Arts

Talented creative individuals working in the field of visual, auditory and performance arts

Helen Millar

Helen Millar

From self-sabotage to global impact, Helen Millar has emerged as a maverick transformation coach and entrepreneur who doesn't just talk about change—she embodies it. With nearly two decades of international coaching experience, an award-winning acting career, and a profound journey of personal healing, Helen has become a sought-after guide for business leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs and pattern disruptors ready to revolutionise their inner and outer worlds.
Her credentials speak volumes: She is a regular speaker at Oxford, Cambridge, and London Business Schools, amongst other places, featured on the Discovery Channel across three continents, and founder of Heart Healer Ltd, Helen Millar and Hearty. But Helen's true power lies in her ability to bridge seemingly disparate worlds—corporate strategy and spiritual wisdom, psychological insight and business acumen.
Having transformed her own life from multiple suicide attempts, ill health and poverty consciousness to creating a thriving portfolio, doing work she loves helping people transform, and traveling the world. Helen understands that transformation is not a linear path but a courageous leap of faith. Her approach combines the latest psychological acumen, ancient wisdom teachings, emotional intelligence, and quantum physics into a unique methodology she calls “Head to Heart Living” and “Head to Heart Leadership”.
For those ready to stop playing small, and seeking more authenticity, Helen offers a radical solution to complete recalibration.

From self-sabotage to global impact, Helen Millar has emerged as a maverick transformation coach and entrepreneur who doesn't just talk about change—she embodies it. With nearly two decades of international coaching experience, an award-winning actin... Show more

Lena Reinhard

Lena Reinhard

Lena Reinhard is a VP Engineering, leadership coach, facilitator, and artist. In her 20-year career, she’s served in tech leadership roles, such as VP Engineering with CircleCI, Travis CI, and a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO. Now, she helps leaders and teams succeed in co-located and remote teams in organizations from startups and scale-ups, to corporations. Lena is queer and neurodivergent. She loves to read, sing, and wander around the forests and lakes of her home in Berlin, Germany. In her artistic work, she primarily paints and works with fibers; her pieces currently focus on the themes of loss and letting go.

Lena Reinhard is a VP Engineering, leadership coach, facilitator, and artist. In her 20-year career, she’s served in tech leadership roles, such as VP Engineering with CircleCI, Travis CI, and a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO. Now, she helps leaders a... Show more

Richard Rauser

Richard Rauser

CTO at fan3. 25 years engineering and team leading experience. Creator of anglez.xyz generative NFT art project.

CTO at fan3. 25 years engineering and team leading experience. Creator of anglez.xyz generative NFT art project. Show more

J.D. Flynn

J.D. Flynn

JD Flynn has had mental illness most of his life, but didn't admit it until his early 30s when he decided it was time to do something about it. After a decade-long career in emergency services as a paramedic, JD made the jump from the ambulance to the text editor. Since then, JD has climbed to Principal Drupal Software Engineer in his current position.

His life was changed by OSMH (Open Sourcing Mental Health), a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on opening the conversation on mental illness, which led him to telling his own story to as many people who would listen. As someone with mental illness who is not afraid to talk about it, JD has presented on the topic of Mental Illness in the Tech Community to local user groups, regional conferences, and national level events at locations such as MIT, UC Berkeley, Washington State Convention Center, Guaranteed Rate Field, and DePaul University.

More recently, JD has started streaming development on Twitch and has been learning new tools and languages on stream. He streams under the name JDDoesDev and is desperate for your approval and attention.

When not speaking or coding, JD plays baritone saxophone in Windiana, a professional level wind ensemble out of Valparaiso, IN, and Michigan City Municipal Band, the oldest municipal band in Indiana.

JD Flynn has had mental illness most of his life, but didn't admit it until his early 30s when he decided it was time to do something about it. After a decade-long career in emergency services as a paramedic, JD made the jump from the ambulance to th... Show more

Roberto Slomka

Roberto Slomka

Analista de Sistemas, formado Administrador de Empresas com ênfase em AS. Especialista em Qualidade de Software, com 40 anos de carreira na área de TIC atuando em diversos papéis.

