LUI is a Peruvian-born, New Jersey-based independent bilingual artist, Web3 musician, and creator building at the intersection of music, technology, and community.

He is the founder of Your Vibes Attract Your Tribe, a community-driven movement focused on connection and collaboration within Web3, and Web3SoulSounds, an initiative exploring the future of independent music.

With 1M+ streams across platforms, LUI has spent years experimenting with music NFTs, blockchain technology, AI, and new models for artists to connect directly with their communities. His Web3 journey includes multiple sold-out Music NFT collections, the NFLUI digital/animated music universe, and repeated participation in WaveWarz, where he has competed, collaborated, and earned as an independent musician.

LUI has also expanded into AI-powered music and visual storytelling, using emerging tools to bring his music and characters to life while continuing to champion independent artists.

His work is rooted in one simple belief:

Your Vibes Attract Your Tribe. 💚

For LUI, Web3 isn't just about technology..it's about the people you meet, the stories you share, and the communities you build along the way.

LUI is a Peruvian-born, New Jersey-based independent bilingual artist, Web3 musician, and creator building at the intersection of music, technology, and community. He is the founder of Your Vibes Attract Your Tribe, a community-driven movement foc... Show more

Jonny Selimović, a.k.a. his artist name, Jonny Music, is an Organ Cover Artist who has produced over 920 organ covers of popular tunes and soundtrack music and counting for over 10 years. For a long time, he's had a profound and long-lasting passion for music and its powerful effects on positively changing lives, including music/rhythm games like the Rock Band and Guitar Hero series. Bonus fact: He has two mascots representing his music artist brand: his ponysona, Silver Whistle, and his mouse fursona, Jonny Musemiš.

Jonny Selimović, a.k.a. his artist name, Jonny Music, is an Organ Cover Artist who has produced over 920 organ covers of popular tunes and soundtrack music and counting for over 10 years. For a long time, he's had a profound and long-lasting passion ... Show more

Alessia Moccia is an award-winning photographer, creative director, AI filmmaker and AI artist, and founder of E-uphoria Studio.

With a background in fashion photography and editorial direction, her practice brings together photography, cinema and artificial intelligence to create visual narratives exploring desire, perception, memory and identity.

Her work spans fashion, luxury and contemporary art, combining an established photographic language with advanced AI practice. Her recent project Artificial Innocence explores the evolving relationship between photographic authorship, cinema and synthetic image-making.

Her work has been exhibited internationally and recognized by photography and AI film festivals, including the International Photography Awards, New York Photography Awards, AI Film Festival and Reply AI Film Festival.

Alessia Moccia is an award-winning photographer, creative director, AI filmmaker and AI artist, and founder of E-uphoria Studio. With a background in fashion photography and editorial direction, her practice brings together photography, cinema and... Show more

Justin McKee, MMTA, B Bus, is a music specialist and educator with experience in Australia and the United Kingdom. He studied at the Newcastle Conservatorium and has led school music programs and ensembles in London and Australia.

Through MJ Music Training, Justin supports music teachers to build confidence in teaching neurodivergent learners, drawing on extensive experience in schools and private studios. His professional learning focuses on practical, research-informed approaches that make music learning more accessible, flexible and engaging. Justin has delivered workshops and presentations for organisations including the NSW Music Teachers’ Association, Sydney Catholic Schools, Mount Scopus Memorial College and United Music Teachers.

Justin delivers music programs for neurodivergent students in school settings and teaches piano, voice and theory in his private studio. He is a board member of AMEB (NSW) and received the MTA NSW excellence in teaching award for community engagement in 2025.

Justin McKee, MMTA, B Bus, is a music specialist and educator with experience in Australia and the United Kingdom. He studied at the Newcastle Conservatorium and has led school music programs and ensembles in London and Australia. Through MJ Music... Show more

Jeremy Conescu helps leaders and innovators craft authentic stories that drive trust, connection, and measurable success. With over 20 years of experience with brands like Adobe, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, and NASA, Jeremy has led more than $1B of client projects that have transformed businesses around the world.

Drawing from his background and education in theater and graphic design, Jeremy coaches audiences to find their authentic voice, and turn complex data into persuasive narratives. Whether you’re seeking to motivate a small group of stakeholders, inspire hundreds of executives, or energize thousands of attendees, Jeremy delivers engaging stories with hands-on activities that inspire lasting change.

