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

Tabbi Kinion

Tabbi Kinion

Tabbi Kinion transforms overwhelmed, newly minted managers into confident leaders through interactive leadership development training and coaching. Drawing from over two decades of hands-on leadership experience, she delivers practical experiences that unlock potential through powerful conversations and exercises rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Tabbi serves as faculty for the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium's Certified Public Manager program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a National Faculty Member for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Management Assistance Team, helping leaders across sectors create cohesive, high-impact teams without burning out.

Before launching her training and coaching practice in 2024, Tabbi served as Education Division Chief for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission from 2018-2023, leading 80+ staff across multiple facilities and programs, following 13 years as Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Statewide Education Coordinator. Her approach combines real-world leadership expertise with academic excellence, including her Certified Public Manager certification, a Master's of Arts in Biology from Miami University, and a Bachelor's in Natural Resources Management from Colorado State University.

Tabbi Kinion transforms overwhelmed, newly minted managers into confident leaders through interactive leadership development training and coaching. Drawing from over two decades of hands-on leadership experience, she delivers practical experiences th... Show more

Fabio Cruz

Fabio Cruz

Com mais de 32 anos de experiência profissional, atuando como developer, analista de negócio e gerente de produtos no início do e-commerce no Brasil, gerente de projetos, membro e gestor de PMO, PO, SM e AC.
Um dos principais responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento e evolução da primeira solução de e-gov para Compras Públicas do Brasil em 1999.
Atualmente é Sócio, Head de Projetos, Produto e Transformação na Hiflex Group, tendo atuado como agente de mudança implementando agilidade, PMO e VMOs, além de apoiar transformações organizacionais com o uso de abordagens híbridas, ágeis e enxutas de gestão.
Palestrante com mais de 200 palestras nos últimos anos em eventos nacionais e internacionais, autor de 9 livros com mais de 10k exemplares vendidos, incluindo 3 Best-Seller, dentre eles: Scrum e PMBOK unidos no gerenciamento de projetos, Scrum e Agile em Projetos – Guia Completo, PMO Ágil – Escritório Ágil de Gerenciamento de Projetos, Jornada OKR na prática, e Business Agility Inception, e o mais recente Do PMO ao VMO 2.0 - Para de começar projetos e comece a entregar valor.

Com mais de 32 anos de experiência profissional, atuando como developer, analista de negócio e gerente de produtos no início do e-commerce no Brasil, gerente de projetos, membro e gestor de PMO, PO, SM e AC. Um dos principais responsáveis pelo dese... Show more

Abena Camara

Abena Camara

Safiyatou “Abena” Camara

Executive Director & President, WONTANARA Inc
Co-Founder • Cultural Arts Master • Business Consultant • Youth Development Specialist

Abena Camara is a business consultant, cultural arts leader, and third-generation cultural bearer with nearly a decade of experience helping creatives and community-driven organizations build sustainable, funded work. She serves as Executive Director and President of WONTANARA Inc, where she leads arts education, community programming, and organizational strategy rooted in West African cultural traditions.

Immersed in cultural arts since age three, Abena brings over 20 years of professional artistry, 15 years of intensive West African cultural training, and deep lineage-based knowledge passed down through master teachers, historians, griots, and elders. Her grandfather founded the first performing company in Guinea, West Africa, and helped introduce West African master artists to the United States—a legacy Abena continues through WONTANARA’s programs and global partnerships. Her multidisciplinary training spans West African dance, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and music composition and production, allowing her to bridge tradition and innovation with integrity.

Alongside her artistic leadership, Abena brings strong business and funding expertise. While pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Georgia State University, she served as an executive intern for a popular men’s grooming company, helping generate $1.1 million in revenue within its first year. That experience launched her career as a consultant, where she has spent nearly nine years advising organizations on operations, funding strategy, and growth.

Through WONTANARA Inc and her consulting work, Abena has secured over $200,000 in grants and sponsorships, including support for WONTANARA Percussions, the world’s first Black-owned instrument factory based in Africa. She has also led the development of WONTANARA Festival, securing city-wide sponsorship and building a thriving cultural platform. Her consulting practice maintains a 92% client retention rate, and she has helped more than 10 clients secure government funding within their first year of business.

Abena’s work sits at the intersection of creativity, community, and capital. She is passionate about demystifying funding systems and empowering creatives and community leaders to move from passion projects to sustainable, paid impact—without compromising their values.

