Nahiara Sofía Dumon 18 años, Argentina nacida en Paraná, Entre Ríos. Concurre a la universidad UNL, estudia bioquímica, fue al colegio La Salle, con orientación naturales.
Amante de la ciencia, tecnología, de estudiar, descubrir cosas nuevas.
Participó en un taller de escritura en la biblioteca popular de Paraná, olimpiadas de matemáticas (durante 5 años), de mateclubes, la ONU, en coro en la escuela coral número 1 Mario Monti , en inglés (durante 9 años), lee cuentos propios y de otros autores, concurrió a la escuela de arte (desde los 5 años hasta los 14) sin embargo aún sigue realizando talleres de todo tipo de arte y es autodidacta en pintura con acuarelas.
A logrado llegar a los nacionales de matemáticas con literatura, al zonal de olimpiadas de matemáticas y pasar un año libre de secundaria.

Nahiara Sofía Dumon 18 años, Argentina nacida en Paraná, Entre Ríos. Concurre a la universidad UNL, estudia bioquímica, fue al colegio La Salle, con orientación naturales. Amante de la ciencia, tecnología, de estudiar, descubrir cosas nuevas. Parti... 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

AI ERP Solution Architect at Cegeka specializing in Pharma & Medtech industry solutions with a focus on AI and Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management.

AI ERP Solution Architect at Cegeka specializing in Pharma & Medtech industry solutions with a focus on AI and Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management. Show more

David Fung is a former Salesforce Senior Director and executive leadership coach with 23 years in tech. After leading teams through a decade of high-change environments, he now works with technical leaders on practical tools for clarity, influence without authority, and sustainable high performance, grounded in Self-Determination Theory and evidence-based leadership science. He hosts the Coachful Coaching Leadership Podcast and speaks to technical audiences on leadership that actually moves the needle on delivery.

David Fung is a former Salesforce Senior Director and executive leadership coach with 23 years in tech. After leading teams through a decade of high-change environments, he now works with technical leaders on practical tools for clarity, influence wi... Show more

As an Engineering Manager for Digital Health Platforms in Spain, he oversees the delivery of the core technical capabilities powering our navify solutions. His mandate centers on the strategic development of technical excellence and the synchronization of individual career trajectories with our platform’s overarching objectives
Previously at Roche, he was helping delivery teams to focus on their core business by taking the responsibility of automating tasks, optimising processes and providing the required infrastructure for building software. Author of several scientific articles, he previously worked as software engineer at University College Cork (Ireland) in multiple research projects related to different areas such as Supply Chain Optimisation, Scheduling, Energy Efficiency, Cloud Computing, and e-Health, designing and implementing solutions for complex problems. Òscar also created and directed the MSc in DevOps and Cloud Computing at University of Barcelona.

As an Engineering Manager for Digital Health Platforms in Spain, he oversees the delivery of the core technical capabilities powering our navify solutions. His mandate centers on the strategic development of technical excellence and the synchronizati... Show more

Mohamed Maged is a Tech Lead at MobiMatter, a Dubai-based travel eSIM company providing instant mobile connectivity across 150+ countries. He builds and secures infrastructure handling high-volume transactions at scale, working across React Native, Node.js, Azure,AWS, and Tailscale. Mohamed recently presented "MongoDB Index Design That Actually Works" at the first Dubai MongoDB User Group meetup, delivering live performance demos to the local developer community. He is also a co-inventor on an AI patent for automated document evaluation systems

Mohamed Maged is a Tech Lead at MobiMatter, a Dubai-based travel eSIM company providing instant mobile connectivity across 150+ countries. He builds and secures infrastructure handling high-volume transactions at scale, working across React Native, N... 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

Software engineer at Enpal!

Software engineer at Enpal! 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

Subhagato Dutta is a Senior Systems Software Engineer with over a decade of experience in advancing hardware design, embedded systems, robotics, and machine learning technologies. He is currently a Senior Staff Software Engineer on Apple’s Technology Prototyping Team, where he plays a key role in architecting next-generation systems and developing innovative solutions across display technologies, radar sensing, robotics, and health technology. His work has contributed to the early-stage development of products such as Vision Pro and has led to significant performance improvements in imaging systems through GPU acceleration.
Throughout his career, Subhagato has demonstrated deep expertise in FPGA prototyping, computer vision, and signal processing. At Apple, he has led the development of mmWave radar sensor platforms from concept to production, designed deterministic robotic testing systems for smartphone benchmarking, and contributed to SoC architecture for autonomous technologies. Before this, he worked at Texas Instruments, where he developed imaging algorithms and tools for real-time video processing on embedded systems.
He holds a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, where he graduated with a perfect GPA of 4.0, and a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. His academic and professional work includes projects in smart vehicle systems, medical imaging using deep learning, and reconfigurable embedded systems.
In addition to his technical contributions, Subhagato has authored multiple publications in signal processing, robotics, and embedded systems, and has been recognized with numerous awards for innovation and excellence, including international technology awards in 2025. He is also actively involved in professional communities as a Senior IEEE member and fellow of several engineering organizations.

