Fabian Kretzer is an architect and developer at INNOQ who likes everything around motivating development teams by making them successful. He thinks, that you need to consider organisational aspects at least to the same degree as technical tools. Working in the JVM ecosystem for over a decade he still feels at home there and he is a strong advocate for continuous delivery.

Fabian Kretzer is an architect and developer at INNOQ who likes everything around motivating development teams by making them successful. He thinks, that you need to consider organisational aspects at least to the same degree as technical tools. Work... Show more

Industrial Engineer by profession with a Master’s in Project Management, and a firm believer in optimal project management and Agile methodologies. Since beginning my career in 2010, I have participated in various international projects, with three years in Panama as the most significant experience, along with shorter assignments in Latin America and Mauritania. Whether applying PMI® or Agile methodologies, depending on client needs, my blended profile grants me a comprehensive view of each framework, enabling the optimization of their use and drawing insights on what works best in different sectors and industries.

In addition to my Master’s in Project Management, I hold the following certifications, which support my candidacy as a speaker:

• SAFe® 6 Release Train Engineer (2024)
• Certified Blockchain Expert (2023)
• SAFe® 5 Product Manager / Product Owner (2022)
• SAFe® 5 Scrum Master (2020)
• Agile Coach Profesional Certificate (CertiProf®) (2019)
• DevOps Culture Certified Trainer (2019)
• Product Owner Profesional Certificate (CertiProf®) (2017)
• Scrum Master Profesional Certificate (CertiProf®) (2016)
• Project Manager Professional (PMI®) (2012)

Industrial Engineer by profession with a Master’s in Project Management, and a firm believer in optimal project management and Agile methodologies. Since beginning my career in 2010, I have participated in various international projects, with three y... Show more

Chez Ekité, je suis consultant en efficacité organisationnelle, proche du terrain. J'accompagne des organisations et des personnes à générer de l'impact, à créer de la valeur, à optimiser leur collaboration et leur amélioration continue. Je facilite la prise de recul grâce à une posture intègre.

Je connecte des entreprises de la tech et des experts talentueux grâce au cabinet de recrutement que j'ai cofondé avec mon associée Catherine, My Lovely Jobs.

Je suis engagé dans plusieurs initiatives associatives :

Nord Agile, pour promouvoir la démarche agile
Keikenchiba, pour favoriser les échanges autour de l’efficacité des organisations.

J’anime régulièrement un podcast et des talks pour partager ma passion pour la culture agile et la tech afin d'explorer de nombreuses thématiques associées à ces univers.

Chez Ekité, je suis consultant en efficacité organisationnelle, proche du terrain. J'accompagne des organisations et des personnes à générer de l'impact, à créer de la valeur, à optimiser leur collaboration et leur amélioration continue. Je facilite ... Show more

Erik de Bos is an Agile Leader, Scrum Master, and Agile Coach with over a decade of experience helping organisations improve their effectiveness, foster employee well-being, and adapt to a complex world. He is an expert in enhancing team performance, fostering continuous learning, and aligning daily work with strategic goals.

Erik shares insights through talks and articles and has developed several tools, including "The Purpose & Roadmap Template" and "The Sprint Goal Template," and co-created "James the Evil Stakeholder," a card game designed to help teams learn how to deal with difficult stakeholders.

Erik also enjoys jogging, cooking, photography, and music, hobbies he sees as a way to express creativity and find flow.

Erik de Bos is an Agile Leader, Scrum Master, and Agile Coach with over a decade of experience helping organisations improve their effectiveness, foster employee well-being, and adapt to a complex world. He is an expert in enhancing team performance,... Show more

In my professional career, I have contributed to the digital transformation of the mining, retail and finance sectors, specializing in the creation of analytical architectures in both Microsoft and AWS. My focus is on migrating analytical infrastructures to the cloud and implementing cutting-edge solutions for handling large volumes of data.

