Ram Katamaraja Invited To Speak at MIT Annual Flagship Event on "Diving Into Data For Good"

Ram Katamaraja, CEO and Founder of Refactored.ai, has been invited to speak at MIT’s annual flagship event, Solve at MIT.  The event will bring together more than 500 global thought leaders across the enterprise, nonprofit, and academia sector with panel discussions and seminars led by today’s most influential change-makers.  Solve at MIT will highlight the 30+ tech innovators that were selected as the 2018 Solver Class and their solutions’ progress towards solving some of today’s most pressing and complex global challenges. Throughout the event, MIT experts and cross-sector leaders will discuss ways to advance solutions and form collaborative partnerships that will scale Solver teams’ innovative work.

Ram will be featured as a thought leader and speaker on two panels during Solve at MIT. He will share his personal experience as a Solver, emphasizing the power of a network and advancement through meaningful partnerships fostered by MIT.  Ram will also be on the “Diving into Data for Good” panel providing insights and domain expertise on how data can be used to address the global skills and opportunity challenge - across all industries - and ways to apply data in order to benefit the greater good.

“Work of the Future” Solver: Refactored.ai

Refactored’s interactive, AI-powered data training and career development platform provides a scalable solution to keep workforce skills current in the midst of rapid technological advancement and to develop an inclusive “21st century” skilled workforce that can adapt to an ever-evolving workplace.  Refactored will help individuals overcome adversity and organizations overcome disruption.

As a diverse team of passionate data scientists and data-thinkers committed to making a social impact, we firmly believe that innovation and technology should bring people together instead of widening existing opportunity and skill gaps. Refactored was designed to ensure that everyone – regardless of race, age, education, or income – has the tools and resources needed to succeed in an AI-driven future.  To date, we have helped more than 5,000 people (hailing from over 45 countries) whose jobs are getting automated transition into careers in data; impact includes 45% women, 70% minority, and over 120 at-risk youth.

Three Days of Solutions, Connections, and Partnerships

The Solve community is united by a common goal: partnering to implement the best solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. If you are interested in attending, find out how you can become a member of Solve, or reach out to membership@solve.mit.edu. Solve is also accepting applications for new solutions to 2019 Global Challenges; deadline to submit is July 1, 2019.

Featured Speakers

Ram Dhan Yadav Katamaraja, Founder / CEO of Refactored.ai

Refactored was selected as a Solver for MIT Solves’ 2018 “Work of the Future” Global Challenge.  Refactored also received General Motors’ Prize for Advanced Technologies and The McGovern Foundation’s prize for Artificial Intelligence for Betterment of Humanity. Refactored was selected as a finalist for Jobs For the Future's (JFF) $1 Billion Wage Gain Challenge, supported by Schmidt Futures. Ram is driven by the mission to reduce inequality and promote career advancement for all by providing access to skill development and career pathway opportunities critical to success in the future of work. Up to 800 million global workers will lose their jobs by 2030 and be replaced by automation (MGI), making his mission more urgent than ever. Ram believes that there is a need to create innovative skill development platforms from the ground up that have “inclusivity” and “equal opportunity” at its core.

• Wendy Schmidt, President of the Schmidt Family Foundation, who has done incredible work catalyzing breakthrough solutions for climate change, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and marine technology. I am particularly inspired by her role in launching the research vessel Falkor in 2012, which has mapped a quarter of a million miles of ocean floor in high resolution detail and hosted more than 500 scientists from 92 countries in the pursuit of discovering new ocean ecosystems and species. Although oceans are the life support for our planet, we know more about the moon than we do about our oceans. Schmidt’s efforts to advance the frontiers of marine research can help to reverse human impact on ocean communities, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet for generations to come.

• Neela Montgomery, CEO, Crate & Barrel, who shows us a rare example of a future that all businesses can aspire to: under Montgomery, 75 percent of senior leadership and 70 percent of retail associates at Crate & Barrel are women, and the company has thrived as one of the largest online retailers, an industry leader at the cutting edge of consumer analytics and marketing. I’m excited to hear from Montgomery on how she overcame barriers to become the CEO of a large corporation and how more companies can follow Crate & Barrel’s lead to ensure that women are heard, empowered, and represented in the workforce.

• Tristan Harris, Founder, Center for Humane Technology. Called “the closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience” by The Atlantic, this former Google design ethicist is known for sparking a viral international conversation to reform technology for the good of society. In a time where news of harm and damage brought by big tech companies is a daily occurrence, this issue is more important now than ever before. All of us at Solve are keen to hear Harris’ insights on how we can change the system and realign technology to be in service of humanity.

• Ayah Bdeir, Founder and CEO of littleBits, who invented the electronic building block. As an immigrant and a female engineer and tech entrepreneur, she has been a vocal champion of human rights and social inclusion, and is undoubtedly a refreshing inspiration to the next generation of tech leaders. Bdeir's newly launched project Snap the Gap, funded by Disney, will tackle the gender gap in STEM by providing 1 million girls with the tools and opportunities they need to become scientists, engineers, and changemakers. I look forward to hearing from Bdeir on how we can ensure that the future of society is more equal and prosperous for all.

• Lyla June, a musician, activist, and internationally recognized performance poet of Diné (Navajo) and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) lineages. Her prayers and spoken word performances have given a voice for Indigenous rights and the critical need to protect and preserve the natural world. Her music video "All Nations Rise," which shared a message of hope and healing for the Water Protectors of Standing Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline, has received over 2.8 million views on Facebook. We are thrilled that June will join us and perform at Solve at MIT.

• Jade Hameister, a polar explorer who, at the age of 16, made history as the youngest person to complete the Polar Hat Trick—traversing the North Pole, South Pole, and Greenland ice sheet—shattering world records and the bounds of what girls can do. By sharing her first-hand experiences and accounts, Hameister aims to bring attention to the very real effects of climate change, urging leaders and people around the world to take action to preserve our planet. I am eager to hear more about Hameister’s journey, her advice for other girls, and what the future holds.

• Stephanie Mehta, Editor-in-Chief, Fast Company, who has solidified Fast Company's place as the leading progressive business media brand. She has pushed a commitment to thoughtful coverage on what the future of business looks like, with cover stars such as Arlan Hamilton—the first black queen woman to start her own venture capital firm, which invests in startups led by women, minorities, and LGBTQ founders—and progressive storytelling, like a photo essay on the first male cheerleaders in the NFL (the Los Angeles Rams) through the lens of social inclusion. We are thrilled that Mehta will moderate the opening plenary on Tech for Equality at Solve at MIT.

You may download a copy of the schedule (pdf) by clicking here