Lock in this Fall: Airbnb Interview Prep, Figma AI, & MidwestCon Wrapped

THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

• MidwestCon 2025 Wrapped → The CreateHERs went to MidwestCon 2025! Checkout what they learned, what you need to know, and insights you can leverage today!

• Prompt like a Pro with Figma → Figma drops AI right on your design canvas—plus, how shifting roles are changing the creative game.

• Get Interview Ready with Airbnb → Don’t miss this week’s exclusive prep with Airbnb’s recruitment pros.

• Lock in and Level Up → Level up fast: Gates Foundation AI fellowships, UI/UX & dev certs, and a free Azure AI workshop.

FROM THE COMMUNITY: LESSONS FROM MIDWESTCON 2025

CreateHER Collective joined MidwestCon 2025 in Cincinnati—an event uniting students, industry pros, and tech leaders across AI, cybersecurity, and policy. With the theme “The Human Code: Embedding Empathy into Innovation,” the takeaway was clear: the future of tech must be built with humanity at its core.

We were proud to have Mariah Jones, one of our CreateHER Fest ambassadors, on the ground. She soaked it all in on behalf of our community, and shared reflections of the moments, insights, and connections that left a mark. Read her write up below!

Real Connections, Real Impact

We networked the right way: no stiff handshakes, just genuine conversations that mattered. A tissue handed to a sniffling speaker turned into a LinkedIn connection and lasting relationship. A quick selfie led to real collaboration opportunities. These micro-moments? They're where the magic happens.

Outside the panels, connections were made everywhere, from happy hour conversations sharing travel hacks to girl talk: the tech career woman edition, and even roundtable strategy sessions on financial empowerment; we found community in the small, authentic moments.

Insights For Our Community

• The power of networking lies in authentic community; mentors, peers, and professionals who share not just ideas, but real advice and support.

• Change management is as much about protecting well-being and building systems for growth as it is about rolling out new tech.

• Bringing empathy to innovation makes a difference; listening and responding to real needs turns talk into impact.

• Women to watch: Mellini Monique, Noelle Russell, Seema Alexander, Sharufa Rashied-Walker, Erin Reddick, Nyaradzo Bere are all trailblazers who remind us what it means to lead with innovation AND empathy.

My Big Picture Takeaways

I left MidwestCon thinking about how these insights could scale into real-world solutions. I reframed what I heard through the lens of a senior director of solution engineering at a Fortune 500, asking: what would it take for these ideas to scale into portfolio-worthy plays? Here’s what stood out to me:

• Networking Intelligence – AI + computer vision to capture “micro-moments” at events (speaker needs, engagement cues), auto-linked to CRM. IP angle: Relationship Capital Optimizer.

• Employee Experience – An AI wellness copilot that detects emotional strain and suggests micro-coaching or task shifts. IP angle: Emotional Telemetry Layer.

• Business Optimization Before AI – An “AI Readiness Score” that audits workflows and benchmarks ROI before integration. IP angle: AI Readiness Index SaaS.

• Change Management – An AI-driven adoption orchestration layer that gamifies transformation, bridging C-suite vision with frontline execution. IP angle: Change Orchestration Platform.

• Future AI Directions – From digital twins and 3D avatars for CX + training, to agentic small LMs, to Governance-as-a-Service for compliance.

For me, the power of community is how we translate value shared into strategies, tools, and platforms that can actually change how we work and live. My experience showed me that we all have a place and a voice at the table. I’m excited to build on these connections and keep shaping conversations that matter.

Want to see more?! Check out our MidwestCon Camera Roll!

RETHINK YOUR ROLE WITH AI POWERED DESIGN

Design isn’t just for designers anymore. Product managers are sketching, marketers are dropping mockups, and everyone on the team is shaping what gets built—often all inside Figma. New research from Figma shows the lines between roles are more blurred than ever, with AI as a key driver behind this shift. In fact, 72% say AI tools are already changing how they work.

Now, Figma is making this collaboration even easier: imagine AI integrated right into your design canvas, ready to brainstorm, explore, and handle all the tedious stuff, freeing you up for the creative work only you can do.

Read insights from Andrew Hogan, Head of Insights at Figma.

Want early access?
Apply now for Figma’s prompt-to-edit alpha and be one of the first to transform your workflow with AI as your teammate.

JOIN US AT BLOCKCHAIN FUTURIST IN MIAMI!

Blockchain Futurist Conference is the next major web3 event in the U.S., happening November 5-6, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Held at the iconic Hard Rock Guitar Hotel and DAER, the event features 350+ speakers, immersive stages, poolside networking, and thousands of attendees from across crypto, blockchain, and AI. Now in its 8th year, it’s built for founders, investors, and developers, with a strong focus on networking and deal flow.

Are you in? We’ve got a FREE ticket with you name on it!

COMMUNITY SURVEY

Enjoyed it? Share it with your network!

THIS WEEK’S RESOURCES

• Gates Foundation AI Fellowship

  • The Gates Foundation’s 12-month AI Fellows Program recruits top AI talent to drive innovation in global health, development, and education. Fellows collaborate on high-impact projects, receive expert mentorship, and earn $148,920–$162,350. Apply by September 19, 2025. Apply Here →

• Get Interview Ready with Airbnb

  • Join the Airbnb Team this Wednesday, for an exclusive session with Airbnb and the Algorythm community. Come prepared to connect with Airbnb’s recruitment team and engineers, learn about Airbnb’s process, culture and interview tips. 

    Sept 17th 9am PT / 12pm ET Register Here →

• IBM UI/UX Designer Professional Certificate

  • Learn to design intuitive, user-centered digital experiences with hands-on projects in Figma, Adobe XD, and Miro. No prior experience required—build a portfolio and earn an industry-recognized certificate. First month free.
    Explore Here →

• IBM Front-End Developer Professional Certificate

  • Develop interactive web apps using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React, plus Git/GitHub for version control. Graduate with a strong portfolio and IBM certification to boost your resume.
    Explore Here →

• Build an AI App with Azure Using RAG

  • Learn how to build AI apps with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) using Azure Cosmos DB, Azure OpenAI, and Kubernetes Service. This free intermediate-level training is ideal for IT pros, architects, and developers. Participants receive 50% off the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification exam. September 29th, 12–2:15 PM ET.  Register Here →

SPONSORED CONTENT

~This section features aligned advertisements. Engagement with our sponsored content helps support CreateHER Fest’s community operations!’

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

No wonder 10K+ everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}

Until next time,

Discover \ Design \ Deliver