Gloria (aka GoGo) serves as a Lead AI Specialist for Google Cloud and specializes in helping large enterprises identify and solve business problems with AI. GoGo started her career in tech in 2002 with a focus in data warehousing, customer relationship management and analytics. Having worked in several big data startups as well as starting her own multi- location sports & wellness businesses, she is experienced in understanding her clients needs for organizing and managing data inside and out. In 2015, GoGo completed her masters degree with a focus on Technology Adoption from DePaul University Chicago where she also spent time at the DePaul Institute for Science and Technology in Kerala, India. In 2024, GoGo was a part of the first global cohort of a leadership and coaching intensive in Tokyo, Japan with University of California, Berkeley.

Aside from her core work in AI at Google, GoGo is part of the Mastery Faculty & Speakers Bureau. At home, GoGo serves on the Board of Directors for the Legacy Foundation, is a member of the Service League of Northwest Indiana and launched her own non-profit, Region Angels Foundation and is vibe coding a community connection platform that connects non profits to businesses, volunteers and angel investors to start up founders.

Gloria (aka GoGo) serves as a Lead AI Specialist for Google Cloud and specializes in helping large enterprises identify and solve business problems with AI. GoGo started her career in tech in 2002 with a focus in data warehousing, customer relations... Show more

Akpaka Collins Chidindu brings extensive hands-on experience in product management, encompassing a wide spectrum of expertise from e-commerce and fintech to mobility and marketplace platforms. He works as Product Manager at Konga, Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platform, where he drives the design and execution of user-centred solutions that reach millions of customers.

Collins also serves as a Lead Mentor at HNG Tech, one of Africa’s largest remote tech internship programmes, where he has guided and coordinated over 10,000 mentors across Product, Design, and Engineering. Through this role, he has supported thousands of emerging professionals in gaining practical product management skills, strategic thinking, and real-world execution experience.

Driven by a passion for building impactful digital products, Collins applies his expertise in product strategy, stakeholder management, documentation, and cross-functional leadership to solve complex challenges. His work emphasises the creation of scalable, inclusive, and high-impact solutions that address real-world problems within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.

As a mentor and product leader, he is committed to developing the next generation of product managers, simplifying complex concepts, and empowering tech professionals to translate innovative ideas into practical, user-centred outcomes.

Akpaka Collins Chidindu brings extensive hands-on experience in product management, encompassing a wide spectrum of expertise from e-commerce and fintech to mobility and marketplace platforms. He works as Product Manager at Konga, Nigeria’s largest e... Show more

Arjun Prabhulal is a Principal Engineer with over 15 years of experience in modernizing and scaling enterprise systems across retail, supply chain, and cloud-native environments. He specializes in transforming legacy platforms into high-availability, cloud-native architectures on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).Arjun leads the modernization of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), driving multi-cloud architecture, integration, and automation initiatives to strengthen operational resilience and ensure business continuity. He brings deep expertise in DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) within the Google Cloud ecosystem.

Arjun Prabhulal is a Principal Engineer with over 15 years of experience in modernizing and scaling enterprise systems across retail, supply chain, and cloud-native environments. He specializes in transforming legacy platforms into high-availability,... Show more

A thought leader with over 20 years of experience and expertise. As a visionary and accomplished forerunner, Meade consistently drives innovation, scales organisations, and has held pivotal roles in various high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies. His passion for fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning has not only resulted in remarkable achievements, but has also made him a sought-after speaker at worldwide events. Meade's ability to bridge the gap between complex concepts and real-world applications makes him a unique animal.

A thought leader with over 20 years of experience and expertise. As a visionary and accomplished forerunner, Meade consistently drives innovation, scales organisations, and has held pivotal roles in various high-growth startups to Fortune 500 compani... Show more

A result-driven software engineer with expertise in community building :) // I teach Microsoft technologies - especially cloud solutions based on Microsoft Azure and Azure Stack.

