Join Women 2.0 for "Pearls of Wisdom" with Microsoft!

Silicon Valley Women@Microsoft (SV W@M) and Microsoft BizSpark have teamed up to bring a panel of inspirational women leaders in Silicon Valley to come speak about their diverse experiences. In addition to the engaging panel discussion, we are expecting a lively networking session with a total 300 women from various groups around the Silicon Valley like Women 2.0, Tie Women’s Forum, ASTIA and SDForum for ONE exciting, action-packed night. Come represent Women 2.0 at this Microsoft-sponsored event!

In this panel session, Pearls of Wisdom from Successful Women Leaders you will get a chance to hear the real stories behind the successes of four amazing Silicon Valley women leaders. Join Tina Seelig, Executive Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, as she leads a discussion with Christine Herron, Principal with First Round Capital, Shanna Tellerman, CEO/Founder of Sim Ops Studios, Karen Northup, CEO/Founder of Corefino and Kim Polese, CEO of SpikeSource about the back stories of their careers. Hear how they challenged assumptions, overcame obstacles, created their own luck, and broke the rules on their paths to success. 

Panelists:
» Shanna Tellerman (CEO, Sim Ops Studios)
» Christine Herron (Principal, First Round Capital)
» Karen Northup (CEO, Corefino)
» Kim Polese (CEO, SpikeSource)

Moderator:
» Tina Seelig (Executive Director, Stanford Technology Ventures Program)

This event is co-hosted by Women 2.0, Astia, TiE Women’s Forum, and SDForum.

Schedule for Wednesday, August 26, 2009:
6:00pm  –  Networking
7:00pm  –  Silicon Valley Women @ Microsoft Intro, Partner introductions
7:15pm  –  Microsoft BizSpark overview
7:25pm  –  Panel Discussion with Q&A afterwards

Speaker Bios:

Shanna Tellerman (CEO and Founder, Sim Ops Studios)

Shanna Tellerman is the Founder and CEO of Sim Ops Studios, Inc., a spin-off company from Carnegie Mellon University.  Sim Ops is developing the comprehensive independent game development solution, Wild Pockets; a free web-based 3D game engine with a built-in transaction system and distribution network. Shanna has overseen operations, development, fund raising, and strategic relationships since the formation of Sim Ops.  She has over seven years of experience working in the video game and emerging serious games industry with a focus on breaking down the barriers for creative development in 3D environments. 

Graduating with a Masters degree in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University in May 2005, she was hired by the University to continue development and to investigate commercialization opportunities for the technology that formed the foundation of Sim Ops Studios. Shanna has experience in a variety of roles including her initial involvement as visionary, product manager and designer, focused on user-centered design and research in game development, through to her current role as CEO focused on all levels execution in the company from the product roadmap to business development.  In 2004, Shanna had the opportunity to work for Electronic Arts on The Sims 2, the sequel to the best-selling PC game ever.  She has also researched and co-authored the paper titled “Emergent Stories in Massively Multiplayer Online Games: Using Improvisational Techniques to Design for Emotional Impact,” (International Conference on Entertainment Computing, 2004). 

Shanna received her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a Minor in Multi-Media Production from Carnegie Mellon University in 2003.

Christine Herron (Principal, First Round Capital)

Christine Herron has spent her career finding new and innovative information technologies. She is currently a Principal with First Round Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm. Previously, Christine was a director at Omidyar Network, where she developed the Media practice strategy and drove $15 million in early-stage placements.

Prior to joining Omidyar Network in 2005, Christine was the VP of Marketing for Mission Research, which develops small business CRM solutions. While there, she led marketing from initial business plan authoring through paying customer and distribution partner acquisition. Earlier, Christine was the founder and CEO of Mercury2, a software-as-a-service developer of international trade logistics systems. She has also managed developer tools at NetObjects, and played for the Internet Server Team at Microsoft.

