STEM Mentoring

And we're back! We are excited to announce that on Wednesday, March 4th, we will host our first AI Exchange event of the year at AWS London. Join us for another night of insightful conversations, expert perspectives and real world examples exploring how AI is being built, scaled, and applied across industries. We have three brilliant talks to kick us off this year. Hope to see you there and please RSVP as soon as you can to secure your place. **Agenda:** **[Kaitlin Brabec](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlinbrabec/) @ [We Build AI](https://www.linkedin.com/company/webuild-ai/)** **Practical Tips For Using AI To Enhance And Accelerate Your Work (Without Compromising On Quality Or Learning) by an AI Engineer** As AI becomes embedded in how we work, the expectation to deliver quickly and correctly is higher than ever. But the real opportunity is how to use AI to genuinely grow, both personally and professionally, along the way. Kaitlin shares real examples from her work as an AI Engineer - from picking up software engineering best practices, to data engineering techniques, to project management tasks - and the simple habits she developed to use AI in a way that builds real knowledge you can reuse and lean on next time. Kaitlin also shares how she stays up to date with the latest AI learnings to keep refining her technique and growing over time. Whether you're technical or not, this session will provide practical tips to use AI whilst balancing quality output and self-development. Kaitlin is a Senior AI Engineer at WeBuild-AI. Kaitlin has 4 years of hands-on experience delivering GenAI and Agentic AI solutions to enterprise clients, with a focus on the energy and utilities sectors. Recent client feedback includes "I'm very impressed with the speed and quality of work that was delivered on this project". Kaitlin is passionate about using AI not just to build, but to keep growing her skills outside the norms and sharing best practices with both the WeBuild-AI team and beyond. Outside of work, Kaitlin is a keen athlete and is currently training for her next half Ironman race. **[Amit Dhingra](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitdhingra7/) @ AWS** **The Agentic Enterprise: How AI Agents Are Rebuilding Business in 2026** This session explores the transformative shift from AI assistants to autonomous AI agents in 2026, showcasing real-world production deployments across finance and retail that are fundamentally changing how businesses operate. The Paradigm Shift: We've moved from AI as chatbots (2023) and copilots (2025) to autonomous agents (2026) that plan, decide, and execute complete workflows independently. While 64% of professionals now use AI agents, only 25% use them regularly—creating a widening competitive gap. Amit will discuss how agentic AI differs fundamentally from current AI tools they useConcrete examples of agents operating in production today. The career implications for developers, technical professionals, and business leaders. Unlike the internet transition that took 20 years, the agentic AI shift is happening in 20 months. Organizations that master agent orchestration in 2026 will have significant competitive advantages, while those waiting risk falling permanently behind. **Lisa Smisson @** **[Sky](https://www.linkedin.com/company/sky/)** **AI Journey and Software Development Transformation Summary** Lisa's AI journey started with a simple need: creating illustrations for a story she’d written for her daughter. After her arty husband quoted a couple of weeks to create a few pictures to illustrate it, she decided to try ChatGPT's image generation capabilities. In just a few hours, she created all the illustrations needed, a moment that revealed AI's transformative potential. Lisa will take us through her journey of software development using AI coding assistants, without ever having written a line of code. Calling out key points to consider on AI transformation. Lisa is an AI Delivery Manager at NBCUniversal/Sky, on her 12-month AI journey and its implications for software development transformation. We look forward to seeing you all soon! All the best, Tony, Andrea and The AI Exchange team The AI Exchange is brought to you in partnership with[ LinuxRecruit](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/) and[ AWS.](https://aws.amazon.com/) LinuxRecruit is building the next wave of Technology Unicorns in Europe. Whether you're hiring or exploring your next opportunity,[ get in touch](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/contact-us). The types of roles we have currently are across Founding Engineers, Product Engineers, Software Engineers, AI/ML Engineers, Data Engineers, Product Managers, Modern Infrastructure Engineers.

**[BOOK HERE](https://zenmymind.co.uk/calendar/)** **Welcome to the Systemic Family Constellation Workshop (in person)!** Join us at **Zen My Mind - near Angel - Islington, London N1,** for a transformative experience. Our workshop will delve into the dynamics of family systems, uncovering hidden patterns and exploring resolutions. Through **[constellations](https://zenmymind.co.uk/what-is-constellation-therapy-explained/)**, we'll gain insights into relationships, behaviours, and emotions. Our facilitator, \*\*[Ivo Aulik ](https://zenmymind.co.uk/our-team/ "https://zenmymind.co.uk/our-team/")\*\*is committed to creating a secure and impactful experience for you during the workshop. We intentionally keep our workshops small, with a maximum of 25 participants, to ensure a safer and more intimate experience. Experience the power of **healing** and **reconciliation** as we navigate through the complexities of family dynamics. This in-person event offers a safe and supportive environment for personal growth and understanding. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the depths of your family system and discover new perspectives. Reserve your spot today for an enriching journey towards **[clarity](https://zenmymind.co.uk/what-is-constellation-therapy-explained/)**[ and ](https://zenmymind.co.uk/what-is-constellation-therapy-explained/)**[emotional well-being](https://zenmymind.co.uk/what-is-constellation-therapy-explained/)**. For any additional information, please call us on 02039165574 or email info@zenmymind.co.uk [www.zenmymind.co.uk](www.zenmymind.co.uk) **[BOOK HERE](https://zenmymind.co.uk/calendar/)**

