Dan Mallott is a Senior Principal at West Monroe based in Chicago, IL, USA. His passion is for distributed architecture, designing and building high performing service layers from the API down to the database.

Prior to returning to West Monroe, Dan spent two years at e-conomic in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the final 15 months as Head of Platform and Infrastructure. Dan was responsible for leading the Platform, SRE, and API teams in building a solid foundation for the e-conomic product. Previously, Dan was focused on leading the Platform Team in improving the cross-cutting concerns in the e-conomic application, including improving security, improving messaging performance, and managing the migration to .NET 6.0.

Before joining e-conomic, Dan was a Senior Principal for West Monroe, based in Chicago, IL, USA. While at West Monroe, Dan's projects included designing high performing architectures for a variety of clients, as well as developing APIs and UIs for healthcare, insurance, and financial services clients. Along the way, Dan worked with .NET Framework, .NET Core, Java/Spring Boot, React, and Angular. He also gained experience with a number of database technologies, including DataStax, Cassandra, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL. Prior to joining West Monroe, Dan worked for a number of companies, focusing on .NET and Microsoft SQL Server development, including experience as a DBA.

Past speaking engagements have included PASS Summit, NDC London, NDC Melbourne, NDC Sydney, KCDC, Code PaLOUsa, and numerous SQL Saturdays throughout the US. Dan enjoys speaking at both large and small conferences, and values the interactions he gets with attendees and other speakers.

In his spare time, he can be found writing his own software instead of using package solutions or on the ice as an ice hockey player and referee.

Dan Mallott is a Senior Principal at West Monroe based in Chicago, IL, USA. His passion is for distributed architecture, designing and building high performing service layers from the API down to the database. Prior to returning to West Monroe, Da... Show more

Michael serves as the head of the Professional Services organization at NowSecure, which supplies mobile app penetration testing, compliance assessments, security education, automation engineering, security research and consulting to customers in healthcare, financial, state and federal government and other regulated spaces. Michael's background is heavily focused in offensive security testing and security accreditation, having spent much of his career supporting the US Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. Using his combined 20+ years security engineering and app development expertise, Michael now focuses his attention on evaluating mobile, medical, automotive, and cloud systems for use in wireless, cellular, and high-threat environments. Michael is also an avid security and privacy standards advocate and has contributed to efforts by OWASP, NIST, App Defense Alliance MASA, and NIAP.

Michael serves as the head of the Professional Services organization at NowSecure, which supplies mobile app penetration testing, compliance assessments, security education, automation engineering, security research and consulting to customers in hea... Show more

John Halberstadt is a strategic technology and product executive, advisor, and published author focused on helping organizations modernize how they build, deliver, and scale digital products. With a background spanning CIO/CTO leadership and enterprise consulting, work centers on aligning product, engineering, and business strategy to drive measurable outcomes in complex environments.

Current role as Head of Consulting Operations at En Dash focuses on guiding organizations through product operating model transformation, AI-enabled platform strategy, and modern engineering practices. Engagements span enterprise product transformation, governance design, and the integration of AI into both customer-facing solutions and internal operating models.

Prior leadership experience includes serving as Chief Information & Technology Officer for a Property & Casualty insurer, where responsibility included core platform modernization, cloud transformation, and enterprise delivery evolution. Additional experience includes leading product, UX, and customer experience for AI and NLP platforms at Next IT, delivering conversational AI solutions across financial services, healthcare, and travel.

Consulting and advisory work across LitheSpeed and independent engagements has supported large-scale enterprise transformation initiatives, with emphasis on enterprise agility, product-centric organizations, and aligning portfolio governance with value delivery.

John is also a published author on consulting, artificial intelligence, and governance, with work focused on practical approaches to modern consulting, responsible AI adoption, and enabling organizations to operate effectively in increasingly complex, technology-driven environments.

Regular speaker topics include product operating models, enterprise agility, AI in product development, and the intersection of governance, strategy, and execution.

