Amita Shetty, currently the director of Break Through Tech Chicago at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), will transition to lead a new Data + AI program set to launch in the 2025-26 academic year. This initiative is part of Break Through Tech Chicago, a national program focused on achieving gender equality in technology fields. The program is made possible by a generous $1 million donation from Google.org and is designed to equip undergraduate students with essential skills for succeeding in an increasingly AI-driven world. It aims to provide more students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to contribute to the future of innovation.
Shetty, who has over 20 years of strategic experience in both corporate and startup environments, expressed her excitement about the program’s potential. She emphasized that AI, when led by diverse talent, can bring about significant societal change. With UIC’s strong connections to Chicago’s organizations, Shetty believes the university is in a unique position to prepare students for responsible leadership in the tech industry.
Before joining Break Through Tech Chicago, Shetty served as senior vice president of business development at GATX Corporation. She has also held roles at General Electric in various capacities. Beyond her leadership in tech, Shetty advocates for women’s leadership in the workplace and supports socioeconomic and gender equity. She actively participates in Social Venture Partners Chicago, SheEO, and supports literacy initiatives through Reading in Motion. Additionally, Shetty teaches courses at UIC and Loyola University Chicago and holds a degree in civil and environmental engineering from Lafayette College, as well as an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
