Advancements in Industry Track

The Advancements in Industry Track will take place at IMECE on Tuesday, November 19, and Wednesday, November 20. Each scheduled Advancements in Industry Technical Session will begin with one of the panels listed below:

Are you curious about exploring alternative career paths in tech but unsure where to begin? Do you want to leverage your transferable skills to pivot into a career that aligns with your passions and values? Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring individuals who have forged their own paths in data and AI. Hear their unique stories of bringing their whole selves to their careers as women of color, mothers, and immigrants. Learn how they navigated challenges like visa issues, layoffs, and imposter syndrome to achieve success in emerging tech. Gain practical advice and inspiration to unlock your full potential and emerge energized for your next career adventure.

Through their experiences, you'll learn how to:

• Strategize a personalized action plan: Discover how to create a tailored plan that leverages your unique identity, strengths, and weaknesses to advance your career. Learn how to set achievable goals, identify opportunities for growth, and develop a roadmap for success.


• Highlight transferable skills: Understand how to showcase your transferable skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and leadership, to make your resume and career profile stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. Learn how to articulate your value proposition and demonstrate your versatility.


• Leverage resources: Learn how to utilize resources to stretch, learn, and develop new skills, build a network, and cultivate a growth mindset. Discover how to access mentorship, training, and community support to help you navigate challenges and achieve your goals.

Our panelists will share their stories of:

• Teaching themselves to code: Hear how our panelists learned to code, overcame obstacles, and built confidence in their technical abilities. Learn from their experiences and gain insights into the resources and support that helped them succeed.


• Building confidence in negotiation: Discover how our panelists developed the skills and confidence to negotiate effectively, whether it's for a new role, a raise, or a promotion. Learn how to advocate for yourself and your worth.


• Pivoting to AI roles: Learn from our panelists' experiences of transitioning to new roles, navigating challenges like visa issues or layoffs, and finding opportunities for growth. Gain insights into the strategies and mindset shifts that helped them succeed.


• Celebrating failure and learning from mistakes: Hear how our panelists embraced failure as a learning opportunity, reframed setbacks as stepping stones, and developed resilience in the face of challenges. Learn how to cultivate a growth mindset and bounce back from adversity.

Join us to unlock your full potential and discover how to:

• Embrace your unique strengths and experiences to stand out in the tech industry
• Build a supportive network and community to help you navigate challenges and celebrate successes
• Develop a growth mindset and resilience to thrive in emerging tech

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from women who have paved their own paths in tech and learn how to do the same!!

Stepping into your first job after school is a big transition. This dynamic panel is here to supercharge your journey, offering students, early career engineers, and anyone eager to navigate the professional world, with actionable advice and insider tips on making the leap from academia to industry.

What you will hear about:

• Market Your Skills: Learn how to showcase your research talents in the corporate arena.
• Network Like a Pro: Build connections that will propel your career forward.
• Ace the Interview: Get expert advice on interviewing and negotiating.
• Seamless Transition: Master the shift from academic life to the bustling industry environment.

Meet the Experts: Our panel has seasoned industry professionals with graduate experience, hailing from large corporations, innovative start-ups, and prestigious national labs. They’re ready to share their personal stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical tips from their career journeys.

Who Should Attend? This panel is perfect for students, early career engineers, and anyone curious about transitioning from graduate school to the corporate world.

The emergence and growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and industrial implementation has been on the rise for the last few years. Academic institutions have shown an increased focus on AI with new initiatives such as seed grants, hiring new faculty with AI expertise, AI-focused classes and seminars, etc. Industry and government agencies are also gearing toward using AI methodologies and techniques to improve operating and product efficiency. This panel discusses how the Industry and Government Agencies are ramping their efforts to implement AI.

What is discussed:

• AI Implementation in Industry: Learn more about AI implementation in large corporations and small to medium manufacturers.
• What are the prerequisites? Before venturing into implementing AI in the industry, what are the Dos and Don'ts?
• Government agency's roles: How are government agencies helping and coordinating these new challenges? How are academic researchers and industry partners working together toward successful AI implementation in the industry?
• Role of students: What is the industry looking for in new students/intern hires concerning AI skill set?

Meet the Experts: Our panel includes Industry experts from large corporations to small and medium manufacturers and government agency members.

Who Should Attend? This panel is mainly for industry professionals, academic experts, and students interested in AI methodologies and techniques.

This panel focuses on the journey from academic research to successful commercialization, featuring insights from an NSF SBIR Program Manager, startup founders, and industry experts. It will explore the challenges and successes involved in scaling technology, offering attendees a unique look at how ideas move from research labs into the marketplace.

Some topics that will be covered include:

• What were the key challenges your company faced in transitioning from academic research to commercialization?
• How has the SBIR/STTR program contributed to your company's growth and success?
• What advice would you give to academic researchers looking to commercialize their innovations?
• How did you navigate the funding landscape during the early stages of your company?
• What role does collaboration between academia and industry play in your company's success?
• Can you share any lessons learned about scaling technology from a startup perspective?
• What are some of the most rewarding aspects of working at a startup, particularly for engineers?
• How can aspiring entrepreneurs and students prepare for a career in industry or a startup?
• What's missing from the current start-up ecosystem?