Level up your career at Summit
Over the course of three days, you'll have access to four tracks, 70+ speakers, Career Mobility and GovTech Office Hours, Mentor-Mentee Matching, AI certificates, and career advancement tools.

You're guaranteed to leave here with something!
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What to expect

We'll be locked in for four straight days. Here's a look at the week.

Wednesday, December 11th

Mobilize your career, sharpen your technical skills, and level up in the tech space. This track is designed to advance members of the tech industry to new promotions and opportunities.
  • Technical-y virtual sessions
  • A Night at The Museum: Welcome Event
  • Platinum Pass Private Welcome Event, Powered by Google

Thursday, December 12th

Maximize your creativity and explore new ideas that spark innovative business ventures. Dive into the latest tech trends like AI, ML, and AR/VR.
  • Hands-on workshops
  • Speed Mentor & Mentee Matching with Amazon Black Employee Network
  • Founder Spotlight with Silicon Valley Bank & Amazon Web Services
  • U Street Takeover

Friday, December 13th

Dive into Washington D.C.'s dynamic tech scene, government consulting, and cybersecurity landscape.
  • Mainstage panels
  • Lightning talks
  • Office Hours
  • On-site interviews
  • Pitch competition
  • Official Techsgiving Summit 5 Year Anniversary Party

Saturday, December 14th

Pave your way to success in non-technical domains like sales, HR, finance, and beyond.
  • Day of Giving
  • Closing Brunch

Summit tracks

Career mobility, leadership & technical skills

Mobilize your career, sharpen your technical skills, and level up in the tech space. This track is designed to advance members of the tech industry to new promotions and opportunities.

Innovation & entrepreneurship

Maximize your creativity and explore new ideas that spark innovative business ventures. Dive into the latest tech trends like AI, ML, and AR/VR.

Government tech, contracting & consulting

Dive into Washington D.C.'s dynamic tech scene, government consulting, and cybersecurity landscape.

Technical-ly

Pave your way to success in non-technical domains like sales, HR, finance, and beyond.

Summit Schedule

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9:15am-
10:00am
Technical-y

Sales in Tech

Ty Smith
Founder & CEO, Optical Diversity

Discover the world of Channel Sales in technology and learn about partner programs, compensation structures, and growth strategies while understanding the importance of diversity in this underrepresented sector of tech.

10:00am-
10:45am
Technical-y

Customer Success in Tech

Mark Mosley
Customer Success Manager, ServiceNow

Navigate your transition into Customer Success by crafting compelling pitches, understand key Customer Success terminology, and overcome common challenges while building your new career path in technology.

10:45am-
11:30am
Technical-y

Virtual Session Powered by CompTIA

CompTIA

Explore the evolving world of IT with CompTIA, a trusted leader in vendor-neutral certifications.

11:30am-
12:15pm
Technical-y

From Content to Corporate: Technically Non-Technical

Essie Michelle
Lifestyle Content Creator / Sr. Manager, Creator Success

Learn how to pivot into roles that blend creative insights with tech. Whether you’re new to content creation or looking to build your personal brand, you’ll discover how to position yourself as a thought leader and create powerful content that opens doors to exciting new opportunities—without writing a single line of code.

12:15pm-
1:00pm
Technical-y

Beyond the Code: Non-Tech Skills for the Modern Tech Workforce

Bobby McNeil Jr.
Talent Acquisition Manager, Enact MI

Discover the essential non-tech skills that drive success in the tech industry.

1:00pm-
1:45pm
Technical-y

Aligning Resumes & LinkedIn Profiles for Maximum Job Market Impact

Vanessa Smithers
Founder, Grow Home, Please

Craft a standout resume and LinkedIn profile tailored for the tech industry.

1:45pm-
2:30pm
Technical-y

AI-powered Personal Branding: Elevating Your Career to Senior-Level Leadership

Korie Grayson, PhD
Science for Development Fellow, U.S. Agency for International Development

Enhance your personal brand with AI tools to optimize content, build visibility, and showcase your unique value.

