Most Active Speakers 2024

Sessionize proudly presents the list of the most active speakers in the year 2024!

  • 1011 speakers
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Kristyna Ferris

Kristyna Ferris

Kristyna Ferris is a solution architect at P3 Adaptive. Her experience includes implementing and managing enterprise-level Power BI instance, training teams on reporting best practices, and building templates for scalable analytics. Passionate about participating and growing the data community, she enjoys co-writing on Data on Wheels (dataonwheels.com) and speaking at various events. She also a co-organizer for Lexington Data Technology Group.

Kristyna Ferris is a solution architect at P3 Adaptive. Her experience includes implementing and managing enterprise-level Power BI instance, training teams on reporting best practices, and building templates for scalable analytics. Passionate about ... Show more

Renato Losio

Renato Losio

Renato has extensive experience as a cloud architect, tech lead, and cloud services specialist. Currently, he lives in Berlin and works remotely as a principal cloud architect. His primary areas of interest include cloud services and relational databases. He is an editor at InfoQ and a recognized AWS Data Hero. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.

Renato has extensive experience as a cloud architect, tech lead, and cloud services specialist. Currently, he lives in Berlin and works remotely as a principal cloud architect. His primary areas of interest include cloud services and relational datab... Show more

Paul Andrew

Paul Andrew

Paul (AKA @mrpaulandrew) is the Co-Founder & CTO of Cloud Formations, a specialist data consultancy based in the UK. With nearly 20 years’ experience designing and delivering Microsoft data architectures, Paul leads a passionate team of engineers, supporting businesses small and large with scalable cloud platforms. Business value delivered through data insights. Over the years, Paul has covered the breadth and depth of design patterns and industry leading concepts, including Lambda, Kappa, Delta Lake, Data Mesh and Data Fabric.

Paul is also a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, director for the Data Relay community conference, East Midlands user group leader, book author and mentor. In addition to the day job(s), Paul is a father of three, husband, foodie, runner, blood donor, geek, Lego, and Star Wars fan! Lastly, Paul confesses to enjoying a Ramstein playlist when given half a chance to do some coding for a customer project.

Paul (AKA @mrpaulandrew) is the Co-Founder & CTO of Cloud Formations, a specialist data consultancy based in the UK. With nearly 20 years’ experience designing and delivering Microsoft data architectures, Paul leads a passionate team of engineers, su... Show more

Lenin Alevski

Lenin Alevski

Lenin Alevski is a Full Stack Engineer and generalist with a lot of passion for Information Security. Currently working as a Security Engineer at Google. Lenin specializes in building and maintaining Distributed Systems, Application Security and Cloud Security in general. Lenin loves to play CTFs, contributing to open-source and writing about security and privacy on his personal blog https://www.alevsk.com.

Lenin Alevski is a Full Stack Engineer and generalist with a lot of passion for Information Security. Currently working as a Security Engineer at Google. Lenin specializes in building and maintaining Distributed Systems, Application Security and Clou... Show more

Wim Matthyssen

Wim Matthyssen

Wim is an Azure Technical Advisor and Trainer with over fifteen years of Microsoft technology expertise who specializes in helping companies transition to the Cloud.

Wim is also a Microsoft MVP in the Azure category, a founding board member of the MC2MC user group, and an active community contributor, sharing his experiences through blogs and speaking engagements.

Wim is an Azure Technical Advisor and Trainer with over fifteen years of Microsoft technology expertise who specializes in helping companies transition to the Cloud. Wim is also a Microsoft MVP in the Azure category, a founding board member of the... Show more

Angel Ramirez

Angel Ramirez

Angel Ramirez is a technology leader and entrepreneur with expertise in software product development, cloud-native technologies, and Kubernetes (Kubestronaut). As CEO of Cuemby, he develops innovative solutions that align technical concepts with business goals. A CNCF and TODO OSPO Ambassador, Angel is recognized for his public speaking abilities, making complex ideas easy to understand. His approach integrates technology and business strategy, helping organizations achieve scalable solutions while fostering ongoing learning and community engagement.

