Before working in the Microsoft industry, Laura was working in the charity sector as a Project Assistant/Office 365 Specialist for 3 years and before that was in various support roles. She fully entered the Microsoft industry when accepting a job offer with HCL in Nov 2021. She then completed the CIT Program in March 2022, and it's been the most amazing ride of her life so far.

She loves all things creative, and Microsoft related and can't wait to see what the future holds. Laura spends her time outside of work, blogging about the Power Platform community and her journey in the hope to inspire and support others. She likes to merge her love of tech with her love of art & design, to try to bring even more fun to the topics and activities she presents to the community. Her career and general way of life have always been built around the concepts of inspiration, support, and simplifying everything! She hopes to use these concepts to make a positive impact on the Microsoft community and whoever else dares to listen.

Before working in the Microsoft industry, Laura was working in the charity sector as a Project Assistant/Office 365 Specialist for 3 years and before that was in various support roles. She fully entered the Microsoft industry when accepting a job off... Show more

Kelly J Andrews is a developer advocate and has been tinkering with computers for over 35 years.

He enjoys teaching new developers how to navigate through the industry, work out their insecurities, and build everyone up together.

You'll also find him doing magic somewhere.

Kelly J Andrews is a developer advocate and has been tinkering with computers for over 35 years. He enjoys teaching new developers how to navigate through the industry, work out their insecurities, and build everyone up together. You'll also fi... Show more

Product Designer, Art Director and Public Speaker with over 6 years of experience in the fields of product design, advertising, and marketing. Over the last couple of years, he’s had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients, from small local courier companies to top-notch NY-based startups like Hive or Oncimmune. Continuously exceeding clients’ expectations, he has helped many great companies build better products and reach their brand-related goals.

As a Public Speaker, he has presented his ideas at events such as UXDX Berlin, Dribbble Meetup or Creative Mikser. The latter, hosted by British Council and the City of Warsaw, was a meetup dedicated to designing for inclusion and accessibility, a subject Wojciech is truly passionate about and experienced in.

A proud member of one of the best design teams in the world (the Netguru PD team has been rated the #1 trending design team on Dribbble globally multiple times). When not working on commercial projects, our team analyzes market trends, deepens the knowledge of accessibility design, or just watches Friends.

Product Designer, Art Director and Public Speaker with over 6 years of experience in the fields of product design, advertising, and marketing. Over the last couple of years, he’s had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients, from small lo... Show more

Bio :
Eric Wada is a cultural practitioner and Indigenous graduate scholar at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, Program for Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization and Education. His work bridges performing arts, language, and ceremony to explore Okinawan identity, diaspora, and decolonial practice. Through the philosophy of Nadayashiku—conciliation as a pedagogy for survival—Wada examines how Indigenous and land-based education can foster responsible allyship, heal generational trauma, and inspire language revitalization grounded in ancestral worldview through decolonizing and re-indigenizing methodology. "From our experiences, decolonization as a process places us within a multi-layered social dermis where imperial and colonial powers have impregnated politics and cultures (Smith 2021, p. XV, Decolonizing Methodologies)."

Bio : Eric Wada is a cultural practitioner and Indigenous graduate scholar at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, Program for Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization and Education. His... Show more

Trinity Paige Encarnacion (she/her) is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. There, she is also a First-Year Writing Instructor and Ethnic Studies TA. Her creative work can be found in Pinch and Periphery.

Trinity Paige Encarnacion (she/her) is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. There, she is also a First-Year Writing Instructor and Ethnic Studies TA. Her creative work can be found... Show more

Sandipana Das is a UX Designer at IBM whose work sits at the intersection of AI, enterprise systems, and human-centered design. Beyond enterprise product design, Sandipana explores the future of learning and equitable access, especially in contexts where technology may extend guidance beyond institutional limits.

