Women in Tech and Innovation Forum

The 2021 Women in Tech & Innovation Forum will be announced soon.
Interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities? Contact us.

The Texas Film Commission, Governor’s Commission for Women and AT&T welcome you to the Women in Tech & Innovation Forum featuring virtual “lunch and learn” panel discussions and presentations to inspire women in the creative and tech industries.

This virtual event is designed for female leaders, entrepreneurs and creative tech professionals interested in professional development in Texas. Join us online each day for conversations on workplace practices, business funding and more from tech leaders with AT&T, Capital Factory, University of Texas at Austin, Electronic Arts - and more! Attendees can end the week with virtual mentorship sessions with some of our panelists and special guests.

NOTE: These online panel discussions and presentations are limited to 500 attendees and will not be recorded.

AGENDA

TUESDAY, SEP. 1

11:00a – 12:00p: Keynote Panel with Texas Executives

Kick off the week of innovative discussions with a conversation featuring some of the most impressive names in modern tech. In their own way, each panelist has contributed greatly to her particular field, specifically as it refers to the mentorship of following generations of women, and each brings years of invaluable experience to the discussion. Join us for a conversation with these female innovators about the journeys that led them to where they are today – and what success really means to them.

Panelists include Nathali Parker (Moderator, Governor’s Commission for Women); Amber Bradbury (Google); Jan Ryan (University of Texas at Austin); Leslie Ward (AT&T)
Meet the Panelists

WEDNESDAY, SEP. 2

11:00a – 12:00p: Professional Mentorship & Attracting Talent

A discussion with business leaders on best practices for mentorship and hiring diverse talent within their organizations. Learn how to eliminate bias when hiring, mentoring team members for growth within your organization and more.

Panelists include Starr Corbin (Moderator, Governor’s Commission for Women); Alex Masters-Goessling (Electronic Arts); Margaret Dean (Rooster Teeth / Crunchyroll / Women in Animation); Victoria Mosa-Lyons (HR Matters Global)
Meet the Panelists

12:15 – 1:00p: Specialty Focus: Perspective Taking in VR with Amy-Lou Abernethy (AMP Creative)
Meet the Panelists

Learn how powerful perspective-taking is in improving workplace culture and how virtual reality is teaching people how to build their “empathy muscle” and use perspective-taking as a tool. You’ll leave the session understanding the impact of perspective-taking in VR – and having a personal, perspective-taking framework that helps you use the power of virtual reality without the headset.

THURSDAY, SEP. 3

11:00a – 12:00p: Funding for Businesses

Finding reliable funding can oftentimes be the most difficult aspect of starting a new business – not to mention taking that business from a fledgling idea to a thriving, successful enterprise. The Funding for Businesses panel is a discussion between state officials and notable venture capitalists who will touch on such valuable topics as what resources are available at both state and private levels, how to find funding for a new business and the experiences each needed to traverse and arrive at the positions they hold today.

Panelists include Joshua Baer (Moderator, Capital Factory); Adriana Cruz (Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism); Jan Ryan (University of Texas at Austin); Preston L. James, II (DivInc)
Meet the Panelists

12:15 – 1:00p: Specialty Focus Session: Invest in Yourself with Monique Renée Meyer (Monique Renée Design Studio LLC)
Meet the Panelists

Monique Renée Meyer knows that growing a business goes beyond financial investment. In this specialty focus session, Monique will outline the fundamental themes of starting and growing her design business, and the importance of brand identity, relationship building, and more.

FRIDAY, SEP. 4

Virtual Mentorship Sessions

Our mentors are all booked! Thanks for signing up.

Jessica Odeyemi (IBM) | 12:00 - 1:00p
Monique Renée Meyer (Monique Renée Design Studio LLC) | 1:00 - 2:00p
Mindy Raymond (TXMPA) | 2:00 - 3:00p
Laura Yates (Rooster Teeth) | 4:00 - 5:00p