As co-founder of Unlearni, I lead the way in digital education, facilitating continuous learning and practical application of business intelligence and data analytics. My mission is to empower organizations to make data-driven strategic decisions, and I achieve that through my experience as a Microsoft MVP Data Platform and my passion for sharing knowledge in the field of data engineering.

I have also had the fortune to write the book "Arquitectura e Ingenieria de Datos" by Editorial Anaya Multimedia where I intend to democratize the understanding of these roles and functions in data for spanish spoken people who are starting out on the path of data.

In my professional career, I have contributed to the digital transformation of the mining, retail and finance sectors, specializing in the creation of analytical architectures in both Microsoft and AWS. My focus is on migrating analytical infrastruct... Show more

Mark Miller is a seasoned Director in the software space, responsible for the implementation and management of all IT applications across an international steel processor. He has implemented Microsoft D365 F&O, Copilot, Power BI, and many other platforms during his time at Steel Warehouse. He holds BA and MBA degrees from Indiana University, and he is an adjunct professor for their business school teaching courses to executives on how to leverage IT. Outside of work, Mark can be found spending time with his wife and two wonderful children.

Mark Miller is a seasoned Director in the software space, responsible for the implementation and management of all IT applications across an international steel processor. He has implemented Microsoft D365 F&O, Copilot, Power BI, and many other platf... Show more

Swapna is a Principal Product Lead at Microsoft, currently leading Enterprise Search & M365 Copilot productivity experiences for enterprise users and has previously led OEM partnerships for OneDrive that served 50M+ users worldwide.

In her previous life, Swapna led products in the fintech space at a Canadian bank, involving R&D innovation in digital payments, cards and emerging technologies. While at RBC, Swapna also led experiences in the financial planning & personal investments space.​

Swapna was the Head of Product at a SaaS data intelligence company that provided insights to enterprise clients through AI models. Whilst in Singapore, Swapna was responsible for driving eCommerce growth in Asia and Europe for the world’s largest publishing company, Scholastic, as their Product Manager.

She started her career with Accenture, and is a technology buff. Her current passion lies in scaling and monetizing enterprise and consumer platforms.

Swapna is a Principal Product Lead at Microsoft, currently leading Enterprise Search & M365 Copilot productivity experiences for enterprise users and has previously led OEM partnerships for OneDrive that served 50M+ users worldwide. In her previou... Show more

Nils Hyoma is a business informatics post-graduate from Hamburg University, a professional agile coach, and a passionate amateur water polo player. Nils studied Japanese studies, international business studies, and business informatics in Hiroshima and Hamburg. Many years as an active developer, he learned the basics of agile software development. After working in online retail / eCommerce and in IT consulting, he is now part of the coaching team at MHP - A Porsche Company since 2024. Nils supports and coaches both local and distributed, international teams and projects. Nils has been active in team sports since childhood. It also reflected team spirit in his professional life: As a coach, he forms well-established units out of developers and analysts, who can then independently develop products. The guiding principle is always the focus on customer satisfaction.

Nils Hyoma is a business informatics post-graduate from Hamburg University, a professional agile coach, and a passionate amateur water polo player. Nils studied Japanese studies, international business studies, and business informatics in Hiroshima a... Show more

Robin Schooling is an HR leader, author of Real HR, and People + Work Strategist with advisory firm Velvet Cubicle where she helps teams and organizations turn people strategy into something real, practical, and human. She’s an accomplished HR executive, strategist, and advisor with over two decades of experience shaping people practices across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, gaming, hospitality, logistics, and professional services. She’s led people and culture work, from talent acquisition to employee relations, and has a particular love for diving into the middle where strategy and everyday work collide.

She’s co-host of the long-running Drive Thru HR podcast (on the air since 2010 and close to 1,700 episodes!), a frequent speaker to HR, Talent and business audiences around the world (3 continents thus far), and has, somehow, never stopped HR blogging. Her second book, Real Work, will be released in 2026.

