Business & Management

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

Shefali Bansal

Shefali Bansal

Shefali would like to introduce herself as a technology enthusiast, curious lifelong learner, innovator & enabler, mentor & a coach, volunteer & yoga proponent, author and vociferous reader;
Shefali is Global Engineering Director at Red Hat responsible for bootstrapping and growing OpenShift Engineering teams in Asia Pacific, Europe & North America regions. She is leading the product engineering teams responsible for OpenShift platform for Edge devices, OpenShift Application Platform and core OpenShift Engineering teams globally. She is also member of Bangalore Leadership Council at Red Hat responsible for the growth of the Bangalore site.

A seasoned IT professional with over two decades of experience, Shefali has donned various hats spanning management, strategy, product management, product engineering, solutioning & professional services working with Customers, System Integrators, Business Partners and ecosystem teams.

An active speaker at industry and technology conferences, Shefali is very passionate about incubations and first-of-a-kind software & product development in the areas of AI/ML, IoT & Hybrid Cloud platforms.
Ms. Bansal is an IIM Bangalore Alumni and an Engineering graduate from NIT Bhopal with specialization in Computer Science. She is plateau holder in patents and has external publications in areas of Reliability Analytics, and awards like 'Best of Business Analytics', “Outstanding Technical Achievement Award”, “Client Success Awards”, “Industry Academy membership” & Industry recognitions like “Women in Technology” from Zinnov & “AI Game Changer” award from NASSCOM to her credit.
Her Inspiration story has been featured in India’s leading newspaper “Times of India”.

As a budding author, she has published four books “Rediscovery journey of a corporate persona”, “Parijaat…The evening flower” & “Tapestry of Life” & "Yogi and her Co-Yogis".
Outside work, she loves to travel and volunteers for STEM education through an NGO.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shefali-bansal-6860611/

Shefali would like to introduce herself as a technology enthusiast, curious lifelong learner, innovator & enabler, mentor & a coach, volunteer & yoga proponent, author and vociferous reader; Shefali is Global Engineering Director at Red Hat responsi... Show more

Amber Vanderburg

Amber Vanderburg

Amber Vanderburg is a multi-award winning businessperson, keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company, The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused learning journeys. Amber's history in talent development includes authoring top-reviewed online learning courses for platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Lecturio, and PluralSight, acting as Director of a national education leadership company, and coaching with professional sports team academies in Asia. In 2022, she published her first business adventure book "Uniquely Better" about building higher team performance.

Speaking engagements:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMNcx7Jwk9Sp6WxuvrfOOBqdP9440SKl0

Amber Vanderburg is a multi-award winning businessperson, keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company, The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused learning... Show more

Boris Ristov

Boris Ristov

Agile Coach with close to 20 years' experience in the IT industry in different domains such as insurance, finance, banking, public sector. Passionate about agile methodologies, providing guidance and mentorship on applying agile techniques and practices in​ software development and product delivery and adopting an agile mindset. Always interested in trying new approaches that would lead to continuous improvement and better delivery.
Backing this up with previous experience as a software developer, where my passion for agile and lean approaches started.

Agile Coach with close to 20 years' experience in the IT industry in different domains such as insurance, finance, banking, public sector. Passionate about agile methodologies, providing guidance and mentorship on applying agile techniques and practi... Show more

Nadim Abou-Khalil

Nadim Abou-Khalil

Nadim Abou-Khalil (Senior Analytics Engineer at KI performance GmbH)
Nadim has been working with Microsoft business intelligence and data products since 2015, starting in Mexico City and later in Berlin, Germany. Studying Accounting & Business in the UK helped him build an understanding of the business needs for IT solutions which later became the focus during his career. Several years of working with Microsoft Dynamics, Power BI (since its release), whilst focusing the business and IT process optimization and automation aspects of solutions enabled him to successfully implement IT solutions for clients. Speaking publicly has been a recent passion, along with the publication of a YouTube Fabric & Power BI tutorials channel known as PoweAegg in 2022/2023.
www.linkedin.com/in/nadim-abou-khalil

Nadim Abou-Khalil (Senior Analytics Engineer at KI performance GmbH) Nadim has been working with Microsoft business intelligence and data products since 2015, starting in Mexico City and later in Berlin, Germany. Studying Accounting & Business in th... Show more

Jonas Hulthén

Jonas Hulthén

Hello!

My name is Jonas Hulthén and I'm a software engineer at Nordnet who loves to learn, collaborate and spread positivity!

Hello! My name is Jonas Hulthén and I'm a software engineer at Nordnet who loves to learn, collaborate and spread positivity! Show more

Kristopher Sandoval

Kristopher Sandoval

Kristopher Sandoval is a Product Marketing and Developer Relations expert with over a decade of experience across industrial, biomedical, and artificial intelligence development. To date, Kristopher has written over 700 books and articles on development, product marketing, and future technologies.

Kristopher Sandoval is a Product Marketing and Developer Relations expert with over a decade of experience across industrial, biomedical, and artificial intelligence development. To date, Kristopher has written over 700 books and articles on developm... Show more

Jose De Souza

Jose De Souza

Jose Alejandro De Souza is a data visualization teacher and a content creator focused on data science. He holds a Master's in Big Data and Business Analytics. His spanish YouTube channel, with over 3,000 subscribers and 80+ videos, provides tutorials on Tableau, SQL, Python, and R, catering to beginners and those looking to enhance their data analysis and visualization skills. His content includes building dashboards, learning SQL, and performing data analysis with various tools.

Jose Alejandro De Souza is a data visualization teacher and a content creator focused on data science. He holds a Master's in Big Data and Business Analytics. His spanish YouTube channel, with over 3,000 subscribers and 80+ videos, provides tutorials... Show more

Jose Gomez-Selles

Jose Gomez-Selles

Product Lead at VictoriaMetrics Cloud. In a previous life, he did a PhD for nanothings. Keys, metal and virtual racing.

Product Lead at VictoriaMetrics Cloud. In a previous life, he did a PhD for nanothings. Keys, metal and virtual racing. Show more

Babak Abbaschian

Babak Abbaschian

Babak Abbaschian is a technology executive, researcher, and speaker with over 15 years of experience shaping AI, machine learning, and data-driven transformation across startups, mid-sized organizations, and global enterprises. Holding a Ph.D. in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, his work sits at the intersection of deep technical rigor, strategic leadership, and human-centred system design.

As Senior Director of Data Strategy and Analytics at Churchill Downs Incorporated, home of the iconic Kentucky Derby, Babak led a large-scale machine learning and digital transformation initiative that modernized legacy systems and embedded AI across the business. By integrating predictive analytics, natural language processing, recommendation systems, and intelligent automation, his leadership helped drive sustained, measurable growth during periods of significant economic uncertainty, while expanding customer engagement and operational resilience.

Beyond enterprise transformation, Babak is deeply engaged in the startup ecosystem. He serves on the boards of multiple startup studios and mentors AI-driven ventures from early ideation through venture funding. Several companies under his guidance have secured significant VC investment, reflecting his ability to align advanced technology with real market needs and long-term viability.

Babak is also an active researcher with contributions spanning speech recognition, reinforcement learning, recommendation systems, and human-centered computing. His work frequently explores how intelligent systems interact with human cognition, emotion, and trust, particularly in sensitive domains such as healthcare, neurodiversity, and mental well-being.

A recognized AI and analytics leader, Babak is a frequent speaker, panellist, and chair at international conferences focused on AI, digital transformation, and responsible technology. Known for translating complex technical concepts into clear, accessible insights, his talks emphasize leadership, accountability, and the human consequences of the decisions we make with data and AI.

In addition to his industry work, Babak has taught programming, database design, and human–computer interaction as an academic instructor, contributing to the development of the next generation of technologists and leaders.

Babak Abbaschian is a technology executive, researcher, and speaker with over 15 years of experience shaping AI, machine learning, and data-driven transformation across startups, mid-sized organizations, and global enterprises. Holding a Ph.D. in Mac... Show more

Will Huggins

Will Huggins

I lead a specialist Drupal agency and am actively involved in the Drupal Community which includes my roles as a director of the Drupal England & Wales Association (DEW).

I lead a specialist Drupal agency and am actively involved in the Drupal Community which includes my roles as a director of the Drupal England & Wales Association (DEW). Show more

Kateryna Nesvit

Kateryna Nesvit

Kateryna Nesvit has a Ph.D. in Mathematical Simulation and Methods of Calculation. She is an Associate Professor of Data Science at Marymount University and Founder and CEO of AliveMath LLC. She has taught courses at universities for more than a decade in applied, computational mathematics, and data science. Kateryna has published extensively with more than 70 papers, including two scientific patents. She has presented numerous talks across Europe and the United States. Kateryna worked for a decade in the industry, where she built a recommendation engine for a social media app and a data science platform that predicts compensation for talent across the IT industry. For the past three years, she has been working in the healthcare industry on projects focused on predicting and maintaining mental health. Both projects utilize Neo4j graph database technology. Kateryna applies technology, teaches computing, and shares knowledge.

