Finance & Banking

Experienced individuals involved in financial services, including banking, investment, insurance, and real estate

Samuel Adekunle

Samuel Adekunle

Samuel is a Senior Mobile Engineer with 6+ years of experience developing robust and scalable mobile applications for fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS, serving hundreds of thousands of users.

Samuel is a Senior Mobile Engineer with 6+ years of experience developing robust and scalable mobile applications for fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS, serving hundreds of thousands of users. Show more

Lolu Olufemi

Lolu Olufemi

Lolu Olufemi a.k.a Lolu Lessons is a Change Management Speaker, Consultant and Coach, helping organisations and individuals unlock their potential to navigate change with purpose and clarity.

Raised in Scotland, born in Nigeria, and having lived in seven different cities, Lolu has experienced first-hand the complexities of personal and professional transitions. Her journey from finance to change management consulting has taught her one crucial lesson: change is about people.

With an MBA from Imperial College London and 18+ years of experience in the Big 4 leading teams and working with multi-national clients, Lolu brings hands-on expertise in people-centred change management. Her practical, jargon-free approach has helped organisations across finance, retail, government, and media navigate change successfully by putting people at the heart of change.

Known for her engaging #LoluLessons across social media, Lolu makes change management accessible, actionable, and human.

Lolu Olufemi a.k.a Lolu Lessons is a Change Management Speaker, Consultant and Coach, helping organisations and individuals unlock their potential to navigate change with purpose and clarity. Raised in Scotland, born in Nigeria, and having lived ... Show more

Eric Bernstein

Eric Bernstein

Eric has helped thousands of people buy homes, build wealth, and feel confident about one of life’s biggest financial decisions. Since entering the mortgage industry in 2015, he’s closed over $1 billion in home loans and earned a reputation for solving complex financing scenarios with clarity, speed, and care. He also has extensive experience helping veterans use VA IRRRLs to reduce their monthly payments quickly with minimal documentation.

Eric’s approach is deeply shaped by the customer service philosophy in Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard—a book he credits as a major influence in his career. He believes every client deserves more than a smooth transaction—they deserve a standout experience that’s personal, consistent, and always better than expected. That mindset drives everything he does at LendFriend, from how his team communicates to how they show up when things get complicated.

While Eric works with a wide range of homebuyers and homeowners, he has deep expertise in helping clients who fall outside the traditional lending box—self-employed borrowers, real estate investors, crypto holders, and others with unique financial profiles. He specializes in VA, Conventional, and Jumbo loans, as well as Non-QM solutions like bank statement, DSCR, and asset depletion programs.

Whether you're buying your first home or financing your fifth, Eric brings the same thoughtful, personalized approach to every deal. He leads the LendFriend team with a focus on transparency, creativity, and making sure every client walks away feeling like they had someone in their corner from day one.

Eric has helped thousands of people buy homes, build wealth, and feel confident about one of life’s biggest financial decisions. Since entering the mortgage industry in 2015, he’s closed over $1 billion in home loans and earned a reputation for solvi... Show more

Raman Aggarwal

Raman Aggarwal

A globally respected Chartered Accountant with 35+ years of experience, Raman Aggarwal has been at the forefront of accounting, tax, legal, and cross-border advisory for clients globally. His vision goes beyond efficiency, aiming to make offshore accounting truly transformative.

He leads with clarity, compassion, and conviction, creating solutions that help businesses elevate. At Indian Muneem, his focus remains steadfast: driving innovation, delivering impact, and creating a legacy that empowers growth on a global scale.

A globally respected Chartered Accountant with 35+ years of experience, Raman Aggarwal has been at the forefront of accounting, tax, legal, and cross-border advisory for clients globally. His vision goes beyond efficiency, aiming to make offshore acc... Show more

Ben Francis

Ben Francis

With over 18 years of experience at Bridgeview Financial Partners, Ben Francis specializes in guiding clients through the complexities of retirement and distribution planning. A native of Chattanooga, Ben is an expert in Social Security strategies, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), income maximization, tax management, long-term care planning, and other critical areas affecting retirees.
He works closely with clients to address unique challenges during the transition from accumulation to decumulation, providing ongoing reviews of Social Security, distribution planning, income generation, investment strategies, and risk management to ensure their financial well-being.
In addition to his client work, Ben is a highly regarded speaker known for his engaging presentations at private companies, public events, and conferences. His ability to simplify complex retirement topics into understandable and actionable insights has made him a favorite among audiences.
Ben holds a Master of Science in Financial Services from The American College and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Finance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. His professional designations include CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™), RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional), WMCP® (Wealth Management Certified Professional), ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant), and CLU® (Chartered Life Underwriter). He is also licensed with Series 7, 6, and 63.

With over 18 years of experience at Bridgeview Financial Partners, Ben Francis specializes in guiding clients through the complexities of retirement and distribution planning. A native of Chattanooga, Ben is an expert in Social Security strategies, R... Show more

Adelina Stanciu

Adelina Stanciu

Adelina is a seasoned technology leader with over 15 years of experience in agile software development across the full life cycle. Leading geographically dispersed teams across finance, e-commerce and cybersecurity, Adelina has successfully designed, developed and deployed complex, scalable applications. As an independent trainer in software architecture, Adelina is passionate about sharing knowledge through articles and thought leadership. With expertise in project planning, release management and stakeholder coordination, Adelina consistently drives high-impact results while ensuring seamless execution across teams and projects.

Adelina is a seasoned technology leader with over 15 years of experience in agile software development across the full life cycle. Leading geographically dispersed teams across finance, e-commerce and cybersecurity, Adelina has successfully designed,... Show more

V Sreenivas

V Sreenivas

V. Sreenivas is the CTO of CyberDefend, where he leads work at the intersection of cybersecurity, open source, and AI-driven tooling. His focus spans supply-chain security, eBPF-based integrity systems, and emerging questions around model-generated code. He speaks frequently on how modern security and developer workflows are changing and his current work explores how organizations can build trust, clarity, and resilience in an AI-shaped software ecosystem.

V. Sreenivas is the CTO of CyberDefend, where he leads work at the intersection of cybersecurity, open source, and AI-driven tooling. His focus spans supply-chain security, eBPF-based integrity systems, and emerging questions around model-generated c... Show more

Henry Keniding Tarazona Lazaro

Henry Keniding Tarazona Lazaro

Bachiller en Sistemas e Informática por la UTP, especializado en desarrollo de sistemas escalables. Actualmente, me desempeño como Software Engineer en Interbank, con experiencia como arquitecto de soluciones y analista de datos utilizando Python.

Bachiller en Sistemas e Informática por la UTP, especializado en desarrollo de sistemas escalables. Actualmente, me desempeño como Software Engineer en Interbank, con experiencia como arquitecto de soluciones y analista de datos utilizando Python. Show more

Sreenivasulu Gajula

Sreenivasulu Gajula

The Introduction
I am a Principal Full Stack Engineer with over 15 years of experience, passionate about building and modernizing applications for the cloud. My expertise lies in architecting scalable systems using Java, microservices with Spring Boot, and creating dynamic user interfaces with Angular. I have a proven track record of leading successful enterprise application migrations to AWS and Azure, and I am eager to share practical, hands-on knowledge on full-stack development and cloud transformation strategies.

The Enterprise Experience
Currently I lead high-impact projects involving the full technology stack, from Java and Spring Boot microservices to modern Angular. My professional journey is built on a foundation of roles at leading financial institutions including JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and Capital One. In these positions, I have been at the forefront of large-scale application modernization, cloud transformation, and the integration of AI to optimize complex enterprise systems.

Leadership & Innovation Focus
Beyond hands-on coding and architecture, I actively mentor development teams and champion technical innovation through microservices and cloud-native design. A key area of my work involves integrating AI/ML capabilities into enterprise applications to enhance efficiency, automation, and security. My experience in modernizing legacy systems and building secure, scalable infrastructures directly intersects with critical industry themes like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The Speaker Proposition
I would be honored to share actionable insights from my journey particularly in AI-augmented software engineering, cloud security best practices, and building scalable enterprise architecture. I am keen to contribute to meaningful, forward-looking discussions with fellow industry experts and researchers at your esteemed conference.

The Introduction I am a Principal Full Stack Engineer with over 15 years of experience, passionate about building and modernizing applications for the cloud. My expertise lies in architecting scalable systems using Java, microservices with Spring Bo... Show more

Olayiwola Akinnagbe

Olayiwola Akinnagbe

Olayiwola Akinnagbe is a Senior Backend Engineer and AI researcher working at the intersection of financial technology, distributed systems, and intelligent human–AI collaboration. His work is guided by a clear conviction: systems should not merely function. They should scale, adapt, and strengthen the people who use them.

In the fintech sector, Olayiwola architects API-first, event-driven microservices that power payments, loan origination, and high-volume transaction platforms processing over one million API requests daily. He designs secure and resilient backend infrastructures using Java, Spring Boot, Kafka, and AWS. By applying CQRS principles, low-latency search optimization, and cloud-native deployment strategies, he consistently delivers measurable improvements in latency, throughput, and system reliability.

His contribution extends beyond engineering practice into scholarly research. He is the author of the peer-reviewed paper “Human–AI Collaboration: Enhancing Productivity and Decision-Making,” where he reframed artificial intelligence not as automation, but as cognitive partnership. His work examines how humans and intelligent systems can intentionally distribute cognitive responsibility while preserving human agency. This framework has been recognized for its clarity in explaining productivity acceleration and hybrid decision-making models.

Olayiwola holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology, graduating in the top five percent of his class, with research focused on machine learning–based malware detection. His broader publications span AI in finance, cybersecurity, federated learning, and predictive modeling for risk management. This combination of production engineering and academic inquiry enables him to translate theoretical insight into secure, deployable, and economically sound systems.

An AWS Certified Solutions Architect and Developer, he is committed to building architectures that are secure by design, resilient under pressure, and optimized for real-world constraints. He mentors engineers, contributes to technical scholarship, and speaks on system design, fintech infrastructure, and the evolving discipline of human–AI collaborative intelligence.

For Olayiwola, technology is not only about writing code. It is about designing systems that expand human capability while preserving judgment, responsibility, and trust.

Olayiwola Akinnagbe is a Senior Backend Engineer and AI researcher working at the intersection of financial technology, distributed systems, and intelligent human–AI collaboration. His work is guided by a clear conviction: systems should not merely f... Show more

Swapna Chimanchodkar

Swapna Chimanchodkar

Swapna Chimanchodkar is an accomplished transformation leader with nearly two decades of experience enabling sustainable business impact for global organizations through process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation. She has successfully led strategic initiatives spanning process and IT transformation, enterprise data strategy, and automation integrating technologies such as AI/ML, RPA, Gen AI, and advanced analytics to solve complex business challenges.
In her current role as Director at UBS Financial Services, Swapna drives large-scale transformation and integration programs across various areas of the bank. She oversees strategic integration, data modernization, and digital and process improvement initiatives, collaborating closely with senior leadership and cross-functional global teams.
A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Swapna brings a unique combination of analytical rigor, strategic insight, and change management expertise to every engagement. She has been instrumental in designing target operating models, and implementing automation frameworks that deliver measurable efficiencies.
As a thought leader, Swapna regularly contributes to industry dialogue. She served as a keynote speaker and panelist at the NexGen Banking Summit USA 2024, discussing AI-driven business innovation and data-led digital transformation in the banking sector.

Swapna Chimanchodkar is an accomplished transformation leader with nearly two decades of experience enabling sustainable business impact for global organizations through process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation. She... Show more

Hergy Fongue

Hergy Fongue

Hergy Fongue is a principal Developer at Finanz Informatik, the central IT service provider of the German Savings Banks Finance Group. He plays a key role in the transformation of the central data warehouse from mainframe-based infrastructure to a modern, decentralized architecture. His focus lies on building modern cloud-native core components for business-rule-driven data correction. This involves ensuring both the semantic integrity of data and the flexible processing of individual records as well as large files.

Hergy Fongue is a principal Developer at Finanz Informatik, the central IT service provider of the German Savings Banks Finance Group. He plays a key role in the transformation of the central data warehouse from mainframe-based infrastructure to a mo... Show more

Lawrence Grant

Lawrence Grant

Lawrence Grant is the Founder of SolonAI and creator of GrantAi, a deterministic agentic platform
with built-in memory for enterprise AI. Unlike probabilistic systems that rely on vector search and
retry loops, GrantAi uses constraint-based orchestration to deliver guaranteed execution,
auditability, and compliance-ready AI agents.

He brings over 18 years of experience securing critical infrastructure across financial institutions
managing more than $13 trillion in assets, including advisory roles with Bank of America,
JPMorgan Chase, and Citi. Heserved as Head of Information Security, Compliance, and Privacy at
Norm AI, where he built the company's security and privacy program from the ground up and
designed its agentic AI security architecture to satisfy the requirements of Tier 1 global financial
institutions. He led third-party due diligence processes supporting adoption by firms including
Goldman Sachs, Vanguard, Vista Equity Partners, New York Life, Macquarie, Blackstone, and
TIAA. He previously held security leadership roles at IBM and served as CISO for technology
companies.

Lawrence is the author of Mergers & Acquisitions Cybersecurity: The Framework for Maximizing
Value and a recognized voice on AI governance, the "retrieval tax," and the architectural causes of
context decay in enterprise AI systems. His work focuses on deterministic approaches that enable
reliable, auditable AI at scale.

He holds a Master's degree in Information Management Systems from Harvard University, where
he received the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence, along with certificates in Private Equity
from The Wharton School and Venture Capital from Columbia University. He also holds CISM and
CISSP certifications.

Lawrence Grant is the Founder of SolonAI and creator of GrantAi, a deterministic agentic platform with built-in memory for enterprise AI. Unlike probabilistic systems that rely on vector search and retry loops, GrantAi uses constraint-based orche... Show more

Saurabh Yergattikar

Saurabh Yergattikar

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

Wellyson Freitas

Wellyson Freitas

Senior Software Engineer specialized in software architecture and cloud-native, data-intensive systems within regulated financial environments.

Experience across European digital banks and Brazilian financial institutions, building and operating large-scale platforms for fraud prevention, anti-money laundering (AML), and financial risk monitoring.

Focused on event-driven architectures, real-time data processing, and integration with third-party risk platforms and government infrastructures.

Technical strengths include system reliability, interoperability across heterogeneous platforms, and applied machine learning for anomaly detection.

MBA in Data Science and Analytics (University of São Paulo) and postgraduate degree in Software Architecture. Strong combination of hands-on engineering, architectural thinking, and data-driven decision-making.

Originally from Brazil, based in Barcelona.

Senior Software Engineer specialized in software architecture and cloud-native, data-intensive systems within regulated financial environments. Experience across European digital banks and Brazilian financial institutions, building and operating l... Show more

Jasper Theunis

Jasper Theunis

Jasper is a curious, creative and versatile data & visualization expert who loves to tackle data challenges.
He strongly believes in the power and the value of data and will only be satisfied when stories can be told based on the gained insights.
Initially started as a SAS developer but evolved to a seasoned all-round BI profile with proven experience (15y+) on different Business Intelligence platforms. He worked for various financial institutions in Belgium but loves exploring other sectors as well: telecom, public services, retail and healthcare...

Jasper is a curious, creative and versatile data & visualization expert who loves to tackle data challenges. He strongly believes in the power and the value of data and will only be satisfied when stories can be told based on the gained insights. ... Show more

Kattya Garcia Velasquez

Kattya Garcia Velasquez

Kattya García, Ingeniera de sistemas con 5 años de experiencia, que a lo largo de todo este tiempo uno de mis principales objetivos es apoyar e inspirar a más generaciones de mujeres a que se adentren en el mundo de la tecnología, demostrándoles que el talento y la pasión no tienen género.

