Sam Ayo is a technology leader and AI research engineer focused on building intelligent systems that operate at the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial infrastructure and complex regulatory technology. His work is centered on a problem he believes will define the next generation of applied AI: How do we turn increasingly capable AI models into dependable infrastructure for consequential, real-world systems?

Sam Ayo's work sits at the intersection of AI research and systems engineering. He has designed and deployed intelligent systems spanning machine learning, large language models, data platforms and distributed software, with a focus on the challenges of taking AI from experimental models into reliable production infrastructure. His technical interests include machine intelligence, quantitative modelling, AI systems, distributed computing and the application of intelligent systems to complex real-world problems.

His background combines quantitative economics with computer science, machine learning and production engineering giving him an unusually broad view of both the mathematical foundations of AI and the engineering required to make those systems useful at scale. He has been heavily involved in building ML solutions across various cross-industry fields, including Media & Advertising, IoT, Retail, and Energy.

Sam Ayo's expertise and achievements have earned him speaking opportunities at prestigious events. He was honoured by the Federal Minister for Digital Economy and Innovation, Dr Bosun Tijani at the National AI Strategy Conference 2024 in Abuja.

Sam Ayo has spoken at so many top AI conferences and workshops including Nigeria AI Trust Workshop 2026 organized by the office of Dr Bosun Tijani, Honorble Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, AIFest, the Nigeria Computer Society [the global body for computer science in Nigeria, where he shared insights on the intersection of AI and business impact], DataFest, Data Science Conference Europe, OscaFEST, GDG DevFest, AWS westAfrica, including the Microsoft Student Learn Community, delivering a talk on leveraging AI for real-world applications to aspiring technologists.

In addition to these engagements, Sam Ayo has been a featured speaker at the Ehingbeti Summit for technology, a renowned conference that brings together thought leaders and industry experts to discuss technological advancements and their impact on various sectors. At the Ehingbeti Summit, Sam Ayo provided valuable insights into the transformative power of AI and data science in driving innovation and sustainable development.

As a versatile and dynamic professional, Sam Ayo is renowned for his results-driven leadership. He thrives on complex problem-solving, creating value streams across product delivery lifecycles, and delivering outstanding results that help companies take their data strategy from plan to prototype to profitability.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sam Ayo is dedicated to knowledge sharing and collective growth. He actively engages in community mentorship, open-source development, meetups facilitation, technical writing, and research, contributing to the advancement of AI and data science.

With his deep expertise, commitment to excellence, and passion for sharing knowledge, Sam Ayo is a sought-after speaker and a valuable asset in driving innovation and success in the field of AI engineering and data science.

Sam Ayo is a technology leader and AI research engineer focused on building intelligent systems that operate at the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial infrastructure and complex regulatory technology. His work is centered on a problem... Show more

Dr. Tricia Diamond is a portfolio and program management executive, aerospace engineer, and organizational strategist with more than two decades of leadership across the public sector, technology, and consulting in the United States and the Netherlands. She holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and professional aviation experience, alongside advanced credentials including the PfMP®, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, PMO-CP®, CPMAI, GPM-b®, CAL®, ITIL®, AWS-CCP, AWS-AIP, MCASE. As Director of ARPA Implementation for a major U.S. city, she built and led a PMO governing a $386M federal recovery portfolio with 100% regulatory compliance. She has spoken at ASPA and PMI conferences, previously served as VP of Professional Development for PMI Puget Sound, and is a Seattle Parks and Recreation Commissioner. She is the founder of Diamond PMO Solutions, an MWBE owned management consultancy specializing in portfolio governance, PMO design, and organizational strategy as well as PMI certification trainings. Her book, Second Line Leadership: How New Orleans Solved Coordination Without Controls, was published in September 2026.

Dr. Tricia Diamond is a portfolio and program management executive, aerospace engineer, and organizational strategist with more than two decades of leadership across the public sector, technology, and consulting in the United States and the Netherlan... Show more

Sven Peters, AI evangelist at Atlassian, has been studying trends in software development for the last 15 years, uncovering the cultural and technical attributes to help development teams work effectively and drive innovation. He has 20 years of experience in writing code, leading teams, and sharing his experience with thousands of developers at countless conferences in 25+ countries.

