Humanities & Social Sciences

Esteemed speakers contributing their insights into human culture, behavior, and societal development

Anand Tiwary

Anand Tiwary

Anand Tiwary is Director of Engineering, UI at Harness, where he leads global teams building application security experiences across a $200M+ ARR platform. A founding engineer at Traceable AI (from seed to acquisition), he specialises in UI architecture, design systems, and GenAI-powered UX, with published patents in data privacy and bot detection, open-source contributions, and active mentoring of emerging engineers.

Anand Tiwary is Director of Engineering, UI at Harness, where he leads global teams building application security experiences across a $200M+ ARR platform. A founding engineer at Traceable AI (from seed to acquisition), he specialises in UI architect... Show more

Nataliya Ershova

Nataliya Ershova

- Se especializa en ayudar a desarrolladores a encontrar empleo en empresas de tecnología o a cambiar de carrera, siendo coach de neurociencia certificado por la ICF.
- 18 años de experiencia en desarrollo de negocios y estrategia de comunicación para los mercados de Europa, Asia y Latinoamérica
- Ella es economista con maestría en periodismo. Cambió de carrera cuatro veces en tres países
- Experiencia en la enseñanza del inglés en diferentes escuelas, bootcamps y universidades en América Latina durante 4 años.
- En Latinoamérica, ella ejecuta estrategias para que clientes corporativos ingresen a nuevos mercados, conecta fondos de Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) con startups y lidera un equipo de ingenieros de Machine Learning y Data


ESP | RUS | ENG

- Se especializa en ayudar a desarrolladores a encontrar empleo en empresas de tecnología o a cambiar de carrera, siendo coach de neurociencia certificado por la ICF. - 18 años de experiencia en desarrollo de negocios y estrategia de comunicación pa... Show more

Brittany Cox

Brittany Cox

Brittany Cox, MA, RDH, is a sustainable systems strategist and emerging policy architect, guiding healthcare into a planet-first future. With a Master’s in Oral Health Promotion and a postgraduate certification in leadership and coaching, Brittany bridges clinical expertise with environmental innovation. She consults with dental practices, manufacturers, and institutions to design sustainable systems that enhance patient care, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency.

Currently pursuing a legal education focused on environmental and health law, Brittany is expanding her mission to influence policy and reimagine the frameworks that govern healthcare. Known for her ability to translate complex challenges into practical strategies, she blends evidence-based insight with deeply ethical leadership. Through speaking, content creation, and consulting, Brittany equips industry leaders and organizations to align their operations with sustainability, without sacrificing excellence. Her work empowers practices and systems to do better by their people, their patients, and the planet.

Brittany Cox, MA, RDH, is a sustainable systems strategist and emerging policy architect, guiding healthcare into a planet-first future. With a Master’s in Oral Health Promotion and a postgraduate certification in leadership and coaching, Brittany br... Show more

Dominika Tasarz

Dominika Tasarz

With 15 years in the Java industry, I’m a dedicated community builder and senior marketing professional focused on growing and supporting the global Java and Jakarta EE ecosystems. I specialise in creating spaces for developer collaboration, driving open source engagement, and promoting education across Java communities.

Throughout my career, I’ve supported developers by organising educational events, creating technical content, and fostering meaningful connections. I’ve spoken at Java and open source conferences, worked closely with Java Champions and Jakarta EE experts, and contributed to the growth of developer communities worldwide.

As one of the original team members at Payara, I played a key role in shaping the Payara brand and building its user community from the ground up. In my current role as Community Manager, I continue to support and grow developer communities by amplifying their voices, encouraging knowledge-sharing, and driving innovation in the enterprise Java space.

With 15 years in the Java industry, I’m a dedicated community builder and senior marketing professional focused on growing and supporting the global Java and Jakarta EE ecosystems. I specialise in creating spaces for developer collaboration, driving ... Show more

Kenisha Coon

Kenisha Coon

Kenisha Coon (she/her) is a nationally recognized leader in child welfare, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and systems transformation. With over 15 years of experience driving organizational change, Kenisha empowers leaders, teams, and communities to build equitable systems that work for everyone.

