Women in Leadership Forum

Power Your Purpose- Leading with AI

A unique gathering that brings together students, alumni, and distinguished leaders from the Bay Area for 3 days of community, conversation, and connection. This year, we are diving deep into the world of artificial intelligence and its impact on leadership, innovation, and industry.

This is an archived page for a past event.

Are you ready to be part of an inspiring and empowering community of leaders, innovators, and change-makers? The Women in Leadership Program is excited to invite you to our flagship event, the Women in Leadership Forum 2024!


Event Highlights:

  • Dates: Thursday, March 7 to Saturday, March 9
  • Location: ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Oakland and Hayward Campus

 

Tickets:

  • General Admission: $20
  • Students: $10

Purchasing a ticket grants admission to all 3 days. Proceeds go towards event operating costs.

 

What to Expect:

  • Industry Insights: Engage with renowned industry leaders who will share their experiences and perspectives on AI's transformative role in various sectors.
  • Expert Workshops: Participate in interactive workshops led by academic and industry experts.
  • Networking: Connect with a diverse and vibrant community of women leaders, students, and alumni who share your passion for leadership.
  • Innovation: Gain a deeper understanding of how AI is revolutionizing businesses and organizations, and how you can harness its potential for your leadership journey.

At the Women in Leadership Forum, we believe that fostering connections and knowledge-sharing is the key to unlocking your leadership potential. Join us as we explore the intersection of leadership and AI, and together, we'll shape the future of women in leadership.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of something truly transformative. Mark your calendars and get ready to lead with AI at the Women in Leadership Forum 2024!

#WILForum2024 #LeadingWithAI #WomenInLeadership

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

Day 1- Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 5-8 PM - Hayward Campus

Documentary Screening

Join us for our opening night with a screening of Burqa Boxers, an award-winning documentary by Alka Raghuram. Light refreshments will be served as we have a fireside chat with Alka on creativity, filmmaking, women’s paths to independence, and how AI is impacting art.

  • 6:00-8:00 PM: Opening Night
    • Welcome to WIL - ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ President Sandeen
    • Fireside chat with Writer and Director Alka Raghuram
    • Screening of "Burqa Boxers", award-winning documentary

About the Film

Burqa Boxers

Burqa Boxers

Feature documentary, 84 minutes, 2016
Writer/Director: Alka Raghuram
Producers: Junoon Pictures, 24 Images (France), Mu Films and supported by ITVS
Diversity Development Fund.
Awards: Best project, Grant Open Doors, Locarno Film Festival; Director Of The Year,
IDF Forum

Synopsis:
In a culture where beauty, delicacy, refinement, and submission are the prized traits to the ultimate feminine career fulfillment, marriage, young Muslim women, Parveen Sajda, Ajmira Khatoon, and Taslima Khatoon, challenge stereotypes, learning boxing with Razia Shabnam one of the first Indian women to become a boxing coach and an international referee. Burqa Boxers tells their story as they negotiate poverty and tradition while learning to face the biggest obstacle in their paths, fear; fear of the world, of the family, of not fitting in…and fight for an idea called empowerment. It is a portrait of that first baby step as they stumble and fall, and learn to pick themselves again. By telling this story Raghuram hopes to add nuance to the stereotypes about Muslim women as well as men and highlight the progressive voices within the community.


Alka Raghuram

Writer and Director Alka Raghuram

 is an award-winning filmmaker and multimedia artist. She was awarded the L’Oreal Woman of Worth Filmmaker Award for her script The Conqueror at Tribeca All Access, and Director of The Year at the IDF Forum, Westlake International Documentary Festival for her feature documentary, Burqa Boxers, about Muslim women boxers in Kolkata. Burqa Boxers also won the top prize, Grant Open Doors, at the Locarno Film Festival co-production market. Her multimedia collaborations with dance maestros Pandit Chitresh Das and Antonio Hidalgo Paz, and recently with choreographer Charlotte Moraga for “Invoking The River” were funded by the Creative Work Fund. Alka is currently developing a fiction feature In The Ring, which was short-listed at the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and Naksha Paani (Map Of Water), a documentary about the Vrishbhavati, an urban river in Bengaluru India.

Day 2- Friday, March 8, 2024 - 10 AM-4 PM - ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Oakland Center

Agenda Preview

  • 9:00 AM-10:00 AM Registration, Coffee and Conversation
  • 10:00 AM-10:10 AM Welcome by Dr. Asha Rao, Director, Women in Leadership Program ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ
  • 10:10 AM-10:25 AM Keynote: "How is AI Impacting Humanity and What Can YOU Do About It?" by Rupal Hollenbeck, President, Checkpoint Software Technologies
  • 10:30 AM-11: 00 Panel: "Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
    • Moderator: Tracy Basinger (Retired Regulator, Risk and Regulatory Compliance, Fintech, Climate Risk)
    • Panelists: Cigdem Gencer (Bank of Marin) and Nitya Malladi (Alliance for Innovative Regulation)
  • 11:15 AM-12:00 PM Panel: "Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security"
    • Moderator: Rupal Hollenbeck (Checkpoint)
    • Panelists: Mary Ann Wofford (VP Sales, ExtraHop), Kristin Owens (VP Marketing, Checkpoint), Rebecca Lewington (Brand Strategist, Checkpoint)
  • 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Light lunch sponsored by Checkpoint
  • 12:45 PM-1:20 PM Communications Workshop (Austin Rojan, ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ & Alka Raghuram, Filmmaker)
  • 1:25 PM-1:50 PM Demo: “AI in Qualitative Market Research" by Dr. David Schneer (CEO, Merrill Research)
  • 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Panel: "AI in Disability and Accessibility"
    • Moderators: Varshashree Dasuratha (WIL Fellow ’24, CS Dept. CSci) & Dr. Lynne Grewe
    • Panelists: Dr. Lynne Grewe & Dr Moayed Daneshyari (CSci) & Cathy Pearl (UX Lead on Bard, Google)
  • 3:00 PM-4 PM Ideathon Presentations & Judging - Led by Dr. Izzet Darendeli
  • 4:00 PM-5:00 PM Closing Remarks and Preview of Saturday Session

Day 3- Saturday, March 9, 2024 - 10 AM-4 PM - Hayward Campus

Agenda Preview

  • 9:00 AM-10:00 AM – Registration, coffee and conversation in the lobby
  • 10: 00 AM-:10:10 AM Welcome to WIL!
  • 10:10 AM-10:30 AM Keynote: "AI and Entrepreneurship" by Julie Shin Choi (SVP and CMO), Cerebras Systems
  • 10:30 AM-11:30 AM SAP Panel " Innovating for Tomorrow: Solving Business Challenges with AI " moderated by Vinay Mathur
    • Panelists: Kiran Kaza (VP Platform Eng), Caitie Sullivan (Director, Learning), Shruti Bhargava (Data Scientist) & Christina Zhang (Software Eng)
  • 11:35 AM-11:55 AM In Conversation: "AI in Education" Elnaz Sarraf (CEO and Founder of Roybi) with Dean Gangaram Singh (CBE)
  • 12:00-12:10 PM Women winning in the world of ESports Natasha La, President, ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Esports Club
    • Smash Event with esports club leaders in Room 338, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
    • Lunch and learn sessions 12:30 PM-1:00 PM
  • 1:00 PM-1:45 PM Women and Financial Wellness –
    • $avvy (Sizzle Reel) – Award-winning documentary by Robin Hauser
    • Distinguished Alumni Amy Schoildager (Board Executive) & Katharine Earhart (Partner, Fairlight Advisors)
  • 1:50 PM-2:25 PM Coffee and Conversation- Round Table Discussions
    • Topics include student debt, financial wellness, sustainability, and GenAI OR
    • Unlock Your Inner Strength: Master the Stance of Self-Empowerment and Resilience with Patrick Han, Serene Internal Art (45 min session running from 12:45 PM)
  • 2:30 PM -3:00 PM"Zillow Data Visualization and AI" with Dr. Filippo Rebessi (CBE) and Carla Johnson (Amazon) OR
    • Unlock Your Inner Strength: Master the Stance of Self-Empowerment and Resilience with Patrick Han
  • Coffee break and Ideathon awards
  • 3:15 PM-4:00 PM PM Closing Panel: "Ethics and AI" moderated by Dr. Asha Rao
    • Panelists: Maureen Goode (Snr. Director, Google), Dr. Benazir Fateh (Machine Learning Specialist, Google), Dr. Lynn Bowes Sperry (Associate Dean, CBE)

Thank you to our sponsors:

 Checkpoint Software Technologies

 Checkpoint Software Technologies

Heritage Bank of Commerce

Heritage Bank of Commerce

Thank you to our sponsors: Checkpoint Software Technologies and Heritage Bank of Commerce
In alignment with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, Cal State East Bay prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation in employment, as well as in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus), including admissions.