Dheepa Sundaram (she/her) teaches at the University of Denver, which sits on the stolen tribal lands of the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations. Her scholarship examines social media hate politics, religious nationalism, and the formation of Hindu religious publics through online platforms and emerging technologies. Her current monograph project, Globalizing Dharma: The Making of a Global Hindu Brand, examines how commercial ritual websites fashion a new, digital canon for Hindu religious praxis, effectively branding religious identities and marketing caste-privileged religious norms as a default, cosmopolitan Hinduism that anchors the Hindu nationalist political project. She is also an occasional contributor for Religion News Service on Hindu perspectives and a founding member of the South Asia Scholar Activist Collective (SASAC).

Dheepa Sundaram (she/her) teaches at the University of Denver, which sits on the stolen tribal lands of the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations. Her scholarship examines social media hate politics, religious nationalism, and the formation of Hindu religious... Show more

Debby Spitzer is an international speaker, literacy specialist, educational consultant, and historical fiction author with more than 25 years of experience in education and publishing.

Debby speaks at education conferences throughout the United States, as well as international literacy and early childhood education conferences. Her presentations focus on the Science of Reading, early literacy development, phonemic awareness, phonics, play-based learning, and social-emotional development. Known for her engaging, interactive presentation style, Debby brings research to life through hands-on activities, practical strategies, and real-world classroom applications that inspire educators and provide ideas they can immediately put into practice.

In addition to her work in education, Debby is passionate about history and storytelling. She is the author of The Girl Who Rode in Secret, a young adult historical novel set in the Netherlands during World War II. Inspired by more than 20 years of historical research, visits to the Netherlands, and interviews with individuals connected to the Dutch Resistance, her writing explores courage, resilience, and the extraordinary contributions of ordinary people.

Her manuscript was shortlisted for the 2026 Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition (Children's & YA) and was a finalist in the 2025 Writers' League of Texas Manuscript Contest.

Whether speaking about literacy, early childhood education, or history, Debby brings research, storytelling, and practical insights together to engage and inspire audiences.

Debby Spitzer is an international speaker, literacy specialist, educational consultant, and historical fiction author with more than 25 years of experience in education and publishing. Debby speaks at education conferences throughout the United St... Show more

Roy Vũ earned his Ph.D. (2006) in history at the University of Houston. He is now a history professor at Dallas College. Roy volunteers as an advisory board member for the Alliance for Texas History Membership Committee, Foodways Texas, and Keep Irving Beautiful, where he is the 2018 Texas state recipient of the Sadie Ray Graff Education Award. His book, Farm-to-Freedom: Vietnamese Americans and Their Food Gardens, was released in September 2024 by Texas A&M University Press. Additionally, Roy recently co-edited a U.S. Civil Rights history reader with Dr. Darryl Howard titled, A Dream Sustained, Not Deferred: Sustainability Topics in U.S. Southern Civil Rights History, published by Kendall Hunt in August 2026. He is currently co-editing an anthology with Dr. Thao Ha titled, Our Southern Accents: Asian American Voices in the South, to be released by Rutgers University Press in July 2027. He and his wife, Ngọc, live in Irving, Texas.

Roy Vũ earned his Ph.D. (2006) in history at the University of Houston. He is now a history professor at Dallas College. Roy volunteers as an advisory board member for the Alliance for Texas History Membership Committee, Foodways Texas, and Keep Ir... Show more

Vivian Lei is a 4th-year PhD candidate from the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. She's currently working on a dissertation that uses authors’ personal archives to investigate how the U.S.’s imperial expansion into the Pacific and Caribbean in the first half of the 20th century is a historical process that seeps into the most private, intimate, and
personal spheres of identity and cultural formation.

Vivian Lei is a 4th-year PhD candidate from the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. She's currently working on a dissertation that uses authors’ personal archives to investigate how the U.S.’s imperial expansion i... Show more

Drawing on neuroscience, 20+ years of transformational work, and experience in stand-up comedy, Jennifer Ally Kern makes big ideas practical, relatable, and fun! She challenges what audiences think they know about leadership, intuition, success, and challenging relationships so they lead with clarity, follow their inner voice, and enjoy healthier interactions.

Jennifer helps conscious entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders understand their intuition, embody self-authority, and cultivate inner alignment. From that place of coherence, they handle difficult people calmly and effectively, make clear decisions, have a bigger positive impact, and build healthier relationships, without getting hijacked by reactive patterns or sacrificing their peace.

