Build with AI Hackathon + Workshops + IWD Celebration

Ready to create with AI? Join our Build with AI in-person event on April 19th at Pace University. 

To compete - begin now:

Add Cloud Credits to a new Google Cloud project
Complete the Vertex AI Gemini API & Python SDK quickstart
Define your AI problem – Gemini can help with ideas!
Send in a 2-minute solution public YouTube video by April 17th

Everyone at the event gets:

Hands-on AI training from experts
Mentor feedback (hackathon participants only)
Your chance to present, win $1000 in cash and cloud credits, and get featured
Free breakfast, lunch & social hour in Pace University's awesome new building

All skill levels welcome! Let's build some cool AI solutions together.

More details to follow!

#BuildWithAI

This is a hybrid event. Join the event virtually at https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-nyc-presents-build-with-ai-hackathon-workshops-iwd-celebration/
or in person at

Seidenberg School Of Computer Science and Information Systems - Pace University - 15 Beekman Street New York, 10038

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Agenda

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Speakers

Keyzom Ngodup Massally - United Nations Development Programme (Head of Digital Programmes)

Keyzom is a former refugee now working as Head of Digital Programmes at the United Nations' lead digital development agency UNDP. As part of the Executive Office, Keyzom works with governments and digital ecosystems to shape the future of development and the role of multilaterals in digital transformation. She serves on the Governing Board of the Digital Public Goods Alliance and connects coun…

Joe Devon - Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Foundation (Chair and Co-Founder)

Joe Devon, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and AI speaker, has a history of corporate success, including one IPO and two acquisitions, Joe's contributions to the tech industry are substantial.
He is the co-founder and Chair of the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Foundation, diligently promoting digital accessibility and inclusive design. His forthcoming podcast signifies his pass…

Gareth Ford Williams - A11yQuest (Director)

Gareth Ford Williams is a pioneer of digital accessibility. His substantial contributions to the BBC and the wider field have helped shape a more inclusive digital landscape for people with disabilities. His breadth of expertise, spanning standards, fonts, inclusive technologies, and advocacy speaks volumes about the positive impact he has had on countless lives.

Kübra Zengin - Google (North America Regional Lead)

I have expertise in program management, product development, product management, user experience, business development, and digital marketing.

Kartik Derasari - GCP (Google Developer Expert)

Kartik Derasari is a technical consultant with a passion for technology and innovation. As a 6X Google Cloud Certified Professional, he has extensive experience in application development and analytics projects as a full-stack engineer.
In addition to his professional work, Kartik is an advocate for the use of technology to drive business growth and innovation. He is the leader of the Go…

Judges

Anu Srivastava - Google (Developer Relations Lead - Applied AI)

Anu Srivastava is tech leader at Google who specializes in advocating for solutions powered by AI. She focuses on applications of Natural Language, Translation and Speech in workflow automation. She began her career as a software engineer with a focus on reliability for developer tools & infrastructure. She now works cross-functionally with product, marketing, sales to make sure the highes…

TeLisa Daughtry - FLYX ENTERPRISES (Founder)

TeLisa is an award-winning tech entrepreneur, STEM/DEI+B advocate, and author dedicated to creating inclusive technology solutions. Her expertise includes Web3, AI, Blockchain, and building diverse, equitable workforces. She has been recognized by organizations like the UN Women and serves as an international speaker and thought leader.

Diana Agu - Curain Healthcare Services (CEO / Chief Listening Officer)

Diana Agu studied Law & Criminology in London, UK but climbed the corporate ladder working in project & business management. She has held varied jobs such as Head of PMO, COO, Chief of staff and more recently Global Head of Strategy for Marketing, Communications & People with Financial Services Insights & Data at Capgemini, an organization with an annual revenue of about $500M …

Christelle Scharff

Dr. Christelle Scharff is a Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean at Pace University in NY. She has a Ph.D. in Symbolic Artificial Intelligence (Theorem Proving and Automated Deduction) from INRIA, the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology. She published more than 30 papers in artificial intelligence, mobile for social change and global software en…

Wendy Durica - Kantar (Lead Engineer)

Wendy works at Kantar as Release Manager/Escalation Lead and an Accessibility Frontline Worker. She is a speaker and mentor who enjoys networking with those who are passionate about User Experience (UX) and Universal Design. Wendy is a past member with Grace Hopper Celebration Software Executive Committee, past officer with Society Women Engineers (SWE)
She also co-founded Women in…

Quiana C. Berry - Red Hat (SaaS Cloud PM)

Global citizen, AI humanist, Community builder, Poetic speaker, BIPOC women/ sustainability advocate, and Anthropologist turned technologist now building SaaS cloud business strategies for widely adopted products that power Fortune 500 companies.

Mira Zyra - Cloud Vertex (CEO)

Mira Violet is a software developer and UX designer. She is passionate about systems design and flutter. She is a WTM Ambassador and co-organizer of GDG Cloud Philly. She is an entrapanure who's founded and run several digital agencies and has over 13 years of industry experience.

Akash Shukla - Google for Startups (Accelerator Mentor)

Akash has been a part of global developer communities, startups, education, and innovation initiatives. He has personally seen the impact of his programs on 300,000+ people across 18+ countries. For Google, he was leading the Developer Community Program for the region (GDG) & several skilling initiatives focusing on K12, Android, and Web.
He has been a part of Antler, Amsterdam as an…

Aida Issayeva - Toast (Staff Software Engineer, Tech Lead)

Aida is an Android Developer and Google Developer Expert for Android with over 7 years of experience building android applications for various industries, ranging from cloud gaming services to satellite data communications to fintech. On a personal level, she’s that friend, who has a to-do list for the day, plans everything out, and creates itineraries hour-by-hour for everyone.

Reshama Shaikh - Data Umbrella (Director)

Reshama is a statistician/data scientist based in New York City. She has an M.S. in statistics from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from NYU Stern School of Business.
Reshama Shaikh is the Director of Data Umbrella and an organizer for NYC PyLadies. She is also on the Contributing Teams for scikit-learn and PyMC. She was awarded the Community Leadership Award from NumFOCUS in 2019 and i…

Hosted By

Ralph Yozzo, GDG Organizer

Google Developer Organizer since 2009.

Google developer group organizer, NYC Community Education Council Member, Computer Developer of Transparency applications, Dems committee former blue check.

Developer of open government information sites such as https://prop.tidalforce.org/

Ralph was born in the computer age and grew up with a computer keyboard attached to his fingers. Ralph wrote one video game using a Radio Shack and a cassette tape drive and never wrote another game. The reason is that games are simply random number generated worlds that are a waste of the player's time.

Ralph continued to love computer programming to this day, many decades later. After careers at IBM, Goldman Sachs (criminals), NYNEX / Verizon, Consolidated Edison, many small startup etc. and then some finance / computer companies and some non profit companies (some of the most wasteful companies are non profits).

If you want to hear the truth about the industry go to https://www.youtube.com/@RalphYozzo and contact me via twitter at https://twitter.com/fedex1

Ralph was blessed to be born near the Cuban Missile Crisis (when humanity was near the brink of self destruction) and then near Ralph's 50th year New York City was brought to it's knees when Hurricane Sandy showed New York City who is in control.

Anna Nerezova, GDG Organizer

Anna Nerezova is a Digital Marketing and Cloud Transformation Consultant with 15 years of experience in data, analytics and optimization.
She has built innovative solutions using Google Cloud to solve problems in the media and entertainment, tech, health and non-profit industries
Anna is a Google Cloud Engineer Scholar, and is on the 100 Women in Analytics list by Google Analytics. She is also a Google Developer Group NYC lead and a mentor for the Northeast, and a proud Women Techmakers Ambassador.

Anna is passionate about using the latest AI/ML technologies to provide solutions and bring growth and better experience for all users. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, and is committed to helping underrepresented groups become entrepreneurs and financially independent.

Madona S. Wambua, Founder & CTO

Madona is a GDE Android and Author, founder of Jibu Labs, WTM Ambassador, AnitaB.org Co-Chair, and a developer who enjoys sharing her Android knowledge and teaching women how to make Android applications.

Bhavik Chopra, Computer Science Graduate Student

Hi, I am Bhavik, an aspiring data scientist by profession, and marketer by passion.

Ever since my childhood, I was surrounded by computers, software, and games. I took Science-Maths in my 12th grade. Then I understood, it's not that interesting as I thought!

Thereafter, I fell in love with software development, and since then I have started preparing myself for making good projects.

Currently, I am a student pursuing a Bachelor Of Engineering from Silver Oak University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In my university, I’ve been working as Core Team Member at DSC Silver Oak University by Google Developers, Vice-Chair at IEEE SPS Silver Oak University Student Branch Chapter, and also the Marketing Committee Chair at IEEE SOU Student Branch.

I am an enthusiast tech person by heart and soul!!

Let's catch up!!

Shivika Arora, Executive Director, Product

I am currently responsible for driving modernization, innovation and engineer experience agenda in four strategic tech location for JP Morgan - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Silicon Valley and Seattle. Prior to this role, I was the Product and Solutions Lead for Trusts and Estates under Asset Wealth Management, where I was responsible for executing both brokerage op models as well lending framework for the ultra-high net worth clients.

Outside of work, I am Google’s WomenTechmaker Ambassador for NYC as well as GDG NYC Organizer; Champion Coach for JPM’s Women On The Move Network' and Fast Forward Small Business Mentor.

On a personal front, I love to read, dance to any good music and go on food tours around various cities.

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Partner

Pace University (https://www.pace.edu/)
The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems isn’t just a school with industry-leading academic programs that propel our students toward amazing careers in technology - it’s a community too. A community where you’ll meet new friends at the start, and leave with family at the end. A place where you can find support and the kind of mentoring that will turn your university career into something truly rewarding.

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Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-nyc-presents-build-with-ai-hackathon-workshops-iwd-celebration/.