Business & Management

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

Thai Bao An Phan

Thai Bao An Phan

Annie Phan is a data and AI leader transforming how modern enterprises scale impact through data analytics, AI/ML innovation, and digital operations.
At Diligent Corporation, she serves as Head AI Solution Architect, driving enterprise-wide AI transformation across Sales, Marketing, Legal, and Finance. Annie leads the design and deployment of secure, AI-powered solutions built to automate complex knowledge retrieval and workflows. Her work focuses on architecting scalable AI stacks, ensuring responsible deployment within a governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) context, and integrating AI into core enterprise systems to drive measurable business outcomes.
At Fanatics Collectibles, she led one of the company’s most ambitious digital transformation programs, owning product strategy and delivery for dozens of AI/ML applications supporting hundreds of users across design, production, and business operations. Her work spans cross-functional stakeholder management, agile delivery, generative AI onboarding tooling, and KPI design—driving widespread adoption and lasting operational change.
Previously, Annie served as a Data & AI expert at McKinsey & Company, helping clients in real estate, healthcare, and consumer sectors unlock substantial business value. She led McKinsey’s Advanced Industries AI & Analytics Squad, building capabilities across hundreds of client engagements, and drove global go-to-market execution for Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI, reaching thousands of executives across dozens of countries.
Annie is a Founding Member of the AI Think Tank, an international community advancing AI thought leadership and innovation, a member of the Forbes Business Council, recognized for her contributions to technology leadership, and a member of Hackathon Raptors—a prestigious community of seasoned experts and leaders in the field of technology and AI dedicated to advancing innovation and impactful solutions. She is a published thought leader with articles on data talent, analytics translation, governance, and AI-driven change management featured in Forbes, HackerNoon, and DZone. Annie serves as a judge for global tech awards, including Globee Awards and Business Intelligence Group, and speaks frequently on data and AI strategy at industry events and universities, including Brown University.
Annie holds a Master’s in Data Science and a Bachelor’s in Economics & Development Studies from Brown University, graduating magna cum laude. She is fluent in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

Annie Phan is a data and AI leader transforming how modern enterprises scale impact through data analytics, AI/ML innovation, and digital operations. At Diligent Corporation, she serves as Head AI Solution Architect, driving enterprise-wide AI trans... Show more

Ross Saunders

Ross Saunders

Ross is a technology and privacy specialist with over 20 years of experience navigating the complex intersection of innovation, governance, and cybersecurity.

With a background in Software-as-a-Service and more than a decade dedicated to governance consulting in privacy and security, Ross has helped organizations translate regulatory requirements into actionable strategies.

He is a passionate advocate for consumer cybersecurity and privacy rights, known for making even the most complex topics accessible and engaging.

Ross holds an MSc in the Management of Technology and Innovation and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E). He has additional certifications in ethical hacking and paralegal practice, and serves on the board of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.

Ross is a technology and privacy specialist with over 20 years of experience navigating the complex intersection of innovation, governance, and cybersecurity. With a background in Software-as-a-Service and more than a decade dedicated to governanc... Show more

Joe Mullins Commissioner

Joe Mullins Commissioner

Commissioner Joe Mullins has built a career centered on steady leadership, long-term thinking, and service to both business and community. He serves as CEO and president of The Mullins Companies, which includes Mullins Properties and Mullins Sports & Entertainment. Over time, his organization expanded from a small set of ventures into a diversified operation spanning real estate, construction, franchise management, restaurants, sports, entertainment, and media. His work reflects a consistent effort to create stability, opportunity, and practical growth.

Joe Mullins of Augusta was raised in Evans, Georgia, where early involvement in athletics, theater, and leadership programs such as FBLA, Jr. Achievement, and 4H shaped his discipline and communication skills. He earned a BBA in Business Management from the University of Georgia and later studied at UCLA under Hollywood agent Henry Holmes. These experiences provided a foundation that blended business fundamentals with an understanding of creative industries and relationship-driven work.

His early professional years were spent in sports and entertainment, where he represented athletes and entertainers who later became nationally recognized and inducted into professional Hall of Fame organizations. Through this work, Joe developed strengths in negotiation, trust building, and talent management. He also gained valuable experience through an internship with the Anthony Robbins companies, which reinforced his focus on accountability and personal development.

Entrepreneurship became the next phase of his career. Joe expanded into real estate and development, often acquiring underperforming properties and investing resources to improve them. Over time, his portfolio grew to include more than 800 multifamily units along with several commercial assets. During the COVID-19 period, many properties faced serious challenges, but careful leadership and planning allowed his teams to recover and return to firm performance.

Public service has remained an essential part of his life. Joe Mullins, Flagler, served as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, focusing on broadband expansion, fiscal responsibility, mental health funding, disaster recovery, and workforce housing. He also contributed at the national level through broadband initiatives that supported rural communities.

In the media, Joe hosts the radio program “Live, Work, Shop, Play in Florida,” which reaches millions of listeners across Florida and Georgia. Through Mullins Charities, Commissioner Joe Mullins has helped raise millions of dollars for hospitals, youth organizations, and community-focused causes. With more than fourteen years sober, he continues to advocate for opioid addiction recovery and support for families in crisis.

Commissioner Joe Mullins has built a career centered on steady leadership, long-term thinking, and service to both business and community. He serves as CEO and president of The Mullins Companies, which includes Mullins Properties and Mullins Sports &... Show more

Nataliya Ershova

Nataliya Ershova

- Se especializa en ayudar a desarrolladores a encontrar empleo en empresas de tecnología o a cambiar de carrera, siendo coach de neurociencia certificado por la ICF.
- 18 años de experiencia en desarrollo de negocios y estrategia de comunicación para los mercados de Europa, Asia y Latinoamérica
- Ella es economista con maestría en periodismo. Cambió de carrera cuatro veces en tres países
- Experiencia en la enseñanza del inglés en diferentes escuelas, bootcamps y universidades en América Latina durante 4 años.
- En Latinoamérica, ella ejecuta estrategias para que clientes corporativos ingresen a nuevos mercados, conecta fondos de Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) con startups y lidera un equipo de ingenieros de Machine Learning y Data


ESP | RUS | ENG

- Se especializa en ayudar a desarrolladores a encontrar empleo en empresas de tecnología o a cambiar de carrera, siendo coach de neurociencia certificado por la ICF. - 18 años de experiencia en desarrollo de negocios y estrategia de comunicación pa... Show more

Edwin M Sarmiento

Edwin M Sarmiento

is the Managing Director of 15C, a consulting and training company that specializes in designing, implementing and supporting SQL Server infrastructures. He is a 12-year former Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Master from Ottawa, Canada (but he’s originally from the Philippines) specializing in high availability, disaster recovery and system infrastructures running on the Microsoft server technology stack. His background in Unix has taken him to the world of DevOps and Docker to containerize SQL Server. He is very passionate about technology but has interests in music, neuroscience, social psychology, professional and organizational development, leadership and management matters when not working with databases.

Edwin lives up to his primary mission statement: "To help people and organizations grow and develop their full potential."

is the Managing Director of 15C, a consulting and training company that specializes in designing, implementing and supporting SQL Server infrastructures. He is a 12-year former Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Master from Ottawa, C... Show more

Mihaela Draghici

Mihaela Draghici

Mihaela is a product leader with 15 years experience in building B2C and B2B global products and leading product teams in various industries, from education, e-commerce, to affiliate marketing and automotive.

She's led and scaled cross-functional teams, launched new products, and worked closely with business, design, engineering, and leadership teams in complex environments, while shifting away from a project mindset and towards a user-centric and outcome-oriented approach.

Mihaela believes that putting people first, both end-users and teams, is the key to creating great products.

Throughout her experience, she identified that most product teams don’t fail because of strategy, or lack of skill. They fail because they are not truly aligned in how they understand the work.

She now helps product leaders and cross-functional teams uncover hidden misalignment, clarify how they communicate, and build and speak the shared language needed to make good decisions and deliver outcomes that matter, faster.

