I speak to leaders and teams navigating fragmented data, manual processes, and growing organizational complexity who want systems they can rely on, not workarounds.

As Data and Automation Director, I partner with executive leadership on enterprise data strategy, AI governance, and analytics infrastructure across multi-state operations. Over the past 6 to 12 months, I designed and implemented a full AI governance framework for my data and automation team — and am currently leading the initiative to scale it enterprise-wide.

With over 15 years of experience leading teams and operations, including more than 6 years owning enterprise data architecture, analytics platforms, and automation, I am known for simplifying complex environments, reducing unnecessary tools, and establishing clear standards so reporting holds up in real-world use.

Generating $250K+ in new recurring annual ROI per quarter through automation and process elimination, compounding to over $1M in recurring annual ROI while eliminating 19,000+ manual hours per year across three divisions.

Audiences value my ability to translate technical complexity into practical, executive-relevant guidance that resonates with both leadership and practitioners. My sessions are grounded in real enterprise experience and focus on decision confidence, adoption, and sustainable operating models.

In addition to my full-time role, I lead A River of Data, advising founders, CFOs, and operators on data, automation, and AI strategy. Available for sessions in English and Spanish.

I speak to leaders and teams navigating fragmented data, manual processes, and growing organizational complexity who want systems they can rely on, not workarounds. As Data and Automation Director, I partner with executive leadership on enterprise... Show more

I work as a Solution Architect specializing in Data & AI, with solid experience in scalable architectures, governance, and digital transformation for large enterprises. I am a partner of belake.ai, an AI product that democratizes data access by generating insights through natural language.

My background includes leading technical pre-sales, designing complex cloud solutions (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, AWS), and providing strategic support to executives in connecting data and artificial intelligence directly to business goals.

Driven by real impact, I believe data and AI are key tools to transform companies into more efficient, innovative, and competitive organizations.

I work as a Solution Architect specializing in Data & AI, with solid experience in scalable architectures, governance, and digital transformation for large enterprises. I am a partner of belake.ai, an AI product that democratizes data access by gener... Show more

As a Strategic UX Consultant and international speaker, Vicky Pirker helps companies achieve sustainable business success through user-centered solutions. With a sharp eye for both empathy and strategy, she uncovers the real problems behind digital products and processes. As Technovation Women Techmakers Ambassador and Austria's first Hacker School Inspirer, she's passionate about making UX accessible and championing diversity in tech.

As a Strategic UX Consultant and international speaker, Vicky Pirker helps companies achieve sustainable business success through user-centered solutions. With a sharp eye for both empathy and strategy, she uncovers the real problems behind digital p... Show more

Agiliste, maman de deux enfants et véritable bisounours (oui je vois souvent la vie en rose)
J'aide les équipes et les organisations à expérimenter de nouvelles façons de travailler ensemble et à trouver leur propre chemin dans ce monde qui change et bouge très vite.
Souvent décalée, j'aime les pas de côté, sortir du cadre pour les aider à créer leurs propres solutions.

"Seul on va plus vite, ensemble on va plus loin." Proverbe africain.

"N'élevons pas nos enfants pour le monde d'aujourd'hui. Ce monde aura changé lorsqu'ils seront grands." Maria Montessori

Agiliste, maman de deux enfants et véritable bisounours (oui je vois souvent la vie en rose) J'aide les équipes et les organisations à expérimenter de nouvelles façons de travailler ensemble et à trouver leur propre chemin dans ce monde qui change e... Show more

I’m a technology leader passionate about building solutions that are not only scalable and efficient but also secure and aligned with business growth. Over the years, I’ve helped organizations transform complex requirements into future-ready systems that deliver measurable results.

Currently serving as CTO in fintech, I focus on shaping technology strategy, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring that every solution we deliver is resilient, compliant, and aligned with business objectives. My work spans across solution architecture, governance, compliance, and security with a constant drive to balance innovation with stability.

Passionate about strategy, architecture, and security, I bring both a business mindset and a technical edge to every challenge.

I’m a technology leader passionate about building solutions that are not only scalable and efficient but also secure and aligned with business growth. Over the years, I’ve helped organizations transform complex requirements into future-ready systems ... Show more

Chief Technical Architect, Founder, Author of Essential C# series, Microsoft Regional Director and MVP

Mark Michaelis (itl.tc/Mark) founded IntelliTect, a high-end software development company based in Spokane, Washington. When not leading his company, he teaches at Eastern Washington University, presents conference sessions on technology and leadership, or delivers updates for the next edition of his book.

A world-class C# expert who honed his engineering skills by serving on several Microsoft software design review teams, including C#, Azure, and Azure DevOps, Mark is the author of Essential C# (itl.tc/EssentialCSharp). As a direct result of his work with C# and Azure DevOps, Mark has been a distinguished Microsoft MVP for over 25 years and a Microsoft Regional Director since 2007. A firm believer in autonomy, mastery and purpose, Mark’s management and leadership style enables him to successfully handle a day with only 24 hours in it.

Mark and his wife, Elisabeth, have invested a significant amount of the profit generated by IntelliTect into fighting debilitating poverty around the world. They have done this by thoughtfully partnering with charity organizations to increase access to basic food and water infrastructure, improve educational opportunities, and fight injustices like human trafficking and the systematic oppression of women.

When not bonding with his computer, Mark enjoys Frisbee, soccer, biking, and showing his kids real life in other countries. Mark lives in Spokane, Washington. He is looking forward to finding his next adventure following his return from traversing the length of Africa.

Chief Technical Architect, Founder, Author of Essential C# series, Microsoft Regional Director and MVP Mark Michaelis (itl.tc/Mark) founded IntelliTect, a high-end software development company based in Spokane, Washington. When not leading his com... Show more

Sahithya Balasubramaniam is a Senior Software Engineer who actively contributes to open source and builds innovative microSaaS products. Her products launched on Product Hunt achieved global rankings of 21st and 25th on their respective launch days. She is also a dynamic public speaker and emcee, having delivered 20+ tech talks at leading industry events, notably Google DevFest and the SheBuilds Conference.

Beyond technology, she is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning author of five books, an international writer and poetess, and the Founder and Chief Editor of The Logic – Soul Lens Newsletter, a platform that explores the human side of business, leadership, communication, and technology.

Sahithya Balasubramaniam is a Senior Software Engineer who actively contributes to open source and builds innovative microSaaS products. Her products launched on Product Hunt achieved global rankings of 21st and 25th on their respective launch days. ... Show more

Altuğ Bilgin Altıntaş is a Java Champion and Business Agility Engineer based in Istanbul/Türkiye. He is the co-founder of JUG Istanbul and co-organizer of Java Day Istanbul. He is an active practitioner and coach in Kanban, Lean software development, GTD and Toyota Kata as a problem-solving approach.

He has already spoke at 40+ conferences (like JavaZone, JavaCro, JavaLand, JJUG Tokyo, JCON Germany, Lean Kanban France, Java Day Istanbul, and many others) organized 100+ meetups,

Altuğ Bilgin Altıntaş is a Java Champion and Business Agility Engineer based in Istanbul/Türkiye. He is the co-founder of JUG Istanbul and co-organizer of Java Day Istanbul. He is an active practitioner and coach in Kanban, Lean software development,... Show more

Diana Paredes is Head of Data Governance and Strategy at Parque Arauco, where she leads enterprise data governance and strategy to enable analytics, artificial intelligence, and decision-making at scale.

She brings more than 12 years of experience across telecommunications, insurance, banking, mining, and consulting, connecting business strategy with technology execution.

Before joining Parque Arauco, she worked as a Senior IT Architect at BCG Platinion, advising organizations on data strategy, data governance, and AI initiatives. Her experience focuses on cloud-native data platforms, metadata, and governance frameworks designed to improve quality, traceability, scalability, and business value generation.

Diana Paredes is Head of Data Governance and Strategy at Parque Arauco, where she leads enterprise data governance and strategy to enable analytics, artificial intelligence, and decision-making at scale. She brings more than 12 years of experience... Show more

Graduação em Ciências Econômicas e em Direito. Especialista em Segurança Pública e Especialista em Direito Público. Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Doutor em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Foi Coordenador do Escritório de Gestão de Processos na Secretaria de Estado do Planejamento. Trabalhou na Controladoria-Geral do Estado atuando na função de Coordenador de Informações Estratégicas, foi Gestor do Portfólio de Projetos, Presidente da Comissão de Implementação da LGPD, Presidente da Comissão de Inovação e membro do Comitê Estratégico de Governança e Integridade. Gerente de Apoio Operacional na Diretoria Administrativa e Financeira da Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública; Gerente do Complexo Administrativo na Diretoria Administrativa e Financeira da Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública; Gestor de Sistemas de Conhecimento na Coordenação-Geral de Inteligência da SENASP/MJ; Chefe da Divisão de Informática e Tecnologia da Diretoria de Informação e Inteligência - Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública de Santa Catarina, conduzindo a Gestão Técnica do Projeto de Criação e Institucionalização do Sistema Integrado de Segurança Pública (SISP-SC).

Graduação em Ciências Econômicas e em Direito. Especialista em Segurança Pública e Especialista em Direito Público. Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Doutor em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Foi Coordenador do Escritó... Show more

Act like the Business think like IT

I'm very passionate about data and analytics. I've spent a massive amount of time learning Power BI. Through this learning process I felt that others may also be interested. Thus, I created a website, a knowledge repository for all things Power BI, ( powerbi.tips ). This site is uniquely set up for people to read and learn about data modeling and visualizations within Power BI.

Act like the Business think like IT I'm very passionate about data and analytics. I've spent a massive amount of time learning Power BI. Through this learning process I felt that others may also be interested. Thus, I created a website, a knowl... Show more

Benjamin Igna is the founder of Stellar Work, a consultancy helping engineering organizations rethink developer experience, productivity, and team design in the age of AI. On the Stellar Work Podcast, he sits down with some of the most compelling voices in tech and management to explore what great engineering leadership actually looks like. Beyond consulting, Ben is an active angel investor through Misty Mountain Ventures and the Association of Industrial Engineers Germany (VWI), backing early-stage founders coming out of university and helping them turn bold ideas into real companies.

Benjamin Igna is the founder of Stellar Work, a consultancy helping engineering organizations rethink developer experience, productivity, and team design in the age of AI. On the Stellar Work Podcast, he sits down with some of the most compelling voi... Show more

I’m an expert in team, project and product management, conference speaker, public speaking coach, academic lecturer, book author and TEDx organizer.

I work in the financial sector, leading complex tech projects - including those related to digital identity. My role sits at the crossroads of IT, business and governance, where aligning perspectives is a daily challenge. In the past I’ve built entire DevOps competence center, always with a focus on communication, agility and a solid dose of common sense. I believe in people, collaboration and context-driven decisions.

I speak at conferences across Poland and Europe, running talks and workshops on leadership, agile, communication and teamwork. I also deliver my own trainings based on the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology. I’m mentor for TEDx speakers and organizer or TEDxUniversity of Lodz / TEDxPabianice / TEDxŁódź - events that gathers big audience and strong online engagement.

I hold degrees from the University of Łódź (International Relations and HR Management), MBA from Lodz University of Technology and Illinois State University, and a postgraduate diploma in IT Project Management. Outside of work, I’m a dad of two sons – which is great preparation for agile coaching. I write humorous, educational books for kids and collect the finest corporate memes life has to offer.

I love teaching, creating, connecting – and I always ask one question: “What if we did it differently?”

I’m an expert in team, project and product management, conference speaker, public speaking coach, academic lecturer, book author and TEDx organizer. I work in the financial sector, leading complex tech projects - including those related to digital... Show more

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packaging, and served as a linguist in the Air Force. He taught himself HTML when the Netscape browser was still a thing, and the rest is history.

Phil is a twenty-year veteran of the software development industry in the Kansas City area. If you’re in the Kansas City area, he is two degrees of separation away from any programmer you know and has probably worked for, at, or with your company.

When the agile movement hit town, Phil knew a good thing when he saw it and became an early adopter of first wave agile practices. He has used these practices to ideate, build, and complete software projects ranging from loan forecasting to routing irrigation trucks to managing pharmacies to predictive lead generation to selling teddy bears. When people ask what vertical his company serves, he says, “Yours.”

Phil has incorporated Lean methodologies into software development just like his father used to do in manufacturing. When he partnered with Travis Dietz to start Integrity Inspired Solutions in 2012, they laid the foundation in Lean to make the custom software development enterprise more humane, predictable, and focused on the success of everyone involved.

A regular speaker at developer, Lean, and Agile conferences, Phil has a passion for taking his company’s ways to other companies whether they create software or not. He loves to see them transform from a collection of interactions riddled with disappointments and broken promises to team-oriented relational companies enjoying newfound trust, joy, efficiency, and success. Several companies from all over the world in all different industries contract Phil to help coach them through their own journeys. He also hosts the successful "Agile Bites" podcast.

When he’s not helping project managers learn predictive metrics or helping developers write customer-focused features, he’s enjoying a wide array of highly geeky hobbies including fantasy and sci-fi novels, gaming, and teaching Filipino stick fighting. His main hobby is making the world a better place for everyone who has to share the planet with him, and the engine for that is love.

