Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Kay Emerson

Kay Emerson

Kay Emerson, MS, brings over 15 years of expertise in public administration, focusing on improving health equity, education, and economic mobility, particularly for marginalized communities. With a strong background in program development, grant management, financial oversight, and civic service training, she is committed to driving impactful change in underserved populations. Kay holds an MS in Human Service and a BA in Psychology, positioning her as a trusted leader in fostering financial fidelity, compliance, and organizational engagement.

As the founder and CEO of SheRen Consulting, a BIPOC and woman-owned business, Kay offers specialized consulting and training services aimed at empowering organizations to achieve their goals while addressing systemic inequities.

SheRen Consulting is known for its tailored approach to policy advocacy, operational support, and comprehensive training. Their methods engage participants in "head and heart work," combining strategic knowledge with personal reflection to inspire meaningful change. By blending practical tools with emotional and ethical engagement, SheRen Consulting ensures that leaders and teams are equipped to drive both organizational success and community impact.

Kay Emerson, MS, brings over 15 years of expertise in public administration, focusing on improving health equity, education, and economic mobility, particularly for marginalized communities. With a strong background in program development, grant mana... Show more

Ragnar Heil

Ragnar Heil

Ragnar is a Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Microsoft 365 Office Apps and Services. Together with MVP Alexander Egger, he hosts the “Alex & Ragnar Show,” a bi-weekly Video Live Stream about Microsoft 365 Hybrid Workplace and also "Guardians of M365 Governance" with Christian Buckley. Ragnar is a blogger and podcaster, headset geek, and core-member of Viva Explorers Community. He has an M.A. in Social Science and an Executive MBA, and has also published several books and articles about modern work.

Ragnar is a Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Microsoft 365 Office Apps and Services. Together with MVP Alexander Egger, he hosts the “Alex & Ragnar Show,” a bi-weekly Video Live Stream about Microsoft 365 Hybrid Workplace and also "Guardians of ... Show more

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

Piyusha Pilania

Piyusha Pilania

Piyusha is a seasoned Salesforce consultant with 10 years of experience. She is a passionate five-star Ranger with nine Salesforce certifications and accreditations. Throughout her career, Piyusha has collaborated with multiple Fortune 500 clients, helping to solve their business challenges and leading consulting teams.
Currently, Piyusha is the Salesforce Consulting Manager at Horizontal Digital. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in Martech, data, and Salesforce, and she has a deep interest in the convergence of data, AI, and Salesforce. She is also the community group leader for Salesforce Salesblazers APAC and has been running a bi-weekly LinkedIn Live series since 2021 to support the Trailblazers. Her mission is to elevate the knowledge and skills of Salesforce trailblazers and to grow the Salesforce community in Vadodara and APAC.

Piyusha is a seasoned Salesforce consultant with 10 years of experience. She is a passionate five-star Ranger with nine Salesforce certifications and accreditations. Throughout her career, Piyusha has collaborated with multiple Fortune 500 clients, h... Show more

Joey Dantoni

Joey Dantoni

Joseph D'Antoni is a Principal Cloud Architect, and a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and VMware vExpert with over 20 years of experience working in both Fortune 500 and smaller firms. He is a frequent speaker at major tech events like Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit and Enterprise Data World. He blogs about all topics technology at joeydantoni.com. He believes that no single platform is the answer to all technology problems. He lives in Malvern, PA and holds a BS in Computer Information Systems from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from North Carolina State University, and is the co-author of the Microsoft book "Introducing SQL Server 2016"

Joseph D'Antoni is a Principal Cloud Architect, and a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and VMware vExpert with over 20 years of experience working in both Fortune 500 and smaller firms. He is a frequent speaker at major tech events like Microsoft Ignite, ... Show more

Molly McQueary

Molly McQueary

Molly holds a Doctorate in Sport & Performance Psychology and is a Certified Mental Performance Coach. With a deep passion for unlocking potential, Molly blends cutting-edge, science-based techniques with practical strategies to help high-level executives, healthcare leaders, coaches, and elite athletes perform at their best. Her approach is rooted in the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, providing clients with the mental tools to excel under pressure, overcome challenges, and achieve peak performance. Whether through one-on-one consulting, engaging workshops, or customized programs, Molly is dedicated to driving both personal and professional success with evidence-based methods.

Molly holds a Doctorate in Sport & Performance Psychology and is a Certified Mental Performance Coach. With a deep passion for unlocking potential, Molly blends cutting-edge, science-based techniques with practical strategies to help high-level execu... Show more

Paul Umaru

Paul Umaru

Paul is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Jos and holds global certifications as a trainer from both Microsoft and Google. He is also certified in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity by IBM, bringing extensive expertise in the field of responsible AI. His passion for innovation and commitment to excellence have established him as a seasoned application developer and consultant.

As an alumnus of the prestigious Microsoft EMEA Gold Ambassador program, Paul was recognized for his outstanding contributions and leadership within the Microsoft technology ecosystem. This accolade underscores his dedication to advancing innovation and fostering global connections within the tech community. His core mission is to collaborate, share knowledge, and build networks with professionals both within and beyond the tech industry.

