Grace Hopper Celebration India 2024

Hello there!

GHC India 2024 was a whirlwind! I attended GHCi this year as a delegate from Google. So many inspiring talks, workshops, and incredible women in tech. Here's a rundown of the sessions I managed to catch -

Day 1: Thursday, November 21st 💫

Tech for Social Good - AI Industry Use Case Lightning Talks:

Indumathy’s talk on "The Farmer's Time Machine" really stuck with me. She explained how digital twin technology is being used to create virtual models of farms, allowing farmers to simulate different scenarios and optimize their operations for things like irrigation and crop yields. It was fascinating to see how AI can be applied to such a traditional industry.
Priyanka Sebastian, a researcher from Finland gave a talk, "From Imagination to Reality: Tech-Driven Classrooms in a Global Context," which focused on how technology can personalize education and make it more accessible to students around the world, especially Finland and India. She highlighted some innovative examples like AI-powered tutoring systems and virtual reality learning environments.

Innovation Showcase Lounge - Fireside chat | Driving Tech Innovation: The Power of Different Perspectives: Really engaging conversation about how diversity of thought leads to better problem-solving and innovation in tech.

Tech for Social Good - Keynote | Insight To Impact: Shaping Solutions That Drive Meaningful Social Impact: Vidhya Muralidharan from SAP Labs shared examples of how AI and other technologies are being used to tackle issues like poverty, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability.

AI ML and Open-Source - Fireside Chat | Will AI eat the world? : Revolution or Evolution?: They explored the potential benefits of AI, like increased efficiency and automation, but also addressed concerns about job displacement and ethical considerations. They emphasized the need for responsible AI development and the importance of upskilling the workforce to adapt to the changing landscape.

AI ML and Open-Source - Application Use-Case Lightning Talks:

- Indrani Bose, Linkedin: In her talk on "Content Moderation in LinkedIn's Dynamic Ecosystem," she explained how LinkedIn uses AI to filter out harmful or inappropriate content while ensuring that users can still express themselves freely. She discussed the challenges of balancing free speech with safety and the need for AI systems to be fair and unbiased.
- Anu Ravi, Uber: Her talk, "Revolutionizing Document Processing at Uber with Gen AI," focused on how Uber utilizes generative AI to automate tasks like extracting information from invoices and contracts. This helps them streamline their operations and improve efficiency.
- Another talk on "Message categorization using AI/ML" showcased how AI can be used to identify and filter out fraudulent messages, protecting businesses and consumers from scams and phishing attacks.

Day 2: Friday, November 22nd 🌼

UnConference – The Power of Presence: Cultivating Mindfulness in Everyday Life: This session was a great reminder to slow down and be present in the moment. They led us through some mindfulness exercises.
Executive - Opening Keynote (Guru Bhat): I remember Guru's keynote being very engaging. He spoke about the importance of leadership in driving innovation and creating a positive impact in the tech industry. He also touched on the need for ethical leadership and building a culture of trust.
Tech for Social Good - Keynote | DURGA - A technology-enabled ecosystem for protecting Women Against Violence: Soujanya Madabhushi and Abha Jaiswal gave a moving presentation about work in using technology to combat violence against women. They highlighted the idea of a mobile app that combines 3 pillars - prevention, immediate action and survivor care. Allows women to report incidents of violence, a helpline that provides support and resources, and training programs for law enforcement and other stakeholders. One of the best sessions I attended.
Classroom - Reimagine software development using Generative AI: Mani Chandrasekaran and Chandrasekaran Sivaraman from Amazon talked about Amazon Q Developer. They discussed how AI can be used to generate code, automate testing, and even design user interfaces.
Workshop and Masterclass - Design Think your Career: Individual Contributor to Manager: This interactive workshop provided a framework for using design thinking to plan your career path. They emphasized the importance of understanding your values, strengths, and goals. They also provided guidance on developing leadership skills, building relationships, and making strategic career decisions.
Executive - Expert Talk | Communications as a Superpower: Papa CJ was definitely a highlight! He used humor and storytelling to illustrate the importance of effective communication in leadership. He also provided practical tips on how to build trust, influence others, and inspire action through communication.
Plenary - Fireside Chat | Breaking the Glass Ceiling, rewriting the rules!: Shreya Krishnan (managing director of AnitaB.org India) and Bhumi Pednekar had an empowering conversation about challenging societal norms and breaking barriers for women in tech. They shared their personal experiences and offered advice on how to overcome challenges, build confidence, and achieve your goals.
Plenary - Concert With Carlton: The concert was a fantastic way to wrap up the conference! Sushant Divgikar (Aka Rani KoHEnur) was incredible, and the energy was contagious. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in tech and connect with other attendees.

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