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

Jason Jones

Jason Jones

Jason Jones is a full-time disruptor, activist, educator, and software engineer. Jason leads TLM’s conversations with existing and potential partners for TLM’s future with a focus on creating mutually beneficial partnerships that impact TLM’s learners on a high scale. On September 25, 2018, Jason was released after 13 ½ years incarcerated, during which time he graduated from The Last Mile’s inaugural coding class. Three weeks before his release, Jason became the first person from his cohort to sign a work agreement with a tech company as a software engineer. Jason was also the first justice-involved person to be accepted into the Lightspeed fellowship with a team from Stanford. Jason has gone on to graduate from the Koch Associate Program. Jason currently sits on the board of Rosecrans Ventures an organization that focuses on mentoring opportunity youth from marginalized communities. He is passionate about creating more opportunities for representation in tech and mentoring youth, which inspired him to continue to tutor and teach opportunity youth computer coding. Outside of his work with TLM he runs his own tech consulting company called Disrupt 2 innov8 LLC (D2i) where he consults companies on integrating MBM and technology to amplify their impact. #createChange #Disrupt2innov8

Jason Jones is a full-time disruptor, activist, educator, and software engineer. Jason leads TLM’s conversations with existing and potential partners for TLM’s future with a focus on creating mutually beneficial partnerships that impact TLM’s learner... Show more

Mike Altieri

Mike Altieri

Mike Altieri hat Mathematik studiert und in der Mathematikdidaktik/Pädagogik promoviert. Während seiner Professur für Angewandte Mathematik und Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften/Mathematik an der Hochschule Ruhr West hat er sich auf Digitalisierung in der Lehre in Theorie und Praxis spezialisiert. Heute ist er Professor für Mediendidaktik an der OTH Amberg-Weiden, leitet dort den Studiengang Educational Technology sowie das Kompetenzzenzentrum Digitale Lehre und bekleidet das Amt des Vizepräsidenten für Lehre, Didaktik und Digitalisierung. Er hat in verschiedenen Bildungsunternehmen gearbeitet und ist Prokurist einer Sprachschule.

Mike Altieri hat Mathematik studiert und in der Mathematikdidaktik/Pädagogik promoviert. Während seiner Professur für Angewandte Mathematik und Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften/Mathematik an der Hochschule Ruhr West hat er sich auf Digitalisierung in... Show more

Lily Scheuerpflug

Lily Scheuerpflug

Lily Scheuerpflug has an education background in International Relations, Globalization and Development Studies. She has been working as a project and partnerships manager in the field of access to entrepreneurship and education for the last five years and has been with Kiron since 2017. Kiron is a non-profit organization providing access to quality education opportunities specifically to refugees via its online learning platform Kiron Campus. Lily is responsible for building partnerships within Kiron's 'Collective Impact Campus' initiative that offers partners the opportunity to digitalize their learning programs to continue reaching their learners and scaling their impact in times of COVID-19 and beyond.

Lily Scheuerpflug has an education background in International Relations, Globalization and Development Studies. She has been working as a project and partnerships manager in the field of access to entrepreneurship and education for the last five yea... Show more

Veronica Olazabal

Veronica Olazabal

Ms. Olazabal, Managing Director at The Rockefeller Foundation, is an award-winning data and evaluation expert with a professional portfolio ranging more than 15 years, four continents and numerous global agencies including philanthropy the MasterCard Foundation, social venture Nuru International, and non-profit The Food Bank For New York City. In addition to serving on a number of funding and advisory committees, Ms. Olazabal serves on the Board of the World Benchmarking Alliance and was recently elected as President-elect of the American Evaluation Association (AEA).

She is also privileged to be the recipient of several industry awards and fellowships including the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award presented by AEA for exemplifying outstanding practice and contributing substantially to the field of evaluation in 2014. Ms. Olazabal is an alumni of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey where she completed a bachelor's degree in Communications and masters in Urban Policy and Planning. She also completed a masters in Socio-cultural Anthropology at Columbia University where she has recently become an Adjunct Professor for their School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Ms. Olazabal, Managing Director at The Rockefeller Foundation, is an award-winning data and evaluation expert with a professional portfolio ranging more than 15 years, four continents and numerous global agencies including philanthropy the MasterCard... Show more

Christina Hupy

Christina Hupy

Christina Hupy is a Senior Education Program Manager at GitLab where her focus is to facilitate the adoption of GitLab and DevOps at educational institutions around the world. Christina is passionate about innovation in teaching and learning and bridging the gap between industry and higher education. Christina spent a decade as a professor teaching geospatial technology in Wisconsin (Ph.D. in Geography) before joining the tech industry as a training and education leader.

