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

Dr. Noe Lorona

Dr. Noe Lorona

Dr. Noe Lorona is an Army officer currently serving as a platform engineer for the Army where he plans, develops and deploys cloud architecture to support Agile application development. He later transitioned to to become a platform product manager where he leads his team through tactical platform product development. Noe holds a Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University. He began giving back to the academic community by teaching online courses and publishing articles about software development and general technology topics in several professional magazines. Noe holds several IT, UX, and Project Management certifications.

Dr. Noe Lorona is an Army officer currently serving as a platform engineer for the Army where he plans, develops and deploys cloud architecture to support Agile application development. He later transitioned to to become a platform product manager w... Show more

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC
President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America
Author | Founder, Borinqueño Within Press | Certified Executive Coach | Clinical Social Worker | Veteran | Researcher | Policy Architect | Curriculum Developer | International Trainer

"I am a Boricua. A dad. A soldier. A professional social worker. An advocate. A teacher. A professor. A counselor. And a friend. And with every role, I lead with love and serve with purpose."

Biography
Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC, is a globally celebrated architect of fatherhood engagement, social policy reform, and transformative leadership development. For over four decades, he has shaped public health, child welfare, mental health, and professional education—building bridges across disciplines, communities, and continents. His career is defined by multidimensional leadership and a relentless pursuit of equity, healing, and opportunity for all. A proud father, soldier, social worker, and visionary educator, he has devoted his life to helping people rediscover hope, dignity, and purpose. His reach spans early childhood education, public health, leadership development, and fatherhood advocacy—fields that, in his hands, become pathways toward healing and intergenerational equity.

"Insights give way to dreams—developing vision—creating purpose that ends in your why."

Foundations: Service, Resilience, and Cultural Identity
Born into a low-income household and shaped by the adversity of the child welfare system, James began his journey at age 17 as a U.S. Army Combat Medic. By 22, he became one of the youngest Substance Abuse Counselors in the Department of Defense, retiring with honors and meritorious distinction in the reserves. Over more than two decades of military service, he developed expertise in trauma response, behavioral health, and law enforcement. This experience forged his devotion to discipline, compassion, and advocacy for the vulnerable.

James's service has been recognized at the highest levels: he is the recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Call to Service Award (President Barack Obama), Points of Light Award (President George H. W. Bush), Meritorious Service Medal (U.S. Department of Defense), and Congressional Certificates from Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Barbara Lee, and Diane E. Watson. He is deeply honored by the Ceremonial Elder Proclamation from the Qutekcak Native Tribe of Alaska, the National Social Worker Leadership Resolution (FFCA), and hundreds of additional accolades from national, state, tribal, and community organizations.

Architect of Systems Change: Building Movements, Securing Hope
As founder and CEO of the Fathers & Families Coalition of America (FFCA), Dr. Rodríguez transformed a grassroots Arizona network into an international force with offices in California and Puerto Rico, and active partnerships across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Australia. He was instrumental in creating one of the nation's first TANF-funded fatherhood programs, a model that generated over $75 million in resources and has been replicated nationwide. Under his leadership, FFCA's International Families & Fathers Conference—now in its 27th year—has become a global destination for educators, policymakers, and innovators, advancing justice and family well-being.

A founding steering committee member of the Fatherhood Research & Practice Network (FRPN) at Temple University, James has shaped federal research and policy, serving as principal investigator and senior research consultant on projects for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, CDC, NIMH, and the Oregon Center for Applied Science. His work has driven advances in public health, trauma-informed care, and family resilience.

Signature Curriculum Development and Thought Leadership
James is a master architect of transformational curricula and professional development, including the Advanced Practitioner Credential™ Course (NASW Arizona-approved), OAR Leadership Institute™ (Ownership • Accountability • Responsibility), FFCA DiSC Model™, Ikigai & The Power of Kintsugi™, and SAMHSA-approved Fatherhood and Mental Health Curriculum. He also developed the Strengthening Families Through Nurturing Leadership model. His trainings are lauded for blending cognitive science, neuroplasticity, emotional intelligence, trauma-informed care, and actionable leadership strategies, and have reached over 30,000 professionals—social workers, educators, clinicians, nonprofit leaders, and public officials—across the U.S. and four continents. Over 85% of program graduates report improved outcomes, including higher client engagement and service completion.

