Business & Management

Professionals who specialize in the organization and oversight of business activities, as well as focus on planning, directing, and controlling company operations

Samantha St-Louis (Allegrini)

Samantha St-Louis (Allegrini)


Samantha St-Louis is the VP of AI App Innovation at Atmosera, where she leads enterprise-scale AI and agentic system strategy for global organizations. Her work focuses on designing intelligent, scalable AI architectures that move beyond experimentation into real operational and business impact.

With a background spanning cloud architecture, AI engineering, healthcare, and education, Samantha specializes in translating complex AI concepts into clear decision frameworks that executives, architects, and practitioners can actually use. She is known for building systems that connect strategy to execution, whether that means multi-agent orchestration, AI governance, or practical GenAI adoption.

As a Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer, Samantha brings a rare blend of hands-on technical depth and compelling communication. Her talks are pragmatic, honest, and grounded in real projects helping organizations avoid AI sprawl and focus on outcomes.

Beyond technology, Samantha is a strong advocate for women carving unconventional paths into tech leadership. Her own journey informs her work, her teaching style, and her belief that clarity, structure, and courage matter more than traditional credentials.

1. From AI Pilots to Platforms: Designing Enterprise-Grade Agentic AI
2. AI Literacy for Leaders: Making Confident Decisions in an Imperfect World
3. Better Decisions, Not Better Dashboards: How AI Actually Improves Business Outcomes

Samantha St-Louis is the VP of AI App Innovation at Atmosera, where she leads enterprise-scale AI and agentic system strategy for global organizations. Her work focuses on designing intelligent, scalable AI architectures that move beyond experiment... Show more

Nicole Enders

Nicole Enders

Nicole Enders lives and breathes Modern Work.

As a Microsoft MVP and Evangelist for Microsoft based Solutions, she turns cloud tech into real‑world impact - think Microsoft Teams makeovers and Power Platform magic.

For 15 + years she’s crafted collaboration experiences that stick, blending out‑of‑the‑box features with tailor‑made code until every social intranet or digital workplace feels like it was built just for you.

Catch Nicole on conference stages, in her books, or on her blog, where she shares hands‑on tips and a healthy dose of geeky enthusiasm.

Nicole Enders lives and breathes Modern Work. As a Microsoft MVP and Evangelist for Microsoft based Solutions, she turns cloud tech into real‑world impact - think Microsoft Teams makeovers and Power Platform magic. For 15 + years she’s crafted ... Show more

Samir Makwana

Samir Makwana

Samir Makwana empowers enterprises and government agencies to harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud—and especially its cutting-edge AI stack—to build secure, value-driven businesses. With 17 years as a software developer, pre-sales engineer, and solution architect, he’s architected end-to-end IT transformations that blend security, automation, and collaboration.

A true AI evangelist, Samir designs PoCs and production systems leveraging Azure AI services (Cognitive Services, Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel), Copilot Studio, and Power Platform AI—applying deep prompt engineering, vector search/RAG patterns, and grounding techniques to deliver next-gen user experiences. He’s integrated generative AI agents into Office 365 and custom apps, automated workflows with Power Automate and Logic Apps, and secured data with Zero Trust and Microsoft Purview.

As Founder & Principal Architect of Cloudtrify Inc., Samir crafts both short- and long-term cloud-native and AI solutions that drive ROI, user adoption, and maintainability—always with responsible AI and compliance top-of-mind.

Samir Makwana empowers enterprises and government agencies to harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud—and especially its cutting-edge AI stack—to build secure, value-driven businesses. With 17 years as a software developer, pre-sales engineer, and ... Show more

Hasan Jamal(Jammy) Siddiqui

Hasan Jamal(Jammy) Siddiqui

I am an experienced AI Automations & Agentic Solutions Architect, Power Automate, Power BI, O365, Azure, and SharePoint professional with 20+ years in the IT industry. Holding PMP, TOGAF® 9, and ITIL certifications, and a Canadian PR holder, I specialize in cloud solutions, enterprise architecture, IT governance, and digital transformation. My expertise spans Power Platform, SharePoint, OneDrive,Teams,DevOps, and AWS/Azure,, empowering businesses to optimize their IT environments and accelerate innovation. As an Application Advisor, I provide strategic guidance on the entire application lifecycle, ensuring that business applications fully align with technical, operational, and governance standards.
Key Skills:
Power Platform, Power BI, Sharepoint, Teams, Azure, DevOps, GitHub/GitLab, Ansible, Jira, Confluence, Jenkins, Maven, SonarQube,Terraform, C#.Net, ServiceNow, SharePoint/Project Server/TFS Migration & Upgrades, Analytics, AWS, Workflows, SSRS Reporting, EMC-SourceOne, MS Flow, Core DevOps,Linux Administration, Microservices, REST APIs, Architecture, and Consulting

• Application Advisor: Provided expert advice on application lifecycle management, ensuring that business applications were optimized and aligned with business objectives, technical specifications, and governance standards.
• Operational Leadership: Managed operations for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Power Platform portfolios, ensuring compliance with Information Governance and IT best practices.
• Vendor & Service Management: Oversaw vendor performance, managed critical incidents, and ensured the delivery of IT services met performance and operational KPIs.
• Application Implementation & Optimization: Configured, implemented, and optimized application solutions to meet business objectives while adhering to IT best practices.
• Business Relationship Management: Built and maintained strong relationships with business stakeholders to ensure operational support.
• Continuous Improvement: Identified opportunities for process improvements and implemented solutions that enhanced service delivery, application performance, and overall efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked closely with Solution Architects, Project Managers, and technical teams to ensure successful delivery and seamless service transitions.
• Disaster Recovery & Compliance: Led disaster recovery testing and supported IT compliance efforts (SOX, Cybersecurity, PCI), minimizing disruption during system upgrades and migrations.
• Lifecycle & Asset Management: Managed IT asset lifecycles, including health checks, license management, and optimization.

I am an experienced AI Automations & Agentic Solutions Architect, Power Automate, Power BI, O365, Azure, and SharePoint professional with 20+ years in the IT industry. Holding PMP, TOGAF® 9, and ITIL certifications, and a Canadian PR holder, I specia... Show more

Kanwal Khipple

Kanwal Khipple

Kanwal Khipple is the CEO and Founder of 2toLead, a trailblazing consulting firm dedicated to innovative digital workplace transformations. Over the past decade, he has established himself as a trusted authority in creating engaging, award-winning employee experiences that seamlessly blend design, technology, and human-centric thinking. Recognized by the Nielsen Norman Group for designing two Top 10 Intranets, Kanwal continues to influence how modern organizations enhance collaboration, learning, and performance.

As AI reshapes how employees interact with information and one another, Kanwal focuses on leveraging cutting-edge tools—like personalization engines, intelligent chatbots, and workplace analytics—to drive meaningful, future-ready workplaces. A long-standing Microsoft 365 community contributor and Microsoft and Business Applications MVP since 2009, he frequently speaks on the value of embracing emerging technologies to amplify rather than replace human connection. His mission is to ensure that as we evolve our workplaces with AI, we do so ethically, responsibly, and with enduring human value at the core.

Kanwal Khipple is the CEO and Founder of 2toLead, a trailblazing consulting firm dedicated to innovative digital workplace transformations. Over the past decade, he has established himself as a trusted authority in creating engaging, award-winning em... Show more

Michelle "MishManners" Duke

Michelle "MishManners" Duke

Mish is a multi-talented personality in the tech and gaming communities. Mish has worked in the technology space for the last decade and has a tonne of experience in developer advocacy, community management, marketing, and content creation. Mish has spoken at over 400 events on topics like AI, the future of work, communication, teamwork, and has given technical demos. She's a respected leader in the hackathon community, having won, organised, and mentored over 120 hackathons.

Mish is a successful entrepreneur and founder, having co-founded several companies – including an artificial intelligence company, and as a result, sits at the forefront of Melbourne’s science, tech, esports, and startup scenes. In her 'spare' time she’s a streamer, journalist, loves playing sports, and is always working on something exciting.

Mish is a multi-talented personality in the tech and gaming communities. Mish has worked in the technology space for the last decade and has a tonne of experience in developer advocacy, community management, marketing, and content creation. Mish has ... Show more

Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant is a distinguished Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), renowned for her deep expertise in advanced analytics, machine learning, AI, data warehousing, and the evolving landscape of Microsoft Fabric. As a sought-after consultant, Ginger empowers organizations to harness the full potential of their data ecosystems.

Beyond consulting, Ginger is a prolific thought leader and speaker for both keynotes and technical training. She contributes regularly as a columnist for Code Magazine, authors insightful books, and shares practical knowledge on her blog, DesertIsleSQL.com. Her educational impact spans a wide range of technologies, including Azure Synapse Analytics, Python, and Azure Machine Learning, making her a trusted voice in the data community.

Whether on stage, in print, or in the classroom, Ginger’s passion for data and commitment to knowledge-sharing make her a standout figure in the world of data and AI.

Ginger Grant is a distinguished Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), renowned for her deep expertise in advanced analytics, machine learning, AI, data warehousing, and the evolving landscape of Microsoft Fabric. As a sou... Show more

Ran Isenberg

Ran Isenberg

Ran Isenberg is an AWS Serverless Hero, a Principal Software Architect at Palo Alto Networks, and a consultant specializing in Platform Engineering and Serverless.
With 15+ years of experience in software development and security, Ran has spent the last 6+ years designing and building customer-facing SaaS Serverless services, ensuring the highest production readiness and security standards.
Ran maintains a website - RanTheBuilder.cloud where he shares his knowledge and speaking sessions.
On a personal note, Ran is a proud father of two boys, an amateur barista, and plays the electric guitar.

Ran Isenberg is an AWS Serverless Hero, a Principal Software Architect at Palo Alto Networks, and a consultant specializing in Platform Engineering and Serverless. With 15+ years of experience in software development and security, Ran has spent the... Show more

Kimasia Ayers

Kimasia Ayers

Kimasia Ayers is a sociologist, systems thinker, consultant, and strategist whose work lives at the intersection of business analysis, human behavior, design, and organizational change. She is widely recognized for helping organizations navigate complexity with clarity, guiding insight from discovery through decision and into action in ways that hold under real-world conditions.

Rooted in social innovation, Kimasia brings a rare blend of creative human-centered insight and rigorous structure to change enablement. Her work centers on preserving meaning under pressure, designing for adoption, and strengthening how understanding moves across strategy, technology, governance, and execution. She is known for developing original frameworks that help teams communicate complexity, align across disciplines, and sustain transformation within the complexity of society.

Through her consulting practice, Kimasia partners with organizations, institutions, and leaders to support thoughtful, resilient change. She also leads a social enterprise dedicated to translating complex social and organizational dynamics into accessible, actionable understanding that empowers individuals, teams, and communities. Grounded in empathy, systems awareness, and deep analytical discipline, Kimasia’s work reflects a core belief that meaningful change emerges when human insight and structured analysis work together.

Kimasia Ayers is a sociologist, systems thinker, consultant, and strategist whose work lives at the intersection of business analysis, human behavior, design, and organizational change. She is widely recognized for helping organizations navigate comp... Show more

Prerit Munjal

Prerit Munjal

Prerit is a Cloud-Native Platform Leader with extensive experience designing and scaling secure, resilient cloud infrastructures. As the former CTO of KubeCloud, he built no-code solutions bridging Cloud, DevOps, and SRE, leading the company to a successful acquisition. Currently, he drives cloud-native, observability, CI/CD, and AI initiatives as a technical leader at Groupon.

Prerit is a Cloud-Native Platform Leader with extensive experience designing and scaling secure, resilient cloud infrastructures. As the former CTO of KubeCloud, he built no-code solutions bridging Cloud, DevOps, and SRE, leading the company to a suc... Show more

Steve Buchanan

Steve Buchanan

Steve is a startup advisor and technology leader delivering cloud and cloud-native (Kubernetes, AKS, Argo CD, Backstage) services at a leading tech company powering SaaS products for Apple management used by 70,000+ customers worldwide. He is a Pluralsight author, the author of nine technical books, 11-time Microsoft MVP, Docker Captain and Tekne award winner.

He has presented at tech events including: Applied AI, Minnebar18 Keynote, DevOps Days, Open Source North, Midwest Management Summit (MMS), Microsoft Ignite, BITCon, Experts Live Europe, OSCON, and various user groups.

He has been a guest on over a dozen podcasts and featured in several publications including the Star Tribune (the 5th largest newspaper in the US).

He stays active in the technical community and enjoys blogging about his adventures in the world of IT at www.buchatech.com

Steve is a startup advisor and technology leader delivering cloud and cloud-native (Kubernetes, AKS, Argo CD, Backstage) services at a leading tech company powering SaaS products for Apple management used by 70,000+ customers worldwide. He is a Plura... Show more

Cortney Nickerson

Cortney Nickerson

Cortney Nickerson is the Head of Community at Nirmata and a CNCF Ambassador. She is highly active in the cloud native community, co-organizing the CNCF Bilbao Community and various Kubernetes Community Days, serving on the State of OpenCon Advisory Board, and co-hosting the "Code to Culture Platform Engineering Podcast" and "PolicyBytes" podcast.

A recognized speaker at international events, Cortney transitioned from a non-technical background to tech as an early employee (#7) at a startup later acquired by DataDog, where she wrote content for the Data on Kubernetes Community.

Beyond technology, she is a vocal advocate for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and openly shares her experiences with imposter syndrome. On a personal note, she's also a parent navigating the challenge of getting her kids to bed on time.

Cortney Nickerson is the Head of Community at Nirmata and a CNCF Ambassador. She is highly active in the cloud native community, co-organizing the CNCF Bilbao Community and various Kubernetes Community Days, serving on the State of OpenCon Advisory B... Show more

Gethyn Ellis

Gethyn Ellis

Gethyn is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and consultant helping organisations modernise their data platforms with SQL Server, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and AI. He leads a UK consultancy that supports clients across Europe and North America with migrations, high-availability design, performance engineering, analytics strategy, and data governance. A Microsoft Certified Trainer with over 200 courses delivered, he speaks widely on data transformation, analytics, and the future of AI-powered business.

Gethyn is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and consultant helping organisations modernise their data platforms with SQL Server, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and AI. He leads a UK consultancy that supports clients across Europe and North America wi... Show more

Mathias Halkjaer

Mathias Halkjaer

Mathias is a data enthusiast with a great passion for the synergy between data analytics and cloud data platforms.

As a Senior Director at Inspari he works with building up clients' data capabilities, implementing data platform technologies and all-in-all maximize the impact of their data.

Being a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, he is very passionate about sharing anything with community, especially something around turning data into impact!

With a background in Product Development and Innovation, Mathias brings a unique 'Data Product' perspective to the realm of data architecture, and is obsessed with the bigger picture. With his slightly rebellious attitude, he's not afraid to challenge the status quo and break industry norms to find new and better solutions.

Mathias is a data enthusiast with a great passion for the synergy between data analytics and cloud data platforms. As a Senior Director at Inspari he works with building up clients' data capabilities, implementing data platform technologies and a... Show more

Nathalie Leenders

Nathalie Leenders

Nathalie started off as a hairstylist who could often fix the computer. She found her love for computers, and quickly turned to IT.

Now after almost 15 years in IT she has found her true passion in the Power Platform and it's community.
Anything she learn along the way she wishes to teach to others, so she also became a trainer, speaker and MCT.

She's an MVP in Business Applications and hobbyist PowerBI. She loves cats, rollercoasters and travelling.
You'll often find her on the community calls posting the dancing badgers gif whenever someone mentions the word badge, and actively encourages others to pursue their badge quests.

Nathalie started off as a hairstylist who could often fix the computer. She found her love for computers, and quickly turned to IT. Now after almost 15 years in IT she has found her true passion in the Power Platform and it's community. Anythin... Show more

Anton Babenko

Anton Babenko

Anton is an AWS Community Hero and helps companies around the globe build solutions using AWS, and specializes in infrastructure-as-code, DevOps, and reusable infrastructure components.

He spends much of his time as an open-source contributor on various Terraform & AWS projects, such as Terraform AWS modules (downloaded more than 2 billion times), Terraform best practices ebook (www.terraform-best-practices.com), doing serverless with Terraform (serverless.tf), Terraform Weekly (weekly.tf), Your Weekly Dose of Terraform (http://bit.ly/terraform-youtube).

Anton is an AWS Community Hero and helps companies around the globe build solutions using AWS, and specializes in infrastructure-as-code, DevOps, and reusable infrastructure components. He spends much of his time as an open-source contributor on v... Show more

Pauline Kolde

Pauline Kolde

Always on the road in search of inspiration and ideas. I have been a consultant for Dynamics 365 and Customer Experience for more than 8 years. My focus is on customer insights and there is so much to discover that it never gets boring. My curiosity drives me to try and test things - be it new technologies or innovative methods to solve complex challenges. #staycurious
And in my spare time, things never get boring. When I’m not working on client projects or writing my blog, you’ll likely find me exploring the world, enjoying great food with friends, or knitting away – always with yarn in hand.

Always on the road in search of inspiration and ideas. I have been a consultant for Dynamics 365 and Customer Experience for more than 8 years. My focus is on customer insights and there is so much to discover that it never gets boring. My curiosity ... Show more

Jean-Yves Klein

Jean-Yves Klein

Senior Agile Coach, Jean-Yves Klein has worn many hats: developer, project manager, program director, head of IT… This diverse background gives him a 360° view of agility — from hands-on delivery to executive strategy.

Certified in PMI, SAFe, and Disciplined Agile, he has coached teams across IT, mechanical engineering, electronics, marketing, and legal. His approach is always tailored to the team, the project, and the organization — no cookie-cutter solutions here.

A passionate educator, he has designed over 10 Serious Games, including several with LEGO, to bring Agile, SAFe, DevOps, and key roles like Product Owner and Scrum Master to life. With him, learning is hands-on, fun, and unforgettable.

Senior Agile Coach, Jean-Yves Klein has worn many hats: developer, project manager, program director, head of IT… This diverse background gives him a 360° view of agility — from hands-on delivery to executive strategy. Certified in PMI, SAFe, and ... Show more

Michelle Sandford

Michelle Sandford

Michelle Sandford is a Developer Engagement Leader who writes code, builds with GitHub and Azure AI, and learns out loud. She likes sharing what’s useful (and what isn’t), and believes shipping is better than talking about it:

- A community builder, connecting MVPs, user groups, universities, and developer communities into thriving ecosystems that learn together and lift each other higher.
- A technical storyteller, Michelle shapes how the world talks about AI‑powered engineering and Azure innovation bringing clarity, curiosity, and creativity to every conversation.
- A program strategist, designing scalable, repeatable motions that help developers grow their capability and confidence at pace with a rapidly evolving industry.
- A bridge between engineering and the field making sure developers feel heard, supported, and empowered, from the first line of code to the final production push.

Michelle Sandford is a Developer Engagement Leader who writes code, builds with GitHub and Azure AI, and learns out loud. She likes sharing what’s useful (and what isn’t), and believes shipping is better than talking about it: - A community builde... Show more

Julie Yack

Julie Yack

Julie Yack is a seasoned technology expert, dynamic speaker, and passionate advocate for empowering individuals and organizations through innovation. With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, Julie brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to her speaking engagements.

