Speaker Bios:
Brenda Marles
Brenda Marles is a solution-focused leader with over a decade of experience driving innovation and strategic scalability within high-visibility global IoT initiatives. Known for translating complex technology and approaches into accessible solutions, Brenda has led Scaled Agile implementations, cross-functional IoT programs, and a global deployment initiative across 20+ countries. She notably led a complex Agile team that contributed to a successful NYSE launch. Her expertise spans AI adoption, Agile software development, user acceptance testing, change management, and operations. Brenda is committed to making technology inclusive, serving as an advisor to small business owners and offering critical business development insights.
Currently completing her dissertation on the intersection of AI, emotional intelligence, and career perception, Brenda continues to advocate for thoughtful tech integration in the workplace. With a focus on organizational development and technological accessibility, she brings innovation and equity to the forefront of her work.
Erin Ramirez
Erin Ramirez is the founder of Real Change Studio and an organizational scientist specializing in industrial-organizational psychology. Formerly the Head of Enterprise Change Readiness at a global Fortune 500 technology and engineering firm, Erin has led complex transformations impacting tens of thousands of employees.
She partners with engineers, scientists, and technical leaders to help them navigate change with confidence, lead high-performing teams, and solve problems that drive meaningful results. Erin’s passion for STEM was born from her own desire to solve complex challenges—not from textbooks, but from real-world impact.
Today, she speaks, trains, consults and coaches across sectors but especially within STEM and manufacturing settings, equipping leaders to lead through uncertainty, build adaptability, and align bold ideas with practical execution. Her work helps technical professionals stay grounded in purpose, sharpen their leadership, and create environments where innovation and sustainable change can thrive.
Marla White
Dr. Marla L. White is an Assistant Professor of Management in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. She studies the workplace experiences of marginalized group members, often defined by race and gender. More specifically, she conducts research on access to leadership, discrimination, and intersectionality for such individuals, particularly with regard to how their experiences are intertwined with social class. Through her work, she aims to illuminate the overlapping challenges and opportunities faced by underrepresented groups in organizational settings.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. White’s foundation and passion for the tech industry had already sparked over two decades of experience in the semiconductor industry, where she held leadership positions with global responsibilities in engineering, finance, operations, and HRM at several Fortune 500 companies, including Motorola, IBM, and Texas Instruments. Her extensive experience in tech has shaped her unique perspective on leadership, diversity, and inclusion.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Dr. White enjoys exploring global workplace dynamics through travel, walking in nature, and reading widely to deepen her understanding of human behavior across different cultural contexts.