Certified as an Executive Coach, Master Trainer for The John R. Wooden Course™, Certified DiSC® Trainer, Life Coach, Ikigai Coach, and Schema Therapy Practitioner, Dr. Rodríguez's leadership development institutes have set new standards for excellence in behavioral health and family services.

Academic Impact, Mentorship, and Global Teaching
Dr. Rodríguez's educational reach is extraordinary. He has served as faculty, lecturer, or keynote at:

University of Southern California
Arizona State University
Morehouse College
Howard University
Columbia University
Yale University
University of Houston
Clark Atlanta University
Mesa Community College
Central Arizona College
Cornell University
Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
University of the West Indies (Jamaica)
University of Guelph (Canada)
Malcolm X College
Sobo Tribal Nation
Navajo Nation
Qutekcak Native Tribe (Alaska)
Numerous First Nations and international partners
He developed and directed over 30 undergraduate and graduate courses, established statewide programs, and has keynoted and taught from Ivy League classrooms to tribal communities. He serves on the editorial board of PHYLON: The Clark Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture, which he joined upon the appointment of Dr. Obie Clayton, Jr., and supports scholarship on race, family, and social change.

Policy Leadership, Board Service, and Community Engagement
Dr. Rodríguez's policy influence extends to every level of government. He has developed legislation for Connecticut's Fatherhood Initiative, served on Arizona and California TANF/family-strengthening task forces, and advised the New York City Mayor's Fatherhood Advisory Council, DYCD, and ACS. He has shaped policy in partnership with SAMHSA, Region II Head Start, the State of Maryland, and the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. He has provided expert testimony before the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee. He collaborates with Congressman Danny K. Davis and hosts national Fireside Policy Roundtables on equity, child support, and education reform.

His board service is cross-sectoral and visionary, including:

100 Black Men – Arizona Chapter
AGAPE Adoption Agency
Maricopa County Human Services
Fatherhood Corrections Network
Black Family Preservation Institute
And numerous national, state, and tribal boards
Public Health, Equity, and Systems Innovation
James has led multiple national initiatives addressing mental health equity, early childhood wellness, and culturally responsive care—serving Latino, African American, Somali, First Nations, and other underserved communities. His work with the Somali Association of Arizona, the Hispanic/Latino and African American Parent Depression Research Project, and tribal partners has been recognized for its transformative impact on systems and inclusion.

Author, Storyteller, and Purpose-Driven Advocate
As founder of Borinqueño Within Press and author of the forthcoming The Purpose Within—Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix, Dr. Rodríguez's story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring power of purpose. He weaves together memoir, leadership philosophy, and spiritual reflection, inspiring audiences to discover their own capacity to lead and transform.

Personal Values, Humanity, and Enduring Legacy
Above all, Dr. Rodríguez is a father, grandfather, and mentor. He draws daily inspiration from his children—Antonio (Cassandra), Amber Rodríguez-Young, LMSW (Daric), and Jazmín Rodríguez—and his grandchildren, Ariston and Adalena. His life and work are an expression of core values: love, empathy, humility, and a drive to uplift others. Whether leading a boardroom, inspiring a conference, or building coalitions for social change, James delivers wisdom, practical strategies, and hope—leaving every audience moved to action.

"Leadership is not about titles. It is about being water—shaping, flowing, and giving life wherever you go." — Bruce Lee.

If your organization seeks a keynote speaker, leadership institute facilitator, or strategic advisor who brings unparalleled experience, intellectual rigor, cultural fluency, and a proven record of impact, Dr. James C. Rodríguez is the transformative presence your audience deserves.

Contact:
james.rodriguez@fathersandfamiliescoalition.org
www.fathersandfamiliescoalition.org

"Never The End, Never Goodbye, Just I love You." – Your Friend, James

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America Author | Founder, Borinqueño Within Press | Certified Executive Coach | Clinical Social Worker | Veteran | Researcher | Policy Architect ... Show more

Chanel Power

Chanel Power

Chanel Power doesn't just build technology — she builds the systems that determine who gets to.

A Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Developer Relations leader, and Founder & CEO of Mentor Me Collective, Chanel operates at the intersection of technical excellence and global access. She has shipped production ML systems, advised 30+ early-stage AI product teams annually, and built a global technical institute serving 40K+ developers across 120+ countries, generating $45M+ in career outcomes for 600+ first-generation technologists.

Mentor Me Collective is a Google for Startups partner, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center alumni, and by every measure, a developer relations program at true scale, with enablement programs running at 3x industry engagement benchmarks and partnerships spanning Google Cloud, IBM, and Grow with Google.

Her technical range is matched by her ability to translate it across engineering rooms, executive briefings, and communities the industry too often overlooks.

Chanel works at the frontier of Generative AI, Agentic AI, and accelerated computing. She builds fast, speaks plain, and closes the gap between what's possible and who gets to build it.

She is not building toward legacy. She is already living it.

Chanel Power doesn't just build technology — she builds the systems that determine who gets to. A Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Developer Relations leader, and Founder & CEO of Mentor Me Collective, Chanel operates at the intersection of techn... Show more

Shawnta Hooks

Shawnta Hooks

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty.

Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. With a background as a former Fortune 100 Vice President of Automation Transformation and Certified Public Accountant, she brings rare executive credibility to the human side of leadership.

Through neuroscience-backed, multisensory experiences — integrating music, movement, mindfulness, and storytelling — Shawntà teaches leaders the bio hacks of presence, regulation, and influence. Her work reveals what’s felt but rarely named in modern organizations: how overstimulation, unregulated pressure, and emotional misalignment quietly erode performance, trust, and decision-making.

She is the founder of The Clarity Lab™ and creator of the Catch → Convert → Create™ system of nervous system regulation.

Equipping leaders to regulate pressure, repair trust, and lead in the age of uncertainty. Shawntà Hooks is an award-winning global keynote speaker, author, and Leadership & Clarity Strategist known for unlocking clarity in high-pressure cultures. ... Show more

David Agbolade

David Agbolade

David is a Senior Data Scientist working in UK Government, where he applies AI and machine learning to real-world public sector challenges. He holds an MSc in AI & Data Science (Distinction) and BSc in Software Engineering.

His research on deploying deep learning for automated radiology reports was published in the Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering (JIWE) and earned Best Presenter Award at NexSymp 2025 in Malaysia. Beyond government work, he founded SheerFit, an AI-powered wellness platform serving users across communities.

David's work focuses on building production AI systems that actually work in resource-constrained environments, not just in labs. He's passionate about honest conversations about what it really takes to deploy AI in the real world: the failures, the compromises, and the unglamorous solutions that actually ship.

David is a Senior Data Scientist working in UK Government, where he applies AI and machine learning to real-world public sector challenges. He holds an MSc in AI & Data Science (Distinction) and BSc in Software Engineering. His research on deployi... Show more

Vaneeta Aggarwal

Vaneeta Aggarwal

Vaneeta Aggarwal, founder of Bizemag Advisors is an award winning Woman Entrepreneur, author & speaker. With experience of 30 years, she is widely lauded as a thought leader in higher education and has pushed many changes in school and university education. Advocate of workplace diversity & inclusion and globalizing education, she is invited at several events to speak about women entrepreneurship, skill education, and women empowerment through educating and skilling.

Vaneeta Aggarwal, founder of Bizemag Advisors is an award winning Woman Entrepreneur, author & speaker. With experience of 30 years, she is widely lauded as a thought leader in higher education and has pushed many changes in school and university ed... Show more

Kieran Holmes

Kieran Holmes

Kieran is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Solution Architect with over a decade of Microsoft Business Applications delivery experience across enterprise clients in both the public and private sector.

As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Kieran supports organisations through digital transformation and the adoption of new Microsoft technologies, including AI-powered business applications and agents.

Kieran is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Solution Architect with over a decade of Microsoft Business Applications delivery experience across enterprise clients in both the public and private sector. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, K... Show more

Edmond Makolle

Edmond Makolle

Hi 👋🏾 ! I'm Edmond Ghislain MAKOLLE EBONGUE NDJOH, Software Engineer and Python Programming Instructor . I am originally from the LITTORAL in CAMEROON 🇨🇲 .

I work most often in Python (if not always) with technologies such as Django and FastAPI to build backend applications and Rest or Graph APIs.

I am involved in certain communities in my city and even in my country, because I am for those who give back what the community has given them. So I often organize and participate in community-organized events.

Hi 👋🏾 ! I'm Edmond Ghislain MAKOLLE EBONGUE NDJOH, Software Engineer and Python Programming Instructor . I am originally from the LITTORAL in CAMEROON 🇨🇲 . I work most often in Python (if not always) with technologies such as Django and FastAP... Show more

Tyrone Grandison

Tyrone Grandison

Dr. Tyrone W. A. Grandison is a technologist, entrepreneur, and social advocate with many years of experience . As a Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and Founder of The Data-Driven Institute, he drives innovation and empowers communities through data. A White House Presidential Innovation Fellow and co-creator of groundbreaking initiatives.

Dr. Tyrone W. A. Grandison is a technologist, entrepreneur, and social advocate with many years of experience . As a Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and Founder of The Data-Driven Institute, he drives innovation and empowers communities through... Show more

Emanuel Toledo

Emanuel Toledo

Emanuel Toledo is a Data Scientist and holds a degree in Public Management, specializing in the implementation of artificial intelligence and the strategic use of data in organizations.

With over 15 years of experience in the public sector, he works on designing practical frameworks for AI adoption, addressing its limitations, risks, and challenges in real-world decision-making contexts.

He is the founder of Thinking Out!, a consulting firm focused on data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, where he supports institutions and professionals in the effective integration of these technologies.

He is currently researching how the public sector can reduce its structural gaps and improve its capabilities through the strategic adoption of technology. As part of this work, he developed a digital transition approach adaptable to different types of organizations, aimed at effectively integrating data and artificial intelligence in real-world management contexts.

Emanuel Toledo is a Data Scientist and holds a degree in Public Management, specializing in the implementation of artificial intelligence and the strategic use of data in organizations. With over 15 years of experience in the public sector, he wor... Show more

Ursula Spencer

Ursula Spencer

Ursula Spencer is an eDiscovery and information governance SME with deep roots in enterprise Microsoft ecosystems. She pioneered and led the Federal Reserve System’s eDiscovery function following the 2008 financial crisis, designing defensible data collection and review workflows across 12 Reserve Banks. Her work supported Congressional investigations, regulatory audits, and high risk litigation, reducing manual processing by over 80 percent while maintaining NIST and FISMA aligned audit readiness. She has since led system wide migrations to Microsoft 365, designed governance ready collaboration environments, and advised public and private sector organizations on secure, people centered M365 adoption.

Today, Ursula designs secure, people centered adoption strategies for public sector, education, and enterprise organizations. She specializes in translating emerging technologies including AI, XR, VR, and AR into governed, scalable solutions that accelerate transformation while protecting data and compliance posture. Her approach blends deep technical expertise with change leadership, helping organizations safely navigate AI’s inflection point.

An award winning technologist, she has spoken at Politico LIVE, Microsoft Elevate and Innovate, BaddieCon, CIAA Tech Summit House, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where she shares practical frameworks for AI readiness, collaboration at scale, and career reinvention in emerging tech.

