The Stanford WIT+ Community meets regularly to hear from guest speakers, network, discuss pertinent topics, and more. Review videos and information from past and upcoming meetings below.
September 26, 2024 | Find Your Voice: Expressing Your Authentic Self with Confidence and Clarity
This was the third session in our series, featuring an inspiring workshop led by Lynn Kirkham, founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Yes You Can Speak.
July 25, 2024 | Find Your Purpose: How to Wake Up Feeling Inspired and Operate with Intention
This was the second session in our series, featuring a captivating fireside chat with Rukmini Reddy, SVP of Engineering at Slack, as we discuss methods for finding your professional and personal purpose. We explored how to be more intentional with our actions and how to better align those actions to our values to enjoy a fulfilling life and career.
May 29, 2024 | Find Your Presence: 5 Secrets to Move from Merit to Success
With the theme “Pathways to Best Self,” WIT+ has developed a series of workshops, known as four Fs, to guide and support your next career steps: Find your brand, Find your voice, Find your presence, and Find your purpose.
This was the first of our planned series: Find Your Presence | 5 Secrets to Move from Merit to Success
Do you ever catch yourself thinking, "I should have spoken up sooner"? Want to up your self-promotion game? Tired of feeling like you're invisible in meetings? Join Cara Heilmann to learn about actionable insights on how to claim your voice and communicate like a leader.
February 29, 2024 | Women in AI: Navigating the AI Frontier
This event was hosted by Stanford WIT+ and Harvard WIT+, where it was explore the career journeys of three exceptional leaders dabbling in AI:
- Emily Bottis, Managing Director of Academic Technology at Harvard University IT
- Katherine Pappas-Kassaras, CIO of External Relations and Stanford Alumni Association
- Gretchen Brown, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Stanford Health Care
April 19, 2023 | WIT+ Connect: A Look at Career Development and Advancement for Women in Technology at Stanford
This event featured Trina Glidden, Tina Del Cont, and Michelle Reade, members of the WIT+ Data Analysis Committee which was recently promoted to an IDEAL IT-wide committee. Based on interviews they conducted with a group of women in technology roles at Stanford, they presented data and insights on their career development.
During this event, the committee members discussed findings from the Women in the Workplace study conducted by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company, followed by a facilitated Q&A and inspiring conversation on how we can continue to support and advance women in technology.
View Recording | View Slides | Audio Transcript
Nov. 8, 2022 | WIT+ Conversations with Extraordinary Leaders
This event featured guest speakers Klara Jelinkova, vice president (VP) and university chief information officer (CIO) at Harvard University, and Jenn Stringer, associate vice chancellor for IT and CIO at the University of California, Berkeley. Through a facilitated discussion and Q&A, these extraordinary leaders shared their career journeys, lessons learned, and advice for women aspiring to be in leadership roles. This event was hosted by Stanford Women in Technology, an IDEAL IT program, and Ivy+ partners at UC Berkeley and Harvard.
View Recording | View Slides | Audio Transcript | Article
October 5, 2022 | Career Booster: Be ready for your next career move!
This event featured guest speaker Dee Mostofi, Assistant Vice President, for Stanford University Media Relations and Communication Operations. The virtual session began with a fireside chat focused on building a LinkedIn presence, as well as tips on navigating career development journeys. Mostofi spoke about using LinkedIn more strategically by being intentional about how you present yourself to the world and posting about subjects that are important to you. She also discussed how LinkedIn is a beneficial tool for amplifying visibility, connecting with colleagues on a deeper level, and promoting organizations.
This main session was then followed by a Q&A session and mini breakout rooms that covered the following topics:
- Resume and cover letter development, and interviewing for your next role
- Networking resources and practice
- Building your presence
- Building your profile in LinkedIn
View Recording | View Slides | Audio Transcript
May 18, 2022 | WIT Connect: Technology Project Spotlights
For our spring Women in Technology Connect event, we heard from colleagues across campus in a lightning round of project shareouts, as they spoke to their roles in implementing technology projects across Stanford and the impact they've had on the community. Our featured speakers included:
- Lily Lee, Acting Associate Director in H&S Dean's office on developing technology to support travel and field research exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Michelle Mason, IT Project Manager in R&DE on the Escondido Village Graduate Residences project
- Jessie Muehlberg, Associate Registrar, Curriculum Management & Scheduling, on Connected Curriculum
- Hannah Pollek, Mechanical Engineer from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on the LSST Camera for the Rubin Observatory
This event also included networking breakout sessions, where attendees had the chance to meet with our featured speakers, ask questions, and connect with colleagues across campus.
View Recordings:
- Main session
- Breakout rooms:
March 25, 2022 | WIT Presents Slack @ SLAC IT
Do you find it challenging to communicate and connect with team members in a hybrid environment? Are you interested in learning about Slack hacks that could improve your productivity?
In this event put on by WIT's Education & Training Committee, Caroline Alemany, IT Technical Manager at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory shared tips and tricks for how her team uses Slack to maintain constant communication with support teams, improve response time, encourage team building, and engage with colleagues.