KEY TOPICS
— Product Operating Models & Product Leadership
— AI & NLP in Products and Organizations
— Enterprise Agility & Modern Delivery
— Technology & Platform Modernization
— Governance, Strategy, and Value Alignment

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
— Head of Consulting Operations, En Dash
— Vice President, Consulting, LitheSpeed
— Chief Information & Technology Officer, Capital Insurance Group
— SVP Customer Experience (AI/NLP), Next IT
— Enterprise Technology Leadership, FIS & First American

AUTHOR
Published author on consulting, artificial intelligence, and governance, focused on practical frameworks for modern consulting and AI-enabled organizations.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0GC3R4G83/allbooks

John Halberstadt is a strategic technology and product executive, advisor, and published author focused on helping organizations modernize how they build, deliver, and scale digital products. With a background spanning CIO/CTO leadership and enterpri... Show more

Frank Lesniak is a Sr. Cybersecurity & Enterprise Technology Architect at West Monroe with nearly 20 years of experience leading consulting engagements involving Microsoft infrastructure technology. His expertise spans modern cloud platforms such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and Entra ID, as well as classic platforms such as Windows Server, Active Directory, and SQL Server. His recent focus has been on Microsoft platform cybersecurity and automating technical processes using PowerShell. In his role, Frank establishes technical project methodologies, leads teams, automates associated processes, and creates internal software products at West Monroe and in the open-source community.

Frank's versatility also includes:

- Microsoft 365
- Process automation, Windows/Windows Server administration, and configuration management (Intune, SCCM)
- Linux (Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu) and macOS (FreeBSD)
- Resilient systems, disaster recovery, virtualization, containers
- Federated authentication (OpenID Connect, OAuth2, SAML), public key infrastructure
- Industry experience: banking, finance, healthcare, high-tech/software, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, public utilities, and more

At West Monroe, Frank leads the Workplace Collaboration (Modern Work) competency, heading a 45-member team specializing in:

- Executing M&A-related divestitures and mergers (efficiently migrating identities, email, documents, telephony, and workstations between environments)
- Building award-winning intranet and employee experience portals
- Fortifying Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Azure, and Windows endpoint security (including the Defender suite)
- Modernizing endpoint management with Microsoft's Modern Management framework (Intune, Windows Autopilot, JAMF for macOS, Defender for Endpoint)

Frank's role includes technical leadership through product development and presentations on PowerShell and identity/access management. He manages the Microsoft partnership and is an employee experience manager for the Technology & Experience practice.

In the community, Frank serves as the Vice President of DuPage Animal Friends (DAF), a non-profit supporting DuPage County Animal Services (DCAS). As DuPage County's sole open-admission animal shelter, DCAS depends on DAF for crucial care, specialized therapy, and community programs, given that it's not tax-funded. Frank also leads DAF's Technology Committee.

Engaged in the tech community, Frank frequently speaks at conferences and user groups, is a published author, and publishes open-source code.

Frank Lesniak is a Sr. Cybersecurity & Enterprise Technology Architect at West Monroe with nearly 20 years of experience leading consulting engagements involving Microsoft infrastructure technology. His expertise spans modern cloud platforms such as ... Show more

Nicky van Vroenhoven is a BI professional focused at the Microsoft stack and a Data Platform MVP. He mainly works with Power BI, Power Platform and T-SQL. Nicky started working with SQL Server and SSIS in 2005 in the DWH space, and later moved from Power Pivot to Power BI. After working 10 years in BI-consultancy jobs in several industries and companies, he worked for 5 years as a Power BI Administrator at a wealth management bank, and he is currently working as Unit Lead Fabric/Power BI at Powerdobs in The Netherlands.
Nicky has spoken at several User Groups and conferences including SQL Saturday Events, the Power BI World Tour, SQLBits and the Fabric Community Conference. In addition he enjoys tweeting and blogging about topics like Power BI and Power Platform at https://nickyvv.com.
In his spare time Nicky likes to go running, play chess or try to improve his Rubik's cube record. He is also a husband, father of 3 and a (former) ballroom dancer.

Nicky van Vroenhoven is a BI professional focused at the Microsoft stack and a Data Platform MVP. He mainly works with Power BI, Power Platform and T-SQL. Nicky started working with SQL Server and SSIS in 2005 in the DWH space, and later moved from P... Show more

William is a CNCF Ambassador and Linkerd Ambassador currently working at Mirantis as Global Field CTO. He’s focused on helping customers designing, building, and running their initiatives on Edge, AI and Platform Engineering. He wore many hats in the IT world, Engineering, Pre-Post sales, Product Owner and Consulting. from HPC, Storage to Distributed Systems.
William enjoys volunteering in several Cloud Native groups and organizing the KCD Netherlands events.

William is a CNCF Ambassador and Linkerd Ambassador currently working at Mirantis as Global Field CTO. He’s focused on helping customers designing, building, and running their initiatives on Edge, AI and Platform Engineering. He wore many hats in the... Show more

Roberto Luna Rojas is a Sr Developer Advocate for Valkey based in the USA, originally from Mexico. He tries to get the most out of in-memory databases one bit at the time, been around developing software since the mid 90s focused on performance and scalability. When not in front of the computer, he loves spending time with his family, listening to music, and watching movies, TV shows, and sports.