Safiyatou “Abena” Camara Executive Director & President, WONTANARA Inc Co-Founder • Cultural Arts Master • Business Consultant • Youth Development Specialist Abena Camara is a business consultant, cultural arts leader, and third-generation cul... Show more

Becky Pike Pluth

Becky Pike Pluth

Becky Pike Pluth is the CEO of The Bob Pike Group, where she has spent more than 20 years immersed in Creative Training Techniques, the participant-centered methodology built on how the brain actually learns. She has helped organizations including Target, Bose, Coca-Cola, FedEx, and Wells Fargo achieve real cost savings and training efficiencies, and she moves easily between classroom, virtual, and blended e-learning.
Named to Training Magazine's Top 40 Under 40, Becky is also one of fewer than 600 speakers worldwide to earn the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. She is the author of numerous professional development books and training resources, including Creative Training: A Train-the-Trainer Field Guide and Webinars with WOW Factor.cc

Becky Pike Pluth is the CEO of The Bob Pike Group, where she has spent more than 20 years immersed in Creative Training Techniques, the participant-centered methodology built on how the brain actually learns. She has helped organizations including Ta... Show more

Brian Jaffe

Brian Jaffe

Mi nombre es Brian y fundé WeCode (wecode.edu.uy) en 2020. Reinventamos la educación haciéndola divertida, actual y enfocada en las habilidades del futuro. Enseñamos programación, robótica y ahora también: IA. Dirijo un equipo de 45 personas, con las que cada año impactamos 2500 niños y niñas, en nuestras sucursales, en 20 colegios aliados y junto a Ceibal.

Mi nombre es Brian y fundé WeCode (wecode.edu.uy) en 2020. Reinventamos la educación haciéndola divertida, actual y enfocada en las habilidades del futuro. Enseñamos programación, robótica y ahora también: IA. Dirijo un equipo de 45 personas, con las... Show more

Giselle Sandy-Phillips

Giselle Sandy-Phillips

Giselle Sandy-Phillips is a Leadership and Workforce Communication Strategist, education doctoral scholar, award-winning author, and speaker who helps leaders navigate what technology alone cannot solve: the human side of change.

Her perspective was shaped long before the boardroom. From military leadership to managing complex government initiatives involving competing priorities and diverse stakeholders, Giselle learned that even the best strategies fail when people don't understand one another. Over the last two decades, she has helped leaders turn complexity into clarity by building trust, strengthening communication, and bringing people with them through transformation.

As the founder of World of Consulting LLC, Giselle equips leaders with practical tools to lead across generational differences, evolving technologies, and shifting workplace realities. Her work is rooted in a question that has never been more relevant to education: How do we prepare people, not just systems, for an AI-enabled future?

As a doctoral scholar in educational leadership and the award-winning author of Thriving in the Modern Workplace: A Gen Z Guide to Success, Giselle bridges research and real-world practice to help audiences move from uncertainty to action. Known for her engaging storytelling, interactive approach, and immediately applicable strategies, she challenges leaders to rethink communication not as a soft skill, but as the leadership practice that determines whether trust is built, change takes hold, and innovation succeeds.

Giselle believes the future of education will not be determined by the technology we adopt. It will be determined by our ability to help people adapt, connect, and move forward together.

Giselle Sandy-Phillips is a Leadership and Workforce Communication Strategist, education doctoral scholar, award-winning author, and speaker who helps leaders navigate what technology alone cannot solve: the human side of change. Her perspective w... Show more

Dr. Calynn Lawrence

Dr. Calynn Lawrence

Dr. Calynn Lawrence is a Chicago-based CEO, Founder, Social Scientist, and Trauma Specialist who advances equitable change by integrating trauma-informed, holistic wellness principles with corporate and civic leadership strategy. Across organizations and community systems, she helps leaders move from reactive culture to proactive, human-centered practices that support resilience, belonging, and long-term wellbeing.

In her work, Dr. Lawrence translates social science insight into actionable, values-driven leadership frameworks that strengthen decision-making, collaboration, and organizational effectiveness. She partners with executives, public sector leaders, and mission-driven teams to design programs and policies that reduce harm, improve relational trust, and create measurable pathways toward a more progressive, equitable world.

