Thursday, November 13th, 2025
Hydroplane CEO Dr. Anita Sengupta Leads “Women Redefining Tech & Space” Panel at LA Times Inspirational Women Forum
SANTA MONICA (November 13th, 2025) – Dr. Anita Sengupta, CEO of Hydroplane Ltd., led a high-impact panel on the role of women in technology at the 5th Annual LA Times Studios Inspirational Women Forum & Leadership Awards on November 13, held at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica. Joined by Wendy Shimata, VP of Autonomous Systems at Varda Space Systems, and Melanie Pittaluga, Director of Marketing & Communications at Millennium Space Systems, the conversation explored how diverse perspectives in engineering and leadership contribute to stronger innovation and mission outcomes.
Dr. Sengupta emphasized the importance of inclusive teams in advancing aerospace and autonomy, noting that “bringing together women with different backgrounds is not just a matter of equity — it’s a competitive advantage.” Under her moderation, the panel highlighted strategies for mentorship, overcoming systemic barriers, and fostering equity across traditionally male-dominated sectors.
The event featured an afternoon of insightful discussions followed by an evening awards dinner honoring outstanding women leaders across Southern California.
About Dr. Anita Sengupta
Dr. Sengupta is a leader in aerospace innovation, with a track record of guiding high-performance engineering teams and driving forward-looking space missions. As CEO of Hydroplane Ltd., she continues to advocate for representation, equity, and excellence in technology.
About the LA Times Studios Inspirational Women Forum & Leadership Awards
The Inspirational Women Forum & Leadership Awards is the flagship event of LA Times Studios, now in its fifth year. The gathering convenes influential women across industries to engage in dialogue, build community, and celebrate leadership.
You can learn more about the LA Time Studio Inspirational Women Event here:
Inspirational Women Forum & Leadership Awards – Los Angeles Times
About Hydroplane
Founded by former NASA engineer Dr. Anita Sengupta, Hydroplane Ltd. is minority woman-owned small business focused on eliminating aviation carbon emissions. Sengupta’s team of space program-trained engineers are developing a modular hydrogen fuel cell powerplant for a range of aircraft and mobile power generation applications.
Hydroplane is a winner of two U.S. Air Force Agility Prime contracts, US Navy contested logistics program contract, and US Army xTech 8 contract – to develop the novel technology for a range of government and commercial aviation uses.
Contact:
Jen Boyer
Flying Penguin Communications
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jen@theflyingpenguinpr.com
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https://hydroplane.us
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