Christina Hupy is a Senior Education Program Manager at GitLab where her focus is to facilitate the adoption of GitLab and DevOps at educational institutions around the world. Christina is passionate about innovation in teaching and learning and brid... Show more

Lisa Marie Blaschke

Lisa Marie Blaschke

Dr. Lisa Marie Blaschke is program director of the Management of Technology Enhanced Learning (MTEL) master program at the Center for Lifelong Learning at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in Oldenburg Germany, as well as a senior researcher at the Duale-Hochschule Baden-Wuerttemberg (DHBW) in Heilbronn. She is a former executive committee member of the European Distance Education and E-Learning Network (EDEN) and is a Senior EDEN Fellow and Chair of the Board of the EDEN Fellows Council. She is also a former adjunct associate professor at the University of Maryland University College, where she received the Stanley J. Drazek Award for Teaching Excellence in 2016. Lisa has a BS in Technical Communication, and two master’s degrees (MDE, MBA), and a PhD. Prior to academia, Lisa worked for SAP for over a decade in Walldorf, Germany, leading and implementing enterprise-wide knowledge management and training processes and solutions. Lisa’s research interests are in the areas of self-determined learning (heutagogy), online collaborative learning, pedagogical application of web 2.0 technology and social media, and user interface design.

Dr. Lisa Marie Blaschke is program director of the Management of Technology Enhanced Learning (MTEL) master program at the Center for Lifelong Learning at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg in Oldenburg Germany, as well as a senior resear... Show more

Professor Paulo Taveira

Professor Paulo Taveira

Agile Coach e mestrando em educação, sou professor há quase 12 anos para cursos técnicos, de graduação e pós graduação. Sou especializado em produtividade e metodologias ativas de ensino, e cofundador da Escola InspiraSer, de desenvolvimento humano através de soft skills...

Agile Coach e mestrando em educação, sou professor há quase 12 anos para cursos técnicos, de graduação e pós graduação. Sou especializado em produtividade e metodologias ativas de ensino, e cofundador da Escola InspiraSer, de desenvolvimento humano a... Show more

Elena Simciuc

Elena Simciuc

Elena Simciuc — CEO of LevelUP Academy, 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 LevelUP Academy, 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

Maryblessing Okolie

Maryblessing Okolie

Community architect, Open Source, and DI&B advocate

Community architect, Open Source, and DI&B advocate Show more

Charles Sasser

Charles Sasser

Charles Sasser is a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major with nearly 30 years of service, including elite qualifications as a Ranger, Jumpmaster, and Pathfinder. A graduate of the National Defense University’s Keystone Course and the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, he spent three decades leading formations through complex global missions and shaping the professional development of thousands of servicemembers.
Currently the Training Manager at Adacel, Charles bridges the gap between military heritage and modern instructional technology, developing comprehensive training roadmaps for the USAF and FAA. A published author and subject matter expert in leadership and operational readiness, he specializes in translating tactical discipline into 21st-century strategic success. Based in the global simulation hub of Orlando, Florida, Charles delivers high-impact insights on leading through technological shifts and building resilient, mission-focused teams.

Charles Sasser is a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major with nearly 30 years of service, including elite qualifications as a Ranger, Jumpmaster, and Pathfinder. A graduate of the National Defense University’s Keystone Course and the U.S. Army Se... Show more

Michelle Risinger

Michelle Risinger


Michelle Risinger is an award-winning entrepreneur, behavioral designer, international public speaker, and certified professional life coach. She is currently the owner and principal strategist at Rising Solutions, a global innovation strategy firm for social impact that works with clients such as the United Nations, the Rainforest Alliance, the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and AstraZeneca. She is also the founder and CEO of Restore, a technology company that revolutionizes productivity and scheduling with chronobiology, and co-founder of Moonwake Retreats, a luxury travel company.

Michelle is the national recipient of the 2019 End-User Transformation Award by Design Thinking USA and was formerly the founding member and Director of Innovation at global nonprofit, Pact where her work was featured in Forbes Asia and funded by Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Gates Foundation, USAID, US Dept of State, SIDA, Trafigura Foundation and Pan African Energy. She has a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and began her career as an Assistant Station Manager for the American Red Cross, serving multiple assignments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She was the recipient of the American Red Cross 2008 National Employee Spirit of Excellence Award. She has previously guest lectured at Georgetown University, American University, the School for Visual Arts and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Michelle is a certified professional life coach, a certified practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and coaches executives on transformational change management. She holds a certificate from Cornell University in the Psychology of Leadership and is certified as a Wellness Coach by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Her research focus is on innovation culture and psychological safety in the workplace, unpacking invisible barriers to innovation (workplace design, status quo bias, creativity bias, burnout and anxiety), bringing more creativity neuroscience and chronobiology to the future of work and documenting how rest leads to breakthrough innovations. She is a certified fitness and yoga instructor, as well as a certified mindfulness practitioner. A former member of the Scottish National Water Polo team, she is an avid lover of travel, exploring new countries through open water swimming.

Michelle Risinger is an award-winning entrepreneur, behavioral designer, international public speaker, and certified professional life coach. She is currently the owner and principal strategist at Rising Solutions, a global innovation strategy fir... Show more

Dr. Stefan T. Siegel

Dr. Stefan T. Siegel

Education Researcher & Lecturer 👨‍🏫
@HSGStGallen 🇨🇭 | Researching #educationaltheory #educationalmyths #educationalmedia | Enjoying #highered #sustainability #openscience

🧠#PKM Nerd using #ObsidianMD

#Hochschuldidaktik #Hochschullehre #Nachhaltigkeit #Erziehung #Bildung #Lehren #Lernen #Evidence #Misconceptions #Bildungsmedien #Videos #PKM #OER #sotl #academicdevelopment

Education Researcher & Lecturer 👨‍🏫 @HSGStGallen 🇨🇭 | Researching #educationaltheory #educationalmyths #educationalmedia | Enjoying #highered #sustainability #openscience 🧠#PKM Nerd using #ObsidianMD #Hochschuldidaktik #Hochschullehre #Na... Show more

Juan Carlos Escalante

Juan Carlos Escalante

Juan Carlos Escalante is a professor and applied AI practitioner at Tecnológico de Antioquia (Colombia). He works on deploying LLM-based academic assistants for remote and distributed campuses, focusing on governed RAG architectures, policy guardrails (privacy, refusals, citations, human escalation), and evaluation/monitoring practices that keep systems reliable after launch. His current work combines implementation in real educational services with pragmatic LLMOps: regression tests, task-based eval sets, and incident playbooks for hallucinations and retrieval failures.

Juan Carlos Escalante is a professor and applied AI practitioner at Tecnológico de Antioquia (Colombia). He works on deploying LLM-based academic assistants for remote and distributed campuses, focusing on governed RAG architectures, policy guardrail... Show more

Ethar Ayoub

Ethar Ayoub

A strategic Software Engineer and AI specialist with over 15 years of experience in driving digital transformation and technology education. Currently leading Future Coders for Software as Founder and Chairwoman, focusing on bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands through Generative AI and Robotics.

As a Google Developer Group (GDG) Organizer, actively building tech ecosystems and empowering developers across the MENA region. This community leadership is complemented by a role as an International Judge for global robotics competitions and an Executive Director for national educational initiatives under the Ministry of Education.

Deeply invested in the intersection of AI and Strategic Management, with a proven track record of mentoring startups and leading large-scale training programs for government sectors. Passionate about leveraging autonomous AI agents and project-based learning to shape the future of technology in emerging markets.

A strategic Software Engineer and AI specialist with over 15 years of experience in driving digital transformation and technology education. Currently leading Future Coders for Software as Founder and Chairwoman, focusing on bridging the gap between ... Show more

Kathryn Lige

Kathryn Lige

Kathryn Lige, LCSW (she/her) is a licensed psychotherapist and certificated school social worker. Her responsibilities include providing oversight of a school-based mental health program, providing psychotherapy, and consulting with staff in educational institutions. She also specializes in designing and teaching social-emotional curricula. The heart of her work is in communities of color. Kathryn has served throughout California and in New York City. She has extensive experience providing behavioral health services to children, adolescents, young adults, and parents in K-12 and college settings.