As a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Business Applications, Julie is recognized for her exceptional expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Her deep technical understanding, coupled with her ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner, makes her a sought-after speaker at conferences, user groups, and industry events worldwide.

Julie is known for her engaging and interactive presentations, where she shares practical tips, real-world examples, and best practices to help attendees unlock the full potential of their technology investments. Whether discussing the latest trends in cloud computing, demonstrating innovative solutions using low-code/no-code platforms, or sharing insights on digital transformation strategies, Julie's sessions are always informative, inspiring, and thought-provoking.

In addition to her speaking engagements, Julie is also a prolific writer, blogger, and community leader. She shares her expertise and experiences through her blog, social media channels, and contributions to industry publications. Her dedication to empowering others and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning has earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues and peers alike.

When she's not immersed in the world of technology, Julie enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring new culinary adventures. She is a firm believer in the power of technology to drive positive change and is committed to helping individuals and organizations harness its full potential.

Julie Yack is a seasoned technology expert, dynamic speaker, and passionate advocate for empowering individuals and organizations through innovation. With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, Julie brings a wealth of knowledge a... Show more

Eric Boyd

Eric Boyd

Eric D. Boyd is a highly experienced entrepreneur, public speaker, and author with nearly 30 years of experience in the technology industry. He is the founder and CEO of responsiveX, a Microsoft partner and digital innovation consultancy. Eric is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, delivering keynote speeches, breakout sessions, and participating in panel discussions at many industry events. He is a Microsoft Azure and AI MVP, a Regional Director, and has extensive experience helping organizations with system design and architecture, cloud-native development, and artificial intelligence. Eric is the co-author of "Step-by-Step Azure SQL Database" and has contributed to several other publications. He shares his expertise and insights through his blog, social media, podcast interviews, and educational videos. Eric is committed to giving back to the community and supporting the next generation of technology leaders.

Eric D. Boyd is a highly experienced entrepreneur, public speaker, and author with nearly 30 years of experience in the technology industry. He is the founder and CEO of responsiveX, a Microsoft partner and digital innovation consultancy. Eric is a s... Show more

Manuel Sanchez Rodriguez

Manuel Sanchez Rodriguez

Global CTO of the Microsoft Alliance at NTT DATA Corp. | Microsoft MVP Azure & AI Platform.
Passionate about new technologies, highlighting Netcore , Microsoft Azure, Xamarin, IA, Bots and ASP.NET. Passionate about team management. I contribute to the developers community writing articles in my personal blog and giving speeches in numerous events. I am also one of the Netcoreconf leads.

Global CTO of the Microsoft Alliance at NTT DATA Corp. | Microsoft MVP Azure & AI Platform. Passionate about new technologies, highlighting Netcore , Microsoft Azure, Xamarin, IA, Bots and ASP.NET. Passionate about team management. I contribute to ... Show more

Kevin Griffin

Kevin Griffin

Kevin Griffin has been running production .NET applications and teaching developers for over two decades. A 16-time Microsoft MVP specializing in ASP.NET Core and Azure, Kevin brings real-world experience from his own SaaS products alongside his consulting work at Swift Kick. He's hosted the Hampton Roads .NET User Group since 2009 and founded RevolutionVA, the nonprofit behind Hampton Roads DevFest. Kevin's talks blend hard-won lessons from production systems with practical advice you can use Monday morning.

Kevin Griffin has been running production .NET applications and teaching developers for over two decades. A 16-time Microsoft MVP specializing in ASP.NET Core and Azure, Kevin brings real-world experience from his own SaaS products alongside his cons... Show more

Laurent Carlier

Laurent Carlier

Laurent is an experienced Microsoft 365 consultant and has a unique combination of technical and functional expertise.

He works daily with worldwide clients in business and education sectors, helping them building, designing and implementing modern workplace & modern teaching with Microsoft Teams and many other Microsoft 365 tools, such as Microsoft Viva.

