Second Annual Women in Tech Summit Showcases Michigan's Female Tech Trailblazers
MSU Research Foundation event featured keynote speeches, panel discussion, and networking opportunities, while emphasizing tech trends, diversity, startup success factors, ethical technology deployment, and adapting to the future of work.
EAST LANSING, MI — The Michigan State University Research Foundation hosted its second annual Women in Tech Summit, held on March 13, 2024, at the MSUFCU community room in East Lansing. This half-day event gathered more than 70 industry leaders, innovators, and professionals to celebrate the significant contributions of women in driving innovation and shaping the future of technology in Michigan.
The event began with opening remarks from David Washburn, Executive Director of the MSU Research Foundation. He emphasized the significant role of female innovator and Lansing native, Loretta VanCamp, whose contribution to the discovery of Cisplatin/Carboplatin has saved millions of lives and enabled the Foundation’s initiatives over the past 50 years. As a tribute to her enduring legacy, the Foundation has named its wet lab incubator facility in East Lansing the VanCamp Incubator in 2019.
“Loretta wanted to help people and her work at Michigan State had a bigger impact than she could have possibly imagined,” said Washburn. “Her work led to one of the most impactful cancer therapeutics that is very much still in use today.”
Jaime Dibean, Managing Director of Business Planning at AF Group, delivered a keynote presentation titled “Empowering Innovation: Women Leading the Tech Revolution.” She inspired the audience with insights into her journey as a trailblazing woman from the “dot-com boom” into the insurance industry. Dibean emphasized the importance of resilience, paying it forward, and embracing failures as opportunities for growth. She expressed her enthusiasm for being part of the summit, praising the collaborative spirit and thought-provoking discussions it fostered.
"What an honor to have presented to this group,” said Dibean. “It’s a testament to the MSU Research Foundation that they recognize the value of women and their contributions to Technology. I loved the nature of the conversation, which recognized our collective strength as women, but primarily talked about leadership, innovation, startups, execution management, and trends in technology."
The panel discussion showcased a diverse range of expertise, featuring industry leaders Doris Blaisdell, Director Engineering at TechSmith, Patti Glaza, EVP & Managing Director at Invest Detroit Ventures, Tanya Hart, Founder & CEO at Titan Bioplastics, and Dr. Amber Pearson, Associate Professor in the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, at Michigan State University, moderated by Tuka Alhanai, Founder of Ghamut and Assistant Professor at New York University.
The discussion explored topics ranging from emerging technologies to workforce diversity, including ethical considerations and the future of work. Panelists shared their insights on overcoming challenges and shaping the future of the tech industry from various perspectives—founder, investor, and university researcher. The discussion concluded with each sharing “one word advice” they would give to their younger selves, such as “values” (work at a place that aligns with your values), “fearless” (go out prepared to conquer), and “help” (remember to seek help when needed and lift others up when possible).
"Our goal was to showcase the strength of women’s leadership in tech while crafting an engaging atmosphere through thoughtful placemaking," said Anum Mughal, Program Manager of Placemaking at the MSU Research Foundation. "Every detail, from the talented MSU violinist who welcomed guests into the space, to the captivating keynote speeches and dynamic panel discussions, contributed to the success of this event, resulting in strong connections among attendees."
The summit concluded with a networking lunch, providing attendees with an opportunity to forge new connections, exchange ideas, and collaborate with other professionals.
Five Key Takeaways from the Women in Tech Summit:
Tech Trends and Innovation: The future holds promise for advancement in the use of AI in workflows, the development of recycled and bioplastic materials for manufacturing and packaging, and the integration of wearable technologies for environmental monitoring.
Diversity and Collaboration: Diverse perspectives in problem-solving and decision-making processes will become even more important, requiring the creation of inclusive environments where diverse voices are heard. Global collaboration will drive future innovation.
Startup Success Factors: A founder’s belief in their own vision, the necessity of commercial scalability for innovations, and the importance of fostering strong relationships with investors, are all critical to startup growth.
Ethical Technology Deployment: Ethical considerations surrounding technology deployment must be addressed, including transparency with users regarding data usage and a critical examination of potential misuses of technology beyond its intended purpose.
Adapting to the Future of Work: Remote and hybrid work models will continue to evolve, requiring technology for improved information accessibility, both structured and informal interactions, and addressing the ongoing challenge of building relationships and fostering creativity in virtual environments.
The next Women in Tech Summit will be held on March 19, 2025. If you have speaker or topic suggestions for the next Summit, contact Anum at anum@msufoundation.org. For information about other upcoming events hosted by the MSU Research Foundation, visit msufoundation.org/events.
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About the Michigan State University Research Foundation
The Michigan State University Research Foundation was established in 1973 as an independent nonprofit committed to the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies invented by MSU faculty, staff, and students. Today, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on enhancing research, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, and facilitating economic growth at MSU and across the state through its subsidiary organizations—Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, and Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III—and its Research Parks. Learn more at msufoundation.org