Especialista em Tecnologias na Aprendizagem, praticante e estudioso da heutagogia (auto-aprendizagem), do e-learning e do desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional, com foco em soft skills necessárias à cultura ágil desde 2015. Concluindo especialização em Projetos Sociais e Políticas Públicas.

No Serpro desde 2006. Trabalhou com Garantia da Qualidade, melhoria contínua de processos, sendo professor convidado da pós-graduação em Qualidade de Software da Unisinos de 2011 a 2015.

Atua desde 2019 com cultura organizacional, inicialmente no time Cultura Dides, cuja missão é apoiar a propagação e engajamento na cultura ágil no âmbito da Diretoria de Desenvolvimento de Soluções (DIDES) do Serviço Federal de Processamento de Dados (Serpro), a partir de maio de 2024 integrando o Departamento de Cultura Organizacional. da Superintendência de Educação, Pessoas e Talentos, na Diretoria de Pessoas, com o desafio de modelar a segmentação dos processos de Cultura Organizacional tanto em termos regionais como nas diversas diretorias.

Autor, ator, cantor (em vias de se tornar produtor musical), e facilitador de debates e painéis. Pai de quatro filhos. Metódico e bem-humorado. Às vezes não. Cri-cri-cri, sempre: crítico, criterioso e criativo. Não cabe em caixa, recomenda-se nem tentar.

Analista de Sistemas, formado Administrador de Empresas com ênfase em AS. Especialista em Qualidade de Software, com 40 anos de carreira na área de TIC atuando em diversos papéis. Especialista em Tecnologias na Aprendizagem, praticante e estudios... Show more

Craig Risi

Craig Risi

A man of many talents, but no sense of how to use them. Craig could be out changing the world but would prefer to make software instead. Probably the reason why Nick Fury refused to take his calls. He possesses a passion for software design, but more importantly software quality and designing systems that can achieve this in a technically diverse and constantly evolving tech world.

Craig has over 20 years’ experience across the development, testing and management disciplines in a variety of software industries, but still feels he learns something new every day. It’s that continued change and evolution of the software industry which motivates him to keep learning and finding ways to improve. More than just playing with tech though, its people that make software come together – and so Craig believes in developing people and empowering them to make a success out of the software they build.

When not playing with software he can often be found spending time with family, writing, designing board games, or running long distances for no apparent reason. He is also a massive fan of comic books and Star Wars, so if you see him concentrating intensely, he is probably just trying to use the force.

Craig is also the writer of the book, Quality By Design, and writes regular articles on his blog sites and various other tech sites around the world. He is also international speaker on a wide range of different software development topics, though these experiences only make him even more excited about the future of the industry in South Africa.

A man of many talents, but no sense of how to use them. Craig could be out changing the world but would prefer to make software instead. Probably the reason why Nick Fury refused to take his calls. He possesses a passion for software design, but more... Show more

Michelle Storm

Michelle Storm

Michelle is a portfolio careerist who intentionally lives on cross-boundary intersections, bringing together innovation, creative expression, and human well-being. As an Innovation Designer and Human Well-Being Insight Designer, she explores how people live, work, and thrive, translating complex insights into meaningful everyday practices and solutions. Her work as a Vision-to-Experience Curator connects ideas to real-world impact, helping individuals and organizations bring purposeful concepts to life.

She has led workshops, trainings, and sessions focused on leveraging creativity and technology to drive innovative thinking, collaborating with diverse teams to tackle complex challenges. Committed to building bridges between different perspectives, she thrives on turning bold ideas into actionable strategies that yield meaningful, sustainable impact in both the short and long term. Her aim is always to bring people together in ways that spark self-discovery, creative expression, and personal liberation—ultimately empowering every individual to step fully into their potential.

Alongside these roles, Michelle is an author, artist, and podcaster, using storytelling and creative expression to explore themes of purpose, resilience, and modern innovative work. Her multidisciplinary path reflects a commitment to curiosity, integrity, and designing a life that aligns with her values, vision of success, and purpose.

With experience across multiple sectors and creative fields, Michelle brings a grounded, integrated perspective to conversations about wellness, innovation, and entrepreneurship, offering insights shaped by both lived experience and intentional design.

