(as of October 28, 2024 and subject to change)
Event Schedule (all times PT):
9 a.m. : Venue Opens
9:45 a.m. : Opening Remarks/General Sessions Begin
11 a.m. : Networking Break
11:30 a.m. : General Sessions Resume
1 p.m. : Networking Luncheon
2 p.m. : General Sessions Resume
3:45 p.m. : Networking Break
4 p.m. : WiTH Leadership Awards Program
5:30 p.m. : Closing Remarks/Networking Reception
Conference Program:
9:45 – 9:55 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Christina Aguilera, Vice President of Product, Enterprise Technology, Crunchyroll, and President, WiTH Foundation
Guy Finley, Executive Director, WiTH Foundation
9:55 – 10 a.m.
Conference Welcome Remarks
Gretchen Libby, Director Media & Entertainment Specialists, AWS Media & Entertainment, Games & Sports
10 – 10:30 a.m.
OPENING KEYNOTE: Technology as a Leadership Driver for Women
Our Opening Keynote has a front row seat to innovation as the leader of an incubator focused on fractional CMO services, go-to-market strategies, and strategic business development. Her presentation takes us through the tech landscape and features female entrepreneurs who are creating the next generation of WiT execs.
Sandra Lopez, Co-Chair, North America, Sport Integrity Global Alliance, and Founder & Investor, Ambi Ventures
10:30 – 11 a.m.
Lasting Impact: Empowering the WiTH Community
Learn more about the impact that WiTH has in our local community during the discussion in this panel session, where you’ll hear personal stories and journeys from the women who have been directly impacted by our community engagement efforts over the years and how they have been able to change their trajectory. You’ll also hear more about what these WiTH supported nonprofits do with their members and for their broader community.
Moderator: April Schneider, WiTH Foundation Board Member & Vice President IT, IP Management & General Counsel, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Panelists:
Frejya Lindh Hernandez, Codetalk Alumna & Web Designer, St Joseph Center, UCLA Extension Student – Data Science Certificate
Christen Hockaday, Women’s Empowerment Institute Alumna & Sr Help Desk Supervisor, Apple, AWS Cloud Practitioner Certified
Madison Ma, Technology Goddesses Alumna & Sr Engineer, Qualcomm
Han Pham, STEM Advantage Alumna & Software Engineer, Walt Disney Company
Alyssa Rubalcava, DIY Girls Alumna & UCLA student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
11 – 11:20 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK
11:20 – 11:40 a.m.
Empowering Innovation: Women Leaders Shaping the Future of Media, Entertainment, and Gaming
As the Telecom, Media & Entertainment, and Games industries continue to experience changes in the creation, distribution, consumption, and monetization of content, we face a landscape of challenges and unprecedented opportunities. The impact of these changes is felt by every employee, fan, and consumer of content. A transformation is occurring as technology evolves and revolutionizes content creation and fan engagement. As our industry goes through its own version of “professional development”, many see opportunity. Yes, change can be scary. NOW is the time for leaders to galvanize our communities around AI, drive AI innovation responsibly, and mentor the next generation of women in technology to build a more diverse and inclusive industry.
Olga Krasovski, Director Solution Architecture, AWS Media & Entertainment, Games & Sports
11:40 – 12:10 p.m.
Understanding, Managing, and Embracing Neurodiversity Inclusion in the Workplace
Neurodiversity encompasses a variety of neurological conditions, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and others. How it manifests itself in the workplace can be challenging for both the employee and employer and hiring practices present another layer of complexity and disclosure. While Neurodivergent individuals can struggle with some tasks, they possess unique talents and perspectives that can greatly benefit organizations if placed in roles in which they can thrive. Ultimately, the C-suite leadership will encourage other employees to understand their co-workers better and educate themselves on DEI and neurodiversity. Join this session as our panelists discuss how employers can embrace workplace diversity and have a neuro-inclusive culture.
Moderator: Rosemary Jacobs, Board Member, WiTH Foundation
Panelists:
Rebecca Beam, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Zavikon
Tara May, Chief Executive Officer, Aspiritech
Anna Tavis, Department Chair, @ NYU, SPS, Clinical Professor, Human Capital Management, Author of Humans at Work
12:10 – 12:30 p.m.
Career Trajectories in the Age of AI
AI is reshaping career exploration, career guidance, and career management. A career journey, which is now non-linear and potentially impacted by the adoption of AI, is more important than ever but never more complex. How do you understand the active role that AI will have in influencing your own career? This session will discuss this fundamental shift, how it impact careers going forward, and provides a forward-looking, positive approach through a sustainable career lens.
Yina Arenas, Vice President Product, AI Core Platform, Microsoft
Interviewed by: Nina Skorus-Neely, WiTH Foundation Secretary & Industry Advisor, Industry & Partner Solutions, Microsoft
Introduced by: Kristin Neal, Senior Manager, Qvest
12:30 – 1 p.m.
