Code with WIE 2026 – Workshop 2
August 8, 2026 · 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM @ Online event
Description
As part of the Code With WIE 2026 workshop series, the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Sri Lanka Section Affinity Group successfully conducted its second workshop, "Ideas to Implementation," via Google Meet. Following the first workshop, which introduced participants to emerging technologies and innovative approaches, Workshop 02 focused on the journey of transforming an initial idea into a meaningful and user-focused digital product. The session was designed to provide participants with practical knowledge of product management, digital innovation, and the key considerations involved in developing solutions that address real-world needs. The workshop aimed to help participants look beyond the idea itself and understand how thoughtful planning, user understanding, product strategy, and effective execution contribute to building impactful solutions for the Code With WIE 2026 competition.
Agenda
The session was moderated by Ms. Thulanya Dewasurendra from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. She welcomed the participants and introduced the objectives of the workshop, highlighting the importance of moving from creative concepts towards practical and implementable solutions. The welcome speech was delivered by Ms. Lohansa Sesandi, Vice Chair of the Technical Activities Subcommittee of the IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group of Sri Lanka and Project Vice Chair of Code With WIE 2026. Her remarks set the context for the session and encouraged participants to make effective use of the knowledge shared throughout the workshop. The main session was conducted by Ms. Melissa Diaz, a Product Manager with over seven years of experience in fintech, payments, mobility, and enterprise technology. As a CSPO and CSM-certified Agile professional and an IIT Sri Lanka alumna, she brought valuable professional experience and practical perspectives to the discussion. During the workshop, participants were introduced to the product development journey and gained insights into how ideas can be evaluated, refined, and transformed into solutions that provide genuine value to users. The session emphasized the role of product thinking in identifying user needs, defining meaningful solutions, and making informed decisions throughout the development process. The discussion also provided participants with an understanding of how innovation and execution work together, demonstrating that a strong product requires more than an interesting idea. Practical considerations such as understanding the target users, defining the problem clearly, prioritizing features, and continuously improving the solution were highlighted throughout the session. The workshop concluded with an interactive Q&A segment, allowing participants to engage directly with the guest speaker and seek further clarification on product management, innovation, and digital product development.