"Redefine Possible" is a bold declaration that challenges the boundaries of what technology can achieve and reimagines who shapes its future.

We stand at a pivotal moment where AI is transforming our world—bringing unprecedented opportunities but also risking the amplification of gender biases and systemic barriers. As artificial intelligence becomes woven into society, we believe that women are not just participating in its development—they're revolutionizing it, breaking conventions, and expanding the horizons of what technology can and should be.

The future of technology isn't predetermined— it is something we actively shape. What seems impossible today becomes tomorrow’s reality when we dare to challenge it. 

📢 IWD'25 International Women's Day 2025 - Redefine Possible

🗓️ Tuesday, April 29, 2025

🕒 6:00 PM–8:00 PM EST

🌐 Online

🏠 Hosts: GDG Tampa Bay and GDG Capital Region

Agenda:

6:00 - 6:15 | Opening Remarks

🎤 6:15 - 6:35 | Building a PDF Question Answering System with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) - Roya Kandalan, Google Developer Expert, Generative AI Senior Scientist

🎤 6:35 - 6:55 | Building Mobile Applications in the AI Era - Madona Wambua, Founder & CTO at Jibu Labs

🎤 6:55 - 7:15 | Thriving in Chaos – The Power of Self-Possession - Jennifer Sertl, Vice President of Marketing at Circle Optics, Head of Strategic Partnerships at sayhii.io, and Founder of Agility3R

🎤 7:15 - 7:35 | Age of Aquarius - Breaking Gender Barriers in STEM - Kathryn Cartini, Performance Coach at Astro Coach Kate 

🎤 7:35 - 7:55 | Lightning talk: Linda Navarette, Manager - Technology Consulting at EY

7:55 - 8:15 | Closing Remarks & Raffle

Talks and Speakers

🎤 6:15 - 6:35 | Building a PDF Question Answering System with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) - Roya Kandalan, Google Developer Expert, Generative AI Senior Scientist

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is transforming how we extract insights from large documents by combining retrieval-based search with generative AI for more precise, context-aware answers.

This hands-on tutorial walks you through building a PDF Question-Answering System powered by Google Gemini (via Vertex AI) and FAISS for vector-based search. Whether you're working with research papers, legal contracts, or technical manuals, this guide provides a step-by-step framework to implement real-world RAG applications from scratch.

Key Learning Takeaways:

● How to extract, preprocess, and chunk text from PDFs efficiently

● Building a vector search index using FAISS for fast and accurate retrieval

● Leveraging Google Gemini (Vertex AI) to generate precise answers with source citations

● Practical insights into embedding generation, query processing, and RAG implementation for production-ready applications

🎤 6:35 - 6:55 | Building Mobile Applications in the AI Era - Madona Wambua, Founder & CTO at Jibu Labs

Madona, will delve into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the mobile landscape. She'll cover the various ways AI can be seamlessly integrated into your apps – from elevating user interfaces and delivering personalized recommendations to automating tasks and optimizing performance.

We'll examine real-world examples of AI-powered apps that are already changing the game and discuss best practices for ensuring ethical AI use and protecting user data. By the end of this talk, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and inspiration to build the next generation of intelligent mobile apps.

🎤 6:55 - 7:15 | Thriving in Chaos – The Power of Self-Possession: Jennifer Sertl, Vice President of Marketing at Circle Optics, Head of Strategic Partnerships at sayhii.io, and Founder of Agility3R

In increasingly fast-paced and unpredictable environments, the most important leadership skill is not control—but coherence. Thriving in Chaos – The Power of Self-Possession is an invitation to reclaim personal agency, clarity, and presence in times of uncertainty. 

Rather than chasing stability in the external world, this talk emphasizes the internal disciplines that allow individuals to remain grounded, make values-aligned decisions, and sustain well-being while leading through complexity. 

Jennifer Sertl draws from decades of experience working with executives and entrepreneurs to offer a deeply human—and deeply practical—framework for staying centered in a distracted world.

Self-possession is not a posture, but a practice. It requires intentional reflection, discernment about what we consume, and the ability to manage energy as fiercely as we manage time.

At a moment when artificial intelligence, social pressure, and digital overload can easily fracture attention, Jennifer offers insights on how to maintain sovereignty of thought and clarity of action. This program is especially relevant for women navigating leadership, transition, or creative pursuits in high-stakes environments—where the most radical act is to remain rooted in your truth. Through narrative, insight, and emotional resonance, Jennifer creates a space for participants to reconnect with their own sense of purpose and power.

Learning Outcomes:

● Strengthen clarity and coherence in leadership through intentional self-reflection.

● Gain tools to sustain energy, discernment, and presence in complex environments.

● Reconnect with a deeper sense of purpose, voice, and personal agency.

🎤 7:15 - 7:35 | Age of Aquarius - Breaking Gender Barriers in STEM - Kathryn Cartini, Performance Coach at Astro Coach Kate

Pluto is known as the Transformer. Its purpose is to dismantle old ways of thinking, and push people into a new era. Aquarius is seen as the Rebel with a Cause. 

It rules over science, technology and innovation. With Pluto now in Aquarius for the next 20 years, we can expect women to Rise Up as leaders in industries currently dominated by men, specifically in Engineering. 

Power will change hands. Women in STEM will be on the frontlines of AI governance, cyber law, data ethics, and the environmental monitoring of space exploration. 

This responsibility, of course, will not come without challenges. Fighting for equal pay, better maternity policies and more inclusive work environments are also part of Pluto's master plan. 

To prepare for the future, we need to revisit the past. The last time Pluto was in Aquarius, the world experienced the American and French Revolutions (1776-1789). 

Scientific breakthroughs included mass production and urbanization, but this massive change also brought social upheaval as women fought for democracy and gender equality. So what's a gal to do? Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." 

🎤 7:35 - 7:55 | Lightning talk: Linda Navarette, Manager - Technology Consulting at EY