Michelle is a portfolio careerist who intentionally lives on cross-boundary intersections, bringing together innovation, creative expression, and human well-being. As an Innovation Designer and Human Well-Being Insight Designer, she explores how peop... Show more

Meade Kincke

Meade Kincke

A thought leader with over 20 years of experience and expertise. As a visionary and accomplished forerunner, Meade consistently drives innovation, scales organisations, and has held pivotal roles in various high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies. His passion for fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning has not only resulted in remarkable achievements, but has also made him a sought-after speaker at worldwide events. Meade's ability to bridge the gap between complex concepts and real-world applications makes him a unique animal.

A thought leader with over 20 years of experience and expertise. As a visionary and accomplished forerunner, Meade consistently drives innovation, scales organisations, and has held pivotal roles in various high-growth startups to Fortune 500 compani... Show more

Toby Wagstaff

Toby Wagstaff

Toby Wagstaff is a highly skilled writer, editor, and script consultant with extensive experience in the fields of entertainment and conversational AI. Originally from the United Kingdom, he earned first-class honors in Philosophy and Modern Languages (Italian) from the University of Oxford. Now residing in New York, he continues to push the boundaries of creative storytelling and technology.

During his academic journey, Toby spent a formative year in Rome, where he attended the Università degli Studi Roma Tre. While there, he immersed himself in cinema and art history, volunteered as a teaching assistant, and directed a production of The Importance of Being Earnest. His time in Rome also allowed him to develop a passion for photography and work as an English tutor, further broadening his skill set.

After completing his degree at Oxford, Toby launched his career in London's film industry. He started by working in script analysis and production coordination at Studio 8 Productions and Peace Arch Films. His practical experience was further enhanced by an internship in post-production on the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, where he gained hands-on experience in film editing, sound mixing, and color correction.

In 2004, Toby gained his first significant production experience on the feature film Shadows in the Sun, starring Harvey Keitel and Joshua Jackson. Filmed in Tuscany and London, he served as an assistant to the producers and a translator and even took on the role of an on-screen double for the lead actor.

Later that year, Toby moved to the US to join Fierce Entertainment as a Creative Executive. In this role, he was instrumental in developing the company's first in-house feature, War, starring Jet Li and Jason Statham. His contributions also led to the expansion of the company's buyers' rep operation. Recognizing his passion for writing, Toby transitioned to a role at Original Content, where he focused on discovering and mentoring new screenwriting talent.

Toby Wagstaff eventually shifted to full-time screenwriting, with his first spec script, Arena, being optioned by Summit Entertainment in 2008. Over the years, he has continued to write and sell screenplays in various genres, including thrillers like The Day I Die and YA dramas like Break My Bones. His assignments have also included projects such as the graphic novel adaptation Shrapnel and romantic comedy rewrites for television.

In recent years, Toby has applied his writing expertise to the field of conversational AI. He has been involved in training and refining AI models for a leading tech company, using his creative skills to explore new possibilities in this emerging field. Although he believes AI will never replace the human touch in creative writing, he is excited about its potential to enhance access to information and address global challenges.

Outside of his professional life, Toby Wagstaff is passionate about music, photography, fencing, and nature exploration. He has played guitar and bass in various bands since his teenage years and was a top-ranked youth fencer in the UK, representing Oxford University. In his free time, he enjoys capturing dramatic landscapes with his 35mm SLR camera.

Toby Wagstaff is a highly skilled writer, editor, and script consultant with extensive experience in the fields of entertainment and conversational AI. Originally from the United Kingdom, he earned first-class honors in Philosophy and Modern Language... Show more

Adel En Nouri

Adel En Nouri

Adel En Nouri is a London-based entrepreneur whose career reflects his deep commitment to luxury, lifestyle, and branding. Known for his integrity, discipline, and creativity, Adel has built a name defined by excellence, compassion, and authenticity. His professional journey demonstrates how business success can be achieved without compromising ethics or humanity. For him, entrepreneurship is not just about innovation or financial gain—it is about creating meaningful connections, celebrating craftsmanship, and contributing to a better world.

