Discover how you can support and promote greater inclusion in the tech industry. Join the Diversity and Tech track at Microsoft Ignite.
Diversity and tech pre-day workshops
Gain practical advice for advancing your career, hear from tech superstars about advocating for yourself at work, and get to know others who are passionate about making an impact. If you’re already registered for Microsoft Ignite, add the Diversity and Tech pre-day workshops for $199. Limited seats left!
Diversity and tech pre-day add-on
Already planning to attend a technical pre-day but still want to participate in Diversity and Tech sessions? Register for the Diversity and Tech pre-day add-on for $99 and pick sessions to attend on either track. Limited seats left!
Empower lunches and brunches
Join us Monday through Friday to hear from inspiring leaders and industry experts on topics like building inclusive work cultures, telling authentic personal stories, supporting mental health, empowering diverse leadership, and raising the next generation of tech professionals to champion diversity and inclusion.
President, University of Central Florida Women in Engineering (Association of Computing Machinery – Women) student organization
Donovan Brown
Principal DevOps Manager, Microsoft
Tracy van der Schyff
Office Servers and Services MVP, Founder of TheGuidStuff South Africa
Ouafa Benterki
CEO of MTY Intelligent Software Algeria; President and Founder, Association of Machine Translation Algiers; Chair, Arab Women in Computing Algerian Chapter
Nisreen Deeb
Systems analyst; Co-Founder, Girls Got IT; Chair, Arab Women in Computing Lebanon Chapter; Founder, The Mini Programmer, Lebanon
Nidhi Verma
Senior Program Manager, OneDrive and SharePoint
Jiaxin Zheng
Product Marketing Manager for Windows, Microsoft
Diversity and Tech breakouts and theater sessions
Explore a plethora of diversity and inclusion topics at Microsoft Ignite. From battling imposter syndrome and workplace toxicity to sharing stories about career journeys, there’s something for everyone as we discuss ways to boost diversity and inclusion in tech. Be sure to attend the theater sessions by TechWomen representatives from Lebanon, Algeria, and Tunisia. View the full session list
Mingle with peers who are passionate about inclusion, in the Connect area of the Learn. Connect. Explore. area.
1:1 and Group Idea Swaps
Use the Ideas and Mentoring Tool in MyIgnite to schedule idea-sharing sessions with peers. Browse available Group Idea Swaps in the session catalog.
Meetups
Make new friends and discuss real-life topics, such as parents in tech, women in tech and their allies, and diversity and inclusion strategies. Find meetups in the session catalog by filtering for Solution > Diversity and Inclusion.
Live podcasts
Join hosts Heather Newman and Stephanie Donahue as they talk about the importance of diversity and inclusion in tech. Browse podcasts in the session catalog.
Diversity and Tech student ambassadors
Seven outstanding leaders from the University of Florida, the University of Central Florida, and Valencia College will serve as this year’s student ambassadors. Come meet these future tech professionals and get inspired by their energy and passion for championing diversity and inclusion in tech.
Diversity and Tech at Microsoft Ignite: highlights
Join 1:1 and Group Idea Swaps all week at the Diversity and Tech Idea Swap Lounge in the Learn. Connect. Explore. area. --> Look for the "Connect" banner.
Model 47 for business: Transcending culture to solve real-world problems [plated luncheon]
Dona Sarkar
Engineer your way to success: Build your personal board of directors
Sophia Velastegui
Evolving strategies for diversity and inclusion
Ann Johnson
The business case for supporting LGBTQ employees
Marianne Roling
Discover your diversity superpower: Persuade your way to success with an eight-line story
Lisa Kagan
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Urban Tide Restaurant @ Hyatt Regency Orlando
Diversity and Tech evening reception
For Diversity and Tech pre-day attendees and featuring DJ EmV and local calligraphy artist Serena Kramer!
Hosted by Catherine Boeger, General Manager of Microsoft 365 GTM, and our Diversity and Tech Champion Sponsor, IBM
Pre-day registration and Diversity and Tech pre-day bracelet required for admission.