Christine started as an investor with Geocapital Partners, where she focused on early Internet infrastructure and network management software. Her investments there included Netcom Online Communications, AXON Networks, D-Vision Systems, ViaGrafix, and FocusVision. In each case, Geocapital was the initial professional investor and helped to bring the company to a dominant market position.

She currently serves on the advisory boards for Web 2.0 Expo, iWidgets, Mission Research, Nickel Tour Productions, and Typepad, and co-manages STIRR Pitch Lab. Christine has previously served on the Nonprofit Technology Conference (N-TEN) Advisory Board and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Board of Directors, and was ranked one of the Top 20 Women in Technology for 2000 by AltaVista. She has spoken at numerous industry events including DEMO, FOO Camp, mesh, MIT/Stanford Venture Lab, NetSquared, TechCoire, and Web 2.0 Summit.

Christine earned her MBA at Stanford University, and her BA in English at Columbia University, Columbia College.

Karen Northup (CEO and Founder, Corefino)     

Karen Northup founded Corefino after serving as CFO at a variety of successful venture-backed technology companies, including Scout Media where she served as the CFO through the company's successful acquisition by Fox Interactive; Rivals.com where she recruited and trained the accounting staff of 35 and successfully directed the company through its IPO; and Telocity (now DirecTV) where she was key in raising a $134mm mezzanine round. Karen also held management roles with GlobalCenter (including having a key role in its acquisition by Global Crossing) and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Kim Polese (CEO, SpikeSource)

As CEO of SpikeSource, Kim Polese is responsible for guiding the company’s business vision: enabling businesses to harness the power of open source as a flexible, reliable and cost-effective solution for business-critical needs.

Prior to SpikeSource, Kim cofounded Marimba in 1996, and as President and CEO she led the company to profitability and a successful public offering. She then served as Chairman until Marimba’s acquisition by BMC Software in April 2004. Before cofounding Marimba, Kim worked at Sun Microsystems and was the original product manager for Java, leading its launch in March 1995. Prior to Java, Kim worked in Sun’s software division on object-oriented development environments. Previously, she worked at Intellicorp, Inc., helping Fortune 500 firms implement expert systems.

Kim earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biophysics from U.C. Berkeley and studied Computer Science at the University of Washington, Seattle. Kim serves on the board of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a coalition of executives working to improve the economy, health and quality of life for all citizens of the region through advocacy on major public policy issues. Kim also serves on the board of the Global Security Institute and the University of California President’s Board on Science and Innovation. She is a Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Engineered Innovation.

Tina Seelig (Executive Director, Stanford Technology Ventures Program)

Tina Seelig is the Executive Director for the Stanford Technology Ventures Program where she is responsible for the management, operations, and dissemination efforts of STVP. In addition, Tina is the Director of the Stanford Entrepreneurship Network and the co-Director of the Mayfield Fellows Program. Tina also teaches a course in the Department of Management Science & Engineering on Creativity and Innovation.

Prior to joining STVP, Tina worked as an entrepreneur, management consultant, author, and scientist. Tina received her Ph.D. from Stanford University Medical School in 1985 where she studied Neuroscience.

Tina has worked as management consultant for Booz, Allen, and Hamilton, has written several popular science books and has designed a series of educational games. Her books include The Epicurean Laboratory, Incredible Edible Science, and a series called Games for Your Brain.

After Tina's first book was published in 1991, she became interested in how books are marketed. This led her to start a company designed to help match books with buyers. The product was a multimedia system for bookstore customers, called BookBrowser. BookBrowser was a kiosk-based system that allowed customers to identify books of interest. With the help of a team of engineers and graphic designers, Tina built the business and sold the company in 1993.

After selling her business, Tina worked as a Multimedia Producer for Compaq Computer Corporation. In this position Tina led a team of engineers, artists, scriptwriters, and education specialists through the design and implementation of a series of multimedia titles.

Tina's current position as Executive Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program takes advantage of her technical background, in addition to her experiences as a manager, entrepreneur, and educator.