Kathryn earned a B.A. in Social Work from Cal State LA and an M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University, specializing in Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming. Her focuses included school-based social services and the integration of mental health practitioners in educational leadership. As a current doctoral student, Kathryn researches the social-emotional intelligence and well-being of educational administrators, the motivation and retention of educators, and what it takes to lead school communities of color effectively. Through opportunities in political advocacy at California’s capital, several media appearances, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and various committee leadership roles, Kathryn is driven to make a difference in the future of education.

Kathryn Lige, LCSW (she/her) is a licensed psychotherapist and certificated school social worker. Her responsibilities include providing oversight of a school-based mental health program, providing psychotherapy, and consulting with staff in educatio... Show more

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Elizabeth Rodriguez


Elizabeth Rodriguez is a school-based leadership and systems practitioner with experience supporting high-demand educational environments and complex community-based initiatives. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, systems coordination, and human capacity within schools.
Drawing from her experience in both education and high-pressure service settings, she brings a practical, field-informed perspective on how sustained demands impact leadership effectiveness, decision-making, and the ability to maintain clarity under pressure.
Elizabeth focuses on translating these insights into simple, actionable approaches that leaders can apply within the flow of their daily work to sustain their capacity and lead with greater steadiness and presence.

Elizabeth Rodriguez is a school-based leadership and systems practitioner with experience supporting high-demand educational environments and complex community-based initiatives. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, systems coordination... Show more

Victor Kithinji

Victor Kithinji

Mark Kithinji is a software engineer and co-founder of an AI-driven agriculture platform focused on improving decision-making for farm managers across African contexts. His work centers on building production systems under real-world constraints, including limited infrastructure, incomplete datasets and strict cost ceilings.

He has led the development of data-driven and cloud-based solutions ranging from high-concurrency web platforms to machine learning systems tailored for smallholder agriculture. His recent work explores practical approaches to model design, system resilience and translating complex technical outputs into usable insights for non-technical users.

Mark is particularly interested in how architectural decisions change when constraints are treated as requirements rather than limitations.

Mark Kithinji is a software engineer and co-founder of an AI-driven agriculture platform focused on improving decision-making for farm managers across African contexts. His work centers on building production systems under real-world constraints, inc... Show more

Neringa Young

Neringa Young

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

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

Joris Quarshie

Joris Quarshie

Katerina Brandes

Katerina Brandes

Katerina Brandes hat einen Bildungshintergrund in Ressourcenmanagement und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und verfügt über Forschungserfahrung zu globalen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen, unter anderem in Tansania und Indien. Ihre freiberufliche Arbeitserfahrung in der Erwachsenenbildung führten sie an das Zentrum für Lehrentwicklung der TH Köln. Dort arbeitet sie in einem Karriereentwicklungsprogramm für Wissenschaftler*innen früher Karrierestufen mit dem Schwerpunkt transformative Wissenschaft. Ihr besonderes Interesse liegt in der Gestaltung kreativer, interaktiver Workshopformate mit körperorientierten und theaterpädagogischen Methoden.

Katerina Brandes hat einen Bildungshintergrund in Ressourcenmanagement und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und verfügt über Forschungserfahrung zu globalen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen, unter anderem in Tansania und Indien. Ihre freiberufliche Arbeitserfahrung i... Show more

Emerald Akhaumere

Emerald Akhaumere

Emerald Akhaumere, a 22-year-old Nigerian trailblazer, is rewriting the narrative in the world of technology. Her journey began at the age of 15, fueled by an unquenchable passion for tech and a fierce determination to make a difference.

Emerald's tech odyssey has been nothing short of remarkable. Her early involvement in SWENext kindled her love for the field, setting the stage for an incredible transformation. From these roots, she ascended to become a Collegiate Member and a Collegiate Club Lead, championing inclusivity in STEM.

Emerald's accomplishments in the SWE Recruitment Challenge, where she clinched top positions multiple times, speak volumes about her zeal for SWE's mission and the advancement of women in tech. She believes that innovation thrives in diversity, and she's a living testament to this ideology.

But her journey didn't stop there. Emerald's commitment transcends borders; she proudly serves as a SWE Global Ambassador, amplifying the organization's impact and values globally. She's passionate about fostering a global community that empowers women to thrive in the tech universe.

As the newly appointed GDSC Lead at BAZE University, Emerald is poised to make an indelible mark. Her leadership and dedication are set to empower a new generation of tech enthusiasts.

