GAAAE Women’s Conference 2024
About
Theme: “Ignite Your Spark: Women Shaping Tomorrow”Join the GAAAE Women’s Conference, which is centered around fostering women’s advancement and development in their careers, personal growth, and societal contributions. Our conference is designed to equip you with the tools and insights you need to thrive in your career and make a lasting impact.
Featured Topics:-
- Owning Your Renaissance: Carving Your Tech Career Out to Be Future Proof
- How to Succeed: Navigating the Power Structures at the Workplace
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- The Blueprint: Mentors & Sponsorship
- Navigating Networking
Don’t Miss Out!
Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today. Lets ignite our sparks together and shape the future of technology!
Agenda
- 09:00 AM – Check In & Breakfast
- 09:30 AM – Welcome Address
- 10:00 AM – Key Note Session by Shoma Sarkar Thomas
- 11:00 AM – Panel Discussion by Phuong D Tran, Sabari Raja, Devangi Gandhi, Anchal Katyal & Hema ZutShi
- 12:30 PM – Lunch & Networking
- 01:30 PM – Personal Branding Workshop
- 02:00 PM – Break
- 02:15 PM – Women’s Health & Wellness Session by Dr. Neha Lalani
- 02:45 PM – Vote of Thanks
- 03:00 PM – Wrap Up & Social
Key Note Speaker
Shoma Sarkar Thomas
As chief marketing officer, Shoma Sarkar Thomas oversees the marketing and go-to-market strategy for all WellSky products and is responsible for building the WellSky brand, which includes public relations, communications, and all strategic marketing activities. Shoma’s commitment to
leadership extends to mentoring through various organizations, actively addressing the women’s leadership gap in the tech industry. She serves on the board of Austin-based edtech company, Civitas, and as a founding board member of the WellSky Foundation, Shoma plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission to improve the quality of life
for vulnerable populations by removing social barriers to health and wellness.
Previously, Shoma served as vice president of marketing for Kinnser Software, where she led marketing and strategic growth initiatives.
Panelists
Sabari Raja
Sabari is Managing Partner at JFFVentures, an early stage impact fund that partners with entrepreneurs
building solutions at the intersection of education, workforce development and human potential. She co-founded Nepris, an impact focused edtech platform; led the company through it’s growth, acquisition (renamed to Pathful, Inc) and remained on the board of until Dec 2023. She won the 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the year winner for the southwest region.
She is an active angel investor and limited partner in companies/funds focused on innovation in education and workforce with a passion for supporting diverse founders. She continues to actively guide entrepreneurs through their startup journey and is a member of Hustle Fund Angel squad, mentor at StartEd, Transcend Network and other similar early-stage accelerators. Her journey and story has been captured in publications such as “Innovate Hers – Why purpose driven entrepreneurial women rise to top” and “Who you know – Unlocking students social capital”.
Sabari has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from India, master’s in computer science
and an Executive MBA from Cox School of Business, SMU.
Anchal Katyal
Anchal Katyal is the Software Development Manager at Amazon, helping Amazon scale for business needs. A passionate technology leader with the combination of fast-pace startup spirit and solid large-scale organization management skills. With over 9+ years of experience, she had the privilege of leading software projects from conception to execution. Enjoys getting deep into the technology while driving innovation by putting customers at the forefront of every decision. She has been recognized for her career achievements and community outreach. She is deeply committed to empowering women in tech, fostering an inclusive environment and development of others.
Devangi Gandhi
Devangi Gandhi, serving as the Technology Director at the Home Depot, is an accomplished leader with a demonstrated history of delivering inventive and scalable solutions that significantly contribute to business value. She excels in forming high-performance teams and fostering a collaborative culture. Devangi finds fulfillment in mentoring both Engineers and Leaders as they navigate their tech careers, supporting them in achieving their goals. A passionate advocate for women in tech, she remains dedicated to establishing an inclusive and equitable environment for everyone.
Phuong Tran
Phuong is Senior Director of Product Management at Cox Automotive where she owns a portfolio of products that brings innovation to a mature and heavily penetrated flagship brand. She is a purpose-driven leader and innovative problem solver with a bias for action. With 20+ years of experience building and launching solutions for enterprise clients, Phuong has effectively provided leadership at organizations of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporations, and across various industries. She has consistently delivered results by aligning priorities, translating strategy to executable initiatives and creating focus to inspire cross-functional, diverse teams.
Hema Zutshi
"Hema Zutshi, a Senior Director of Engineering at VISA, focuses on developing highly resilient, scalable, and secure Risk Solutions for payments. A champion of thought leadership, Hema drives mentorship programs and creates opportunities for underrepresented minorities. She played a pivotal role in shaping Visa's Diversity and Inclusion Leadership and Women's Leadership programs.With over two decades of experience in leadership roles across multiple organizations such as Microsoft, Experis, she excels in organizational management, team building, and interpersonal relations. In her own words, 'Raising my children has helped me find the right balance between work and life, fostering empathy and enhancing my professional appreciation.' Additionally, she eagerly participates in community causes, seeking to give back and make a positive impact.
Moderator
Rema Sreedharakarup
As a Senior Quality Practitioner at Whole Foods Market, Rema is primarily responsible to refine Quality Engineering practices through automation. Her passion lies in exploring the product space, which fuels her drive for innovation and customer delight. Rema's commitment to learning keeps her constantly challenged and motivated.
Outside of her professional role, Rema is deeply engaged in philanthropy and environmental conservation. With a profound love for nature, she actively supports initiatives aimed at protecting the environment. Additionally, Rema dedicates time to advocate for women's rights promoting equality and advancement . Despite tight timelines, she is committed to find time to contine learning classical dance forms and for personal growth. She values cultural diversity and has a keen interest in preserving classical art forms. As a strong advocate on human values, she relentlessly aims to foster a more inclusive and harmonious world for all.
Health & Wellness Speaker
Dr Neha Lalani
Dr. Neha Lalani, MD, founder and owner of Bluebonnet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Obesity Medicine with 10 years of clinical experience.
Platinum Sponsors
Community Partners
Afghan Community
Austin Odia Community
Greater Austin Malayalee Association
