Our 2018 Speakers
This is a conference for everyone who works in tech.
These speakers are the thought leaders we chose for this event.
Olivia Rae Guterson
Community Coordinator, Diversity and Inclusion at Duo Security
"Creative Collaborations: Applying Art to Tech"
Olivia has been in the world of tech recruiting for the past 5 years with a focus on creating community through cultivating and growing opportunities for all. Working with the leaders, builders, entrepreneurs, creators, peers, founders, students, and community members, she is on the mission to establish and promote Detroit as the heart of Black Tech. As a community coordinator and artist, she is striving to create space for us to come together to cultivate a more vibrant and inclusive tech future that not only supports and builds, but celebrates who we are and what we can accomplish together.
Brittany N. Williams
Actress, Marketing and PR Specialist, & Staff Writer at Black Nerd Problems
"Translation, Typhoons, & the Show that Nearly Wasn't"
Brittany N. Williams is a writer, actress, unimpressed Shakespearean Blerd, keeper of 90s theme songs, future Lord of the Fire Nation, and New Orleanian by way of Baltimore, DC, Hong Kong, London, and NYC. Catch her laying waste to all challengers in Soul Calibur or slinging literary fire for Black Nerd Problems.com.
Emily Lonigro
President and Owner, LimeRed Lab & Studio
"Designing Impact Through Collaboration"
Owner of design agency LimeRed, which is both Certified Woman-owned and a Certified B Corporation, Emily Lonigro designs social impact — from naming to app development, from business to education. She’s a mentor for startup and established businesses and teaches at Columbia College Chicago. She’s an activist, business owner, advocate, mother, delegator, and activator.
Emily Heist Moss
Director of Student Recruitment at Girls Who Code Campus
"#SquadGoals: Sharing, Caring, and Community-Building Online & IRL"
Emily is the Director of Student for Girls Who Code Campus, a new summer program for girls 10 to 18 from Girls Who Code. She is committed to closing the gender gap in tech because she thinks that those who build our products shape our lives, and right now we have a lot of products that help us order lunch, and not enough that make the world happier, healthier, or more just. She previously led marketing for a coding bootcamp for adult career changers. She lives in Chicago, where she teaches yoga, wields dictatorial power over her book club, and volunteers with local pro-choice organizations.
Lateshia Dowell
Owner, DowellHouse Social
"HELP: The Four-Letter Word You're Afraid to Use"
As a media professional with 10 years of experience, Lateshia is a jackie-of-all-trades. She can write a lead, breaking news article, press release and tweet with a few characters to spare. She’s worked for some of the top local news outlets, including the Detroit Free Press, Local 4 and CBS Detroit.
Lauren A. Hood
Community Development Consultant
"Entering Spaces Respectfully & Thoughtfully: Considerations for Operating in a New Community"
Born & raised in Detroit, Lauren A. Hood brings an authentic perspective to community engagement & development. Passionate about the city’s cultural heritage, Hood has spoken & written extensively on preserving black space. She currently serves on the City of Detroit Planning Commission and as an advisor to Detroit Sound Conservancy and Urban Consulate. Through her consultancy, Hood conducts workshops & designs curricula on community engagement, equitable development & racial justice for civic, philanthropic & institutional clients.
Chanita Simms & Chantai Ferguson
Founder & Vice President of Melanin.Tech
"When Shit Gets Real: Advocating for Diversity in Your Organization"
Chantai, a former Project Manager turned proud military spouse, and Chanita, a Help Scout Customer Champ, are based out of Atlanta, one of the most diverse cities in the country. They’ve joined forces at Melanin.Tech to battle diversity-in-technology issues and help create a dialogue.
Kaylee Williams
President at VolunteerLocal
"Building for (and Towards) Diversity in Tech"
Kaylee Williams is the President of VolunteerLocal, a volunteer scheduling and registration platform for festivals, endurance events, nonprofits and universities all over the world. VolunteerLocal has scheduled over 1.5 million volunteers into jobs and shifts for events like Lululemon’s Seawheeze Running Festival, the United States Marine Corps Marathon, Ironman, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras in Australia, the largest LGBTQ event in the world. Williams is passionate about community service and inclusion (diversity) in tech. She is a triathlete, volunteer coach for Girls on the Run, bass guitar player and homebrewer.
Anndréa Moore
Founder and CEO of Black Tech Women
"Creating Inclusive Community in Your Profession"
Anndréa Moore is the founder of Black Tech Women, a 2000+ community focused on retaining and advancing black women in the technology ecosystem. As a product marketing leader and small and medium business (SMB) expert, she’s driven growth of the SMB segment for some of the largest tech companies, including Google, Apple, and Facebook.