a community where what might seem like a crazy ambition elsewhere can actually come to life.”

Now, as a master’s student, El-Hawwat is thrilled about the future. She’s eager to continue learning, growing, and contributing to the AI revolution that the institution champions. She believes that the close-knit environment at Cornell Tech, combined with the mentorship from stellar practitioners, will help her become “a whole other individual… in a good way, someone that I never thought I could be otherwise.”

El-Hawwat’s story is a testament to the power of programs like Break Through Tech in shaping the next generation of leaders. Her journey from a high school student with a budding interest in computer science to a confident, driven master’s student at Cornell Tech illustrates the impact of providing opportunities and support for women and underserved communities in tech. “It’s through all these things in union that I do feel like I belong here and that this is where I should continue my experience and education.”