Roberto Luna Rojas is a Sr Developer Advocate for Valkey based in the USA, originally from Mexico. He tries to get the most out of in-memory databases one bit at the time, been around developing software since the mid 90s focused on performance and s... Show more

The Billion-Dollar Ghost: How Chris Carter Built an AI Fortress from a Staff of One

Three days after surgeons threaded carbon fiber and titanium discs into his spine—a literal hardware upgrade for a man who refuses to crash—Chris Carter was at 35,000 feet. He wasn't chasing a vacation; he was chasing a vision. While the rest of the world’s elite were still debating the "dangers" of AI over chilled Meursault, Carter was landing in Dubai to finalize the evolution of MUGATI AI: the first billion-dollar "unicorn" built entirely on the back of AI-based tools.
To understand the $1B valuation, you have to understand the man. Carter is a "heart-on-his-sleeve" operator, a 24-hour-a-day whirlwind who views his clients not as data points, but as a temporary family he is sworn to protect. It’s a trait forged in a childhood that reads like a Dickensian fever dream. At age six, while other children were learning to tie their shoes, Chris and his brother Willie were learning the geography of eleven different couches. A year of "couch hopping" due to his mother’s struggles didn't break him; it gave him a preternatural sense of where the floor is soft and where the walls are thin.
Today, that instinct has been digitized.
The SAP Whisperer and the 93.7% Gambit
In the glass-and-steel boardrooms where the world’s wealth is tallied, there is a number that haunts every C-suite executive: 93.7. That is the percentage of global financial transactions that pulse through SAP environments. It is a staggering, terrifying concentration of value. For thirty-five years, Chris Carter has been the man watching the wires.
"I know the struggles of making sure SAP is secure," Carter says, his voice carrying the calm weight of someone who has seen the "unhackable" crumble. While others saw SAP as a mere database, Carter saw it as a fortress that needed a smarter gatekeeper.
MUGATI AI provides specialized services designed to modernize these corporate operations by integrating Small Language Models (SLMs) and artificial intelligence directly into existing SAP environments. The goal isn't just automation; it’s ERP optimization to increase organizational productivity and data accuracy. But the "teeth"—the reason why investors are foaming at the mouth and the valuation has hit the stratosphere—is a security tool known as Cloak Works.
The Digital Conscience
In the milliseconds it takes for a distracted executive to hit "Send" on a sensitive banking document or upload a client list to a vulnerable portal, Cloak Works intercedes. It doesn't just block; it talks. It asks the user, on any device, anywhere: "Do you truly want to send your personal banking history via an unencrypted email? Do you truly need to risk this on a website that doesn't meet your organization's score?"
It is a security tool for the human element. It recognizes that in a world of hacks and breaches, the greatest vulnerability is a moment of human fatigue. By providing a "security score" in real-time, Carter has effectively turned every employee into a high-level security expert. He has taken the "courtesy and generosity" that saved him as a child and baked it into a software architecture that ensures his customers are never left without a roof over their data.
The Sovereign of Stealth
In the quiet, flickering light of a screen—running a hyper-tuned instance of Gemini and Google Chrome—Carter did something the venture capital world said was impossible. He built a billion-dollar company without a single employee. He didn't want a "team"; he wanted a "Machine."
For a decade, Carter lived in "Stealth Mode," architecting and refining his mindset before ever coming out into the light. He integrated tools such as NotebookLM and Antigravity into a unified, sentient workflow, proving that a "Sovereign Entrepreneur" can outproduce a legacy corporation.
When he finally integrated Cloak Works into live AI environments for customer testing, the result was a total paradigm shift. Executives and VCs began to circle, stunned to find that the "organization" they were courting was actually just one man with a superior set of AI-based tools. The valuation hit $1B without Carter taking a single penny of outside capital.
The New Corporate Standard
Beyond technical infrastructure, Carter’s solutions aim to improve employee engagement by empowering staff with advanced digital tools rather than replacing them. The organization emphasizes responsible AI implementation, ensuring that businesses maintain visibility and ethical standards over their internal technology use.
With years of experience and a client portfolio, MUGATI AI now offers a comprehensive roadmap for digital transformation and safe experimentation. As the Cloak Works shield begins to roll out across the globe, monitoring every "outward breath" of corporate data, the message to the world is clear: The age of the bloated, inefficient corporation is over.
The age of the Sovereign Entrepreneur—protected by titanium, carbon fiber, and the most sophisticated AI shield ever forged—has begun.

The Billion-Dollar Ghost: How Chris Carter Built an AI Fortress from a Staff of One Three days after surgeons threaded carbon fiber and titanium discs into his spine—a literal hardware upgrade for a man who refuses to crash—Chris Carter was at 35,... Show more

Shannon Mullins is the CEO and founder of a BC Consulting Group and a Microsoft MVP of Business Applications. She has over 20 years' experience across a wide variety of disciplines and products,
including accounting, information technology, professional services, insurance, healthcare, mortgage
lending, distribution, manufacturing, project management and deployment and implementation of CRM and ERP systems. Shannon has a deep understanding of the functional aspects of projects, process automation and system design, and the reporting needs and requirements for complex ERP systems. Shannon is a former controller and accountant and holds a master's degree in Accountancy.

She currently resides in Nashville, TN and is an experienced international speaker and teacher.

Shannon Mullins is the CEO and founder of a BC Consulting Group and a Microsoft MVP of Business Applications. She has over 20 years' experience across a wide variety of disciplines and products, including accounting, information technology, professi... Show more

Tomislav Bronzin is Microsoft Regional Director & Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (20th year in a row!) - M365 Apps & Services/Business Applications and founder of CITUS, a Microsoft Silver Partner Company specializing in software development, consulting, and training. He is leading CITUS Team, and managing projects focused on Microsoft365, Power Platform, Mixed Reality, AI, Big Data & Cloud Computing. Tomislav is a trainer and speaker at Microsoft conferences like TechEd Europe, WindDays, NT Konferenca, MS NetWork, CrisCon, Weblica, KulenDayz, Init Conference, etc. He teaches at several universities and mentors student teams for the Imagine Cup Competition. Tomislav organized the http://www.mobilityday.com conference (10 years in a row!) and is helping to organize one of the largest MS Community Conferences in the region - KulenDayz. Tomislav is one of the founders of MS Community in Croatia and the Croatian Chamber of Economy IT Association Vice President. He is also an entrepreneur and innovator who (with his team) has won over 110 international awards for his IT inventions, five patents, and many other recognitions. Tomislav has led the CITUS Team in developing numerous innovative software products based on propriety innovations in mixed reality, artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing.

Tomislav Bronzin is Microsoft Regional Director & Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (20th year in a row!) - M365 Apps & Services/Business Applications and founder of CITUS, a Microsoft Silver Partner Company specializing in software development, c... Show more

I’m Elena, a Microsoft MVP, DataViz & UX Consultant, and international speaker on a mission to balance and clarity to the dashboard universe.

Through MoonStory, I help organizations flip their Power BI reports from cluttered and confusing to accessible, engaging, and actually delightful to use.

Whether I'm designing a report, leading a workshop, or speaking on stage, I bring a little magic, a lot of joy, and a deep belief that better data design leads to better decisions—and happier users.

I’m Elena, a Microsoft MVP, DataViz & UX Consultant, and international speaker on a mission to balance and clarity to the dashboard universe. Through MoonStory, I help organizations flip their Power BI reports from cluttered and confusing to acces... Show more

CTO and Technology Executive with over 28 years of experience driving digital transformation across diverse industries including Telco, Healthcare, Banking, Startups, and Digital Marketing. I specialize in designing and delivering mission-critical cloud solutions for organizations across Latin America, leading high-performing teams in complex environments. Recognized as a Microsoft Regional Director and AWS Ambassador, I have deep expertise in cloud architecture, DevOps, and responsible AI-driven transformation within both the Microsoft and AWS ecosystems. A frequent speaker at industry conferences and a mentor, I am passionate about empowering professionals by sharing knowledge and real-world experiences. I work closely with organizations to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, helping them leverage automation, machine learning, and intelligent platforms to create long-term value, drive innovation, and deliver measurable business impact.

Talk to me about: PaaS, Cloud Computing, IoT, DevOps, Robotics, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Blockchain, Cloud Operations

Https://ricardogonzalez.me
Check my book: "Reimagine, don't retrofit, A Leadership Guide to AI-Driven Software Development" https://reimaginedontretrofit.com

CTO and Technology Executive with over 28 years of experience driving digital transformation across diverse industries including Telco, Healthcare, Banking, Startups, and Digital Marketing. I specialize in designing and delivering mission-critical cl... Show more

Darshit Pandya is a seasoned Senior Principal Engineer - platform @ Serko, a leader in cloud-native architecture, platform engineering, and serverless technologies based in Auckland, New Zealand. His work sits at the intersection of platform engineering and real-world delivery: developer portals and golden paths, serverless-first platform patterns, observability-as-code, DevSecOps-by-design, and FinOps guardrails that teams actually adopt. With over 16 years of experience, he has been instrumental in architecting and delivering large-scale distributed cloud applications, leveraging event-driven architecture, microservices, and serverless computing to drive innovation and efficiency.

