Check-in and Networking
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Indulge in delicious food and drink, while connecting with other Women in Tech attendees and learn more about local women-focused organizations as the event invites local community groups and resources to host informational tables.

Welcome Remarks
4:30 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.

Margarita Hernandez, PhD, Vice President of Entrepreneurial Services | Ann Arbor SPARK

Insightful Conversations
4:35 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Join this insightful and intimate conversation among influential women in the local tech ecosystem on building networks, leveraging community support, and utilizing resources.

Alison Todak, Co-Founder | Shine & Rise
Kristina Oberly, Co-Founder | Shine & Rise
Trey Boynton, Vice President, Inclusion & Impact | Chief
Natalie Levy, Founder & Managing Partner | She’s Independent
Ashley Oberheide
Trista Van Tine, Executive Director | Michigan Founders Fund

Breakout Discussion Sessions
5:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Attendees will have the chance to participate in breakout discussion sessions during this interactive part of the program. Please review the list of topics and speakers and pick a session. Speaker bios can be found on the Women in Tech event page and details on the breakout groups are below.

1. Angel Investing & Venture Capital: What’s the Difference?
Brittni Abiolu, Commune Angels
The world of “investments” can be intimidating. What does all the lingo and jargon around investing really mean? Explore the differences between venture capital and angel investing with Brittni Abiolu. Walk away with a better sense of how these industries work in the tech space, and maybe spark of passion for investing!

2. Building a Strong Network
Diane Bouis, MedTech Innovator
Networking is HARD. But Diane Bouis is no stranger to growing and building a good network. Join this discussion to talk through best tips and resources that have helped her build a meaningful network. She will share lessons she’s learned along way in maintaining connections and finding your people.

3. Changing Industries Mid-Career
Crystal Brown, CircNova, Inc. / Achsha Jones, TripSlip
This roundtable will focus on shifting industries mid-career and the discussion will be related to how one discovers adaptable skills for seamless transitions, pinpointing the opportune moment for change, seeking cross-industry mentorship, and charting your path forward.

4. Leading in FashionTech
Kaleena Eugene-Louis, Zero To Wear
FashionTech merges fashion and technology, revolutionizing how we create and engage with clothing. It has transformed the way we interact with and think about fashion. Spotlighting this trend is Kaleena, sharing her journey of app development and insights gained from breaking into the tech industry. Her experience embodies FashionTech’s potential and the lessons learned at this dynamic intersection.

5. Being Female in a Male-Dominated Industry
Natalie Fang, Nochi
Natalie will lead a discussion on challenging the status quo in the gaming industry by having her game focus on stories and relationships first. She has been involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ann Arbor and at the University – including programs such as the Desai Accelerator and the Social Venture Fund. She recently finished running the company’s 4th Kickstarter campaign so she has lots to share about utilizing resources.

6. My Founder Story: Making The Decision to Leave Corporate America
Jasmit Kaur, Culturebie
Startup world and tech careers have been deemed “risky” in comparison to many traditional careers and jobs. Come hear from Jasmit Kaur on why she decided to take that leap from corporate to startup, leaving her “cushy” job of employee perks and retirement plans to bootstrapping as a founder and becoming her own boss.

7. Why I Started a FemTech Company
Marianna Kerppola, Poisera
Discover femtech’s significance from a pioneering founder. Understand its current importance, identify societal and stakeholder gaps, and delve into Marianna Kerrpola’s journey as she navigates challenges and explains why she went down this founder path.

8. Shifting Careers
Lindsey Kilbride, Detroit Venture Partners
Hear from Lindsey Kilbride, a former founder now turned investor! She will dive into the fluidity of her career path and what it is like wearing operator, founder, and investor hats within the startup ecosystem at different seasons in your life/career.

9. Creating Communities for a Remote World
Amanda Lewan, Bamboo
Finding your people can be hard. Join Amanda Lewan, community builder extraordinaire, to learn more about how she continues to build community that sticks and supports in this ever-changing hybrid world.

10. Pivoting into Venture Capital
Aditi Rajagopal, Good Growth Capital
How does anyone know what they truly want to do? How do you navigate an ever-evolving complex career path? Join Aditi Rajagopal to hear about her journey into venture capital. She will tackle how the culture of VC has changed for women and her biggest career challenges in climbing the VC ladder.

11. Being Civically Minded + Becoming A Change Agent
Arabia Q. Simeon, Politics on the Go
Being an engaged citizen has become a confusing endeavor to navigate. How can you trust what you are reading and hearing from others? Where do you go to truly get the facts these days? What can you do to make sure you are active and informed? Learn more from Arabia Simeon, a woman leading the way in this space and trying to tackle this problem head-on.

Closing Remarks and Call to Action
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Additional Networking