Robin Schooling is an HR leader, author of Real HR, and People + Work Strategist with advisory firm Velvet Cubicle where she helps teams and organizations turn people strategy into something real, practical, and human. She’s an accomplished HR execut... Show more

Rich currently serves as Chief Technology Officer at Ashley Furniture Industries, where he leads a global technology organization spanning platforms, infrastructure, data, architecture, development, and emerging technologies. In this role, he sets enterprise-wide technology vision and execution across international operations, aligning AI, data, and digital platforms with manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, warehouse, retail, and customer experience at global scale. His focus is on building resilient, scalable systems and high-performing teams that translate advanced technology into durable business advantage.

Previously, Rich served as Chief Technology Officer at El Toro, where his work contributed to multiple patented, 100% cookie-free advertising technologies, including IP Targeting and Mobile Ad ID Targeting—innovations that helped define a new category of privacy-forward, data-driven advertising.

Rich brings over 30 years of experience across a wide spectrum of technical disciplines, with deep expertise in software engineering, data platforms, distributed systems, and applied AI. He has worked in more than a dozen programming languages, across nearly all major database technologies, and in environments ranging from early-stage innovation to highly regulated, enterprise-scale ecosystems... In short: A problem solver. His years of experience with AI has transformed operations from KTLO to Automations with Agentic capabilities. He is known as a hands-on technology leader, working directly with engineers while maintaining responsibility for long-term strategy, governance, and execution.

A defining theme of Rich’s career is the intelligent connection of data, processes, and people. He has led initiatives that embed AI and machine learning into core business workflows—enabling predictive insight, automation, and adaptive systems that operate across organizational and geographic boundaries. His approach emphasizes practical, scalable AI focused on real-world outcomes.

Beyond enterprise technology, Rich has founded, operated, and advised multiple businesses across diverse industries including manufacturing, logistics, entertainment, and large-scale infrastructure operations. He has contributed to multiple patents and serves in advisory and board roles, applying systems thinking well beyond traditional software environments.

Rich is known for his energy, curiosity, and ability to translate technical complexity into real-world outcomes, combining deep technical credibility with executive leadership and a bias toward execution.

Rich currently serves as Chief Technology Officer at Ashley Furniture Industries, where he leads a global technology organization spanning platforms, infrastructure, data, architecture, development, and emerging technologies. In this role, he sets en... Show more

Passionate about technology and Microsoft Power Platform expert.

3x MCT. This has allowed me during these last years to teach several workshops and technical trainings in the field of Power Platform both nationally and internationally.

Member of the organization team of the Power Platform Valencia community.

Currently I am specialized in project management and large customer accounts, for the implementation of enterprise solutions with Microsoft technologies in NTT Data Europe & Latam.

Passionate about technology and Microsoft Power Platform expert. 3x MCT. This has allowed me during these last years to teach several workshops and technical trainings in the field of Power Platform both nationally and internationally. Member o... Show more

Kat leads the Developer Relations team at PagerDuty. She enjoys talking and thinking about incident response and incident management based on 11+ years in the field, as well as customer support, healthy communication, and automating the creation of a delightful end-user and employee experience. In her spare time, Kat is a mediocre plant parent and a slightly less mediocre pet parent to her two rabbits, Lupin and Ginny.

Kat leads the Developer Relations team at PagerDuty. She enjoys talking and thinking about incident response and incident management based on 11+ years in the field, as well as customer support, healthy communication, and automating the creation of a... Show more

The Cloud Native and Open Source Expert who drives executive strategy and commands ecosystem expansion for the Linux Foundation and CNCF.
Designs the engagement models that compels the world's largest companies into community governance. Converts complex technical needs into clean, sustainable revenue and strategy. Insists on ecosystem growth that is financially rigorous and systemically equitable, leveraging technical and business expertise to architect high-impact participation. This is where business development meets technological governance. Actively backs the Cloud Native movement across Latin American and marginalized communities.

