Penn State University Park - Empowering Women in Technology Panel

This event will bring together a panel of accomplished women—some in industry, some students—to discuss the gender gap currently existing in the field of technology. This will be a very interactive session for the audience, as their questions, comments, and opinions will be openly welcomed. Our panelists will speak about their own experiences in the field, obstacles they had to overcome, future goals for helping eliminate this gap, and much more. By the end of this evening, the goal is for everyone in the room to leave understanding more about this issue we are facing today and actions we can take to combat this issue moving forward.

We encourage everyone to attend this event, not strictly women in technology. This is an issue that can only be resolved through collaboration within our society, and we would like this panel to be as educational and thought-provoking as possible. The best way to do this is through diversity of thought in our attendees, so please consider taking the time out of your day to attend!

Charlene Dipaola

Hip Shake Fitness

Founder and CEO
Websitehttps://hipshakefitness.com
In 2016, Charlene got diagnosed with PCOS (Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome). The short explanation is she has high testosterone, at risk for diabetes and infertility. Regular workouts and a diet with low sugar are recommended for women with PCOS. This became a turning point in her life. After a 12+ career in online user acquisitions and analytics, she decided to quit her full-time job and follow her passion in dance and fitness. This is how Hip Shake Fitness was born. She saw the need for an online community that uses dance as a vehicle for a healthier lifestyle. Prior to Hip Shake Fitness, Charlene was the Sr. Director of Data and Growth at SpinMedia. She has worked with brands such as LA Times, CNN, Spin Magazine, and Celebuzz. She is also an adjunct professor of Digital Analytics at UCLA.

Kelsie McElroy

Computer Science Major and Google Intern
 Kelsie McElroy is a junior studying Computer Science at Penn State. She has interned with Google the past two summers, and she is returning this upcoming summer as a software engineering intern. This past year, Kelsie received the Google Women Techmakers scholarship, which is awarded to twenty women across the country who empower themselves and other women to build confidence in the field of technology. Kelsie is a strong advocate for bringing more women into STEM fields, and she is excited to discuss this topic further during the panel!

For more information, visit gew.psu.edu.