Together Digital | Welcome to the Table: Women in Digital + Tech

1311 Vine Street,Cincinnati OH 45202

08 March, 2023

Description

Whether you work for a company or for yourself, this panel promises to authentically tackle the challenges women in our space face, from the war on talent to professional growth to Venture Capital, and how we can all (allies included) work to promote, empower, and bring more women to the table. Registrants can also nominate a local woman in digital and tech who falls within one of these categories. THE DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS MARCH 1ST. Selected winners will be announced at the event and receive a 1-year membership to our Together Digital community that promises learning, connections, and continued growth. Rising Star (1-5 years in the industry)Mentor Extraordinaire (any woman providing the critical career growth aspect of mentorship)Iconic Leader (10-20 years in the industry, leading a team, department, or company)Community Empowerment (any woman focused on leveraging tech to build communities, large or small)Breakfast will be provided AGENDA 7:45 - 8:05: Check-in & Networking 8:05 - 8:15: Welcome 8:15 - 9:00: Panel + Q&A 9:00 - 9:15: Ask & Give Exchange9:15 - 9:30: Award Recognition + ClosingPANELIST // SANGEETA, FOUNDER + CEO OF GOTARA I go by Sangeeta. I recently left the corporate world after more than two decades to launch my tech startup, “Gotara” providing reimagined career advice and targeted upskilling to women in STEM. I have always been very passionate about this topic while growing up in male-dominated industries like Aviation, Energy, and Tech industries. At Gotara, we provide confidential 24/7 nano-learning opportunities based on the latest research and insights from influential STEM leaders so we can close the gender gap and give women in STEM much-needed equity. I was an executive at Amazon, GE, and Nielsen in a variety of roles in Research, Technology, Product, Marketing, Operations, Quality, Diversity, and M&A. I have had the privilege to start an organization from scratch and turn around underperforming organizations. I have a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry from the University of Illinois, and an M.S. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. I authored two books and have 27 patents to my name. I have a daughter who works in NYC and a husband who is a founder and CEO of Benchmark Digital. We have lived in Cincinnati for over 20 years. PANELIST // JESSICA, FOUNDER + CEO GPD CREATIVE AGENCY Jessica R. Shely is the Founder and CEO of the award-winning GPD Creative Agency - a full-service agency that assists organizations to increase visibility and brand awareness by building meaningful and memorable digital spaces through web, video, and digital marketing. In 2015, Jessica founded GPD on the pillars of sustainability and social justice after a life-enriching journey where she traveled around the world to 11 countries in 11 months. With 20 years of experience as a designer and digital marketing professional, Jessica holds a Master of Science Degree from Pratt Institute and is a proud HBCU alum of Hampton University. She is the published author of three works, two of which are children’s books, inspired by her daughter to edify Black representation in media. Her awards include the Cincinnati Award for Best Digital Marketing Services, Emerging Business of the Year and Pitch Competition Champion from the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, and Marketing Pinnacle for Best Digital Strategy & Execution from the Cincinnati American Marketing Association. MODERATOR // DONNA ZARING, DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT & EXTERNAL RELATIONS, CINTRIFUSE Donna is the Director of External Relations and Development at Cintrifuse. Cintrifuse is an economic development organization dedicated to catalyzing our startup ecosystem to make Greater Cincinnati the #1 startup hub in the Midwest. Prior to joining Cintrifuse Donna worked as a strategy consultant to multi-national CPG, pharma, and tech corporations, as a Vice President and Marketing Director for a Fortune 50 national bank, as an advertising agency account director, and as an entrepreneur. During her career, she has served on several non-profit boards, was been named to the Business Courier 40 Under 40 as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Cincinnati Museum Center. Donna is also a mom of three and loves to run, ski, travel, and cook. PANEIST // NICOLE ARMSTRONG, FOUNDER + CEO, ELLEQUATE Nicole is an award-winning social entrepreneur with a commitment to driving transformative change. As a 2018 People’s Liberty Haile Fellow, she founded Ellequate—a leading employer certification and cohort-based leadership program for workplace equity. Leveraging over 15 years of experience in design thinking and social innovation, she's created an approach and a platform that is data-driven and human-centered, helping people leaders connect policies and practices to employee experience. With an empathic but direct coaching style, she guides small and midsized employers in designing workplaces that put people first, helping them to become employers of choice so that they can attract and retain top talent. Audiences from across the country have applied Nicole's insights and approaches after hearing her speak at events hosted by SHRM, WELCOA, HCI, Disrupt HR, and more. She is a member of the Cincinnati Business Courier's Forty Under 40 Class of 2020. PANELIST // ANU VORA, CEO OF CANDID VENTURES & FOUNDER/CEO OF PAYTILE Anu Vora is the CEO of Candid Ventures, a venture studio investing primarily in underrepresented founders that use technology to solve society’s most difficult problems. Candid’s portfolio focuses on improving educational access, empowering workers for a new world and helping life-long learners find meaningful opportunities. Vora is also CEO of fintech startup PayTile, which allows you to send money without exchanging usernames or sharing personal information. An AirDrop for money, Paytile is making transactions safer for those whose distrust traditional banking methods. Vora serves on the boards for Cintrifuse, Talent Now, Ms. Medicine and ShiftUp.