The far-reaching impact of software in our diverse society demands that software developers understand the implications of technology development in people’s lives and work. As educators, we have a unique opportunity—and, I would argue, a responsibility—to create learning environments where students engage with authentic project situations that allow not only technical skill development but also an ongoing reflection on the human and team dynamics involved in software development for a diverse society. Technologies reflect the teams that create them, so it is crucial for students to understand the connection between the quality of their work and how they collaborate with each other and with the people they build technologies for. In this talk, I aim to spark a discussion about the possibilities and challenges of creating learning environments where students become deeply engaged in both their learning journey and the software development process. Using examples from the INSPIRE: STEM for Social Impact program at the University of Victoria, I will describe the implementation of and experiences from a community-based research and innovation hub (INSPIRE) that blends collaborative, experiential learning with societal impact. Through community-engaged projects, the students become fully engaged with those affected by the solutions they design, as well as supportive mentorship within an academic and industry network. Most impactful, they engage in a journey of personal growth through collaboration within diverse teams, learning how different perspectives contribute to the creation of better technologies.