Celebrating Women IN Tech

Kickoff Brunch

Join us on September 13th, 2025 as we kick off Indiana Women IN Tech Week NEI 2025 with a celebratory brunch and an inspiring conversation among women leading the way in tech, innovation, and community impact.

This year’s brunch will feature three dynamic speakers who have carved bold paths into technology, leadership, education, and entrepreneurship. Together, we'll explore how women are shaping the future of tech—and how we can take charge of our careers, build the communities we need to succeed, fail forward, and work together to create more equitable, empowered pathways into the industry.

Expect:

✨ Meaningful insights from women in the field
☕ Coffee, brunch bites, and connection
💬 Opportunities to network with peers, students, leaders, and advocates
🚀 A preview of the events happening throughout the week

Whether you're a seasoned tech professional, just breaking in, or simply curious about building a more inclusive tech ecosystem—this event is for you.

Let’s start the week off right—together, inspired, and ready to lead. Get your tickets for Kickoff Brunch here.

Meet the MC: Rachel Batdorff

Rachel Batdorff thrives on transforming ideas into compelling narratives and bringing order to chaos. Her passion for storytelling began in childhood—filling notebooks with mythological creatures, exchanging creative emails with friends, and blogging through college. Writing, exploring new communication channels, and engaging audiences have always brought her joy.

Today, Rachel serves as the Training Solutions Manager at Franklin Electric, a global leader in systems and technologies for moving water and energy. In this role, she leads U.S. and Canadian customer-facing training initiatives, collaborating with business units to identify audience and technical needs. Her team designs training programs that drive sales, enhance customer retention, and improve satisfaction. Rachel has been with Franklin Electric for eight years.

Before joining Franklin, Rachel worked in marketing at Bowen Health, served as a journalist for Today’s Catholic, and managed community relations for BrickHouse Family Ministries.

She holds both Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Public Relations, along with multiple training-related certifications. A committed volunteer, Rachel serves on the board of the Central/Skyline Branch YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, is a planning committee member for the Association for Talent Development’s Central Indiana Chapter, and sits on the board of the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana Foundation

The Speakers:

Jana Debusk

Jana Debusk is a Senior Product Operations Manager at Applied Systems, a musician, an educator, a mom, and a community builder. She’s the founder of Fort Wayne Women in Tech, the Pendo User Group Leader for Product Operations, and a former university professor with experience spanning three continents. Jana’s known for blending strategy with human-centered insight and bringing creativity, clarity, and connection to every room she’s in. She’s passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead.

Khushboo Nigam

Khushboo Nigam is a Principal Cloud Architect at Oracle, specializing in observability for scalable cloud and multi-cloud infrastructure. She earned her Master’s in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communication Engineering from JIIT, India. A committed mentor, Khushboo actively volunteers with the Girls in STEM initiatives, Oracle REACH program, and through personal 1:1 mentoring—guiding students and early-career professionals in resume reviews, mock interviews, and career coaching.

Beth Fisher

Beth Fisher brings over 30 years of experience spanning both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. A highly strategic and results-driven leader, she spent the first 25 years of her career excelling in corporate technology sales, where she built a strong track record in change leadership and business performance. From single-location entities to Fortune 100 companies, Beth has transformed organizations by restructuring foundations, strategies, and processes—always starting with the people who show up to do the work every day. After transitioning from the corporate world, Beth served as Chief Advancement Officer and interim CEO at a $30 million nonprofit organization. There, she led an 18-person Marketing and Development team, sat on the Executive Leadership Team, and drove a 20% year-over-year increase in revenue. Today, she serves as a Senior Strategist for Grey Matter Group, a full-service marketing agency, where she specializes in helping global nonprofits. Recognized as an expert in the Content Services field, Beth speaks at industry conferences and corporate events, and as a keynote at major gatherings. While distinctly accomplished in organizational change and process implementation, her true passion lies in mentoring and equipping female leaders with the tools to execute winning strategies and overcome adversity. Beth is the founder of Fisher Strategic, a consultancy firm dedicated to helping nonprofits implement CRM tools and marketing strategies. She sits on the Board of Directors for Women’s Resource Center, holds two master’s degrees in theology, and has run over 30 marathons. When she’s not working, you will find her on the pickleball court!

