Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Tina Basner

Tina Basner

Tina Basner works at the CHE Centre for Higher Education Development as project manager of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD). Since 2021, she has headed various InnovationHub think tanks on topics such as "equality & diversity", "hybrid teaching" and "internationalisation" in the digital age in Higher Education. Since the beginning of 2024, she has been in charge of setting up the think tank "Well-Being in the Digital Age". Before joining the HFD, Tina Basner travelled the world as a self-employed digital nomad and taught and advised on digital teaching and learning as an online lecturer at universities. She previously worked as a project coordinator in the BMBF project "Advancement through Education - Open Universities" and was repeatedly involved in various international education projects in South Africa and China. Tina Basner is a certified Agile Coach (2021), NLP Coach (2023) and Team- & Outdoor Trainer (since 2013). She studied adult education & lifelong learning at the Humboldt University of Berlin and pedagogy and sociology at the University of Kiel.

Tina Basner works at the CHE Centre for Higher Education Development as project manager of the Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (HFD). Since 2021, she has headed various InnovationHub think tanks on topics such as "equality & diversity", "hybrid teachi... Show more

Arjun Sharda

Arjun Sharda

Hey! I'm Arjun. I'm a 13-year old Austinite, author, speaker, world record holder, and programmer with over seven years of experience. I am also the Executive Director of TLEEM, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization helping 4,000+ K-12 students and young adults network.

Hey! I'm Arjun. I'm a 13-year old Austinite, author, speaker, world record holder, and programmer with over seven years of experience. I am also the Executive Director of TLEEM, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization helping 4,000+ K-12 students and you... Show more

Thanos Tatsios

Thanos Tatsios

A visionary Data Scientist whose passion and expertise in AI have contributed to groundbreaking projects. With a diverse background in mathematics and machine learning, Thanos excels at navigating the complexities of AI to deliver groundbreaking solutions that impact lives. As a trailblazer within IBM and a thought leader, he bridges cutting-edge technology with real-world applications. A frequent contributor to hackathons, innovation communities, and high-impact projects, Thanos inspires others while shaping the future of AI for meaningful change.

A visionary Data Scientist whose passion and expertise in AI have contributed to groundbreaking projects. With a diverse background in mathematics and machine learning, Thanos excels at navigating the complexities of AI to deliver groundbreaking solu... Show more

Dana Blume

Dana Blume

Teacher and researcher on systemic approaches to reflection in education.

Teacher and researcher on systemic approaches to reflection in education. Show more

Sarah Reichert

Sarah Reichert

Sarah Reichert (S.E. Reichert) is a writer, novelist, poet and blogger. She is the author of the Sweet Valley Series (nominated for the Colorado Book Awards in 2024) and is the Director and the Youth Coordinator of the Writing Heights Writers Association.

Her work has been featured in The Fort Collins Coloradoan, Haunted Waters Press, “Sunrise Summits: A Poetry Anthology”, “Rise: An Anthology of Change”, Poetry Ireland Review, and “We Are The West: A Colorado Anthology” among other journals across the country. Her novella, “Saturn Rising” was produced as a five-part audiocast from Ngano Press Studios, and she has two other books out through 5 Prince Publishing with another set to release in 2025.

She maintains a blog about writing on her website (sarahreichertauthor.com) about fostering a creative and balanced life which aims to help new writers get their start. Reichert lives in Fort Collins with her family. In her non-writing hours, she is a mother to two teenage girls, loves being outdoors, and is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate JuJitsu.

Sarah Reichert (S.E. Reichert) is a writer, novelist, poet and blogger. She is the author of the Sweet Valley Series (nominated for the Colorado Book Awards in 2024) and is the Director and the Youth Coordinator of the Writing Heights Writers Associa... Show more

Bavin Edwards

Bavin Edwards

Physics teacher turned lover of JavaScript turned TypeScript enthusiast.

Physics teacher turned lover of JavaScript turned TypeScript enthusiast. Show more

Amy Quale

Amy Quale

Amy Quale (she/her) is a seasoned professional in publishing and media, bringing nearly two decades of experience to her work.
In 2012, Amy co-founded Wise Ink Media, a publisher dedicated to supporting authors to write, publish, and market books that aim to create a positive impact in the world. Under her leadership, Wise Ink has carved out a unique niche in the industry, building custom books and championing authors whose stories contribute to meaningful conversations. She was a 40 under 40 honoree in 2022 and Wise Ink was also named one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the Twin Cities by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in 2023. Amy has been a member of the Women's Presidents Association since 2021. She holds a BA from Concordia College, an MA in English from Minnesota State University - Mankato, and is a proud graduate of the Yale School of Management’s Leadership Strategies in Book Publishing program. Learn more about her work at wiseink.com.

Amy Quale (she/her) is a seasoned professional in publishing and media, bringing nearly two decades of experience to her work. In 2012, Amy co-founded Wise Ink Media, a publisher dedicated to supporting authors to write, publish, and market books t... Show more

Joakim Marner

Joakim Marner

A Lean-agile and product thought leader with more than 20 years experince. SAFe SPC, certified in Scrum@Scale, IDEO Design thinking, experience with LESS and part of Product Operating Model center of excellence at Slalom. Clients include the biggest fortune 500 companies including Microsoft.

A Lean-agile and product thought leader with more than 20 years experince. SAFe SPC, certified in Scrum@Scale, IDEO Design thinking, experience with LESS and part of Product Operating Model center of excellence at Slalom. Clients include the biggest ... Show more

Gaëlle Ernoult Boulay

Gaëlle Ernoult Boulay

Faire grandir les potentiels individuels et collectifs, pour des organisations plus humaines, inclusives et performantes.

Je suis convaincue que le bien-être au travail est un levier essentiel pour l’épanouissement, tant professionnel que personnel. À travers Accio Conseil, j’accompagne les individus et les équipes à se reconnecter à leurs valeurs, à trouver leur juste place et à bâtir un avenir plus inclusif.

Pour moi, une évidence : quand les collaborateurs s’épanouissent, la performance collective s’améliore.

Je m’implique pour créer des changements durables en plaçant l’humain au cœur de mes interventions.
Ensemble, révélons les potentiels et transformons les organisations en lieux d’épanouissement collectif.

Faire grandir les potentiels individuels et collectifs, pour des organisations plus humaines, inclusives et performantes. Je suis convaincue que le bien-être au travail est un levier essentiel pour l’épanouissement, tant professionnel que personne... Show more

Mercy Makinde

Mercy Makinde

Mercy is an accomplished technical writer with over a year of professional experience in the field. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various companies, specializing in enhancing and revitalizing their blogs and technical documentation. By focusing on clarity and user engagement, she transforms complex information into easily understandable content, ensuring that readers can effectively grasp the subject matter. Mercy's meticulous attention to detail and her ability to organize information logically make her a valuable asset to any team seeking to improve their communication materials.

Mercy is an accomplished technical writer with over a year of professional experience in the field. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various companies, specializing in enhancing and revitalizing their blogs and technical documentation... 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

Luanna Melo

Luanna Melo

Doutora em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Mestra em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Especialista em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente pelo Centro Universitário de João Pessoa. Graduada em Licenciatura Plena em Pedagogia pela Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Professora do Curso de Biblioteconomia da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. Atua nos campos da Ciência da Informação, com ênfase em Gestão, Tecnologia da Informação, Inteligência Artificial e Gênero.

Doutora em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Mestra em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Especialista em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente pelo Centro Universitário de João Pessoa. Graduada em Licenci... Show more

Tamas Piros

Tamas Piros

Tamas is a Google Developer Expert in Web Technologies and a seasoned Developer Evangelist. He is a passionate advocate for modern web technologies, helping people understand and unlock the latest & greatest features of web development.

Tamas is a Google Developer Expert in Web Technologies and a seasoned Developer Evangelist. He is a passionate advocate for modern web technologies, helping people understand and unlock the latest & greatest features of web development. Show more

Stephan Swart

Stephan Swart

Stephan is a consultant, advisor, and Fractional CTO. He has held a range of titles including: developer, architect, agile coach, and CTO. He is passionate to help organisations and their leaders to get the best out of their dev teams. He is passionate about creating work-environments where software teams and individuals can flourish. He has seen the insides of small, medium, and large organisations. In all teams he has been part of, he has grown a reputation of bringing clarity, trust, and courage.

