From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest: Turning Pain Into Purpose and Adversity Into Success

Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown is a dynamic motivational speaker, mental health leader, accomplished entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC, a nationally accredited mental health services organization based in North Carolina.

Her extraordinary journey from poverty, single motherhood, and humble beginnings on a dirt road to becoming a successful business owner, author, and real estate investor is a powerful example of resilience, faith, determination, and personal transformation.

With more than 14 years of leadership in the mental health industry, Dr. Brown has dedicated her career to helping individuals overcome emotional challenges, identify barriers to success, establish meaningful goals, and restore their lives. Under her leadership, Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC has maintained national accreditation since 2013, providing services that promote mental wellness, recovery, personal independence, and community integration.

Beyond the mental health industry, Dr. Brown has built an impressive entrepreneurial portfolio that includes ownership of more than 15 real estate properties. She is also the author of seven books, including Secrets of a Crazy Mental Health Counselor and Restoring Bodies and Minds: By Identifying the Issues and Setting Goals. Through her writing, she explores mental health, family relationships, personal struggles, spiritual healing, and the importance of setting goals to achieve lasting success.

As a speaker, Dr. Brown combines personal storytelling, professional mental health experience, humor, authenticity, and practical strategies to inspire audiences to transform their lives. Her signature presentation, "From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest," reveals how she overcame financial hardship, societal expectations, family challenges, and personal adversity to build a meaningful career and lasting legacy.

She is especially passionate about empowering women, single mothers, entrepreneurs, mental health professionals, and individuals who have experienced rejection, setbacks, or difficult beginnings.

Her presentations challenge audiences to move beyond survival, recognize their worth, strengthen emotional resilience, develop confidence, and take intentional steps toward personal and professional achievement.

Dr. Brown is available for keynote presentations, mental health conferences, women's leadership summits, corporate wellness events, entrepreneurship conferences, educational institutions, and community empowerment programs.

Her message is powerful and universal:

"Your past may explain where you started, but it does not have the authority to determine where you finish. Identify the issue, set the goal, and restore your life."

Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown — Credentials, Honors & Speaking Experience

Academic and Professional Credentials

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Qualified Professional (QP) — Mental Health

Mental Health Leader and Life Transformation Coach

Founder and CEO, Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC

Leadership of a CARF International-accredited behavioral health organization

Awards, Honors and Recognition

2019 Women Worth Watching Award Winner — Healthcare Leadership

2026 P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) — Mental Health Care recognition and membership

2026 VoyageRaleigh Magazine — Featured Entrepreneur and Mental Health Leader

Recognized in a published mental health coaching industry feature

Selected Speaking Engagements

Girls Who Brunch — Guest Speaker

Everything Girls — Guest Speaker

She Rises for Women — Women's Empowerment Speaker

Fat Girls Conference — Confidence and Empowerment Speaker

The BookFest, Spring 2021 — Mental Health and Physical Wellness Panelist

Professional Accomplishments

Founder of Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC, established in 2011

Mental health service experience dating to 2003

Author of seven books

Founder of the Confident Fat Girls Movement

Entrepreneur and real estate investor with a portfolio of more than 15 properties

Areas of Speaking Expertise

Mental Health and Wellness | Women's Empowerment | Leadership | Entrepreneurship | Body Confidence | Resilience | Personal Transformation | Healing and Goal Setting

From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest: Turning Pain Into Purpose and Adversity Into Success Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown is a dynamic motivational speaker, mental health leader, accomplished entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Restoring Bo... Show more

Edney "InterNey" Souza has worked in technology since 1990 and is one of the leading voices on Artificial Intelligence in Brazil. In 2026 he was named one of the 30 most influential voices in AI in Brazil by the Pulso 2026/2027 study.

He is a professor at ESPM, Insper, PUCRS, USP and IBGC (Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance), where he teaches AI for boards of directors. He writes a column for InfoMoney and is the author of the Amazon best seller "Engenharia de Prompts na Pratica" (Prompt Engineering in Practice).

