Redefine Possible: Detroit International Women's Day Innovation Summit

Welcome to the 4th Detroit International Women's Day Innovation Summit @ DTE Energy! (w FREE PARKING)

Complete Registration: https://bit.ly/compass2025

"Redefine What's Possible in Detroit"

Join us for the 4th Detroit International Women’s Day Innovation Summit on Saturday, March 29 at DTE Energy for an energizing day of talks, workshops, and celebration dedicated to women in technology. Guided by Women Techmakers’ 2025 global theme, “Redefine Possible,” this summit will explore how women are redefining the boundaries of what technology can achieve—especially in AI and emerging fields—while actively shaping its future. Attendees will hear from local and international speakers about cutting-edge innovation, share best practices for career advancement in tech, and connect with peers who are equally passionate about championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Hosted in partnership with Compass and GDG Detroit, this event is part of Women Techmakers’ largest annual campaign and embodies the spirit of International Women’s Day by spotlighting women’s contributions and catalyzing conversations on new opportunities in technology. Expect a day filled with insightful panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and networking sessions, all designed to inspire participants to challenge assumptions, overcome barriers, and boldly reimagine what’s possible in tech.
We look forward to celebrating International Women’s Day with you and fueling Detroit’s tech community to shape a more inclusive, innovative tomorrow.

Agenda

8:30 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:30 AM: Mindfulness & Meditative Yoga

with William Bowen, IT Specialist @ TACOM Warren and Personal Trainer

9:30 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

Compass Detroit & Google Women Techmakers Welcome

9:45 AM: Unlock Your Future: How to Master Community Networks for Invisible Career Advantages

with JC Price, Founder @ Scope Focus

10:00 AM: The AI Era and Your Digital Footprint: What You Need to Know

with Kavitha Bangalore, Cybersecurity Analyst @ Cleveland Clinic

10:30 AM: Inclusive Smart Mobility: Enhancing Social Inclusion through Technology

with Hoda Solati and Shima Solati, UX/UI Researchers & Designers @ BraunAbility

11:00 AM: Your Natural Blueprint: Redefining Your Impact and Presence, Unlocking Leadership

with Shruti Agarwal, Business Analyst @ Levelwing Media LLC

11:30 AM: Building a Global Tech Career Through Experience

with Jessica Hoopfer, Manager, North America - Enterprise Sales @ Checkout.com

12:00 PM: Speed Networking with Scope Focus

with JC Price, Founder @ Scope Focus

12:15 PM: Lunch Break & Networking

1:00 PM: Redefine What's Possible in Detroit Panel Discussion

with Ida Byrd-Hill (CEO @ Automation Workz), Lia Moore (CEO @ Coo-Lio), Lisa McKenzie (President & General Manager @ Freudenberg e-Power Systems), and Megan Torrance (CEO & Chief Energy Officer @ TorranceLearning) with Moderator Tim Moore (CEO @ Clixie AI)

2:00 PM: Resilient Minds, Thriving Careers: Mental Health Strategies for Women in Tech

with Shantalea Johns, Director of Continuing Education, Assistant Professor @ Wayne State University

2:30 PM: Breaking Into Cybersecurity

with Mattalynn Darden, SOC Analyst @ Comerica Bank

3:00 PM: When the Imposter is Me: Overcoming Self-Doubt to Lead and Innovate

with Lorrena Black, Founder and CEO @ She Served LLC and Kanika Mohan, Product Manager @ IBM

3:30 PM: Tech Unfiltered: Changing The Game

with Brittany McGee, Founder and CEO @ OptimizeEV

4:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Prizes

Compass Detroit & Google Women Techmakers

4:30 PM: Happy Hour & Networking

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Speakers

Brittany McGee - @ OptimizeEV (Founder and CEO)

Brittany McGee, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of OptimizeEV, spearheads a Detroit-based disruptive startup enhancing EV charging efficiency through innovative data analytics and predictive maintenance. A dynamic force in urban development, she excels in business growth, real estate, and managing Detroit Land Bank’s marketed properties, while nurturing future real estate leaders with …

Hoda Solati - @ BraunAbility (UX/UI Researcher & Designer)

Hoda Solati is an award-winning and forward-thinking UX designer with expertise in innovative technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and robotics. Holding a Master’s in User Experience Design from the College for Creative Studies and an MFA in Animation from Art University, Hoda blends creativity, technology, and design to craft user-centered experiences.
Curr…

JC Price - Scope Focus (Founder)

JC is a serial entrepreneur in software and general merchandise. After receiving his Master's degree in sport marketing from BGSU he worked in media sales and merchandising sales. He soon realized he could better provide value to the world through operations, so he started a distribution company soon after transitioning into software. With no classical training in either, JC's career is built …

Jenna Ritten - @ IBM (Chief Developer Advocate & Architect)

Jenna is Chief Developer Advocate & Architect for InnerSource@IBM at IBM Research. She also serves as Chairman for Compass Detroit. She works on expanding the reach of open source technologies to global developer communities. Her areas of interest include hackathons, design-thinking workshops, NLU/NLP, gamified learning, Blockchain, and Serverless. Jenna is an advocate for non-traditional …

Jessica Hoopfer - @ Checkout.com (Manager, North America - Enterprise Sales)

