Book Talk: "The Only Woman in the Room" with Lisa Davis

What does it cost to lead when the system wasn't designed for you? 

Women have been forcing open doors for decades, yet we still find ourselves isolated in rooms built around male norms. Lisa Davis spent forty years breaking barriers in tech across government, academia, and corporate leadership, and learned the hard way that waiting for systems to change means losing ground. 

This conversation isn't about leaning in or breaking through. It's about wielding influence now, in spaces that resist evolution, while strategically pushing for the transformation we need. If you've ever felt alone at the table, this session is for you.

What participants will leave with:

• Strategies for navigating power dynamics and bias without compromising your integrity

• A framework for building influence and advocating for promotions in systems that weren't designed to reward you

• Practical approaches to leading authentically while managing the pressure of performing without a roadmap

• Insight into balancing career advancement with family demands in environments that penalize women for both

• Perspective on when to play the game as it exists and when to apply pressure for systemic change

System change takes time, but your influence doesn't have to wait. Join Lisa and She Shapes AI Founder, Julia Stamm, to explore how to claim power now while shaping the future we're building together.

Meet Your Expert

Lisa Davis is a technology leader with four decades of experience breaking barriers across government, academia, and corporate industries. As one of few women consistently operating at the highest levels of male-dominated tech spaces, she's navigated the complex terrain of building both career and family without a playbook. Her new book, The Only Woman in the Room, distills battle-tested lessons on wielding influence, advocating for advancement, and leading authentically in systems that resist change. Lisa's work provides the roadmap that previous generations of women leaders never had—honest, strategic, and unapologetically focused on winning now.