Emerald's story is a testament to the incredible potential that emerges when passion meets dedication. She's breaking barriers, paving the way for underrepresented voices in tech, and proving that age is no limit when it comes to making waves in the world of technology.

Emerald Akhaumere, a 22-year-old Nigerian trailblazer, is rewriting the narrative in the world of technology. Her journey began at the age of 15, fueled by an unquenchable passion for tech and a fierce determination to make a difference. Emerald's... Show more

William Veronesi Rocha

William Veronesi Rocha

William Veronesi Rocha, é servidor efetivo do INSS, desde abril de 2004. Graduado em Ciência da Computação pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais. Possuí MBA em Gestão Publica e Certificação em Gestão e Processos de Inovação pela Certiprof e especialização em Gestão e Governança de TI pela FGV.
No INSS, de 2004 a 2010, fez parte da equipe de todas as instancias hierárquicas, assumindo em 2010 a Coordenação Geral de TI do órgão, que na época era a instancia responsável por toda a TI do instituto. Em 2011 foi cedido a DATAPREV onde já passou por vários cargos de gerencia e desde 2018 é o Gerente do Departamento de Inovação da DATAPREV.

William Veronesi Rocha, é servidor efetivo do INSS, desde abril de 2004. Graduado em Ciência da Computação pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais. Possuí MBA em Gestão Publica e Certificação em Gestão e Processos de Inovação pela Certi... Show more

Misha Kouzeh

Misha Kouzeh

Dr. Misha Kouzeh is a TEDx speaker, distinguished university lecturer, social entrepreneur, consultant and podcast host and producer with expertise in digital marketing, social impact and sustainability across three continents. For the past decade, she has worked with organizations such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, the United Nations' World Health Organization as well as NASA, Stanford, University of Southern California (USC), University of California LA (UCLA), Cal State Universities and various nutrition technology and medical companies to leverage the power of marketing, social impact and education to drive positive change for purpose-driven brands. A recognized thought leader often referred to as "Digital Changemaker", Dr. Kouzeh has spoken on global stages for over 15 organizations, including Sustainable Brands, the premier global community of brand innovators who are shaping the future of sustainable commerce worldwide.

Dr. Kouzeh obtained a Doctorate degree in Education at University of Southern California (USC) and holds two Master of Science degrees from RSM Erasmus University and Wageningen University in Marketing Management and Nutrition & Health and a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration from Erasmus University in the Netherlands. Located in Los Angeles, she obtained two UCLAx Certificates in Marketing and Sustainability and a Harvard certificate in Higher Education. She also serves as a member of advisory board for UCLA Extension, member of advisory council for Harvard Business Review, certified Climate Reality Leader, and several community organizations empowering individuals from youth to C-Suite executives to change the world.

Dr. Misha Kouzeh is a TEDx speaker, distinguished university lecturer, social entrepreneur, consultant and podcast host and producer with expertise in digital marketing, social impact and sustainability across three continents. For the past decade, s... Show more

Prasanjit Singh

Prasanjit Singh

An ardent Computer Science & Management Academician and Researcher with several years of experience spanning teaching, research, and applied innovation. My research interests encompass Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Biomedical Computing, Image Processing, Computer Vision, Cyber Security, Technology management and Data Mining.

Passionate about advancing computational intelligence for healthcare and secure data ecosystems, I aim to bridge the domains of AI-driven biomedical analysis and trustworthy computing. Alongside research, I am deeply engaged in mentoring students, fostering outcome-based education, and contributing to academic excellence through innovative curriculum design and institutional development initiatives.

An ardent Computer Science & Management Academician and Researcher with several years of experience spanning teaching, research, and applied innovation. My research interests encompass Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Biomedi... Show more

Yolonda Deon Tyler

Yolonda Deon Tyler

Yolonda Deon Tyler, an accomplished entrepreneur with 25+ years in corporate, non-profit, and independent business, is a Mindful Play Consultant and founder of Mindful Play Learning. Certified in multiple yoga disciplines and as a doula, she is a cultivator of wellness through mindfulness and Play!

