Women in Technology: Hollywood’s (WiTH) annual SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit returns Nov. 8, with the theme “Together WiTH.” And keeping true to that theme, the agenda features several first-hand accounts of how impactful the organization has proven to be for women in technology fields.
In “Lasting Impact: Empowering the WiTH Community” attendees will hear personal stories and journeys from women who have been directly impacted by the WiTH community’s engagement efforts over the years. Attendees will also hear more about what these WiTH-supported nonprofits do with their members and for their broader community.
April Schneider, WiTH Foundation board member and VP of IT, IP Management and general counsel for Sony Pictures Entertainment will moderate. Panelists include Frejya Lindh Hernandez, Codetalk alumna and web designer for St Joseph Center; Christen Hockaday, Women’s Empowerment Institute alumna and senior help desk supervisor for Apple; Madison Ma, Technology Goddesses alumna and senior engineer for Qualcomm; Han Pham, STEM Advantage alumna and software engineer for The Walt Disney Co.; and Alyssa Rubalcava, DIY Girls alumna and UCLA student.
Following that panel, the agenda sees “Ask Me Anything: A Decade of Career Journeys – How I Got Here.” In celebration of WiTH’s 10th anniversary, revisit the panel that started it all.
Join in for a candid and insightful “Ask Me Anything” session, where accomplished women share their unique career paths, pivotal moments, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
This open forum invites attendees to ask questions, gain wisdom, and discover the diverse ways panelists have navigated challenges, seized opportunities, and forged their paths to success in the industry. Whether you’re early in your career or looking for the next step, this session is an opportunity to engage with inspiring leaders who have been exactly where you are now.
Co-located with the Infinity Festival at the famed AVALON Hollywood nightclub and events space, and presented by Women in Technology: Hollywood, the full-day Summit promises a full house of a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, presentations and panel discussions, with thought leaders in entertainment technology tackling the industry’s evolving landscape of leadership, diversity, accessibility, and more.
The annual SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit serves as the tent-pole fundraiser for WiTH and its associated charities, with this year’s event being dedicated to Cass Warner, the visionary and influential granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner.
Among the highlights of the Summit is the 7th Annual WiTH Leadership Awards, which recognizes outstanding leaders and advocates in the entertainment technology sector.
These individuals not only excel in their professional roles but also embody WiTH’s principles through their work, community engagement, mentoring, and networking. Past recipients of the award include industry luminaries like Vicky Colf, Nancy Faginas-Cody, Cristina Mancini-Jones, and Theresa Miller.
Last year’s summit at Nya Studios attracted more than 400 attendees, with more than 70 percent representing the media, entertainment, and tech-adjacent industries.
WiTH, founded in 2014, plays a pivotal role in advancing women in entertainment technology.
The WiTH Foundation Board of Directors, responsible for selecting Leadership Awards winners, comprises representatives from prominent organizations such as AMD, Crunchyroll, Microsoft, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and The Walt Disney Company.
This year’s SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit is sponsored by AWS, Ateliere, Fortinet, Microsoft and Qvest, with the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) and EIDR serving as association partners.
For inquiries about sponsorship, please contact donations@WiTHollywood.org.
For more information about the WiTH Leadership Awards and the organization itself, contact secretariat@WiTHollywood.org.
To register for the event, click here.