Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Parna Sarkar-Basu
V.P. Marketing, WITI
parna@corp.witi.com

WITI blazes new trails at its 25th Women in Technology summit with innovative initiatives and interactive experiences

Summit spotlights leaders in technology and innovation

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2019… WITI (Women in Technology International), the leading advocate for innovation, inclusivity and STEAM, today announced the agenda for the 2019 annual summit --including keynote speakers and new initiatives. These programs are designed to boost innovation and critical thinking, inspire students to pursue STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) careers and drive gender inclusivity, including get more women elected to corporate boards. In addition, five outstanding women will be inducted into the WITI Hall of Fame at the summit, June 9-11 in San Jose, CA.

WITI launched the summit when there were no conferences geared towards supporting women in technology and business. Today, the Women in Technology summit is a premiere, global tech conference, where professionals come to learn about trends, develop new skills and grow their business network. This year the summit is focused on delivering a truly immersive, collaborative and interactive experience.

"Women have made incredible progress since our first summit 25 years ago," said Carolyn Leighton, CEO and founder, WITI. "Now more than ever, WITI is committed to giving women the tools they need to move up to the C-Suite, secure board positions, get funding for their startups and gain the recognition they deserve."

Summit Highlights:

• An interactive discussion with Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson: She is the author of the senate bill 826 to promote gender diversity on corporate boards in California.
• Rene Redwood: Creator of the bi-partisan "Glass Ceiling Commission" to examine the barriers to advancement of women and minorities and recommend solutions.
• WITI-IDC Research: IDC GVP, General Manager and Research Fellow Michelle Bailey will unveil the latest results of Women in Technology survey, building off the 2018 report. The IDC-WITI survey looks at the successes and obstacles that are prevalent in the tech industry and ways companies can reshape the workforce of the future to encourage equal participation. Take the Survey!
• Critical Thinking, Innovation, Coaching and Learning Circles: WITI is expanding its mentoring offerings to include innovation and critical thinking initiatives to help members further advance their careers and fill business needs. WITI will also launch virtual mentoring sessions to give better access to its global professionals.
• Speed Mentoring: WITI is collaborating with Twomentor, founded by Julie Kantor, to provide corporate partners with a breadth of mentoring options to help with recruiting, employee engagement and retention.
• miniWITI: A K-8 initiative, miniWITI is designed to inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Led by AJ Thomas and Cindy Dulay, the program prepares students to become future innovators and leaders by fostering curiosity and providing unique experiences.

About WITI

WITI (Women in Technology International) is committed to empowering innovators, inspiring future generations and building inclusive cultures, worldwide. WITI is redefining the way women and men collaborate to drive innovation and business growth and is helping corporate partners create and foster gender inclusive cultures. A leading authority of women in technology and business, WITI has been advocating and recognizing women's contributions in the industry for more than 30 years. The organization delivers leading edge programs and platforms for individuals and companies — designed to empower professionals, boost competitiveness and cultivate partnerships, globally.

WITI's ecosystem includes more than three million professionals, 60 networks and 300 partners, worldwide. To learn more, please visit: www.witi.com

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