Sessions: WomenTech Global Conference

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Session	Speaker	Share to Vote
Tara Rezvani Engineering Lead at Wing	Women of Impact: MBA Journeys that Led to Transformation and Career Growth Join our panelists of accomplished women in tech, as they share their transformative MBA experience. The panel will deep dive into their motivations for pursuing Business School - ranging from career pivots, professional growth, leadership development and networking. If you’re curious about pursuing an MBA, or are currently in business school, this panel is for you! Get ready to hear about the highs, lows, and unexpected twists these panelists have navigated while balancing full time jobs, personal lives and school. Expect candid insights, tangible advice, and reflections on each… read more
Rika Nakazawa Group VP, New Ventures & Innovation at NTT	Are You Ready to Sustainably Create and/or Consume, and at the Speed of Light? As Gen AI technologies proliferate across governments, societies, and industries (especially Web 3, XR, Metaverse) the demand for computing infrastructure to power digital systems and economies will skyrocket. Data volume globally is expected to 16X in the bookends of 2018 and 2030, with commensurate energy demands to multiply 13X in the same window. This will mean more data centers, equipment, cabling, servers, GPUs, and power - MUCH more power - that is already unevenly distributed globally. This is not sustainable. But there is a way forward by moving from Electronic to Photonic… read more
Kim Lenox VP of Design at Amplitude	From guesswork to greatness: using data in product design In an increasingly complex and data-driven world, product designers must adapt to rapidly changing user expectations, from ease of use to an instant understanding of the customer. Product designers today don’t just design individual products, but complex, seamless, and integrated platforms. In this session, Amplitude’s VP of Design, Kim Lenox, will explore why ecosystem design and critical thinking are not just nice-to-haves, but essential skills for product designers to thrive in today’s tech and AI-driven world. Kim believes that “the future belongs to those who connect the dots,” stressing… read more
Reetal Pai CIO at Teichert	Build Communities Not Just Networks Do you cringe at the idea of networking or dread the small talk at large gatherings? What if there was another way to build authentic, long-lasting relationships to support your personal and professional growth? Join us as we explore the gaps in traditional networking models for women and share our experiences in fostering meaningful connections based on shared values and purpose. We will delve into the transformative power of building communities that go beyond traditional networking, enhancing your professional journey, providing a nurturing environment for growth, and creating lasting… read more
Maria Colacurcio CEO at Syndio	Business lessons learned from being a fitness world-record holder In addition to being the CEO of Syndio, a pioneer in global pay transparency, Mara Colacurcio is also a world-class, record-holding HYROX racer. Maria embodies how women can redefine leadership on their own terms. Breaking records in HYROX's intense hybrid fitness sport while simultaneously leading a startup, she dismantles outdated narratives about female leadership and athletic achievement. Colacurcio reveals how the mental toughness forged through punishing competitions—combining distance running with functional fitness challenges—directly translates to navigating the demands of… read more
Shadan Ashfaie Senior Technical Program Manager at Kaiser Permanente	Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management with AI/ML: Predicting the Unpredictable In today’s fast-paced and increasingly volatile business environment, supply chain resilience is a top priority for organizations. While systems like Coupa and Rapid Ratings provide valuable insights into supplier performance, they often rely heavily on historical and static data. This approach can leave organizations vulnerable to unforeseen disruptions and risks. What if we could go beyond evaluation to prediction? In this talk, I’ll explore how AI and machine learning can enhance these existing tools by leveraging predictive models and external data integration. By shifting from… read more
Ying Li Product Lead at Meta	Harness LLM/GenAI to Elevate Your Existing Products In this section, I will explore how businesses can effectively harness the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI) to enhance and elevate existing products. Drawing from my expertise in growth, monetization, and AI, I will share actionable insights on how to integrate these advanced technologies into products that are already in the market, ultimately improving customer experiences and creating new revenue streams. Participants will learn about the impact of AI technologies on product development, the steps to incorporate LLMs and GenAI into their… read more
Simran Yadav Senior AI and Data Consultant at EY	Mastering Prompt Engineering: Unlocking the Power of Generative AI for Business Impact This session can focus on: 1. The fundamentals of prompt engineering and how it enhances AI responses 2. Best practices for crafting effective prompts in enterprise applications 3. Real-world use cases in financial services, healthcare, and marketing 4. Ethical considerations and biases in prompt engineering 5. How women in tech can leverage prompt engineering to drive innovation Did you like this session? Share to vote.
Celeste McNeill VP Human Resources at ImageX	Effective Team Leadership in Remote and Hybrid Development Environments As development teams increasingly shift to remote or hybrid setups, leading such teams comes with unique challenges. This session will focus on actionable strategies, best practices, and tools that enhance team collaboration, communication, and productivity in remote and hybrid environments. Attendees will gain insights into building cohesive, high-performing teams while navigating the complexities of distributed work. Did you like this session? Share to vote.
Mahak Shah Software Engineer - P3 at Splunk (Cisco)	The Growth Mindset Revolution This talk explores practical frameworks for sustainable skill development, introducing the concept of learning portfolios and the three pillars of continuous learning. Drawing from real-world experiences, we'll examine strategies for overcoming common challenges like imposter syndrome and technology overwhelm, while building a supportive learning ecosystem that promotes both individual and community growth. Did you like this session? Share to vote.