Angel Ramirez is a technology leader and entrepreneur with expertise in software product development, cloud-native technologies, and Kubernetes (Kubestronaut). As CEO of Cuemby, he develops innovative solutions that align technical concepts with busi... Show more

Jean-Yves Klein

Jean-Yves Klein

Senior Agile Coach, Jean-Yves Klein has worn many hats: developer, project manager, program director, head of IT… This diverse background gives him a 360° view of agility — from hands-on delivery to executive strategy.

Certified in PMI, SAFe, and Disciplined Agile, he has coached teams across IT, mechanical engineering, electronics, marketing, and legal. His approach is always tailored to the team, the project, and the organization — no cookie-cutter solutions here.

A passionate educator, he has designed over 10 Serious Games, including several with LEGO, to bring Agile, SAFe, DevOps, and key roles like Product Owner and Scrum Master to life. With him, learning is hands-on, fun, and unforgettable.

Senior Agile Coach, Jean-Yves Klein has worn many hats: developer, project manager, program director, head of IT… This diverse background gives him a 360° view of agility — from hands-on delivery to executive strategy. Certified in PMI, SAFe, and ... Show more

Stephanie Bruno

Stephanie Bruno

Stephanie is the co-founder and grand high witch at data-witches.com. She is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP who specializes in turning complex data into clear insights using Fabric and Power BI. Known for her practical, approachable style, she shares her expertise through blogging, GitHub tools, and speaking at conferences. She’s passionate about helping others grow their data skills and believes in the power of community and collaboration.

Stephanie is the co-founder and grand high witch at data-witches.com. She is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP who specializes in turning complex data into clear insights using Fabric and Power BI. Known for her practical, approachable style, she shares ... Show more

Jimmy Bogard

Jimmy Bogard

Jimmy is the creator and maintainer of the popular OSS libraries AutoMapper and MediatR, and the originator of Vertical Slice Architecture. Jimmy is an independent software consultant based in Austin, TX. Jimmy has received the "Microsoft Most Valuable Professional" (MVP) award every year since 2009.

Jimmy is the creator and maintainer of the popular OSS libraries AutoMapper and MediatR, and the originator of Vertical Slice Architecture. Jimmy is an independent software consultant based in Austin, TX. Jimmy has received the "Microsoft Most Valuab... Show more

Jennifer Wadella

Jennifer Wadella

Often described as a force of nature, Jennifer is a visionary leader with a proven track record in management excellence and leading software teams to successful execution of business goals.

With deep roots in frontend engineering Jennifer is still widely regarded as an expert in the Angular space despite her growing tenure in non-coding management roles. Jennifer combines years of experience in developing JavaScript applications through interfacing with users, stakeholders and business executives with a keen eye on the current development landscape & trends to craft strategic vision and lead teams to sustainable growth that contributes to company success.

Jennifer is passionate about developer communities, and shares her expertise in frontend development, engineering management, maximizing productivity, and community building across the world as a widely sought-after public speaker. She is also the founder of Kansas City Women in Technology, a non-profit that has taught thousands of women and girls in the Kansas City area to code, and helped women enter tech careers.

Often described as a force of nature, Jennifer is a visionary leader with a proven track record in management excellence and leading software teams to successful execution of business goals. With deep roots in frontend engineering Jennifer is sti... Show more

Isabelle Van Campenhoudt

Isabelle Van Campenhoudt

Isabelle Van Campenhoudt is a seasoned Microsoft Data Platform architect with thirteen years as an MVP in Data Platform, bringing over two decades of experience in data management. Based in Belgium, her expertise spans Business Intelligence and Database Administration.
Isabelle is a prolific trainer, speaker, and consultant, engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders including developers for BI solutions, architecture and performance design teams, infrastructure personnel, and business users. She has also served as a faculty member at EPHEC, Brussels, teaching in the Bachelor of Computer Science program.
An active contributor to the technical community, Isabelle co-founded the Global Francophone V-Chapter in 2015 and has held the vice presidency of the Club Power BI user group in Paris for multiple years. She organizes various professional gatherings such as meetups, master classes, Power Saturday, and other significant conferences.
Isabelle is a frequent guest speaker at international conferences, driven by her passion for knowledge sharing. Alongside fellow MVP Serge Luca, she co-founded Power Platform Associates, further solidifying her deep engagement with the entire Power Platform ecosystem.

