Mia joins Women's Breakfast during the Immersive Technology Summit in Orlando

The Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit was an exciting event that showcased the latest advancements in emerging technologies and highlighted the importance of upskilling and education in the tech industry. Presented in partnership with Full Sail University and the VR/AR Association - Central Florida Chapter, the summit brought together business leaders, technology professionals, and job seekers from a variety of industries, including aerospace, healthcare, entertainment, and higher education.

Immersive Technology Summit Women's Breakfast

The event kicked off with the Immersive Technology Summit Women’s Breakfast, where Mia's co-founder Tarja Stephens provided one of the keynote speeches on the "Skills of the Future" and the "Women of the Future". The breakfast which brought together incredible women who are leading the way in innovation, diversity, leadership, and talent in the city's emerging tech ecosystem. The breakfast featured discussions on upskilling, skill-based learning, and the importance of investing in the education and development of diverse talent to create new opportunities and career pathways for all. The breakfast highlighted the Women of the Future book shining a light on Top 100 Women Globally leading the way in emerging technologies.

A special thank you to Ariane Fikki for organizing the Immersive Technology Summit women's breakfast and the great gathering.

Immersive Technology Summit

Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to explore the tech expo, where companies exhibited their latest tech, and participate in industry panels and presentations featuring subject matter experts who shared the latest advancements in immersive technology. The career fair was also a great opportunity for job seekers to connect with leading companies and find opportunities in the tech industry.

One of the highlights of the event was the keynote speech by Amy Peck, who spoke about the metaverse and its potential to transform businesses. Her inspiring speech highlighted the strategies companies need to adopt in order to thrive in the new world.

The event featured three speaking tracks that explored the future of immersive technology, its applications in business, entertainment, and media, and its impact on education and training.

The first speaking track focused on the future of immersive technology and featured a panel of experts discussing the latest trends and developments in the field. They talked about how the metaverse and other emerging technologies are transforming the way we live and work, and shared insights on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The Lenovo VR/AR #ThinkReality team also gave attendees a glimpse into the future of these technologies.

The second speaking track explored the applications of immersive technology in business, entertainment, and media. Panelists discussed the ways in which immersive technology is revolutionizing these industries and how companies can leverage these technologies to create new business opportunities and engage audiences in new ways.

The third speaking track focused on the impact of immersive technology on education and training. Panelists discussed how immersive technologies are transforming the way we learn and train, and shared examples of how these technologies are being used in higher education, workforce training, and professional development.

The summit highlighted the importance of upskilling and investing in the education and development of diverse talent, creating new opportunities and career pathways for all. It emphasized the need to take action on a local level, while recognizing that our efforts can have a broader impact that extends beyond our immediate surroundings.

Here are five main takeaways from the Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit:

1. The future is here: Emerging technologies, such as VR and AR, are transforming the way we live and work, and the immersive technology industry is rapidly growing. This presents a huge opportunity for businesses and job seekers alike.
2. Upskilling is critical: As technology continues to evolve, upskilling and investing in education and development is critical to remain competitive in the job market. Companies must prioritize the development of diverse talent in order to create new opportunities and career pathways for all.
3. Collaboration is key: The summit brought together business leaders, technology professionals, and job seekers from a variety of industries to explore the impact of immersive technology. Collaboration between different industries and sectors is key to driving innovation and advancing the field.
4. Immersive technology has diverse applications: Immersive technology has diverse applications in industries such as healthcare, entertainment and travel, sports and fitness, and higher education. Companies can leverage these technologies to create new business opportunities and engage audiences in new ways.
5. Women are leading the way: The Immersive Technology Summit Women's Breakfast brought together inspiring women who are leading the way in innovation, diversity, leadership, and talent in the city's emerging tech ecosystem. The discussions on upskilling and the importance of investing in diverse talent highlighted the importance of gender diversity in the tech industry.

The Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit was an inspiring event that showcased the latest advancements in emerging technologies and highlighted the importance of upskilling and education in the tech industry. Full Sail University, and the VR/AR Association - Central Florida Chapter in partnership with Orlando Economy Partnership brought a successful event to the Orlando Tech ecosystem. Attendees had the opportunity to meet incredible tech professionals and business leaders, make valuable connections, and gain insights into the latest developments in immersive technology. We look forward to a bright future for the Orlando community, filled with emerging technologies!

Watch the event recap

A special thank you to Ariane Fikki and John A. Cunningham of Unity, Haifa Raja Maamar, PhD of Full Sail University, VR/AR Association - Central Florida Chapter, Lindse Murphy of Orlando Economic Partnership for organizing the Immersive Technology Summit and the great gathering.

Access to the full speaker list and event link HERE | About the Immersive Technology Summit HERE

Mia is a JobTech company bridging the gap between education and employment. We help women develop skills and build careers in emerging technologies through alternative pathways. Our mission is to unlock new economic opportunities for one million women and accelerate the impact of one billion women by 2030.