Breaking Boundaries: Hybrid Roles in the Tech Industry
Technology will always influence how we live and work, but you do not have to be a technologist or coder to drive impact in the field. Join this session to learn about the power and potential of tech-adjacent roles. See how you can bring your unique experiences and skillset to be an innovator in the tech industry. In this virtual masterclass, a mixed panel of professionals will share their insights and stories about navigating the tech landscape in unconventional ways.
Our Panellists
Lydia McIntosh, Senior Director of Identity Intelligence at RBC
Lydia McIntosh is the Senior Director of Identity Intelligence at RBC. With an educational background and early career in HR, Lydia has spent the past 10 years at RBC working within the Identity and Access Management domain. Throughout her tenure, she has had the opportunity to work in multiple lines of business, including Capital Markets, Risk Management, and Global Cyber Security, where she currently leads the IAM Data Intelligence function. In her current role, she joins together her strong IAM domain knowledge with a passion to use data to drive business process and operational efficiencies, and enable new risk and compliance insights.
Nabilah Chowdhury- Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at CIFAR
Nabilah is the Director, Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at CIFAR. Nabilah leads the delivery of the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs Program, Next Generation AI Training Programs and the AI & Society Program. These programs provide dedicated research funding to Canada CIFAR AI Chairs, supporting the next generation of AI leaders as well as encompass initiatives focused on exploring the impact of AI on society and responsible AI adoption.
Prior to joining CIFAR, she was at Brain Canada in Montreal, where she supported the management of neuroscience research grants and facilitated the development of scientific programs for Canadian scientists. Nabilah obtained her BSc in neuroscience from Dalhousie University and completed her PhD at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto. She published several articles in the field of pharmacogenetics before deciding to pursue a career in research strategy and programming.
Anis Sharafoddini, Adjunct faculty member at Northeastern University
Anis holds a PhD in Health Data Science from the University of Waterloo and has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. At Deloitte, she led data science projects across diverse industries, leveraging machine learning to generate actionable insights. At Sanofi, Anis helped launch generative AI capabilities for synthetic data. Currently, at Supply Ontario, she drives the development of cloud infrastructure, data collection systems, advanced analytics and BI initiatives to enhance the resilience and efficiency of Ontario's supply chain. Anis also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Northeastern University, contributing to programs in Information Technology, Analytics, and Biotechnology.
Emily Stewart, Product Manager at RBC
Emily is a currently a Product Manager at RBC, building reporting and data solutions to drive data-informed decisions across the Transformation and Chief Operating Office. Prior to this role, Emily has held a number of positions across RBC focusing on large-scale transformations and data optimization initiatives. Emily is also an advocate for inclusivity in tech and co-leads the Marketing and Communications pillar of the RBC Women in Technology Employee Resource Group. Outside of work, she enjoys taking culinary classes at George Brown College.