Written by Leslie M. Dill & Dr. Izabel Farynick, LAc

Tech is moving fast - women's healthcare has historically moved slow. What happens when the two collide? Somewhere between a wellness app notification and a viral Tiktok diagnosis, women are supposed to figure out their own health. We've spoken with several healthcare professionals actually in the room to understand their thoughts on the flood of technology reshaping their field - and their patients' expectations in our new wellness series "Tech's Side Effects."

In our first installment, we spoke with Dr. Izabel Farynick, LAc. - a nationally board-certified acupuncturist and clinical herbalist specializing in chronic illness, hormone health, gut health and pain management. Dr. Farynick holds a Doctor of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine from Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts and a Masters of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine. (credentials cont'd below)

After years of battling her own chronic health challenges stemming from horseback riding injuries, Dr. Farynick found profound healing through Chinese medicine and made it her life's mission to help others reclaim their health when conventional medicine falls short. The intersection of Western and Eastern medicine, coupled with emerging health technologies is important for her to address, as she is passionate about equipping women with the information and tools to empower and individualize their own health journeys. 

Dr. Izabel Farynick, LAc
DAHM, MAcCHM, Dipl. OM, AOBTA-CP

Q: What technological advancements have you seen that perhaps have a different impact on women than on men?

Dr. Farynick: I love using the Oura ring, Whoop and other health trackers to gain additional insight into the menstrual cycle, ovulation, sleep patterns and overall hormone health. Menstrual cycles are an incredible vital sign  to understand how your body is functioning! It has been wonderful to get real time data to then link to symptoms patients are feeling in real time. This allows me, as a doctor, to be able to more efficiently treat my patients, as I can see what's happening with their hormones even before they begin to menstruate. Most health trackers at the minimum test for temperature, which we can use for insight into ovulation. Others can even sync the data with software like Natural Cycles that is FDA approved for birth control and can be used for conception. A new tracker I've started to use with patients is called Mira. It is a daily, urine-based test that tracks estrogen, LH, Progesterone and FSH. This has been my favorite tracker to implement in the clinic so far as we can receive daily data on how hormone levels fluctuate, depending on where a patient is in the cycle.

"In the end, data still does not negate someone's lived experience."

In the end, data still does not negate someone's lived experience, but I still appreciate the data and trends. As women, we have cyclical bodies and by balancing the cycle, we are able to optimize and live happy, healthy lives. Many of my patients including myself, live very busy lives and it can be nice to have another resource other than our memory to track progress and symptoms. I appreciate technology for helping us identify trends and patterns, but the goal should be using that information to better understand the body, not become disconnected from it.

Q: Have you noticed your interactions with patients change at all due to the increase in misinformation online/on social media?

Dr. Farynick: Absolutely! First, I want to recognize that I love how patients are becoming more interested in learning about their bodies and taking an active role in their health - but I also recognize the online space can be incredibly confusing to navigate. Anyone can share health information online, regardless of their education or clinical experience. Many are doing so with authoritative language and this can create a false sense of accuracy of any information. Most of all, patients are often exposed to conflicting advice, unrealistic expectations or fear-based content that leaves them feeling overwhelmed. During my initial appointments, I often spend time helping patients understand what's normal, what isn't, and what realistic healing looks like. Education has become a very important part of patient care and I see it as a vital component to my role of being their doctor. 

"Patients are often exposed to conflicting advice, unrealistic expectations or fear-based content that leaves them feeling overwhelmed."

Q: With various medically-driven technological advances, do you see larger strides being made for men's or women's health in particular?

Dr. Farynick: Historically, most healthcare research and medical advances were centered around men because male physiology was considered easier to study within the traditional Western research model. Women's health has been significantly under-researched for a long time. I'm excited that we're finally beginning to see more innovation, funding and research specifically focused on women's health. There's still a long way to go, and men's health still has more established research overall, but women's health is beginning to catch up! It's encouraging to see women's hormonal, reproductive and cyclical health becoming more prioritized in both medicine and technology.

Q: If you had any advice for women in terms of their own health, taking into account the amount of misinformation or misguidance present online and by word-of-mouth, what would it be?

Dr. Farynick: I really want people to check in with their bodies when they are feeling overwhelmed. Nervous system dis-regulation is a huge contributing factor to disease. Even if we have good information, if we are overwhelmed, we need to stop and turn off the screen. From an information standpoint, a good thing to look at is whether or not the source is licensed. When reading opinions from medical professionals, always look for evidence of formal training and credentials governed by a formal body - then there are more checks and balances and a certain standard of care. (Of course, there are always exceptions.) Cross-referencing multiple sources is a good practice to use- especially when it comes to medical information.

The biggest thing I'd encourage women to do, is to check in with their nervous system when they are consuming information and to take a break when they start feeling overwhelmed. Even good information can become harmful if we are consuming it from a constant state of overwhelm, stress or anxiety. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is step away from the screen and reconnect with your body. Technology and online education can be incredibly helpful, but they should support your health, not create more fear around it!

(Dr. Farynick is licensed to practice in New York and Texas and is a proud member of the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Acupuncturists Without Borders and the American Society of Acupuncturists.)

If you'd like to contribute to the AWT blog please contact PR Director Leslie M. Dill . 

Introducing Allied Consultants

We're thrilled to welcome Allied Consultants Inc. to the AWT community as a sponsor. Allied is a Texas-based IT consulting firm specializing in staffing, project-based services, and strategic solutions, partnering with public and private sector organizations to plan, implement, modernize, and manage complex IT systems.

What sets Allied Consultants apart is their focus on bringing together the right people, processes, and technology — a philosophy that closely mirrors the values we champion at AWT. Their work helps organizations across Texas reach their business and technology goals, and their commitment to building inclusive teams makes them a natural fit for our community.

Why Allied Consultants Chose to Support AWT

Allied Consultants shared that they were drawn to AWT through their involvement in the Texas tech and professional community, where our work empowering women stood out to their team. Their values of building strong, inclusive teams and fostering growth through opportunity align closely with our mission to support and advance women in technology and leadership.

The Allied Consultants team told us they're especially inspired by our focus on mentorship, education, and leadership development. Those pillars are the heart of what we do, and we're energized to have a partner who sees their importance just as clearly as we do.

A Shared Passion for Advancing Women in Tech and Leadership

For Allied Consultants, supporting women in business and technology is a priority because it drives innovation, strengthens organizations, and creates more balanced leadership. That belief shows up inside their company, too.

Allied Consultants actively supports career growth through mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities creating space for team members to take on new challenges and step into leadership roles. They are proud to have strong female leadership within their organization, and they continue to invest in environments where women can grow, lead, and succeed. It's the kind of commitment we love to see, and the kind of partnership that makes our mission stronger.

What This Sponsorship Means for Our Community

Allied Consultants sponsorship helps us expand the opportunities, resources, and connections we're able to offer women in technology across Texas. From programming and mentorship to leadership development and networking, every sponsorship dollar extends our reach and our impact.

We've seen firsthand how investment in our community creates a ripple effect: individuals find new pathways, organizations build stronger teams, and our entire tech ecosystem becomes more inclusive and innovative. Allied Consultant's support accelerates that ripple, and we can't wait to see where it leads.

A Warm Welcome

We're proud to welcome Allied Consultants to the AWT family. Their commitment to people, partnership, and progress reflects everything we believe about the future of technology and everything we're working to build together.

To the Allied Consultants team: Thank you for standing with us. We're honored to have you in our corner, and we look forward to all that's ahead!

Three Nights, Three Rooms, One Community: A Week of Showing Up at AWT

What a week for Austin Women in Technology. Three nights, three completely different rooms, and one common thread running through all of them: women showing up for each other.

Monday — AWT Mentorship Cohort Closing Celebration

We closed out our most recent mentorship cohort, and hearing the stories from both mentors and mentees was a reminder of why this program matters.

A few highlights that stuck with me:

Community and confidence. The cohort created space for mentors and mentees alike to share their struggles and work through them together.

Clarity and courage. Get clear on what you want, then act. Don't wait until you're 100% ready. 80% and wheels up, baby.

Mutual learning and accountability. The best mentor/mentee relationships run both directions. Mentors and mentees provided structure and accountability for each other.

A huge shout out to Milissa Day, MBA, CCMP™, PMP®, Prosci®, Esther Weinberg, and Nicole Pletka for running an incredible program — and thank you to Jay Boisseau and the Remedy team for hosting us.

Thursday — Our First Member-Only Happy Hour

We kicked off the night at TWINS Rooftop & Lounge with one question: what are you "growing" this season?

Whether the answer was leadership, executive presence, a career pivot, or personal growth, watching so many women connect over their goals was the best kind of energy to ring in the spring season.

Thank you to our most recent Boss Lady, Nathalie Lynn True, and the TWINS team for generously donating the space — and to Por Osos Vodka for donating to the event.

Friday and Saturday — Kendra Scott Give Back Fundraiser

We wrapped the week with our Kendra Scott Give Back fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who shopped in person or online to support AWT's mission. Every purchase helps us keep building programs that move women in tech forward.

One Incredible Community

Three events. One incredible community. This is what happens when women in tech decide to grow, give, and show up — together. Become a member today!

Thanks,
Emily Gupton, AWT President.

What began as a room full of strangers, become something far more powerful by building connection, confidence, community, and long-lasting growth partners.