Covering all aspects from strategies to change management & IT governance, he is always advocating about the importance of human-first approach and the necessary but always forgotten bridges between IT staff, end users & stakeholders.

he loves sharing as a Microsoft MVP his dual expertise in adoption change management & technical governance and can be found presenting in many languages (french, english, japanese) at international conferences and user groups.

Laurent is an experienced Microsoft 365 consultant and has a unique combination of technical and functional expertise. He works daily with worldwide clients in business and education sectors, helping them building, designing and implementing moder... Show more

Spencer Schneidenbach

Spencer Schneidenbach

Spencer Schneidenbach is an AI Architect, President, and CTO of Aviron Labs, an AI and software development firm based in the United States. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for his AI expertise and contributions to the community. Visit our website at https://avironlabs.com for more information.

Spencer Schneidenbach is an AI Architect, President, and CTO of Aviron Labs, an AI and software development firm based in the United States. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for his AI expertise and contributions to the community. Visit our ... Show more

Joshua Higginbotham

Joshua Higginbotham

Joshua Higginbotham is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Senior Data & AI Architect at QSIC, known for bridging the gap between deep technical execution and executive-level strategy. He has built and led data platforms across software engineering, database administration, business intelligence, and AI, with hands-on experience taking ideas from whiteboard to production.

Joshua has worked both as an individual contributor shipping real systems and as a leader guiding teams, roadmaps, and platform modernization efforts. A frequent speaker and Co-Chapter Leader of the Louisville Data Technology Group on Meetup, he’s passionate about helping data professionals build practical, scalable solutions that actually move the business forward.

Joshua Higginbotham is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Senior Data & AI Architect at QSIC, known for bridging the gap between deep technical execution and executive-level strategy. He has built and led data platforms across software engineering, da... Show more

Mónica Mesa

Mónica Mesa

Soy Mónica, una auténtica #datalover que disfruta aprendiendo, compartiendo y, sobre todo, sacándole partido a los datos. Me encanta convertir números en historias que no solo hablen, ¡sino que griten! Mi día a día gira en torno a Power BI y Microsoft Fabric, en esa magia que tiene la analítica inteligente. ¿Mi superpoder? Hacer que hasta el modelo más técnico sea algo divertido.

Microsoft MVP en Data Platform y co-organizadora de Women in Fabric y del Fabric User Group ESP, además de participar en la organización de otros eventos de comunidad como los Power BI Days 2025.

También me gusta trastear con inteligencia artificial, Python, SQL, Machine Learning y PySpark, porque al final, ¿quién puede resistirse a un buen reto técnico?

Cuando no estoy entre datos, modelos y reuniones proponiendo ideas locas, me encontrarás planificando el próximo viaje, con un plato bien picante delante o haciendo fotos como una obsesa. Ah, y contando chistes malos, porque alguien tiene que romper el hielo, ¿no?

Compartir conocimientos y conectar con comunidades de datos es lo que realmente me llena. Los datos y la tecnología no solo nos hacen trabajar mejor, también pueden cambiar cómo vivimos y entendemos el mundo.

Soy Mónica, una auténtica #datalover que disfruta aprendiendo, compartiendo y, sobre todo, sacándole partido a los datos. Me encanta convertir números en historias que no solo hablen, ¡sino que griten! Mi día a día gira en torno a Power BI y Microsof... Show more

Sandra Kiel

Sandra Kiel

Sandra is a Microsoft MVP, speaker, and entrepreneur driven by one question: how can digital work feel more intuitive, motivating, and human? As founder of a company rooted in gaming and interactive experiences, she brings game thinking into the Microsoft ecosystem—from Microsoft 365 and Copilot experiences to Business applications and Collaboration workflows. Sandra translates proven game UX patterns into adoption-friendly solutions that help people navigate complexity with confidence.

