I’m a NYC-based professional actor, improv comedian, and adjunct instructor. I’ve appeared in theatres all over the country performing in everything from Shakespeare to Neil Simon to Shrek: The Musical. You may have even seen me dancing in my underwear on One Tree Hill or co-starring in commercials with NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon or the Roaming Gnome. Improv comedy is my passion and I can be seen making audiences, my scene partners, and myself laugh regularly at some of the best and worst improv shows in New York City.

As an educator, I have taught Acting, Improvisation, Public Speaking, Communication Studies at too many colleges to mention. I also teach and coach acting, improv, and applied improv for theatres, private groups, and individuals, and in the corporate space.

I’m known at Collegiate Empowerment for connecting with participants from the toughest mandatory audiences to passionate student leaders to coaching participants through my comedy, passion, high energy, and enthusiasm. Within CE, I’m known for focusing on what students want and need, being a kickass teammate and making weird faces during team meetings.

I’m a NYC-based professional actor, improv comedian, and adjunct instructor. I’ve appeared in theatres all over the country performing in everything from Shakespeare to Neil Simon to Shrek: The Musical. You may have even seen me dancing in my underwe... Show more

Elena Simciuc — CEO of Innotech Booster, PhD in Economics. Expert with 15+ years of experience in managing innovation projects (budgets exceeding €3.5 million). Specialist in attracting non-reimbursable EU funding for digital projects. A practitioner who personally implements AI bots and agents for HR, education, and marketing. International speaker and Web Summit participant.

Elena Simciuc — CEO of Innotech Booster, PhD in Economics. Expert with 15+ years of experience in managing innovation projects (budgets exceeding €3.5 million). Specialist in attracting non-reimbursable EU funding for digital projects. A practitioner... Show more

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

Jenny Xu ist Soziologin und Research Associate im Projekt „Digitaler Diversitätsdialog (D3)“ an der Universität Passau. Sie forscht an der Schnittstelle von Hochschullehre, Diversität und Künstlicher Intelligenz. Ein weiterer Forschungsschwerpunkt liegt in den Gender Studies.

E-Mail: jenny.xu@uni-passau.de
Projektseite: https://www.uni-passau.de/universitaet/einrichtungen/stabsstelle-kompetenzentwicklung-in-studium-und-lehre-ksl/digitaler-diversitaetsdialog

Jenny Xu ist Soziologin und Research Associate im Projekt „Digitaler Diversitätsdialog (D3)“ an der Universität Passau. Sie forscht an der Schnittstelle von Hochschullehre, Diversität und Künstlicher Intelligenz. Ein weiterer Forschungsschwerpunkt li... Show more

Abogado especializado en cibercrimen y evidencia digital (UBA), e investigador certificado (TRM-CI). Comenzó su camino profesional en la industria de medios de pago, luego sumó experiencia en derecho comercial y desde hace algunos años trabaja en el Ministerio Público Fiscal de la Nación. Allí combina técnica jurídica e investigación avanzada para colaborar con el equipo en la investigación y litigio de causas penales.

Abogado especializado en cibercrimen y evidencia digital (UBA), e investigador certificado (TRM-CI). Comenzó su camino profesional en la industria de medios de pago, luego sumó experiencia en derecho comercial y desde hace algunos años trabaja en el ... Show more

Jazmin Johnson is a higher education professional, supervisor, and leadership educator with experience in residence life, student leadership development, fraternity and sorority advising, and organizational effectiveness. She currently serves as a Residence Life Coordinator at the University of South Carolina, where she oversees residential communities, supervises student staff, manages crisis response, and designs educational initiatives that help students build the skills needed for success both inside and outside the classroom.

Passionate about developing emerging professionals, Jazmin enjoys creating engaging presentations that bridge theory and practice. Her sessions focus on supervision, managing up, accountability, leadership development, communication, and building healthy workplace cultures. She is particularly interested in equipping entry-level professionals with practical strategies for navigating organizational dynamics, advocating for themselves, and leading effectively regardless of their title.

Outside of her professional role, Jazmin advises collegiate members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., mentors emerging leaders, and combines her background in software engineering with student affairs to create innovative systems that improve organizational operations and engagement.

Whether facilitating a conference session, leading a workshop, or mentoring one-on-one, Jazmin strives to create learning experiences that are interactive, actionable, and immediately applicable. Her goal is for every participant to leave with greater confidence, practical tools, and a clearer understanding of how to lead with authenticity, purpose, and impact.

