Kristin Wright – Page 8 – Women Tech Council

The Leonardo and Women Tech Council Launch Women Innovators

The Leonardo and Women Tech Council (WTC) have partnered to open the Women Innovators exhibit, a highly interactive exhibit showing the impact of women in driving innovation in business and technology. Unveiled Wednesday, November 16, the exhibit features a touch screen interface with profiles of 162 women leaders in a variety of industries, including tech, aerospace, computer science, engineering, life sciences and business. The interactive touch screen display allows viewers to see the innovations and accomplishments of each woman. The exhibit also includes physical assets showcasing other innovations donated by some of the companies featured within the exhibit.

“Inspiring innovation and creativity in our visitors is at the center of everything we do here at The […]

Kristin Wright2017-09-20T15:39:25-07:00

Where are the women in computer science?

Women earn 57 percent of undergraduate degrees, but only 18 percent of degrees in computer and information sciences, according to the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). This trend starts before college where girls comprise 56 percent of Advanced Placement (AP) test takers, but only 19 percent of computer science AP test takers.

In the workforce, this discrepancy widens. The National Science Foundation’s 2016 report cited that only about 15 percent of women are part of the engineering and computer science workforce.

What causes this gap? Three Utah women share their observations and opinions on the gap, and what’s being done in the state.

Dr. Shalini Kesar is […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:24:43-07:00

SUU professor receives Women Tech Council award

Shalini Kesar, associate professor of information systems at SUU, received the education excellence awarded at the 2016 Women Tech Awards on Sept. 22 in Salt Lake City.

The event, hosted by the Women Tech Council (WTC), recognizes Utah women in tech fields “who are innovators, leaders and key contributors in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields,” according to a news release.

“It was an honor to be nominated among such talented woman with great accomplishments,” Kesar said. “To win an education excellence award was inspiring and motivating to continue work on efforts that increase participation of women in IT.”

Kesar was one of six Utah women to be receive the distinction this year. The recipients represented some of the […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:02:44-07:00

Women in tech honored for outstanding achievement

Being a high-achieving woman in the world of technology or business requires intelligence, determination, grit and the unwavering belief that success is attainable.

“The seed of entrepreneurship begins with a dream, and one dream can transform a million realities,” said Julie Hanna, Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.

She was the keynote speaker at the Women Tech Awards Thursday at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, presented by the Women Tech Council — a Utah-based nonprofit trade association that provides mentoring, visibility and networking for women in technology fields.

Born in Egypt, Hanna said her family fled civil wars in two countries — Jordan and Lebanon — before settling in the United States in the early 1970s. […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:07:47-07:00

Award Recipients Named in Ninth Annual Women Tech Awards

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Women Tech Council (WTC) recognized seven technology-focused women who are driving innovation, leading technology companies and contribution to the technology economy in the Ninth Annual Women Tech Awards held today at the Grand America Hotel.

The event, presented by Domo, EY, Vivint Smart Home, EMC, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, USTAR, Varian Medical and MountainWest Capital Network, was keynoted by Julie Hanna, Presidential Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship.

Kristin Wright2018-07-11T22:05:46-07:00

Women’s Tech Council Honors Leaders for Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

You can tell a lot about a place by what kind of conversations are taking place there, observed Julie Hanna, keynote speaker at the Women’s Tech Awards Thursday.

“[In Utah], I feel like I’m in the future,” Hanna said. “You have a mindset I think is an example for the rest of the world and the country.”

That mindset and the women promoting it were recognized at the ninth annual Women’s Tech Council awards. Hanna, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor who has founded or headed companies like WebMD and who currently serves as executive chair of the board at Kiva, drew on her experience as a refugee and immigrant to illustrate the power of dreams and […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:28:57-07:00

Influence Podcast – Women Tech Council

In this Influence Podcast interview, we know you will sense the extraordinary determination and talent of Cydni Tetro and Sara Jones, two successful entrepreneurs who, in their “spare time” co-founded the Women Tech Council nine years ago, a scrappy not-for-profit that now has more than 10,000 members!

With a degree in computer science and an MBA, both from BYU, Cydni is a successful technologist and marketing guru who has built a career with some of the world’s largest brands like Disney, Microsoft, Marvel, Star Wars, Facebook, MLB, MLS, Warner Brothers, Dreamworks, Target, Walmart, and Toys R Us. She is the founder and CEO of 3DplusMe, a 3D printing software platform, that was recently acquired by WhiteClouds […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T04:58:15-07:00

Women Tech Council honors Utah women in technology

SALT LAKE CITY— On Thursday at the Grand America hotel, Dr. Shalini Kesar related her story while she was in Salt Lake City for the Women Tech Council Awards.

She grew up in India, but came to Cedar City from London nine years ago.

“In my college, there were only four girls out of 60 studying technology,” she said.

Despite the lack of women in her class, Kesar said it was natural for her to go into science.

“I had a strong family support and good teachers that made me realize what I could do,” she said.

Kesar received an “Educational Excellence” award for her work as an Associate Professor at Southern Utah University to get […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-14T03:10:25-07:00

3 Utah business leaders share the secrets to their success

Becoming a successful leader in business requires strength of mind, an indomitable spirit and the ability to guide others to high achievement.

Here are the stories of three women who took different career paths to business success, marshaling their talents, education and work ethic into business success. Their message? Following your dreams requires preparation.

Sara Jones

For Sara Jones, 42, her path to career success began with her birth in Korea and adoption by a Utah family at age 2, raised by two parents with two sisters.

As a child growing up, she became known as an academic overachiever, graduating from Jordan High in 1992, receiving her undergraduate degree […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:41:06-07:00

Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship Julie Hanna to Keynote Women Tech Awards

2016 Women Tech Awards to recognize women leading the technology industry

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Women Tech Council (WTC) is excited to announce Julie Hanna, Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, will be the keynote speaker at the 9th annual Women Tech Awards. The event will be held on Thursday, September 22 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The Awards are sponsored by Domo, EMC, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Vivint Smart Home, EY, USTAR, and Varian Medical.

Kristin Wright2018-07-11T22:05:23-07:00

Miller Business Resource Center New Site For Women Tech Council

Salt Lake Community College’s Miller Business Resource Center (MBRC) at the Miller Campus in Sandy is now home to the Women Tech Council (WTC). Founded in 2007, the Women Tech Council provides mentoring, visibility and networking for women.

“Women Tech Council plays a critical role in elevating women in technology professions,” said Beth Colosimo, Executive Director of MBRC. “No other organization in the state is as laser focused on creating opportunities for young girls, women returning to the workforce and professional women who want to learn, network and become a stronger, more visible force in the burgeoning tech community in Utah.”

At their home on the SLCC Miller Campus, WTC will continue to raise awareness, plan events […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-06T00:45:35-07:00

Utah Women in Tech: Let’s Start With the Problem

This is the first in a series of articles Beehive Startups will be publishing on what it’s like to be a woman working in Utah’s technology sector.

In 2014, Forbes ranked Utah the best state for business, citing Utah’s roots in the tech industry. Meanwhile, a Wallstreet 24/7 study ranked Utah as the worst place for women. The study states, “less than 31% of management positions were held by women in Utah.”

While it’s true that there are certain nuances to the Utah workforce that the study may have overlooked — like the […]

Kristin Wright2017-04-12T06:15:28-07:00

About Kristin Wright