The Women in Tech Global Conference 2025 spotlighted powerful conversations around the pillars of allyship, leadership, and fairness. As the global tech community continues to strive for impact, this year’s conference delivered sessions that did more than inspire—they equipped attendees with actionable insights to advocate, lead, and build better.
In this feature, we highlight three standout talks that captivated audiences and advanced critical dialogue across the industry. From leading digital transformation with empathy to embedding fairness in the workplace, and leveraging allyship to strengthen inclusion, these sessions exemplified what it means to lead with purpose in 2025 and beyond.
Breaking Barriers: Promoting Allyship Through Skill Development and Representation by Kwanesia Bass
Kwanesia Bass is a recognized leader in technology learning and development, currently serving as AVP of Technology Learning and Development at Synchrony. With over a decade of experience in driving technical upskilling programs, fostering inclusion, and advancing DEI initiatives, Kwanesia is passionate about building equitable pathways for growth in the tech industry. A sought-after speaker and mentor, she uses her platform to champion representation and allyship at every level.
During her session, you will:
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Understand the role of allyship in driving inclusion and innovation in tech.
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Learn how to design skill development programs that empower underrepresented groups.
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Discover strategies to amplify diverse representation at all levels of your organization.
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Gain actionable steps to foster allyship and inclusion in day-to-day workplace interactions.
Amplifying Women's Leadership by Lori Nishiura Mackenzie
Lori Nishiura Mackenzie is a speaker, researcher, and change agent in creating inclusive organizations. She is co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab where she launched inclusiveboards.stanford.edu.
Lori has published in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Inc. and is a LinkedIn Top Voice. Formerly, Lori worked in marketing at Procter & Gamble, Apple, eBay and PayPal. She is on the board of Center for Institutional Courage and advisor to August Public and Optionality. She has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a BA from UC Berkeley.
During her session you will:
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Awareness of dynamics that can limit women's impact
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Harnessing the power of language to amplify women's expertise
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Tools to amplify women's leadership
Make Work Fair: Actionable Solutions That Build Fairness Into the Workplace by Siri Chilazi
Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and an internationally recognized expert in advancing women and promoting gender equity in organizations. As an academic researcher, Siri specializes in identifying practical approaches to close gender gaps at work by de-biasing structures and designing fairer processes. As an advisor and speaker, she collaborates with organizations including start-ups, large multinational companies, top professional services firms, governments, non-profits, and academic institutions to advance gender equity through evidence-based insights.
Siri’s work regularly appears in leading media outlets and she has spoken on gender equity at hundreds of large events around the world. Siri is the coauthor, with Iris Bohnet, of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results (HarperCollins, 2025). She has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College.
During her session, you will:
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Learn actionable strategies to build fairness into the workplace
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Discover how to become a norm entrepreneur
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Understand why data is critical to drive fairness at work
The Women in Tech Global Conference 2025 reinforced the vital role of allyship, inclusive leadership, and fairness in shaping the future of technology. The top talks highlighted this year serve as a reminder that meaningful progress stems not just from innovation but from empathy, intentional advocacy, and the courage to challenge the status quo.
These sessions are more than moments of inspiration—they are blueprints for creating cultures where everyone can thrive. As we collectively strive to elevate equity in tech, let’s carry forward the lessons shared on stage and commit to turning insight into impact.
Whether you're seeking to lead with authenticity or grow within a community of changemakers, now is the time to act.
Join the movement—become a Professional, Executive, or Founding Member of Women in Tech Network and access tools, talks, and connections that drive change.
