For immediate release
On Thursday, May 2, Womxn in Data Science is set to host its 7th annual conference at Arcadian Court (401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 2Y4) focused on empowering women in data science and artificial intelligence (AI). The event, presented by RBC and sponsored by Lighthouse Labs, CIFAR, Mistplay and Northeastern University - Toronto, is scheduled to take place from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It will feature talks and panels focused on three streams - business, technical, and leadership related to data science, machine learning, and AI.
“Women make up only 26% of data and AI positions. I couldn’t be more excited about the return of this year’s conference, especially with the increased focus on AI; more women need to be a part of the conversation,” says Kishawna Peck, founder of Womxn in Data Science. “Throughout the last couple of years, we have built an incredible community of women across all spectrums of their data science and AI careers. This network of women has not only profoundly impacted the careers of thousands of data and AI professionals across the country, it has also contributed to fostering a more inclusive and diverse sector.”
Guests will have the opportunity to network, boost their professional profile and learn through mentorship sessions, demos and the inspirational speakers and panellists featured throughout the day, including experts from RBC, Snowflake, Employment and Social Development Canada, Microsoft, Avanade, Queen’s University and more.
Topics discussed throughout the day will include:
Ethical Leadership in AI with Foteini Agrafioti, Senior Vice President, Data & AI and Chief Science Officer of RBC
A fireside chat with Shannon Katschilo, Country Manager of Canada, Snowflake, on designing your leadership journey.
Data Leadership Redefined: Lessons from Ima Okonny Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Data Officer at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Beyond the POC Land: Scaling Gen AI projects to drive business value with Meghana Madhusudhan Director, AI practice at Avanade
Navigating multi-agent LLMs in industry applications with Alina Rivilis, Director of Data Science at Home Trust Company.
Unlocking investment potential in developing and emerging financial markets through data and AI with Raquel Seville and The Dataffluent Team
Computer-assisted surgical interventions for oncology with Dr. Parvin Mousavi, Professor of Computer Science, Medical, Pathology and Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queens University.
Scaling inequality: how poor data quality and no data collecting transparency leads to inequality in large language models with Jazmia Henry, Senior Data Scientist at Microsoft.
Improving your data team’s work-life balance with data DevExp with Lindsay Murphy, Head of Data, Secoda and Advanced dbt Instructor at Uplimit.
Commercialization of data-driven pipelines in the next decade of clinical practice with Nardin Samuel, Resident physician, co-founder and CEO of Cove Neurosciences inc.
The role of AI in Empowering Education
Supporting multidisciplinary teams with data science and NLP, with Stefania Pecore, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Sardo.
Striking the balance between innovation and impact with Chantel A. Perry, DCS Data Scientist at Microsoft and founder of theseen.ai.
About the Event and Womxn in Data Science
Founded in 2018 by Kishawna Peck, Womxn in Data Science is dedicated to revolutionizing the tech industry by empowering women to become proficient in data and AI. Since its inception, Womxn in Data Science has cultivated a community of over 4,000 Canadian and American women, united by the shared goal of navigating the data science landscape and becoming more data-literate and competitive job seekers and innovators.
Their mission is to provide women and minoritized genders with accessible education, resources, mentorship, and support to secure the long-term success of their careers in data science while building a vibrant global network of women who uplift, foster, and empower each other as leaders in their fields.
About Kishawna Peck
Kishawna Peck is the founder of Womxn in Data Science and an emerging voice in artificial intelligence. She is driven by a mission to empower a million women to become data-literate and reshape the AI landscape with inclusive products and services. Notably, Kishawna brought the first Women in Data Science Conference to Canada, further emphasizing her dedication to promoting inclusivity in the field.
With a foundational academic background in Economics, Kishawna took a deliberate leap into data science and received a Master's of Management in Artificial Intelligence from the Queen's University, Smith School of Business. Today, Kishawna continues to build the Womxn in Data Science Community and consults organizations, empowering them to tap into the power of data and AI while ensuring ethical, inclusive practices. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with industry giants such as CIFAR, RBC, the Ontario Government, and renowned Canadian AI Institutes. She has been featured in the likes of the Globe and Mail, Breakfast Television, and CP24.
