There has been a strong push to highlight gender inequality within tech, yet the question still remains: Why are there so few women in tech and in executive leadership roles? According to a recent Thomson Reuters study, 30% of 450 technology executives stated that their groups had no women in leadership positions. Only 25% of the IT jobs in the US were filled by women and 56% of women leave IT in the peak of their career. We all know the path to success is not a straight line. Baltimore Women in Tech has put together a stellar panel of noteworthy professionals to discuss this and their own journey of rising in tech.
This event is open to all genders.
Please note that in order to continue to provide quality programming, our policy is not to issue refunds unless an event has been canceled.
Vice President, Global Customer Operations | ZeroFOX
Jen Gunner Meyer brings over 20 years of experience in the technology and financial industries, focusing on leadership, operations and scalable systems building. Jen currently runs the Global Customer Operations team for ZeroFox, a leading cyber security and digital risk protection company. Prior to ZeroFOX, Jen was the CEO of Betamore, and under her leadership, Betamore was home to 100+ technology companies that collectively raised more than $130M in venture capital. She has also held roles as COO at both the Economic Alliance and GBTC where she drove institutional change, led the build and run of operational efforts helping both organizations expand and scale.
Kenyatta Powers is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Maryland State Government. She functions as a senior-level technology executive combining project management, technical expertise, and business proficiency to develop, execute, and manage strategic, statewide technology projects for the Department. Kenyatta has served DHS for almost 20 years as both a consultant and an employee in several different leadership positions. Additionally, Kenyatta found Taste of Technology, a program that is designed to expose and provide awareness to the underrepresented youth and women to the different careers, opportunities and role models in Information Technology.
Chief of Staff | Catalyte
Lolita Taub is the Chief of Staff at Catalyte, a workforce data science company that uses artificial intelligence to identify individuals, regardless of background, who have the innate potential and cognitive ability to be great software developers. Lolita’s interests lie at the intersection of AI and business. She has interviewed investors, founders and experts in the field, written an Enterprise AI series on Huffington Post, given a TEDx talk on Raising AI and was featured in Forbes' article Why We Need More Women Taking Part In The AI Revolution. Outside of Catalyte, she is a current Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures, an LP at Portfolia’s Enterprise Fund and a former VC at Backstage Capital and K Fund.
Co-Founder & COO | Innovazing
Saleema is COO at Innovazing, a leadership development firm that educates, empowers, and connects changemakers globally. Saleema Vellani is an expert in social innovation and a recognized authority on the future of work. She has helped leaders around the world break through their plateaus and maximize their impact through innovative leadership development programs. For over 12 years, Saleema has led companies to the next stage of growth and innovation. In addition to being a celebrated researcher and professor, she has been a social entrepreneur since the age of 21, from launching Brazil's largest and top-rated Portuguese school to finance an orphanage to her award-winning work on improving refugee livelihoods through climate-smart food systems technologies in the Middle East and Africa.
Shervonne is the Director of Community & Partnerships at Spark Baltimore. Shervonne is an innovative and driven entrepreneurial ecosystem builder, who utilizes collaborative community building, design thinking, and startup advocacy to provide unique solutions for organizations. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Shervonne has worked in both the private and government sectors for over 14 years. Her experience includes community management, startup ecosystem building, branding and identity development, social media marketing, mobile application design, event coordination and creative consulting. Shervonne is a co-organizer for Baltimore Women in Tech.
Jessica Watson is the CEO and Creative Director of Points North Studio. She is a Brand and Communications Strategist who partners with CEO’s, executives and entrepreneurs to transform them from where they are into where they want to be. With over a decade of experience working in marketing for diverse companies, global foundations and startups, Jessica knows what truly drives brand loyalty and conversions. Jessica has landed coverage in several print and broadcast outlets, including ABC2 News, FOX 45, The Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore Magazine, CityBizList, MyCity4Her, and The Baltimore Sun. Jessica spearheads the Have A Nice Day Project, and is a co-organizer for Baltimore Women in Tech.
Baltimore Womxn in Tech (BWiT) is for womxn and female-identifying technologists in the Baltimore and the Greater Baltimore region who are working and playing with any kind of technology. We host events and educational programing throughout the year that showcase and support Womxn in Technology initiatives. We aim to empower womxn in our extended community, so that they understand the work they do is valuable and feel supported. You don’t have to be a developer to be considered a womxn in technology. Our events are open to all genders.