2:30pm-
3:15pm
Technical-y

How to Land a Tech Interview at the Techsgiving Summit

Darius Robinson
Senior Tech Recruiter

Gain insights from a career development enthusiast and Senior Tech Recruiting expert on how to successfully navigate generating interviews during your Techsgiving Summit.

3:15pm-
4:00pm
Technical-y

Build a High-Converting Job Search Strategy

Chenae Erkerd
Recruiter, RecruiterCousin

Streamline your job search: discover organized mass application strategies to stay focused, avoid burnout, and boost success during career transitions.

4:00pm-
4:45pm
Technical-y

Upskilling & Reskilling: Actionable Strategies to Stay Competitive in the Job Market

Shannon Morales
CEO & Founder, Tribaja

Gain practical approaches to continuously develop your skills and stay competitive in a rapidly changing job market.

7:00pm
Event

Platinum Ticket Holder Private Welcome Event Powered by Google

Exclusive welcome event at Google HQ for speakers and Platinum pass holders.

6:00pm
Event

A Night at The Museum - Techsgiving Welcome Event

Art Tech House
1238 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

Don’t miss out on the ultimate kick-off event! Join us for a night of fun, music and unforgettable memories at Art Tech House. Register now!

9:00am-
9:45am
Career Mobility

Unlocking Data Intelligence: How AI is Transforming Data Warehousing for SQL Users

Pearl Ubaru
Databricks, Sr. Technical Marketing Engineer

Optimize your data warehouse with AI-driven intelligence for improved performance, governance, and usability.

9:00am-
9:45am
Career Mobility

Behind the Scenes of Interoperability of The Consumer Experience: A Journey through AI, UX Design Strategy, + Collaboration

Amin Ameen, Emmanuel Ademuwagun, Osa Omokaro Ph.D
Product Marketer, Engineering Manager (Meta), UX Research + Strategy Lead (Google)

Uncover how Engineering with AI, UX research + Strategy merge to create seamless digital experiences for businesses, creators + consumers.

9:00am-
9:45am
Entrepreneurship

Beyond VC Dollars: A Strategic Fundraising Playbook from Pre-Seed and Beyond

M. James Faison
Partner, Faison Law Group LLC

Explore alternative funding options beyond VC dollars, learn key metrics for diverse capital providers, and understand essential legal housekeeping to secure your next investment.

10:00am-
10:45am
Government Tech

The FBI Presents: The Intersection of Technology and National Security

Tanya Tucker
Section Chief of the FBI’s Business Strategy and Analytics Section

Explore the intersection of technology and national security with the FBI. Discover how Major Systems evolve at the FBI, from concept to launch, via digital transformation and automation.

10:00am-
10:45am
Career Mobility

Workday Presents: Cybersecurity in Action: A Day on the Digital Frontlines

Gedi Abdi
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer, Workday

Explore Gedi's cybersecurity journey, learn about Identity Management, and discover practical tips for landing a role in the field.

10:00am-
10:45am
Entrepreneurship

Engaging and Expanding Maryland's Tech Ecosystem

Tammira Lucas
Owner, The Cube Co Work

Dive into Maryland’s vibrant tech ecosystem and discover opportunities, resources, and networks driving innovation.

11:00am-
11:45am
Government Tech

Cloud Economics: Maximizing Your Cloud Investment

Abdie Mohamed
Lead Cloud Engineer, Lockheed Martin

Optimize your cloud investments with five essential strategies for governance, resource management, and cost efficiency.

11:00am-
11:45am
Career Mobility

Binge-Worthy: Building a UX Portfolio That Keeps Them Watching

Taiwo Ade
UX Researcher, Etsy

Learn techniques to showcase your work, highlight your unique skills, and leave a lasting impression on potential employers.

11:00am-
11:45am
Entrepreneurship

Pitch and Persuade: Turn Your Deck Into Dollars in 5 Steps

Amiah Sheppard
Senior Advisor/Pitch Consultant, University of Southern California/Sheppard Consulting Group

Learn to craft a compelling narrative, structure your pitch deck, and highlight key investor-attracting components.

