WiBD Global Connect - July 2025
In our July 2025 issue, we cover:
Celebrating Women in Big Data's 10-Year Anniversary
To celebrate Women in Big Data’s 10th anniversary, we're launching a global series of events highlighting the latest innovations in data and AI. Whether you're just getting started or leading the way, you'll find inspiration, insights, and a vibrant community. Join us around the world for tech talks, panels, recruiting opportunities, speed mentoring, hackathons, and more! Register now.
2025 Mentoring Matters Program Participants provide excellent CSAT feedback
Deborah Sgro, Program Director
Despite the busy summer months, 82 mentees and 53 mentors are actively participating in our 2025 Session 2 Mentoring Matters program. Now at the halfway point of this 12-week session, participants are making strong progress. Early feedback is positive — 43 participants (32%) completed the first survey, giving the program an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. Participants appreciate the program’s structure and impact. One noted, “I really like how intentional and structured it is.” Another shared, “It’s an opportunity to speak to someone already in the work field.” A mentor added, “I value the chance to connect meaningfully, and the flexibility to tailor mentoring based on each mentee’s goals makes it both impactful and personal.” Exciting milestone: 13 participants have already completed the requirements to earn a certificate of completion. Our next session runs from October to December 2025, and we’ve already received over 80 mentee inquiries. If you’re interested in mentoring, please share contact details info and we’ll follow up with details.
We’re excited to welcome Kate Vyshydkevich as a Featured Mentor in Women in Big Data’s Global Mentoring Initiative. Since our launch in 2022, Kate has served as a mentor in 9 out of 11 sessions — a remarkable level of commitment. Her mentees consistently praise her for the guidance, insight, and encouragement she provides. Thank you, Kate, for the dedication and meaningful impact you continue to have on those you mentor.
And there’s more: as we look ahead, WiBD’s Global Mentoring Initiative has formed a task force to reflect on past programs. Erika Lunceford, Ralitza Soultanova, Jody Porrazzo, and Marina Alekseeva have joined me in reviewing feedback from participants in the 2022–2024 mentoring sessions. The goal is to understand how mentoring has supported career growth and skill development for both mentees and mentors. These insights will inform thoughtful recommendations to strengthen and evolve future programs. The task force will submit its final report to the Board in September 2025. Stay tuned for updates — and a big thank-you to the team for leading this important work.
Featuring our Top DataCamp Donate Learners for the Month
Srabasti Banerjee, Program Director
Meet our top ten DataCamp Donate learners for the month.
Congratulations to our learners who completed their certifications.
Thank you, Shuyu Chen, for your inspiring testimonial and for creating a wonderful video wonderful video to share your story! And thank you, Ng Xin Yie and Ellen Lee, for your powerful and thoughtful words. We're thrilled to see how the program is supporting your education and career growth.
Announcing the Women in Big Data PRC Chapter
We’re proud to announce the launch of the Women in Big Data PRC Chapter, led by Yifei He. This new chapter embodies our commitment to inclusion, responsibility, and innovation by empowering women to use emerging technologies—especially AI—effectively and ethically for broad socio-economic impact. In partnership with government, academia, civil society, and industry, PRC WiBD is developing programs that demystify and democratize AI, build digital skills and mindsets among non-technical women, and advance global goals like closing the skills gap. By promoting responsible tech use, female leadership, and shared-value collaboration, WiBD PRC is driving meaningful change in China and beyond.
Welcome our new Women in Big Data Israel Chapter Co-Directors
We’re thrilled to welcome our new co-directors for the Women in Big Data Israel chapter: Ada Sharoni, Carmit Cohen, Geffen Fridman! They bring a powerful combination of passion, energy, and expertise to our community, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
WiBD Berlin Interview with Mevyar Palaniappan
WiBD Berlin Interview with Meyyar Palaniappan. In this inspiring interview, Meyyar Palaniappan, cloud expert, speaker, and Director of Women in Big Data Munich—shares her journey from a machine learning student at the Technical University of Munich to a community leader fostering diversity and inclusion in tech. She reflects on the ongoing challenges women face in the industry, from representation gaps and workplace bias to the importance of visible role models. Yet she remains optimistic, pointing to rising opportunities in AI and cloud, and the power of community to drive meaningful change. Through her leadership of Women in Big Data Munich and the AWS Women’s User Group, Meyyar has built ecosystems that turn learners into leaders, emphasizing curiosity, community, and problem-solving over perfection. For her, data isn’t just a technical tool—it’s a catalyst for empowerment and systemic progress. Full interview available here.