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packagi... Show more

Savannah Dill is an influential Business Intelligence Analyst, deeply passionate about Microsoft's Power Platform. Her mission is to demystify data analytics and empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions using data insights, blending technical with storytelling.

Outside of her professional life, Savannah dedicates her time to managing "Not a Pickle Blog" and is in the process of launching a podcast named "D20 Dynamics," aiming to broaden her educational outreach and foster deeper community engagement. S

Always warm and human.

Savannah Dill is an influential Business Intelligence Analyst, deeply passionate about Microsoft's Power Platform. Her mission is to demystify data analytics and empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions using data insights, bl... Show more

Niels Naglé is a Area Lead Data & AI - Architect, Data specialist, Podcast host(AITodayLive), co-host webcast Data Discovery Channel( Data &AI), Trainer and Speaker at Info Support. As a consultant he specializes in data & AI solutions, business intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, data management, data governance, data mesh, Machine Learning and Analytics. Niels has consulted for a wide variety of companies in diverse sectors on enterprise business intelligence, Analytics, self-service BI etc. He is passionate about data & AI and loves to share his experiences and expertise with like-minded individuals and organizations unlocking their data dividend. Currently working as architect, on designing smart data & AI solutions and delivering training and sharing knowledge via podcast, webcast and conferences.

Niels Naglé is a Area Lead Data & AI - Architect, Data specialist, Podcast host(AITodayLive), co-host webcast Data Discovery Channel( Data &AI), Trainer and Speaker at Info Support. As a consultant he specializes in data & AI solutions, business inte... Show more

Martin Rojas leads AI Acceleration at PlayOn Sports, transforming how the 400+ person organization adopts AI. He moves teams from experimentation to production—building literacy and infrastructure to ship reliable AI features at scale.
As AI Acceleration Lead, Martin drives strategy and hands-on implementation: computer vision for automated sports broadcasting, LLM systems, and workflow automation that reduces real toil. He runs AI office hours, designs workshops, and cultivates AI champions across departments while establishing governance that enables speed without liability.
Martin speaks at DevNexus, Google DevFest, and ATL Dev Con on practical GenAI and prompt engineering as a discipline. He organizes ReactATL, Atlanta's 3,000+ member React community, and is a Cloudinary Media Developer Expert.
Previously architected solutions for Coca-Cola, Nike, and AT&T. Georgia Tech graduate, native Spanish speaker.

Martin Rojas leads AI Acceleration at PlayOn Sports, transforming how the 400+ person organization adopts AI. He moves teams from experimentation to production—building literacy and infrastructure to ship reliable AI features at scale. As AI Acceler... Show more

Joy Marie Curtis is an AI and organizational transformation executive specializing in Agentic AI, enterprise deployment, and global team scaling. She currently serves as Head of Organizational Development at NeuralSeek, where she leads enterprise AI strategy, delivery models, and talent pipelines across regulated industries including government, healthcare, insurance, and financial services.

Joy’s career began in education, an experience that deeply shaped her leadership philosophy: complex systems succeed when they are designed for people first. That foundation now informs her work guiding organizations through large-scale AI adoption—helping executives cut through hype, reduce risk, and turn AI from experimentation into measurable business impact.

She has overseen 40+ enterprise AI initiatives, delivering Agentic AI solutions across IBM, AWS, and Azure, and ensuring deployments meet PCI, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance standards. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy, governance, and execution—aligning executives, legal and compliance teams, technologists, and end users around a shared operating model for AI.

A sought-after speaker, Joy challenges the tendency to overcomplicate AI implementation. She introduces leaders to metacognitive approaches to AI adoption—thinking deliberately about how organizations think, decide, and deploy—so AI initiatives remain grounded in purpose, accountability, and outcomes. She speaks candidly about both successes and failures, offering practical frameworks that help organizations move AI from concept to real-world, scalable impact.

Joy has presented at LASCON 2025, Microsoft Azure, and Google’s Agentic AI forums, speaking to executives, developers, and compliance leaders on responsible AI deployment, enterprise readiness, and scaling AI organizations globally.

Joy Marie Curtis is an AI and organizational transformation executive specializing in Agentic AI, enterprise deployment, and global team scaling. She currently serves as Head of Organizational Development at NeuralSeek, where she leads enterprise AI ... 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

Linda has been navigating the tech landscape for over a decade. She is specialized in Cloud Technologies, IT Process Optimization, and Agile Methodologies. When she is not guiding companies on their cloud journey, she is diving into AI/ML Services and Technologies, and sharing her insights at AWS community events and other tech platforms.