12:00pm-
12:45pm
Government Tech

Innovate with Integrity: Balancing Security, User Experience, and Growth in Product Design

Courtney Walker, Miranda Stanfield, Justice Collier, Margorie McLenan, Kandyce Knight
Cybersecurity Product Manager

Balance security and innovation in product development with insights from experts across InfoSec, Product Management, and UI/UX.

12:00pm-
12:45pm
Career Mobility

Product Visioning, Product Strategy: Outputs vs. Outcomes

Adebowale Asaya
Sr. Product Lead, Amazon

Create a lasting product vision with strategies to align your team, define target customers, and guide long-term decisions.

9:45am-
10:30am
Government Tech

Elevating Civic Tech through Customer Experience

Jamie Lambert , Eva Dransfield
U.S. Digital Corps Fellow, Customer Experience Specialist

Explore the role of customer experience in civic tech with insights from U.S. Digital Corps fellows.

12:00pm-
12:45pm
Entrepreneurship

Mastering Startup Operations: Streamline Processes for Scalable Success

Celeste Shields
Founder & CEO, Celestial Operations

Streamline your business operations with practical strategies for founders, CEOs, and operators.

1:00pm-
3:00pm
Entrepreneurship

Pitch Social & Panel

The Pitch Social offers entrepreneurs a high-energy platform to sharpen their pitching skills in a real-world setting. Participants deliver a 3-minute pitch to expert judges, receive immediate feedback, and gather insights to refine their presentation.

1:00pm-
1:45pm
Government Tech

Empowering Federal Data Strategies: Leveraging Amazon AWS for Analysis, Management, and Visualizationcy

Melanie Atwell
Data Scientist, Consultant for US Department of Justice Civil Division

Explore how federal agencies are leveraging Amazon AWS for data analysis, management, and visualization to drive operational efficiency.

1:00pm-
1:45pm
Government Tech

ServiceNow Careers: Fast-Track Into the $200B Low-Code Ecosystem

Kanika Tolver
CEO & ServiceNow Consultant, Career Rehab LLC

Learn about ServiceNow, low-code development career paths and essential skills for leveling up in this field.

1:00pm-
1:45pm
Career Mobility

Getting Into Founder Mode with AI

Zak Kidd
Founder, AskHumans

Transform your meeting culture with AI and Natural Language Processing to make collaboration efficient, productive, and engaging.

2:00pm-
2:45pm
Career Mobility

AI Isn't the Solution: Build a Strong Foundation with AI and Automation

Teneika Askew
Director, Data Science, BicTech

Reveal the true scope of AI beyond LLMs, exploring its role in powering complex systems that don’t just compute, but comprehend.

2:00pm-
2:45pm
Career Mobility

Online Safety in the Age of AI

Takunda Jora
Senior Data Scientist, Reddit

This session explores the complexities and threats to our online security in an era shaped by widespread AI and cloud technology.

2:00pm-
2:45pm
Entrepreneurship

Transform Your Tech Idea Into a Market-Ready Product in 90 Days

CherRaye Flowers
Founder/CEO, Brownce

Learn the essentials of product development in this hands-on workshop for new tech founders. Gain practical steps to turn your tech idea into a market-ready product, covering ideation, validation, prototyping, and launch.

3:00pm-
3:45pm
Government Tech

Comply to Connect: A Guide to Cisco ISE Posturing

Deirra Footman
Network Security Engineer, CCIE BY 30

Secure your network with a beginner’s guide to Cisco ISE posturing. Learn key components, practical setup tips, and compliance strategies to enhance network access security.

3:00pm-
3:45pm
Career Mobility

Amazon BEN Presents: Building Pathways to Success: Navigating Career, Certifications, and Community

Marquis Thorpe, Dr. Karol Pierre, Mecca Nnacheta, Jessica Reyes, Oru Wonodi

Join The Black Employee Network, (BEN-DMV) an Affinity Group at Amazon, as they share insights on building successful careers, leveraging certifications to enhance skills, and the importance of community engagement for underrepresented groups.