As a thought leader and influencer in platform engineering, Darshit is passionate about scaling developer productivity, optimizing cloud platforms, and shaping sustainable and scalable software architectures. His expertise spans cloud migrations, Internal Developer Platform, FinOps, AI-driven architectures, and developer experience, making him a trusted voice in the industry.

Darshit is a practitioner-first, “from the trenches” speaker across New Zealand and international stages, including AWS re:Invent, AWS Summit Sydney, and PlatformCon. His sessions focus on real platform and architecture work, sharing the decisions made, adoption lessons learned, and the operational trade-offs behind delivery.

Alongside his technical leadership at Serko, he is a long-time advocate for cloud and serverless adoption. An AWS Community Builder (Serverless) since 2021, he actively contributes to the global cloud ecosystem through meetups, conferences, and industry forums. He also co-organizes the Auckland Serverless Meetup, Serverless Days ANZ, and Auckland Serverless Days, bringing engineers and architects together to exchange practical insights and best practices.

Darshit regularly speaks at technical conferences, AWS Community Days, and industry roundtables on platform engineering, hybrid cloud, developer portals, and responsible software design, known for blending clear storytelling with deep technical depth and strong business context.

A lifelong learner, Darshit thrives on mentorship, community engagement, and fostering the next generation of engineers. His core expertise spans Travel, Fintech, Healthcare, and Accounting, where he continuously pushes the boundaries of cloud-native solutions and platform-driven innovation.

Darshit Pandya is a seasoned Senior Principal Engineer - platform @ Serko, a leader in cloud-native architecture, platform engineering, and serverless technologies based in Auckland, New Zealand. His work sits at the intersection of platform engineer... Show more

Andreas Lausen is a Software Architect at MEDIFOX DAN GmbH, with a strong focus on software architecture, Domain-Driven Design, test automation, and AI-assisted software development. In his daily work, he primarily uses .NET as well as the iOS and Android SDKs. He is passionate about sustainable architectures and practical solutions – topics he regularly speaks about in his talks.

Andreas Lausen is a Software Architect at MEDIFOX DAN GmbH, with a strong focus on software architecture, Domain-Driven Design, test automation, and AI-assisted software development. In his daily work, he primarily uses .NET as well as the iOS and An... Show more

James Bartlett is a Principal Consultant at P3 Adaptive, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, and co-host of "The Drill Down with Ahmad and James," which is a bi-weekly interactive video livestream on LinkedIn that focuses on Microsoft Fabric and Power BI. James is also a co-organizer of the Iowa Power BI User Group and the Higher Education Power BI User Group, and he has given presentations at conferences and user groups all over the world, with his most notable recent appearances being at Data Point Prague, FabCon Europe in Stockholm, and RADACAD's Power BI and Fabric Global Summit. In his free time, James likes to write and contribute to open-source software, play the guitar, produce electronic music, post articles on his blog at DataVolume.xyz, and volunteer with a nonprofit organization called Tech Journey, whose mission is "to inspire youth to increase their knowledge and interest in technology by providing engaging learning opportunities led by technology professionals."

James Bartlett is a Principal Consultant at P3 Adaptive, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, and co-host of "The Drill Down with Ahmad and James," which is a bi-weekly interactive video livestream on LinkedIn that focuses on Microsoft Fabric and Power BI.... Show more

Ivan is an Engineering Manager, holding a Master’s degree in Software Engineering and IT Management, Microsoft Certified Professional, Scrum Evangelist, Stoic Thinker, and creator of the 3S Method — a practical blend of Scrum, Stoicism, and Systems Thinking.

With 15+ years in software development, including 5+ in leadership, he has worked internationally across Benelux, Scandinavia, the USA, DACH, and Spain. His experience spans hands-on engineering, Agile leadership, people management, and guiding organizations through complex change.

In his role as an Engineering Manager, Ivan thrives at the intersection of technology, people, and resilient leadership. He is passionate about complex projects, AI, asynchronous collaboration, and building strong teams grounded in feedback culture and continuous improvement.

On stage as "The Agile Jedi", he presents his 3S Method to help teams simplify complexity, make better decisions, and stay focused and calm under pressure.

Outside of work, Ivan enjoys guitar music 🎸, basketball 🏀, road trips 🚐, AI, and a slight note-taking obsession.