Beyond technology, Sandra is a passionate community builder. She actively creates spaces where people connect, learn, and grow and she is especially committed to helping new speakers find their voice. Because her own speaker journey started late, she knows how intimidating the stage can feel. As a woman in tech, she also understands what it takes to be seen and taken seriously, and she mentors others to step forward, build confidence, and shape their own path in the community.

Sandra is a Microsoft MVP, speaker, and entrepreneur driven by one question: how can digital work feel more intuitive, motivating, and human? As founder of a company rooted in gaming and interactive experiences, she brings game thinking into the Micr... Show more

Dr. Gomathi S

Dr. Gomathi S

Dr. S. Gomathi is a distinguished Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Community Lead, and Microsoft Learn Expert, renowned for her expertise in data analytics, AI-driven solutions, and data visualization. She holds 7+ Microsoft certifications, including Microsoft Certified Data Analyst Associate and Power Platform Solution Architect Expert, in addition to being a Google for Education Certified Trainer.

With over 14 years of experience in academia and industry, Dr. Gomathi has excelled as a trainer, professor, and thought leader, specializing in Business Central, Power BI, Power Apps, Tableau, Data Science, ETL tools, Big Data, and Machine Learning. Her work has empowered professionals and organizations to leverage data insights for innovation and efficiency.

She is an active member of the Computer Society of India and has made significant contributions as a peer reviewer and editor for SCOPUS-indexed and international journals. Her expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is reflected in her authorship of two published books, further establishing her authority in the field.

Dr. Gomathi has earned several prestigious awards, including Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records titles, as well as the "Young Scientist" and "Women Scientist" awards. As a holder of seven national and international patents, she continues to inspire the tech and analytics communities, leading the way in the ever-evolving world of innovation.

Dr. S. Gomathi is a distinguished Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Community Lead, and Microsoft Learn Expert, renowned for her expertise in data analytics, AI-driven solutions, and data visualization. She... Show more

Lianne Potter

Lianne Potter

When you follow the cables, behind every piece of tech is a person, consumer and creator, and we should never lose sight of this.

Lianne is an award-winning digital anthropologist and technologists specialising in software engineering, cybersecurity and AI. Lianne’s speaking specialism is to deliver talks that not only challenge audiences, but change them.

She provides strategic consultancy to help organisations build and transform security operations into resilient, forward-thinking teams. As former Head of SecOps for Europe’s largest greenfield technology transformation, she established a cutting-edge security function that set new industry benchmarks through innovation and collaboration.
An international keynote speaker, Lianne bridges cybersecurity, technology, and anthropology, drawing on her experience as both a security-focused software developer and practicing anthropologist. Currently pursuing an MSc in AI and Data Science, her research focuses on AI safety, alignment, and the societal implications of emerging technologies.

Recognised with accolades including Security Specialist of the Year and Cybersecurity Personality of the Year, she also champions diversity and inclusion in tech through community initiatives, publications, and her award-winning podcast Compromising Positions. Each week, she interviews experts from anthropology, psychology, and behavioural science to explore how human culture shapes cybersecurity. The show has become a platform for challenging assumptions, amplifying diverse voices, and reframing security as a deeply human issue rather than a purely technical one.

Publications include:

* The Times
* Raconteur
* Computing.com
* The Yorkshire Post
* Security Magazine
* IT Pro
* EmTech Anthropology Careers at the Frontier (Book)

Recent awards and honours include:

* Podcast Newcomer - 2024 European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards
* Cybersecurity Personality of the Year 2023 - The Real Cyber Awards
* Security Woman of the Year - Computing Security Excellence Awards 2023 (Highly Commended)
* 40 Under 40 in Cybersecurity - Cybersecurity Magazine
* Security Leader of The Year 2021 - Women in Tech Excellence
* Woman of the Year 2021 - Women in Tech Excellence
* Security Specialist of the Year 2021 - Computing.com

When you follow the cables, behind every piece of tech is a person, consumer and creator, and we should never lose sight of this. Lianne is an award-winning digital anthropologist and technologists specialising in software engineering, cybersecuri... Show more

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