Paul is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Jos and holds global certifications as a trainer from both Microsoft and Google. He is also certified in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity by IBM, bringing extensive expertise in the ... Show more

Jodie Burchell

Jodie Burchell

Dr. Jodie Burchell is the Developer Advocate in Data Science at JetBrains, and was previously the Lead Data Scientist in audiences generation at Verve Group Europe. She completed a PhD in clinical psychology and a postdoc in biostatistics, before leaving academia for a data science career. She has worked for 7 years as a data scientist in both Australia and Germany, developing a range of products including recommendation systems, analysis platforms, search engine improvements and audience profiling. She has held a broad range of responsibilities in her career, doing everything from data analytics to maintaining machine learning solutions in production. She is a long time content creator in data science, across conference and user group presentations, books, webinars, and posts on both her own and JetBrain's blogs.

Dr. Jodie Burchell is the Developer Advocate in Data Science at JetBrains, and was previously the Lead Data Scientist in audiences generation at Verve Group Europe. She completed a PhD in clinical psychology and a postdoc in biostatistics, before lea... Show more

Mads P Bender

Mads P Bender

With an M.Sc. in Organization Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I've leveraged my expertise to work as a Function Consultant for 3 years. With more than 5 years of experience in ERP systems, my focus has been on optimizing supply chain management and finance operations.

With an M.Sc. in Organization Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I've leveraged my expertise to work as a Function Consultant for 3 years. With more than 5 years of experience in ERP systems, my focus has been on optimizing supply chain management and ... 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

Awoke Dagnew Kassahun

Awoke Dagnew Kassahun

Awoke Dagnew is a dedicated and collaborative project management professional with over 13 years of experience in the non-profit sector. He has strong expertise and skills in project design and execution, having successfully managed a diverse range of development and humanitarian projects. Awoke's expertise spans program management, monitoring, and evaluation, particularly in areas such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), women’s empowerment, digital rights, and social inclusion. His experience includes strategy development, project design and execution, program logistics administration, and engaging in policy dialogues. Currently, he is working with HOPE International Development Agency in the capacity of Strategy and Programs Manager and actively volunteering with TOGETHER, a civil society working towards narrowing down the digital divide for persons with disabilities.

Awoke holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and Social Work, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He is an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Center and the DATA4CHANGE Data Storytelling and Design Sprint. Recognized for his leadership and impact, Awoke was awarded the African Youth SDGs Achievers Award in 2022, under the category of Leader of Equality. His professional interests include policy dialogue, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, and WASH issues.

Awoke Dagnew is a dedicated and collaborative project management professional with over 13 years of experience in the non-profit sector. He has strong expertise and skills in project design and execution, having successfully managed a diverse range o... Show more

Tobias Meixner

Tobias Meixner

Tech Entrepreneur who is passionate about building software that solves real problems.

Tech Entrepreneur who is passionate about building software that solves real problems. Show more

Stephen Morris

Stephen Morris

Stephen is an accomplished and award-winning IT leader with over twenty years of experience in complex, uncertain and high-scale technical organisa¬tions. During that time, he has led customer, infrastructure, product and software functions in rapid-growth and highly regulated environments.

Today, Stephen provides consultancy and support to C-suite and other senior leaders in companies ranging from start-ups through to established global organisations in the science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM) space. He provides expertise in sense-making, context-driven leadership, complexity, agility and organisational transformation. He is well respected by his clients and speaking audiences for his insightful observations and rich combination of theory and real-world experience.

Stephen is an accomplished and award-winning IT leader with over twenty years of experience in complex, uncertain and high-scale technical organisa¬tions. During that time, he has led customer, infrastructure, product and software functions in rapid-... Show more

Andreas Kollegger

Andreas Kollegger

Andreas is a technological humanist. Starting at NASA, Andreas designed systems from scratch to support science missions. Then in Zambia, he built medical informatics systems to apply technology for social good. Now with Neo4j, he is democratizing graph databases to validate and extend our intuitions about how the world works. Everything is connected.

Andreas is a technological humanist. Starting at NASA, Andreas designed systems from scratch to support science missions. Then in Zambia, he built medical informatics systems to apply technology for social good. Now with Neo4j, he is democratizing gr... Show more

David Aronchick

David Aronchick

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this.

Previously, I led product management for Kubernetes on behalf of Google, launched Google Kubernetes Engine, and co-founded the Kubeflow project, and led Open Source Machine Learning Strategy at Azure. I have also worked at Protocol Labs, Amazon and Chef and co-founded three startups.

When not spending too much time in service of electrons, I can be found on a mountain (on skis), traveling the world (via restaurants) or participating in kid activities, of which there are a lot more than I remember than when I was that age.

