Philly Tech Week 2019

Currently a Search Outreach Specialist at Google, Aurora supports site owners and content creators in improving content accessibility through search. Before joining Google in her previous role as a Brand Specialist, Aurora spent time at Twitter and Youtube, and also has a background in journalism. Before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, Aurora lived in Dublin and Madrid.

Jumoke K. Dada, Principal and Founder, Signature RED and Tech Women Network

Jumoke Dada is best described as a techie and visionary whose sweet spot lies at the intersection on innovation, entrepreneurship, goodwill and girl power.

Dada holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences and real estate certification from Temple University. She is also a certified Scrum Master. Her corporate technical experience includes work as an application developer, business and systems analyst, quality assurance tester, and technical project manager. As the principal of Signature RED, she offers tech consulting services to companies and creates tools and resources for women interested in careers in technology. In 2017, she created the Tech Women Network - an online, searchable platform and community for women with technical skills.

Over the years, she has hosted several educational events and workshops including Building iOS Mobile Apps, Rails Girls, Techies Who Brunch, and the HUE Tech Summit for women of color in tech. Dada is a public speaker with a growing passion to empower women and girls especially those with interests in STEM fields. In the summer, she gives back through her non-profit Signature Red Cares whose main program, Project ALOE, gives care packages and advice to college-bound girls. Dada has been recognized in several media outlets for her innovative ideas, leadership skills and community involvement. Additionally, she is a contributing writer for ForbesWomen where she covers diversity in tech.

To learn more about her work, visit dadaverse.org or follow @jumokedada on Twitter.

Holly Quinn is the lead reporter for Technical.ly Delaware. A Wilmington native and AIHS grad, she attended Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, back when it was located on an old estate in Elkins Park (not to date herself or anything). When she’s not covering tech in the First State, she writes reviews of local theater productions.

Stephen Babcock is the Assistant Editor for Technical.ly. Stephen Babcock began reporting for Technical.ly in Baltimore in 2014. A graduate of Northeastern University, he moved to Baltimore following stints in New Orleans and Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Baltimore Fishbowl, NOLA Defender, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune and the Rio Grande Sun.

With a combined 15 years of experience in human resources and theatre production, Beth is passionate about crafting world class employee experiences within innovative technology companies. She believes HR should be about helping people achieve their goals, building pathways for them to progress in their careers, and creating an environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work. Outside of the office, she loves spending quality time with her television, discussing spatio-temporal crime patterns with her criminologist husband, and making everything from scratch in her small South Philly kitchen.

Michelai Graham is a creative investigative and multimedia reporter. She completed her M.A. in journalism and public affairs with an investigative journalism focus in July 2018. Prior to graduate school, Michelai acquired a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in media & information from Michigan State University, where she served as co-writer during a study abroad program to India. She also serves as the chapter journalist for the Washington DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is also an active member.

Founder and CEO of The Ladipo Group, Tonya Ladipo, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), is the visionary behind the region’s only counseling and consulting practice specializing in serving Black and African-American communities. Tonya has a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Widener University (2004). She is also a graduate of the Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program (2016).

Using her unique perspective as a clinician, Tonya understands what motivates people and organizations to change. She is driven to help individuals and organizations develop healthy and sustainable relationships that fosters growth and opportunities for all. With a commitment to making workplaces more inclusive so people of all backgrounds can succeed, Tonya applies her clinical knowledge and expertise to the consulting and training services The Ladipo Group conducts with organizations.

Our motto of Knowledge is Good, Behavior is Better underscores the approach to creating and maintaining an inclusive and welcoming workplace that is free of bullying with opportunities for advancement for all.

As an engaging speaker on inclusive workplace cultures, emotional intelligence, and women’s wellness Tonya speaks to large audiences (500+) as well more intimate gatherings.

Recent speaking events include Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit (Feb. 2019), Philadelphia SHRM Conference (March 2019) and PHL’s Diversity and Inclusion Conference (March 2019).

Tonya was the keynote speaker at the Philadelphia Works’ Workforce Development Conference in 2017, as well as the keynote speaker for Villanova University’s Women of Color luncheon in May 2015. She was a speaker at the Black Women Talk Tech conference in 2018. In 2015 she was also awarded the Advena World Most Outstanding Speaker award.

Since co-founding Flocabulary in 2004, Alex has been responsible for defining the company's strategic vision and building the business from the ground up. A musician by training, Alex has bootstrapped Flocabulary into a mission-driven edtech company that now reaches millions of students.

Named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business in 2018, Alex is a regular author and speaker on education, entrepreneurship and social enterprise. He is a member of the Nationswell Council and has served as a mentor for 4.0 Schools and the StartEd Accelerator. Alex is also the creator of Big Idea Week, a community-supported entrepreneurship program for elementary and middle schools. A Philadelphia native, Alex now lives in Brooklyn, NY.