Jiahao Sun is the founder and CEO of FLock.io, a decentralized AI training platform that combines federated learning with blockchain to enable privacy-preserving, collaborative AI development. An Oxford alumnus with a background as AI Director at the Royal Bank of Canada and AI Research Fellow at Imperial College London, Jiahao brings deep expertise across AI research, enterprise deployment, and Web3 infrastructure. Under his leadership, FLock.io has partnered with Alibaba Cloud Qwen, Base, UNDP, and the Ethereum Foundation. FLock.io's network spans 10,000+ AI models, 200+ AI developers, and serves over 700K model users globally.

Jiahao Sun is the founder and CEO of FLock.io, a decentralized AI training platform that combines federated learning with blockchain to enable privacy-preserving, collaborative AI development. An Oxford alumnus with a background as AI Director at the... Show more

Samia leads the pre sales and delivery of large scale and complex security projects across a diverse portfolio of financial services clients. Samia is passionate about encouraging people from diverse backgrounds into technology careers. She does this by providing mentoring sessions, guest lectures to university courses and helping to lead D&I initiatives.

Samia leads the pre sales and delivery of large scale and complex security projects across a diverse portfolio of financial services clients. Samia is passionate about encouraging people from diverse backgrounds into technology careers. She does this... Show more

Tori Brenneison is a senior software developer and former art historian whose mission in life is to serve as a warning to others. With her background in enterprise software development and technical education, Tori has built a reputation for modernizing solutions, developing impactful web applications, and mentoring the next generation of developers. Beyond her technical skills, she is deeply committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and servant leadership in the tech community.

Tori’s wide-ranging experience and dynamic teaching style make her a compelling conference speaker and workshop facilitator. When she's not at her keyboard, you might find her hiking, petting strange cats she found on the street, or admiring her collection of midcentury bakeware. Best to approach her in the wild with a sacrificial cup of coffee, and be forewarned: she's a hugger.

Tori Brenneison is a senior software developer and former art historian whose mission in life is to serve as a warning to others. With her background in enterprise software development and technical education, Tori has built a reputation for moderniz... Show more

Cloud Solutions Architect - Engineering @Microsoft| Microsoft Certified Trainer Regional Lead @MSCanada| DevOps and automation enthusiast.

As an Cloud Architect, I have worked for many large compagnies in the IT field, designing and implementing Cloud Infrastructure Solutions, deploying & Operating S-SDLC PaaS platforms and third party vendors: SonarQube, Nexus Repository Manager, JFrog Artifactory, Nexus Lifecycle IQ, Checkmarx, Nagios, DefectDojo.

Since I joined Microsoft, I have been working to help the customers to align their cloud strategies with their business needs, unblocking their issues and milestones and acting as a trusted advisor for them.

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford

Cloud Solutions Architect - Engineering @Microsoft| Microsoft Certified Trainer Regional Lead @MSCanada| DevOps and automation enthusiast. As an Cloud Architect, I have worked for many large compagnies in the IT field, designing and implementing C... Show more

I'm a motivational speaker and ICF Certified Professional Coach devoted to changing the world one aha at a time.
Having led the learning and development function in a variety of industries and organizations, I have a rich background in leadership, management, and interpersonal skill development.
I combine my 15+ years of experience in the corporate classroom with even more years of acting and improv comedy to lead events that are as entertaining as they are impactful. With personal stories, hands-on activities, and actionable takeaways, my programs are always engaging, inspiring, and uplifting.
My areas of expertise and library of materials cover leadership, management, change, communication, personal/interpersonal development, and much more. Feel free to check out my course catalog at www.k8siegel.com/coursecatalog

I'm a motivational speaker and ICF Certified Professional Coach devoted to changing the world one aha at a time. Having led the learning and development function in a variety of industries and organizations, I have a rich background in leadership, ... Show more

Alex Dunn is the founder of Cephable - the platform that empowers people to control their digital world in ways that work best for them. He's also an inductee of The Game Awards Future Class, Forbes 30u30 in Boston, Microsoft MVP, and PubConf Champion. His background in accessibility, application development, and applied AI has leaned into enabling applications to do more for people and businesses using scalable architectures and design, distributed services, cloud infrastructure, and innovative edge technologies. Alex does his best to remain platform agnostic in his practices and development with specialties in C#, Kotlin, and TypeScript while building for cross-platform compatibility. You might find him speaking at all sorts of conferences and events around the world, streaming on Twitch, and on Pluralsight.

Outside technology, you can find him playing guitar, working with animal rescue, or exploring the great outdoors.

Alex Dunn is the founder of Cephable - the platform that empowers people to control their digital world in ways that work best for them. He's also an inductee of The Game Awards Future Class, Forbes 30u30 in Boston, Microsoft MVP, and PubConf Champio... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

Gena Dellett, CEO of Skvare, is a client advocate who believes in the fundamental importance of relationships. Gena cultivates a supportive environment, encouraging her team to experiment, adapt, and consider unique perspectives. Her joy lies in witnessing these practices foster impactful client relationships through a strong commitment to teamwork.

Through her work at the intersection of business operations, development, and technology; Gena recognizes that relationship-building is not just a strategy—it's a way of operating. Known for her adeptness in asking the right questions, she guides Skvare as a technology company that recommends a pencil when it's the best tool for the job. Gena understands that Skvare's ongoing success hinges on effective recommendations balancing clients' needs with their budgets and views her work as building and supporting meaning-making spaces – online hubs where people access resources, connect with peers, and take action on issues they care about.

Gena Dellett, CEO of Skvare, is a client advocate who believes in the fundamental importance of relationships. Gena cultivates a supportive environment, encouraging her team to experiment, adapt, and consider unique perspectives. Her joy lies in witn... Show more

Aysenem Yassa is a global live experience and entertainment executive who orchestrates the strategic architecture and creative execution of the world's most complex, high-stakes mega-events.

Her 15-year career spans senior enterprise leadership for premier sports properties, international broadcast productions, and multi-venue live entertainment environments, including UEFA, FIBA and the Pan American Games.

She masterminds the cross-functional delivery of multi-million euro venue ecosystems, live-to-air broadcast environments, and audience-first experiential activations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

A senior strategist operating at the critical intersection of technical infrastructure, media production, and artistic direction, she balances high-stakes global delivery with creative disciplines in music, dance, and comedy to shape memorable experiences for global audiences.

Aysenem Yassa is a global live experience and entertainment executive who orchestrates the strategic architecture and creative execution of the world's most complex, high-stakes mega-events. Her 15-year career spans senior enterprise leadership fo... Show more

Parth Jansari is a full-stack developer known for his lighthearted approach to growth—often joking that he tries to act mature but ends up creating exciting and visually striking projects. Specializing in front-end development, Parth blends creativity and technical expertise, particularly in Flutter and Angular. As an organizer at GDG Gandhinagar, he also plays an active role in the tech community, sharing his knowledge and passion for building beautiful front-end apps​

Parth Jansari is a full-stack developer known for his lighthearted approach to growth—often joking that he tries to act mature but ends up creating exciting and visually striking projects. Specializing in front-end development, Parth blends creativit... Show more

Rob LeGood has been building software, and the teams behind it, since 1996. He started as a developer and worked his way up to Director, Technology Solutions at OCAS, where he led a department of 30 developers and testers. Along the way he led teams at D2L and in financial services, and since 2021 he has taught web development and SQL as a part-time professor at Conestoga College.

Rob's leadership philosophy is simple: the work happens through people, or it doesn't happen. He writes about people-centric leadership at pcl.roblegood.ca. Lately he's also been writing code again, with an AI pair programmer that is very eager and occasionally wrong.

When he's not on a conference stage, he's on an actual one. He has acted and directed with Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre since 2000. He also plays a lot of board games.