What an incredible journey it has been! It was truly inspiring to see everyone along the journey and at our Closing Celebration. Hearing reflection stories and witnessing the collective growth of this cohort was a powerful reminder of why this program exists. Over the past six months, we witnessed not only knowledge shared, but also a community built rooted in support, professional development, and mutual respect.

THE AWT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: A Journey of Growth & Connection

The Austin Women in Technology (AWT) Mentorship Program is a six-month experience designed to connect mentors and mentees through small, cohort-based groups.

Through monthly sessions, participants:

• Built meaningful relationships
• Defined shared goals
• Created space for honest conversations and professional growth

Guided by experienced mentors and supported by a dedicated leadership team, the program was intentionally designed to meet participants where they were, while helping them grow into where they wanted to be.

Built on Purpose: Bringing AWT’s Pillars to Life
This program didn’t just align with AWT’s pillars—it embodied them. The impact was clear through participant feedback and lived experiences.

CONNECT: From Introductions to Trust
What began as introductions quickly evolved into trust. Participants created safe spaces to share the challenges, navigated uncertainty, and supported one another. These weren’t just meetings; they became relationships grounded in authenticity and belonging.

LEARN: Gaining Clarity, Skills, and Confidence
Mentors and mentees engaged in meaningful conversations around careers, technology, community, and life.

Across the cohort, we saw:

• Increased confidence
• Greater professional clarity
• Meaningful personal growth

Learning wasn’t just shared—it was experienced.

GROW: Expanding Networks and Possibilities
The cohort model transformed strangers into a supportive network. Through shared experiences, active listening, and encouragement, participants built relationships that extended far beyond the program itself—creating a foundation for continued growth.

LEAD: Finding Your Voice and Lifting Others
We heard from mentees who built confidence in finding their voice in the room-recognizing they belong! At the same time, mentors generously gave their time and expertise, creating a powerful cycle of support, leadership, and giving back.

Beyond the program itself, the impact created a ripple effect, strengthening the broader Austin tech community. This was especially evident during our closing event, which centered around reflection and shared experiences.

WHAT WE HEARD IN THREE DEFINING TAKEAWAYS
Through our Miro Board reflection activity and participant stories at our closing event, three powerful themes emerged:

#1 Community Helps Build Confidence: The cohort created a space to face shared struggles like imposter syndrome not feeling enough and validated that everyone's figuring it out and that representation and compassion reminded people that they belong and can make an impact.

#2 Clarity and Courage Over Readiness: Don't wait to feel 100% ready get clear on what you want then act design A life you enjoy first then find work that fits.

#3 Mutual Learning and Accountability: mentorship worked both ways the structure created accountability to show up, meet people where they are, and demand what you need. True connection turned out to be priceless.

What started out as connecting strangers in a structure program evolved into something much deeper, a network of support, growth, and lasting professional relationships.

LEADERSHIP REFLECTION
Leading this program was truly inspiring. I had the privilege of witnessing real transformation:

• Career growth
• Increased confidence
• New opportunities
• Individuals finding and owning their voice

As someone who has experienced the impact of mentorship firsthand, seeing it come to life across this cohort was incredibly rewarding. The energy in the final celebration, the conversations, laughter, and reflections; captured what this program is all about.

I’m deeply grateful to our Mentorship Leadership Team, Ester and Nicole, and the AWT Board that helped close out our final event creating a lasting memory for participants.

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR PARTICIPANTS
To our Mentees: Thank you for participating with us. We have watched you lean into new challenges, refine your goals, and take significant strides in your career paths. We hope the insights you've gained continue to serve you for years to come.

To our Mentors: Thank you for your time, your wisdom, and your dedication. Your commitment to paying it forward is what makes this program possible, and your impact on your mentees’ professional lives is immeasurable.

WHY THIS WORKS: THE BIGGER COMMUNITY IMPACT
The importance of programs like this are critical to advancing women in technology. Mentorship creates access, builds confidence, and strengthens the broader ecosystem. When we invest in people, we don’t just impact individuals, we elevate an entire community. Looking forward to continued momentum in the future.

WHAT’S NEXT? CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM
Our next Mentorship Program begins this fall. Registration is coming soon this summer.

Thank you to all our incredible mentors and mentees to make this program a success. Stay tuned to our website and newsletters, and social media posts for upcoming registration this summer for the fall program. We typically have a waiting list, so please register early.

FINAL THOUGHTS: GROWTH THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE PROGRAM
When we invest in ourselves and others, we elevate the entire community. Never stop investing in yourself.

Have a great summer! See you at a future event – say hello.

Milissa Day
AWT Director of Mentorship Program

If you’re heading into interviews for AI‑adjacent roles, you’ll almost certainly get questions about how large language models (LLMs) and modern AI systems actually work. Instead of memorizing buzzwords, focus on a few simple, conversational explanations you can reuse across many questions.

