2025 Agenda

Welcome to Women in Tech USA 2025! Join us for the official opening and welcome remarks to kick-start your day with inspiration and empowerment!

Our two-day agenda is filled with expert-led sessions focused on our theme, Leading the Digital Revolution; Adapt & Thrive, where you can expect sessions focused on the two key elements to help you survive and thrive in the AI era - strategic awareness of disruptive technology and a plan to build and retain talent with the right skills to be able to develop that technology in your organization.

The success of any organization has been led by the one crucial element that without it, an organization wouldn’t exist - its people. Amid an industry-wide skills gap, taking a people-first approach is essential to build and drive an organization’s tech strategy forward. 

In this session, we’ll explore how a people-first approach can highlight gaps in your workforce, and your tech strategy, while also exploring the connection between tech and HR people leaders and why this has never been more critical to success.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your tech strategy needs to starts with people, and not the tech
• The skills needed to empower a future-forward tech organization
• Centering human-based skills in a world that is becoming more autonomous

Speaker to be announced...

The introduction of the National Cybersecurity Strategy in 2024 saw the US government announce a guiding set of principals aimed at strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity capabilities through collaboration and continuous improvement. Advancements in technology and geopolitical tensions in the past year have proven that organizations cannot ignore or downplay a heightened landscape and must build cybersecurity into every element of their infrastructure. Join this session to explore the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the steps needed to enhance your security measures.

Key Takeaways:

• How advancements in AI are driving and impacting cybersecurity in organizations
• Modernizing cybersecurity for future tech to protect your infrastructure and data
• Tackling the growing skills gap of cybersecurity professionals

Speaker to be announced...

2024 saw many organizations drop DEI initiatives and teams from their strategy, yet still recognise the need for a focus on creating policies that promote inclusion to all. In this session, we'll explore the narrative around DEI and the need for evolution in order to sustain its impact and ensure that underrepresented communities aren't left behind.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning how to speak and drive DEI in 2025
• How to quieten the noise and focus on the metrics and business benefits
• Centering policies on Inclusion and Belonging

Speaker to be announced...

This presentation explores the unique challenges and opportunities of stepping into "first-ever" roles or pioneering new paths within organizations. Through real-world stories and actionable strategies, attendees will learn how to build trust, align stakeholders, and lead with confidence in uncharted territory. Discover how to embrace uncertainty, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change in environments where no precedent exists. Whether you’re leading a digital transformation, launching a new initiative, or breaking new ground in your industry, this session provides the insights and tools needed to thrive as a trailblazing leader. Empower yourself to navigate the unknown with purpose and impact.

The Why: Through real-world stories of success and failure, you will learn how to drive transformation and lead through uncertainty. Learn how to lead through imposter syndrome, doubt, and ambiguity to become a future ready bold leader.

Key Takeaways: 

• Being strategic during times of rapid change and uncertainty
• Overcoming cross-functional barriers
• Staying confident and overcoming imposter syndrome

This session is for... you if you are responsible for driving change in your organization, dream of being a change agent, or want to find your voice in a company where it feels like change is happening to you and not for you.

In recent years, advanced technologies like AI have driven unparalleled innovation, while also demanding vast amounts of data. Yet stories are still needed to transform data into impactful narratives. As Daniel Kahneman said, “No one ever made a decision because of a number. They need a story.” In this session, we will explore storytelling frameworks and craft our own stories using work-related situations. Participants will learn how to weave data into authentic and impactful stories. Bring your creativity! Use your own case studies and data, or example sets we provide. 

The Why: Stories are not just for children; they play an essential role in conveying context, depth, and understanding. Yet, in today’s fast-paced world, the art of storytelling is dwindling. The pressure to deliver cutting-edge solutions rooted in data can cause us to focus more on the technological advances of our solutions and hard data rather than the human narrative and experience they should embody. 