3:00pm-
3:45pm
Government Tech

GDIT Presents: AI Beyond Bias: Cultivating Inclusive and Culturally Aware AI Tech Communities

Dave Vennergrund, Jacklyn Wynn
VP of AI & Data Insights and Lead of AI & Data Insights COE, Vice President, Strategic Programs for the Federal Health Division

Learn how biased data impacts AI algorithms, understand the importance of representative data sets, and discover strategies for developing more inclusive AI.

3:00pm-
4:00pm
Entrepreneurship

Pitch Competition [Semi-finals]

Open to tech-enabled, HBCU alumni founders of early-stage companies. Showcase your innovative idea to a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000! This competition is powered by Intuit and the Howard PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship.

4:00pm-
4:45pm
Government Tech

Workshop presented by Accenture Federal Services

Nolan Phillips
Public Safety Data & AI Growth Lead, Principal Director Data Science

Join Accenture Federal Services to learn how they are shaping the future of public service through cutting-edge technology and innovation.

4:00pm-
4:45pm
Career Mobility

Understanding Third-party Risk Management in Cyber

Amina Seini
Third-party Risk Consultant, Wells Fargo

Explore key practices, emerging challenges, and how this niche field offers dynamic opportunities within Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC).

4:00pm-
4:45pm
Innovation

How AI Will Affect the Future of Product

Black Product Managers

Join BPM for a thought-provoking session on the opportunities AI presents for product teams, ethical considerations in AI-driven products, and how we can leverage AI to enhance customer experience and drive business growth.

4:30pm-
6:30pm
Career Mobility

The Knowledge House: Transitioning to Tech

The Knowledge House

Join us for an engaging info session to learn about The Knowledge House’s new Cybersecurity Program launching in DC! This session will cover program details, including curriculum, career pathways, and application steps. Whether you’re interested in cybersecurity fundamentals or advanced skills, this program offers a pathway into a high-demand field.

4:30pm-
6:30pm
Entrepreneurship

Founder's Spotlight Powered by AWS & Silicon Valley Bank

AWS & Silicon Valley Bank

A speed-dating-style event designed for founders actively raising capital. Engage directly with potential VCs, share your vision, and explore investment opportunities to scale your startup.

4:00pm-
6:00pm
Career Mobility

Speed Mentoring Social Powered by Amazon BEN DMV

Amazon BEN DMV

Connect with seasoned professionals at Amazon's Black Employee Network (BEN DMV). This social is your chance to gain career advice, make connections, and explore opportunities with a leading tech company.

6:00pm
Event

U Street Takeover Powered by Great Energy Group

Techsgiving is taking over U Street, transforming it into a vibrant hub of innovation, culture, and community connection! Partnering with organizations like Blacks in Tech DC, Flynanced, Black Product Managers, Them2us, Black in HR, Stem Social, Baddies in Tech and more!

9:00am-
9:30am
Entrepreneurship

Keynote: Bootstrap to $1 Billion

Delali Dzirasa
CEO, Fearless

Explore Delali's journey from bootstrapped beginnings to billion-dollar success. Learn key strategies, pivotal decisions, and essential principles that drove exponential growth at Fearless.

9:15am-
9:45am
Entrepreneurship

From Startup to Scale: Building a High-Performing Tech Team

Rachel Koretsky, Ximena Hartsock, Chris Tonjes, Sali Hama

9:30am-
10:00am
Innovation

Finding Purpose Through Service: The Techsgiving Origin Story

Ayo Duyile, Femi Adebayo, Nafisa Rawji, Arianny Mercedes
Co-founders - Techsgiving, Founder & Principal Career Consultant - Revamped

Celebrate five years of Techsgiving and learn about how tech professionals can leverage their skills to serve others.