Stephan is a consultant, advisor, and Fractional CTO. He has held a range of titles including: developer, architect, agile coach, and CTO. He is passionate to help organisations and their leaders to get the best out of their dev teams. He is passiona... Show more

Elodie Mandel-Briefer

Elodie Mandel-Briefer

I am an Associate Professor in vertebrate social behaviour, with over 20 years of experience in the field of animal behaviour and more particularly bioacoustics. I have been working on a wide range of species, from songbirds to ungulates, and have published > 75 peer-reviewed papers. Since 2019, I am leading the Behavioural Ecology Group at the University of Copenhagen. Our main projects combine the topics of acoustic communication, emotions, and social networks, in order to understand how emotions influence communication, how emotions are transmitted between individuals and influence social relationships, and how acoustic communication affects social interactions. We are also very interested in how our research can be used to improve animal welfare and for conservation purpose.

I am an Associate Professor in vertebrate social behaviour, with over 20 years of experience in the field of animal behaviour and more particularly bioacoustics. I have been working on a wide range of species, from songbirds to ungulates, and have pu... Show more

Dr. Laura Borland

Dr. Laura Borland

Dr. Laura Borland, DSW, is a fatherhood advocate and founder of Dad-Ease, an ecosystem of solutions designed to promote parental parity. With a deep commitment to addressing the challenges faced by dads, she strives to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all parents. In a society where fathers are often unseen or undervalued in the parenting equation, Dr. Borland aims to spark a conversation about the importance of recognizing and supporting fathers in their parenting roles. Host of Gladverse TV, she is also a published author and writer, where she has been featured on television, radio, podcasts, and print.

Dr. Laura Borland, DSW, is a fatherhood advocate and founder of Dad-Ease, an ecosystem of solutions designed to promote parental parity. With a deep commitment to addressing the challenges faced by dads, she strives to create a more inclusive and sup... Show more

Maira Elahi

Maira Elahi

Maira Elahi is a Canada-based student researcher dedicated to leveraging technology, policy, and advocacy to serve and empower her community. Her work spans machine learning research in cancer detection, AI safety testing in collaboration with OpenAI, and the preservation of Global South dialects through AI language model training. Maira has founded her own startup, Tivea, through which she self-published books, built a brand image, and explored digital storytelling as a vehicle for social change. She has also worked on app development and conducted market validation research for a Canadian tech launch. Beyond tech, she co-created UNICEF Canada’s first TikTok account, served on World Vision Canada’s National Youth Council, and led creative campaigns for platforms like The Adroit Journal. She spearheaded a grassroots team in her city to educate youth on the intersection of civic engagement and social innovation.

Her unwavering commitment to innovating responsibly—with our collective humane interests at the forefront—and bringing youth into high-level decision-making spaces continues to drive her mission across disciplines. She believes that inclusive futures are built not just by experts in suits, but by young people with lived experience, vision, and the audacity to disrupt.

Maira Elahi is a Canada-based student researcher dedicated to leveraging technology, policy, and advocacy to serve and empower her community. Her work spans machine learning research in cancer detection, AI safety testing in collaboration with OpenAI... Show more

Srinivasan Raguraman

Srinivasan Raguraman

As a principal developer with a passion for tackling complex challenges at the intersection of business and technology, I bring a wealth of experience spanning from operations, architecture and strategy.

Over the years, I have developed deep expertise across a wide range of technologies, from DevOps, native mobile, and cloud to legacy modernization and the latest advancements in machine learning.

While I thrive on navigating technical complexity, my favorite areas of focus are human factors in engineering and sociotechnical systems — understanding how people, technology and organizational structures interact to design safe, efficient and resilient solutions.

As a principal developer with a passion for tackling complex challenges at the intersection of business and technology, I bring a wealth of experience spanning from operations, architecture and strategy. Over the years, I have developed deep expe... Show more

Nyi Aye

Nyi Aye

Nyi founded ThitsaWorks in 2016 to create data-driven solutions that assist financial institutions in managing payments, data, and risk mitigation. Nyi has over 27 years of expertise in public administration, finance, fintech, software development, and financial inclusion.

Before launching ThitsaWorks, Nyi dedicated over two decades to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, working in the finance and technology sectors. In his final role there, he served as the Chief of the Information Systems Unit in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. Here, he led a team of IT experts and software developers, overseeing the development, maintenance, and support of worldwide IT operations for UN conference activities.

Nyi has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University and a Master of Science in Information Systems from the City University of New York.

Nyi founded ThitsaWorks in 2016 to create data-driven solutions that assist financial institutions in managing payments, data, and risk mitigation. Nyi has over 27 years of expertise in public administration, finance, fintech, software development, a... 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

Justyna Pindel

Justyna Pindel

🍞 My bread and butter is designing a sustainable and healthy company culture, where people can strive for their best. The rest will follow.

🧠 Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working with both startups and enterprises, helping to bring digital products and services to life. My diverse roles have included Marketing Manager, Startup Founder, Product Manager, Agile Coach, Lecturer, Trainer, and Consultant, co-host of the Agile Book Club podcast, co-organizer of the ACE Conference, among others.

🤓 These experiences have enriched my empathy and provided a systemic approach to working across various organizations and business domains. I’ve come to understand that every product or service we create begins and ends with people.

💃 My passion lies in studying human behavior and finding holistic methods to help companies build environments where everyone can thrive. In my work, I integrate all of my passions. I blend domain knowledge and diverse work experiences with neuroscience, principles of accelerated learning, coaching practices, facilitation skills, burnout prevention strategies, and sports and movement expertise. Ensuring employee well-being is not just a luxury—it’s essential for creating outstanding products and driving business success.

💭 If you had told me 20 years ago that by the age of 30, I would write three books, earn an Executive MBA, work across continents, organize international conferences, host a podcast, and seize incredible learning opportunities, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it all happened because I:

- Dared to leave places where I wasn’t happy
- Learned that failure is part of the journey
- Recognized when to stop after hitting the glass ceiling
- Found joy in my work
- Overcame the fear of trying
- Committed to continuous learning and improvement

Currently:
🌞by day: I am working as a Product Coach & Manager
🌟 by night: I'm dedicated to creating scalable and accessible solutions for individuals and organizations to overcome burnout

🍞 My bread and butter is designing a sustainable and healthy company culture, where people can strive for their best. The rest will follow. 🧠 Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working with both startups and enterprises, helping to ... Show more

Eva PenzeyMoog

Eva PenzeyMoog

Eva PenzeyMoog is a US-based activist and designer working to make digital spaces safer for everyone through centering the safety of survivors of domestic violence.

In the past, Eva served as a rape crisis counselor, where she served as an advocate to sexual assault victims in emergency rooms. She also delivered a workshop on domestic violence and survivor support information to hundreds of participants, including educators, school support staff, and union groups. After entering the technology field as a designer, she began to focus on the intersections of technology and domestic violence. In 2019, she created the “Framework for Inclusive Safety,” which aims to help other technologists create safe and inclusive products. She is currently creating a set of standards for online and digital safety aimed at helping designers and programmers create safe products.

Eva leads design at an ag-tech company based in the midwest of the US, where she lives with her family. When not designing and thinking about safety, she can be found making cyanotype prints, reading apocalyptic novels, and working on new writing projects.

Eva PenzeyMoog is a US-based activist and designer working to make digital spaces safer for everyone through centering the safety of survivors of domestic violence. In the past, Eva served as a rape crisis counselor, where she served as an advoca... Show more

Jet (GMNChampion)

Jet (GMNChampion)

Part furry, part otaku, part nerd, part jock, and part gamer! A fellow who enjoys playing arcade games for the thrill of winning prizes and then doesn't know what to do with them!

Part furry, part otaku, part nerd, part jock, and part gamer! A fellow who enjoys playing arcade games for the thrill of winning prizes and then doesn't know what to do with them! Show more

Ryan Wright

Ryan Wright

Ryan Wright is the creator of Quine, and has been leading software teams focused on data infrastructure and data science for two decades. He has served as principal engineer, director of engineering, principal investigator on DARPA-funded research programs, and is currently the founder and CTO of thatDot—the company supporting Quine. Ryan particularly enjoys making the philosophical ends of computer science more practical and useful. This usually involves problems related to language, meaning, and data.

Ryan Wright is the creator of Quine, and has been leading software teams focused on data infrastructure and data science for two decades. He has served as principal engineer, director of engineering, principal investigator on DARPA-funded research pr... Show more

Jörg Pareigis

Jörg Pareigis

Jörg Pareigis is an assistant professor in Business Administration and director of library as well as the head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Karlstad University, Sweden. He has vast experience of developing open online graduate courses for lifelong learning based on strategically important research centres at Karlstad University. Jörg was a participant of FDOL and is since 2019 part of the organising team of Open Networked Learning.