Sven Peters, AI evangelist at Atlassian, has been studying trends in software development for the last 15 years, uncovering the cultural and technical attributes to help development teams work effectively and drive innovation. He has 20 years of expe... Show more

Erica Hakonson is the CEO of Maven Collective, a multi‑award‑winning Partner Marketing & GTM Strategy firm built exclusively for Microsoft Partners. She has led the firm to serve 500+ Partners globally, earn 200+ awards, and become one of the most trusted strategic advisors in the Microsoft ecosystem. Recognized as 2026 & 2025 Top Women We Admire in Marketing and Technology, she has been featured in The Globe & Mail and honored with titles such as Female Entrepreneur of the Year and SME National Business Awards Editor’s Choice.

She also leads the Microsoft Partner Global Benchmark & Success Index, delivering insight that cuts through noise and drives real growth. In 2025, Hakonson guided Maven Collective to B Corp Certification, joining the global movement to use business as a force for good, without sacrificing performance.

Erica Hakonson is the CEO of Maven Collective, a multi‑award‑winning Partner Marketing & GTM Strategy firm built exclusively for Microsoft Partners. She has led the firm to serve 500+ Partners globally, earn 200+ awards, and become one of the most tr... Show more

Cat is a Staff Product Manager at Syntasso, where she works at the intersection of developer experience, infrastructure strategy, and product design. With a background in enterprise platform tooling and developer productivity, she focuses on helping teams treat platforms as products that deliver measurable value. Cat brings experience from both engineering and product management roles in fast-scaling tech environments.

Cat is a Staff Product Manager at Syntasso, where she works at the intersection of developer experience, infrastructure strategy, and product design. With a background in enterprise platform tooling and developer productivity, she focuses on helping ... Show more

Pavan Mani Deep Yaragani is a seasoned Power Platform Architect with over 10 years of experience delivering enterprise-scale solutions using Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Azure, and AI technologies. He specializes in solution architecture, intelligent automation, enterprise integrations, governance, and digital transformation initiatives that help organizations accelerate innovation and enhance operational efficiency.

Throughout his career, Pavan has led the design and implementation of scalable business applications, low-code platforms, and cloud-native solutions across diverse industries. His expertise includes Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, Azure Integration Services, and Generative AI.

Passionate about technology leadership and knowledge sharing, Pavan actively contributes to the Microsoft community through technical sessions, workshops, and speaking engagements. He enjoys helping organizations and professionals unlock the full potential of Microsoft's cloud and low-code ecosystem to drive meaningful business outcomes.

Pavan Mani Deep Yaragani is a seasoned Power Platform Architect with over 10 years of experience delivering enterprise-scale solutions using Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Azure, and AI technologies. He specializes in solution architecture, ... Show more

Geoff Ables is a keynote speaker, best-selling author, and a Microsoft MVP recognized in the Copilot, Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and Modern Work (SharePoint, Teams and Viva) categories.

A recognized thought leader on artificial intelligence and people-centric digital transformation, Geoff's most recent book, "The LUCK Principle: Business Results at the Intersection of People and Profit," delivers fresh insight and inspiration into the people, processes, and technologies driving business ROI today.

His firm, C5 Insight, has twice been named an Inc 5000 company, and advises clients on digital customer and employee experience projects.

Geoff is also an avid motorcycle and wine enthusiast and has appeared as a guest on TruTVs's, "The Impractical Jokers."

Geoff Ables is a keynote speaker, best-selling author, and a Microsoft MVP recognized in the Copilot, Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and Modern Work (SharePoint, Teams and Viva) categories. A recognized thought leader on artificial intelligence an... Show more

Michael works as an independent tech consultant with 20+ years of experience specialized in Domain Driven Design, Team Topologies, Software Architecture and Collaborative Modeling. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and an author. Michael is also an INNOQ Fellow and Team Topologies Advocate.

Michael works as an independent tech consultant with 20+ years of experience specialized in Domain Driven Design, Team Topologies, Software Architecture and Collaborative Modeling. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and an author. M... Show more

Gunnard Engebreth is a software engineering manager, architect, author, and conference speaker with more than 30 years of experience building software and leading engineering teams.