January 12, 2022 | A WIT Take on Career Journeys
Our winter Women in Technology Connect event featured keynote speaker Amy Steagall. This meeting focused on learning from our career journeys and navigating resources to help grow our careers at Stanford. We also introduced our new WIT co-leads, learned about each other's journeys through a lightning round of “Career Karaoke” and wrapped up with a guided Q&A panel.
View Recording | View Resources
August 19, 2021 | WIT Summer Social - Game On
It was Game On at our 2021 summer social! There were interactive games, prizes, and we piloted an interactive networking tool called Topia.
July 22, 2021 | Understand and Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Have you ever felt like you’re a fraud? Like you don’t deserve the recognition you get? Like everyone will figure out that you don’t belong? Like you just got lucky? If you answered yes to any of these, you are not alone! In this workshop, we learned more about imposter syndrome and practical tips to combat it.
View Slides
May 27, 2021 | Leaky Pipelines, Broken Rungs, Glass Cliffs and Ceilings: Women’s Leadership Challenges in Tech - Discussion Group
WIT Discussion Groups are a collaboration with the Lane Medical Library. We meet quarterly to explore issues related to gender in technology and leadership using written word, videos, and audio recordings. In our May meeting, we explored the topic of Women's Leadership Challenges in Tech.
Check out the resources we discussed
April 27, 2021 | WIT Connect: Dr. Hannah Valantine
This meeting featured guest speaker Dr. Hannah Valantine, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine. Dr. Valantine’s previous role before coming to Stanford was at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she served as the inaugural chief officer for scientific workforce diversity. Under her leadership, there was a significant increase in the representation of women in NIH leadership positions. Dr. Valantine shared the approaches she implemented at NIH and how we might apply similar approaches within the IT Community at Stanford.
View recording | View slides
March 22, 2021 | #IamRemarkable Workshop
#IamRemarkable is a Google initiative empowering women and underrepresented groups to speak openly about their accomplishments in the workplace and beyond, thereby breaking modesty norms and glass ceilings.
Feb. 17, 2021 | Conversations with Extraordinary Leaders
This event featured Harvard University Vice President and CIO Anne Margulies, and Duke University Vice President and CIO Tracy Futhey. Through a facilitated discussion and Q&A, these extraordinary leaders shared their career journeys, lessons learned along the way, and what traits they've found to be most important in their leadership approach. This event was sponsored by Stanford Women in Technology, Harvard Women in Tech + Allies, and Duke Diversify IT.
View recording | View article
Jan. 29, 2021 | Allyship in Action Discussion Group
WIT Discussion Groups are a collaboration with the Lane Medical Library. We meet quarterly to explore issues related to gender in technology and leadership using written word, videos, and audio recordings. In our January meeting, we explored the topic of Allyship in Action.
Check out the resources we discussed
Nov. 16, 2020 | WIT Connect: Ann-Marie Yap's Career Journey
Our fall WIT Connect gathering featured Ann-Marie Yap, Executive Director of Technology at Stanford Health Care, and Stanford WIT co-sponsor. Ann-Marie shared her career journey and lessons she’s learned along the way.
View recording
October 22, 2020 | Women in Security and Privacy Panel
We were thrilled to sponsor a panel at the Stanford Cybersecurity and Privacy Fest. In this panel, women leaders in security and privacy shared their career journeys including their unique experiences, tips for success, and the challenges they have faced and overcome.
View recording
July 29, 2020 | WIT Connect: Virtual Summer Social
Our Virtual Summer Social was a way to have fun, unwind, and recharge. Our guest speaker was Patty Purpur de Vries, Director of Strategy, Outreach & Innovation for Stanford HIP and BeWell, who shared the A.C.T.I.O.N framework for living a purposeful life. After that, we enjoyed a social time featuring themed Zoom rooms. Participants danced to a live DJ, played trivia, shared about their pets and hobbies, played musical instruments, swapped recipes, home office hacks, and creative vacationing ideas.
View recording | View slides | View photos
June 18 and Aug. 20, 2020 | #IamRemarkable Workshop
#IamRemarkable is a Google initiative empowering women and underrepresented groups to speak openly about their accomplishments in the workplace and beyond, thereby breaking modesty norms and glass ceilings.
May 21 and July 23, 2020 | Advocating for Yourself Workshop
Self-advocacy can come in the form of negotiation, making the ask, stating your case, speaking up and being heard and more. In this workshop, we shared tips and strategies for self-advocacy and included time for self-reflection and role playing.
View slides
April 2, 2020 - WIT Connect | Finding Worklife Blend by Exploring Personal Values
Our Zoom-only, April WIT Connect meeting was focused on work/life integration using a values-based approach. Part of our conversation was tailored around the specific worklife challenges folks are now facing due to COVID-19. Our featured guests included Stanford doctoral student Fatimah Al-Ismail, who writes about life as a Stanford student-parent for her blog “PhD Momma,” as well as Caitlin Azhderian of Stanford's WorkLife Office.
View recording | View photos | View infographic | View article
Jan. 23, 2020 - Zoom Session: Patterns of Bias in the Workplace
This Zoom-only session focused on four common types of gender bias in the workplace, and some strategies that might help to address them.
