What happens when you mix relentless drive, academic prowess, and an innate knack for reading people? You get Tara Furiani. She isn't just in the people business—she is the people business. With over two decades of transformative leadership under her belt, Tara shatters the conventional, often stodgy, paradigms of HR and corporate culture, bringing humanity back into the workplace.

Sporting dual Master's degrees in Psychology and Organizational Leadership, Tara's academic mettle is as rock-solid as her real-world chops. Her slew of advanced certifications isn't just for show; it’s her toolkit for crafting highly responsive, agile organizations. She’s been the mastermind behind multiple industry-defining shifts during her 13 years as a Chief People Officer for companies valued over $6 billion and employing more than 10,000 people worldwide.

But let's cut through the corporate jargon: Tara is a people champion. She fights for DEI not just as a buzzword but as a way of life, all the way from boardrooms on Earth to the realms of space, serving on NASA's DEI board. For Tara, equity isn't just a corporate initiative; it's a universal mandate.

Still think she’s all business? Think again. A mother of five and a doting partner, Tara knows the real-world application of work-life balance like no other. She's the driving force of her family and the beating heart of her home, roles she embraces with the same vigor as her corporate undertakings.

If you need further proof, lend an ear to her hit podcast, "Not the HR Lady," where she tackles the industry's stale narratives and offers fresh, often revolutionary, perspectives. And don't be fooled by the exec persona; she can drop a Dr. Dre lyric faster than you can say "organizational change."

When you partner with Tara Furiani, you’re not just getting a consultant or a thought leader. You’re aligning with a living, breathing catalyst for meaningful change—in your organization and in your life. Are you ready?

Learn more about Tara Furiani and Not the HR Lady by visiting: www.notthehrlady.com and subscribe to the show at www.youtube.com/c/notthehrlady.

What happens when you mix relentless drive, academic prowess, and an innate knack for reading people? You get Tara Furiani. She isn't just in the people business—she is the people business. With over two decades of transformative leadership under her... Show more

Passionate about tech and creativity. Graphic design roots, IT engineering background. Former marketing lead, now crafting frontend magic at Warner Bros Discovery. Embracing technology's limitless canvas to create captivating experiences!

Passionate about tech and creativity. Graphic design roots, IT engineering background. Former marketing lead, now crafting frontend magic at Warner Bros Discovery. Embracing technology's limitless canvas to create captivating experiences! Show more

Randolph West (they/them) writes about the Microsoft Data Platform, having worked with SQL Server since the late 1990s. When not writing about technology, you can see them acting on the stage and screen, or doing voices for independent video games. Former five-time Data Platform MVP and charter member of the Azure Data Community Advisory Board. Founder of the Calgary Data User Group. Connect with Randolph on Twitter, or buy their books on Amazon.

Randolph West (they/them) writes about the Microsoft Data Platform, having worked with SQL Server since the late 1990s. When not writing about technology, you can see them acting on the stage and screen, or doing voices for independent video games. F... Show more

Saj Zaman, the Founder of Finally Free Productions (FFP), boasts a wealth of experience in the technology industry as a serial entrepreneur and expert in scaling up businesses. With over a decade of experience, Saj has honed his skills in custom app, software, and game development, as well as blockchain development, catering to clients nationwide.

Under his leadership, FFP has achieved remarkable success, becoming a testament to Saj's unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. Recognizing the immense potential for growth through mobile applications, he has guided countless business owners in establishing a strong presence in their respective industries. FFP prides itself on transforming clients' ideas into service apps that fuel business growth and deliver tangible results.

Saj's profound impact on the tech industry is further underscored by his dedication to designing sophisticated software and high-quality applications. Alongside his driven FFP team, Saj exemplifies a relentless pursuit of perfection in realizing clients' visions. By continually pushing the boundaries of what's possible, he is shaping the future of technology and making an indelible mark on the industry.

Saj Zaman, the Founder of Finally Free Productions (FFP), boasts a wealth of experience in the technology industry as a serial entrepreneur and expert in scaling up businesses. With over a decade of experience, Saj has honed his skills in custom app,... Show more

Ben Vanderberg is a Principal Platform Evangelist for Adobe Acrobat platform. For the last 15 years, he has worked with organizations to help drive automation and paperless technologies. With the release of the iPad and the iPhone, he helped publishing organizations drive cross-publishing to the web, mobile, and traditional paper. At Adobe, he has been helping drive innovation in documents through e-signatures (Adobe Sign) and document automation using Adobe Document Services. He is also working with many enterprise platforms, including SalesForce, Microsoft 365, AWS, Azure, and other platforms. Ben is also an editor and contributor to Adobe Tech Blog.

Ben Vanderberg is a Principal Platform Evangelist for Adobe Acrobat platform. For the last 15 years, he has worked with organizations to help drive automation and paperless technologies. With the release of the iPad and the iPhone, he helped publishi... Show more

From running street teams to making a music documentary, Christine spent most of my adolescence deeply entrenched in the music industry and went on to receive an undergrad degree in Music Business, followed by an MBA in Marketing and a Masters in Data Science. She managed to combine all of her passions into roles consulting and working with various music startups, venues, festivals, radio stations and labels bridging the gap between music, data & business. Originally from Baltimore, MD, USA, Christine spent 2 years in Stockholm most recently as the Head of Data & Insights for Universal Music Sweden and now calls London home working as the Director of Data & Insights for Global Marketing at Warner Music Group, where Christine use data to tell stories & help guide our artist's journeys.

From running street teams to making a music documentary, Christine spent most of my adolescence deeply entrenched in the music industry and went on to receive an undergrad degree in Music Business, followed by an MBA in Marketing and a Masters in Dat... Show more

Opher is a multidisciplinary creator, with expertise spanning web development, design, music, and game development.

He currently leads development as principal engineer at Hud.io, imbuing magic into the field of development tools and observability. Previously, as director of technical innovation and creative developer at Eko, Opher worked at the intersection of art and technology, collaborating with development teams as well as design, art, and film-making teams to redefine interactive media on the web. His notable work includes open source projects like react-animation-orchestrator, Lance JS multiplayer server and the VR film Broken Night, which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival in NYC.

Opher is a multidisciplinary creator, with expertise spanning web development, design, music, and game development. He currently leads development as principal engineer at Hud.io, imbuing magic into the field of development tools and observability... Show more

Friedhelm Bruns arbeitet als Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter im Projekt „Netzwerk 4.0 der Musikhochschulen“ an der Hochschule für Musik Detmold. Freiberuflich arbeitet er als Musikvermittler und Theaterpädagoge, organisiert und spielt im gesamten deutschsprachigen Raum (DE, AUT, CH) Orgelkonzerte für Kinder in der Figur des Orgelbauers Fröhlich.

Friedhelm Bruns arbeitet als Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter im Projekt „Netzwerk 4.0 der Musikhochschulen“ an der Hochschule für Musik Detmold. Freiberuflich arbeitet er als Musikvermittler und Theaterpädagoge, organisiert und spielt im gesamten deut... Show more

“It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” George Herman Ruth

Meron Gebremedhin was born and raised in Ethiopia, East Africa and migrated to the United States in 2017.
Professionally, she is a trained software engineer but has been wearing different hats for more than 14 years including international business owner. After migrating to America, she studied hard to earn her stripes back in the IT industry, acquiring more than 16 Microsoft certifications along the way.
As a beneficiary of mentorship in Microsoft community, Meron is passionate about paying it forward to help others achieve their goals in the tech, and founded Pathfinders, a Power Platform organization dedicated to supporting immigrants in the United States.

“It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” George Herman Ruth Meron Gebremedhin was born and raised in Ethiopia, East Africa and migrated to the United States in 2017. Professionally, she is a trained software engineer but has been wearing ... Show more

Software engineer at Enpal!

Software engineer at Enpal! Show more

Collins Wanjiku is a passionate graphic designer, UI/UX enthusiast, and branding specialist with a keen eye for clean, minimalist design. As the Co-Lead of the Graphics Design Club at Meru University, he actively nurtures creativity and innovation among digital creatives. Studying Electrical Engineering at Meru University, Collins blends technology with design.

Beyond design, he is an advocate for sustainable tech, aiming to empower creatives—photographers, game developers, and video editors—through innovation. He is also growing his presence on LinkedIn, showcasing high-quality branding designs, posters, and billboards to attract top companies.

Collins believes that in the digital world, creativity isn’t just an art—it’s a powerful tool for influence, engagement, and transformation

Collins Wanjiku is a passionate graphic designer, UI/UX enthusiast, and branding specialist with a keen eye for clean, minimalist design. As the Co-Lead of the Graphics Design Club at Meru University, he actively nurtures creativity and innovation am... Show more

Shereen Thor is a comedian turned coach who slays with hope and humor. She has shared the stage with greats like Serena Williams, Prince Harry, Pau Gasol, and Les Brown. She is also the bestselling author of Revolutionary Woman, which focuses on inspiring women and people of color to revolutionize how they see themselves to create a more equitable world. She has been featured in Forbes, TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Insider, Medium, Spike TV, 97.1 AMP Radio, and more. When she isn’t working, she is enjoying the great outdoors, spending time with her family, coaching or playing soccer, enjoying good food with friends and leaving her cell phone in the dust for extended periods. To learn more go to www.shereenthor.com.

Shereen Thor is a comedian turned coach who slays with hope and humor. She has shared the stage with greats like Serena Williams, Prince Harry, Pau Gasol, and Les Brown. She is also the bestselling author of Revolutionary Woman, which focuses on insp... Show more

Jason Plumb (he/him) is a hacker, artist, experimenter, polyglot programmer, and dad from Portland, OR, USA. He is co-maintainer of OpenTelemetry Android and an approver in various OpenTelemetry java projects. When not at work, Jason volunteers with Futel to install and maintain a network of free public payphones. He also builds synthesizers, experiments with sound, screens classic cult films, and rides steel-frame bicycles.

Jason Plumb (he/him) is a hacker, artist, experimenter, polyglot programmer, and dad from Portland, OR, USA. He is co-maintainer of OpenTelemetry Android and an approver in various OpenTelemetry java projects. When not at work, Jason volunteers with ... Show more

Stefan Göllner ist Innovationsmanager für Future Skills und KI beim Stifterband. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit liegt seit 2020 auf Initiativen zur community-orientierten Weiterentwicklung des KI-Campus – die Lernplattform für Künstliche Intelligenz. Er entwickelt innovative Lernformate und engagiert sich für die partizipative Weiterentwicklung der Lernplattform und den Aufbau eines überregionalen Lern-Ökosystems in den KI-Campus HUBs. Seit 2025 koordiniert er die Taskforce »KI in der Hochschullehre« im Rahmen der Allianz für Future Skills.

Stefan Göllner ist Innovationsmanager für Future Skills und KI beim Stifterband. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit liegt seit 2020 auf Initiativen zur community-orientierten Weiterentwicklung des KI-Campus – die Lernplattform für Künstliche Intelligenz. ... Show more

Raised by radioactive raccoons in the forests of Eastern Tennessee, Scott Southworth fell in love with programming when confronted with the awesome power of a Commodore 64. After studying poetry and astrophysics at college, he belatedly realized that you can, in fact, get paid to develop software. His programming adventures have included industrial manufacturing and distribution (books and fridges with lasers, scales and RFID), digital signage, touch-screen kiosks, video games, data visualization and healthcare integration. A senior developer at HCA, he is currently focused on Elixir, a language from the future that is destined to create Skynet.

Raised by radioactive raccoons in the forests of Eastern Tennessee, Scott Southworth fell in love with programming when confronted with the awesome power of a Commodore 64. After studying poetry and astrophysics at college, he belatedly realized that... Show more

Andrew Kiser spent over a decade in Customer Service, IT Support, and Knowledge Management roles before transitioning to his dream job of being a writer, game designer, and professional Dungeon Master. He is now the owner of Quills & Quests where, through fiction writings and games, he explores heroism as a means of self-improvement, promotes mental health awareness, advocates for fair play, and fosters creativity.

Andrew hosts, writes, designs, and publishes his own Dungeons & Dragons adventures. He also provides various professional Dungeon Mastering services as well as interactive gaming experiences for individuals, groups, private parties or corporate events.

Andrew Kiser spent over a decade in Customer Service, IT Support, and Knowledge Management roles before transitioning to his dream job of being a writer, game designer, and professional Dungeon Master. He is now the owner of Quills & Quests where, th... Show more

Works as a Cloud Solution Architect. He is by training a professional developer started working since 2001. One of the early adopters of Azure. Have presented and worked since it's alpha days. Believes in OpenSource Learning.

Works as a Cloud Solution Architect. He is by training a professional developer started working since 2001. One of the early adopters of Azure. Have presented and worked since it's alpha days. Believes in OpenSource Learning. Show more

Cuauh is the Chief Technology Officer of Sound Scouts, an award winning and clinically proven app that tests for hearing issues. Through this role, he oversees, plans and manage the digital products and requirements of the company, including a server-less back-end, the multi platform app, and various internal tools.

He is a Software Architect and Game Designer with 15 years of experience across web, mobile and virtual reality. From popular browser games, to physical installations involving full-body motion; from educational e-books, to multi-platform apps.

• He has designed and developed several other finalist and award winning projects such as:
• SimuSurg (winner of the Australasian Serious Game Challenge, 2018)
• Depict (Finalist at the 2009 Independent Game Festival's "Next Great Mobile Game"​ category)
• Amberial (Winner of several flash game contests in the late 2000's. and an honorable mention at the Australian Freeplay Festival)
• He thrives in the intersection of technology and art.

Cuauh is the Chief Technology Officer of Sound Scouts, an award winning and clinically proven app that tests for hearing issues. Through this role, he oversees, plans and manage the digital products and requirements of the company, including a server... Show more

As part of the Developer Experience team at Fastly, Kailan is responsible for customer-facing tooling and content. His work involves maintaining the Fastly Developer Hub and various open-source projects for Fastly’s serverless compute environment. Outside of work hours, he builds and operates software and hardware for independent music events and indie film.

As part of the Developer Experience team at Fastly, Kailan is responsible for customer-facing tooling and content. His work involves maintaining the Fastly Developer Hub and various open-source projects for Fastly’s serverless compute environment. Ou... Show more

J'accompagne depuis 10 ans, en mode coaching ludique, des coachs, des thérapeutes, des collectifs, des associations et des entreprises 2.0 (ou entreprise libérée) !
J'ai créé 2 jeux à ce jour. Le génie du bonheur, et plus récemment Aleam (d'autres sont en cours d'élaboration).
Aujourd'hui je propose des programmes qui comprennent :
Le Jeu Aleam Version Pro
Une formation en ligne
Un accompagnement individuel et personnalisé pour intégrer le jeu dans vos prestations. J'aide à la conception des prestations, des ateliers, et toutes formes d'aide.

J'accompagne depuis 10 ans, en mode coaching ludique, des coachs, des thérapeutes, des collectifs, des associations et des entreprises 2.0 (ou entreprise libérée) ! J'ai créé 2 jeux à ce jour. Le génie du bonheur, et plus récemment Aleam (d'autres s... Show more

Mexican living in Czech Republic for 10 years, Salesforce Architect for 8 years who has been in contact in all 360 world of salesforce, Previous speaker in Czech dreamin and some other events.

Mexican living in Czech Republic for 10 years, Salesforce Architect for 8 years who has been in contact in all 360 world of salesforce, Previous speaker in Czech dreamin and some other events. Show more

Seasoned technologist, infoSec researcher & automation hacker. Sassi has accumulated extensive experience in information security for ~30 years, in Red-Blue team assessments, conducting forensic investigations and more, including Fortune100 accounts. Advisory board member of Javelin Networks (acquired by Symantec in 2018). Worked for Microsoft ~8 years as Technology Group Manager and coded support tools for Windows Server. Sassi spoke at TED and TEDx events, and was awarded 4 Peace and friendship awards. Sassi holds a M.A in law, CISSP etc, and speaks regularly at various technology conferences worldwide. Volunteer for youth at risk, aviator & oriental rock guitarist.

Seasoned technologist, infoSec researcher & automation hacker. Sassi has accumulated extensive experience in information security for ~30 years, in Red-Blue team assessments, conducting forensic investigations and more, including Fortune100 accounts.... Show more

After 15 years as a unit production manager in the film and television industry, I’ve made the pivot to tech. Here to share my journey and insight with fellow pivoters!

After 15 years as a unit production manager in the film and television industry, I’ve made the pivot to tech. Here to share my journey and insight with fellow pivoters! Show more

Miroslav is an architectural designer, visionary, founder of Mind Design, and Co-Founder of Dom World.
He pursued his Master of Architecture at the Architectural Association, London.
With a computational design background and specialization in Sustainable Pure Design with elements of surprise, he believes that using cutting-edge technology and collaborative thinking is the right approach to solving problems and finding design opportunities.

Miroslav is an architectural designer, visionary, founder of Mind Design, and Co-Founder of Dom World. He pursued his Master of Architecture at the Architectural Association, London. With a computational design background and specialization in Sust... Show more

Oluwaseun is a multi-talented professional with expertise in both tech and the arts. With a background in computer science, software development, musicology, and music technology, he is passionate about building scalable and profitable products and has a strong commitment to community building and management.

As a seasoned Product and Project Manager specializing in software project management, technical product management and product delivery, Oluwaseun excels in transforming innovative ideas into successful, market-ready products. His expertise spans the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept to final launch, ensuring alignment with user needs and business objectives.

Currently, Oluwaseun works at MyCover.ai, an insurtech company dedicated to revolutionizing how Africans utilize and experience insurance. He plays a pivotal role in enabling innovators to seamlessly embed insurance into their existing offerings or launch new insurance verticals, driving product development and delivery in alignment with the company's vision of transforming the insurance landscape in Africa.

In addition, Oluwaseun works with the Federal Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, leading a federal initiative to train 3 million tech talents in Nigeria. Oluwaseun currently oversees this federal government initiative as the community manager for Ogun State.

Oluwaseun is a multi-talented professional with expertise in both tech and the arts. With a background in computer science, software development, musicology, and music technology, he is passionate about building scalable and profitable products and h... Show more

Marc Mauro is a dynamic artist, filmmaker, and host of HOP: The Hour of Power, blending decades of creative mastery with a passion for digital innovation. From grammar school chalk art to airbrushing and teaching, Marc’s journey led him to photography and filmmaking—mediums he views as personal snapshots of life. His brand, QUESTIONMARC, embodies his cutting-edge ethos. With HOP, Marc transformed a struggling podcast into a thriving platform by spotlighting NFT artists—painters, 3D sculptors, and musicians—whose lives were reshaped by digital art’s financial and global potential. Live on social media, he showcases works like glitchy animations and tokenized soundscapes, engaging with creators. A collaborative “people person,” Marc’s professionalism and originality make him a pivotal voice in the art-tech revolution.

Marc Mauro is a dynamic artist, filmmaker, and host of HOP: The Hour of Power, blending decades of creative mastery with a passion for digital innovation. From grammar school chalk art to airbrushing and teaching, Marc’s journey led him to photograph... Show more

Rich is a musician and software developer based in Cardiff, UK.
He releases music, commits code and plays Blood Bowl under the name “jacksorjacksor”.

Rich is a musician and software developer based in Cardiff, UK. He releases music, commits code and plays Blood Bowl under the name “jacksorjacksor”. Show more

With 20 years of experience in HR leadership, workforce planning, and global talent acquisition strategy, I have built and scaled TA&HR functions for startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises across tech, fintech, and travel industries.

I have led Talent Acquisition and HRBP teams, built HR infrastructures, and scaled engineering and product hiring across the UK, US, LatAm, Europe, and Asia. As HR Director in the cruise industry, I managed complex, multinational HR operations. As a Product Owner for an in-house HR tech product, I developed solutions that enhanced workforce planning, HR analytics, and data-driven decision-making.

My Expertise:
- HR Business Partnering & Organizational Strategy – Aligning people strategies with business goals to enhance performance and engagement.
- Tech Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning – Optimizing hiring strategies, scaling engineering and product hiring, and ensuring strong leadership pipelines.
- HR Infrastructure & Global Expansion – Scaling HR functions in high-growth environments across multiple regions.
- Employee Relations & Compliance – Navigating complex labor laws and fostering a high-performance culture.
- HR Analytics & Data-Driven Decision-Making – Leveraging insights to improve talent strategies, retention, and workforce optimization.

Qualifications:
- PhD in Sociology (Organizational Culture & HR)
- CIPD Level 7 | SHRM Certified | GTML Certified
- Certified Career Coach | Certified Master Life Coach

I thrive on building scalable HR solutions that drive business success, support global expansion, and develop high-performing teams.

Currently, I’m also developing an AI-powered career coach, integrating insights from organizational culture, social capital, and behavioral science to help professionals grow and succeed.

Let’s connect - whether you’re hiring a strategic HR leader or investing in the future of AI-driven career coaching.

With 20 years of experience in HR leadership, workforce planning, and global talent acquisition strategy, I have built and scaled TA&HR functions for startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises across tech, fintech, and travel industries. I have ... Show more

I have more than 20 years of experience in the web, where I have been a consultant in digital strategy and Open Source technologies adoption in organizations in Costa Rica and the US. I have worked with organizations such as Non-Profits, media outlets, higher ed institutions, entrepreneur centers, and governmental organizations.

I contribute to the Drupal Association Costa Rica, as a community organizer, speaker, and trainer. I have spoken at conferences like DrupalCon US and Latin America.

I have more than 20 years of experience in the web, where I have been a consultant in digital strategy and Open Source technologies adoption in organizations in Costa Rica and the US. I have worked with organizations such as Non-Profits, media outlet... Show more

Hi, I'm Shivam Mittal, a passionate cybersecurity analyst and orange teamer dedicated to ethical hacking and digital security. With hands-on experience in digital forensics, offensive penetration testing, malware analysis, and threat intelligence, I specialize in protecting systems and uncovering vulnerabilities.

I hold certifications like Certified Network Security Practitioner (CNSP), CompTIA Pentest+ and so on

Hi, I'm Shivam Mittal, a passionate cybersecurity analyst and orange teamer dedicated to ethical hacking and digital security. With hands-on experience in digital forensics, offensive penetration testing, malware analysis, and threat intelligence, I ... Show more