A community-driven leader, Rajan believes in empowering people through technology, connection, curiosity, and collaboration. He is personally passionate about sponsorship, thought leadership, coaching, mentoring, and nurturing psychologically safe teams where creativity thrives and performance outpaces.

Rajan is leading Red Hat’s Global Partner Ecosystem Engineering for Tech Certifications & Ecosystem Portfolio, leveraging an AI-first mindset to scale open-source strategy.

A community-driven leader, Rajan believes in empowering people through technology, connection, curiosity, and collaboration. He is personally passionate about sponsorship, thought leadership, coaching, mentoring, and nurturing psychologically safe te... Show more

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 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 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

Lawrence C. Harris is a youth empowerment speaker and author who speaks directly to teens and young adults who feel stuck in their own thoughts, behind in life, or unsure of who they are becoming.

Today, he shares practical, honest conversations around identity, mindset, and emotional resilience. His talks focus on what actually helps when motivation fades, confidence feels inconsistent, and students' thoughts feel louder than their actions.

Lawrence has spoken at mental health organizations, schools, and podcasts, where he brings a grounded message: real change starts with the person in the mirror.

Lawrence C. Harris is a youth empowerment speaker and author who speaks directly to teens and young adults who feel stuck in their own thoughts, behind in life, or unsure of who they are becoming. Today, he shares practical, honest conversations a... Show more

Dr. Michael T. George is an executive leader, keynote speaker, and author whose work sits at the intersection of organizational performance, strategic leadership, and human potential. As VP of Engineering & Technology at Avoq and as founder of software-as-a-service platforms ytxt.me and Revyewed, he brings more than 30 years of enterprise experience across consumer, retail, digital, and services-driven organizations.

He is the creator of The Detour Advantage™ — a practical framework developed and tested in real organizational settings during actual moments of disruption, pressure, and change. His forthcoming book of the same name is currently under negotiation with a literary agent and is scheduled for publication in 2026.

He speaks internationally to corporate, executive, and non-profit-based audiences. Every engagement is crafted specifically for the event and the audience.

Dr. Michael T. George is an executive leader, keynote speaker, and author whose work sits at the intersection of organizational performance, strategic leadership, and human potential. As VP of Engineering & Technology at Avoq and as founder of softwa... Show more

Jess is a seasoned leader, speaker, and author with deep tech industry experience since the mid-2000s.

She has coached hundreds, combining empathy, real-world insight, and practical expertise.

Focused on generative AI and immersive learning dojos, she’s a leading voice in AI-driven performance. As the author of The Dojo Coach’s Pocket Guide, Jess distills her diverse experience into action, helping organizations maximize their performance.

Jess is a seasoned leader, speaker, and author with deep tech industry experience since the mid-2000s. She has coached hundreds, combining empathy, real-world insight, and practical expertise. Focused on generative AI and immersive learning doj... Show more

J'accompagne les managers et leurs équipes dans le "faire équipe", c'est-à-dire à construire une équipe puis à jouer collectif au quotidien.
C'est un métier que j'exerce avec passion et au travers duquel j'ai le privilège d'assister à l'émergence de belles forces et singularités des personnes et des collectifs.
Avec LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® et MBTI®, j'offre à mes clients des outils puissants pour mieux comprendre leurs modes de fonctionnements individuels et collectifs.

J'accompagne les managers et leurs équipes dans le "faire équipe", c'est-à-dire à construire une équipe puis à jouer collectif au quotidien. C'est un métier que j'exerce avec passion et au travers duquel j'ai le privilège d'assister à l'émergence de... Show more

Born in Colombia and forged in the media hubs of Miami and Washington, D.C., I am a Senior Strategist operating at the intersection of cultural identity and global operations. For 12 years, I’ve built digital ecosystems for giants like Disney, NBCUniversal, and National Geographic. I was the mind behind the award-winning Nat Geo en Español YouTube channel—pioneering a strategy that earned a Gold Creator Award and surpassed 1 million subscribers in less than a year. From Executive Producing documentaries like Puerto Rico: Surviving María to co-founding the National Geographic Hispanic Employee Inclusion Group (EIG), my mission is to use technology as a megaphone for authentic representation. Currently, I am merging a decade of high-level strategy with AI certifications from NVIDIA and Google, ensuring that as the industry redesigns itself, inclusion is baked into the foundation, not added as a footnote.

Born in Colombia and forged in the media hubs of Miami and Washington, D.C., I am a Senior Strategist operating at the intersection of cultural identity and global operations. For 12 years, I’ve built digital ecosystems for giants like Disney, NBCUni... Show more

Ragnhild “Bridget” Sageng has several years of experience in the IT (Information Technology) industry, working with IT support, network, and managing IT projects before transcending into a career within pen-testing and further into cyber security culture. She considers her IT experience as a strength that aids her in seeing correlations between systems and the people using them. Before her IT career, “Bridget” educated herself within the field of human psychology and healthcare due to her interest in understanding the human mind.

Due to her interest in both the human mind and IT security, "Bridget” specializes in social engineering and Open-source investigation (OSINT). In 2020, she won an international social engineering CTF hosted by Temple University. In 2021, "Bridget” became a Certified Social Engineering Pentest Professional (SEPP) and has since dedicated her focus towards social engineering pen-testing. Her hands-on experience with social engineering pen-testing has prompted her to further research the topics of ethically handling people affected by the tests. She has spoken about this topic at conferences such as Black Hat Europe, SANS, DTX Europe, NDC security and at the Social Engineering community village at DEF CON, hoping to enlighten people and create a discussion on the topic within the industry.

Ragnhild “Bridget” Sageng has several years of experience in the IT (Information Technology) industry, working with IT support, network, and managing IT projects before transcending into a career within pen-testing and further into cyber security cul... Show more

Marine Corps veteran, author, founder of WritersLogic and engineer behind the Cryptographic Proof-of-Process Protocol. My work sits at the intersection of confidential computing, decentralized identity, and anti-forgery cryptography.

Marine Corps veteran, author, founder of WritersLogic and engineer behind the Cryptographic Proof-of-Process Protocol. My work sits at the intersection of confidential computing, decentralized identity, and anti-forgery cryptography. Show more

Ben Greenberg is the Developer Relations Lead at Arbitrum and has been recognized as an Agentic AI Foundation Ambassador and a Docker Captain. He previously served on the board of Ruby Central and is deeply involved in the open-source community. Before moving into software development, Ben spent a decade in adult education, community organizing, and non-profit management. He writes regularly about the intersection of technology, ethics, and community, and is the author of numerous technical articles and publications, including his latest book, Vector Search with JavaScript.

Ben Greenberg is the Developer Relations Lead at Arbitrum and has been recognized as an Agentic AI Foundation Ambassador and a Docker Captain. He previously served on the board of Ruby Central and is deeply involved in the open-source community. Befo... Show more

Julie E. Gordon (Valentine) is a British educator, communication specialist, vocalist and founder of TheVocalPod™. Based in the UAE, she has spent over three years supporting students through voice, communication and creative development programmes across international school settings.

As creator of Voice Lab™, Julie works at the intersection of communication, confidence building, performing arts and youth development. Her work has supported students through LAMDA, RSL qualifications, GCSE performance pathways, school productions and artist development initiatives.

Julie is also the creator of THEGENSHIFT™, an intergenerational dialogue platform exploring communication, culture and youth identity, and the author of Beyond Being Heard.

Her work focuses on helping young people develop authentic self-expression, confidence and future-ready communication skills that extend beyond the classroom and into life, leadership and employment.

Julie E. Gordon (Valentine) is a British educator, communication specialist, vocalist and founder of TheVocalPod™. Based in the UAE, she has spent over three years supporting students through voice, communication and creative development programmes a... Show more

Aliocha Iordanoff has been helping leaders and their organizations become more adaptable and resilient since 2008. Founder of Sémawé, a B Corp and ISO 9001 certified firm, he has led organizational transformations in around a hundred companies, deploying Holacracy as a living, operational self-management system.
A TEDx speaker (Pointe-à-Pitre, 2024) and keynote speaker at Agile Grenoble 2025, he publishes Understanding Holacracy in May 2026 with Géreso editions, the first French-language reference book on the subject.
His fields of exploration: systems thinking, living organisms as organizational models, and now the intersection between distributed governance and artificial intelligence. He believes the organizations that will thrive with AI are those that had the courage to make their reality explicit before they needed to.

Aliocha Iordanoff has been helping leaders and their organizations become more adaptable and resilient since 2008. Founder of Sémawé, a B Corp and ISO 9001 certified firm, he has led organizational transformations in around a hundred companies, deplo... Show more

Tara Scott is a trainer, public speaker and coach for executive development in the product and HR space. She has worked for over a decade with teams, leaders and organizations of all shapes and sizes. She is passionate about helping individuals collaboratively invest in a psychologically safe culture that allows them to thrive, innovate and pour their authentic selves into the products they create for others.

Tara has vast experience as a product development coach to help build pragmatic agility practices and help others understand the art of progress over process. Tara believes in a “human first” approach to creating software, and has spent years within a variety of industries (Ford, Disney, Target) to help create UX and UI practices that allows organizations to keep the pulse on both users and competitors. She has created UX research programs at organizations such as CH Robinson and Leadpages and has used tools such as the Design Studio Method to build better product experiences. Tara is also a certified Fearless Organization™ practitioner and believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion need to be at the forefront of conversations around building dynamic teams.

Tara Scott is a trainer, public speaker and coach for executive development in the product and HR space. She has worked for over a decade with teams, leaders and organizations of all shapes and sizes. She is passionate about helping individuals colla... Show more

Keith Budden is a speaker, author, and podcast host who helps people build meaningful connections through better conversations, authentic networking, and human-first communication.

His latest book, From Awkward to Connected, explores how networking can feel more natural, less sales-driven, and genuinely enjoyable. Alongside this, Keith hosts the Networking Nuggets podcast and LinkedIn newsletter, sharing practical, relatable insights around communication, referrals, confidence, and relationship-building.

Keith is also widely known for his work speaking about resilience, leadership under pressure, disability, and navigating difficult life experiences with honesty and humour.

Recognised for his conversational style and relatable storytelling, Keith combines practical insight with real-world experiences to help audiences feel more confident, connected, and human in both business and life.

Keith Budden is a speaker, author, and podcast host who helps people build meaningful connections through better conversations, authentic networking, and human-first communication. His latest book, From Awkward to Connected, explores how networkin... Show more

I am passionate about people and how design can enable transformation in organizations. I support innovation projects, digital product design, and service design.

My goal is to assist projects that impact people's daily lives. I have a strong interest in health-related topics, especially those involving patient experience and the organizational transformation of hospitals, as well as subjects related to public innovation and their impact on citizens' everyday lives.

I am passionate about people and how design can enable transformation in organizations. I support innovation projects, digital product design, and service design. My goal is to assist projects that impact people's daily lives. I have a strong inte... Show more

Après 10 ans à fournir des solutions dans le Product Management et dans le Process management, j'aide aujourd'hui les managers à sortir la tête de l'eau et (re)prendre plaisir dans le travail.