Isabelle Van Campenhoudt is a seasoned Microsoft Data Platform architect with thirteen years as an MVP in Data Platform, bringing over two decades of experience in data management. Based in Belgium, her expertise spans Business Intelligence and Datab... Show more

Dr. Gomathi S

Dr. Gomathi S

Dr. S. Gomathi is a distinguished Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Community Lead, and Microsoft Learn Expert, renowned for her expertise in data analytics, AI-driven solutions, and data visualization. She holds 7+ Microsoft certifications, including Microsoft Certified Data Analyst Associate and Power Platform Solution Architect Expert, in addition to being a Google for Education Certified Trainer.

With over 14 years of experience in academia and industry, Dr. Gomathi has excelled as a trainer, professor, and thought leader, specializing in Business Central, Power BI, Power Apps, Tableau, Data Science, ETL tools, Big Data, and Machine Learning. Her work has empowered professionals and organizations to leverage data insights for innovation and efficiency.

She is an active member of the Computer Society of India and has made significant contributions as a peer reviewer and editor for SCOPUS-indexed and international journals. Her expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is reflected in her authorship of two published books, further establishing her authority in the field.

Dr. Gomathi has earned several prestigious awards, including Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records titles, as well as the "Young Scientist" and "Women Scientist" awards. As a holder of seven national and international patents, she continues to inspire the tech and analytics communities, leading the way in the ever-evolving world of innovation.

Dr. S. Gomathi is a distinguished Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Community Lead, and Microsoft Learn Expert, renowned for her expertise in data analytics, AI-driven solutions, and data visualization. She... Show more

Sally Dabbah

Sally Dabbah

Meet Sally! Sally serves as a Data Engineer with an expertise in Azure Cloud Analytics Services, with years of experience under her belt.
Since earning her M.Sc. degree in Software Engineering, Sally has become a significant voice in Azure Cloud Analytics Services, publishing over ten blogs on Microsoft's Tech Community blog. What excites Sally most about her work is the opportunity to build Proof of Concepts (POCs) that help Microsoft customers unlock their business potential – by doing so, she remains true to her ultimate mission: to empower innovation through Azure's boundless possibilities. Away from her professional endeavors, Sally finds joy in baking pastries, a hobby she shares with her followers on Instagram for inspiration.

Meet Sally! Sally serves as a Data Engineer with an expertise in Azure Cloud Analytics Services, with years of experience under her belt. Since earning her M.Sc. degree in Software Engineering, Sally has become a significant voice in Azure Cloud An... Show more

Aicha Laafia

Aicha Laafia

Aicha Laafia, a Java software engineer with a love for coding, an interest in sustainability, and a commitment to empowering women in tech.

I am a Women Techmakers and Girls Code ambassador, an IAmRemarkable facilitator, a member of the Moroccan Association of Computing Science and part of Jetbrains Community Contributor program.

I focus on creating software with minimal environmental impact while mentoring and supporting women in technology.

When I’m not coding, I enjoy exploring delicious food, phone photography, and watching Formula 1.

Aicha Laafia, a Java software engineer with a love for coding, an interest in sustainability, and a commitment to empowering women in tech. I am a Women Techmakers and Girls Code ambassador, an IAmRemarkable facilitator, a member of the Moroccan A... Show more

Smita Nachan

Smita Nachan

As a M365 Architect, I leverage my 16+ years of experience and multiple certifications to design, implement, and maintain large-scale projects using SharePoint and Office 365. I am a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), a Microsoft MVP in two categories (M365 and AI Platform).

My mission is to help clients achieve their business goals and optimize their digital transformation journey using the latest technologies and best practices. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and expertise with the community, and I frequently speak at various events, such as SPS, Global Microsoft 365 Developer Bootcamp, and Global Power Platform Bootcamp. I am also an author, speaker, and organizer of several books, blogs, podcasts, and webinars on M365 topics.

