Black Girls Code Founder Kimberly Bryant to Keynote Acquia Engage 2020 as Tech for Good Takes Center Stage

For our first ever global and virtual Acquia Engage conference, we are proud to welcome our keynote speaker, Kimberly Bryant, the founder and executive director of non-profit organization Black Girls Code. When Bryant founded Black Girls Code in 2011, she aimed to open more opportunities for girls and women to pursue their passions in the fields of technology and computer sciences. The mission of Black Girls Code is to build a better, more diverse future and create a positive impact on the world through technical ingenuity. On October 21, Kimberly Bryant will share how she’s working to bridge the digital divide and equip future generations of women to become tech innovators. 

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Following her presentation, we will move into our first ever Tech for Good panel, covering how technology has kept people informed and provided solutions during difficult times. The panel will be moderated by CNET Senior Editor Alison DeNisco Rayome, who began her Tech for Good column this year, covering the ways companies have leveraged digital products to help society stay safe and connected during the coronavirus pandemic. Engage attendees will hear inspiring stories from the Epilepsy Foundation, the American Foundation for the Blind and the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Panelists will share how they work to remove barriers and provide education and resources to their communities. 

Acquia Engage also welcomes Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, Robert F. Smith as a featured keynote speaker. Robert Smith started Vista to invest in businesses that use software and technology to promote diversity and inclusion, economic equality and ecological responsibility. He has been globally recognized for his philanthropic contributions to causes that support equal opportunities for African Americans, especially around access to higher education.

Innovation Showcase: The Future of Digital Experience for Devs and Marketers 

Since we announced the Acquia Open Digital Experience Platform (DXP) this past July, we’ve been working to bring customers the most ambitious and exciting digital experiences possible. See how we’re using open technology to help businesses move quickly, scale farther and reach people faster. To open up Engage, Acquia’s CEO, Mike Sullivan, will take the stage to address what lies ahead for the business. Then in an exclusive Innovation Showcase, Acquia Co-Founder and CTO Dries Buytaert will unveil what’s new for Acquia's DXP, including many new improvements and capabilities for both Acquia Drupal Cloud and Acquia Marketing Cloud. 

Digital Innovators and Customer Experience Insights 

Digital progress begins by listening to what your customers want and creating a strategy. Throughout the two-day event on October 20 and 21, attendees will hear how today’s top digital innovators are working to make their customers’ lives better. Once again, Acquia welcomes Mark Jeffries, former global economist, stockbroker and TV host, to moderate our online event. As the MC of our Big Ideas in Digital panel, Mark will probe the minds of leaders at brands like Stanley Black & Decker, Mars, United Kronos Group (UKG) and more. Learn how they approached and conquered digital transformation challenges. 

Acquia CMO Lynne Capozzi will open up the second day of Engage on October 20 as part of our executive-led Innovation Showcase. Lynne will explore how customers have changed their behaviors in light of the changing times. Marketing and digital experience leaders won’t want to miss the critical information Lynne reveals from Acquia’s third annual Global Customer Experience Trends Report. We surveyed over 8,000 consumers and 800 marketers across eight countries to better understand how brands can stay on top of customer experience while navigating the waves of digital disruption. Now we’re sharing those insights with you. 

Join Us and Unlock New Opportunities 

The virtual format of this year’s Acquia Engage opens new opportunities for us to share ideas, plus plenty of chances to interact live and connect with others around the world. We hope participants leave Engage with new perspectives and a better understanding of how they can apply these lessons to reach their own customers. If you want to see how organizations are using creativity and ambition to shape the future, you can register for Acquia Engage 2020 right now.