Beyond her professional commitments, Linda is an AWS Community Hero and deeply involved in Women in Tech initiatives, advocating for greater representation and inclusivity. In Vienna, she is the familiar face behind AWS meetups and other community gatherings, creating a welcoming space where every voice is valued and heard. In addition, Linda holds the title of Chairperson for the AWS Community DACH Support Association and is member of the Funding Advisory Board of netidee.

Linda has been navigating the tech landscape for over a decade. She is specialized in Cloud Technologies, IT Process Optimization, and Agile Methodologies. When she is not guiding companies on their cloud journey, she is diving into AI/ML Services an... Show more

Aubrey Wade is a seasoned consulting professional, speaker, certified coach and counselor, and blogger with a passion for transforming workplace relationships and driving positive change. Based in Memphis, TN, she specializes in helping organizations improve processes, build strong teams, and guide C-suite leaders in driving company-wide transformation. With a proven and successful hands-on, results-driven approach, Aubrey isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo to help companies reach their full potential.

Armed with a degree in Psychology and over 20 years of experience in technology, Aubrey has successfully partnered with multiple Fortune 300 companies to enhance team dynamics, streamline processes, and deliver consistent, successful releases. Her expertise spans organizational transformation, enterprise reporting, and optimizing performance at all levels.

Outside of her consulting work, Aubrey is a devoted wife, sister, and mother to three daughters, and she enjoys speaking and teaching across the country. Her greatest passion is helping people grow — starting with herself.

Aubrey Wade is a seasoned consulting professional, speaker, certified coach and counselor, and blogger with a passion for transforming workplace relationships and driving positive change. Based in Memphis, TN, she specializes in helping organizations... Show more

Cory is an author, a 12 time Microsoft MVP, and international speaker. He is founder of reactjsconsulting, where he helps companies transition to React. He has trained over 10,000 software developers at conferences and businesses worldwide. Cory has authored over a dozen courses on JavaScript, React, C#, testing, and web development on Pluralsight and Dometrain. He shares software development tips daily on X as @housecor.

Cory is an author, a 12 time Microsoft MVP, and international speaker. He is founder of reactjsconsulting, where he helps companies transition to React. He has trained over 10,000 software developers at conferences and businesses worldwide. Cory has ... Show more

I am an Asp.Net Insider and a Software Engineering Manager with over 22 years of software development experience. I am also active in the regional software development community, organizing a monthly software development meetup (Lincoln.Code) and an annual software development conference (Nebraska.Code).

I am an Asp.Net Insider and a Software Engineering Manager with over 22 years of software development experience. I am also active in the regional software development community, organizing a monthly software development meetup (Lincoln.Code) and an ... Show more

I’m Elena, a Microsoft MVP, DataViz & UX Consultant, and international speaker on a mission to balance and clarity to the dashboard universe.

Through MoonStory, I help organizations flip their Power BI reports from cluttered and confusing to accessible, engaging, and actually delightful to use.

Whether I'm designing a report, leading a workshop, or speaking on stage, I bring a little magic, a lot of joy, and a deep belief that better data design leads to better decisions—and happier users.

I’m Elena, a Microsoft MVP, DataViz & UX Consultant, and international speaker on a mission to balance and clarity to the dashboard universe. Through MoonStory, I help organizations flip their Power BI reports from cluttered and confusing to acces... Show more

Kristen holds an M.Ed, a mini-MBA in Lean Six Sigma, is a Prosci certified Change Management Specialist, and certified Scrum Master. As a change and adoption specialist she uses change management and learning best practices to help organizations achieve successful adoption of their software deployment. As a thought leader, she also has several years' experience in leadership development and providing professional development workshops. Her book, The Impossible Box, will help you change your own behaviors to develop the habits you need to achieve your biggest goals.

Kristen holds an M.Ed, a mini-MBA in Lean Six Sigma, is a Prosci certified Change Management Specialist, and certified Scrum Master. As a change and adoption specialist she uses change management and learning best practices to help organizations achi... Show more

Isabella Johnston is an AI Workforce Architect and Founder redefining hiring through measurable alignment, ethical AI, and accelerated learning. As Founder & CEO of Employers 4 Change (E4C), she has built an AI-enabled platform that aligns talent to mission, values, and cognitive skill requirements—shifting hiring from subjective decisions to validated, data-driven outcomes.

