"Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech "
"Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech "
Thu May 22 - 1:40 PM EDT/New York (See in local time)
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05/22/2025 1:40 PM
05/22/2025 02:20 PM
America/New_York
#WTGC2025
"Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech "
#WTGC2025
"Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech "
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https://www.womentech.net/ringcentral
"Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech "
"Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech "
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Session: Mentorship and Sponsorship: Building the Next Generation of Women in Tech
Effective ways to guide and elevate emerging talent in the technology sector.Key Takeaways
- Effective mentorship and sponsorship
Bio
Priyadarshni NatarajanTechnical Fellow,Walmart
With over 18 years of experience in leading and architecting transformative technology solutions, I bring a proven track record of driving innovation, building scalable platforms, and fostering engineering excellence in some of the world’s largest organizations. My career spans leadership and executive roles across 3 of the top Fortune 3 companies - Walmart, Amazon, and UnitedHealth Group, where I have consistently delivered high-impact, customer-focused solutions while mentoring diverse teams and shaping organizational strategy. As a Technical Fellow and Sr.Director at Walmart, I lead architectural strategy for the Health & Wellness division, designing scalable platforms and data systems that support critical healthcare and wellness initiatives. Throughout my career, I have built and led high-performance teams that deliver high-impact products, from AI-driven solutions to distributed systems at companies like Amazon as a Principal Engineer and UnitedHealth Group as a VP of Architecture. I have held executive level roles at both Walmart and UHG.
Deepa Rao
Sr Software Engineer,Golden State Foods
I am a senior programmer, Analyst/Developer —JDE, working for Golden State Foods with over 21 years of experience in information technology (JD Edwards). I have a Master of Business Administration from Clarkson University and a Master of Applied Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Regina. I also have certificates from prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School Online, Stanford University, and Cornell University.
As a senior developer and programmer analyst, I develop and analyze solutions using JD Edwards, Cloud Inventory, DSI, and other technologies. I also manage projects, coordinate tasks, and collaborate with cross-functional teams worldwide. I have exposure to various industries and cultures. I had the privilege of working in different states in the USA, which allowed me to see many states in the US and almost all provinces in Canada.
In my free time, I volunteer with many nonprofit organizations in Cleveland. I started my volunteering journey in 2017. I was the past president and EC member for Kasturi Kannada Sangha (KKS, Cleveland). I was also a board member and past president of Northeast Ohio Women in Technology (NEOWIT). I am Editor in Chief for FICA The Lotus newspaper and on the EC of the FICA team. I was a board member and current president of the Association of Asian Indian Women in Ohio (AAIWO). I am the Indian Ambassador for Cleveland People, an ethnic non-profit organization. I am also in the Leadership Council -Engage Cleveland and a mentor at Global Cleveland and NEOWIT. I am also a Key Communicator member at my daughter's school.. I am an avid reader and love to read. I am learning Bharatanatyam along with my daughter, Anika Rao.
Swati Venkatraman
Director of Product Management-Signet Jewelers
Digital Technology leader with 10+ years of progressive experience in delivering enterprise level technical solutions in retail. Expertise in Ecommerce and Omnichannel Product Management, Project Management and leading cross functional teams . Agile Champion with experience in piloting and improvising agile product teams. Extensive experience in Connected Commerce implementations
Juanita DeSouza-Huletey MA, PMP, ALEP, BRM, PROSCI, ITIL
Juanita DeSouza-Huletey is the Founder and CEO of Dynamic Solutions International Inc. (DSI). Juanita wears many hats, including author, educator, executive coach, management consultant, and keynote speaker, all dedicated to empowering leaders, fostering inclusion, and breaking barriers.
With over 25 years of leadership experience in Enterprise IT, Project Management and Leadership Development, Juanita’s career began as an intern at IBM Canada Ltd., leading to impactful roles such as Divisional Head of IT at the Winnipeg Police Service. A recognized industry and community leader, she is also an international bestselling author, contributing to Evolution of Leadership in STEM: Women Catalyzing Change. Her chapter, Beyond the Glass Ceiling, advocates for breaking barriers and fostering inclusive change for women leaders.
As a dedicated knowledge philanthropist, Juanita serves on several boards, including the Board of Governors at the University of Manitoba and a member of the executive leadership and chairs the Audit and Risk committee, the IT Strategic Council at Red River College Polytechnic, and as a founding member of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Western Canada. She chairs both Project Management and BIT Advisory Committees and advises on economic immigration and settlement.
Juanita is also the driving force behind the Canadian Immigrant Professional Alliance (CIPA), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting immigrant professionals by bridging systemic gaps and advocating for policy changes that facilitate career integration.
Juanita is a strong advocate for marginalized communities, having supported initiatives like the African Communities of Manitoba Inc. (ACOMI) and the Folklorama African Pavilion and Ghana Pavilion. She has also mentored immigrant professionals and facilitated integration workshops. A passionate champion for women and girls in STEM, she regularly speaks on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), focusing on systemic challenges impacting marginalized groups. With a leadership style based on integrity, accountability, and transparency, Juanita embodies resilience and impact, her mission remains simple: empower, uplift, and transform lives.
She resides in Winnipeg with her husband, Emmanuel Huletey, and their three adult sons, Ronald, Ernestho, and Pete, embracing her Ghanaian Canadian identity.
Sravanthi Vallampati
IT Manager-Progressive Insurance Cleveland
An accomplished IT Manager at Progressive Insurance, I bring a strong track record in end-user experience, operational excellence, and business intelligence. With a background in BI solutions development and expertise in tools like SQL Server, Tableau, and Google Analytics, I’ve led end-to-end analytics strategies and supported enterprise-wide data initiatives.
Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, I also champion lean management, women’s empowerment, and mentorship through analytics communities and Centers of Excellence. As a Distinguished Toastmaster and former District Director, I’ve earned multiple awards for leadership, public speaking, and coaching in high-impact corporate and volunteer environments.
Chitkala Akella
Business & Head of Operations, CAI CustomerOptionsAI
Chitkala “CK” Akella is the Founder of CustomerOptions.AI, a trailblazing firm specializing in AI search technology, startup enablement, and strategic leadership consulting. With over 30 years of experience transforming organizations across industries—from banking and finance to education, manufacturing, and cybersecurity—CK is known for her ability to bridge deep technical expertise with visionary business strategy. She will be a speaker at our upcoming Women in Tech Global Conference in May 2025 and Tech Elevator's Beyond the Bootcamp event in June 2025, and has spoken at leading events in 2024 like WITCON and the 23rd Information Security Summit on AI & Cybersecurity. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, CK has served as Vice President of Communication & Digital Strategy at CSA, is an active member of the USGLC, and mentors rising leaders through Global Cleveland’s Global Rising Leadership Program. A board member of NEOWIT and NEOTA and a published author, she holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in relevant fields, further enhanced by executive programs at Stanford. CK remains committed to empowering the next generation of tech innovators and advancing inclusive, impactful digital transformation.
