The second annual Women in Technology Workshop is a half-day event created to foster awareness of and communication about critical issues facing women in the technical fields. The workshop features dynamic keynotes and interactive breakout sessions.
Join Technology Review's high-level audience in this unique setting to
CONNECT with senior-level men and women in a variety of areas of technology
EXPLORE current issues and common barriers facing women in these fields
INSPIRE dialogue and raise awareness of the issues for women pursuing technical careers
CELEBRATE female technologists and recognize their unique contributions
Technologists are widely stereotyped as narrowly specialized geeks, a characterization that has limited their opportunities across the range of organizational roles. Yet leadership is about passion, instinct, courage, imagination, integrity, and intellect, regardless of discipline or gender. Riazi will critically examine common perceptions of women and technologists in leadership roles, discuss the effects of those perceptions, and address how people can reposition themselves.
1:45 pm — 2:00 pm
BREAK
2:00 pm — 3:15 pm
Concurrent breakout sessions
Session A
Developing Technical Leadership: Lessons from the Top
Leading innovation is at the heart of the technology industry and its revolutions. Although technical leadership is still primarily a man's game, there are some extraordinary exceptions. Leaders from biotech, software, and other technical disciplines—all women—will discuss their journeys and offer advice on how to thrive as a technical leader.
Moderator: Telle Whitney, President and CEO, Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology Confirmed panelists:Rosana Kapeller, Vice President of Research, Aileron Therapeutics; Rebecca Parsons, CTO, ThoughtWorks
Session B
Social Entrepreneurship
How can simple technologies change lives around the world?
This panel will explore how technology and entrepreneurship can create social impact in developing nations, with a particular focus on women. These entrepreneurs are igniting change and affecting women’s lives around the world.
Moderator: Andrew Wolk, Founder and CEO, Root Cause, Senior Lecturer, MIT Confirmed panelists:Sarah Bird, Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer, Saafwater; Amy V. Mueller, Cofounder and Director, Solar Turbine Group (STG) International
Session C
Networking: From Small Talk to Big Impact
Whether established at the traditional cocktail party or on contemporary social-networking websites, networking connections help us on the job and in our communities. A strong network can be useful in generating customers, forming boards, developing a peer support group, fund-raising for a nonprofit, navigating the venture capital community—or, of course, hunting for a new job.
Academics and industry professionals discuss some of the latest networking theories and how they have applied these concepts in their own lives.
Moderator: Patricia M. Randall, Account Director, Kforce Confirmed Panelists: Robin Chase, Founder and CEO, GoLoco; Jo Hoppe, VP and CIO, Pegasystems; Kristina Isakovich, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Philips Healthcare; Dawna S. Levenson, Associate Director of Academic Programs, MIT Professional Education Programs
3:15 pm — 3:25 pm
BREAK
3:25 pm — 4:40 pm
Concurrent breakout sessions
Session A
From the Labs: Cool Female Innovations
Women have begun to slowly close the gender gap in tenure-track academic jobs in technical fields, but as a group, their work doesn’t receive the same publicity as that of their male peers. A group of outstanding female faculty—some established, some just starting out—will present cool new innovations from their labs, including some live demos!
Moderator: Katherine Bourzac, Nanotechnology and Materials Science Editor, Technology Review Confirmed Panelists: Tanzeem Choudhury, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Dartmouth College;Paula T. Hammond, Professor of Chemical Engineering, MIT; Holly A. Yanco, Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Session B
Intrapreneurship: Fostering Innovation with a Large Organization
The goal of intrapreneurship is to combine the entrepreneurial spirit with the resources and goals of a larger organization. Intrapreneurs can explore high-risk, high-reward ideas within the safety and support of a corporate setting, thereby creating profitable ventures. Intrapreneurs from various industries will discuss how to effectively nurture this kind of innovative thinking and enhance leadership within large companies or labs.
Moderator: Gwen Acton, Founder and CEO, Vivo Group; President, Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST) Confirmed panelists: Jennifer Chayes, Managing Director, Microsoft Research New England;Susan Foley, Executive Director, Research Centers at Babson Executive Education; Founder, Corporate Entrepreneurs; Val Rahmani, General Manager, Internet Security Systems, IBM Global Technology Services; Holly Heaslet Soutter, Principal Scientist, Lead Discovery Technologies, Pfizer Global Research and Development
Session C
Networking in the Real World Hosted in Conjuction with the MIT Alumnae Leadership Series
Do you break into a sweat at the thought of attending a “networking event”? Research shows that networking is the most frequent path to career growth, yet many people cringe when thrown into a room full of strangers. Networking experts offer practical advice on setting goals for an event, moving between groups, creating and delivering an “elevator pitch,” following up with promising contacts—and making technologies such as electronic name badges work for you. Then we’ll put theory into practice, so come prepared to have some fun while gaining skills that will last a lifetime!
