Career Accelerator

08:00-09:00 Breakfrest

09:00-09:30 Introduction of the Day

     Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica

09:30-10:30 Kickoff: Sustainable Networking for Scientists and Engineers

     Speaker: Christina Willis, Senior Analyst, Infleqtion

Sustainability applied to networking is about treating professional support and assistance like a resource and creating more of it than you take. This workshop introduces how to use sustainable networking to create mutually beneficial professional relationships and to set and accomplish career goals. Through individual and group activities, participants will come away with personalized goals and a practical action plan for how to incorporate sustainable networking into their professional lives.

10:30-10:35 Break

10:35-11:35  Explore Career Opportunities in the Corporate Photonics Sector

     Speaker: Brad Doerr, Vice President and General Manager, Keysight Technologies

Uncover the multitude of roles and growth prospects in the corporate sector for scientists and engineers. Learn about positions suitable for early-career professionals, ranging from R&D and sales to marketing, product management, and engineering. This session will help you navigate the corporate landscape while learning how Keysight is structured.

11:35-11:50 Break

11:50-12:50 From Resume Review to Final Offer: Inside HR and the Hiring Process

     Speaker: Casie Hanson, Talent and Organizational Development Director, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp

Get an insider's look at the hiring journey, from resume submission to the coveted job offer. Gain valuable insights on optimizing your resume for attention, acing interviews with do's and don'ts, and more. Explore the pivotal role HR plays in shaping corporate culture and providing valuable resources to staff.

12:50-14:00 Lunch

14:00-14:30 Back to Lecture Hall

14:30-15:30 Negotiation Skills

     Speaker:  Eve Griliches,  Senior Product Manager, Cisco

The How, When and Why of Negotiation. You’ll learn what to negotiate when you get a job offer, how to negotiate when in a job, and knowing when to leave a job.

15:30-15:35 Break 

15:35-16:35  Leadership Styles and Teams in the Corporate Environment

     Speaker:  Simin Cai, Vice President, President and CEO, Go!Foton

Discover the critical qualities of successful leaders from entry-level to CEO and learn about the values and characteristics that Go!Foton cherishes in its leaders. Explore how diverse personalities and perspectives can strengthen teams and drive innovation.

16:35-16:50 Daily Wrap-Up

16:50-19:00 Break 

19:00-22:00 Activity 

     Roller Skating Party 

 

08:00-09:00 Breakfast

09:00-09:30 Introduction of the Day

     Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica

09:30-10:30 The World of Optical Engineering: Hardware Careers

     Speaker:  Benjamin Cromey, Senior Optical Engineer, Ball Aerospace

10:30-10:35 Break

10:35-11:35  Intellectual Property: Academia vs. Corporate Approaches

     Speaker:  Darius Sankey, Managing Director, Innovation Acceleration Capital

11:35-11:50 Break

11:50-12:50 The Language of Business: Managerial Reporting and Accounting for Decision Making (Part 1)

     Speaker: George Bayz, Vice President and General Manager, Synopsys (retired)

The art of accounting. We will discuss budgeting, explore the art of accounting, visit the stock market and dive into why this is something all scientists in industry should understand.  

12:50-14:00 Lunch

14:00-14:30 Back to Lecture Hall

14:30-15:30 The Language of Business: Managerial Reporting and Accounting for Decision Making (Part 2)

     Speaker: George Bayz, Vice President and General Manager, Synopsys (retired)

More fun with accounting.

15:30-15:35 Break

15:35-16:35  The World of Optical Engineering Software Careers

     Speaker:  David Vega, Lead R&D Engineer, Ansys

16:35-16:50 Daily Wrap-Up

16:50-18:00 Break 

18:00-19:30 Dinner

19:30-20:00 Back to Lecture Hall

20:00-21:00 Putting Theory into Practice: The Financial Scavenger Hunt

After learning about all things around financials, now you get to put your skills to the test. Small groups will review a public company’s financial statement and report out about your organization. Can you find everything in time?

 

08:00-09:00 Breakfast

09:00-9:30 Introduction of the Day

     Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica

09:30-10:30  Project Management for Engineering, R&D and Technology Teams

     Speaker:  Kenneth Barber,  Director, Project Manangement

Discover what it really means to be a Project management for Engineering, R&D and Technology Teams. Learn how to apply fundamental Project Management tools to any project in a practical way. Understand how you can leverage your technical know-how into a career in project management and beyond. Learn about key concepts like the triple constraints with fun examples.

10:30-10:35 Break 

10:35-11:35 Identifying Emerging Technology Trends: Innovation and Product Development

     Speaker:  Jim Kafka, CTO at Spectra-Physics and Fellow at MKS

Embark on a journey to uncover the art of identifying emerging technology trends and seamlessly integrating them into research, development, and product strategies. Gain insights into how a visionary company like MKS thrives on innovation, and discover the specific skills and attributes sought after in employees with an entrepreneurial spirit. You will have a window into the dynamic world of innovation and emerging technology careers at MKS.

11:35-11:50 Break

11:50- 12:50 The Role of the Sales Professional

     Speakers:  Heidi Westbrook, Director of Cloud Infrastructure Providers, Fujitsu Network Communications

Discover the key skills and attributes that companies prioritize when hiring for sales positions. Explore why young scientists and engineers should be interested in sales, leveraging their technical knowledge to bridge gaps and drive innovation. Uncover how sales seamlessly integrates with other company functions, such as marketing, product development, and research and development, to maximize organizational success.

12:50-14:00 Lunch

14:00-14:30  Back to Lecture Hall

14:30-15:30 Navigating Corporate Strategy in Technology: Keys to Success

     Speakers:  Jun Shan Wey, Distinguished Member Of Technical Staff, Verizon

Explore the essence of corporate strategy and its pivotal role in business success. Discover how technology companies formulate and implement their tech development strategies, and gain insights into the diverse range of job opportunities and sought-after skills within this dynamic field.

15:30-15:35 Break

15:35-16:35  The Role of the Product Manager

     Speaker:  Olga Sachkouskaya, Product Maanger, IDEX Health & Science, LLC

Dive into the multifaceted role of a Product Manager within the corporate structure. Explore the essential skills and attributes required, uncover exciting career prospects, and understand the pivotal role Product Managers play in driving innovation, collaborating with R&D, and bridging the gap between sales/marketing and customer needs.

16:35-16:50 Break

16:50-17:50  The Role of Marketing and Sales

     Speaker:  Anjul Loiacono,  Vice President Quantum Matter Platforms, Infleqtion

Marketing plays a critical role in the success of businesses. In high-tech
industries, such as ours, marketing varies widely across companies and often
roles in marketing are opaque to job seekers. In this session I hope to
demystify what is marketing, how it relates to sales and R&D, and how the role
of marketing fits within high-tech companies’ objectives. Upon the conclusion
of this session, I hope you will have a better understanding of the marketing
function in the high-tech industry, which will subsequently help you determine
your future career direction.

17:50-18:00 Daily Wrap-Up

18:00-20:30 Dinner

08:00-09:30 Breakfast and Room Check Out

09:30-10:00 Introduction of the Day

     Speaker: Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica

10:00-11:00 State of the Optics and Photonics Market

     Speaker:  Tom Hausken, Senior Industry Advisor, Optica

11:00-12:00 Adjournment and Lunch