With more than 25 years of experience in the world of data and, especially in the automation of processes to guarantee the availability of information following the quality and defined standards.

In my career I have been able to give free rein to two of my passions. The first, lead the transformation of teams and work models, based on the automation of processes.
The second, to share and disseminate my knowledge and experiences, about the world of data, and specifically, regarding the integration of systems, analysis and visualization of information.

With more than 25 years of experience in the world of data and, especially in the automation of processes to guarantee the availability of information following the quality and defined standards. In my career I have been able to give free rein to ... Show more

Gavita Regunath is the Chief AI Officer with Advancing Analytics and a dual Microsoft AI MVP and Databricks MVP. She has a PhD in Computational and Experimental Fluid Dynamics andhas spent more than a decade transforming data into high-impact solutions in aeronautics, automotive, finance, and agritech. Gavita is addicted to learning and in her spare time when she is not blogging or talking about AI, she enjoys being a mother, going for a run and cooking something new.

Gavita Regunath is the Chief AI Officer with Advancing Analytics and a dual Microsoft AI MVP and Databricks MVP. She has a PhD in Computational and Experimental Fluid Dynamics andhas spent more than a decade transforming data into high-impact solutio... 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

Francesco is a seasoned entrepreneur, CEO of the Contextual-based vulnerability management platform from code to cloud Phoenix Security, author of several books, host of multi-award Cyber Security & Cloud Podcast, speaker known in the cybersecurity industry and recognized for his visionary views. He is on the UK&I Cloud Security Alliance Chapter board and is a professor at IANS on application security and cloud security. Previously, Francesco headed HSBC's application and cloud security and was a Senior Security Consultant at AWS. Francesco has been keynoting at global conferences and has authored and co-authored several books and whitepapers; outside of work, you can find me running marathons, snowboarding on the Italian slopes, and enjoying single malt whiskeys in one of my favourite London clubs.

Francesco is a seasoned entrepreneur, CEO of the Contextual-based vulnerability management platform from code to cloud Phoenix Security, author of several books, host of multi-award Cyber Security & Cloud Podcast, speaker known in the cybersecurity i... 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

Saravanan is an Architect working at Rabobank, Netherlands and one of the leads of the Architecture, SAP and Sustainability communities.

He has more than 25 years of experience in diverse IT and business roles with different banks across the world.

His passion is in Architecture, ERP solutions and Sustainable IT.

Saravanan is an Architect working at Rabobank, Netherlands and one of the leads of the Architecture, SAP and Sustainability communities. He has more than 25 years of experience in diverse IT and business roles with different banks across the world... Show more

Sat Agrawal has an unvarnished commitment to delivering quality results. An avid learner, Sat holds a bachelor’s in computer science from Penn State and remains actively engaged in a wide range of learning resources. He is a Certified Chaos Engineering professional and practitioner, with additional certifications that include CKA, CKAD, and TOGAF. Sat's current focus in service mesh technologies exemplifies his commitment to stay at the forefront of cloud-native technologies.

At Discover Financial Services, Sat combines his diverse knowledge of concepts, practices, and processes with a strong advocacy for automation and efficiency. Tapping native strengths in analytical and communication skills, he enters mentoring and partnering relationships with business users, architects, and stakeholders across the enterprise to help product teams streamline their end-to-end product delivery cycles. A recognized top-level contributor himself, Sat influences engineers to embrace the agile practices that transform the way they work, leading ultimately to the delivery of dynamic, impactful solutions that align with organizational goals.

Sat personalizes his aptitude for leadership through his attendance and speaking at conferences and local meetups and by conducting hands-on proofs-of-concept. Participating in LinkedIn and other industry-leading blogs, he engages in a variety of topics that include DevOps, DevSecOps, and SREs.

Sat Agrawal has an unvarnished commitment to delivering quality results. An avid learner, Sat holds a bachelor’s in computer science from Penn State and remains actively engaged in a wide range of learning resources. He is a Certified Chaos Engineeri... 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

I’m a technology leader passionate about building solutions that are not only scalable and efficient but also secure and aligned with business growth. Over the years, I’ve helped organizations transform complex requirements into future-ready systems that deliver measurable results.

Currently serving as CTO in fintech, I focus on shaping technology strategy, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring that every solution we deliver is resilient, compliant, and aligned with business objectives. My work spans across solution architecture, governance, compliance, and security with a constant drive to balance innovation with stability.

Passionate about strategy, architecture, and security, I bring both a business mindset and a technical edge to every challenge.

I’m a technology leader passionate about building solutions that are not only scalable and efficient but also secure and aligned with business growth. Over the years, I’ve helped organizations transform complex requirements into future-ready systems ... 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

Georgina has been working in Data Science since 2011. For many years she was a coding data scientist in R, Python and PySpark, but for the last 7 years she's been leading international data teams.

She is now leads Software Engineers at Morningstar Credit, working on the sophisticated data products for Morningstar customers.

She's been through hiring cycles and layoff cycles, major tech stack overhauls, massive data science projects and forensic audits. She's figured out how to keep diverse, remote data teams happy, productive and collaborative, at least 80% of the time.

Georgina has been working in Data Science since 2011. For many years she was a coding data scientist in R, Python and PySpark, but for the last 7 years she's been leading international data teams. She is now leads Software Engineers at Morningsta... 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

Yukti Lnu is a Lead Software Architect specializing in Agentic AI, AI/ML systems, cybersecurity, and cloud-native enterprise architecture. With deep expertise in .NET (Core/6+), C#, React, and Microsoft Azure, she designs and delivers scalable, secure, full-stack solutions that integrate machine learning models, LLM orchestration, and autonomous Agentic AI workflows into production-grade environments. Her work focuses on building intelligent systems that combine multi-model reasoning, secure API ecosystems, and Zero-Trust security principles to drive operational efficiency, risk intelligence, and data-driven decision-making—particularly within regulated industries such as insurance and healthcare.

A strong advocate for responsible and secure AI deployment, Yukti emphasizes governance, compliance alignment (including HIPAA and NIST CSF), model observability, and cybersecurity-by-design across all stages of development. She has authored and published research papers in AI/ML, fraud detection, graph-based analytics, and AI-driven cybersecurity, contributing to the advancement of applied artificial intelligence in enterprise systems. As an IEEE member and contributor, she actively engages with the professional community through research collaboration and technical discourse.

Beyond her engineering leadership, Yukti contributes to the broader innovation ecosystem as a keynote and panel speaker on Agentic AI, AI governance, and enterprise AI architecture, and as a national hackathon judge evaluating advanced AI/ML and cybersecurity solutions across U.S. institutions. She also mentors students through academic lectures and workshops, helping cultivate the next generation of AI engineers. Her multidisciplinary expertise across full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and autonomous AI systems positions her as a trusted voice in the evolving landscape of intelligent, secure digital transformation.

Yukti Lnu is a Lead Software Architect specializing in Agentic AI, AI/ML systems, cybersecurity, and cloud-native enterprise architecture. With deep expertise in .NET (Core/6+), C#, React, and Microsoft Azure, she designs and delivers scalable, secur... 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

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 violations. 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 Missing Middle, (2) Bounded Autonomy, (3) The Compounding Bet, (4) The Quiet Rewiring, (5) The Architecture of Intuition, (6) The Proportionality Problem, and (7) The Deadline on Implicit Governance. 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 Undergrad 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

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

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

Oupa Laka believes clarity is the catalyst for every successful transformation.

An international speaker, Business Analysis Consultant, facilitator, mentor, and Master of Ceremonies, Oupa helps leaders and teams navigate complexity, align around what matters, and solve the problems that create lasting impact.

With more than 15 years of experience across banking, insurance, digital transformation, and consulting, he has built a reputation for transforming ambiguity into actionable strategy. As the creator of the AKILI Clarity Method and the Story Weaver Model, Oupa equips professionals with practical frameworks that improve decision-making, strengthen collaboration, and accelerate meaningful change.

Known for blending practical insight, engaging storytelling, and just the right amount of humour, Oupa doesn't simply deliver presentations; he combines strategic thinking, authentic storytelling, and infectious enthusiasm to help people think differently, connect deeply, and take meaningful action.

His thought-provoking, highly engaging sessions have been featured at leading international conferences, including the Business Analysis Summit Southern Africa (where he also served as Track Chair and Convener), the Global Africa Business Analysis Conference, BA & Beyond, and the IRM UK Business Analysis Conference.

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 believes clarity is the catalyst for every successful transformation. An international speaker, Business Analysis Consultant, facilitator, mentor, and Master... Show more

Gracias por tomarte el tiempo para leer mi biografía, lo cual demuestra tu interés en el maravilloso mundo de las finanzas y la contabilidad de costes.

Permíteme una breve introducción: He trabajado como CFO y controller durante mucho tiempo, y soy apasionado de la técnica financiera y de costes. Disfruto analizando procesos, y esta pasión me ha llevado a impartir clases en distintas universidades, donde he aprendido tanto de mis alumnos como espero que ellos hayan aprendido algo de mí.

Una pregunta que a menudo me hacen es sobre los sectores en los que he trabajado. Para mí, el desafío no es en qué sectores he trabajado, sino cuántos me faltan por explorar y aprender.
Como apasionado de las finanzas, el control de gestión y los costes, actualmente me encuentro inmerso en el mundo de Dynamics, lo cual representa toda una aventura.

Si estás buscando una sesión que combine visión de negocio aplicada a Dynamics y que, en algún momento, desafíe tus habilidades con cálculos, no lo pienses más, no vengas a mi sesión, o sí.

Gracias por tomarte el tiempo para leer mi biografía, lo cual demuestra tu interés en el maravilloso mundo de las finanzas y la contabilidad de costes. Permíteme una breve introducción: He trabajado como CFO y controller durante mucho tiempo, y so... 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

Yasir Naveed Riaz is a Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity specialist with 20+ years of experience leading high-impact technology programs across fintech, digital payments, public services, and enterprise modernization in the GCC.

He has delivered mission-critical initiatives in Zero Trust architecture, cloud security, AI-driven automation, citizen experience platforms, document modernization, and secure digital payment infrastructures for major banks, government entities, and large enterprises.

Yasir is also deeply focused on AI enablement for diverse audiences — including students, parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, SMEs, and organizational leaders — helping them understand, adopt, and responsibly leverage AI in their personal and professional lives.

His expertise spans: AI readiness, cybersecurity governance, digital safety, fintech protection, public-sector modernization, enterprise architecture, and next-gen workforce skills development.

Yasir speaks passionately about bridging the gap between technology and people, empowering communities to thrive in a secure and AI-enabled digital era.

Yasir Naveed Riaz is a Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity specialist with 20+ years of experience leading high-impact technology programs across fintech, digital payments, public services, and enterprise modernization in the GCC. He has deli... Show more

Linda Grizely is a financial wellness speaker who partners with organizations to reduce the hidden cost of employees' personal financial stress — the cost that quietly shows up as lost focus, lower performance, and retention challenges.

Linda speaks to employees, ERGs, associations, HR leaders, and leadership teams across the country, in person and virtually.

Through her human-centered approach to money, Linda helps audiences bridge the gap between financial knowledge and real-life decision-making. Her programs go beyond traditional financial literacy to explore the behavioral, emotional, and practical realities that shape how people earn, spend, save, invest, and plan for the future.

Linda is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with a master's degree in Financial Services and a dual-major bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management and Marketing. Her background spans holistic financial planning, leadership, business strategy, marketing, human resources, nonprofit consulting, association leadership, and sales.

Her signature keynote, The Human Variable™, explores the identity, money history, and emotional conditioning behind financial decisions. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, a framework that replaces guilt-based budgeting with clarity, confidence, and intentional action, and host of the Real Money, Real Life® podcast. In 2026, MeMoney® was named a finalist for a Money Awareness and Inclusion Award.

Her perspective is shaped by what she calls her "many financial lives" — including becoming a single teen mother, being a suburban married mother of three with financial abundance, rebuilding after divorce, and returning to school as an adult before building her career in financial services.

As seen in the Chicago Tribune, Yahoo Finance, MSN Money, WSJ Buy Side, and MarketWatch Picks.

Linda Grizely is a financial wellness speaker who partners with organizations to reduce the hidden cost of employees' personal financial stress — the cost that quietly shows up as lost focus, lower performance, and retention challenges. Linda spea... 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

– 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

Aivars Kalvāns is a FinTech developer, software architect, and consultant. He spent more than 18 years developing and architecting payment card software for acquiring and issuing, as well as for accounting and utility payments, through mobile phones, ATMs, and POS terminals. At the moment, he is a contractor exploring Foreign Exchange, SWIFT, SEPA, ledgers, and other areas of the FinTech landscape.
The rest of the time is spent smashing with BJJ team Jelgava and participating as a Linux team member for Latvia in Locked Shields.

Aivars Kalvāns is a FinTech developer, software architect, and consultant. He spent more than 18 years developing and architecting payment card software for acquiring and issuing, as well as for accounting and utility payments, through mobile phones,... Show more

Khang Toh is Head of Engineering, Digital Operations, SRE and Cloud Infrastructure at Bank Jago / DKatalis, where he leads cloud, reliability, developer experience, and AI-enabled digital operations for a digital bank serving more than 16 million customers. He has over 20 years of experience across software engineering, architecture, mobile, cloud infrastructure, startup leadership, and digital banking, with more than 15 years leading technical teams in the US and Singapore. Khang started developing for mobile in 2009, founded the Singapore Android Developers Meetup in 2013, serves as Conference Chair for droidcon Singapore, and is the Developers Circle Lead for Facebook in Singapore. His current work focuses on how AI can transform enterprise engineering, SRE, cloud operations, and developer productivity.

Khang Toh is Head of Engineering, Digital Operations, SRE and Cloud Infrastructure at Bank Jago / DKatalis, where he leads cloud, reliability, developer experience, and AI-enabled digital operations for a digital bank serving more than 16 million cus... Show more

Danielle Stein Fairhurst is a Microsoft MVP and the author of “Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling” (3rd edition, 2019) and “Financial Modeling in Excel For Dummies” (2nd edition, 2022) She is a LinkedIn Learning Instructor and in 2022 she was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Financial Modelling Summit. Danielle founded the Financial Modellers’ Meetup groups which attracts participants from all over the world as well as a LinkedIn forum with over 180,000 members. An advocate for women in finance, she was on the Diversity Council for the ModelOff Financial Modeling World Championships and founded the Women in Financial Modelling online community. She is a Master Financial Modeler (FMI), holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) and has taught management accounting subjects at the University of Sydney.

Danielle Stein Fairhurst is a Microsoft MVP and the author of “Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling” (3rd edition, 2019) and “Financial Modeling in Excel For Dummies” (2nd edition, 2022) She is a LinkedIn Learning Instructor and in 2022 s... Show more

I work at the intersection of large-scale data engineering, cloud platforms, and applied AI. I currently build and lead modern data platforms at a major U.S. bank, where I design Lakehouse and streaming architectures that operate at multi-billion-record scale across cloud environments.
My background spans the full evolution of enterprise data systems, from mainframe and Teradata warehouses to cloud-native lakehouses built on Spark, Iceberg, Kafka, and Kubernetes. Over the past decade, my work has focused on building production-grade data platforms: high-throughput ingestion pipelines, real-time analytics systems, and ML-ready data infrastructure used by data scientists, analysts, and AI teams.
In addition to data engineering, I have deep experience in full-stack platform development using Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, and modern front-end frameworks. This allows me to design data systems not just as pipelines, but as products — complete with APIs, services, governance layers, and developer tooling.
My current interests include open table formats (Apache Iceberg), lakehouse architecture, metadata-driven governance, and building scalable AI-ready data platforms. I enjoy sharing practical lessons from real production systems — what works, what breaks, and how to design data infrastructure that lasts.

I work at the intersection of large-scale data engineering, cloud platforms, and applied AI. I currently build and lead modern data platforms at a major U.S. bank, where I design Lakehouse and streaming architectures that operate at multi-billion-rec... 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

James first worked in software delivery in the 1990s, when agile and lean were words used to describe gymnasts and pipelines were for carrying oil.

After working in a successful startup for 10 years James drifted into being an ex-software developer while learning about people, processes and systems thinking as a consultant at ThoughtWorks. Following a stint as Head of Platform in a Fintech and VP of Engineering in a Proptech startup, James went back to consultancy with Forrow where he is mainly working on Cyber Security and Post Quantum Cryptography while never drifting too far away from people, systems and delivery of useful outcomes.

James first worked in software delivery in the 1990s, when agile and lean were words used to describe gymnasts and pipelines were for carrying oil. After working in a successful startup for 10 years James drifted into being an ex-software develope... Show more

George is a seasoned IT professional with 15+ years of experience, evolving from technical roles to leading engineering teams in security-critical sectors. Passionate about coaching and empowering others, he combines hands-on expertise with strategic leadership.

A former professional chess player, George won the "Romanian Chess Champion" title with his club team in 2004. At 16, he founded and grew an ISP company in Bucharest to 600 clients before selling it at 18. He later pursued an Executive MBA at IMT Paris to strengthen his leadership skills.

Recognized in the Financial Times' "100 Faces of Innovation" in 2016, George is a sought-after Cybersecurity expert specializing in Fraud and Deepfakes. He has spoken at over 20 conferences all around the world, and his beginner’s Cybersecurity course has helped 150,000+ students start their careers in the field.

George is a seasoned IT professional with 15+ years of experience, evolving from technical roles to leading engineering teams in security-critical sectors. Passionate about coaching and empowering others, he combines hands-on expertise with strategic... Show more