Moderator: Diane Darling, Founder and CEO, Effective Networking, and author of The Networking Survival Guide Activity leader:Rick Borovoy, CTO and Cofounder, nTAG Interactive
Technology and Markets: Driving Innovation
Innovation involves ideas that create value for customers. The concept of innovation for large organizations and companies has changed from being driven solely by isolated technology advances in distinct markets to being driven by adaptability, tight integration of diverse technologies, complete solutions, and converging markets. Lisa Su will address key challenges that innovators and technology visionaries in general, and women in particular, will encounter on this path of change. She will also provide pointers on achieving breakthrough innovation.
5:30 pm — 7:00 pm
Reception and Networking
7:00 pm — 8:30 pm
Keynote Panel
Pathways to Entrepreneurship
Hosted in conjunction with the MIT Enterprise Forum Moderator: Candida G. Brush, Division Chair in Entrepreneurship, Babson College
Launching a high-tech startup is hard work, with many paths to success. Do you take your idea all the way from invention to marketplace? Do you develop the technology, license it, and then advise the new venture? Or are you a serial entrepreneur who starts a company, then brings in someone new to help it grow? Difficult for anyone, each of these roads presents additional challenges to female entrepreneurs. This panel of successful women will share their unique approaches to launching, funding, and leading startups.
Moderator: Candida G. Brush, Division Chair in Entrepreneurship, Babson College Confirmed Panelists: Robin Chase, Founder and CEO, GoLoco; Priya Iyer, President, Anaqua; Susan Lindquist, Member, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research; Scientific Founder, FoldRx Pharmaceuticals; Jules Pieri, CEO, Daily Grommet
Register now and receive the Early Bird rate of $325!
The Women in Technology Workshop is held in conjunction with the EmTech08 Conference.
Attendees may register for the workshop alone or both the workshop and the main conference.
Workshop Strategic Partners
AWIS
AWIS is a national advocacy organization championing the interests of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across all disciplines and employment sectors. By breaking down barriers and creating opportunities, AWIS strives to ensure that women in these fields can achieve their full potential.
Established in 1995, the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) is a non-profit organization created to empower women to become economically self-sufficientand prosperous through entrepreneurship. In particular, CWE’s Venture Center is designed to increase investment opportunities for women-led firms and to help women entrepreneurs navigate the equity markets.
Leading Women Leading Women is a member-based organization noted for our innovative focus for developing women leaders. We offer a range of leadership programs, networking events and online tools & resources. We support internal networks and leadership development at companies like Amgen, Pfizer, Sensata, GTECH, CVS, and BCBS.
New England Women Business Owners is the premier organization for women business owners in New England, where an open and honest environment fosters growth through networking, education, and peer support. Founded in 1978, NEWBO provides outstanding professional resources, educational programs, and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Tech Collective is the technology industry association of Rhode Island. A non-profit organization, we derive our funding from membership, fundraising and grant awards. With a dedicated focus on Community Building and Workforce Development, our mission is to foster a burgeoning Knowledge economy in Rhode Island.
TiE, (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is the largest not-for-profit, global organization whose mission is to foster entrepreneurship across the globe through mentoring, networking & education. TiE Boston is the 3rd largest chapter in the world. TiE-Boston's mission is to “Foster, encourage and support entrepreneurship in the New England region”. TiE Boston has 8 programs, all of which fulfill one or the other aspects of its mission; mentoring, networking or education.
The 2007 inaugural event featured keynotes by Robert J. Birgeneau, chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, and Sophie V. Vandebroek, chief technology officer of Xerox and president of the Xerox Innovation Group.
Interactive breakout sessions focused on topics such as entrepreneurship, leadership management, and workplace culture.
Align your brand with support of diversity in the workplace and efforts to support women in the technological fields.
Sponsorship packages are available alone or in conjunction with EmTech08.
Click here for more information, or contact Amy Lammers at 617-475-8077.
WATCH EMTECH07 WEBCASTS
Watch Webcasts of the 2007 Women in Technology Workshop
Learn more about the workshop by watching last year’s thought-provoking keynotes and interactive breakout sessions. Click here to register and view videos.