Lauren Kwan VP of Global Marketing at Plus	Building trust in autonomous trucking The autonomous trucking journey is at a pivotal point – after years of research and development, we are moving from promise to reality, from testing to commercial deployment. The road ahead isn’t just about perfecting technology; earning trust is also a critical piece. How do we bring the world along on this journey? At Plus, we are building and deploying autonomous driving software on factory-built driverless trucks with the world’s most trusted global commercial vehicle makers – TRATON Group and its International, Scania, MAN brands, IVECO, and Hyundai. Our autonomous trucks… read more
Pranami Jhawar Sr. Software Engineer at Microsoft	Enhancing Security and Efficiency with OAuth for Authentication and Authorization In today's interconnected digital landscape, securing user data and managing access control are of paramount importance. OAuth (Open Authorization) has emerged as a robust framework that provides a seamless and secure method for token-based authentication and authorization. This presentation will delve into the core principles and mechanisms of OAuth, exploring its evolution from OAuth 1.0 to the more advanced OAuth 2.0 protocol. We will examine the practical applications of OAuth in enabling third-party access without compromising user credentials, and discuss best practices for… read more
Tanya Janca Staff Developer Relations at Semgrep	Using Artificial Intelligence, Safely Artificial intelligence is increasingly prevalent in software development, and as a result its safe and responsible use has become critical. We will dive into risks, such as unchecked decision making, AI agency, lack of validation, broken or missing oversight, and sensitive data exposures. We will also provide constructive insights on leveraging AI for code development, vulnerability detection, threat modeling, design assistance, and more. Through real-life examples and practical advice, this session will help you develop with AI, safely. Did you like this session? Share to vote.… read more
Hanna Abdel Hamid Head of Sigma Software Canada at Sigma Software Group	Unveiling Unconscious Bias: Exploring the Hidden Forces Shaping Our Perceptions In this engaging keynote speech, we will delve into the intricate world of unconscious bias, shedding light on the hidden forces that shape our perceptions and decisions. We'll start by exploring the origins of unconscious bias, its various forms including racial, gender, and age biases, and the significant consequences it has on individuals, organizations, and society. Through captivating research insights and real-life examples, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how bias influences our thoughts and actions. We will then focus on actionable steps to counter… read more
Sarah Wall Director, Business Analysis at Info-Tech Research Group	Harmonizing Work and Life: Mindfulness, Balance, and Remote Flexibility Many people strive to achieve work-life balance maintaining an equilibrium between the time devoted to one's job and the time allocated to personal life, family, health, and other non-work activities. It often implies a separation between work and personal life and creates a sense of trade-offs, where one's career success is weighed against personal life satisfaction. Consider looking at work-life balance through an alternate lens of striving for work-life harmony. Harmony suggests a more integrated and flexible approach to combining work and personal life. It… read more
Sarah Wall Director, Business Analysis at Info-Tech Research Group	Harmonizing Work and Life: Mindfulness, Balance, and Remote Flexibility Many people strive to achieve work-life balance maintaining an equilibrium between the time devoted to one's job and the time allocated to personal life, family, health, and other non-work activities. It often implies a separation between work and personal life and creates a sense of trade-offs, where one's career success is weighed against personal life satisfaction. Consider looking at work-life balance through an alternate lens of striving for work-life harmony. Harmony suggests a more integrated and flexible approach to combining work and personal life. It… read more
Marissa McNeelands CEO & Co-founder at Toast	Diverse by Design: Crafting AI with Inclusivity In this compelling TED-style talk, Marissa McNeelands, CEO and co-founder of Toast, explores the urgent need for diversity in AI, particularly in recruitment. The session will uncover the ethical challenges and biases deeply embedded in AI systems. Marissa will share groundbreaking insights from Toast’s innovative approach - using AI not just to screen candidates in, but to ensure women and underrepresented groups aren't unfairly screened out. The talk will conclude with an interactive Q & A, diving deeper into individual queries and collective insights on forging a more inclusive AI… read more
Amber Foucault Vice President of Product, Applications at Dayforce	Integrating AI and ML into the Product Development Process In this talk, Amber Foucault, VP of Product Applications at Dayforce, will share tactical strategies and leading methodologies to integrate AI and ML into the product development process – no matter the organization or team size. Amber’s unique experience, including launching 70+ products throughout her career in startups and enterprise, will highlight a scrappy approach to innovation and deliver tangible takeaways. Topics covered will include problem identification, team configuration, and strategic and structural options – all best practices for testing and integrating innovation quickly… read more
Pooja Kelgaonkar Senior Data Architect at Rackspace Technology	Data Strategy for AI Adoption Discuss how organizations can develop and implement effective AI strategies, including considerations for selecting the right data and AI strategies. Did you like this session? Share to vote.
Jess Johnson Technical Lead at Fullscript	AI Advocacy in Engineering: Translating Tech into Business This talk will explore the pivotal role engineers play as AI advocates within their organizations, acting as a bridge between technical AI development and business strategy. We delve into "The Engineers Playbook", providing practical strategies, tools, and illuminating case studies to empower engineers to effectively communicate the benefits and investments of AI to non-technical stakeholders. We will also discuss how to inspire engineers to own their expert title, motivating continuous learning about AI advancements and their business impact to foster a culture of relentless… read more