WiBD Volunteer Spotlight: Divya Somasundara has been an outstanding partner on the WiBD AI for Healthcare initiative, bringing invaluable expertise in marketing and outreach. As part of the global pilot team, she has helped shape strategy, identify key audiences, and guide the team with focus and insight. Her dedication, positive energy, and passion for volunteering have made a lasting impact, turning each step into both a collaborative and learning experience. We’re grateful for her contributions and excited to continue this journey with her.
Events Around the Globe
Netlight Munich Hosts Hands-On AI Event with Interactive Learning Stations, Creative Rooms
On the evening of July 3rd, Netlight Munich came alive with an incredible gathering of women and non-binary folks in tech. The energy was electric—full of meaningful conversations, authentic storytelling, and creative collaboration. Anna Kikesheva sparked deep dialogue on intersectionality, while panelists shared raw, relatable stories about navigating Big Data and GenAI. Attendees explored hands-on learning stations, from AI trends and branding workshops to roundtables and trivia that actually taught us something. Most powerful of all was the sense of community—strangers became collaborators, mentors met mentees, and real friendships formed. Big thanks to the Netlight CodePub team, especially Judith Kratzer and crew, for making the night unforgettable. Full report here.
SAP Labs Campus Munich hosts Sustainability in Cloud & Data Event, in collaboration with AWS
Smiles, meaningful conversations, and a strong sense of community filled the SAP Labs Campus Munich during our latest Women in Big Data Munich event, hosted in collaboration with AWS and SAP. Centered around Sustainability in Cloud & Data, the evening featured inspiring insights from Georgina Gallizo, Nahia Orduña, Jacqueline Lyra, and was expertly moderated by Rosemary Ismalou. From discussions on green tech to a sneak peek at the SAP Experience Center, the event was both eye-opening and energizing. Huge thanks to all our speakers, partners, and community members for making it a truly impactful evening! More here.
WiBD NRW Data Date puts on Spotlight on Data Quality
At our latest WiBD NRW – Data Date, we put the spotlight on a topic that can make or break any project: data quality. The session was hosted by our amazing core team member, Ann-Katrin, who brought her sharp tech perspective and passion for community-building to the conversation. We shared honest (and sometimes hilarious) stories, tackled real-life challenges, and exchanged valuable lessons from the field. The space was open to everyone—regardless of background—and it was inspiring to see such a diverse group come together to learn, laugh, and grow. Thanks to all who joined us and made it such a dynamic, insightful session!
WiBD Poland hosts its First Virtual Speed Mentoring Session
On June 26th, Women in Big Data Poland hosted its first-ever virtual speed mentoring session—a powerful 2-hour event connecting mentees with experienced mentors from across the Big Data, AI, and Data Science fields. The session opened with a dynamic panel tackling key career questions, from skill-building to future industry trends. This was followed by personalized 1:1 mentoring rotations, where each mentee met with three mentors for targeted guidance on career pivots, personal branding, and breaking into tech. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the mentors’ openness and practical advice. A huge thank-you to our dedicated mentors and engaged mentees for making this inaugural event such a success! More here.
Women in Big Data Bay Area hosts "Mastering the Job Search" Event
What an incredible time we had at the “Mastering the Job Search” event on June 26 with Women in Big Data Bay Area. This virtual session was packed with practical insights, from resume tips that help you stand out to candid advice on acing interviews. Special shout-out to our fantastic speakers: Marilena Niovie Stavrides, PhD, who gave us a refreshing, honest take from the hiring manager’s seat, and Ray Thomas, a seasoned tech recruiter who broke down what it really takes to get noticed. Their advice was gold, and we hope everyone left feeling more confident and empowered in their career journey. We're so grateful to have such an engaged and supportive community. More here.
WiBD Online Session Highlights Purpose, Reflection, and Consistency
In our WiBD Online session on July 16, Dr. Jessica Brown delivered an inspiring reset on how to approach goals—with clarity, focus, and intention. Drawing from the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) method, she encouraged us to move beyond vague resolutions and instead aim for measurable, aspirational goals that truly stretch and motivate us. We explored common goal-setting pitfalls, like trying to do too much or lacking accountability, and learned practical tips to stay aligned with what matters most. A powerful reminder that meaningful progress starts with purpose, reflection, and consistent action. Blog post here.
WiBD Bay Area Hosts Vibe Coding Workshop
Women in Big Data Bay Area hosted a fun and hands-on “Vibe Coding Workshop” on July 11, where participants explored how to harness AI to build code faster and more efficiently. The session uncovered the buzz around vibe coding and introduced tools like Cursor and Replit, giving attendees a chance to experiment, learn, and create in real time. It was an engaging event filled with curiosity, collaboration, and a whole lot of coding energy!
Join the WiBD Community
Join WiBD Company WiBD LinkedIn Company
Join WiBD LinkedIn Group Forum
Add WiBD to your LinkedIn profile
Sign up for your local Meetup.