The Current and Future State of Women in Leadership: Gains, Losses and Opportunities In celebration of Women's History Month, SIM PDX Women invites you to an engaging and timely panel discussion exploring The Current and Future State of Women in Leadership: Gains, Losses, and Opportunities. While women have made meaningful progress in leadership across technology and business, the path forward still holds complex challenges. Research shows that 50% of women leave tech by age 35—45% higher than their male peers (Accenture 2024). At the executive level, women hold 29% of C-suite roles in tech, yet only 15% of Fortune 500 CIO and CTO positions (McKinsey 2025). At the same time, 72% of women in tech report experiencing “bro culture” in the workplace (ISACA 2024)—despite the fact that organizations with inclusive cultures see 17% higher performance ratings (Deloitte 2024). This candid conversation will bring together technology leaders to examine what these numbers really mean. Together, we will explore the forces shaping women’s leadership journeys today, the barriers that remain, and the opportunities organizations and individuals have to build more inclusive, high-performing teams. Expect thoughtful dialogue, practical insights, and an opportunity to connect with peers who are committed to shaping a stronger, more equitable future for leadership in technology.
Meet our Panel:
Jackie Wirz, PhD is the Executive Director of Link Oregon, the state’s nonprofit research and education network, where she works at the intersection of technology, education, and public service to strengthen digital infrastructure across Oregon. Her work focuses on advancing high-performance connectivity, supporting research and innovation, and expanding equitable access to technology for communities statewide.
With a PhD in biochemistry and more than 20 years of experience spanning research science, nonprofit leadership, and public-private collaboration, Jackie brings a systems-level perspective to complex challenges in technology and workforce development. She is a frequent speaker and facilitator on topics including digital equity, leadership, and the social impacts of emerging technologies.
Jackie is deeply committed to mentorship and talent pipelines for women and underrepresented groups in STEM and technology. Through her leadership, she has helped build cross-sector partnerships that connect students, educators, industry leaders, and policymakers—creating pathways from education to meaningful careers in tech.
Traci Esteve is committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and processing resources. She began her career as a developer and infrastructure engineer. This led to her rise to a premier technical architect at Accenture and to expanding the practice in Asia and Europe. Her journey includes staying home to raise her two sons and serving as an advisor to organizations to increase profitability, maximize customer value, and effectively meet regulatory requirements. She has a BS in Applied Science, MBA certification from Miami University, and certifications in both Cybersecurity Risk Management and Data Privacy from Harvard University. As the Co-chair of Technology Association of Oregon’s Cybersecurity Community, Co-Chair for CyberRisk Collaborative Portland, and Board Member of Oregon Business Academy, she shares her dedication to Oregon’s community and passion for both cybersecurity and business. In Q3 2024 she received the Greg Ness Community Service Award. Traci enjoys cooking with her family, skiing, hiking, and encouraging high-school students to believe in themselves.
Wendy Manywhitehorses is the Chief Technology Officer at Accio3D, where she leads technology strategy and AI platform development focused on transforming digital manufacturing and supply chain resilience. She is a seasoned engineering executive who has led large-scale technology organizations and platform initiatives across enterprise SaaS, financial services, and healthcare technology, including leadership roles at RadarFirst, New Relic, XPO Logistics, and Bank of America. Wendy is passionate about building strong engineering teams and applying emerging technologies like AI to solve complex real-world challenges.
Erinn Cartwright is a technology leader with more than 25 years of experience in IT, specializing in project management, IT service delivery, customer service, and vendor management. She is passionate about using technology and innovation to help organizations adapt, improve, and deliver exceptional results. Erinn holds a Master of Science in Project Management from Colorado Technical University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in MIS from University of Georgia Terry College of Business. She is a certified PMP, ITIL Foundation professional, ServiceNow System Administrator, and Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO).
Agenda
- 4:30-5:15 Check in and Networking
- 5:15-6:15 Panel Discussion
- 6:15-7:15 Wrap Up, Networking and Panel Participant Tables
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