Ursula Spencer is an eDiscovery and information governance SME with deep roots in enterprise Microsoft ecosystems. She pioneered and led the Federal Reserve System’s eDiscovery function following the 2008 financial crisis, designing defensible data c... Show more

Juan García

Juan García

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diseño y dinamización de Living Lab

Organizador #InnoBAR Valladolid (www.innobar.net)

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

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

Roksana Inga Rybicka

Roksana Inga Rybicka

Studentin an der EUV, Peer Tutorin für wissenschaftliche Schreiben & Lernen, Directorin für IT bei ELSA

Roksana ist eine leidenschaftliche Studentin im Bereich Rechtswissenschaften und steht kurz vor dem Abschluss ihres Studiums. Neben ihrem Engagement in der akademischen Welt ist sie auch eine begeisterte Webdesignerin und Programmiererin, mit einem besonderen Interesse an den Schnittstellen von Technologie und Recht. Als Peer Tutorin und Director für IT bei ELSA kombiniert sie ihre Liebe zu digitalen Innovationen mit ihrer Expertise im Bereich Bildung und Lehre. Sie engagiert sich zudem in internationalen Netzwerken und hat sich auf die Förderung von Zugänglichkeit und Empowerment spezialisiert.Sie liebt es, kreative Methoden wie Gamification in der Lehre zu integrieren, um Studierende aktiv in ihre Lernprozesse einzubinden und auf die Herausforderungen der digitalen Zukunft vorzubereiten.

Studentin an der EUV, Peer Tutorin für wissenschaftliche Schreiben & Lernen, Directorin für IT bei ELSA Roksana ist eine leidenschaftliche Studentin im Bereich Rechtswissenschaften und steht kurz vor dem Abschluss ihres Studiums. Neben ihrem Engag... Show more

Stefan Göllner

Stefan Göllner

Stefan Göllner ist Innovationsmanager für Future Skills und KI beim Stifterband. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit liegt seit 2020 auf Initiativen zur community-orientierten Weiterentwicklung des KI-Campus – die Lernplattform für Künstliche Intelligenz. Er entwickelt innovative Lernformate und engagiert sich für die partizipative Weiterentwicklung der Lernplattform und den Aufbau eines überregionalen Lern-Ökosystems in den KI-Campus HUBs. Seit 2025 koordiniert er die Taskforce »KI in der Hochschullehre« im Rahmen der Allianz für Future Skills.

Stefan Göllner ist Innovationsmanager für Future Skills und KI beim Stifterband. Ein Schwerpunkt seiner Arbeit liegt seit 2020 auf Initiativen zur community-orientierten Weiterentwicklung des KI-Campus – die Lernplattform für Künstliche Intelligenz. ... Show more

Josh Harr

Josh Harr

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

Adelegan Oluseyi Abiodun

Adelegan Oluseyi Abiodun

I am a Senior Full-Stack Web Developer and CTO based in Lagos, Nigeria, with 13+ years of experience building enterprise-grade Drupal applications for government, healthcare, NGO, and commercial sectors.

My Drupal work includes:

- HEFAMAA — Health Facility Monitoring & Accreditation System for Lagos State government, monitoring 4,000+ healthcare facilities across Lagos State

- LASAMBUS — Emergency Management Data Capture Portal for Lagos State Ambulance Service, processing 10,000+ emergency calls

- ZODML E-Library & Poetry Prize Platform — digital infrastructure for one of Nigeria's leading literary non-profits, serving 10,000+ library patrons and 60,000+ e-resources

- West Africa College of Physicians (WACP) Portal — membership and dues management for 4,000+ medical professionals across West Africa

- Koha Library Management System — implementation and customisation with OPAC integration for ZODML

I have been part of the Nigerian Drupal community since the 2015 revival. I organised and participated in DrupalCamp Nigeria 2015, 2016 and 2017. I attended DrupalCon Vienna 2025, was a nominated speaker at DrupalCon Chicago 2026, spoke at Drupal Camp Burkina Faso 2026, and am on the waitlist for DrupalCon Rotterdam 2026.

I am currently working to rebuild the Drupal Nigeria community through the Drupal Nigeria Association — a structured effort to reconnect Nigerian developers, recruit young talent through universities, and deliver open source projects of genuine public benefit.

Technology stack: Drupal 7–10, PHP, Laravel, React.js, React Native, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Linux, Docker, Azure, Git/GitHub.