Times shown are Eastern Time. Agenda is subject to change.
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
OCCC West Room 230
Empower lunch panel
Voices from the top: Leaders get real on building inclusive work cultures, featuring top executives and engineering leaders
4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
Expo Theater #6
How to start your own employee resource group to champion diversity and inclusion
Nivine Zakhari
Times shown are Eastern Time. Agenda is subject to change.
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM
Hyatt Regency Theater
What it’s like to be a woman in technology in Lebanon: My journey from being the only woman in class to a speaking on a global stage
Nisreen Deeb, Systems Analyst at Mediterranean Shipping Company; Co-Founder of Girls Got IT; Chair of Arab Women in Computing Lebanon Chapter; Founder of The Mini Programmer; TechWomen alumna
10:10 AM –10:30 AM
Expo Theater #6
Work out loud: How to nurture your self-esteem at work and be comfortable with diversity
Lesley Crook, Microsoft MVP
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
OCCC West Room 230
Empower lunch
Spin your tale: The fiction writers’ guide to telling YOUR story
Dona Sarkar, Head of Windows Insider Program
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
OCCC West Room 222
Parents in Tech meetup
Hosted by Michelle Caldwell, Sue Hanley, and Cristal Kawula, Microsoft MVPs
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
Expo Theater #6
How a woman passionate about AI became Founder and CEO of MTY Intelligent Software, the first Algerian woman-led startup specializing in intelligent solutions
Ouafa Benterki, CEO and Founder of MTY Intelligent Software Algeria, President and Founder of Association of Machine Translation Algiers, and Chair of Arab Women in Computing Algerian Chapter
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
OCCC West Room 222
Women in Tech + Allies meetup
Hosted by Heather Newman and Liz Sundet, Microsoft MVPs
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (TBD)
Diversity and Tech Idea Swap Lounge
Women in Tech + Allies happy hour
Sponsored by IAMCP WIT (International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners Women in Technology)
Times shown are Eastern Time. Agenda is subject to change.
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
OCCC West Room 230
Empower breakfast
Hosted by Diversity and Tech Champion Sponsor, IBM
9:35 AM – 9:55 AM
Expo Theater #6
How to kick fear and toxicity out of the workplace: A practical guide
Heather Newman, Microsoft MVP
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
Expo Theater #6
Beware the lure of “get rich quick” schemes: My personal journey as a business owner and lessons learned
Stephanie Donahue, Microsoft MVP
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
OCCC West Room 230
Empower lunch
Service degraded: Recognizing mental burnout in your colleagues and yourself
Sonia Cuff, Senior Cloud Ops Advocate
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
OCCC West Room 230
Letting go of fear and taking risks in an ever-changing IT landscape
Phoummala Schmitt, Senior Cloud Ops Advocate
Times shown are Eastern Time. Agenda is subject to change.
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM
Hyatt Regency Theater
Stories from North Africa: Engineers to educators – A day in the life of women in technology
Noura Ghali Berzouga, Head of Cloud and Key Account Service Department, Vice President and Co-Founder of Women Leaders in Technology Tunisia, and Dr. Fatima Zohra Benhamida, Assistant Professor, Higher National School of Computer Science in Algeria
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
Hyatt Regency Theater
“I’m here for the refreshments”: The journey of finding my inner goddess as a woman in tech
Phoummala Schmitt, Senior Cloud Ops Advocate
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
OCCC West Room 230
Empower lunch
Empowering diverse leadership
Karuana Gatimu, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Teams
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
OCCC West 222
Diversity and Inclusion Strategies meetup: Why does it matter, and what we can do about it?
Jen Stirrup, Microsoft MVP
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
OCCC West Room 230
How I went from sales to technical product management: You don’t have to code to build great products
Ashanka Iddaya, Chief Product Architect, Microsoft 365 Business
Times shown are Eastern Time. Agenda is subject to change.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
OCCC West Room 230
Empower brunch panel
In conversation: Raising the next generation of IT pros as diversity and inclusion champions
Times shown are Eastern Time. Agenda is subject to change.