She designs for complex, high-stakes environments across sustainability, finance, and knowledge-rich workflows, with a focus on how intelligent systems can better support comprehension, decision-making, and trust.
Her practice combines design strategy, systems thinking, and emerging AI behaviors to examine how interfaces might evolve from reactive tools into more context-aware forms of support. She is particularly interested in adaptive AI, multimodal interaction, and the ethical questions that arise when systems begin interpreting human signals, behavior, and cognitive strain.

Sandipana Das is a UX Designer at IBM whose work sits at the intersection of AI, enterprise systems, and human-centered design. Beyond enterprise product design, Sandipana explores the future of learning and equitable access, especially in contexts w... Show more

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

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

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

In 2025, she created her own tech consulting company, Stir the Pott Consulting, LLC.

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

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

Kabelo Lehlongwane has spent two decades helping enterprises connect systems that weren't designed to talk to each other — from rail infrastructure to retail banking to broadcast media. By day, he's a Strategy Director at Accenture Song (recovering Ad Man @ King James and FCB Africa), where he's delivered work for brands like Coca-Cola and South African Tourism recognised at Cannes and One Show. By night, he's the founder of KYL Solutions, where he builds the tools he wishes existed. KYLIDESCOPE — a multi-machine agentic IDE that wires AI models across devices — is what happens when a strategist with no formal networking background decides the dev tools aren't working the way he thinks. Tailscale is the reason it actually works. He is a an inexperienced techie but a paid speaker, having been invited to speak at the
inaugural Athar Festival of Creativity and GovTech 2025 among many other events.

Kabelo Lehlongwane has spent two decades helping enterprises connect systems that weren't designed to talk to each other — from rail infrastructure to retail banking to broadcast media. By day, he's a Strategy Director at Accenture Song (recovering A... Show more

Paolo Villanueva is a Bay Area–based creative director, designer, developer, spatial computing storyteller, and Apple immersive filmmaker. With a background spanning design, engineering, XR, and immersive media, he builds experiences that connect emerging technology with clear human-centered product thinking. His work includes cross-platform products across mobile, immersive, and interactive environments, with a focus on storytelling, learning, and cultural experiences. Paolo is especially interested in how products can feel emotionally resonant while still being practical, useful, and well-crafted.

Paolo Villanueva is a Bay Area–based creative director, designer, developer, spatial computing storyteller, and Apple immersive filmmaker. With a background spanning design, engineering, XR, and immersive media, he builds experiences that connect eme... Show more

15 yrs of design
Half of it working with Fortune 500 on AI projects

15 yrs of design Half of it working with Fortune 500 on AI projects Show more

Hrvoje dolazi iz Grada Zagreba, gdje ponajviše spava, a nešto manje piše i uči.
Učenik je Srednje Škole, štuje sove, pohađa dramsku i svakih 6 mjeseci re-watcha FIrefly.
Kako ne voli pisati biografije, sklepao je nešto pet minuta prije prijave.

Hrvoje dolazi iz Grada Zagreba, gdje ponajviše spava, a nešto manje piše i uči. Učenik je Srednje Škole, štuje sove, pohađa dramsku i svakih 6 mjeseci re-watcha FIrefly. Kako ne voli pisati biografije, sklepao je nešto pet minuta prije prijave. Show more

Yunning Zhang is the Arnaldo Momigliano Postdoctoral Scholar at the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. in August 2025. Bridging global early modern studies, critical race studies, and Asian American studies, her research examines how race, religion and aesthetics intersect in textual sources and visual arts of colonial Latin America and Iberian Asia. More broadly, her teaching and scholarship engage questions of extractive and settler colonialism, queer relationalities in the archive, and the afterlives of transpacific slavery and indenture labor in contemporary visual, literary, and curatorial practices. Her work has appeared and is forthcoming in Colonial Latin American Studies, postmedieval, ASAP/Review, GLQ, Romance Notes, and Symposium. She is also currently teaching at Parsons School of Design (The New School).

Yunning Zhang is the Arnaldo Momigliano Postdoctoral Scholar at the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. in August 2025. Bridging global early modern studies, critical race studies, and Asian... Show more

Chayan Kanti Ray is a 18-year-old student from The Scottish Church Collegiate School, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. His journey with technology began early-at just 12 years old-when he first encountered the world of programming. Since then, it has transformed from curiosity to commitment. He pursued structured learning in C programming and Python through the School Connect Program of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), securing 3d rank internationally, which marked a significant turning point in his growth as a young technologist. With time, his interests evolved into the field of Artificial Intelligence (Al). He was a Speaker at Unesco AI4IA Conference 2025. Beyond codes and conferences, he believes that creativity is the soul of innovation. He's a writer and singer. His mission is simple yet ambitious: to bridge the elegance of art with the power of technology, and to create a world where machines don't just think-but also feel.

Chayan Kanti Ray is a 18-year-old student from The Scottish Church Collegiate School, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. His journey with technology began early-at just 12 years old-when he first encountered the world of programming. Since then, it has tra... Show more

Erik Zito is a leader in mental health, and organizational change who helps individuals and teams navigate uncertainty with clarity, trust, and compassion. With experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher-education environments, Erik blends real-world change management expertise with authentic and engaging storytelling. His work includes open conversations around mental health, suicide awareness, and well-being, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Erik Zito is a leader in mental health, and organizational change who helps individuals and teams navigate uncertainty with clarity, trust, and compassion. With experience across corporate, nonprofit, and higher-education environments, Erik blends re... Show more

Rođen 1991. godine. Veliki ljubitelj SF-a i stripova još od ranog djetinjstva. Ljubitelj povijesti letova u svemir i istraživanja svemira.

Rođen 1991. godine. Veliki ljubitelj SF-a i stripova još od ranog djetinjstva. Ljubitelj povijesti letova u svemir i istraživanja svemira. Show more

Fletcher Groseclos is a media professional and community advocate based in Bentonville, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from the University of Arkansas with a focus on creative writing. His work in broadcast news has included positions as a producer, camera operator, audio operator, and live television director at Hearst Television's 40/29 and KFSM-TV (Channel 5). In 2018, he also worked in television production on the set of True Detective, Season Three, serving as Property Production Assistant (Jan.Feb.) and later as Locations Assistant (July).

Fletcher was born in Rogers and raised in Bentonville, Arkansas. His interest in communication led him to study in Fayetteville, where he graduated in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism. During his time at the university, he was involved with the student news outlet and worked as a field producer, assistant producer, and lead producer. His responsibilities included scheduling and conducting interviews, editing video content, mixing audio through Adobe Premiere Pro, and creating graphics such as lower-thirds, on-screen text, and full-page visuals. He also coordinated live broadcasts with the production team to ensure smooth delivery.

Before finishing his degree, he gained professional experience through a summer 2017 internship at KNWA (NBC)/Fox 24 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During that time, he wrote VOSOT and pacer stories, assisted with live shots, filmed b-roll for packages, and logged interviews. He also observed producers to understand how broadcasts were organized. After the internship, he continued contributing to the university station as a reporter, producing packages and conducting on-camera interviews.

In September 2018, Fletcher joined a television station in Rogers, Arkansas, as a camera operator, where he coordinated live newscast shots, clipped video segments, and posted content to social media. By December 2018, he became an associate producer, creating newscasts using ENPS producer software and designing graphics with the HATMOS graphics engine. In June 2019, he again worked as a camera and audio operator, maintaining equipment and supporting live broadcasts. By July 2020, he advanced to weekend director, directing live programs and supervising transitions, videos, and graphic elements. In December 2022, he joined another news station in Springdale, Arkansas, as a news producer, producing morning shows, editing video packages, coordinating with anchors and reporters, and responding to breaking news.

In August 2023, he began independent contracting with the Literacy Council of Benton County in Arkansas. In this role, he produces promotional and fundraising videos, manages tutor-student matching through Laces software, and volunteers as a tutor, helping adult learners and immigrants improve their reading, writing, and English pronunciation. From March 2021 to November 2022, he also taught English online to international students, helping them strengthen their vocabulary and speaking confidence. In his free time, Fletcher Groseclos enjoys creative writing, reading, and playing chess.

Fletcher Groseclos is a media professional and community advocate based in Bentonville, Arkansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from the University of Arkansas with a focus on creative writing. His work in broadcast news has ... Show more

Marzia is currently focused on building a personal finance companion AI to help people in tech manage their long term financial goals. Previously she spent 19 years at Google, most recently building AI powered experiences for Google Arts & Culture.

Marzia is currently focused on building a personal finance companion AI to help people in tech manage their long term financial goals. Previously she spent 19 years at Google, most recently building AI powered experiences for Google Arts & Culture. Show more

Emily is a Principal and Senior Strategic Marketing Manager at SEH, where she influences digital strategy and practical AI adoption across engineering, planning, and consulting teams. With nearly two decades of experience spanning marketing, digital transformation, and the AEC industry, she specializes in translating emerging technologies into tools users can actually use.

Emily works closely with technical teams to identify where AI adds real value, whether that is improving efficiency, reducing risk, or enhancing decision-making without disrupting core engineering judgment. Her work focuses on applied use cases, realistic guardrails, and helping teams move from curiosity to confident adoption.

Emily is a Principal and Senior Strategic Marketing Manager at SEH, where she influences digital strategy and practical AI adoption across engineering, planning, and consulting teams. With nearly two decades of experience spanning marketing, digital ... Show more

Anke von der Heide studierte Design an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Diplom 2003) und absolvierte 2010–2012 einen Double-Degree-Master in Urban Design und Architektur an der TU Berlin und der Tongji-Universität Shanghai. 2007–2009 leitete sie ein Forschungsprojekt im Bereich Intermedia-Art in Tokio. Derzeit promoviert sie an der TU Berlin.
Als Informationsdesignerin und Medienkünstlerin arbeitete sie international in Japan, Indien, Südkorea und Deutschland. Seit 2020 forscht sie am FTZ Digital Reality der HAW Hamburg (XRevent), seit 2026 am Immersive Reality Lab der Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt im Projekt XRwise. Ihre Schwerpunkte liegen in Medienarchitektur, HCI und Extended Reality.

Anke von der Heide studierte Design an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Diplom 2003) und absolvierte 2010–2012 einen Double-Degree-Master in Urban Design und Architektur an der TU Berlin und der Tongji-Universität Shanghai. 2007–2009 leitete sie ein F... Show more

Aditi is a certified Agile Coach, Scaled Agilist, and Scrum Master with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry across India, South Africa, and Germany. She began her career as a developer, then moved into testing, and, driven by her people-oriented nature, transitioned into project and Agile leadership.
She specializes in facilitating hands-on Agile trainings and interactive games that help teams improve collaboration, ownership, and performance. Known for her enthusiasm and engaging style, she brings energy, creativity, and practical insights into every session. A professionally trained dancer with a passion for travel and art, she often draws inspiration from movement and storytelling to make Agile leadership tangible, memorable, and fun.

Aditi is a certified Agile Coach, Scaled Agilist, and Scrum Master with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry across India, South Africa, and Germany. She began her career as a developer, then moved into testing, and, driven by her people-or... Show more

Author of Master Software Architecture book: https://mastersoftwarearchitecturebook.com/

Founder and co-author of the Evolutionary Architecture repository: https://github.com/evolutionary-architecture/evolutionary-architecture-by-example

Promoter of continuous deployment, holistic and pragmatic approach to software architecture.

Just another software dude living in Switzerland.

Website: https://www.fractionalarchitect.io
Newsletter: https://newsletter.fractionalarchitect.io

Author of Master Software Architecture book: https://mastersoftwarearchitecturebook.com/ Founder and co-author of the Evolutionary Architecture repository: https://github.com/evolutionary-architecture/evolutionary-architecture-by-example Promot... 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

As an independent and committed product designer, I explore new design practices to put my knowledge at the service of a more desirable future for the environment, society and individuals.

As an independent and committed product designer, I explore new design practices to put my knowledge at the service of a more desirable future for the environment, society and individuals. Show more

From paintbrushes to Power BI 🎨📊, my path blends art and analysis: I studied hairdressing, special effects makeup, and fine arts, and today I analyze data in a call center. Where I once created imaginary worlds, I now use my imagination to innovate with KPIs, dashboards, and strategic decisions 💡. I still tell stories, but with data as the protagonists. Because creativity isn't abandoned… it transforms 🚀

From paintbrushes to Power BI 🎨📊, my path blends art and analysis: I studied hairdressing, special effects makeup, and fine arts, and today I analyze data in a call center. Where I once created imaginary worlds, I now use my imagination to innovate... Show more

Los Angeles-based digital systems architect, manager, and admin department head. Currently working at building engineering and advisory firm Buro Happold, in her 10th year with the company. Leveraging a background in entertainment to bring soft skills to digital integrations.

Los Angeles-based digital systems architect, manager, and admin department head. Currently working at building engineering and advisory firm Buro Happold, in her 10th year with the company. Leveraging a background in entertainment to bring soft skill... Show more

Jinah Kim's research focuses on the American Century in Asia, decolonizing Korea, and legacies of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific. She is the recipient of the 2020-2021 National Endowment for the Humanities Award and the 2020 California Civil Liberties Grant.

Jinah Kim's research focuses on the American Century in Asia, decolonizing Korea, and legacies of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific. She is the recipient of the 2020-2021 National Endowment for the Humanities Award and the 2020 California Civil Liber... Show more

David Wilder, with decades of experience, is a creative leader specializing in storytelling across various platforms, including broadcast, digital, social, print, and mobile. His multidisciplinary approach and background in directing successful campaigns for national brands like Discovery, National Geographic, PBS, TBS, TNT, AMTRAK, and Comcast, as well as national nonprofits and political campaigns enable him to help agencies, companies, and teams transform creative ideas into successful campaigns.

Outside of work, David is passionate about design, technology, and storytelling in all forms—from emerging digital platforms to the timeless power of a great visual identity. He’s also the founder of It’sWilder, a creative studio where he continues to explore motion, branding, and iOS app design.

David Wilder, with decades of experience, is a creative leader specializing in storytelling across various platforms, including broadcast, digital, social, print, and mobile. His multidisciplinary approach and background in directing successful campa... 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

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, Texas, a Master’s Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University, Toronto, and is a Certified Training Development Professional (CTDP). As Principal of Enliven Learning, Nitin sprouts ideas and strategies to guide learners, clients and organizations  in the areas of leadership development, intercultural competence, and the future of work, including human-AI integration. Nitin has more than 15 years’ experience of postsecondary course development and teaching, including in the areas of anthropology, intercultural communication, and the transformation of work, and has taught at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Guelph-Humber, in Canada, and Hochschule Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, in Germany. He has spoken at a range of conferences and events, including recently at the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL), and National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Nitin is based in Toronto, Canada, where he is an active volunteer, organizer, and fundraiser.

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, Texas, a Master’s Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University, Toronto, and is a Certified Training Devel... Show more

Lenna is the CEO and founder of Clay Nation, a multi-dimensional clay animation and production studio at the intersection of Art and Technology. Lenna is a Cardano powerhouse, former IOHK & Mastercard and 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 lister, for arts and culture.

Lenna is the CEO and founder of Clay Nation, a multi-dimensional clay animation and production studio at the intersection of Art and Technology. Lenna is a Cardano powerhouse, former IOHK & Mastercard and 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 lister, for arts and ... Show more