View slides | View handout
Jan. 14, 2020 - Information Session: Stanford WIT/Year Up Mentoring Program
This session provided attendees with information about the Stanford WIT/Year Up Mentoring Program. This is a new program we are piloting this year. Registration is now closed, but there may be opportunity to participate in a future cohort.
Learn more about the program
Jan. 10, 2020 - Registration Deadline: WIT Community Groups
Find support, be encouraged, and develop authentic and meaningful relationships. Groups will consist of six to 10 people within Stanford WIT or the broader IT Community at Stanford, who will gather monthly to talk about life, work, or an agreed-upon topic of interest. Groups begin meeting in February. Registration is now closed for the February - July 2020 Community Groups. We will announce when more groups are open.
Learn more about WIT Community Groups
Dec. 11, 2019 - WIT Connect: Johanna Metzgar's Career Journey and Nita Singh Kaushal on Leadership Skills for Women
We learned about new opportunities to get involved in the WIT Community and heard from our WIT Sponsor, Associate Vice Provost of Student Affairs Johanna Metzgar, who shared her career journey with us. Our keynote speaker, Nita Singh Kaushal spoke about effective leadership for women. Nita is a lecturer in the Stanford School of Engineering and the founder of Miss CEO.
View recording | View photos | View slides | View Nita's slides
Oct. 22, 2019 - Brown Bag Session: Patterns of Bias in the Workplace
This session focused on four common types of biases and strategies that might help to address them.
Sept. 12, 2019 - WIT Connect: One Year Celebration + Susie Brubaker-Cole
We celebrated our one-year birthday in September! We took time to acknowledge and celebrate our success in year one, and also looked ahead at where we're going in year two. Susie Brubaker-Cole, vice provost for Student Affairs was our keynote speaker. Susie shared updates about the university-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives through a briefing on the presidential IDEAL initiative.
View recording | View photos | View slides | October newsletter with meeting recap
July 9, 2019 - Ice Cream Social
We had an excellent turnout at the July 9 Ice Cream Social! Thanks to all who came out for some summer fun. We had a great mix of current WIT community members plus others who came to learn more about who we are and what we do. Attendees enjoyed networking, tunes by our very own DJ Leda, lawn games, and of course ice cream!
View photos
May 2, 2019 - Creating a Positive, Gender- Diverse Work Environment
Our May meeting featured Lauren Schoenthaler, senior associate vice provost for Institutional Equity and Access. As a member of the provost’s leadership team, Lauren works to address matters of institutional policy and resource allocation related to equal opportunity, affirmative action, gender equity and compliance with Title IX and other nondiscrimination laws.
View photos | May newsletter with meeting recap
March 11, 2019 - Creating Mutual Mentorships
We started our March meeting with structured networking time, which flowed into an interactive discussion and workshop about mentoring and relationship-building, springboarding off the research of Stacy Blake-Beard, professor of management at Simmons College.
View recording | View photos | March newsletter with meeting recap
Jan. 28, 2019 - Krista Tippett, WIT Planning Committees, and a Live Survey
Our January Stanford WIT meeting featured Krista Tippett, the 2019 Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor at Stanford, Peabody award-winning broadcaster, National Humanities Medalist, and New York Times bestselling author. Attendees also learned more about the Stanford WIT planning committees, and a live survey was conducted to help Stanford WIT continue to improve and iterate.
View recording | View photos | February newsletter with meeting recap
Dec. 17, 2018 - Conversation about Career Paths
Our December Stanford WIT meeting featured a conversation about career paths with members of the Stanford community. We heard stories of women who have transitioned from one profession to another, stepped out of the workforce to raise children, balanced households with two demanding Silicon Valley careers, took risks to get advancement, managed work-life balance challenges and more.
The meeting concluded with time for networking and community building. We encouraged attendees to share their career stories with each other, just as the panelists had shared their career stories, and we provided a handout on the power of storytelling.
View recording | View photos
Nov. 29, 2018 - Find Your Circle Inaugural Event, featuring Nancy Ware and Molly Sharp
Our first Stanford WIT Find Your Circle event introduced the Stanford WIT community to a set of tools that can help everyone have better conversations and build new relationships—critical skills for growing your careers and building out your Circles. Time was also reserved for practicing our new skills and getting to know each other better.
View event handout
Oct. 23, 2018 - Dereca Blackmon, Ruth Marinshaw and Linnea Williams
Our keynote speaker was Dereca Blackmon, Director of Stanford’s Diversity and First-Gen Office. Additionally, Ruth Marinshaw, Chief Technology Officer of Stanford Research Computing and co-sponsor of Stanford WIT shared her career journey. Program lead Linnea Williams set the stage for what's coming next in Stanford WIT.
View recording | View photos
Sept. 27, 2018 - Inaugural meeting with Laura Patterson, Megan Clarke and Steve Gallagher
The inaugural Stanford WIT meeting featured guest speaker Laura Patterson, recently retired CIO of the University of Michigan. The meeting also provided context setting for Stanford WIT, an overview of the program charter, and networking and community building for attendees.
View recording | View photos