1. Explaining LLMs in Plain English

Start simple: “An LLM is a neural network trained on huge amounts of text to predict the next word in a sentence, which lets it generate fluent language and follow instructions.”

Add architecture : “Under the hood it uses a transformer, which is good at looking at all the words in your prompt at once and figuring out which ones matter most to each other.”

Make embeddings tangible: “It also turns words into numbers in a shared ‘map of meaning’, so ‘doctor’ ends up closer to ‘nurse’ than to ‘banana’—that’s how it captures relationships and context.”

If you can say that calmly in under a minute, you’ve already cleared a big bar: you understand LLMs well enough to explain them to non‑experts.

2. AI vs. Traditional Software:

Interviewers also love: “What distinguishes AI systems from rule‑based or traditional software?”

Traditional software follows the exact rules we write; the same input always gives the same output.

AI systems learn patterns from data and respond probabilistically, so the same input can give slightly different outputs depending on sampling and temperature.

That learning ability lets them generalize to new situations, but it also introduces risk: they can hallucinate or inherit bias from their training data.

Close with the safety angle: “Because of that, we wrap AI in guardrails—retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), validation checks, and human‑in‑the‑loop review for high‑stakes decisions.”

3. Your 10‑Second RAG vs. Fine‑Tuning Pitch

A very common system‑design‑ish question is: “When would you use RAG vs. fine‑tuning?”

You can keep this very crisp:

“I use RAG when I need the model to answer from fresh or proprietary documents—policies, knowledge bases, FAQs. I keep the base model frozen, index my documents, retrieve the most relevant chunks at query time, and let the model answer using that context.”

“I use fine‑tuning when I want the model to consistently adopt a new style or behavior across tasks—like a specific support tone, domain‑specific classification, or a particular code style—without writing giant prompts every time.”

Then show maturity with one sentence: “In practice, we often combine them: RAG for up‑to‑date facts, fine‑tuning for voice and task‑specific behavior.”

4. Showing You Think Beyond Launch

Another giveaway question: “How are models evaluated and improved post‑deployment?”

Turn this into a mini lifecycle story:

“Before launch, I use offline evaluation: hold‑out test sets, domain‑specific benchmarks, and automated metrics like accuracy or task‑specific scores.”

“After launch, I watch online signals: A/B tests, user ratings, task‑completion rates, safety incidents, latency, and cost.”

“Then I run a feedback loop: refine prompts, update the retrieval corpus, adjust safety filters, and, when there’s a clear pattern of errors, retrain or fine‑tune to address them.”

If you can attach even one concrete example from your experience to that loop, it sounds very credible.

5. Talking Trade‑offs: Hallucinations, Latency, and Context

Finally, the “big four” you’ll hear together are hallucination, latency, context window, and token limits. Here’s a compact way to cover them:

Hallucinations: “LLMs sometimes give confident but wrong answers because they’re generating text from patterns, not querying a live database. We reduce that with RAG, stricter prompts, and post‑validation or human review.”

Latency: “Bigger models and longer prompts respond more slowly, so I’ll choose smaller models for simple tasks, cache common results, and keep prompts/context lean where possible.”

Context window: “The context window is how much text the model can ‘see’ at once. Longer windows are great for big documents but they cost more and can dilute focus if you dump too much in, so I prefer smart chunking and retrieval.”

Token limits: “Tokens are pieces of words; your prompt plus the model’s answer must fit under a token limit. That’s why we often summarize, chunk, or retrieve only the most relevant passages instead of pasting everything.”

How to Use This Tip

Take each question above and practice a 60–90 second spoken answer using these structures. Record yourself once, listen back, and tweak until it sounds like you—clear, confident, and human, not like you memorized a whitepaper.

Thursday, March 4, Women in AI panel hosted by Austin Women in Technology (AWT) at Indeed Tower brought together leaders across machine learning, enterprise AI transformation, cybersecurity, and marketing innovation to explore how artificial intelligence is evolving from experimentation to real production systems.

The panel featured Melis Ozturk Erdogan (IBM), Noopur Gupta (SparkStorm AI), Sumaya K. Owens (Present Moment Media), and Numa Dhamani (iVerify), moderated by Emily Gupton, President of AWT.

KEY INSIGHTS

• Tools Change, Core Capabilities Endure: Melis Ozturk Erdogan emphasized that AI tools evolve rapidly, but foundational capabilities remain constant. Problem identification, clear goals, and unbiased data will outlast any platform or model.
• Human Expertise Remains Essential: Noopur Gupta highlighted that human-in-the-loop AI only works with domain knowledge. AI augments expertise, it does not replace it. This becomes even more critical as organizations move toward agentic AI systems, where AI agents automate workflows and decision-making.
• Prompt Literacy is Becoming a Baseline Skill: Sumaya K. Owens noted that the ability to effectively interact with AI systems is becoming essential across industries. Prompt literacy is quickly becoming a core professional skill.
• Your Data is Your Responsibility: Numa Dhamani reminded the audience that commercial AI systems often log and monitor interactions. Organizations must be intentional about what data they share and how it is protected.

