Columbus WITCON 2025: Thrive Forward, Shape Tomorrow

getWITit aspires to cultivate local community engagement so that women can sustain, excel, and advance in technology careers. WITCON 2025 will deliver on just that! This year, we’re excited to announce an in-person conference event with a focus on bringing local women and allies in technology together for a day of leadership, learning, workshops and connection. Coffee, lunch, and Happy Hour included in this all day event!

Our mission is to inspire more women to enter the field of technology by building a supportive environment where those women can flourish and create opportunities for more women to ascend into leadership roles. As a non-profit, we rely on the help of external sponsors to help us unite, support, and promote diversity in tech throughout the Columbus region.

Interested in supporting this event? Please send all sponsorship inquires to: Chasidy.DeSantis@getwitit.org

For all other requests and inquiries please contact us at columbus.oh.chapter@getwitit.org

Volunteer at WITCON 2025

Interested in volunteering? We have a variety of volunteer opportunities from signing people in at the conference, packing goodie bags the day before, and simply being a getWITit ambassador by sharing and liking our posts on social media. Whether you have a little or a lot of time, any level of commitment is appreciated. Let us know you're interested by sending us an email at columbus.oh.chapter@getwitit.org or filling out our interest survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqn4uMMidVejID3K8V185GwS9BPBIIm0UdGLsKcTsZMPR2uA/viewform

Authorization

By purchasing a ticket you grant permission to getWITitColumbus to use photographs, video, and audio taken during the event in publications, news releases, online, and in other communications.

About getWITit National

getWITit is a non-profit national organization, with the specific mission of addressing the declining number of women in the IT industry, through programs that promote awareness, address attrition, create opportunities to transition to tech, and preparation for leadership. Our mission is to inspire more women to enter the field of technology, to build an environment where those women can flourish, and to create opportunities for more women to ascend into leadership roles.