10:00am-
10:30am
Entrepreneurship

Dream Big, Build Smart: The Art of Scaling Creative Ventures

Rashan Brown
Founder, Poetry Me, Please

This workshop is designed to empower creators, entrepreneurs, and product-focused innovators who want to transform their passion projects into sustainable, profitable ventures.

10:15am-
10:45am
Career Mobility

From Execution to Vision: A Playbook for Rising Tech Leaders

Al Lundy, Derrick Plummer, Christopher Gray, Erin Horne McKinney, Rachel Spivey
Senior Director - Indeed, Director Corporate Communications - Intuit, Co-founder - Path, National Executive Director, Howard University & PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship

Master the transition from hands-on executor to strategic leader. Develop essential skills for managing teams, owning projects, and driving organizational vision while building effective leadership capabilities.

10:45am-
11:15am
Entrepreneurship

Introduction to Product Strategy

Bianca Phillip
Investment Associate & Founding Member, Zeal Capital Partners

Refine your product marketing strategy to attract both customers and investors.

11:00am-
11:30am
Career Mobility

The Unspoken Tools of Career Acceleration: Advocacy, Advisory and Anecdotes

Keita Young, Muta Mashack, Robert J. Hubbard, Willie Henry, Justin Harrison
VP, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - FanDuel, Senior Manager Global Engagement & Inclusion - Tenable, Director For Management, Office of the Chief Engineer - NASA, Director of Diversity Talent Acquisition - Workday

Understand the power of strategic relationships through advocacy, advisory roles, and storytelling. Learn to facilitate conversations that accelerate Senior-level career growth.

11:30am-
12:00pm
Innovation

AI Fostering Digital Trust

Shadè Alcine
Client Relationship Manager, HUMAN

Enhance security, build digital trust, and drive innovation with AI strategies designed to empower cybersecurity and IT leaders in safeguarding systems.

11:45am-
12:15pm
Entrepreneurship

The Flywheel of the Entrepreneur, the VC, and the Consumer

Donald Boone, Victor Lugo, Charlotte Newman, Lee Moulton, Denise Dagadu
Founder - BoxedUp, Chief Product Officer - Status Pro, Global Head of Underrepresented Founder Startup - AWS, Head of US ECOMM Partnerships - Google, Strategic Partnerships Manager - Google

Unlock relationship between entrepreneurs, venture capital, and consumer markets. Understand investor priorities, business operations, and customer satisfaction while mastering a continuous growth cycle.

12:15pm-
12:45pm
Career Mobility

Personal Branding for Engineers: Standing out in a Crowded Market

Shae Lyda
Cloud Engineer

Discover strategies to create a unique professional identity, helping engineers differentiate themselves and make a memorable impact in today's competitive market.

12:30pm-
1:00pm
Innovation

Navigating Tech Innovation, Equitability and Inclusivity in Times of Uncertainty

Laura Silva, Jared McClain, Eric Brown Jr., Yannick Jones, Vanessa Mbonu
VP, Senior Inclusive Design Lead - Bank of America, General Manager, Head of Delivery - Artium AI, ELVTE Coaching and Consulting, Product Manager - Snap Inc., VP of Marketing, NAACP

Explore approaches to drive AI innovation while prioritizing equity and inclusivity.

1:00pm-
1:45pm
Government Tech

GovTech: Where Your Tech Skills Meet Public Impact

Ron Jones, Dr. Cynthia Sutherland, Mia Jordan, Yohan Gipson
CEO - G2Xchange, U.S. Lead (Security Assurance) – AWS, Digital Transformation Executive/Industry Advisor – Salesforce, Director, Contracts – Chenega

Explore how tech professionals can build meaningful careers in government, driving innovation while serving and strengthening communities.

1:15pm-
1:45pm
Innovation

The Role of AI in Optimizing Cloud Operations

Dr. Benjamin Harvey, Leander Howard II, Chida Sadayappan
Founder & CEO - AI Squared, Co-founder - WriteSea, Managing Director, Engineering - Deloitte

Discover how AI is transforming cloud operations, from enhancing efficiency to addressing key challenges faced by enterprises and consumers.

