Marita Cheng
Transform tech innovation and diversity with Marita Cheng, speaker, robotics and AI entrepreneur. Marita works with organizations to advance women in STEM, robotics innovation, and accessibility technology, recognized as Young Australian of the Year and Forbes Top 50 Women in Tech.
California, United States
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Marita earned degrees in Mechatronics and Computer Science from the University of Melbourne. At 19, Marita founded Robogals Global, an initiative to inspire girls to pursue careers in robotics and engineering. The organization has reached over 100,000 girls in 11 countries and has received several awards, including the Global Engineering Deans Council Diversity in Engineering Award in 2014.
Marita co-founded Aipoly, an AI company that created an app to help visually impaired individuals identify objects in real-time. The app, launched at CES in January 2016, is available in 23 languages and has been downloaded over 500,000 times. As the founder and CEO of Aubot, Marita developed telepresence robots to assist people with disabilities, the elderly, and children with cancer. Aubot also conducts research on robotic arms, virtual reality, and autonomous navigation.
Marita has received numerous accolades, including being named Young Australian of the Year in 2012 and being included in Forbes' Top 50 Women in Tech in 2018. She was also inducted as the youngest Member of the Order of Australia in 2019.
Marita is a sought-after public speaker, sharing her insights on technology and encouraging young students to explore STEM careers. She serves on various boards, including Robogals Global and the Foundation for Young Australians, and participates in initiatives like the Victorian State Innovation Expert Panel. Her story of resilience and innovation inspires many, highlighting the impact of technology and the importance of diversity in the field.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Marita Cheng, a Forbes 30 Under 30 robotics founder, explores the evolving world of robotics. She examines robots that integrate into our daily lives and those working behind the scenes to enhance our living standards. Cheng also highlights Aubot's innovations in assisting people. Attendees will learn about the current state of robotics, future trends, and the progress towards personal robots akin to Rosie from the Jetsons.
Marita Cheng, cofounder of Aipoly, explores the current landscape of artificial intelligence, highlighting key developments and industry impacts. She will discuss what people are working on, the results achieved, and whether AI is boosting productivity. Attendees will gain insights into the most exciting AI companies and projects today, discover what's trending in AI, and learn about potential AI projects to implement in their own businesses.
Marita Cheng, an engineer, noticed the lack of girls in her classes and took action by founding Robogals during her second year at university. This initiative aims to inspire girls to pursue engineering and technology careers by visiting schools with robots and teaching them programming skills. Robogals has reached over 100,000 girls across 11 countries. Marita, a Churchill Fellow, shares global insights on engaging girls in engineering. Attendees will learn how to inspire and empower the next generation in STEM fields.
Marita Cheng, hailed as the "Robot Queen" by Australian newspapers, transformed from a small-town girl in government housing to a global tech leader, recognised as one of Forbes' Top 50 Women in Tech. At 19, she founded Robogals to inspire girls in robotics, which became an international movement. She also launched Aipoly, aiding the blind with AI, and Aubot, creating everyday robots. Attendees will learn about seizing opportunities and self-belief.
Marita Cheng has consistently created projects with a global impact, from teaching girls to build robots to developing aids for the blind and disabled. Her methodology transforms ideas into global enterprises, using concepts like "3 Month Goals" and "Accountability Buddies," alongside innovative strategies such as "The Wall of Change" and the "Uncomfortable Zone." Attendees will learn how to choose a project and rapidly develop it from inception to a remarkable creation.
Marita Cheng, the founding CEO of Robogals, successfully led thousands of volunteers across the USA, Australia, the UK, Japan, and New Zealand to teach robotics to 140,000 girls worldwide. She managed and inspired her global teams entirely through her computer. Attendees will learn how to motivate remote teams, create a sense of community, provide effective feedback and praise, and use asynchronous communication to set their teams up for success.
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