*Ticket sales will be limited to 400 people

getWITit runs various events, seminars and conferences from time to time to update, educate and provoke discussion amongst its community members, potential community members and industry bodies (“Events”). This privacy notice is a disclosure that getWITit uses your personal data when you register for and attend an Event run by getWITit.

~~~AGENDA ~~~

7:45 AM: Registration and Coffee – Lobby

8:15 AM 

Announcements: Elizabeth Tolia - Co-Founder, getWITit: A celebration of 10 years

Opening Keynote: Connie Matthews Reynolds - Founder and CEO of ReynCon: Own Your Story: Building an Unshakeable Professional and Personal Brand

Location: Theater

 In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, your career success isn’t determined by luck or circumstance—it’s shaped by how intentionally you build your brand, how resilient you become in the face of setbacks, and how proactively you take charge of your professional journey. This keynote will equip you with practical strategies to craft a compelling personal brand that authentically represents your unique value proposition, while building the mental fortitude to thrive.

You’ll discover how to identify and articulate your core strengths, develop a consistent brand narrative across all professional touchpoints, and leverage both digital and in-person opportunities to amplify your reputation. Beyond brand building, we’ll explore the psychology of resilience—how to reframe failures as learning opportunities, build emotional intelligence to navigate workplace challenges, and develop the adaptability that top performers use to pivot successfully in changing markets.

Most importantly, you’ll learn to shift from a reactive to a proactive career mindset. Whether you’re early in your career or looking to make a strategic transition, this session will provide you with actionable frameworks for setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, building strategic relationships, and creating opportunities rather than waiting for them to appear.

Leave with a clear roadmap for taking ownership of your professional narrative and building a career that aligns with both your values and ambitions—regardless of what external forces may come your way.

9:45 AM     

Blended Paths, Shared Purpose: A story of two female leaders

• Presenters: Kristen Elliott, Nationwide Insurance & Cindy Payne - Nationwide Financial
• Location: Clinton

Join two dynamic female leaders as they share their journeys from distinct yet intersecting worlds - technology and business - into leadership roles working together in a leading shared service organization within a Fortune 100 company.

This session explores their hybrid backgrounds, the challenges and triumphs of growing in tech and business, and the art of context switching across disciplines. 

Through candid conversation, they will reveal how they tackle problems collaboratively, empower each other's career goals, and model inclusive leadership. Expect insights, inspiration, and a celebration of partnership in action in this exciting dialogue.

Decoded: AI Strategy for Non-Tech Leaders

• Presenter: Betsy Stokes - Centric Consulting
• Location: Franklin/Hamilton

AI isn’t just for data scientists and engineers—it’s reshaping how every business function operates. This session is designed specifically for women in non-technical leadership roles who are eager to make informed, strategic decisions around AI, even if they don’t code.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand core AI concepts and their business relevance without the jargon
• Identify use cases in product development, customer experience, and operational efficiency
• Partner effectively with technical teams and vendors on AI initiatives
• Evaluate AI tools and trends with a critical, strategic lens
• Champion ethical, inclusive AI adoption within your organization

Everything I Needed to Be a Successful Engineer, I Learned in a Hair Salon

• Presenter: Amanda Stricker - American Honda Motor Co.
• Location: Hancock

Before becoming a software engineer, Amanda spent over 10 years as a hairstylist—and it turns out, the salon was the best training ground for tech. From managing expectations to debugging chaos in real time, the skills she honed behind the chair are the same ones that make her thrive in engineering today. In this talk, she’ll connect the dots between soft skills and systems thinking, explain why enterprise AI is a lot like platinum blonde (expensive, delicate, and dependent on the systems around it), and share practical, memorable lessons for navigating hype, staying adaptable, and building solutions that last. Whether you write code, manage people, or need strategies for navigating a competitive tech landscape without sacrificing teamwork, this talk is for you.

The Reluctant Expert: AI Crash Course for Unwanted Expertise

• Presenter: Mary Kaufman - Augustwenty
• Location: Highland

This workshop shows how to use AI as your emergency instructor, personal coach, and life manager—turning overwhelm into action. You’ll learn how to get “competent enough” fast, focusing on the 20% that solves 80% of the problem.

After losing my husband unexpectedly, I found myself running a 100-acre farm overnight. AI became my crash-course instructor—helping me plan a funeral, fix equipment, manage finances, and learn land management—all while holding down a full-time career.

Today, I use AI daily to organize projects, clarify ideas, and turn chaos into next steps.

This session isn’t about my story—it’s about yours. You’ll leave with an adaptive AI playbook to help you act, learn, and lead when life doesn’t give you time to prepare.

Build your career & thrive in the fields of Cloud, Cyber, Data, & AI

• Presenter: Sudhasi Mohanty - Huntington Bank
• Location: Alumni Lounge

The Information Technology (IT) field is experiencing significant growth and remains highly lucrative due to increasing digitalization and the demand for real-time capabilities across various sectors. The rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to further drive job creation in IT, contrary to concerns about job displacement. To thrive in this evolving landscape, it's essential to prioritize continuous learning and skill development. However, the most crucial aspect of learning is not simply learning but doing it collaboratively. We will discuss the relevant courses & certifications in the areas of Cyber, Data, Cloud and AI learning and how to leverage our network to acquire knowledge so we can thrive in our career.

Lights, Camera, Github Actions!

• Presenter: Nicole Hoying - Leading EDJE
• Location: Monroe

Getting your code on stage has never been easier with Github Actions! But how do you get started? Workflows? Composite Actions? Runners? Producing a build and deployment pipeline doesn’t need to be Hollywood magic. In this talk, we’ll discuss what goes into a Github Action Workflow, how to structure your build and deployment processes, and why all of this matters. When you leave this showing, we’ll have your audience of stakeholders applauding so you won’t end up with a dud at the box-office.

Lights, Camera, Github Actions!

• Presenter: Kari Chadd - Convergint
• Location: Jefferson

In today’s fast-moving tech world, the ability to innovate yourself is key. I’ll share my journey as a woman in tech—leading teams, navigating career changes, and starting over—while offering practical insights on resilience, balance, and self-leadership. Most importantly, I’ll share how to keep smiling, stay true to yourself, and have fun along the way, no matter where your career takes you. Whether you’re looking to lead, pivot, or simply thrive in tech, this talk will hopefully inspire and equip you with practical strategies to own your path and make bold moves with confidence.

11:00 AM

Climbing the Wrong Ladder: The Courage to Say 'This Isn't Right for Me'

• Presenters: Jennifer Murrah - Huntington Bank
• Location: Clinton

In my purpose-fit role within our Data Organization, I get to blend creativity with clarity to transform technical communications into engaging, relatable experiences. Whether I’m designing presentations or producing an educational video series, I often catch myself thinking, “I can’t believe this is my day job.” But the path to this alignment wasn’t linear. 

This session is for anyone navigating change, questioning their career direction, or seeking a more authentic way to lead and thrive in tech. I’ll share my personal journey towards embracing creativity and making a change to a more fulfilling role. I'll offer actionable insights for those looking to pivot, grow, or redefine success. We’ll also open space for dialogue around career navigation and workplace cultures that support evolution.

The Elephants Among Us: Talking about the Hard Stuff at Work and Beyond

• Presenter: Nicole Derr - Nicole Derr, LLC
• Location: Franklin/Hamilton

Why is it getting increasingly hard to simply talk to one another? Heck, it’s gotten so bad that even the weather is not a safe topic of conversation. How can we ever expect to solve real problems in our organizations and improve outcomes for ourselves and our customers if we can’t talk about the elephants in the room?

In this lively session, we will discuss the importance of talking through difficult topics, why it’s so hard to do so, and what we can do to make it easier. Perhaps most importantly, we’ll practice discussing controversial topics with people who disagree with us, and help each other find the courage to face such topics head on.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence in the Age of AI: Think Smarter, Connect Deeper, Stay Human

• Presenter: Vandana Rajagopal - Independent Consultant
• Location: Hancock

In a world where AI is evolving faster than we are—are you adapting with confidence, or resisting with doubt?

AI is here, but the real question is: how will you use it? Will it remain just another tool to get tasks done, or could it become a thought partner that challenges your thinking, deepens your connections, and anchors you in your values?

This session invites leaders, technologists, and professionals across every role to step boldly into the future with emotional intelligence as their compass. Together, we will explore how to engage with AI in ways that spark reflection, strengthen empathy, and cultivate agility of thought—so you are not only keeping up with change, but actively shaping it with authenticity, purpose, and confidence.

From Music Education to User Experience Design – Navigating a Career Change with Courage and Confidence

• Presenter: Amanda Lexow - AEP (American Electric Power) 
• Location: Highland

Navigating a career change can be scary. In this presentation, I will share my personal journey of transitioning from a career in music education to becoming a UX Designer, and every step in between. I will discuss how I leveraged the transferable skills of creativity, empathy, and communication to thrive in this dynamic field. Drawing from my experiences, I’ll offer actionable insights for women considering career changes, particularly those looking to break into tech or design.

Embracing low and no code applications - Workshop

• Presenter: Rachael Hendershott - JPMorgan Chase
• Location: Alumni Lounge

How/why low code/no code solutions/applications are beneficial to professional developers. - Interactive Workshop (majority of session is participants actively talking about different applications, roles, and the benefits of low-code no code solutions).

AI, Privacy, and the Female Digital Identity: Whose Data, Whose Power?

• Presenter: Melissa Takahashi - Foxen
• Location: Monroe

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, our digital identities are more than just profiles—they’re reflections of our bodies, behaviors, and deeply personal data. But what happens when these AI systems are built on biased data, lack transparency, and expose women to unique privacy risks?

This session explores how AI impacts women’s privacy—from reproductive surveillance to algorithmic bias—and what we can do to reclaim agency over our data.

• Why does the gender data gap matter?
• How does AI collect and infer intimate female data?
• What are the real-world privacy risks for women?
• How can individuals, organizations, and policymakers drive change?

How to get involved with getWITit Columbus

• Presenter: Elizabeth Tolia - Co-Founder getWITit & Lara Conrad, Co-president