She has spoken at Mayo Clinic, IBM, Best Buy, WeightWatchers, American Lung Association, University of Minnesota, CreativeMornings, and American Business Women's Association. Her Mayo Clinic trainings were filmed in Rochester and broadcast across Mayo Clinic campuses, including Scottsdale and Jacksonville.

She is the author of the national award-winning book The Drama-Free Way: Authentic Thriving in a Chaotic World.

Engagements are available in English and Spanish.

Drawing on neuroscience, 20+ years of transformational work, and experience in stand-up comedy, Jennifer Ally Kern makes big ideas practical, relatable, and fun! She challenges what audiences think they know about leadership, intuition, success, and ... Show more

Lorraine Hamilton is a former RF engineer, ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), coach educator and working stand-up comedian. She brings an engineer's eye for systems and patterns to the wonderfully complicated business of being human.

With 20 years in professional coaching and a background in telecommunications leadership, Lorraine works with individuals, leaders and professional coaches to understand the patterns behind behaviour, challenge assumptions and find simpler ways forward.

Her work spans leadership, organisational culture, human behaviour, professional coaching and the human side of technology adoption. She's particularly interested in what happens when capable people find themselves struggling with systems, expectations or ways of working that don't quite fit.

Based on New Zealand's Kāpiti Coast, Lorraine combines technical thinking, deep human insight and a healthy appreciation for the absurdities of everyday life.

Lorraine Hamilton is a former RF engineer, ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), coach educator and working stand-up comedian. She brings an engineer's eye for systems and patterns to the wonderfully complicated business of being human. With 20 ... Show more

Dort.ssa Ileana Moreno Viqueira è Professoressa di Lingua e Letteratura Italiana presso
l’Università di Porto Rico, Recinto di Río Piedras, dove insegna corsi intensivi di lingua
italiana
e seminari avanzati di letteratura, incluso il corso interdisciplinare “Literatura y ciencias en
la
cultura italiana,” che esamina Calvino come chiave critica per letteratura, matematica e
scienza.
Cresciuta a Madrid prima del trasferimento della famiglia a Porto Rico, la Dott.ssa Moreno
ha
attraversato due sistemi educativi distinti, esperienza che ha plasmato il suo approccio
comparativo alla lingua e alla cultura. Un semestre universitario in Italia segnò l’inizio di
molti
anni vissuti nel paese, dove ha ricoperto il ruolo di Direttrice delle Attività Culturali presso
la
Casa Italiana. La sua carriera ha incluso anche traduzione letteraria, interpretariato legale
e tutoraggio accademico.
Prima del dottorato in Letteratura Italiana alla Columbia University — la cui tesi ha
esplorato le strutture matematiche di Calvino — ha conseguito una laurea in Matematica e Informatica
alla Stanford University, lavorando come Systems Engineer presso IBM.

Dort.ssa Ileana Moreno Viqueira è Professoressa di Lingua e Letteratura Italiana presso l’Università di Porto Rico, Recinto di Río Piedras, dove insegna corsi intensivi di lingua italiana e seminari avanzati di letteratura, incluso il corso int... Show more

Antoine Rivers is a reentry advocate, learning and development professional, author, and host of The Conviction Fiction Podcast. After spending nearly 17 years incarcerated, he uses his lived experience to help change the narrative of life after lock-up and encourage practical conversations about accountability, employment, housing, family, and personal growth. His professional background includes technical training, employee development, instructional design, and learning-platform administration, with experience at Intelliswift, Visual Lease, and Vonage. Antoine connects the perspective of someone rebuilding a life with the practical skills of a workplace trainer. His work encourages individuals, employers, and community partners to make second chances actionable.

Antoine combines firsthand reentry experience with professional experience designing and facilitating workplace learning. His resume documents training and learning roles at Intelliswift Software, Visual Lease, and Vonage, including onboarding, technical enablement, virtual and in-person facilitation, and learning-platform administration. Through The Conviction Fiction Podcast, he creates space for conversations about the personal and practical challenges of reintegration.

Antoine Rivers is a reentry advocate, learning and development professional, author, and host of The Conviction Fiction Podcast. After spending nearly 17 years incarcerated, he uses his lived experience to help change the narrative of life after lock... Show more

Mohamed Rashid Khamis Bakuly is a Kenyan graphic and brand designer, UX/UI designer, and AI community builder exploring the intersection of design, technology, and human psychology. He is the Founding Designer at FotoAlly and Lead Designer at Builders Space, where he applies design thinking to build digital experiences, shape brands, and communicate ideas effectively.

He has contributed to technology communities including AWS Pwani and PyCon Africa, helping create visual identities and experiences for developer events. Mohamed is passionate about using AI to accelerate creative work while preserving originality, thoughtful design, and human-centred problem-solving. He is particularly interested in helping designers and developers move beyond generic AI-generated interfaces to create distinctive, functional, and meaningful digital experiences.

As a psychology student and technology enthusiast, he is particularly interested in how people interact with technology, how communities grow around shared ideas, and how emerging AI tools are transforming the way we create, collaborate, and solve problems.

Mohamed Rashid Khamis Bakuly is a Kenyan graphic and brand designer, UX/UI designer, and AI community builder exploring the intersection of design, technology, and human psychology. He is the Founding Designer at FotoAlly and Lead Designer at Builder... Show more

Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA is the founder of the Museum of Names and creator of Name Fluency™, a practical framework for understanding how names shape trust, belonging, connection, and the customer experience. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School and a Certificate in Adaptive Leadership and speaks on names, trust, belonging, and personalization in business. She is the former Executive Director of two nonprofit organizations, most recently the Governor's Institutes of Vermont, and served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Vermont Workforce Development Council. She has also been an adjunct professor of business ethics and strategy, musician, and freelance writer, and continues to consult and provide professional leadership training through the University of Vermont.

Kaomi Joy Taylor, MPA is the founder of the Museum of Names and creator of Name Fluency™, a practical framework for understanding how names shape trust, belonging, connection, and the customer experience. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kenn... Show more

## Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi

**Emirati Educator & Researcher | Arabic Language Curriculum Specialist | Educational Leader & Innovator**

Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi is a distinguished Emirati educator and researcher specializing in **Arabic language curriculum, educational innovation, and teacher development**. Currently serving as a **Vice Principal**, she has made significant contributions to advancing teaching practices, empowering educators, and enhancing student learning experiences in the United Arab Emirates.

Her outstanding educational achievements have earned her prestigious recognition, including the **Mohamed bin Zayed Award for Best Teacher** and the title of **Best Teacher in the Arab World**. She also became the **first Emirati teacher to enter the Guinness World Records** through a pioneering innovation in creative writing—an achievement that reflects her passion for transforming ideas into meaningful educational impact.

Throughout her career, Salma has led and contributed to several influential educational initiatives, including the **International Teachers’ Knowledge Fund Platform** and the **Tokkatsu Project**, focusing on teacher development, student character building, and innovative learning practices. She has also supported national programs promoting reading, writing, and student readiness for educational assessments.

As an active researcher and educational contributor, Salma has participated in research projects, conferences, and professional forums at both national and international levels, sharing innovative practices and contributing to curriculum development and educational advancement.

Salma believes that **education is more than the transfer of knowledge—it is a powerful force for shaping people, communities, and the future**. Her mission is to empower educators, inspire students, and cultivate lifelong learners who are prepared to make a meaningful contribution to society.

### Areas of Expertise

**Educational Innovation | Arabic Language Curriculum | Educational Leadership | Creative Writing | Teacher Development & Empowerment | Reading & Writing Strategies | Educational Research | Student Character Development | Educational Initiative Design & Implementation**

### Suggested Speaker Tagline

**“From the Classroom to Guinness World Records: An Emirati Journey of Innovation, Creativity, and Educational Impact.”**

## Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi **Emirati Educator & Researcher | Arabic Language Curriculum Specialist | Educational Leader & Innovator** Salma Mohammed Salem Alketbi is a distinguished Emirati educator and researcher specializing in **Arabic ... Show more

Kerri Lynn Majors is an educator, published author, life coach, advocate, and inspirational speaker dedicated to helping people overcome adversity, discover purpose, and transform their lives through knowledge, hope, and personal growth.

She holds a Master of Education in Special Education and a BA in Criminology, with professional experience spanning public education, counseling, social work, including work in substance abuse and correctional rehabilitation.

As founder and CEO of Beauty in Human Growth, LLC, Kerri integrates a spiritual, biological, psychological, and social perspective to understand the whole person and inspire lasting change. Her personal journey, marked by profound challenges, perseverance, and a deep commitment to truth and dignity shapes her powerful message, that no one should be defined solely by mistakes, limitations, or circumstances. Whether speaking to educators, students, faith-based or professional audiences, Kerri bridges education, human behavior, and lived experience to deliver a message that is both challenging and deeply hopeful. Her mission is simple: "Know Hope when you feel no Hope, because your story isn't over.

Kerri Lynn Majors is an educator, published author, life coach, advocate, and inspirational speaker dedicated to helping people overcome adversity, discover purpose, and transform their lives through knowledge, hope, and personal growth. She hold... Show more

Mary Foster is the Heritage and Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Allen, Texas, where she oversees programming and interpretation at Allen Heritage Village and supports preservation and interpretation efforts at the historic Allen Cemetery. Her work brings together historic preservation, public programming, community engagement, and parks and recreation to connect residents with the history of their community.

Foster holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler and previously served as a museum curator at the 1859 Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum, where she curated exhibits and developed educational programs. She also served as Campaign Director for United Way of Smith County, supporting fundraising efforts for 26 local nonprofit organizations.

With nearly a decade of experience working across museums, history, parks and recreation, and nonprofit organizations, Foster is particularly interested in local and recent history, historic cemeteries, urban archaeology, and finding creative ways to make history meaningful and accessible to the communities where it happened.

Mary Foster is the Heritage and Cultural Arts Program Manager for the City of Allen, Texas, where she oversees programming and interpretation at Allen Heritage Village and supports preservation and interpretation efforts at the historic Allen Cemeter... Show more

Frank Malaba is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, photographer, and creative facilitator working between Oslo, Norway and Cape Town, South Africa. His work moves fluidly across theatre, performance, poetry, and natural light photography, guided by a central question: How does the body remember, and what stories does it insist on carrying?

Drawing from Southern African oral traditions, queer lived experience, and a deep commitment to dignity and presence, Frank creates narrative spaces where memory becomes a form of knowledge. His solo works, including Stories of My Bones and The Chaos of Belonging, have toured internationally, inviting audiences into intimate encounters with ancestry, identity, and the quiet rituals that shape us.

As a photographer, Frank documents everyday rituals and marginalised lives with tenderness and clarity. His 2025 exhibition Rituals opened in Cape Town to critical acclaim, and his ongoing project I Met a Mermaid explores African water spirituality, homelessness, and the ocean as a site of survival and myth.

He is also the founder and curator of Uncovered: Stories in Oslo (Avdekket: Fortellinger i Oslo), a live storytelling platform centred on true, lived narratives. His facilitation practice blends embodiment, listening, and community building, creating spaces where people can speak from the truth of their lived experience.

Across all mediums, Frank works from the belief that storytelling is not performance, it is presence, witness, and a return to the body as archive.

Frank Malaba is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, photographer, and creative facilitator working between Oslo, Norway and Cape Town, South Africa. His work moves fluidly across theatre, performance, poetry, and natural light photography, guide... Show more

Bea Mensing is a member of Klasse Klima with a background in Performing Arts, Philosophy and Education. Her interest lies in creating interdisciplinary and inclusive learnspaces, that combine theory and practice and consider cognitive and sensual aspects.

Bea Mensing ist ein Mitglied von Klasse Klima mit einem Hintergrund in Performativen Künsten, Philosophie und Bildung. Ihr Interesse liegt darin, interdisziplinäre und möglichst inklusive Lernräume zu gestalten, die Theorie und Praxis verbinden und sowohl kognitive als auch sinnliche Aspekte beachten.

Bea Mensing is a member of Klasse Klima with a background in Performing Arts, Philosophy and Education. Her interest lies in creating interdisciplinary and inclusive learnspaces, that combine theory and practice and consider cognitive and sensual asp... Show more

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC
President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America
Author | Founder, Borinqueño Within Press | Certified Executive Coach | Clinical Social Worker | Veteran | Researcher | Policy Architect | Curriculum Developer | International Trainer

"I am a Boricua. A dad. A soldier. A professional social worker. An advocate. A teacher. A professor. A counselor. And a friend. And with every role, I lead with love and serve with purpose."

Biography
Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC, is a globally celebrated architect of fatherhood engagement, social policy reform, and transformative leadership development. For over four decades, he has shaped public health, child welfare, mental health, and professional education—building bridges across disciplines, communities, and continents. His career is defined by multidimensional leadership and a relentless pursuit of equity, healing, and opportunity for all. A proud father, soldier, social worker, and visionary educator, he has devoted his life to helping people rediscover hope, dignity, and purpose. His reach spans early childhood education, public health, leadership development, and fatherhood advocacy—fields that, in his hands, become pathways toward healing and intergenerational equity.

"Insights give way to dreams—developing vision—creating purpose that ends in your why."