His career began during the early web and Dot Com era in Atlanta, where he moved from Perl into PHP and never really stopped building things. Since then, he has worked across application development, APIs, architecture, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, legacy modernization, and engineering leadership.

Gunnard's current interests are where software engineering is heading next: AI-assisted development, agentic software engineering, developer productivity, automation, and the challenges of applying these technologies to real-world production systems. He is particularly interested in how teams can use AI to move faster while maintaining the testing, architecture, security, and engineering discipline required to ship reliable software.

He is also passionate about legacy application modernization and the practical techniques required to bring aging systems into the modern development ecosystem without simply throwing them away and starting over.

A longtime advocate for Free and Open Source Software, Gunnard has contributed to projects including WordPress, Devilbox, and DischordPHP. He has written for php[architect] and is the author of two PHP 8 books published by Apress.

Gunnard has spoken at MadisonPHP, LonghornPHP, Techlahoma, Chaos Carnival, and other technology events. He currently works as an engineering manager and architect while continuing to build software products, experiment with emerging technologies, and write about what he learns.

He lives with his wife and two sons in the North Georgia mountains.

gunnard.org

Gunnard Engebreth is a software engineering manager, architect, author, and conference speaker with more than 30 years of experience building software and leading engineering teams. His career began during the early web and Dot Com era in Atlanta,... Show more

Dr. Angela Trego is a rocket scientist turned Confidence & Communication Expert and the #1 bestselling author of Squashing the Imposter Syndrome. She has trained thousands of professionals across six continents to strengthen confidence as a skill so they can communicate more effectively, lead more boldly, and contribute at their full potential. Her core message is simple: confidence is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened.

Her work focuses on imposter syndrome, soft skills development, mentoring, and practical leadership tools that translate across industries. In addition, she specializes in faculty development and training university educators. She focuses particularly on STEM and engineering fields to implement evidence-based confidence-building strategies, engaged teaching practices, and classroom management approaches that increase student motivation and belonging.

Dr. Trego works with institutions to strengthen teaching effectiveness while reducing faculty burnout. Before dedicating her career to speaking, teaching, and coaching, she held technical and senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries and around the globe. She now brings that real-world leadership perspective into both industry and academia.

Whether working with executives, faculty, or emerging leaders, Dr. Trego's mission is simple: equip people with the confidence and skills to thrive.

Available for keynotes, consulting, coaching, and short courses. Every engagement is customized to the client's specific audience, language, and goals. Participants don't just hear these tools. They practice them in the room and carry them out the door as confidence they can actually use. Discover more at www.angelatrego.com

Dr. Angela Trego is a rocket scientist turned Confidence & Communication Expert and the #1 bestselling author of Squashing the Imposter Syndrome. She has trained thousands of professionals across six continents to strengthen confidence as a skill so ... Show more

Jacqui Read is an internationally-recognised architect, and author of Communication Patterns: A Guide for Developers and Architects. She works across the public and private sector at Made Tech, helping customers to architect systems and determine direction in complex environments. Jacqui is a keynote speaker at international conferences, covering topics such as software design, architecture practices, and technical communication. 

Her professional interests include collaborative modelling, knowledge management, Domain-Driven Design, sociotechnical architecture, and modernising enterprise architecture practices. Her personal website is https://jacquiread.com.

Jacqui Read is an internationally-recognised architect, and author of Communication Patterns: A Guide for Developers and Architects. She works across the public and private sector at Made Tech, helping customers to architect systems and determine dir... Show more

I’m Prathyusha (Prathy) Kamasani, a solopreneur behind Data Nova, a small, purpose-driven business specialising in Microsoft BI solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the data space, I take a design-first approach to everything I build. Whether I’m developing well-structured data platforms or creating user-centric Power BI reports, my goal is to make data accessible, intuitive, and genuinely impactful.

From delivering end-to-end Microsoft Fabric solutions to crafting interactive data visualisations, I bring together design and data to help organisations uncover the insights that truly matter.