Jörg Pareigis is an assistant professor in Business Administration and director of library as well as the head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Karlstad University, Sweden. He has vast experience of developing open online graduate courses f... Show more

Michelle Storm

Michelle Storm

I am an experienced Innovation Designer and Personal Freedom Facilitator with a deep love for self-development and inner freedom. Drawing on a background in design thinking and a keen understanding of neurodiversity, I specialize in creating inclusive, socially sustainable, and human-centered solutions. I believe that by fostering environments where all individuals can tap into their unique strengths, we pave the way for transformative growth—both personally and collectively.

I have led workshops, trainings and sessions focused on leveraging creativity and technology to drive innovative thinking, collaborating with diverse teams to tackle complex challenges. Committed to building bridges between different perspectives, I thrive on turning bold ideas into actionable strategies that yield meaningful, sustainable impact in the short and long term. My aim is always to bring people together in ways that spark self-discovery, creative expression, and personal liberation, ultimately empowering every individual to step fully into their potential.

I am an experienced Innovation Designer and Personal Freedom Facilitator with a deep love for self-development and inner freedom. Drawing on a background in design thinking and a keen understanding of neurodiversity, I specialize in creating inclusiv... Show more

Marinella Favot

Marinella Favot

Economic Expert in the following topics: Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility, E-waste, Green patents, Critical Raw Materials, Rare Earth Elements, Glass Reinforce Plastic and end-of-life boats.
She has published several articles and reports on these topics, and she has taught at Mater level classes. She is the scientific responsible for various research projects in her research centre.

Economic Expert in the following topics: Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility, E-waste, Green patents, Critical Raw Materials, Rare Earth Elements, Glass Reinforce Plastic and end-of-life boats. She has published several articles and ... Show more

Dr. Sebastian Rosengrün

Dr. Sebastian Rosengrün

As an internationally experienced expert in AI and digitalization, I bring extensive project and research experience to the table.
From 2017 to 2024, I developed an educational program for digital pio‐ neers at a Berlin‐based university, training numerous successful startup founders and leading AI projects.
I have a deep knowledge of AI training, modern computing, and its logical foundations, as well as the societal and ethical implications. For over ten years, I have been training human intelligence in universities, companies, NGOs, and educational institutions.

As an internationally experienced expert in AI and digitalization, I bring extensive project and research experience to the table. From 2017 to 2024, I developed an educational program for digital pio‐ neers at a Berlin‐based university, training nu... Show more

Maxine Cunningham

Maxine Cunningham

Maxine is a visionary entrepreneur and global connector on a mission to revolutionize the way we exchange knowledge. As the founder and CEO of Pick My Brain, she has built a thriving marketplace where experts, professionals, and storytellers from 88+ countries share their insights via live, interactive conversations.

With a background in economics and community-building, Maxine has spent the last decade designing scalable, human-first knowledge economies that make learning more accessible, personal, and experiential.

Her latest initiative, Meet the World’s People, is a groundbreaking education platform designed to give teachers and students on-demand access to inspiring speakers—offering career stories, life lessons, financial literacy, and post-secondary insights in real-time.

Driven by a belief that a single conversation can change a life, Maxine is passionate about bridging education, technology, and human connection to create a more curious, conscious, and connected world.

Maxine is a visionary entrepreneur and global connector on a mission to revolutionize the way we exchange knowledge. As the founder and CEO of Pick My Brain, she has built a thriving marketplace where experts, professionals, and storytellers from 88+... Show more

Sharon Burstein

Sharon Burstein

Sharon Burstein is an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, leadership trainer, and best-selling author, renowned for her dynamic approach to leadership development. As President and CEO of Sharon Burstein International, LLC, she has dedicated over three decades to empowering individuals and organizations through transformative keynotes, workshops, and signature events like Leadership Summit America and YOUniquely You!

With a focus on personal empowerment, team building, and personal branding, Sharon's engaging presentations blend humor, real-life stories, and actionable strategies that resonate with diverse audiences. Her book, Life Snacks for Women, offers bite-sized wisdom that inspires women to step confidently into leadership roles.

Sharon's expertise has touched thousands across education, healthcare, corporate sectors, and non-profit organizations, making her a sought-after speaker worldwide. Her mission is clear: to help others maximize their potential and leadership impact. Connect with Sharon today to elevate your journey towards leadership excellence!

Sharon Burstein is an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, leadership trainer, and best-selling author, renowned for her dynamic approach to leadership development. As President and CEO of Sharon Burstein International, LLC, she has dedica... Show more

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