Foundations: Service, Resilience, and Cultural Identity
Born into a low-income household and shaped by the adversity of the child welfare system, James began his journey at age 17 as a U.S. Army Combat Medic. By 22, he became one of the youngest Substance Abuse Counselors in the Department of Defense, retiring with honors and meritorious distinction in the reserves. Over more than two decades of military service, he developed expertise in trauma response, behavioral health, and law enforcement. This experience forged his devotion to discipline, compassion, and advocacy for the vulnerable.

James's service has been recognized at the highest levels: he is the recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Call to Service Award (President Barack Obama), Points of Light Award (President George H. W. Bush), Meritorious Service Medal (U.S. Department of Defense), and Congressional Certificates from Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Barbara Lee, and Diane E. Watson. He is deeply honored by the Ceremonial Elder Proclamation from the Qutekcak Native Tribe of Alaska, the National Social Worker Leadership Resolution (FFCA), and hundreds of additional accolades from national, state, tribal, and community organizations.

Architect of Systems Change: Building Movements, Securing Hope
As founder and CEO of the Fathers & Families Coalition of America (FFCA), Dr. Rodríguez transformed a grassroots Arizona network into an international force with offices in California and Puerto Rico, and active partnerships across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Australia. He was instrumental in creating one of the nation's first TANF-funded fatherhood programs, a model that generated over $75 million in resources and has been replicated nationwide. Under his leadership, FFCA's International Families & Fathers Conference—now in its 27th year—has become a global destination for educators, policymakers, and innovators, advancing justice and family well-being.

A founding steering committee member of the Fatherhood Research & Practice Network (FRPN) at Temple University, James has shaped federal research and policy, serving as principal investigator and senior research consultant on projects for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, CDC, NIMH, and the Oregon Center for Applied Science. His work has driven advances in public health, trauma-informed care, and family resilience.

Signature Curriculum Development and Thought Leadership
James is a master architect of transformational curricula and professional development, including the Advanced Practitioner Credential™ Course (NASW Arizona-approved), OAR Leadership Institute™ (Ownership • Accountability • Responsibility), FFCA DiSC Model™, Ikigai & The Power of Kintsugi™, and SAMHSA-approved Fatherhood and Mental Health Curriculum. He also developed the Strengthening Families Through Nurturing Leadership model. His trainings are lauded for blending cognitive science, neuroplasticity, emotional intelligence, trauma-informed care, and actionable leadership strategies, and have reached over 30,000 professionals—social workers, educators, clinicians, nonprofit leaders, and public officials—across the U.S. and four continents. Over 85% of program graduates report improved outcomes, including higher client engagement and service completion.

Certified as an Executive Coach, Master Trainer for The John R. Wooden Course™, Certified DiSC® Trainer, Life Coach, Ikigai Coach, and Schema Therapy Practitioner, Dr. Rodríguez's leadership development institutes have set new standards for excellence in behavioral health and family services.

Academic Impact, Mentorship, and Global Teaching
Dr. Rodríguez's educational reach is extraordinary. He has served as faculty, lecturer, or keynote at:

University of Southern California
Arizona State University
Morehouse College
Howard University
Columbia University
Yale University
University of Houston
Clark Atlanta University
Mesa Community College
Central Arizona College
Cornell University
Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
University of the West Indies (Jamaica)
University of Guelph (Canada)
Malcolm X College
Sobo Tribal Nation
Navajo Nation
Qutekcak Native Tribe (Alaska)
Numerous First Nations and international partners
He developed and directed over 30 undergraduate and graduate courses, established statewide programs, and has keynoted and taught from Ivy League classrooms to tribal communities. He serves on the editorial board of PHYLON: The Clark Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture, which he joined upon the appointment of Dr. Obie Clayton, Jr., and supports scholarship on race, family, and social change.

Policy Leadership, Board Service, and Community Engagement
Dr. Rodríguez's policy influence extends to every level of government. He has developed legislation for Connecticut's Fatherhood Initiative, served on Arizona and California TANF/family-strengthening task forces, and advised the New York City Mayor's Fatherhood Advisory Council, DYCD, and ACS. He has shaped policy in partnership with SAMHSA, Region II Head Start, the State of Maryland, and the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. He has provided expert testimony before the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee. He collaborates with Congressman Danny K. Davis and hosts national Fireside Policy Roundtables on equity, child support, and education reform.

