Startups
Cybersecurity / Events

Microsoft hosts Women in Cyber panel to talk careers, connections [Events Roundup]

Plus, check out pitches, speed dating and the fifth annual Every Startup's Holiday Party.

FastForward U teams at Demo Day, 2019. (Photo by Karuga Koinange)

Events Roundup is a Technical.ly column where we highlight events happening in the Baltimore area each month. Got a submission? Email us the details so we can consider it for our next roundup.


Cybersecurity is a growing industry in Maryland, and this week there’s a chance to learn from one of the big tech companies about new career opportunities and gender diversity in the field.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Microsoft Presents: Women in Cyber features a panel discussion that explores the skills and pathways to enter cybersecurity, as well as how diversity is shaping tech teams. Produced by Moxie Promotion, the event is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. at Pitango Bakery and Cafe in Fells Point. Ticket info here.

Panelists include:

  • Sarah Roberts, enterprise security executive, Microsoft
  • Diana Kelley, cybersecurity field CTO, Microsoft
  • Kennan Skelly, VP of global partnerships and security evangelist, Circadence
  • Allie Brandenburger, CEO, TheBridge
  • Chelsie Thompson, cyber security consultant, Microsoft (moderator)

Along with learning from the panelists, the event is putting a focus on making connections and is a chance for business owners and CTOs to meet those who are interested in exploring careers. Encouraging pathways such as mentorship, internships or apprenticeships, the organizers are also starting a database to identify how those paths are being shaped beyond the event.

“We hope to inspire action to learn more about a career in cyber, and what hiring managers are looking for,” said Moxie Promotion founder Laura Gaworecki. “We also hope [they] leave with several connections that can help make a career path or a career happen.”

The world’s response to the climate crisis: A roadmap for the future

This event features a discussion on the climate crisis with Ambassador of France Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of Portugal Domingos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Sweden Karin Olofsdotter and Charge d’Affaires of Spain Cristina Fraile. University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science President Peter Goodwin will moderate the panel discussion.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 3
  • 12:30 to 2 p.m.
  • Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, 701 East Pratt St.
  • Register (free)

The Art of the Side Hustle: A Business Development Workshop

This workshop will cover how to create a business and generate extra income without giving up your day job, your family or your life. The event will teach how to maintain work/life balance, find a niche, test feasibility and create a simple business plan and strategy while preventing the common pitfalls associated with starting a new business. The seminar will also assist with the creation of simple financial projections to ensure the side business is worth pursuing.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 3
  • 4 to 6 p.m.
  • Small Business Resource Center Park Circle Office Park, 3000 Druid Park Drive, Suite 3000B
  • Register (free)

Launching Life Sciences Innovation in Baltimore

The first half of this event, which is invite-only, will include a speed-dating style event that connects early-stage startups with Maryland biotech industry experts and mentors. Afterwards, there will be a networking happy hour taking place that is open to public.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 3
  • 5:30 to 8 p.m.
  • Rye Street Tavern, 13 Rye St.

Baltimore Hardware Pittstop at FastForward U

This pitch competition for early-stage hardware startups is making an appearance at FastForward U’s Homewood space. Local teams will have a chance to win $3,000 for their company.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 3
  • 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • FastForward U Homewood, 320 W. 29th St., Suite 200
  • Register (free)

CyberMaryland 2019

The two-day conference organized by the Federal Business Council returns to Baltimore with keynotes and panel discussions bringing together industry and government, a job fair, a capture the flag challenge. On Friday, Technical.ly Baltimore Assistant Editor Stephen Babcock and Business Manager Alex Galiani will be moderating panels on threat intelligence and workforce development, respectively.

  • Dec. 5-6
  • Hyatt Regency Baltimore, 300 Light St.
  • Register

Every Startup’s Holiday Party

Startups typically don’t have the resources or numbers to justify a big holiday party, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get a place to celebrate. For the fifth year, Spark Baltimore is offering a holiday bash to celebrate alongside the people building companies and the ecosystem as a whole. Plus, a $15 ticket serves as a donation to Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.

  • Wednesday, Dec. 11
  • 6 to 9 p.m.
  • Spark Baltimore, 8 Market Place, 3rd Floor
  • Tickets

Global Innovations in Protecting the World’s Food Supply

This event will feature technological innovations and partnerships to address food scarcity in our oceans and on land. Speakers include McCormick’s VP of global sustainability and packaging innovation, Michael Okoroafor; Phillips Seafood’s VP of club store sales, Brice Phillips; and IBM’s public service blockchain leader, Mark Fisk.

They will discuss how Google and Oceana partnered on a technology to protect the world’s fish supply, how IBM is using blockchain to address challenges in agriculture, and how Phillips Seafood is innovating in its supply chain to protect fish.

  • Wednesday, Dec. 11
  • 4 to 7 p.m.
  • Parkway Theatre, 5 West North Ave.
  • Tickets

Startup Grind Showcase and Global Pitch Competition

This showcase will feature six mid-Maryland startups and emerging companies as they exhibit, demo and pitch for the opportunity to attend and exhibit at the 2020 Startup Grind Global Conference in Silicon Valley in February.

The first place winner receives a 50% minimum guaranteed discount on an opportunity to attend and exhibit at the global conference while the second place prize is a 30% minimum guaranteed discount to attend and exhibit at the global conference. Startups must have a technology-based product that serves to address a problem in the B2B, B2G or B2C space.

  • Saturday, Dec. 16
  • 5:30 to 8 p.m.
  • 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, 3rd Floor, Columbia
  • Tickets

Maryland Innovation and Technology Series: Neurotechnology

Folks from neurotechnology companies, academic researchers and federal lab employees are invited to network and collaborate at this event. Several panel discussions will take place addressing topics in the neurotechnology space such as challenges in its development, federal opportunities, and federal assets available for licensing.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 17
  • 8 a.m. to noon
  • William H. Natcher Building, 45 Center Drive, Bethesda
  • Register (free)

Open Entrepreneur Office Hours

Harbor Launch at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) gathers representatives from the Baltimore entrepreneurship community to provide one-on-one advice covering topics such as building and financing a startup company, developing and protecting intellectual property, navigating the technology transfer process and more.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 17
  • 10 a.m. to noon
  • Harbor Launch at IMET/Columbus Center, 701 East Pratt St.
  • Register (free)
Engagement

Join the conversation!

Find news, events, jobs and people who share your interests on Technical.ly's open community Slack

Trending

What does SXSW mean for cities now?

Total solar eclipse 2024 is a big deal. Here’s what to expect

In Baltimore, building digital literacy took — and takes — a village

A 22-year-old Towson biology major's journey brought her to a deeper purpose

Technically Media