IBMers in ACTION

At age 12, Diana Hellman was helping her mother with groceries when she noticed the shape and material of the popcorn bottle had changed. Instead of a glass bottle with a wide opening, it was now a plastic bottle with a narrow opening. Hellman realized the indentation on the bottom was designed to lock them together. This realization sparked her interest in engineering.

Today, Dr. Hellman works as a senior engineer in IBM Tucson. She's an active volunteer with IBM Exploring Interests in Technology and Engineering (EXITE) camps. The mission of the camp is to empower middle-school girls in the fields of math, science and engineering.

"I love getting the campers excited about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and seeing them realize that they can actually do it," says Dr. Hellman.

Nicknamed "Dr. D," she has helped students with a range of projects in what she calls her "Wizard Lab" over the years. One activity she does every year is to have campers make glow-in-the-dark "slime" from polyvinyl alchohol (glue) and borax. It's always a big hit, especially when she turns off the light. The girls get excited when their containers glow.

"I always make sure to include the science explanation of what is happening," says Dr. Hellman. "They should understand that it's not magic-there are real reasons explaining the behavior they're seeing."

Dr. Hellman also volunteers as an e-Mentor - answering questions students may have about a career. "Hearing the perspective of a seventh or eighth grader is often refreshing," says Dr. Hellman. "Making a difference in the campers' lives is what keeps me motivated to be part of EXITE every year."

Alex Maldonado, an IBM electrical analyst, successfully finished a four-week community based assignment in Brazil as part of IBM Corporate Service Corps. He volunteered with Instituto Empreender (IE), a nonprofit that provides job training and education for disadvantaged and at risk youth groups. During the post, Alex and his team offered the organization trainings and solutions to improve the architecture of their online database system.

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Helle Valentin, a director of operations for IBM Denmark has traveled to Morocco as part of IBM Executive Service Corps - a philanthropic program that provides technology related assistance to cities in emerging markets. In the city of Rabat, Helle and other five IBMers from around the world, helped devise a plan for an integrated and efficient transportation system. Often called a "corporate version" of the Peace Corps, the program aims to turn IBM employees into global citizens.

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Luba Cherbakov's winding journey to becoming an IBM Fellow - the 13th woman to achieve the company's highest technical honor - began with her decision to leave native Ukraine. After decades of hard-fought progress, the new Fellow is now at the forefront of IBM's transition into a social business.

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Paranee Reymondon, a communications specialist for IBM Thailand, volunteers at Nature and Agriculture Education Centre (NAEC), devoting her time to promote ecosystem conservation through environmental education. She believes educating young people can help create a culture that appreciates peaceful coexistence with nature.

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