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Darden DC Tech Connect 2024

The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology hosted the Second Annual Darden DC Tech Connect on Friday 25 October 2024 at Darden’s Sands Family Grounds in Rosslyn, Virginia. The event encompassed a series of tech company visits, speaker panels covering a range of sub-industries in tech and a reception for students, alumni and other members of DC’s tech and VC communities. The day long event was held in collaboration with the Darden Technology Club and the Darden Career Center.

AGENDA

7 a.m. Buses depart from Darden in Charlottesville

10 a.m. - Noon Morning visits to tech companies

Noon - 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. Keynote Presentation by Marty Weiner, former CTO, Reddit

1 p.m. AI/Tech for Good Panel moderated by Mike Lenox, University Professor and Tayloe Murphy Professor of Business Administration, UVA Darden. Panelists include: Jamie Jones Miller, CEO and Regional Dean, Northeastern University; Marty Weiner, former CTO, Reddit and Nick Stablein, VP of Partnerships, Cleveland Avenue.

1:45 p.m. GovTech Panel moderated by Meg Vorland, Managing Partner, Dcode Capital. Panelists include: Patrick McCreesh, CEO/Founder, Sematree; Tonio DeSorrento, CEO/Founder, GovPort; and Matt Chong, VP Federal, Qualtrics.

2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 - 3:30 p.m. FinTech Panel moderated by Dana Warren, Managing Partner, Canaan. Panelists include: Eglae Recchia, Chief Product Officer, Berkadia; and Greg Cooper, Head of FCRM Advisory, Deputy BSA and Sanctions Officer, The Bancorp.

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Health Care Panel moderated by Dennie Kim, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, UVA Darden. Panelists include: Hyder Chowdhry, Humana AI; Jonathan Dengel, CIO, University of Michigan Health Plan; and Anna Maria Anthony, Customer Success, Athena Health.

4:30 p.m. Registration for Reception

5 - 7 p.m.  Networking Reception with closing remarks by Greg Fairchild, Dean and CEO of UVA | Northern Virginia

7 p.m. Buses Depart for Return to Darden


SPEAKER BIOS [PDF]

Inaugural Darden DC Tech Event: 2023

The first annual Darden DC Tech Connect was held on 13 October 2023 in the DC Metro area. The day long event, incorporating company visits, panels and a networking reception, was organized by Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology in collaboration with the Darden Technology Club and the Darden Career Center.
 

Read the Darden Report Event Summary

Read the Darden Career Center Blog Post


SESSIONS AND TOPICS 

10 a.m. Company Visits to Amazon and Microsoft's DC Metro HQs
Ever wondered what it actually looks like to work at a global tech company? This opportunity for Darden students to visit either Microsoft or Amazon at their DC Metro HQs will include a roughly 90-minute visit including a tour of the facilities and an informal, informational alumni panel. NOTE: Due to space constraints, visits are capped at 75 attendees across the two companies; pre-registration and confirmation is required to attend.


12:45 p.m. Keynote with Conor Sibley, CTO of Association Analytics & MBA '06 (moderated by Omar Garriott, The Batten Institute)
This fireside conversation will broadly explore tech from the perspective of a founder, investor & CTO, utilizing interactive tools to spur discussion around career navigation and new ways of work.


1:30 p.m. Future of Tech Panel (moderated by Professor Michael Lenox)
This session will discuss hot topics in tech, namely the advancements in and applications of generative AI, from the perspective of alumni both building and investing in the field.  

Featured speakers: Fareed Melhem (MBA '10), Medidata Solutions, Megan Vorland (MBA '16), Dcode and Dcode Capital, and Jake Castillo (MBA '22), C3 AI

2:15 p.m. Navigating Tech Careers Panel (moderated by Anna Fife (MBA '14, The Batten Institute))
This session will reflect on the career path options from startup to established firms from the viewpoint of alums who have successfully done both.  

Featured speakers: Angelica Alam (MBA '14), Meta and Audrey Goldman (MBA '14), Google

3:00 p.m. Tech Pathways 101 Panel & Workshop (co-moderated by Emily Gruzdowich (MBA '23) and Omar Garriott)
This session will dive deep into the various functions and teams available for MBAs interested in tech, gathering a diverse range of alum experiences across product and business roles.

Featured speakers: Tom Connor (MBA '22), Google; Lexy Smith (MBA '20), Dell; Kyle Galle (MBA '16), Adobe; Alyssa Apolonio (MBA '17), Google; Paloma Bengoechea (MBA '18), Adobe; Sam Kramer (MBA '18), OpenGov; Natalie Dudhat (MBA '20), Workday; and Ben Leiner (MBA '19), SmartNews.


4:00 p.m. Networking Happy Hour 
Alumni from the DC area are invited to network and mingle in a semi-structured rooftop happy hour. This will be an opportunity for current MBAs to forge connections with Darden’s engaged alumni base, and get insider info on how they navigated tech at and after Darden. Interim Dean Jeanne Liedtka will drop by to share Darden updates and connect with attendees.