He delivers keynotes and in-company training for Vivo, Bayer, Vale, JBS, Pirelli, MetLife, Volkswagen and SAP, spoke on the main stage of RD Summit 2025 for 5,000 people and leads executive delegations to SXSW and VivaTech. He collaborates remotely with STURM und DRANG (Hamburg) and Start2 Group (Munich). Talks in English, Portuguese and Spanish on AI for business, AI governance, AI productivity, data culture and cybersecurity for leaders.

Edney "InterNey" Souza has worked in technology since 1990 and is one of the leading voices on Artificial Intelligence in Brazil. In 2026 he was named one of the 30 most influential voices in AI in Brazil by the Pulso 2026/2027 study. He is a prof... Show more

DeAnna Pellecchia is a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and Founder and Artistic Director of Boston-based KAIROS Dance Theater. For more than 25 years, she has built a career in professional dance—an industry defined by rejection, financial uncertainty, physical risk, public exposure, criticism, and constant change. Along the way, she founded KAIROS Dance Theater from the ground up, building an organization, an ensemble, an audience, and a body of work without a roadmap or any guarantee that the next risk would pay off.

A faculty member at Boston University and New England Conservatory, Pellecchia has performed and taught internationally, developing an interdisciplinary practice rooted in collaboration, somatic awareness, and human connection.

For more than two decades, she has also danced with horses, exploring the extraordinary relationship between fear, trust, communication, and the limits of control. Working with a thousand-pound animal demands presence, clarity, adaptability, and the willingness to respond to what is actually happening rather than what we expect or intend.

Today, Pellecchia brings these experiences to audiences through three presentations: Dancing With Fear: The Courage to Move Before You're Ready, Collaboration in Motion, and Deep Listening & Leadership. Drawing on a lifetime of creative risk-taking, organizational leadership, and embodied practice, she offers a distinctive perspective on navigating uncertainty, strengthening communication, building trust, and finding the courage to act before the outcome is known.

DeAnna Pellecchia is a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and Founder and Artistic Director of Boston-based KAIROS Dance Theater. For more than 25 years, she has built a career in professional dance—an industry defined by rejection, financ... Show more

With over 20 years of enterprise Java experience, Frederieke has seen (and probably debugged) it all, from legacy monoliths to reactive messaging systems and the occasional front-end adventure. She’s especially interested in how Domain-Driven Design and reactive principles can help teams build systems that are both robust and adaptable.

Frederieke enjoys helping people grow, whether that’s through mentoring, improving team practices, or just asking the right questions. Outside of work, she’s an active contributor to the Java Meetup in Groningen (NL), where she shares ideas and learns from colleagues in her local community.

When she’s not coding or speaking, you’ll likely find her out on a trail. She once hiked the Grand Canyon and is always looking for the next adventure.

With over 20 years of enterprise Java experience, Frederieke has seen (and probably debugged) it all, from legacy monoliths to reactive messaging systems and the occasional front-end adventure. She’s especially interested in how Domain-Driven Design ... Show more

Mike Gifford is an open standards and practices lead at CivicActions and a thought leader on digital accessibility in the public sector. He is also a W3C Invited Expert and recognized authoring tool accessibility expert.

Previously, he was the Founder and President of OpenConcept Consulting Inc., a web development agency specializing in building open source solutions for the open web. Mike has served as a Drupal Core Accessibility Maintainer in 2012.

Mike Gifford is an open standards and practices lead at CivicActions and a thought leader on digital accessibility in the public sector. He is also a W3C Invited Expert and recognized authoring tool accessibility expert. Previously, he was the Fou... Show more

Muskan Kashyap is a B.Tech CSE Second year Student as well as startup and community enthusiast with experience across founder’s office operations, sales development, outreach, and community building. She has worked as a Sales Development Representative at GoDigitify and in founder’s office roles at Peggy Ice Cream and CN8 at Indian School of Buisness ( ISB ), where she is currently gaining exposure to the startup ecosystem.

Beyond her internship experiences, Muskan is actively involved in community outreach and networking, serving as an ambassador for GFG, Reskill, and Innovation Mission Punjab and Gemini, while contributing to community engagement and relationship-building initiatives. She enjoys connecting people, initiating conversations, building meaningful professional relationships, and exploring opportunities at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and community growth.

