Tech Talent

Contributed

Despite the gains being made, forging a career in tech is still an uphill battle for many women. Women lag behind men in numbers in the industry, and they may face more barriers in career advancement. The sixth annual Summit for Women in Tech, happening next week in Wilmington, aims to help redress the situation.  

The summit, hosted by NC Tech, brings together a host of female industry leaders (and one man) to provide insights and advice on how women can benefit from new developments in technology. They will also share strategies that empower women.  

“We challenged each of the speakers to provide key takeaways attendees can apply in their professional and personal lives,” says TRACY STERNBERG, NC Tech’s director of programs and sponsorship. 

The summit takes place September 17-18 at the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington.  

Conference sessions will cover a wide range of topics that will appeal to women at all stages of their career, from top-level executives to those just starting out, according to Sternberg. On the technical side, AI tops the list. Attendees will learn how AI is changing the workplace. Additional sessions will address how women can take advantage of AI to advance their careers and improve efficiency in their lives. 

Non-tech sessions that are equally relevant to women in the industry will also be an integral part of the summit, says Sternberg. The opening keynote speaker, STACY LEDESMA WHITENIGHT, senior training architect for Nutanix, will share paths women can take to obtain leadership roles. The closing speaker, DONALD THOMPSON, managing director for organizational effectiveness at Workplace Options, will address how men and women can support women in the workplace.  

There will also be sessions on well-being, such as avoiding burnout and work-life balance, and executives will share what they wish they had known earlier in their careers.  

To ensure the sessions are engaging, a variety of presentation formats are scheduled. In addition to keynotes, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, a series of motivational moments – a series of series of short, high-energy TEDx-type talks – are planned.  

“We want the summit to be fun, informative, and engaging,” Sternberg says. 

To help the women make new friends and colleagues, the attendees can participate in variety of networking activities on September 16, including a pedal pub, Cape Fear riverboat tour, haunted e-bike tour, brewery walking tour, networking on the lawn, and a Battleship North Carolina tour.  

With an anticipated 400 attendees, NC Tech decided to move the summit to a new location this year, Sternberg says. The organizers sought a city with a cool, edgy vibe, and Wilmington fit the bill with its restaurants, event spaces, and downtown walkability, Sternberg explains. 

“We challenge ourselves each year to raise the bar on content and evolve the conference,” she says. “We are super excited about this year’s agenda and our speaker line-up … Wilmington is a great platform for our conference.” 

Registration for the summit closes on September 10. 

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