Jeremy Conescu helps leaders and innovators craft authentic stories that drive trust, connection, and measurable success. With over 20 years of experience with brands like Adobe, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, and NASA, Jeremy has led more than $1B of client p... Show more

Chris Reina has been involved in education since 2002, technology since 1981 and Making since 1971. (You do the maths). He is CCO (Chief Cardboard Officer) of MakerMeet.ie - who deliver Maker-led, project-based S.T.E.A.M. workshops nationwide to primary, secondary, third-level and other institutions.

He feels passionately that education is the most important thing in the world and that teaching using Maker skills is the most rewarding job there is.

Chris loves cats, kayaking, kite-flying, steampunk, pedantic semantics and knowing the meanings of ligatures, aglets, gallibanders and lexiphanic.

Chris Reina has been involved in education since 2002, technology since 1981 and Making since 1971. (You do the maths). He is CCO (Chief Cardboard Officer) of MakerMeet.ie - who deliver Maker-led, project-based S.T.E.A.M. workshops nationwide to prim... Show more

Cartographer at heart. Map designer by craft. Leader by experience.
With 23 years in the industry, I bridge design and development, turning complexity into clarity. I bring both hands-on expertise and leadership experience—guiding teams, shaping products, and staying endlessly curious along the way.

Cartographer at heart. Map designer by craft. Leader by experience. With 23 years in the industry, I bridge design and development, turning complexity into clarity. I bring both hands-on expertise and leadership experience—guiding teams, shaping pro... Show more

Psicóloga
Docente
Graficadora y facilitadora visual

Psicóloga Docente Graficadora y facilitadora visual Show more

Multidisciplinary Creator & NFT.NYC Alumni Corey Jocko is a Mohawk visionary artist, musician, filmmaker, and founder of Core Arts & Entertainment. VIP Speaker on the first Indigenous panel (2023), solo talk on the power of NFTs, and AI sessions with art showcases and music performances. Featured in Netflix’s Yintah.

Now building the future of agentic AI artists: developing Blake Brody (@blakebrodymusic) and Meta Malone (@metamalonemusic) through AI Artist School, complete with identity, music, visuals, and on-chain NFT mints for autonomous creators. Blending human soul, Indigenous roots, and blockchain for tokenized creativity, live digital performances, and community-owned IP.

Explore his work at coreartsent.com and legacy vault Jayohcee.com. Upcoming: Agentic AI artist NFTs and expanded metaverse/live experiences.

Multidisciplinary Creator & NFT.NYC Alumni Corey Jocko is a Mohawk visionary artist, musician, filmmaker, and founder of Core Arts & Entertainment. VIP Speaker on the first Indigenous panel (2023), solo talk on the power of NFTs, and AI sessions with... Show more

Julie E. Gordon (Valentine) is a British educator, communication specialist, vocalist and founder of TheVocalPod™. Based in the UAE, she has spent over three years supporting students through voice, communication and creative development programmes across international school settings.

As creator of Voice Lab™, Julie works at the intersection of communication, confidence building, performing arts and youth development. Her work has supported students through LAMDA, RSL qualifications, GCSE performance pathways, school productions and artist development initiatives.

Julie is also the creator of THEGENSHIFT™, an intergenerational dialogue platform exploring communication, culture and youth identity, and the author of Beyond Being Heard.

Her work focuses on helping young people develop authentic self-expression, confidence and future-ready communication skills that extend beyond the classroom and into life, leadership and employment.

Julie E. Gordon (Valentine) is a British educator, communication specialist, vocalist and founder of TheVocalPod™. Based in the UAE, she has spent over three years supporting students through voice, communication and creative development programmes a... Show more

Howard Podeswa is a thought leader in the intersection of agile and business analysis, and a widely requested speaker at international BA and agile events, including BA & Beyond (2025, 2023), BA Istanbul 2021 (Keynote), BA World Boston 2024, PMI Silicon Valley 2023, European BA World (Frankfurt) and Norway Developers Conference (NDC). For over twenty years, he has been helping large organizations optimize their BA and product ownership practices for agile software development. He is a widely-read author whose books have become staple references, most recently: The Agile Guide to Business Analysis and Planning From Strategic Plan to Continuous Value Delivery (Addison-Wesley, 2021). Other works include UML for the IT Business Analyst, and The Business Analyst’s Handbook.

Through his company, Noble Inc., he has served clients worldwide, including ISO, Moody’s, the Mayo Clinic, TELUS, REI, LabCorp and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He has been an adviser to professional-association initiatives, including PMI’s Guide to Business Analysis, the BABOK and IIBA’s Nimble program, and has recently been collaborating with Ivar Jacobson International on The Story Mapping Gameboard - a new resource hosted on a free version of Essence Workbench.