Après 10 ans à fournir des solutions dans le Product Management et dans le Process management, j'aide aujourd'hui les managers à sortir la tête de l'eau et (re)prendre plaisir dans le travail. Show more

Lars van Rijn ist Bildungswissenschaftler und als wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter im LEAD:FUH-Projekt vorrangig zuständig für die Gestaltung und Bereitstellung von Weiterbildungsangeboten sowie die didaktische Integration von KI- und LA-Verfahren in Lehr-Lernprozesse. Fokus seiner Forschung sind das didaktische Design von KI und Learning Analytics in und deren Auswirkungen auf Bildungskontexte. Schwerpunktmäßig betrachtet er dabei die (Teil-) Automatisierung von Feedbackprozessen.

Lars van Rijn ist Bildungswissenschaftler und als wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter im LEAD:FUH-Projekt vorrangig zuständig für die Gestaltung und Bereitstellung von Weiterbildungsangeboten sowie die didaktische Integration von KI- und LA-Verfahren in L... Show more

Safiyatou “Abena” Camara

Executive Director & President, WONTANARA Inc
Co-Founder • Cultural Arts Master • Business Consultant • Youth Development Specialist

Abena Camara is a business consultant, cultural arts leader, and third-generation cultural bearer with nearly a decade of experience helping creatives and community-driven organizations build sustainable, funded work. She serves as Executive Director and President of WONTANARA Inc, where she leads arts education, community programming, and organizational strategy rooted in West African cultural traditions.

Immersed in cultural arts since age three, Abena brings over 20 years of professional artistry, 15 years of intensive West African cultural training, and deep lineage-based knowledge passed down through master teachers, historians, griots, and elders. Her grandfather founded the first performing company in Guinea, West Africa, and helped introduce West African master artists to the United States—a legacy Abena continues through WONTANARA’s programs and global partnerships. Her multidisciplinary training spans West African dance, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and music composition and production, allowing her to bridge tradition and innovation with integrity.

Alongside her artistic leadership, Abena brings strong business and funding expertise. While pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Georgia State University, she served as an executive intern for a popular men’s grooming company, helping generate $1.1 million in revenue within its first year. That experience launched her career as a consultant, where she has spent nearly nine years advising organizations on operations, funding strategy, and growth.

Through WONTANARA Inc and her consulting work, Abena has secured over $200,000 in grants and sponsorships, including support for WONTANARA Percussions, the world’s first Black-owned instrument factory based in Africa. She has also led the development of WONTANARA Festival, securing city-wide sponsorship and building a thriving cultural platform. Her consulting practice maintains a 92% client retention rate, and she has helped more than 10 clients secure government funding within their first year of business.

Abena’s work sits at the intersection of creativity, community, and capital. She is passionate about demystifying funding systems and empowering creatives and community leaders to move from passion projects to sustainable, paid impact—without compromising their values.

Safiyatou “Abena” Camara Executive Director & President, WONTANARA Inc Co-Founder • Cultural Arts Master • Business Consultant • Youth Development Specialist Abena Camara is a business consultant, cultural arts leader, and third-generation cul... Show more

Giselle Sandy-Phillips is a Leadership and Workforce Communication Strategist, education doctoral scholar, award-winning author, and speaker who helps leaders navigate what technology alone cannot solve: the human side of change.

Her perspective was shaped long before the boardroom. From military leadership to managing complex government initiatives involving competing priorities and diverse stakeholders, Giselle learned that even the best strategies fail when people don't understand one another. Over the last two decades, she has helped leaders turn complexity into clarity by building trust, strengthening communication, and bringing people with them through transformation.

As the founder of World of Consulting LLC, Giselle equips leaders with practical tools to lead across generational differences, evolving technologies, and shifting workplace realities. Her work is rooted in a question that has never been more relevant to education: How do we prepare people, not just systems, for an AI-enabled future?

As a doctoral scholar in educational leadership and the award-winning author of Thriving in the Modern Workplace: A Gen Z Guide to Success, Giselle bridges research and real-world practice to help audiences move from uncertainty to action. Known for her engaging storytelling, interactive approach, and immediately applicable strategies, she challenges leaders to rethink communication not as a soft skill, but as the leadership practice that determines whether trust is built, change takes hold, and innovation succeeds.

Giselle believes the future of education will not be determined by the technology we adopt. It will be determined by our ability to help people adapt, connect, and move forward together.

Giselle Sandy-Phillips is a Leadership and Workforce Communication Strategist, education doctoral scholar, award-winning author, and speaker who helps leaders navigate what technology alone cannot solve: the human side of change. Her perspective w... Show more

Kenneth Olajide Taiwo is a teenager brand designer, photographer, content creator and a writer. He's currently a graduand of the University of Medical Science, Ondo on his Final Industrial Training program. He is passionate about bringing creative imaginations to reality by creating virtually stunning , detailing and eye-catching designs that helps brands grow. He's with up to four years of consistent practice, continuous skill sharpening, and business development experience in the creative field. He's has worked and currently works with alot of brands of different Niches including an arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He is the CEO of Kenot Pixels (a graphic design brand), and the founder of CreativeCue with Kenot (a creative show). He stands for maximizing everything around him for creativity.

Kenneth Olajide Taiwo is a teenager brand designer, photographer, content creator and a writer. He's currently a graduand of the University of Medical Science, Ondo on his Final Industrial Training program. He is passionate about bringing creative im... Show more

Daria Rudnik is a Team Architect and Executive Leadership Coach — and the author of CLICKING, a practical framework for building high-performing teams that don't depend on the leader to function.
A former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte professional with 15 years of international experience in tech and telecom, she has helped leaders across six continents navigate financial crises, wars, and COVID-19.
Today she works with executives and HR leaders who are building teams that can perform — and hold together — in an AI-driven world.

Daria Rudnik is a Team Architect and Executive Leadership Coach — and the author of CLICKING, a practical framework for building high-performing teams that don't depend on the leader to function. A former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte profess... Show more

Diana López Luna is an accomplished and experienced data professional as well as a first-generation college graduate and queer Mexican daughter of immigrants. In 2021, she made a bold career transition from a low-paying role in academia and broke into the data & analytics field. Through strategic career upskilling, networking, and relentless determination, Diana now has a proven track record in data modeling, business intelligence/dashboard reporting, data quality assurance, mentorship, and team leadership. Diana is also highly proficient in SQL, Looker/LookML, Snowflake, and various other data tools/skills.

Diana has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to break into the data industry without a traditional tech background and is passionate about accelerating the path to a fulfilling career in data and/or tech, particularly for Latinos, first and second-generation immigrants, and women of color. This has led Diana to establish Casa Luna Career & Wealth, which provides career, business, and financial education/coaching services. Diana is also the Founder of the Latinas in Data & Analytics organization, which provides a community space for Latinas in the data industry to connect, inspire, and elevate one another.

Diana López Luna is an accomplished and experienced data professional as well as a first-generation college graduate and queer Mexican daughter of immigrants. In 2021, she made a bold career transition from a low-paying role in academia and broke int... Show more

Bruno Gonçalves is an author, public speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant specializing in Generative AI, Blockchain Analytics, and Machine Learning. He has a diverse background that spans academia and industry, having previously served as a Data Science fellow at NYU's Center for Data Science while on leave from his tenured faculty position at Aix-Marseille Université. Bruno earned his PhD in the Physics of Complex Systems in 2008. He later focused his research on applying Data Science and Machine Learning to the large-scale analysis of online human behavior. In 2019, he founded his consulting firm, Data For Science, Inc., where he helps companies leverage the latest AI technologies and get up to speed on the most recent technologies.