As the Founder and CEO of Kenisha Coon Consulting, she partners with government agencies, nonprofits, and corporate leaders to implement equity-centered strategies, facilitate transformational coaching, and design sustainable leadership frameworks. Her signature keynote, “Unstoppable: Breaking Barriers & Rebuilding Systems for Lasting Change,” inspires audiences to confront systemic inequities with courage, compassion, and actionable strategies rooted in her PERSIST™ framework.

Kenisha is the Director of Community Engagement for the Eko Vision Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving accessibility and innovation for the blind and low vision community. Diagnosed as legally blind, she uses her lived experience to advocate for inclusive design, equitable technology, and accessibility across industries.

A sought-after speaker and trainer, Kenisha has delivered presentations at national conferences, universities, and leadership summits, sharing her story of resilience from her memoir, And Then She Persisted, and insights from her forthcoming book, Reimagine Equity.

Kenisha holds a Ph.D. in Psychology (Evidence-Based Coaching and Leadership), a Master’s and Post-Master’s Certificate in Psychology, and a DEI in the Workplace Certification. Her work bridges evidence-based research, human-centered leadership, and the power of storytelling to move audiences from awareness to action.

Popular Topics:

Systems Change and Racial Equity in Child Welfare

Leadership Through Adversity

Accessibility and Inclusive Innovation

The Power of Evidence-Based Coaching

Antiracist Parenting and Cultural Capacity

Learn more or book Kenisha for your next event at www.kenishacoon.com
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Kenisha Coon (she/her) is a nationally recognized leader in child welfare, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and systems transformation. With over 15 years of experience driving organizational change, Kenisha empowers leaders, teams, and commun... Show more

René Seidel

René Seidel

René Seidel ist Bildungs-Architekt und Experte für die strategische Gestaltung hybrider Lernwelten. Er verbindet seine Arbeit als Referent bei der Stiftung IBZ St. Marienthal mit seiner Expertise in der Lehre an der Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz, um Bildungsprozesse zukunftsfähig zu gestalten. Sein Fokus liegt auf der „Strategischen Teamleitung“ von Mensch und Maschine: Weg von der administrativen Last der Planung, hin zu einer hochwertigen Orchestrierung von Lernräumen.

Als Vordenker für die „Revolution im Lehrplan“ entwickelt er Konzepte, wie Lehrende durch personalisierte KI-Analyse-Architekturen ihre pädagogische Identität stärken. Er zeigt auf, wie durch die Symbiose aus Werten und Technik die notwendigen Freiräume für exzellente Lehre unter Druck (#UnderPressure) zurückgewonnen werden.

René Seidel ist Bildungs-Architekt und Experte für die strategische Gestaltung hybrider Lernwelten. Er verbindet seine Arbeit als Referent bei der Stiftung IBZ St. Marienthal mit seiner Expertise in der Lehre an der Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz, um Bild... Show more

Brett McDermott

Brett McDermott

Most leaders are great at what they do, but struggle to get their teams fully bought in. When communication lacks clarity and charisma, even the most talented teams become disconnected, unmotivated, and underperforming. I help leaders become clear, charismatic communicators, so their people feel aligned, inspired, and ready to execute at a high level.
Through keynotes and leadership workshops, I teach the practical skills behind magnetic leadership, how to show up with presence, build trust quickly, and drive real engagement. My approach is shaped by a decade of leading a high-performing team in the high-pressure world of NYC real estate, where results depended on influence, not just expertise.
If your team is capable but not clicking, I help you bridge the gap between authority and connection, so your culture thrives and your people show up for more than just a paycheck.

Most leaders are great at what they do, but struggle to get their teams fully bought in. When communication lacks clarity and charisma, even the most talented teams become disconnected, unmotivated, and underperforming. I help leaders become clear, c... Show more

Hannah Köpper

Hannah Köpper

Hannah Köpper (M.A.) leitet das Digitalisierungsteam im Studiendekanat der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Freiburg. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Team ist sie Ansprechpartnerin zu verschiedensten Fragen und Themen rund um digitale Lehre und innovative Lehrformate. Zu Hannahs Arbeitsschwerpunkten gehören Digitale Kompetenzen und AI Literacy, XR und das Lernmanagementsystem ILIAS.

Hannah Köpper (M.A.) leitet das Digitalisierungsteam im Studiendekanat der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Freiburg. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Team ist sie Ansprechpartnerin zu verschiedensten Fragen und Themen rund um digitale Lehre und innovative ... Show more

Alex Corcoran

Alex Corcoran

Alex has over 20 years’ Human Resource experience in a number of industries globally, with the last 5 being in Tech and Financial Services. Her strengths lie in coaching, facilitating and accentuating 'people’ in People & Culture. With her life and work, Alex has learnt that people thrive the most when they are allowed to bring their most authentic selves to the table.

Being a corporate hippie at heart, she is passionate about supporting managers to be more holistic in their approach. Alex actively works with leaders at all levels to consider leadership from a different lens, bringing out super powers they didn’t know existed; consequently improving relationships with their employees and the performance of their teams.

Whether she's in a boardroom or on a beanbag, Alex brings the same energy: insightful, passionate, and always deeply connected with the people in the room.

Alex has over 20 years’ Human Resource experience in a number of industries globally, with the last 5 being in Tech and Financial Services. Her strengths lie in coaching, facilitating and accentuating 'people’ in People & Culture. With her life and w... Show more

Andrew Kolikoff

Andrew Kolikoff

For over 25 years, Andrew Kolikoff has been a leadership coach who elevates company cultures.

For over 25 years, Andrew Kolikoff has been a leadership coach who elevates company cultures. Show more

Franziska Brenner

Franziska Brenner

Franziska Brenner (M.A.) studierte Geschichtswissenschaft, Romanistik, Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Soziologie und Erziehungswissenschaft in Bielefeld, Sevilla, Magdeburg und Roskilde. Seit 2019 arbeitet sie als wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Team E-Learning der Universität Leipzig. Neben ihrer Mitarbeit und Koordination im Verbundprojekt Digitalisierung der Hochschulbildung Sachsen in der Programmlinie Digital Change Agents baute sie das universitätsweite Netzwerk Lehre.Digital auf. Im Rahmen ihrer Promotion beschäftigt sie sich mit der Rolle von Hochschullehrenden vor dem Hintergrund von KI.

Franziska Brenner (M.A.) studierte Geschichtswissenschaft, Romanistik, Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Soziologie und Erziehungswissenschaft in Bielefeld, Sevilla, Magdeburg und Roskilde. Seit 2019 arbeitet sie als wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Team E... Show more

Pierdomenico Reitano

Pierdomenico Reitano

Passionate about front-end development and UX, I turn interfaces into smooth and effective experiences. Naturally curious, I also explore ‘under the hood’ code to refine every step of the process. I talk about development, design, and team collaboration with a sprinkle of humor and plenty of nerdy analogies.

Passionate about front-end development and UX, I turn interfaces into smooth and effective experiences. Naturally curious, I also explore ‘under the hood’ code to refine every step of the process. I talk about development, design, and team collaborat... Show more

Anaïs Chanclu

Anaïs Chanclu

I love teaching machines to understand language.
I help them learn to speak, find information in texts, and create sentences.
I also enjoy making music and playing board games.
I’m passionate about platypuses, dinosaurs, and Doctor Who.
I don’t always look up, but when I do, it’s to admire the stars.

I love teaching machines to understand language. I help them learn to speak, find information in texts, and create sentences. I also enjoy making music and playing board games. I’m passionate about platypuses, dinosaurs, and Doctor Who. I don’t a... Show more

Emanuel Toledo

Emanuel Toledo

Emanuel Toledo es Licenciado en Gestión Pública y Analista-Científico de Datos. Con más de 13 años de experiencia en el sector público, especializado en administración, auditoría y análisis presupuestario , ha impulsado en los últimos años su desarrollo hacia la tecnología, liderando la transformación digital desde el análisis, visualización, ciencia de datos e inteligencia artificial. Es CEO y fundador de Thinking OUT!, una consultora digital especializada en datos, comprometido con la inclusión, la innovación y el aprendizaje continuo. Interesado en colaborar con proyectos de impacto social que integren tecnología, educación y equidad, Emanuel es un firme creyente de que la decisión política y las herramientas accesibles son la clave para un servicio público más eficiente y transparente en América Latina.

Emanuel Toledo es Licenciado en Gestión Pública y Analista-Científico de Datos. Con más de 13 años de experiencia en el sector público, especializado en administración, auditoría y análisis presupuestario , ha impulsado en los últimos años su desarro... Show more

Blessing Agbor

Blessing Agbor


Blessing Agbor is an API Security Engineer with 2 years of experience in application security, specializing in the emerging threat landscape where artificial intelligence meets traditional API vulnerabilities. Operating at the intersection of OWASP API Security Top 10 and OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications, she addresses the critical security gaps that most organizations miss when deploying AI agents and LLM-powered systems. Her research focuses on cross-framework vulnerability analysis, demonstrating how attackers chain traditional API flaws (BOLA, broken authentication, excessive data exposure) with LLM-specific vulnerabilities (prompt injection, insecure plugins, excessive agency) to achieve complete system compromise. This work emerged from conducting real-world security assessments of AI agent deployments in fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS platforms across multiple continents.

Throughout her career, Blessing has conducted security assessments for organizations and identified 5+ critical vulnerabilities. She holds CompTIA Certs as well as APISEC and actively contributes to the security community through technical blog posts and local security meetups. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, Blessing Agbor is committed to elevating cybersecurity expertise across emerging markets. She believes that advanced security knowledge should be accessible to all practitioners, regardless of geography or organizational size. When not breaking AI agents, she enjoys vlogging, reading books, and documenting her memories.

She has served in technical and leadership roles for major community-led events, including Google Developers Group's Build with AI, DevFest, TechSafe, and STEMCON Tour, and regularly speaks on how security, ethics, and human behavior intersect in tech development. Currently, she’s working on API security projects—deepening her expertise in securing APIs, understanding real-world attack surfaces, implementing threat modeling, and integrating security seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines. Her focus is on building resilient, developer-friendly security workflows that align with modern DevSecOps practices.

Blessing Agbor is an API Security Engineer with 2 years of experience in application security, specializing in the emerging threat landscape where artificial intelligence meets traditional API vulnerabilities. Operating at the intersection of OWASP... Show more

Steph Houle

Steph Houle

Steph Houle is a design leader, coach, and consultant with over 15 years of experience shaping digital products from startups to Fortune 1 companies alike, including Walmart, Macy’s, and Calvin Klein. She blends her background in UX/UI and product design leadership with a deep commitment to human-centered design practices, helping teams and individuals navigate complexity with clarity, creativity, and resilience.

Through her coaching practice, Steph guides women and creative leaders to cultivate self-expression, intuitive authority, and sustainable ways of working. Her talks invite audiences into both practical frameworks and reflective pauses, bridging design methodologies with personal leadership.

Steph Houle is a design leader, coach, and consultant with over 15 years of experience shaping digital products from startups to Fortune 1 companies alike, including Walmart, Macy’s, and Calvin Klein. She blends her background in UX/UI and product de... Show more

Bethany Parnell

Bethany Parnell

Bethany Parnell is the Senior Product Manager at the American College of Surgeons and the founder of Resilient Product Leadership. With over a decade of experience driving digital transformation across the insurance, hospitality, and healthcare industries, Bethany specializes in building systems that bend, not break. From AI integration to headless CMS migrations, her work bridges the gap between technical scalability and human resilience. She is a passionate advocate for psychological safety and teaches frameworks that help cross-functional teams navigate high-stakes, regulated environments without burning out.

Bethany Parnell is the Senior Product Manager at the American College of Surgeons and the founder of Resilient Product Leadership. With over a decade of experience driving digital transformation across the insurance, hospitality, and healthcare indus... Show more

John Phillip

John Phillip

John Phillip graduated from Coventry University and is now based in London. He works as a developer at Cheap Essay Writing UK, a company known for providing essay writing services UK to which students can trust. The team delivers clear, original academic work that meets university standards. Outside of work, John enjoys learning new technologies and improving his coding skills. Students can access quality essay writing help at affordable prices.

John Phillip graduated from Coventry University and is now based in London. He works as a developer at Cheap Essay Writing UK, a company known for providing essay writing services UK to which students can trust. The team delivers clear, original acad... Show more

Matty Stevenson

Matty Stevenson

Matty Stevenson is the Founder & Lead Facilitator of Conscious Ground, where he works to heal division and loneliness by fostering authentic connection, conscious leadership, and solidarity for action. With over a decade of group facilitation experience and 20 years exploring how people work together in corporate environments, Matty creates transformative experiences that help people communicate and collaborate across differences, reclaim their shared humanity, and take collective action toward a world where everyone can thrive.

Matty's work is grounded in the belief that we have more in common than we have differences, and that the systems keeping us divided and polarized can be overcome when we show up authentically, take radical responsibility, and practice solidarity as a living commitment. His sessions blend practical communication frameworks, conscious leadership practices, and community-building strategies that participants can immediately apply to their relationships, teams, and organizations.

As a Sr. Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and 2x AWS re:Invent speaker, Matty brings unique perspective on navigating technological transformation, particularly AI's impact on work, connection, and leadership. He helps audiences understand not just what's changing, but how to lead consciously through rapid change while maintaining our humanity and strengthening our bonds.

Based in Ventura, California, Matty's facilitation style emphasizes experimentation, curiosity, and creating spaces where difficult conversations lead to breakthrough moments. Whether working with corporate teams, community groups, or public audiences, he inspires people to remember their power to create change and make a meaningful difference in the world.

For conference organizers: Looking to bring some inspiration to your next event? Matty's sessions spark genuine connection among participants, inspire creative thinking about challenges they're facing, and leave people feeling energized and empowered to take action. If you're looking for a speaker who will help your audience feel a sense of belonging, experience moments of "wow," and leave ecstatic they attended, Matty brings the perfect blend of substance, heart, and practical tools to make that happen.

Matty Stevenson is the Founder & Lead Facilitator of Conscious Ground, where he works to heal division and loneliness by fostering authentic connection, conscious leadership, and solidarity for action. With over a decade of group facilitation experie... Show more

Shahan Ahmed

Shahan Ahmed

Currently working in Conduent. My focus on HIPPA regulations compliances!

Currently working in Conduent. My focus on HIPPA regulations compliances! Show more

Arianne Jennings

Arianne Jennings

Dr. Arianne Jennings, LCPC, is a licensed mental health practitioner and public health consultant born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She is passionate about helping others reach their full potential by addressing their behavioral and social issues. Dr. Jennings loves working with professionals with anxiety, depression and undergoing various life transitions. She has spent her career supporting the people who give so much of themselves to others: therapists, leaders, caregivers, educators, and organizations. Her mission is simple—to create spaces where helpers can breathe, reset, and thrive. Dr. Jennings has facilitated specialized trainings in trauma-informed care, clinician wellness, and organizational consulting.

Dr. Arianne Jennings, LCPC, is a licensed mental health practitioner and public health consultant born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She is passionate about helping others reach their full potential by addressing their behavioral and social issues. Dr... Show more

Brieanna Lightfoot Smith

Brieanna Lightfoot Smith

Through her signature R.E.S.T.™ framework, Brieanna Lightfoot Smith helps audiences release perfection, reclaim purpose, and rebuild rhythm so they can live and lead from a place of Freedom, Flow, and Fulfillment.

Through her signature R.E.S.T.™ framework, Brieanna Lightfoot Smith helps audiences release perfection, reclaim purpose, and rebuild rhythm so they can live and lead from a place of Freedom, Flow, and Fulfillment. Show more

Yanyi .

Yanyi .

Yanyi is the author of Dream of the Divided Field (One World 2022), The Year of Blue Water (Yale 2019), and the writing advice column The Reading (2020– ). He teaches poetry in the MFA Program at Warren Wilson College and at large. In 2023, he founded the Asian American Literary Archive.

Yanyi is the author of Dream of the Divided Field (One World 2022), The Year of Blue Water (Yale 2019), and the writing advice column The Reading (2020– ). He teaches poetry in the MFA Program at Warren Wilson College and at large. In 2023, he founde... Show more

Kira Buckley

Kira Buckley

A wellbeing guide. Kira Buckley is an integrative medicine practitioner, writer, and ceremonial guide whose work sits at the intersection of somatics, ancestral intelligence, nervous system regulation, and cultural repair.
With a background as a former educator and over a decade of clinical and experiential work in acupuncture, herbal medicine, somatic therapy, and ritual facilitation, Kira speaks to what happens beneath behavior—where the body carries stories that language, systems, and family structures often fail to name.
Her talks explore themes such as:
The inherited costs of caretaking, productivity, and “being strong”
Rest as a physiological and cultural recalibration—not a luxury
How grief, burnout, and chronic symptoms are often signals of misalignment rather than pathology
Reclaiming authority from external validation, tradition, and transactional love
The body as a living archive of ancestral memory and future possibility
Kira is known for her grounded presence, sharp insight, and ability to translate complex somatic and spiritual concepts into language that is accessible, embodied, and actionable. She does not offer platitudes or performance healing—she invites people into honest self-contact, practical integration, and courageous choice-making.
Whether speaking to educators, healers, creatives, caregivers, or organizational leaders, Kira’s work leaves audiences with more than inspiration—it leaves them with permission and tools to live in deeper alignment with their bodies, boundaries, and truth.

A wellbeing guide. Kira Buckley is an integrative medicine practitioner, writer, and ceremonial guide whose work sits at the intersection of somatics, ancestral intelligence, nervous system regulation, and cultural repair. With a background as a for... Show more

Samuel Tolbert

Samuel Tolbert

Samuel Tolbert is a mindset strategist, leadership development expert, and founder of Elevated Thoughts Academy, where belief reconstruction meets real-world leadership transformation.

With a background spanning college athletics, military service in the U.S. Navy, organizational leadership, and executive coaching, Samuel brings a rare depth of lived experience to every stage he steps on. His journey—from losing a basketball scholarship, to global military service, to navigating homelessness and identity loss—became the catalyst for his life’s work: helping individuals and organizations close the gap between who they are and who they’re called to become.

Samuel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, with advanced training in leadership coaching, mentoring, and organizational change. He is also the author of Potential to Purpose: The Power of Intentional Thinking, a transformational work that explores how belief systems, identity, and internal alignment shape performance, culture, and outcomes.

Through proprietary frameworks such as the Thought Seeking Model (TSM) and the Move & SOAR (MV-SOAR) Model, Samuel equips leaders, students, and organizations to move beyond surface-level motivation into sustainable, identity-rooted growth. His work has been delivered across universities, schools, workforce programs, faith-based organizations, and corporate environments.

Samuel is known for a speaking style that is honest, structured, and disruptive—in the best way. He doesn’t inspire people to try harder; he helps them think differently so leadership, confidence, and clarity emerge naturally.

Samuel Tolbert is a mindset strategist, leadership development expert, and founder of Elevated Thoughts Academy, where belief reconstruction meets real-world leadership transformation. With a background spanning college athletics, military service... Show more

Nidhi Chanani

Nidhi Chanani

Nidhi Chanani is an award-winning author and illustrator of over a dozen books. She was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She holds a degree in literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. Her graphic novels include Pashmina, Jukebox, Super Boba Café and the Shark Princess series. She also has a number of picture books including I will be fierce, Strong, Binny’s Diwali, What Will My Story Be and Quiet Karima. When she’s not making books Nidhi loves to travel and has visited 20 countries. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. nidhichanani.com

Nidhi Chanani is an award-winning author and illustrator of over a dozen books. She was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She holds a degree in literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2012 she was honored by the Ob... Show more

Nina Rodriguez

Nina Rodriguez

Nina Rodriguez is the founder, executive producer, and host of GRIEF AND LIGHT, a respected platform amplifying griever voices, expanding grief literacy, and offering meaningful pathways forward. Rooted in the belief that grief is not something to "fix", but something to tend, honor, and integrate, her work invites more honest conversations about loss and life after it.

The GRIEF AND LIGHT podcast has surpassed 100 episodes and has received multiple recognitions, including Ear Worthy’s Best Independent Podcasts of 2026 (“Best Life Lessons”), TalkDeath’s Best of 2025 (Readers’ Choice, Best Podcast), a Women Who Podcast Award (2025), and a Women Podcasters Award nomination (2026).

An experienced and sought-after speaker, Nina presents on grief, grief literacy, resilience, sibling loss, and post-traumatic growth. She has spoken at the University of Miami, the Latinas in Podcasting Virtual Summit (2025), and at events co-created with Reimagine, including a three-part series exploring sibling loss, grief and podcasting, and accessible pathways to grief support. Her talks are known for blending emotional depth with practical insight, cultural fluency, and an unwavering respect for lived experience.

Nina’s work is deeply personal. After the sudden and unexpected death of her only sibling, Yosef, in 2019, she launched GRIEF AND LIGHT in 2023 as an honest exploration of grief, meaning-making, and growth after loss. Today, she serves as a grief-informed guide and space-holder, committed to helping individuals and communities live more fully in the “and”, where grief and joy coexist.

She leads the Get Griefy Small Business Collective Podcasters Network, supporting independent creators in building sustainable, grief-informed platforms, and has hosted Reimagine’s Room for Grief gathering on multiple occasions. Nina is also a member of RedBoxMe, a collaborative platform with Cartier at the intersection of philanthropy, art, leadership, and culture, where she brings grief literacy as a lens for connection, empathy, and dialogue.

Nina is a regular contributor to Get Griefy Magazine, writes the Substack Resting Grief Face by Grief and Light, and is a co-author of Resilient A.F., Vol. 2: Stories of Resilience (2025). She is a graduate of Megan Devine’s Grief Care Professional Certificate Program.

In addition to her grief-focused work, Nina brings over a decade of experience in communications, strategy, and sales across fintech, real estate, and higher education, infusing professionalism, empathy, and clarity into every room she enters.

Based in Southeast Florida, Nina welcomes aligned speaking engagements, collaborations, and conversations, virtually and in person.

Learn more via griefandlight.com

Nina Rodriguez is the founder, executive producer, and host of GRIEF AND LIGHT, a respected platform amplifying griever voices, expanding grief literacy, and offering meaningful pathways forward. Rooted in the belief that grief is not something to "f... Show more

Christina Aldan

Christina Aldan

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded for her approach to business, partnering with clients to find unique strategies that ensure their goals are met. Christina builds connections through her keynote addresses, training workshops, and technological education. She uses these tools to help individuals and businesses cultivate value in everyday media. Christina has delivered talks on all 7 continents, presenting training workshops for the Microsoft MVP community, Las Vegas Raiders, Yale School of Public Health, international corporations, and conferences worldwide. Christina uses her charisma and expertise to inspire others by mentoring women in business like herself. She also has sat on state and local boards supporting women in tech, entrepreneurship, mental health, and children with learning disabilities.

She is the recipient of the Las Vegas Women in Tech Community Service Award, the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award in STEM. Learn more at: Luckygirliegirl.com.

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded ... Show more

Alejo Perna

Alejo Perna

🎯 Alejo Perna - Analista de Datos - Emprendedor - AI Developer

¡Hola! 👋 Soy Alejo Perna, tengo 19 años y me considero una persona innovadora y apasionada por la tecnología. Desde pequeño, mi motivación ha sido aprender constantemente, especialmente en el ámbito informático, donde me sumerjo en la lógica y la tecnología. 🧠✨

Me destaco por mi capacidad para resolver problemas complejos utilizando técnicas avanzadas de análisis de datos y desarrollo tecnológico. He trabajado en proyectos que integran tecnología e impacto social, combinando creatividad y eficiencia. 🚀

🎓 Educación y Formación

📘 Actualmente curso la Licenciatura en Sistemas en la UBA.
✨ He realizado múltiples cursos especializados en el mundo de los datos, adquiriendo habilidades en análisis, gestión y visualización de información, además de certificaciones en áreas clave como la inteligencia artificial, Big Data, y ciencia de datos. Estas formaciones han sido fundamentales para fortalecer mi perfil como analista de datos y aplicarlas en proyectos con impacto social y empresarial.

💼 Experiencia Profesional

Especialización Reciente:
- Transformación de datos en información estratégica para la toma de decisiones empresariales.
- Creación de dashboards interactivos y visualizaciones avanzadas con Power BI para facilitar el acceso a datos clave.
- Desarrollo de análisis personalizados y automatización de procesos con Python.
- Experiencia en limpieza, modelado y análisis exploratorio de datos para detectar patrones y generar insights accionables.
- Enfoque en resolver problemas complejos y ofrecer soluciones basadas en datos para impactar positivamente en el rendimiento empresarial.

He trabajado en diversos proyectos innovadores y de impacto social:

🤖 PUFFLE
Inteligencia artificial diseñada para potenciar el aprendizaje a través del método socrático, una dinámica educativa que promueve un diálogo enriquecedor y reflexivo. Entrenable con los materiales bibliográficos que el profesor sube, Puffle fomenta el pensamiento crítico en los estudiantes mediante preguntas reflexivas en tiempo real, impulsando su capacidad analítica y de razonamiento.

🌟 FinanciARG
Plataforma de crowdfunding:
Democratiza el acceso al financiamiento para empresas, ofreciendo beneficios exclusivos a los contribuyentes.
Fortalece la relación empresa-cliente, potenciando el crecimiento empresarial.

📚 podrIA
Aplicación educativa que utiliza inteligencia artificial para optimizar las técnicas de estudio, ofreciendo funcionalidades como planificación inteligente adaptada a tus tiempos y objetivos, y métodos para mejorar la concentración basados en el sistema Pomodoro. Con PODRÍA, estudiar se vuelve más eficiente, personalizado y motivador.

🏆 Logros y Reconocimientos

🏅Ganador de la Innovaton 2025 organizada por Promptear Argentina con el proyecto PodrIA.

🏅 Finalista en la Hackathon Hackit/BA 2024 (ITBA Computer Society) con el proyecto FinanciARG, logrando el Top 3 por su innovación y potencial.

🎤 Charla TED: "La Serendipia del Aleteo", explorando cómo pequeños cambios generan un gran impacto.
👉 Ver charla TED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXPkO7Aq57g

🎤 Charla AWS Community Day Argentina: "IA, ¿Héroe o Amenaza?", analizando los desafíos éticos y ventajas de la IA.
👉 Ver charla: https://www.youtube.com/live/OOeMBiNKIQU?si=u4BWAwyoI-QfojPc

🎤 Charla en Cafayate organizada por Fehgra: "Mas alla de los likes, ¿Cómo construir conexiones reales?", espacio de diálogo sobre comunicación digital usando a los datos y a la IA como aliados.
👉 Nota: https://fehgra.org.ar/archivos/36519

🤝 Voluntariado
Mentor y Jurado en la Datathon de Río Cuarto:
- Análisis de datos con Python: Guié equipos en análisis y procesamiento de datos.
- Entrenamiento de modelos de IA: Ayudé a desarrollar y evaluar proyectos por innovación y precisión.

🎓 Conocimientos
🐍 Python (Google Colab, NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn)
📊 SQL, Power BI,
🗃️ Business Intelligence
🌐 HTML, CSS, JS
🎨 Figma (Diseño UI)
💡 Design Thinking

🌟 Frase que me define:
"La tecnología puede potenciar nuestras capacidades, pero son nuestras capacidades las que definen el potencial de la tecnología." 💻💡

🎯 Alejo Perna - Analista de Datos - Emprendedor - AI Developer ¡Hola! 👋 Soy Alejo Perna, tengo 19 años y me considero una persona innovadora y apasionada por la tecnología. Desde pequeño, mi motivación ha sido aprender constantemente, especialm... Show more

Shanne Sowards

Shanne Sowards

Shanne Sowards is the founder and Executive Director of Squires Empowering Young Dads (SEYD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping, mentoring, and empowering teen and young fathers. With a deep passion for breaking cycles of fatherlessness, Shanne has built Squires into a trusted community resource where young dads can gain confidence, leadership skills, and a vision for healthy fatherhood.

Drawing from his own experiences as a young father, Shanne understands the unique challenges young dads face and has committed his life to ensuring they are not left behind. Under his leadership, Squires has developed innovative programs like The Knight Project, which combines personal growth with leadership development, giving young fathers opportunities to step into their roles as leaders in their families and communities.

Shanne is widely recognized as a passionate advocate, speaker, and mentor who believes that supporting young fathers strengthens families and transforms communities. His work has given countless young men the tools not only to graduate and achieve stability, but also to build lasting legacies as engaged, intentional dads.

Shanne Sowards is the founder and Executive Director of Squires Empowering Young Dads (SEYD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping, mentoring, and empowering teen and young fathers. With a deep passion for breaking cycles of fatherlessness... Show more

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