The Agency of Me: A Consumer Perspective on Data Privacy
Social media has become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. In this session, we’ll learn how to keep our social media data safe, how new decentralized social media platforms allow users to control, move and own their profiles, data and social graph, and we’ll learn some tips for optimizing our online profiles to support our career paths.
Moderator: Jeanette DePatie, Professional TechSplainer, Propellerhead, Inc.
Panelists:
Denise Duncan, Head of Program Management, Project Liberty Labs
Beate Chelette, Growth Architect & Chief Executive Officer, Chelette Enterprises, Inc.
Julie Anne Fogg, President, SparkiCreative
1 – 1:45 p.m.
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: Seizing the AI Moment: Leadership through Initiative and Innovation
In the CTO role, our Keynote Speaker’s priority has been using technology for the advancement of business. Business value and career advancement go hand in hand and, as technologists, we can seize this “AI moment” to use our expertise to move the business (and our career) forward. Once you identify an opportunity, educate your stakeholders, and lay out a plan, you then need to execute and deliver. Leaders at the top want to stress test your ideas and their trust builds up and expands with each project. At FOX, Melody is responsible for crafting offensive strategies to drive AI innovation and expand FOX’s creative execution and distribution reach while also implementing defensive measures against the emergent threats to the media ecosystem. She’s prioritized strategic “big swings” in partnership with the company’s executives while always staying grounded in the recognition that execution is everything, and with emerging technology, it only matters if it’s in production.
Melody Hildebrandt, Chief Technology Officer, FOX
Introduction by: Catherine Goetze, Director of Strategy & Chief of Staff, Ateliere Creative Technologies
2:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Ask Me Anything: A Decade of Career Journeys – How I Got Here
In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’re revisiting the panel that started it all. Join us for a candid and insightful “Ask Me Anything” session, where accomplished women share their unique career paths, pivotal moments, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. This open forum invites you to ask questions, gain wisdom, and discover the diverse ways our panelists have navigated challenges, seized opportunities, and forged their paths to success in the industry. Whether you’re early in your career or looking for the next step, this session is your chance to engage with inspiring leaders who have been exactly where you are now.
Moderator: Christina Aguilera, President, WiTH Foundation and Vice President, Product, Enterprise Technology, Crunchyroll
Panelists:
Barbara Bickham, Founder, Chief Technology Officer & Managing Partner, Trailyn Ventures
Christiane Ohlgart, Chief Accounting Officer, Fortinet
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Taking Charge of Your Career: Stepping into Entrepreneurship
Are you feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your corporate job? Do you have a passion or a vision that you want to pursue? Do you want to make a positive impact on the world with your skills and talents? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be ready to take charge of your career and step into entrepreneurship. But how do you make the transition from employee to entrepreneur? What are the challenges and opportunities that await you on this journey? And how can you prepare yourself for success in the competitive and dynamic world of business? This session shares insights on how to become a successful entrepreneur and gives reasons why you might want to leave a corporation and start your own business. For those who are interested in exploring the possibility of becoming entrepreneurs or who have already started their own businesses, this talk will provide practical advice, inspiration, and resources to help them achieve success as an entrepreneur.
Renee Fraser, Ph.D., CEO of Fraser Communications and host of Why Women radio show
Introduced by: Nina Skorus-Neely, Media & Entertainment Industry Advisor, Microsoft, and Secretary, WiTH Foundation
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
CLOSING KEYNOTE: Effective Communication with Leadership – Managing Up & Down
How do you align with upper management’s goals and expectations while supporting and leading your team? As companies reorganize and reengineer, people are finding themselves tossed into management every day with little to no training or preparation. This amazing Closing Keynote presentation provides a look at the tools necessary to be successful at managing up and down the line of any organization!
Roberta Matuson, Author & Thought Leader
Interviewed by: Nadya Ichinomiya, WiTH Foundation Chair and Vice President, Head of Agile Transformation, Enablement, & Operations, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Introduced by: Belinda Harvey, Global Account Manager, AWS Media & Entertainment, Games & Sports
3:45 – 4:15 p.m.
NETWORKING BREAK Sponsored by Innovate UCLA
4:15 – 5:30 p.m.
2024 WiTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM
– Welcome/Introduction
– Thank you to our Nominees
– 2024 Winners and Congratulations
– Closing/Fundraising Goal
5:30 p.m.
Conference Closing Remarks
Christina Aguilera, President, WiTH Foundation
Guy Finley, Executive Director, WiTH Foundation
Nadya Ichinomiya, Chair, WiTH Foundation, and Vice President, Head of Agile Transformation, Enablement, & Operations, Sony Pictures Entertainment
NETWORKING RECEPTION
