San Francisco

eChai: Women in AI SF Edition

Happened on June 12, Thursday, 2025
5:30am — 07:30am (GMT-07)
Zoom Office
22 slots booked.
Meet the Speaker:
Meet the Host:
Top-rated questions will be asked live by the host during the event.
  • From Code to Command: What does technical leadership look like in your current role? How do you balance strategy and technical depth?
  • Scaling Systems vs. Scaling Teams: What’s been one of the hardest real-world challenges in scaling AI or leading large tech teams
  • The Leadership Gap in AI: What’s missing in current AI leadership conversations—and how do we get more diverse voices at the table?
  • Inclusion Beyond Hiring: What does true inclusion look like in deeply technical orgs, and how do we build it?
  • The Quiet Work Behind Great Teams: What lessons have you learned in building trust and alignment across cross-functional environments?
  • Looking Ahead: What AI trend excites you most—and where do you see new leadership opportunities emerging?
Agenda:

eChai and Zoom Developers are bringing together some of the most inspiring women leading the charge in AI — for an evening of honest conversations, bold insights, and real community.


​We’re kicking things off with a powerhouse panel featuring senior leaders from Meta, NVIDIA, Zoom, and Walmart — women who are not only building at scale but shaping the very fabric of AI’s future. Expect real stories, hard-earned lessons, and the kind of clarity that only comes from being in the arena.


​Then, Zoom Developers will take the stage to showcase what they’re building in the AI space — a peek behind the curtain of what’s next in intelligent collaboration.


​No fluff. No posturing. Just meaningful dialogue, and time to connect with fellow builders and believers.


​Whether you’re exploring leadership in tech, building AI products, or simply curious about what’s unfolding — this room is for you.


​🧭 Evening Flow


​6:00 – 6:30 PM


​☕  Welcome & Curated Networking


​Arrive early, grab a cup of chai, and meet someone new. We’ll help spark the right conversations.


​6:30 – 7:15 PM


​🎤 Panel: Women Leading the AI Frontier


​Featuring:



  • ​Sathiya Panner, Engineering Lead, Zoom

  • ​Syamla Bandla, Sr. Director of Production Engineering, Meta

  • ​Rupali Deshpande, AI Learning Specialist, NVIDIA

  • ​Mamta Suri, Sr Engineering Leader & AI Evangelist, Walmart

​A candid conversation on what it takes to lead, build, and scale in the fast-evolving world of AI.


​7:15 – 7:30 PM


​⚡ Zoom AI Demo


​A quick dive into what Zoom Developers is creating to power the next generation of AI collaboration.


​7:30 – 8:00 PM


​🍕 Open Networking & Pizza


​Chai fades into pizza as the night opens up for connection, reflection, and follow-ups.


​


​💡 Why You Should Join


​Because spaces like this are rare —


​where leaders share openly,


​where builders show early,


​and where community feels real.


​Come for the insights. Stay for the spark.



​🔗 Powered by eChai Ventures


​This event is brought to you in collaboration with eChai Ventures — a global founder’s network supporting startup communities across 25+ cities. If you’re a founder, builder, or operator looking to plug into high-trust, low-ego ecosystems — you’re already in the right room.


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The eChai Effect - In Their Words

"From late-night brainstorming over chai to early morning founder calls, eChai has been more than just a network for me; it’s been home base for ideas, impact, and inspiration. What started as a simple meetup years ago turned into a powerful movement, connecting founders, creators, and dreamers. I’ve had the privilege of seeing startups find product-market fit, marketers (like me) find unexpected collaborations, and most importantly, people finding their tribe. संगच्छध्वं संवदध्वं – Let us move together, speak together. It’s not just a verse from the Rigveda — it’s how Jatin and the entire eChai community truly operate. We don’t just network, we grow together. Forever grateful to be a part of the eChai Effect.
Jaydip Parikh - Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
"For me, eChai is a second home. I've been associated with it since the early days, when it was already setting a different tone for how startup communities could work. As a traditional business owner entering the new-age D2C space, eChai supported me in every direction. Over the years, it became my window to the startup world — and also gave me lifelong friends who continue to show up, for business and beyond."
Pankaj Bhimani - Founder, 58miles
Pankaj Bhimani
Founder, 58miles
“eChai has been that turning point in my journey. It gave me a platform when I wasn’t looking for visibility but needed direction. Over the years, it became more than just a network. It became my tribe; a place where conversations sparked collaborations, and strangers became trusted sounding boards. What I value most is how effortlessly eChai brings people together - no airs, no filters, just genuine people with shared dreams. I owe a lot to this community and to Jatin, whose consistency and belief in people have shaped journeys like mine. Forever grateful to be part of something so real.”
Rushabh Shah - Managing Partner - STIR Advisors
Rushabh Shah
Managing Partner - STIR Advisors

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