Adel’s passion for luxury and lifestyle branding stems from his appreciation for artistry, culture, and design. He has developed a keen interest in fine watches and jewelry, curating an elegant collection that includes masterpieces from iconic brands such as Richard Mille, Rolex, Bulgari, and Cartier. Each piece he collects represents more than beauty or status; it embodies a story of craftsmanship, precision, and dedication. This appreciation for timeless artistry mirrors Adel’s approach to business, where attention to detail, authenticity, and purpose drive every decision he makes.

Throughout his ventures, Adel has sought to redefine luxury by emphasizing meaning over materialism. He believes that true luxury lies in experience—in the emotion a brand evokes and the connection it builds with people. His work blends cultural awareness with modern innovation, creating brands that feel both exclusive and personal. By focusing on quality and character, Adel has established himself as a respected voice in the evolving world of luxury entrepreneurship.

Beyond business, Adel is deeply committed to charity and social responsibility. Over the past five years, he has worked closely with a nonprofit organization supporting homeless individuals. His contributions go beyond financial assistance; he dedicates time to volunteering and offering hands-on help. He believes every person deserves dignity, safety, and opportunity, and he strives to make a difference wherever possible. For Adel, giving back is not an obligation but an expression of gratitude and compassion. He understands that authentic leadership is not only about guiding others in business but also about serving humanity.

Integrity forms the foundation of everything Adel En Nouri stands for. He outspoken advocate for anti-corruption and ethical leadership, recognizing that transparency is essential for fairness and progress. Adel believes that corruption damages trust, limits growth, and undermines equality. He promotes accountability and honesty through his actions and influence, encouraging others to lead with respect and moral courage. For him, integrity is not simply a professional standard but a way of life.

Adel leads a disciplined and balanced lifestyle outside his professional and philanthropic commitments. He values health, mindfulness, and travel, vital to creativity and personal growth. His experiences across cultures continue to inspire him, broadening his understanding of people and the world.

Adel En Nouri’s journey is defined by principle, compassion, and perseverance. He continues to prove that success built on integrity, kindness, and purpose not only endures but inspires. Through his vision, values, and commitment to others, he represents the essence of modern entrepreneurship—where luxury meets humanity and ambition is guided by heart.

Adel En Nouri is a London-based entrepreneur whose career reflects his deep commitment to luxury, lifestyle, and branding. Known for his integrity, discipline, and creativity, Adel has built a name defined by excellence, compassion, and authenticity.... Show more

Luís Miguel Cerqueira

Luís Miguel Cerqueira

Luís Miguel Cerqueira is a Program Manager and communicator passionate about shaping the future of work. With a career built across Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion, and Program Management in tech, he currently leads initiatives that connect purpose, people, and performance across international teams. Known for his sharp storytelling and human-centered approach, Luís challenges traditional views on hiring, leadership, and career development — inspiring organizations to build spaces where belonging drives results. A Toastmasters speaker and creative strategist, he turns complex ideas into relatable stories that move people to think, feel, and act differently.

Luís Miguel Cerqueira is a Program Manager and communicator passionate about shaping the future of work. With a career built across Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion, and Program Management in tech, he currently leads initiatives that connect... Show more

Bill Anderson

Bill Anderson

Bill straddles both creative and technical disciplines, with a background both in graphic design and marketing technology, Bill creates digital marketing solutions for clients like Amazon Web Services, Sandals Resorts, Qlik Technologies, and Walgreens.

Earlier in his career Bill focused on the brand and creative side of marketing, as Art Director for The New York Times, Leo Burnett and J. Walter Thompson. Bill is a Marketo Certified Solutions Architect and has been a Marketo Certified Expert since 2014.

An avid life-long learner, Bill reads dozens of books monthly and will enthusiastically discuss anything from dirigibles to songlines.

Bill straddles both creative and technical disciplines, with a background both in graphic design and marketing technology, Bill creates digital marketing solutions for clients like Amazon Web Services, Sandals Resorts, Qlik Technologies, and Walgreen... Show more

Leo Tot

Leo Tot

Solo Game Developer by trade. As Head of Indie at Reboot Develop conferences, I handle various endeavors across the games industry—primarily focused on helping indie developers find opportunities. The titles "Indie Senpai" and "nmap Lord Supreme" encapsulate my essence while purposefully refusing to define my LinkedIn headline like a normal human being.

