Government, Social Sector & Education

Valued individuals involved in shaping public policies, providing essential services, and promoting education, tirelessly looking to improve society and empower citizens

Vishal Alhat

Vishal Alhat

Vishal is an AWS Hero, Hashicorp Ambassador, a Senior DevOps Engineer and AWS certified professional, has been building, scaling, and managing highly available, secure, and fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure for over 9+ years.

As a technical speaker and community contributor, Vishal is known for his engaging and insightful presentations and technical posts on the latest trends and best practices in AWS and DevOps. He is the AWS User Group Pune leader, and also connected with various communities in India. He organizes and speaks at various meet-ups and community events. He has presented at many Community days and conferences on technologies like AWS, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Generative AI, and many open-source technologies.

Vishal is an AWS Hero, Hashicorp Ambassador, a Senior DevOps Engineer and AWS certified professional, has been building, scaling, and managing highly available, secure, and fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure for over 9+ years. As a technical spea... Show more

Jess Price

Jess Price

Jess Price is a systems strategist and founder of Paradigm Makers. She makes the invisible visible and designs systems rooted in clarity, dignity, and collective evolution. Known for translating complexity into insight, Jess helps individuals and institutions reimagine how we live and work, so the systems around us reflect the future we actually want to build.

Jess Price is a systems strategist and founder of Paradigm Makers. She makes the invisible visible and designs systems rooted in clarity, dignity, and collective evolution. Known for translating complexity into insight, Jess helps individuals and ins... Show more

Shivaram K R

Shivaram K R

Shivaram K R is an innovator, researcher, and serial entrepreneur. He focuses on the impact of emerging technologies on humanity through his key strengths: initiative, innovation and implementation. He has 20 years of hands-on experience in Artificial Intelligence. He is a domain expert in multiple emerging technologies and has built 11 tech startups to solve the world’s problems. He is currently the Co-founder and CEO of Hue Learn.

Alumni of IIT Delhi, he has 10 years of experience in algorithmic trading and quantitative research. He has built High Frequency Trading strategies and Cross Asset Investment Strategies during his tenure in Bank of America, Edelweiss and Societe Generale. He created a robotics lab to do research on AI, robotics, 3D printing, IoT and other emerging technologies. He started his entrepreneurial journey in 2014 from his lab. He uses the first principles approach to build his startups. He has built products that use AI to solve problems in the domain of commodity trading, genomics, education, drone delivery, high-frequency trading and healthcare. He has advised government bodies and the World Economic Forum on the impact of emerging technologies. He is a TEDx speaker and has spoken at various global forums such as Green Accelerator at Davos during the World Economic Forum Annual Event, COP28 on use of AI in Education.

Shivaram K R is an innovator, researcher, and serial entrepreneur. He focuses on the impact of emerging technologies on humanity through his key strengths: initiative, innovation and implementation. He has 20 years of hands-on experience in Artificia... Show more

Colleen Turner

Colleen Turner

Colleen is an Associate Vice President and Michael Baker’s Greater DC / Maryland Planning Practice Lead, with 25 years of experience in transportation and environmental planning and policy. She leads a team of professionals dedicated to accelerating the electrification of the transportation sector through the development of plans, programs, and policies for state and local governments.

Colleen returned to Michael Baker in February 2021 following her employment as the Assistant Director of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Planning and Capital Programming (OPCP). During her tenure at MDOT, Colleen oversaw long-range environmental planning and the planning and deployment of innovative transportation technologies including zero emission vehicles (ZEV) and connected and automated vehicles (CAV). She managed MDOT’s air quality and climate change mitigation programs and participated in national discussions related to the electrification of the transportation sector, sharing her expertise with the White House, the National Governor’s Association (NGA), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Colleen is a member of the TRB Standing Committee on Alternative Fuels and Technologies (AMS40). She is the former Chair of the AASHTO Air Quality Climate Change and Energy subcommittee of the Committee on Environment and Sustainability.

Colleen is an Associate Vice President and Michael Baker’s Greater DC / Maryland Planning Practice Lead, with 25 years of experience in transportation and environmental planning and policy. She leads a team of professionals dedicated to accelerating ... Show more

Camila Hinojosa Añez

Camila Hinojosa Añez

Estudiante de Ingeniería Civil en Ciencias de la Computación con experiencia en proyectos de innovación tecnológica. Voluntaria en NiñasPro y en la comunidad de AWS, he participado en investigaciones académicas en ciberseguridad y eye-tracking en entornos de realidad virtual y en proyectos de seguridad para microemprendedores en comercio electrónico. Me motiva contribuir, enseñar y apoyar a la comunidad tecnológica.

Estudiante de Ingeniería Civil en Ciencias de la Computación con experiencia en proyectos de innovación tecnológica. Voluntaria en NiñasPro y en la comunidad de AWS, he participado en investigaciones académicas en ciberseguridad y eye-tracking en ent... Show more

Mahipal Jadeja

Mahipal Jadeja

Dr. Mahipal Jadeja received his Ph.D. degree from Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT) in the field of Theoretical Computer Science. He currently works at MNIT Jaipur as an assistant professor. His research interests include Theoretical Computer Science, Social Network Analysis, Machine Learning on Graphs (Graph Neural Networks) and Generative AI in education. He has published several journal articles, book chapters and a reference book (Springer) in these domains. His research work is presented at reputed international conferences including GSB-SIGIR 2015 (Chile), WAAC 2016 (Japan), SCAI-ICTIR 2017 (Netherlands) and ICAAE 2023 (Australia). He has supervised 3 Ph.D. students, 12 M.Tech students and currently, he is supervising 4 Ph.D. students and 3 M.Tech students. On his YouTube Channel-CS Simplified, he has uploaded more than 150 academic videos. To date, the channel has received more than 3,50,000 views. He has also developed a Massive Open Online Courese (MOOC) on Python Programming, which has attracted over 1500 learners and boasts an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of 5. Dr. Mahipal Jadeja has delivered numerous expert talks at prestigious venues including a session on AI-powered advancements in education, organised by Dr. Rea Lavi from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT), the top-ranked institute of the world (QS #1 since 2012).

Dr. Mahipal Jadeja received his Ph.D. degree from Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT) in the field of Theoretical Computer Science. He currently works at MNIT Jaipur as an assistant professor. His research... Show more

Florian Lamert

Florian Lamert

Aktuell berufsbegleitend Studierender (M.Ed. Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Universität Freiburg) und Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (Universität Duisburg-Essen).
Als langjähriges Mitglied des studentischen Akkreditierungspools konnte ich in den zurückliegenden vier Jahren zahlreiche Akkreditierungsverfahren begleiten und erhielt auf diese Weise umfassende Einblicke in die deutsche wie auch internationale Hochschullandschaft. Hierbei konnte ich von einer Vielzahl an best practices erfahren und habe hierbei schnell gemerkt, dass der Wissenstransfer zwischen den Hochschulen in diesem Bereich nur sehr eingeschränkt vonstatten geht. Als studentischer Gutachter hatte ich die Möglichkeit, einen Beitrag dazu zu leisten, dass sich dies ändert.

Aktuell berufsbegleitend Studierender (M.Ed. Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Universität Freiburg) und Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (Universität Duisburg-Essen). Als langjähriges Mitglied des studentischen Akkreditierungspools konnte ich in den zurücklie... Show more

Brian Alementi

Brian Alementi

Brian Alementi is an acclaimed Inspirational Keynote Speaker, award-winning leader, and certified Master Trainer renowned for engaging presentations that combine inspiration with practical, actionable insights. With a rich background in guiding and elevating teams, Brian brings his experience as a previous leader within a Fortune 500 company’s Hall of Fame learning and development division, where his dedication to growth and excellence shaped high-performing teams across the organization. His impact reaches far and wide, with numerous features on major television networks and invitations to speak on prominent stages, including TEDx. Brian’s influence continues to expand as he empowers audiences to unlock their full potential and achieve remarkable results.

His sessions blend dynamic energy, expertise, and actionable takeaways, making them impactful and memorable. His MVP Performance Model aligns individual drive with team goals, creating a foundation for extraordinary achievement. With his PG3 Leadership Model, Brian cultivates a culture of resilience, collaboration, and growth within organizations. In addition, his inspirational talk focuses on the importance of unleashing the magic within individuals and teams to elevate a positive growth mindset for success. These frameworks enable companies to positively shape their culture to boost productivity, morale, and performance.