As a M365 Architect, I leverage my 16+ years of experience and multiple certifications to design, implement, and maintain large-scale projects using SharePoint and Office 365. I am a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), a Microsoft MVP in two categories (M36... Show more

Christian Cote

Christian Cote

Christian Coté is an IT professional with more than 20 years of experience working in data warehouse and data lakehouse projects. He developed ETL processes using a range of tools on multiple platforms. Christian has been a presenter at a number of conferences and code camps. He currently co-leads the SQL Server PASS chapter in Montreal. He is also Microsoft Data Platform MVP.

Christian Coté is an IT professional with more than 20 years of experience working in data warehouse and data lakehouse projects. He developed ETL processes using a range of tools on multiple platforms. Christian has been a presenter at a number of c... Show more

Michael Plettner

Michael Plettner

With more than 2 decades of customer experience, a long history in Microsoft products, Michael is a Cloud Architect who enjoys sharing his experience with the community and help the community grow.
During the last years, Michael was working with customers in Microsoft Teams topics, Microsoft 365 implementations overall and since 2022 he's also working with his customers in different Microsoft Viva projects.
Since more than seven years Michael has its own company, working with the focus on Microsoft topics, Change-Management and Project-Management. He's also a Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 Apps and Services since 2021.

With more than 2 decades of customer experience, a long history in Microsoft products, Michael is a Cloud Architect who enjoys sharing his experience with the community and help the community grow. During the last years, Michael was working with cus... Show more

Lorenzo Barbieri

Lorenzo Barbieri

From the moment I turned on my Vic-20, 40 years ago, I knew my life was aimed at technology. I've always been the first in line to test out new products, services, gadgets, especially those which promised to change people’s lives. I’ve always been a tech superhero.
After all these years, my personal mission went from changing the world through technology to improving the world, one human interaction at a time. Changing the way people live in the digital age is possible only by addressing the human factor, together with technology.
My proven track record of driving sales involves creating connections, building communities, challenging views, delivering value, and going the extra mile.
As a Cloud Architect and Evangelist, I’ve presented technical and business content to a wide range of different audiences, from executive meetings to large developer conferences, including many online and in-person events, and I was recognized as the “best speaker” multiple times, thanks to a clever mix of storytelling and technology.
I have a deep technical knowledge of Application Innovation and Modernization in the Cloud, Cloud Native solutions and, of course, on-premises solutions. I can drive product development and technology teams.
I have a deep business knowledge of Manufacturing, Automotive, and Construction business, coupled with a broad knowledge of ISVs and Microsoft partners.
So, if you're ever in need of an evil genius being able to impact deals through human interactions and technology, look no further. I’m the right person to help with your business!

From the moment I turned on my Vic-20, 40 years ago, I knew my life was aimed at technology. I've always been the first in line to test out new products, services, gadgets, especially those which promised to change people’s lives. I’ve always been a ... Show more

Sumit Kumar

Sumit Kumar

Fast track recognised Power platform Engagement Director at HCL Technologies formerly known as PowerObjects with over 18 years of professional experience in the analysis of business problems and application of IT-based solutions - primarily in government, Housing and public authority. Mr. Kumar is delivery-focused and pragmatic with considerable team leading, architectural and technical design experience, allied with appreciation of business requirements and effective people management skills. He has experience of the entire life cycle - from pre-sales through to transition and service delivery

Fast track recognised Power platform Engagement Director at HCL Technologies formerly known as PowerObjects with over 18 years of professional experience in the analysis of business problems and application of IT-based solutions - primarily in gove... Show more

Kyle Kotowick

Kyle Kotowick

Dr. Kyle Kotowick is the founder of a Canadian consulting and development firm focusing on cloud infrastructure, security, and Internet-of-Things implementations for high-growth clients. He completed his Ph.D. in MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, joint with the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He has served as a consultant, systems architect, and developer for global firms, startups, and universities; as a project lead for military medical and communication technology; and as a researcher for military navigation systems and for life support systems in space. He specializes in working with both startups and enterprise clients to define requirements and explore possible solutions, as well as in leading the development of project architecture, cloud services, and back-end software.