A result-driven software engineer with expertise in community building :) // I teach Microsoft technologies - especially cloud solutions based on Microsoft Azure and Azure Stack. Show more

Jay Dwayne is a highly sought-after tech specialist and dedicated public servant renowned for his exceptional skills in software and systems engineering. Following previous excellent work at the ICT Authority, under the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy in Kenya, Jay is currently driving digital transformation at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Jay brings a comprehensive technical toolkit spanning full-stack software and systems development, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, mobile development, and advanced DevOps practices. His reputation as an expert is well-deserved, with numerous accolades and awards recognizing his contributions to the technology sector. With a wealth of experience and a diverse skill set, Jay is a valuable asset to any project team. His adaptability and proficiency make him an indispensable resource in the fast-paced world of modern technology, where he continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of software development and technological innovation.

As a Tech speaker, Jay has spoken at International and local conferences such as the Dublin Tech Summit, Dublin, Ireland, in May 2025, CABSAT, SATExpo & Integrate ME 2025 conference in Dubai, UAE in May, 2025. TEMS ICT Africa conference in Nairobi, Kenya in April 2025, Moonshot by Techcabal in Lagos in 2024, 2023,2022, Connected Africa Summit in Nairobi, 2024, The freelancers summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2023, African Congress on Cyber Security in Nairobi, 2022, MWC Series in Kigali, Rwanda, 2023 among many others including webinars and hackathons and workshops

Current Roles
Software Systems Engineer at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)
Jay collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of engineers in leading digital transformation initiatives at Kenya's premier tax and customs revenue agency, contributing to system optimization, automation projects, and enhancing user experiences across KRA's digital platforms.

Tech Consultant, Special Projects at United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

• Providing technical advisory on innovation ecosystem development across Africa
• Leading technical assessment and implementation of digital platforms to connect entrepreneurial universities continent-wide
• Developing strategic frameworks for university business incubation models
• Facilitating knowledge transfer between academic institutions and industry partners
• Designing monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress toward the one-billion-startup goal
• Collaborating with university leadership to create entrepreneurship curricula integration strategies

Jay's Core Expertise

Technical Specializations
-Full-Stack Development: Expert in modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js), Node.js, TypeScript, and comprehensive front-end technologies
- Backend Engineering: Proficient in multiple languages including C#/.NET, Java, Python, Golang, with expertise in enterprise frameworks and API development
- Mobile Development: Native iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin/Java) development, plus cross-platform solutions with Flutter
- Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS services (EC2, Lambda, S3), Docker, Kubernetes, and modern DevOps practices
- Database Technologies: Extensive experience with SQL Server, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and graph databases
- DevOps & DevSecOps: CI/CD pipelines, containerization, infrastructure as code, and security integration
- Visual Design: Adobe Creative Suite mastery (AI, AE, PS, ID, Pr), Sketch, and modern design tools

Leadership & Communication
- Public Speaking: Accomplished speaker with ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
- Visual Design: Creative problem-solving through design thinking
- Project Management: End-to-end software lifecycle management
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Stakeholder alignment and team leadership

Speaking Topics

Primary Topics
- Full-Stack Development Excellence: Modern JavaScript frameworks, API design, and scalable architecture patterns
- Cloud-Native Applications: AWS ecosystem, containerization with Docker/Kubernetes, and serverless architectures
- Mobile Development Strategy: Cross-platform development, native vs hybrid approaches, and Flutter implementation
- DevOps Transformation: CI/CD pipeline design, infrastructure automation, and team collaboration practices
- Database Architecture & Design: From SQL to NoSQL, choosing the right database for your needs
- Digital Government Services: Modernizing public sector technology and citizen-facing applications
- Visual Design in Tech: Bridging design and development for better user experiences