The Cloud Native and Open Source Expert who drives executive strategy and commands ecosystem expansion for the Linux Foundation and CNCF. Designs the engagement models that compels the world's largest companies into community governance. Converts co... Show more

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded for her approach to business, partnering with clients to find unique strategies that ensure their goals are met. Christina builds connections through her keynote addresses, training workshops, and technological education. She uses these tools to help individuals and businesses cultivate value in everyday media. Christina has delivered talks on all 7 continents, presenting training workshops for the Microsoft MVP community, Las Vegas Raiders, Yale School of Public Health, international corporations, and conferences worldwide. Christina uses her charisma and expertise to inspire others by mentoring women in business like herself. She also has sat on state and local boards supporting women in tech, entrepreneurship, mental health, and children with learning disabilities.

She is the recipient of the Las Vegas Women in Tech Community Service Award, the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award in STEM. Learn more at: Luckygirliegirl.com.

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded ... Show more

With over 20 years of hands-on experience in programming, Pablo is a well-versed professional who has successfully transitioned into leadership roles, currently serving as an Engineering Manager in Viaplay Group. He is dedicated to fostering collaborative environments and helping individuals discover more effective ways of working together, navigating challenges such as remote team collaboration and conflict resolution. In his talks, Pablo offers a fusion of technical knowledge and leadership insights, based on years of practical experience, exploring the intersection of technology, management, and the human diversity that drives successful teams.

With over 20 years of hands-on experience in programming, Pablo is a well-versed professional who has successfully transitioned into leadership roles, currently serving as an Engineering Manager in Viaplay Group. He is dedicated to fostering collabor... Show more

Jeremy is an experienced Product leader of over 16 years with a specialty in managing developer platforms and APIs at successful startups like Box and Tradeshift, building successful Platform and Product organizations from the ground up. He managed and expanded developer platforms to communities of tens of thousands of developers, and led high-profile integrations promoted by Salesforce and Google.

Jeremy is an advisor and mentor to startups and accelerators such as Alchemist, Acceleprise, Techstars, and Heavybit for Product and API strategy. He is also a Lead Instructor at Product School and author of components to Product School's core curriculum.

Jeremy is an experienced Product leader of over 16 years with a specialty in managing developer platforms and APIs at successful startups like Box and Tradeshift, building successful Platform and Product organizations from the ground up. He managed a... Show more

As a 12-time Microsoft Dynamics MVP, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise with others and contributing to the growth and success of the Dynamics 365 community. As the host of PartnerTalks.com, a weekly LinkedIn interview show, I chat with Business Executives from the Microsoft Community about their insights, ideas, and best practices. PartnerTalks.com has reached over 270 episodes and is now in its fifth year of production, attracting a global audience of professionals who want to learn from the experts and stay updated on the latest trends and innovations in the industry.

As a 12-time Microsoft Dynamics MVP, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise with others and contributing to the growth and success of the Dynamics 365 community. As the host of PartnerTalks.com, a weekly LinkedIn interview show, I chat with Busin... Show more

KASIM SEN is an experienced Project Management Office Manager who has worked the last 17 years of his 27-year career in project management. He has experience particularly in defense industry and space systems.
He has been working as Defense R&D Projects Program Manager at KAREL Electronics Inc. He managed more than 20 military communication system projects during the design, development, testing, and production phases. The systems he developed are still actively used by the Turkish Armed Forces and abroad.
He worked as a manager in the Project Management Office under the Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. Space Systems Deputy General Manager, playing a critical role in managing equipment projects for satellite programs. During this period, he successfully managed million-dollar level projects such as Central Satellite Computer, Platform Interface Unit, and Power Control and Distribution Unit.
Areas of Expertise:
• Establishing and managing Project Management Office (PMO)
• Space systems and defense industry projects
• Program and portfolio management
• CMMI standards
• Team management and leadership
He is also an active blogger sharing his experiences in project management, mentoring young engineers, and participating in volunteer activities at the Turkish Project Management Association.

