Women in Technology International – 27th Annual Summit
Monday June 21 – Friday June 25

SUMMIT PREVIEW

Here’s just a taste of what you can expect at the WITI Summit… More sessions and speakers being posted every day!

This year, the Women in Technology International Virtual Summit will be no ordinary conference. Even though the current state of the world keeps us from meeting in person, we’re bridging communication gaps and finding new ways to connect. Our global village is expanding. We will be providing you the advice, coaching, and inspiration you need, no matter your background or where you’re attending. With bite-sized sessions catering to all your interests, this Summit is a conference where you can tune in to whatever you want, whenever you want, by choosing from a variety of different events at a variety of different times. Take a look.

Featured Session

#001 – Special APAC Kickoff SessionNavigating Success
Tuesday, June 15
4:00-4:45pm IST / 3:30-4:15am PDT / 6:30-7:15am EDT

The pandemic has left us exhausted and burnt out, even as we embark on a path towards recovery. In this Fireside Chat, Sindhu Gangadharan draws from her personal journey to walk you through the invisible career rules that help you thrive in the workplace: owning your achievements, cultivating lifelong allies and mentors, and adopting a growth mindset.

  • Marti Evans, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, WITI (Moderator)
  • Sindhu Gangadharan, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Labs India

Pre-Summit Workshop

4:00-5:30pm PDT / 7:00-8:30pm EDT, Monday 6/21
  • #111 - 21st Century LeaderShifts: The Millennial Solution to Guiding the Next Generations of Leaders

    Monday, June 21
    4:00-5:30pm PDT / 7:00-8:30pm EDT

    In this workshop you’ll discover Sawubona (Zulu for “I see you”) Leadership – a revolutionary method, revitalizing every generation to create a shared future and an enduring path to profits through purpose and the power of our gifts.

    A new generation of leaders is ready to take on this challenge – provided they feel aligned with your vision and can use their gifts to do meaningful, purposeful work.

    Learn how to harness the natural gifts of your people so they have the Leadership Capabilities once only required of senior management to anticipate change and stay competitive. Experience the power of purpose to ignite a sense of belonging to something greater, and a deep commitment to the company’s success.

    Today if leaders are not willing to make the “shift,” they risk not succeeding in this century.

    Workshop Leader:
    Susan Inouye, executive coach, bestselling author of “Leadership’s Perfect Storm: What Millennials Are Teaching Us about Possibilities, Passion and Purpose,” and a leading expert on the changing landscape of leadership and millennials, has worked with over 600 companies in 40 industries for the past 20 years. She’s helped leaders to increase their companies’ productivity and profitability by making the “LeaderShifts” necessary to succeed. She shares a leadership style – proven successful in over 30 countries – known as “Sawubona Leadership” (Zulu for “I see you.”). This method has enabled her to turn around companies and cultures for over a decade.

Keynotes/Plenary Sessions

8:00-11:30am PDT, 6/22 thru 6/24
  • #231 - Welcome and Introduction

    Tuesday, June 22
    8:00-8:20am PDT / 11:00-11:20am EDT
    Michelle Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, Women In Technology International

  • #232 - Fireside Chat: The Future of Artificial Intelligence

    Tuesday, June 22
    8:20-8:50am PDT / 11:20-11:50am EDT

    Beena Ammanath, Executive Director, Deloitte AI Institute (Moderator)

    Kay Firth-Butterfield, Head of AI & Machine Learning, World Economic Forum

  • #233 - Racial Equity Audits Can Change Your Company for the Better - If You Do It Right.

    Tuesday, June 22
    8:50-9:25am PDT / 11:50am-12:25pm EDT

    There’s a lot of conversations about Racial Equity Audits these days, but not enough clarity about what it means and how it works. 2020 forced a broad and overdue reckoning with how deeply racial inequity runs in many institutions — including our nation’s workplaces. Many companies have responded with statements and pledges both symbolic and substantive. As they work to make good on those commitments to racial justice and equity, a racial equity audit can be an essential accountability tool. Or it can be a superficial exercise. In this session, learn from some of the nation’s leading experts on DEI audits about what an effective racial equity audit looks like, how it can help your organization, and what are the measures of success.

  • #237 - Be a Unique Star: Break All Ceilings

    Tuesday, June 22
    10:30-10:45am PDT / 1:30-1:45pm EDT

    Have you ever been told that you don’t have what it takes to emerge a winner? Have you ever been asked to scale down your aspirations because you were supposedly aiming too high? Well, we have Elizabeth Xu joining us to free you of these inane notions!  A celebrated technology leader and a strong proponent of owning one’s achievements and success, Elizabeth will shine light on how you can break the glass ceilings around you by crafting a unique personality, forging self-confidence, and building a strong support system.

