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

Laura D'Angelo is an adjunct faculty member in History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Theory and History of Restoration. She holds a PhD in History and Conservation of Art and Architecture from Roma Tre University. She has collaborated with Italian and international academic institutions, including University of Rome, Sapienza University, Roma Tre University, the University of Arkansas Rome Program, and USAC Viterbo, teaching art and architectural history.

Laura D'Angelo is an adjunct faculty member in History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Theory and History of Restoration. She holds a PhD in History and Conservation of Art and Architecture from Roma Tre University. She has collaborated ... 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

Hi there! I'm the Senior Product Designer for the New Games Squad in the NYT :) I do UI UX for our new games, I've worked on Connections, Strands and Pips!

Hi there! I'm the Senior Product Designer for the New Games Squad in the NYT :) I do UI UX for our new games, I've worked on Connections, Strands and Pips! Show more

grace shinhae jun is a mother, wife, artist, educator, and scholar. The daughter of a South Korean immigrant and a North Korean refugee, she comes from a lineage of deep love and commitment to serve the people. She has performed nationally and internationally with bkSOUL performance collective which she founded in 2001. Her research and artistic practices are grounded in Hip Hop culture and cross cultural collaborations that challenge the systems of violence and oppression steeped in anti-Blackness. Her scholarship includes publications in the Oxford Handbook of Hip Hop Dance Studies, the International Association for the Study of Popular Music Journal, and is the co-editor for Dance Studies Association’s 2022 ​​Conversations Across the Field of Dance Studies. She is an Assistant Professor of Dance at San Diego City College, teaches with transcenDANCE Youth Arts, and at UCSD where she was the recipient of the 2022/2023 Barbara and Paul Saltman Distinguished Teaching Award. Ph.D. Drama & Theatre UCSD/UCI, MFA Dance Sarah Lawrence College.

grace shinhae jun is a mother, wife, artist, educator, and scholar. The daughter of a South Korean immigrant and a North Korean refugee, she comes from a lineage of deep love and commitment to serve the people. She has performed nationally and intern... Show more

Eleonora Buonocore is Associate Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Calgary, Alberta (Canada). She holds a PhD in Medieval Philosophy from University of Siena, (2009) and in 2016 she completed her second PhD from Yale University. In 2017 she was Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian at Colby College, before moving to Canada. In 2022 she won the Student Union award for excellence in teaching at the University of Calgary. In 2021-22 she was a fellow at the Calgary Institute for the Humanities working on her monograph on the concept of memory in Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Her research lies at the intersection between philosophy and literature in the Medieval world, in Dante and in early Renaissance thought. She co- edited a volume of Studium (2021) in which she also published an article on Dante’s Convivio and Monarchia as well as she has published on Italian women writers such as Carolina Invernizio and on Italian Film.

Eleonora Buonocore is Associate Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Calgary, Alberta (Canada). She holds a PhD in Medieval Philosophy from University of Siena, (2009) and in 2016 she completed her second PhD from Yale University. In 201... Show more

Tech professional from a non-Tech background. Musician. Composer.

Tech professional from a non-Tech background. Musician. Composer. Show more

Chali Lee (he/him/any) is a queer, Hmong-American artist-scholar from Fresno, CA, whose work merges research and experimental filmmaking to explore queer Hmong identity and spiritual epistemologies. Rooted in a commitment to honoring marginalized histories, shaping present realities, and imagining future worlds, Chali’s practice engages themes of intersectionality, ghosts and hauntings, spiritual and digital drag, and historical reimagination through film, storytelling, and performance art. His work seeks to open alternative ways of knowing, being, and remembering through the lens of a queer Hmong experience.

Chali Lee (he/him/any) is a queer, Hmong-American artist-scholar from Fresno, CA, whose work merges research and experimental filmmaking to explore queer Hmong identity and spiritual epistemologies. Rooted in a commitment to honoring marginalized his... Show more

Vanchhit Khare is an AI systems engineer, published researcher, and music producer. He
works at the intersection of agentic intelligence, automation infrastructure, and creative system
design. His experience spans large scale implementations in finance and healthcare, and his
research focuses on multi agent collaboration, contextual memory, and machine driven
coordination. He also creates electronic music that blends structured logic with emotional
storytelling. Learn more at https://vkhare.online.

Vanchhit Khare is an AI systems engineer, published researcher, and music producer. He works at the intersection of agentic intelligence, automation infrastructure, and creative system design. His experience spans large scale implementations in fin... Show more

Esta Richard Etim also known as Esta Richards, is a Global Wellness & Performance Consultant, Mental Health Educator, and Tech Ecosystem Speaker with over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals build sustainable success without burning out. She bridges the gap between high performance and holistic wellbeing by combining neuroscience, lifestyle design, mental resilience, and body-mind practices.

She has trained and coached founders, product teams, and community leaders across Africa, the UK, and the US, and has been featured in international platforms such as Violet Simon UK Magazine’s “34 Disruptors to Watch.” As a certified Life Coach, Arts-in-Health Practitioner, and Wellness Ambassador, Esta is known for transforming complex health and performance concepts into practical, relatable frameworks that drive real results.

Passionate about the future of tech in Africa, she advocates for mentally healthy work cultures, sustainable innovation, and people-centered leadership. When she’s not speaking on global stages or consulting for organizations, she empowers communities through programs that integrate movement, mental health, and personal development.

Esta Richard Etim also known as Esta Richards, is a Global Wellness & Performance Consultant, Mental Health Educator, and Tech Ecosystem Speaker with over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals build sustainable su... Show more