Subhagato Dutta is a Senior Systems Software Engineer with over a decade of experience in advancing hardware design, embedded systems, robotics, and machine learning technologies. He is currently a Senior Staff Software Engineer on Apple’s Technology... Show more

Sergio Freire is a solution architect and testing advocate, working closely with many teams worldwide from distinct yet highly demanding sectors (Automotive, Health, and Telco among others) to help them achieve great, high-quality, testable products. By understanding how organizations work, their needs, context and background, processes and quality can be improved, while development and testing can "merge" towards a common goal: provide the best product that stakeholders need.
He also teaches programming and software quality related courses at University of Aveiro, Portugal.

Sergio Freire is a solution architect and testing advocate, working closely with many teams worldwide from distinct yet highly demanding sectors (Automotive, Health, and Telco among others) to help them achieve great, high-quality, testable products.... Show more

With over 30 years in HR and leadership, I help organizations transform workplace culture by aligning values, communication, and accountability, I’ve trained, mentored or advised thousands of managers, HR newbies and business owners to lead with clarity. This skill development resulted in 60% higher employee engagement, 75% lower employee turnover, and reduced employee relations escalations by 40% – proving that authentic leadership drives measurable results.

In 2026, Wendy Sellers was awarded the “Speaker of the Year” hosted by Excellence Awards.

She has also been featured in USA Today and International Business Times.

Her award-winning podcast (The HR Lady® podcast) was a 2025 honoree for The 31st Annual Communicator Awards, from The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts! It was even on the radio. This podcast has now merged with the HR Empowerment podcast, which Wendy is also the host of.

Wendy was a guest on a Forbes Author Podcast > Getting Real About Culture: The HR Lady’s No-Nonsense Approach. She’s a sought-after podcast guest, sharing valuable insights on HR, management, and business leadership.

Plus, her work as a contributing author has been recognized and curated by the Library of Congress and preserved in the U.S. Copyright Office – from her desk to the nation’s library!

With over 30 years in HR and leadership, I help organizations transform workplace culture by aligning values, communication, and accountability, I’ve trained, mentored or advised thousands of managers, HR newbies and business owners to lead with cla... Show more

Artur is a systems architect and data engineer with over 20 years of experience in building end-to-end data platforms. As a Cloud Data Architect at Future Processing, he focuses on designing robust, scalable data ecosystems. He also engineers complex decision support systems and AI architectures for the London Insurance Market, bridging the gap between high-level business needs and production-grade execution environments.

Independently, he is the author and researcher behind the Decision Intelligence Runtime (DIR) and Responsibility-Oriented Agents (ROA) - architectural patterns that bridge probabilistic LLMs with the strict determinism required by critical business processes. His work on separating AI reasoning from execution has been featured on O'Reilly Radar.

To empirically validate these ideas, he built AIvestor, a research project operating on high-frequency financial data. Rather than just an investment tool, he uses live markets as a uniquely adversarial environment to stress-test real-time autonomy, state management, and decision integrity. Artur advocates for treating AI safety as a rigorous systems engineering challenge, not just a prompting exercise.

Artur is a systems architect and data engineer with over 20 years of experience in building end-to-end data platforms. As a Cloud Data Architect at Future Processing, he focuses on designing robust, scalable data ecosystems. He also engineers complex... Show more

Dr. Julia Grosse is the founder of The Cyclical CEO™, where she helps high-performing women and business teams achieve sustainable growth by syncing strategy with biology. With a background in biology and years of field research—including leadership experience during the largest polar science mission of our time, the MOSAiC Arctic Expedition—Julia bridges performance science, female leadership, and business systems.

Her career began as a scientist, but burnout and firsthand leadership experience in extreme environments revealed a missing piece: productivity and decision-making don’t operate on a 24-hour schedule, especially for women. This insight led her to pioneer rhythm-based business frameworks that combine hormonal intelligence, cognitive science, and modern productivity models.

Through her signature programs—like the Business Rhythm Blueprint and the S.C.A.L.E. Method—Julia has equipped leaders, entrepreneurs, and HR professionals across Europe to harness their natural cycles for better focus, communication, and wellbeing. Her work has been featured in New Me Event Series, Leaders Perception Magazine, and the Womanship “Behind the Bio” podcast.

Julia’s practical, evidence-based approach activates audiences: her sessions don’t just inform—they inspire action and lasting results. Whether you’re scaling a business, building resilient teams, or seeking new models for sustainable performance, Julia brings a fresh science-backed perspective that redefines leadership for the future of work.

Dr. Julia Grosse is the founder of The Cyclical CEO™, where she helps high-performing women and business teams achieve sustainable growth by syncing strategy with biology. With a background in biology and years of field research—including leadership ... Show more

Feed Focus and Starve Distractions
Mpumelelo Pinky
IT Support
Sip and Cloud Community Founder
CloudBoost and Faith Inspired Tech with Pinky
AWS Certified Cloud Ambassador
Tech Mentor and Community Volunteer
AI Engineer in Training

Feed Focus and Starve Distractions Mpumelelo Pinky IT Support Sip and Cloud Community Founder CloudBoost and Faith Inspired Tech with Pinky AWS Certified Cloud Ambassador Tech Mentor and Community Volunteer AI Engineer in Training Show more

I build products that sit somewhere between “this is actually useful” and “wait... you built this in a weekend?”

Most days I’m connecting AI systems to mobile apps, optimizing latency, shipping side projects, or teaching myself things I probably didn’t need to learn at 1am.

Flutter developer. AI tinkerer. Recovering perfectionist.

Currently exploring the intersection of AI agents, developer tooling, and thoughtful product engineering.

I build products that sit somewhere between “this is actually useful” and “wait... you built this in a weekend?” Most days I’m connecting AI systems to mobile apps, optimizing latency, shipping side projects, or teaching myself things I probably d... Show more

Jade Emmanuel is a Visionary Strategist specialising in unlocking clarity and driving emboldened action across the enterprise.

Currently, as a Senior Data & AI Consultant, she doesn't just design systems; she is a catalyst who challenges assumptions, guiding key decision makers to confront the unknown and build for what's next.
Also a data and commercial advisor to founder entrepreneurs, she delivers high-value output to lean startups with data and customer-centric insights that drive mission aligned commercial goals .

Jade is renowned for asking the right questions that unveil the key problems to solve or strongest opportunities to pursue; translating the complexity of AI and data transformation—from agentic AI architectures to enterprise governance—into clear actionable solution roadmaps, compelling narratives that resonate from the technical floor to the executive board.

Her focus is always on measurable impact, ensuring that strategic clarity leads to successful organisational change and growth.

Jade Emmanuel is a Visionary Strategist specialising in unlocking clarity and driving emboldened action across the enterprise. Currently, as a Senior Data & AI Consultant, she doesn't just design systems; she is a catalyst who challenges assumpti... Show more

A Morehouse College alum, Veteran, and Solution Architect, Nolan S. Code specializes in the infrastructure that makes AI possible. He has spent years designing secure, large-scale systems for global enterprises and now applies that rigor to community impact. As Founder and Executive Director of the Atlanta AI and Robotics Initiative (AARI), Nolan is building a "Garage Data Center" culture in Atlanta, teaching applied architecture to turn concepts into deployed reality. He believes that as AI commoditizes code, the future belongs to those who own the infrastructure.

A Morehouse College alum, Veteran, and Solution Architect, Nolan S. Code specializes in the infrastructure that makes AI possible. He has spent years designing secure, large-scale systems for global enterprises and now applies that rigor to community... Show more

Nathan Giullian is the founder of Birch Run Consulting, where he helps organizations modernize their analytics and AI capabilities using Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Azure, and large language models such as ChatGPT. He specializes in practical, cost-effective architectures that enable teams to deliver value quickly while maintaining strong governance and security.

Nathan works with clients across industries to design semantic models, optimize Fabric capacity and Azure spend, and implement AI-driven workflows that accelerate reporting, research, and decision-making. His approach focuses on education and enablement—giving teams the tools and knowledge to succeed independently.

Before launching Birch Run Consulting, Nathan worked as a Senior Business Intelligence Developer, building enterprise-grade analytics solutions and becoming known for his expertise in DAX and data modeling. He holds multiple Microsoft certifications across Power BI, Fabric, Power Platform, and Azure.

Nathan Giullian is the founder of Birch Run Consulting, where he helps organizations modernize their analytics and AI capabilities using Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Azure, and large language models such as ChatGPT. He specializes in practical, cost-e... Show more

Nurudeen Kamilu is a highly respected Systems Engineer with years of hands-on experience architecting, securing, and scaling containerized infrastructures across the financial, aviation, health, and technology sectors. He is passionate about bridging Dev and Ops through GitOps, IaC, observability, and SRE practices, with a focus on AI-assisted operations, agentic workflows, and intelligent automation to improve reliability, responsiveness, and business outcomes.

Nurudeen has consistently delivered enterprise-grade platforms across on-premise infrastructure, AWS, GCP, and Azure, and is known for driving automation, resilience, and policy governance in production-grade clusters. A CNCF-recognized Kubestronaut, Nurudeen is also the only Black recipient of the Kubestronaut award in Poland, a testament to his technical excellence and community impact. Don’t be surprised—like Linux distros, Nurudeen has deep knowledge of OpenSource Kubernetes, EKS, GKE, Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (MKE), Oracle Kubernetes Engine (OKE), and OpenShift.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Nurudeen is deeply committed to the tech community. He actively shares his knowledge through speaking engagements and mentorship programs, aiming to uplift and educate aspiring engineers. Nurudeen's passion for technology and education extends to his involvement with organizations like DevOps-as-a-Service (DaaS), where he contributes to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within the DevOps community.

Whether he's building a secure cluster or mentoring aspiring engineers, Nurudeen brings energy, insight, and authenticity to every stage and conversation.

Nurudeen Kamilu is a highly respected Systems Engineer with years of hands-on experience architecting, securing, and scaling containerized infrastructures across the financial, aviation, health, and technology sectors. He is passionate about bridging... Show more

Amber Vanderburg is a multi-award winning businessperson, keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company, The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused learning journeys. Amber's history in talent development includes authoring top-reviewed online learning courses for platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Lecturio, and PluralSight, acting as Director of a national education leadership company, and coaching with professional sports team academies in Asia. In 2022, she published her first business adventure book "Uniquely Better" about building higher team performance.

Speaking engagements:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMNcx7Jwk9Sp6WxuvrfOOBqdP9440SKl0

Amber Vanderburg is a multi-award winning businessperson, keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company, The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused learning... Show more

Dr. Sheila Volante is an award winning technology and strategy leader with over 20 years of experience guiding digital transformation across Fortune 1000 organizations. As a Fractional CIO and Co-Founder of CollectiveLogik, she partners with executive teams to benchmark readiness, modernize infrastructure, and deliver measurable value across people, process, and technology. With deep expertise spanning healthcare, hospitality, aerospace, and entertainment, Dr. Sheila is renowned for her ability to translate complex technical challenges into clear, actionable strategic roadmaps. Her signature approach blends data driven innovation with organizational empathy to ensure sustainable transformation and high adoption rates.

Dr. Sheila Volante is an award winning technology and strategy leader with over 20 years of experience guiding digital transformation across Fortune 1000 organizations. As a Fractional CIO and Co-Founder of CollectiveLogik, she partners with executiv... 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

Larry is a Director at NetSPI responsible for leading and executing IOT/Embedded Penetration Testing and researching new security techniques to ensure the safety of embedded systems. Larry has a master's degree in mathematics with emphases on Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from Georgia Southern University. He has worked with several Fortune 250 companies both as an embedded systems engineer and security expert focused on medical devices. He has aided in the design and security of multiple devices in the Automotive, Financial, Medical, Wireless, and Multimedia spectrums, has been published in medical journals, and has spoken at conferences all over the globe. Larry has extensive knowledge of the design of various bare metal and low-level embedded devices.

Larry is a Director at NetSPI responsible for leading and executing IOT/Embedded Penetration Testing and researching new security techniques to ensure the safety of embedded systems. Larry has a master's degree in mathematics with emphases on Compute... Show more

Devi Manoharan is an Enterprise Quality Engineering Specialist with advanced expertise in healthcare claims automation, X12 EDI compliance, and intelligent testing frameworks for payer and provider ecosystems. With extensive experience across healthcare, insurance, and financial domains, she has led quality engineering initiatives for large-scale claims adjudication systems, HIPAA-compliant EDI transactions, real-time processing pipelines, and enterprise data modernisation programs.
Her technical strengths include Selenium WebDriver, Java, Python, Cucumber BDD, TestNG, API testing, microservices validation, Kafka event-driven workflows, ETL/ELT data quality, and complex integration testing across SFTP, MQ, and cloud-based ecosystems. Devi has delivered high-impact automation frameworks, adaptive QE strategies, risk-based validation techniques, and scalable test architectures that improve first-pass adjudication accuracy, reduce operational defects, and accelerate payer modernisation.
Recognised for her analytical depth, leadership, and collaborative problem-solving, Devi plays a key role in driving quality, compliance, and innovation across mission-critical healthcare platforms. She is deeply committed to advancing automation, intelligent validation, and next-generation Quality Engineering to support faster, more accurate, and interoperable healthcare systems.

Devi Manoharan is an Enterprise Quality Engineering Specialist with advanced expertise in healthcare claims automation, X12 EDI compliance, and intelligent testing frameworks for payer and provider ecosystems. With extensive experience across healthc... Show more

Richard Ceffalio Jr. is recognized in the Chicago area for his longstanding commitment to community involvement, family values, and charitable service. Raised in an Italian-American household, he grew up surrounded by traditions that emphasized faith, loyalty, and helping others. Those early influences shaped the perspective he carries into every part of his life today. From family gatherings to community activities, he learned the importance of consistency, responsibility, and maintaining strong relationships with the people around him.

During his years at Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois, Rich became involved in extracurricular activities and developed leadership skills that would remain important throughout adulthood. His Catholic education reinforced the values of his upbringing and encouraged him to approach challenges with discipline and purpose. He later attended DePaul University in Chicago, where he broadened his understanding of the world and continued building the intellectual curiosity that has guided many of his personal and professional experiences.

Over the years, Rich Ceffalio has devoted time and energy to organizations that support individuals and families in need. His efforts were recognized through the Outstanding Achievement in Leadership award from Dreams for Kids, a Chicago nonprofit committed to empowering young people facing adversity. In addition to that recognition, he served on the boards of the National Kidney Foundation and the Columbian Club of Chicago. Through these roles, he supported causes tied to health awareness, patient advocacy, and the preservation of local cultural traditions.

Richard has also contributed to charitable initiatives, including Elevate Life Church, Toys for Tots, Meals for the Homeless on Thanksgiving, and food pantry programs that assist local families. He has spoken about the value of direct service and the importance of treating every individual with dignity and respect. His charitable efforts have extended beyond his local community, including donations supporting wildfire relief in California and organizations assisting individuals with special needs and their families.

Outside his community work, family remains at the center of his life. Richard Ceffalio Jr. lives in Illinois with his wife, Nicole, and their three children, and values the time they spend together celebrating milestones, traveling, and enjoying outdoor activities. He is also passionate about endurance sports, boating, fishing, pickleball, and sports cars. In 2024, he completed three marathons, reflecting the same discipline and determination that define other areas of his life. He continues to balance personal interests, family priorities, and community involvement with a grounded and thoughtful approach.

Richard Ceffalio Jr. is recognized in the Chicago area for his longstanding commitment to community involvement, family values, and charitable service. Raised in an Italian-American household, he grew up surrounded by traditions that emphasized faith... Show more

Parul is a highly experienced keynote speaker with a flair for making DEI talks exciting again. She delivers informative and engaging talks on neurodiversity, sometimes with a bit of a twist; by using concepts from nostalgic video games!

Parul has delivered keynote talks at LeadDev London, Leeds Digital Festival, Manchester Tech Festival and RecFest.

Parul is a highly experienced keynote speaker with a flair for making DEI talks exciting again. She delivers informative and engaging talks on neurodiversity, sometimes with a bit of a twist; by using concepts from nostalgic video games! Parul ha... Show more

Kerry Ehikioya is a senior software engineer with experience building digital infrastructure for healthcare in Africa. She drives engineering efforts at Helium Health, focused on AI-powered applications for healthcare. Previously, she's contributed to product engineering at Spoke.AI (acquired by Salesforce). Kerry is an active public speaker, regularly sharing insights on AI developer productivity tools, Web AI, and AI in Healthcare. She co-organizes CityJS Lagos and is a volunteer mentor at Nexus Tech Community Initiative.

Kerry Ehikioya is a senior software engineer with experience building digital infrastructure for healthcare in Africa. She drives engineering efforts at Helium Health, focused on AI-powered applications for healthcare. Previously, she's contributed t... Show more