    Elizabeth Xu, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, CP Group

  • #331 - The Changing Regulatory Environment of Diversity and Inclusion in Tech

    Wednesday, June 23
    8:00-8:15am PDT / 11:00-11:15am EDT

    New laws and regulatory practices have historically been the necessary change that has led to meaningful movement toward fairness in the workplace. The technology sector is under increasing pressure from government and regulatory bodies to demonstrate and meet commitments that ensure a diverse workforce. This session will cover the outcomes of recent changes in D&I laws, and set the stage for likely best practices that tech companies will need to incorporate in their future talent strategy and planning.

  • #333 - Entrepreneurs: Having Social Impact

    Wednesday, June 23
    8:35-9:10am PDT / 11:35am – 12:10pm EDT

    Join our global panel as we explore entrepreneurs who are focused on social impact. The world needs positive social change … and together we can all make a huge difference. What can one person do to create lasting sustainable change in the world? Our panelists will share their entrepreneurial journeys with you. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of the entrepreneurial journey and provide practical tips that can be implemented to assure impact. 

  • #334 - The Networking Journey to Success: What Goes Around Comes Around….

    Wednesday, June 23
    9:10-9:30am PDT / 12:10-12:30pm EDT

    Strong networking channels created over time are frequently the key to career success. The more senior the position, the more likely it was landed through an executive’s network.  Networking done through one-off meetings with excellent follow-on introductions and actions are valuable. However, it is also essential to realize that everyone we meet, connect with socially, or with whom we work, becomes a part of our personal eco-system and could impact us in unexpected ways. In this PowerTalk, Karen Cone – an experienced CEO and Board Director – shares her insights on how interactions throughout our career weave a web of connections that we can climb or can break us. Or, to quote Karen: “Beware of burning bridges.”

    Karen Cone, Venture Partner, Former CEO, Corporate GM, & Board Director

  • #335 - Never Be Bullied Again: How to Confront Toxic Bosses and Employees

    Wednesday, June 23
    9:30-10:15am PDT / 12:30-1:15pm EDT

    Is there anyone you know – and have to deal with – where an incoming text or email or voice mail from them or just the mention of their name puts a knot in your stomach? What if there were an immediately “doable by you” way to interact with them where you not only can stop avoiding them, but maybe even get them to behave in a civil manner? Bullying creates a miserable work environment that undermines performance and increases employee turnover.

    The only way to stop a bully — whether it’s your boss, colleague, or employee — is to confront them. How to do that effectively is vital. This workshop will train you to effectively deal with any and all toxic personalities in your professional and personal lives.

    Prep:

    1. Think about the most toxic and difficult people you have to deal with either as an employee, boss, or even an outsider.
    2. Be open and willing to learn effective techniques and tactics that will help you become proficient and confident in confronting these people.
    3. Come with a list of any questions you have regarding handling any conflicts you may now be avoiding.

    Mark Goulston, M.D., Physician & Author; Founding Member, Newsweek Expert Forum

  • #434 - The Future of Learning: The Opportunities and Challenges of Going Digital First

    Thursday, June 24
    9:15-9:50am PDT / 12:15-12:50pm EDT

    The Year 2020 had us all relying on digital technology more than ever before. Business, schools, and regular consumers went from using technology to survive, to considering what new opportunities a digital-first strategy could bring to their line of business or life. When it comes to learning, going digital offers an opportunity to drive more inclusion, broader choice, a more personalized curriculum based on data … just to name a few advantages. But digital-first can also deepen the gap between the haves and have-nots and by doing so broadening inequities, especially economic inequity. This panel provides powerful insights.

Wellbeing Sessions

11:30am - 1:00pm PDT, 6/22 thru 6/24
  • Announcement Coming Soon.

Breakout Sessions

1:00-2:00pm PDT, 6/22 thru 6/24
  • #251 - This Ain’t Your GrandMa’s Supply Chain!

    Thursday, June 24
    10:15am-10:50am PDT / 1:15-1:50pm EDT

    Think you don’t have a supply chain because you don’t manufacture widgets or cars or devices? Today every company is part of a complex interconnected supply chain. From the laptops we use to type our emails to the software that connects us to our CRM and ERP systems in the cloud, every business is dependent on a functioning and resilient supply chain to succeed. In this panel we bring together top supply chain experts from the largest security companies in the world to explain what powers today’s supply chains, how you can improve your organization’s hard and soft supply chain security, and what you need to know to be ready for tomorrow.

      • Diana Kelley, CTO & Co-Founder, Security Curve (Moderator)
      • Edna Conway, Vice President, Chief Security & Risk Officer, Azure, Microsoft
      • Angel Grant, Vice President, Product & Marketing Strategy, f5 Security
      • Sujata Ramamoorthy, Senior Director, Information Security, Cisco
  • #351 - The Female Perspectives on Navigating an Agile Career

    Wednesday, June 23
    1:00pm-2:00pm PDT / 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT

    As the world moves through the complexity of COVID, the need to respond competitively to shifting market demands is imperative. And that means organizations are experiencing an unprecedented focus on lean operations, delivering customer value, and investing in employee engagement. These are principles at the core of Agile, which means the demand for Agile roles and experience is substantial, and increasing. If you are navigating a career move or just curious about Agile, we have gathered a panel of experienced female agilists with varying career journeys. Our panelists will share three different Agile career perspectives: Agile Product Management, Scrum Mastery and Leadership, and Agile Software Development. Learn what different Agile roles entail, and ask your questions about tips, challenges, and successes in becoming an active architect of a career in Agile.

  • #451 - Agtech: Women Innovators Revolutionizing How our Food is Grown

    Thursday, June 24
    1:00pm-2:00pm PDT / 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT

    Climate change has brought a growing number of challenges to farmers in the U.S. and internationally. Farmers face the pressure to feed an estimated population of 10 billion by 2050. A fast-growing sector called AGTECH has emerged and opened doors of opportunity to women entrepreneurs and innovators who are creating the technologies to tackle issues from a severe labor shortage to water and land management issues. Join this engaging discussion with women leaders in agtech.  

  • #452 - What Role Do Male Allies Need to Play?

    Thursday, June 24
    1:00pm-2:00pm PDT / 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT

    What roles can men have in creating positive change for women in technology? This unconventional panel offers guidance and points of view on taking strong steps forward in creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging. They’ll provide practical information from their own experiences in being allies, while also discussing how to challenge and overcome systemic barriers. A major focus will be the concept of an “allyship continuum,” along with strategies to shift from the apathetic end of the spectrum to action and advocacy in our daily lives and workplaces.

  • #252 - Post-COVID Healthcare: Telemedicine & Personalized Patient Experience

    Tuesday, June 22
    1:00pm-2:00pm PDT / 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT

    Now more than ever there is a focus on telemedicine, remote care, and improving the patient experience through technology. This conversation will dive into the innovations in healthcare, digital transformation, security, and privacy – as well as career opportunities in healthcare.

    • Niha Srivastav, Regional Vice President, Women In Technology International
    • Garima Srivastava, Administrative Director, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford & Stanford Children’s Health

Coaching Circles

2:15-3:15pm PDT, 6/22 thru 6/24
  • #261 - Fight Impostor Syndrome to Boost Your Confidence and Advance Your Career

    Tuesday, June 22
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Do you hesitate to speak up because you worry that you’ll sound foolish? Do you question whether you have what it takes to successfully perform your role? Do you worry that the people around you are so much better qualified than you are? If so, you likely struggle with Impostor Syndrome, a term for the feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy many professionals face, particularly as they reach higher levels of success. Here you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Impostor Syndrome and its effects on high-achieving professionals. You’ll also identify common triggers of Impostor Syndrome and key strategies for overcoming feelings of self-doubt.

    Kim Meninger, Executive Coach, Executive Career Success

  • #262 - Three Secrets to Successfully Communicate in Times of Chaos and Uncertainty

    Tuesday, June 22
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Communication is the key to success in life, work, and relationships; especially in uncertain times, it will decide whether we win or fail in navigating a crisis. And yet, often enough we face situations where our message turns into error, misunderstanding, or frustration, simply because it was misinterpreted or maybe poorly delivered. And we’re left with a feeling of being lost in translation. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Come learn simple strategies for powerful conversations and how to become a successful and effective communicator. Consequently, your relationships will improve, new career opportunities will cross your way, and you’ll develop and experience a greater sense of presence and balance professionally and personally. 

    Kristina Albert, Executive Coach & Leadership Advisor, Leadership Excellence

  • #263 - Career Advancement for Asian Americans

    Tuesday, June 22
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Learn why Asian American professionals are the LEAST likely group to be promoted from individual contributor roles into management. Discover what holds us back and what we can do to overcome the gaps in order to get promoted and become impactful leaders.

