ACE NextGen Chicago's International Women’s Day: #EmbraceEquity Together

We will gather to discuss ways we can come together to #EmbraceEquity Together. Our panel of inspiring and accomplished women will share experiences and insights on the challenges and opportunities of achieving gender equity in the workplace and beyond. Come join us to be part of a dialogue that will move us closer to achieving our goals for equality for all. This will happen on March 16 5-7PM at Grace + Ivory (1820 West Webster Avenue #Unit 420 Chicago, IL 6061)

SPEAKERS

1. Teresa Ging

CEO & Founder, Sugar Bliss

With a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Chicago in Economics and Statistics and a career in finance for 6+ years, owner Teresa Ging left her finance position to attend Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie program in Paris. When she returned to Chicago she set out to pursue a dream to open a cupcake boutique and spent eight months testing cupcake recipes. In October 2007, Ging launched the catering and delivery side of the business with 20+ flavors in the Sugar Bliss cupcake collection. In January 2009, Teresa Ging opened Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique at 115 N Wabash in the Downtown Chicago Loop and in July 2016, she opened Sugar Bliss Patisserie at the Palmer House Hilton at 122 S Wabash. In addition, she has received numerous awards since opening Sugar Bliss including Enterprising Women of the Year Award in 2019, Rising Star Award from the Women's Business Development Center in 2011, and Best New Business from the City Treasurer's Office/City of Chicago in 2010, as well as has been invited by President Obama to attend the signing of the White House Council on Women & Girls.

2. Valarie King-Bailey

Founder & CEO, OnShore Technology Group, Inc.

Valarie King-Bailey is the CEO of OnShore Technology Group – a Chicago-based company that markets a unique, innovative platform and services designed to accelerate validation and quality processes for life sciences companies. For over 40 years, Valarie has had a remarkable journey in engineering and technology and is recognized as an exceptional leader, who has worked diligently to reach the C-Suite. The following is an insightful look at her remarkable career journey leading to her current role as one of the few black female tech executives leading an INC 5000 company and what the future holds for Valarie and OnShore Technology Group.

3. Karina Mora

Photographer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Karina Mora Photography

Karina Mora is a professional photographer, speaker, podcaster and is devoted to helping people reclaim their cultural legacies as she elevates her Mexican culture through photography, guided trips to Mexico, and her podcast Elevating La Cultura. Through her workshops she helps first and second gen Latinas move past assimilation to reclaim their own cultural legacy. She currently lives in Chicago with her two kids and husband where they just purchased a building to host workshops, small events , and various creative projects that elevate the importance of cultural legacy.

4. Ari Krzyzek

CEO & Head of Strategy, Chykalophia

CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia (read: see-ka-lo-fia), Ari Krzyzek helps FemTech, DTC, and women-led brands transform their website into platforms that drive business growth. She co-author of the Top 3 Best Sellers book in web design, Made to Sell: Creating Websites that Convert. She serves as a branding, UX consultant, and professional peer in support of fellow female entrepreneurs through the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world, 1871 Chicago and Chicago’s global healthcare startup incubator, MATTER. She’s the co-host of Halo Femtech Podcast, a podcast that honors disruptive innovators and change-makers advancing women’s health. Furthermore, she helps women in tech and design break into the industry and succeeds in it by mentoring them for personal branding, career advancement, and entrepreneurship through Interaction Design Foundation, and Chicago Innovation.

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