Secondary Topics
- Enterprise Software Development: .NET ecosystem, Java enterprise patterns, and legacy system modernization
- API Design & Integration: RESTful services, GraphQL implementation, and microservices architecture
- Testing Strategies: Comprehensive testing approaches from unit to integration testing
- Performance Optimization: Front-end performance, database tuning, and scalability planning
- Technology Leadership: Building and managing technical teams in fast-paced environments

Session Formats
- Keynote Presentations (45-60 minutes)
- Technical Deep-Dives (30-45 minutes)
- Interactive Workshops (90-120 minutes)
- Panel Discussions (30-60 minutes)
- Lightning Talks (10-15 minutes)

Jay's Technical Stack

Frontend Technologies
JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Angular, Vue.js, HTML5, CSS3, SCSS/Sass, Bootstrap, Gatsby, Stencil.js, GraphQL, Firebase

Backend & Server Technologies
Node.js, Express.js, C#/.NET Core, ASP.NET, Java/Java EE, Python/Django, Golang, PHP/Laravel, Apache, NGINX

Mobile Development
Swift (iOS), Kotlin/Java (Android), Flutter, Firebase, Android Studio, Xcode

Databases
SQL Server, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, Neo4j, CockroachDB, SQLite

Cloud & DevOps
AWS (EC2, Lambda, S3, SQS), Docker, Kubernetes, GitLab, Git, Digital Ocean, Heroku, IBM Cloud

Design & Testing
Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Jest, Jasmine, jUnit, Cucumber, Protractor

Development Tools
Visual Studio, VS Code, Android Studio, Xcode, Maven, Gradle

Speaking Experience
Accomplished public speaker with a proven track record of making complex technical concepts accessible to diverse audiences, from technical teams to executive stakeholders. Recognized industry expert with numerous accolades and awards for contributions to the technology sector.

Thinking of booking Jay?
Jay brings an exceptional combination of breadth and depth across the entire technology stack. His hands-on experience spans from frontend frameworks to cloud infrastructure, mobile development to enterprise systems. This comprehensive expertise, combined with his government sector experience and proven communication skills, makes him uniquely qualified to speak at conferences focused on:

- Full-Stack Development
- Cloud Computing & DevOps
- Mobile Application Development
- Enterprise Software Architecture
- Digital Transformation
- Government Technology
- Database Design & Architecture
- Modern JavaScript Frameworks
- Cross-Platform Development

Portfolio & Contact
Website: www.jaydwayne.com
Available for speaking engagements at technology conferences, corporate events, and educational institutions. Experienced in both in-person and virtual presentation formats.

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Bridging the gap between complex technical concepts and practical business solutions through innovative software engineering and clear communication.
Let's make it happen!

Jay is a trophy of God's grace, a conduit of rhema, saved by grace through faith.

Jay Dwayne is a highly sought-after tech specialist and dedicated public servant renowned for his exceptional skills in software and systems engineering. Following previous excellent work at the ICT Authority, under the Ministry of Information, Commu... Show more

Tombé dans la marmite agile en 2012, j'ai été Scrum Master, Scrum Master à l'échelle, leader d'une communauté de pratiques de Scrum Master, puis Coach Agile, responsable du Centre Agile d'Informatique Banque Populaire, et Lead Coach Agile sur un pôle métier.
J'ai activement participé à l'accompagnement de la transformation en mode produit d'informatique Banque Populaire en accompagnant les managers et leurs équipes à tirer partie de l'agilité pour améliorer leurs performances et la qualité.
Aujourd'hui, au sein du Groupement U, je contribue fortement à la mise en place de la transformation agile, humaine et technologique.

Tombé dans la marmite agile en 2012, j'ai été Scrum Master, Scrum Master à l'échelle, leader d'une communauté de pratiques de Scrum Master, puis Coach Agile, responsable du Centre Agile d'Informatique Banque Populaire, et Lead Coach Agile sur un pôle... Show more

Liz is an experienced leader with a passion for combining strategy and execution to drive change. With a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC and an MBA from the University of Portland, her education backs up her 15 years of leading teams in education, consulting, and tech. Liz is not just about ideas; she’s also about making things happen. Her numerous project management certifications highlight her commitment to excellence and continuous learning. Whether it's guiding teams or spearheading projects, Liz thrives on turning challenges into successes.

