From Vision to Impact: Immigrant Leaders Breaking Barriers
📍 Canopy in Menlo Park
📅 Friday, May 9, 2025 | 5 PM - 9 PM
🥘 Food: Will be provided by Femigrants Foundation
👔 Dress Code: White and/or Red
Open to ALL genders: IMMIGRANTS in tech, startups, investments, and SMBs.
RSVP: Registration closes at 12 PM on May 9th. We don't sell tickets at the door. Please bring your ID and a copy of the ticket.
Organized by the Femigrants Foundation and hosted by the Canopy Office in Menlo Park, this unique gathering features a panel of IMMIGRANT executive leaders from Fortune 500 tech companies, investors, and startup founders who raised millions of dollars.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Professional Networking with successful global immigrant leaders, executives, investors, and startup founders.
Elegantly designed homemade food by Femigrants Foundation.
Panel discussions with executive-level successful immigrant leaders of Fortune 500 Tech companies, investors, and startup founders raising millions of dollars.
Red-carpet photo session by Dean Birinyi Photography, Femigrants' loyal partner.
Welcoming atmosphere, supportive community, and sisterhood of diverse immigrants of the Bay Area.
Elegance. Sophistication. Supportive Network. Memorable Experience. Long-Term Connections. Authentic Conversation.
SPEAKERS
STARTUP PANEL
JP PERSICO | $10M BAY AREA SEED FUND
Co-Founder & Managing Partner | ShuckerVC
JP Persico is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at ShuckerVC, a $10M Bay Area seed fund investing in AI-powered B2B software companies.
With over 20 years of experience in business transformation and venture capital, JP previously served as Head of Strategy and CVC for a major industrial conglomerate, where his investments achieved top decile DPI.
His operational experience includes driving 20x growth as VP of Platform at a mobile auto repair software platform. JP advises SaaS, AI, and deep tech startups, and holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
MERCEDES SORIA | RAISED $120M | Now Public
EVP & Chief Intelligence Officer | Knightscope, Inc.
Mercedes Soria is a powerhouse entrepreneur and the EVP & Chief Intelligence Officer at Knightscope, a groundbreaking public safety robotics company she co-founded and helped take public.
An alumna of Harvard Business School, Emory University, and MIT, Mercedes brings a rare combination of engineering precision and visionary leadership.
Her entrepreneurial mindset and relentless execution have earned her honors including Most Influential Woman in Silicon Valley, the GHC Abie Award for Leadership, and Forbes Technology Council membership. She’s also an international voice for women in STEM as a U.S. Department of State speaker and mentor through the TechWomen program. Currently serving as a formal delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
KALAI RAMEA | RAISED $2.4M
Co-founder & CTO, Planette | ClimateTech | AI
Dr. Kalai Ramea is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Planette, where she leads the creation of transformative technologies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and climate science.
Before founding Planette, Dr. Ramea led a team of AI scientists at PARC (Palo Alto Research Center), where she directed early-stage research at the frontier of AI and science.
Dr. Ramea holds a Ph.D. in quantitative modeling for climate policy and energy systems and has spent over a decade advancing the role of AI in sustainability. Her interdisciplinary expertise enables her to develop technologies that are not only technically robust but also socially meaningful.
HELEN Y. CHEN | RAISED $2M+
Co-Founder Alixia | Cancer Drug Discovery | Y Combinator
Helen Chen is the co-founder and CEO of Alixia, a San Francisco-based biotech company developing novel therapeutics for treating cancer and age-related diseases. She brings more than 15 years of drug discovery and startup growth strategy experience.
An award-winning scientist and entrepreneur, Helen is part of the Y Combinator and Stanford StartX hi-tech community and was one of the top 10 women biotech entrepreneurs in the US selected by Springboard BioHub in 2016.
She received her PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Diego, and her BS degree in molecular biochemistry & biophysics from Yale University.
TECH PANEL
DENISE A. NELSON |
Former Head of Marketing, Google Cloud.
Accomplished global marketing executive with a proven track record of leading thought leadership initiatives to enhance brand recognition and drive demand.
Consistently selected to lead high-impact global business transformation projects for Fortune 50 companies.
Recognized for creating cohesive marketing strategies embraced by global teams.
Before Google, Denise worked at NVIDIA, Intel Corporation and Hewlett-Packard.
ALLEN WU | IMMIGRANT FROM CHINA
Director of Corporate Development at NVIDIA
Allen graduated with a BA in Economics and a master’s degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.
Allen’s professional career started at Medallia, a Sequoia-backed enterprise software startup, where he worked as a professional services consultant.
After earning his MBA from Columbia University, Allen joined JP Morgan’s technology investment banking team, working closely with public and private companies on IPOs, capital raising, and mergers.
His desire to work with companies driven by long-term visions ultimately led him to NVIDIA, where he now leads large-scale investments and acquisitions while working with senior executives to define the company’s strategic roadmap.
SARITHA VRITTAMANI | FEMIGRANT FROM INDIA
Director, Delivery Management at Microsoft
As a seasoned technology leader with a passion for innovation and diversity in tech, Saritha Vrittamani has spearheaded transformative projects across multiple industries.
Currently serving as Director of Delivery Management at Microsoft, she leads teams in delivering cutting-edge Data & AI solutions for Customers, leveraging Azure and AI technologies to drive innovation.
With a rich background spanning software engineering to leadership roles at Tech Mahindra, eBay, and Bank of America, Saritha brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic business acumen.
Her Executive MBA from Southern Methodist University and patents in Data Security Technology underscore her commitment to innovation and technical excellence.
MALINI MURALIDHARAN | FEMIGRANT FROM INDIA
Senior Director of Strategy & Operations at NetApp
Malini is a seasoned technology and business strategy leader who guides organizations through complex challenges to achieve scalable growth. At NetApp, she champions operational excellence and cross-functional alignment, driving high-impact initiatives that advance the company's global strategic objectives.
With over two decades of experience in Fortune 500 companies and international markets, Malini combines technical acuity with executive leadership. Her corporate strategy, business development, and team leadership expertise has led to transformative outcomes across industries.
She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering with High Honors from Rutgers University.
AYTAKIN (IKA) ALIYEVA | FEMIGRANT FROM AZERBAIJAN | Panel Moderator
Forbes & Business Insider-featured Community Builder, and the Founder of the Femigrants Foundation. She also hosts the “Verso Talk with Aytakin” podcast.
In her podcast, she shares powerful conversations with successful immigrant leaders in Silicon Valley. Together, they explore investing, fundraising, and financial literacy, inspiring immigrants with authentic conversations, real stories, and practical advice to build financial independence and confidently thrive in America.
Aytakin received double gold awards at the esteemed Women Changing the World Awards 2023 in London, presented by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Additionally, she was honored as a 2024 Award Winner and recognized as a Community Builder and one of the Top 100 Women in Tech by KSV.
Her work has been covered by major outlets, including Forbes, Business Insider, Economic Insider, Yahoo Finance, AP News, the London Daily Post, the Washington Times, the US Times, Intuit, HuffPost, and more.
Along with her community leadership, Aytakin has worked at Fortune 500 tech companies, including Instagram, Facebook, NVIDIA, and HTC VIVE.
AGENDA
5:00 PM - 6:25 PM Checkin. Networking | Enjoy Food | Red Carpet Photo Session |
6:30 PM - 6:45 PM Event Opening | Welcoming by Canopy
6:50 PM - 6:55 PM Presentation by HAAG Staffing – Your One-Stop Talent Partner
7:00 PM - 7:45 PM Tech Panel
7:50 PM - 8:30 PM Startup Panel
8:30 PM - 8:50 PM Final Networking
9:00 PM Event ends!
EVENT DETAILS:
Guest speakers will share their powerful journeys, discussing the challenges they overcame, the lessons they learned, and the invaluable impact they’ve had in their industries.
As an event attendee, you will gain first-hand insights into the keys to their success, including leadership, resilience, innovation, and the role of AI in shaping the future.
This event goes beyond just inspiring stories.
It is an opportunity for connection, growth, and access to resources that can propel your career and business to the next level.
By attending, you’ll network with top-level executives, influential leaders, and like-minded professionals who share your ambition.
Whether you are a founder, investor, or aspiring leader, the "Breaking Barriers" event provides the platform to expand your professional network, foster relationships with potential collaborators, and gain insights that will drive your success.
Don't miss your chance to engage with some of the most influential people in tech, investment, and the startup world.
SPONSORSHIP & EVENT BOOTH
If you're interested in sponsoring this event, please email us at events@femigrans.com with the subject line "May Event Sponsorship."
We also welcome small businesses that would like to showcase their products or services at a booth table to reach our diverse and engaged audience.
For booth inquiries, please email events@femigrants.com with subject line "May Event Booth."
EVENT ORGANIZER
This event is organized by AYTAKIN ALIYEVA, Founder of the Femigrants Foundation, and a Podcast Host of the "Verso Talk with Aytakin"
FEMIGRANTS FOUNDATION
Founded in 2017 by the immigrant founder, Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva, Femigrants is a global community (501c3 non-profit) of diverse female immigrants in startups, investments, businesses, and tech. At Femigrants, we connect immigrant leaders to business and career growth resources through unique events and training programs.
FEMIGRANTS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS
If you plan to attend multiple events organized by Femigrants, becoming an official member will save you money. We offer discounted prices exclusively to Femigrants community members. To receive discounts on this event and future events, join the Femigrants Community now!
PHOTOS from Femigrants PREVIOUS EVENTS
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT TERMS
*You and your guest must be 21+ with ID to attend this event.
Political and Religious Discourse:
Femigrants Foundation is a nonpartisan organization (501c3).
*The Femigrants Foundation does not endorse any political or religious viewpoints, and we do not approve of any discussions or speeches about political issues or religion.
We encourage all members, participants, volunteers, speakers, and sponsors to respect this principle and engage in dialogue that aligns with our mission of empowerment, connection, and support for female immigrants.
Assumption of Responsibility:
By participating in this event, you acknowledge your responsibility for any accidents or damages that may be caused by your actions. Furthermore, you agree not to hold the Femigrants Foundation or any of the event supporters accountable for any losses, damages, injuries, or unforeseeable incidents.
Consent to Share Information with Sponsors:
By registering for this event, you consent to the sharing of your full name and email address with our event sponsors. This information may be used for sponsor-related communications and networking purposes. We respect your privacy, and your details will only be shared with our trusted sponsors. If you have any concerns, please contact us directly prior to the event.
Media Release:
In the course of your participation in the event, you grant Femigrants Foundation permission to capture photographs and videos for event documentation and promotional purposes.
By registering for Femigrants events, you grant permission for your photos and videos to be featured in news media, news articles, or related media outlets for marketing purposes.
Your agreement also acknowledges the potential inclusion of visual content captured during the event in various Femigrants' media outlets, including but not limited to Femigrants' website, social media platforms, newsletters, and other promotional materials.
Consent to Email Communication:
By registering for this event, you consent to receive email communications from the Femigrants Foundation and its affiliated programs regarding event updates and information that may be of interest to you.
Non-Refundable Tickets:
Please be aware that tickets for this event are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, you retain the option to transfer your ticket to a friend or team member who can attend in your stead. Please email events@femigrants.com to transfer your ticket. A minimum of 7 business days before the event is required to transfer your ticket to your friend or colleague. We do not accept last-minute requests.