Draft:Women in Tech Global Conference

The Women in Tech Global Conference is an annual technology conference focused on supporting and enhancing the roles of women within the technology sector. Launched in 2020 by Anna Radulovski, founder of the nonprofit Coding Girls and WomenTech Global Foundation and WomenTech Network, the conference aims to address diversity issues in tech by fostering professional growth and creating opportunities for women.

The conference has attracted sponsorship and participation from major technology companies and has been noted for its contribution to critical dialogues around diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

2020
Initially intended as an in-person event, the Women in Tech Global Conference was restructured into a virtual format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This adaptation was facilitated by a Kickstarter campaign that funded the necessary technological infrastructure for online hosting.

The event utilized Hopin (company), then an emerging startup with capabilities to host up to 100,000 virtual participants, as one of the early adopters for large-scale vkickirtual conferences during a period of significant uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event attracted 140,410 unique viewers from 143 countries, garnered 651,600 content views, and achieved a peak concurrency of 15,100 visitors across various streaming channels.

2021
The conference remained online, allowing continued international access amid ongoing global health concerns. This format retained the participation of a global audience, focusing on technology discussions and industry insights.

2022
In response to changing global conditions, the conference adopted a hybrid format, combining virtual access with limited in-person sessions. This approach allowed for a gradual reintroduction of physical attendance while maintaining the inclusivity of the virtual model.

2023
The conference continued with the hybrid model, refining the integration of its in-person and online components. The event maintained a focus on accessibility and wide participation.

2024
The most recent iteration of the conference expanded on the hybrid approach, emphasizing the efficient execution of sessions both online and in selected physical locations.

2025
Preparations for the 2025 edition of the Women in Tech Global Conference are underway, focusing on maintaining a virtual-first approach. Originally intended to be an in-person event, the conference was moved to virtual format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has adopted a hybrid format to facilitate wider global participation.

Format and Programming
The Women in Tech Global Conference is typically structured over three days:

Day 1: The Chief in Tech Summit is held virtually, concluding with an in-person executive networking dinner in New York City.

Day 2: The Key Tech Summit takes place virtually, focusing on discussions related to technological advancements and industry trends.

Day 3: The Career Growth Summit is scheduled virtually, coinciding with in-person events at various locations across various contries.

This arrangement supports both virtual and local participation, allowing attendees from around the world to engage in focused thematic sessions.

Notable Speakers
The Women in Tech Global Conference has included speakers from various sectors of the technology industry. These have comprised executives from major technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, in addition to thought leaders and experts in specialized areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and biotechnology.

Notable speakers from past conferences include:
 * Maxine Williams - Chief Diversity Officer, Meta
 * Archana Jain - Group CTO, Zurich Insurance Group
 * Alvina Antar - Former CIO, Okta
 * Stephanie Domas - CISO, Canonical
 * Jae Sook Evans - Global CIO and Executive Vice President, Oracle
 * Michelle Grover - Technology Officer, Slalom
 * Lakecia Gunter - CTO, Microsoft
 * Sheila Jordan - SVP & Chief Digital Technology Officer, Honeywell
 * Lori Nishiura Mackenzie - Co-founder, Stanford University VMware Women's Leadership Innovation Lab
 * Sharon Mandell - CIO, Juniper Networks
 * Rebecca Parsons - Former CTO, Thoughtworks
 * Wendy M. Pfeiffer - Former CIO, Nutanix
 * Kate Prouty - SVP and Chief Information Officer, Akamai
 * Meerah Rajavel - CIO, Palo Alto Networks
 * Judy Dinn - CIO & EVP, TD
 * Fiona Tan - CTO, Wayfair
 * May Wang - CTO, Palo Alto Networks