Liz is an experienced leader with a passion for combining strategy and execution to drive change. With a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC and an MBA from the University of Portland, her education backs up her 15 years of lea... Show more

Bill straddles both creative and technical disciplines, with a background both in graphic design and marketing technology, Bill creates digital marketing solutions for clients like Amazon Web Services, Sandals Resorts, Qlik Technologies, and Walgreens.

Earlier in his career Bill focused on the brand and creative side of marketing, as Art Director for The New York Times, Leo Burnett and J. Walter Thompson. Bill is a Marketo Certified Solutions Architect and has been a Marketo Certified Expert since 2014.

An avid life-long learner, Bill reads dozens of books monthly and will enthusiastically discuss anything from dirigibles to songlines.

Bill straddles both creative and technical disciplines, with a background both in graphic design and marketing technology, Bill creates digital marketing solutions for clients like Amazon Web Services, Sandals Resorts, Qlik Technologies, and Walgreen... Show more

André é criador e líder da comunidade de práticas Agile Flow Curitiba e coautor do livro "O que nenhum Scrum Master te contou", disponível na Amazon. André possui bastante experiência em facilitação de times, tanto em TI, quanto na área de negócios, sendo Lean Inception Facilitator desde 2020. Atualmente exerce o papel de RTE na ExxonMobil, mas trabalhou por mais de 7 anos como Enterprise Agile Coach, dentro de empresas de médio e grande porte nacionais e globais.

Quando não está trabalhando, André curte passar tempo cozinhando e assistindo streaming de filmes e séries.

André é criador e líder da comunidade de práticas Agile Flow Curitiba e coautor do livro "O que nenhum Scrum Master te contou", disponível na Amazon. André possui bastante experiência em facilitação de times, tanto em TI, quanto na área de negócios, ... Show more

Looking for the ultimate natural hair care experience? Look no further than Shawntel Waajid and Nappy Hutt LLC! With over 45 years of experience in braiding and natural hair care, our owner and lead instructor is a master cosmetologist, natural hair care stylist, and master loctitian. Plus, we offer the best in hair care products with our own Fertilizer and Kings Solutions lines. Join us for a hands-on seminar and discover the beauty of natural hair care!

Looking for the ultimate natural hair care experience? Look no further than Shawntel Waajid and Nappy Hutt LLC! With over 45 years of experience in braiding and natural hair care, our owner and lead instructor is a master cosmetologist, natural hair ... Show more

Abdulakem Yusuf is a recent graduate with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He serves as a Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, Google Cloud Innovator, Postman Student Leader, GitHub Campus Expert, Friends of Figma Lead, and AWS Community Builder. Additionally, he is a Power BI Instructor at Pristine Research and Development Consult Limited and a fellow at No Hunger Bank.

Abdulakem Yusuf is a recent graduate with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He serves as a Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, Google Cloud Innovator, Postman Student Leader, GitHub Campus Expert, Friends of Figma Lead, and AWS Community Build... Show more

J'ai toujours cultivé une certaine polyvalence dont les différentes facettes s'enrichissent mutuellement.
Coach professionnel et agiliste, j'écoute et je questionne individus et organisations pour les aider à clarifier leurs problématiques et à construire leurs propres solutions.

J'ai toujours cultivé une certaine polyvalence dont les différentes facettes s'enrichissent mutuellement. Coach professionnel et agiliste, j'écoute et je questionne individus et organisations pour les aider à clarifier leurs problématiques et à cons... Show more

Siddharth Bellad is an AI builder and product thinker currently completing his Master's at Duke. With a background in process engineering and no CS degree, he taught himself to build with AI and in doing so, ran into every UX wall an AI product can create. He's built MVPs, shipped agents, competed in AI hackathons, and landed a product internship at an enterprise tech company. His perspective is from the inside: what builders actually trade away when moving fast, and what it costs the humans on the other end.