I’m also passionate about sharing knowledge and building community. Since 2016, I’ve been running the London Microsoft Fabric User Group. You’ll often find me speaking at conferences or hosting events at the London Fabric User Group

I’m Prathyusha (Prathy) Kamasani, a solopreneur behind Data Nova, a small, purpose-driven business specialising in Microsoft BI solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the data space, I take a design-first approach to everything I build. Wheth... Show more

For the past 15 years, I have been an integral part of many successful organizations due to my experience and dedication. My coaching and consulting has allowed clients to achieve excellence as well as exceed their goals. It has been a privilege to be associated with such great achievements.

My Human Centered based methods have been proven to be successful, having been applied in a variety of projects with resounding results. My approach is comprehensive, taking into consideration all contributing factors to obtain the desired outcomes for clients that provide real value.

I'm passionate about empowering individuals and systems to identify and tackle the obstacles they face on their journey to success. Building trust within their systems through means of inspection, experimentation, and adaption we revise collaboration, & communication. I'm committed to helping my clients achieve long-term results. My ultimate goal is to support them in C.E.C. so that they can make lasting progress in life.

Collaboration is critical for the success of any solution. Working with a diverse group of people helps produce more effective results, and that's why I always strive to create an atmosphere where such collaboration can take place. By leveraging the skillsets of different individuals, we can develop high-quality solutions in a timely manner.

Experimentation is an invaluable tool in finding suitable solutions. To approach a problem in an effective manner, it's important to look beyond the traditional methods and explore something new. This might include using different techniques or tools to test out potential ideas and uncover the best solution. Experimentation gives us a chance to discover and try something that could potentially be groundbreaking, so it shouldn't be overlooked when dealing with complex problems.

Trust is essential for any team or organization to be successful. This confidence is established through effective communication and how information is shared. It's important to understand the power of these interactions, as they can create a feeling of reliability that allows everyone in the group to collaborate confidently.

The challenge organization’s face today is how to sustainably provide for the needs of growth while simultaneously protecting what has been built. A balanced approach is needed, one that combines sustainability with modern innovations. We must build a foundation for future prosperity that takes into account the needs of the organization, individual and the consumer.

For the past 15 years, I have been an integral part of many successful organizations due to my experience and dedication. My coaching and consulting has allowed clients to achieve excellence as well as exceed their goals. It has been a privilege to b... Show more

o Advisory on digital transformation (Kit Consulting, Kit Digital, ISO 27001)
o Development of interactive data visualization tools (Power BI / Fabric)
o Automation and optimization of internal business processes (Power Automate / Azure)
o Implementation of artificial intelligence solutions (Power Apps, API, WSDL, LLM, MCP)

o Advisory on digital transformation (Kit Consulting, Kit Digital, ISO 27001) o Development of interactive data visualization tools (Power BI / Fabric) o Automation and optimization of internal business processes (Power Automate / Azure) o Impleme... Show more

I help organizations cut through the noise around AI and focus on what actually works.

As an AI and digital strategy speaker, I work with founders, teams, and professionals to adopt AI in practical, ethical, and results-driven ways. My sessions combine strategy, examples from the field, and audience interaction to drive clarity and confidence.

I speak on AI adoption, digital growth, leadership in the AI era, and the skills businesses need to stay competitive.

I help organizations cut through the noise around AI and focus on what actually works. As an AI and digital strategy speaker, I work with founders, teams, and professionals to adopt AI in practical, ethical, and results-driven ways. My sessions co... Show more

Strategic technology leader with 19+ years of experience driving product innovation for platforms used by millions. Expert in scaling engineering organizations, architecting high-concurrency systems, and bridging the gap between deep technical excellence (GDE, MVP) and business-centric growth. Proven track record in Fintech, SaaS, and AI-driven automation.

Leadership - Engineering Strategy, Product Roadmap, Talent Acquisition and Mentorship, P&L Management.

Architecture - System Design at Scale, Microservices, Cloud Infra (AWS/GCP/Azure), Distributed Systems.

Innovation - Generative AI/LLMs (RAG), Graph Databases (Neo4j), Performance Engineering.

Strategic technology leader with 19+ years of experience driving product innovation for platforms used by millions. Expert in scaling engineering organizations, architecting high-concurrency systems, and bridging the gap between deep technical excell... Show more

Angel is an energetic and forward-thinking Agile coach specializing in leadership development and organizational agility. His pragmatism and experience in organizational coaching and Business Agility are the driving forces behind his methods. Throughout his 15+ years of hands-on experience as a coach, trainer, and mentor, Angel has provided expert guidance to organizations and Agile leaders in North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Angel’s leadership has been particularly notorious at the ING Group, where he has performed as the first Agile Champion at ING Spain and chairman of the first Global ING Agile Experts Group since 2010. He has also supported companies from more than 40 countries, contributing to the Agile journeys of King, Toyota, Falabella, Banco de Chile, Roche, BBVA, Sunhotels, DEWA, FAB, PZU Group and the Catalan Institute of Oncology.

Angel holds the Scrum Alliance’s highest-level certifications in the field. Being the first Spanish CST (Certified Scrum Trainer), the first Spanish CEC (Certified Enterprise Coach), and the first European CALE (Certified Agile Leadership Educator).

Angel is also a PCC (Certified Professional Coach) by the International Coach Federation, a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Certified specialist in team coaching and systemic leadership, Management 3.0 facilitator, Certified Kanban Management Professional (KMP), Certified LargeScaleScrum Practitioner (CLP), Certified SAFe® Program Consultant (SPC), Licensed NLP Practitioner and TTI-certified Behaviour and Motivation Analyst.

In addition, Angel has participated as a speaker and keynote at more than 60 international conferences and Agile events worldwide and has been a significant contributor to the international Agile community since 2009.

Angel is an energetic and forward-thinking Agile coach specializing in leadership development and organizational agility. His pragmatism and experience in organizational coaching and Business Agility are the driving forces behind his methods. Through... Show more

Paresh Motiwala ​PMP; a Fabric enthusiast and a Data Platform Manager has led several large SQL implementations, migrations and upgrades.
He was selected as a "Speaker Idol" finalist for the PASS Summit 2018. He also runs DBA VUG, Houston Area SQL Server User Group and Boston BI User Groups.
He has managed multi terabyte OLTP databases. He has also been a Senior SQL DBA and a Solutions Architect in Fortune 100 companies. He also helps organize and speaks at many PASS Summits, SQL Saturdays, Azure Bootcamp and User Groups. He is certified in Big Data Analytics and FinTech(MIT) Project manager, Public Speaker, an avid singer, cook, open networker, and stand-up comedian. He teaches public speaking, debating, interviewing and group discussion skills. He also mentors DBAs and children around the globe via www.circlesofgrowth.com

Paresh Motiwala ​PMP; a Fabric enthusiast and a Data Platform Manager has led several large SQL implementations, migrations and upgrades. He was selected as a "Speaker Idol" finalist for the PASS Summit 2018. He also runs DBA VUG, Houston Area SQL ... Show more

Emily Harden is a knowledgeable consultant, skillful speaker, and community builder dedicated to fostering growth and impact. As the Founder and Owner of Harden Consulting, she provides tailored coaching to help people clarify what they want, navigate pivots, and thrive at work; so your passion becomes a sustainable path.
Emily draws on her deep roots in the tech ecosystem, where she previously served as Techlahoma's Executive Director, to connect challenges with creative solutions.

When she’s not working, you can probably find her playing board games, trying out new video games, or off on an adventure with her husband and their dog, Patches!

Emily Harden is a knowledgeable consultant, skillful speaker, and community builder dedicated to fostering growth and impact. As the Founder and Owner of Harden Consulting, she provides tailored coaching to help people clarify what they want, navigat... Show more

As an analytical bridge between Business and IT, I translate your requirements into the data solution that are being build. Making you happy as a business user is my passion and bringing the people to the next level is my drive!
With more than 13 years-experience in the field of Business Intelligence, Data, Analytics & Engineering, I am the analytical bridge between business & IT. I'll now focus on using Fabric in the best way possible to deliver value and sharing these experiences with, collegues, clients and partners.

As an analytical bridge between Business and IT, I translate your requirements into the data solution that are being build. Making you happy as a business user is my passion and bringing the people to the next level is my drive! With more than 13 y... Show more

Marie Wiese is the CEO Marketing Copilot®, an AI-enabled sales and marketing firm. She is a best-selling author and host of the podcasts, Women Talk Tech and The Hot Seat for Microsoft Partners. Marie has worked in the technology sector for 30+ years and focuses on marketing automation/CRM and the digital transformation of the sales and marketing function. Marie helps Microsoft Partners, software developers and end customers build demand generation programs for their organizations with the right strategy and technology.

