As global populations become more diverse and mobile, and services more independent, disruption in technology sectors will evolve at an even more rapid rate. This is especially true in the financial industry, where financial technology, or FinTech, continues to be one of the fastest growing and rapidly changing industries. One of the major drivers is the influence of women in the financial services and technological worlds. Their talents and skillsets are allowing for new consumer and business applications and business models in these areas. By leveraging technology, the FinTech industry, and the women driving it are helping businesses become more efficient.

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand what FinTech is and the influence that women have on the FinTech industry.
2. Examine how diverse perspectives in FinTech can increase business efficiency and help businesses to increase financial results.
3. Explain how FinTech will create a better financial ROI for customers.

Technology is changing the way we do business while affecting every aspect of society— from the government to private firms. With ubiquitous smartphones and data stored in the Cloud, the financial landscape has not been omitted from technology’s reach. The business world and the financial realm have reached a critical point with cyber-hackers breaching corporate and government firewalls to gain access to privileged information, wipe out bank accounts, or hold government and financial institutions hostage. Many companies are embracing technologies, such as blockchain-based systems, which offer exponential opportunities to companies as well as clients. It can also add new risks that include financial instability and loss of profits. This challenge for the FinTech industries will become a major concern for consumers when it comes to protecting customer accounts, developing creative security measures, and installing effective processes for better protection while increasing customer satisfaction.

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand what challenges the FinTech industry is facing in the changing financial landscape.
2. Examine what steps financial institutions are taking to manage, secure, and protect customer information to create financial stability and success.
3. Explain how innovations can help reduce the risk associated with the use of new technologies and attacks from cyber security hackers.

The expansion of technology in the workforce has caused major changes in every aspect of our life, especially finance. Whether you are buying a cup of coffee with your iPhone or handling complex financial data, you deal with fintech every day. With $31.6 billion of investment in the US, and an additional $18.1 billion invested globally over the last five years, fintech is one of the hottest technology sectors. New software applications and tons of money are being poured into securing financial sectors, but what is lacking in the market is women. Fintech companies are lacking female leaders at the helm to help drive business into the next decade. The talent is out there, and there are more than enough opportunities for financial institutions to close the gap. Don't miss the chance to hear how top executives in the Fintech industry are working to locate talented women who can improve financial institutions and keep our technological border-walls safe. In this session, you will hear why there is a need for women in Fintech, and what financial and technological industries are doing to locate talented STEM professionals to close the gender gap in their industries.

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand what challenges the Fintech industry is facing in the changing financial landscape.
2. Examine what steps financial institutions are taking to locate and recruit top female talent to improve their existing workforce
3. Explain how Fintech companies will retain top talent in the field and populate the pipeline.

For many years, financial services have had a dominant grip on the market with little change to their business strategies. But today’s businesses are facing demands from new visionaries that are providing a multitude of services and greater customer experience. Entrepreneurs are opening new opportunities for women, businesses, and consumers as they unlock new territories on the economy. Female FinTech trendsetters are changing the current market from the old guard and redesigning a better, more gender-friendly financial services approach in areas such as banking, capital markets, investment management, and insurance by adding more female leadership and technology to the mix. New approaches such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lenders, mobile payments, digital currencies and more will benefit consumers by expanding choices and increasing competition.

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand how automation of the financial sector will provide a more informative service for consumers.
2. Examine what technologies women are improving to increase efficiency and promote productivity in the workforce.
3. Explain how Fintech will minimize human error and free up capital for consumers.

Join our Race Against Time – A discussion around inequality in patient access to life-saving treatment

At Be The Match, we match blood cancer patients to life-saving blood stem cell donors. But as patients urgently need donors who share their ethnic background, race is a crucially important factor. Join us to learn how blood cancers, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases are impacting people of color, and how you can help ensure equal access for all patients in need.

Learning Objective: Explore strategies to leverage our unique capabilities to remain relevant and competitive in a digital environment

Description: Exponential changes in technology, new and agile ways of working, and flexible business models all present opportunities for Women of Color in STEM to rise to new heights. This workshop will explore strategies for leveraging our authentic and unique identities to navigate and flourish in an age of dramatic transformation.

Come and network with Consumers Energy executive staff as you pamper yourself with a chair massage, hand & back massage, and make-up as you get ready for your Professional LinkedIn headshot. You will receive your headshot instantly so that you can change your LinkedIn headshot within minutes.

Also, in our suite is PGA Professional Rodney Green who will be conducting a  “Golf The Sport of Business & Success” workshop.  This comprehensive workshop imparts the value of learning the game of golf to build relationships and enhance networking opportunities that are essential to gaining the “edge” in today's business world.  It's a fact that working smarter often means putting yourself in the right place with the right people. And that's exactly what golf provides - proximity and access. Participants will learn the proper rules, terminology, and etiquette. This is done in a classroom setting where the proper protocol for playing a round of golf with clients/business partners will be discussed.

Come hear this informational session at 11pm & 3pm.

ABOUT RODNEY GREEN

Rodney Green is a Class A PGA member with over 20 years of teaching experience. Green served as the Director of Instruction and Head Golf Professional at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL and the Director of Golf at the Innisbrook Resort in Tampa FL. He has been the featured instructor on the Golf Academy Live show and has worked with numerous corporations, celebrities, and athletes.

Rodney is the owner/founder of Rodney Green Golf, Incorporated, which organizes and implements golf events, schools and exhibitions. 

As NASA embraces the Apollo 50^th anniversary, we are looking forward to the future by returning Humans to the Moon again by 2024 under the new Artemis program. Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology. The goal of the Artemis program is to land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface of the Moon; and establish a sustainable presence on the Moon with habitats. The Moon will be the proving ground for NASA to embark on the human mission to Mars. NASA is working with the commercial sector and international partners to design and develop Space Launch System rockets, the Orion spacecraft, and the Gateway; and establish a lunar economy that will get us to the Moon and Mars.

NASA hopes to inspire an entire generation of space enthusiasts, scientists, engineers and astronauts as the “Artemis Generation”. Learn about NASA’s missions and career opportunities that will enable NASA to take the next giant leap in deep space exploration.

Learning Objective: Examine methods for helping diverse female natural resource professionals grow and develop into the next level of leadership.

All organizations know that they must provide opportunities for employees at all levels to build capacity and provide leadership development. Natural resources professionals also know they must recruit and develop leaders that mirror the changing demographics of the country. What are the strategies needed to recruit and retain new leaders in public service? Are requirements different for younger versus more mature professionals?

At the end of this seminar, participants will:
 

1. Learn from experiences/strategies from panel members on career trajectory in federal agencies.
2. Learn how to select mentors and create strong developmental networks.

Learning Objective: If every barrier was removed, obstacles were a thing of the past… and there was a line of leaders available and ready to send the elevator down for you… would you be ready? Do you have a plan? Do you know what questions you would ask… what information you would like to know? How would you make the most out of the opportunity?

Hear firsthand accounts from corporate leaders on how to utilize relationships for success, including developing and sustaining a mentor/sponsor relationship. Making the most out of a mentor or sponsor relationship takes much needed skills and a clear understanding of how to get the most out of every interaction. But first you have to be identified as someone who will be a worthwhile investment. We tell it like it is and provide honest commentary around what will encourage leaders to invest in you. Will you be ready when it’s your time?

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

1. Understand how to develop and sustain a mentor/sponsor relationship
2. Understand the attitudes/behaviors that hinder or prolong career advancement
3. Develop a 60 second elevator pitch (a concise statement defining your career aspirations)

The path to the c-suite is an arduous undertaking for women of color. Research concludes, that of any group, women of color, particularly black women receive the least assistance related to executive advancement. New models and disruptive innovations are needed to promote and support the advancement of women of color as senior executives in public, private and nonprofit enterprises.

This session addresses barriers precluding the advancement of women of color to the c-suite. Two trailblazing c-suite level presenters will discuss findings associated with “leaky pipes,” including those factors that impede executive advancement and introduce participants to the Women of Color Executive Leader Accelerator (WoCELA) pipeline partner initiative. WoCELA is a prototype college-age recruitment, retention and advancement intervention that will place at least 250 high-potential professionals on the path to the c-suite over the next five years. Session attendees also will be invited to share narratives, insights, lessons learned and offer suggestions to help inform prototype development prior to program launch in 2020. The exchange also will inform solution development of a customized program for mid-managers.

This is an interactive workshop about personal branding. During this session you will learn what is a personal brand, why it is important to be aware of your personal brand, how to establish/position/manage your brand for maximum success. You will walk away with a personal brand statement and strategies/tools to fully leverage your brand.

As a Women of Color in STEM your contributions and accomplishments have inspired other aspiring future leaders to follow a similar journey. Having an ally or champion along your career journey has played a huge portion to how you have achieved your success.

1. Panel member and their champion if available to be on the panel with them (her-story and his -story)
2. Investing in others; panel members as they discuss obstacles, roadblocks or opportunities think about the following questions.
3. You have a career journey that is unique and that is your own? How has this ally or champion shaped or influenced where you are today?

Learning Objective: Receive insight on how to develop and instill innovative solutions in highly competitive environments.

Technology is changing at a pace that dwarfs technical evolution of the past. The way we work is changing just as quickly. In this quickly changing technical landscape, many methods of strategic planning and innovation are emerging, complicating the mission of making ideas stick. Additionally, relevance and career development are just as relevant to individuals as ever. Participants will learn how to have their ideas heard and magnified in an environment where driving innovation is critical to the business and your personal career success. Participants will receive insights from key industry leaders regarding how to effectively develop and present innovative solutions in highly competitive environments.

At the end of this workshop participants will be able to:
 

1. Understand the importance of staying abreast of long-term business priorities and technical enablers
2. Maintain their personal voice during collaborative efforts
3. Accounting for important social, legal and policy considerations when sharing and magnifying ideas
4. Navigate the business hurdles when moving from ideas to adopted plans
5. Establish position as a thought leader on an innovative team