I am a Senior Full-Stack Web Developer and CTO based in Lagos, Nigeria, with 13+ years of experience building enterprise-grade Drupal applications for government, healthcare, NGO, and commercial sectors. My Drupal work includes: - HEFAMAA — Hea... Show more

Sofia Maiolo

Sofia Maiolo

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

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

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

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

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

Moritz Schmid

Moritz Schmid

Moritz Schmid studiert Politikwissenschaft und Volkswirtschaftslehre an der Universität Regensburg. Seit April 2026 ist er Sprecher des Bayerischen Landesstudierendenrats und vertritt die über 400.000 Studierenden in Bayern. In dieser Funktion sind seine Schwerpunkte Künstliche Intelligenz, Nachhaltigkeit und die Zukunft der Lehre. Darüber hinaus engagiert er sich als Mitglied der Steuerungsgruppe des Zentrums Hochschule und Nachhaltigkeit Bayern (BayZen) – und hat mit CampusCar eine Carpooling-Plattform mitinitiiert, um Pendleremissionen an Hochschulen zu reduzieren.

Moritz Schmid studiert Politikwissenschaft und Volkswirtschaftslehre an der Universität Regensburg. Seit April 2026 ist er Sprecher des Bayerischen Landesstudierendenrats und vertritt die über 400.000 Studierenden in Bayern. In dieser Funktion sind s... Show more

Merlin Pahic

Merlin Pahic

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

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

Yigakpoa L. Ikpae

Yigakpoa L. Ikpae

Yigakpoa is an open-source advocate and technologist working at the intersection of open data, accessibility, digital equity, and sustainability. Her work focuses on building systems that make technology more inclusive, measurable, and impactful for communities often left out of digital transformation.

She has contributed to global open-source ecosystems through leadership and governance roles, including serving as Co-Chair of the Project Management team and a Maintainer within the Accessibility team at the CHAOSS Project, where she supported the development of frameworks for measuring the health, inclusivity, and sustainability of open-source communities.

As Chief Operating Officer at CLENT Africa, she works at the intersection of climate and technology, leveraging open data platforms and energy access tools to drive community-centered resilience and environmental justice across African contexts.

At OpenGov Africa, she leads strategy, designing and scaling systems that use open data to strengthen government transparency, civic participation, and accountability. Her work integrates digital infrastructure with grassroots governance, enabling citizens to actively engage with and shape public systems.

Beyond her organizational roles, Yiga is a global speaker and mentor, supporting marginalized individuals as they navigate pathways into technology and open-source ecosystems.

Yigakpoa is an open-source advocate and technologist working at the intersection of open data, accessibility, digital equity, and sustainability. Her work focuses on building systems that make technology more inclusive, measurable, and impactful for ... Show more

Ismael Novo

Ismael Novo

🎓Formador de Formadores por Babson College
🔴ExPresidente de la Confederación Española de Junior Empresa
💻Consultor Informático en EPAM
📊Prince2 & Scrum Master
🏫Alumni del Colegio Mayor Azarbe

🎓Formador de Formadores por Babson College 🔴ExPresidente de la Confederación Española de Junior Empresa 💻Consultor Informático en EPAM 📊Prince2 & Scrum Master 🏫Alumni del Colegio Mayor Azarbe Show more

Kourtney Bonzo

Kourtney Bonzo

Kourtney Bonzo began her career in marketing with Texas Roadhouse before transitioning into volunteer management during the COVID-19 pandemic. She successfully increased volunteer engagement by 50%, helping her organization earn recognition as Northern Utah’s best place to volunteer. In 2021, she joined the City of Baytown, where she launched Baytown Serves, a citywide initiative featuring 30 days of volunteer opportunities. Kourtney now manages volunteer and docent programs at the McFaddin-Ward House Museum, continuing to grow community engagement through service and education.

