C&W

Keynote Speaker: Sanchaita Datta

Sanchaita Datta was chosen as one of Utah's top female executive by Utah Business magazine and was awarded the Woman Innovator Award by the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in recognition of her accomplishments in the field of communications technology. She was also a recipient of Connect Magazine's 2006 Reader's Choice Award, "25 People Who Most Influenced Business in Utah."

Datta is currently a Trustee of the Utah Women in Technology organization (WIT), and an appointed member of Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. IT Task Force. She was also a member of the Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. Transmission Team.

With all of her success, she wanted to give something back. When a friend approached Sanch and her husband with an idea of opening a school for girls, they were excited. They opened up the school in rural India where girls didn't have access to education. She believes, "if you give proper education to a young girl, she will grow up to be a great mother who can hold a family together and make sure the children are educated." The school, which started with 50 girls fifteen years ago, currently has 1,500 girls, and offers education from 1st grade through a bachelor's degree with plans to include a master's degree in the near future. Some of its graduates are now in professional jobs, some have returned to be teachers at the school, and others are married housewives with families.

In another effort to give back, Datta's company, FatPipe Networks, raised $18,000 to send to India right after the Tsunami hit. The money was given to women who were anxious to start a business to support their families during this hard time. Some women have used the money to start companies that provide lunches, laundry services, etc.

Her message is simple: "If your heart is in something, it can be done. Don't let anybody tell you that you are not capable of doing it. You, yourself can command your own capabilities."

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