2024's Local Luminaries

Celebrating the Journeys, Triumphs, & Innovations of Our Community’s Tech Trailblazers

Meet the women who are shaping our technology landscape right here in our community. From groundbreaking developers to visionary leaders, these individuals exemplify dedication and excellence in their fields. Explore their stories, learn from their journeys, and get inspired by their successes. Each profile is a testament to the powerful impact of women in technology and a source of motivation for future generations.

Join us in acknowledging and appreciating the hard work and success of these remarkable women, who not only pave the way for future tech innovations but also inspire and lead by example.

This section is currently under construction and will be updated regularly!

Angel Suttle

Founder, CEO, & Entrepreneur Educator

Angel Suttle is a dynamic entrepreneur, seasoned media specialist, and communications expert, known for her influential roles as the Founder of Black Girls With Teslas and CEO of Suttle Strategies. As a 2024 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Visionary Of The Year Candidate, Angel's entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors reflect her commitment to community empowerment and youth investment. With over 20 years of experience, Angel has forged impactful brand partnerships with industry giants such as Netflix, BET, ABC, NBC, The Steve Harvey Show, Parkview Health, Sweetwater, Tom Joyner, and the NBA. Her accolades include the prestigious "40 Under 40" Award from Greater Business Weekly, a newly appointed Board Member of WBOI 89.1FM, member of Hoosier Women Forward, and active participation in The Community Foundation's Women’s Fund Steering Committee. Angel’s multifaceted expertise spans brand strategy, media relations, business management, energy efficiency, and public relations. She excels as a communicator, moderator, and published writer, with a successful tenure as an on-air radio personality. Her strategic approach integrates business growth objectives, community engagement, social cause engagement, and tailored marketing plans, ensuring her clients achieve long-term success. In addition, Angel works as a Sustainability Consultant in the EV and energy sectors forging collaboration with Better Together Brain Trust, Orchard Collaborative, and the City of Fort Wayne. She has also mentored the 2023 Diverse Business Program cohort for entrepreneurs in collaboration with Dartmouth College and received training from Cornell University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Program. Angel is also attending Harvard Extension School furthering her industry prowess in Innovation and Sustainability. Angel is passionate about mentorship which is her purpose work aligning her with innovative students as a Business Capstone coach through Fort Wayne Community Schools at Amp Lab. Recognized as a prominent community influencer, she has contributed to various leadership collectives, including The Mayor’s Council, WBOI 89.1FM’s Board of Trustees, March of Dimes, and various youth advocacy boards. In her spare time, Angel enjoys spending time with friends and family, international travel, trying new cuisine, road-tripping, cooking, reading, mentoring, and roller-skating.

Vanessa Tu

IT Professional | Data Analyst

Vanessa is a Senior Data Analyst at Do it Best Corp., where she specializes in simplifying complex data into clear insights and collaborates with business teams to identify sustainable solutions. She is passionate about empowering business users by educating them on tools and fostering an analytical mindset, unlocking the full potential of business intelligence. Having made a significant career shift from being a therapist to becoming an IT professional, Vanessa embraces change and continually seeks better solutions. She holds certifications in development methodologies and business intelligence platforms, underscoring her commitment to professional growth. Vanessa believes in the power of continuous learning and staying ahead of industry trends. Beyond her work, she is dedicated to mentoring emerging professionals, sharing her experiences, and supporting their growth as they navigate their careers.

Beth Bergeron

Sr. VP, Operations & Technology

Beth is the VP of Operations and Technology at DOXA with over a decade of experience in IT. Beth continuously seeks to connect and elevate women in tech throughout Fort Wayne and everyone she meets. She loves to brainstorm and is always ready to introduce you to "someone you should meet." She is a mover and shaker in the industry who attracts top talent, teaches others, and is viewed as a mentor and friend by many. I have worked with Beth for nearly 10 years and she continuously seeks to support and elevate my efforts. She looks out for everyone around here and seeks to provide opportunity for all in tech. Thank you for all that you do, Beth! You are an inspiration to many. - Alexis Kuhne

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