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Women Tech Leaders Summit

Event Date:
Time:
Location:
International Spy Museum, Washington, D.C.

The third annual Women Tech Leaders Summit took place on April 13! We had a morning of networking and leading women across the federal government discussed major programs and initiatives making impacts in advancing the government mission alongside speakers from the departments of State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Labor, Defense, and industry. From recruiting and retention to mentorship and technological advancements, this event provided a unique opportunity to learn from women who are at the forefront of tackling these critical challenges. View our special recap and session recordings below to discover how you can play a vital role in shaping the future of work for women.

image of attendees, Women Tech Leaders Summit 2023
Agenda

Speakers / Panelists

Speakers / Panelists

  • Amy Kluber
    Amy Kluber Editor-in-Chief GovCIO Media & Research

Building the future workforce requires agencies to find new ways to attract, train and retain talent. Apprenticeship programs are one way government is developing a pipeline of skilled workers, especially as it relates to the technology and cybersecurity fields. Learn more about the accomplishments of the Department of Labor’s 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint, best practices and the path forward for these “earn-while-you-learn” models.

Speakers / Panelists

  • Megan Baird
    Megan Baird Deputy Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship DOL
  • Sarah Sybert
    Moderator Sarah Sybert Senior Researcher GovCIO Media & Research

Many factors lead to women becoming discouraged from pursuing careers in technology, leading to a federal workforce that is not quite representative of the people it serves. Often times, women cite specific mentors or leaders whose working environments led them to take on the challenge and pursue tech careers. These leaders discuss key recruitment and retention strategies that have led to more representation in the workforce.

Speakers / Panelists

  • Liz Anthony, Vice President, Federal Market & Competition Strategy, Maximus
    Liz Anthony Vice President, Federal Market & Competition Strategy Maximus
  • Serena Chan Senior Technical Advisor, Operations and Infrastructure Center, DISA
    Serena Chan Senior Technical Advisor, Operations and Infrastructure Center DISA
  • Jothi Dugar, Acting Deputy Director, Center for IT, NIH
    Jothi Dugar Acting Deputy Director, Center for IT NIH
  • Elizabeth Kolmstetter, Chief People Officer, CISA
    Elizabeth Kolmstetter Chief People Officer CISA
  • Kate Macri
    Moderator Kate Macri Deputy Editor GovCIO Media & Research

Tech leaders highlight a project or initiative making impacts in federal missions.

Speakers / Panelists

  • Nicole Gilbride, Chief Strategy Officer, Office of Information and Technology, VA
    Nicole Shiley Gilbride Chief Strategy Officer, Office of Information and Technology VA
  • Jessica Berrellez, Executive Officer, Office of Digital Transformation, FDA
    Jessica Berrellez Executive Officer FDA - Office of Digital Transformation
  • Cynthia Kaiser Cyber Deputy Assistant Director, FBI
    Cynthia Kaiser Cyber Deputy Assistant Director FBI
  • headshot of Andrea Fletcher, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, CMS
    Andrea Fletcher Executive Director of the Digital Service CMS

Speakers / Panelists

Government has a recruiting challenge as it competes with the private sector. But agencies are in a unique position to market their public service mission to encourage more women participation in tech. This panel discusses strategies to communicate and integrate that mission into its tech workforce development.

Speakers / Panelists

  • Devon Beard Director of People Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
    Devon Beard Director People Operations Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Margie Graves, Senior Fellow, IBM Center for the Business of Government
    Margie Graves Senior Fellow IBM Center for the Business of Government
  • Melissa S. Vice Director, Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP), DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3)
    Melissa S. Vice Director, Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP) DOD
  • Headshot of Dr. Renee Wegrzyn
    Renee Wegrzyn Director ARPA-H
  • Anastasia Obis
    Moderator Anastasia Obis Staff Writer/Researcher GovCIO Media & Research

Speakers / Panelists

We’ll present the Flywheel Awards recognizing leaders and their work in federal government.

The flywheel — a critical component in a machine to increase its momentum — is also a critical symbol representing our publication’s goal to keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology’s impact on government. This momentum is what fuels the constant need for transformers to innovate in federal technology and communicate those strategies across the industry.

Fortinet Deputy CISO and Vice President of Information Security Renee Tarun joins us to proudly honor the following transformers:

Speakers / Panelists

  • Krista Kinnard, Director of Innovation and Engineering, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Labor
    Rising Star Krista Kinnard irector of Innovation and Engineering, Office of the Chief Information Officer U.S. Department of Labor
  • Christan Govich, Deputy Executive Director, Health Services Portfolio, Office of Information & Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs
    Rising Star Christan Govich Deputy Executive Director, Health Services Portfolio, Office of Information & Technology Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Lauren Zabierek, Senior Policy Advisor, Cybersecurity Division, CISA
    Workforce Champion Lauren Zabierek Senior Policy Advisor, Cybersecurity Division CISA
  • Florence Kasule, Director of Procurement, U.S. Digital Service
    Digital Transformer Florence Kasule Director of Procurement U.S. Digital Service
  • Lauren Knausenberger
    Woman Tech Leader of the Year Lauren Knausenberger CIO Department of the Air Force
  • Dorothy Aronson, CIO & CDO, National Science Foundation
    Lifetime Achievement Dorothy Aronson CIO & CDO National Science Foundation

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) estimates there are upward of half a million unfilled cybersecurity jobs nationwide, and women still remain underrepresented. Developing and building a diverse cyber workforce to address pressing cyber threats underpins the White House’s recently released National Cybersecurity Strategy. In short, solving the cybersecurity workforce shortage is a national security imperative. The Office of the National Cyber Director discusses how it’s preparing for these workforce challenges and the role women will play in the cyber workforce of the future.

Speakers / Panelists

  • Caitlin Clarke Assistant National Cyber Director for Planning and Operations, The White House
    Caitlin Clarke Assistant National Cyber Director for Planning and Operations The White House
  • Kate Macri
    Moderator Kate Macri Deputy Editor GovCIO Media & Research

Speakers / Panelists

  • Amy Kluber
    Amy Kluber Editor-in-Chief GovCIO Media & Research
Speakers
  • Liz Anthony, Vice President, Federal Market & Competition Strategy, Maximus
    Liz Anthony Vice President, Federal Market & Competition Strategy, Maximus
  • Megan Baird
    Megan Baird Deputy Administrator, Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship
  • Devon Beard Director of People Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
    Devon Beard Director of People Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Jessica Berrellez, Executive Officer, Office of Digital Transformation, FDA
    Jessica Berrellez Executive Officer, Office of Digital Transformation, FDA
  • Serena Chan Senior Technical Advisor, Operations and Infrastructure Center, DISA
    Serena Chan Senior Technical Advisor, Operations and Infrastructure Center, DISA
  • Caitlin Clarke Assistant National Cyber Director for Planning and Operations, The White House
    Caitlin Clarke Assistant National Cyber Director for Planning and Operations, The White House
  • Jothi Dugar, Acting Deputy Director, Center for IT, NIH
    Jothi Dugar Acting Deputy Director, Center for IT, NIH
  • headshot of Andrea Fletcher, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, CMS
    Andrea Fletcher Executive Director of the Digital Service, CMS
  • Nicole Gilbride, Chief Strategy Officer, Office of Information and Technology, VA
    Nicole Shiley Gilbride Chief Strategy Officer, Office of Information and Technology,, VA
  • Margie Graves, Senior Fellow, IBM Center for the Business of Government
    Margie Graves Senior Fellow, IBM Center for the Business of Government
  • Cynthia Kaiser Cyber Deputy Assistant Director, FBI
    Cynthia Kaiser Cyber Deputy Assistant Director, FBI
  • Elizabeth Kolmstetter, Chief People Officer, CISA
    Elizabeth Kolmstetter Chief People Officer, CISA
  • Renee Tarun
    Renee Tarun Deputy CISO and Vice President of Information Security, Fortinet Federal
  • Melissa S. Vice Director, Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP), DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3)
    Melissa S. Vice Director, Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP), DoD Cyber Crime Center (DC3)
  • Headshot of Dr. Renee Wegrzyn
    Renee Wegrzyn Director, ARPA-H
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