Bruno Gonçalves is an author, public speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant specializing in Generative AI, Blockchain Analytics, and Machine Learning. He has a diverse background that spans academia and industry, having previously served as a Dat... Show more

Michael – Professional Bio:

Michael Vukelic is a professional speaker bringing a rare blend of corporate experience, deep personal transformation, and cutting edge inner work to high achieving professionals. Through his proprietary Generational Freedom Protocol he supports leaders and teams break free from inherited limits, reactive patterns, and emotional barriers that quietly erode performance, culture, and pipeline. Drawing on certifications and coaching, advanced studies in metaphysical philosophy and more than a decade in professional Hypnosis and mindset re-patterning, Michael delivers practical, neuroscience aligned strategies that create calm under pressure, and more cohesive, resilient teams. His keynotes combine real world stories, actionable tools, and grounded inspiration to engage the heart and mind.

Michael Vukelic
Outrageous Success LLC
2112 Broadway St NE
Minneapolis, MN. 55413
773.899.1881

Michael – Professional Bio: Michael Vukelic is a professional speaker bringing a rare blend of corporate experience, deep personal transformation, and cutting edge inner work to high achieving professionals. Through his proprietary Generational ... Show more

Beth McDonough is an author, keynote speaker, recovery advocate and reconstruction of life strategist.

She guides people through their lowest moments to rebuild what stands next after public collapse, when visibility is high, consequences are real, and the path forward is unclear.

Beth is a living case study in recovery, resilience and reconstruction. She occupies the space between catastrophe and comeback.

An investigative journalist for 30 years, Beth covered disasters until she became one. Two highly publicized DUIs. Fired twice. First by the newsroom, then by society. Her work speaks to people whose mistakes live online permanently.

Beth understands what it takes to recreate a life while the world watches, because she did the work on herself first. She is the case study. Alcohol took her down once, an invisible illness tried to again. The breakdown became her blueprint for showing others how to re-emerge structurally stronger than before, from the inside out, when willpower isn’t enough.

Beth shares an original message for audiences hungry for something stronger than motivation and more compassionate than discipline.

Beth developed the STILL STANDING™ method, a five-step framework that treats recovery & resilience like reconstruction projects for life AFTER impact. The approach is evidence-based, trauma-aware, shame-informed and pressure tested.

Before her collapse, Beth documented some of the most defining breaking news events of our time:
• 9/11 terrorist attacks
• Oklahoma City bombing
• I-35W Minneapolis bridge collapse
• Prince’s sudden death
• Escape of kidnapped teen Jayme Closs
• Civil unrest following George Floyd’s death in police custody: Beth was wounded by gunfire while reporting

Her work has appeared on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX News along with countless podcasts, newspapers, magazines and talk shows.

She’s earned multiple Emmy Awards, a national Edward R. Murrow Award, the prestigious duPont- Columbia Journalism Award for coverage of George Floyd’s death and the racial reckoning that followed.

Beth authored two memoirs, STANDBY and STILL STANDING, one book opens the wound. The second shows the rebuild. She's also been featured in a Lifetime documentary with survivor advocate Elizabeth Smart called, “Smart Justice: The Jayme Closs Case.”

Beyond the newsroom, Beth channeled her love for animals into owning a dog daycare before returning to journalism with renewed perspective.

Today, she lives in southern Utah desert surrounded by red rock mountains. Sharing life with her rescue weiner dog, she continues to tell stories about resilience, redemption, reinvention and reconstructing a life after a career spent in the fast lane.

Beth McDonough is an author, keynote speaker, recovery advocate and reconstruction of life strategist. She guides people through their lowest moments to rebuild what stands next after public collapse, when visibility is high, consequences are real... Show more

Andrew Ecker is an author, certified peer support specialist, White Bison recovery coach, and nationally recognized speaker specializing in mental health, recovery, community wellness, and the transformative power of rhythm and sound. As the co-founder of Drumming Sounds, Andrew has helped facilitate more than 5,000 wellness-based events for healthcare organizations, tribal communities, treatment centers, schools, corporations, and conferences across the United States.

Drawing from over two decades of recovery and lived experience overcoming generational substance use disorder, incarceration, trauma, and mental health challenges, Andrew brings a unique blend of evidence-based practices, Indigenous-informed perspectives, and practical wisdom to his presentations. His work explores the intersections of neuroscience, recovery, identity, community connection, and experiential wellness.

Andrew is the creator of the Drumming Sounds Protocol, an evidence-based group drumming intervention designed to support mental health, stress reduction, team cohesion, and social connection. He has presented for healthcare systems, behavioral health organizations, universities, tribal nations, government agencies, and national conferences, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and nationally syndicated television.

Born from the Apache and born to the Irish, Andrew's work is deeply influenced by his exploration of Indigenous identity, ceremonial introduction, and community-centered healing. He is the author of The Sacred Seven, a contemporary framework for self-identity, belonging, and personal transformation.

Whether speaking to clinicians, educators, leaders, recovery professionals, or community members, Andrew combines compelling storytelling, research-informed insights, humor, and experiential learning to create presentations that inspire meaningful personal and organizational change.

Andrew Ecker is an author, certified peer support specialist, White Bison recovery coach, and nationally recognized speaker specializing in mental health, recovery, community wellness, and the transformative power of rhythm and sound. As the co-found... Show more

I am an expert in executive and managerial coaching, specializing in agile approaches, organizational design, and team dynamics. Trained as an electronics engineer and holding advanced certifications in leadership and coaching, I combine technical expertise with empathy to transform professional environments. For over ten years, I have been guiding individuals and organizations toward greater adaptability and humanity, firmly believing that well-being is essential to performance. My work has significantly improved operational efficiency, client satisfaction, and interpersonal relationships. Committed to continuous learning, I have authored several books, spoken at conferences across France and internationally, and host the podcast Change and Chill — expanding my influence on personal and organizational change.

I am an expert in executive and managerial coaching, specializing in agile approaches, organizational design, and team dynamics. Trained as an electronics engineer and holding advanced certifications in leadership and coaching, I combine technical ex... Show more

Ken Armstrong is an editor and narrative coach on Bloomberg's global investigations team. He's won Pulitzers for investigative and explanatory reporting, and shared in two staff Pulitzers for breaking news. Other awards include a Peabody for radio and the National Magazine Award for feature writing. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review and This American Life. He co-wrote the story that became the Netflix series, "Unbelievable." He was the McGraw Professor of Writing at Princeton and co-authored the book, "Scoreboard, Baby," winner of the Edgar Award for nonfiction. At the Chicago Tribune he co-wrote a series that helped prompt the governor to halt executions and commute 167 death sentences.

Ken Armstrong is an editor and narrative coach on Bloomberg's global investigations team. He's won Pulitzers for investigative and explanatory reporting, and shared in two staff Pulitzers for breaking news. Other awards include a Peabody for radio an... Show more

Khrystyna Kurganska is an entrepreneur, founder, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of business, social impact, psychology, sensory experience, and human recovery.
For more than 15 years, she has built businesses in perfumery, aroma marketing, and multisensory brand experience. Her professional background explores how scent, memory, environment, and emotion shape the way people feel, behave, connect, and recover.
Since 2022, she has led DOLADU, an NGO supporting psychological rehabilitation, psychosocial recovery, and reintegration for military personnel, veterans, their families, and people affected by war in Ukraine.

Khrystyna Kurganska is an entrepreneur, founder, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of business, social impact, psychology, sensory experience, and human recovery. For more than 15 years, she has built businesses in perfumery, ar... Show more

Daniel F. Leston is an engineer, policy expert, and author working at the intersection of technology, sovereignty, and development across Europe and Africa. An IBM alumni and former advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Science , he has spent two decades leading digital and energy transformation initiatives. Founder of Gurumbe Capital, he focuses on decentralized infrastructure and open-source models as tools for true strategic autonomy. He is based in Nairobi.

Daniel F. Leston is an engineer, policy expert, and author working at the intersection of technology, sovereignty, and development across Europe and Africa. An IBM alumni and former advisor to the Spanish Ministry of Science , he has spent two decade... Show more