FROM POCs TO SCALABLE AI
One moment that sparked a great discussion was a question about ROI accountability in AI initiatives. The panel emphasized that proofs of concept (POCs) are the right starting point to validate value before scaling AI initiatives across an organization.

AI AND CAREER TRANSITIONS
Another important theme was career transition in the age of AI. As Noopur Gupta shared, many professionals are shifting into AI-enabled roles by combining domain expertise with AI tools. The future workforce will increasingly be AI-augmented rather than replaced by AI.

Blog written by: Noopur Gupta

It's important to periodically review Oauth access granted to various third-party apps from your gmail account.

WHAT IS OATH ACCESS AND HOW DOES IT GRANT THIRD-PARTY APP ACCESS?

• When faced with a decision to login to an app - we are presented with an option to either create a username and password or use our google/gmail account credentials to login.
• To reduce the cognitive overload of having to remember yet another username+password combination, we opt to login using our existing google/gmail credentials. 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW THE ACCESS GRANTED TO THIRD-PARTY APPS?

• If a connected app is breached, attackers can access whatever Gmail‑related data that app stored or can still access via its token.
• If someone compromises your Google account, they can also use “Sign in with Google” relationships and existing tokens to pivot into many other services. 

HOW DO I REVIEW MY THIRD-PARTY APPS?

• Step1: Go to https://myaccount.google.com/permissions (or My Account → “Third‑party connections”) 
• Step 2: Click each individual app/service and choose “Delete all connections you have with app” to revoke an existing OAuth token of those apps that no longer serve you. 

BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE FLOW WITH SCREENSHOTS

1. I granted Oauth access to an app called Zapier.

2. I reviewed the access I granted to various third-party connections on my google account

3. Below I can see that I granted access to three different apps.



4. I clicked on the app and selected “Delete all connections you have with app.”



5. Confirm to delete the token (connection with the app). This does not delete your actual gmail account.

Remember safely granting OAuth access is about minimizing trust and scope: only connect apps you truly need, give them the least data necessary, and keep their access easy to revoke.

When possible, choose options that share a limited subset of data (for example, just Calendar, or basic profile), instead of full account access

For more tips on Data Privacy, please follow me, Swati Popuri, on Linkedin and subscribe to my newsletter Privacy Pointers on Substack.

Austin Women in Technology gathered for our annual Galentine’s celebration at The Cathedral Art Gallery and the room was buzzing with connections, knowledge-sharing, love letters and good music. The highlight of the event was an inspiring panel on the power of community before closing the night with a DJ and plenty of time for meaningful networking and new friendships.

Real talk on the Importance of Community

Our Galentine's panel featured some incredible female leaders from our Austin community to share their advice and own experiences around building community. Panel speakers included:

• Heather Trumpfheller, ATX Community Ambassador of What She Said

• Carlisha Robinson, CEO of CBR Ventures

• Cherie Werner, Founder of F.I.E.S.T.A.

• with Emily Gupton, AWT President and CTO of SKG Texas, Inc.

Tip #1 Network early and often

Heather challenged the common habit of networking only when we need something. Instead, she encouraged consistency and intentionality. Show up, set a simple goal like meeting three new people and then follow up afterward.

Conversation starters can be as easy as “what do you do?” or “how are you?.” However, Carlisha advised on asking questions that you also want to answer like “What have you been creating lately?” or “What’s a goal you’re working toward?” 

If networking or joining a new community feels intimidating, our panelists discussed how volunteering can act as a low-pressure on-ramp to building community. Volunteering gives you a role, a reason to talk to people, and repeated exposure that makes networking feel more natural. 

Tip #2 Pivots Happen

Career pivots came up again and again. Pivots aren’t always chosen; sometimes they’re triggered by layoffs, shifting priorities, or life circumstances. What matters is how intentionally we respond.

Carlisha offered advice on focusing on what you can control. We can’t control everything about a transition, but we can control our actions and how we show up, how we communicate, who we ask for support, and what we do next. “When you focus on the 10%…the things that are in your control,” you stop burning energy on the other 90%.

This idea tied directly into community-building. Your network isn’t just “contacts,” it’s momentum. It’s sponsors, mentors, former teammates, and the people who will still pick up the phone when your LinkedIn headline changes.

Tip #3 Come with an Ask

While the first step to building community is showing up, the next step is having an ask. Having an ask, like an introduction or a coffee chat, makes it easy for someone to help you.

Cherie shared a story about someone she met at FoundHERs who was looking for advice on a pitch deck. That conversation ultimately helped the founder secure significant funding. The takeaway was, “If you don’t ask, nobody is going to be able to help.”

The panel also offered practical “how-to” guidance that made asking feel less daunting. Practice until it’s normal, keep the request succinct, and build follow-up into your routine. Emily shared how she sets aside time to follow-up weekly.

Until next time…

A heartfelt thank you to our event sponsor, What She Said, for helping make this Galentine’s celebration possible! We hope you left with new names in your phone and confidence in your next steps. If you missed Galentines, we hope to see you at some of our upcoming AWT events:

• Jan. 27: Tactic Tuesdays

• Mar. 5: Women in AI panel 

• April: Members Only Happy Hour

• May 12: InnoTech Austin (Bonus: AWT will be giving away one Innotech ticket at each AWT event leading up to the conference)

Austin Women in Technology (AWT) kicked off the year with our biggest career-focused gathering, “Who’s Austin Hiring.” The event included a meet-and-greet with potential employers, panel conversation focused on what employers want in 2026, and how candidates can stand out in a crowded market. 

If you attended the event, hopefully you left with a clearer picture of how hiring is shifting in 2026 and concrete steps to stand out. If you missed it, we captured some of the key insights and tips here!

A big thank-you goes out to our event sponsor, Western Governors University (WGU), to Austin Energy for hosting us, and to our partners: Apex Systems, Wise, Association for Talent Development Austin, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Luna Data Solutions, The Unbuzzed Club, and Athletic Brewing Co to making this event possible.

Panel Perspectives: What “Who’s Hiring” Really Means in Austin 2026

The panel featured leaders across public sector, recruiting, and workforce development:

• Anh Selissen, CIO, Texas Department of Transportation

• Gilbert Zavala, VP of Education & Talent Development, Opportunity Austin

• Amber Tarrant, Head of Recruitment, Wise

• Bryce Chernyha, District Leader, Apex Systems (Emerging Technology Team)

• Moderated by Emily Gupton, President of Austin Women in Technology

One consistent theme: hiring may feel slower, but it hasn’t stopped. Our panelists discussed a market with lower turnover, more competition, and employers being more intentional because they’re seeing higher application volumes. The takeaway wasn’t “panic.” It was about refining your approach, showing clearer impact, and leaning into the soft skills for differentiation.

Using AI in Your Job Search (Without Letting it Erase You)

The topic of AI came up early and often especially as more candidates use tools to generate resumes, summaries, and cover letters. The panel’s consensus was to use AI as a tool, not as a replacement for your voice and story.

Ways AI Can Help:

• Refining your LinkedIn bio and sharpening your messaging

• Proofreading and clarity edits

• Helping you organize experience into tighter accomplishment statements

Where Candidates Need to be Careful:

• Don’t become overly dependent on AI to write everything from scratch

• Avoid generic, overly polished “AI-sounding” language and grammar. For example, remove the em dash!

• Your materials still need the human and personal oversight

Resumes and LinkedIn: Telling Your Story, Strengths, and Impact

Your resume should do more than list tasks, it should tell the story of who you are and your strengths. When recruiters are choosing between qualified candidates, interpersonal skills often become the differentiator.

Tips Shared by Our Panelists:

• Reflect on your personal value-add and tie it to what leaders care about: Revenue, efficiency, change management, measurable impact, and business goals

• Strong candidates are storytellers and change agents, people who can connect what they did to why it mattered

• Make sure your LinkedIn is robust and accurate, and that it matches your resume (misalignment is a red flag)

• Recommendations: Not essential. Most recruiters assume recommendations are positive in nature, so they don’t rely on formal recommendations and prefer to gather informal recommendations from mutual connections, if anything

• Cover Letters: the sentiment leaned against providing letters, but it can vary by company and role

The Austin Hiring Landscape: Where are the Opportunities?

On the market side, the conversation highlighted Austin’s continued strength as a tech hub and growing sectors worth watching in 2026. The panel pointed to growing demand in:

• Advanced manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics (especially automation support)

• Aerospace

• Life sciences, such as biotech med tech

• Fintech and retail tech, including RPA and AI-driven personalization

• Energy

What Should You Do Post-Application and Post-Interview?

One of the most actionable topics was what to do after applying and interviewing. Here are some tips discussed:

• Go a step further than the cold application and consider reaching out to the hiring manager

• Find someone inside the organization who can advocate for you

• Send a thoughtful follow-up email after interviewing

How Important are Degrees and Credentials?

Degrees, certifications, and credentials can absolutely be value-adds and door-openers for a candidate, but experience matters more and especially your ability to articulate it.

Practical Ways to Demonstrate Experience:

• Build a simple portfolio site (even a clean GitHub-hosted page)

• Link your GitHub, portfolio, or website on LinkedIn and your resume

• Use projects to show how you think, not just what tools you’ve touched

• One Standout Tactical Insight: If you can identify a current problem the company is facing and clearly explain how you’d help solve it, you communicate ways you’ll add value immediately

Keep the Momentum Going

AWT and our partners offer more opportunities to build community, expand skills, and keep growing your networking. Austin Women in Technology members gain free access to all AWT events, exclusive discounts to Austin’s top tech events, and more! Interested in joining AWT? Learn more here!

 Upcoming events include:

• Jan. 27: Tactic Tuesdays, our monthly professional workshops geared towards anyone pivoting their career, and navigating the job search. This is a supportive environment where you can share insights, swap resources, and learn practical tips from others on a similar path.

• Feb. 12: Galentine’s celebration, featuring a panel discussion on community and how showing up for one another fuels growth, confidence, and success. We’ll have a DJ, food + networking.

• May 12: InnoTech Austin, featuring a full day of networking opportunities, professional development presentations, tech demos, and more (Bonus: AWT will be giving away one Innotech ticket at each AWT event leading up to the conference)

Austin Women in Technology (AWT) is powered by a dedicated group of volunteer board members who work behind the scenes to support, grow, and strengthen the organization. 

While members often experience AWT through events, programming, and partnerships, much of the impact happens behind the scenes and is led by a dedicated group of volunteer board members who bring this mission to life. Representing a wide range of roles across the technology sector, including executives, founders, marketing, operations, engineering, and more, these individuals contribute their time and expertise to ensure AWT continues to provide meaningful opportunities for women in tech.  

Together, they help shape AWT’s strategy, foster inclusive spaces, and ensure the organization continues to evolve alongside the community it serves. We recently voted in our new board and want to introduce and highlight the amazing team that makes it all possible! 

Executives & Vice Presidents 

Emily Gupton, President

Emily is a Chief Technology Officer at SKG and co-founder of a SaaS company called FOLIO. Emily started as an events chair on the AWT board before building out the Community Partnerships team prior to becoming president. Emily is passionate about supporting other women on their personal and professional journey, and hopes to provide the same supportive network and community to others that Emily found through AWT and her tenure on the board. She is humbled and excited to serve as the president through 2027. 

Fun fact: Emily did three triathlons in 2026. 

Sharyn Leyendecker, Treasurer

Sharyn is a Cybersecurity Architect who works for the City of Austin. She has been a board member and AWT treasurer for over 8 years and is passionate about supporting women in tech. 

Fun fact: Sharyn's favorite hobby is knitting.

Maya Walker-Reich, Secretary

Maya is a Project Manager, Marketing Consultant, and Community Builder looking for new opportunities. She started as a Marketing Chair for AWT before stepping into the Secretary role. Being on the board has allowed her to create the same welcoming, growth-centered environment for women navigating tech careers that she has experienced. She’s excited to continue building meaningful partnerships, elevating women’s voices, and expanding AWT programs. 

Fun fact: She has traveled to 19 different countries. 

Ellen Cox, Vice President of Technology & Operations

Ellen is a Senior Product Marketing Manager, AI at Epicor where she blends digital strategy, product marketing, and content leadership to support AI innovation across the business. She’s also the co-founder of CO.LABx, a future-focused collective helping professionals navigate what’s next in their careers. She joined the AWT Board because she was passionate about contributing to the professional growth of women in the workspace in the same way others have invested in her.

Fun fact: She ran a 50-mile ultramarathon in 2024.

Nicole Pletka, Vice President of Programs & Events

Nicole is a CEO of Wispr, a local Austin start-up, while also practicing Program and Product Management for companies that focus on custom software and AI implementations. She joined the AWT Board to ensure her kids could envision a future with more women in tech leadership. 

Fun fact: She was an archaeologist. 

Kelly Jorg, Vice President of Marketing

Kelly is the Co-Founder and Marketing Director at Nalo Seed helping businesses grow with clear strategy, smart marketing, and custom AI software solutions. She joined the board after being a long-time member and supported the launch of the refreshed AWT brand in 2025. 

Fun fact: She has three young children—two daughters (born in 2021 and 2022) and a son (born in 2023)—and speaks some Tagalog, Japanese, and American Sign Language with them.

Lisa Bounds, Vice President of Sponsorship & Membership

Lisa is a Principal Product Marketing Manager at Epicor specializing in go-to-market strategy, brand messaging, and cross-functional collaboration that drives product success. She joined the AWT Board because she’s experienced how vital a community is for professional growth and personal resilience and wants to grow that impact for others. Next year, she’ll be focused on building strong committees for both sponsorship and membership to expand AWT’s reach and deepen member engagement. 