Yolonda Deon Tyler, an accomplished entrepreneur with 25+ years in corporate, non-profit, and independent business, is a Mindful Play Consultant and founder of Mindful Play Learning. Certified in multiple yoga disciplines and as a doula, she is a cul... Show more

Nancy Hanks

Nancy Hanks

Nancy Hanks is a speaker, facilitator, and executive coach known for helping leaders navigate hard things with honesty, clarity, and heart. Drawing on a career that has included serving as a teacher, principal, Chief of Schools, and senior leadership coach, she brings a rare mix of strategic rigor, lived leadership experience, and down-to-earth wisdom to every room she enters.

Nancy currently serves as a Senior Partner at The Management Center, where she coaches leaders, facilitates trainings, and helps mission-driven organizations strengthen their management practices, culture, and impact. She has worked with leaders across education, nonprofits, and the social sector to build stronger teams, communicate more clearly, and lead with greater confidence and humanity. Her work is grounded in the belief that leadership is not just about results, but about how we create the conditions for people to thrive while doing meaningful work.

Before joining The Management Center, Nancy served as Chief of Schools for Madison Metropolitan School District, where she coached and supported leaders across 32 elementary schools. She has also served as a principal, teacher, and district leader, giving her a deep understanding of leadership at every level, from the front lines to the executive table. Across each chapter of her career, she has been drawn to the same work: helping people lead through change, strengthen culture, and move through complexity with courage and care.

Nancy speaks on leadership, resilience, grief, communication, and the human side of management. Audiences appreciate her for being thoughtful, practical, warm, and real — someone who can bring both insight and compassion to the messy, meaningful work of leading people well.

Audiences appreciate Nancy for her warmth, candor, and practical wisdom — and for her ability to speak to both the head and the heart of leadership.

Nancy Hanks is a speaker, facilitator, and executive coach known for helping leaders navigate hard things with honesty, clarity, and heart. Drawing on a career that has included serving as a teacher, principal, Chief of Schools, and senior leadership... Show more

Gunther Kreuzberger

Gunther Kreuzberger

Gunther Kreuzberger is a senior instructor
with the Virtual Worlds and Digital Games Group at
TU Ilmenau. His research interests include technology-supported teaching and learning, with a focus on
reflective and collaborative learning in immersive environments.

Gunther Kreuzberger is a senior instructor with the Virtual Worlds and Digital Games Group at TU Ilmenau. His research interests include technology-supported teaching and learning, with a focus on reflective and collaborative learning in immersiv... Show more

Robert Grønås

Robert Grønås

Robert Grønås er utdannet Statsviter fra NTNU og har mer enn 15 års erfaring innen informasjonssikkerhet og digitalisering. Han er sjefskonsulent i Experis og har lang erfaring med etablering og innføring av styringssystem for informasjonssikkerhet, både som konsulent og som CISO i universitets- og høgskolesektoren. Han har blant annet arbeidet systematisk med forvaltning og forbedring av ISO 27001-baserte styringssystemer, og har hjulpet flere virksomheter med å etterleve kravene i NIST 800-171-standarden. Et sentralt fokusområde for Robert har vært hvordan bevisførsel og dokumenterbar etterlevelse er avgjørende for god cybersikkerhet, og hvordan dette kan omsettes til praktiske, robuste løsninger i komplekse organisasjoner.

Robert Grønås er utdannet Statsviter fra NTNU og har mer enn 15 års erfaring innen informasjonssikkerhet og digitalisering. Han er sjefskonsulent i Experis og har lang erfaring med etablering og innføring av styringssystem for informasjonssikkerhet, ... Show more

Dana Book

Dana Book

Dana Book is a facilitator, trainer, and consultant who helps individuals, teams, and communities strengthen resilience through connection and positive experiences. His work draws on the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) framework and the Science of the Positive, focusing attention on what supports well-being, growth, and sustainability. Dana brings practical insight to his sessions through relatable stories, moments of reflection, and a touch of humor, helping participants notice what’s working, build on strengths, and feel encouraged for the road ahead.

Dana Book is a facilitator, trainer, and consultant who helps individuals, teams, and communities strengthen resilience through connection and positive experiences. His work draws on the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) framework and... Show more

Bernadette Murphy

Bernadette Murphy

25 years of experience in strategic fundraising, marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement across the UK and New Zealand. Championing a culture of insight-led, donor-focused innovation and digital-first engagement.

25 years of experience in strategic fundraising, marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement across the UK and New Zealand. Championing a culture of insight-led, donor-focused innovation and digital-first engagement. Show more

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