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." – Aristotle

Ivan is an Engineering Manager, holding a Master’s degree in Software Engineering and IT Management, Microsoft Certified Professional, Scrum Evangelist, Stoic Thinker, and creator of the 3S Method — a practical blend of Scrum, Stoicism, and Systems T... Show more

Architect, engineer, designer, speaker, writer - professionally I've worn many hats spanning diverse business domains and tech stacks, and know a new challenge awaits!

Conferences allow me to share my experiences and insights to help you navigate our constantly-changing technical landscape with confidence. Though implementations differ, the underlying solutions - and problems within - often repeat. My goal is to share what I've learned so you can recognize patterns and make better decisions in your own work.

Architect, engineer, designer, speaker, writer - professionally I've worn many hats spanning diverse business domains and tech stacks, and know a new challenge awaits! Conferences allow me to share my experiences and insights to help you navigate ... Show more

Tobias Brennecke is an independent Trainer, Workshop Facilitator, and Clean Language Coach dedicated to the human side of IT. After 15 years in software architecture, DevOps, and Domain-Driven Design, he is convinced: IT projects don't fail because of technology, but due to misaligned communication.

With his "Love. Language. Leadership." framework, Tobias bridges the gap between Business and IT. The goal: To create a "Secure Base" using his expertise in attachment theory and Clean Language. He helps teams replace contempt with curiosity, enabling a leadership style characterized by exquisite listening and inquiry. This creates a safe space for self-efficacy and innovation, preventing burnout and increasing retention. It empowers people with the tools they need to thrive personally and as a whole organization.

🏳️‍🌈 Love. Language. Leadership. 🎤 Speaker & Facilitator 🧠 Clean Language Coach

Tobias Brennecke is an independent Trainer, Workshop Facilitator, and Clean Language Coach dedicated to the human side of IT. After 15 years in software architecture, DevOps, and Domain-Driven Design, he is convinced: IT projects don't fail because o... Show more

After her Bachelor in Cognitive and Media Sciences B.Sc. and her master’s in interactive digital media at Trinity College Dublin, Milena decided to go into software development. She has been crafting software at adesso since 2020 and founded the startup DillyBeeze in 2021. Further, she has been invited to talk at JavaLand, Cyberland, JAX and JavaScript Days. Especially due to her background in cognitive studies Milena is especially interested in the interactions of psychology, software development and project management.

After her Bachelor in Cognitive and Media Sciences B.Sc. and her master’s in interactive digital media at Trinity College Dublin, Milena decided to go into software development. She has been crafting software at adesso since 2020 and founded the star... Show more

Angel Ceballos is the Founder and CEO of SeraphicGuardian and an architect of defensible systems.

Her work focuses on how complex data and decision systems are designed, governed, and held accountable in real-world environments. Rather than treating governance as documentation or policy layered on top of technology, she builds it directly into system architecture.

With a foundation in data engineering and enterprise architecture, Angel designs and implements accountable infrastructure that governs risk, fairness, and long-term resilience. She challenges organizations to move beyond performance metrics and build systems that withstand scrutiny, degrade safely under stress, and produce defensible evidence by design.

Her mission is to ensure accountability and safety are not policy add-ons but engineered foundations that preserve the human voice, lived experience and narrative behind the number.

Angel Ceballos is the Founder and CEO of SeraphicGuardian and an architect of defensible systems. Her work focuses on how complex data and decision systems are designed, governed, and held accountable in real-world environments. Rather than treati... Show more

Mou Rakshit is a Senior Manager of Data, AI & Analytics Engineering at Accenture/Avanade and a Principal Data & AI Solution Architect specializing in building modern, unified, AI-ready data platforms using Microsoft Fabric and Databricks. She leads enterprise-scale data strategy and platform architecture initiatives that enable organizations to move from fragmented analytics environments to governed, high-performance lakehouse ecosystems.

Her work focuses on designing scalable medallion architectures, implementing robust governance models, enabling real-time intelligence, and operationalizing AI and advanced analytics across the enterprise. Mou bridges executive strategy with hands-on technical execution, ensuring that modern data platforms are production-ready, resilient, and aligned to business outcomes.

She holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from Wayne State University and a Master’s in Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan.

A Databricks Champion and frequent industry speaker, Mou shares practical frameworks and real-world lessons on architecting unified data foundations that power AI at scale.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mourakshit/
https://credentials.databricks.com/profile/mourakshit34507/wallet

Mou Rakshit is a Senior Manager of Data, AI & Analytics Engineering at Accenture/Avanade and a Principal Data & AI Solution Architect specializing in building modern, unified, AI-ready data platforms using Microsoft Fabric and Databricks. She leads e... Show more

Joy Marie Curtis is an AI and organizational transformation executive specializing in Agentic AI, enterprise deployment, and global team scaling. She currently serves as Head of Organizational Development at NeuralSeek, where she leads enterprise AI strategy, delivery models, and talent pipelines across regulated industries including government, healthcare, insurance, and financial services.