Dr. Kyle Kotowick is the founder of a Canadian consulting and development firm focusing on cloud infrastructure, security, and Internet-of-Things implementations for high-growth clients. He completed his Ph.D. in MIT's Computer Science and Artificial... Show more

Kevlin Henney

Kevlin Henney

Kevlin is an independent consultant, trainer, speaker and writer. His development interests and work with companies covers programming, practice and people. He is a contributor to the Modern Software Engineering YouTube channel and has written for many publications, including The Register and the O'Reilly Radar. Kevlin is also co-author of two volumes in the Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture series, editor of 97 Things Every Programmer Should Know and co-editor of 97 Things Every Java Programmer Should Know.

Kevlin is an independent consultant, trainer, speaker and writer. His development interests and work with companies covers programming, practice and people. He is a contributor to the Modern Software Engineering YouTube channel and has written for ma... Show more

Mauricio "Salaboy" Salatino

Mauricio "Salaboy" Salatino

Mauricio Salatino, also known as salaboy, works for Diagrid as an Open Source and Ecosystem Engineer. He is a Java Champion, Cloud Native Ambassador, and international Keynote speaker. Before working at Diagrid, Mauricio spent the last 10 years building tools for Cloud-Native developers at companies such as Red Hat and VMware. When he is not writing tools for developers or contributing to open source projects in the Cloud Native space, he teaches about Kubernetes and Cloud-Native via his Blog salaboy.com and/or LearnKube

Mauricio Salatino, also known as salaboy, works for Diagrid as an Open Source and Ecosystem Engineer. He is a Java Champion, Cloud Native Ambassador, and international Keynote speaker. Before working at Diagrid, Mauricio spent the last 10 years build... Show more

Andrea Ceroni

Andrea Ceroni

Senior software architect, R&D team @Elfo.
I started my career working for advertising and cinema companies, using Maya and Python.
I have been working in .NET C# for more than ten years, with special interest in Azure cloud architectures, Infrastructure as Code, mobile applications, async/concurrent code and functional programming.
I'm a proud Microsoft MVP and I do my best to support communities.
Mountains and MTB enthusiast!
Married with Federica, we have a golden retriever, Mila.

Senior software architect, R&D team @Elfo. I started my career working for advertising and cinema companies, using Maya and Python. I have been working in .NET C# for more than ten years, with special interest in Azure cloud architectures, Infrastr... Show more

Fabian Bader

Fabian Bader

Fabian Bader is a Cyber Security Architect and Microsoft MVP from Germany. He focuses on security and cloud solutions and works mainly with Microsoft technologies.
From Azure cloud to on-premises Active Directory, he likes to automate stuff with PowerShell.

Besides being a speaker at conferences and community events, he blogs at "cloudbrothers.info" and hosts "Purple Elbe Security User Group" and "Hamburg PowerShell User Group".

❤️ PowerShell and Security 🛡️

Fabian Bader is a Cyber Security Architect and Microsoft MVP from Germany. He focuses on security and cloud solutions and works mainly with Microsoft technologies. From Azure cloud to on-premises Active Directory, he likes to automate stuff with Pow... Show more

Ahmed Hamdan

Ahmed Hamdan

Ahmed Hamdan is the Flutter Unit Head at MaibornWolff, where he drives the strategic adoption and growth of Flutter both within the company and across the wider tech ecosystem.

Specializing in Flutter since 2017, Ahmed has become a recognized expert and advocate, frequently sharing his knowledge with global audiences through conference talks and community events.

As a Community Organizer for Flutter Valencia and GDG Valencia, he is passionate about building vibrant developer communities that empower people to connect, learn, and grow together.

Ahmed Hamdan is the Flutter Unit Head at MaibornWolff, where he drives the strategic adoption and growth of Flutter both within the company and across the wider tech ecosystem. Specializing in Flutter since 2017, Ahmed has become a recognized expe... Show more

Zoe Steinkamp

Zoe Steinkamp

I’m Zoe Steinkamp, a Developer Advocate at ClickHouse, with a strong foundation in front-end software engineering. My mission is to empower developers by enhancing their experience with ClickHouse’s high-performance database and real-time analytics capabilities. I also have a growing interest in data science. In my spare time, I love to travel and tend to my garden. Let’s connect on LinkedIn—I’m eager to exchange insights and knowledge at both virtual and in-person events!

