Women in Tech Expo: Grow Better Together

Knoxville Technology Council

Network with a diverse group of talented women and invest in your personal & professional growth with a variety of interactive workshops

Knoxville Convention Center

The Knoxville Technology Council's Women in Tech are hosting the fourth annual Women in Tech Expo: Grow Better Together!Join a diverse group of talented women and invest in your personal &amp; professional growth with a variety of motivating workshops, networking, keynote presentation, and more!Your ticket includes:<ul><li>Professional speakers sharing professional &amp; personal growth advice</li><li>Breakfast</li><li>Lunch</li><li>Happy Hour</li><li>Networking with peers and local leaders</li><li>Professional Headshot</li><li>Women in Tech swag</li><li>Prize giveaways from local vendors</li></ul>Keynote speaker Erika Gerdes will bring energy, motivation, and inspiration with her presentation "Finding the Star Within Yourself." Erika has helped hundreds of professionals at top companies accelerate their success while feeling great doing it. She started her career at Google, leading and growing a top global partnership by 300% before leaving to start her company as a single mom with two young children. It is her life's work to help others break free from self-imposed limitations and step fully into the careers, lives, and impact they truly want.

<h3>Lunch Sponsors</h3>

<h2>Happy Hour Sponsors</h2>

<h2>WiT Expo Partners</h2>

Event RegistrationTickets are $180 for WiT members, and $240 for non-members. Student tickets are $36 (please register with your .edu email). Tickets are non-refundable.Not a WiT Member? Learn how to join with a <a href="https://www.knoxtech.org/women-in-technology/#membership" title="https://www.knoxtech.org/women-in-technology/#membership" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">free WiT membership</a>.For group registrations of 10 tickets or more, please contact admin [at] knoxtech.orgMore Event InfoLearn about sponsorship opportunities and see a more detailed schedule at <a href="https://www.witexpoknoxville.com/" title="https://www.witexpoknoxville.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">witexpoknoxville.com</a>

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Most ambitious women don’t feel stuck because they’re not doing enough—but because they’ve spent years doing what they thought they should. In this keynote, Erika Gerdes unpacks the hidden patterns, beliefs, and expectations that quietly hold even the most successful women back. With humor, vulnerability, and actionable insights, she’ll share how to break free from those internal blocks and step into the bold, fulfilling path that’s been waiting all along. You'll walk away inspired, grounded, and ready to lead with more clarity, confidence, and impact.

Shift from Stuck to Superstar: The Hidden Truth Behind Bold Moves

BREAKOUT SESSION 1

Through her leadership of the team at Oracle responsible not only for driving internal AI innovation, but also for empowering customer-facing sales teams to bring these cutting-edge strategies and solutions to their partners, Jodie Clayton has deep expertise and practical experience to share on how to enable and build a culture of AI innovation on your team.

How to Enable and Build a Culture of AI Innovation on Your Team

As a salesperson, travel was a key requirement of the job.  As a result, Vallie was a passenger on US Airways Flight 1549 that landed in New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009.  Vallie will share the details of her experience during the flight and rescue of the event that has become known as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’.  In addition, she will share key learnings from the experience that will hopefully inspire and motivate all to treasure each and every day because ‘every day is a lucky day’!

Miracle on the Hudson: A Passenger's Perspective

Burns will showcase the latest research from the Social, Tactile, & Assistive Robotics and Intelligence Lab (STARI), at the University of Tennessee.  This will include her team’s work with the commercial humanoid robot NAO. Burns will introduce the audience to the field of human-robot interaction (HRI), its current developments, and prospective directions for the future. How “smart” are robots, really? How can they help us? Stop by to find out more!

How Smart are Robots, Really?

LUNCH

GROUP SESSION

What if your “WOW” factor—your ability to impress, inspire, and influence—was already within you, just waiting to be unlocked through well-being? In this dynamic and transformative session, Dr. Julie Wilkes takes you on a powerful journey to discover how your personal wellness can become the key to elevating every part of your life—from your performance at work to your relationships with family, friends, and even the way you treat yourself. Blending inspiring stories, scientific research, and practical tools, this session reveals how prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. You’ll learn how small shifts in your daily habits, mindset, and self-care rituals can create ripple effects that ignite your energy, resilience, and creativity.

Creating Your WOW Factor Out of Well-Being

BREAKOUT SESSION 2

Making AI Work for You and Your Organization explores how emerging AI capabilities can be practically applied to drive meaningful outcomes across teams and industries. In this session, Annita will walk through compelling examples that showcase real-world impact. We’ll also unpack Microsoft’s framework for responsible and scalable AI adoption—offering actionable insights for leaders looking to harness AI to elevate customer success, innovation, and operational excellence.

Making AI Work for You and Your Organization

In this breakout session, the facilitator will share current workforce trends and demographics. You will gain an understanding of the current challenges we face and explore how we are a part of the largest workforce age gap in history with several generations working side-by-side: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. This session discusses what motivates professionals of various backgrounds and lived experiences and how to understand those individuals with an empathic lens . You will walk away with tangible ways to be an engaged, supportive and collaborative team player while navigating your relationships at work. This session is for all career levels, from the soon-to-retire to brand new professionals.

Navigating Generational (and other) Differences at Work

As a Computer Scientist with the FBI, Jennifer Ward provides a variety of technical investigative support to case teams, including data analysis, digital forensics, programming, and malware analysis. This session will introduce fundamental digital forensics concepts, highlight its critical role in investigations, and demonstrate how individuals and organizations can effectively support law enforcement by recognizing, preserving, and documenting digital evidence effectively.

Digital Forensics in Investigations

Through guided exercises, group reflection, and real-time coaching with Erika, you’ll uncover what’s been holding you back, reconnect with what you truly want, and take the first bold steps toward it. Whether you're craving more confidence, clarity, or fulfillment, this session will help you move from insight to action—so you can lead in your work and life with power, purpose, and authenticity.