Joy’s career began in education, an experience that deeply shaped her leadership philosophy: complex systems succeed when they are designed for people first. That foundation now informs her work guiding organizations through large-scale AI adoption—helping executives cut through hype, reduce risk, and turn AI from experimentation into measurable business impact.

She has overseen 40+ enterprise AI initiatives, delivering Agentic AI solutions across IBM, AWS, and Azure, and ensuring deployments meet PCI, HIPAA, and SOC 2 compliance standards. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy, governance, and execution—aligning executives, legal and compliance teams, technologists, and end users around a shared operating model for AI.

A sought-after speaker, Joy challenges the tendency to overcomplicate AI implementation. She introduces leaders to metacognitive approaches to AI adoption—thinking deliberately about how organizations think, decide, and deploy—so AI initiatives remain grounded in purpose, accountability, and outcomes. She speaks candidly about both successes and failures, offering practical frameworks that help organizations move AI from concept to real-world, scalable impact.

Joy has presented at LASCON 2025, Microsoft Azure, and Google’s Agentic AI forums, speaking to executives, developers, and compliance leaders on responsible AI deployment, enterprise readiness, and scaling AI organizations globally.

Joy Marie Curtis is an AI and organizational transformation executive specializing in Agentic AI, enterprise deployment, and global team scaling. She currently serves as Head of Organizational Development at NeuralSeek, where she leads enterprise AI ... Show more

Jesper Nielsen is inspired to help customers empower their employees and do great work using the devices and apps they love.

In his role as a Cloud Endpoint Solution Engineer at Microsoft, Jesper have his focus on helping enterprise customers modernize their endpoints and embrace a Zero Trust security model.

Jesper Nielsen have a long background as a Solution Architect and Principal Architect, he is a self-proclaimed Technology Provocateur, and he is a former, *9 year in a row*, Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). He has been working hands-on with small- and large-scale IT-Infrastructure in many different industries for more than 25 years.

In his role as a Technical Specialist, he thrives on challenging status quo, especially within the field of Modern Work and Security and unified Endpoint Management. He feels impelled when working with enterprise customers on difficult, technical issues and developing innovative, creative solutions and successfully catapult them into the new era of Modern Work and Security.

Jesper Nielsen have designed and implemented several generations of Windows and Workplaces for all sized companies, spanning governmental, financial, and healthcare organizations to more traditional enterprises and production businesses, and must often "prove" the strategy and design for key stake holders and management up to C-level.

He is active in the community and can often be found at user group events as both speaker and attendee, and is the founder of the Windows Management User Group, Denmark (WMUG.dk). He has been facilitating numerous seminars and events and has made several speaker appearances over the years were his passionate style of delivery, combined with his sense of humor, has made him a recognize speaker.

Jesper Nielsen takes pride in being up to date, being the 'go-to person' and is always willing to help and support customers, colleagues, and the people in the tech communities. This, he believes, is a big part of the reason I have been awarded the Microsoft MVP for Windows and Devices for IT award since 2016, and was a Microsoft MVP until he joined Microsoft, November 2024.

He finished a marathon around the four hours’ mark, he’s been a gymnastics instructor for more than 30 years, he is enjoying exploring technology and guide his kids into new technologies and is currently teaching himself C# programming.

He does the work he does, because he is loving it, he likes the people he meets and is always embracing the inner nerd and good presentation skills.

Jesper Nielsen is inspired to help customers empower their employees and do great work using the devices and apps they love. In his role as a Cloud Endpoint Solution Engineer at Microsoft, Jesper have his focus on helping enterprise customers mode... Show more

I am an AI Engineer and Architect specializing in Agentic systems, production-grade GenAI, and Responsible AI design. As a GenAI Developer/Advocate at AWS, I work at the intersection of building multi-agent architectures, observability, and real-world AI deployment to helping developers move from demos to scalable, trustworthy systems.
Previously innovating and architecting KnowRA+, a hybrid RAG + GenAI platform that won multiple awards and generated $10M+ in value. I specialize in LLM architecture, NLP, and scalable ML solutions across BFSI, Travel, Healthcare, and Retail domains, with 8+ granted USPTO patents.