His board service is cross-sectoral and visionary, including:

100 Black Men – Arizona Chapter
AGAPE Adoption Agency
Maricopa County Human Services
Fatherhood Corrections Network
Black Family Preservation Institute
And numerous national, state, and tribal boards
Public Health, Equity, and Systems Innovation
James has led multiple national initiatives addressing mental health equity, early childhood wellness, and culturally responsive care—serving Latino, African American, Somali, First Nations, and other underserved communities. His work with the Somali Association of Arizona, the Hispanic/Latino and African American Parent Depression Research Project, and tribal partners has been recognized for its transformative impact on systems and inclusion.

Author, Storyteller, and Purpose-Driven Advocate
As founder of Borinqueño Within Press and author of the forthcoming The Purpose Within—Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix, Dr. Rodríguez's story is a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring power of purpose. He weaves together memoir, leadership philosophy, and spiritual reflection, inspiring audiences to discover their own capacity to lead and transform.

Personal Values, Humanity, and Enduring Legacy
Above all, Dr. Rodríguez is a father, grandfather, and mentor. He draws daily inspiration from his children—Antonio (Cassandra), Amber Rodríguez-Young, LMSW (Daric), and Jazmín Rodríguez—and his grandchildren, Ariston and Adalena. His life and work are an expression of core values: love, empathy, humility, and a drive to uplift others. Whether leading a boardroom, inspiring a conference, or building coalitions for social change, James delivers wisdom, practical strategies, and hope—leaving every audience moved to action.

"Leadership is not about titles. It is about being water—shaping, flowing, and giving life wherever you go." — Bruce Lee.

If your organization seeks a keynote speaker, leadership institute facilitator, or strategic advisor who brings unparalleled experience, intellectual rigor, cultural fluency, and a proven record of impact, Dr. James C. Rodríguez is the transformative presence your audience deserves.

Contact:
james.rodriguez@fathersandfamiliescoalition.org
www.fathersandfamiliescoalition.org

"Never The End, Never Goodbye, Just I love You." – Your Friend, James

Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, CADC President & Chief Executive Officer, Fathers & Families Coalition of America Author | Founder, Borinqueño Within Press | Certified Executive Coach | Clinical Social Worker | Veteran | Researcher | Policy Architect ... Show more

Julia Kurkowski is founder and CEO of aimea, the real-time voice AI for structured first interviews in hiring, high-risk under the EU AI Act. Trained as an organizational psychologist, she builds aimea with orchestrated coding agents: 60 skills, 40 hook scripts and a plan chat that judges every package before a human merges. aimea holds 5 signed pilot agreements with German companies. Julia is overall winner of the Harbour Founder Summit Hamburg 2025, chosen from hundreds of applicants and sixteen startups that pitched across four categories, which took aimea to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco on 6 November 2026. She holds an EXIST Women grant.

Julia Kurkowski is founder and CEO of aimea, the real-time voice AI for structured first interviews in hiring, high-risk under the EU AI Act. Trained as an organizational psychologist, she builds aimea with orchestrated coding agents: 60 skills, 40 h... Show more

My thing is figuring out how things work.

I started out with language and machines: linguistics, speech and natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and software development.
These days, my interests have shifted towards evolutionary biology and paleontology.

In my spare time, I play and compose music.
I also have a perfectly reasonable fascination with dinosaurs and an entirely unreasonable love of platypuses.
I don’t look up that often, but when I do, it's usually at the stars.

My thing is figuring out how things work. I started out with language and machines: linguistics, speech and natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and software development. These days, my interests have shifted towards evolutionary... Show more

Communication designer and sociologist with special interest in inclusive design, digital skills, critical theory, and society-nature-relations. I'm working at Goethe University since may 2026.

Communication designer and sociologist with special interest in inclusive design, digital skills, critical theory, and society-nature-relations. I'm working at Goethe University since may 2026. Show more

R. Karl Hebenstreit, PhD, PCC, PHR is an international/TEDx speaker, author, certified executive coach, and leadership/team/Organization Development Consultant. With 25+ years of experience helping leaders and teams exceed their goals, Karl brings human-centric, results-driven energy to every engagement. His PhD in Organizational Psychology studied the Enneagram and employee engagement, and led to him becoming an IEA Accredited Professional with Distinction, an IEA Accredited Professional Professional/Teacher, and iEQ9 Faculty member. Driven to create a more emotionally intelligent world, Karl is the author of three award-winning books: The How & Why: Taking Care of Business with the Enneagram (PenCraft Award), Nina and the Really, Really Tough Decision (PenCraft/Readers’ Favorite, available in 6 languages), and Explicit Expectations (Axiom Award). Karl’s fourth book, Enough, Already and Fully Functional, As You Are, is on the way. Karl’s mission is simple: inspiring audiences and organizations to activate their innate full functionality while creating a more inclusive, empathic, and emotionally intelligent world.

