It's no secret that the tech industry suffers from some gender disparities. Sometimes, this is most evident at tech and startup events, where the demographics of speakers and panelists can be sort of one-note.
We here at Minne Inno believe that this likely isn't intentional. Like a lot of things in the Twin Cities startup scene, it all comes down to visibility. Minnesota is filled with smart, powerful women and non-binary folks who have started companies, raised funding, worked for major research institutions and much more. Maybe if these local entrepreneurs and business leaders were easier to find, they'd stand a greater chance of being invited to speak at local tech events.
So we decided to put some of the best and brightest local innovators together on one list.
Below is a list of more than 100 women representing eight different areas of business across Minnesota. We hope to continue updating the list with more names, so please reach out if you know someone that should be added.
Please note: This is not a speaker agreement. It's just a list of accomplished women to consider inviting to future tech and startup events. Click around, make some connections and consider highlighting some of these women at your next Minnesota tech or startup event:
TECHNOLOGY
Amy Gebhardt Lead Front-End Software Engineer, SportsEngine
Bridget Kromhout Principal Cloud Developer Advocate, Microsoft
Jenna Pederson Founder, 612 Software Foundry
Jenessa White Front-End Developer, Software for Good
Eve Poeschl Director of Solutions Architecture, MentorMate
Mary Meehan CEO, Metametrix
April King Staff Security Engineer, Mozilla
Kara Carlisle Vice President of Programs, McKnight Foundation
Kristina Durivage Front End Engineer, SmartThings
Ian Coldwater Lead Platform Security Engineer, Heroku
Michelle Schulp Designer/Strategist, Marktime Media
Stacie Marshall Director of Operations, Foundation Technologies
Amber Christian Founder, Wonderly Software Solutions
Susie Douang Technical Analyst, Slalom
Yuliya Mycka VP/Digital Director, Preston Kelly
Eryn O'Neil Backend Engineer, Modern Tribe
Rachel Williams Vice President of Technical Operations, Comcast
Tessa Kriesel Developer Outreach Manager, Pantheon
Shawn Stavseth Co-Founder, Technovation[MN]
Dana Hazen Director, Women Who Code
Susan Greve City Ambassador, Lesbians Who Tech
BUSINESS
Kristin Dean Vice President of People, Arctic Wolf Networks
Sona Mehring Traction Implementer, 10 for Focus
Angelina Lawton Founder and CEO, Sportsdigita
Dana Nelson Founder, DCN Strategies Vice President of Legacy and Community Partnerships, MN Super Bowl Host Committee
Adrienne Peirce Product Manager, Leadpages
Danielle Steer Managing Director, Lunar Startups
Meghan McInerny Chief Operating Officer, Clockwork Interactive Board Chair, GiveMN
Liwanag Ojala CEO, CaringBridge
Karen Marben Executive Director, Genesys Works
Neela Mollgaard Executive Director, Launch Minnesota
Meredith Kathleen Neumann Healthy Leadership Development, Scaling From Within
Alexa Bloom Community Director, WeWork
Katy Burke Executive Director, TeamWomenMN
Kalyn Hove Vice President of Business Services, Comcast
Jennifer Pennington Co-Founder, Can Can Wonderland
Maria Ploessl Executive Director, Minnestar
Lili Hall CEO and President, KNOCK
Erin Newkirk Chief Marketing Officer, Local Crate
Stephanie Rich Founder, Starting Up North
Anita Patel Leadership Programs Director, Bush Foundation
CREATIVE
Amanda Zweerink Managing Partner, Zeus Jones
Evva Kraikul Founder and Creative Director, GLITCH
Aimee Rekert Treasurer, MIMA
Erica Hanna Owner, Puke Rainbows Creative
Mary Prevost Owner, MJP Strategic Communications
Jasmine Russell Co-Founder, Monicat Data
Alexis Walsko Founder, Lola Red Public Relations
Emily Pritchard Co-Founder, The Social Lights
Twila Dang Founder and CEO, Matriarch Digital Media
