The Women in Tech Job Fair & Career Summit 2024 brought together 2,000 attendees from around the globe, united in their mission to empower women in tech. The event began with a warm welcome speech from Anna Radulovski, CEO and Co-Founder of WomenTech Network, who addressed the importance of supporting women post-layoffs, particularly as women have been disproportionately impacted. Her words set the stage for a day filled with insightful discussions, personal growth, and meaningful connections.
Keynote Insights and Expo Exploration
The first keynote speaker, Professor Tracey Sigers, IT Department Chair at NCUS TEC Career College, captivated the audience with her session titled "Silent Ditch Digger: The Serial Killer of Dreams - Symptoms of Career Advancement Self-Sabotage." She urged attendees to recognize the ways self-sabotage can hinder career progression, challenging them to step into leadership in all aspects of their professional lives:
“Everyone at this event is a leader. Doesn’t matter what your job title says. You are leading in the environment you are.”
Next, Juliana Rabbi, International Career Coach & Strategist, shared actionable strategies in her session, "Negotiating Like a Pro: How to Negotiate Your Salary at Interviews." Juliana empowered women to enter salary negotiations with confidence, encouraging them to open the salary conversation early and focus on their non-negotiables:
“Understand what you want next. What are your non-negotiables?”
Meanwhile, the Expo area came to life, with booths from industry-leading companies like Akamai, EY, Huron, Identity Digital, Kyndryl, LucaNet, N-able, New Relic, NTT Data, and TerraSense Analytics. Participants visited booths, connected with recruiters, and attended the first batch of live meet-and-greet sessions with EY, NTT Data, N-able, and LucaNet, engaging in conversations about company culture and career opportunities.
Navigating the Corporate Ladder and Tackling Technical Interviews
Later, Dr. Denise Turley, Vice President of Corporate Systems at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, took the stage with her session "Tips for Navigating the Corporate Ladder." Dr. Turley provided practical advice on climbing the corporate ladder and emphasized the importance of empowering others through mentorship:
“It is your responsibility to empower those around you. You are a role model for some.”
Following her, Fatima Taj, Software Engineer at Yelp, shared valuable insights in her session, "What They Don’t Tell You About Technical Interviews." Fatima reminded attendees of the critical importance of both technical and behavioral interviews:
“A lot of people tend to underestimate the importance of behavioral interviews. But in reality, they are as important as the technical interviews.”
Participants continued to network and engage in 1:1 networking sessions, making meaningful connections with peers and industry professionals.
Personal Branding in the Era of AI and Securing Job Offers
Miri Rodriguez, CEO of Empressa.ai, then took the stage to present "Elevate Your Personal Brand in the Era of AI." Miri emphasized the power of storytelling in building a personal brand, urging attendees to leverage their unique stories to create an authentic brand:
“The foundation of your brand is your personal story. Your story makes you authentic.”
Next, Monique Montanino, Executive Career Coach & Tech Resume Writer, delivered her session, "Hit the Easy Button: 5 Steps for Obtaining a Job Offer." Monique offered attendees practical steps to optimize their job search, including improving their LinkedIn profiles:
“Your LinkedIn profile picture needs to be professional. Don’t crop out your friends just because you look sweet.”
After these sessions, participants flocked to the Expo area for additional meet-and-greet sessions with Akamai, Kyndryl, and New Relic, learning about career paths, open roles, and insider tips from recruiters.
Final Sessions: Networking, Resilience, and Empowerment
In the afternoon, Margaux Miller, Global Director of Community and Talent Learning at Toptal, shared her expertise in her session, "From Connections to Career: Online Networking for Job Hunting Success." Margaux encouraged participants to build meaningful relationships on LinkedIn, offering tips for growing a network:
“No, you don’t need to be an influencer, but you do need to focus on quality over quantity when reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn.”
This was followed by Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek, Founder of Your AI Roadmap, who discussed "Future-Proof Your Career: Resilience, Personal Branding, and Financial Freedom in the Age of AI." Dr. Bajorek explored how AI can help individuals diversify their skillsets and income streams, providing practical tools to stay resilient in a rapidly evolving job market: “50% of Americans have layoff anxiety.”
More meet-and-greet sessions with Identity Digital and Huron gave attendees another opportunity to connect with recruiters and ask career-related questions.
Closing Inspiration: Your Worth & Confidence
As the event drew to a close, Lamiaa Daif, Worldwide Strategy Leader at Apple, shared her session, "Unlock Clarity & Confidence: Decode Your Body’s Hidden Signals in 3 Powerful Steps to Success." She reminded attendees to listen to their bodies and avoid external validation traps:
“When I get that, then I will feel happy. With the when…then mentality, you are trapped in the external validation.”
Finally, Shelmina Babai Abji, Founder & CEO of ShowYourWorth.ai, closed the event with her session, "Creating Your Personal Success Plan." Shelmina urged attendees to craft a clear and intentional plan for their success, both personally and professionally:
“Your personal success plan guides you to say ‘yes’ to what matters and ‘no’ to what does not.”
The summit ended with one final round of 1:1 interviews, leaving attendees feeling motivated, empowered, and ready to take on new challenges in their careers.
With the support of sponsors like Akamai, EY, Huron, Identity Digital, Kyndryl, LucaNet, N-able, New Relic, NTT Data, and TerraSense Analytics, the Women in Tech Job Fair & Career Summit 2024 was a tremendous success. The event blended education, empowerment, and networking to create job opportunities for women in tech.
If your company’s values align with the mission of empowering women in tech, building a more diverse, and inclusive future, and hiring top female talent, consider becoming a sponsor with WomenTech Network.
If you enjoyed the event and are eager for more, don’t miss out on over 700 sessions, networking opportunities, and inspirational speakers at our 6th annual Women in Tech Global Conference 2025, May 20-22! Secure your Super Early Bird ticket for exclusive access, or consider purchasing group tickets for your team/ERGs.
