There are some stages you stand on because they’re prestigious.
And then there are stages that feel personal.
This June 3rd, I’ll be speaking at the Women Who Code Summit in New York, leading a session titled:
Building Trustworthy AI: Bias Mapping, Compliance Tradeoffs, and Engineering Design Decisions
And if I’m being honest… this opportunity feels bigger than just another speaking engagement.
Because Women Who Code returning matters.
A lot.
The Organization That Helped So Many Women Believe They Belonged
For years, Women Who Code wasn’t just an organization.
It was proof.
Proof that women belonged in technical rooms.
Proof that leadership in technology could look different.
Proof that community matters in an industry that can sometimes make people feel isolated, underestimated, or invisible.
Especially women.
Especially women of color.
Especially technical women trying to navigate spaces where they were often the only one in the room.
Organizations like this create something people underestimate:
momentum.
They help students become engineers.
They help junior developers become leaders.
They help people survive imposter syndrome long enough to realize they were qualified all along.
And for many women in tech, including myself, Women Who Code represented possibility.
So When It Went Away… It Hurt
For people unfamiliar with the history:
In 2023, Women Who Code announced it was shutting down operations due to financial challenges after years of incredible global impact.
And honestly? That news hit hard.
Not because organizations never struggle — nonprofit sustainability is difficult, especially in changing economic climates — but because it felt symbolic of something larger happening in tech.
At the same time:
- DEI programs were being reduced
- layoffs were everywhere
- mentorship pipelines were shrinking
- and many communities built to support underrepresented people in technology suddenly felt fragile
There was a period where it felt like the industry collectively decided:
“Diversity was important… until budgets got tight.”
And that realization was deeply disappointing.
Because people often celebrate diversity initiatives when they’re trendy.
But the real test is whether you still support them when things become inconvenient.
Why This Is Personal For Me
I didn’t arrive in technology through shortcuts.
I built my career learning how to navigate technical environments that were often:
- high pressure
- male dominated
- exhausting
- competitive
- and sometimes incredibly isolating
I know what it feels like to:
- question whether you belong
- overprepare for every meeting
- feel pressure to prove yourself repeatedly
- balance technical credibility with leadership expectations
- and carry the invisible weight that many women in technology understand without needing it explained
That’s why communities matter.
That’s why mentorship matters.
That’s why visibility matters.
And that’s why seeing Women Who Code return feels important.
Because representation alone isn’t enough.
People need ecosystems that help them grow.
Full Circle Moments
Now years later, I have the opportunity to stand on that stage as:
- a technology executive
- cybersecurity leader
- speaker
- mentor
- podcast host
- and someone still deeply passionate about helping the next generation navigate this industry with confidence
That’s not something I take lightly.
I’m especially excited because my session focuses on something I care deeply about:
building AI responsibly without losing sight of the humans impacted by the systems we create.
The future of technology cannot just be about speed.
It has to be about:
- trust
- intentionality
- ethics
- accessibility
- and real-world impact
And those conversations deserve diverse voices in the room.
“The future of technology becomes stronger when more people are empowered to help shape it.”
To Women Navigating Tech Right Now
If you’re early in your journey:
keep going.
If you feel underestimated:
keep building anyway.
If you’re exhausted:
you are not alone.
And if you’ve ever questioned whether you belong in technology, leadership, cybersecurity, AI, engineering, or innovation spaces:
You do.
Completely.
The industry may evolve.
Technology will absolutely evolve.
But we still need thoughtful, curious, resilient humans willing to build what’s next.
Join Me In New York
I’m incredibly honored to be part of this year’s summit and grateful to contribute to a community that has impacted so many people across tech.
If you’ll be in NYC June 2–4, I’d genuinely love to connect.
Event Resources
And honestly? I think this comeback story deserves to be celebrated.
Because rebuilding community in this industry matters just as much as rebuilding technology.
