The conference will open with a stellar panel of women who hold technical roles at some of the companies that are sponsoring WiCS Con this year. What enticed them to go into computing? What do they like most about their jobs now? What is the most unexpected obstacle they’ve had to face? What is a good thing to be afraid of? Come and hear their answers to these questions and your questions!
Location: DC 1350
Panelists:
Sandra Loop (SAP) is a UX Design & User Research Manager, leading a research operations team at SAP. Throughout her career, she has held multiple roles, primarily UX Designer & User Researcher, as well as Product Manager, Tech Writer, Project Manager, and Developer, often juggling multiple positions at once. Her experience spans from small 100-person companies to large global corporations. Sandra holds a BMath in Computer Science and Psychology, as well as a MMath in Computer Science with a focus on User Interface, both from the University of Waterloo. She is a mother to two university-aged daughters. She enjoys vegetable gardening, weight training, and traveling to Europe to visit her SAP colleagues.
Brenda Yallop (OpenText) is a Lead Software Developer (R&D). She brings over 21 years of experience to the organization. She began her journey as a consultant in Global Services, specializing in Livelink customizations for customers, before transitioning into Research and Development as a Developer to better align with her family commitments. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Honours Computing and Computer Electronics Bachelor of Science program, Brenda combines deep technical expertise with a thoughtful, adaptable approach to her work. Outside the office, she is a dedicated Girl Guide leader and an avid outdoor enthusiast. Whether she’s reading, knitting, hiking, biking, or paddling, Brenda brings the same passion and curiosity to her personal pursuits as she does to her career.
Jennifer Williams (HOOPP) is the Vice President, Information Security, where she leads enterprise cybersecurity, IAM, security operations, resilience, and risk management. With 15+ years of experience, she partners closely with executive leadership to align security strategy with business objectives. Jennifer is known for translating complex cyber risk into practical insights and is deeply committed to supporting women in pursuing and advancing careers in IT and cybersecurity.
Chloe Cheung (PolicyMe) is a Product Manager. She has grown with PolicyMe, shaping digital insurance experiences from the ground up. Starting as an Operations Analyst and now leading key product initiatives, Chloe brings deep cross-functional knowledge and a strong user-centric mindset to every project. She has led the launch of several insurance products, including critical illness and health and dental coverage, and developed customer-facing platforms like the accounts portal—all while balancing execution with strategic thinking. A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Environment and Business program, she blends business acumen with product intuition to drive outcomes that matter. Outside of work, Chloe is an active mentor and creative thinker, often helping others break into product management.