Women in Tech Expo: Grow Better Together

The Knoxville Technology Council's Women in Tech are hosting the third annual Women in Tech Expo: Grow Better Together!

Join a diverse group of talented women and invest in your personal & professional growth with a variety of motivating workshops, networking, keynote presentation, and more!

Your ticket includes:

• Professional speakers sharing professional & personal growth advice
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Happy Hour
• Networking with peers and local leaders
• Professional Headshot
• Women in Tech swag
• Prize giveaways from local vendors

Keynote speaker Erika Gerdes will bring energy, motivation, and inspiration with her presentation "Finding the Star Within Yourself." Erika has helped hundreds of professionals at top companies accelerate their success while feeling great doing it. She started her career at Google, leading and growing a top global partnership by 300% before leaving to start her company as a single mom with two young children. It is her life's work to help others break free from self-imposed limitations and step fully into the careers, lives, and impact they truly want.

Event Registration

Early Bird tickets are $120 for WiT members, and $180 for non-members. Student tickets are $36 (please register with your .edu email). Tickets are non-refundable.

Not a WiT Member? Learn how to join with a free WiT membership.

For group registrations of 10 tickets or more, please contact admin [at] knoxtech.org

More Event Info

Learn about sponsorship opportunities and see a more detailed schedule at witexpoknoxville.com

Info: Most ambitious women don’t feel stuck because they’re not doing enough—but because they’ve spent years doing what they thought they should. In this keynote, Erika Gerdes unpacks the hidden patterns, beliefs, and expectations that quietly hold even the most successful women back. With humor, vulnerability, and actionable insights, she’ll share how to break free from those internal blocks and step into the bold, fulfilling path that’s been waiting all along. You'll walk away inspired, grounded, and ready to lead with more clarity, confidence, and impact.

Info: Through her leadership of the team at Oracle responsible not only for driving internal AI innovation, but also for empowering customer-facing sales teams to bring these cutting-edge strategies and solutions to their partners, Jodie Clayton has deep expertise and practical experience to share on how to enable and build a culture of AI innovation on your team.

Info: As a salesperson, travel was a key requirement of the job.  As a result, Vallie was a passenger on US Airways Flight 1549 that landed in New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009.  Vallie will share the details of her experience during the flight and rescue of the event that has become known as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’.  In addition, she will share key learnings from the experience that will hopefully inspire and motivate all to treasure each and every day because ‘every day is a lucky day’!

Info: Through her experiences as Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President for Security, as well as her global presentations at Microsoft’s AI tour events, Aarti Borkar is well equipped to share her thoughts and ideas on AI use case opportunities.

Info: In this breakout session, the facilitator will share current workforce trends and demographics. You will gain an understanding of the current challenges we face and explore how we are a part of the largest workforce age gap in history with several generations working side-by-side: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. This session discusses what motivates professionals of various backgrounds and lived experiences and how to understand those individuals with an empathic lens . You will walk away with tangible ways to be an engaged, supportive and collaborative team player while navigating your relationships at work. This session is for all career levels, from the soon-to-retire to brand new professionals.

Info: Through guided exercises, group reflection, and real-time coaching with Erika, you’ll uncover what’s been holding you back, reconnect with what you truly want, and take the first bold steps toward it. Whether you're craving more confidence, clarity, or fulfillment, this session will help you move from insight to action—so you can lead in your work and life with power, purpose, and authenticity.

Info: Networking, Drinks & Fun!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St., Knoxville, United States