Siddharth Bellad is an AI builder and product thinker currently completing his Master's at Duke. With a background in process engineering and no CS degree, he taught himself to build with AI and in doing so, ran into every UX wall an AI product can c... Show more

Soy Pedro Castillo, Ingeniero Informático. Me apasiona profundamente el mundo de los datos y su potencial para revelar verdades ocultas. En mi actual rol como Analista de Datos, tengo el privilegio de sumergirme en la complejidad de los datos, analizándolos hasta que revelan sus secretos más profundos. He tenido la oportunidad de liderar proyectos en diversos sectores, desde la industria minera hasta el retail y la salud. Mi objetivo es utilizar mi experiencia para desentrañar patrones y tendencias significativas que impulsen la toma de decisiones informadas y estratégicas en cualquier campo en el que trabajo.

Soy Pedro Castillo, Ingeniero Informático. Me apasiona profundamente el mundo de los datos y su potencial para revelar verdades ocultas. En mi actual rol como Analista de Datos, tengo el privilegio de sumergirme en la complejidad de los datos, analiz... Show more

I'm Sergio Mahía, a Software Engineer specializing in cybersecurity, with a clear mindset: to truly protect systems, you first have to think like someone trying to break them.

My career began by founding my own web development and security startup, where I went from zero to building a portfolio of over 20 clients in less than a year. In that process, I not only developed solutions but also focused on something I consider critical: protecting users from real-world threats. I worked with advanced techniques such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) and continuous auditing, identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities like XSS and SQL Injection to understand and mitigate them at their root.

Currently, I work at KPMG as a Software Engineer and Ethical Hacker, where I tackle complex security challenges in real-world environments. I've designed and developed ambitious projects, from automated vulnerability analyzers to educational platforms for CTF training, always with a practical and results-oriented approach.

I consider myself an ambitious, resourceful person with a great capacity for learning. I enjoy tackling difficult problems, learning from my mistakes, and transforming those errors into robust solutions. I'm also an active communicator on social media and blogs, where I translate complex cybersecurity concepts into accessible ideas, aiming to raise awareness among both businesses and users.

I firmly believe that the best defense against an attacker is to anticipate them. That's why I don't just build secure systems; I constantly test them, pushing their boundaries before others do.

I'm Sergio Mahía, a Software Engineer specializing in cybersecurity, with a clear mindset: to truly protect systems, you first have to think like someone trying to break them. My career began by founding my own web development and security startup... Show more

Eric Heyward is a dynamic and visionary entrepreneur renowned for his expertise in business operations, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With a strong background in IT/Business leadership, he has demonstrated remarkable accomplishments in scaling start-ups, driving operational excellence, and fostering growth.

As a key leader of an eCommerce start-up, Eric played a pivotal role in building a scalable business operations infrastructure from the ground up. He spearheaded the establishment of robust organizational structures, enabling seamless growth and expansion. By driving talent acquisition strategies, Eric assembled high-performing teams to propel the company forward.

With a keen focus on driving results, Eric has led major technology and management consulting engagements for prominent companies, including Cox, Coca-Cola, Aflac, First Data, and Equifax. Through his strategic vision and hands-on approach, he consistently delivered exceptional value to clients while ensuring the seamless execution of projects. Eric's expertise in management consulting, combined with his proficiency in technology consulting, has enabled him to navigate complex challenges and deliver innovative solutions.

Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Talley & Twine Watch Company, Eric's entrepreneurial spirit shines through his ability to create and optimize business operations. Leading the daily operations of the largest Black-owned wristwatch brand, he has played a pivotal role in building a thriving e-commerce company. Eric has successfully developed and implemented robust processes and systems for marketing and product innovation, manufacturing/assembly, order fulfillment and logistics, inventory management, and financial controls. His strategic collaborations with partners have driven brand-building campaigns, digital marketing initiatives, and strategic partnerships, accelerating growth and customer loyalty.

Eric also serves as Chief Operating Officer of RenderATL, which is a testament to his multifaceted leadership abilities. At RenderATL, a unique and vibrant community where technology professionals come together to celebrate innovation and individuality, Eric leads the Sales, Marketing, and Operations departments. In this dynamic environment, he has fostered an atmosphere where authenticity thrives, and individuals can truly be themselves without feeling constrained by conventional norms. Eric's leadership has been instrumental in furthering the company's mission to create a space “where talent feels welcome.” He has not only driven the growth of the Sales and Marketing functions but has also optimized the operational aspects of RenderATL, ensuring that it remains a daily celebration of community and the diverse intersections that define its members. Eric's contribution to RenderATL underscores his ability to lead with innovation and inclusivity, making him a driving force behind the company's success.

Eric Heyward's entrepreneurial spirit, exceptional business operations acumen, and transformative leadership skills make him a sought-after professional in the industry. His ability to drive growth, navigate complex challenges, and inspire teams positions him as a catalyst for success in any entrepreneurial endeavor or organization seeking transformative leadership.

Eric Heyward is a dynamic and visionary entrepreneur renowned for his expertise in business operations, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With a strong background in IT/Business leadership, he has demonstrated remarkable accomplishments in scaling st... Show more

Results-driven technology professional with experience across hospitality tech, SaaS product engineering, and enterprise financial systems. I thrive in complex environments where solving operational challenges and building scalable, reliable systems drives real business impact.

My career began in hospitality technology, where I progressed from integrating global clients onto a SaaS platform to owning the product lifecycle and delivering high-impact features at scale. I supported deployments across 1,100+ properties in diverse markets and led a 27-member team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement - all while enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency.

Today, I’m a Production Engineer at Bank of America, supporting the Enterprise Risk & Finance Technology organization. My work focuses on the stability, resilience, and continuous improvement of mission-critical systems that power risk, finance, and regulatory functions at enterprise scale.

I’m most energized at the intersection of technology and business strategy - where reliability, scale, and user impact come together. I value ownership, continuous learning, and delivering outcomes that matter.

Open to connecting with professionals across technology, product, data, and financial systems.

Results-driven technology professional with experience across hospitality tech, SaaS product engineering, and enterprise financial systems. I thrive in complex environments where solving operational challenges and building scalable, reliable systems ... Show more

Product Manager | Digital Banking & Varejo | +5 anos em produtos digitais
Apaixonada por transformar ideias em soluções digitais que impactam a vida das pessoas, atuo há 5 anos em gestão de produtos digitais: 4 anos no varejo na Whirlpool Latin America, onde liderei iniciativas de inovação e experiência do cliente, e agora 1 ano no Banco Bradesco, mergulhada no universo do banking digital.
Ao longo da carreira, acumulo +10 anos em tecnologia, com passagens por companhias aéreas, indústria e atendimento ao cliente — sempre com foco em otimização de processos e resultados concretos.

Product Manager | Digital Banking & Varejo | +5 anos em produtos digitais Apaixonada por transformar ideias em soluções digitais que impactam a vida das pessoas, atuo há 5 anos em gestão de produtos digitais: 4 anos no varejo na Whirlpool Latin Amer... Show more

Markus Mäkelä is a platform engineer specializing in generative AI applications. Over the past 2 years, he has focused primarily on integrating agentic capabilities into various parts of the platform engineering stack. He especially enjoys developing scalable and portable foundations that enables his team to keep pace with the fast moving cutting edge of the field of generative AI.

