While Ithohan Ero became a software engineer at Google, where she builds YouTube Shorts creation tools that are used by millions of people, she took advantage of every opportunity to further her knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math – and now she wants to empower others.

Ero’s STEM Foundation

Ero’s mother, an educator, showed the UCLA graduate the power of knowledge, exposing her early to the value of lifelong learning. 

“She encouraged me and my siblings to prioritize education, believing it would lay the foundation for success,” Ero stated. 

Her mother’s encouragement and emphasis on education laid the foundation for Ero’s early fascination with STEM. In seventh grade, she joined an engineering internship at California State University, Long Beach, which allowed Ero to explore engineering disciplines alongside other middle school girls. 

Furthering her STEM exposure, Ero attended a STEM-focused high school, where she focused on designing and programming robots for regional competitions through VEX Robotics, a program for elementary through university students. 

While this and prior opportunities were foundational to Ero’s STEM journey, it wasn’t until a summer internship with Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science, that Ero began to see herself in the field. 

“Girls Who Code gave me the confidence to pursue a career in computer science and made me feel like I truly belong in tech,” she noted. “It was inspiring to see women leading innovative breakthroughs in the field. It made me realize this was something I could truly pursue.”

Success at UCLA

Driven by academic ambition and the promise to empower others and support her community, Ero attended the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. There, she was drawn to the Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity and the Women in Engineering at UCLA, both of which are dedicated to supporting students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. 

“Growing up in LA, I always admired UCLA, and being able to experience my hometown through the lens of a Bruin has been incredible,” Ero said. “UCLA felt like home. The energy, the camaraderie and the incredible faculty — it was the perfect place to grow.”

Feeling like she found a place to belong, Ero joined the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at UCLA. Despite not being new to NSBE, having attended a regional convention in high school with her brother, the UCLA chapter offered Ero a support system and pathway toward professional growth. 

Eventually, Ero served in a leadership role, serving as the president of NSBE at UCLA. Under her leadership, the chapter won UCLA Samueli’s Overall Student Group of the Year award, with its membership more than doubling (growing from 35 to over 85 students). 

Ero also organized a UCLA Faculty Lunch event to connect Black Students with over 17 UCLA STEM professors, raising more than $11,000 with her team in just one month to send members to the NSBE National Convention. 

“Giving back to an organization that had such a profoI’m proud of on me was amazing, and there were so many moments and initiatives I’m proud of,” Ero shared. “Some of my favorite moments were building connections with other Black engineering students. Those friendships and mentorships have lasted beyond college.”

Working at Google

For two summers, Ero interned as a software engineer at Google before she landed a full-time role. While she helps build new projects at Google, the UCLA graduate also pushes herself technically, working to refine the balance between functionality and user experience. 

“It’s incredible to work on a product that so many people engage with,” Ero added. “The level of detail that goes into developing these tools is intense. It’s pushed me to grow as both an engineer and a problem-solver.”

Remaining acutely aware of the challenges Black women face in STEM, Ero wants to empower others toward a future where more Black women will feel confident stepping into tech and organizations like NSBE and Girls Who Code can grow from support systems and launch the next generation of engineers. 

“Being in a field where you don’t always see people who look like you can be intimidating,” Ero concluded. “But that’s why representation matters so much. Don’t count yourself out before you even give yourself a chance. You never know what you’re capable of until you try.”