I am an AI Engineer and Architect specializing in Agentic systems, production-grade GenAI, and Responsible AI design. As a GenAI Developer/Advocate at AWS, I work at the intersection of building multi-agent architectures, observability, and real-worl... Show more

Driven by courage, curiosity, and compassion, Becca "Bex" Hiller knows valued people deliver value. She also knows ideas supply focus and fuel, while ACTION drives goals forward toward success.

Bex helps humans reach agility potential, and her own agility shines through sharpened improv skills, a mighty pen, a hungry brain, and a passion for teaching and coaching. She has spent over two decades in product, project, and people growth spaces helping folks articulate their mission, then take mission-critical action to DELIVER. She puts growth and connection at the helm and enables, engages, and expands forward momentum, stoking peak performance (without sacrificing values, vision, or voice).

Her mission: Uncover your purpose. Pivot when life happens. Dare to deliver.
Her top interests: connection, community building, purposeful creativity, and potatoes.

Bex is currently based in Rochester, NY.

Driven by courage, curiosity, and compassion, Becca "Bex" Hiller knows valued people deliver value. She also knows ideas supply focus and fuel, while ACTION drives goals forward toward success. Bex helps humans reach agility potential, and her own... Show more

Past experience
- Over 250+ NAV/BC Implementations in Manufacturers, Supply Chain (WMS), Food and Beverage, Retail, Service, Oil and Gas, Chemical, Industrial Equip., Rental/Service, and Home Goods
- Over 16 years as an Accountant in a variety of positions (VP of Finance, Director of Finance, Audit Manager, Controller, and Director Operations)
- Extensive knowledge and implementation over 30 NAV/BC ISV APPs
Awards
- Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
- NAVUG/BC All-Star
- 4-time NAVUG/BC Granite Award recipient
- DUG Guardian Award recipient
Professional
- IMA/CMA – Member 1988
- AICPA – Member 1985
- APICS – Member 2004
- DCI Summit – Programming Committee (2012 – Present, Chair (2016-2018), Board of Advisor (2013-2015 and 2021-Present)
- Dynamics User Group (DUG) – NAV/BC Forum Moderator, Dynamics Con Content Committee
- Directions NA – Content Committee (2018-Present)
Certifications
- MCP – MB-800
- Dynamics Credentialed Professional
- Microsoft Certified Professional

Past experience - Over 250+ NAV/BC Implementations in Manufacturers, Supply Chain (WMS), Food and Beverage, Retail, Service, Oil and Gas, Chemical, Industrial Equip., Rental/Service, and Home Goods - Over 16 years as an Accountant in a variety of p... Show more

I have been working with Microsoft AI tools for over three years now and delivered over 20 sessions so far in the field of AI and Copilot

I have been working with Microsoft AI tools for over three years now and delivered over 20 sessions so far in the field of AI and Copilot Show more

Qasim is the Director of Cybersecurity at a leading healthcare organization, overseeing detection, incident response, vulnerability management, purple teaming, and cybersecurity engineering. With a strong background in offensive security and risk management, he has helped organizations strengthen their defenses against evolving threats. He is also a dedicated educator, mentoring professionals and sharing his expertise at conferences such as BSides and Black Hat. Committed to advancing cybersecurity in healthcare, he drives innovation in proactive defense and risk management.

Qasim is the Director of Cybersecurity at a leading healthcare organization, overseeing detection, incident response, vulnerability management, purple teaming, and cybersecurity engineering. With a strong background in offensive security and risk man... Show more

I really enjoy helping organizations grow their business with solutions based on more than 12 years of experience. Passionate about helping other professionals and exchanging ideas and practices. Experience in SMEs and business organizations with more than 400 users, presenter in local user groups for Dynamics, founder of Empowering-U, an organization that brings technology to students from different universities with free talks and workshops.

I really enjoy helping organizations grow their business with solutions based on more than 12 years of experience. Passionate about helping other professionals and exchanging ideas and practices. Experience in SMEs and business organizations with mor... Show more

Senior Digital Product Leader dedicated to building ecosystems that bridge the gap between industrial assets and environmental impact. With eight years of experience across Not for Profit, Startups and Corporate, specialising in digital products, innovative IoT, digital twins and digital transformation. Dedicating my time at work to building a positive impact on climate change through a variety of digital products and services. A firm believer that innovation requires personal resilience, I openly share my professional expertise alongside the ups and downs of my personal health. Helping to de-stigmatise mental health and share burnout recovery tips in high-pressure industries.

Senior Digital Product Leader dedicated to building ecosystems that bridge the gap between industrial assets and environmental impact. With eight years of experience across Not for Profit, Startups and Corporate, specialising in digital products, inn... Show more