IDEATION 2024: A WBE Conference on AI

As a proud sponsor of the Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) Pacific's IDEATION 2024, an all-day conference held on June 25, 2024, at the University of California, Berkeley, UC supported an inspiring event that brought together industry leaders, innovators, and women-owned businesses. Themed “Connecting Emerging Technology, Knowledge, and Tools to Grow Your Business,” the event provided a platform for meaningful discussions on cutting-edge topics, such as the impact of AI on business growth and supply chain performance, and facilitated connections between diverse suppliers and corporations.

Now in its fifth year, IDEATION hosts some of the biggest names in tech, leading WBEs and Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. This year's headliners included Nancy Douyon, who opened with an engaging keynote on ethical AI strategies. This dynamic showcase of collaboration and innovation also included valuable roundtable discussions and matchmaking sessions. We were particularly impressed with the Supplier Diversity XPRIZE Challenge, which underscored the event’s focus on driving real change in supplier diversity practices.

The energy and dedication of the attendees was palpable throughout the day, especially as it culminated in the Top Corporation Awards ceremony, recognizing businesses that excel in supporting women-owned enterprises. Witnessing the passion and commitment to creating more inclusive, innovative, and successful business ecosystems was rewarding as a sponsor. 

"IDEATION is a transformative event that provided women business enterprises (WBEs) of all sizes with insights on how to leverage AI and technology to benefit their businesses," said Dr. Janice R. Greene, President and CEO of WBEC Pacific. "This event helped WBEs gain invaluable knowledge and strategies to integrate technology into their business processes, foster economic growth, seize new opportunities, and develop a competitive edge in the global marketplace." 

IDEATION 2024 truly exemplified the power of ideation, collaboration, and action. UC looks forward to continuing our partnership with WBEC Pacific and further supporting initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs and diverse suppliers in the business world.

Sponsor organizations included: University of California, Google, T-Mobile, TransPak, California Water Association, San Jose Water, SKANSKA, Shellee Fisher Photography & Design, MPATH, Bishop Wisecarver, R Mo Global Diversity Solutions, Siemens.