Empower 2025
Igniting ideas, transforming technology
Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, for the eighth annual Empower, ASU’s IT Professional Community Day.
You will gain insights from ASU community members as they showcase technological advancements highlighting innovation over the past year. Be inspired and engage in the dynamic Spark Tank challenge - a fast-paced, hands-on innovation experience.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the latest tech developments at ASU and connect with peers shaping the future!
Let's come together at Empower to deepen our exploration of ASU’s dynamic ecosystem, where ideas ignite and technology transforms the future of learning.
What is the Spark Tank Challenge?
The Empower Spark Tank Challenge is an opportunity for you to work with other ASU IT professionals to create an innovative solution for a pressing, real-world challenge currently impacting the ASU community that could benefit from an AI tech-driven approach.
Spark Tank 2025 will focus on how ASU is committed to positioning itself as a global leader in AI innovation by leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive transformative change. Our approach focuses on five key areas:
- enhancing student and learner outcomes
- creating space for active innovation
- advancing pathways for research and discovery
- redefining the future of work
- positioning ASU as a global leader for advancing AI innovations
This year we ask, as we continue to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve, we invite you to participate in our Spark Tank Challenge by sharing your insights:
What challenges are you facing in your department that AI could help solve?
Agenda
| 8:40 a.m. | Doors Open |
| 9:00 a.m. | Welcome by ASU CIO Lev Gonick |
| 9:20 a.m. | Keynote Speaker |
| 10:00 a.m. | Intersections Showcase |
| 11:15 a.m. | Introduction to the Spark Tank Showdown |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch Service Begins Don't forget your reusable water bottle! |
| 12:30 p.m. | Let the Spark Tank Showdown Begin! During this activity, you will form teams that will brainstorm solutions to five real ASU requested AI scenarios shared by YOU. All teams will develop pitches for their assigned AI solutions. After two rounds of presentations and eliminations, the top five teams will make it to the third and final round, when they will present their ideas for our Spark Tank Showdown judges and the Empower audience. A slide template is available in the Spark Tank Drive for your team to use. Visit https://links.asu.edu/sparktankdrive for access. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Winner announced and close out |
Why attend?
Empower is the premiere event for convening voices across the university's technology community. Together, we showcase and envision successful and emergent technology applications at ASU. Participants walk away with stronger connections, new ideas constructed through shared experiences and actionable lists to inform technology strategy and priority at ASU.
Parking Details
The ASU Student Pavilion is located at 400 East Orange Street (noted by the star) in Tempe on campus.
We highly encourage using alternative transportation such as carpooling, a golf cart, or stretching your legs on a quick walk.
ASU Cross Parking from any campus will be available in Lot 3 (noted at the bottom of the map). If you do not have an ASU placard, please reach out at the event for a reimbursement.
Menu Options
Please remember to bring your reusable water bottle to this event!
A light breakfast will be available in the morning:
Lunch for everyone will be served at 11:30 a.m.
- We encourage alternative travel such as walking, carpooling or using an ASU golf cart to attend our events.
- Promote bringing your reusable water bottles to reduce single use cup usage.
- Our team only uses evergreen signage and decor which is reused each year.
- Our events work with Zero Waste & Aramark on Think Before You Throw waste awareness.
- Request attendees leave lanyards behind to be reused for future events.