Topics include:
- cross-functional collaboration
- outcome-driven product development
- inclusive leadership
- language & alignment in cross-functional teams

After my sessions, audiences typically:
- recognise how language quietly shapes collaboration and decision-making
- see why well-intentioned teams drift out of alignment over time
- gain practical ways to surface hidden assumptions in their own teams
- rethink “alignment” as an ongoing leadership responsibility, not a one-off event

Most importantly, leaders leave with a sharper lens for spotting problems before they turn into delivery failures or team friction.

My talks are grounded in real team dynamics, not idealised models, and they challenge people to look honestly at how they work together.

Mihaela is a product leader with 15 years experience in building B2C and B2B global products and leading product teams in various industries, from education, e-commerce, to affiliate marketing and automotive. She's led and scaled cross-functional... Show more

Dean Savović

Dean Savović

Dean is Senior DBA practicing SQL Server since version 7.0 and main areas of interest are performance tuning and troubleshooting SQL Server database. Primary focus is on OLTP databases with occasional adventures with Business Intelligence. He finished Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing and MBA on Faculty of Economics in Zagreb. His premise was that it is very useful to combine technical knowledge with management process knowledge that help us in our everyday work. He works in Dinofni which is specialized in data management field on Microsoft SQL Server.

Dean is Senior DBA practicing SQL Server since version 7.0 and main areas of interest are performance tuning and troubleshooting SQL Server database. Primary focus is on OLTP databases with occasional adventures with Business Intelligence. He finishe... Show more

Ayesha Bagus

Ayesha Bagus

I believe technology works best when it's built around people. Almost 20 years in People leadership, Agile, and organisational development, I've learned that real innovation happens when teams feel genuinely seen and supported. I speak at conferences about Systems Thinking and diversity because I've witnessed how surface-level fixes rarely stick, meaningful change requires understanding the deeper patterns that shape how we work together. At KRS, I partner with leadership to build cultures where people can show up as themselves, where curiosity matters as much as competence, and where different perspectives aren't just welcomed but actively sought out. I'm drawn to the messy, human side of work: the conversations that shift thinking, the vulnerabilities that build trust, the moments when strategy meets intuition and something new becomes possible.

I believe technology works best when it's built around people. Almost 20 years in People leadership, Agile, and organisational development, I've learned that real innovation happens when teams feel genuinely seen and supported. I speak at conferences... Show more

Iva Vlašimsky

Iva Vlašimsky

A go-to-market content strategist and communication expert helping tech organizations break through the noise of sameness. By discovering and articulating what makes companies and their offerings genuinely different, Iva implements that message across marketing and sales.

For 20 years, Iva has worked in communications spanning journalism, storytelling, content marketing, and copywriting, serving Microsoft partner organizations and individuals.

Her framework-driven approach specializes in narrative discovery, differentiation, and thought leadership, replacing generic messaging with strong positioning, sharp points of view, and marketing that wins attention and new deals. Iva integrates AI into workflows, but only when it actually makes sense.

She works remotely with teams across the globe (mainly in the EU and US), is active in communities like IAMCP and The WIT Network, and lives in one of the world's most beautiful corners, Croatia, with two teens and two cats.

A go-to-market content strategist and communication expert helping tech organizations break through the noise of sameness. By discovering and articulating what makes companies and their offerings genuinely different, Iva implements that message acros... Show more

Bas Schuurmans

Bas Schuurmans

Bas Schuurmans has been working for Valcon (previously VIQTOR DAVIS) for 10 years as a Senior Principal Business Analytics Consultant. During these years, he has primarily worked on the Front-end. Here, he has gained extensive knowledge and experience in Dashboarding & Reporting and has specialised in Data Visualisation & Data Storytelling. Within Valcon, he is the lead of the Front-End Engineering Offering, sharing knowledge and experience both within and outside the company. He is enthusiastic, skilled and creative with Power BI, working on innovative ideas, creating and implementing them.

Bas Schuurmans has been working for Valcon (previously VIQTOR DAVIS) for 10 years as a Senior Principal Business Analytics Consultant. During these years, he has primarily worked on the Front-end. Here, he has gained extensive knowledge and experienc... Show more

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