I’m Zoe Steinkamp, a Developer Advocate at ClickHouse, with a strong foundation in front-end software engineering. My mission is to empower developers by enhancing their experience with ClickHouse’s high-performance database and real-time analytics c... Show more

Clemens Vasters

Clemens Vasters

Clemens Vasters is Lead Architect in Microsoft’s Azure Messaging team that builds and operates a fleet of hyper-scale messaging services, including Event Grid, Service Bus, Event Hubs, Stream Analytics and Microsoft Fabric Eventstreams. Clemens represents Microsoft in messaging standardisation in OASIS (AMQP, MQTT) and CNCF (CloudEvents, xRegistry) and writes too much code for being an "Architect". He looks back at nearly 30 years in professional software development and has seen the same fashion come and go a few times.

Clemens Vasters is Lead Architect in Microsoft’s Azure Messaging team that builds and operates a fleet of hyper-scale messaging services, including Event Grid, Service Bus, Event Hubs, Stream Analytics and Microsoft Fabric Eventstreams. Clemens repre... Show more

Tom Colvin

Tom Colvin

I'm a Google Developer Expert in Android, available either as a freelancer or through Apptaura, the mobile app development agency I co-founded. I build great apps for people, helping them to build great app businesses. I have a commercial focus and a wide knowledge of many technologies (both back- and front-end).

I'm a regular conference speaker on topics related to Android, and app startups more generally. I also provide mentorship to those looking to start app businesses.

I have a proven entrepreneurial capability and enjoy the energy of startup culture.

I'm a Google Developer Expert in Android, available either as a freelancer or through Apptaura, the mobile app development agency I co-founded. I build great apps for people, helping them to build great app businesses. I have a commercial focus and a... Show more

Antonio Liccardi

Antonio Liccardi

Antonio Liccardi is a seasoned speaker, book author, and trainer, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Blexin. His passion for knowledge sharing led him to co-found "DotNetCampania," an Italian .NET community where he helps others enhance their skills in DevOps, the .NET ecosystem, and software development in general. Antonio is a frequent speaker at both national and international conferences, including Microsoft Build, and has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for Visual Studio Developer Technologies since 2015. He also hosts a live show called "DevOps Time" for UgiDotNet, Italy’s largest .NET community, and runs the podcast "Il corriere del DevOps."

Antonio Liccardi is a seasoned speaker, book author, and trainer, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Blexin. His passion for knowledge sharing led him to co-found "DotNetCampania," an Italian .NET community where he helps others enhance... Show more

Adam Furmanek

Adam Furmanek

My name is Adam, and I am an internationally recognized software architect, consultant, marketing and strategy engineer, and book writer with over 15 years of experience in software architecture and development across a range of domains. In my career, I worked with all layers of the software engineering and multiple types of applications, including logistics, e-commerce, machine learning, data analysis, and database management. I am always interested in digging deeper, exploring machine code, and going through implementation details to better understand the internals of the technologies I use every day. That's why I like debugging, decompiling and disassembling the code to understand memory models, concurrency problems and other details hidden deep inside. In my free time, I play ping-pong, watch Woody Allen's movies and blog stuff at http://blog.adamfurmanek.pl

My name is Adam, and I am an internationally recognized software architect, consultant, marketing and strategy engineer, and book writer with over 15 years of experience in software architecture and development across a range of domains. In my career... Show more

Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers.

Most Active Speakers 2024

Every year, we put together a list of the most active speakers. This list features the top 3% of speakers who have participated in events using Sessionize during the 2024.

The 3% is calculated from the pool of all speakers that have at least one accepted session in year 2024. We don't include inactive speakers or speakers that had no accepted sessions during the year. There are around 38,000 unique accepted speakers this year, the 3% is 1036. Not all of them have their speaker profiles set as public, and we respect that, so the list doesn't show all of them.

The calculation is based on the number of accepted events, that's the main criteria, but to get more refined results we also look at things like multiple sessions per event, sharing a session with a co-speaker and how big the event is. Number of submissions and declined sessions don't affect the list.

Please note that the count of events and sessions in this list does not represent the number of events and sessions from the year 2024. Instead, it shows the number of events and sessions featured on the speaker's public speaker profile; these numbers have nothing to do with the award itself.