UX & Product Design leader with 14+ years scaling design strategy, research, and innovation across B2B, B2C, and AI-powered products from 0-to-1 launches to enterprise platforms for Hitachi, Google, NASSCOM, ABinBev, Emaar, Emmes, Karmeq, Polkadot, Star+, Thums Up, AL Tamimi, Coca-Cola, UCSF, HDFC Bank, Jana Bank and many more. Delivered 600+ projects, facilitated 350+ design workshops, and built and mentored a 100+ person design organization that has empowered 10K+ designers worldwide. Author of India by Design, TEDx speaker, Springer-published researcher, and recipient of 30+ national &
international awards.

UX & Product Design leader with 14+ years scaling design strategy, research, and innovation across B2B, B2C, and AI-powered products from 0-to-1 launches to enterprise platforms for Hitachi, Google, NASSCOM, ABinBev, Emaar, Emmes, Karmeq, Polkadot, S... Show more

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

Swapna Chimanchodkar is an accomplished transformation leader with nearly two decades of experience enabling sustainable business impact for global organizations through process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation. She has successfully led strategic initiatives spanning process and IT transformation, enterprise data strategy, and automation integrating technologies such as AI/ML, RPA, Gen AI, and advanced analytics to solve complex business challenges.
In her current role as Director at UBS Financial Services, Swapna drives large-scale transformation and integration programs across various areas of the bank. She oversees strategic integration, data modernization, and digital and process improvement initiatives, collaborating closely with senior leadership and cross-functional global teams.
A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Swapna brings a unique combination of analytical rigor, strategic insight, and change management expertise to every engagement. She has been instrumental in designing target operating models, and implementing automation frameworks that deliver measurable efficiencies.
As a thought leader, Swapna regularly contributes to industry dialogue. She served as a keynote speaker and panelist at the NexGen Banking Summit USA 2024, discussing AI-driven business innovation and data-led digital transformation in the banking sector.

Swapna Chimanchodkar is an accomplished transformation leader with nearly two decades of experience enabling sustainable business impact for global organizations through process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation. She... Show more

Vara Bonthu is a Principal Technologist for Open Source – Data, AI & Kubernetes at AWS, and a CNCF Maintainer for the Kubeflow Spark Operator and MCP Server for Spark History Server. He leads the Data-on-EKS and AI-on-EKS open-source initiatives, helping organizations architect and scale distributed data and AI workloads on Kubernetes.
With hands-on experience managing Spark deployments across thousands of nodes and hundreds of thousands of pods, Vara focuses on performance optimization, workload resiliency, and AI-driven observability for cloud-native data frameworks including Apache Spark, Ray, and Kubeflow. He actively contributes to CNCF and open-source communities, advancing standards for scalable data processing, AI inference, and agentic AI systems on Kubernetes.

Vara Bonthu is a Principal Technologist for Open Source – Data, AI & Kubernetes at AWS, and a CNCF Maintainer for the Kubeflow Spark Operator and MCP Server for Spark History Server. He leads the Data-on-EKS and AI-on-EKS open-source initiatives, hel... Show more

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

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

Siddhant is a Customer Success Engineer at Solo.io, and a Kubernetes enthusiast. He loves exploring different technologies and understanding their various use cases within the industry. He loves working with Kubernetes, Linux, and various DevOps-related tools. Apart from the technical exploits, he also enjoys focusing on physical and mental fitness and creating content around the same.

Siddhant is a Customer Success Engineer at Solo.io, and a Kubernetes enthusiast. He loves exploring different technologies and understanding their various use cases within the industry. He loves working with Kubernetes, Linux, and various DevOps-rela... Show more

Christophe Martinot is an international speaker, transformation advisor, and author of SPIRAL UP®, a framework designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations grow stronger through agility and resilience.

A former executive with over two decades of leadership experience in FMCG, pharma, and medical devices, Christophe has held strategic roles at L’Oréal, Danone, Abbott, and Sanofi.

As Managing Director and Co-Founder of SeedingEnergy, he now guides organizations across the USA, UK, and Europe in redefining their ways of working, building cultures that are more agile, human-centered, and purpose-driven.

He is a co-author of the Agile Customer Centricity Manifesto, part of the global leadership group shaping Agile Marketing Manifesto 2.0, and a co-initiator of the Business Agility Hub.

Christophe also shares his passion for agility and transformation with the next generation of leaders, teaching Agile Ways of Working at IED Barcelona and as a guest professor at ESADE.

A pragmatic optimist, he brings energy, empathy, and real-world experience to every stage, inspiring leaders and teams to Spiral Up through every challenge.
He works fluently in English, French, and Spanish.

Christophe Martinot is an international speaker, transformation advisor, and author of SPIRAL UP®, a framework designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations grow stronger through agility and resilience. A former executive with over two de... Show more

I am a Senior Engineering Manager at Oracle Health Data Intelligence, where I lead the development of AI agents platform and generative AI solutions that are transforming healthcare data analytics and management. Based in Seattle, I focus on leveraging advanced AI technologies to enable smarter, data-driven healthcare decisions and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, I play a key role in delivering Oracle’s next-generation AI agents platform, driving innovation in intelligent automation and AI-powered healthcare solutions.
I’m passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in technology and committed to mentoring the next generation of women in STEM

I am a Senior Engineering Manager at Oracle Health Data Intelligence, where I lead the development of AI agents platform and generative AI solutions that are transforming healthcare data analytics and management. Based in Seattle, I focus on leveragi... Show more

Nick is a co-founder of En Dash and a digital product leader with more than a decade of experience guiding product delivery, engineering execution, and Agile transformation across client engagements.
With a background spanning full-stack engineering, front-end specialization, product ownership, and delivery leadership, Nick is known for connecting technical depth with strong product judgment and a clear focus on improving end-user experiences.

Across engagements, Nick has stepped into the role most needed to help teams succeed, including Tech Lead, Product Owner, Scrum Master, Agile Delivery Lead, UX/UI Designer, Front-End Engineering Lead, and Full-Stack Engineer. That range has made Nick especially effective at working across functions, translating between business and technical perspectives, and helping teams collaborate more effectively around complex digital products.

Nick brings experience across design, product, and engineering disciplines, with hands-on expertise in tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Jira, Confluence, and Notion, as well as modern development stacks including JS/TS, React, Vue, Angular, Next.js, Nest.js, cloud platforms, and microservice and micro-frontend architecture.

Motivated by software’s potential to improve customers’ lives, Nick combines analytical problem-solving, creativity, and a strong teaching instinct with a personable, team-oriented approach that helps teams learn, deliver, and continuously improve together.

Nick is a co-founder of En Dash and a digital product leader with more than a decade of experience guiding product delivery, engineering execution, and Agile transformation across client engagements. With a background spanning full-stack engineerin... Show more

Mr. Abrar Hussain is a young researcher in the field of probiotics and pursuing his Ph.D. degree from ICCBS, University of Karachi. Mr. Hussain, received his master degree in chemistry/ biochemistry from university of Peshawar, Pakistan. He also obtained C.T. (certified teacher), B.Ed. and M.Ed. degree in Science education from Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Recently he completed M.Phil./MS degree in biochemistry from HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, ICCBS, University of Karachi. He completed his M.Phil. thesis on the "Molecular assessment and validation of the selected enterococcal strains as probiotics". Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. in the probiogenomics analysis of probiotic. So far his contribution in the field is the indication of bright future as he published articles in probiotics and delivered lecture and participating in conferences to explore the field of probiotics.
He is also a professional speaker and delivered numerous lectures on different topics. Attending seminars, conferences, and participation in scientific events are the marking agents of his enthusiasm. He is also writing blogs on both scientific and social or religious perspectives. He has more than 100 participation certificate, delivered more than a dozen lectures and present his views in different conferences.
His research skills are also shaping his personality. He has strong research skills and is able to work in a team and independently. He also trained many internships students in his laboratory and also guide multiple students across the country for their scientific writing.
In short, Mr. Hussain is a man of rule, has keen interest for science, have excellent research, writing, and presentation skills. He fell more than happy to helps other students and guide them in their careers.

Mr. Abrar Hussain is a young researcher in the field of probiotics and pursuing his Ph.D. degree from ICCBS, University of Karachi. Mr. Hussain, received his master degree in chemistry/ biochemistry from university of Peshawar, Pakistan. He also obta... Show more

Varsha Das loves helping developers bridge the gap between AI experimentation and production-ready services. After seven years as a backend engineer in healthcare and fintech, she shifted from being just a consumer to becoming a creator—writing Medium articles, producing YouTube videos, mentoring developers, and publishing her first e-book on Spring Boot. As a Developer Advocate for Java + AI at AWS, she focuses on translating enterprise Java complexity into digestible narratives through storytelling that transforms confusing concepts into "aha!" moments. Varsha believes most technical concepts aren't inherently complex—they're just poorly told stories waiting for better narrators. Outside of work, you'll find her cafe-hopping with a good book, pizza, and hot chocolate, or writing personal essays exploring neuroscience and psychology.

Varsha Das loves helping developers bridge the gap between AI experimentation and production-ready services. After seven years as a backend engineer in healthcare and fintech, she shifted from being just a consumer to becoming a creator—writing Mediu... Show more

Elliott Mattice is the founder of Exprima Digital Consulting, where he advises organizations on scalable cybersecurity, GRC strategies, and geopolitical threat integration. With over 20 years of cross-sector experience in IT operations and cybersecurity, he has led enterprise programs across both civilian and defense contracting environments. Elliott brings a strategic, systems-level approach to helping organizations anticipate risk, align with regulatory expectations, and build resilient, threat-informed security practices.

Elliott Mattice is the founder of Exprima Digital Consulting, where he advises organizations on scalable cybersecurity, GRC strategies, and geopolitical threat integration. With over 20 years of cross-sector experience in IT operations and cybersecur... Show more

I am an iOS developer at the MSU Apple Developer Academy, where I built a production Vision Pro cardiac emergency training simulator in partnership with Henry Ford Health. The app integrates a real-time C++ physiology engine, AHA ACLS-compliant scenarios, and is the only app of its kind on visionOS.

I am an iOS developer at the MSU Apple Developer Academy, where I built a production Vision Pro cardiac emergency training simulator in partnership with Henry Ford Health. The app integrates a real-time C++ physiology engine, AHA ACLS-compliant scena... Show more

Ryan Armstrong is the Manager of Application Security Services at Digital Boundary Group (DBG). Ryan began with DBG as an application penetration tester and security consultant following completion of his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Western University in 2016. With a passion for teaching and training, Ryan leads training of application security specialists at DBG, teaches application security courses at a nearby college in his spare time, and creates AppSec content for his YouTube channel and newsletter.

Ryan Armstrong is the Manager of Application Security Services at Digital Boundary Group (DBG). Ryan began with DBG as an application penetration tester and security consultant following completion of his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Western Univ... Show more

Santosh Durgam is a data engineering & analytics leader with 20+ years building governed, high-scale data platforms across retirement/401(k), broader financial services, and healthcare. He leads cross-functional teams that deliver production-grade data lakes, lineage-aware pipelines, and ML-enabled analytics on cloud—translating governance into measurable business outcomes.

Recent speaking includes SQL Saturday Minnesota 2025, where he presented “From Ingestion to Insights: Building Robust Data Pipelines in AWS” to an in-person community audience. He has also contributed to international research forums and science conferences, and is invited to speak at ICDPN-2025 (International Conference on Data Processing & Networking), engaging practitioners and scholars on data engineering, governance, and analytics at scale. Santosh actively publishes/curates work via Google Scholar and shares practical playbooks for data quality, metadata/lineage, and operating models that connect data platforms to financial decisioning.

Beyond delivery, Santosh serves the community as a peer reviewer of scholarly work on data/ML methodologies and as a judge/mentor for select industry and academic competitions, reinforcing peer validation and public recognition. He champions modern data culture—mentoring engineers and product leaders, and advocating automation (incl. AI agents) to elevate reliability, speed, and auditability in regulated environments. Santosh recently completed his Executive MBA, sharpening strategy and value-creation at the intersection of data, risk, and growth

Santosh Durgam is a data engineering & analytics leader with 20+ years building governed, high-scale data platforms across retirement/401(k), broader financial services, and healthcare. He leads cross-functional teams that deliver production-grade da... Show more

Product Manager with experience driving scalable solutions across health, branding, and tech sectors. Previously worked with Advantage Health Africa, Kangaroo (Ethiopia), and Plutus Tech Solutions. Co-creator of Girls Nest, an award-winning hackathon solution empowering women. Passionate about building inclusive products and fostering collaboration.

Product Manager with experience driving scalable solutions across health, branding, and tech sectors. Previously worked with Advantage Health Africa, Kangaroo (Ethiopia), and Plutus Tech Solutions. Co-creator of Girls Nest, an award-winning hackathon... Show more

Bill started down the path of software development in the nineties, building games and web pages instead of doing his chores. His professional career began in 2005, and his passion for programming has only grown in the years since. He is most at home when buried deep in front-end code, but has done a little bit of everything. He is currently a Principal Engineer at Prescryptive Health, specializing in meme-fu, as well as front-end development and architecture. When not at work, Bill can be found playing with his kids, messing with his 3D printer, or joining friends for a bit of Minecraft.

Bill started down the path of software development in the nineties, building games and web pages instead of doing his chores. His professional career began in 2005, and his passion for programming has only grown in the years since. He is most at home... Show more

Vanchhit Khare is an AI systems engineer, published researcher, and music producer. He
works at the intersection of agentic intelligence, automation infrastructure, and creative system
design. His experience spans large scale implementations in finance and healthcare, and his
research focuses on multi agent collaboration, contextual memory, and machine driven
coordination. He also creates electronic music that blends structured logic with emotional
storytelling. Learn more at https://vkhare.online.

Vanchhit Khare is an AI systems engineer, published researcher, and music producer. He works at the intersection of agentic intelligence, automation infrastructure, and creative system design. His experience spans large scale implementations in fin... Show more

Dr. Lou Tetlan Bio -
Lou received her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after which she was an Honorary Fellow at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, serving in the Neuroradiology Lab on fMRI brain imaging studies.
In addition, she has a Master’s Degree from the UW Graduate School of Business and holds a BFA in Art History, minor in linguistics, from Drake University & VIS Certification in Art History & Studio Arts from Venezia Isola di Studi, Venice, Italy.

Her focus is on the neurobiology of learning & creating 2D formats based on how the brain actually processes visual information. In pursuit of this focus, she developed a 3-step process for creating Cognitive-based Information Design (CID) formats. She is a published researcher and national/international speaker as well as a Professional Trainer and Founder of The CID Group, LLC.

Dr. Lou Tetlan Bio - Lou received her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after which she was an Honorary Fellow at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, serving in the Neuroradiology... Show more

Pavan Kumar Kodati is a Lead Data Engineer / Senior Data Engineer with 12+ years of professional experience in delivering enterprise-grade application solutions across Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Entertainment, Financial Services, Geotechnical, and Marketing & Sales industries. He has worked across all phases of the development lifecycle, with strong expertise in data engineering, cloud platforms, big data processing, AI-driven architectures, ETL/ELT pipelines, and enterprise data warehousing.
Pavan’s recent experience includes working with Citi Bank, where he designed and built AI agentic architectures using LLMs, Google Vertex AI, Claude, PyTorch, and FastAPI for Critical Data Element discovery, metadata mapping, lineage tracing, and data governance workflows. He has also developed API-driven metadata ingestion frameworks, optimized PostgreSQL schemas, and integrated scalable AI inference pipelines for enterprise applications.
Previously, at NASDAQ, Pavan led the migration of Ruby-based data pipelines to Python 3 on AWS, building scalable and secure data platforms using Lambda, S3, EMR, Glue, EC2, SNS, and IAM. He has engineered petabyte-scale data ingestion pipelines using Apache Spark, PySpark, Scala, Databricks, and Kafka, supporting both batch and real-time data processing workloads.
His experience also includes building and optimizing data solutions for Novo Nordisk, USAA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Florida Blue, Haley and Aldrich, Sree Venkateshwara Power Controls, and Cognizant Technology Solutions. Across these roles, he has worked extensively with AWS, Azure, Hadoop, Hive, Spark, Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, Airflow, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes, Python, SQL, Scala, Tableau, and Power BI.
Pavan holds an MSIT and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston, along with a BTECH from JNTU. His background combines strong technical expertise, cloud data engineering, AI/ML pipeline development, data governance, DevOps automation, and business-focused analytics, making him a highly experienced professional in enterprise data modernization and cloud-based analytics platforms.

Pavan Kumar Kodati is a Lead Data Engineer / Senior Data Engineer with 12+ years of professional experience in delivering enterprise-grade application solutions across Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Entertainment, Financial Services, Geotechnical, and ... Show more

Hi there, my name is Katharina Covadonga Clören.
I discovered my passion for data analysis and reporting during my studies – quite unexpectedly, in a student job. That’s when I realized how much I enjoy analyzing complex patterns and bringing them to life through creative visuals. For me, data visualization is the perfect blend of analytical detective and creative artist: I love uncovering hidden insights and presenting them in a way that’s clear, engaging, and impactful.

For the past three years, I’ve been working as a consultant with a focus on Data Analytics and Data Storytelling. What fascinates me most is the incredible potential and variety that lies in good visualizations. Before starting my consulting career, I spent a year traveling around the world – driven by curiosity, a love for adventure, and an open mind for people, cultures, and new perspectives. That same openness shapes the way I work today: Data is everywhere, and it always tells a story – you just have to listen (and look) closely.

When I’m not building reports or analyzing data, you’ll find me moving (like yoga, bouldering or lifting heavy stuff), enjoying food from around the world, or exploring the planet.

Hi there, my name is Katharina Covadonga Clören. I discovered my passion for data analysis and reporting during my studies – quite unexpectedly, in a student job. That’s when I realized how much I enjoy analyzing complex patterns and bringing them t... Show more

Paul Innella, CEO of TDI, is a globally recognized cybersecurity executive with over 30 years of experience advising critical infrastructure, government, and enterprise organizations. He pioneered Cybersecurity Performance Management (CPM), a strategic approach to measuring cybersecurity effectiveness in operational environments. Paul has guided top institutions including DARPA, the U.S. Navy, Deutsche Bank, and the IMF. His insights have appeared in Forbes, Financial Times, CNBC, and ABC News. He holds CISSP-ISSMP, CISM, and NSA IAM certifications and completed executive programs at Cambridge, IMD, and Edinburgh Business School. He also chairs White Hat USA, supporting Children’s National Medical Center.

Paul Innella, CEO of TDI, is a globally recognized cybersecurity executive with over 30 years of experience advising critical infrastructure, government, and enterprise organizations. He pioneered Cybersecurity Performance Management (CPM), a strateg... Show more

Cybersecurity leader, Independent director, Startup advisor & Tech entrepreneur.
On a mission to make humans the strongest link in cybersecurity. Researcher on predictive threat modelling, OSINT, Cloud, Threat intelligence,AI/ ML integration. Passionate about cultivating security mindset.

Cybersecurity leader, Independent director, Startup advisor & Tech entrepreneur. On a mission to make humans the strongest link in cybersecurity. Researcher on predictive threat modelling, OSINT, Cloud, Threat intelligence,AI/ ML integration. Passio... Show more

Ben Wolfley began his cybersecurity career as a Cybersecurity Officer in the Utah National Guard and served as the executive officer for the Utah National Guard’s Cyber Protection Team. On the civilian side he worked and consulted across financial services, healthcare, big tech, and automotive, focusing on cloud security, application security, AI security, and AI-driven automation.

With seven years of experience in AI, Ben now runs Atlantium AI, where he helps organizations enhance their security operations with AI, secure the AI systems they build, and publishes free AI security educational resources for the community.

Ben Wolfley began his cybersecurity career as a Cybersecurity Officer in the Utah National Guard and served as the executive officer for the Utah National Guard’s Cyber Protection Team. On the civilian side he worked and consulted across financial se... Show more

JD Flynn has had mental illness most of his life, but didn't admit it until his early 30s when he decided it was time to do something about it. After a decade-long career in emergency services as a paramedic, JD made the jump from the ambulance to the text editor. Since then, JD has climbed to Principal Drupal Software Engineer in his current position.

His life was changed by OSMH (Open Sourcing Mental Health), a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on opening the conversation on mental illness, which led him to telling his own story to as many people who would listen. As someone with mental illness who is not afraid to talk about it, JD has presented on the topic of Mental Illness in the Tech Community to local user groups, regional conferences, and national level events at locations such as MIT, UC Berkeley, Washington State Convention Center, Guaranteed Rate Field, and DePaul University.

More recently, JD has started streaming development on Twitch and has been learning new tools and languages on stream. He streams under the name JDDoesDev and is desperate for your approval and attention.