With over three decades of public speaking experience, he has empowered audiences by delivering transformative sessions that provide clear, practical strategies for enhancing productivity and connection. Known for his infectious energy and authentic delivery, Brian resonates across industries, making his sessions both unforgettable and actionable.

A testament to his commitment, Brian’s personal life reflects the drive and resilience he talks to. With the accomplishment of completing several marathons, a strong marriage of over twenty years, and the joy of raising two remarkable children, Brian brings a genuine authenticity to every talk, inspiring audiences to pursue their goals with passion and purpose

Brian Alementi is an acclaimed Inspirational Keynote Speaker, award-winning leader, and certified Master Trainer renowned for engaging presentations that combine inspiration with practical, actionable insights. With a rich background in guiding and e... Show more

Prof. Edson Rosa Gomes da Silva

Prof. Edson Rosa Gomes da Silva

Graduação em Ciências Econômicas e em Direito. Especialista em Segurança Pública e Especialista em Direito Público. Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Doutor em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Coordenador do Escritório de Gestão de Processos na Secretaria de Estado do Planejamento. Trabalhou na Controladoria-Geral do Estado atuando na função de Coordenador de Informações Estratégicas, foi Gestor do Portfólio de Projetos, Presidente da Comissão de Implementação da LGPD, Presidente da Comissão de Inovação e membro do Comitê Estratégico de Governança e Integridade. Gerente de Apoio Operacional na Diretoria Administrativa e Financeira da Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública; Gerente do Complexo Administrativo na Diretoria Administrativa e Financeira da Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública; Gestor de Sistemas de Conhecimento na Coordenação-Geral de Inteligência da SENASP/MJ; Chefe da Divisão de Informática e Tecnologia da Diretoria de Informação e Inteligência - Secretaria de Estado da Segurança Pública de Santa Catarina, conduzindo a Gestão Técnica do Projeto de Criação e Institucionalização do Sistema Integrado de Segurança Pública (SISP-SC).

Graduação em Ciências Econômicas e em Direito. Especialista em Segurança Pública e Especialista em Direito Público. Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Doutor em Engenharia e Gestão do Conhecimento (UFSC). Coordenador do Escritório ... Show more

Denise Zubizarreta

Denise Zubizarreta

Denise Zubizarreta is a cultural operations strategist, journalist, and interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of technology, justice, and creative expression. She is the Director of Development and Communications at the New Mexico Local News Fund and a PhD student in Applied Social Justice. With a background in nonprofit leadership, U.S. military service, and arts advocacy, Denise focuses on decolonizing systems, empowering marginalized communities, and integrating cybersecurity awareness into cultural infrastructure. Her work has appeared in Latina Media Co., Southwest Contemporary, and Hyperallergic. She believes cybersecurity is not just technical—it’s cultural.

Denise Zubizarreta is a cultural operations strategist, journalist, and interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of technology, justice, and creative expression. She is the Director of Development and Communications at the New Mexico Loca... Show more

Felix Jahn

Felix Jahn

Felix Jahn ist wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an der TH Köln und studiert Architektur im Master an der TUM. Derzeit engagiert es sich des Weiteren als DigitalChangeMaker am Hochschulforum Digitalisierung für Partizipation in der Hochschulentwicklung.
Während seines Bachelorstudiums in Köln brachte er sich in diversen Ämtern und Positionen ein, wobei er sich vorrangig mit der Konzeption, Durchführung und Evaluierung von Studium und Lehre beschäftigte. Nach seinem Bachelor knüpfte er daran als wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter im Forschungsprojekt REDiEE an und setzt sich mit den Anforderungen zukunftsfähiger, kompetenzorientierter Lehre an physische, digitale und curriculare Hochschulstrukturen auseinander. Sein Fokus liegt auf der konzeptionellen Entwicklung von Lernarchitekturen.

Felix Jahn ist wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an der TH Köln und studiert Architektur im Master an der TUM. Derzeit engagiert es sich des Weiteren als DigitalChangeMaker am Hochschulforum Digitalisierung für Partizipation in der Hochschulentwicklung.... Show more

Miłosz Gaczkowski

Miłosz Gaczkowski

Miłosz is a mobile security specialist at WithSecure, having previously spent entirely too much time working in academia. Outside of technical work, his primary interests are in education and the culture of education.