Jazmin Johnson is a higher education professional, supervisor, and leadership educator with experience in residence life, student leadership development, fraternity and sorority advising, and organizational effectiveness. She currently serves as a Re... Show more

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Africa game development program Mr, Ilonga created his own game studio/company called TL Entertainment whereby he created games and was successfully able to import Global Game Jam and Game Jam +, whereby together with the partnership between TL Entertainment and Game Jam+ there was a bridge built between Namibia and Brazil.

With the games that where created not proving to be profitable, Mr Ilonga would take part in a CEP program whereby he would like up with Vaughan, Veronica and Ndamono and together they would form Edu-Game Namibia to create an innovation hub around gaming to ensure that the market because sustainable around gaming and ensure future Namibian generations will be able to profit from it.

With 7 Years’ experience in Gaming Mr Ilonga has won a few awards and also became the flag career for Gaming especially at the Forbes where he and Vaughan would help Edu-Game Namibia make it to the top 3 pitch battle final. Currently Mr Ilonga together with Edu-Game are working on a curriculum to gamify the education system.

List of Achievements
Forbes 30 Under 30 Top 3 Pitch Battle Finalist 2024
Boost Up Pitch Winner 2023
Xbox Games Camp Alumni 2023
Sanlam Bridge Beneficiary 2023
CEP WINNER 2022
Game Industry Africa Awards Winner 2022
Class of 2022 Game Developers Conference SCHOLARS:

Events/Interviews I have Spoken At
Xbox Games Camp - Topic - Why Africa Is The Best Place To Invest When It Comes To Gaming
Africa Partnership For Growth Symposium - Topic - Why Investing In Gaming is Profitable
PathfindinGS -Topic - Gamifying the Namibian Education System
Africa Comicade Topic -Getting Local Businesses to Invest in Game Development
Game Jam Plus Topic -Importance of Game Jam In The Local Ecosystem
African Creative Meeting Topic -E-Sports In Africa
ESQUENTA Topic - Importance of GJ + For the Local Ecosystem
BBC World Service TV Topic - CES 2020: What’s in it for Africa?

Tutaleni, is the driving force behind the growth of Game Development in Namibia and in Africa as a whole, as well as the bridge between South America and Africa when it comes to the Game Development space. After successfully completing the Enter Afri... Show more

Con más de una década en desarrollo y QA Automation, he liderado equipos en sectores como retail, banca y gobierno. Mi expertise abarca Python, JavaScript, Selenium, Playwright, Postman, entre otros. Me apasiona compartir conocimientos sobre lenguajes de programación y pruebas de software para potenciar equipos y fomentar el crecimiento colectivo.

Con más de una década en desarrollo y QA Automation, he liderado equipos en sectores como retail, banca y gobierno. Mi expertise abarca Python, JavaScript, Selenium, Playwright, Postman, entre otros. Me apasiona compartir conocimientos sobre lenguaje... Show more

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

Mestre em Gestão de Riscos pelo Departamento de Computação Aplicada da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), com especializações em Gestão da Segurança da Informação e Comunicações (UnB), Regulação de Telecomunicações (Inatel) e Gestão Pública (IFSC). Possui 18 anos de experiência no setor privado de telecomunicações, atuando em funções técnicas e de gestão antes de ingressar no serviço público.
É servidor de carreira da Anatel desde 2007, onde ocupou diversos cargos estratégicos: Gerente Operacional de Redes na área de Gestão da Informação, Gerente da Unidade Operacional no Maranhão , Assessor na Secretaria do Conselho Diretor, Assessor e Gerente substituto na Gerência de Canais de Relacionamento com os Consumidores, e atualmente, ocupa o cargo de Gerente de Planejamento, Desenvolvimento e Segurança de Sistemas na Superintendência de Gestão Interna da Informação.

Mestre em Gestão de Riscos pelo Departamento de Computação Aplicada da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), com especializações em Gestão da Segurança da Informação e Comunicações (UnB), Regulação de Telecomunicações (Inatel) e Gestão Pública (IFSC). Poss... Show more

Entusiasta por entender cada vez mais sobre Transformação e Cultura Organizacional.
Motivado por compartilhamento de conhecimentos: treinar, facilitar e também aprender.

Atua como agente de transformação ajudando organizações e times a atingir resultados significativos sempre acreditando que a diferença está nas pessoas.