Marie Wiese is the CEO Marketing Copilot®, an AI-enabled sales and marketing firm. She is a best-selling author and host of the podcasts, Women Talk Tech and The Hot Seat for Microsoft Partners. Marie has worked in the technology sector for 30+ years... Show more

An Engineer that has been in the industry for just over 10 years, with a keen interest in optimization in technology as well as developer relations with regards to training and building effective teams

An Engineer that has been in the industry for just over 10 years, with a keen interest in optimization in technology as well as developer relations with regards to training and building effective teams Show more

Patrick is a passionate consultant with broad knowledge of infrastructure and security aspects of IT. As a Cloud Architect and Specialist, he helps customers by designing, implementing, and assessing cloud architectures and solutions in alignment with his customers’ business and IT objectives. Throughout the past 16 years, Patrick has accumulated a broad experience in Infrastructure, Security, and Consulting, mainly at companies that relied heavily on Microsoft technology.

He applies state-of-the-art technologies and concepts, including the cloud and DevOps, to help his customers create business value. His approach is one of honesty and building relationships, which always makes him a trusted advisor for his stakeholders. Patrick has a clear and analytical mindset and is a consultant with excellent communication and presentation skills.

Patrick is a passionate consultant with broad knowledge of infrastructure and security aspects of IT. As a Cloud Architect and Specialist, he helps customers by designing, implementing, and assessing cloud architectures and solutions in alignment wit... Show more

Having built my career within the Microsoft ecosystem, I am passionate about helping partners and customers turn technology innovation into business value.

Drawing on experience spanning business applications, cloud technologies, partner development, and strategic alliances, I work closely with Microsoft, partners, and ISVs to accelerate the adoption of modern cloud and AI solutions.

Today at SoftwareOne, I focus on expanding the impact of Microsofts portfolio across the Danish market, helping partners identify new growth opportunities, strengthen their capabilities, and create lasting customer value through AI, Copilot, cloud, security, data, productivity, and business applications.

I am passionate about connecting technology, partners, and business outcomes to drive sustainable growth and successful digital transformation.

Having built my career within the Microsoft ecosystem, I am passionate about helping partners and customers turn technology innovation into business value. Drawing on experience spanning business applications, cloud technologies, partner developm... Show more

Stephen SIMON is a Program Manager at the Global AI Community and a Microsoft MVP in AI, recognized for his hands-on work in applied AI systems, developer enablement, and large-scale program execution.

He works at the intersection of AI engineering and program leadership, helping teams and communities design, build, and scale real-world AI solutions. His expertise spans AI agents, multi-agent systems, Model Context Protocols (MCPs), cloud-native AI architectures, and production-grade LLM applications.

As a global speaker, he has delivered sessions at conferences including Experts Live Europe, WOW Summit Hong Kong, and AgentCon Istanbul, where he speaks on topics such as AI agents in production, modern AI architectures, cloud-native AI systems, and the future of developer tooling.

Beyond product and platform work, Stephen has built and scaled some of the largest developer communities and programs in the region.

Stephen SIMON is a Program Manager at the Global AI Community and a Microsoft MVP in AI, recognized for his hands-on work in applied AI systems, developer enablement, and large-scale program execution. He works at the intersection of AI engineerin... Show more

Ana Inés Urrutia builds HR systems that actually work. She's the founder of AInesHR, an AI-native people operations platform for European mid-market companies, and the author of The Microsoft AI Human Resources Handbook. With 10+ years transforming HR across 40+ countries, she now builds the infrastructure she always wished existed: practical, scalable, and built for the way organizations actually operate. Microsoft MVP. Harvard Advisory Council. Speaker. Builder.

Ana Inés Urrutia builds HR systems that actually work. She's the founder of AInesHR, an AI-native people operations platform for European mid-market companies, and the author of The Microsoft AI Human Resources Handbook. With 10+ years transforming H... Show more

Artem Lajko, certified CNCF Kubestronaut and Head of Platform Engineering, specializes in Kubernetes scalability and GitOps-driven workflows. He is the author of Implementing GitOps with Kubernetes and an IT freelancer writing for various publishers. As a Platform Engineering Ambassador, he supports companies and the community in adopting Platform Engineering, Internal Developer Platforms, and related technologies. Passionate about Open Source, he helps organizations choose the right tools, driving tech adoption and innovation.

