Is Tech the Best Platform to Solve Social and Environmental Challenges? | Net Impact

Around the world, technological solutions are going beyond swiping and "liking" to address real social and environmental issues. Jobs in the tech industry are becoming increasingly popular for individuals looking to have a career with purpose. We know you care about the impact tech space so we have designed multiple options for you to discover the booming tech industry and explore career paths to enter the field at the 2017 Net Impact Conference. 

Conference registration prices will rise on October 17 at 12:00pm PST! Register today to save money and jump start your impact career in tech. 

Inspirational speakers

We have dozens of speakers across a variety of tech industries who will give you insight into their fields, offer career advice, and answer any questions you may have. On the mainstage, we have a keynote speaker who is a driven, successful, and most importantly impactful tech entrepreneur, Kathryn Finney. 

Kathryn Finney is the founder and Managing Director of digitalundivided, a social enterprise helping Black and Latina women own their work using innovation and technology as a tool. She is a White House Champion of Change, a past member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) and a General Partner at Harriet Fund, the first impact venture fund for high-potential Black and Latina women-led startups.

You will also hear from rising stars in the field of tech, such as the Toyota Next Generation Mobility Challenge winner, Wenxin “Sally” Xia. The Toyota Next Generation Mobility Challenge was a competition organized by Net Impact with Toyota and the Toyota Mobility Foundation to inspire millennials to develop solutions for mobility needs in local communities and around the world. Sally was a member of the winning team from Georgia Tech. Their solution is an app-based, para-transit taxi service that gives people who use wheelchairs a safe, affordable, and flexible way to get around. Para Pickup would supplement current public para-transit services, which are dependable, but are often inflexible and slower.

Workshops, boot camps, excursions, and more

Our full NI17 program is filled with opportunities to network with leading professionals in the field of tech and gain the skills and experiences to become one yourself. One highlight is our Boot Camp: From Design Thinking to Design Doing where you will join Pact's Head of Innovation and Design for an immersive, introductory look at human-centered design and learn what is means to design with empathy. 

In the workshop, Leveraging Technology as a Force for Good leaders on the forefront of new technology will share what they are working on and predict where the field is going. You can step outside of the conference center in our ad-on excursion, Tech for Good Accelerated where you will explore Atlanta’s center for tech and innovation. 

The Robot!

At NI17, Doug Moore, Director, Technology for Human Support Group for Toyota Motor North America, will speak about the company’s work to enrich lives and society by advancing mobility for all.  One example is its Human Support Robot (HSR), which helps people with limited mobility, such as people in wheelchairs, complete everyday tasks.  Toyota will hold demonstrations of the HSR onsite during the scheduled coffee breaks. Watch the robot in action: