The Charlotte Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference is an event hosted and sponsored by UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science and Lowe’s, approximately a month prior to our full-day Analytics Frontiers Conference. It will be held at the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The conference aims to inspire, educate, and engage current and future data scientists in the Carolinas, regardless of gender, and to support women in the field by providing training, networking, and mentoring opportunities.

The WiDS Conference attracts hundreds of college students and young working professionals, as the conference features a career fair during lunch and an evening reception. The career fair and the conference itself are great networking opportunities for those in the job market or looking to expand their professional networks. Companies looking to get in front of students can benefit from sponsoring a recruitment table. Approximately 600 people register to attend WiDS each year! 

The conference is filled with keynote speakers, panel discussions, and a series of breakout sessions, featuring industry and academic experts from across the region, highlighting groundbreaking research, innovative industry solutions, and more. It also includes a fireside chat panel featuring two female leaders from Fortune 500 companies. With its dynamic lineup of speakers, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, the WiDS Charlotte Conference stands as a must-attend event for interested in data science.

Representatives from companies like Lowe’s, Microsoft, Sia Partners, Bank of America, UNC Charlotte, Red Ventures, Truist, and Qintess have attended and spoken in breakout sessions over the years. WiDS has proudly hosted inspiring women in data science such as Kate Darling, Shikha Kashyap, Seemantini Godbole, and Neelima Sharma as keynote speakers. Our conference archive showcases all our past speakers.

WiDS Charlotte is independently organized by Madlen Ivanova to be part of the mission to increase participation of women in data science and to feature outstanding women doing outstanding work.

CHECK OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023 WIDS CONFERENCE!