WiMLDS: 3-Part AI Workshop Series - Bootcamp 1: Intro to LLMs

We are excited to announce a 3-part AI workshop series designed to provide valuable ML/DS insights and practical knowledge to our growing WiMLDS community. Each session will feature expert presenters and cover distinct aspects of AI, from foundational concepts to advanced applications and career discussions. Join us for one, two, or all three sessions that build upon each other as we end our series with a tech panel of expert women in the field.

Kicking off our series is Bootcamp #1: Intro to LLMs, presented by the brilliant Sunjana Ramana. This session's goal is to help you create a mental model of LLMs, learn prompt engineering techniques, and understand how to evaluate them. Topics will include:

• Module 1: How LLMs Are Trained: What is an LLM?, Training Pipeline (Pretraining → Fine-tuning → RLHF), and Inductive Bias.
• Module 2: Prompt Engineering: Basic prompting concepts, prompt structure, and optimization patterns.
• Module 3: Evaluating LLMs: Common failure modes and use cases.

How to prepare:

• We recommend you bring a computer for a short hands-on portion at the end of the presentation.

Agenda:

• 6:00 PM - 6:10 PM: Doors Open & Arrival
• 6:10 PM - 6:20 PM: Welcome & Intros by WiMLDS and BrainStation
• 6:20 PM - 7:20 PM: Presentation
• 7:20 PM - 7:35 PM: Q&A
• 7:35 PM - 8:00 PM: Networking

This event is hosted by our wonderful partners at BrainStation, and this event will be recorded and shared.

BrainStation is a global leader in digital skills training and workforce transformation, offering certificate courses and bootcamps in disciplines such as Data Science, UX Design, Digital Marketing, and Product Management. In addition to education, BrainStation hosts a wide range of industry events, panel discussions, and thought leadership sessions that connect professionals, hiring partners, and industry leaders. With campuses in major cities and a strong online presence, BrainStation empowers individuals and organizations to thrive in the digital economy.

Stay connected:

• WiMLDS NYC LinkedIn
• WiMLDS NYC on X
• Or request to join our Slack (send us a message on Meetup or LinkedIn)