Kateryna Nesvit has a Ph.D. in Mathematical Simulation and Methods of Calculation. She is an Associate Professor of Data Science at Marymount University and Founder and CEO of AliveMath LLC. She has taught courses at universities for more than a deca... Show more

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith is Chief Innovation Officer at Iconoclast Innovations LLC, where she works with small to medium-sized businesses to scale and grow. She focuses on reducing friction so they can focus on delivering value.

Sarah designs operational systems, delivery methodologies, and change management approaches that let teams execute without constant intervention. Her clients are technology startups, SaaS companies, and PE-backed firms experiencing the drag that comes with rapid growth.
She's enabled $60M+ in revenue growth by removing what slows companies down: unclear processes, misaligned teams, and systems that break under pressure. Sarah's approach emphasizes practical frameworks over consultant jargon, peer learning over top-down training, and principles that scale without adding management overhead.

Sarah Smith is Chief Innovation Officer at Iconoclast Innovations LLC, where she works with small to medium-sized businesses to scale and grow. She focuses on reducing friction so they can focus on delivering value. Sarah designs operational syste... Show more

Gaynor Meilke

Gaynor Meilke

Chief Opportunity Officer, Charisma Ink, MS, CBC, CTC, CTRC-E
Gaynor Meilke is a business strategist and certified business and transformational coach. She is the owner of Charisma Ink, a marketing and B2B consulting firm that specializes in personal branding, partnerships, and digital marketing services for accounting and tax professionals. She is a ghostwriter and the author of multiple books, including Avoiding App-athy: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Winning More Sales and Customer Advocates in the Accounting Channel, The Bank Your Brain Blueprint™, and The Market Ownership Method which are available on Amazon.

Chief Opportunity Officer, Charisma Ink, MS, CBC, CTC, CTRC-E Gaynor Meilke is a business strategist and certified business and transformational coach. She is the owner of Charisma Ink, a marketing and B2B consulting firm that specializes in persona... Show more

Niels Bosma

Niels Bosma

Meet Niels, a serial founder with two successful exits who has been building companies and empowering innovators throughout the Nordic tech ecosystem. As the founder of Ivy Interactive, he's creating an open-source .NET framework for building internal applications that delivers all the benefits of no-code without its limitations—specifically designed to eliminate security issues with LLM-generated software. He knows firsthand the challenges of transforming vision into viable products and sustainable businesses, bringing practical insights from years of building, scaling, and successfully exiting ventures.

Meet Niels, a serial founder with two successful exits who has been building companies and empowering innovators throughout the Nordic tech ecosystem. As the founder of Ivy Interactive, he's creating an open-source .NET framework for building interna... Show more

Sanjay Divakar

Sanjay Divakar

Sanjay is a 14-year-old tech CEO and systems thinker focused on why large-scale digital transformation efforts fail—even when the technology is implemented correctly. Despite his age, he works directly on real-world problems involving cloud platforms, AI adoption, and organizational change, bringing a perspective shaped by building, deploying, and observing systems in practice—not theory.

His work sits at the intersection of Microsoft workplace technology, human behavior, and institutional decision-making, with a focus on adoption, incentives, and the hidden causes of transformation breakdowns. Sanjay is known for cutting through hype to explain why technically sound deployments often fail to deliver real impact.

By combining a builder’s mindset with systems-level thinking, he offers IT professionals a refreshingly direct lens on problems they encounter every day—but rarely have time to step back and analyze.

Sanjay is a 14-year-old tech CEO and systems thinker focused on why large-scale digital transformation efforts fail—even when the technology is implemented correctly. Despite his age, he works directly on real-world problems involving cloud platforms... Show more

Lauren LeMunyan MCC

Lauren LeMunyan MCC

Lauren captivates audiences with her energetic approach to conflict management and leadership development, creating spaces where intellectual growth meets emotional safety. She transforms complex interpersonal challenges into "totally relevant" actionable strategies, empowering participants to immediately control stress and humanize their work interactions. Attendees consistently describe her sessions as "amazing" and "enjoyable," leaving them feeling insightful and equipped with practical tools for both professional and personal growth. Her unique blend of fun, interactive methods reminds leaders of the fundamental "magic" in effective coaching, making her expertise valuable across all organizational levels.