1:45pm-
2:15pm
Government Tech

Introduction to Business Analysis

Brie G
Business Analyst Tech Career Consultant, Shields Consulting

Master essential Business Analyst skills and tools, build a compelling resume, and create a clear roadmap for a successful tech career.

2:00pm-
2:30pm
Government Tech

Tech Empowering Government: Solving Citizens’ Needs Through Innovation

Dr. Alison Perez, Jylinda Johnson, Azocha Nkobena, Ebony Kizzee, David Miller, Lauren Kelly
Lockheed Martin Ventures, VP & General Manager - GDIT, Managing Director - AFS, Senior Product Operations Manager - AXON, CTO- FBI

Listen to industry leaders from Lockheed Martin Ventures and GDIT to explore how technology transforms government operations and improves public service delivery.

2:30pm-
3:00pm
Career Mobility

You Made it Into the 3% of Black Designers, Now What?: A Conversation in Mastering Your Craft and Shaping the Future of UX

Bri-Anna Lewis, Monique Jenkins, Kira Taylor, Kellie Porter
Founder - Opportune Interactive, CEO - Creative Circle Collective Company, Copywriter - Opportune Design Co., UX Designer - IBM

Advance your design career and amplify your voice in an industry where only 3% of designers are Black. Learn how to harness your perspective, build resilience, and create impactful opportunities in UX, Content, and Visual Design, with insights on honing skills, boosting influence, and navigating career growth.

2:45pm-
3:15pm
Government Tech

Winning Strategies for Contractors in the Government Marketplace

Katie Leonard, Gil Dussek, Tyrome Smith
Director of Operations - Simple Technologies, Chief Executive Officer - Gunnison Consulting Group, Inc.

Master the art of developing technical solutions and contracts for government clients. Learn to navigate procurement processes and position your offerings for success in the public sector.

3:15pm-
3:45pm
Career Mobility

Sales at the Interview

Shelton Banks
Re:Work Training

Learn how to approach interviews like a sales process; confidently presenting your skills and value effectively.

4:00pm-
4:30pm
Career Mobility

Black in HR Presents: Navigating Layoffs

Sam Bankole, Dr. Arnicia Arrington, Adrienne Mitchell, Kim Blue, Prathan Powell, Ciera Parks
Senior Manager, Staffing & Operations - Amazon, EVP, People Operations & Culture - Ebony Media, Senior People Ops Partner - DuckDuckGo, Board Member - The Black in HR, Executive Board Member - The Black in HR, HR Educator - The Black in HR

Equip yourself with strategies for managing layoffs, fostering resilience, and navigating career transitions

4:15pm-
5:00pm
Entrepreneurship

Pitch Competition [Finals]

Watch the finalists from the HBCU Pitch Competition LIVE on the Mainstage.

9:00pm
Event

Techsgiving 5 Year Anniversary: An All Black Affair powered by Litty in The City

Vue Rooftop
515 15th St NW

Celebrate five years of Techsgiving with the ultimate anniversary after party.

10am
Event

Day of Giving: In Partnership with Anacostia BID & NAACP

Join Techsgiving, Anacostia BID, and the NAACP for a community art day, giving back through art and creativity.

1pm
Event

Farewell Brunch & Day Party

Park at The 14th
920 14th St NW

Closing out Summit weekend the only way we know how!

Meet our speakers

Your favorites are pulling up for workshops, panels, and lightning talks. Don't miss out!
Christopher Gray
Co-founder
Path
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Derrick Plummer
Director, Corporate Communications
Intuit
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Deirra Footman
Security Consulting Engineer
CCIE BY 30
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Emmanuel Ademuwagun
Engineering Manager
Meta
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Laura Silva
VP, Senior Inclusive UX Design Lead
Bank of America
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Taiwo Ade
UX Researcher
Etsy
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