Leading by example.
Thanks to those who joined us for the sold-out Women in Tech event — it was energetic and inspiring!
From networking bingo to our esteemed guests and the fireside chat, every aspect was a catalyst for thought-provoking conversation and newfound connections.
Special thanks to U.S. Representative Debbie Dingle for leading our fireside chat.
This event is presented by Ann Arbor SPARK.
Women In Tech Speakers
Jen Baird
Fifth Eye
Biography
Jen Baird
Fifth Eye
Ms. Baird is CEO of Fifth Eye, the creator of the AHI System. AHI reduces nursing burden, reduces adverse events, and increases hospital throughput with an analytic that is proven to predict patient hemodynamic instability ahead of vital signs. Founding Fifth Eye as a spinout from the University of Michigan, Ms. Baird raised over $16 million in venture and strategic funding, secured multiple FDA clearances, and deployed the AHI System in multiple hospitals across the United States.
Previously, Ms. Baird was CEO of Accuri Cytometers, a rapid growth company that built breakthrough life science products for research and clinical use. Ms. Baird co-founded Accuri, raised over $30 million in venture funding, and achieved more than $12 million in annual sales, a global reach, and near-profitability in five years. Accuri was successfully sold to Becton Dickinson for $205 million (10x revenue).
Additionally, Ms. Baird led Accio Energy, Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc., and over $10 million in projects at Keane Consulting Group. She began her career in commercial banking.
She received her MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where she shared Top-of-Class honors, and a BA degree from the University of Michigan.
Jenn Hayman
Ann Arbor SPARK
Biography
Jenn Hayman
Ann Arbor SPARK
Jenn Hayman is the Senior Vice President of marketing, communications, and events for Ann Arbor SPARK, which promotes economic development within southeast Michigan through startup acceleration, business development, and talent acquisition.
As an experienced marketing and communications professional, Jenn has a demonstrated history of building brands in higher ed, tech, and food & beverages industries. She most recently served as the Director of Marketing at Human Element, a full-service agency specializing in Adobe Commerce implementations, and an integration expert for ERP and related business systems. Previously, Jenn was the director of marketing for Zingerman’s Service Network, a shared service organization supporting the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (ZCoB), and before that, the director of marketing and communications for Merit Network.
Jenn holds a BBA from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from Napier Edinburgh University. Outside of the office, she is mom to two teenage boys and a loveable but fussy mutt. Vices include being among the oldest in the crowd at concerts, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, traveling, and a minor obsession with mythical creatures (because let’s be honest, no one has proven that the Loch Ness monster isn’t real).
Ayishwariya Menon
DEO USA
Biography
Ayishwariya Menon
DEO USA
A biomedical engineer by training, Ayishwariya Menon has worked in the medical device industry for 15 years, where change has been her main driving force. Kicking things off at a startup in surgical robotics, she then worked for more than a decade at Materialise, a key player in the 3D printing industry during a period of innovation and acceleration for 3D-printed medical devices. Ayishwariya’s career has spanned several roles and continents having worked in engineering, product development, program management, and business development in the UK, Belgium, Malaysia, and the US. In 2020, she started her own Ann Arbor-based consulting business serving clients with a variety of medical technology needs and more recently has stepped into the role of Managing Director of DEO USA, responsible for scaling up this Belgian health tech company into the U.S. market. Ayishwariya loves being able to solve medical problems with technical skills and enjoys bringing these two worlds together through her work.
Thressa Nichols
Genomenon, Inc.
Biography
Thressa Nichols
Genomenon, Inc.
Thressa is the Director of People, Culture, and Talent for Genomenon, a company working to organize the world’s genomic knowledge putting it at the fingertips of clinicians and precision medicine companies to help diagnose, treat, and develop targeted therapies for patients suffering from rare diseases and cancer. She specializes in Series A and B companies and has taken on almost every challenge that comes with startups in this stage from lofty hiring goals, reductions in force, fundraises, and even the unfortunate closing of company doors. In addition to her professional work in the start-up sector, she is a founding member and avid contributor to Shine&Rise, a community of over 300 focused on cultivating meaningful connections that elevate and bolster women in tech. Aside from her People Ops and start-up passions, Thressa is the mom to a spunky three-year-old and an amateur gardener. She is an Ann Arbor evangelist who loves a good tubing day down the Huron River and will never turn down an opportunity to grab drinks downtown.
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