Lauren captivates audiences with her energetic approach to conflict management and leadership development, creating spaces where intellectual growth meets emotional safety. She transforms complex interpersonal challenges into "totally relevant" actio... Show more

Víctor Izquierdo Montes

Víctor Izquierdo Montes

I am a 32-year-old from Córdoba with a lifelong passion for process optimization. Thanks to the versatility AI offers, I enjoy applying it to my projects as a Power Platform specialist at MDW Partners.

Originally, I pursued double majors in Business Administration and Management and Law, and I hold an MBA. However, I've always been fascinated by computer science. After several years of using reports for analytical decision-making, I decided to shift my focus to creating them directly.

Later, I discovered the potential of Power Platform, and I now focus on developing complete solutions using the tools available on this platform. With the growing interest in AI among companies, I incorporate Azure OpenAI tools like GPT, DALL·E, and Whisper into many of my projects.

I am a 32-year-old from Córdoba with a lifelong passion for process optimization. Thanks to the versatility AI offers, I enjoy applying it to my projects as a Power Platform specialist at MDW Partners. Originally, I pursued double majors in Busine... Show more

Megan Killion

Megan Killion

Megan Killion: Scaling MSPs and Elevating Lives

Megan Killion, the Chief Consultant at MKC Agency, carries a mission transcending the typical marketing and sales boundaries. With a vibrant track record of generating over $500 million in B2B tech sales, Megan brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to ethical marketing practices in the MSP space. Her unique approach intertwines strategic revenue consulting with a deep-seated passion for social impact, aiming to scale 100 MSPs' revenue while simultaneously elevating 100 employees from poverty.

An adept strategist, Megan's expertise isn't just in driving revenue; it's about fostering sustainable growth through practices that honor both the client's needs and the broader societal context. Her personal journey, from overcoming adversity as a homeless single mother to becoming a thought leader in the MSP industry, imbues her work with authenticity and a drive for meaningful change.

Megan's approach is grounded in the belief that business growth and ethical practices are not mutually exclusive but are, in fact, synergistic. She advocates for marketing that speaks with transparency, connects genuinely with the audience, and delivers value that resonates on a human level. It's this philosophy that has not only led to her success but has also made her a beacon for those seeking to redefine the intersection of technology, business, and social good. "You don't have to lie to make the sale."

As a speaker, Megan captivates audiences with her dynamic presence, inspiring stories, and actionable insights. Her sessions are a blend of cutting-edge marketing tactics and heartening narratives of personal and professional triumph. Whether she's speaking to tech gurus or business novices, Megan's message is clear: success is possible for everyone, and business can be a powerful platform for positive transformation.

Megan Killion: Scaling MSPs and Elevating Lives Megan Killion, the Chief Consultant at MKC Agency, carries a mission transcending the typical marketing and sales boundaries. With a vibrant track record of generating over $500 million in B2B tech s... Show more

Ayobami ⚡

Ayobami ⚡

Ayobami Atolagbe
Founder & Executive Director, BitKwa | Co-Founder & CEO, Demohub

Ayobami Atolagbe is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and growth marketing executive on a mission to empower 10 million Africans through Bitcoin, education, and technology. He is the Founder and Executive Director of BitKwa, a nonprofit organization driving Bitcoin education, adoption, and circular economy initiatives across Africa. Through BitKwa, Ayobami has educated over 10,000 individuals and empowered grassroots movements via merchant onboarding programs, community workshops, and strategic partnerships that advance financial inclusion.

He is also the Founder and CEO of Demohub, an AI-powered EdTech platform making globally relevant digital skills accessible to African youth. Ayobami’s leadership bridges education, innovation, and economic empowerment at the grassroots level.

Ayobami previously served as Head of Growth at Paycrest (San Francisco), helping build fintech products for the Global South, and held key roles at Paxful and NoOnes, where he expanded Bitcoin’s reach across Africa through ambassador programs, market expansion strategies, and community-driven campaigns. He also volunteered with Built With Bitcoin to support the construction of a school in Kaduna, Nigeria, demonstrating Bitcoin’s real-world impact on education and community development.

Personal Philosophy: Always Thrive Towards Greatness

Ayobami Atolagbe Founder & Executive Director, BitKwa | Co-Founder & CEO, Demohub Ayobami Atolagbe is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and growth marketing executive on a mission to empower 10 million Africans through Bitcoin, education, and t... Show more

Blythe Morrow

Blythe Morrow

Blythe is a product marketing executive, focused on SQL Server and database product development. She has more than two decades of success delivering multi million-dollar revenue growth through innovative marketing, product positioning, messaging, and competitive differentiation. She spends her days developing products that Data Pros use every day. She has a background in Microsoft SQL Server, PowerBI and Data Warehousing. She speaks at many conferences and events around the world, helping improve the work lives of DBAs everywhere.

