Arts

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

Maxine Cunningham

Maxine Cunningham

Maxine is a visionary entrepreneur and global connector on a mission to revolutionize the way we exchange knowledge. As the founder and CEO of Pick My Brain, she has built a thriving marketplace where experts, professionals, and storytellers from 88+ countries share their insights via live, interactive conversations.

With a background in economics and community-building, Maxine has spent the last decade designing scalable, human-first knowledge economies that make learning more accessible, personal, and experiential.

Her latest initiative, Meet the World’s People, is a groundbreaking education platform designed to give teachers and students on-demand access to inspiring speakers—offering career stories, life lessons, financial literacy, and post-secondary insights in real-time.

Driven by a belief that a single conversation can change a life, Maxine is passionate about bridging education, technology, and human connection to create a more curious, conscious, and connected world.

Maxine is a visionary entrepreneur and global connector on a mission to revolutionize the way we exchange knowledge. As the founder and CEO of Pick My Brain, she has built a thriving marketplace where experts, professionals, and storytellers from 88+... Show more

Hari Venkat Rao G.

Hari Venkat Rao G.

With a reputation as a seasoned storyteller and visionary leader, I bring over 17 years of extensive experience across the technology landscape. My journey began humbly as a Process Associate and evolved into my current role as Head of Design and Innovation at Tata Consultancy Services’ Professional Services Business Unit. This adventurous path has spanned diverse industries, geographies, and challenges, each step enriching my understanding of the transformative power of innovation.

At the helm of design and innovation, I craft transformative strategies that integrate creativity, technology, and behavioral insights to propel growth and deliver unparalleled user experiences. My expertise lies in rapid prototyping, creative concept design, and large-scale digital transformations, all with the singular goal of making people's lives simpler, more efficient, and memorable.

My career is marked by developing products and services that seamlessly blend user-centric design with business agility, enhancing customer satisfaction and delivering tangible results. By infusing design innovation into every aspect of my work, I’ve driven user engagement, anticipated market trends, and directly contributed to revenue growth for global organizations.

I firmly believe in learning from history to think ahead and act decisively. Drawing inspiration from cultural and historical contexts, I design for tomorrow’s challenges while innovating in the present. My ultimate mission is to simplify people’s lives and empower them to achieve their personal and professional goals, leaving behind a legacy of meaningful impact and transformative innovation.

As a storyteller, I don’t just share ideas—I create experiences that connect, inspire, and spark action.

With a reputation as a seasoned storyteller and visionary leader, I bring over 17 years of extensive experience across the technology landscape. My journey began humbly as a Process Associate and evolved into my current role as Head of Design and Inn... Show more

Benny Olsson

Benny Olsson

📚 Bookworm. 🎸 Musician. 📷 Photographer. 💡 Creator.

Benny Olsson is the CTO at Norce Technology, leading an engineering department of three engineering managers and a team of developers. With a background in software development, architecture, and company-building, he is deeply involved in coaching technical leaders, driving strategy execution, and fostering an inspiring engineering culture.

Starting his career in the aftermath of the dot-com crash in 2000, Benny has worked across web apps, databases, low-level OS development, and emulators. But beyond the code, his focus has always been on the interplay between technology and business—ensuring that engineering teams don’t just build great software but also create real business impact.

As a founder, he has started companies that have grown and merged into larger organizations, giving him hands-on experience in scaling teams, navigating technical strategy, and leading through change. Since joining Norce Technology in 2018 as Lead Architect (and stepping into the CTO role in 2022), he has been shaping the future of e-commerce platforms—bridging technical excellence with business-driven engineering leadership.

📚 Bookworm. 🎸 Musician. 📷 Photographer. 💡 Creator. Benny Olsson is the CTO at Norce Technology, leading an engineering department of three engineering managers and a team of developers. With a background in software development, architecture, ... Show more

Meredith Finkelstein

Meredith Finkelstein

Engineer | Clinical Herbalist | Rabble-rouser

Engineer | Clinical Herbalist | Rabble-rouser Show more

Rabbi Ranon Teller

Rabbi Ranon Teller

Rabbi Ranon Teller is a devoted and dynamic spiritual leader who combines his passion for Jewish music, education, and community with creative approaches to worship and congregational life. His television writing and music background has given him a unique ability to lead through innovative worship services and educational programming. As the senior rabbi at Congregation Brith Shalom in Houston, he has revolutionized prayer services, fostering strong membership engagement and forming deep connections within local and broader Jewish communities.

Raised in a suburban Detroit home, Rabbi Ranon grew up immersed in the practices and values of Orthodox Judaism as the second of three children. His early education occurred at Orthodox Day School, followed by Skokie Yeshiva High School outside Chicago. After completing high school, he moved to Israel, where he studied at an Orthodox yeshiva and dove into advanced Talmudic study, Jewish philosophy, theology, and sacred text. However, as he progressed in his studies, he began questioning the Orthodox practices he had grown up with, leading him to seek a deeper understanding of Judaism that would better align with his evolving spiritual identity.

1996, Rabbi Teller returned to Israel to explore alternative Jewish spirituality and practice. He became particularly drawn to contemporary Chasidic music and the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, which helped him connect with Jewish traditions in new and meaningful ways. During this time, he audited classes at a Conservative rabbinical school in Jerusalem and participated in an intensive Jewish education program. These experiences led him to a profound realization that his calling was to pursue Jewish leadership, prompting him to return to the United States in 1998 to further his studies and become a rabbi.

