Women in Data Science Conference 2024

On March 21, 2024, UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science will be hosting its annual Women in Data Science Conference at the UNC Charlotte Marriott with Lowe’s as the title sponsor. This free event features female thought leaders aiming to inspire, educate, and engage current and future data scientists in the Carolinas. Students and recent graduates may attend the career fair during lunch and the evening reception; companies such as Lowe’s, Truist, Honeywell, Wells Fargo, and more will be recruiting for positions in the data science industry. The conference is also appropriately held in March – Women’s History Month.

This year’s featured keynote speaker is Liz O’Sullivan, CEO of Vera. Prior to founding Vera, Liz spent 12 years in NYC startups on the business side of AI companies, managing data operations and many commercial functions along the way. She was a cofounder of Arthur AI, and the first technology director at the NYC civil liberties nonprofit, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP). Liz has advised many local, federal, and international bodies on approaches to regulating AI, including NYC council, Congress, and the United Nations. Most recently, Liz was appointed to be an inaugural member of the United States’ first National AI Advisory Committee, a federal body tasked with advising the US White House and Congress on how to foster AI adoption and regulate its risks.

The conference is spearheaded by the School of Data Science and Madlen Ivanova, Director of Data Science at Lowe’s. Madi also received her Data Science and Business Analytics graduate degree from the School of Data Science and her PhD in Computing and Information Systems from UNC Charlotte. Madi has been a Women in Data Science Ambassador since 2017. Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide creates access to programs, content, and resources that inspire, educate and support women everywhere.