CCG to host 28th annual Women of Color Conference and STEM Awards

 

POSTED ON Oct 09, 2023

 

Women of Color magazine, has announced the 28th annual Women of Color Conference & STEM Awards.

The event will take place both online and in Detroit, Michigan, from October 12 to 14. Click here to register.

The three-day conference is a great opportunity for STEM industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors to come together, participate in keynotes, panels, awards, and various activities.

It has been around for 28 years, seeking to recognize outstanding achievements in STEM and highlight the need for more representation of women, particularly at the senior levels across all disciplines.

The Women of Color STEM Digital Twin Experience (DTX) Conference is hosted in Detroit, Michigan, from October 12 to 14, 2023.

Over the years, it has become a beacon of recognition for exceptional achievements in STEM and honors the impactful achievements of diverse leaders in STEM. This year’s theme is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.”

Employers who are committed to fostering inclusivity have consistently turned to the Women of Color STEM DTX Conference as a vital platform for sharing best practices and implementing strategies to attract and retain more women in scientific and technical careers.

The conference offers diverse events designed to foster collaboration, education, and personal development, including a prestigious awards ceremony to recognize extraordinary women from diverse backgrounds.

A panel of Women of Color judges evaluates candidates from a dynamic pool, which includes outstanding college students, emerging talents, accomplished mid-career professionals and managers, influential C-suite executives, innovators, visionary inventors, and impactful change agents every year.

Earlier this year, the conference announced that Mary Hor-Lao, Director of Software Engineering at Abbott Neuromodulation, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Technologist of the Year Award.

Mary’s journey from surviving the Khmer Rouge’s brutal genocide to becoming a prominent figure in electrical engineering is extraordinary.

Despite facing unimaginable hardships and navigating a male-dominated field, Mary’s resilience and determination have propelled her to incredible heights.

As the director of engineering in Abbott’s Neuromodulation division, she has revolutionized the healthcare industry through her groundbreaking innovations.

Her contributions include leading the development of the world’s most miniature rechargeable implantable pulse generator, the Eterna™ SCS IPG, and spearheading the creation of the award-winning NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic.

These breakthrough technologies have positively impacted the lives of patients suffering from chronic pain and movement disorders.

Beyond her engineering achievements, Mary’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is commendable.

As a mentor and advocate, she empowers aspiring technologists, particularly women of color, to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.

A defining moment in her career was leading the development of the world’s tiniest, rechargeable, Class III implantable pulse generator (IPG) at Abbott, which benefited patients with chronic pain and movement disorders.

Mary’s achievements have earned her the Female Role Model recognition from IEEE Women in Engineering, and she actively engages in STEM mentorship circles and philanthropic efforts to support children in her native Cambodia.

The event will take place both online and in Detroit, Michigan, from October 12 to 14. Click here to register.

With almost three decades of history, the conference provides a platform for individuals and organizations to recognize excellence, foster career development, and facilitate networking opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Below is the complete list of past winners for the Technologists of the Year Timeline award