Miłosz is a mobile security specialist at WithSecure, having previously spent entirely too much time working in academia. Outside of technical work, his primary interests are in education and the culture of education. Show more

Vishal Shah

Vishal Shah

Vishal Shah is a seasoned Data Analyst with over three years of experience in harnessing machine learning, data modeling, and big data technologies to drive transformative insights across diverse sectors. Currently, he serves as a Business Data Analyst at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, where he designs predictive models and scalable data pipelines to enhance wildlife management and public safety. A Master’s graduate in Computer Science from New York University, Vishal has led innovative projects—from real-time stock market analytics to AI-driven public safety systems—demonstrating a unique ability to bridge advanced AI methodologies with practical, high-impact applications.

Vishal Shah is a seasoned Data Analyst with over three years of experience in harnessing machine learning, data modeling, and big data technologies to drive transformative insights across diverse sectors. Currently, he serves as a Business Data Analy... Show more

Jacob Isah

Jacob Isah

Hi, I’m Jacob, and I’m passionate about making programming accessible and fun! As a seasoned programming tutor and content creator, I’ve helped learners around the world level up their coding skills.

On my YouTube channel, you’ll find engaging tutorials, coding challenges, and practical tips. Whether you’re a beginner dipping your toes into Python or an experienced developer diving into machine learning, I’ve got you covered.

Hi, I’m Jacob, and I’m passionate about making programming accessible and fun! As a seasoned programming tutor and content creator, I’ve helped learners around the world level up their coding skills. On my YouTube channel, you’ll find engaging tut... Show more

Saikumar Swarnapudi

Saikumar Swarnapudi

Hi! I’m Saikumar Swarnapudi, an engineer and community leader with a deep interest in AI, and Community Building. Currently, I serve as a Founding Engineer – AI at Vertx, where I’m building AI models and automation systems.

My journey blends hands-on engineering with a love for sharing knowledge. As a community leader, I’ve had the privilege of delivering sessions, leading hackathons, and mentoring students and developers across India. I’ve also been part of organizing flagship events like Google I/O Extended, DevFest, Azure AI Influencer Day, and the IEEE CIS Summer School.

I actively contribute to communities through leadership roles in Google Developer Groups, IEEE, and more, believing strongly in the power of collaboration, mentorship, and building inclusive tech ecosystems.

Hi! I’m Saikumar Swarnapudi, an engineer and community leader with a deep interest in AI, and Community Building. Currently, I serve as a Founding Engineer – AI at Vertx, where I’m building AI models and automation systems. My journey blends hands... Show more

Devin Sarno

Devin Sarno

Devin Sarno, founder and CEO of Parlay Communicators, is a two-time US national champion public speaking coach. With over 15 years of experience, she blends her love for live performance, improv, and comedy to help others find their unique voice. Devin's engaging and compassionate coaching style empowers individuals to express themselves confidently and authentically. Devin's relatability, quick wit, and background in dramatic arts from prestigious institutions like the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and The British-American Dramatic Academy at Oxford allow her to transform complex ideas into inspiring, meaningful experiences. But Devin's impact goes beyond mere entertainment. Her commanding presence and empathetic approach empower audiences to see things from new perspectives, challenge their assumptions, and tap into their potential. Whether speaking to thousands or coaching one-on-one, she creates a safe space for growth, laughter, and transformation. More than just a keynote speaker or coach, Devin Sarno is a catalyst for change - a weaver of stories and a reminder of the power of the human voice.

Devin Sarno, founder and CEO of Parlay Communicators, is a two-time US national champion public speaking coach. With over 15 years of experience, she blends her love for live performance, improv, and comedy to help others find their unique voice. Dev... Show more

Paul Bellows

Paul Bellows

Paul Bellows is a 30-yr practitioner of digital transformation for public service organizations. Paul is the host of The 311 Podcast, a member of Canada's Digital Governance Council and a senior advisor to one of Canada's largest public service focussed digital teams. Paul was CEO of Yellow Pencil, a Canadian leader in public service digital transformation until his merger with Northern in 2024 where he advises the CEO on public service strategy. Paul sits on the advisory board on open source for Canada's CTO, is a former member of the Council of Canadian Innovators, and the former VP of Digital Alberta. Paul has been part of the Drupal community since 2011.

Paul Bellows is a 30-yr practitioner of digital transformation for public service organizations. Paul is the host of The 311 Podcast, a member of Canada's Digital Governance Council and a senior advisor to one of Canada's largest public service focus... Show more

Erin Mikail Staples

Erin Mikail Staples

Erin Mikail Staples is a very online individual passionate about facilitating better connections online and off. She’s forever thinking about how we can communicate, educate and elevate others through collaborative experiences.

Currently, Erin is a Senior Developer Community Advocate at Label Studio. At Label Studio — she empowers the open source community through education and advocacy efforts. Outside of her day job, Erin is a comedian, graduate technical advisor, content creator, triathlete, avid reader, and dog parent.

Most importantly, she believes in the power of being unabashedly "into things" and works to help friends, strangers, colleagues, community builders, students, and whoever else might cross her path find their thing.

Erin Mikail Staples is a very online individual passionate about facilitating better connections online and off. She’s forever thinking about how we can communicate, educate and elevate others through collaborative experiences. Currently, Erin is ... Show more

Ashleigh Pandora Montford

Ashleigh Pandora Montford

Ashleigh Pandora Montford is a dynamic entrepreneur, strategist, and Founder/CEO of The Opia Designs Company, specializing in business development, grant writing, and marketing. Super passionate about growth and community impact, she empowers individuals and organizations to scale their visions through strategic funding and innovative solutions.

Ashleigh Pandora Montford is a dynamic entrepreneur, strategist, and Founder/CEO of The Opia Designs Company, specializing in business development, grant writing, and marketing. Super passionate about growth and community impact, she empowers individ... Show more

Kolapo Imam

Kolapo Imam

Kolapo Imam is the Founder and Lead Facilitator at Prodcademy, an institute focused on raising the next generation of Product Leaders. He is a Product Manager with experience in building API products that power payments, virtual accounts, and funds transfer across Africa. His work focuses on developer experience, product strategy, and cross-functional delivery of scalable fintech infrastructure.

Prior to this, Kolapo served as a Product Marketing Manager at Nexford University, leading initiatives across product adoption, B2B positioning, and competitive intelligence. He has also worked in product and growth roles at PropertyPro Nigeria, Versus Africa, and through multiple consulting projects.

With a unique background spanning product marketing, technical product management, and tech sales, Kolapo brings a deep understanding of how to build and position business, enterprise and consumer products for growth. In 2022, he was nominated by HackerNoon for Product Management, Business Growth and Strategy.

Kolapo Imam is the Founder and Lead Facilitator at Prodcademy, an institute focused on raising the next generation of Product Leaders. He is a Product Manager with experience in building API products that power payments, virtual accounts, and funds t... Show more

Neha Leigh

Neha Leigh

Before I ever encountered Agile, I spent nearly a decade navigating the worlds of Project and Product Management, constantly problem-solving, managing competing priorities, and bumping up against the same frustrating patterns: legacy systems, outdated processes, and organizational cultures resistant to change. It often felt like great work was possible, but buried beneath layers of complexity and inertia.

Then, I discovered Agile, not just as a methodology but as a new way of seeing. Suddenly, what had felt immovable started to shift. Change no longer seemed like an abstract hope; it became accessible, actionable, and human. But that’s when the real work began.

Agile isn't just a set of practices; it's a language, mindset, and way of operating that challenges our deepest assumptions about control, predictability, and progress. Bringing that into organizations often felt like painting with watercolors on iron steel.

To cut through, I began creating visuals and frameworks that made complex concepts simple and abstract ideas tangible. This became a superpower: turning clarity into capability. That’s how The Agile Xpert was born. A platform dedicated to helping coaches and teams move beyond buzzwords to real, resonant transformation.

Today, I work as an enterprise agility coach and leadership consultant through my practice, Agile-Leigh, partnering with senior leaders, teams, and organizations ready to rethink what’s possible. Whether I’m coaching executives, facilitating change, or speaking on stage, I bring a deep curiosity, strategic insight, and a passion for making agility not only understood but lived.

My work focuses on:

Agile Coaching: Translating Agile into culture, behavior, and sustainable practice.

Systems Thinking: Helping organizations see the bigger picture and untangle complexity.

Agile Leadership: Supporting leaders in shifting mindsets, not just metrics.

Visual Facilitation: Using design and storytelling to spark insight and engagement.

Whether you're new to Agile or leading an enterprise-wide transformation, my mission is simple: to help you see clearly, think differently, and lead with confidence in a world of constant change.

Before I ever encountered Agile, I spent nearly a decade navigating the worlds of Project and Product Management, constantly problem-solving, managing competing priorities, and bumping up against the same frustrating patterns: legacy systems, outdate... Show more

Denette Dunn

Denette Dunn

Denette Dunn is a dedicated sustainability expert and public speaker with a wealth of experience in both public service and the private sector. She previously served as a vice mayor and currently represents the Pine District as a council member.

As a council member, Denette established the Pine Citizens Advisory Committee to address the specific concerns of her district. Since its inception, the committee has grown to include more than 100 members, demonstrating her ability to foster collaboration and strengthen community involvement in local governance.

Dunn’s professional experience spans both the private and public sectors. She worked as the Municipal Services Manager at Republic Services, overseeing municipal contracts valued at over $85 million across the southwest region. In addition to this role, she was a registered lobbyist, advocating for legislation promoting effective and sustainable partnerships between private companies and municipalities.

Her leadership extends to numerous boards and commissions, including the WESTMARC Board and the Peoria Planning and Zoning Commission. Denette also served as president and legislative liaison for the Arizona Recycling Coalition, where she contributed to advancing sustainable practices and policies throughout the state.

Before her work in public service, Denette held various marketing, sales, and management roles. From 2007 to 2011, she worked as the Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Hudson Baylor Corporation, overseeing material recovery operations and managing public relations efforts. She also worked closely with municipal and state officials to secure grants and sponsorships for various initiatives.

After her time at Hudson Baylor, Denette continued her career at Republic Services, managing contracts and contributing to legislative advocacy. Later, at Dickson Sweeping, she helped expand the company’s operations in Arizona and Nevada, working on projects such as compressed natural gas fuel stations.

Since 2019, Denette Dunn has served as a Peoria Council member, working to support the city’s growth and sustainability. She also supports charitable organizations, including Hart Pantry, West Valley Connect, and You Matter Too, an anti-bullying nonprofit.

Denette Dunn is a dedicated sustainability expert and public speaker with a wealth of experience in both public service and the private sector. She previously served as a vice mayor and currently represents the Pine District as a council member. A... Show more

Rona Lewis

Rona Lewis

Meet Rona! She's a whirlwind of vibrant energy and connection. With her engaging style, she brings a sense of joy to workplaces everywhere. As an expert in Purposeful and Attuned Play, Rona blends the core elements of leadership and engagement with the magic of play, transforming workplace dynamics and boosting personal satisfaction.

Rona's unique mix of corporate savvy and wellbeing wisdom, paired with her deep understanding of play and flow, allows her to translate complex ideas into relatable and enjoyable stories. Her sessions are dynamic, packed with practical tools to weave play into daily work life, fostering an environment where creativity and collaboration flourish.

In her role as coach and consultant, Rona has left a lasting mark on countless organizations. She's nurtured creative thinking, honed leadership skills, and deepened connections through enhanced communication. Her tailor-made programs are grounded in evidence-based practices, boosting team morale and connectivity while encouraging a fresh reimagining of workplace culture.

Rona has been featured in Shondaland, Nebraska Bride, Pierless Magazine, Town and Country, Corporate Wellness Magazine and seen and heard on TV and radio stations from San Diego and San Francisco to New York .

With the Playful Mind Project, Rona positions herself as a key partner for organizations ready to breathe new life into their corporate environments. Ready to make work fun again?

Meet Rona! She's a whirlwind of vibrant energy and connection. With her engaging style, she brings a sense of joy to workplaces everywhere. As an expert in Purposeful and Attuned Play, Rona blends the core elements of leadership and engagement with t... Show more

Sandi Johnson

Sandi Johnson

Sandi Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, transformational speaker, educator, and author dedicated to helping women heal, grow, and live life on purpose. With over a decade of experience as a professional school counselor and community therapist, Sandi blends clinical insight, faith, and real-world wisdom to empower others to rewrite their narratives and reclaim their peace.

Her passion for helping others is deeply rooted in her own journey of resilience. After facing seasons of personal loss, emotional struggle, and identity shifts, Sandi chose healing over hiding. She now uses her story as a testament that wholeness is possible—and that it’s never too late to begin again.

As a speaker, Sandi is known for her warmth, authenticity, and ability to create safe spaces for real conversations. She speaks on topics such as compassion fatigue, burnout, emotional resilience, solution-focused counseling, and the power of building authentic friendships in a disconnected world. Whether in a conference setting or an intimate retreat, she invites her audience into deeper connection—with themselves and with others.

Through her retreats, books, and speaking engagements, Sandi continues to inspire others to move from surviving to thriving with intention and purpose.

Sandi Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, transformational speaker, educator, and author dedicated to helping women heal, grow, and live life on purpose. With over a decade of experience as a professional school counselor and comm... Show more

Kenisha Coon

Kenisha Coon

Kenisha Coon is a nationally recognized DEI strategist, leadership consultant, and policy advocate with over 15 years of experience driving systemic change across corporate, tech, nonprofit, and government sectors. A PhD candidate in Evidence-Based Coaching and Leadership, she specializes in strategic DEIB planning, antiracism training, executive coaching, and policy advocacy, helping organizations implement sustainable, measurable change.

As the author of And Then She Persisted, Kenisha blends personal resilience with expert insights on breaking systemic barriers and fostering true equity. She has worked with national agencies, corporations, and policymakers to embed equity-driven frameworks into leadership development, workplace culture, and public policy.

A sought-after keynote speaker and panelist, Kenisha delivers transformative sessions on women’s leadership, workplace equity, antiracist parenting, and inclusive organizational change. She is passionate about empowering leaders, dismantling systemic inequities, and shaping policies that drive lasting impact. Whether working with executive teams, government officials, or grassroots movements, Kenisha brings bold leadership, deep expertise, and a commitment to driving equity-centered transformation.

Kenisha Coon is a nationally recognized DEI strategist, leadership consultant, and policy advocate with over 15 years of experience driving systemic change across corporate, tech, nonprofit, and government sectors. A PhD candidate in Evidence-Based C... Show more

Bettina Pfaendner

Bettina Pfaendner

As educational visionary and digital strategist Bettina designs curricula in Higher Education in Australia. Engagements at Swinburne University of Technology, the University of Melbourne and Macquarie University in Sydney were steppingstones in Bettina's career over the last 10 years. Combing her Executive TV Producer knowledge with the experience as educator in the Higher Education landscape Bettina also founded the Digital Dolphins, teaching digital storytelling for emerging leaders online with the digitaldolphins.com.au .Her research area is how to overcome #Technophabia in Academia, supporting lifelong learning for academics.

As educational visionary and digital strategist Bettina designs curricula in Higher Education in Australia. Engagements at Swinburne University of Technology, the University of Melbourne and Macquarie University in Sydney were steppingstones in Bett... Show more

Shubhangi Gupta

Shubhangi Gupta

Shubhangi is a Product and DevRel person who has built a mental health startup and leads a community of 27000+ techies.

She has been leading diversity initiatives in India since 2018 wherein she has empowered underrepresented groups through active mentorship. She leads Google Developer Groups Noida and Women Techmakers Delhi. She is a GitHub Campus Expert who was invited to attend GitHub Universe 2024. She has given 20+ talks including D&I talks at Google DevFest and MLH Hackcon.

She believes technology has the power to reach an equitable world, her communities focus on going Beyond The Binary. Google Developer Groups Noida is the first community to have an equitable diversity ratio in all meetups and events. She also works on inclusion of the queer community in technical spaces.
When she's not at a meetup, she leads support groups and photo walks around Delhi!

Shubhangi is a Product and DevRel person who has built a mental health startup and leads a community of 27000+ techies. She has been leading diversity initiatives in India since 2018 wherein she has empowered underrepresented groups through active... Show more

David Suson

David Suson

David studies the root causes or keystones for success and achievement in the areas of Leadership, Personal Performance, Sales and Communication. He studied over 3,000 top performers to find what the best performing employees do, what the best leaders do, what the best communicators do, and what the best salespeople do. And more importantly, he discovered the roadblocks that hold people back. His analytical skills come from his degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and his work at IBM, other tech companies, and working with clients in technology, banking, communications, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution and others. He is an expert in leadership, sales and personal development and brings his insights to you to create breakthrough solutions.

David presents over 140 times/year, has spoken to over 200,000 people in 49 states and internationally. He delivers engaging, inspiring and energetic presentations.

David studies the root causes or keystones for success and achievement in the areas of Leadership, Personal Performance, Sales and Communication. He studied over 3,000 top performers to find what the best performing employees do, what the best leade... Show more

Caitlin Drago

Caitlin Drago

The most impactful thing a speaker can do, is to facilitate an experience, and help participants to draw a correlation between the experience, what they learned and how they will apply it in their life. Because of this, each talk involves both interaction with the audience and personal reflection time.

In her interactive workshops and keynote addresses, Caitlin quickly quells the, “I could never do improv!” fear and makes accessible, the principles professional actors use, to be better communicators, teammates, and leaders.
Disarming and energetic, Caitlin opens up the most skeptical attendees, allowing them to learn through applying the Improv Approach, and even crack a smile along the way.

Caitlin Drago’s mission is to create cultures of empathy, creativity, and trust, beginning with how people communicate and connect.

She is an LA-based actor turned upstate NY-based certified leadership coach, trainer, facilitator, and author of Approaching Improv – Communication and Connection in Business and Beyond. Acting taught her to be present, self-aware, empathetic and to prioritize connection with others. Improv taught her to listen, trust her gut and deal with the unexpected in a positive and creative way. She currently works with leaders and teams to help them to listen to one another, communicate and connect, using improvisation as a platform for interactive learning.

Caitlin spent ten years studying improv at places like the nationally accredited Upright Citizen’s Brigade and has spent the last nine years working with leaders and their teams across industries, including, but not limited to higher education, hospitality, tech, marketing, healthcare and real estate. She’s been featured in Medium’s Authority Magazine, Rochester’s Democrat and Chronicle, a variety of podcasts and has spoken at various conferences, including the Talent Development Think Tank, the International TWA Conference, CNY SHRM, and DisruptHR Rochester.

Past clients include:
Gartner
Rochester Regional Health System
Starbucks
Fee Brothers

Testimonials:

“Caitlin's energy, enthusiasm, and sprinkling of humor eased the tensions in our group and the entire experience was packed with valuable team collaboration insights. We found ourselves using this technique the very same day we learned it.”

S.M. Digitronik Labs

“We focused on communication in a completely different way. Not a seminar-feel, but a fun, engaging way to demonstrate the importance of being open and positive. I stepped
outside my comfort zone. As an introvert, the idea of improv was horrifying. But it was fun!”

J.G., VWR

"Caitlin did an excellent job facilitating a workshop for my team. From the time we first met to preparation and the actual workshop, she was helpful and engaging and was highly focused on ensuring my workshop went the way I had envisioned. My team had excellent feedback afterwards and I can say it had an immediate positive impact on how my team interacted and felt about communication."

I.G., Gartner

The most impactful thing a speaker can do, is to facilitate an experience, and help participants to draw a correlation between the experience, what they learned and how they will apply it in their life. Because of this, each talk involves both intera... Show more

Rafael Riva Finatti

Rafael Riva Finatti

Pai da Cecília e do Inácio, esposo da Ana Lúcia, membro da Comunidade de Vida Cristã (CVX), curitibano e sofredor do Coritiba. Desde a pandemia, optou por morar na zona rural de Piraquara (Região Metropolitana da capital paranaense), onde cria galinhas, joga bola com os filhos, colhe amoras, figos e Physalis e está cavando (bem aos poucos!) um pequeno lago para os futuros gansos da família. Jornalista e economista, sempre trabalhou em organizações com forte impacto social. Atualmente, é responsável por ajudar o Grupo Marista, uma instituição de mais de 7 mil colaboradores e com uma história bicentenária, em sua estratégia ESG, articulando iniciativas transversais e proprietárias das Frentes de Missão (unidades de negócio) PUCPR, Saúde, FTD Educação e Centro Marista de Defesa da Infância; e monitorando indicadores e avaliando a evolução da maturidade - sempre procurando nutrir uma mentalidade ágil, com foco nas pessoas, na entrega de valor e na melhoria contínua.

Pai da Cecília e do Inácio, esposo da Ana Lúcia, membro da Comunidade de Vida Cristã (CVX), curitibano e sofredor do Coritiba. Desde a pandemia, optou por morar na zona rural de Piraquara (Região Metropolitana da capital paranaense), onde cria galinh... Show more

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