Key Takeaways:

• Knowing when to leverage storytelling, and how to structure your story the right way 
• How to select the right data to compliment, not compete with, your story
• Sharing your story for maximum impact 

This session is for...

• Those who want/need to influence key stakeholders 
• Those who struggle to move beyond data 
• Anyone who wants to create more compelling presentations in their work

Join our speakers and career specialists at the Career Advice Hub to get direct advice on your personal and professional development that’s specific to you and your challenges. When arriving for your slot, be sure to be prepared with your challenges that you are interested to discuss with the speaker, so that you can make the most of the time allocated.

Please note that slots are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Appointments are held for 10 minutes so please do arrive on time to make the most of your time.

Slots in the Career Advice Hub are available on the below time blocks:-

• 11:35 - 11:45
• 11:50 - 12:00
• 12:05 - 12:15
• 12:20 - 12:30

Speakers for the Career Advice Hub are to be announced...

The AI revolution is not just transforming industries; it’s introducing the next era of innovation with Agentic AI—intelligent systems that act autonomously to drive decisions and create value. In this session, we'll explore how Agentic AI is shaping the future and discover how to prepare for the challenges ahead including the growing AI skills gap, navigate emerging cyber risks, and how to adopt ethical AI practices that align with this technological evolution. Learn to harness Agentic AI for competitive advantage while ensuring data security, integrity, and ethical governance. Equip your organization with the tools and strategies to adapt, lead, and thrive in a dynamic digital landscape.

The Why: Agentic AI is the next frontier of innovation, offering unprecedented opportunities to optimize and transform business operations. Attendees need this session to understand how to leverage Agentic AI responsibly while navigating the skills, policies, and safeguards critical to thriving in an AI-driven world.

Key Takeaways: 

• Practical approaches to closing the AI skills gap and retaining top talent in the era of Agentic AI.
• Tools to mitigate cyber risks and ensure the secure integration of Agentic AI technologies into your organization.
• Insights into ethical AI governance and strategies for navigating the global policy landscape as Agentic AI shapes the future.

This session is for...
You if you are a leader, strategist, or professional aiming to future-proof your organization, stay competitive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, and leverage Agentic AI responsibly and effectively.

This session will provide an in-depth look at the unique challenges we face, from data management and model training to deployment and monitoring MLMs. Rachita will share real-world use cases that they have encountered at Lyft encounter, and how they go about handling vast amounts of data, ensuring model accuracy and reliability, and maintaining performance in a dynamic production environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the challenges involved in scaling ML models in a large tech company.
• Practical tips for managing and preparing data.
• Best practices for developing, deploying and maintaining ML models.

Join our speakers and career specialists at the Career Advice Hub to get direct advice on your personal and professional development that’s specific to you and your challenges. When arriving for your slot, be sure to be prepared with your challenges that you are interested to discuss with the speaker, so that you can make the most of the time allocated.

Please note that slots are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Appointments are held for 10 minutes so please do arrive on time to make the most of your time.

Slots in the Career Advice Hub are available on the below time blocks:-

• 1:40 - 1:50
• 1:55 - 2:05
• 2:10 - 2:15
• 2:20 - 2:30

Speakers for the Career Advice Hub are to be announced...

Session details coming soon...

47 years ago, Joanne Woytek launched a career focused on a human-based interface using datasets and connecting technology with NASA scientists to perform groundbreaking analysis and insight. Her career has been built on a foundation of management, customer, and technical expertise resulting in her becoming a leader and architect of the largest and most success US Government-Wide IT contract.

In this session, we'll explore Joanne's many accomplishments as the first transgender woman to transition at NASA, and the guiding principles that she has used to promote collaboration and innovation in teams where people are the driving force behind success.

The Why: The buzzwords of technology, AI, Cloud, Blockchain, etc. can clutter the road to success. All are a means to an end, and are not ends in themselves. Attendees need to know how they, not the buzzword of the day, are the change agent. 