The other half of my career is rooted in cybersecurity and data privacy—while I struggle to find time to play your indie games and develop my own.

Solo Game Developer by trade. As Head of Indie at Reboot Develop conferences, I handle various endeavors across the games industry—primarily focused on helping indie developers find opportunities. The titles "Indie Senpai" and "nmap Lord Supreme" enc... Show more

Zach Klippenstein

Zach Klippenstein

Zach built Android apps, platforms, and knowledge at Square for over six years before joining Google to work on Compose. Come say hi on Kotlin slack!

Zach built Android apps, platforms, and knowledge at Square for over six years before joining Google to work on Compose. Come say hi on Kotlin slack! Show more

Kevin Wang

Kevin Wang

Kevin Wang has been an outstanding contributor in the CNCF community since its beginning and is the leader of the cloud native open source team at Huawei. Kevin has contributed critical enhancements to Kubernetes, led the incubation of the KubeEdge, Volcano, Karmada projects in CNCF, actively participated in the TOC, and played a critical role in building and supporting the growth of CNCF technologies and the CNCF community in the globe.

Kevin Wang has been an outstanding contributor in the CNCF community since its beginning and is the leader of the cloud native open source team at Huawei. Kevin has contributed critical enhancements to Kubernetes, led the incubation of the KubeEdge, ... Show more

Cateline Puccetti

Cateline Puccetti

Cateline Puccetti est Head of Design chez iSYBUY. Depuis plus de dix ans, elle conçoit et fait évoluer des produits numériques complexes et a piloté plusieurs refontes majeures chez Eurécia, Berger-Levrault et aujourd’hui iSYBUY.

Formée à l’accessibilité numérique et sensible aux enjeux d’inclusion, elle s’intéresse à la manière dont le design contribue à la qualité d’un produit.

Elle est également autrice de romans contemporains et cofondatrice de Tech Speak’Her, une communauté qui organise des meetups pour aider les femmes de la tech à prendre la parole en conférence.

Cateline Puccetti est Head of Design chez iSYBUY. Depuis plus de dix ans, elle conçoit et fait évoluer des produits numériques complexes et a piloté plusieurs refontes majeures chez Eurécia, Berger-Levrault et aujourd’hui iSYBUY. Formée à l’access... Show more

Fabian Bade

Fabian Bade

Fabian Bade ist als Musikwissenschaftler, Musikpädagoge, Ensemblecoach, Dozent für E-Bass sowie als freischaffender Musiker tätig. Nach Stationen als Lehrbeauftragter und wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an den Musikhochschulen Lübeck, Hannover & Rostock wurde er 2019 mit einer Arbeit über Deutsch-amerikanische Popkultur-Transfers promoviert. Seit 2020 verantwortet er an der Musikhochschule Lübeck die (Weiter-)Entwicklung didaktischer Konzeptionen und Taxonomien für virtuelle, musikhochschulspezifische Lehreformate und forscht seit 2023 zu KI & Audience Response Systemen im Verbundprojekt "DigiProSMK". Er wurde von der Harvard University als Hochschullehrer sowie von der Yale University für die Leitung globaler, virtueller Teams zertifiziert. Als Musiker ist er international aktiv.

Fabian Bade ist als Musikwissenschaftler, Musikpädagoge, Ensemblecoach, Dozent für E-Bass sowie als freischaffender Musiker tätig. Nach Stationen als Lehrbeauftragter und wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an den Musikhochschulen Lübeck, Hannover & Rosto... Show more

David Gregory

David Gregory

David Gregory is a founder, builder, and storyteller working at the intersection of hospitality, tourism, food, business, and experience design.

He is the creator of IC Pasta, a dessert concept built around playful, memorable guest experiences, and the mind behind immersive projects that blend storytelling, hospitality, and real-world interaction. His perspective comes from building businesses, designing experiences, and paying attention to the details most people move past too quickly.

David speaks about what makes experiences feel real, why hospitality loses something when it becomes too polished or too rehearsed, how businesses can build something with a pulse instead of just a pitch, and why context matters more than most people realize. His work is rooted in real operations, guest psychology, storytelling, and the belief that people remember what feels human.

Whether he is talking about food, tourism, service, branding, or experience design, the thread is the same: what makes something worth caring about?

David Gregory is a founder, builder, and storyteller working at the intersection of hospitality, tourism, food, business, and experience design. He is the creator of IC Pasta, a dessert concept built around playful, memorable guest experiences, an... Show more

Masaki Iwabuchi

Masaki Iwabuchi

Masaki Iwabuchi is a New York-based Design Strategist and Futurist specialized in navigating "Wicked Problems" through the intersection of Strategic Foresight and Systemic Design. He proposes his unique 'Strategic Transgression through Design' framework—reclaiming radical imagination for non-designers in complex socio-technical systems.

With over 20 years of experience, Masaki currently leads future scenario development at JPMorgan Chase, where he translates complex socio-technical shifts into actionable strategic visions for the financial sector. His unique methodology combines rigorous engineering logic with the provocative power of Speculative Design, enabling organizations to move beyond incremental improvements toward transformative 2050 visions.

Key Expertise & Global Impact:

Strategic Leadership: Bridging the gap between long-term foresight and near-term product strategy within global-scale regulated industries.

Academic Authority: Serving as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Tohoku University, shaping the next generation of strategic design curricula and contributing to peer-reviewed research on future-making.

Thought Leadership: Author of Social Dreaming through Design (2021). Masaki’s work has been recognized by the Core77 Design Awards and he serves as a global jury member for prestigious awards including Good Living 2050 (Canada) and Indigo Design Awards (Netherlands).

Multidisciplinary Education: Holding dual Master’s degrees from Parsons School of Design (MFA) and The University of Tokyo (MA), he seamlessly integrates design, technology, and social science.

Masaki is committed to challenging entrenched Cartesian belief systems and provoking new worldviews that inspire resilient, alternative futures. He is a frequent speaker and advisor for organizations seeking to navigate the uncertainties of the 21st century.

Masaki Iwabuchi is a New York-based Design Strategist and Futurist specialized in navigating "Wicked Problems" through the intersection of Strategic Foresight and Systemic Design. He proposes his unique 'Strategic Transgression through Design' framew... Show more

Jasmine Goodspeed

Jasmine Goodspeed

Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed(She/They) has been working within her community (the Hassanamisco Nipmuc People) since childhood. As one of the founding members of the Ohketeau Cultural Center in Ashfield, Massachusetts, she has worked closely with surrounding Indigenous Nations and historical societies, hosting events throughout New England. As an actor, singer, director, and playwright, Jasmine has extensive experience in productions focused on theater within the realm of historical truth telling and communal catharsis.

In 2018, she wrote, produced, and acted in her own musical titled “1675" at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, recounting the tragedy of Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Massachusett Native people sent to Deer Island during King Philip’s War. From 2013-2017, She produced “Free Shakespeare in the Park” at Northampton’s Look Park. For the Plymouth 400 celebration, She worked with the Wampanoag Nation and Theatre Royal Plymouth on a play concerning Indigenous History in Massachusetts. This production, titled "We Are The Land," told the story of colonization from an Indigenous perspective, bringing forward important markers of Massachusetts state history that were previously untold.

From 2022 to 2023, she worked with Historic Northampton and “Plays in Place” in a successful (sold out) series of place-based plays centered around Northampton history. She authored an original drama about one of the enslaved women – “Rose” – in Reverend Jonathan Edwards' household. This work is continuing forward with a series of plays focused on Indigenous figures in Northampton which would be developed for the Massachusetts 250th anniversary project.

Recently Jasmine has worked as an Indigenous History Consultant for the town of Sudbury, Massachusetts, through the Goodnow Library’s “Indigenous History” initiative. She has presented at local libraries and schools, teaching Indigenous history. She has published plays and articles as well as created maps. Her research places her both with historical documents, and moving through the Eastern Woodlands to better understand the story of colonization, and how to understand the way that this history comes together to tell a human story.

Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed(She/They) has been working within her community (the Hassanamisco Nipmuc People) since childhood. As one of the founding members of the Ohketeau Cultural Center in Ashfield, Massachusetts, she has worked closely with surrou... Show more

Mai-Linh Hong

Mai-Linh Hong

Mai-Linh K. Hong is a poet and literary scholar whose work explores how refugees know, imagine, and re-create their worlds. Her debut poetry collection, CONTINENTAL DRIFT, won the 2025 Trio Award and will be published by Trio House Press in July 2026. Her current research,"Perilous Telling: Story in the Shadow of the Refugee Regime," theorizes refugee storytelling as knowledge-making under duress. Dr. Hong's articles and essays on Asian American literature, refugees, race, and human rights appear in Amerasia, Verge, MELUS, Law, Culture, and Humanities, and other journals and edited volumes. She is coeditor and coauthor of THE AUNTIE SEWING SQUAD GUIDE TO MASK MAKING, RADICAL CARE, AND RACIAL JUSTICE (U. of Calif. Press, 2021). Dr. Hong's research has been supported by fellowships from ACLS, AAUW, and the Institute of Citizens & Scholars, and her poetry has received support from Voices of Our Nation, Tin House, and the Vermont Studio Center. She is Assistant Professor of Literature at the University of California, Merced.

Mai-Linh K. Hong is a poet and literary scholar whose work explores how refugees know, imagine, and re-create their worlds. Her debut poetry collection, CONTINENTAL DRIFT, won the 2025 Trio Award and will be published by Trio House Press in July 2026... Show more

Aarica Smith

Aarica Smith

Aarica J. Smith is a multi-certified Salesforce Consultant, Board Source Certified Consultant and SCRUM Certified project management and operations professional. Aarica thrives in concept development, using her consulting and management tools to transform ambiguous environments and concepts into actionable plans or implementations. She is highly creative when it comes to developing results-driven solutions, while ensuring alignment with necessary organization leaders of all levels.

Some of the work that she has accomplished with small businesses includes:

- Created company-wide and department-specific operational systems to streamline the business based on systems, not individual team members
- Developed a various company programs, including a diverse supplier program and employee professional development program
- Project managed cross-functional projects, engaging with external and internal key stakeholders to ensure on-time deliverables and successful project metrics
- Led change management initiatives with c-suite executives and department leaders.

In her previous roles of a non-profit professional, she has overseen a multi-million-dollar foundation grant to pilot national arts strategy to over 4K Boys & Girls Clubs globally, managed over $32M in corporate accounts, and grew a local cycling fundraising event from $450K to nearly a $1M event, making it the #4 premiere cycling fundraising event (out of 93 national events) for the organization.

A firm believer in education, Aarica earned her Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration from Savannah College of Art and Design, and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with a minor in French from Spelman College. In her spare time, she loves to travel the world with her family, experience amazing food, and volunteer in her community with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Aarica J. Smith is a multi-certified Salesforce Consultant, Board Source Certified Consultant and SCRUM Certified project management and operations professional. Aarica thrives in concept development, using her consulting and management tools to tran... Show more

Kae9mm N/A

Kae9mm N/A

Kae9mm is a cyber musician who blends hip-hop, techno and futuristic themes in his music. He is known for his innovative use of virtual reality and augmented reality in his live performances and music videos. He has recently partnered with United Realites, a leading metaverse company, to create immersive and interactive experiences for his fans. Kae9mm aims to push the boundaries of music and technology and to explore new dimensions of creativity and expression.

Kae9mm is a cyber musician who blends hip-hop, techno and futuristic themes in his music. He is known for his innovative use of virtual reality and augmented reality in his live performances and music videos. He has recently partnered with United Rea... Show more

Sudipta Mukherjee

Sudipta Mukherjee

Author, Artist, Husband, Dad, Son, Easy going, Perpetual learner. Love to make stuff. Has a gift of explaining complex stuffs easily. https://goo.gl/NfPze7

Author, Artist, Husband, Dad, Son, Easy going, Perpetual learner. Love to make stuff. Has a gift of explaining complex stuffs easily. https://goo.gl/NfPze7 Show more

Philip Chidera

Philip Chidera

UI/UX designer and entrepreneur building SaaS, fintech, and Web3 products that turn complex ideas into simple, usable experiences.