R. Karl Hebenstreit, PhD, PCC, PHR is an international/TEDx speaker, author, certified executive coach, and leadership/team/Organization Development Consultant. With 25+ years of experience helping leaders and teams exceed their goals, Karl brings h... Show more

Sarah Khan is the founder of Sarah Khan Associates, a behavioural intelligence and research-translation firm based in Karachi. Her work sits at the intersection of research and practice, helping organisations and educators understand how people actually think, relate, and perform before investing in developing them.

She serves as Anchor Organisation Lead for Harvard University's EASEL Lab on the PSS-SEL Toolbox, where she led a cross-framework analysis of how social-emotional competencies are conceptualised across the Global South. She is a doctoral scholar in psychology at the University of Karachi, and has spent nine years designing and assessing social-emotional learning across formal and informal settings, including competency framework mapping & analysis across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

Her firm was recently named a top-10 beneficiary of the Standard Chartered Foundation WomenInTech Accelerator Cohort 8. Sarah's broader mission is to build a behavioural evidence base from the Global South, ensuring that the frameworks shaping how we develop people are honest enough to hold how different, and how similar, we actually are.

Sarah Khan is the founder of Sarah Khan Associates, a behavioural intelligence and research-translation firm based in Karachi. Her work sits at the intersection of research and practice, helping organisations and educators understand how people actua... Show more

Robert Shumake, PhD, known internationally as Ajarn Shaman Shu, is a uniquely credentialed scholar, spiritual teacher, and public intellectual. A direct student of Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Malidoma Patrice Somé, he is a fully initiated Buddhist Ajarn in the Theravada tradition, a Vajra Master in the Padmasambhava lineage, a consecrated High Priest of Yoruba Ifá (Babalawo and Oluwo Osain), and a Sri Vidya initiate of the Tamil Siddhar tradition.

He is the author of over 140 books, including Shurooms: The African Roots of Sacred Plant Medicine, The Original Avengers, KRIYA, African Reiki, Roots of Heaven, and the multi-volume Living Archive Series on American media history. He is the Founder and Chancellor of Buddha University® and the Buddha Ayurveda School of Medicine, and the owner of one of the largest privately held newspapers in the United States. His keynotes connect ancient spiritual science with modern neuroscience, education, and leadership.

Robert Shumake, PhD, known internationally as Ajarn Shaman Shu, is a uniquely credentialed scholar, spiritual teacher, and public intellectual. A direct student of Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Malidoma Patrice Somé, he is a fully initiated Buddhist Aj... Show more

Rocio Mieres socióloga especializada en videojuegos y en fenómenos digitales
MG en innovación y tecnología para la educación
Docente universidad Bernardo O'Higgins y UNIACC
Miembro de diferentes redes de investigadores en el área de videojuegos
Editora de la Revista Central de Sociología de la Universidad Central de Chile

Rocio Mieres socióloga especializada en videojuegos y en fenómenos digitales MG en innovación y tecnología para la educación Docente universidad Bernardo O'Higgins y UNIACC Miembro de diferentes redes de investigadores en el área de videojuegos ... Show more

Dr. Dipti Yadav is a psychologist, educator, speaker, and experiential learning designer who believes that lasting change happens through meaningful experiences rather than information alone.

Drawing from psychology, counselling, reflective practice, hypnosis, and experiential learning, she designs immersive sessions that help people recognize emotional patterns, strengthen relationships, build psychological resilience, and develop practical emotional intelligence.

Her work bridges science with experience, transforming complex psychological concepts into engaging learning journeys for educators, mental health professionals, organizations, students, and leaders. Rather than delivering lectures, she creates conversations and activities that encourage reflection, participation, and lasting insight.

Dr. Dipti is also the creator of original experiential frameworks that make psychology accessible, memorable, and immediately applicable across educational, professional, and personal contexts.

Whether addressing conference audiences, educators, helping professionals, or multidisciplinary teams, her sessions leave participants with fresh perspectives and practical tools they can carry into everyday life.

Dr. Dipti Yadav is a psychologist, educator, speaker, and experiential learning designer who believes that lasting change happens through meaningful experiences rather than information alone. Drawing from psychology, counselling, reflective practi... Show more

Rebecca P. Murray energizes audiences through the power of voice. As the founder of Showcase Your Shine, she blends theater, the social science of language, and applied behavior science to help professionals speak with purpose, presence, and vocal influence. Her sessions are engaging, high-energy, and unforgettable—equipping people to connect, influence, and confidently own the room.

