The annual Women in eDiscovery Conference brings together industry professionals with three goals for growth and development: Knowledge, through educational sessions; Network, through relationship-building opportunities; and Revive, offering opportunities to renew the passion for professional and personal wellness. The 2022 conference attendees came away with fresh knowledge, new professional relationships and a sense of excitement for the future of eDiscovery.
After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Women in eDiscovery hosted the in-person conference in May at Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego. The conference brought together women across the entire eDiscovery community, including leading companies in many industries and professionals in a variety of roles in eDiscovery, including attorneys, paralegals, service providers, partners and in-house legal.
Conference sessions featured diverse panels with topics including emerging industry trends such as O365, privacy, TAR, personal growth and development and highlighting various career paths and how to navigate them.
ProSearch was well represented, with several members featured on panels. CEO and co-founder Julia Hasenzahl shared her experiences in entrepreneurship in legal technology. ProSearch director of applied sciences Dr. Gina Taranto spoke on the panel “Seeds & Fruits on TAR.” Several other ProSearchers attend the conference including Prerna Bhatnagar, who came all the way from India!
We asked the ProSearch women in attendance their overall thoughts and key takeaways about the conference. Here’s what they had to say:
“It was a pleasure to dig in and discuss different perspectives on current topics in discovery itself as well as the subject of nurturing a fulfilling career in our industry. It was a true privilege to spend focused time with so many amazing women.” – Dr. Gina Taranto, Director of Applied Sciences
“I enjoyed watching two of our own (Gina and Julia) contribute to important discussions, but one of the most informative sessions I attended analyzed ‘Digital Fingerprints’ and the ways our information is collected and misused. The topics of data privacy and data security made for some fascinating panels.” – Elizabeth Pollock, Engagement Manager
“The 2022 WiE conference provided a distinct forum to meet, interact and learn from a rich and diverse group of individuals across the eDiscovery industry. The focus on networking and personal career growth and development, alongside key industry trends and technology, brought fresh – and inspiring – perspectives.” – Lauren Roso, Engagement Director
“The Women in eDiscovery conference was a sound opportunity to collaborate with several learned individuals in the industry. I was lucky enough to meet my colleagues in person after working with them virtually for nearly 10 years. It was a perfect break in the pandemic to discuss the most happening topics in the eDiscovery world. Some fine conversations were on Microsoft 365 and eDiscovery, the intersection of cross-border investigations and data privacy, entrepreneurs and the impacts of nation-state-sponsored cyberattacks. I’m thankful to Julia and ProSearch for giving us the opportunity to participate, network and get an exposure with the wider audience in the industry!” – Prerna Bhatnagar, Project Management Lead
“My favorite session was ‘Digital Tracking and Surveillance Capitalism.’ It was a great reminder that even free apps sell your personal data and to be more conscious about your web presence and app usage. A highlight was Julia speaking in the WiEx: Entrepreneurs panel. I love hearing the ProSearch origin story and always learn something new every time. The best part was joining a group of like-minded women coming together for learning, networking and supporting each other!” – Kristen Alfred, Project Manager
“I had a great time at my first Women in eDiscovery Conference getting to know so many of my peers across the industry and attending great panels. I loved the Stellar Women panel and learning about different ways to approach goal setting and supporting colleagues. I’m looking forward to taking what I learned and incorporating it into my goal setting for the year.” – Maggie Burtoft, Solutions Advisor
The ProSearch team agreed that Women in eDiscovery is a unique organization that has a positive impact on the eDiscovery profession.