    Manuela Pauer, Career/Leadership/Happiness Coach, Pauer Coaching

  • #264 - Navigating/Thriving in the Post-Pandemic Workplace

    Tuesday, June 22
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Have you considered what it will take to thrive in the post-pandemic workplace? Pre-COVID19 work environments have been permanently disrupted. Post lockdown, both employers and employees will have to adapt and evolve to survive, and potentially thrive going forward. According to Forbes magazine, 26% of business leaders think their organization’s “new normal” will mean more employees working from home. Remote workers can feel isolated and find it difficult to create the networks, relationships, associations, teams, and gain the recognition needed to advance their organizations and careers. Join this session to discover strategies for maximizing success in this global Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) atmosphere.

    Jovita Jenkins, Executive/Leadership Coach, GOOYOW GROUP LLC

  • #265 - Luck is NOT A Strategy for Success

    Tuesday, June 22
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    How do you plan the next five years of your career? Will technology changes affect your current job? How can you be strategic? It is time to pick your future! Come hear about successful and proven methods to lay out your potential career steps. Our coach speaks from hard-earned experience: she held 26 positions in her 36-year career at Lockheed Martin, elevating to Resident Director of the Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific with over 430 employees supporting the D5 Trident II Missile and submarines.

    Carol Evanoff, CEO/SME, MYCS/SPA

  • #361 - Authentic Self-Promotion Strategies to Raise Your Visibility

    Wednesday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Many women are reluctant to actively promote their value because it feels self-serving or inauthentic. Rather than promote themselves, they prefer to believe that their work will speak for itself. Unfortunately, without the confidence and commitment to share your value with others, you may lose out on important opportunities to raise your visibility, make a bigger impact, and advance within your organization. In this interactive session, you’ll learn practical, actionable strategies to help you authentically promote your value across your organization. 

    Kim Meninger, Executive Coach, Executive Career Success

  • #362 - The Transformational Power of Changing Your Perspective

    Wednesday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    As women in tech, we are continually faced with contradictions: be smart but not intimidating, be assertive but not bossy, be successful but not a show-off. What if instead of looking at who we are supposed to be or how we are supposed to act as binaries, we embraced the many facets of who we are and how to look at a challenge? Enter the power of reframing. By examining challenges through new perspectives, you have the power to unlock new realities never possible before. In this coaching circle, we will explore how to reframe common scenarios like giving and receiving feedback, quieting the inner critic, managing impostor syndrome, and more. 

    Lia Garvin, Senior Program Manager at Google & Executive Coach

  • #363 - Helping Kids (and Families) Stay Safe Online

    Wednesday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Over the past year, as our homes transformed into offices, classrooms, movie theaters, and more, the Internet became even more critical to our lives. It allowed us to stay connected and productive, while we stayed home and safe. But it was not without its challenges. Our children were ushered into online spaces for school, for entertainment, and for social connections by necessity; with it came parental guilt and concerns about our children’s safety. As we transition through the pandemic, what have we learned? What new uses of the Internet did we adopt as families that are worth keeping? Which ones are not? In this session, you’ll hear practical tips for helping your kids use the Internet in safe, positive, and productive ways. But you’ll also have a chance to reflect on your family’s relationship with technology over the past year, and consider how to focus on its benefits now and in the future.

    Lynette Owens, Founder & Global Director, Internet Safety for Kids & Families, Trend Micro

  • #364 - Coach YOURSELF with Powerful Questions

    Wednesday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    The benefit of having a coach is proven. However, you may not have access to a coach at the moment you feel the need. In this session, you will learn several powerful questions and techniques to guide you through both challenges and opportunities, from dealing with difficult people, failures, or new opportunities that you don’t know what to do about. Sitting down in a quiet place with a piece of paper and a pen can do wonders to get more clarity. 

    Keiko Munechika, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Daisuki Consulting

  • #461 - Walking the Tightrope: Mastering the Balance between Likability and Respect

    Thursday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    As women in traditional workplaces, we are often confronted with a double bind – show up as likable and be seen as less competent or worthy of leadership, or show up as competent and risk being seen as less likable. This often leaves us feeling as though we have a very fine line, or tightrope, to walk. In this session, you’ll learn strategies to challenge the double bind and develop your own authentic leadership style.