KASIM SEN is an experienced Project Management Office Manager who has worked the last 17 years of his 27-year career in project management. He has experience particularly in defense industry and space systems. He has been working as Defense R&D Pro... Show more

Teresa Rush calls Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio her home and is a Technology Risk and Compliance professional with a focus on Human Capital and Culture. She is a strategist and a proud Enneagram 2 who champions people over process and tools, building environments where teams feel connected, experiment freely, learn from failure, and perform at a high level. Teresa was raised in the joyful chaos of a flea market circuit, and she weaves those real‑life stories into energizing sessions that cut through corporate jargon and celebrate the human spirit and community. Ask her what she loves most and she will say: people matter, culture is the engine, and when you build with care, the outcomes take care of themselves.

Teresa Rush calls Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio her home and is a Technology Risk and Compliance professional with a focus on Human Capital and Culture. She is a strategist and a proud Enneagram 2 who champions people over process and tools, building environm... Show more

Yulia Kosarenko is the author of the books "Business Analyst: A Profession and a Mindset" and "Foundations of Business Analytics", speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer.
As the owner of Why Change Consulting Inc., she helps her clients grow mature enterprise architecture and business analysis practices, and plan and execute digital transformation programs.
As the Professor of Business Analytics at Humber College, she encourages her students to look for ways to solve business problems using analytics.
As a business analysis mentor, she leads the BA Mindset Mentorship Circle and encourages business analysts to learn, adapt, and thrive.
Yulia is active in the business analysis, architecture, and analytics communities, publishing articles and videos, joining podcasts, and advocating for applying common sense and critical thinking in all business endeavours.

Yulia Kosarenko is the author of the books "Business Analyst: A Profession and a Mindset" and "Foundations of Business Analytics", speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer. As the owner of Why Change Consulting Inc., she helps her clients grow ma... Show more

I'm Francesco Fullone, a business designer, consultant, and mentor and investor in technology companies focusing on sustainability or social impact.

I help companies (in any stage) to better define their business propositions to create options to validate them, and I advise them to organize themselves better to reach their goals.

I founded, and I contribute to Apropos, a company that helps communities, companies, and local groups organize events and workshops. If you attended an international conference about web technologies in Italy, you met me as a speaker, organizer, or attendee.

I founded companies such as Digitiamo to create NLP and AI-related products, Carma, to work on the next food technologies. In the past, Ideato, where I contributed to its growth for more than ten years, creating an innovative and quality reference for the development agencies in Italy.

I'm the president of the GrUSP, a no-profit association that encourages best practices in web development since 2002.

I'm Francesco Fullone, a business designer, consultant, and mentor and investor in technology companies focusing on sustainability or social impact. I help companies (in any stage) to better define their business propositions to create options to ... Show more

Experienced professional specializing in Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing within the Microsoft ecosystem with 5 years experience .

Passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges, particularly drawn to the capabilities of Azure Databricks. Throughout my journey, I've had the privilege of seamlessly transitioning between data engineering and architect roles in various projects. This experience has equipped me with a versatile skill set, allowing me to contribute effectively to crafting end-to-end solutions. With a background in collaborative consulting roles across sectors, I bring a pragmatic approach to solving problems and driving success.

Experienced professional specializing in Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing within the Microsoft ecosystem with 5 years experience . Passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges, particularly drawn to the cap... Show more

Changing the world, one solution at a time!

Passionate about automation and building a business to support clients on their digitisation/optimisation journeys while working with the youth in preparation for their entry into industry.

Enjoys dabbling in software development, automation, IOT, advanced analytics, data engineering and business intelligence while currently working towards completing a PhD that focuses on automation. Currently focusing on learning how businesses are formed and how the longevity of business functions are maintained.

Competencies include a high level of computer literacy, programming in various languages with newly acquired sales and business acumen.

Changing the world, one solution at a time! Passionate about automation and building a business to support clients on their digitisation/optimisation journeys while working with the youth in preparation for their entry into industry. Enjoys da... Show more

I’m an engineer with a passion for the outdoors. I bridge the gap between complex technical architecture and high-level business strategy. My professional approach is shaped by the endurance and real-time decision-making required to live and thrive in Alaska—from summiting remote peaks and running marathons to scuba diving with sharks. I specialize in managing the design of resilient, "reflexive" systems that thrive under pressure, applying the same grit used in extreme environments to architecting solutions for the enterprise’s toughest AI and observability challenges.

I’m an engineer with a passion for the outdoors. I bridge the gap between complex technical architecture and high-level business strategy. My professional approach is shaped by the endurance and real-time decision-making required to live and thrive i... Show more

Why do some Customer Success Managers turn renewals into expansions and earn executive trust, while others struggle to get a seat at the table?

After 16 years working in Customer Success and Sales across global SaaS companies, I’ve learned one simple business truth: success isn’t about the product you sell, it’s about the value story you tell and the confidence to tell it.

That’s what turns good CSMs into trusted business partners, and Customer Success teams into true revenue engines.

Yet too many teams are still stuck in reactive check-ins, feature talk, and generic QBRs that don’t move the needle.

That’s where I come in.

I help Customer Success teams turn everyday conversations into revenue-driving moments, so they stop proving their worth and start driving business growth.

Through my workshops, keynotes, and coaching programs, I’ve helped thousands of CSMs build commercial confidence, speak the language of executives, and drive measurable impact.

Over the past few years, I’ve trained and spoken for companies including Microsoft, Atlassian, Ometria, Workiva, Flywire, GSMA, Productsup, Amplify Education, HealthLink Dimensions, Arbor, and iBinder, helping them transform Customer Success from a support function into a core driver of expansion and retention.

✅ 5,000+ CS professionals trained globally
✅ 70+ RevUP Academy alumni promoted into leadership
✅ Workshops delivered across EMEA, US, and APAC

Because in today’s market, being great at Customer Success isn’t enough. You have to prove business impact, influence executives, and connect customer outcomes directly to revenue.

The companies that win are the ones who train their CS teams to think and speak like revenue leaders.

⸻

Ways to work with me:
🚀 For CS Leaders & Teams: Book a workshop or keynote to train your team to sell value with confidence
🎓 For CS Professionals: Join RevUP Academy to build the commercial mindset that drives revenue
🎤 For Events & Conferences: Bring me in as a keynote speaker on the future of Customer Success

More info here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com

Book a call with me: https://fantastical.app/anikazubair/team-event

Why do some Customer Success Managers turn renewals into expansions and earn executive trust, while others struggle to get a seat at the table? After 16 years working in Customer Success and Sales across global SaaS companies, I’ve learned one sim... Show more

Ana Inés Urrutia de Souza is a Microsoft MVP, AI for HR expert, and member of the Harvard Advisory Council. With a background in psychology and over a decade of experience in HR technology, she helps organizations modernize people operations using tools like Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft Copilot. Ana is an international speaker, co-host of the D365 Community Call, and an active voice in the global HR tech space. Her work bridges strategy and implementation, with a focus on making AI practical, human, and useful

Ana Inés Urrutia de Souza is a Microsoft MVP, AI for HR expert, and member of the Harvard Advisory Council. With a background in psychology and over a decade of experience in HR technology, she helps organizations modernize people operations using to... Show more

Joel is an experienced CTO Coach who supports talented start-up and scale-up CTOs to successfully grow in their roles as their team and company evolves.

He has over 20 years experience leading software development teams including roles as CTO and COO at a range of start-ups and scale-ups.

