Keynote Speakers
Join us at the upcoming WE Local conferences for an exceptional series of keynote sessions featuring distinguished speakers who are pioneers in their industries. Each speaker brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience, ensuring that you leave inspired and equipped with actionable insights. Don’t miss the chance to learn from these influential voices and engage in meaningful discussions that will shape the future of our profession!
Filter by Location

- Cherry Hill
- Opening Keynote
- March 7, 2025
Dr. Maria Klawe
- President
- Math for America
- Getting More Women into Tech Careers and Why It Matters
- The participation of females in in computer science and engineering majors continues to be low. This is unfortunate for young women because of the incredible career opportunities, for the tech industry because of the loss of incoming talent, and for society because of the loss of diversity of perspective among tech teams. I will talk about the reasons why women tend not major in computer science and engineering fields and how Harvey Mudd College was able to raise the percentage of women in each major to 50%.
Maria Klawe joined Math for America as president in late 2023 after a 17-year term as Harvey Mudd College’s fifth president. Prior to joining HMC, she served as dean of engineering and professor of computer science at Princeton University. Klawe joined Princeton from the University of British Columbia where she served in various roles from 1988 to 2002. Before her time at UBC, Klawe spent eight years with IBM Research in California and two years at the University of Toronto. She received her Ph.D. (1977) and B.Sc. (1973) in mathematics from the University of Alberta. Klawe is a member of the boards of Phenome Health and the nonprofits, Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), and the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics. She has also served as a founding advisory board member of Parity.org, a fellow for the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and is a trustee for the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute. Klawe was ranked 17 on Fortune’s 2014 list of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.

- Cherry Hill
- Closing Keynote
- March 8, 2025
Lori McDowell, PhD
- CEO
- Reimagine U Strategies
- From Limiting Beliefs to Limitless Possibilities: Engineering Your Best Life
- In this empowering keynote, discover how to break through the mental barriers that hold you back and unlock your full potential. We’ll explore the role of mindset in shaping your career and life, identify the limiting beliefs that prevent growth, and learn actionable strategies to transform them into limitless possibilities. Whether you're navigating challenges in your engineering career or striving for greater fulfillment, this talk will equip you with the tools to engineer your best life—on your terms.
Lori McDowell, PhD, is a renowned life, mindset, and reinvention coach dedicated to empowering women in STEM. With a passion for helping high-achieving women engineers break through limiting beliefs and reclaim their purpose, she is the founder of Reimagine U Strategies and the award-winning author of The Reinvention Mindset. Both are focused on mindset breakthroughs, career and life fulfillment, and personal growth.
As a successful entrepreneur and mindset expert, Lori has led countless individuals to shift their perspectives and transform their lives through her workshops, coaching programs, and speaking engagements. With over thirty years in corporate engineering and now as a successful entrepreneur, Lori has a unique combination of experience that provides insight into building the right mindset for business success and personal fulfillment.
Lori has spoken at national conferences and International Events, including a recent TEDx Talk entitled “One Simple Shift To Reinvent Your Reality,” where she delivers dynamic talks on topics such as overcoming limiting beliefs, work-life integration, and reimagining success. Known for her engaging style and powerful storytelling, Lori inspires women to elevate their careers, reignite their passion, and craft lives filled with purpose and joy.
When she’s not speaking or coaching, Lori enjoys being outdoors, traveling, spending time with family, and hosting scuba and wellness retreats that blend adventure with personal transformation.