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this. Previously, I led prod... Show more

Robert McNair

Robert McNair

Meet Robert McNair, the high-energy public speaker with over 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Robert's dynamic presentation skills and deep knowledge of cloud technology make him one of the most sought-after speakers in the field.

As a software developer, Robert quickly rose to become a respected leader in the industry. With his extensive experience in successful cloud migrations and implementations, Robert has established himself as a true expert in the field.

But what really sets Robert apart is his unique ability to make complex technical concepts easy to understand for all audiences. With his motivational speaking style, he inspires and connects with audiences in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Robert's dedication to excellence has led him to become John Maxwell Certified in effective communication and leadership. This training has given him a unique perspective on the importance of cloud technology and its impact on the future.

Whether speaking at conferences, workshops, or corporate events, Robert's passion for technology and his engaging personality make him a crowd favorite. He is dedicated to educating others on the latest trends and innovations in cloud technology, and his commitment to excellence is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who hear him speak.

Book Robert for your next event and experience the energy and expertise that have made him a top speaker in the IT industry.

Meet Robert McNair, the high-energy public speaker with over 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Robert's dynamic presentation skills and deep knowledge of cloud technology make him one of the most sought-after speakers in the field. As a s... Show more

Pirita Johnsen

Pirita Johnsen

Currently, Pirita Maarit Johnsen is working as an Agile coach in Eviny, one of Norway’s largest green energy and technology company.
With extensive experience in Agile coaching, she has guided many teams through transformations, fostering continuous improvement and collaboration. As a LEAN facilitator, Pirita has enhanced efficiency and reduced waste. Her background as a project
manager and team lead spans multiple industries, where she has led teams to achieve project goals and deliver high-quality results.
Pirita’s fascination with processes and teamwork drives her to explore how people work together and what motivates us. She is passionate about creating environments where teams can thrive and individuals can reach their full potential.

Currently, Pirita Maarit Johnsen is working as an Agile coach in Eviny, one of Norway’s largest green energy and technology company. With extensive experience in Agile coaching, she has guided many teams through transformations, fostering continuous... Show more

Mikel Ngueajio

Mikel Ngueajio

Mikel is a driven Fourth-year Ph.D. student in Computer Science at Howard University in Washington, D.C., specializing in AI applied to NLP. Her research centered on the interplay between Language, Computation, and AI impacts on Humans and Society, primarily through the lens of Explainable AI, Hate speech, and fake news detection.

Recognized as a 2023-2024 TMCF HBCU Apple Scholar and an AWS Research Fellow, Mikel brings both academic excellence and industry experience to their work. She has previously interned as a Data Science intern at Amazon, a Web Development apprentice at Bloomberg, and a Machine Learning Engineering intern at Apple.

Mikel is an active Kaggle competitor, and a prolific researcher, with work featured in top-tier AI and HCI conferences. Mikel has been a Graduate Student Researcher, collaborating with researchers from the National Geospatial Agency, the Educational Testing Service, and Google. She has also served as a conference reviewer for Blacks in AI and Women in ML at NeurIPS.

Check out my Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XPwyeRYAAAAJ&hl=en ) and do not hesitate to reach out for future collaborations.

Beyond academia, Mikel enjoys speaking and blogging about recent advances in technology. She's an avid watcher of medical documentaries, a tennis enthusiast, and loves spending quality cooking and playtime with her family.

Mikel is a driven Fourth-year Ph.D. student in Computer Science at Howard University in Washington, D.C., specializing in AI applied to NLP. Her research centered on the interplay between Language, Computation, and AI impacts on Humans and Society, p... Show more

Alena Holligan

Alena Holligan

For over 20 years, Alena has built technical solutions that inform decisions and solve problems across diverse industries. She enjoys both the creativity of programming and the thrill of solving a puzzle. As a leader in the community, a technical trainer, and a mom, she is passionate about providing the tools and mindset required for everyone to learn and succeed.

For over 20 years, Alena has built technical solutions that inform decisions and solve problems across diverse industries. She enjoys both the creativity of programming and the thrill of solving a puzzle. As a leader in the community, a technical tra... Show more

Oren Matar

Oren Matar

A principal data scientist and algorithms developer with a background in social sciences, research of scientific methods, and Bayesian methods. My specialization lies in NLP and time series forecasting within supply chain management. Leveraging Bayesian methods, I've contributed to enhancing the performance of Facebook's Prophet library, particularly in terms of runtime optimization. My research is dedicated to probing the limitations of generative AI and devising strategies to unlock its potential across diverse domains.

A principal data scientist and algorithms developer with a background in social sciences, research of scientific methods, and Bayesian methods. My specialization lies in NLP and time series forecasting within supply chain management. Leveraging Bayes... Show more

Erwin Derksen

Erwin Derksen

Since 1999 in IT – Practical – Simplifier – #BulletPointFree Public Speaker - Likes sharing knowledge – Projects and changes only – Has also a technical focus – Acts as bridge between business and technology – Founded DerkIT in 2017 and Blue Identity in 2022 - Guides complex decisions and reduces them to the essence – