Earlier this month, for the sixth year in a row, GDIT brought together hundreds of experienced and aspiring tech professionals and industry pioneers at our Women + Tech event. With “Elevate you” as its theme, this year’s event featured sessions, panels and engagements designed to help those in attendance elevate their skills, networking prowess and career trajectories – all surrounded by hundreds of others who share the same aspirations.

It was a tremendous day of a collaboration and connectivity, and we’re already looking forward to next year! Here are some of the highlights.

Pushing the Edge of Innovation: A Keynote Conversation with Jessica Jensen of SpaceX

For one of the day’s first sessions, Nisa Moore, GDIT Forward ERG Lead and Diplomacy Business Area Vice President, reconnected with her college roommate (!) Jessica Jensen, Vice President, Customer Operations and Integration at SpaceX, for a conversation about the roles women are playing in driving innovation within some of the most game-changing organizations on the planet. Jessica’s perspective, as the person directing SpaceX’s cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station and a literal rocket scientist, proved equal parts unique and invaluable. She told the crowd, “We had such a clear vision for revolutionizing the industry; we had this clear vision for how we wanted to do things and it wasn’t about money or profit, it was: how can we revolutionize the industry, reuse rockets and, ultimately, make life multi-planetary? People think those are insane, impossible goals but what’s been so amazing … is the first time you achieve something you thought was impossible it’s addicting. And that’s what’s been so exciting is to hit these goals that we set out and then look a head to the next one.”

Fireside Chat with Amy Gilliland and Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy of Howard University

Later in the day, GDIT President Amy Gilliland sat down with Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy, the Chief Operating Officer at Howard University, and former President of Shaw University. The two leaders talked about how there is no single or “right” career path, and the importance of confidence and community. Dr. Dubroy said, “I’ve been in corporate America, I’ve been a bench chemist and now I’m in academia. At every step of the way, I’ve been elevated by someone who wanted to invest in me.” She continued, “And if I could gift women one thing it would be confidence. Often times we are the inhibitors; we think we have to be better than we are even though we’re already qualified.” That has to stop, she said. She also talked about the importance of giving ourselves grace when we’re juggling the stresses of daily life, family and careers. On that point in particular, Dr. Dubroy said, “We recognized that a healthy employee serve students in a much better way.” She then talked about how they’ve been careful at Harvard to curate a community that takes into account the whole person and the whole experience on campus either as a student or an employee.

Panel Discussions on Authentic Intersectionality; Technology & Business; and Career Future-Proofing

Just as in years past, this year’s Women + Tech event also featured vibrant and interactive panel discussions. One, on The Power of Authentic Intersectionality, focused on the network of connections between us all at work and the ways to show up authentically while recognizing and respecting the intersectionality and authenticity of others. Another, on Navigating the Intersection Between Technology and Business, tackled how technology can solve hard problems at work in new and novel ways. And a third panel, on Future-Proofing your Career, was all about the ways women can envision and pursue career milestones and stay resilient regardless of unforeseen or unexpected challenges that may arise, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, for example. Every one of these sessions included perspectives from women in leadership positions with incredible insights to share.

As in year’s past, this year’s Women + Tech event showcased how women are amplifying their voices and empowering one another to close opportunity gaps and ascend to new heights.