Joel is an experienced CTO Coach who supports talented start-up and scale-up CTOs to successfully grow in their roles as their team and company evolves. He has over 20 years experience leading software development teams including roles as CTO and ... Show more

Lena Reinhard is a VP Engineering, leadership coach, facilitator, and artist. In her 20-year career, she’s served in tech leadership roles, such as VP Engineering with CircleCI, Travis CI, and a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO. Now, she helps leaders and teams succeed in co-located and remote teams in organizations from startups and scale-ups, to corporations. Lena is queer and neurodivergent. She loves to read, sing, and wander around the forests and lakes of her home in Berlin, Germany. In her artistic work, she primarily paints and works with fibers; her pieces currently focus on the themes of loss and letting go.

Lena Reinhard is a VP Engineering, leadership coach, facilitator, and artist. In her 20-year career, she’s served in tech leadership roles, such as VP Engineering with CircleCI, Travis CI, and a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO. Now, she helps leaders a... Show more

I am building the operating system for the Neighborhood Economy. I started my entrepreneurial journey 10 years ago in Silicon Valley, turning from a retail exec to a founder at 39.

My work sits at the intersection of economics, humanity, and community through Genesis Block, Newkirklytics, the Neighborhood Economy Index, and Newkirk Enterprises. I’m not talking about hypothetical frameworks or abstract policy theory. I’m designing and deploying real systems that make local economic activity visible, measurable, and investable, especially the micro-entrepreneurs, creators, informal workers, and neighborhood-level producers who have always powered our communities but rarely show up in the data.

I believe the future of prosperity isn’t top-down theories based on outdated economic models but rooted in local ownership, inclusive entrepreneurship, and circular capital systems that keep value circulating where people live. My work turns that belief into infrastructure. The Neighborhood Economy Index and our sector tools quantify what has long been unseen: the economic power of microbusinesses, shared kitchens, creatives, disabled entrepreneurs, local manufacturing ecosystems, and underserved communities across the U.S., the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa.

As a speaker, I bring together data, story, spirit, and strategy. I’ve lived this work for years, building entrepreneurial ecosystems, supporting founders who’ve been overlooked, creating pathways to upward mobility, and designing new economic systems that honor dignity and human possibility. My goal on every stage is simple: help leaders see the Neighborhood Economy differently, not as charity work or an “equity initiative,” but as a powerful engine of growth, resilience, and wealth creation that deserves real investment and serious strategy. It’s actually market inefficiency that needs to be corrected.

I’m here to shift the conversation from wealth extraction to community circulation, from scarcity to abundance, from invisibility to proof, from disconnected programs to systems that actually work. And I’m building alongside institutions, cities, universities, DFIs, foundations, and community leaders who believe, as I do, that the people closest to the problem are also closest to the solution; they need better tools, better data, and better support.

That is the work. That is the calling. And that is the Neighborhood Economy.

I am building the operating system for the Neighborhood Economy. I started my entrepreneurial journey 10 years ago in Silicon Valley, turning from a retail exec to a founder at 39. My work sits at the intersection of economics, humanity, and comm... Show more

Benjamin has a long-term and hands-on experience with introducing, building, running, coaching and speaking about Java, Microservices (including DDD and events), Docker/Containerization, distributed/self-contained systems (SCS) and disruptive technologies.

At day he works as Tech Lead for Cloud Technologies at codecentric. At night he hacks on innovative trends like FaaS, Service Meshes, Voice UIs and IoT. At evenings he organizes workshops, talks and code retreats at the Software Crafters Community Jena (Softwerkskammer Jena) and the Java User Group Thüringen. On weekends he serves as a board member at the Java Aktuell Magazine and at the JavaLand conference – leading the Architecture and Methodology & Culture streams.

He also runs Open Data Hackathons as well as Devoxx4Kids events. Regularly he also gives university lectures on OOP, Java, Docker, Git, Project Management and Agile Methodologies. In his leisure time he enjoys road cycling, art & theaters, wine/gin/whiskey tastings and discussions about politics and improving IT organizations.

Benjamin has a long-term and hands-on experience with introducing, building, running, coaching and speaking about Java, Microservices (including DDD and events), Docker/Containerization, distributed/self-contained systems (SCS) and disruptive technol... Show more