2023 Tech Intersections Conference

Join us at , taking place at Mills College at Northeastern University in Oakland, California, for its fifth year on Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Our conference features ALL women of color in tech speakers for an all women of color audience. Check out our speakers.

Our keynote speakers are:

• Erin Pangilinan is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Technology Officer (CCTO) of Salamat. She is a software engineer and computational designer, author, entrepreneur, and educator who has worked on exponential technologies: the metaverse, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and web3/blockchain/cryptocurrency. In 2018, before the metaverse was a thing, Erin conceptualized the internationally acclaimed O’Reilly Media book, Creating Augmented and Virtual Realities: Theory and Practice for Next-Generation of Spatial Computing. Since its publication and release in 2019, its reach is in over 2 dozen countries and has been translated into Chinese and Korean. Her chapter focuses on data and machine learning visualization in spatial computing with a focus on use cases in biotech and health tech.

• Bria Sullivan is the Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Honey B Games, an independent game studio specializing in wholesome mobile games that have been downloaded over 2 Million times across the globe. She has specialized in product development and engineering strategies for mobile apps and games across most platforms and tech stacks for 12 years. Prior to founding this game studio, she was a software engineer at Google. She voluntarily developed a permanent 3D interactive installation for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture, to help change the way we learn about our nation’s true history. She serves as a Startup Advisor for Neighborhood Start Fund and Google for Startups.

Why Is This Space Important?

We created Tech Intersections to address the needs of women of color, such as African-Americans and Latinx, who rarely see others like themselves in the workplace, especially in higher-ranking positions. Existing tech conferences — even ones specifically designed for women — often have few underrepresented women in attendance and as speakers, particularly on technical topics. Additionally, tech conferences are generally unaffordable, creating a financial barrier to those interested in breaking into the industry. Tech Intersections addresses these concerns by having inexpensive tickets, being located where women of color are, and limiting attendance to our target audience.

We Hope You Can Join Us! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tech Intersections is primarily focused on women of color most underrepresented in tech. While we value our allies and recognize that all women in tech and men of color also face discrimination, this is a unique opportunity for those most underrepresented women to have their own space.

Specifically, this conference is exclusively for people who are:

1. women, non-binary, or genderqueer, and
2. engineers, entrepreneurs, activists, teachers, or leaders in tech (or aspiring to be), and
3. belong to an ethnic group underrepresented in tech, including, but not limited to:

• American Indian/Native American
• Black
• Latinx
• Middle Eastern
• Pacific Islander
• Southeast Asian

The above list of underrepresented ethnic groups is not meant to be exhaustive. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are unsure whether you qualify. 

All attendees are required to follow our code of conduct.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mills College at Northeastern University is accessible by AC Transit and has free parking. Talks will take place in Littlefield Concert Hall and the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business, which are wheelchair accessible. Gender-neutral bathrooms will be available. Please contact the organizers for disability accommodations.

FAQs

What comes with my ticket?

Admission to the conference. All sessions, including both keynote sessions. Breakfast, coffee, mimosas (need to show proof of ID), and Lunch.

What COVID-19 safety precautions are you taking?

We will strictly follow all safety rules put in place by Alameda County and Mills College at Northeastern University. As of July 1, 2022, masks are no longer required but are highly encouraged on campus for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people when in the presence of others. Masks are required in medical settings (such as COVID-19 testing and the Health and Counseling offices) and on Mills transportation, due to the close nature of these settings.

I'm Asian. Can I attend?

It depends. Some Asians are underrepresented, including (but not limited to) Filipinas, Koreans, and Vietnamese, while people of Chinese, Indian, and Japanese descent are generally not considered to be underrepresented in tech. However, we are aware there are exceptions as there are marginalized castes and ethnic minority groups throughout Asia. Feel free to contact us with questions.

I'm multiracial. Can I attend?

If you identify as a woman of color and part of your identity is an underrepresented ethnicity as described above, you are welcome.

I'm not female. Can I attend?

We welcome anyone whose gender subjects them to misogyny, and we equally welcome cisgender and transgender women. In addition, we have a concurrent full-day Ally Skills workshop available for anyone who is not eligible to attend the main conference. The Ally Skills workshop includes participation in the opening and closing plenaries of the main conference.

How much do tickets cost?

We do not want cost to keep anyone from attending so offer a sliding scale:

• $20 for students, teachers, and unemployed people
• $50 for self-paying employed people and employees of small nonprofits
• $150 for people funded by their employer

Are there scholarships?

Yes! You can apply for a full or partial scholarship.

Can my company become a sponsor?

Yes! See our sponsorship page or email [email protected]

Will you offer childcare?

We cannot currently commit to childcare this year but are working hard on the back end to make it happen. Please request it when you register or email us at [email protected] if you would like childcare.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please email [email protected].

Host or Publisher Tech Intersections