Upon returning to the United States, Rabbi Ranon enrolled at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles, where he focused on Jewish education and rabbinic ordination. His dedication to his studies and growing love for Jewish learning were evident as he excelled in his coursework, culminating in an Honorary Doctorate from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in 2022. Exceptional achievements, including the Fingerhut School of Education Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Ziegler School Award for Excellence in Talmudic Studies, marked his academic journey.

In 2002, Ranon Teller was ordained as a rabbi and began his rabbinic career as the associate rabbi at Congregation B'nai Amoona in St. Louis, where he served until 2005. During his time there, the congregation faced a period of senior leadership turnover, and he was called upon to provide vision and stability. He successfully engaged young families and introduced innovative, interactive prayer services, further solidifying his role as a dynamic and compassionate leader. This experience helped shape his approach to leadership, which would prove invaluable in the future.

In 2005, Rabbi Teller moved to Houston to become the senior rabbi at Congregation Brith Shalom. His soulful, personable, and diplomatic approach to leadership quickly led to congregational growth and revitalization. During his two decades at Brith Shalom, he introduced innovative musical prayer services that united congregants and community members, making services more engaging and spiritually enriching. He also played a key role in securing a $1.5 million endowment for the synagogue and a $5 million contribution toward a building renovation campaign, helping ensure the synagogue's long-term stability and success.

Rabbi Ranon's impact extends far beyond the walls of his synagogue. He is deeply involved in the Houston Jewish community, actively collaborating with and volunteering for organizations such as the Houston Food Bank, SEARCH Homeless Services, and the Food and Faith Collaborative. In addition, he works closely with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and Alexander Jewish Family Service to support those in need, further reflecting his commitment to tikkun olam, the Jewish principle of repairing the world.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Rabbi Ranon Teller enjoys a variety of hobbies and interests that further enrich his life. He continues to play blues and folk guitar and remains passionate about song-leading, bringing joy and spirituality through music. Reading non-fiction, particularly biographies and books on human nature, is another of his favorite activities. He also enjoys juggling, magic, and backpacking, often finding spiritual fulfillment in the natural world. He has written for Kolot magazine, the Jewish Herald-Voice, and the Jewish Journal. He co-authored the book, Peaceful Bones, sharing his insights and experiences with a broader audience.

Rabbi Ranon Teller is a devoted and dynamic spiritual leader who combines his passion for Jewish music, education, and community with creative approaches to worship and congregational life. His television writing and music background has given him a ... Show more

Kelvin Miles

Kelvin Miles

Kelvin Denzel Miles aka Poison Peso De' Gretzsky was born in Brooklyn , NY , when my mom passed my grandparents thought it would be better for me to be raised in North Carolina. I was a great student and learned how to be a man from my grandfather. Art was always my thing and just being a creative person. Music was always my passion from singing in youth church to choir at school. Other than that is was athletics and education. My father was and still lives in brooklyn and i tell him little things about nfts all the time. NFTS changed and are changing my life. Co-Founder of United Realities "URL to the IRL"

Kelvin Denzel Miles aka Poison Peso De' Gretzsky was born in Brooklyn , NY , when my mom passed my grandparents thought it would be better for me to be raised in North Carolina. I was a great student and learned how to be a man from my grandfather. A... Show more

Martin Sojka

Martin Sojka

Martin est facilitateur chez Ekité depuis 2019, après quelques années en tant que développeur. Touche à tout et éternel curieux, il est également passionné de musique (en tant que musicien, reporter, coach scénique) et militant engagé.

Martin est facilitateur chez Ekité depuis 2019, après quelques années en tant que développeur. Touche à tout et éternel curieux, il est également passionné de musique (en tant que musicien, reporter, coach scénique) et militant engagé. Show more

Hermen Lutje Berenbroek

Hermen Lutje Berenbroek

Hermen is an accomplished visual thinking expert and design strategist. He collaborates with executives globally to align people and activate vision, strategy, and transformation. His visual approach unlocks the human brain's processing power and boosts inventiveness and co-creation in teams.

Hermen has worked with numerous Fortune 500 clients in Europe, the United States, Africa, China, and the Middle East for the past decade. Besides client work, Hermen teaches thousands of students worldwide to structure and communicate ideas in his online Visual Thinking course. He regularly volunteers to use his skills and experience to create a positive impact.

Hermen is an accomplished visual thinking expert and design strategist. He collaborates with executives globally to align people and activate vision, strategy, and transformation. His visual approach unlocks the human brain's processing power and boo... Show more

Tilde Ann Thurium

Tilde Ann Thurium

Tilde (they/them) is a San Francisco based artist, activist, and engineer. They can probably deadlift more than you. Ask them about how to paint an algorithm, the intersections between mutual aid and biology, or which coast has the best vegan croissants.

Tilde (they/them) is a San Francisco based artist, activist, and engineer. They can probably deadlift more than you. Ask them about how to paint an algorithm, the intersections between mutual aid and biology, or which coast has the best vegan croissa... Show more

David Pineda

David Pineda

Ingeniero electricista Universidad de Chile, desarrollador de software, (c)Magister en ciencia de datos UChile, integrante del área de Geodesia en CSN. Activista por la cultura libre y los bienes comunes, tejedor de redes del común. Literario, profesor de tecnologías y herramientas libres, buen compa :) Me quedo varios días y así participar en cualquier actividad relacionadas que se genere a partir de las propuestas desarrolladas.

Ingeniero electricista Universidad de Chile, desarrollador de software, (c)Magister en ciencia de datos UChile, integrante del área de Geodesia en CSN. Activista por la cultura libre y los bienes comunes, tejedor de redes del común. Literario, profes... Show more

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