Our mission is to empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders; expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.
Welcome to SWE Charlotte-Metrolina!
Our mission is to empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders; expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.
Title: “From Hype to Confidence: Navigating AI in Your Daily Life”
Summary: This presentation aims to demystify artificial intelligence (AI) for non-practitioners by removing technical jargons and focusing on practical applications. Beginning with a gentle introduction to AI and its evolution, the discussion progresses to recent advancements in Generative AI. Practical tips for using Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Midjourney etc are shared, empowering the audience to confidently integrate AI into their personal and professional lives. The talk also addresses the importance of Responsible AI usage and mitigating associated risks.
Presented by: Balaji Chandrasekaran
Speaker Bio:
Seasoned professional in the field of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. He is currently employed as the Lead Data Scientist for Digitalization at Schaeffler, where he also proudly serves as the company’s Ambassador for Data Science & AI Digitalization. Balaji’s contributions to AI were recognized in 2023 when he was honored with the Top 50 AI Contributor award by the CDAO circle in both North and South Carolina. His expertise has been honed over 15 years in the industry, during which time he has served as the technical lead for wireless communications and the medical devices industry.He holds a Master of Science in Signal Processing and an MBA in Digital Transformation and Data Analytics from the University of California, Irvine. His educational background has equipped him with a deep understanding of the digital landscape, enabling him to spearhead innovative initiatives and drive digital transformation in his roles. Beyond his professional commitments, Balaji Chandrasekaran is a strong advocate for diversity in the workplace. He firmly believes in the importance of diverse perspectives and inclusivity in fostering innovation and productivity. In his leisure time, enjoys playing tennis.
The Society of Women Engineers has been part of this conference since it’s inception. Please join SWE, PENCE, WTS and WIN for a great day of networking for women.
We have an exciting event planned for January 18th @ 12pm EST! Special guests from WOMEN Unlimited, a world-renowned organization focusing on developing women leaders in major corporations – Dr. Rosina Racioppi and Amy Gonzales – will present The Art of the Ask.
“I really love self-promotion”…. Said no one we’ve ever met!
While we know that positive self-promotion is necessary, there is a real and difficult double bind for women.
If we don’t speak up and showcase our work, we are overlooked. However, women who do self-promote are often labeled as too arrogant or self-serving.
In this session, Rosina and Amy will identify the key practices that will enable you to be recognized as strong contributors, advocate for opportunities, and increase confidence and effectiveness in asking for – and getting – what you want. Focus includes:
Articulate your value and contributions, in a positive way;
Increase confidence in effectively asking for opportunities;
Practical strategies to overcome the “double-bind” for women who self- advocate; and,
Tips for remote visibility.
Speaker Bios:
Rosina L. Racioppi, Ed.D. President and Chief Executive Officer
As President and Chief Executive Officer of WOMEN Unlimited, Inc., Dr. Rosina Racioppi spearheads her organization’s initiatives to help Fortune 1000 companies cultivate the talent they need for ongoing growth and profitability. Under her leadership, WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. successfully partners with organizations across a wide range of industries to develop their high-potential women and to build a pipeline of diverse and talented leaders.
By overseeing the management of programs and services nationwide, Dr. Racioppi is actively involved in helping organizations meet the challenges of a continually changing global economy. Additionally, she analyzes and develops new business opportunities; works with current Fortune 1000 partners to assess and update offerings to their high-potential women; and ensures that WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. is in sync with the needs of its present and potential partners.
Dr. Racioppi’s past experience makes her singularly qualified to understand the needs of partner organizations. Prior to joining WOMEN Unlimited, Inc., she held executive management positions in human resources at Degussa Corporation, Nextran (a division of Baxter Corporation) and Beechwood Data Systems. She has over 25 years’ experience in Organization Planning and Development, Compensation and Benefits, Training and Development, Safety, Quality Management, Staffing and Employee Relations.
Dr. Racioppi earned her doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation, “Women’s Mentoring Wisdom” focuses on how women use and fail to use mentoring at the all-important mid-career level. She earned a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and is certified in the Hay Job Evaluation Process and the Crosby Total Management System.
Additionally, Dr. Racioppi serves on the Advisory Council for the University of Pennsylvania CLO Alumni Network and the Advisory Board of the New Historia.
Amy Gonzales Vice President of Global Learning and Development
Amy Gonzales is Vice President of Global Learning and Development for WOMEN Unlimited, where she oversees the development and management of programs globally to ensure they align with and support the corporate partners’ strategies to advance women in a continually changing environment. In addition to her work with WOMEN Unlimited, Amy runs a consulting practice, AG Leadership, which focuses on executive presence, leadership effectiveness and communication, challenging leaders to have broader impact and build stronger relationships.
Amy has worked with thousands of individuals and dozens of global companies and organizations in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. She has a special interest in women’s leadership, which includes research studies on the glass ceiling, mentoring, and career advancement for women. She has been honored by Lifetime Television for Women in recognition of her commitment to achieving parity in the workplace, and serves as a board member for Mercy Beyond Borders.
Worth Noting: Amy possesses the ability to build rapport and powerful dialogue with both new managers and senior executives, quickly creating an environment for real growth. Her coaching style is direct, perceptive, and always practical. She holds degrees in Organizational Behavior and Management from Lasell College and the University of San Francisco.
This session will focus on the benefits of SWE but will also include some information on the structure of SWE as well as the opportunities available within SWE for members.
Date and Time: November 15th @ 5.30pm EST via Zoom
Speaker Bio:
Ms. Cathcart is a registered professional mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in design and test, systems engineering, and program management. Chris holds a BSME from Kansas State University and an MBA from Maryville University St. Louis. She currently works as a Technology Senior Project Leader for Corning, Inc. Her career has consisted of work in the aerospace industry including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
Chris is a Fellow of SWE and has held many different leadership positions within SWE. She is currently the local Section Treasurer and is serving on the Finance Committee. Her SWE interests focus on outreach and professional development. She has been a SWE member for over 25 years.
Chris has served for several years as a Leadership Committee Coach for SWE. Through this position she helped assemble various presentation about SWE, Leadership, Management, and other learning areas for SWE members. The focus of these presentations was the Section Leadership and Membership.
