Women in AI: The Builder's Playbook
An evening of real lessons from women who are actively building, shaping, and pushing AI projects forward — alongside the communities that support them.
Featuring three speakers, each representing a different stage of the builder’s journey:
Mariia Riabushenko — Product Manager at Deloitte, Creator of “AI with Mariia”
Lana Abdelellah — Consultant in Product Positioning, Founder of LA Strategy
Leigh Mitchell — Business, Marketing & Media Studies, York University & Guelph-Humber
What to expect:
Three speakers. Three stages. Real talk — no fluff.
Talk 1 — Build it
Practical insights from an AI automation product manager on how to manage, ship, and move projects forward in real environments.Talk 2 — Fund it & get loud
How an early-stage founder secured opportunities and ensured the right audience paid attention — from positioning to visibility.Talk 3 — Scale it & own it
How to grow with intention, build credibility, and create long-term impact that actually sticks.
Whether you're a founder, engineer, researcher, or someone who believes representation in tech matters — you’ll leave with something actionable.
Run of show:
6:30 PM — Doors open, networking & food
7:00 PM — Welcome from NovaForge
7:05 PM — Talk 1
7:20 PM — Talk 2
7:35 PM — Break
7:45 PM — Talk 3
8:00 PM — Open mingle (until 9:30 PM)
Food and kombucha on tap throughout the evening.