Blythe is a product marketing executive, focused on SQL Server and database product development. She has more than two decades of success delivering multi million-dollar revenue growth through innovative marketing, product positioning, messaging, and... Show more

Christophe Martinot

Christophe Martinot

Christophe Martinot is an international speaker, transformation advisor, and author of SPIRAL UP®, a framework designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations grow stronger through agility and resilience.

A former executive with over two decades of leadership experience in FMCG, pharma, and medical devices, Christophe has held strategic roles at L’Oréal, Danone, Abbott, and Sanofi.

As Managing Director and Co-Founder of SeedingEnergy, he now guides organizations across the USA, UK, and Europe in redefining their ways of working, building cultures that are more agile, human-centered, and purpose-driven.

He is a co-author of the Agile Customer Centricity Manifesto, part of the global leadership group shaping Agile Marketing Manifesto 2.0, and a co-initiator of the Business Agility Hub.

Christophe also shares his passion for agility and transformation with the next generation of leaders, teaching Agile Ways of Working at IED Barcelona and as a guest professor at ESADE.

A pragmatic optimist, he brings energy, empathy, and real-world experience to every stage, inspiring leaders and teams to Spiral Up through every challenge.
He works fluently in English, French, and Spanish.

Christophe Martinot is an international speaker, transformation advisor, and author of SPIRAL UP®, a framework designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations grow stronger through agility and resilience. A former executive with over two de... Show more

Geoffrey Goetz

Geoffrey Goetz

Apple Fanboi, Grateful Deadhead, Doctor Whovian, Bimmer Enthusiast, EOS Digitarian.

Apple Fanboi, Grateful Deadhead, Doctor Whovian, Bimmer Enthusiast, EOS Digitarian. Show more

Will Manning

Will Manning

Will is the TSC chair of Vortex (a Linux Foundation project), the fastest & most extensible open-source columnar file format. He is also the co-founder/CEO at Spiral, which builds a multimodal data warehouse. Previously, he worked at Palantir for 10 years. While there, he helped create Palantir Foundry and built/scaled "everything that read or wrote bytes".

Will is the TSC chair of Vortex (a Linux Foundation project), the fastest & most extensible open-source columnar file format. He is also the co-founder/CEO at Spiral, which builds a multimodal data warehouse. Previously, he worked at Palantir for 10 ... Show more

Amal Tahri

Amal Tahri

Passionate about Technology, Sociology and Philosophy

Passionate about Technology, Sociology and Philosophy Show more

Amir Shahzeidi

Amir Shahzeidi

Amir Shahzeidi is the Director of Demand Generation at Uscreen, an all-in-one video membership platform for creators and brands. Over 8 years, he’s scaled the company from a bootstrapped startup to over $25M+ ARR, building the marketing engine that contributed to a $150M private equity investment. He’s led teams across SEO, performance marketing, content, and lifecycle marketing while establishing the demand gen systems that drive predictable pipeline growth. Classically trained pianist, amateur golfer, based in Lisbon.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Amir Shahzeidi is the Director of Demand Generation at Uscreen, an all-in-one video membership platform for creators and brands. Over 8 years, he’s scaled the company from a bootstrapped startup to over $25M+ ARR, building the marketing engine that c... Show more

Rita Arrigo

Rita Arrigo

Rita Arrigo is a speaker and strategist helping organisations navigate the shift from AI assisting to AI acting. After leading national‑level initiatives at the National AI Centre and delivering her TEDx talk on the human side of AI adoption, she now works with leaders to build AI systems that are trustworthy, accountable, and genuinely useful. Her work sits at the intersection of responsible AI, organisational transformation, and the psychology of trust. Rita brings clarity to a space often dominated by hype, offering practical pathways for scaling AI safely — without losing the human judgement that matters most.