Alongside his work in software development, Podeswa is also a practicing, professional artist whose work has been shown extensively in commercial and public galleries, and featured in leading art journals including Art Forum, MOMUS and International Architecture and Design. Podeswa’s work often begins with personal history as a catalyst for meditations on art historical legacy, physics, theories of perception and the state of the world. His paintings are held in numerous private and public collections including BMO Financial Group (Canada), Luciano Benetton Collection (Italy) and Ciba-Geigy AG (Basel).

Contacts/Links
• To contact Howard for speaking engagements, training and coaching services, please email howardpodeswa@nobleinc.ca or message him on LinkedIn @howardpodeswa
• Courses and Webinars: www.nobleinc.ca
• Art and BA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mvBLDeHnSw

Art links:

• Art home page: https://www.howardpodeswa.com
• Art Forum review: https://www.artforum.com/events/howard-podeswa-251083/
• Public exhibition - A Brief History: https://www.kofflerarts.org/whatson/exhibitions/exhibition/a-brief-history

Howard Podeswa is a thought leader in the intersection of agile and business analysis, and a widely requested speaker at international BA and agile events, including BA & Beyond (2025, 2023), BA Istanbul 2021 (Keynote), BA World Boston 2024, PMI Sili... Show more

Cecil Castellucci is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of books and graphic novels for young adults including Shade, The Changing Girl, Boy Proof, The Plain Janes, Soupy Leaves Home, The Year of the Beasts, Tin Star, Female Furies and Odd Duck. In 2015 they co-authored Star Wars Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure. She has also written Batgirl for DC Comics. Their newest graphic novel is Shifting Earth out on Dark Horse Comics. Her short stories and short comics have been published in Strange Horizons, Tor.com, and many other anthologies. In a former life, she was known as Cecil Seaskull in the ‘90s indie band Nerdy Girl. She has written three opera librettos Les Aventures de Madame Merveille (World Premiere in 2010) Hockey Noir: The Opera (World Premiere 2018) and Metternich! The Language of Flowers (World Premiere 2021). They are the former Children’s Correspondence Coordinator for The Rumpus, a two-time MacDowell Fellow, and the founding YA Editor at the LA Review of Books. They are currently doing an exquisite corpse endurance performance art project I Am The Comic Book. They live in Montreal.

Cecil Castellucci is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of books and graphic novels for young adults including Shade, The Changing Girl, Boy Proof, The Plain Janes, Soupy Leaves Home, The Year of the Beasts, Tin Star, Female Furi... Show more

I'm a comic artist from Toronto who draws a lot of gay positive comics, and self publish my work! I'm also the suiter of MarshmallowMaw!

I'm a comic artist from Toronto who draws a lot of gay positive comics, and self publish my work! I'm also the suiter of MarshmallowMaw! Show more

Thao Tran is a visionary entrepreneur, digital wellness leader and marketing strategist with over 15 years of global experience shaping campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands. She is the Founder & CEO of Ditox, a pioneering digital wellness company that helps businesses, families and individuals reclaim control over their digital lives.

Thao holds a Bachelor of Business & Commerce from Monash University and has further studied Podiatry, Arts, Branding and Psychology at La Trobe University, Monash University and The University of Virginia. Her career spans senior roles in digital content and marketing strategy for global organizations including Qatar Airways, Pearson, L'Oréal Paris and Maybelline New York. Her campaigns have consistently delivered industry-leading results, including record-breaking engagement rates and market share growth.

As a keynote speaker and mental health advocate, Thao has presented on international stages including Google, Women Who Code, Insight Academy and the International Families & Fathers Conference in Los Angeles, where she champions digital wellbeing, mental resilience and inclusive leadership. She also coaches the next generation of leaders as an industry mentor at La Trobe University and is a guest judge for the international Daddying Film Festival & Forum.

Born in Melbourne to Vietnamese refugee parents, Thao brings a unique lens of resilience, inclusion, and creativity to everything she does. Her leadership has earned her recognition as a Finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards and her work has been endorsed by global thought leaders.

Beyond business, Thao is a multidisciplinary creative who has trained in script analysis and presenting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), The Acting Career Center, The Actor's Station, The Hub Studio, performed internationally and has appeared in campaigns and productions including Every Bit Different, the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Sports Entertainment Network, White Fever, Gnomes, and All Her Fault. Her creative and marketing work has been featured in prominent media outlets including The Herald Sun, The Sydney Morning Herald, WHO Magazine, NBCUniversal, BBC, ABC, 3AW, National Library of Australia, United States Tennis Association, Digital Entrepreneur, Voyage LA, Fact Magazine and Business Times Journal, reflecting her influence across media, wellness and creative industries. Her experience in the creative industry inspired her to found Ditox, where she now focuses on digital wellbeing, mental health and fostering human connection across communities, including programs that address mental strength and artist wellbeing.