Mais de 15 anos de experiência atuando com intervenções utilizando abordagens preditivas, adaptativas e híbridas.
Experiência como Agile Coach responsável por transformação ágil de organizações de TI e outside TI.

Doutorando na área de Transformação Digital e Cultura Organizacional e Mestre em Ciências da Computação.
Docente em cursos de MBA e Pós-Graduação de Gestão de Negócios e Gestão Ágil.

Entusiasta por entender cada vez mais sobre Transformação e Cultura Organizacional. Motivado por compartilhamento de conhecimentos: treinar, facilitar e também aprender. Atua como agente de transformação ajudando organizações e times a atingir r... Show more

Dr Maria Rudneva is an Innovation Manager at TU Delft, PMP-certified project professional and Certified AI Compliance Officer (CAICO) working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, innovation and digital transformation. She is also a compliance assessor at ExplorAI (CAB in formation) for high risk AI systems under EU AI Act
She specialises in the practical application of the EU AI Act, with expertise in AI system classification, intended purpose, provider and deployer responsibilities, and AI Act obligations.
Her work focuses on helping organisations understand how regulatory requirements translate into real-world AI systems, particularly when AI tools are modified, integrated into larger solutions, or used beyond their original intended purpose, bridging the gap between AI adoption and practical compliance under the EU AI Act.

Dr Maria Rudneva is an Innovation Manager at TU Delft, PMP-certified project professional and Certified AI Compliance Officer (CAICO) working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, innovation and digital transformation. She is also a complia... Show more

Rasheed Mudasiru builds infrastructure and developer tools, then explains how they work. A Google Developer Expert in Cloud, he spent four years as the sole infrastructure engineer at a production SaaS company while simultaneously founding two developer communities in Nigeria, speaking at AWS Summit Johannesburg, GopherCon Africa, OSCAFEST, UbuCon Africa, DjangoCon Africa etc and shipping open source tooling including a GitOps controller and an AI agent debugger. He mentors engineers across Africa through the Linux Foundation Kubernetes programme.

Rasheed Mudasiru builds infrastructure and developer tools, then explains how they work. A Google Developer Expert in Cloud, he spent four years as the sole infrastructure engineer at a production SaaS company while simultaneously founding two develo... Show more

As a technical leader at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific—a vital arm of the Department of the Navy dedicated to delivering innovative technology for U.S. and allied military operations— Andy Tran specializes in the intersection of advanced communications and cybersecurity.

Andy Tran spearheaded the research, development, and deployment of 5G cellular systems across the Navy and Marine Corps, specifically enhancing communications capabilities at the tactical edge of the battlefield. Beyond deployment, they have conducted rigorous analysis on the vulnerabilities of emerging wireless technologies to ensure that security frameworks and specifications remain robust against evolving threats. Committed to operational efficiency, [Your Name] also developed critical automation tools to streamline the upgrading of networking systems, allowing infrastructure to adapt seamlessly to new requirements and evolving military needs.

As a technical leader at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific—a vital arm of the Department of the Navy dedicated to delivering innovative technology for U.S. and allied military operations— Andy Tran specializes in the intersection of advanc... Show more

Daniel Bonatti é cientista político e mestre em Gestão de Políticas Públicas, com trajetória de mais de 14 anos dedicada à modernização do Estado e à inovação na gestão pública. Atualmente, dirige a Diretoria de Mobilidade Interna da Secretaria de Gestão e Governo Digital do Estado de São Paulo, onde conduz a reestruturação da frota pública e a consolidação da Política de Mobilidade Interna, pautada em eficiência, sustentabilidade e transformação digital. Sua atuação combina visão estratégica, experiência administrativa e compromisso com a construção de um governo mais ágil e orientado a resultados.

Daniel Bonatti é cientista político e mestre em Gestão de Políticas Públicas, com trajetória de mais de 14 anos dedicada à modernização do Estado e à inovação na gestão pública. Atualmente, dirige a Diretoria de Mobilidade Interna da Secretaria de Ge... Show more

Bingzhuo Tian is a 2023 undergraduate in Applied Physics at Hebei University of Technology and President of the AI Innovation Society. Active in campus open-source communities, he has organized cross-university hackathons and open-source training camps, and served as a teaching assistant for open-source learning programs. His frontline experience in managing corporate partnerships revealed governance gaps between commercial collaboration models and student volunteer protections. He led his society in establishing its first compliance review mechanism for campus-corporate collaboration and in formally recognizing non-code contributions. He is currently drafting the Campus-Corporate Collaboration SOP and the Student Contributor Rights Manifesto, aiming to institutionalize the spirit of "Community Over Code" within university ecosystems.

Bingzhuo Tian is a 2023 undergraduate in Applied Physics at Hebei University of Technology and President of the AI Innovation Society. Active in campus open-source communities, he has organized cross-university hackathons and open-source training cam... Show more

David teaches engineers (UG/Grad/PhDs) at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science in Charlottesville, and has led strategic cloud programs for nearly 6 years at a large AWS Platform Partner. He has held leadership positions for 10 years with Deloitte Consulting where he oversaw complex cloud / technology design and implementation programs, and served as Lead Instructor at Deloitte University, where he instructed consultants on case study methodology and core consulting skills (e.g. logical storyboarding, storytelling).

David teaches engineers (UG/Grad/PhDs) at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science in Charlottesville, and has led strategic cloud programs for nearly 6 years at a large AWS Platform Partner. He has held leadership posi... Show more

Currently leading technical team.
I was a full-stack developer for 20 years in both large and small companies.
Over the last 8 years, my focus has shifted to leadership, organizational culture, advocating for "entry-level" profiles, light and inverted hierarchies, comprehensive work flexibility, and working in companies that prioritize people.

Currently leading technical team. I was a full-stack developer for 20 years in both large and small companies. Over the last 8 years, my focus has shifted to leadership, organizational culture, advocating for "entry-level" profiles, light and inver... Show more

Ashley is an entrepreneur, software developer, academic and professional trainer. He has a PhD in Computer Science and Software Engineering from UNSW and has 25 years experience in IT. He has delivered training courses around Australia, across SE Asia and in the US and UK. He has won awards and recognition from the ICT industry, academia, the federal government, and the student community for the quality and excellence of his teaching and professional training.

He is the CEO and co-founder of Acavista (HEDventures Pty Ltd), an edtech startup, and co-founder and Principal at Innovately.com.au, which provides services to assist with the application of Lean Startup and Customer Development principles and practices to the commercialisation of innovation in organisations from any sector, of any size, and at any level of maturity (including startups). He graduated from the Founder Institute and Curtin Accelerate startup accelerators.

He is currently building the software for his edtech startup Acavista using CQRS, ES, microservices, Akka, and React in Scala and JavaScript and has deployed on Google Cloud and Digital Ocean. He also provides consulting and training services in Lean Startup with Customer Development for companies and startups through Innovately.com.au. To give back to the community he runs the Lean Startup Perth meetup, presents at various meetups and conferences, and helps out with DDD Perth.

Ashley is an entrepreneur, software developer, academic and professional trainer. He has a PhD in Computer Science and Software Engineering from UNSW and has 25 years experience in IT. He has delivered training courses around Australia, across SE A... Show more

Roni Habib is a speaker, author, and expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier, more resilient, more connected to their purpose, and more playful. The founder of EQ Schools, he speaks and leads workshops in organizations nationally and abroad. His dynamic keynotes leave audiences laughing, insightful, elevated, and inspired to take action.

Early in his career, Roni struggled with the high stresses and demands of teaching, even losing touch with why he wanted to be a teacher in the first place. It was so painful that he finally discovered the power of integrating improv, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and positive psychology in his own life as well as at work and felt called to share this new approach with the world.

In the last decade with EQ Schools, Roni has taught and inspired thousands of Teachers, Principals, Superintendents, Administrators, Business Leaders, and Parents.

Prior to earning his Masters of Education and teaching credential at Harvard University, he lived in Israel and Belgium. Most importantly though, Roni has a huge heart and loves helping people.

Roni Habib is a speaker, author, and expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier, more resilient, more connected to their purpose, and more playful. The founder of EQ Schools, he speaks and leads workshops in organizations nation... Show more

Matías Ignacio Allende Contreras es Director de Tecnología y Ciberseguridad en la Municipalidad de Peñalolén, donde lidera iniciativas de transformación digital, arquitectura tecnológica y fortalecimiento de capacidades de ciberseguridad en el sector público. Cuenta con más de diez años de experiencia en gestión municipal, modernización de servicios, seguridad de la información e integración de plataformas. Su trabajo se enfoca en diseñar soluciones aplicadas, sostenibles y seguras para entornos públicos, combinando gobierno técnico, automatización y resiliencia operativa. Además, participa como speaker e instructor en instancias de formación tecnológica y ciberseguridad en América Latina.

Matías Ignacio Allende Contreras es Director de Tecnología y Ciberseguridad en la Municipalidad de Peñalolén, donde lidera iniciativas de transformación digital, arquitectura tecnológica y fortalecimiento de capacidades de ciberseguridad en el sector... Show more

Microsoft Certified Trainer | Cloud, AI & Cybersecurity Specialist | 18 Years in IT & Engineering
Current Role: Technical Trainer — Cloud, AI, Network & Cybersecurity (Rackspace / SDAIA-NIC, Riyadh KSA)
Expertise: AI, Digital Transformation, Azure, Cloud Architecture, Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking

Contact:
Credly Profile
https://www.credly.com/users/abul-bayan-ahmed/badges#credly
LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abulahmed/

Microsoft Certified Trainer | Cloud, AI & Cybersecurity Specialist | 18 Years in IT & Engineering Current Role: Technical Trainer — Cloud, AI, Network & Cybersecurity (Rackspace / SDAIA-NIC, Riyadh KSA) Expertise: AI, Digital Transformation, Azure,... Show more

Analytical thinker driven by fast-paced learning platforms in higher education with a significant experience of over five years in statistical modeling and quantitative data analyses utilizing R, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Power Bi, MPlus, AMOS, Dbeaver, and SAS

Experienced in qualitative research methodologies including leading and participating in multisite collaborations and liaison responsibilities

Analytical thinker driven by fast-paced learning platforms in higher education with a significant experience of over five years in statistical modeling and quantitative data analyses utilizing R, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Power Bi, MPlus, AMOS, Dbeaver, ... Show more

Michael Biocchi has completed his PhD and has received his Masters of Science as well as his Bachelor of Computer Science. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Michael has taught in the education sector for 15+ years, teaching a variety of computer science (Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, etc.) courses at a number of different institutions across Canada. He has an award-winning Udemy course with over 100,000 students teaching about Security Awareness Training.

Michael Biocchi has completed his PhD and has received his Masters of Science as well as his Bachelor of Computer Science. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Michael has taught in the education sector for 15+ ye... Show more

Sarah Russell is VP of Marketing at EducationDynamics, where she has spent 17 years at the intersection of search behavior, audience data, and marketing strategy. She leads SEO, paid media, social, and creative teams serving higher education institutions nationwide.

Sarah is best known for work that pioneers actionable strategies in a quickly evolving marketing landscape. She developed Signal Engineering, a framework for making brands legible to AI systems.

Sarah builds teams as well as strategies. She has designed and built the multi-agent AI infrastructure her teams use for market research, search intelligence, and content production, and established EducationDynamics' center of excellence for performance marketing.

Sarah Russell is VP of Marketing at EducationDynamics, where she has spent 17 years at the intersection of search behavior, audience data, and marketing strategy. She leads SEO, paid media, social, and creative teams serving higher education institut... Show more

Alex Malebranche is a dynamic keynote speaker, founder, and mental health advocate drawing from over a decade worth of tech and military experience. That background provides a unique outlook on how to manage mental health no matter how it presents.
After years at Amazon and Amazon Web Services, globally, Alex made the move into starting his own tech company, PlaneAhead. Though not turning out to be the next Google, Alex successfully raised VC capital as a solo founder and made strides in entrepreneurship before joining GitHub to help launch their company’s first startup program.
His passion as a founder is evident but within that, Alex is driven by creating greater opportunities for underrepresented founders and continuing to push the boundaries of inclusiveness in tech and venture capital.

Alex Malebranche is a dynamic keynote speaker, founder, and mental health advocate drawing from over a decade worth of tech and military experience. That background provides a unique outlook on how to manage mental health no matter how it presents. ... Show more

Being a Team Coach and a Facilitator gives me the opportunity to help teams discover new ways of working, introducing well-being, happiness, visual management, leadership at all levels, team self-organization, collaborative management, remote work and empowerment.

Being a Team Coach and a Facilitator gives me the opportunity to help teams discover new ways of working, introducing well-being, happiness, visual management, leadership at all levels, team self-organization, collaborative management, remote work an... Show more

David Dawson is a seasoned Business Analyst with 30+ years' experience transforming business needs into technical solutions in aerospace, government, and healthcare industries. Specializing in requirements analysis, process optimization, and digital transformation, he has led implementations and agile projects at Boeing, Department of Defence, and more recently at IQVIA. Through his unique leadership style and flair, David has earned the respect of his peers which had led to him being formally recongised by receiving the Mark Donaldson VC award. He is currently completing his Masters of International Business through the Queensland University of Technology. A Polish-Australian dual citizen, he is passionate about fostering operational excellence.

David Dawson is a seasoned Business Analyst with 30+ years' experience transforming business needs into technical solutions in aerospace, government, and healthcare industries. Specializing in requirements analysis, process optimization, and digital ... Show more

As cyber threats escalate in speed and sophistication, the security landscape demands advanced knowledge through awareness, activation, and improved practice. This is where Dewayne Hart works best. He is an all-cyber professional who believes cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue — it is a leadership, mindset, and quality-of-life challenge that shapes how we live, work, and connect.

Known for delivering common-sense strategies and actionable roadmaps, Hart helps businesses and citizens stay proactive against rapidly evolving threat actors in an increasingly digital world. At the core of his approach is a simple but powerful idea: to defend effectively, people must learn to think like adversaries. He equips his audiences with the knowledge, resources, and tools to put on a "Hacker's Hat," enabling them to anticipate threats before they become incidents.

Hart has lived the operator-to-leader path he teaches. Over twenty years in the U.S. Navy, he rose from maintaining computer systems and weapons-defense platforms to leading information-security efforts — experience that shaped his mission-focused discipline and operational approach to the field. In 2014, he founded Secure Managed Instructional Systems, LLC (SEMAIS), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in cybersecurity advisory and workforce development, guided by its motto: "Sustaining 360-Degree Cyber Visibility." He holds the CISSP, CEH, CGRC, and CND certifications and a Master of Science in Information Assurance, and has strengthened cyber and workforce programs across the DoD and federal government, including the U.S. Army, Defense Logistics Agency, and Department of Veterans Affairs.

A recognized voice in the cybersecurity community, Hart hosts the Chief of Cybersecurity platform, where he explores how security directly affects everyday digital life. His work spans artificial intelligence, cybersecurity leadership, cyber awareness, workforce modernization, and cybercrime — bridging technical realities with leadership accountability. He is the author of two books examining how mindset and leadership, not just technology, shape digital safety: The Cybersecurity Mindset: A Virtual and Transformational Thinking Mode, which challenges readers to rethink risk and resilience, and Cybersecurity Leadership: How to Develop a Successful Mentality and Win, which examines how leadership decisions and culture influence security outcomes.

From the National Cybersecurity Summit to the Incyber Forum, Techno Security & Digital Forensics, GovTechCon, Capitol Technology University, and AFCEA conferences nationwide, Hart has inspired executives, practitioners, and students alike. Through his advisory, speaking, and writing, he equips security teams with the foresight to transform cybersecurity from a reactive technical task into a definitive strategic advantage.

Example of Speaking History

GDS Group — Business at the Forefront of Cybersecurity
Capitol Technology University — Leadership Success Before the Attack
GovTechCon — Transitioning to Strategic Tech Leadership
Incyber Forum Canada — AI and Modern Warfare
AFCEA DHS Conference — Building Cyberdefenders That Win for National Security
AFCEA Mid-Atlantic — Creating a Unified Threat Picture for Command Leadership
Techno Security — Building 360° Cyber Visibility
National Cybersecurity Summit — Cracking the Code: AI & Cyber

As cyber threats escalate in speed and sophistication, the security landscape demands advanced knowledge through awareness, activation, and improved practice. This is where Dewayne Hart works best. He is an all-cyber professional who believes cyberse... Show more

My journey has been largely around technology, digital skills, education and using technology to solve practical problems.

Through Soteria Technologies, I have had the opportunity to work on initiatives around digital literacy, education technology, ICT infrastructure, Internet governance and community digital access.

But one thing I have learned is that having a good technology solution is only one part of the journey.

You also have to understand the people you are serving, build relationships, manage resources, find sustainable ways to operate, build partnerships and create systems that allow the work to continue.

That is why I chose this topic.

I want us to look beyond the excitement of building the product and talk about what it really takes to turn that product into a functioning and sustainable organization.

My journey has been largely around technology, digital skills, education and using technology to solve practical problems. Through Soteria Technologies, I have had the opportunity to work on initiatives around digital literacy, education technolog... Show more