Women of Color STEM DTX Conference Continues to Create Change

In 2023 the Women of Color STEM DTX Conference was celebrating not only the achievements of women in STEM fields but also the 28th year of the event itself opening up opportunities and avenues of growth for women of all ages and experience. The three day event in Detroit, Michigan welcoming thousands of individuals from diverse backgrounds included numerous guest speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions and even an immense job fair.

According to their own website, attending the WOC STEM DTX Conference provides attendees with “a valuable opportunity to network with other professionals in their field and learn from industry experts who have achieved great success. By attending this conference, you can gain insights on the latest trends and advancements in the industry and learn new skills that will set you apart from your competitors. Furthermore, the conference offers the opportunity to share your own experiences, ideas, and best practices with other professionals in your field.”

Built By Girls was lucky enough to attend the Conference this year and was able to sit in on a number of sessions that included several notable speakers including one featuring on the evolving world of Financial Technology featuring the Director of Diversity Equity & Inclusion for the City of Detroit, Christine Burkette and another on women pioneering their own startups with Retired US Air Force Colonel Michelle “G.I.” Gardner-Ince.

Gardner-Ince pulled no punches when discussing the importance of women supporting one another no matter their field of industry and used her own personal experiences to emphasize the importance of leading so others may follow.

“When I became the first female to make Colonel in my specialty I made a commitment to myself. I said I’m going to speak up, pull up, and I’m going to right wrong.” Gardner-Ince continued, “And that righting wrong is the hardest part, speaking up is hard. But you didn’t get there to be the first and only just for you. It’s for the people coming behind you.”

The event itself is an incredible opportunity to not only sit in on these fantastic discussions which included audience Q&A at the end but also a perfect chance to network with other attendees who are experts in their respective fields; including Retired Deputy Director of the NSA Chief of Staff, Cynthia Miller, who was there not to speak but simply listen and be a part of the amazing event that is helping to uplift women and women of color.

“I think we have our own selves holding ourselves back” said Head of Global Data Engineering at Ford Credit, Sumandeep Singh in a panel on FinTech. “We need to just kind of open up and try and so what if I fail in the interview? This is a process, it is a process of learning. You definitely gain something and there is no shame in failure. We can always learn from our successes, but let's try to learn from our failures as well. I think women are the worst judge of themselves and that’s the part that I think we need to shed and move forward…If you can take care of families, you can study, you can take care of your husband, you can take care of your parents, why could you not run a team?”

This positive message of supporting and encouraging one another was a theme throughout the entire three-day event and was highlighted by Dr. Sondia J. Christian, the Director of Business Integration for Ingalls.

“It’s a journey, it’s not a one step process, it’s a journey that you’re going to be on. So why not help one another, lift one another up, advocate for each other and most of all know your worth. Know that you belong in whatever room that God has put you in.”

If you are a woman interested in STEM and are looking for an opportunity to continue your journey of knowledge and expand your network I would highly recommend checking out the Women of Color STEM DTX Conference in 2024.

More to check out:

The Rise of ERGs: Driving Inclusion and Engagement in Fortune 500 Companies

How I Started in STEM with Wicked Saints Studios CEO Jess Murrey

Female Gamers Push the Video Game Industry to Unprecedented Levels