A visionary entrepreneur and creative leader, Thao inspires audiences to reimagine human connection in the digital age. She has lead Ditox and shaping global brands across Australia, London, New York, Los Angeles, and the Middle East and continues to bridge innovation, wellness and digital culture worldwide.

Currently based in Australia, her company Ditox will be expanding in the United States in 2026/2027.

Thao Tran is a visionary entrepreneur, digital wellness leader and marketing strategist with over 15 years of global experience shaping campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands. She is the Founder & CEO of Ditox, a pioneering digital ... Show more

Aarica J. Smith is a multi-certified Salesforce Consultant, Board Source Certified Consultant and SCRUM Certified project management and operations professional. Aarica thrives in concept development, using her consulting and management tools to transform ambiguous environments and concepts into actionable plans or implementations. She is highly creative when it comes to developing results-driven solutions, while ensuring alignment with necessary organization leaders of all levels.

Some of the work that she has accomplished with small businesses includes:

- Created company-wide and department-specific operational systems to streamline the business based on systems, not individual team members
- Developed a various company programs, including a diverse supplier program and employee professional development program
- Project managed cross-functional projects, engaging with external and internal key stakeholders to ensure on-time deliverables and successful project metrics
- Led change management initiatives with c-suite executives and department leaders.

In her previous roles of a non-profit professional, she has overseen a multi-million-dollar foundation grant to pilot national arts strategy to over 4K Boys & Girls Clubs globally, managed over $32M in corporate accounts, and grew a local cycling fundraising event from $450K to nearly a $1M event, making it the #4 premiere cycling fundraising event (out of 93 national events) for the organization.

A firm believer in education, Aarica earned her Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design, and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with a minor in French from Spelman College. In her spare time, she loves to travel the world with her family, experience amazing food, and volunteer in her community with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Aarica J. Smith is a multi-certified Salesforce Consultant, Board Source Certified Consultant and SCRUM Certified project management and operations professional. Aarica thrives in concept development, using her consulting and management tools to tran... Show more

Riva Zmajoki creates art, thinks about stuff, and manages daily life. You'll find her around internet playing with concepts.

Riva Zmajoki creates art, thinks about stuff, and manages daily life. You'll find her around internet playing with concepts. Show more

Athr is a futurist architect artist polymath who wants to revolutionize the world with creativity!

As a thought leader in Seattle’s architecture and NFT art community, Athr uses technology and design to craft immersive worlds that push the boundaries of art and storytelling. Their hyper surreal digital master paintings and interactive game worlds envision more equitable and creative futures.

Their visionary approach, has attracted major collaborations with institutions like Adobe, SnapChat and the Seattle NFT Museum, positioning them at the forefront of a new creative era where technology and art converge seamlessly.

They are fascinated by architecture's connection with gaming and just dropped their first solo gaming project "City of Gods" on the Monaverse web3 platform.

//

Check out athr.komi.io for more ~!

Athr is a futurist architect artist polymath who wants to revolutionize the world with creativity! As a thought leader in Seattle’s architecture and NFT art community, Athr uses technology and design to craft immersive worlds that push the bounda... Show more

Teresa Potts is a Quality/Engineering Leader, Agile Coach, certified Scrum Master, and Quality Engineer. She has been in the software industry for over 18 years.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in music, she got into tech because someone took a chance on her. She took that chance and ran with it. She has worked in the insurance, marketing & advertising, real estate, and financial industries.

Once in the field, she earned an Associate’s degree in Computer Programming and a Master of Business Administration in Engineering Management. Always learning, she also earned a Scrum Master certification and Google Project Management certificate.

In 2025, she created her own tech consulting company, Stir the Pott Consulting, LLC. She currently works as an Agile Coach for Youngsoft Inc.

She enjoys being a part of tech groups in her community and beyond. She plays the viola in the Mason Symphony Orchestra, is a member of the Michigan Motor Maids (women’s motorcycle riding club), and is a dog owner. She volunteers as a Lucid Legend, author/editor for Kprofiles.com (kpop website), and Wikipedia for topics she cares about.

Teresa Potts is a Quality/Engineering Leader, Agile Coach, certified Scrum Master, and Quality Engineer. She has been in the software industry for over 18 years. After earning a bachelor’s degree in music, she got into tech because someone took a... Show more

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Africa game development program Mr, Ilonga created his own game studio/company called TL Entertainment whereby he created games and was successfully able to import Global Game Jam and Game Jam +, whereby together with the partnership between TL Entertainment and Game Jam+ there was a bridge built between Namibia and Brazil.

With the games that where created not proving to be profitable, Mr Ilonga would take part in a CEP program whereby he would like up with Vaughan, Veronica and Ndamono and together they would form Edu-Game Namibia to create an innovation hub around gaming to ensure that the market because sustainable around gaming and ensure future Namibian generations will be able to profit from it.

With 7 Years’ experience in Gaming Mr Ilonga has won a few awards and also became the flag career for Gaming especially at the Forbes where he and Vaughan would help Edu-Game Namibia make it to the top 3 pitch battle final. Currently Mr Ilonga together with Edu-Game are working on a curriculum to gamify the education system.

List of Achievements
Forbes 30 Under 30 Top 3 Pitch Battle Finalist 2024
Boost Up Pitch Winner 2023
Xbox Games Camp Alumni 2023
Sanlam Bridge Beneficiary 2023
CEP WINNER 2022
Game Industry Africa Awards Winner 2022
Class of 2022 Game Developers Conference SCHOLARS:

Events/Interviews I have Spoken At
Xbox Games Camp - Topic - Why Africa Is The Best Place To Invest When It Comes To Gaming
Africa Partnership For Growth Symposium - Topic - Why Investing In Gaming is Profitable
PathfindinGS -Topic - Gamifying the Namibian Education System
Africa Comicade Topic -Getting Local Businesses to Invest in Game Development
Game Jam Plus Topic -Importance of Game Jam In The Local Ecosystem
African Creative Meeting Topic -E-Sports In Africa
ESQUENTA Topic - Importance of GJ + For the Local Ecosystem
BBC World Service TV Topic - CES 2020: What’s in it for Africa?

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Afri... Show more

Frank Malaba is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, photographer, and creative facilitator working between Oslo, Norway and Cape Town, South Africa. His work moves fluidly across theatre, performance, poetry, and natural light photography, guided by a central question: How does the body remember, and what stories does it insist on carrying?

Drawing from Southern African oral traditions, queer lived experience, and a deep commitment to dignity and presence, Frank creates narrative spaces where memory becomes a form of knowledge. His solo works, including Stories of My Bones and The Chaos of Belonging, have toured internationally, inviting audiences into intimate encounters with ancestry, identity, and the quiet rituals that shape us.

As a photographer, Frank documents everyday rituals and marginalised lives with tenderness and clarity. His 2025 exhibition Rituals opened in Cape Town to critical acclaim, and his ongoing project I Met a Mermaid explores African water spirituality, homelessness, and the ocean as a site of survival and myth.

He is also the founder and curator of Uncovered: Stories in Oslo (Avdekket: Fortellinger i Oslo), a live storytelling platform centred on true, lived narratives. His facilitation practice blends embodiment, listening, and community building, creating spaces where people can speak from the truth of their lived experience.

Across all mediums, Frank works from the belief that storytelling is not performance, it is presence, witness, and a return to the body as archive.

Frank Malaba is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, photographer, and creative facilitator working between Oslo, Norway and Cape Town, South Africa. His work moves fluidly across theatre, performance, poetry, and natural light photography, guide... Show more

Anna Kovalova is a fantasy writer and a content writer from Kyiv, Ukraine. She currently lives in Zadar due to the war. Her debut novel of the fantasy comedy book series “Smartcharms” was published in 2024. Her fantasy YA novel “Dark seas” is scheduled for publication next year. She writes articles on European speculative fiction for Star Fort, Ukraine's oldest science fiction community .

Anna Kovalova is a fantasy writer and a content writer from Kyiv, Ukraine. She currently lives in Zadar due to the war. Her debut novel of the fantasy comedy book series “Smartcharms” was published in 2024. Her fantasy YA novel “Dark seas” is schedul... Show more

Security Engineer by day and researcher by night. He has presented or conducted workshops at security conferences, including Nullcon, SINCON, and c0c0n.
He likes maths, plays the keyboard, draws, and yes, is an ardent supporter of Man Utd.

Security Engineer by day and researcher by night. He has presented or conducted workshops at security conferences, including Nullcon, SINCON, and c0c0n. He likes maths, plays the keyboard, draws, and yes, is an ardent supporter of Man Utd. Show more

Ashwin Tahiliani is an Architect-Urban Designer by qualification, storyteller by passion and a founder by the pandemic!
In his previous life, he helped plan walkable neighbourhoods, a Ladakhi university and revival of urban lakes. But then the pandemic hit… and his projects went kaput :( With work at a standstill, he started on a journey called 'ATLASkeeda' - with a mission to tell stories from India and the world everyday.
Today, ATLASkeeda has evolved into a design studio, and with his team, he helps brands and people tell stories visually.
Funny, he was once introduced as a "drawer!"

Ashwin Tahiliani is an Architect-Urban Designer by qualification, storyteller by passion and a founder by the pandemic! In his previous life, he helped plan walkable neighbourhoods, a Ladakhi university and revival of urban lakes. But then the pande... Show more

Rahul Bhattacharya is a design educator, writer and curator working across visual culture, pedagogy, and technology. His practice spans design, writing, and curation, with a sustained engagement in art history, semiotics, and the politics of form. He writes across academic research, editorial platforms, and long-form reflections on visual culture, performance, and emerging technologies, while his curatorial work extends into public space through exhibitions, workshops, and performance platforms. He is a co-founder of the Kolkata International Performance Art Festival and Nine Schools of Art, both grounded in collective learning and co-creation.

As Assistant Dean, Communication Design, at UID Gandhinagar, he leads curriculum design and academic strategy, building transdisciplinary frameworks that connect design, culture, and critical thinking. His work with AI through dotai develops systems that act as analytical and ethical companions, foregrounding interpretation, memory, and cultural specificity. Through teaching, tool-building, and collaborative labs, his practice focuses on how designers think, decide, and work within evolving technological conditions

Rahul Bhattacharya is a design educator, writer and curator working across visual culture, pedagogy, and technology. His practice spans design, writing, and curation, with a sustained engagement in art history, semiotics, and the politics of form. He... Show more

# About Esha Bargate

**Esha Bargate** is a media entrepreneur, producer, AI media strategist, marketing executive, and global advocate for the future of storytelling. She is the Founder & CEO of **Esha Bargate Productions LLC**, an AI-powered media production and marketing company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Founder & President of the **AI/VR Motion Picture Guild™**, an international professional organization advancing innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence, immersive technology, and cinema.

With more than a decade of experience across film, television, digital media, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Esha has built a career connecting creativity, business strategy, and emerging technology. Her work spans film production, entertainment marketing, public relations, distribution strategy, AI-powered content creation, and international business development.

Esha began her career in India before moving to the United States to expand her creative and professional journey. She earned an MBA in Media Management, completed documentary filmmaking studies at the New York Film Academy, and received a Master's degree in Media Communications from Webster University. Her global background continues to shape her mission of building creative bridges between Hollywood, India, and international media markets.

As a producer and entrepreneur, Esha has worked across television, film, entertainment marketing, and global distribution. She served as **Co-Producer** on the short film ***Sarhadein***, helping secure its distribution on **Apple TV** and **Google TV**. Earlier in her career, she independently pitched an original unscripted television show directly to **Amazon Studios, USA**, demonstrating her ability to develop and present original content to major entertainment platforms.

Through **Esha Bargate Productions LLC**, she supports filmmakers, startups, brands, and creative businesses with AI-powered media production, marketing strategy, branded content, entertainment promotion, and distribution consulting. Her company focuses on helping creators and organizations tell powerful stories, reach wider audiences, and adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape.

Beyond her business ventures, Esha is committed to industry leadership and education. Through the **AI/VR Motion Picture Guild™**, she promotes responsible AI adoption, professional development, global collaboration, and meaningful conversations about the future of filmmaking. She also leads **AI Meets Cinema™**, a global interview and education platform exploring how artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and emerging technologies are transforming storytelling.

Esha has also contributed to international volunteer media initiatives, including projects connected to United Nations programs, where she supported communications, video editing, educational content, and awareness campaigns. These experiences strengthened her belief that storytelling can educate, empower, and create meaningful social impact.

Recognized for her leadership in media, entrepreneurship, and creative technology, Esha continues to build platforms that connect independent creators, technology innovators, studios, educators, and global audiences. Her mission is to empower creators with innovative tools while preserving the human creativity, cultural perspective, and emotional truth at the heart of every powerful story.

# About Esha Bargate **Esha Bargate** is a media entrepreneur, producer, AI media strategist, marketing executive, and global advocate for the future of storytelling. She is the Founder & CEO of **Esha Bargate Productions LLC**, an AI-powered medi... Show more

Rex Rainey is a creative director, designer, and illustrator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He specializes in branding, UX design, and illustration. Since 2005, he's combined these skills to develop creative solutions that are engaging, exciting, and effective.

Rex Rainey is a creative director, designer, and illustrator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He specializes in branding, UX design, and illustration. Since 2005, he's combined these skills to develop creative solutions that are engaging, exciting, a... Show more

Safiyatou “Abena” Camara

Executive Director & President, WONTANARA Inc
Co-Founder • Cultural Arts Master • Business Consultant • Youth Development Specialist

Abena Camara is a business consultant, cultural arts leader, and third-generation cultural bearer with nearly a decade of experience helping creatives and community-driven organizations build sustainable, funded work. She serves as Executive Director and President of WONTANARA Inc, where she leads arts education, community programming, and organizational strategy rooted in West African cultural traditions.

Immersed in cultural arts since age three, Abena brings over 20 years of professional artistry, 15 years of intensive West African cultural training, and deep lineage-based knowledge passed down through master teachers, historians, griots, and elders. Her grandfather founded the first performing company in Guinea, West Africa, and helped introduce West African master artists to the United States—a legacy Abena continues through WONTANARA’s programs and global partnerships. Her multidisciplinary training spans West African dance, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and music composition and production, allowing her to bridge tradition and innovation with integrity.

Alongside her artistic leadership, Abena brings strong business and funding expertise. While pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Georgia State University, she served as an executive intern for a popular men’s grooming company, helping generate $1.1 million in revenue within its first year. That experience launched her career as a consultant, where she has spent nearly nine years advising organizations on operations, funding strategy, and growth.

Through WONTANARA Inc and her consulting work, Abena has secured over $200,000 in grants and sponsorships, including support for WONTANARA Percussions, the world’s first Black-owned instrument factory based in Africa. She has also led the development of WONTANARA Festival, securing city-wide sponsorship and building a thriving cultural platform. Her consulting practice maintains a 92% client retention rate, and she has helped more than 10 clients secure government funding within their first year of business.

Abena’s work sits at the intersection of creativity, community, and capital. She is passionate about demystifying funding systems and empowering creatives and community leaders to move from passion projects to sustainable, paid impact—without compromising their values.

Safiyatou “Abena” Camara Executive Director & President, WONTANARA Inc Co-Founder • Cultural Arts Master • Business Consultant • Youth Development Specialist Abena Camara is a business consultant, cultural arts leader, and third-generation cul... Show more

With a passion for innovative design and a keen eye for detail, I specialize in transforming complex ideas into beautifully simple visuals and seamless digital experiences. My work bridges the worlds of creative design and digital workplace strategy, helping brands not only tell compelling stories but also collaborate and communicate more effectively across platforms.

As a certified Registered Graphic Designer (RGD), I bring a dual focus to my professional services: visual storytelling and digital transformation. On the creative side, I lead content development, oversee brand management, and ensure cross-platform consistency across digital and print media. On the consulting side, I help organizations unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365, leveraging tools like SharePoint, Viva, Copilot and Teams to build connected, collaborative, and user-centered digital workplaces.

Whether I’m designing a brand identity or architecting a SharePoint intranet, my goal is the same: to create experiences that resonate, engage, and drive results. I thrive on collaboration with cross-functional teams, integrating diverse perspectives to deliver solutions that are as strategic as they are visually impactful.

What I love most is the opportunity to blend creativity with functionality. Crafting designs and digital environments that not only look great but also empower people to work smarter and communicate better.

With a passion for innovative design and a keen eye for detail, I specialize in transforming complex ideas into beautifully simple visuals and seamless digital experiences. My work bridges the worlds of creative design and digital workplace strategy,... Show more

Richard Essangabasi Israel, also known as The Content Chef, is a 23 year old Entrepreneur, Investor, Speaker, and Business developer from Nigeria. He works at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and business growth, and his work is driven by a simple belief: if it can be told, it can be sold. At 23, he has founded or co-founded nine ventures, each born from real problems he experienced himself like bad campus food, unreliable internet, lack of access and lack of funding for student founders. He is the Founder and CEO of The Shard Group LTD, a conglomerate that houses other subsidiary companies including Shard Network, a satellite powered campus ISP for African campuses, Shard Media Production, and Shard Builders Residency. His other ventures include Offar, a DeFi toolkit for African businesses and developers, The Messangs, a silent luxury menswear brand, Orex Prime, an Content/Media production company, and Campus Pitch Africa, a pan-African Shark Tank style pitch competition that funds student entrepreneurs. He serves as the lead investor for Campus Pitch Africa and is currently building MAI Fund, a venture capital firm focused on pre-seed and seed investments in African SMEs. He is also developing Stable Pesa, a fintech company that aims to help people across Africa achieve financial peace of mind, though it is still in development.

As a creative director and filmmaker, Richard has spent over five years mastering visual storytelling. He is the co-founder of Orex Prime, where he uses blockchain technology to help African filmmakers create and fund high quality movies. He has successfully raised over $10,000 for film projects from global partners including The Sandbox DAO, Uglycash and Base. His work has earned international awards and has been screened at major film festivals in the United Kingdom, New York, and Nigeria. He also hosts The Founders Archive, an ambitious project to film and document the stories of one million business owners around the world. He travels to different cities to record the struggles and wins of entrepreneurs, saving their lessons in a digital library for others to learn from.

As a public speaker, Richard does not deliver motivational fluff. He shares practical and honest insights drawn from five years of experience across media, Web3, entrepreneurship, and African innovation. He has spoken on global stages hosted by Google, Solana, Figma, SheFi and Ethereum at events including Figma Config, Eth Enugu, Web3 Lagos Conference, Solana Allstars Meetup, GDG EKET, ENB Onchain Summer Lagos, Devconnect Base Demo Day in Argentina, SheFi Nigeria,, Borderless 2.0/3.0 and NACOS Week 25. His speaking style is straightforward and focused on what actually works rather than what sounds good.

In business development, marketing, and sales, Richard brings over three years of hands on experience. He currently serves as the Marketing Lead and Growth Strategist at Bitsave Protocol, a decentralized savings platform focused on providing secure financial solutions and advancing DeFi adoption for global users. He helps small and medium sized businesses grow by building partnerships, revenue systems, and operational structures that actually scale. Before Bitsave, he led marketing for iLabs Nigeria, an AI Engineering Startup advancing AI chatbot adoption for SMEs founded by Alumni’s of the AI Class of 2023 at the European Business University of Luxembourg. He also served as Director of Socials for the Nigeria Association of Computing Students at Akwa Ibom State University, where he managed student engagement and organized high profile events including the NACOS Week 25 Conference. He was the campus lead for Cowrywise in 2024 and also served as a co-campus lead for Solana Allstars. He served as Regional Lead and Visual Creative Director for For The Love of DeFi, leading community growth, regional expansion, and Web3 adoption while helping organize the Innovate 25 Conference as Visual/Creative Director.

Richard studied filmmaking under a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at the Kunle Afolayan Film and Television Academy. He has also worked as a festival curator for the Uyo International Theatre and Film Festival and as co-lead for GDGoc Aksu. His mission is simple and consistent: to support the people who take real risks to build meaningful businesses, and to help young Africans share their stories and succeed on a global stage.

Richard Essangabasi Israel, also known as The Content Chef, is a 23 year old Entrepreneur, Investor, Speaker, and Business developer from Nigeria. He works at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and business growth, and his work is driven b... Show more

Andrew Ecker is an author, certified peer support specialist, White Bison recovery coach, and nationally recognized speaker specializing in mental health, recovery, community wellness, and the transformative power of rhythm and sound. As the co-founder of Drumming Sounds, Andrew has helped facilitate more than 5,000 wellness-based events for healthcare organizations, tribal communities, treatment centers, schools, corporations, and conferences across the United States.

Drawing from over two decades of recovery and lived experience overcoming generational substance use disorder, incarceration, trauma, and mental health challenges, Andrew brings a unique blend of evidence-based practices, Indigenous-informed perspectives, and practical wisdom to his presentations. His work explores the intersections of neuroscience, recovery, identity, community connection, and experiential wellness.

Andrew is the creator of the Drumming Sounds Protocol, an evidence-based group drumming intervention designed to support mental health, stress reduction, team cohesion, and social connection. He has presented for healthcare systems, behavioral health organizations, universities, tribal nations, government agencies, and national conferences, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and nationally syndicated television.

Born from the Apache and born to the Irish, Andrew's work is deeply influenced by his exploration of Indigenous identity, ceremonial introduction, and community-centered healing. He is the author of The Sacred Seven, a contemporary framework for self-identity, belonging, and personal transformation.

Whether speaking to clinicians, educators, leaders, recovery professionals, or community members, Andrew combines compelling storytelling, research-informed insights, humor, and experiential learning to create presentations that inspire meaningful personal and organizational change.

Andrew Ecker is an author, certified peer support specialist, White Bison recovery coach, and nationally recognized speaker specializing in mental health, recovery, community wellness, and the transformative power of rhythm and sound. As the co-found... Show more