    Kim Meninger, Executive Coach, Executive Career Success

  • #462 -Your True Power: Discover a Cutting-Edge Tool for Connecting to the Genius in You

    Thursday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    Have you ever been in a situation where you were stuck – spinning out in your head, not able to find an answer to a problem, or with too many ideas but not a clear choice? It can be frustrating, overwhelming, and stressful. (I know. I’ve been there.) Chances are we limit ourselves to discovering the answers to our concerns using only a limited portion of our brain. Essentially, we cut ourselves off from our own genius. In order to make clear, innovative, masterful decisions, we need to be able to tap into all our mental, emotional, sensory, and physical resources. In this session you’ll have the opportunity to experience a revolutionary whole-brain, physical, and sensory process based in neuroscience called Regenerating Images in Memory (RIM) and discover what it can be like to use all your senses to connect to the genius in you. 

    Jane Barr, Executive Coach, Kinnexion

  • #464 - Creating Your “Perfect Work” - How to Go From Bored, Burned Out, and Unfulfilled to Highly Paid, Doing Work You Love

    Thursday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    No matter how much money we earn or how successful we look to others, we can all get to a point where we grow bored, burned out, or unfulfilled in our work. You may want more passion, freedom, meaning, or influence in your work right now, yet have no idea where to start, what “Perfect Work” looks like for you, or how to overcome your fear of the risk to get it. This session will equip you with a systematic process to redesign your ideal career or business and create a winning strategy to get highly paid doing work you love, no matter the economic climate. If you’re itching to change careers, start a business, or bring a big idea to life, this is a session you don’t want to miss!

    Renessa Boley Layne, Founder, Creating Your Perfect Work

  • #465 - Power Up Your Online Presentations and Public Speaking

    Thursday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    The pandemic showed us that online training is here to stay. Influencing others takes skill, so let’s power up your presentations and public speaking. If you are a Platform speaker or train others, carry an important message and offer great value, but find you would like to learn more tips, tricks, and techniques to scale up your enrollments and engage others into your call to action (CTA), join us. We will address: lighting, how to use your screen effectively, learning the 4 Keys to Vocal Variety, spicing up your presentation content, and finding creative ways to engage your audience, and much much more. When you enjoy what you do, your audience knows it, and it fosters the truest form of engagement.

    Janet Janssen, Coach/Speaker/Author, Janet Janssen Services

  • #463 - How Will You Shape the Future?

    Thursday, June 23
    2:15pm-3:15pm PDT / 5:15pm-6:15pm EDT

    “The only certainty is change…” This past year, if nothing else, taught us that we may do everything “right” and think we have a solid idea of what the future holds, but that can all change very quickly.  And now that the pandemic is coming to a close and our lives are coming back to some semblance of “normalcy,” we can’t help but notice the exponential growth that has occurred in some areas of the tech industry.  Artificial Intelligence has been this futuristic far-away idea for most of our lives, until now.  You can love it or fear it, but it’s not going away, it will only continue to be intertwined in our everyday lives at an increasing pace. The only choice we have is to embrace this brave new world we find ourselves in.  What part will you play in this next evolution of tech? Will you be a bystander on the sidelines waiting to see if your job will somehow avoid the chopping block, and hope that AI will  be used for positive impact on humanity … or are you ready to take an active role in shaping the future?  This is a call to all the women out there to take action and decide what role you want to play and what you will do to create the future of our world.

    Tina Ambrosini, Success Coach, Creativosity

Speed Networking/Birds of a Feather

3:15-4:00pm PDT, 6/22 thru 6/24
  • Announcement Coming Soon.

Workshops: Post-Summit Workshop

1:30-3:30pm PDT / 4:30-6:30pm EDT, Friday 6/25
  • Announcement Coming Soon.
Join our colleagues across the globe
APAC Track
India / Malaysia / Singapore / Thailand
5:30-7:30pm IST / 5:00-7:00pm PDT
6/23 and 6/24
  • #001 - Special APAC Kickoff Session

    Navigating Success
    Tuesday, June 15
    4:00-4:45pm IST / 3:30-4:15am PDT / 6:30-7:15am EDT

    The pandemic has left us exhausted and burnt out, even as we embark on a path towards recovery. In this Fireside Chat, Sindhu Gangadharan draws from her personal journey to walk you through the invisible career rules that help you thrive in the workplace: owning your achievements, cultivating lifelong allies and mentors, and adopting a growth mindset.

    • Marti Evans, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, WITI (Moderator)

    • Sindhu Gangadharan, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Labs India

ANZ Track
Australia / New Zealand
9:00-11:00am AEST / 4:00-6:00pm PDT
6/22 and 6/24
Africa Track
2:00-3:00pm WAT / 6:00-7:00am PDT
6/24