***Enter the live meeting room here: [https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u](https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u)*** ***Download the engine here: [https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download](https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download)*** Welcome to the **Unreal Engine Workshop!** In each session we'll tackle essential game design discussions, then transition into hands-on project creation. Participants will build and expand their skills continuously as we explore every aspect of game development. From basic blueprints and interactive mechanics, to advanced rigging, animation, environment design, and lighting, we'll work our way up to creating small complete games. We encourage experimentation and peer teaching, so whether you're a beginner or experienced developer looking to deepen your expertise, our sessions provide a supportive environment to learn, create, and innovate together in Unreal Engine 5.

**THE HEARTH is a community for people interested in building community** 😊 **Why is it called 'THE HEARTH'?** Hestia is the goddess of the hearth. She is also the goddess of community, hospitality towards strangers, home, and warmth. She is symbolised by the sacred fire burning in every home and city. Known for her inner strength, calm demeanour, and commitment to peace, I think Hestia embodies qualities that can be very helpful when cultivating community! 🔥 **HOW IT WORKS (... at present, we continue to evolve according to feedback) :** We will start by discussing a thought experiment related to community * this is a tried and tested method of getting into good conversations quickly, see my other community "[THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs/)" for evidence! * we will split into small groups for about 25 minutes to discuss We will then open up discussion to the room. There will also be opportunities for storytelling, trouble shooting, and celebrating existing communities. The rest of the evening is unstructured space to continue conversations, discuss collaborations, get to know each other. **NOTES ON THE GENERAL ATMOSPHERE:** * Laid back, light, fun * Respectful of each other's time, views, ideas * Generous listening and low pressure sharing **WHO SHOULD COME:** Everyone with an interest in community. This group is not about being experts, it is about *working it out together*. That is, bringing our various experiences and lenses on the world together to support, inspire, and uplift one another. The more perspectives, the richer the conversation. **WHERE WE'LL MEET:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. We'll be in the Private Dining Room UPSTAIRS. Please ask for Bonny at the bar if you can't find us. **YOUR HOST:** I'm Bonny. I've created a couple of successful communities (e.g. [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs) & [THE SUNRISE CLUB](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/)) and have a lot of experience hosting groups. I'm always learning. My best ideas come out of conversations with others :-). You can read some of my thoughts on community building [here.](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/HiRXL7B6QUpGAmZirk20kY?mode=wwc)** \- stay in the loop **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) -** sign up for the newsletter I'm looking forward to meeting you and hearing your ideas! If you would like to further support these meetups, you can do so here: [https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor](https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor) Thank you!

Hosted by Nadia Monte, Nigel Hunt, and Simon Moir. Headline presentation: * **[Anna Perela](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaperela/) \- Head of Planning and Projects\, Cityscape Digital** * * Chartered Architect with over 15 years’ experience in architecture, planning, and visualisation. Experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams, combining strong architectural knowledge and technical expertise with innovative use of technology. Education presentation: * **[Solent University](https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/cgi-and-visual-effects-ba/2026/ba-hons-cgi-and-visual-effects-3-years-2026) \- CGI\, VFX & Games Art\.** * * Each year, the students from Solent University make a pilgrimage to 3D London to mingle with industry folks and give short introduction presentations, the majority of whom it's their first time presenting in public. First-time 5-minute presentations: * We offer 3 spots for anyone willing to take to the stage to give a short 5-minute introduction presentation. Sponsored partners [SiNi](https://www.sinisoftware.com/), [Chaos](https://www.chaos.com/), [Itoosoft](https://www.itoosoft.com/), [NTI](https://www.nti-group.com/uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand-nti-pm&utm_content=adgroup-bluegfx&keyword=bluegfx&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23336319810&gbraid=0AAAABB31zGGrX5M9GuQgtXaFDu8MZSRVN&gclid=CjwKCAiAkvDMBhBMEiwAnUA9BWzTkav1enKz2adGWAV6IUQFXfJ8-QnQh3PaN4JV76OWyuQ7by74jBoCHlIQAvD_BwE), [Heata](https://www.heata.co/).

🌟 International Women’s Day 2026 – Give to Gain 🌟 Join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate International Women’s Day with this year’s powerful theme, **“Give to Gain.”** This theme recognises the transformative impact of generosity — sharing knowledge, mentorship, and life experiences — and how giving back helps build confidence, accelerate growth, and strengthen leadership for future generations. Please REGISTER https://buytickets.at/thedawnofwomenfashionshow/2050782 **Why attend?** Because when women support women, extraordinary things happen. This event is designed to spark meaningful conversations, encourage knowledge exchange, and empower attendees to uplift one another both personally and professionally. Through honest dialogue and real-world insights, you’ll walk away with fresh perspectives, practical advice, and valuable connections. **Who should be there?** ✔ Professionals and emerging leaders ✔ Founders and entrepreneurs ✔ Women in technology — and those curious about entering the field ✔ Allies committed to advancing gender diversity ✔ Anyone passionate about personal growth, mentorship, and community **What to expect:** ✨ A dynamic panel discussion featuring three accomplished panelists and an experienced facilitator ✨ Authentic conversations on leadership, career growth, and the power of giving back ✨ Opportunities to engage with like-minded professionals ✨ A relaxed networking drinks reception to build meaningful connections **Event Details:** 📅 **Date:** 6 March 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 6:00pm – 9:30pm \(Panel begins at 6:30pm \| Networking drinks from 8:30pm\) 📍 **Venue:** University of Westminster – Marylebone Campus 35 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LS Come ready to be inspired, to share, and to grow — because when we give, we all gain. Secure your place and be part of a community committed to lifting each other higher.

Ready to think clearer, reason better, and express with clarity? Join us for a practical wholesome philosophy practice where we learn essential thinking skills through hands-on group practice. Leave academics and theory at the door— this is a skills-building adventure for everyday life! ✨ This event's focus: **Constructing Your Position** 🎯a part of the Wholesome Philosophy series — that help you build a complete thinking toolkit. **See below** **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Philosophy?** Practical philosophy for everyday life - helping you build useful skills for thinking clearer and communicating better in work, relationships, and daily conversations. You'll learn through pair work, and group practice. spread across **different sessions:** * **Clear Thinking & Better Arguments** — How to reason * **Develop Thinking Habits** — Spotting biases and fallacies * **The Art of Dialogue** — Having productive disagreements * **Constructing Your Position** — Building solid viewpoints * **Decision-Making Frameworks** — Choosing wisely under uncertainty * **Self-Examination & Growth** — Questioning your own beliefs Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want to think clearer and communicate better * You feel frustrated when your point doesn't land * You want to spot weak reasoning (including your own) * You enjoy learning through practice, not just theory * You crave thoughtful conversation with curious people * You want practical tools you can use tomorrow No philosophy background needed — just show up ready to practice. **What's in it for you?** * Make your points stick (without fighting) * Think more clearly about any topic even complex ones * Have disagreements that don't turn into arguments * Understand the world better * Connect with curious, thoughtful people ✨ * Gain confidence in your reasoning abilities **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) * Pair work for hands-on practice * Individual reflection moments * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing thinking skills * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day ️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** Join us for a Wholesome Philosophy practice session and walk away with various thinking tools — it's for anyone who wants to navigate life with a sharper, kinder mind. We really hope to see you there! **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. ️ **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

**Please note that this event will take place IN PERSON on Friday, 6 March, 2026 in London at 6pm London time (1pm New York time).** **In collaboration with Imperial College [MathSoc](https://imperialmathsoc.com/)!** **Full title:** Heisenberg's Backtest **Speaker:** Rob Carver **Abstract:** What is a backtest for? In fact, like electrons, backtests have two contradictory natures. Firstly, they tell how well a particular trading strategy would have done in the past. Secondly, they help you design a strategy that will perform well in the future. These are not the same thing. In this talk Rob discusses this problem and how to reconcile these two objectives. **Venue:** Huxley Building, Imperial College London, 180 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ **Biography:** Robert Carver is an independent systematic futures trader and writer. He is a visiting lecturer at [Queen Mary, University of London](https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sef/staff/carverrob.html), and is research advisor to [Stylus Capital](https://stylus.digital/), a hedge fund trading digital assets. He is the author of four books: “[Systematic Trading](http://www.systematictrading.org/)", "[Smart Portfolios](https://www.systematicmoney.org/smart)", "[Leveraged Trading](https://www.systematicmoney.org/leveraged-trading)" and "[Advanced Futures Trading Strategies](https://www.systematicmoney.org/advanced-futures)". [Until 2013](http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/151380/key-departures-at-man-groups-ahl-fund/) Robert worked for [AHL](http://www.ahl.com/), a large systematic hedge fund, and part of the [Man Group](http://www.man.com/). He was responsible for the creation of AHL's fundamental global macro strategy, and then managed the funds multi billion dollar fixed income portfolio. Prior to that Robert worked as a research manager for [CEPR](http://cepr.org/), an economics think tank, and traded exotic derivatives for [Barclays](http://www.barclays.com/) investment bank. He spent his early career in the Middle East. Robert has a Bachelors degree in Economics from the [University of Manchester](http://www.manchester.ac.uk/), and a Masters degree, also in Economics, from [Birkbeck College](http://www.bbk.ac.uk/), University of London. **Links**: Rob's blog: [https://qoppac.blogspot.com/](https://qoppac.blogspot.com/)

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

## Hey Columbus WIP peeps! ## Are you ready for an event that actually gives you what you asked for?? **\-\-\-\-\-\-** **A Small-group coaching conversations for women in product navigating growth, leadership, and career decisions.** **March 10 \| 5:30–8:00 PM** **Rev1 -- NEW SPACE** **330 Rush Alley #100** **Parking Options:** • **Rev1 at The Peninsula** • **Starling St. Garage South** – 377 W. Capital St. • **LAZ Parking (COSI)** – 50 Belle St. • **LAZ Parking Limited** – 375 W. State St. • **Veterans Memorial Lot** – 300 W. Broad St. • **Metered Street Parking** **What moves are you making?** A promotion you’re working toward. A role change you’re considering. A bigger leadership opportunity. A conversation that needs to happen. A decision that’s been sitting in the back of your mind. For our Q1 Women in Product Columbus event, we’re creating space to actually work through those moments. **Making Moves** is an evening of focused, facilitated coaching conversations with experienced mentors from our local product community. This isn’t a panel. It’s not passive networking. It’s small-group dialogue designed to be thoughtful, practical, and worth your time. Here’s how it will work: • You’ll choose a topic that reflects what you’re navigating right now • You’ll join a small coaching circle (5–7 participants) • Each circle is led by a mentor who has lived experience in that area • We’ll run two rounds so you can go deeper or explore a second conversation ### Coaching Topics: • Communicating the Value of Your Work (or Team) • Career Transitions & What’s Next • Growing Into Leadership • Staying Relevant as Technology (and AI) Changes • Getting Alignment and Decisions from Leadership Our goal is simple: you leave with clearer thinking, practical perspective, and at least one next step you feel confident about. Space in each circle will be limited to keep conversations meaningful. If this sounds like the kind of room you’ve been wanting to be in, we’d love to see you on March 10. RSVP here! [https://community.womenpm.org/c/all-local-events/making-moves-a-columbus-wip-event](https://community.womenpm.org/c/all-local-events/making-moves-a-columbus-wip-event "https://community.womenpm.org/c/all-local-events/making-moves-a-columbus-wip-event") *And if you haven't joined the WIP group - do that too, would ya?!?!* — Your Columbus Chapter Leads - Amber, Leah and Liz!

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

## Overview Networking event for aspiring school leaders interested in building their own high-quality K-12 public school in their community. **About the Event:** Aspiring school founders in the Columbus, OH, area are invited to join us for this special in-person networking event where you will be able to ask questions, learn more about the BES Fellowship and make sure you are prepared for the application process and beyond. In addition to meeting like-minded leaders who are also committed to transforming education and bringing a high-quality K-12 option to their community, you’ll have the opportunity to meet our team and gain special insights from Dr. Chaundria Smith, BES Senior Director of Fellowship Coaching, who works closely to support BES Fellows. During this event, you can also learn more about the various regions across Ohio we are prioritizing for the BES Fellowship to ensure that new schools will respond to the needs of their community. **About the BES Fellowship:** Leaders in the BES Fellowship embark on a multi-year process to design, found, and lead an excellent K-12 public school that reflects and responds to community needs. We are currently accepting applications to the 2026 BES Fellowship. The extended deadline is March 30, and the 2026 Cohort will begin August 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Learn more at [bes.org/fellowship](http://bes.org/fellowship "http://bes.org/fellowship").

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

This month, we are in-person at GameArena!!! We will also be joined by students and their games from [Shawnee State](https://www.shawnee.edu/game-design-programs)! \-\-\- Join us for our our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event @GameArena! Come to play and showcase your games. We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk mezzanine area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor as well as the 1st floor in the gaming room below the mezzanine. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required). [https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu) **Attendees:** Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better! **Developers:** Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available. Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out. 75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9) If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)