Professional Development Event
Navigating your Career through Networking: Insights from Women in XR
29 January 2025 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST | Moscone West, Community Stage (Level 2)
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, building a strong network is essential for career growth and innovation. Join us over lunch for an inspiring session featuring leading women in the field of XR who have leveraged networking to navigate diverse career paths in optics and related technologies. We’ll begin with short, impactful presentations on how networking influenced their career journeys, followed by an interactive panel discussion. Engage with panelists and ask your own questions in a Q&A designed to foster meaningful dialogue and share practical advice.
Presenters:
Kelsey Wooley
Kelsey Wooley studied Chemical Engineering before beginning her career with Intel and Micron as a Process Owner in CVD then Photolithography. After some time as a technical consultant for a startup, she joined Meta Reality Labs doing nanoimprint, e-beam, interference, and projection lithography research for augmented reality waveguides. Kelsey was the Lithography Engineering Manager at Meta before joining Eulitha as the Director of North America last year to open the US office and assist with AR customer applications globally.
Chunhua Wang
Chunhua Wang (Amy) is a technical lead on Camera and Depth Systems for Metaverse at Meta. She earned her Ph.D. in Optical Engineering in 2007 in China, and excelled as a researcher before moving into innovative industry roles. As an optical engineer, Chunhua Wang (Amy) has built a career, combining academic achievements with various industry roles. She has spanned areas from Energy Service (Halliburton), Telecommunications (Corning and Molex), Autonomous driving (Quanergy) to iPhone (Apple) and ARVRMR (Meta) Consumer Electronics.
At Meta, she developed camera and depth systems, which were successfully launched on the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S devices. During her time at Apple and Quanegy, she designed the laser beam safety hardware system for the Face ID and LiDAR systems on the iPhone and Vision Pro, and advanced LiDAR applications for 3D security scanning and autonomous driving. In the telecommunications sector, she innovated and delivered DWDM, optical cable, and connectivity systems for high-capacity optical networks and data centers while working with Molex and Corning. Additionally, at Halliburton, she optimized and delivered optical fiber sensing systems for oil and gas downhole applications.
Pia Harju
With 25 years of experience in business development and technical sales, Pia Harju has driven innovation and growth across cutting-edge industries. Her journey began in Los Angeles, where she founded her first company, followed by a second venture in Helsinki, Finland.
Building on her entrepreneurial success, Pia spent a decade in business development and sales at a leading diffractive optics manufacturer in Germany, where she worked with custom optics components for consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial applications.
As Vice President of Business Development at a pioneering AR waveguide company, she led strategic partnerships with light engine providers and ensured compatibility of core AR glass components, advancing augmented reality solutions.
Today, as founder and CEO of Clava Technologies, Pia empowers startups in business development and technical sales. Combining her entrepreneurial expertise, technical insight, and strategic acumen, she helps companies navigate markets, accelerate growth, and achieve their potential.
Lihua Zhao
Lihua Zhao is currently a Sr. Director, Display and Optics, in Reality Labs at Meta, developing a new technology to realize the mass customization of optical lenses for smart and AR glasses with her team. Prior to Meta, Lihua was VP of Engineering leading an org to strategically advance HP’s 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing capabilities and enable new applications over a decade. She also spent seven years leading the research on materials design, development, and fabrication for flexible display and electronics at HP Labs and UC Berkeley. Lihua received her Ph.D. in Chemistry and Materials Science from UC Irvine in 2006 and is also a graduate of Next Women, World 50 Inc. 2023, and Building Innovative Leader Executive Program, Graduate School of Business, Stanford, 2019. She was honored as a 2019 Inductee, Hall of Fame, School of Physical Science, UC Irvine and named 2017 Women Worth Watching in STEM. Lihua is always keen on advocating, sponsoring, and coaching scientists and engineers, especially women, minorities, and introverts
Heini Haartti-Mäkinen
Heini Haartti-Mäkinen is the Head of Marketing at Dispelix, a leading AR waveguide designer and supplier. With extensive experience in the technology sector, she has held various senior marketing roles at global technology companies such as Microsoft, Nokia, and Asus. Prior to joining Dispelix, she served as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at a retail analytics firm. Passionate about driving technological innovation, Heini is dedicated to making AR technology a part of everyday life through strategic marketing and industry collaboration.
MENU: Boxed lunch service for the first 80 guests with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options available.
SETUP: Round tables with approximately 6 chairs per table.
Presenters:
Kelsey Wooley
Kelsey Wooley studied Chemical Engineering before beginning her career with Intel and Micron as a Process Owner in CVD then Photolithography. After some time as a technical consultant for a startup, she joined Meta Reality Labs doing nanoimprint, e-beam, interference, and projection lithography research for augmented reality waveguides. Kelsey was the Lithography Engineering Manager at Meta before joining Eulitha as the Director of North America last year to open the US office and assist with AR customer applications globally.
Chunhua Wang
Chunhua Wang (Amy) is a technical lead on Camera and Depth Systems for Metaverse at Meta. She earned her Ph.D. in Optical Engineering in 2007 in China, and excelled as a researcher before moving into innovative industry roles. As an optical engineer, Chunhua Wang (Amy) has built a career, combining academic achievements with various industry roles. She has spanned areas from Energy Service (Halliburton), Telecommunications (Corning and Molex), Autonomous driving (Quanergy) to iPhone (Apple) and ARVRMR (Meta) Consumer Electronics.
At Meta, she developed camera and depth systems, which were successfully launched on the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S devices. During her time at Apple and Quanegy, she designed the laser beam safety hardware system for the Face ID and LiDAR systems on the iPhone and Vision Pro, and advanced LiDAR applications for 3D security scanning and autonomous driving. In the telecommunications sector, she innovated and delivered DWDM, optical cable, and connectivity systems for high-capacity optical networks and data centers while working with Molex and Corning. Additionally, at Halliburton, she optimized and delivered optical fiber sensing systems for oil and gas downhole applications.
Pia Harju
With 25 years of experience in business development and technical sales, Pia Harju has driven innovation and growth across cutting-edge industries. Her journey began in Los Angeles, where she founded her first company, followed by a second venture in Helsinki, Finland.
Building on her entrepreneurial success, Pia spent a decade in business development and sales at a leading diffractive optics manufacturer in Germany, where she worked with custom optics components for consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial applications.
As Vice President of Business Development at a pioneering AR waveguide company, she led strategic partnerships with light engine providers and ensured compatibility of core AR glass components, advancing augmented reality solutions.
Today, as founder and CEO of Clava Technologies, Pia empowers startups in business development and technical sales. Combining her entrepreneurial expertise, technical insight, and strategic acumen, she helps companies navigate markets, accelerate growth, and achieve their potential.
Lihua Zhao
Lihua Zhao is currently a Sr. Director, Display and Optics, in Reality Labs at Meta, developing a new technology to realize the mass customization of optical lenses for smart and AR glasses with her team. Prior to Meta, Lihua was VP of Engineering leading an org to strategically advance HP’s 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing capabilities and enable new applications over a decade. She also spent seven years leading the research on materials design, development, and fabrication for flexible display and electronics at HP Labs and UC Berkeley. Lihua received her Ph.D. in Chemistry and Materials Science from UC Irvine in 2006 and is also a graduate of Next Women, World 50 Inc. 2023, and Building Innovative Leader Executive Program, Graduate School of Business, Stanford, 2019. She was honored as a 2019 Inductee, Hall of Fame, School of Physical Science, UC Irvine and named 2017 Women Worth Watching in STEM. Lihua is always keen on advocating, sponsoring, and coaching scientists and engineers, especially women, minorities, and introverts
Heini Haartti-Mäkinen
Heini Haartti-Mäkinen is the Head of Marketing at Dispelix, a leading AR waveguide designer and supplier. With extensive experience in the technology sector, she has held various senior marketing roles at global technology companies such as Microsoft, Nokia, and Asus. Prior to joining Dispelix, she served as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at a retail analytics firm. Passionate about driving technological innovation, Heini is dedicated to making AR technology a part of everyday life through strategic marketing and industry collaboration.
Event Details
FORMAT: Short presentations followed by a panel discussion with live audience Q&A.MENU: Boxed lunch service for the first 80 guests with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options available.
SETUP: Round tables with approximately 6 chairs per table.