UI/UX designer and entrepreneur building SaaS, fintech, and Web3 products that turn complex ideas into simple, usable experiences. Show more

Magnus Stahre

Magnus Stahre

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

Pilar Andrea Pinto Chaparro

Pilar Andrea Pinto Chaparro

Ingeniera electrónica de la gloriosa Universidad Nacional de Colombia, trabajé y fui practicante de Arquitecta de Soluciones en AWS, en la actualidad soy Consultora Cloud para Clouxter, un partner de AWS. Es mi primer año como Community Builder AWS en el campo de Seguridad. Tengo las certificaciones de AWS de AWS Certified Security - Specialty, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate y la de AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional. He sido voluntaria de AWS Women Colombia desde el 2021, año en que con un equipo de chicas ganamos el primer lugar de CyberWomen Challenge CTF Colombia.

Ingeniera electrónica de la gloriosa Universidad Nacional de Colombia, trabajé y fui practicante de Arquitecta de Soluciones en AWS, en la actualidad soy Consultora Cloud para Clouxter, un partner de AWS. Es mi primer año como Community Builder AWS e... Show more

Robyn Sayles

Robyn Sayles

Robyn Sayles is the founder of Launching Your Success, a brand strategy practice built for professionals who never fit the mold and stopped trying to. Through her signature Brilliant Weirdo Brand Archetype system, she helps entrepreneurs, creatives, and unconventional leaders turn their so-called “too-much-ness” into a strategic advantage.

A self-described professional instigator, Robyn brings two decades of brand strategy experience to the stage with a delivery style that’s equal parts TED Talk and stand-up set. She developed eight proprietary brand archetypes, built an AI-powered brand audit system from scratch, and authored “The Professional Weirdo’s Survival Kit,” a field guide for anyone who’s been told to tone it down and decided to turn it up instead.

She’s a podcast host, guest, conference speaker, and contributor to The Podcast Academy community, including work related to the Ambie Awards. Her sessions blend improv-trained spontaneity with sharp strategic insight, giving audiences frameworks they can actually use, not just inspirational quotes for their phone wallpapers.

Suggested Session Topics
• Brand Strategy for Misfits: How “Too Much” Became My Competitive Advantage
• The Brilliant Weirdo Brand Archetype: Building Brands That Are Bold AND Smart
• Improv Is a Business Skill (And Your Board Meeting Proves It)
• AI-Powered Brand Strategy: Building Audit Systems That Actually Sound Like You

Robyn Sayles is the founder of Launching Your Success, a brand strategy practice built for professionals who never fit the mold and stopped trying to. Through her signature Brilliant Weirdo Brand Archetype system, she helps entrepreneurs, creatives, ... Show more

Oana Neciu Stroe

Oana Neciu Stroe

Passionate and visionary Lead Product Designer with a mission to create extraordinary user experiences that seamlessly blend innovation and functionality. With a deep understanding of user behavior and a knack for human-centric design, I combine creativity with analytical thinking to craft intuitive interfaces that captivate and delight.

My career spans over a decade, during which I've had the privilege of working across diverse industries such as fintech, airlines, insurance, and e-commerce. In each sector, I have leveraged my expertise to drive impactful design solutions that meet both user needs and business goals.

As a Design Lead, I have successfully led multidisciplinary design teams within agile squads, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. I thrive on inspiring my team to create more sustainable and accessible products, emphasizing mentorship and continuous learning.

Passionate and visionary Lead Product Designer with a mission to create extraordinary user experiences that seamlessly blend innovation and functionality. With a deep understanding of user behavior and a knack for human-centric design, I combine crea... Show more

Elitsa Popova

Elitsa Popova

Db2 and RACF Mainframe services. Professional background - full stack web application developer, art teacher, personal trainer.

Db2 and RACF Mainframe services. Professional background - full stack web application developer, art teacher, personal trainer. Show more

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