Breaking Into Startups: Diverse Women Building the Future of Tech

​Join us for an engaging and insightful panel featuring diverse women building and navigating careers in the startup and tech ecosystem.

​This session will explore real experiences, challenges, and opportunities in breaking into startups, growing in tech roles, and building innovative ventures.

​Whether you’re a student, early professional, or someone looking to transition into tech, this conversation will provide practical insights, inspiration, and meaningful connections.

Come ready to learn, ask questions, and connect with a community shaping the future of tech.

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Speakers

Dora Cheng is the Co-Founder and Head of Operations at uForis, a 3D rendering studio serving multifamily real estate developers across North America. She brings over 10 years of experience building operational systems and scaling teams from the ground up. Prior to uForis, Dora was a Development Director at Electronic Arts Canada, where she worked on the FIFA franchise. She also runs a fractional production practice, helping startups build operational clarity and execute complex projects effectively. Dora holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo.

Guita Yazdani is the founder of Campertunity, often described as Airbnb for camping, which grew to become the world’s largest inventory of campsites. She built and scaled the company, assembled a stellar team, and led the business through a partial exit. Guita is also a founding member of WAKE Collective, a community supporting and connecting women entrepreneurs. A graduate of Simon Fraser University, she is passionate about community building and volunteering.

Jamie Burke is a brand + content marketer who's made it her life's work to combine her love of real estate with her love of marketing. She runs a real estate marketing agency, Burke By Burke, with her husband/business partner Eddie. She is also a freelance writer, having contributed to various publications including Realtor.ca, The Georgia Straight, Real Estate Magazine, SAD Mag, Spacing, and This Magazine. In her "spare time", you can find her watching a film, advocating for human rights, cooking up a new recipe, enjoying a pro-wrestling show, crocheting, going for walks around the city with Eddie, cuddling their cat Noodle, or simply reading a book at home in her armchair with a cup of Barry's tea.

Moderator
Ciatta Mai Wiles volunteers as Director for Events and Corporate Sponsorships at Tech2Step Canada. With a bachelor's in civil engineering, she recently completed an MBA at University Canada West and is preparing for the CAPM certification to strengthen her formal project management foundation.