Rita Arrigo is a speaker and strategist helping organisations navigate the shift from AI assisting to AI acting. After leading national‑level initiatives at the National AI Centre and delivering her TEDx talk on the human side of AI adoption, she now... Show more

Leslie Short

Leslie Short


Leslie Short is the owner of The Cavu Group and the author of "Expand Beyond Your Current Culture." With four decades of experience as a seasoned brand and culture strategist and leadership advisor, she founded The Cavu Group to address critical challenges in building and guiding organizations toward sustainable cultural growth.
Leslie is uniquely skilled at fostering environments that promote continuous evolution and innovation. Her approach emphasizes the importance of listening to and understanding people, whom she recognizes as an organization's greatest asset.
She is deeply committed to creating and maintaining diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive cultures. Leveraging her expertise, she develops inclusive workplace strategies and facilitates transformative discussions that challenge the status quo.
Her work delves into the vital intersections of leadership, culture, accessibility, and social impact, equipping businesses with actionable insights to thrive in today’s dynamic and complex business landscape.

Leslie Short has an accomplished background that includes business, entrepreneurship, marketing, and the arts. Her journey began as a classical ballet dancer, which took her to Europe, where she lived for over a decade. After her dance career, Leslie founded an entertainment business in Japan, which was recognized as the country's best business in 1994.
She held influential roles, including President of Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations at FUBU The Collection, as well as Corporate Operating Strategist at prominent companies both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Leslie launched K.I.M. Media LLC (Keep It Moving) and founded Ascend Bereavement Management, demonstrating her versatility and innovative mindset.

A highly sought-after speaker, Leslie has addressed audiences at prestigious events hosted by Fortune 500 companies, universities, the United Nations, and the European Union, sharing her expertise and insights with a global audience. Leslie is a Chaplain, Certified Mediator, and Conflict Coach.

Leslie Short is the owner of The Cavu Group and the author of "Expand Beyond Your Current Culture." With four decades of experience as a seasoned brand and culture strategist and leadership advisor, she founded The Cavu Group to address critical ch... Show more

Brieanna Lightfoot Smith

Brieanna Lightfoot Smith

Through her signature R.E.S.T.™ framework, Brieanna Lightfoot Smith helps audiences release perfection, reclaim purpose, and rebuild rhythm so they can live and lead from a place of Freedom, Flow, and Fulfillment.

Through her signature R.E.S.T.™ framework, Brieanna Lightfoot Smith helps audiences release perfection, reclaim purpose, and rebuild rhythm so they can live and lead from a place of Freedom, Flow, and Fulfillment. Show more

Kanika Vatsyayan

Kanika Vatsyayan

Driven by a passion for quality, Kanika Vatsyayan is the Vice-President of delivery and Operations at BugRaptors, overseeing all quality assurance initiatives. With over 10 years in the IT industry, Kanika brings a wealth of experience in test leadership and management across diverse sectors. She is committed to result-oriented, business-centric approaches and actively explores emerging technologies to optimize business models. Kanika is an experienced blogger, sharing her automation and manual testing expertise with a wider audience.

Driven by a passion for quality, Kanika Vatsyayan is the Vice-President of delivery and Operations at BugRaptors, overseeing all quality assurance initiatives. With over 10 years in the IT industry, Kanika brings a wealth of experience in test leader... Show more

Samuel Tolbert

Samuel Tolbert

Samuel Tolbert is a mindset strategist, leadership development expert, and founder of Elevated Thoughts Academy, where belief reconstruction meets real-world leadership transformation.

With a background spanning college athletics, military service in the U.S. Navy, organizational leadership, and executive coaching, Samuel brings a rare depth of lived experience to every stage he steps on. His journey—from losing a basketball scholarship, to global military service, to navigating homelessness and identity loss—became the catalyst for his life’s work: helping individuals and organizations close the gap between who they are and who they’re called to become.

Samuel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, with advanced training in leadership coaching, mentoring, and organizational change. He is also the author of Potential to Purpose: The Power of Intentional Thinking, a transformational work that explores how belief systems, identity, and internal alignment shape performance, culture, and outcomes.

Through proprietary frameworks such as the Thought Seeking Model (TSM) and the Move & SOAR (MV-SOAR) Model, Samuel equips leaders, students, and organizations to move beyond surface-level motivation into sustainable, identity-rooted growth. His work has been delivered across universities, schools, workforce programs, faith-based organizations, and corporate environments.

Samuel is known for a speaking style that is honest, structured, and disruptive—in the best way. He doesn’t inspire people to try harder; he helps them think differently so leadership, confidence, and clarity emerge naturally.

Samuel Tolbert is a mindset strategist, leadership development expert, and founder of Elevated Thoughts Academy, where belief reconstruction meets real-world leadership transformation. With a background spanning college athletics, military service... Show more

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