Adaobi Nwatu arrived at WIRED Summer Program with a clear goal: to learn from industry leaders and accelerate their path into the profession. As a student completing a B.Sc. in Data Science for Political Science and Journalism at The American University, they were determined to take advantage of every opportunity, from classroom discussions to one-on-one conversations with WIRED editors.
Why did you choose the WIRED Summer Program?
“WIRED is a notable journalistic organization. I chose to study there because of the journalism benefits: for all of the journalism perks, meeting editors, talking, pitching ideas, understanding their lens, and understanding what makes a good writer.”
Rather than viewing the program primarily through a tech lens, Adaobi approached it as an opportunity to accelerate their development as a journalist.
“I treated this as a boot camp for fast-tracking my journalism career, really expanding my story and my voice.”
What did you gain from the experience?
For Adaobi, the greatest value came from being proactive and speaking to industry leaders.
“Having the channel of communication from someone who is not only a respected professional, but is in one of the markets that I’m trying to break into… you can’t put a price tag on that.”
But the program also reinforced something bigger.
“You owe it to yourself to be distinct and special. You owe it to yourself to get your name circulating. You owe it to yourself to create an identity for yourself, to stick to your morals and your values, and show up as the person that you are in an authentic way.”
This readiness also means being willing to step outside your comfort zone and embrace challenges along the way: “I think just as a principle for myself, you can do anything that you put your mind to if you’re truly willing to work for it because it’s not going to be easy, and you almost don’t want it to be. I think some things being easy take away the satisfaction in the gain. I think WIRED reinvigorated my desire to introduce tension in my life.”
Did the program influence your future plans?
Before joining the program, Adaobi already had plans for further education. By the end of the summer, they had a clearer vision of what that future might look like.
On the program, Professor Gregory Donovan’s teaching sparked a new interest in the relationship between technology, cities, and public life.
“I am now looking into a master’s or doctoral program that combines urban planning, design, and technology.”
Today, Adaobi is researching programs that blend data science, policy, design, and innovation.
“WIRED helped me think and commit to a path of furthering my education. It has given me a better direction on how and when.”
Tell us about your final project.
Advocacy is central to how Adaobi approaches journalism, technology, and public policy. Whether this involves analyzing data, writing, or researching policy, it is all motivated by a belief that education and information should empower people.
For Adaobi, this means:
“Using my journalism background to give an ear to stories and people who have been unheard, I am grassroots, I am advocacy. I think it is important to give voice to the voiceless, and there are so many outlets and so many means that you can do that… I do think that there’s something important about being a public servant and really dedicating yourself to either a cause or multiple causes.”
This philosophy set the tone for Adaobi’s final project ‘Returning to Entry Zero: Surveillance Technology, Digital Infrastructure, and Federal Regulation.’
Adaobi’s capstone project focused on one of the most pressing topics facing society today, data privacy. The team explored the relationship between surveillance technology, and the vulnerabilities surrounding public trust and government oversight.
“Our global issue was the lack of federal oversight and regulation in regard to data privacy and protection.”
The group examined real-world surveillance technologies before developing recommendations aimed at improving accountability and transparency.
The solution? “Pause development, audit the current systems that exist, assess areas of effectiveness, and identify vulnerabilities. Our solution requires a thorough internal investigation of the current operations of our federal government when it comes to regulating private tech companies. Our goal was not only to study that relationship, but to analyze its effect on public tech ecosystems.”
Beyond the classroom
Outside of lectures and assignments, Adaobi said some of the most valuable experiences and insights came from connecting with other students.
“Education is the key, and that can happen outside the classroom, but if you’re surrounded by other people who are committed to that environment, that is where it really happens.”
They formed lasting connections with other students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and enjoyed collaborating with their capstone team beyond the program.
“Everyone was kind of different… which is good because you want diverse perspectives.”
This diversity of thought helped shape discussions and challenged students to think about the world through different lenses.
Reflecting on the true purpose of education, Adaobi viewed the program as a blueprint for how to approach life: “Pursue a craft and be challenged by those around you so that you can be a better person. I think you should try to live your life like that. The experiences that you have, whether personal, professional, academic… treat them each as a learning opportunity.”
What advice would you give future students?
Adaobi’s advice was simple: make the most of every opportunity.
“Let yourself have fun. Ask questions… Maybe you were quiet in high school. Take these four weeks to be loud.”
Most importantly, Adaobi encourages students to arrive with an open mind and a willingness to learn from everyone around them.
“Everything is basically dependent on what you do.”
Final thoughts
Adaobi reflected on the value of education and why programs like WIRED matter. When asked to leave future students with one final takeaway, their experience can be summed up in a single sentence:
“I think the WIRED program does not demand that you become a better student. It simply demands that you become a better you.”
Looking Ahead
Take it from Adaobi:
“There was me and one other journalist, a language student, a creative writing student, some comp-sci people, and some business people… We had underclassmen, freshmen, sophomores, and upperclassmen like myself. The oldest person was in a master’s program. You get to see yourself and see where you could be going.”
In a room full of different ambitions, experiences, and perspectives, you catch a glimpse of the many paths a future can take.
Where could WIRED Summer Program take you next?