Fun fact: She read 60+ books in 2025. 

Hanna Busekrus, Vice President of Partnerships

Hanna is a Senior Recruitment Operations Specialist with experience spanning recruitment operations, business development, and enterprise-level TA process optimization. She is looking forward to expanding partner relationships, programming, and learning opportunities for members. 

Fun fact: She is Advanced Open Water (AOW) scuba certified. 

Directors 

Tamarra Roquemore, Director of Operations

Tammy is a Senior Project Manager at Diasorin helping teams solve problems and removing obstacles in the way of getting projects done. She believes AWT gives women a chance to gain exposure to different areas of tech and a community to accelerate growth. 

Fun fact: Her workout of choice is pole dance. 

Rachel Richey. Director of Programs

Rachel works in Sales Leadership at Eagle Eye Networks helping shape the company’s first formal direct sales function. At AWT she directs the events team to expand opportunities for accessing high-impact learning, networking, and community for women across the tech ecosystem. She joined the AWT Board to help build systems, programs, and communities that help women thrive. 

Fun fact: She loves karaoke, experimenting with new recipes, and researching ways to live to 100. 

Jourdan James, Director of Outreach

Jourdan is a Lead Technical Account Manager at Rapid7 helping organizations build stronger, more resilient security programs. She joined AWT to be part of a supportive community of women and allies working in all areas of technology. 

Fun fact: She is restoring an antique convertible. 

Milissa Day Director of Mentorship

Milissa is a Change Management Consultant and Co-Owner at MKE Consulting with a passion for helping organizations and their people navigate complex transformations. She joined the AWT Board to uplift other women in their own tech paths. 

Fun fact: She has a YouTube series called “Tuesday Tips with Maverick & Goose” featuring her two co-worker pups. 

Noopur Gupta, Director of Technology

Noopur is the CEO of SparkStorm AI where she is pioneering Intelligence-as-a-Service, making advanced AI accessible to businesses and communities everywhere. She aims to bring more AI education and hands-on learning to the AWT community so women feel confident using these tools in their careers and businesses. 

Fun fact: She can talk for hours about AI and productivity. 

Yousra Magouri, Director of Partnerships

Yousra is the Director of Marketing Technology at RGA, the founder of multiple education and mentorship initiatives, and the creator of the ELLEvate Summit, the first Female Leadership Summit in North Africa. She joined the AWT Board because she believes in the power of community as a catalyst for growth, confidence, and opportunity. 

Fun fact: She speaks three languages. 

Maddie Tooley, Director of Marketing

Maddie is a Client Success Manager at Luna Data Solutions connecting top talent to essential IT projects across the public sector. She joined the AWT Board because supporting and uplifting women in tech is something she’s deeply passionate about. 

Fun fact: She teaches Pilates. 

Leslie Dill, Director of Public Relations

Elissa Fox, Director of Sponsorship

Chairs 

Ericka Lu, Marketing & Communications Chair

Ericka is a Senior Marketing Specialist at AMD shaping content strategy and development for B2B go-to-market initiatives. She joined the AWT Board to play a more direct role in raising awareness of the resources and events AWT provides to elevate more women in tech. 

Fun fact: She is an art enthusiast and knows Banksy’s real identity (it’s her dog). 

Shea Railey, Marketing & Communications Chair

Shea is an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager at OpsLab supporting leaders and keeping teams organized. She views AWT as an opportunity to get involved in the community, grow professionally, and meet like-minded people. 

Fun fact: She has a chi-weenie dog named Garlic. 

Mara Herdic, Community Partnerships Chair

Mara is a Compliance Engineer at the Texas Reliability Entity where she supports regulatory compliance and risk oversight. She joined the AWT Board to support women in the tech community and is looking forward to meeting more members this year. 

Fun fact: She plays soccer. 

Deirdre Barg, Website Chair

McKenzie Bell, Sponsorship Chair

Jennifer BRAZZELL, Sponsorship Chair

Amal EL EBRAHIM, Sponsorship Chair

Taryn Wise, Programs & Events Chair

Kathleen Brunner, Programs & Events Chair

Rachel Leaf, Job Assistance Chair

Powering AWT Forward 

Each of these board members volunteers their time alongside their full-time roles because they believe in the power of community and shared growth. Their collective efforts help ensure Austin Women in Technology remains a place where women can connect, learn, and lead. From planning events and guiding strategy to supporting members behind the scenes, this group of leaders makes AWT what it is today. 

Interested in getting more involved? Whether through volunteering, attending events, or exploring future leadership opportunities, there’s always room to grow with Austin Women in Technology. Reach out at info@awtaustin.org.