Women in Technology Summit 2021

Claire Evans
Author

Claire L. Evans is a writer and musician. She is the singer and coauthor of the Grammy-nominated pop group YACHT, the founding editor of Terraform, VICE's science-fiction vertical, and the author of Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women who Made the Internet (Penguin Random House, 2018). She is a contributor to VICE, Rhizome, The Guardian, WIRED, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Document Journal, Eye on Design, Quartz, OneZero, PioneerWorks, and Aeon, among others, and speaks worldwide about technology and culture at universities, conferences, and festivals. She lives in Los Angeles, where she is a faculty advisor to graduate design students at Art Center College of Design. 

Dr. Richelle Oakley DaSouza
Associate Professor of Information Systems
Mike Cottrell College of Business, University of North Georgia

Dr. Richelle Oakley DaSouza is an Associate Professor of Information Systems in the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia. She obtained her Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY). Her research interests include examining the role of information systems in unique organizational contexts (non-profits, micro-manufacturers) and examining the impact of emerging technology on human behavior. From 2017-2019, she was Co-PI and Grant Consultant in a $400K National Science Foundation 3-year targeted infusion project grant to develop Interdisciplinary Data Analytics Certificate course and activities at Savannah State University (her prior institution). She has published her research in top ranked IS journals and has presented her research at numerous regional, national, and international IS conferences. Richelle is dedicated to supporting students with an interest in technology and has worked closely with the McNair Scholars Program, KPMG’s PhD Project, and the Information Systems Doctoral Student Association (ISDSA). In 2019, she was honored by the ISDSA as a Faculty Advisor and Circle of Compadres Honoree. Richelle also serves as an officer with the Southern Association for Information Systems (SAIS) and is a board member on the Board of Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Board of the United Way Hall County.

Amanda King Ed.D.
VP/GM, Aero Connected Secre Solutions
Connected Aerospace
Honeywell Connected Enterprise

Amanda King is the VP/GM of Honeywell Connected Secure Solutions, leading a commercial and defense business with satellite communications, connected data enablement, electronic warfare and antenna technologies. Her team spans from business leaders, program management and engineering with deep integration to additional supporting functions. She previously held several other roles, most recently as the Breakthrough Technology & Innovation for the Power Systems business at Honeywell Aerospace where she focused on new technologies, new partnerships and new business models to adapt to ever-shifting customer needs. She has over 12 years’ experience at Honeywell focused on the needs of the Military, Air Transport, Regional Aviation, Business Aviation, General Aviation, Building Automation and emerging markets; including Urban Air Mobility and Directed Energy.

Prior to joining Honeywell, Amanda served in the United States Army as an Ordnance Officer. She had one deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006 with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). During her combat tour, she managed maintenance operations, led convoy security for logistics movements, and worked with the Iraqi Army in Kirkuk, Iraq rebuilding logistics and maintenance programs. Amanda also spent 19 months in Iraq and Kuwait as a Honeywell contractor supporting the Army Sustainment Command as a Strategic Planner and Program Manager from 2009-2010. Following her time in the Army, she worked for Otis Elevator, United Technologies in Chicago, Illinois.

Amanda earned a Master’s in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Her husband is a State Trooper with the Arizona Highway Patrol and is currently activated with the Marine Corps Reserves. They have two young sons who enjoy science, coding and dinosaurs.      

Morning Sessions

Diversity and Inclusion Among WIT

What does diversity and inclusion of women in today’s tech world look like?

As we discuss this today, are there lessons we can learn from the past and apply to our present and future? We look back at some of the influential STEM women leaders and innovators. While some became household names, some did not. Why did that happen, and what could we learn from them?

How do we share this message with every woman - “while you probably will have to work twice as hard as your male counterparts to achieve your goals, our educational expectations and desires for you are as high as you can dream them to be.” From a woman in India to an immigrant working in the US, snippets of the highs and lows of a career in IT are embedded in this story.

Despite the setbacks for women in the workforce due to the pandemic, what can we now do to continue increasing the presence and influence of women in the tech world? Is there at least one action item or task from today’s discussion that each one of us can commit to implementing? We can each become champions for diversity and inclusion in our own environments.

A USG CIO’s Perspective on Leadership Among WIT (Panel)
CIOs and ACIOs from USG institutions will present their advice and ideas on climbing the CIO ladder in higher education settings and beyond.  

Afternoon Sessions

Leading in Challenging Times
Leading in challenging times will discuss 10 strategies the IT leaders can use navigate in times of fear uncertainly and doubt.  These strategies can help ensure that their teams stay motivated and successful while navigating challenges.

How the COVID Pandemic is Affecting WIT (Panel)
As the world dealt with challenges of COVID-19, women in the workforce took a hard hit. Women left the workforce in large numbers and made other significant sacrifices. The disparity is even worse for women of color. We will discuss the ramifications of these events and how they will continue to affect WIT for years to come.  

WIT
Since 1992, Women in Technology (WIT) has been a formidable force-an engine of change and innovation-that helps women and girls break through barriers and advance opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). WIT works to empower and educate women and girls about opportunities in STEAM by educating middle and high school girls, and young women in college and by sharing the stories of successful professional women in STEAM.

Atlanta Women in Tech: Lean in Circle
The goal of this group is to connect women who work in IT, software development, or other technical related fields in the Atlanta area. If that's you, or where you want to be, feel free to join!

WITI: Women in Technology International
WITI (Women in Technology International) is committed to empowering innovators, inspiring future generations and building inclusive cultures, worldwide. WITI is redefining the way women and men collaborate to drive innovation and business growth and is helping corporate partners create and foster gender inclusive cultures. A leading authority of women in technology and business, WITI has been advocating and recognizing women's contributions in the industry for more than 30 years. The organization delivers leading edge programs and platforms for individuals and companies -- designed to empower professionals, boost competitiveness and cultivate partnerships, globally.

Women in tech statistics: The hard truths of an uphill battle
Despite national conversations about gender diversity in tech, women are still underrepresented, underpaid, and often discriminated against in the tech industry, numbers show.