Rob LeGood has been building software, and the teams behind it, since 1996. He started as a developer and worked his way up to Director, Technology Solutions at OCAS, where he led a department of 30 developers and testers. Along the way he led teams ... Show more

Machine Learning Practitioner and Community Strategist dedicated to driving Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. Formerly sevred as a Campus Lead for Google Developers Group (GDG) and a Campus Strategist for Perplexity AI, she has championed "permissionless leadership," growing her local developer community with active members.

Praise combines technical expertise with grassroots impact. Trained with Nigeria's premier AI organization, she has worked on building AI tools for healthcare and education, focusing on bridging the gap between global technology and local application.

She is on a mission to prove that world-class innovation happens in Africa, not just is imported to it. Praise believes the next generation of African leaders won't just use AI—they will shape it.

Machine Learning Practitioner and Community Strategist dedicated to driving Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. Formerly sevred as a Campus Lead for Google Developers Group (GDG) and a Campus Strategist for Perplexity AI, she has championed "permissionless lea... Show more

Frances Sun is a Taiwanese UX/UI designer with almost 15 years of experience in UI/UX at some of the world’s biggest and most respected names in technology and entertainment.

In her current role at The Walt Disney Company, she leads the Ad Platforms team, overseeing UX for the flagship sales product used across Disney’s linear channels like ABC and ESPN.

Frances began her teaching career in 2020 at Austin Community College, where she taught UX/UI design, visual design, and portfolio design.

Frances Sun is a Taiwanese UX/UI designer with almost 15 years of experience in UI/UX at some of the world’s biggest and most respected names in technology and entertainment. In her current role at The Walt Disney Company, she leads the Ad Platfor... Show more

Stephanie Weis, M.Ed. is a Product Manager at Carnegie Mellon University and an ADHD coach. She holds a Master of Education from Duquesne University and completed ICF-accredited coach training through the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she draws on lived experience alongside her work at CMU's Central Computing Services, where she leads product strategy and continuous improvement for a 23-service IT portfolio across a decentralized, multi-campus organization, and was selected as 1 of 9 leaders from 300+ applicants for CMU's MOR Leaders program. She has taken the stage at NERCOMP (EDUCAUSE), the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and Pennwriters, and was an adjunct faculty member teaching writing at the Community College of Allegheny County. Through her coaching practice, she works with individuals to move beyond one-size-fits-all strategies and find what actually works for the ADHD brain.

Stephanie Weis, M.Ed. is a Product Manager at Carnegie Mellon University and an ADHD coach. She holds a Master of Education from Duquesne University and completed ICF-accredited coach training through the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). Diagnosed with ADH... Show more

Explorateur de la planète agile, je ne voyage jamais sans mon traducteur de communication bienveillante pour aider les gens à mieux communiquer ensemble, mes feutres, de toutes les couleurs et de toutes les tailles, pour les aider à se comprendre, et mes légos pour les faire travailler sans qu’ils ne s’en rendent compte. Le tout avec sérieux mais sans jamais me prendre au sérieux !

Explorateur de la planète agile, je ne voyage jamais sans mon traducteur de communication bienveillante pour aider les gens à mieux communiquer ensemble, mes feutres, de toutes les couleurs et de toutes les tailles, pour les aider à se comprendre, et... Show more

I started programming in the '80s on a ZX Spectrum, and it's been with me ever since — through BASIC, Assembly, C, Perl and Python. After a degree in Information Engineering, I spent over 20 years as an IP network engineer, along the way building a tool to automate network auditing and configuration. Today I work in a team developing AI agents to support network operations. I'm also a semi-professional musician: I play piano and keyboards, and I compose.

I started programming in the '80s on a ZX Spectrum, and it's been with me ever since — through BASIC, Assembly, C, Perl and Python. After a degree in Information Engineering, I spent over 20 years as an IP network engineer, along the way building a t... Show more

Christopher Burpee is the Director of Student Centers at University of Chicago. Chris previously worked at both Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University. Chris served on the Conference Program Team for the 2022 Annual Conference in Chicago. He has a Masters in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University, and a BFA from DePaul University.

Christopher Burpee is the Director of Student Centers at University of Chicago. Chris previously worked at both Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University. Chris served on the Conference Program Team for the 2022 Annual Conference... Show more

Hanne R. Ersdal is a designer with over 10 years of experience in the development of industrial products and services. As the head of Eggs Stavanger, she works works to build the office and to promote design. She teaches the subject of Business Design and Development at UiS (University of Stavanger).

On stage, Hanne is full of energy and enthusiasm that is contagious and she has previously participated in the following events and teaching engagements:

2024 - Kaleidoscope, Competence that changes: Energy transformation for a sustainable future, led panel discussion
2024 - Lecturer in Master course Business Design and Development, University of Stavanger 2024 - Lecturer in PhD course, Design Thinking for Transdisciplinary Research, University of Stavanger
2023 - Viking Next Level, Innovate or die, talk
2023 - Laerdal Medical internal Event, Product talk, the Product Trio
2023 - Opportunity Festival, Fomo, Side event, Product talk, led panel discussion
2022 - Tekna X, lecture, Empathy enables technology
2022 - Initiative to create the Master's in Transformation and Innovation, several presentations on design and strategy

Hanne R. Ersdal is a designer with over 10 years of experience in the development of industrial products and services. As the head of Eggs Stavanger, she works works to build the office and to promote design. She teaches the subject of Business Desig... Show more

Shivam is a Senior Product Designer at eBay’s core AI team, based in Berlin, shaping the future of e-commerce. Prior to eBay he worked on leading the designs efforts for couple of AI driven initiatives at Trivago, global leader in travel tech. He advocates for a human-centered approach to AI, emphasizing the critical balance between technology and empathy in shaping user experiences. Before trivago, he contributed to Sprinklr, helping to redefine unified customer experience management. He also interned at Microsoft.

Shivam is a Senior Product Designer at eBay’s core AI team, based in Berlin, shaping the future of e-commerce. Prior to eBay he worked on leading the designs efforts for couple of AI driven initiatives at Trivago, global leader in travel tech. He adv... Show more

Holger Müller ist Diplom-Designer mit Fokus Prozessgestaltung. Als Studiengangskoordinator für den interdisziplinären Bachelorstudiengang Code & Context (Informatik, Design, Innovation Skills) an der TH Köln agiert er als Schnittstelle zwischen Studierenden, Lehrenden und der Hochschule. Zudem ist er am ZLE (Zentrum für Lehrentwicklung) der TH Köln Curriculum-Entwickler und berät hierbei die Studiengangsteams bei den Curriculumwerkstätten. Hierfür entwickelt er Feedbackformate und Vision-Workshops mit LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.

Holger Müller ist Diplom-Designer mit Fokus Prozessgestaltung. Als Studiengangskoordinator für den interdisziplinären Bachelorstudiengang Code & Context (Informatik, Design, Innovation Skills) an der TH Köln agiert er als Schnittstelle zwischen Studi... 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

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

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

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

Sam Ghanem is the Founder and CMO of SG INK, a full-service branding and marketing agency she has built since 2002, and the creator of IASG, her personal brand and fractional CMO practice. She delivered the TEDx talk "It's Contagious: The Way You Treat Yourself Spreads" and has taken the stage 100+ times in a single year across keynotes, comedy, emcee work, and TEDx events. Sam is the creator of the Wholeness Gap and Joy Cheat Code frameworks, and serves on the boards of the One Man One Mic Foundation and BBB South Florida & The Caribbean. A first-generation American with Lebanese roots, she brings a stand-up comedian's timing to conversations most speakers treat as purely clinical.

Sam Ghanem is the Founder and CMO of SG INK, a full-service branding and marketing agency she has built since 2002, and the creator of IASG, her personal brand and fractional CMO practice. She delivered the TEDx talk "It's Contagious: The Way You Tre... Show more