Carolina Coto is the founder of OMBRUJA.com, a professional model, actor, and Brand Ambassador of Costa Rica. A former VP of the Internet Society in New York and telecom consultant, she lives in New York City and **builds at the intersection of technology, wellness, art, and human consciousness.

Carolina Coto is the founder of OMBRUJA.com, a professional model, actor, and Brand Ambassador of Costa Rica. A former VP of the Internet Society in New York and telecom consultant, she lives in New York City and **builds at the intersection of techn... Show more

Marisa Burn is a entrepreneur, and creative professional based in Zürich, Switzerland. She is the Co-Lead of Digital Learning Cultures at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), where she develops innovative digital learning strategies and leads the CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) in Digital Learning and Teaching Cultures. In this role, she explores the future of education, shaping teaching methods to meet the needs of a new generation of learners.

As the Co-Founder and Head of Innovation & Process at House of Change Burn Pichler, Marisa helps organizations navigate digital transformation and creative processes. She is also the Co-Founder of the holistic design agency Burninglights, where she specializes in creating holistic experiences, fostering collaboration, and designing authentic branding and mindful lifestyle solutions.

Marisa holds a degree in Postindustrial Design with a focus on Process Design and Interaction Leading from HyperWerk FHNW. Her artistic pursuits span multiple disciplines, including music, performance art, painting, and sculpture. As an interdisciplinary artist and activist, she co-founded the Peace Club, an initiative that organizes events fostering genuine human connections and promoting a more intentional way of living.

With over 20 years of experience as an independent entrepreneur, Marisa brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and mindfulness to everything she does, driving forward-thinking approaches in both business and education.

Marisa Burn is a entrepreneur, and creative professional based in Zürich, Switzerland. She is the Co-Lead of Digital Learning Cultures at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), where she develops innovative digital learning strategies and leads the CA... 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

Michael Collett is a San Francisco born-and-based career designer with nearly two decades of experience in graphic, print, brand, web and generalized two-dimensional design. He has also taught, designed, developed and built exhibitions and public programs, while operating as a sole practitioner and team member at studios, start-ups and institutions.

He is currently the Design Director and a co-founder at Àrokò Cooperative, a worker-owned design studio and publishing concern.

Michael Collett is a San Francisco born-and-based career designer with nearly two decades of experience in graphic, print, brand, web and generalized two-dimensional design. He has also taught, designed, developed and built exhibitions and public pro... 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

Chronically data-enthusiast, engineer and consultant on the Microsoft-stack (Azure, Fabric & Power Platform) and all things SQL or Spark, with some expertise on other data-solutions as well like TimeXtender, and Qlikview. I like sharing my stories on adoption strategies, and ideas for implementation on Fabric-Adoption on the road to data maturity.

With the aim of improving organisations, processes and people I am data-experienced in the Benelux-geography since 2004 with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol/Royal Schiphol Group, Royal Heijmans (building contractor), Nabuurs Supply Chain Solutions, Micromedia Benelux (wholesale), Provelu (data-consulting), Danone Nutrition-products and Heart for Arts (agency and ICT-consultancy for NGO's). I am the proud holder of degrees in Logistics, and Business Economics, and Microsoft-certificates.

My motto's are: Be yourself, try the best you can, take some time to become aware of the situation, make contact with others, help others, imagine, create, learn, and last, but not least, adapt. I live for tech, the tech- and performing arts- community and helping people. I am an event organizer, speaker, and volunteer as well in data-usergroups, and performing arts.

Demolished my first IBM AT-model with 80286 Intel in 1988. Created my first database with gameplays of Civilization in 1991. Build my first hardware components and drivers for model railways in 1993. Hooked on Excel and VBA since 1995 in secundary education. From Access, Excel and Filemaker dba’s via Qlikview and since 2015 on Azure, Power BI and Fabric..I love music and theatre production, hence I find NGO’s are great at helping others so I help them as well!

Chronically data-enthusiast, engineer and consultant on the Microsoft-stack (Azure, Fabric & Power Platform) and all things SQL or Spark, with some expertise on other data-solutions as well like TimeXtender, and Qlikview. I like sharing my stories on... Show more

Origami autor i dugogodišnji popularizator origamija u znanosti, umjetnosti i obrazovanju, Sanja Srbljinović Čuček redoviti je gost na Festivalu znanosti, Danu Japana, i SFeraKonu. Njezino IEEE predavanje Važnost origamija i njegova primjena u obrazovanju možete pogledati na YouTube kanalu. Na Sanjinom blogu Origami Art Novosti naći ćete origami rječnik, mnoštvo origami događanja i zanimljivosti, čak i kataloge origami art izložbi. Desetak godina vodila je Hrvatsko origami društvo, član je britanskog i američkog origami društva te Community for Creators of Origami. Već četvrtu godinu vodi Origami grupu u XV. gimnaziji. Više na [https://www.linkedin.com/in/poetryinpaper].

Origami author and promotor of origami in science, art and education in Croatia, Sanja Srbljinović Čuček is a regular at the Science Festival, Japan Day and SFeraKon. You can watch her IEEE presentation ”The Importance of Origami and Its Application in Education” on YouTube. On Sanja's blog Origami Art Novosti you will find an origami dictionary, many origami events and interesting facts, even catalogs of origami art exhibitions. For about ten years she led the Croatian Origami Society and is a member of the British and American Origami Societies and the Community for Creators of Origami. She has been leading the Origami group at the XV. Gymnasium for four years. More on [https://www.linkedin.com/in/poetryinpaper].

Origami autor i dugogodišnji popularizator origamija u znanosti, umjetnosti i obrazovanju, Sanja Srbljinović Čuček redoviti je gost na Festivalu znanosti, Danu Japana, i SFeraKonu. Njezino IEEE predavanje Važnost origamija i njegova primjena u obrazo... Show more

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of the award-winning Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House), which was named a best book of 2024 by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. A former literary editor at The Nation, she received a Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korea Foundation. Her articles have been published in The Nation, Newsday, Elle, ARTnews, Writer's Digest and The Rumpus. A seasoned public speaker, she has lectured and taught workshops at universities, libraries and community organizations on searching for family history and how to talked to loved ones about the past, She lives in Oakland, California, with her family.

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of the award-winning Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House), which was named a best book of 2024 by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. A former literary editor at The Nation, she received ... 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

Deborah Anderson has extensive experience in the animation industry as an Assistant Editor, Production Coordinator, and 3D modeler. She started her career at one of the premier animation studios in Seoul, South Korea at Digital eMation. While at Digital eMation, she modeled props, vehicles, and backgrounds on television shows such as Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Batman: The Brave and The Bold, Scooby-Doo, and The LeBrons. She's recently finished an Assistant Editor trainee program at Skybound Entertainment on Amazon Prime's Invincible. She also has a YouTube channel, BlkWmnAnimator, where she interviews animation professionals.

Deborah Anderson has extensive experience in the animation industry as an Assistant Editor, Production Coordinator, and 3D modeler. She started her career at one of the premier animation studios in Seoul, South Korea at Digital eMation. While at Digi... 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

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

Kassie Gibbons is a usability and design expert with RBA. Trained in user experience and human-centered design, she takes a human-first approach when tackling design challenges. As a former high school educator, she brings unique perspectives from the classroom to create products that are accessible, inclusive, and empowering.

Kassie Gibbons is a usability and design expert with RBA. Trained in user experience and human-centered design, she takes a human-first approach when tackling design challenges. As a former high school educator, she brings unique perspectives from th... 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

I’m a Belgian author and digital artist creating moving images, micro–art games, and virtual experiences.

I’m a Belgian author and digital artist creating moving images, micro–art games, and virtual experiences. Show more

Tiffany Duppong is a Dynamics 365 CE and Power Platform consultant who brings a rare combination of technical depth and creative instinct to everything she builds. As the founder of DuWell Performance Group, she specializes in Microsoft technology implementations from Power Platform architecture and governance to Dynamics 365 system configuration, user adoption strategy, and ALM pipeline design. She has worked across industries helping organizations get real value out of their technology investments through thoughtful solution design and hands-on enablement.

Beyond the platform, Tiffany is an actor and filmmaker with over two decades of performance experience. She runs Three Eight Studios, her Los Angeles–based production company and has appeared on shows like HBO's HACKS and films like Amazon's Unstoppable. Her dual career in technology and the arts gives her a unique perspective on user experience, storytelling, and the human side of digital transformation. This dual career path has made her passionate about carving out space for others who straddle unconventional career paths.

Tiffany is an active mentor in the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform community, and a champion for inclusion and representation in tech. When she's not architecting apps or troubleshooting flows, you can find her on set, at a film festival, or at home with her family.

Tiffany Duppong is a Dynamics 365 CE and Power Platform consultant who brings a rare combination of technical depth and creative instinct to everything she builds. As the founder of DuWell Performance Group, she specializes in Microsoft technology im... Show more

Aristeia is an award-winning creative strategist, AI-driven creator and advisor to creative entrepreneurs, with a background in marketing, branding and building creative-led businesses. Their work spans film, content and emerging technologies, focused on helping creators navigate shifting markets, position their work and develop sustainable, forward-looking strategies.

Known for a systems-level, data-informed perspective, Aristeia combines creative intuition with a deep focus on market signals, audience behavior and evolving economic models. Their work explores how AI is accelerating content creation while forcing a rethinking of where value lives — from content itself to ownership, access and audience relationships.

As the founder of PromptingPros, a professional network for AI creatives, Aristeia explores new models for how creators build, connect and generate value in an era of infinite content.

Aristeia is an award-winning creative strategist, AI-driven creator and advisor to creative entrepreneurs, with a background in marketing, branding and building creative-led businesses. Their work spans film, content and emerging technologies, focuse... Show more

Saranic Banerjee is a Lead Experience Strategist at Extentia, where he helps businesses navigate digital transformation journeys through data-led design thinking.
Originally from Kolkata, Saranic studied industrial design at Symbiosis Institute of Design and later specialized in interaction design at the National Institute of Design. He’s passionate about storytelling, illustration, motion, and photography. His creative energy is fuelled by traveling, meeting people from different cultures, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Beyond his professional work, Saranic mentors budding designers on ADPList, sharing his experiences and insights to guide and inspire the next generation of creatives.

Saranic Banerjee is a Lead Experience Strategist at Extentia, where he helps businesses navigate digital transformation journeys through data-led design thinking. Originally from Kolkata, Saranic studied industrial design at Symbiosis Institute of D... Show more

Phil Burk is a software developer and designer who specializes in interactive and experimental music systems. At Google he developed AAudio, Oboe and the MIDI API for Android. In the early 1980’s, Phil developed HMSL, the Hierarchical Music Specification Language. Phil then worked at 3DO developing the first DSP based sound synthesis system for a video game console. Phil co-founded the PortAudio project with Ross Bencina in 1997. Other projects include JSyn, a music synthesis API for Java, JavaSonics ListenUp for recording and uploading voice in a web page, and TransJam, a client/server system for multi-player interaction on the web, eg. the WebDrum. Phil Burk led the Mobileer team in the development of a polyphonic MIDI ringtone synthesizer used in the Treo 600 and other devices. Phil has also been contributing for many years to the new MIDI 2.0 standard.

Phil Burk is a software developer and designer who specializes in interactive and experimental music systems. At Google he developed AAudio, Oboe and the MIDI API for Android. In the early 1980’s, Phil developed HMSL, the Hierarchical Music Specifica... Show more

Juujuumama is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey began with drawing and painting, later expanding into experimental work with AI technologies. In November 2022, she minted her first onchain artwork, marking the start of her exploration into blockchain-based AI art. Since then, her work has been exhibited internationally, gaining recognition for its fusion of contemporary aesthetics, cultural storytelling, and technological innovation.

Known as the “Crystal Queen,” she is also the founder of Good Juu Juu, a crystal wellness brand that often inspires her visual language and creative concepts. She is a certified yoga instructor and flexibility coach, integrating mindfulness, movement, and wellness into both her practice and artistic philosophy.

Juujuumama is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey began with drawing and painting, later expanding into experimental work with AI technologies. In November 2022, she minted her first onchain artwork, marking the start of her exploration... Show more

I’m Teresa Melvin, an award-winning teen artist and the visionary behind AvaRamona®, two original characters that reflect creativity and innovation.

I created and host Art n' Chat, a YouTube live series that connects artists worldwide. Since diving into the NFT space in August 2021, I’ve sold out collections across all major marketplaces, and my work has been showcased at prominent events like NFT NYC 23 & 22, Make-A-Wish Foundation International, Flower Girls NFT, and MissOCoolGirls. I’ve exhibited at Blockchain Summit London, Art Basel Miami 2021, Dubai Expo 2021, SuperMint NFT LA 2022, and NFT Bali, and spoken at renowned NFT conferences including Adobe, NFT NYC, NFT London, Miami NFT Week, and NFT Expoverse LA.

I’m passionate about empowering the next generation of artists and creatives to push the boundaries of what's possible in the digital art world.

I’m Teresa Melvin, an award-winning teen artist and the visionary behind AvaRamona®, two original characters that reflect creativity and innovation. I created and host Art n' Chat, a YouTube live series that connects artists worldwide. Since divi... Show more

Digital Artist and Game Dev currently working on Dino Mayhem, a destructive retro pixel platformer where you play as legendary dinosaurs to devour enemies, demolish buildings, and wield high-tech weapons.

Digital Artist and Game Dev currently working on Dino Mayhem, a destructive retro pixel platformer where you play as legendary dinosaurs to devour enemies, demolish buildings, and wield high-tech weapons. Show more

Rev. Dr. Majadi Baruti is an Earth Chaplain, poet, and theologian whose work bridges eco-spirituality, African cosmology, and the Musical and Poetic radical traditions of the African Diaspora. As founder and priest of Udja Temple, he has guided communities for over two decades in reclaiming ancestral wisdom, ecological balance, and the sacred presence of the Divine African Feminine.
His voice unites spiritual ecology with the rhythms of resistance found in Black music, ritual, and art. A dynamic and deeply grounded public speaker, Dr. Baruti delivers transformative keynotes, lectures, and workshops that inspire faith leaders, students, and activists to embody spirituality as both ecological practice and political liberation. His oratory carries the soul of a bluesman, the insight of a theologian, and the urgency of a justice worker.

Rev. Dr. Majadi Baruti is an Earth Chaplain, poet, and theologian whose work bridges eco-spirituality, African cosmology, and the Musical and Poetic radical traditions of the African Diaspora. As founder and priest of Udja Temple, he has guided commu... Show more

Renee Hamilton is a lecturer at Nagoya University of the Arts working at the intersection of AI, visual culture, and identity. Her work explores how artificial intelligence can be used as a creative and symbolic medium to examine race, perception, and digital identity.

Through her visual project “Lady Gorilla,” Hamilton experiments with AI-generated imagery to study audience reactions, symbolism, and the psychology of online engagement. She also incorporates these visuals into lectures to explore how emerging technologies influence cultural narratives and representation.

Her work sits between art, technology, and academic inquiry, examining how AI reshapes the way we construct and interpret identity in the digital era.

Renee Hamilton is a lecturer at Nagoya University of the Arts working at the intersection of AI, visual culture, and identity. Her work explores how artificial intelligence can be used as a creative and symbolic medium to examine race, perception, an... Show more

B. Kyle Blackburn is an in-demand collaborator in the fields of both music and arts education technology, regularly leading ensembles and professional development at all levels.

B. Kyle Blackburn is an in-demand collaborator in the fields of both music and arts education technology, regularly leading ensembles and professional development at all levels. Show more

Desirae (Des) Lee is a creative producer, multi-media artist, poet and filmmaker from Jacksonville, FL.

Des strives to create art which celebrates vulnerability, finds beauty amongst the mundane, and portrays Black people in diverse ways. She aspires to travel the world, tell honest stories and sprinkle stardust wherever she goes.

She is a Blackhouse Foundation Fellow, a Facebook SEEN initiative winner, and a Paul Robeson Awardee. She has had digital art installations exhibited up and down the east coast including the Anacostia Arts Center, Lycoming College, and Miami Soul Basel. She recently completed a film residency in Ghana through a partnership with the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora (LOATAD). She is also the grant recipient of several creative initiatives including Moment Invitational Film Fest, Late Fee Magazine photography grant, and the inaugural National Black Movie Day Scholarship.

Films directed by Des have screened at renowned national festivals including Martha's Vineyard African American Film Fest, Pan-African Film Festival, Afrikana Film Festival and the esteemed American Black Film Festival - New Voices Category.

When she’s not on set, her interests include poetry, fashion, travel and interior design. Des is an Alumnae of the University of Florida where she completed a unique program infusing photojournalism and innovation. Des holds an MFA in film from Howard University.

Desirae (Des) Lee is a creative producer, multi-media artist, poet and filmmaker from Jacksonville, FL. Des strives to create art which celebrates vulnerability, finds beauty amongst the mundane, and portrays Black people in diverse ways. She asp... Show more

Visionary leader and architect of innovative business models, Mauro Rojas brings over 23 years of experience in the creative industry. For nearly two decades, he has been at the helm of Eonminu® Brands Laboratory™, an initiative dedicated to redefining brand development through regenerative creativity, experimentation, and conceptual reinvention.

As founder and president of the Association of Entrepreneurs of Ecuador, Mauro actively fosters entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, solidifying his role as a key figure in Ecuador’s business landscape. His extensive portfolio spans multiple industries, featuring successful projects across diverse sectors. Currently, Mauro focuses on the knowledge economy and digital media, fields where his work continues to create meaningful and lasting impact.

Mauro has shared his projects and ideas on international platforms, including entrepreneurship conferences, art exhibitions, creativity workshops, and specialized publications. His insights have resonated with audiences in Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Ecuador, the United States, Portugal, and Türkiye, highlighting his global influence.

Today, Mauro leverages his expertise as a business coach, brand strategist, executive mentor, entrepreneurship trainer, and digital artist, driving innovation and excellence. His commitment to redefining industries and creating avant-garde business solutions underscores his transformative approach.

Visionary leader and architect of innovative business models, Mauro Rojas brings over 23 years of experience in the creative industry. For nearly two decades, he has been at the helm of Eonminu® Brands Laboratory™, an initiative dedicated to redefini... Show more

Leslie Short is the owner of The Cavu Group and the author of "Expand Beyond Your Current Culture." With four decades of experience as a seasoned brand and culture strategist and leadership advisor, she founded The Cavu Group to address critical challenges in building and guiding organizations toward sustainable cultural growth.
Leslie is uniquely skilled at fostering environments that promote continuous evolution and innovation. Her approach emphasizes the importance of listening to and understanding people, whom she recognizes as an organization's greatest asset.
She is deeply committed to creating and maintaining diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive cultures. Leveraging her expertise, she develops inclusive workplace strategies and facilitates transformative discussions that challenge the status quo.
Her work delves into the vital intersections of leadership, culture, accessibility, and social impact, equipping businesses with actionable insights to thrive in today’s dynamic and complex business landscape.

Leslie Short has an accomplished background that includes business, entrepreneurship, marketing, and the arts. Her journey began as a classical ballet dancer, which took her to Europe, where she lived for over a decade. After her dance career, Leslie founded an entertainment business in Japan, which was recognized as the country's best business in 1994.
She held influential roles, including President of Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations at FUBU The Collection, as well as Corporate Operating Strategist at prominent companies both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Leslie launched K.I.M. Media LLC (Keep It Moving) and founded Ascend Bereavement Management, demonstrating her versatility and innovative mindset.

A highly sought-after speaker, Leslie has addressed audiences at prestigious events hosted by Fortune 500 companies, universities, the United Nations, and the European Union, sharing her expertise and insights with a global audience. Leslie is a Chaplain, Certified Mediator, and Conflict Coach.

Leslie Short is the owner of The Cavu Group and the author of "Expand Beyond Your Current Culture." With four decades of experience as a seasoned brand and culture strategist and leadership advisor, she founded The Cavu Group to address critical ch... Show more

Divya Tak is an award winning multidisciplinary creative whose work spans across forms and subjects to explore a sense of wonder, curiosity and belonging. She has published work in multiple mediums, products, games, illustrations, comics, ads, and more. Her own journey has also inspired her to facilitate workshops on technology, creativity and storytelling and the intersection of them all.

Divya Tak is an award winning multidisciplinary creative whose work spans across forms and subjects to explore a sense of wonder, curiosity and belonging. She has published work in multiple mediums, products, games, illustrations, comics, ads, and mo... Show more

Nidhi Chanani is an award-winning author and illustrator of over a dozen books. She was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She holds a degree in literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. Her graphic novels include Pashmina, Jukebox, Super Boba Café and the Shark Princess series. She also has a number of picture books including I will be fierce, Strong, Binny’s Diwali, What Will My Story Be and Quiet Karima. When she’s not making books Nidhi loves to travel and has visited 20 countries. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. nidhichanani.com

Nidhi Chanani is an award-winning author and illustrator of over a dozen books. She was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She holds a degree in literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2012 she was honored by the Ob... Show more