Kourtney Bonzo began her career in marketing with Texas Roadhouse before transitioning into volunteer management during the COVID-19 pandemic. She successfully increased volunteer engagement by 50%, helping her organization earn recognition as Northe... Show more

Sven Seiler

Sven Seiler

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

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

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

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

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

Ezequiel Fernandez

Ezequiel Fernandez

Mediador, formado en la Escuela de
Mediación del Colegio Público de Abogados
de Buenos Aires. Magister en RRHH, FCE
UBA. Entrenado en negociación por CMI-Harvard,
en Cambridge, Massachusetts,
EEUU. Posgrado en Gestión Humana de
las Organizaciones, Facultad de Psicología
UBA. Contador Público. Profesor de
Negociación, persuasión y comunicación estrategica en grado y posgrado.
Vicepresidente de la Comisión de Negociación del Consejo Profesional de Ciencias Económicas de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Entrenador, mentor y consultor de negociadores.
Apasionado investigador y creador de contenido sobre negociación, persuasión y comunicación interpersonal.
Profesional independiente, socio fundador de Visión y Estrategia Consultores.

Mediador, formado en la Escuela de Mediación del Colegio Público de Abogados de Buenos Aires. Magister en RRHH, FCE UBA. Entrenado en negociación por CMI-Harvard, en Cambridge, Massachusetts, EEUU. Posgrado en Gestión Humana de las Organizacion... Show more

Norah Schrum

Norah Schrum

Meet a seasoned professional known in the digital realm as @tekNorah. With over 15+ years of experience in software development and continuous process improvement, they are a strategic technical leader in the digital agency space. Hailing from Mokena, IL, @tekNorah brings a wealth of expertise primarily serving the education, government, and legal industries.

As a seasoned community leader, @tekNorah is deeply ingrained in the tech community, contributing to Drupal and Open Source Software, and serving on the leadership team for MidCamp. Their knack for organic collaboration and ideation has led to significant organizational performance improvements, making them a sought-after figure in the industry.

With a passion for innovation and a commitment to best practices, @tekNorah’s approach to systems design and change management is both meticulous and forward-thinking. Whether it's crafting tailor-designed solutions from concept to launch or coordinating intern and onboarding programs, their dedication to excellence shines through in every endeavor.

Connect with @tekNorah to tap into their expertise and collaborate on your next project. Driving innovation and efficiency gains, @tekNorah is your go-to partner for transformative solutions in the digital landscape.

Meet a seasoned professional known in the digital realm as @tekNorah. With over 15+ years of experience in software development and continuous process improvement, they are a strategic technical leader in the digital agency space. Hailing from Mokena... Show more

Noemi Nagy

Noemi Nagy

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

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

Jacqueline Stockwell

Jacqueline Stockwell

Jacqueline “Jaki” Stockwell is the CEO & Founder of Leadership Through Data, a global company who provide information management training and consultancy to both public and private sectors.

Alongside running the business, Jaki is also a professional speaker and is invited to attend international conferences and events. Jaki’s sessions are all about teaching information managers how to deliver fun, engaging and informative presentations to their colleagues in their respective businesses. As information managers know, it’s important that everyone in a business understands what information management is, however getting them to listen and comply is undeniably difficult. Jaki’s teaching methods empower information managers to think differently and use psychology along with a combination of styles to get their message across; after all, one size doesn’t fit all.

As well as being an international speaker, Jaki’s creative and inspirational leadership style and proactive approach to information management has led her to mentor others. She is quoted by clients and industry peers who say that “her positive attitude is infectious” and “she is totally human in her approach”.

Jacqueline’s aim in her career is to simplify information management what is unfortunately viewed as a complex and uninteresting topic, into relevant practical and enjoyable solutions which can be understood and implemented by all. The safety and security of information is both key to successful businesses but also a threat to their success if not managed effectively.

Whether in business or in her personal life, Jaki is always mindful of her sustainability efforts. At home she loves to upcycle and breathe new life into preloved furniture and décor. She loves to craft and sew and enjoys gardening and growing fruit and vegetables - no matter how successful the harvest may be .

Jacqueline “Jaki” Stockwell is the CEO & Founder of Leadership Through Data, a global company who provide information management training and consultancy to both public and private sectors. Alongside running the business, Jaki is also a profession... Show more

Jonathan Wroble

Jonathan Wroble

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

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

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

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

Valeria Burdi

Valeria Burdi

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

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

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

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

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

Non porto soluzioni, porto domande che aprono strade.

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

William Smith

William Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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