Key Takeaways:
To make sense of what you see you need to pay attention - the primary ingredient for a successful and ever changing career, organization and life.
Guiding principles for creating a staff-centric organization utilizing technology as a tool and people as the driver.
Diversity of self, people, and thought create a revolutionary environment.

This session is for...

• You if you are tired of all the AI talk and want some HI (Human Intelligence) talk.
• You if you are looking for practical insights into building a successful technology-based organization with human-based values.
• You if you want to be challenged to embrace and drive change in your strategy, your profession, yourself.

Recent years have seen the growing impact of technology on democracy and public policy where tech products and leaders are becoming increasingly influential in global relations and strategy. In this session, we’ll explore the relationship between tech and policy, its impact on our society and how shifting global relations can open long term opportunities for the growth of industries like semiconductors. Should tech be leading policy, or policy leading tech?

Key Takeaways:

• Technology's influence on democracy in action.
• How policy and global relations are evolving tech products and strategy.
• The impact of tech policy on underrepresented communities.

Join our speakers and career specialists at the Career Advice Hub to get direct advice on your personal and professional development that’s specific to you and your challenges. When arriving for your slot, be sure to be prepared with your challenges that you are interested to discuss with the speaker, so that you can make the most of the time allocated.

Please note that slots are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Appointments are held for 10 minutes so please do arrive on time to make the most of your time.

Slots in the Career Advice Hub are available on the below time blocks:-

• 3:15 - 3:25
• 3:30 - 3:40
• 3:45 - 3:55
• 4:00 - 4:10

Speakers for the Career Advice Hub are to be announced...

In this session, we'll explore the transformative potential of GenAI to drive efficiency and productivity within software develpment teams. Viveca Pavon-Harr will showcase a real-world example of how GenAI can be used to streamline code transformation and how to use prompts to innovate faster and deliver high-quality software solutions.

Key Takeaways:

• Using GenAI to streamline code transformation.
• AI prompts to increase efficiency in software development teams.
• How to implement and scale AI strategies faster using pre-made tools.

Join Janel for an inspiring session that blends two decades of leadership in technology with a forward-thinking vision for the future. As Chief Operating Officer at PS2G, and head of the Energy & Utilities division, Janel has navigated the fast-evolving tech landscape, breaking barriers as a woman in the C-suite. She'll share how inclusivity, innovation, and technology have been key to her success—and how they will drive the digital revolution. Learn how your organization can harness emerging technologies, bridge the skills gap, and build diverse, resilient teams to thrive in the next wave of transformation.

The Why: Attendees need to know the importance on this topic because real world experiences, especially those from seasoned leaders navigating evolving industries, provide valuable insights that theory alone can’t offer. AI and emerging technologies are reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. As organizations strive to stay ahead, the need for inclusivity, innovation, and adaptability has never been more critical. Janel's discussion will address how inclusivity, innovation, and technology aren’t just buzzwords but critical drivers of success that allow us to stay on top of the “next big thing” in the digital revolution. This isn’t just about trends, but actionable insights to prepare and thrive in the future.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership Insights: Learn from real-world experiences of navigating the corporate C-suite, understanding the importance of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and business success.
• Practical Strategies: Discover how to build agile, skilled teams that can tackle the technical challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.
• Future-Proofing: Gain actionable knowledge on how to prepare for the ever-evolving landscape of AI, data security, and governance—ensuring organizations remain competitive and resilient.

By attending, participants will understand how to leverage technology and inclusivity to not only survive the digital revolution but thrive within it.

This session is for...

• Executives, Tech Leaders and Professionals focused on building and retaining diverse, high-performing teams, and who are looking for insights on how to foster an inclusive culture that drives innovation. 
• Women in Tech or Aspiring Leaders; individuals looking for inspiration and guidance from someone who has navigated and excelled in the corporate tech world, especially women seeking to break through barriers and lead in their own right.