João is a 10+ years experienced Software Developer, Studied Telecom Engineering at ISEL Lisboa, and worked in different companies in Portugal, Spain, and The Netherlands. He is a certified Kong Champion, a certified Java Developer (OCP11) and is a Certified Spring Professional 2021. Outside the software development Universe, João is someone interested in arts and crafts and making stuff out of old materials creating the occasional modified furniture. João loves plants and has a small potted garden with Yuccas and blueberry bushes. He has one particular YouTube channel called JESPROTECH dedicated to engineering where João shares his experience with the world.

João is a 10+ years experienced Software Developer, Studied Telecom Engineering at ISEL Lisboa, and worked in different companies in Portugal, Spain, and The Netherlands. He is a certified Kong Champion, a certified Java Developer (OCP11) and is a Ce... Show more

Michael Arbuckle serves as Executive In Residence within LadderStone’s Banking Practice, bringing deep expertise in financial product innovation, banking technology stack development, and strategic capital advisory. Michael leverages extensive experience in fintech, including roles at leading financial institutions such as Silicon Valley Bank and Charles Schwab, to guide LadderStone’s banking clients through complex technology transformations and product development initiatives. He actively leads projects involving the design, implementation, and enhancement of core banking systems, treasury workstations, trading platforms, and fintech solutions tailored to meet evolving regulatory requirements and market demands. Michael’s hands-on approach enables banks and financial institutions to integrate innovative technology solutions, streamline operational processes, and successfully deploy new financial products, positioning them to capitalize on strategic growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Michael Arbuckle serves as Executive In Residence within LadderStone’s Banking Practice, bringing deep expertise in financial product innovation, banking technology stack development, and strategic capital advisory. Michael leverages extensive experi... Show more

I am an Early Years Educator at GEMS Genesis International School, Ahmedabad, India, passionate about designing inquiry-driven, experiential learning that empowers young children to become curious, confident, and future-ready learners. My background in Interior Design and Textile & Apparel Design has shaped the way I approach education, allowing me to blend creativity, design thinking, and innovation into meaningful classroom experiences.

I believe children learn best when they are given authentic opportunities to explore, question, collaborate, create, and reflect. My practice focuses on intentionally integrating conceptual understanding (IQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), and experiential intelligence (XQ) through purposeful inquiry, real-world connections, and learner agency. I strive to create classrooms where every experience builds critical thinking, creativity, communication, empathy, and responsible action.

I enjoy sharing practical, classroom-tested strategies that educators can adapt to design engaging, reflective, and impactful learning experiences. My goal is to inspire learning environments where children don't simply acquire knowledge—they develop the confidence and skills to thrive as lifelong learners and meaningful contributors to their communities.

I am an Early Years Educator at GEMS Genesis International School, Ahmedabad, India, passionate about designing inquiry-driven, experiential learning that empowers young children to become curious, confident, and future-ready learners. My background ... Show more

Bradley Kirshenbaum is a Johannesburg-based creative and the founder of Love Jozi. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design in 1993, he built his career in advertising, marketing and corporate communications before developing his own brands and independent design practice.

In 2005 he created a stylised graphic of Johannesburg’s skyline that launched Love Jozi. What began as a T-shirt side hustle has grown into a design brand spanning apparel, maps, wallpapers, merchandise and custom work for a host of clients.

His book and talk, I Love You I Hate You, explore his complicated relationship with Johannesburg through 20 years of Love Jozi, using humour, irony and close observation to turn the city’s contradictions into a distinctive visual language.

Bradley Kirshenbaum is a Johannesburg-based creative and the founder of Love Jozi. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design in 1993, he built his career in advertising, marketing and corporate communications before developing his o... Show more

Ex-influencer de viajes. Empresario. Nerd.

Durante años, cuando me presentaba ante un desconocido, siempre me decían, ¡qué envidia! Era influencer de viajes, me invitaban e incluso pagaban por viajar. Ahora, cuando digo que soy empersario, se quedan callados y cambian de tema. Como soy un vago, me fascina todo lo que puede hacernos la vida más sencilla, como la tecnología y los negocios. La inteligencia artificial es un gran juguete para producir, pésimo para vender.

Lo mio es disfrutar de la vida. Perdí el miedo la primera vez que mi padre me llevó a juicio. Con ese golpe, fui aprendiendo que lo único que me da sentido es disfrutar y hacer que otros disfruten con la vida, con los viajes. Con los negocios, también. El esfuerzo es obvio que es necesario. El sufrimiento, opcional. Ahora mismo creo y sé que vivimos en el mejor momento de la humanidad.

Cualquiera espabilado puede tener un negocio digital que le de la vida que quiere tener. Yo lo he conseguido. Decenas de clientes también. Quizás tú quieras este camino de vida.

¿Jugamos?

Ex-influencer de viajes. Empresario. Nerd. Durante años, cuando me presentaba ante un desconocido, siempre me decían, ¡qué envidia! Era influencer de viajes, me invitaban e incluso pagaban por viajar. Ahora, cuando digo que soy empersario, se qued... Show more

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this.

Previously, I led product management for Kubernetes on behalf of Google, launched GKE, and co-founded the Kubeflow project, and led Open Source ML Strategy at Azure. I have also worked at Protocol Labs, Amazon and Chef and co-founded three startups.

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this. Previously, I led prod... Show more

My name is Jenny Harder, I'm an art leader with 14+ years experience in games and animation, currently working as Art Manager at ZA/UM. My background spans AAA games, feature animation and TV, with credits including Zero Parades, Hogwarts Legacy, Palia, For Honor, Disney Infinity, 100% Wolf, and The Garfield Movie (2024).

I'll be around for Mentoring Sessions during Games Ground. Join me for a chat about the industry! I'm particularly keen on talking about portfolio expectations, art leadership, networking and women in games. I'm also a big D&D nerd!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyharder
https://www.artstation.com/jennyharder
https://www.instagram.com/jennyharderart

My name is Jenny Harder, I'm an art leader with 14+ years experience in games and animation, currently working as Art Manager at ZA/UM. My background spans AAA games, feature animation and TV, with credits including Zero Parades, Hogwarts Legacy, Pa... Show more

Passionate about technology and design. The background in both fields led her to become a ux/ui designer and Frontend developer and become the point of contact of those worlds.
She likes organizing meetups with GDG Turin and share her knowledge.

Passionate about technology and design. The background in both fields led her to become a ux/ui designer and Frontend developer and become the point of contact of those worlds. She likes organizing meetups with GDG Turin and share her knowledge. Show more

Fran Ayala is a London-based brand strategist, PR consultant, speaker, comedian and founder of Bitches in Stitches, a global all-femme/them comedy collective featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone and Tatler.

Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, visibility, power and community. Through FranBrands, she helps founders, creatives and underrepresented voices build brands people understand, remember and recommend — without sanding off their personality to be taken seriously.

Fran has built campaigns for global brands including Microsoft, SAP, Singapore Airlines and HSBC, and speaks on personal branding, confidence, visibility, self-promotion and the courage to be disliked.

Her signature keynote, Dare to Be Disliked, helps women recognise when they’re shrinking for acceptance, reframe backlash and take up space with more clarity, authority and courage.

Fran Ayala is a London-based brand strategist, PR consultant, speaker, comedian and founder of Bitches in Stitches, a global all-femme/them comedy collective featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone and Tatler. Her work sits at the intersection of storyte... Show more

Himanshu Rajak is a Project Associate at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, and an AI/ML researcher with a background in Computer Science and Engineering. His experience spans the foundations of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to emerging deep-tech areas including Generative AI, Computer Vision, Graph Neural Networks and Quantum Machine Learning.

His technical work covers the AI/ML pipeline, from mathematical foundations, data processing and classical machine learning to deep learning, Large Language Models, multimodal AI and hybrid quantum-classical machine learning. He has hands-on experience with Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Qiskit and PennyLane, and has worked on research and projects involving medical imaging, graph-based learning, generative models and intelligent AI applications.

Alongside his research and technical work, Himanshu currently mentors a postgraduate certification program in Artificial Intelligence at C-DAC. The program is a six-month, national-level certification course focused on developing practical and industry-relevant skills in AI and Machine Learning. He actively teaches and mentors learners across programming, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, LLMs and emerging AI technologies.

He is particularly interested in bridging the gap between fundamental AI concepts and cutting-edge deep-tech research, making complex technical ideas accessible through practical demonstrations, experimentation and hands-on learning.

Himanshu Rajak is a Project Associate at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Mohali, and an AI/ML researcher with a background in Computer Science and Engineering. His experience spans the foundations of Artificial Intelligence ... Show more

Alexandra Zakharova est Senior Technical Trainer chez Microsoft, spécialisée en Data et Intelligence Artificielle, et professeure universitaire. Elle est passionnée par la transmission des connaissances et la veille technologique. Elle intervient régulièrement lors de conférences pour partager les dernières avancées en IA.

Alexandra Zakharova est Senior Technical Trainer chez Microsoft, spécialisée en Data et Intelligence Artificielle, et professeure universitaire. Elle est passionnée par la transmission des connaissances et la veille technologique. Elle intervient rég... Show more

Ndèye Fatou Diouf est une communicante digitale sénégalaise engagée dans la société civile, spécialisée dans l’activisme numérique, la mobilisation communautaire et la communication pour le changement social. Elle est actuellement chargée de communication digitale à AfricTivistes, où elle accompagne des initiatives citoyennes panafricaines en faveur de la démocratie, des droits humains et de la gouvernance numérique à travers des stratégies de communication et d’engagement en ligne.
Elle est également Social Media Manager de Dialogue Migration, un média engagé sur les enjeux migratoires, et coordinatrice des Sahels Activistes du Sénégal, où elle contribue à la structuration de mouvements citoyens et au renforcement des dynamiques militantes locales. Son parcours l’a aussi conduite à collaborer avec Pollicy en tant que coordinatrice régionale au Sénégal sur les questions liées à l’avenir du travail et à l’inclusion numérique.
Forte d’une formation en marketing et communication, Ndèye Fatou Diouf met le numérique au service des causes sociales, de la participation citoyenne et de l’amplification des voix souvent marginalisées dans l’espace public.

Ndèye Fatou Diouf est une communicante digitale sénégalaise engagée dans la société civile, spécialisée dans l’activisme numérique, la mobilisation communautaire et la communication pour le changement social. Elle est actuellement chargée de communic... Show more

After a failed bid at rock stardom Trevor eventually found a way to get paid for writing software with Macromedia Flash. After twenty years and dabbling with Python, Ruby, Objective-C and C# he now works almost exclusively on the JVM. As a software engineer at Lunatech, Trevor provides expert advice on Akka, Scala and software development in general as a member of teams working directly with clients as well as internal projects. He also enjoys his role as mentor guiding some of Lunatech's junior engineers.

After a failed bid at rock stardom Trevor eventually found a way to get paid for writing software with Macromedia Flash. After twenty years and dabbling with Python, Ruby, Objective-C and C# he now works almost exclusively on the JVM. As a software e... Show more

Schalk is a product design and engineering consultant working on various personal, commercial, and open-source projects. He usually finds himself at the intersection of interaction design and software engineering, having done contract work for National Treasury, The Google Foundation, The Coca Cola Company, Replit, and various others. He has lectured in a senior capacity at the Academy of Digital Arts, Open Window, University of Pretoria and co-created the Interaction Design degree at Cape Town Creative Academy. He also co-founded, and currently serves as administrative director, of Frontend Engineering and Design South Africa (FEDSA).

Schalk is a product design and engineering consultant working on various personal, commercial, and open-source projects. He usually finds himself at the intersection of interaction design and software engineering, having done contract work for Nation... Show more

Pierfrancesco Conte è Agile Coach, Scrum Master e Business Agility practitioner, con esperienza in contesti enterprise complessi. Supporta team e leader in percorsi di trasformazione organizzativa, lavorando su collaborazione, facilitazione, enablement di Product Owner e Scrum Master, comunicazione del cambiamento e miglioramento continuo.

Negli ultimi anni sta orientando il proprio posizionamento verso Enterprise Transformation e AI Adoption, esplorando come l’intelligenza artificiale possa amplificare — e non sostituire — capacità umane come giudizio, apprendimento, conversazioni di qualità e decision making.

Unisce al lavoro in ambito Coaching e Business Agility una forte passione per public speaking, musica, magia e mentalismo. Nei suoi talk usa l’illusionismo come metafora concreta per rendere visibili dinamiche organizzative spesso invisibili: attenzione, percezione, fiducia e cambiamento.

Pierfrancesco Conte è Agile Coach, Scrum Master e Business Agility practitioner, con esperienza in contesti enterprise complessi. Supporta team e leader in percorsi di trasformazione organizzativa, lavorando su collaborazione, facilitazione, enableme... Show more

Taite Heller is a Health and Exercise Science student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to her major, she is pursuing minors in Biology and Psychology while maintaining a 3.97 GPA. She is expected to graduate in 2027 and is currently on the Pre-Physician Assistant track. With a strong interest in healthcare and patient-centered service, she plans to attend PA school after completing her undergraduate studies. Her academic achievements reflect a commitment to learning, growth, and professional development.

Beyond the classroom, Taite is a Division I student-athlete on the Wake Forest University Dance Team. Balancing a demanding academic schedule with the responsibilities of collegiate athletics has strengthened her leadership skills, discipline, and ability to manage multiple commitments. Her dedication to the team was recognized during the 2025-2026 season when she earned the MVP Award for her performance and commitment.

As a member of the dance team for three years, Heller trains and performs for more than 15 hours each week while maintaining her academic responsibilities. She helps create an engaging atmosphere at athletic events through performances and interactions with fans. Her involvement also includes mentoring young dancers through junior spirit programs and representing the university and athletic department at alumni and donor events. She competes annually at the Universal Dance Association National Championship in Division IA, one of the most competitive collegiate dance levels. During the 2025-2026 season, the team secured the program's first national championship in the DIA Gameday Live category.

Leadership plays an important role in her college experience. Taite serves as a representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she helps strengthen communication between student-athletes and the athletic department. Through this position, she contributes to leadership initiatives, supports student-athlete advocacy, and promotes community engagement. In 2025, she was selected as the student-athlete voice at the Faculty Advisory Committee meeting for Wake Forest Athletics. This recognition marked the first time a member of the Spirit Program had been chosen for the role. She was also selected to represent Wake Forest Athletics at a Leadership & Character Development Program event, where she shared perspectives on team culture, values, identity, positivity, and mindset.

Her passion for healthcare has led her to pursue research opportunities that complement her academic studies. As a Research Assistant for IGROOVE-POWER, Heller worked alongside graduate students in a geriatric movement laboratory. Her responsibilities included collecting and organizing muscle power measurements at the knee and ankle joints using standardized testing procedures. Through this experience, she gained exposure to geriatric research, functional movement assessment, and studies focused on cognitive aging.

During the Spring 2026 semester, Taite served as a clinical research intern for The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study at Wake Forest University. This multisite clinical trial examines whether diet, exercise, and weight-loss maintenance can help prevent knee osteoarthritis in women who are at risk for the condition. Her involvement provided valuable experience in clinical research and healthcare-focused investigations.

During the Spring 2026 semester, Heller established “Dancing With the Deacs,” a dance class created in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem. Through this program, she teaches children and adults with Down syndrome, encouraging movement, self-expression, and mind-body connection through dance. She also volunteers as a dance instructor at GiGi’s Playhouse, where she works with both children and adults through educational and developmental programs.

Taite Heller has been selected to serve as a Teaching Assistant in Human Gross Anatomy. In this position, she will work closely with faculty members on cadaver preparation and dissection, assist with laboratory sessions, and support student learning. She is also pursuing her Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification while seeking opportunities to gain direct patient care experience. Through her accomplishments in academics, athletics, leadership, research, and community service, she continues to build a strong foundation for a future healthcare career.

Taite Heller is a Health and Exercise Science student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to her major, she is pursuing minors in Biology and Psychology while maintaining a 3.97 GPA. She is expected to graduate in ... Show more

Matthew started working on the Web in '95 at an experimental dance company in Ottawa Canada. This became an obsession with bleeding edge technologies. His decades of experience in the technology sphere as a project manager and Web application architect segued into joining the Drupal community in 2007. He has spoken at numerous tech conferences. Saunders was on the Drupalcon Denver organizing committee, is Director of Drupalcamp Colorado, and helped found the Drupal Event Organizing Working Group. Matthew recently left Pfizer as Delivery Lead for the Health Care Provider Portal and is looking for his next challenge. He runs a consultancy at https://www.jamesmatthewsaunders.ai. He is an activist in neurodiversity. Matthew recently joined amazee.io as their AI Ambassador.

Matthew started working on the Web in '95 at an experimental dance company in Ottawa Canada. This became an obsession with bleeding edge technologies. His decades of experience in the technology sphere as a project manager and Web application archite... Show more

Toby Brandenburg - Problem Solver.
Son of Adelaide based father-son founding team of the Electric Air Shipping project.
Creator of the VS/VE maths and design framework for cargo airships. Designer of The Sunship, the world's first sustainable, ultra-heavy lift cargo airship.
Vibe-coder of the EAS Fleet Calculator software.
Former music tutor, creative and performing musician, also former youth worker in remote outback Australian communities.

Toby Brandenburg - Problem Solver. Son of Adelaide based father-son founding team of the Electric Air Shipping project. Creator of the VS/VE maths and design framework for cargo airships. Designer of The Sunship, the world's first sustainable, ultr... Show more

Omri Marcus is a creative strategist and tech-concept developer with over 25 years of experience creating global television formats for media giants like Viacom and Red Arrow. Currently, he leads the pioneering AI integration programs at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, training producers and screenwriters on multi-agent AI orchestration.

Blending strategic execution with human storytelling, Omri focuses on building agentic workflows that maintain a unique creative edge. As Mike Reiss of The Simpsons noted, he is also "the funniest man in Israel."

The reality behind the credentials:
I spend my days trying to keep the soul inside stories while using tools that are designed to strip it away. As an AI consultant to global enterprises, I don't "theorize" about AI—I build the workflows that screenwriters, directors, and brands use to actually work.

My focus isn't on the "future of AI." It’s on the immediate, practical struggle of staying human in a production room that is increasingly run by statistical models. Having served as an Emmy juror for years, I know what "great" looks like—and it isn't a statistical average. I’m currently showing the industry why our flaws, blind spots, and irrational creative choices are the only things left that matter, and how to weaponize them to win in an AI-saturated market.

Omri Marcus is a creative strategist and tech-concept developer with over 25 years of experience creating global television formats for media giants like Viacom and Red Arrow. Currently, he leads the pioneering AI integration programs at the Sam Spie... Show more

Khalid Musa Ahmad is a Nigerian photojournalist, visual storyteller, poet, and communications professional passionate about using technology to amplify human stories and create social impact.

He is the founder of Kx Core, a creative platform focused on visual storytelling, and BAE Book Club, a community that promotes reading, critical thinking, and meaningful conversations among young people.

As the Communications Officer at Havard Hub, Khalid has documented development programmes, humanitarian interventions, governance initiatives, youth empowerment projects, and public health campaigns across Nigeria. His work combines photography, writing, multimedia storytelling, and emerging technologies to make complex issues more accessible and engaging.

Beyond journalism, Khalid is a visual artist who specializes in charcoal portraiture and an advocate for lifelong learning. He is currently expanding his expertise in AI, digital tools, cybersecurity, and user experience design through continuous professional development, with a growing interest in how technology can strengthen journalism, digital verification, and creative communication.

Through his work, Khalid hopes to inspire more young Africans to use creativity, ethical technology, and compelling storytelling to solve problems, build communities, and shape a better future.

Khalid Musa Ahmad is a Nigerian photojournalist, visual storyteller, poet, and communications professional passionate about using technology to amplify human stories and create social impact. He is the founder of Kx Core, a creative platform focu... Show more

Adam is a versatile software engineer and pragmatic problem solver known for translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable ideas. With a technology-agnostic approach spanning multiple languages and paradigms, Adam specializes in selecting the best tools for the job and adapting rapidly to new project constraints. Thorough, adaptable, and passionate about continuous learning, Adam brings real-world insights on software architecture, team collaboration, and pragmatic tool selection to the stage.

Adam is a versatile software engineer and pragmatic problem solver known for translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable ideas. With a technology-agnostic approach spanning multiple languages and paradigms, Adam specializes in selec... Show more

Over 15 years of experience in data analytics and data platforms, with a passion for building AI-powered assistant products for manufacturing plants. Focused on delivering scalable, cost-effective solutions that solve complex operational problems and drive real business impact. Guided by curiosity, practicality, and economic feasibility.

Over 15 years of experience in data analytics and data platforms, with a passion for building AI-powered assistant products for manufacturing plants. Focused on delivering scalable, cost-effective solutions that solve complex operational problems and... Show more

Raquel Langworthy is a professional interiors and architecture photographer serving New Jersey, New York, and surrounding regions. She specializes in capturing luxury interiors, architectural design, and lifestyle spaces with a strong focus on natural light and storytelling. Her approach combines editorial styling with technical precision, resulting in imagery that highlights both detail and atmosphere. Raquel works closely with designers, architects, and brands to create authentic visual narratives that reflect each project’s unique identity. Her photography has been widely published in major outlets, establishing her as a trusted creative partner in high-end interior and architectural photography throughout the Tri-State area.

Raquel Langworthy is a professional interiors and architecture photographer serving New Jersey, New York, and surrounding regions. She specializes in capturing luxury interiors, architectural design, and lifestyle spaces with a strong focus on natura... Show more

Magnus Stahre is a software craftsman doing application development for three decades.

He is currently a Staff Software Engineer at Torc Robotics where he works on the simulation team.

Magnus Stahre is a software craftsman doing application development for three decades. He is currently a Staff Software Engineer at Torc Robotics where he works on the simulation team. Show more

Lee Silber is the award-winning author who turns his best selling books into fun and interactive presentations that make people think, laugh, learn, and interact. For more about Lee go: www.leesilber.com

Lee Silber is the award-winning author who turns his best selling books into fun and interactive presentations that make people think, laugh, learn, and interact. For more about Lee go: www.leesilber.com Show more

In over 25 years of creative leadership in branding and marketing, Adam has discovered that the most powerful form of connection, communication, and persuasion is also the oldest—great storytelling. With rich support from neuroscientists, psychologists, and behavioral economists, he shows audiences why that is, and how they can use it to their advantage.

Best of all, the insights in Adam’s keynotes explain phenomena that many people sense are true without knowing why. Armed with the tools, research, and empathy Adam brings to the stage, they emerge as more confident communicators in their personal and professional lives.

Based in Rhode Island, Adam has earned rave reviews by audiences from Boston to Borneo. And with the rise of AI, Adam is determined to empower as many people as possible to become compelling, connection-building storytellers.

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In this high-energy, aha-moment-filled keynote, you’ll learn why stories have such a powerful hold on us, how they work, the transformative effect storytelling can have on your business, and how to do it.

Here are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy immediately:
- Unparalleled ROI
- Increased sales and fundraising revenue
- Greater productivity
- Higher retention
- …and much, much more

Learn more at https://www.rustleandspark.com/story

In over 25 years of creative leadership in branding and marketing, Adam has discovered that the most powerful form of connection, communication, and persuasion is also the oldest—great storytelling. With rich support from neuroscientists, psychologi... Show more

Lex Lofthouse is a Senior Designer at Nzime, a digital agency in Nottingham. She has been working in the design industry for 15 years.

She specialises in UX design, but has experience across a range of design disciplines including digital, brand and print.

In her spare time Lex is a massive Pokemon TCG fan, loves kayaking, badminton and gaming. Plus despite being a professional designer she is also an advocate for Comic Sans, the world’s most misunderstood typeface (come and ask her why).

Lex Lofthouse is a Senior Designer at Nzime, a digital agency in Nottingham. She has been working in the design industry for 15 years. She specialises in UX design, but has experience across a range of design disciplines including digital, brand a... Show more

Brandon Street is an entrepreneur, blockchain strategist, and Web3 community leader with more than a decade of experience in digital assets and emerging technologies. As Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Collab and President of the Stand With Crypto Indiana Chapter, Brandon focuses on bridging NFTs with real-world applications through community building, education, and business innovation.

A multi-time NFT.NYC speaker, Brandon has worked with brands, artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations to explore how NFTs can strengthen engagement, unlock new ownership models, and create lasting value beyond collectibles. His work spans real-world asset tokenization, digital ownership, brand strategy, and Web3 education, with a focus on helping organizations build sustainable, community-driven ecosystems.

Brandon's mission is to demonstrate how NFTs can evolve from digital collectibles into the ownership infrastructure powering the next generation of brands, communities, and real-world assets.

Brandon Street is an entrepreneur, blockchain strategist, and Web3 community leader with more than a decade of experience in digital assets and emerging technologies. As Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Collab and President of the Stand With Crypto Ind... Show more

Anais Amin is a Los Angeles-based professional excelling in journalism, marketing, and community activism. She earned a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University and has since used her expertise to advocate for social justice and drive meaningful change.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Anais attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for her undergraduate studies and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English. While at UCLA, she served as one of the fourteen elected council members, representing over 30,000 undergraduates. Her tenure in student government focused on advocating for social justice, improving access to higher education, and enhancing mental health services for veterans. She also led a team of 40 volunteers in these efforts and moderated a key political debate among candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

After UCLA, Anais pursued her Master of Science at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, graduating in 2020. Her academic focus was multimedia journalism, culminating in a significant master’s project—a 5,000-word article about a Syrian refugee family's resettlement in the U.S. This project was supplemented by a published article on her family’s escape from genocide and a video project focused on medication-assisted recovery.

During her time at Columbia, she also reported on the civil and criminal court proceedings in the Bronx, where she uncovered and wrote investigative stories on topics such as sexual abuse in Orthodox schools and the excessive use of force by private security personnel.

Anais began her career in radio production, first as an intern and then as a production assistant at Marketplace, a renowned public radio program by American Public Media, from June 2021 to December 2022. Her role involved researching, pitching, and editing content, writing scripts, and producing digital content.

Before joining Marketplace, she gained valuable experience at KPFK Radio 90.7 FM from 2017 to 2019, where she produced educational radio segments on various social, political, and scientific topics.

Anais is a fashion manufacturer's marketing and brand manager, overseeing multimillion-dollar accounts and spearheading innovative marketing campaigns. Her earlier experiences include being an executive assistant at a dental lab and a PR and marketing intern at The Borgen Project, where she promoted global poverty reduction initiatives.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Anais volunteers at animal shelters and a horse ranch for special needs children. She is also an accomplished oil painter and photographer, integrating her artistic pursuits with her advocacy work. She enjoys exploring the outdoors, visiting museums, and immersing herself in new cultures. She is fluent in Armenian and English and is enhancing her Spanish skills.

Anais Amin remains dedicated to using her diverse talents to foster understanding and improvement within her community and globally.

More photographies from Anais Amin:

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Anais Amin is a Los Angeles-based professional excelling in journalism, marketing, and community activism. She earned a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University and has since used her expertise to advocate for social justice and drive meaningf... Show more

Michael Mikulec is a brand strategist, creative director, and writer whose work centers on shaping early ideas in emerging categories before those categories develop a shared language or formal structure. His professional journey spans more than two decades across broadcast identity, brand strategy, international creative direction, and academic leadership. He was born in Connecticut and is based in Savannah, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University.

Michael began his career in broadcast design at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where he worked on-site during the 2003 and 2004 NBA Finals. He contributed to teams that earned two Sports Emmy Awards in 2004. This early environment demanded precision under pressure, with fast production cycles and high standards for clarity and execution. These conditions helped shape his long-term approach to structured storytelling and system-based design thinking.

Mikulec later joined Troika Design Group in Los Angeles, where he contributed to major entertainment branding initiatives including the launch of The CW network, MTV’s HD platform expansion, and NBC’s identity system for the 2008 Beijing Olympics coverage. This phase of his career expanded his experience in large-scale media ecosystems and global entertainment communication systems.

Michael then moved to Rome to lead creative direction at Frame by Frame. He worked with clients across Europe and the Middle East, gaining broader exposure to international branding frameworks and culturally adaptive design approaches. He later returned to the United States to pursue his MFA at Yale University, where he studied under designers including Michael Bierut and Irma Boom. During this time, he won the pitch for Fenway Park’s 100th Anniversary identity. This project later contributed to the formation of Frame by Frame’s New York office, where he served as partner and creative lead for clients including ESPN, CBS Sports, Fendi, MSG, and the Miami Dolphins.

Michael expanded his work in 2013 by leading the naming and creative direction of Curaleaf. He helped position the brand in a newly regulated industry by emphasizing trust, clarity, and healthcare-aligned communication rather than conventional cannabis-branded language. The project earned Connecticut’s producer’s license with the highest marketing score among sixteen applicants. It became the foundation identity for what is now the largest cannabis company in the United States.

Mikulec continued his career in Los Angeles as a designer, art director, and contractor, including a senior motion design role in Fox Sports’ promo department, where he contributed to a Sports Emmy Award-winning Daytona 500 campaign. He later returned to the Savannah College of Art and Design as Chair of Graphic Design, overseeing 18 faculty members and approximately 900 students. In this role, he restructured the curriculum around future-facing design methodologies and introduced SCAD’s first AI-and-design course, focused on ethics, authorship, and evolving creative responsibility.

Michael Mikulec is currently engaged in independent intellectual work, including his Yale thesis Ready Made to Order, which examined how algorithmic personalization can fragment shared reality and influence cultural perception. He is developing American Alchemy, an essay series focused on memory, identity, and American cultural narrative. He is a three-time Sports Emmy winner, recipient of multiple Promax/BDA awards, and contributor to philanthropic initiatives. He lives in Savannah, where he is raising a son who remains largely unimpressed by all of this.

Michael Mikulec is a brand strategist, creative director, and writer whose work centers on shaping early ideas in emerging categories before those categories develop a shared language or formal structure. His professional journey spans more than two ... Show more