Markus Mäkelä is a platform engineer specializing in generative AI applications. Over the past 2 years, he has focused primarily on integrating agentic capabilities into various parts of the platform engineering stack. He especially enjoys developing... Show more

Tuesay Singh is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience at the intersection of AI, fintech, and cloud engineering. She is currently a Product Lead at Deloitte Consulting in San Francisco, and provides AI Engineering as a Service to banking clients. Prior to Deloitte, she was as a Senior Technical Product Manager at Amazon's Hazardous Goods Compliance vertical, leading OCR optimization across Seattle and European Union. She has an MBA from the Kelley School of Business and an MS from the University of Southampton. Outside of her professional role, she is a Board Advisor, Chapter Lead for Girls Who Code, member of Women in Product.

Tuesay Singh is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience at the intersection of AI, fintech, and cloud engineering. She is currently a Product Lead at Deloitte Consulting in San Francisco, and provides AI Engineering as a Service... Show more

Houston Vandergriff is a globe-trotting photographer, entrepreneur, and influencer based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Houston has traveled to 49 of the 50 United States, 5 Canadian Provinces, and 26 countries. He also has Down syndrome. His photos have been in magazines and books, won awards in numerous competitions, and been shown in galleries in three countries.

He shares the positives surrounding disability on Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. For his photography sales, he started on ETSY, moved to his own website, and now sells his photography as NFTs. To date he has been part of three sold-out NFT collections.

Houston inspires others, both inside and outside of the disability community. By sharing his gift of photography he also shares gifts of beauty and hope.

Houston Vandergriff is a globe-trotting photographer, entrepreneur, and influencer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Houston has traveled to 49 of the 50 United States, 5 Canadian Provinces, and 26 countries. He also has Down syndrome. His photos h... Show more

Hi, I’m Shirley Grimes, and I’ve been an end user of Microsoft technologies since 2015 — not from a demo environment, but from the real world of a wholesale distribution business, where orders are live, customers are waiting, and mistakes actually matter.
I currently work as an Order Entry Supervisor and AR Supervisor/EDI Manager, which means I live inside Dynamics 365 Business Central every single day. I support sales, order entry, inventory, AR, and EDI processes, and I’m passionate about finding practical ways to make the system work better for the people who use it — not the other way around.
My career with Gulf Coast Panama Jack has been built on growth, problem‑solving, and continuous improvement. I love mentoring others, sharing what I’ve learned the hard way, and helping teams gain confidence by showing them smarter, faster ways to work. If there’s a shortcut, a workaround, or a better habit that saves time and frustration, I want everyone to know about it.
Outside of work, I’m a mother and a foster parent, roles that have shaped my leadership style just as much as my professional experience. I take pride in being a role model, supporting others as they grow, and proving that resilience, empathy, and determination can coexist with strong leadership.
In my sessions, you’ll get honest, end‑user‑tested tips, a few laughs, and real solutions you can take back to work immediately — because ERP doesn’t have to be overwhelming to be effective.

Hi, I’m Shirley Grimes, and I’ve been an end user of Microsoft technologies since 2015 — not from a demo environment, but from the real world of a wholesale distribution business, where orders are live, customers are waiting, and mistakes actually ma... Show more

My name is Himanshu Gosai. I am Business Central/NAV functional consultant with 9+ years of experience in multiple full-cycle implementations across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and professional services. Throughout my career, I have focused on increasing business process efficiency through technology and driving digital transformation.
By leveraging expertise in business processes and Dynamics systems, I have helped organizations streamline operations, optimize process workflows, and achieve greater operational efficiency.

My name is Himanshu Gosai. I am Business Central/NAV functional consultant with 9+ years of experience in multiple full-cycle implementations across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and professional services.... Show more

Over 16 years of experience in Data Analytics Domain / ETL / Database including 10yrs in Microsoft Azure Data Platform

Over 16 years of experience in Data Analytics Domain / ETL / Database including 10yrs in Microsoft Azure Data Platform Show more

Saurabh Yergattikar is an Engineering Leader at eBay with over a ~14 Years of experience building large-scale backend platforms and mission-critical financial and commerce systems. His work spans distributed systems, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and developer productivity, with a strong focus on building reliable, high-impact backend and platform solutions used at enterprise scale.

Beyond his role at eBay, Saurabh is an active open-source innovator and contributor in the AI and security ecosystem. He leads and contributes to multiple open-source initiatives focused on secure AI infrastructure, Model Context Protocol (MCP) security, and developer tooling frameworks that improve how engineering teams analyze, secure, and scale modern software systems.

He regularly serves as a judge, reviewer, and mentor for global startup showcases, hackathons, and technical communities, and collaborates with industry experts across open-source, cybersecurity, and AI ecosystems. His work emphasizes practical security, real-world AI system design, and high-leverage developer productivity.

As a speaker, Saurabh presents on topics including AI system architecture, secure open-source frameworks, backend scalability, developer tooling, and emerging risks in modern AI and cloud platforms—bridging deep engineering with real-world industry application.

Saurabh Yergattikar is an Engineering Leader at eBay with over a ~14 Years of experience building large-scale backend platforms and mission-critical financial and commerce systems. His work spans distributed systems, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity,... Show more

Isadora Martin-Dye is the founder of Bloom, a venue intelligence platform for the wedding industry, and the owner-operator of Rixey Manor, a Knot Hall of Fame wedding venue in Rixeyville, Virginia. She runs both - a working venue and a software company - from the same desk.
A non-engineer by training, she ships production AI through 2,700+ lines of living architecture doctrine, versioned prompts with dual-provider fallback, and a cross-tier audit framework she designed to stress-test her own work. British-born and Virginia-based, she builds for industries where the transaction is irreplaceable, the customer is emotional, and "the model hallucinated" isn't an acceptable answer.

Isadora Martin-Dye is the founder of Bloom, a venue intelligence platform for the wedding industry, and the owner-operator of Rixey Manor, a Knot Hall of Fame wedding venue in Rixeyville, Virginia. She runs both - a working venue and a software compa... Show more

Everything with Data Analytics in Healthcare & CPG domain. With specialization in marketing & consumer behaviour analytics

Everything with Data Analytics in Healthcare & CPG domain. With specialization in marketing & consumer behaviour analytics Show more

Finance and accounting professional with comprehensive life‑cycle experience and a strong interest in IT. Functional D365 FSCM consultant and former accountant. Managed audits with major audit firms. Demonstrated effectiveness across software, security, and telecom sectors. Skilled in financial reporting systems, ERP design and support, shared services, forecasting, risk analysis, and global ERP platforms including Dynamics, AX, SAP, and Oracle.

Finance and accounting professional with comprehensive life‑cycle experience and a strong interest in IT. Functional D365 FSCM consultant and former accountant. Managed audits with major audit firms. Demonstrated effectiveness across software, securi... Show more

I'm a software engineer turned manager passionate about startups, innovation, and the transformative power of AI.
I've co-founded Startup X, a global non-profit that empowered entrepreneurs through initiatives like Startup Pirates - a pre-acceleration program active in 40+ cities - and PortugalStartups.com, a leading news platform for the Portuguese startup ecosystem (acquired by Espacio).
Previously served as Head of Tech Experimentation at Porto Digital, where I collaborated with startups to pilot emerging technologies in the city of Porto. My work led to the development of both internal tools—like the city’s electric scooter monitoring platform—and public-facing platforms such as Explore Porto.
Currently, I'm the Head of Labs & AI Transformation (L.AIT) at MC Digital (MC Sonae), a team with a dual mission: pushing the boundaries of tech experimentation and accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence across MC Digital and MC.

I'm a software engineer turned manager passionate about startups, innovation, and the transformative power of AI. I've co-founded Startup X, a global non-profit that empowered entrepreneurs through initiatives like Startup Pirates - a pre-accelerati... Show more