When not speaking or coding, JD plays baritone saxophone in Windiana, a professional level wind ensemble out of Valparaiso, IN, and Michigan City Municipal Band, the oldest municipal band in Indiana.

JD Flynn has had mental illness most of his life, but didn't admit it until his early 30s when he decided it was time to do something about it. After a decade-long career in emergency services as a paramedic, JD made the jump from the ambulance to th... Show more

Ethical Hacker, Pentester, Speaker

Speaker at Techorama NL 2025
Day 1:
- Top-10 rated session (audience score)
- 69 speakers evaluated

Software Developer with an actuarial/insurance mathematics background. I've always had a fascination with hacking. Making software and hardware do things other than what they were built for is the most amazing thing there is!
When it became clear that you could legally make money through (ethical) hacking, I started working as a pentester. The best job I've ever had!
In addition, I give presentations and workshops at Company’s and Events with the aim of improving the Security Awareness among employees. I do this in the form of demonstrating low-threshold hacks. I show how simple it sometimes can be to enter companies and buildings through social engineering and once inside how systems of that company can be hacked.

Ethical Hacker, Pentester, Speaker Speaker at Techorama NL 2025 Day 1: - Top-10 rated session (audience score) - 69 speakers evaluated Software Developer with an actuarial/insurance mathematics background. I've always had a fascination with... Show more

I’ve spent 15+ years building data and AI systems—and what keeps me motivated is simple: turning ambitious ideas into dependable, production-ready capabilities that teams can trust.

Today, I’m a 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 at 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗡𝗼𝘄, leading AI platform innovations across Machine Learning, Generative AI, and data engineering. I enjoy the end-to-end work: aligning to business outcomes, designing the architecture, and partnering with teams to ship high-quality solutions. I’ve worked across Fortune 500 enterprises and global startups, and I’ve learned one pattern repeatedly—AI doesn’t scale because of a great model; it scales because the system around it is designed and operated well.

That belief is what led me to write my published book, 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮—a practical playbook on building strong data foundations, responsible AI governance, and leadership habits that make AI durable, not fragile.

I was recognized among 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗔𝗜𝗠 𝟰𝟬 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝟰𝟬 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱), and I’ve helped deliver scalable AI frameworks across BFSI, Healthcare, Retail, and Manufacturing. Mentorship is also important to me—I support communities such as WEHUB and women-in-tech networks, and I write and speak about ethical AI and inclusive team building.

I’m a 𝗗𝗘𝗜 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 because inclusion isn’t a statement—it’s a daily leadership practice. I care about building teams where people feel safe to contribute, grow, and lead.

If you’d like to exchange ideas on scaling AI responsibly, building data platforms, or making GenAI work in real enterprise environments—reach out. I’m always happy to connect.

I’ve spent 15+ years building data and AI systems—and what keeps me motivated is simple: turning ambitious ideas into dependable, production-ready capabilities that teams can trust. Today, I’m a 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 at 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗡𝗼𝘄,... Show more

Smridhi Gupta is a Tech Analyst at Citibank specializing in secure LLM systems, RAG reliability, and AI evaluation frameworks. Previously a Research Intern at AIISC, she has authored six peer-reviewed publications spanning transformer-based medical imaging, enterprise AI, and applied machine learning research. Her work focuses on building trustworthy, production-ready AI systems that bridge research and real-world deployment. She is also a tech creator sharing insights on AI, development, and emerging technologies with a growing community of 6.5K+ followers.

Beyond research and engineering, she is the organizer of JS Community, where she has led 4+ offline tech events in the past four months in Pune, building a growing developer ecosystem with 350+ signups and an average footfall of 100+ attendees per meetup.

Smridhi Gupta is a Tech Analyst at Citibank specializing in secure LLM systems, RAG reliability, and AI evaluation frameworks. Previously a Research Intern at AIISC, she has authored six peer-reviewed publications spanning transformer-based medical i... Show more

Architect and software generalist. Rustacian. Java veteran. Sustainable computing advocate. Web assembly enthousiast. Occasional Embedded Rust streamer.

Architect and software generalist. Rustacian. Java veteran. Sustainable computing advocate. Web assembly enthousiast. Occasional Embedded Rust streamer. Show more