A Look at Educational Speakers
Natalie Panek | Rocket Scientist & Advocate for Women in Tech
Natalie’s experience as a woman working in a non-traditional field and a male-dominated industry offers a unique perspective on the opportunities for women in technology fields. She works passionately to blaze a new trail and empower women in the fields of science and technology engineering. Natalie was recently featured in a Fast Company article looking at how prominent women in STEM are ensuring their stories are part of the narrative about space careers. These leaders have the explicit goal of attracting more young women to STEM careers.“It’s not enough to talk about record enrollment in engineering or computer science courses in university. A wider perspective is necessary, which looks at the statistics regarding women advancing in their careers into leadership, director-level, and board-level positions.”You can read the full article here.
Andy Hargreaves | Educational Change & Sustainable Leadership Expert
Andy Hargreaves has been studying how to improve the work of teachers, principals and schools for nearly 30 years in his native United Kingdom, Canada and the US. Bridging theory and practice, Hargreaves searches for successful initiatives that can be shared in any classroom. Hargreaves is eager to mine insights into the educational experience, whether they come from international data sets – or David Bowie’s report card. Following the British singer’s death last month, Hargreaves paid tribute on Twitter, posting a teacher’s report card comment that the future global superstar was a “complete exhibitionist” and lamenting that if the young Bowie was more focused and consistent, “his ability would have been put to better use!” In February, Andy was presented with the Horace Mann League of the USA’s 2016 Outstanding Friend of Public Education Award. The award is presented to the public schools’ leading advocates and thinkers, including past recipients Marian Wright Edelman, Pedro Noguera, Diane Ravitch and Jonathan Kozol.“Andy’s work – specifically his recent books – and his ability to communicate to many audiences made a direct connection with us and we’re pleased to honor him as a friend of public education.” -Executive Director, Horace Mann League
Tariq Fancy | Ex-Wall Street Star turned Non-Profit Social Entrepreneur, CEO of the Rumie Initiative
After creating one billion in profit for investors as the youngest Partner at a Wall Street firm, Tariq shocked his peers by leaving to pursue a new goal of helping one billion children receive an education through his award-winning low-cost technology approach. In 2013 Tariq founded Rumie, a non-profit organisation that uses low-cost technology to provide access to education for underprivileged children around the globe. Rumie was awarded the Best Social Startup award at the 2014 Startup Open. Tariq recently delivered a talk at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. He explains what Rumie is all about and the value of education: