Chief Collaborate Officer of "Civic Tech Zen Chiba," an alliance of civic tech organizations in Chiba Prefecture.

Chief Collaborate Officer of "Civic Tech Zen Chiba," an alliance of civic tech organizations in Chiba Prefecture. Show more

Andrew Schoka is a former U.S. Army Cyber Warfare Officer and is currently a graduate student at the University of Virginia. He served in a variety of offensive cyber operations assignments with the 2020 and 2022 Election Security Group at U.S. Cyber Command, and later with U.S. Special Operations Command. Andrew is the co-founder of an election cybersecurity startup and teaches a graduate course on cybersecurity at the University of Virginia School of Engineering. He holds a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from Virginia Tech, a master's degree in cybersecurity from Georgia Tech, and a number of industry security certifications.

Andrew Schoka is a former U.S. Army Cyber Warfare Officer and is currently a graduate student at the University of Virginia. He served in a variety of offensive cyber operations assignments with the 2020 and 2022 Election Security Group at U.S. Cyber... Show more

Je suis un professionnel de la communication et des relations publiques avec plus de cinq ans d'expérience dans la transformation digitale des médias et le développement de stratégies de marketing digital au Niger et au Mali.
Pendant mon temps libre, j'aime écrire, regarder des films documentaires ou faire de la photographie.
Je suis ici, pour vous partager comment j'utilise le cloud au quotidien .

Je suis un professionnel de la communication et des relations publiques avec plus de cinq ans d'expérience dans la transformation digitale des médias et le développement de stratégies de marketing digital au Niger et au Mali. Pendant mon temps libr... Show more

Ant Blair is a visionary leader, speaker, and advocate for building generational wealth and cultural empowerment through cutting-edge technology.

Currently an advisory board member with Sensay, Ant uses AI and blockchain to create digital legacies. Ant is on a mission to empower African Americans to secure their financial and cultural heritage for future generations.

Ant believes that the future of African American liberation lies in leveraging technology to close wealth gaps, preserve knowledge, and take control of the narrative.

Ant Blair is a visionary leader, speaker, and advocate for building generational wealth and cultural empowerment through cutting-edge technology. Currently an advisory board member with Sensay, Ant uses AI and blockchain to create digital legacie... Show more

Reda Hicks is an attorney and organizational development consultant based in Houston, Texas. She specializes in helping impact organizations run more efficiently, and serve their missions more effectively. Her work focuses on helping companies and nonprofits address key operational challenges, position for growth, and create new programming. Reda has a JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law, and an MBA in Sustainable Development from Marylhurst University. Reda is also an alumnus of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program at the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Reda is actively engaged in two communities she loves: her hometown community in Houston, Texas, and the military families community. She serves on the boards of Texas Lyceum and Impact Hub Houston, and as a strategic advisor for Leadership Houston and the League of Women Voters in Houston. The proud spouse of a retired Army Special Forces soldier, Reda is an alum of the Military Family Advisory Network's Advisory Board, a founding member of the Military Spouse JD Network, and a long-time ambassador of Bunker Labs. She also works on military spouse economic empowerment issues with a number of local, state and national organizations.

Reda Hicks is an attorney and organizational development consultant based in Houston, Texas. She specializes in helping impact organizations run more efficiently, and serve their missions more effectively. Her work focuses on helping companies and no... Show more

Dr. Randy Ross is a renowned leadership consultant, bestselling author, and keynote speaker dedicated to inspiring individuals and organizations to lead with purpose and impact. Drawing from decades of psychological research and real-world experience, Dr. Ross weaves humor, insight, and practical wisdom into his transformative presentations. His keynote addresses challenge audiences to embrace hope, accelerate personal and professional growth, and cultivate remarkable cultures centered on relationships. Whether teaching the art of leadership or the science of happiness, Dr. Ross empowers people to break free from the ordinary and build lives and businesses that leave a lasting impact.

Dr. Ross is the author of the acclaimed books Relationomics and Remarkable! and has worked with global organizations to build relationally rich environments where people thrive. His engaging style and actionable insights make him a sought-after speaker for those looking to ignite hope, accelerate change, and lead lives of significance.

Dr. Randy Ross is a renowned leadership consultant, bestselling author, and keynote speaker dedicated to inspiring individuals and organizations to lead with purpose and impact. Drawing from decades of psychological research and real-world experience... Show more

Charlene Newton is an SPCT, Enterprise Lean Agile Coach, and author with over 20 years of experience in software development, sales and marketing management, product management, and enterprise agility. Her unique blend of expertise and penchant for learning enables her to empathize with leaders at all levels. Charlene’s leadership spans diverse industries including travel & tourism, telecom, banking, financial services, insurance, government, media broadcasting, and education. Her clients include some of the largest and most sustainable enterprises globally.
Charlene constantly expands her toolkit of implementation methodologies including Customer Centricity, Product Management, Design Thinking, Change Management, Agile, Lean, Kanban, DevOps and Employee Engagement.
Charlene’s “secret sauce” is communicating and collaborating daily to align and realign to a clearly shared and evolving purpose. She is known for building stakeholder engagement and safe environments where improvement and innovation thrive. She strives to gain trust on Day 1 as she listens and engages leaders to discover new ways of working to solve problems and improve outcomes.
Charlene is always looking for opportunities for leaders to laugh together. Laughter builds trust and humility, both key ingredients for successful change. It also triggers healthy brain responses! Charlene has had the immense pleasure of coaching and training thousands of executives, architects, product managers, scrum masters, and developers. She is grateful for each interactive lesson they learn together and the knowledge and resilience everyone gains to address the next challenge.

Charlene Newton is an SPCT, Enterprise Lean Agile Coach, and author with over 20 years of experience in software development, sales and marketing management, product management, and enterprise agility. Her unique blend of expertise and penchant for l... Show more

Angela is an author, writer, educator, and activist. She is on the path to completing her doctorate in educational leadership. Her dissertation topic is centered around African-American Parental Involvement. She is a former VP and active member of the UCLA Black Alumni Association. Her passion for youth and parents drives her to empower parents and youth to demand the public school system properly educate students of all colors, starting with capable African-American students who, as a whole, underperform their peers at every level of education.

Angela is an author, writer, educator, and activist. She is on the path to completing her doctorate in educational leadership. Her dissertation topic is centered around African-American Parental Involvement. She is a former VP and active member of t... Show more

I have worked with 100s of startups over the last 9+ years and love building tools that help people get out of their comfort zone. This treasure quest offers something new for people and a way to explore the city from a different perspective.

I have worked with 100s of startups over the last 9+ years and love building tools that help people get out of their comfort zone. This treasure quest offers something new for people and a way to explore the city from a different perspective. Show more

Liz Powell, Esq., MPH started G2G Consulting in 2007 which creates and implements government to growth (G2G) policy, funding and advocacy strategies for clients and has raised $531M in non-dilutive government funding for clients. Liz previously served as Legislative Director in Congress for two Members of Congress where she staffed the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Armed Services Committee and Small Business Committee. She also served as a Policy Analyst for UK Parliament’s Health Committee and has worked on political campaigns. She co-founded the Women’s Digital Health Network and the Women’s Health PAC and serves on the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Innovation Equity Forum Steering Committee. She earned her MPH from Harvard, JD from George Washington, and BA from Colgate.

Liz Powell, Esq., MPH started G2G Consulting in 2007 which creates and implements government to growth (G2G) policy, funding and advocacy strategies for clients and has raised $531M in non-dilutive government funding for clients. Liz previously serve... Show more

Aaron is a passionate design professional, consultant, and advocate for Aging-In-Place in your own community. He has been presenting at a national and international level for over 15 years. He is a licensed architect, “Certified Aging In Place Specialist” through NAHB, and an engaging and entertaining public speaker. Aaron is a known industry expert & author in the Aging-in-Place field, and a business coach teaching other executives how to own the AIP & UD niche of a home modification business. He teaches GCs, remodelers, OTs and associated fields, what it takes to become your own local go-to expert in your community. Aaron has been a Seattle radio host on subject and is a known entertainer and educator on stage across multiple home and building industries. Aaron has been preaching “Empowering Housing” for 15+ years from Chicago to Tokyo.

Aaron is a passionate design professional, consultant, and advocate for Aging-In-Place in your own community. He has been presenting at a national and international level for over 15 years. He is a licensed architect, “Certified Aging In Place Specia... Show more

Najeeb Khan is the Head of People & Events of Teamland, the place for high performance team training and team building. He's excited about bringing teams together.

He's the author of the business innovation book Fluid. He is also a Canadian Entrepreneur, a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs-Ontario, and recognized by American Express and Ashoka as one of the 45 "Emerging Innovators," across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. He was seen on TEDx, Forbes, Huffington Post and speaking at various business schools

Najeeb Khan is the Head of People & Events of Teamland, the place for high performance team training and team building. He's excited about bringing teams together. He's the author of the business innovation book Fluid. He is also a Canadian Entrep... Show more

Dr. Rebekah C. Lloyd is a published author and leadership consultant specializing in trauma-informed leadership. Her latest book, The Missing Key: Trauma-Informed Leadership: Unlock Potential & Build Resilient Teams Using Trauma-Informed Principles for Growth, Success, & Lasting Impact, explores how leaders can create resilient teams using trauma-informed principles. Rebekah developed her trauma-informed approach based on empirical research and experiential data from her background as a combat veteran and her work in leadership across various sectors. She is passionate about helping organizations unlock their potential by fostering safety, resilience, and empowerment in the workplace.

Dr. Rebekah C. Lloyd is a published author and leadership consultant specializing in trauma-informed leadership. Her latest book, The Missing Key: Trauma-Informed Leadership: Unlock Potential & Build Resilient Teams Using Trauma-Informed Principles f... Show more

Innovation and Development Engineer and founder of Disrupción, a science communication project. She has participated in discussion panels in Mexico and Latin America, as well as events at NASA. She contributed to the development of a lunar exploration mechanism that was tested on the International Space Station. Currently, she gives conferences and workshops on science, history, and empowerment to inspire girls and women to enter the world of science.

Innovation and Development Engineer and founder of Disrupción, a science communication project. She has participated in discussion panels in Mexico and Latin America, as well as events at NASA. She contributed to the development of a lunar exploratio... Show more

Fabio Correa da Cruz é autor e inventor do framework de inovação em Produtos e Serviços ADesign Startup, é Cofundador da Scaled Innovation Aceleradora, Cofundador da AfirMed TeleMedicina e Bem-estar e SolarOmni Energia Solar, Consultor, Professor, Palestrante e autor do Motor de Inovação e framework Scaled Innovation para estruturar Hubs de Inovação em Negócios, programas de Design Organizacional e Value Stream Transformation que transformaram negócios, empresas grandes com +USD 75B Receita e +100 mil funcionários, além de empresas médias, pequenas e Startups.
Tem em seu legado a construção de MVPs e Produtos digitais que são hoje utilizados por milhões de pessoas no Brasil e no Mundo na área de transportes, sendo do cotidiano de milhões de usuários, além de registros de grandes Marcas, Patentes e Softwares com soluções em TeleMedicina, Telepsicologia, AfirBem Clube de Bem-estar e SolarOmni usinas da energia solar autônomas, consultor para registro de Patentes, Marcas e estruturação de Franquias, com formatação e expansão de modelos de negócios.
Palestrante sobre Cases de Inovação, Lean Portfólio, Agilidade, Business Innovation e Transformação Organizacional
Professor e Oficial Trainer ADesign Startup®, Scrum, Kanban, SAFe®SPC, RTE, LPM, POPM, SASM, SA, VST, EBAS, OKR, M3.0, PMP

Fabio Correa da Cruz é autor e inventor do framework de inovação em Produtos e Serviços ADesign Startup, é Cofundador da Scaled Innovation Aceleradora, Cofundador da AfirMed TeleMedicina e Bem-estar e SolarOmni Energia Solar, Consultor, Professor, Pa... Show more

Melissa Eggleston serves as a user experience researcher and designer for the Digital Service at the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. Her specialty is applying trauma-informed principles to the design process and products. For more than 15 years, she has improved the user experience of websites, apps, and software for organizations of all sizes, including Lenovo, Duke University, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Teamworks, and many others. In 2023 she won the Service to the Citizen Customer Experience Trailblazer Award for her work on 988 (the U.S. suicide hotline) and related websites. In 2017 she won the Aquent Design for Good grant to apply trauma-informed principles to a domestic violence agency website.

She has helped design specifically for people who have experienced interpersonal violence, human trafficking, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, and serious mental illness. In 2009, Melissa received her MA in Communication from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she has taught UX design since 2019. At North Carolina State University now, Melissa is pursuing a doctorate in design, studying the intersection of technology and trauma.

Melissa Eggleston serves as a user experience researcher and designer for the Digital Service at the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. Her specialty is applying trauma-informed principles to the design process and products. For more than 15 years, s... Show more

Demarra West is an entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience supporting both profit and nonprofit organizations in scaling their businesses.Also, she’s a seasoned wellness and leadership expert, therapist, and author who is deeply committed to creating transformative change. Having experienced firsthand the failures of systems designed to support healing, Demarra was inspired to establish and lead Be Well Beautiful People, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing healing and liberation support to those with the greatest need.

Demarra also founded Be Well Beautiful Woman, a global initiative dedicated to empowering female leaders and entrepreneurs to live life on their own terms through holistic healing and mindset services, such as retreats, coaching, and summits. On top of being a therapist, Demarra is certified in trauma-sensitive yoga, is a Reiki master, a professional certified coach, and trained in various healing modalities, such as forest bathing.

Today, she is living her absolute best life in Detroit, Michigan and working passionately to ensure healing & liberation is accessible to us all, starting of course, with her own healing.

Demarra West is an entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience supporting both profit and nonprofit organizations in scaling their businesses.Also, she’s a seasoned wellness and leadership expert, therapist, and author who is deeply committed to cr... Show more

For over three decades, Sonia Williams-Lewis has been on a mission of re-imagining equity and humanity, intending to reclaim all of the things lost and denied to the Black community by way of laws, policies, and cultural norms that intentionally and unintentionally perpetuate white supremacy, racism, and implicit biases. Her professional career has prompted efforts to address the issue of racialized norms, as a matter of curating a safe and brave space to have courageous conversations about race and belonging whilst normalizing an anti-racist, humanity-driven future. As the Founder/CEO of ASCRIBE Educational Consulting, LLC and EDIFIY Humanity 501c3, our work is rooted in challenging the norm and fostering a growth mindset where everyone matters and wins.

Sonia Williams-Lewis is a former high school/secondary educator, with degrees in History and Psychology from Spelman College, as well as a Master's Degree in Education and Secondary Teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Building the legacy of ASCRIBE and EDIFY prioritizes the marrying of equity and social justice, with an emphasis on how socio-economic factors impact family dynamics, community stratification, and the marginalized outcomes of vulnerable groups. If we focus on the margins of the margins, the result is our whole society reaping benefits that really matter. It's the development of our whole selves coupled with the development of our whole community that fosters a willingness to address all of our needs and not the deficit of what we can't accomplish together. It was after giving birth to 6 beautiful Black boys, that Sonia realized her lived experiences offer a unique perspective on tackling the problems associated with equity, belonging, and humanity, like but not limited to denied medical resources, lack of access to educational resources, unwarranted touches with the criminal justice system based on racialized norms and policies, and inner-communal violence. Said lived experiences, also known as "adverse childhood experiences" (ACEs) have not only led to a reliance on the resource-richness and resolve of the Black community but also how the Black community contributes to the whole of who we are as a society. Let's imagine together, a future where the next generation won't need to deal with or heal from racialized trauma....PERIOD.

For over three decades, Sonia Williams-Lewis has been on a mission of re-imagining equity and humanity, intending to reclaim all of the things lost and denied to the Black community by way of laws, policies, and cultural norms that intentionally and ... Show more

Avi has been involved in the Drupal Community since 2008. He volunteers as the lead of MidCamp and on the Event Organizer Working Group Board. His work focuses on large-scale Drupal implementations for high-ed and non-profits.

Avi has been involved in the Drupal Community since 2008. He volunteers as the lead of MidCamp and on the Event Organizer Working Group Board. His work focuses on large-scale Drupal implementations for high-ed and non-profits. Show more

Eshan Chattaraj has his 10+ years of experience in professional industry both in Govt and private leading MNCs comprising the area of Android Development and Python Data Analytics. Eshan is also a public Speaker in where he has been invited in many prestigious oganisations and institutions like AICTE, Niser, IISER, NIT and IITs, ISI and most of the Tier 1 Colleges. Eshan is also a Research Scholar in the field of Android, ML/AI. Institutions tagged with him are like IIT, Kharagpur and The Institution of Engineers (India). Some of the Prestigious Clients he made contributions are Google, Microsoft, Wipro Tech, Capgemini, Coca-Cola, United Health, Optum, Shaadi.com, MagicBricks, Fittr etc.
He done his graduation in Computer Science Engineering and Legal background at Corporate Laws. He has given talk in prestigious organisations like IIT/IIM, IISER, NISER, ATAL, AICTE divisional, Hackathon, ISI, Atomic Research, Law Societies and GDG etc
He has been awarded and recognized from Govt of India and CID, WB

Eshan Chattaraj has his 10+ years of experience in professional industry both in Govt and private leading MNCs comprising the area of Android Development and Python Data Analytics. Eshan is also a public Speaker in where he has been invited in many p... Show more

Eric Burden is an IT Sr Consultant with NTT DATA Services, currently serving as the Data Conversion and Reporting lead for the state of Arkansas' CCWIS project. In this role, Eric blends his Social Work experience and deep technical know-how to ensure timely delivery and development of an effective child welfare information system. Prior to this, Eric worked with the United Way of the Mid-South (Memphis) on their Driving the Dream Initiative, aimed at deploying a shared client referral and database platform to break down service silos in the Memphis social service sector. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Data Reporting for Mississippi’s Department of Child Protection Services. Eric combines his technical expertise with his education in social work (MSW from Jackson State University) to engage process improvement from people to systems. On a personal note, Eric and his wife have two children (a son and a daughter) and a very spoiled dog. They enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, hiking, kayaking, playing in creeks, finding bugs, and gardening.

Eric Burden is an IT Sr Consultant with NTT DATA Services, currently serving as the Data Conversion and Reporting lead for the state of Arkansas' CCWIS project. In this role, Eric blends his Social Work experience and deep technical know-how to ensur... Show more

Armagan is the founder of Coyotiv GmbH, and is currently on a mission to bring a scalable and nimble engineering culture to startups and enterprises.

A software architect well versed in both the backend and frontend systems, he focuses on building resilient cloud systems. He loves open source and is the author of cote, a library for building microservices with Node.js, among many others. In his free time, he loves to hack stuff with JavaScript, ranging from musical gadgets to brain signals processing.

Armagan is a public speaker, a mentor and a lecturer. He also leads Lonca, a software craftspersonship school for women engineers, and teaches JavaScript at Coyotiv School of Software Engineering.

Armagan is the founder of Coyotiv GmbH, and is currently on a mission to bring a scalable and nimble engineering culture to startups and enterprises. A software architect well versed in both the backend and frontend systems, he focuses on building... Show more

Jen Kramer has been teaching & practicing web design for over 20 years. Most recently, she is a Lecturer at Harvard University Extension School in the Master's of Liberal Arts in Digital Media Design program, where she teaches five courses per year on front-end web development. She's also a prolific video author, creating over 40 training courses for LinkedIn Learning/Lynda.com, Frontend Masters, O'Reilly Media, and others. She earned her MS in Internet Strategy Management from Marlboro College.

Jen Kramer has been teaching & practicing web design for over 20 years. Most recently, she is a Lecturer at Harvard University Extension School in the Master's of Liberal Arts in Digital Media Design program, where she teaches five courses per year o... Show more

Are you searching for a conference speakers who can make artificial intelligence approachable, actionable, and deeply human? Meet Stephanie Sylvestre—a technologist, entrepreneur, and corporate leader who’s on a mission to empower professionals and organizations to thrive in the age of AI.

Stephanie’s unique blend of technical expertise, leadership experience, and passion for human development makes her the perfect presenter for conferences focused on leadership, innovation, technology, and the future of work. She doesn’t just talk about AI—she brings it to life with stories, strategies, and a contagious sense of possibility.

Signature Topics Stephanie Brings to Your Audience
1. Top 5 Quintessentially Human Skills for Success in the AI World
AI is transforming the way we work, but the most valuable skills remain deeply human. Stephanie reveals the five essential traits—resilience, creativity, resourcefulness, problem-solving, and critical thinking—that every professional needs to cultivate to stay ahead. She shares actionable strategies for adapting to technological change, devising innovative solutions, and navigating complex challenges, all while fostering collaboration and continuous learning. Perfect for leadership development and motivational speaking.

2. Understanding the AI Alphabet: LLM, SLM, and AI Agents
AI can feel like an alphabet soup of acronyms and jargon. Stephanie demystifies the digital landscape, breaking down the differences between Large Language Models (LLMs), Small Language Models (SLMs), and AI Agents. With practical examples and a step-by-step approach, she empowers listeners to understand how these components work together—and how anyone can leverage them to solve real-world problems. Ideal for audiences new to AI or seeking a clear, engaging introduction.

3. Responsible AI: Ensuring Human Oversight
Worried about rogue technology or AI “hallucinations”? Stephanie provides a roadmap for responsible AI implementation, sharing proven strategies for integrating human oversight, setting up effective guardrails, and ensuring outputs are verified and trustworthy. Listeners will walk away with a clear understanding of AI accountability, ethical standards, and how to build trust in technology. A must-hear for IT leaders, AI practitioners, and anyone interested in the future of ethical tech.

4. Beyond Software: Considering AI’s Social Impact
AI isn’t just about code—it’s about culture, values, and the way we live and work together. Stephanie invites audiences to reimagine AI implementation as a catalyst for positive social change. She explores the ethical, cultural, and human dimensions of AI, showing how anyone—not just technologists—can lead in our AI-transformed future. This session is perfect for social impact, nonprofit, and philanthropic audiences.

Why Invite Stephanie?

Relatable Storytelling: Stephanie translates complex AI concepts into engaging, real-world stories.
Actionable Insights: Every session with Stephanie leaves attendees with practical takeaways they can use immediately.
Inspiring Perspective: She champions the human side of technology, empowering audiences to embrace change with confidence.
Ready to bring a fresh, human-centric voice to your podcast?
Invite Stephanie Sylvestre and give your audience the tools—and the inspiration—to thrive in the AI era.

Are you searching for a conference speakers who can make artificial intelligence approachable, actionable, and deeply human? Meet Stephanie Sylvestre—a technologist, entrepreneur, and corporate leader who’s on a mission to empower professionals and o... Show more

Tasriqul Islam is a renowned writer and researcher, specializing in the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy. With a focus on technology regulation and the ethical implications of business practices, he brings a unique perspective on how innovation can align with societal values. Tasriqul holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering, along with a master’s degree in International Relations, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, political, and ethical dimensions of emerging technologies.

Tasriqul offers deep insights into the future of technology policy, making complex issues accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. His thought leadership has made a significant impact in shaping discussions around responsible technology and its role in fostering sustainable business practices. With his extensive academic background and practical expertise, Tasriqul is well-equipped to lead conversations that bridge the gap between technological innovation and effective governance.

Tasriqul Islam is a renowned writer and researcher, specializing in the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy. With a focus on technology regulation and the ethical implications of business practices, he brings a unique perspectiv... Show more

State of Minnesota Department of Human Services

State of Minnesota Department of Human Services Show more

Maria Betancourt Thompson, Ed.D., is a distinguished expert in transformational leadership, instructional equity, and school culture. Her journey from homelessness and trauma due to domestic abuse and family mental illness has profoundly shaped her mission. Maria's "True North" is child-centered, dedicated to ensuring that the educational system serves every child, regardless of their challenges. Her inspiring "First Generation" story, from school custodian to district director, reflects her resilience and dedication. As a child, Maria helped her hard-working immigrant parents clean the school she attended, contributing to the family's livelihood and influencing her drive and work ethic.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Maria has an extensive background in education, having served as a classroom teacher, dean, assistant principal, school principal, and district director. She currently holds the position of State Leadership Development Chair for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Maria is a prolific author and creator, with numerous published articles, photographs, presentations, and over $13 million in successful grant writing to her credit.

Maria is renowned for her ability to help school and district leaders discover their “why” and apply it to their work, combining heart and humor to engage and inspire. She is passionate about transforming educational environments and is unafraid to challenge the status quo to remove barriers and ensure access for all students. Her focus is on maximizing educator talent to achieve grade-level or better learning outcomes for every student.

An avid hiker, photographer, and traveler, Maria enjoys creating lasting memories with family and friends. She currently works for the Charter Oak Unified School District and resides in the San Gabriel Valley with her husband Mark, son Michael, and cherished pets, Daisy the Cattle Dog and Winnie-Pooh the Adventure Pug.

Maria Betancourt Thompson, Ed.D., is a distinguished expert in transformational leadership, instructional equity, and school culture. Her journey from homelessness and trauma due to domestic abuse and family mental illness has profoundly shaped her m... Show more

Kanyanta M. Makasa is an Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate from the University of Zambia, with hands-on experience in solar EPC projects, power systems, and software engineering. He is passionate about leveraging both engineering and technology to drive innovation in energy, education, and financial technology.

Kanyanta has worked as a Junior Electrical Engineer at W&H Solar EPC, where he contributed to solar PV system design, site assessments, and client advisory on hybrid and off-grid solutions. He also served as a Software Engineer at Justtap Payments, leading mobile money API integrations and building Flutter-based apps and Django web dashboards.

He is the founder and lead developer of Reviza, a course-filtered academic platform designed to improve resource sharing and collaboration among African university students. His project portfolio also includes a solar mini-grid design for rural healthcare and an EV charging impact study on low-voltage networks.

Beyond technical expertise, Kanyanta has demonstrated leadership as Vice-President of the IEEE UNZA Student Branch and as a Zindi Africa Data Science Ambassador. He has also presented research on affordable renewable energy solutions, including a smart solar irrigation system, at the IEEE PowerAfrica Conference.

Driven, innovative, and collaborative, Kanyanta is committed to applying his multidisciplinary skills in engineering and software development to create impactful, sustainable solutions.

Kanyanta M. Makasa is an Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate from the University of Zambia, with hands-on experience in solar EPC projects, power systems, and software engineering. He is passionate about leveraging both engineering and te... Show more

Neringa Young is the Founder of Build Stuff conferences, which she personally manages – recruiting and working with the team, looking for the partners, creating marketing strategies and implementation of the conference promotion. She is also helping with logistics and creating the content of the event. For each year she invites 80 leading speakers from the Tech industry from around the world to come to the Baltics for this 5-day event.
The success of her leadership is seen through the results of the event which every year attracts more than 1400 software developers, with the same participants returning every year as the event grows.
Outside of the workplace, Neringa is involved with initiatives like Women Go Tech where she mentors young women, providing them with advice and direction for their careers in the tech sector.
She is the founder and manager of FIX.Events which runs meetings, training, conferences, private and public events for private & corporate clients.
During her university studies, she was simultaneous working as a Telemarketing sales representative. In just 2 years (2009), she was promoted on the basis of good results to become the Sales team lead at Lintel. At the age of 22, she was responsible for over 100 telemarketing sales managers. Her responsibilities included – hiring staff, training staff, coaching, organizing work across the wider team and implementing company sales strategies.
At AB TEO (now Telia), she initiated, formed and managed a team that is composed of both technical- and sales-personnel to boost sales in line with the company’s sales strategy. Her responsibilities included human resource management – hiring staff, training, coaching, organizing teamwork and working with sales strategies.
During the time she was working at AB TEO, she also published her Master thesis on an HR Topic: "Coaching for the Development of Organizational Personnel (Case of an X Organization, Lithuania)"; 2012 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION REFORM AND MANAGEMENT, INNOVATION (ERMI 2012), VOL 1 Pages: 54-60 Published: 2013; Conference: International, Conference on Education Reform and Management Innovation (ERMI 2012) Location: Shenzhen, PEOPLES R CHINA Date: DEC 04-05, 2012.

Neringa Young is the Founder of Build Stuff conferences, which she personally manages – recruiting and working with the team, looking for the partners, creating marketing strategies and implementation of the conference promotion. She is also helping ... Show more

Brian J. Fitzpatrick, SHRM-SCP, founded Seriema Consulting, an advisory firm helping institutions
achieve organizational transformation through change management, people analytics, and
strategic planning. He provides C-suite executives with consulting support in aligning talent management objectives and processes to value-accretive outcomes.

Specific to inclusion work, Brian designed and launched a DE&I function at one employer that encompassed ERGs, mentorship, and community outreach. His expertise in this area extends internationally, where he has operated in business development and internal consulting roles across 20 countries.

Brian earned his BA from New York University and his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School
of Management. In addition, he holds Prosci and PMP certifications. He resides in St Petersburg, Florida, where he serves as VP of Membership for SHRM’s affiliate chapter in Pinellas County.

Brian J. Fitzpatrick, SHRM-SCP, founded Seriema Consulting, an advisory firm helping institutions achieve organizational transformation through change management, people analytics, and strategic planning. He provides C-suite executives with consult... Show more