• Location: Jefferson

Hear from GetWITit Co-founder Elizabeth Tolia and Columbus Chapter Co-President Lara Conrad as they share their personal journeys—Elizabeth’s founding vision and passion for empowering women in tech, and Lara’s path to board leadership and what it means to serve. This session will inspire attendees to get involved, make an impact, and consider joining the board for next year.

12:00: Lunch

1:00 PM

Getting a Seat at the Table: A Technical Tool Kit for Agile Leaders

• Presenters: Staci Evans, Andy Hall, & Dan Vanuch - Huntington Bank
• Location: Clinton

This session equips Agile leaders with practical tools to evolve from facilitators to strategic delivery partners. We'll explore how to use delivery metrics, flow diagrams, and systems thinking to visualize work, uncover bottlenecks, and drive continuous improvement. Through real-world examples and hands-on activities, you'll learn how to interpret data, coach teams more effectively, and make smarter insight-driven decisions that enhance delivery outcomes.

Leveraging AI & Psychological Frameworks for Tough Personalities

• Presenter: Sarah Kundla - Questing Insight
• Location: Franklin/Hamilton

Leading with Emotional Intelligence doesn’t mean being soft or passive in the face of conflict— it means being smart about how we show up and respond. This session offers practical steps for handling difficult personalities using tested psychological frameworks along with a splash of helpful AI strategies. Attendees will explore common frameworks of conflict, learn to recognize the cues that indicate threatened psychological safety in conversations, and discover empathy-building techniques for building trust with others, beyond generational boundaries or negative assumptions. Whether you’re managing up, down, or across, you’ll walk away with actionable ways to reframe tension into opportunity.

From Stuck to Soaring: Elevate Your Career with Coaching

• Presenter: Emily Tanner - National Vision, Inc.
• Location: Hancock

2 years ago, my career felt stagnant—While I was delivering above-and-beyond results I felt like I was fighting for growth and constantly getting feedback that focused more on what I lacked than what I brought to the table. I was working so hard, but being defined as "hard to work with"—I was referred into coaching, and what felt like a dead end became a launchpad. I uncovered an array of limiting beliefs that I didn’t even realize I had. I began showing up differently and so did my results. The same people who once gave me critical feedback began recognizing my leadership and positive presence. I was promoted and my relationships thrived. I'll share my story, and how you can move yourself from stuck to soaring with coaching.

From Problem Solver to Strategic Leader: My Journey in Supply Chain Tech

• Presenter: Shylaja “Shy” Kadamby - Everest Technologies
• Location: Highland

My journey from all the rungs of technology positions to reach to be a leader in strategic thinker and drive major transformational projects.

From Bootcamp to Breakthrough

• Presenter: Lauren Monowar Jones, Kassandra Murray, Courtney Hamilton & Anja Setala, - WCCI (We Can Code It)
• Location: Alumni Lounge

Explore how three students turned their Java coding bootcamp experience into real-world success. Alongside their mentor, they’ll share key lessons, challenges, and breakthroughs from their journey—highlighting how hands-on learning can lead to lasting impact in tech.

Crack the Code: Get Your Next Promotion, full STEAM ahead

• Presenter: Hope Yin - Blueprint Coaching, LLC
• Location: Monroe

• Do you feel disappointed that a promotion you have been chasing for many years is still far from sight? 
• Do you feel defeated when you see people around you get promoted one by one but you? 
• What makes one person get promoted but another does not?
• In 2025, the percentage of women CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies is only 11%. Women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles in the tech industry. 
• Hope was able to navigate the career labyrinth strategically and was promoted as an executive in Tech at one of the largest financial companies. In this session, Hope will share her S.T.E.A.M. strategy that helped her to get their executive leadership roles. 
• Let’s crack the code together, get your next promotion, full STEAM ahead.

What is Your Working Genius?

• Presenter: Kyle Jenkins - Improving
• Location: Jefferson

The working genius model is a productivity model developed by Patrick Lencioni with the goal of accomplishing a simple concept: bringing more joy and fulfillment at work! When you and your team understand where your geniuses are and how to (and when not to) use them, it can improve meetings, reduce burnout, and dramatically reduce turbulence in getting projects done. In this session we will review the 6 types of working geniuses and how they bring projects from ideation to implementation. We will discover the hidden cause of burnout and how to keep meetings, including our agile ceremonies, more focused and more productive as a whole, all with the goal of improving your life and team culture, both in and outside of work.

2:15 PM

Bake It In, Don’t Bolt It On: Security-First Software Design

• Presenters: Kavitha Bangalore - Cleveland Clinic
• Location: Clinton

In today’s fast-paced development environments, retrofitting security at the end of the software lifecycle is no longer sustainable. This session explores how to “bake in” security from the start — integrating it into design, development, and deployment processes. Learn how a security-first mindset, combined with practices like threat modeling, secure coding, and automated testing, leads to more resilient applications, fewer vulnerabilities, and greater agility. Build software that’s secure by design, not by patchwork.

From Powerless to Powerful: Navigating Tech with Confidence and Purpose

• Presenter: Hope Yin & Ruchi Batra - Blueprint Coaching, LLC & U.S. Bank
• Location: Franklin/Hamilton

There is no scientific formula for power, but we all know when we feel it or lack it. 

•  You have a great idea, but no support
•  You feel nervous about negotiating a raise or changing careers
•  You work with someone difficult and struggle with the dynamic

  If you resonate with any of these, you are not alone. It's common to feel powerless, especially when you're the only one at the table.

  Join us in an interactive session to explore what power means to you and learn practical ways to show up confidently, authentically, and unapologetically.

 You'll discover tools and strategies to claim your power, empower others, and channel this power. The session includes personal stories, strategies, and tools for triumph.

Demystifying AI: From Prompts to Possibilities

• Presenter: Ranjit Kaur & Sai Haritha - JPMorgan Chase
• Location: Hancock

AI can feel overwhelming, but at its core, it’s a journey anyone can explore. In this session, we’ll break down the essential building blocks of modern AI—prompts, large language models (LLMs), context, Types of Prompts, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and agentic AI—in simple, practical terms. We’ll also highlight why an AI generalist mindset matters: the ability to stay curious, experiment with different tools, and quickly adapt to the ever-changing landscape. Whether you’re technical or not, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of how these pieces fit together—and the confidence to engage with AI in meaningful, creative ways. More importantly, We will share our personal journey- how mainframe/java developers entered into AI learning, how we are leveraging prompt engineering to thrive and become the best versions of ourselves, how the understanding of AI , shifted our mindset. The more we are learning , applying , the more friendly it becomes for us. This session will give you practical tips on shifting your mindset and finding your new collaborative AI tools.

From Music Education to User Experience Design – Navigating a Career Change with Courage and Confidence

• Presenter: Emily Beal - Independent Consultant
• Location: Highland

Most AI features don’t fail because of bad models — they fail because users hesitate. In this talk, I share a framework for Joyful Design in the Age of AI: how clarity, trust, safety, momentum, and progress turn uncertainty into adoption. 

Building Meaningful Connections for Success: Discover, Connect, and Build Relationships to Fuel Your Tech Journey

• Presenter: Carissa Nettle - Hyland
• Location: Alumni Lounge

In today's tech industry, building meaningful connections is crucial for career success. This session explores ways to expand your network and create supportive relationships.

 With so much work happening remotely, it's more important than ever to find ways to connect. Networking isn't just about advancing your career; it's also about supporting others in theirs. This session will provide an opportunity for attendees to make new connections in real-time. Join us to learn how to leverage these connections for mutual success and personal fulfillment.

Scalable? Maybe Later. Building POCs That Solve the Right Problems First

• Presenter: Stephanie Wightman - Sparkworks Innovation
• Location: Monroe

Developing a proof of concept is a balancing act between time, functionality, and readiness. A successful prototype can spark a desire for instant promotion to production, but spending too much time preparing for scalability will cause a project to die on the vine. In this talk, we will discuss how to assess which features to polish and what aspects to leave as a rough draft in areas such as code quality, infrastructure, and UX. Attendees will learn how to quickly turn around a proof of concept that answers key questions for decision makers to influence their roadmap.

How to get involved with getWITit Columbus

• Presenter: Ashtha Singh & Sarala Pandey - Step Ahead Tech & State of Ohio Dept. of Administrative Services
• Location: Jefferson

Change begins at home. Many underserved Americans face barriers to higher education—barriers often passed down through generations. Without access to guidance or resources, young people are left without a clear path to further education or professional careers. 

In this session, attendees will learn how to foster proactive social change by investing in their own communities—leveraging their professional experience in STEM and related fields to create accessible, culturally relevant pathways for the next generation. Whether you're an engineer, educator, or business leader, your expertise can spark a ripple effect. Discover how to transform your skills into impact beyond the workplace and help shape a more equitable future.

3:00 PM

Closing Keynote: Rachel Williamson - Retail Executive

• Location: Theater

Rachel Williamson is an internationally recognized retail executive and leadership consultant with over 30 years of experience leading high-performing teams and turning around underperforming businesses. She is the founder of Running Great Stores, where she helps brands unlock their revenue potential through strong store operations, inspiring leadership, and unforgettable customer experiences.

While Rachel’s background isn’t in IT, her career has been shaped by leading in complex, high-pressure environments where adaptability, clear communication, and confident decision-making are critical. Throughout her retail leadership journey, she has partnered closely with IT teams and deeply values the pivotal role they play in driving business success. Rachel brings a fresh, cross-industry perspective to leadership—combining practical strategies with motivational insights that inspire audiences to lead boldly, communicate with purpose, and elevate others as they rise.

Rachel is a certified speaker of Jon Gordon’s “The Power of Positive Leadership” and “The Energy Bus” programs and is known for her dynamic keynote talks that leave leaders empowered and ready to take action. She has written her first leadership book, which will be published in Spring 2026.

Her keynote, “Thrive Forward: Leading with Confidence and Clarity,” is a powerful call to own your presence, find your voice, and create space for others to thrive—because thriving isn’t just about reaching the next milestone, it’s about reshaping the path for the next generation of leaders.

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

• Happy Hour and Networking
• Location: The Club