The IEEE Women in Engineering organization, the University of Georgia College of Engineering, AT&T and other corporate and academic sponsors are teaming up to launch a new, ground-breaking leadership development event:  The IEEE-WIE Global Women in STEM

Leadership Summit. Designed exclusively for women currently in, or pursuing, a career in STEM the Summit will provide a unique opportunity to learn, share and network with innovators and leaders from around the world.

Registration is still open for the Summit, which will take place at The Loews Hotel, Atlanta-Midtown on November 2-4, 2016.  The conference will bring together technology executives, educators, entrepreneurs and students from some of the most influential companies and institutions across the U.S. for two full days of learning, sharing and personal growth.

Over 60 speakers – from organizations including AT&T, Clemson University, CNN, Coca-Cola, UGA, Georgia Tech, Honeywell, NewsCorp, and Morehouse School of Medicine – will share their experience and expertise on a range of topics including career advancement, innovation, financial health, effective communication, leadership, entrepreneurship and STEM advocacy.  This year's Summit theme is focused on designing the future – it encourages women to realize their full potential, deepen their impact on their communities, and work together to level the playing field for women in STEM globally.

While women make up nearly half the U.S. workforce, they are under-represented in science and engineering occupations.  According to the NSF, only 13 percent of engineers are women and only 25 percent of professionals in computer and mathematical sciences are women.  "Our goal is to give women in STEM access to powerful tools, strategies and networks to help them realize their full potential and shatter the glass ceiling in traditionally male dominated fields," said Takoi Hamrita, Summit organizer and Southeast Coordinator for WIE, and inaugural chair of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Georgia College of Engineering. 

"This is a very powerful platform for women in STEM in the Southeast and around the globe and we are honoured and excited to be a part of it," said Jennifer Van Buskirk, President, AT&T Northeast Region.

The IEEE-WIE Global Women in STEM Leadership Summit promises to be the largest conference in the Southeast focused on women, STEM and professional development, with over 40 sessions for all career paths and stages including:

• Keynotes from Jennifer Van Buskirk, President, AT&T Northeast Region; Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine; Parisa Khosravi, former SVP, CNN Worldwide; Alicia Philipp, President, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; Jill S. Tietjen, Past President, Society of Women Engineers; Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of priceline.com; Rachel Schutt, SVP and Senior Chief Data Scientist, News Corp; Takoi Hamrita, Summit Chair.

• Plenary and break out speeches, workshops, panel and round table discussions, fireside chats and mentoring and networking sessions all centered on empowerment and leadership development.

• Detailed agenda for the summit program can be found at http://www.wielead.org/summit-agenda/.

To register for the Women in STEM Global Leadership Summit, companies and individuals should visit http://www.wielead.org.  Registration ends October 25.  For questions about the summit, contact the summit chair, Takoi Hamrita at [email protected]