Kattya García, Ingeniera de sistemas con 5 años de experiencia, que a lo largo de todo este tiempo uno de mis principales objetivos es apoyar e inspirar a más generaciones de mujeres a que se adentren en el mundo de la tecnología, demostrándoles que ... Show more

Anatta Lee

Anatta Lee

In an exclusive feature highlighting the most influential business innovators of our time, Anatta Lee stands out as a transformative powerhouse in marketing, sales, branding, business strategy, finance, and new business development. Renowned for a bold and visionary approach, Anatta excels in financial strategy, market expansion, and the creation of robust brand and revenue ecosystems that drive sustainable growth. With an impressive track record of breaking barriers and pushing boundaries, Anatta is the go-to strategist for organizations eager to thrive, reinvent, and dominate the global marketplace.​

“Unstoppable leadership. From impossible to possible.” She asserts with the assured demeanor of a leader who consistently achieves results where others see only obstacles. Her stellar reputation is built on a unique combination of visionary insight, operational excellence, and the talent for turning complex challenges into actionable, growth-oriented strategies.

When discussing her leadership philosophy, Anatta encapsulates the mindset that has guided numerous executives through transformation: “It’s not just about weathering the storm; it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

This approach drives her success in helping companies scale sustainably, penetrate new markets, enhance financial resilience, and seize emerging opportunities. Industry peers regard Anatta as a strategic architect—one who offers a comprehensive perspective on business transformation.

From devising financial models that ensure long-term stability to crafting strategic market expansion plans and guiding both high-growth startups and established enterprises, her work consistently challenges the boundaries of what modern organizations can achieve.

​Her ability to meld data-driven insights with bold, innovative solutions has established her as a trusted advisor for leaders eager to stay ahead in a fast-paced business landscape.

If you’re ready to grow—ready to confidently step into new markets or strengthen your financial foundation—connect with Anatta via LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or Email. She is here to empower you to achieve what once seemed utterly impossible.

In an exclusive feature highlighting the most influential business innovators of our time, Anatta Lee stands out as a transformative powerhouse in marketing, sales, branding, business strategy, finance, and new business development. Renowned for a bo... Show more

Alex Ischenko

Alex Ischenko

Alex Ischenko, SVP of Engineering at Rebrandly (The #1 platform for branded short URLs), began his career as a Software Engineer over 20 years ago, and moved to Senior Management roles.

Recently, Alex was included in the Top 100 Leaders @ CTO Craft, shaping the future of technology.

Alex is an AI-driven CTO focused on building scalable, high-impact products and empowering elite engineering teams.
He turns visionary ideas into global technology platforms that raise the bar for performance, innovation, and customer experience.

His extensive experience includes:

15+ years building and leading development teams
10+ years in startup environments
Managed 100+ FTE teams

Solid expertise in AI, GenAI, ML, SaaS, Insurtech, Healthcare and Fintech.

Alex is passionate about mentorship, eagerly sharing his leadership and architectural knowledge.

Alex Ischenko, SVP of Engineering at Rebrandly (The #1 platform for branded short URLs), began his career as a Software Engineer over 20 years ago, and moved to Senior Management roles. Recently, Alex was included in the Top 100 Leaders @ CTO Craf... Show more

José P. Barrantes

José P. Barrantes

José P. es un ingeniero de machine learning (ML) y científico de datos que integra métodos estadísticos y computacionales para convertir los datos en valor. Actualmente trabaja en el equipo de Ingeniería de Prevención de Fraude de IBM Cloud, centrándose en ingeniería de ML y MLOps, incluyendo el diseño de pipelines, arquitecturas y herramientas para poner en producción modelos predictivos. José ha trabajado en los sectores de fintech y banca, en startups centradas en la prevención del fraude, y en empresas tecnológicas más amplias, lo que le ha proporcionado una visión práctica de los sistemas de ML en el mundo real. Sus habilidades técnicas e interpersonales ayudan a conectar a ingenieros, estadísticos y líderes empresariales, asegurando una comprensión compartida y resultados prácticos. Además del trabajo, disfruta de la lectura, senderismo, del té, y pasar tiempo con sus perros, Pequeña Mai y El Milanesso.

José P. es un ingeniero de machine learning (ML) y científico de datos que integra métodos estadísticos y computacionales para convertir los datos en valor. Actualmente trabaja en el equipo de Ingeniería de Prevención de Fraude de IBM Cloud, centránd... Show more

Soujanya Vummannagari

Soujanya Vummannagari

Soujanya Vummannagari is an accomplished Senior Product/Delivery Manager with over 20 years of experience driving digital transformation across healthcare, retail, finance, and insurance industries. Currently serving as Senior Development Consultant at Evernorth/Express Scripts through Endava Solutions, she leads a comprehensive product portfolio encompassing 50+ Spring Boot services and 400+ DataPower/Mainframe services while managing a 30+ member global team.
Her expertise spans the full technology spectrum, from legacy mainframe systems (PLI, CICS, COBOL) to modern cloud-native architectures using Java, Spring Boot,Openshift and AWS. Soujanya has demonstrated exceptional leadership in large-scale system modernization, successfully migrating monolithic systems to microservices architectures, achieving 1300+ MIPS savings and delivering $2.5M in license cost reductions through strategic technology transitions.
Notable achievements include developing innovative certification frameworks that contributed to $1.75M in cost savings, building analytics platforms that drove incremental revenue growth, and leading FHIR API migrations that enhanced healthcare data interoperability across multiple organizations. Her technical proficiency extends to DevOps practices, utilizing tools like Jenkins, Git, and Pivotal Cloud Foundry, while maintaining robust monitoring and security standards through Grafana, Splunk, newrelic , and Dynatrace.
Prior to her current role, Soujanya held key positions at Clopay Doors, PNC Healthcare, State Farm Insurance, and Citigroup, where she consistently delivered scalable solutions and led cross-functional teams to achieve strategic business objectives. Her experience includes extensive work with HIPAA compliance, EDI transaction processing, and claims management systems.
Soujanya holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and maintains Project Management Professional (PMP) certification alongside OBIEE Foundation Suite 11G certification, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development and excellence in technology leadership.

Soujanya Vummannagari is an accomplished Senior Product/Delivery Manager with over 20 years of experience driving digital transformation across healthcare, retail, finance, and insurance industries. Currently serving as Senior Development Consultant ... Show more

Akash Chandra

Akash Chandra

Akash Chandra, Founder & CEO of InsightAI (FintechAI), brings over 10+ years of experience in industrial AI with a focus on financial analytics. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the University of Texas at Austin, Akash is recognized for his expertise in fintech, large data pipelines, and AI-based fraud detection. As a public speaker on AI/ML and Graph Databases, he has contributed significantly to the field. Akash has shown his leadership in startup environments using his innovative approach to leveraging advanced AI technologies.

Akash Chandra, Founder & CEO of InsightAI (FintechAI), brings over 10+ years of experience in industrial AI with a focus on financial analytics. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the University of Texas at Austin, Akash is recognized for his expertise in ... Show more

Daiki Takasao

Daiki Takasao

I am the first person in Japan to be awarded the title of Kubestronaut.
I was also awarded 2021,2024,2025 APN AWS Top Engineer.

As an infrastructure engineer, I have been responsible for the design, maintenance, and operation of multiple enterprise systems, both on-premise and in the cloud.
Currently, I am responsible for the infrastructure of a microservices common infrastructure for a financial institution, which adopts many cloud-native technologies such as Kubernetes and Linkerd.

I am the first person in Japan to be awarded the title of Kubestronaut. I was also awarded 2021,2024,2025 APN AWS Top Engineer. As an infrastructure engineer, I have been responsible for the design, maintenance, and operation of multiple enterpri... Show more

Christopher Bulin

Christopher Bulin

Christopher has over twenty years of experience in payments, with deep exposure to how merchants, processors, and platforms navigate fraud, risk, and compliance requirements. He also spent five years building a startup focused on improving how merchants achieve and maintain PCI compliance, gaining firsthand experience with both the technical and operational challenges of regulated environments.

Although that company did not succeed, the time spent building it provided direct insight into how compliance frameworks work in practice and where they fail under real-world conditions.

Christopher now works in workforce and staffing operations at Express Employment Professionals, where documentation, verification, and trust directly impact hiring decisions, reimbursements, and employee outcomes. His perspective is grounded in practical experience across payments, compliance, and workforce systems rather than academic theory.

Christopher has over twenty years of experience in payments, with deep exposure to how merchants, processors, and platforms navigate fraud, risk, and compliance requirements. He also spent five years building a startup focused on improving how mercha... Show more

Aki Asahara

Aki Asahara

Aki Asahara, Ph.D., is an AI systems performance engineer and the Chief Marketing Officer at Fixstars. With a doctorate in astrophysics and more than 15 years of hands-on engineering and project management experience, he specializes in GPU performance engineering for large-scale AI training and inference workloads. His work spans autonomous driving, finance, healthcare, and industrial AI applications, with expertise in distributed training, mixed-precision optimization, and cluster-level observability on NVIDIA H100/H200/B200 architectures.

Aki serves as a Session Chair and Speaker at HPC Asia 2026 and has delivered invited talks at multiple GenAI-focused conferences in Japan. He also represents Fixstars as an exhibitor at the Supercomputing Conference (SC). He contributes to publications in AI systems performance engineering and leads industry projects that significantly improve throughput and cost efficiency.

Aki Asahara, Ph.D., is an AI systems performance engineer and the Chief Marketing Officer at Fixstars. With a doctorate in astrophysics and more than 15 years of hands-on engineering and project management experience, he specializes in GPU performanc... Show more

Herbert Sianturi

Herbert Sianturi

Herbert Sianturi serves as a Senior DevOps Engineer at Krom Bank Indonesia, where he roles spearheads efforts in enhancing the quality of end-to-end application lifecycle and applying open source platform as a base. With years of expertise in container orchestration and cloud computing, he is responsible for the scalability, reliability and stepping the costs of banking system by using open source platform. When Herbert isn't experimenting, he enjoys penetration testing.

Herbert Sianturi serves as a Senior DevOps Engineer at Krom Bank Indonesia, where he roles spearheads efforts in enhancing the quality of end-to-end application lifecycle and applying open source platform as a base. With years of expertise in contain... Show more

Emmanuella Ubokabasi Etop Essien

Emmanuella Ubokabasi Etop Essien

I am on a mission to help developers build the future of finance.

I’m a Developer Relations Engineer at Blnk Finance, where I create technical content, sample projects, workshops, and talks that support the developer ecosystem in leveraging open-source ledger tools to ensure financial data integrity.

I have cultivated expertise in full-stack development, cross-platform mobile development, and modern web technologies. Through my YouTube platform, I have created a thriving technical education community, producing high-retention videos. I have spoken at conferences like Google I/O and GDG events amongst other events. I am dedicated to simplifying technical concepts for developers worldwide.

I'm passionate about inclusive developer education and building tools that help people ship. Open to speaking, workshops, and collaborations focused on developer experience (DX) and community growth.

I am on a mission to help developers build the future of finance. I’m a Developer Relations Engineer at Blnk Finance, where I create technical content, sample projects, workshops, and talks that support the developer ecosystem in leveraging open-... Show more

Fredrik Bekkevold

Fredrik Bekkevold

With 20 years of experience from creating solutions, I have seen a lot. The last 6 years I have worked primarily in healthcare and Fin-Tech. Both domains have similarities and are both seen as complex. By using the right mindset, technology and just being polite, I try to reduce complexity and make things happen. And sometimes great things do happen.

With 20 years of experience from creating solutions, I have seen a lot. The last 6 years I have worked primarily in healthcare and Fin-Tech. Both domains have similarities and are both seen as complex. By using the right mindset, technology and just ... Show more

Sanath Chilakala

Sanath Chilakala

Director of Data and AI with 18 years of extensive experience specializing in architecting and implementing complex data solutions tailored for the Healthcare, Life Insurance, and Finance sectors. My expertise encompasses Digital Solution Architecture, Advanced Data Engineering, Data Governance, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Regulatory Reporting, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and data integrity.

I possess niche skills in AI model development and deployment, including proficiency in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) algorithms that enhance predictive analytics capabilities. In Data Architecture, I excel in designing cloud-native architectures, implementing data lakes, and optimizing data warehousing solutions. My Data Governance expertise includes establishing frameworks for data stewardship, data quality management, and compliance with regulations such as HIPPA and GDPR.

Throughout my career, I have successfully developed scalable data models and architectures that support real-time analytics and machine learning initiatives, driving enhanced decision-making and operational efficiencies. In the Healthcare industry, I have led projects that align data governance practices with regulatory standards, ensuring the protection of sensitive patient information while maximizing the utility of health data for clinical insights. In the Life Insurance sector, I have engineered data solutions that optimize underwriting processes and claims management through the integration of advanced analytics. In Finance, I have focused on improving compliance reporting mechanisms, employing sophisticated analytics to ensure accuracy and timeliness in submissions to regulatory bodies.

My leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration with cross-functional teams, aligning data architecture strategies with overarching business goals. I advocate for a culture of innovation, empowering teams to explore emerging technologies and methodologies that promote continuous improvement. I am passionate about mentoring emerging data professionals and sharing best practices in data management and governance to foster organizational growth.

In summary, my extensive background as a Director of Data and AI equips me to deliver sophisticated data solutions that effectively address the unique challenges within the Healthcare, Life Insurance, and Finance industries, while ensuring compliance and enhancing operational capabilities.

Director of Data and AI with 18 years of extensive experience specializing in architecting and implementing complex data solutions tailored for the Healthcare, Life Insurance, and Finance sectors. My expertise encompasses Digital Solution Architectur... Show more

Linda Grizely

Linda Grizely

Linda Grizely, CFP®, MSFS, CAP® is a financial wellness speaker, personal finance expert, educator, and money coach. She is the creator of the MeMoney™ method, a financial strategy designed to create a mindset shift and help people feel confident and in control of their money, — without judgment or lecture. Her core belief is simple: You deserve to feel confident with money and good about how you spend it™.

With experience as a financial advisor, Linda is now leading a movement to replace shame with self-trust in financial conversations — from kitchen tables to corporate stages. She teaches individuals and organizations how to turn financial overwhelm into empowerment by making money practical, emotionally grounded, and human. Through her content, coaching, and podcast Real Money, Real Life™, she helps people make financial decisions that feel aligned and true to who they are.

Linda’s speaking work focuses on humanizing money conversations in the workplace — connecting financial confidence to emotional well-being, performance, and retention. She is known for interactive sessions that invite reflection, participation, and clear “next best step” actions. Drawing on both lived experience and professional depth, she teaches in a way that makes complex financial topics clear, relatable, and actionable.

Over her 20+ year career — including more than a decade focused specifically on personal finance — Linda has led talks, workshops, webinars, and lunch-and-learns for employees, associations, and community groups. She bridges the human and behavioral sides of money with practical financial strategy — reminding people everywhere that financial power isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about making choices that reflect who you are, fully and unapologetically.

Linda holds a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) and a Bachelor’s Degree with dual majors in Human Resources Management and Marketing. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®). She also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Professional Fundraising, Nonprofit Board Consulting, and is certified as a Coach, Teacher, Trainer, and Speaker through Maxwell Leadership.

She is the 2019 recipient of the Charlotte Danstrom and Women of Achievement Award, and a 2023, 2024, & 2025 Circle of Excellence Qualifier for Women in Financial Services — recognizing her leadership, excellence, and commitment to helping others build clarity, confidence, and success.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, MSFS, CAP® is a financial wellness speaker, personal finance expert, educator, and money coach. She is the creator of the MeMoney™ method, a financial strategy designed to create a mindset shift and help people feel confident and... Show more

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