With over 20 years of experience across education, workforce development, and leadership, Isabella focuses on solving one of the most persistent challenges in business: how to identify and develop the right talent in an AI-driven economy. Her work introduces alignment scoring models that measure what actually drives success, helping organizations reduce bias, improve quality of hire, and accelerate workforce readiness.

A sought-after speaker on ethical AI and the future of work, Isabella is known for translating complex systems into practical, actionable strategies for leaders, technologists, and educators.

Isabella Johnston is an AI Workforce Architect and Founder redefining hiring through measurable alignment, ethical AI, and accelerated learning. As Founder & CEO of Employers 4 Change (E4C), she has built an AI-enabled platform that aligns talent to ... Show more

Microsoft MVP Data Platform
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate, Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate, Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate, Power BI Data Analyst Associate

Over 7 years successfully working as an independent Power BI developer and data analyst within the public and private sector.

Reporting solutions range from project management, planning , financial reporting, specific service sector reporting, bespoke data cleansing and sentiment analysis.

15 years of lecturing in Business and Computing before starting my own business.

I am passionate about data in general and how we can harness information to grow business. Knowledge of R, SQL and C# but main love is Python, M and DAX.

When not in front of the screen, I love to run and walk my dog and be outside.

Microsoft MVP Data Platform Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate, Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate, Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate, Power BI Data Analyst Associate Over 7 years successfully working as an independent Po... Show more

Preston Chandler is a transformation leader and systems strategist with more than 20 years of experience helping complex organizations improve how they operate, innovate, and deliver value.

He currently serves as the Global Lead of Strategic Operations at WPP, where he works across marketing and engineering organizations to improve decision velocity, operational design, and large-scale delivery performance. In parallel, he is a Managing Partner at Centered, advising executive leaders on building innovation-ready teams and sustainable operating models.

Preston’s work sits at the intersection of engineering, product, and marketing — designing systems that reduce friction, accelerate learning, and align technical execution with business strategy. Over his career, he has partnered with more than 100 teams across industries including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, digital product development, supply chain, and enterprise technology. His client experience includes Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Ford, Sprint, Novartis, and VML.

He specializes in diagnosing systemic bottlenecks, improving alignment in complex environments, and helping senior teams scale without losing adaptability.

Preston brings a pragmatic, systems-level lens to innovation — focusing not just on frameworks, but on how organizations actually behave under pressure.

Preston Chandler is a transformation leader and systems strategist with more than 20 years of experience helping complex organizations improve how they operate, innovate, and deliver value. He currently serves as the Global Lead of Strategic Opera... Show more

Sharon is the founder and CEO of Smarter Consulting, a business and technology consulting company. She founded her business to grow and diversify the technology resource pool. She has created a business based on diversity, inclusion, and opportunity.

As a Microsoft RD, MVP, MCT, and Productivity Expert, Sharon's background in Software Development, Business and Systems Analysis, Project Management, and Agile combined with her Developmental Psychology degree and Six Sigma Black Belt blend perfectly with her love of helping and training people to make her a well-rounded leader, consultant, and coach.

Solving both process and technical problems, Sharon has the unique ability to listen and uncover client pain points to develop a plan that will not only build the needed solutions but also drive change, adoption, and education in a way not typically seen from technical consultants.

Being part of the community is extremely important and she is an active leader, participant, and mentor. Sharon speaks professionally globally on subjects such as Microsoft 365, Business Analysis, Leadership, Teamwork, and Women in Technology. She is the founder and lead organizer of the Kansas City M365 User Group, CollabCon, and the Founding President of the Kansas City IIBA chapter.

When she's not working, Sharon watches tv and movies, reads, hangs out with her family, or is traveling somewhere interesting, most likely on a cruise ship out of the country with limited access to communication.

Sharon is the founder and CEO of Smarter Consulting, a business and technology consulting company. She founded her business to grow and diversify the technology resource pool. She has created a business based on diversity, inclusion, and opportunity.... Show more

Dan has spent more than 30 years as a software engineer and technical leader, learning better ways to ship and get feedback the team needs.

He's been the Dev in Ops teams, built new paved paths, guided engineering groups to better security, and trained folk in Agile engineering.

He uses his experience in people and coaching to lead and guide teams, strengthen technical excellence and grow technical leadership.

Dan has spent more than 30 years as a software engineer and technical leader, learning better ways to ship and get feedback the team needs. He's been the Dev in Ops teams, built new paved paths, guided engineering groups to better security, and tr... Show more