Dr. Calynn Lawrence is a Chicago-based CEO, Founder, Social Scientist, and Trauma Specialist who advances equitable change by integrating trauma-informed, holistic wellness principles with corporate and civic leadership strategy. Across organizations... Show more

Maya Moussly

Maya Moussly

Maya Moussly is a marketing and brand strategist and part-time university lecturer working at the intersection of industry and academia. She began her career in advertising, contributing to the development of many of Dubai's established brands as well as regional and international clients across MENA. For the past 18 years she has lectured across undergraduate and Executive MBA programmes at universities across MENA, reaching more than 3,200 students. Her pedagogical philosophy is straightforward: the educator is a guide on the side of the learner's journey. In a world where knowledge is increasingly free, the learning happens in the application. From flipped learning to problem-solving challenges to using technology to elevate higher order thinking, every session is interactive, engaging, and designed to make students think harder, not less.
How you use what you know is where learning is truly tested. That is where her sessions always go.
Think differently. Act clearly.

Maya Moussly is a marketing and brand strategist and part-time university lecturer working at the intersection of industry and academia. She began her career in advertising, contributing to the development of many of Dubai's established brands as wel... Show more

Akihiko Morita

Akihiko Morita

Akihiko Morita was a keynote speaker at the EMCC Global Annual Conference 2026, presenting “If AI Can Ask the Questions, What Is the Human Practitioner For?”, and a presenter at ICF Converge 2025 with “Beyond the Human Coach: AI, Wisdom Traditions, and the Future of Coaching.” He has also published two articles in the European Business Review.

He explores the impact of AI on how we work, live, and think, drawing on both Eastern and Western philosophies to provide thought-provoking insights and help leaders navigate an age of civilizational transformation.

As an ICF-certified Professional Coach (PCC), he has delivered over 3,000 coaching sessions in Japanese and English, supporting leaders and changemakers across global organizations.

As a former Board Director of the ICF Thought Leadership Institute (TLI) of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), he contributed to international conversations on coaching, generative AI, leadership, and the future of humanity.

With a Ph.D. in Social Thought and professional experience as a diplomat, UN official, NGO director, and executive coach, he brings an interdisciplinary and global perspective to the challenges of human transformation in a rapidly changing world.

Akihiko Morita was a keynote speaker at the EMCC Global Annual Conference 2026, presenting “If AI Can Ask the Questions, What Is the Human Practitioner For?”, and a presenter at ICF Converge 2025 with “Beyond the Human Coach: AI, Wisdom Traditions, a... Show more

Phil Almeroth

Phil Almeroth

Phil leads Business Transformation and guides teams through delivery excellence for Logisolve (a V-Soft Consulting Company), a national consulting firm with a wide variety of practice areas, including Public Sector. He has broad and deep experience in Product, Program, Project, and IT Management and Delivery across Financial Services, Banking, Manufacturing, Public Sector, Agriculture, Retail, and Media for 40+ years. He also mentors business leaders and MBA and undergraduate students in their personal and professional growth.

Phil leads Business Transformation and guides teams through delivery excellence for Logisolve (a V-Soft Consulting Company), a national consulting firm with a wide variety of practice areas, including Public Sector. He has broad and deep experience i... Show more

Dan Tudor

Dan Tudor

Dan Tudor is the Founder and President of Tudor Collegiate Strategies (TCS), a nationally respected athletic recruiting advisory firm that specializes in training college admissions and coaching staffs to communicate and recruit their prospects more effectively. Since 2005, Tudor has been called “America’s recruiting coordinator” thanks to his company’s cutting-edge strategies, research and advice to the college coaching community.

TCS publishes the popular Monday Morning Admissions newsletter and podcast, as well as the College Recruiting Weekly newsletter and podcast the country every week, boasting over 50,000 readers and listeners. Dan and his team speak regularly at college coach and admissions conventions around the country.

Dan Tudor is based in North Carolina, and can be reached by email at dan@dantudor.com.

Dan Tudor is the Founder and President of Tudor Collegiate Strategies (TCS), a nationally respected athletic recruiting advisory firm that specializes in training college admissions and coaching staffs to communicate and recruit their prospects more ... Show more

Shanell Guardo

Shanell Guardo

Shanell Guardo is a Principal TPM Manager at Microsoft, where she leads initiatives focused on AI enablement, platform reliability, and operational transformation across Azure engineering systems. Her work spans engineering leadership, cloud transformation, developer productivity, and scalable technology delivery in highly complex environments.

Prior to Microsoft, Shanell served as an officer in the United States Air Force, leading operational and technology teams supporting mission-critical healthcare and infrastructure systems. Her career has centered on solving complex problems, leading through ambiguity, and building systems that improve both operational outcomes and user experience.

Shanell is also the Founder and Managing Principal of KinTech LLC and founder of KinTrades, a workforce technology platform focused on expanding access to skilled trades careers through skills-first hiring, workforce innovation, and community partnerships.

She frequently speaks on AI adoption, engineering transformation, leadership, workforce innovation, and navigating career growth across technical and nontraditional paths. Shanell is passionate about helping organizations and individuals embrace change, lead with purpose, and create meaningful impact through technology.

Shanell Guardo is a Principal TPM Manager at Microsoft, where she leads initiatives focused on AI enablement, platform reliability, and operational transformation across Azure engineering systems. Her work spans engineering leadership, cloud transfor... Show more

Hari Vamsi Krishna Nukala

Hari Vamsi Krishna Nukala

Hari Vamsi Krishna is a wastewater infrastructure analytics specialist focused on GIS, spatial-temporal analytics, and data-driven decision-making for municipal infrastructure systems. His work combines geospatial intelligence, condition assessment analytics, enterprise data management, and business intelligence to support infrastructure planning, rehabilitation prioritization, and operational performance improvement. He has experience developing analytical frameworks, dashboards, and digital workflows using GIS, Power BI, Python, and enterprise geodatabases. His research and speaking interests include infrastructure intelligence, predictive analytics, sewer rehabilitation planning, and digital transformation in utility asset management.

Hari Vamsi Krishna is a wastewater infrastructure analytics specialist focused on GIS, spatial-temporal analytics, and data-driven decision-making for municipal infrastructure systems. His work combines geospatial intelligence, condition assessment a... Show more

Khrystyna Kurganska

Khrystyna Kurganska

Khrystyna Kurganska is an entrepreneur, founder, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of business, social impact, psychology, sensory experience, and human recovery.
For more than 15 years, she has built businesses in perfumery, aroma marketing, and multisensory brand experience. Her professional background explores how scent, memory, environment, and emotion shape the way people feel, behave, connect, and recover.
Since 2022, she has led DOLADU, an NGO supporting psychological rehabilitation, psychosocial recovery, and reintegration for military personnel, veterans, their families, and people affected by war in Ukraine.

Khrystyna Kurganska is an entrepreneur, founder, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of business, social impact, psychology, sensory experience, and human recovery. For more than 15 years, she has built businesses in perfumery, ar... Show more

Juan García

Juan García

Diplomado en Ciencias Empresariales y Licenciado en Investigación y Técnicas de Mercado por la Uva. Formador ocupacional acreditado por la Junta de Castilla y León.

12 años de experiencia en el área económico-financiera en empresas de diversos sectores.

Más de 4.000 horas de formación presencial impartidas para empresas y organizaciones como CVE, UPTA, AEMTA, CEOE.

Administración de plataformas de elearning, generación de contenidos y tutorización de cursos online para entidades como Ernest & Young, Radio Televisión Española o la productora, Globomedia, con más de 2.000 horas acreditadas.

Varias participaciones en eventos, cursos y actividades desarrolladas como presentador, conferenciante, organizador y/o dinamizador de actos diversos, entre otros:

- Global Power Platform Bootcamp Valladolid
- PechaKucha Night Valladolid vol.13
- Trainers for the Future ed. 2018. Superpoderes para generar contenidos
- Trainers for the Future ed. 2017. Educación Maker
- InnoBAR EDU Valladolid. Encuentro alternativo de innovación educativa
- InnoBAR EDU Palencia. Encuentro alternativo de innovación educativa
- #Emprendizate. De la idea al negocio. Cámara de Comercio de Ávila

Instructor para el perfeccionamiento y actualización del profesorado de Formación Profesional en el Centro de Formación e Innovación Educativa (CFIE) de la Junta de Castilla de León en “Empresa e iniciativa emprendedora” y "Creatividad y emprendimiento"

Instructor de los espacios CyL Digital para facilitar a PYMES y autónomos su presencia activa en el mundo digital a través de redes sociales: #EstoyenInternet

Diseño y dinamización de Living Lab

Organizador #InnoBAR Valladolid (www.innobar.net)

Lema: No hay preguntas tontas, sólo tont@s que no preguntan

Diplomado en Ciencias Empresariales y Licenciado en Investigación y Técnicas de Mercado por la Uva. Formador ocupacional acreditado por la Junta de Castilla y León. 12 años de experiencia en el área económico-financiera en empresas de diversos sec... Show more

Daniel Lestón

Daniel Lestón

Daniel F. Leston is an engineer, policy expert, and author working at the intersection of technology, sovereignty, and development across Europe and Africa. An IBM alumni and former advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Science , he has spent two decades leading digital and energy transformation initiatives. Founder of Gurumbe Capital, he focuses on decentralized infrastructure and open-source models as tools for true strategic autonomy. He is based in Nairobi.

Daniel F. Leston is an engineer, policy expert, and author working at the intersection of technology, sovereignty, and development across Europe and Africa. An IBM alumni and former advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Science , he has spent two decade... Show more

Sofia Maiolo

Sofia Maiolo

I'm a Computer Engineer and MSc in Computer Science with over 13 years at the intersection of technology, innovation, and people empowerment. From technical support to executive leadership, I've built a 360° perspective on how technology creates meaningful impact in business, education, and society.

I currently lead the R&D&I team at Ceibal, Uruguay's national center for educational innovation, driving research and diversity-driven innovation in public education, with AI at the core. Previously as CCO at WorkWithPlus, I led commercial strategies across 35+ countries.

A Cultural Awareness certification from MIT and ongoing Innovation Management studies allow me to navigate both the strategic and technical dimensions of innovation with equal confidence.

As a Santander W50 Leader and Google Women Techmakers Ambassador, I am committed to multicultural leadership and gender equity in STEAM, and a frequent speaker on technology, inclusive leadership, and the power of diverse teams.

I'm a Computer Engineer and MSc in Computer Science with over 13 years at the intersection of technology, innovation, and people empowerment. From technical support to executive leadership, I've built a 360° perspective on how technology creates mean... Show more

Merlin Pahic

Merlin Pahic

Staff Software Engineer at EIDU, a social enterprise dedicated to improving learning outcomes for children in low-resource settings worldwide. Experienced in full-stack development, including on the Android platform. As an engineer, I'm passionate about functional programming, static typing and property-based testing. As a human, I am dedicated to improving learning outcomes and opportunities for children all around the world.

Staff Software Engineer at EIDU, a social enterprise dedicated to improving learning outcomes for children in low-resource settings worldwide. Experienced in full-stack development, including on the Android platform. As an engineer, I'm passionate ab... Show more

Mfon Etukudo

Mfon Etukudo

Dr. Mfon is a multifaceted organizational leader and advocate who champions agility in all spaces. With extensive expertise spanning project management, adaptive leadership, and consulting, she bridges the gap between effective project execution and profound human impact. Through diverse roles and business ventures, she deeply understands what it takes to build resilient teams that can deliver continuous value in dynamic environments.
At the core of Dr. Mfon’s work is a commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders. Her true passion lies in applying real-world agility to societal challenges. She is an accomplished author of youth literature and the founder of EmpowerKidz.org, a non-profit dedicated to social-emotional learning and early mental health skill-building for adolescents.
Actively aligning her community initiatives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Mfon brings a uniquely human-centric approach to leadership, inspiring agile practitioners to drive meaningful change both within their organizations and across the globe. Dr. Mfon inspires teams and agilists alike to drive measurable community impact alongside continuous business value.

Dr. Mfon is a multifaceted organizational leader and advocate who champions agility in all spaces. With extensive expertise spanning project management, adaptive leadership, and consulting, she bridges the gap between effective project execution and ... Show more

Sven Seiler

Sven Seiler

Dr. Sven Seiler leads Storm Reply GmbH (Reply Group) as Managing Director, focusing on cloud software development and strategic consulting. With deep expertise in cloud computing, IoT, and mobility technologies, he directs teams handling software development, cloud migrations, and AWS-based consulting.

His current focus extends across three connected fields: Agentic AI — designing autonomous, multi-agent systems for production environments; Agentic Engineering — the structured, verifiable approach that pairs AI coding agents with specifications, guardrails, and architectural control; and Digital Sovereignty — strategic cloud architectures for regulated industries, including hands-on work with the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.

Beyond his company role, he founded and organizes the AWS User Groups Dortmund (since 2016) and Düsseldorf (since 2022), and founded the Agentic Shift Community in Dortmund (2025). He co-organizes the AWS Community Day DACH and regularly participates in hackathons.

He advocates for integrating cloud computing and AI engineering into academic education, supervises academic research, and co-organizes a "Cloud School" with Bochum University of Applied Sciences to develop future cloud and AI experts. He publishes regularly on Agentic AI, Agentic Engineering, and digital sovereignty at seiler.it.

Dr. Sven Seiler leads Storm Reply GmbH (Reply Group) as Managing Director, focusing on cloud software development and strategic consulting. With deep expertise in cloud computing, IoT, and mobility technologies, he directs teams handling software dev... Show more

Noemi Nagy

Noemi Nagy

Dr. Noémi Nagy is an Assistant Professor of Career & Technical/Workforce Education at the University of South Florida and Affiliate Faculty at the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship. Her research focuses on workforce development, and the psychology of sustainable careers in rapidly changing industries such as technology and cybersecurity. Her research is international and cross-disciplinary and she works with researchers from Switzerland, Germany, Singapore, UK, the U.S. and Australia.
She’s the author of the internationally recognized Career Resources Model, featured in the London School of Economics Business Review, which breaks down the 13 trainable factors that make or break a successful career. Her research goes way beyond theory: it covers how people actually find jobs (job search behavior, published in PNAS), how they shape their roles to fit their strengths (job crafting), and how they can take charge of their careers instead of waiting for luck or management to do it for them.
Altogether, Dr. Nagy’s research has been cited over 800 times around the world and has earned multiple international awards for its real-world impact. She takes what works in Switzerland’s high-trust, precision-driven innovation scene and brings it to Tampa Bay’s fast-growing tech and cybersecurity community, helping professionals and teams build the mindset, motivation, and structure to grow stronger, stay relevant, and perform at their best.
Dr. Nagy is also an active contributor to the local tech community: she won first place at the Tampa Bay Developers Hackathon in 2022 (Best Architecture & Best Visual Design) and hosted the Tampa Devs Career Forum at USF’s College of Education in 2023, where she teaches her model to students, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

Dr. Noémi Nagy is an Assistant Professor of Career & Technical/Workforce Education at the University of South Florida and Affiliate Faculty at the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship. Her research focuses on workforce development, and the psychology of... Show more

Jonathan Wroble

Jonathan Wroble

In 2024, I co-founded Get A Financial Life NYC, the first money curriculum specifically designed for the 700,000 students in the NYC public school system. We're now working with 50 city schools to deliver lessons on topics from budgeting to work to investing. And through creative collaboration with individual schools, districts, and key leaders in the NYC Department of Education, we've delivered stipends to students, teachers, and community members.

Along the way, I've learned and observed a ton about how kids interact with money. The fact that they don't see physical cash, and what this means for awareness of their spending; the fact that gambling is often equated with investing; the fact that convenience reigns supreme, even when it runs counter to best financial practices. As one high school junior put it: "When it comes to money, all I have is Cash App and my pocket.” I love discussing topics such as:
- Are young girls or young boys better with money, and is social media to blame?
- What is the actual cost of convenience, and is it worth it?
- What's really behind the rise of youth gambling, prediction markets, the creator economy, and crypto?

At the same time, I've become aware of the growing need for AI/digital literacy. I explore questions in my writing related to tech and society, such as:
- What does it means when your "escape" starts taking up more time than the thing—i.e., real life—that you're escaping from?
- What are the impacts of how technology enables and even fuels rampant misinformation, from white lies (like men lying about their height on dating apps) to the Big Lie?
- What role should AI play in the classroom, if any?

In 2024, I co-founded Get A Financial Life NYC, the first money curriculum specifically designed for the 700,000 students in the NYC public school system. We're now working with 50 city schools to deliver lessons on topics from budgeting to work to i... Show more

Valeria Burdi

Valeria Burdi

✨ Chi sono in poche righe (ma piene di senso)

Docente d’inglese in una vita precedente (ma siamo sicuri???), con la testa tra le nuvole e i piedi ben piantati nelle Roadmap, oggi sono una Scrum Master che ama sperimentare, innovare e prendersi cura delle persone nei momenti di cambiamento.

La mia bussola? L’agilità come mindset, la visione di prodotto al posto della logica di progetto, e una fiducia incrollabile nel potere della giocosità come leva di trasformazione.

Amo tutto ciò che è didattica innovativa, inclusione, collaborazione e quel meraviglioso caos creativo che si accende quando i team trovano il proprio ritmo.

Mi definiscono sognatrice, io dico che sono semplicemente un’eterna bambina con la passione per le retrospettive ben fatte, le user story ben scritte, e i momenti in cui si ride insieme tra un daily e una review.

Non porto soluzioni, porto domande che aprono strade.

✨ Chi sono in poche righe (ma piene di senso) Docente d’inglese in una vita precedente (ma siamo sicuri???), con la testa tra le nuvole e i piedi ben piantati nelle Roadmap, oggi sono una Scrum Master che ama sperimentare, innovare e prendersi cur... Show more

Kurtis Minder

Kurtis Minder

Kurtis’ book, “Cyber Recon: My Life in Cyber Espionage and Ransomware Negotiation” (Wiley, 2025), is an exposé of the private cyber espionage industry and the economic impact of cyberattacks on the US economy.

Kurtis Minder is the founder of GroupSense, a leading provider of digital risk solutions. He built a robust cyber reconnaissance operation that protects some of the world’s largest enterprises and government organizations. Having exited GroupSense in 2025, he now consults for cybersecurity technology companies and serves as a cyber board advisor.

Kurtis is a recognized expert in ransomware response, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest ransomware, breach, and data extortion cases globally. His experiences and insights are captured in his book, Cyber Recon, which explores the high-stakes world of cyber threat actor engagement and ransomware response.

He holds a FEMA certification in Critical Infrastructure Protection and actively contributes to public good projects. He is the program lead for RAPIDS, a regional initiative based in Grand Junction, Colorado, focused on measuring and managing the health of the Colorado River through innovative technology and data collaboration.

Kurtis is consistently tapped to lead discussions and keynotes for enterprises and organizations like Wired, the New York Independent Bankers Association, The International Bar Association. Trellix, The State of California, The State of Pennsylvania, RSA Conference, DEFCON, and many others.

Kurtis’s work has been featured in major media outlets, including The New Yorker, Fortune, VICE, WIRED, CNN, and Good Morning America, among others.

Kurtis’ book, “Cyber Recon: My Life in Cyber Espionage and Ransomware Negotiation” (Wiley, 2025), is an exposé of the private cyber espionage industry and the economic impact of cyberattacks on the US economy. Kurtis Minder is the founder of Group... Show more

Mister Brown

Mister Brown

Mister Brown helps students make better choices so they can live better lives — and equips parents and educators to intentionally build cultures where respect, responsibility, and connection flourish.
With over 30 years of experience in schools and youth development, he teaches that culture is not created by rules alone, but by relationships, consistency, and daily choices. His message challenges communities to move beyond managing behavior and toward building environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.
His impact has reached millions of elementary, junior high, and high school students — as well as the adults who support them — through school partnerships, classroom video curriculum, and widely viewed YouTube content for students, parents, and educators around the world. In addition, Mister Brown has developed practical resources and professional development experiences that help teachers strengthen classroom culture, help parents reinforce positive habits at home, and help entire school communities grow more connected and aligned.

Mister Brown helps students make better choices so they can live better lives — and equips parents and educators to intentionally build cultures where respect, responsibility, and connection flourish. With over 30 years of experience in schools and ... Show more

William Smith

William Smith

William A. “Bill” Smith is a playwright, theatre maker, author, and founder of Upstart Raven, LLC. A retired attorney, Navy veteran, and alumnus of The University of Houston and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Bill brings more than four decades of experience in writing, acting, directing, producing, law, and building practical resources for theatre educators.

He is the creator of The Drama Desk and author of The Drama Teacher’s Desk, a practical method for helping drama teachers manage the full life of a school theatre program: productions, students, auditions, calendars, permissions, budgets, safety notes, parent communication, student leadership, archives, and program continuity.

Bill’s central message is simple: school theatre teachers are not “just directing a show.” They are running a living educational program, often with professional-level responsibilities but school-level time, budget, staffing, and support. His sessions help theatre educators move critical work out of one exhausted adult’s head and into shared, repeatable practices that protect the art, the students, and the teacher.

Bill’s play Lox and Loaded was named Overall Winner of the 2023 International Playwriting Competition in Carlow, Ireland. His work blends practical theatre experience, clear organizational thinking, and a deep respect for the strange, funny, human work that happens behind the curtain.

William A. “Bill” Smith is a playwright, theatre maker, author, and founder of Upstart Raven, LLC. A retired attorney, Navy veteran, and alumnus of The University of Houston and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Bill brings more than four decade... Show more

Dr. Tori Reddy Dodla

Dr. Tori Reddy Dodla

Dr. Tori Reddy Dodla is a technology executive, author, Army veteran, and motivational speaker focused on leadership, digital transformation, and the future of AI. With more than 15 years of experience leading enterprise modernization initiatives across government and healthcare, she has helped organizations navigate complex technology challenges while keeping people at the center of innovation. She has served in senior federal leadership roles, including Chief of Digital Services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and has presented on AI, cybersecurity, Microsoft technologies, and digital leadership to audiences across government and industry. Dr. Dodla is now the founder and CEO of Dodla Digital. Known for her honest and motivating speaking style, Dr. Dodla speaks to students, professionals, veterans, and career changers about confidence, resilience, leadership, and building meaningful careers in technology.

Dr. Tori Reddy Dodla is a technology executive, author, Army veteran, and motivational speaker focused on leadership, digital transformation, and the future of AI. With more than 15 years of experience leading enterprise modernization initiatives acr... Show more

Senuk Dias

Senuk Dias

Cybersecurity Researcher | Co-Founder @ ZenAegis | Gold Startup Scout @ Microsoft for Startups | Gold Microsoft Student Ambassador | EHNS UG @ Coventry, UK | President MLSC NIBM | Secretary of IEEE-NIBM (24-25)

Cybersecurity Researcher | Co-Founder @ ZenAegis | Gold Startup Scout @ Microsoft for Startups | Gold Microsoft Student Ambassador | EHNS UG @ Coventry, UK | President MLSC NIBM | Secretary of IEEE-NIBM (24-25) Show more

Dr. Fabiola Riobé, MBA

Dr. Fabiola Riobé, MBA

Dr. Fabiola Riobé is the CEO and Founder of Satis Sum Consulting, where she works with leaders and organizations navigating complexity, conflict, and change. She serves as faculty at Rockhurst University, teaching conflict management and negotiation, and brings extensive experience advising leaders across education, nonprofit, and mission-driven organizations. Known for reframing “people problems” as leadership and design challenges, Dr. Riobé helps technical and executive leaders build trust, navigate high-stakes disagreement, and lead effectively in complex systems.

Dr. Fabiola Riobé is the CEO and Founder of Satis Sum Consulting, where she works with leaders and organizations navigating complexity, conflict, and change. She serves as faculty at Rockhurst University, teaching conflict management and negotiation,... Show more

Angie Dortch

Angie Dortch

Angie is a multidisciplinary educator, director, and wellness innovator whose work brings together neuroscience, awareness, and the performing arts through Learning HOW to Age™. This curriculum-based program integrates research on brain health with experiential practices from acting, voice, and movement, offering engaging, skill-based approaches to lifelong vitality and presence.

She serves as administrator for the Expressive Avenues Wellness YouTube channel, where she shares lessons designed to support active, independent aging. Angie holds an MFA from the University of Louisville and brings decades of experience in education, performing, directing, and media production. Angie leads experiential breakout sessions at aging conferences like the National Council on Aging, sharing results from a two-year implementation of Learning HOW to Age™ with independent living adults averaging 81 years old. She will present “Learning HOW to Age™: An Experiential, Intergenerational Program—Skills for Every Generation” for the first time at the Mid-Atlantic Intergenerational Conference, expanding the curriculum into an actionable intergenerational model across the lifespan.

A survivor of a catastrophic car accident, Angie chronicles her journey through coma and back into consciousness in her memoir Emerging: From Coma to Presence. With honesty, humor, and candor, she reflects on what she encountered in that liminal space and later with a numinous bearded iris—offering a deeply human perspective on resilience, awareness, and what it means to truly be present.

Angie is a multidisciplinary educator, director, and wellness innovator whose work brings together neuroscience, awareness, and the performing arts through Learning HOW to Age™. This curriculum-based program integrates research on brain health with e... Show more

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