Fall In Love with the Problem, Not the Solution (1st Offering)
Presenter: Salma Aly
Date: Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (2 hours in length, this will count as 2 points(MAC students))
Location: 4th Floor (Workshop space) at 300 Ouellette Avenue (School of Computer Science Advanced Computing Hub)
This workshop focuses on mastering project presentations by shifting the mindset from simply showcasing solutions to deeply understanding and communicating the problem being solved. Participants will learn how to structure their presentations, engage their audience, and confidently handle tough questions. The workshop introduces key storytelling techniques, interactive exercises, and a structured framework to craft compelling project pitches. Through hands-on activities, students will refine their communication skills and receive peer feedback in preparation for demo day.
This workshop covers the fundamentals of impactful project presentations, emphasizing why the problem matters before diving into the solution. Participants will explore:
- The importance of framing problems effectively to engage the audience.
- Strategies for structuring presentations using the Why, What, and How framework.
- Methods to handle tough questions and adapt to different audiences.
- A mini demo session, where participants present and receive feedback.
● Basic Understanding of Project Development – Familiarity with the problem their project addresses, its target audience, and its technical aspects.
- Willingness to Engage in Interactive Discussions – Participants should be ready to present, receive feedback, and refine their storytelling through hands-on activities
Salma Aly, the founder and CEO of BlinkTech Solutions and a PhD student at the University of Windsor. Her research interests are Generative AI, IoT testing, and cybersecurity. She received her M.Sc. in computer science from The American University in Cairo, Egypt. Her master's was focused on artificial intelligence (AI). Salma started working in the industry after she received her bachelor’s. She worked as an intelligent automation engineer, Python developer and digital marketing data analyst.