Jessica Hoopfer — Technology Sales Leader, Innovator, and Advocate for Women in Tech
Jessica Hoopfer is a seasoned technology sales leader with over a decade of experience driving growth across a wide range of tech industries. Currently serving as the North America Enterprise Sales Manager at Checkout.com, Jessica plays a critical role in expanding the company’s presence across the U.S. …

Kanika Mohan - @ IBM (Product Manager)

Kanika landed multiple tech and management consulting full-time offers as a non-target school student. She has accepted IBM as her upcoming role in the IBM Databases Cloud division in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kanika is a top experienced early-career professional with internships at Dell Technologies, GE Aerospace, HubSpot, Stellantis, and more.
Kanika knows a lot about resumes, Product …

Kavitha Bangalore - @ Cleveland Clinic (Cybersecurity Analyst)

Kavitha Bangalore is a professional with over 19 years of experience developing, integrating and managing IT, Cloud and some Cybersecurity projects, with clients in India, Singapore and the US. She is currently working as a Cybersecurity Analyst in a top Healthcare Organization working in the Cloud and Data Security department. She has achieved various Industry Certifications including IT/Agil…

Lorrena Black - @ She Served LLC (Founder and CEO)

Lorrena Black is a dynamic speaker, facilitator, and leadership coach who empowers veterans and professionals to ditch self-doubt, embrace resilience, and lead with confidence—all while keeping it refreshingly real. A retired U.S. Army Major with 25 years of service, she’s no stranger to high-pressure environments, tough leadership decisions, and finding the humor in chaos (which comes in hand…

Mattalynn Darden - @ Comerica Bank (SOC Analyst)

Mattalynn Darden is a cybersecurity professional and entrepreneur dedicated to helping businesses strengthen their security posture. With over five years of experience in offensive security, incident response, and vulnerability management, she specializes in practical cybersecurity strategies for small businesses and startups. She has led security training sessions, mentored aspiring professio…

Shantalea Johns - @ Wayne State University (Director of Continuing Education, Assistant Professor)

Shantalea Johns, Ed.D, LMSW, is a Social Worker, Mental Health Educator, Speaker, and licensed therapist in Michigan, Ohio, and Washington. She currently serves as the Director of Continuing Education and an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Social Work, where she leads the development and administration of continuing education programs for social workers and allied healt…

Shima Solati - @ BraunAbility (UX/UI Researcher & Designer)

Shima Solati is an innovative and award-winning UX/UI researcher and designer at BraunAbility, where she focuses on enhancing accessibility through innovation and user-centered design. With a master’s degree in User Experience Design from the College for Creative Studies, along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in design specializing in fashion and textiles, she brings a multidisciplinary a…

Shruti Agarwal - @ Levelwing Media LLC (Business Analyst)

Shruti Agarwal is a thought-driven leader who believes that true success lies not just in personal achievements, but in the impact we create for others. A leader who believes in pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and redefining what’s possible for women. With a deep passion for innovation, she has developed creative and resourceful solutions to business challenges, always focusing…

Panelists

Ida Byrd-Hill - @ Automation Workz (CEO)

Ida Byrd-Hill is CEO of Automation Workz, best known for its economic data assessments, culture audits, inclusion executive coaching and its Top 10 tech boot camp. Ida has been instrumental in powering corporate digital transformations, organizational change and the training of 16,520 front-liners in emerging tech - AI & data analytics, cybersecurity ops, internet of things (IoT), network …

Lia Moore - @ Coo-Lio (CEO)

Lia Moore is the visionary CEO and Founder of TropicalPillow, an innovative travel brand redefining comfort on the go. She launched the company while earning her degree in Psychology and is now furthering her expertise with an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. A former student-athlete, Lia’s drive and resilience extend beyond business—she has executive produced two shows, taken the stage …

Lisa McKenzie - @ Freudenberg e-Power Systems (President & General Manager)

Lisa McKenzie serves as the President & General Manager of Battery Systems at Freudenberg e-Power Systems. She is a leader in pioneering safe and sustainable solutions for battery systems, particularly in heavy-duty and fleet applications. With a strong background in engineering and management, Lisa has been instrumental in driving innovation and efficiency within the company.
Under …

Megan Torrance - @ TorranceLearning (CEO)

Megan Torrance is the CEO and founder of TorranceLearning, where she leads a team of learning experience designers & engineers in reimagining workplace learning. Her firm has served Fortune 1000 companies, major research universities, global professional associations, and federal agencies for over two decades. Megan brings a strategic vision that helps TorranceLearning bridge vision with e…

Moderator

Tim Moore - @ Clixie AI (CEO)

Tim Moore is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in launching, acquiring, growing, and exiting companies within multiple verticals. Mr. Moore has helped implement product success strategies for some of the world's largest companies, such as Google and Telefonica. As CEO of Clixie AI, he oversees strategy, partner platform sales brand awareness. Mr. Moore serves as a mentor…

Hosts

Anika Raisa Chowdhury - @ University of Michigan Transportation and Research Institute (Data Scientist and Computer Engineer)

Anika is a Data Scientist and Computer Engineer , whose passion extends beyond data and code as she believes in the power of community and networking to connect people and ideas. She advocates for diversity,inclusion, and breaking barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM and is an active mentor for peers and college students.
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