- Lella Halloum learned to code at the age of eight and participated in her first hackathon at 11.
- Now 18, she's using her passion for tech to make the world better.
- She is the mastermind behind the global hub encouraging students and employees to unite for the future of work.
- This article is part of "The New Creators" series, a collaboration between IBM and Insider Studios that celebrates the visionaries creatively applying technology to drive change in business.
Lella Halloum discovered a passion for technology early in life.
She taught herself how to code at the age of eight. By the time she was 11, she had already participated in her first Women in STEM hackathon.
Now 18, Halloum adds founder to her resume as the mastermind behind zStudents, a program that evolved from IBM's zSystems Champion program. She approached IBM with the idea to create a global, youth-focused online community for students that would empower them to network online beyond the typical classroom. The result: The IBM Global Student Hub, a guide that helps students prepare for the future of work.
Using technology as a force for good
In today's always-online world, technology often gets a bad rap. But Halloum wants to change that.
"I strive daily to make IT a catalyst to fulfill the purpose and passion of my peers, rather than allowing technology to negatively consume them," she said.
So when a world tragedy occurs, Halloum thinks about how she can use technology to help. In August 2020, when an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, killed hundreds of people and left thousands homeless, she co-founded Al-Wasl.Connect, an open-source platform to coordinate the distribution of humanitarian aid.
She also became the youngest-ever IBM zSystems Champion, an honor awarded to individuals who exhibit practical expertise in IBM technologies and provide support and advocacy in IBM digital and local communities. Halloum was named a champion for approaching technology in new and creative ways to reach other women and youth in STEM.
"I strive daily to make IT a catalyst to fulfill the purpose and passion of my peers, rather than allowing technology to negatively consume them."
Halloum's work aims to meet the United Nations' sustainable development goals, including quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities. For her efforts, she received the Diana Award in 2021, named after Princess Diana of Wales and envisioned to empower young people to make an impact. Halloum is a frequent UN and IBM speaker, giving her a voice to help guide social issues that affect her generation.
"It's so important that young people are at the center of these decisions and efforts to work toward the global goals," Halloum said. "Instead of having my generation sit back and allow decisions to be made about us without us, I really want to ensure that we could enable all young people to have equal access to having their voices and visions for a more equitable tomorrow be heard."
Navigating an uncertain future
As a student in the UK, Halloum had originally planned to finish school, take her exams, go to college, and find a job. But her path shifted in 2020 when the exams she had worked toward for the last 12 years were canceled. She realized nothing in life was certain.
Instead of letting these unforeseen circumstances stand in the way of her career ambitions, Halloum decided to get creative. She no longer looks for a specific career or job title. Instead, she wants to make an impact and achieve social good, particularly for underserved and underrepresented communities. She strives to collaborate with others — particularly other women and youth in STEM — and uses design thinking to achieve her goals.
I think particularly as a young person, I have lots of visions and dreams, and often frustrations, for the world that we currently live in. Creativity is my ability to have rebel ideas and to think big and cast visions for a youth-centered and future-focused tomorrow.Lella Halloum
That creative thinking led Halloum to design the career she wanted — one that leverages her hard skills while embracing her empathy and changemaker attitude. Today, she's melding humanitarian efforts with technology instead of strictly focusing on computer science. Her key focus is helping students apply technology like IBM Z, hybrid cloud, and AI to design a career path that aligns with their goals and values.
Halloum has learned to embrace uncertainty. She loves the challenge of ever-evolving technology and digital platforms, and that her work isn't predetermined. She gets to choose the course of her own future, and as a trailblazer, she will continue to ensure other young people and women do, too.
Learn more about Lella Halloum and IBM's other inspiring new creators here.
This post was created by Insider Studios with IBM.