Artem Lajko, certified CNCF Kubestronaut and Head of Platform Engineering, specializes in Kubernetes scalability and GitOps-driven workflows. He is the author of Implementing GitOps with Kubernetes and an IT freelancer writing for various publishers.... Show more

Damian Karzon is the Agentic Engineering Lead at Gasbot, building AI pipelines that take software from idea to deployed while keeping engineering judgement in the loop. Before that, Damian was Head of Engineering at Pinch Payments, after 20 years of building software and leading teams across payments, SaaS and mobile. Outside work: open source, Home Assistant and slightly over-engineered house projects.

Damian Karzon is the Agentic Engineering Lead at Gasbot, building AI pipelines that take software from idea to deployed while keeping engineering judgement in the loop. Before that, Damian was Head of Engineering at Pinch Payments, after 20 years of ... Show more

Saul Patino is a seasoned cloud strategist and currently serves as Manager of Public Cloud Services at CBTS, where he leads complex, multi-cloud transformation initiatives across Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and VMware platforms. With over a decade of experience in enterprise infrastructure and cloud-native services, Saul brings a unique perspective to designing secure, high-performing hybrid environments that drive modernization and business agility.

Drawing on his extensive technical training and cloud credentials, Saul architects solutions that integrate Azure and AWS workloads with on-premises datacenters, using platforms like Azure Arc, VMware Cloud Foundation, and AWS hybrid services. His expertise is reinforced by deep familiarity with platform-native services, including virtual networking, IAM, governance frameworks, and infrastructure automation, reflecting the breadth of his certifications across public and private cloud ecosystems.

Saul is particularly known for enabling organizations to adopt hybrid architectures that scale securely and efficiently. His work often involves implementing identity-first strategies, embedding Zero Trust security, automating deployments with infrastructure as code, and aligning operations with cloud governance best practices. His cross-platform proficiency allows him to streamline operations across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud environments—providing clients with unbiased, architecture-driven solutions tailored to their unique needs.

In addition to his hybrid cloud expertise, Saul is a trusted advisor in modern workplace security and Microsoft 365 Copilot integration. His practical guidance helps enterprises unlock the full value of Copilot across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook—transforming productivity while protecting organizational data through tools like Microsoft Purview and Defender. His knowledge of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem stems from years of specialization in enterprise collaboration, compliance, endpoint security, and modern device management.

As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Saul also delivers technical training, hands-on labs, and executive workshops that empower teams to elevate cloud proficiency and deploy AI solutions responsibly. Through his platform, HybridCloudWorks.com, and active engagement in the IT community, he shares technical insights and strategic roadmaps with professionals across industries.

Whether speaking at industry conferences, conducting partner enablement, or mentoring emerging professionals, Saul brings clarity, passion, and hands-on experience to every conversation—advancing the future of hybrid cloud and AI adoption, one solution at a time.

Saul Patino is a seasoned cloud strategist and currently serves as Manager of Public Cloud Services at CBTS, where he leads complex, multi-cloud transformation initiatives across Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and VMware platforms. With over a decade of e... Show more

Monika Rajput is a Senior Technical Consultant at Ahead, where she helps build real-world data and cloud solutions. Over the years, she’s worked with four early-stage startups, shaping products from idea to launch. Alongside her technical work, she’s passionate about helping others grow in tech. She has mentored over 200+ students and actively contributes to the community as a CNCF Ambassador and organiser of CNCF Gurugram.

Monika is also the founder of TMS: The Monika Rajput Stack, a podcast where she shares stories from the world of data, AI, and cloud, featuring people doing meaningful work in tech. She’s currently serving as a Program Committee Member for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon in China, Japan, and India. Her goal is to make technology more open, relatable, and accessible, especially for those who are just getting started.

Monika Rajput is a Senior Technical Consultant at Ahead, where she helps build real-world data and cloud solutions. Over the years, she’s worked with four early-stage startups, shaping products from idea to launch. Alongside her technical work, she’s... Show more