Melanie Walby Design Director, Pollen Midwest
Kate Khaled Managing Director, Imagine Deliver
Sarah Schultz Executive Director, American Craft Council
Jamie Millard Executive Director, Pollen
Nancy Lyons Founder and CEO, Clockwork Interactive
Anne Pryor LinkedIn Trainer, Pryority Partnership
Kristi Piehl Founder and CEO, Media Minefield
HEALTHCARE/BIOTECH
Lisa Lavin Founder and CEO, Omcare
Katrina Anderson CEO and Founder, ClinicianNexus
Jill Prevost Co-Founder, Gravie Co-Founder, Bloom Health
Lori Most Founder and CEO, Binary Bridge
Ruth Soucie IT Security Incident Analyst, Medtronic
Becca Egbert CEO, The Mother Love
Diane Rucker Executive Director, University Enterprise Laboratories
Maria Huntley President, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians
ENTREPRENEURS
Melissa Kjolsing Lynch CEO and Co-Founder, Recovree
Caroline Karanja Founder, 26 Letters
Aneela Kumar Co-Founder, HabitAware
Casey Schultz Program Director, Twin Cities Startup Week/Beta.MN
Tamara Temple Software Engineer, Gannett
Kristen Womack Founder, Hello Mom Co-Founder, Hack the Gap
Elyse Ash Founder and CEO, Fruitful Fertility
Elaine Rasmussen CEO, Social Impact Strategies Group Consulting
Jennifer Alstad Founder and CEO, bswing
Margi Scott Founder, Take 12
Kateri Ruiz Founder, MAIA
Kara Rios Founder and CEO, deltPRO
Sabina Saksena Founder and CEO, Cytilife
Angie Eilers CEO and Founder, URTURN
Cora Leibig Founder and CEO, Chromatic 3D Materials
Amanda LaGrange CEO, Tech Dump
Tracy David Founder, Little Acorn Shave Co.
Loring Kaveney President and Co-Founder, Work Out Loud
Elizabeth Wheaton Co-Founder, Rally Registry
Katie Moss Co-Founder, Rally Registry
Alex West Steinman Co-Founder and CEO, The Coven
GOVERNMENT
Irene Fernando Hennepin County Commissioner – District 2
Sharon Kennedy Vickers Chief Information Officer, City of St. Paul
Shawntera Hardy Co-Founder and Head of Strategy, Civic Eagle
Mary Rick Principal Project Manager of Planning and Development, City of St. Paul
FINANCE AND INVESTING
Cathy Connett CEO and Managing Partner, Sofia Fund
Mary Grove Partner, Revolution/Rise of the Rest
Whitney Larson President, Vemos
Kenya McKnight Ahad CEO and President, Black Women's Wealth Alliance
Pat Dillon Director of SBIR, Minnesota High Tech Association
Christine Albrecht Director of SBA Lending, Sunrise Banks
Michelle Johnson Director of Corporate Development, Invenshure
Pam York General Partner, Capita3
Sara Russick General Partner, Capita3
Pooja Shah Managing Director, Gener8tor OnRamp Insurance Accelerator
Aleesha Webb President, Village Bank
Susan Langer Founder and CEO, Live. Give. Save
Me'Lea Connelly Founder, Village Financial Cooperative
FOOD, BEVERAGE AND AGRICULTURE
Lauren Pradhan Managing Director, Grow North
Janet Johanson Owner and General Manager, The Lab CEO, BevSource
Lee Wallace CEO, Peace Coffee
Amanda Heyman Founding Director, Lunar Services Founder, Heyman Legal
Erica Johnston Marketing Manager, General Mills
Jessica Stalbaum Program Manager, Techstars Farm to Fork
Daniela Bowen Culinary Director, Local Crate
Jenifer Hagness Vice President of Marketing, Caribou Coffee
Anita Nelson President, IN Food Marketing & Design
Kjersten Merila Founder, Her Spirits Vodka
Melina Lamer CEO, Superior Switchel Company
Sandy Hansen-Wolff Owner/President, AgVenture Feed & Seed Inc.
ACADEMIA
Jessica Berg Director, Minnesota Cup
Kymm Bartlett Martinez Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, St. Thomas
Dr. Stephanie Lenway Dean, St. Thomas Opus College of Business
Dr. Laura Dunham Associate Dean and Professor in Entrepreneurship, St. Thomas Schulze College of Entrepreneurship
Kate Ryan Reiling Entrepreneur in Residence, Macalester College
Carla Pavone Director, MIN-Corps
Jill Woyak IT Infrastructure Team Lead, University of Minnesota
Cindy Olson VP of Enrollment Management, Dunwoody College of Technology
