FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 9, 2023
Women Leaders in Data and AI (WLDA) Announces Finalists for 2023 WLDA Awards Gala
Honoring Women, Men, and Companies Making Strides in Data, AI, Inclusion, and Innovation.
Colonia, NJ, USA – Women Leaders in Data and AI (WLDA), an organization supporting women leaders in data and AI for an impactful future, has announced the individual finalists for the 3rd WLDA Awards. The WLDA awards celebrate inspiring individuals and companies who are creating, leading, and demonstrating innovation and inclusion in the fields of data and AI.
WLDA was created to help shine a spotlight on women in the data and AI industry. A recent study by Deloitte demonstrated that women leave the AI field at high rates due to a stalled career and lack of support. WLDA highlights people and companies focused on making a difference across these fields.
“I launched WLDA to create a platform where women leaders in data and AI can prosper and find the support that they need to build an inclusive, scalable world for women and to create space for other women to join them,” said Asha Saxena, Founder & CEO of WLDA.
“Now it’s possible more than ever to lift women and to recognize them, along with their allies, for their work and support,” she added. Along with these incredible women, these awards allow us to celebrate men and corporations who empower and encourage their women colleagues.
The winners will be announced on November 9th in New York City during the WLDA Awards Gala, where we will be celebrating leaders and influencers in technology, data, and AI roles, across industries.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the WLDA Awards Gala, please visit 2023-GALA.
Awards Categories and Finalists:
BEST MOTIVATOR
Frances O’Rafferty – Data Management Manager | Data Modelling Lead, Accenture
Laura Ellis – Vice President, Data Engineering and Platform Analytics, Rapid7
Amanda Obidike – Founder, STEMi Makers of Africa
Rachel Shaffer – Program Manager, Chevron
Kristen Kehrer – Founder, Data Moves Me, LLC
RISING STAR
Kelly Richards – Data Scientist IIl, Lonza Biologics
Mary Sailors – SubChapter Head – Data Science, Chevron
Clare Bolin – Operations Research Analyst PAQ, Department of the Air Force
Natasha Mittal – Software Engineer, DoorDash Inc.
Molly Ruby – Senior Data Scientist, Mars, Incorporated
CHANGEMAKER IN THE FIELD OF AI
Gwyn Russel – Executive Director Data Strategy and Governance, KPMG US
Sherry Comes – Conversational AI & Emerging Tech Leader, PwC US
Ronisha Carter – Artificial Intelligence R&D, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)
Rania Chow – Senior Manager, Enterprise Information Governance, Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG)
CHANGEMAKER IN THE FIELD OF DATA
Rhonika Kaplan – Regional Data Science and Reservoir Characterization Advisor, Chevron
Rashmi Gupta – Partner, Data and Technology Transformation, IBM
AI LEADER OF THE YEAR
Ilana Golbin Blumenfeld – Director, PwC US
Rogayeh Tabrizi – Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Theory+Practice
Fallon Farmer – Principal Data Scientist, FiscalNote
DATA LEADER OF THE YEAR
Rashmi Gupta – Partner, Data and Technology Transformation, IBM
Priya Reddy – Vice President, Enterprise Data Management, Skopos Financial DBA Reprise Financial
Diane Schmidt – Managing Director and Chief Data Officer, US GAO
Barr Moses – Co-Founder & CEO, Monte Carlo
Ghada Richani – Managing Director, Data & Technology Strategy & Project Management Office, Bank of America
Danielle Beringer – Principal, Advisory, KPMG LLP
EXECUTIVE CHAMPION AWARD
Carl Gerber – Audit CDO, KPMG
Sonali Mathur – Global Director, Marketing, Data, Privacy, Operations, General Motors
Sandy Carter – COO, Unstoppable Domains
Maria Nazareth – Partner, Data Analytics, AI and Gen AI Leader for Financial Services, PwC US
WOMAN LEADER OF THE YEAR
Jane Rheem – CDAO, Zurich North America
Dara Meath – SVP, Chief Technology Officer, Build a Bear
ABOUT WLDA
Women Leaders in Data and AI, is a woman-run membership and mastermind circle organization for women leaders in data and AI. Our mission is to bring women together to lead at the forefront of innovation of data and AI to create an impactful future.
The organization supports women leaders and provides one-of-a-kind opportunities to learn from their F1000 industry peers, find tech solutions, and solve tough data challenges while helping them develop personally and professionally.
Our events are designed to provide intimate and confidential, facilitated conversations in platforms where women leaders find support from one another, helping provide the inspiration they may not find elsewhere.
Apply for your exclusive membership now and learn more about us at wlda.tech.
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Contact:
Naz Rasuli
Email: naz.rasuli@wlda.tech
