Summit for Women in Tech (Wilmington)

September 17, 2025 - September 18, 2025

#NCTECHwomen / #NCWIT2025

Join NC TECH, presenting sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, and 350+ women from across North Carolina for the 6th annual Summit for Women in Tech being held in a new location, Wilmington, NC.

This women-only summit will feature candid conversations with tech leaders where we explore gender bias, share our unique journeys, discuss how to shift the paradigm, and provide insights on how to advocate for change both now and for the next generation.

The agenda for the event will feature a welcome reception, social activities for guests to participate in, inspiring keynote speakers, interactive panel discussions, and thought-provoking motivational moments.

Featured Speakers

Opening Keynote

Stacy Whitenight

Stacy Ledesma Whitenight
Author + Speaker

Closing Keynote

Donald Thompson

Donald Thompson
CEO + Founder, The Diversity Movement

Afternoon Wellness Speaker

Elsa Arend

Elsa Arend
Career + Leadership Coach, Paradigm Wellness

Motivational Moment

Erica Rooney
Founder, HER Collective and Chief People Officer, Walk West

Motivational Moment

Jenny Krystofiak
Director, ISG Public Sector, Lenovo

Motivational Moment

Anita Phillips
Principal Learning and Development Advisor, Blue Cross NC

Motivational Moment

Jennifer Williams
Associate Vice President–Enterprise Learning Delivery and Leadership Development, Blue Cross NC

When + Where

Wednesday, September 17 + Thursday, September 18
Hotel Ballast Wilmington
301 N Water St, Wilmington, NC 28401

The NC TECH room block at the Hotel Ballast has expired. Please give them a call at 1-800-HILTONS to check availability (please feel free to offer code WTH).

There are several other hotels within walking distance including: Hampton Inn Downtown Wilmington, Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Wilmington, the Aloft Coastline Center, Best Western Plus Coastline Inn, and the Embassy Suites, to name a few.

Registration

Member Registration: $350

Non-Member Registration: $550

The last day to register for this event is September 10

Sponsorship

Are you interested in sponsoring this event? View the Sponsorship Menu below and contact Tracy Sternberg.

Sponsorship Menu

Panelists

Future of Work in AI

Amanda Barkus
SVP - IT Transformation, Strategy and Planning, Corebridge Financial

Michelle Coviello
VP - Client Development, Dualboot

Susan Haller
Sr. Director - R+D Advanced Analytics, SAS

Jennifer Lee
Web/US Design Instructor, Wake Tech

Deverre Lierman
Head of Raleigh Innovation Hub, Infosys

Well-Being + Work/Life Balance

Valerie Brecht
SVP, Global HR, CData Software

Valerie Merriweather
Founder and Chief Well-being Officer, Fit Well Solutions

Priya Rani
CEO + Founder, Social Apostrophe

Lori Feller
Managing Director - Government + Public Sector, EY

Jenn Rendon
Director of Sales, Tego Data

Agentic AI

Lauren Godwin
Chief Customer Officer, Vantaca

Carol Houle
CEO, Inspire Digital Consulting

Vineeta Khemani
Executive Director - Enterprise Architecture + Clinical Applications, UNC Health

Suj Perepa
Distinguished Engineer/CTO - AI Machine Learning, IBM

Janet Booth
Managing Director, Accenture

Executive Stories: What I Wish I Had Known Earlier

Sandy Ball
Chief People Officer, Aspida

Charlitta Hatch
CAO, City of Charlotte

Andrea Mohamed
COO, Quantum Bloom

Sandy Steward
CIO, CIVIC

Natalie Schepers
Information Technology Solutions Owner, Brighthouse Financial

Agenda

Wednesday, September 17

2:30 – 4:30 pm

Various Networking Activities

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Welcome Reception – Ballast Hotel

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Dinner – Multiple Locations Available for Selection (Dutch Treat)

9:00 pm – until

After Dinner Meet-up

Thursday, September 18

8:00 – 8:45 am

Breakfast

8:45 - 9:00 am

Welcome Remarks

9:00 – 9:35 am

Opening Keynote – Empowered to Lead: Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling – The Path to Leadership Roles

Stacy Ledesma Whitenight – Executive, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker

9:35 – 9:50 am

Motivational Moment #1 – The Power of Visibility

9:50 – 10:05 am

BREAK

10:05 -11:00 am

BREAKOUT Discussions – Session #1

Panel Discussion – The Future of Work in AI sponsored by Infosys

Panel Discussion – Well-being + Work/Life Harmony sponsored by Tego

11:00 – 11:15 am

BREAK

11:15 am – 12:10 pm

BREAKOUT Discussions – Session #2

Panel Discussion – Agentic AI sponsored by Accenture

Panel Discussion – Executive Stories: What I Wish I Had Known Earlier sponsored by Brighthouse Financial

12:10 – 12:45 pm

Lunch – sponsored by MetLife

12:45 – 1:00 pm

Motivational Moment #2 – Women in Tech: Adaptability + Resilience

1:00 – 1:15 pm

Lean In Circles Insights + Kick-Off

1:15 – 2:00 pm

Afternoon Wellness Speaker - Addressing and Avoiding Burnout

Elsa Arend, Career + Leadership Coach, Paradigm Wellness

2:00 – 2:15 pm

Motivational Moment #3 – Women in Tech: Finding the Positives of AI: Enhancing Your Value through AI Tools

2:15 – 2:45 pm

Closing Keynote – Allyship

Donald Thompson, CEO + Co-Founder, The Diversity Movement

2:45 pm

Wrap-Up/Adjourn

Host Committee

NC TECH is honored to work with these esteemed female tech leaders from across the state to help us build our 6th annual Summit for Women In Tech event in September. With their visionary leadership and insights, the value of this event will be tremendous.

View Host Committee

If you have questions about this event, reach out to Tracy Sternberg.