Artificial intelligence allows us to build even more creative and impressive tools. In this workshop, you will work with Google's Teachable Machine library to build a tool that can recognize and respond to hand gestures.

Nicki Anselmo is a former software engineer and middle school math and science teacher and a proud University of Illinois (engineering) and Harvard (masters in education) alum. She is currently a learning designer for Google's computer science education portfolio. She is proud to be a Chicagoan and even more proud to be a mom!

Do you love listening to Taylor Swift, watching Netflix shows and browsing Reddit threads? So do I! As a data scientist though, I experience it all through the lens of data storytelling. In this session, I'll share some of the most loved and hated pop culture data visualizations that I've created, talk about my lessons learned. and help you start crafting your own data stories.

Alice Zhao is the author of the book SQL Pocket Guide, 4th Edition (O'Reilly). She has 15+ years of experience in the data field and has taught numerous courses in Python, SQL, and R as a data science instructor at Northwestern University, Maven Analytics, and O'Reilly. In her free time, she writes about analytics and pop culture on her blog, A Dash of Data (https://adashofdata.com/).

Led by Evelyn Almonte, Brandy Gobert, and Najwa Abouhassan - all power systems testing and commissioning engineers at ComEd.

Coming soon!

Ashlyn Sparrow is a Senior Research Associate at the Weston Game Design Lab at the University of Chicago. She has worked on scholarly board, card, and digital games, and public health apps. She works closely with researchers and faculty to lead in the development of serious games, interactive learning experiences, and digital media art with youth and for youth. She has a BS in Information Sciences and Technology Design and Development from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon.

Led by Nimisha Mondal, Director of Innovation at Code.org. Can technology and coding help you be more creative? Can it help you express yourself? Can it help you amplify your authentic voice with new audiences? Yes, it can! In this session we'll use Code.org's tools to unleash your creative voice through coding, writing and art. No experience with coding, art, or creative writing necessary.

Dr. Yazmin Cruz Pulido is a skilled virologist with over six years of research experience in Microbiology and Immunology. In the session, she will cover the basics of virology and virology research. Additionally, she will discuss how bioinformatics has transformed biology, opening up numerous avenues of research and leading to several breakthroughs. Specifically, she will delve into the SARS-CoV-2 research she conducted, focusing on studying the immune response of infected and vaccinated individuals. Lastly, this session will explore how technology is used in various virology careers and provide guidance for achieving a fulfilling career in virology.

Sheida Gohari is the Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence/Head of AI at Walgreens Boots Alliance, leading a team of dedicated AI scientists and engineers who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI technology in the healthcare and retail sectors. With a PhD in Industrial and System Engineering, she brings a wealth of experience in applying advanced Machine Learning and computer vision techniques to solve complex problems and enhance customer experiences.
Having contributed to both academic research and industry innovation through published papers and patents, she is committed to leveraging AI to revolutionize the delivery of health and wellness services. Her goal is to create value for patients, partners, and stakeholders by harnessing the transformative power of AI technology. She is driving innovation and shaping the future of healthcare with cutting-edge AI solutions.

Sravya Patakota studied Computer Science and Anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During her time there, she ran Founders, a nonprofit entrepreneurship organization encouraging students that it is never too early to work on business ideas and launch their own startups. She currently applies her technical expertise in fraud detection at JPMorgan, developing machine learning models to prevent financial fraud.
In her session "Idea Generation vs. Problem Generation," Sravya draws from this multidisciplinary background to provide a framework for evaluating potential business ideas by first identifying real customer problems to solve. She will outline key components of effective business plans through interactive exercises where attendees reframe ideas as addressable problems and craft compelling problem statements.
Sravya's entrepreneurial experience from running Founders and advising aspiring founders allows her to showcase real examples of successful and unsuccessful tech ventures. Her session aims to inspire participants to pursue their passion projects by solving underserved needs, emphasizing it's never too early to become an entrepreneur. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to transform their interests and skills into viable business plans.

Coming soon!

Led by Rakhee Vaidya - ISACA Chicago Board Member/ SheLeadsTech Ambassador