Passionate about helping people step beyond their comfort zones, Muskan believes that communication, curiosity, and the courage to reach out can open doors to opportunities that go beyond a resume

Muskan Kashyap is a B.Tech CSE Second year Student as well as startup and community enthusiast with experience across founder’s office operations, sales development, outreach, and community building. She has worked as a Sales Development Representat... Show more

I'm a Project Manager with a track record of delivering large-scale, complex programs in high-stakes environments — currently driving technology modernization at New York State's Integrated Eligibility System, one of the most operationally complex programs in state government.
I thrive at the intersection of people, process, and technology. Whether I'm aligning a room of executives, untangling a dependency across 13 vendors, or building the data infrastructure that gives leadership real-time visibility — I bring the clarity and structure that keeps programs on track.
My work spans program strategy, stakeholder alignment, cross-functional team leadership, and delivery governance. I believe the best project managers don't just manage schedules — they build the systems, culture, and communication that let great teams do their best work.

I'm a Project Manager with a track record of delivering large-scale, complex programs in high-stakes environments — currently driving technology modernization at New York State's Integrated Eligibility System, one of the most operationally complex pr... Show more

Charles Sieg is a software engineer, cloud architect, inventor, author, and founder and CEO of Renkara Media Group. He is the sole inventor on 51 filed U.S. provisional patent applications covering adaptive learning, knowledge synthesis, and assessment. His experience spans enterprise software, mobile applications, and cloud infrastructure, with consulting work for organizations including General Motors, American Airlines, Pearson Education, and Moderna. He shipped the original AccelaStudy on the App Store’s opening day in 2008 and grew Renkara's mobile-app business to 30 million downloads. He designed AVIAN, the adaptive learning architecture behind AccelaStudy AI, and built the platform entirely through agentic coding. He is based in Keller, Texas.

Charles Sieg is a software engineer, cloud architect, inventor, author, and founder and CEO of Renkara Media Group. He is the sole inventor on 51 filed U.S. provisional patent applications covering adaptive learning, knowledge synthesis, and assessme... Show more

Jesus Gil es un especialista el área de datos e Inteligencia Artificial, actualmente se desempeña como Arquitecto de Soluciones de Nube (CSA) en Microsoft
Por 12 años consecutivo fue nombrado MVP de SQL Server
Es coautor de 2 guías oficiales de Migración escritas para Microsoft Corporation y del libro Power BI MVP Book
Es ingeniero en sistemas, pero su pasión por la Educación lo llevó a obtener una maestría y un Doctorado en Ciencias de la Educación
Cuenta con +25 años de experiencia en la industria, desde el año 2007 ha dado entrenamientos tanto en México, USA, LATAM y Europa
Desde el año 2008 es un speaker habitual en eventos de tecnología dando charla en México, USA, LATAM y Europa

Jesus Gil es un especialista el área de datos e Inteligencia Artificial, actualmente se desempeña como Arquitecto de Soluciones de Nube (CSA) en Microsoft Por 12 años consecutivo fue nombrado MVP de SQL Server Es coautor de 2 guías oficiales de Mig... Show more

Dr. Frank Olmos helps public agencies, HR teams, and organizations put AI to work responsibly. He is President of DFO HR Consulting, an adjunct professor of statistics at Cal State LA, and a California merit system HR leader with more than 20 years of experience in classification, selection, testing, and workforce strategy.

Frank created the CHATPROMPT prompt engineering framework and has trained HR professionals, analysts, managers, and executives for cities, courts, school districts, special districts, and professional associations, including CPS HR Consulting, WRIPAC, PSHRA, CSDA, NCPERS, and NEOGOV Ignite. His sessions are practical and hands-on: attendees leave with prompts, policies, and workflows they can use the next day.

He is the author of Smells Like A.I. Spirit, Appetite for Differentiation, and Square Peg in a Round Hole, and received the 2024 Stephen E. Bemis Memorial Award. He holds an Ed.D. from UC Irvine and Cal State LA and presents in English and Spanish.

Dr. Frank Olmos helps public agencies, HR teams, and organizations put AI to work responsibly. He is President of DFO HR Consulting, an adjunct professor of statistics at Cal State LA, and a California merit system HR leader with more than 20 years o... Show more

Brock Satter is Director of Infosoul Laboratories in Salem, Massachusetts, which builds AI systems for libraries, unions, congregations and nonprofits on their own machines, with their own data, under their own control. He has spent thirty years in front of rooms as a community organizer and political candidate. At the University of Minnesota he was a BA student in science, technology and culture, in a major he designed, focusing on information technology, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. He is the author of the forthcoming book The AI Age, For the Layman, a primer for readers who are not engineers, and gives the public talk of the same name and hands-on workshops on running AI locally. He is not selling anything from the stage.

Brock Satter is Director of Infosoul Laboratories in Salem, Massachusetts, which builds AI systems for libraries, unions, congregations and nonprofits on their own machines, with their own data, under their own control. He has spent thirty years in f... Show more

I'm a Principal Architect at Microsoft specializing in the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Copilot, and agentic AI solutions for U.S. State and Local Government.

Throughout my career, I've been driven by a simple belief: the people who understand a business problem best should have a meaningful voice in building the solution. That's why I'm so passionate about Microsoft's low-code and no-code platform. I love helping organizations empower business users to work alongside professional developers to create applications, automations, and AI experiences that solve real problems and deliver measurable value.

For more than two decades, I've worked with government organizations to modernize business processes, improve citizen services, and accelerate digital transformation. I've partnered with agencies of every size to design solutions that combine enterprise architecture, modern application development, automation, data, and artificial intelligence into practical outcomes that users can embrace.

My favorite conversations are the ones where technology becomes accessible. Whether I'm presenting on Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Copilot Studio, or the latest advancements in agentic AI, my goal is always the same: to make complex technology approachable, demonstrate what's possible, and give people the confidence to build solutions they didn't think they could create themselves.

I believe the future of software development isn't about replacing professional developers—it's about expanding who gets to participate in creating great software. When analysts, subject matter experts, makers, architects, and developers collaborate using the Microsoft Power Platform, organizations build better solutions, faster. That's the future I'm excited to help shape.

I'm a Principal Architect at Microsoft specializing in the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Copilot, and agentic AI solutions for U.S. State and Local Government. Throughout my career, I've been driven by a simple belief: the peop... Show more

Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA is the founder of the Museum of Names and creator of Name Fluency™, a practical framework for understanding how names shape trust, belonging, connection, and the customer experience. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School and a Certificate in Adaptive Leadership and speaks on names, trust, belonging, and personalization in business. She is the former Executive Director of two nonprofit organizations, most recently the Governor's Institutes of Vermont, and served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Vermont Workforce Development Council. She has also been an adjunct professor of business ethics and strategy, musician, and freelance writer, and continues to consult and provide professional leadership training through the University of Vermont.

Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA is the founder of the Museum of Names and creator of Name Fluency™, a practical framework for understanding how names shape trust, belonging, connection, and the customer experience. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kenn... Show more

## Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi

**Emirati Educator & Researcher | Arabic Language Curriculum Specialist | Educational Leader & Innovator**

Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi is a distinguished Emirati educator and researcher specializing in **Arabic language curriculum, educational innovation, and teacher development**. Currently serving as a **Vice Principal**, she has made significant contributions to advancing teaching practices, empowering educators, and enhancing student learning experiences in the United Arab Emirates.

Her outstanding educational achievements have earned her prestigious recognition, including the **Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher** and the title of **Best Teacher in the Arab World**. She also became the **first Emirati teacher to enter the Guinness World Records** through a pioneering innovation in creative writing—an achievement that reflects her passion for transforming ideas into meaningful educational impact.

Throughout her career, Salma has led and contributed to several influential educational initiatives, including the **International Teachers’ Knowledge Fund Platform** and the **Tokkatsu Project**, focusing on teacher development, student character building, and innovative learning practices. She has also supported national programs promoting reading, writing, and student readiness for educational assessments.

As an active researcher and educational contributor, Salma has participated in research projects, conferences, and professional forums at both national and international levels, sharing innovative practices and contributing to curriculum development and educational advancement.

Salma believes that **education is more than the transfer of knowledge—it is a powerful force for shaping people, communities, and the future**. Her mission is to empower educators, inspire students, and cultivate lifelong learners who are prepared to make a meaningful contribution to society.

### Areas of Expertise

**Educational Innovation | Arabic Language Curriculum | Educational Leadership | Creative Writing | Teacher Development & Empowerment | Reading & Writing Strategies | Educational Research | Student Character Development | Educational Initiative Design & Implementation**

### Suggested Speaker Tagline

**“From the Classroom to Guinness World Records: An Emirati Journey of Innovation, Creativity, and Educational Impact.”**

## Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi **Emirati Educator & Researcher | Arabic Language Curriculum Specialist | Educational Leader & Innovator** Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi is a distinguished Emirati educator and researcher specializing in **Arabic ... Show more

Kerri Lynn Majors is an educator, published author, life coach, advocate, and inspirational speaker dedicated to helping people overcome adversity, discover purpose, and transform their lives through knowledge, hope, and personal growth.

She holds a Master of Education in Special Education and a BA in Criminology, with professional experience spanning public education, counseling, social work, including work in substance abuse and correctional rehabilitation.

As founder and CEO of Beauty in Human Growth, LLC, Kerri integrates a spiritual, biological, psychological, and social perspective to understand the whole person and inspire lasting change. Her personal journey, marked by profound challenges, perseverance, and a deep commitment to truth and dignity shapes her powerful message, that no one should be defined solely by mistakes, limitations, or circumstances. Whether speaking to educators, students, faith-based or professional audiences, Kerri bridges education, human behavior, and lived experience to deliver a message that is both challenging and deeply hopeful. Her mission is simple: "Know Hope when you feel no Hope, because your story isn't over.

Kerri Lynn Majors is an educator, published author, life coach, advocate, and inspirational speaker dedicated to helping people overcome adversity, discover purpose, and transform their lives through knowledge, hope, and personal growth. She hold... Show more

Mary Foster is the Heritage and Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Allen, Texas, where she oversees programming and interpretation at Allen Heritage Village and supports preservation and interpretation efforts at the historic Allen Cemetery. Her work brings together historic preservation, public programming, community engagement, and parks and recreation to connect residents with the history of their community.

Foster holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler and previously served as a museum curator at the 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum, where she curated exhibits and developed educational programs. She also served as Campaign Director for United Way of Smith County, supporting fundraising efforts for 26 local nonprofit organizations.

With nearly a decade of experience working across museums, history, parks and recreation, and nonprofit organizations, Foster is particularly interested in local and recent history, historic cemeteries, urban archaeology, and finding creative ways to make history meaningful and accessible to the communities where it happened.

Mary Foster is the Heritage and Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Allen, Texas, where she oversees programming and interpretation at Allen Heritage Village and supports preservation and interpretation efforts at the historic Allen Cemeter... Show more

I am an Academic Content Specialist, EdTech strategist, and teacher trainer based in Saudi Arabia. My career is dedicated to bridging rigorous pedagogical standards with modern digital learning solutions, driving instructional transformation across diverse educational environments.

With extensive experience working with IB, IGCSE, British, and HMH curricula, I specialize in curriculum design and strategic content localization. I align complex international frameworks with local educational needs to ensure learning materials are academically sound, culturally relevant, and engaging.

At the intersection of pedagogy and technology, I focus on driving EdTech integration and platform adoption. Rather than simply introducing new tools, I embed digital solutions into instructional models to elevate student engagement, support personalized learning pathways, and streamline assessment.

As an active educator trainer and speaker, I design and facilitate high-impact professional development grounded in cognitive science and active learning. Through targeted mentorship, I empower teachers and leaders to modernize their classroom practices and improve learning outcomes.

I am an Academic Content Specialist, EdTech strategist, and teacher trainer based in Saudi Arabia. My career is dedicated to bridging rigorous pedagogical standards with modern digital learning solutions, driving instructional transformation across d... Show more

Experienced manager, coordinating advisor, and architect with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Besides, I PhD in Enterprise Architecture (EA) and digital transformation from the Open University, Faculty Management, Science & Technology (MST).
Skilled in Team Management and Coordination, Enterprise Architecture (EA), EA Management, IT Governance, and Digital Strategy. A strong business development professional with a Master's degree in Business Process Management & IT from Open University.

Experienced manager, coordinating advisor, and architect with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Besides, I PhD in Enterprise Architecture (EA) and digital transformation from the Open University, Faculty Man... Show more

Catherine Wynne is a speaker and neurodiversity advocate exploring how we can create workplaces and learning environments where different brains can genuinely thrive.

Drawing on both lived experience of neurodivergence and her professional experience working across higher education and technology, Catherine speaks candidly about the realities of navigating systems, cultures and expectations that are often built around a narrow idea of how people should think, communicate, focus and work.

In her role at Adobe, Catherine works with universities across the UK and Europe, developing programmes that support creativity, digital confidence, student engagement and emerging skills. This gives her a unique perspective on neurodiversity across both education and the workplace, particularly as technology and AI continue to reshape how we learn and work.

Her talks focus on moving beyond awareness and towards practical inclusion: creating psychologically safer environments, challenging one-size-fits-all approaches, recognising the strengths of different thinking styles, and making small changes that can have a meaningful impact on neurodivergent people.

Catherine also explores the intersections between neurodiversity, creativity, AI, future skills and career development — always with a focus on making complex conversations practical, human and accessible.

Catherine Wynne is a speaker and neurodiversity advocate exploring how we can create workplaces and learning environments where different brains can genuinely thrive. Drawing on both lived experience of neurodivergence and her professional experie... Show more

J’ai commencé à travailler en mode Agile, utilisant les principes et valeurs associés en 2009 année où je suis devenue maman Pour moi, faire le parallèle entre ma vie professionnelle et mon rôle de parent est devenu une évidence et une nécessité au fil du temps D’un naturel pragmatique et ayant besoin d’être dans l’action, j’accompagne mes enfants, tous deux ayant des troubles DYS, avec mes pratiques agile depuis maintenant 10 ans Eux me permettent également d’enrichir mes méthodes de mise en place de la méthode Agile en entreprise.

J’ai commencé à travailler en mode Agile, utilisant les principes et valeurs associés en 2009 année où je suis devenue maman Pour moi, faire le parallèle entre ma vie professionnelle et mon rôle de parent est devenu une évidence et une nécessité au f... Show more

Susi Bauer (She/her or They/them) is a freelance ADHD Coach, Facilitator, Training Designer, and consultant.

After a decade in the video games industry, she changed career paths following a late ADHD diagnosis. Her mission is to share kind conversations, knowledge, and tools with individuals and organisations to foster growth. Susi loves to collaborate to find better answers to old questions and create spaces where everyone's needs are recognised and met.

As a coach, she helps people embrace their authentic, curious selves. She's qualified in Knowledge-Based Coaching & ADHD Coaching and often works with adults with ADHD, entry- to mid-level managers, career changers, and leaders of volunteer organisations.
She also offers training, facilitation, and consulting to organisations and teams.

Susi Bauer (She/her or They/them) is a freelance ADHD Coach, Facilitator, Training Designer, and consultant. After a decade in the video games industry, she changed career paths following a late ADHD diagnosis. Her mission is to share kind convers... Show more

James Lesly didn't find yoga in a studio. He found it stretching on a cell floor, copying poses out of library books before he knew what they were called.

Four years inside, 46 days in solitary, and a body that never got the memo when the danger was over. When he got out, he put a 200-hour yoga teacher training on an old credit card. Then came a 200-hour trauma-informed training through the Prison Yoga Project, where he's now an Ambassador.

Since then he's taught corporate teams (Innergy Corporate Yoga), YMCA Montreal members, Club Med guests, older adults with Parkinson's and post-stroke clients, and yoga teachers in Bella Prāna Collective's 300-hour Advanced Studies training.

He founded Not Your Average Yogi, a Black-led Montreal nonprofit bringing trauma-informed yoga and breathwork to Black men, men coming home from prison and at-risk youth, and built Black Man. Breathe., a 10-week peer-led breathwork program. His memoir, Not Your Average Yogi: From Violence to Service, came out in 2026.

Every session is part story, part live practice. People leave with breathing tools they can use in their next meeting, shift or hard conversation.

In person across Canada (based in Montreal) · Virtual worldwide.

James Lesly didn't find yoga in a studio. He found it stretching on a cell floor, copying poses out of library books before he knew what they were called. Four years inside, 46 days in solitary, and a body that never got the memo when the danger w... Show more

Débora Wolosky es speaker vivencial, Licenciada en Recursos Humanos y Relaciones Públicas, y fundadora y directora de TIK RRHH. Hace más de 20 años trabaja con organizaciones, líderes y equipos de Latinoamérica, diseñando experiencias de aprendizaje, cultura y transformación. Sus conferencias combinan historias y casos reales, participación, humor y herramientas aplicables. Es creadora de Jutzpá Organizacional, el Modelo Centauro —(IA + IH) × AC— y Aprendizaje en la era de la IA. Su eje es qué capacidades humanas y culturales necesitamos para aprender, conservar el criterio y hacer que las cosas sucedan.

Trabajó con organizaciones como Mercedes-Benz, Natura, EY, Cencosud, Swiss Medical, Santander, Ford y Scania. Es docente en UCEMA y Burō Business School, y ha participado como columnista e invitada en Infobae, Clarín, iProfesional, CNN Radio, Revista Fortuna y Santander Post.

Débora Wolosky es speaker vivencial, Licenciada en Recursos Humanos y Relaciones Públicas, y fundadora y directora de TIK RRHH. Hace más de 20 años trabaja con organizaciones, líderes y equipos de Latinoamérica, diseñando experiencias de aprendizaje,... Show more

Josh Harr is a senior cybersecurity advisor and security executive with 17 years of experience spanning U.S. federal government, military operations, critical infrastructure, healthcare, private industry, and international defense organizations. His work focuses on helping leaders understand and manage cyber risk shaped by geopolitics, operational reality, and real‑world consequences.

Josh currently serves as a Business Information Security Officer (BISO) within a large U.S. healthcare organization, aligning cybersecurity strategy with business growth, regulatory requirements, and patient care. He translates technical risk into executive decision‑making and embeds security into enterprise transformation initiatives.

In parallel, Josh supports international cyber capacity‑building as a senior advisor to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense Cyber Defense Center, where he helps design incident response frameworks, organizational models, workforce pipelines, large‑scale cyber exercises, and governance aligned with NATO and EUCOM objectives.

Josh is also an officer in the U.S. Air National Guard, specializing in cyberspace operations and international security advising, with experience integrating cyber considerations into joint and multi‑domain environments.

Across government, military, and private‑sector roles, Josh designs executive‑level exercises and crisis simulations focused on risk‑based decision‑making under uncertainty. His work consistently operates at the intersection of cybersecurity, geopolitics, and leadership—helping organizations understand not just what could happen, but why it matters and how to act.

Josh Harr is a senior cybersecurity advisor and security executive with 17 years of experience spanning U.S. federal government, military operations, critical infrastructure, healthcare, private industry, and international defense organizations. His ... Show more

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

Dr. June Hall, affectionately known as Dr. June, has been an educator and presenter for over 20 years. She is a TEDx speaker, media personality, author, and speaker. When faced with trials that negatively impacted her life, her faith in God taught her to APT which is to Accentuate Positive Thinking. She then founded Time to APT, facilitating programs to help others personally and professionally. As a speaker she spreads this message of positivity, effective communication, and making lemon pound cake when life gives you lemons. She has been the keynote speaker for the Mental Health Association of Broward, CARE Foundation, Girl Scouts of America, AABE, colleges, churches and more. As a media personality, she is the expert panelist on shows such as NBC Bloom, CBS Great Day Tampa Bay, podcasts and more. She has received the EPIC (Exceptional People Impacting the Community) Award.
With her masters in Mental Health Counseling and her doctorate in Educational Leadership, she bridges her experiences in the corporate/academic world with her background in counseling to strengthen communication skills, reduce stress, and increase retention in schools and at work. Dr. June teaches and implements emotional wellness as she posits "As long as you still have life, each day offers you an opportunity to do something towards your goal. It's Time to APT; It's Time to take ACTION."

Dr. June Hall, affectionately known as Dr. June, has been an educator and presenter for over 20 years. She is a TEDx speaker, media personality, author, and speaker. When faced with trials that negatively impacted her life, her faith in God taught he... Show more

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Technology at the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching and Studies of the University of Cologne.

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Technology at th... Show more

Tanmay S Dikshit
Founder – Cyber Sanskar
is a highly energetic keynote speaker, master trainer, and cyber-intelligence thought leader with over 25+ years of international-level experience in advanced technologies and digital innovation ecosystems. He regularly delivers mission-critical training to military personnel, intelligence units, detectives, and security forces, and is a trusted spokesperson on Cyber Industry & Digital Transformation at leading organizations, universities, and institutions. He actively contributes to academia as a Board of Studies Member and Member of the Departmental Advisory Board, shaping industry-aligned curricula. He has received prestigious Hall of Fame recognition as an Information Security Researcher for responsibly reporting security vulnerabilities across 50+ internal systems of reputed international organizations. His expert insights are regularly featured on reputed radio stations, newspapers, print media, and national TV news channels, and today many of students trained under his guidance are successfully working across the global cyber and technology ecosystem, building impactful careers and strong professional reputations worldwide.

Tanmay S Dikshit Founder – Cyber Sanskar is a highly energetic keynote speaker, master trainer, and cyber-intelligence thought leader with over 25+ years of international-level experience in advanced technologies and digital innovation ecosystems. ... Show more

Matt Brubaker is an Architect and Energy Manager with 27-years of experience in building systems design and energy efficiency planning and implementation. Matt has served as the Campus Energy Manager at SUNY Cortland for twelve years. Most recently, Matt is serving as the SUNY Cortland Chief Sustainability Officer adding more reporting to his current roles and supporting SUNY Cortland’s Energy Master Plan efforts with a goal of 85% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2040. In Matt's spare time, he is trying to grow something to eat, or climb with his family in Central New York.

Matt Brubaker is an Architect and Energy Manager with 27-years of experience in building systems design and energy efficiency planning and implementation. Matt has served as the Campus Energy Manager at SUNY Cortland for twelve years. Most recently,... Show more

Jeremy Darling is a Principal Consultant at Centroid, where he partners with organizations to design and deliver resilient, secure, and scalable technology platforms in complex and regulated environments. With decades of experience across distributed systems, cloud and edge architectures, and Kubernetes-based platforms, Jeremy specializes in translating ambitious technical goals into operational reality.

His work spans data-driven systems in healthcare, public sector, and higher education, including large-scale analytics initiatives and mission-critical platforms operating under strict security and compliance constraints. Known for navigating high-stakes technical challenges, Jeremy brings a pragmatic, systems-thinking approach to architecture, delivery, and long-term sustainability.

Beyond the technology, Jeremy is deeply committed to the human side of engineering. As a leadership speaker and mental health advocate, he focuses on empathy, resilience, and communication during moments of stress, loss, and organizational change. He believes strong systems are built by healthy teams—and that leadership matters most when things don’t go as planned.

Outside of client work and speaking engagements, Jeremy practices yoga and continues exploring the intersection of mental health, leadership, and sustainable engineering culture.

Jeremy Darling is a Principal Consultant at Centroid, where he partners with organizations to design and deliver resilient, secure, and scalable technology platforms in complex and regulated environments. With decades of experience across distributed... Show more