Speaking Engagements

Helena has been a prominent voice at various institutions and industry events, sharing her insights on the intersection of data science, DEI, and social impacts. Here is a glimpse of her contributions.

Data Bites 8.0 Women in Technology Panel (2025): Helena Yu shared her inspiring professional journey from data enthusiast to AI leader, highlighting the challenges she overcame and the collaborative partnerships she built while developing impactful AI solutions across diverse industries.

Women in Communications and Technology Workshop (2025): Helena Yu facilitated "Building a Tech-Savvy Skillset for Career Success," an immersive workshop that equipped participants with essential AI literacy, data interpretation skills, and core technical competencies while emphasizing complementary human capabilities like critical thinking and creative problem-solving. The session provided practical frameworks for seamlessly integrating AI into everyday workflows, empowering professionals to leverage emerging technologies as career accelerators while maintaining human oversight and ethical judgment.

Women in Technology Conference (2024): Helena participated on the Women in AI panel, discussing the challenges she faced as a women of colour in the field of AI and the role of women in shaping the future of AI technology.

Data for Good - Waterloo Region - Expert Talks (2024): Helena delivered a lecture on Recommender Systems in the era of Large Language Models (LLMs), exploring the impact of LLMs on RecSys and future potentials.

York University (2024): At Ellehacks, Helena delivered a hands-on workshop on Large Language Models (LLMs), showcasing their capabilities and applications.

Accelerate Her Future x Scotiabank (2023, 2024): Helena participated on the networking panel discussions, providing mentorship and advice on networking for young BIWOC entering the technology industry.

University of Toronto (2024): During the Agent of Change Conference held at Rotman School of Management, Helena shared her experiences working in the nonprofit sector, highlighting how data science is leveraged for social good.

University of Waterloo (2024): As an alumna, Helena returned to discuss how LLMs have transformed the banking industry, offering insights and inspiration to current students.

University of Toronto (2023): At Hack the Valley, Helena participated in a panel discussing the challenges women face in technology, offering insights and advice that empower the next generation of women technology leaders.

North Technology People (2023): Helena discussed data value creation.

Toronto Machine Learning Summit (2023): Helena served as the MC for the Women+ AI event and led a panel discussion focused on breaking gender barriers in the field of AI.

Humber College (2023): Helena shared her career journey as a woman in data analytics, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities within the field.