Women’s TechConnect

The Women’s TechConnect Initiative is designed in partnership with Women in Technology honorees, The WICT Network and SCTE to provide a mentoring relationship between senior and rising cable technology professionals to help educate and retain women in the technology fields of the cable industry.

This important initiative was created to develop a formal mentoring relationship between top-ranking and high-potential women in cable technology. The goal of the program is to provide a crucial support system to better equip mentees to overcome workplace challenges, while helping them rise through the cable ranks until they themselves become the leaders and innovators. The WICT Network and SCTE will support the mentors/mentees by offering online resources and tools, underwriting event registrations and memberships, as well as providing a sense of community, as the designated mentees embark on their mentoring journey.

2023-2024 Program Participants

MENTORS

Debbie Fitzgerald, Principal Architect and Director, CableLabs
Eilisa Reid, GVP, Service Delivery Applications, Charter Communications
Elizabeth Bierman, Vice President of Engineering, Comcast
Jackie Boudreau, Vice President, Engineering – XOC, Comcast Communications
Jaspreet Dillon, VP, Strategic Analytics – Comcast Enterprise Business Intelligence, Comcast
Leslie Gilchrist, Executive Director – Service Assurance Tools, Telemetry, Process & Training, Cox Communications
Lori Lantz, SVP and Chief People Officer, CableLabs
Madalina Suceveanu, Managing Director, Liberty Global
Mickie Calkins, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, CableLabs
Nancy McGuire, Vice President, TPX Reliability Engineering, Comcast
Rasheedah Carr, Vice President of Engineering, Comcast
Sandy Howe, Board Director, Founder, Coravant
Susannah Scholl, Chief Information Officer, GCI
Theresa Hennesy, Technology Leadership Consultant, Somos, Inc.
Zenita Henderson, Chief Marketing Officer, Segra

MENTEES

Angel Young, Sr. Manager, Project Management Initiatives, GCI
Christina Garcia, Dir IT, Charter Communinications
Darla Nichols, Director, Network Operations, Cox Communications
Dina Mamola, IT Project Manager, Astound Broadband
Ingrid Nobiletti, Senior Director, Digital Service & Customer Experience, Charter Communications
Jada Roberts, Director of Process Improvement & Design for Technology Services, Cox Communications
Jamie Stafford, Director, Business Operations and Compliance, GCI
Karen Hoofnagle, Senior Software Manager, Astound Broadband
Kennetha West-Pullins, Senior Manager M&A/Integration, Cybersecurity, Cox Communications
Kristina Beckstead, Manager, Network & Systems Engineering, GCI
Ruth Ann Welsh, Director, Information Technology, Astound Broadband
Susan Marr, Director, Outside Plant Construction and Engineering, Cox Communications
Terran Williams, Sr Manager, Cybersecurity, Cox Communications Inc.
Valeria Sosa, Staff Video Distribution Engineer, FOX Corporation
Veronica Bloom, Sr Director Data Science, Charter Communications

Applications are now closed for 2023-2024.

All applications were due by 5:00 pm ET on Thursday, July 6, 2023. For more information or questions, please contact: Megan Marksberry, AVP, Program Administration, The WICT Network (mmarksberry@wict.org).

2023-2024 Program

Women’s TechConnect mentors and mentees will meet one another for the first time during The WICT Network’s 2023 Leadership Conference in New York City. The TechConnect Kickoff event will be held on September 19, 2023, and will represent the start of the 2024 program.

Mentees will maintain their mentoring relationship monthly thereafter, virtually or in-person. Mentees will also attend quarterly learning webinars where they will network with other mentees, hear from guest speakers and receive additional resources.

The TechConnect program will conclude with a graduation session at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo the week of September 23, 2024.

*Registration for both The WICT Network Leadership Conference and the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo are complimentary for mentees (travel not included).

Interested individuals should be rising professionals who will maximize the unique opportunity to learn from trailblazers in the tech field.

Potential participants must meet the following criteria:

  • Work in the technology field in the media and entertainment industry;
  • Possess three or more years of managerial experience;
  • Exhibit a level of knowledge, skill and professionalism regarding technology;
  • Have demonstrated a track record of success;
  • Can help create clear goals for mentorship, consistent with workplace excellence;
  • Have the ability to dedicate the time required to be a mentee, including
    • Monthly meetings with their mentor via telephone, virtually or in-person;
    • Quarterly learning webinars;
    • Attend The WICT Network Leadership Conference
    • Attend the kick-off meeting at The WICT Network Leadership Conference
    • Attend the graduation at the SCTE•ISBE Cable-Tec Expo
      *(Registration for both The WICT Network Leadership Conference and the SCTE•ISBE Cable-Tec Expo are complimentary for mentees.)

Mentoring Prepares Women for Leadership Roles in Cable Industry

SHRM Online interviewed to Patricia Martin, senior vice president at Atlanta-based Cox Communications, and Jennifer Watterud, director of mobile development at Altice USA (formerly Cablevision), based in Queens, N.Y., about their experience in the year-long Women’s TechConnect program. Check out the Q&A, published March 1, 2021, to learn more about how this impactful program helps groom high-potential female engineers for leadership roles throughout the cable industry.

READ THE ARTICLE

Testimonials from Women’s TechConnect Mentees

“The mentors have given me priceless advice. They have been perfect listening partners and great sounding boards. The fact that women are minorities in the technical areas within the industry makes it difficult to network with other technically oriented women. Being a mentee in this program has opened doors that may have never opened if I were not a mentee. The networking opportunities to meet technically-oriented women in the industry have been a wonderful experience. I would encourage anyone with aspirations of growing and advancing in their careers to apply for this program.”
Misty Duckworth, Program Manager, Critical Infrastructure, Time Warner Cable – West Region
“This experience has truly positioned me for success and for that I am forever grateful. I am more confident now than ever before. I not only look for the challenge, but I’ve learned to raise my hand and ask for the challenge.”
Shelly Farmer, Account Manager, IBBS
“My relationship with my mentor was a fabulous vantage point in being able to understand how to navigate my way through interviews for my very first VP job with my employer. I appreciate being given the opportunity to participate in the program. The program helped me achieve what I wanted which was to have a mentor that could give some great guidance on how to get to the next phase of my career, while also being a friend who cared about me.”
Patricia Martin, Vice President, Network Operations, Cox Communications
“The Women’s TechConnect Initiative has been a great opportunity to meet and share ideas and aspirations with a dynamic group of women across the cable industry. Having a mentor that has accomplished so much personally and made significant contributions to the industry has been a great asset. The networking, webinars, and one-on-one meetings with my mentor have helped to deepen my understanding of the opportunities available, as well as continue to develop my personal brand and skills so that I can achieve my goals. The TechConnect Initiative is a great opportunity to learn more about the industry and to gain valuable insights for the women pioneers that are leading the way!”
Carol Ann Sweeney, Senior Manager, Procurement, Comcast
Questions?

If you have any questions about this program or would like additional information, please contact:

TechConnect Facilitator
Shannon Cassidy
610-431-2888
shannon@bridgebetween.com

The WICT Network
Megan Marksberry
202-827-4789
mmarksberry@wict.org

 

The WICT Network gratefully acknowledges the Women in STEM sponsor: