Wade is a CPA who brings 20 years of financial expertise and business management experience to U.S. Transactions Corp.
He was previously with Ernst & Young in San Francisco and later PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Stuttgart, Germany where he was senior engagement manger responsible for the assurance work for IBM, Sony, and several other multinational companies.
He also served as President/General Manager to three early-stage fast growth companies in the life sciences industry. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business with a B.S. in Economics.
U.S. Transactions Corp. was founded in 2009.
We focus on the Microsoft Dynamics space as the only integrated credit card processing solution with built-in connections to 120+ gateways and processors with access to every international currency. See USTPay on Appsource
www.ustranscorp.com/ustpay

Wade is a CPA who brings 20 years of financial expertise and business management experience to U.S. Transactions Corp. He was previously with Ernst & Young in San Francisco and later PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Stuttgart, Germany where he was senior ... Show more

As a freelancer, Katrin prefers to work at the intersection of business and software development, helping teams translate complex requirements into clear, practical solutions.
She works in various roles, ranging from business analysis to quality assurance, and brings practical expertise from the finance and payroll sectors to the table. Katrin enjoys developing applications or automations that support teams and simplify processes in a pragmatic, efficient way that addresses real needs.

As a freelancer, Katrin prefers to work at the intersection of business and software development, helping teams translate complex requirements into clear, practical solutions. She works in various roles, ranging from business analysis to quality as... Show more

Experienced engineering leader with a strong interest in distributed, highly-scalable and cloud-based systems.

Worked for years in Technical Leadership roles, focused on infrastructure management and Cloud on the 3 major public cloud providers. Experienced in the finance sector, specifically on high-performance payment platforms and systems compliance.
Regular speaker at conferences and meetups.
Federico holds an MSc in Software Engineering from City University London

Experienced engineering leader with a strong interest in distributed, highly-scalable and cloud-based systems. Worked for years in Technical Leadership roles, focused on infrastructure management and Cloud on the 3 major public cloud providers. Ex... Show more

Thomas is Head of Data-Driven Applications & Services at GRENKE in Baden-Baden.
GRENKE is a financial solution provider, offering services in more than 30 countries around the world.

His department aims to deliver business value through data and data-related services and applications.
He has spent the last 20 years with data, databases, IT services, and related infrastructure. Before that, he was a paramedic with the German Red Cross.

When he is not pretending to work, you will probably find him on his motorcycle, as far away from paved roads as possible.

Thomas is Head of Data-Driven Applications & Services at GRENKE in Baden-Baden. GRENKE is a financial solution provider, offering services in more than 30 countries around the world. His department aims to deliver business value through data and ... Show more

Robert is a talented, energetic, and insightful product-focused speaker focused on helping teams and organizations build great products and align on their best ways of working to build trust and accountability. He has spent 15 years in the IT field with a primary focus on product development, agile framework, and software quality within both startups and enterprise organizations spanning diverse industries including Automotive, Insurance, Finance, Healthcare and the Department of Defense. He currently serves as a Sr Principal Product professional at Discover + Capital One helping build and evolve innovative products to ensure a brighter financial future for their customers. He is a relentlessly optimistic, culture-first leader who unlocks elite performance by developing people, fostering trust, and placing success over ego.

Robert is a talented, energetic, and insightful product-focused speaker focused on helping teams and organizations build great products and align on their best ways of working to build trust and accountability. He has spent 15 years in the IT field w... Show more

Ahmad Alsharif is a Cloud Architect and a Google Cloud Authorized Trainer. He specializes in Application modernization, Kubernetes, and enterprise AI, driving the design and implementation of cloud environments and AI products for complex highly-regulated financial workloads. He also leads the Google Developer Group Amman, actively advocating for Cloud-native technologies.

Ahmad Alsharif is a Cloud Architect and a Google Cloud Authorized Trainer. He specializes in Application modernization, Kubernetes, and enterprise AI, driving the design and implementation of cloud environments and AI products for complex highly-regu... Show more

Results - driven Cybersecurity Engineer with diverse experience across Healthcare, Banking, Public, and Telecom sectors, cross-functional project guidance and stakeholder support, security architecture strategy, application/ agentic AI security, predictive analytics, and enterprise risk management. Adept at designing and implementing scalable solutions, driving automation, and delivering quantifiable value and innovation.

Results - driven Cybersecurity Engineer with diverse experience across Healthcare, Banking, Public, and Telecom sectors, cross-functional project guidance and stakeholder support, security architecture strategy, application/ agentic AI security, pred... Show more

Upendra Singh Jadon is a senior data privacy and enterprise architecture leader with 15-plus years of experience helping Fortune 500 organizations across financial services, healthcare, and insurance build secure, compliant data ecosystems. He currently serves as senior solutions architect at Datamasque, where he leads enterprise-grade data masking and privacy implementations for Tier-1 insurance carriers and regulated industries.

Previously at TIBCO Software (2018-2024), Upendra served as principal architect for privacy-by-design governance platforms for Fortune 100 clients, supporting $8M+ in pipeline across BFSI verticals. He has delivered 50+ technical workshops, authored architectural standards adopted globally, and contributed reusable data masking frameworks incorporated into enterprise platform strategies.

Upendra’s areas of expertise include data masking and anonymization, master data management (MDM), GDPR/CCPA/HIPAA compliance architecture, cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and AI/ML data enablement. He is a published technical author, frequent speaker, and workshop leader.

Upendra Singh Jadon is a senior data privacy and enterprise architecture leader with 15-plus years of experience helping Fortune 500 organizations across financial services, healthcare, and insurance build secure, compliant data ecosystems. He curren... Show more

Always building. Always learning. One automation script—and one qubit—at a time.

I'm an Automation Developer at HDFC Bank (via Wipro), where I build enterprise applications that automate complex storage infrastructure operations. My current work focuses on replacing manual zoning and observability processes with reliable, scalable, and self-service automation platforms.
One of my key projects is ZoneManager—a Flask-based application that automates Fibre Channel and FCIP zone management across Brocade switches. By integrating the Brocade FOS REST API with MySQL, it replaces manual CLI-based zoning with a centralized, auditable workflow, improving operational efficiency and reducing human error.
Before transitioning into automation, I worked as a Network Engineer, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise networking, network security, and monitoring. My work included SolarWinds, Wireshark, IEEE 802.1X, Cisco Identity Services Engine (Cisco ISE), and troubleshooting network infrastructure, giving me a strong foundation in enterprise systems that I now leverage while building automation solutions.
Beyond infrastructure engineering, I'm passionate about Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and emerging technologies. I hold a Quantum Computing certification from The Coding School and previously worked as a Quantum AI Engineer Intern at STEMIAC, where I explored quantum machine learning applications for real-world challenges.
I'm also an active community leader and mentor. I proudly serve as a Windows Insider MVP, Women Techmakers Ambassador, Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, and Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Mentor. I regularly organize workshops, speak at conferences, mentor aspiring technologists, and contribute to developer communities.
Most recently, I co-founded JS Community Mumbai, where I helped organize and host our first meetup, bringing together developers, industry speakers, and sponsors to foster learning and collaboration.
With a B.Tech in Information Technology from BITS Pilani (WILP) while continuing to deepen my expertise across automation, networking, storage infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, Python, JavaScript, and quantum technologies.
I enjoy solving infrastructure challenges through automation, sharing knowledge with the community, and exploring technologies that shape the future.

Always building. Always learning. One automation script—and one qubit—at a time. I'm an Automation Developer at HDFC Bank (via Wipro), where I build enterprise applications that automate complex storage infrastructure operations. My current work f... Show more

Samuel is a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart, a senior mobile engineer at Busha and a product engineer at Nexlab Studios. Samuel has over 8 years of experience in the software industry having worked in the banking space, crypto space, finance, mobility, to mention a few.

He is a co-organizer of the Flutter Lagos and Flutter Akure communities, as well as the Google Developers Group Akure.

Passionate about open-source technologies and building developer tooling, Samuel enjoys sharing knowledge through technical articles and speaking at events and conferences. Outside of coding, Samuel is an avid gamer, lover of anime.

Samuel is a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart, a senior mobile engineer at Busha and a product engineer at Nexlab Studios. Samuel has over 8 years of experience in the software industry having worked in the banking space, crypto space, fin... Show more

Rashi Agrawal is the Head of Agentic AI at Hinge Health, where she leads the strategic engineering of high-stakes AI systems within complex regulatory landscapes. By expertly navigating the rigorous requirements of clinical safety, HIPAA, and global regulations, she ensures that disruptive technology remains both secure and compliant. Focused on the pioneer side of generative technology, Rashi is architecting "state-of-the-art" frameworks for Agentic AI that move beyond simple automation to solve critical member problems and drive dramatic business growth.

Formerly the Head of AI at GoodLeap, a leading FinTech in Green Energy, Rashi spearheaded enterprise-wide AI transformation initiatives that optimized everything from complex loan processing to customer engagement while managing a complex cross functional global portfolio. With a unique blend of holistic vision and deep technical expertise, she has a proven track record of developing intelligent decision-making systems and risk assessment platforms that deliver measurable business value through Generative and Agentic AI.

Earlier in her career, Rashi led engineering teams at Yahoo, where she transformed early-stage technical challenges into massive growth engines for their multi billion-dollar advertising business. Her approach is defined by a commitment to technical innovation grounded in strategic business transformation, ensuring that AI serves as a competitive moat rather than just a technical layer.

Beyond the office, Rashi is a global explorer who has traveled to over 45 countries, bringing a diverse, international perspective to her leadership. She is an active thought leader in the Engineering Leadership and AI community. An Indian immigrant with a Master’s in Computer Science from San Jose State University, an alumna of Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Education program, she is also the founder of Women In Tech AI (WIT AI), a community dedicated to empowering and elevating women leaders in the artificial intelligence space.

Rashi Agrawal is the Head of Agentic AI at Hinge Health, where she leads the strategic engineering of high-stakes AI systems within complex regulatory landscapes. By expertly navigating the rigorous requirements of clinical safety, HIPAA, and global ... Show more

Fowmy Abdulmuttalib is a Microsoft-certified business intelligence professional with extensive experience in finance, accounting and data analytics. Currently, he is employed by McDonald's Saudi Arabia as the Head of ERP and Business Intelligence. Interested in everything data-related, he would like to share his passion and knowledge with the data community.

Fowmy Abdulmuttalib is a Microsoft-certified business intelligence professional with extensive experience in finance, accounting and data analytics. Currently, he is employed by McDonald's Saudi Arabia as the Head of ERP and Business Intelligence. In... Show more

Reid is a seasoned data professional with a wealth of experience in data visualization, Microsoft Power Platform, and artificial intelligence. In his professional capacity, Reid specializes in consulting on IT processes to drive improvement and efficiency. In addition to his role, Reid is deeply involved in developing Power Platform solutions, integrating artificial intelligence, and advocating for enhanced end-user technology experiences.

Before transitioning into tech, Reid built a successful career in the finance industry. From broker and trader to consultant, where he assisted Financial Advisors in scaling and marketing their businesses, while also serving as a trusted expert in investments and strategy.

Reid is a proud graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration specializing in Finance with a minor in Leadership Studies.

Outside of work, Reid enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son. He also enjoys the company of his dogs, Finley and Bentley, and enjoys the occasional lake trip, serving on nonprofit boards, reading, continuous learning, sharing knowledge, and working on side projects.

Four Colors: Green | Gold | Orange | Blue
Myers-Briggs: ISTP

Reid is a seasoned data professional with a wealth of experience in data visualization, Microsoft Power Platform, and artificial intelligence. In his professional capacity, Reid specializes in consulting on IT processes to drive improvement and effic... Show more

Experienced MS Dynamics 365 Business Central Practice Lead with 15+ years of expertise in implementation, upgrades, integrations, and support development projects. Proven success across diverse domains, including Trading, NGOs, Manufacturing, IT, Financial Services, Banking, and Automobile industries. Adept at delivering solutions across multiple geographies, including Australia, the USA, GCC, the UK, and Europe.

Experienced MS Dynamics 365 Business Central Practice Lead with 15+ years of expertise in implementation, upgrades, integrations, and support development projects. Proven success across diverse domains, including Trading, NGOs, Manufacturing, IT, Fin... Show more

Balogun David Taiwo is a Data Scientist, AI Expert, AI Researcher, and Lead Analyst with over six years of experience building machine learning solutions, credit risk models, and real-time analytics platforms across venture-backed fintechs, financial institutions, edtech, and technology-focused NGOs. He specializes in the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial risk, business intelligence, and data engineering, transforming complex datasets into actionable insights that drive strategic business decisions.

Throughout his career, David has designed and deployed predictive models, automated analytics workflows, and business intelligence solutions that have enhanced operational efficiency, strengthened risk management, and empowered executives to make data-driven decisions. He is experienced in leading end-to-end data projects—from data engineering and model development to dashboard design and stakeholder engagement—bridging the gap between technical implementation and business strategy.

Beyond industry, David is an active AI researcher whose work focuses on practical machine learning systems, edge AI, and scalable data infrastructures for resource-constrained environments. Currently, his research has been accepted for presentation at the 10th International Conference on Cloud and Big Data Computing (ICCBDC 2026) at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he will be presenting his paper, "Designing a Full-Stack Pipeline: From Data Collection to Edge Deployment in Low-Bandwidth Environment." Also presenting, "Crop Disease Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks in Low-Resource Agricultural Settings," at the Faculty of Computing, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

David is equally passionate about developing the next generation of data professionals. He has mentored and trained nearly 3,000 aspiring data scientists and analysts across Europe, Africa, and the United States through technical training, coaching, and community initiatives.

By combining technical excellence, research, and business acumen, David leverages data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to solve complex business challenges, advance AI research, and deliver measurable impact for forward-thinking organizations.

Balogun David Taiwo is a Data Scientist, AI Expert, AI Researcher, and Lead Analyst with over six years of experience building machine learning solutions, credit risk models, and real-time analytics platforms across venture-backed fintechs, financial... Show more

– Over 20 years’ experience with global investment banks, private banks, hedge funds and consulting covering governance, enterprise risk, information security, and project management.
– Strong experience in information security and enterprise risk from a management and leadership perspective as well as an appointed board member.
– Successful track record of delivering complex, high quality, robust and reliable solutions on time and on budget.
– Strong track record of review financial statements and valuing public companies.

CERTIFICATIONS: CISSP, CCSP, SSCP, CISM, CCSK, and PMP

– Over 20 years’ experience with global investment banks, private banks, hedge funds and consulting covering governance, enterprise risk, information security, and project management. – Strong experience in information security and enterprise risk ... Show more

Vishwak Thatikonda is a Lead Full-Stack Developer at SDH Systems specializing in high-resilience, mission-critical systems. Known for building complex platforms from the ground up, his work ranges from contributing to ground-segment software for the Mastcam-Z instrument on NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover to architecting the master data platform for a Fortune 500 global retail enterprise with tens of thousands of locations, a foundational layer for its next-generation point-of-sale system.

A technical pioneer in both the startup and enterprise worlds, Vishwak was the founding full-stack engineer at AirWorks, an MIT-born GeoAI company, where he built the platform from zero through its $7.9M Series A. He has led industry-first credit and banking initiatives serving 18 million users and directed blockchain-logistics pilots for UPS. Vishwak bridges the gap between deep-tech research and large-scale production reality. His latest open-source project, LambdaForge, is a serverless algorithmic trading engine built on AWS Lambda and EventBridge that empowers engineers to run professional-grade financial automation with near-zero operational overhead.

Vishwak Thatikonda is a Lead Full-Stack Developer at SDH Systems specializing in high-resilience, mission-critical systems. Known for building complex platforms from the ground up, his work ranges from contributing to ground-segment software for the ... Show more

Alvaro Ricardo Valdez es Founder & CEO de AV Finance, holding que construye la infraestructura financiera digital para Bolivia y LatAm. Opera tres entidades cross-border (Delaware, Chile, Bolivia) con plataforma sobre Stellar mainnet y arquitectura AWS activa en producción.

AV Finance está en proceso de adecuación bajo el Decreto Supremo 5384 como Empresa de Tecnología Financiera ante ASFI, primera empresa boliviana bajo el nuevo marco regulatorio de activos virtuales.

Combina su rol de founder con el de ingeniero principal del stack — construye y mantiene ~34,000 líneas de código con Claude Code como copiloto de ingeniería. Apasionado por construir infraestructura financiera seria desde Bolivia con criterio técnico de nivel internacional y compartir el cómo con la comunidad regional.
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Alvaro Ricardo Valdez is Founder & CEO of AV Finance, the holding building digital financial infrastructure for Bolivia and LatAm. Operates three cross-border entities (Delaware, Chile, Bolivia) with platform on Stellar mainnet and AWS architecture active in production.

AV Finance is in compliance process under Supreme Decree 5384 as a Financial Technology Company before ASFI, one of the first Bolivian companies under the new virtual asset regulatory framework.

Combines his founder role with that of principal engineer of the stack — builds and maintains ~34,000 lines of code with Claude Code as engineering copilot. Passionate about building serious financial infrastructure from Bolivia with international-grade technical criteria.

Alvaro Ricardo Valdez es Founder & CEO de AV Finance, holding que construye la infraestructura financiera digital para Bolivia y LatAm. Opera tres entidades cross-border (Delaware, Chile, Bolivia) con plataforma sobre Stellar mainnet y arquitectura A... Show more

Technology executive with 18+ years of experience building and scaling cloud-native platforms across enterprise and startup environments. Currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Maxbalo Group, leading product strategy, platform architecture, and engineering execution for next-generation AI-driven lending and financial technology solutions.

Previously, as Software Development Manager at Amazon, I led engineering initiatives for the Whole Foods Grocery Receiving platform, delivering a high-throughput, event-driven architecture. My work focused on building resilient serverless systems using AWS Lambda, SQS, SNS, and DynamoDB, while driving operational excellence and team growth.

Throughout my career at Amazon, LevaData, and earlier roles, I have successfully:
- Built and scaled distributed SaaS platforms handling high-volume transactions
- Led global engineering teams across product, data, and infrastructure domains
- Architected cloud-native systems using AWS and modern microservices patterns
- Delivered AI/ML and analytics-driven solutions for supply chain and financial platforms
- Drove cloud migrations, cost optimization, and platform modernization initiatives

I combine strategic leadership with hands-on technical depth, aligning engineering execution with business outcomes. My focus areas include platform scalability, AI adoption, cloud architecture, and building high-performing engineering organizations. Always interested in connecting with leaders building scalable platforms and innovative technology solutions.

Technology executive with 18+ years of experience building and scaling cloud-native platforms across enterprise and startup environments. Currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Maxbalo Group, leading product strategy, platform architecture,... Show more

I’m a Chartered Accountant (ACA, ICAEW) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Solution Architect , a combination that lets me sit on both sides of a finance transformation: the standards and the system that has to honour them.

With extensive experience in finance management, D365 Business Central ERP implementation across finance and supply chain modules, and business transformation, I specialize in bridging the gap between finance and technology. As a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), I bring a strong grounding in financial management, compliance, and delivery.

My expertise lies in designing and delivering ERP solutions that streamline financial processes, enhance reporting accuracy, and drive operational efficiency, grounded in real journal entries and the accounting logic behind them, not just configuration.

I write bcforfinance.com, a web series on the intersection of Business Central and IFRS; translating standards like IFRS 15, IFRS 16, and IFRS 9 into practical BC configuration for finance-literate audiences. I also speak at Dynamics user groups, including D365PPUG UK, on IFRS in Business Central and BC solution-architecture topics.

I’m passionate about helping organizations modernize their finance functions through digital transformation, aligning technology with business goals to improve performance and enable informed decision-making.

I’m a Chartered Accountant (ACA, ICAEW) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Solution Architect , a combination that lets me sit on both sides of a finance transformation: the standards and the system that has to honour them. With extensive... Show more

Ralph V. Estep Jr. is an LPA, MBA, and the founder of Saggio Management Group in Middletown, Delaware, a cloud-based accounting firm serving hundreds of business and individual clients since 2005. He holds additional designations in tax and accounting (ABA, ATA, ATP) and spent years as CFO at Westminster Presbyterian Church, EVP at American Spirit Federal Credit Union, and controller at Morris, James, Hitchens, and Williams law firm.

What sets Ralph apart: he's built his entire career at the intersection of faith, money, and entrepreneurship. He's the creator and host of The Content Creator's Accountant and co-executive producer of The Podcasting Morning Show, where he helps creators and business owners move from financial anxiety to actual confidence. He's also a Junior Achievement mentor and invests in leadership development through Dale Carnegie training.

Ralph and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons and co-founded Estep Farm LLC, raising black Angus cattle in Delaware.

Ralph V. Estep Jr. is an LPA, MBA, and the founder of Saggio Management Group in Middletown, Delaware, a cloud-based accounting firm serving hundreds of business and individual clients since 2005. He holds additional designations in tax and accountin... Show more

David Handlos is a software engineer, technologist, educator, and conference speaker with over two decades of experience building enterprise software, automation frameworks, and integration solutions within the financial services industry. He specializes in applying AI, software engineering, and automation to solve complex business and technical challenges.

In addition to his industry work, David serves as an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, where he teaches software engineering, software testing, and automation. He also works as an independent genealogist, using technology, historical records, and AI-assisted research to solve complex family history problems, locate ancestral records, and document lineage for citizenship-by-descent and other genealogy projects.

David enjoys speaking about AI, automation, software engineering, and the creative ways technology can be applied to solve problems beyond traditional software development.

David Handlos is a software engineer, technologist, educator, and conference speaker with over two decades of experience building enterprise software, automation frameworks, and integration solutions within the financial services industry. He special... Show more

I am a hands-on Architect, with a proven record of delivering scalable, secure, and flexible enterprise systems. I am passionate about clean, readable, tested code and delivering excellent value to clients.

I currently serve as a Software Architect at One Zero Bank. Our company is the first digital bank, providing fast, reliable service to our customers using the latest AI technologies.

At my previous company (NI), I also served as the Lead of the Product Security Chapter, which focused on advancing NI's security posture using their SDL, Threat Modeling, Certifications, and lots of training.

I am a hands-on Architect, with a proven record of delivering scalable, secure, and flexible enterprise systems. I am passionate about clean, readable, tested code and delivering excellent value to clients. I currently serve as a Software Architec... Show more

Most organizations don't have a people problem. They have a clarity problem.

Oupa Laka helps leaders and teams cut through complexity, align around what matters, and make confident decisions.

An international speaker and Business Analysis Consultant, Oupa is the creator of the AKILI Clarity Method and Story Weaver Model – frameworks that help leaders and teams uncover hidden problems, align stakeholders, and make confident decisions. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in banking, insurance and digital transformation, his sessions are known for blending sharp strategic insight, authentic storytelling, and just the right amount of humour.

Oupa delivers high-energy sessions that challenge assumptions, spark meaningful conversations, and equip audiences with tools they can apply immediately. Having spoken at global conferences across Africa and Europe, he is known for challenging assumptions and shifting perspectives.

If audiences leave with new knowledge, the session was useful.
If they leave seeing problems differently, the session was transformational.

Clarity changes everything.

Most organizations don't have a people problem. They have a clarity problem. Oupa Laka helps leaders and teams cut through complexity, align around what matters, and make confident decisions. An international speaker and Business Analysis Consu... Show more

I love technology. I have seen firsthand how access to technology/digital services has transformed a community. My mission is to harness and leverage community social capital to promote financial inclusion.

I am committed to driving the successful adoption and integration of technological solutions that empower traditionally underserved communities. With a solid foundation in Telecommunications Engineering, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership, and a customer-centric approach to my role.

Currently, I lead the implementation of Kanzu Banking, a core banking platform designed to streamline and enhance the operations of VSLAs, MFIs, and SACCOs. I ensure seamless onboarding, efficient data migration, and exceptional customer service.

Honoured by HiPipo as one of the 2024 “40 Women Under 40” pioneering change in the fintech space in Africa and beyond, my innovative strategies have significantly improved the customer experience and driven a product-led approach within our team.

I love technology. I have seen firsthand how access to technology/digital services has transformed a community. My mission is to harness and leverage community social capital to promote financial inclusion. I am committed to driving the successfu... Show more

Andrea Elliott is the CEO, Founder, and Managing Partner of EMG Advisory, the AI-native governance, risk and strategy practice serving regulated, high-stakes industries including Quantum Computing and Financial Services. She most recently served as Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer at a publicly traded global payments technology company, where she led a global risk and compliance transformation, built the company's AI governance framework, and led the outstanding CFPB & State AG Consent Orders to full regulatory compliance, with zero reportable incidents during her tenure. She also designed and led the GRC technology transformation to drive internal risk intelligence, transparency, and enterprise accountability, providing an end-to-end, 360 perspective on risk throughout the enterprise. With 15-plus years across risk, compliance, governance, ethics, and legal, Andrea brings a foresight practitioner's perspective to AI governance failures and mitigation. She is the author of (1) The Deadline on Implicit Governance, (2) The Proportionality Problem, (3) The Architecture of Intuition, (4) The Quiet Rewiring, (5) Bounded Autonomy, (6) The Compounding Bet, and (7) The Missing Middle. She holds a JD from Emory Law [Bankruptcy Journal & Transactional Certificate], an MBA from UGA [Finance focus with an emphasis in Consulting], and the AIGP credential from IAPP. Her undergraduate studies at Auburn University included Architecture, Industrial Design, and Business Administration.

From Andrea: "AI is rewriting what industries can do, and the leaders who govern it with seriousness and imagination will reshape theirs rather than scramble to catch up. I help those leaders imagine beyond what AI makes possible today, then usher them through the transformation for the betterment of the people their industries serve.

It starts with something deceptively simple: helping organizations make sound AI decisions they can stand behind, quickly and confidently. Done right, that discipline is not a brake on ambition. It is what lets a company reimagine what is possible with AI.

My work sits at the intersection of law, risk, ethics, strategy, and systems design. After 15+ years in risk and compliance roles, most recently as Chief Compliance Officer where I built the company's AI governance framework from the ground up, I founded EMG Advisory on a conviction: AI does not need more hype. It needs structure, accountability, and leaders who treat risk as a strategic discipline.

That is the part most people miss. Governance, Risk, and Compliance, done well, is not what slows AI down. It decides where you can afford to move fast and where you cannot, and it is inseparable from strategy; your AI strategy does not survive without it.

The other half of how I work is AI-native wiring. I think in systems, synthesize fast, and collaborate with AI at the conceptual layer as a cognitive partner, translating complexity into strategic clarity. It is also how EMG itself is built: I practice the responsible, operationalized AI I help my clients deploy.

I work with organizations that want to use AI strategically, responsibly, and with foresight. I help leaders:

Turn AI risk and compliance into strategic advantage
Make defensible AI decisions at the speed of business
Translate regulatory ambiguity into operational clarity
Anticipate second- and third-order effects before they surface
Design governance that works in practice, not just on paper

The regulatory landscape shifts faster than most AI roadmaps, and the patchwork of overlapping laws and standards leaves even willing organizations unsure what they must comply with. Pair that with AI that stalls in committee and governance impeccable on paper that no one operates by, and the gap becomes clear. Closing it is where I do my best work.

But closing the gap is the floor, not the ceiling. The organizations that govern AI with seriousness and imagination will not just keep up; they will transform what their industries can do for the people who depend on them. That is the future I am building toward."

Andrea Elliott is the CEO, Founder, and Managing Partner of EMG Advisory, the AI-native governance, risk and strategy practice serving regulated, high-stakes industries including Quantum Computing and Financial Services. She most recently served as C... Show more

Antonio has +20 years experience developing software solutions across 3 different continents. He has worked for organizations like Wise or the European Commission.
He started his career as a software engineer and held IC positions for almost 10 years before jumping into the leadership path.
For the last 10 years he has had multiple positions (from engineering manager to VP of Engineering or currently CPTO) in different companies and industries but the last 7 years he has focused on the fintech industry leading teams and solving problems in domains like cross currency transfers, trade financing or open banking.

Antonio has +20 years experience developing software solutions across 3 different continents. He has worked for organizations like Wise or the European Commission. He started his career as a software engineer and held IC positions for almost 10 year... Show more

Milan Cheeks is the founder and CEO of SELF Labs Inc., a technology company developing AI-powered products and infrastructure designed to improve how people live, work, create, and interact with technology.

He is leading the development of SELF OS, an AI-native operating environment designed to bring intelligent agents, decentralized applications, digital identity, and user-controlled computing into a unified ecosystem. He is also developing ESSENCE, a blockchain-based utility and economic layer intended to reward verified participation and contributions within the SELF network.

Through SELF Labs, Milan works across artificial intelligence, decentralized infrastructure, robotics, real estate technology, digital economies, and next-generation human-computer interaction.

His broader mission is to build technology that gives individuals greater ownership of their data, intelligence, devices, and economic value—helping move society from centralized digital platforms toward more personalized and user-owned technological systems.

Milan Cheeks is the founder and CEO of SELF Labs Inc., a technology company developing AI-powered products and infrastructure designed to improve how people live, work, create, and interact with technology. He is leading the development of SELF OS... Show more

Nithesh Gudipuri is Associate Director of Technology at Raymond James Financial, with 13+ years across financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare. He modernized 100+ services supporting $1.3 trillion in assets, holds two USPTO patents, and leads SEC regulatory implementations ( T1 Settlement, USTC). Named Innovation Champion (top 1% of 1,800 technologists), he advises on blockchain strategy and has presented research at IEEE/ACM conferences.

Nithesh Gudipuri is Associate Director of Technology at Raymond James Financial, with 13+ years across financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare. He modernized 100+ services supporting $1.3 trillion in assets, holds two USPTO patents, an... Show more

Saurabh Yergattikar is a software architect and engineering leader with 15 years building mission-critical systems at global scale, working at the intersection of financial services, platform engineering, and agentic AI infrastructure.
He currently leads seller financing platform engineering at eBay across the US, UK, and Germany, and previously served as technical owner of core billing and real-time fee-netting systems, building distributed financial infrastructure that handles money movement at marketplace scale.
Much of his work also centers on making AI agents safe, reliable, and production-ready.
He contributed to SAFE-MCP, a Linux Foundation and OpenSSF security project cataloguing 80+ attack vectors against the Model Context Protocol, and architects ShieldMCP, an open source runtime defense proxy for agent stacks.
He also builds GyroCompass-io, an architecture governance framework that keeps AI coding agents aligned with a system's intended design.
His research on AI agent security and infrastructure has been accepted at the ACL 2026 Industry Track and IEEE conferences.
Saurabh is a Senior Member of the IEEE and serves as a program committee member, reviewer, and judge across IEEE, ACM, and ICML venues.
He has spoken at SXSW, the MCP Conference, NEARCON, the Linux Foundation Member Summit, and Workato Summit,
with work featured in Inverse and The San Francisco Standard.
He speaks on agentic infrastructure, secure AI systems, distributed systems and platform engineering at scale, developer productivity, and the realities of running autonomous agents in regulated, high-stakes environments.

Saurabh Yergattikar is a software architect and engineering leader with 15 years building mission-critical systems at global scale, working at the intersection of financial services, platform engineering, and agentic AI infrastructure. He currently... Show more