A Comprehensive Guide of What to Expect at The WE23 Virtual Conference
Access to the WE23 virtual conference will begin at 4 a.m. PT on Thursday, October 26, 2023 and end on January 30, 2024.
Missed the What You Need to Know Email? If you registered recently or overlooked our email, you may have missed our What You Need to Know email. Please view this blog post to ensure you are prepared for WE23.
Online access to the virtual conference will begin at 4 a.m. PT on Thursday, Oct. 26, and will expire on Jan. 30, 2024. You will login to the virtual platform at https://we23.vfairs.com/ with the email address used to register and create your password upon your first login. Google Chrome is the recommended browser to have the best experience.
Having trouble logging in? First, click the Forgot Password link on the login page to get a password reset email from noreply@vfairs.com with the subject line Login Details. Be sure to check your spam folder! If you continue to have issues, email support at we23@getvfairs.io for additional support.
Virtual Attendees
Virtual Only registered attendees will receive access to the WE23 virtual conference at 4 a.m. PT on Thursday, October 26, 2023. If you register after October 26, access will begin immediately.
Full Registration Attendees
Full registration attendees who registered for the conference before October 23 will also gain access to the WE23 virtual conference at 4 a.m. PT on Thursday, October 26. If you registered after October 23, you will gain access to the WE23 virtual conference on October 28.
If you have trouble logging in or need to reset your password, email we23@getvfairs.io for assistance.
After logging into the WE23 virtual conference, head to the Auditorium to view live and on-demand sessions.
Live Sessions
62 sessions will be live-streamed straight from the LA Convention Center between Thursday, October 26 – Saturday, October 28. Participate in these sessions virtually by logging in during the live event and engaging in the chat! Questions asked within the chat will be monitored by SWE staff onsite and have a chance to be answered by the speakers.
Click Join next to the live session when it begins. Attendees will be able to join 2 minutes prior to the start of the session.
View the live sessions schedule
Can’t make the live session? All live sessions will become on-demand within 24 hours of the scheduled time.
On-Demand Sessions
170 On-Demand sessions that will be ready to view upon your first login. Click Play next to the on-demand session you want to watch.
The WE23 virtual conference will include an open chat room for all attendees to be able to network in an open forum. The chat will be open all hours during the three-day event to encourage attendees from around the globe to connect at their convenience.
After logging into the virtual conference, head to the Lounge to join the Virtual Networking Chatroom.
Be sure to check out the meetups that are hosted by global ambassadors, committee members, and Affinity Group leaders. These one-hour events will provide space to network and ask questions with others, learn more about a SWE group, and exchange ideas around specific topics.
After logging into the virtual conference, head to the Lounge to join the Virtual Meetups or click Virtual Meetups from the navigation bar at the top. Then, find the meetup you want to participate in and click Join Now.
Note: Some meetups have a limited number of seats to encourage collaboration and small group discussion. Once capacity is met, additional attendees will not be able to join until someone within the room leaves – so plan your schedule accordingly and join the meetups early!
Virtual Meetup Schedule
Thursday, Oct 26, 2023
5 a.m. – 6 a.m. PT | Demystifying the Elusive ‘E’ of DEI
While we may have all seen that image of the 3 kids standing on the blocks explaining equity, does it help to clarify how to demonstrate equity within the workplace? Join host Shatabdi Ghosh during this meetup to share collective wisdom and come up with actions together!
6 a.m. – 7 a.m. PT | Navigating the Waters: Careers in Information Technology in the 2020 Decade
Join host Eshika Mahajan for a discussion on how to pursue careers in IT and stay relevant in the constantly evolving digital era while adapting to the constant transformation. This time will allow participants to share tried and tested techniques to network for job offers, resume best practices, LinkedIn branding, in-demand skills to enter and stay in IT.
8 a.m. – 9 a.m. PT | Building Networks For Fulfilling Career Aspirations
Join host Madhuparna Datta for an informal conversation with participants exchanging ideas on how we can intentionally focus on building our networks with the aim to fulfill career aspirations. This will involve sharing a bit of Madhuparna’s personal journey and encouraging participants to share their own experiences and aspirations.
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. PT | Speed Networking Hour
Connect without limits during this one-hour networking event. Join us to break down barriers, forge new professional connections, and exchange insights across continents.
5 p.m. – 6 p.m. PT | Unbounded Connections: Networking Beyond Boundaries
Join host Sharon Kalango in this immersive virtual experience to break free from the constraints of traditional networking and community building. Get ready for an experience that combines the excitement of a virtual scavenger hunt with the efficiency of speed networking.
Friday, October 27, 2023
(Rescheduled) 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. PT | Taming the Elusive Creative Genius in You!
Join host Shatabdi Ghosh to learn how to nurture and train your creativity so it doesn’t just show up in spurts but becomes a friend indeed.
5 a.m. – 6 a.m. | Speed Networking Hour
Connect without limits during this one-hour networking event. Join us to break down barriers, forge new professional connections, and exchange insights across continents.
6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. | Speed Networking Hour
Connect without limits during this one-hour networking event. Join us to break down barriers, forge new professional connections, and exchange insights across continents.
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Get to Know the Nominating Committee
Join host Christine Heinrichs, FY24 Nominating Committee Chair and SWE life member, and members of the Society’s Nominating Committee to learn and ask questions about the nomination and election process of SWE society leaders; joining the committee; member skills we seek for the committee; and have the opportunity to connect with the pipeline subteam.
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Speed Networking Hour
Connect without limits during this one-hour networking event. Join us to break down barriers, forge new professional connections, and exchange insights across continents.
The WE23 virtual conference will have two opportunities for virtual attendees to win prizes!
Scavenger Hunt
The Scavenger Hunt has seven sweSwag objects hidden throughout the WE23 virtual platform. The first three attendees to find all objects will win a sweSwag gift box and special surprises from our sponsors after the conference concludes. Winners will also be notified via email after the conference to learn how they will receive their prize.
Click Scavenger Hunt from the navigation bar at the top of the virtual conference to see what items you need to find.
Leaderboard
All attendees will automatically accumulate points as they visit different areas of the conference for the Leaderboard Challenge. The top three attendees with the most points will be featured in a special social media shoutout and win FREE registration to WE24 in Chicago, IL. The winners will be determined at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, October 28, 2023 and posted on the Leaderboard page. Winners will also be notified via email after the conference to confirm how to receive their prize.
Click Leaderboard from the navigation bar at the top of the virtual conference to see the point system and where you place throughout each day.
Take a photo of yourself with a WE23 background or banner in the virtual Photo Booth. You can share it within the virtual conference and on your social media channels – be sure to tag @swetalk and use #WE23 #LiveWithoutLimits.
After logging into the virtual conference, head to the Lounge to find the Photo Booth.
If you need help logging in or have technical issues, email we23@getvfairs.io for assistance.
Already logged in but having issues or need help finding something? Navigate to the Info Booth to view FAQs or chat with a technical support agent.
There will only be a career fair onsite at WE23 in the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday, October 26 – Friday, October 27 – no virtual career fair will be held. All attendees, virtual included, are encouraged to upload their resume to the SWE career center and flag it as ‘Attending WE23’ for employers to view.
Q: Will there be a virtual career fair? How can I connect with recruiters?
A: There will only be a career fair onsite at WE23 in the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday, October 26 – Friday, October 27 – no virtual career fair will be held. All attendees, virtual included, are encouraged to upload their resume to the SWE career center and flag it as ‘Attending WE23’ for employers to view. Learn How to Upload Your Resume and Tag WE23
Q: Why can’t I hear the speakers on the sessions or meetups?
A: Please try to log out and back in or clear your cache. Google Chrome is also the best browser to use.
Q: How can I add live sessions to my calendar?
A: In the Auditorium, click Live Sessions and then Add to My Calendar. You can then select which type of calendar to add them to your on your device. Or you can click Add to My Schedule. All sessions added to your schedule will then appear on the My Schedule tab after entering the Auditorium.
Q: When can I watch the recording of keynotes and live sessions?
A: All live sessions will be able to be viewed in the On-Demand section in the Auditorium within 48 hours of the scheduled time.
Q: Is there closed captioning on the sessions?
A: Closed captioning is available on all On-Demand sessions. After clicking Play, select the small CC button on the bottom right of the video to start closed captioning. Closed captioning is also available for live sessions in West Hall B – which includes Keynotes, Inspirational Insights, and the State of Women in Engineering. Other live streamed sessions do not include closed captioning during the live stream, but they will be added once uploaded to On-Demand.