She’s passionate about strengthening team dynamics by sharpening the skills that matter most: listening, presenting, and facilitating meaningful conversations. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Rebecca is the President of the National Speakers Association Northwest, serving the professional speaking community across Washington State. She is also a leading advocate for Voice Equity, using it as a form of applied intelligence to guide conversations so participation is intentional, balanced, and inclusive.

Rebecca’s fascination with voice began early, singing before she could speak and absorbing the magic of vinyl records on her own player. That passion evolved into a professional journey recording, directing, and producing hundreds of audio works—from audiobooks and TV commercials to podcasts and live-streamed events. As a vocal expert, audiophile, and audio-mastering enthusiast, Rebecca now helps clients find their authentic voice and expand their influence—ensuring voices that are often overlooked are heard, respected, and remembered.

Rebecca P. Murray energizes audiences through the power of voice. As the founder of Showcase Your Shine, she blends theater, the social science of language, and applied behavior science to help professionals speak with purpose, presence, and vocal in... Show more

Aaron Garth is CEO of Ultimate Youth Worker, a Melbourne-based social enterprise providing professional supervision, training and consulting to the Australian youth and community sector. He has worked in youth work since 2002 and founded Ultimate Youth Worker in 2012 to professionalise the sector through better training, structured supervision and clearer career pathways.

His work centres on supervision as a genuine space for critical reflection rather than administrative compliance, and on building the workforce capability frameworks that let organisations retain and develop frontline staff. He has designed and delivered accredited training across strengths-based youth work, AOD and dual diagnosis practice, and youth justice contexts, and consults to organisations on psychosocial risk, workforce structure and practice standards.

Aaron is also a PhD candidate at RMIT University researching fathering through a New Materialist theoretical lens, and speaks on the intersection of relational practice, professional identity and sector reform.

Aaron Garth is CEO of Ultimate Youth Worker, a Melbourne-based social enterprise providing professional supervision, training and consulting to the Australian youth and community sector. He has worked in youth work since 2002 and founded Ultimate You... Show more

Jodee Gibson, PhD, PCC | Jodee's unconventional, holistic approach to understanding human behavior is beyond fascinating. Jodee resides in Oakland County, Michigan. She trains and speaks worldwide. www.jodeegibson.com

Jodee Gibson, PhD, PCC | Jodee's unconventional, holistic approach to understanding human behavior is beyond fascinating. Jodee resides in Oakland County, Michigan. She trains and speaks worldwide. www.jodeegibson.com Show more

Claudia Graf-Pfohl, M.A., is a doctoral researcher in industrial sociology and an applied digital change manager. Since 2021, she has supported companies through complex development processes related to the introduction of new technologies and is a recipient of the Civic Innovation Award and the Marie-Pleißner Prize.

Claudia Graf-Pfohl, M.A., is a doctoral researcher in industrial sociology and an applied digital change manager. Since 2021, she has supported companies through complex development processes related to the introduction of new technologies and is a r... Show more

Luka Pejić (1996), an English Language and Literature graduate and a literary translator (English into Croatian)

Luka Pejić (1996), an English Language and Literature graduate and a literary translator (English into Croatian) Show more

Nandipa Sozoyi is a PhD candidate, transdisciplinary researcher, and systems thinker working at the intersection of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, digital infrastructure, spatial governance, and emerging technologies. Her research explores how knowledge systems function as adaptive infrastructures that inform contemporary challenges in AI, sustainability, governance, and technology design.

She is the founder of Noncedo Development Collective, a South African systems design and research initiative focused on ethical development architectures, knowledge infrastructures, and innovation ecosystems. Her work spans academic research, community innovation, and applied platform development, including community-based initiatives through Zithulele Development Collective and IKS SoMbo Connect, an emerging initiative exploring how Indigenous knowledge can be translated into digital and institutional systems.

Nandipa’s work has received innovation funding, featured in innovation showcases and collaborative initiatives, and increasingly bridges architecture, systems thinking, and technology futures. She also contributes to higher education through research mentorship and studio teaching while building models that connect research, communities, and emerging technologies.

Nandipa Sozoyi is a PhD candidate, transdisciplinary researcher, and systems thinker working at the intersection of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, digital infrastructure, spatial governance, and emerging technologies. Her research explores how knowled... Show more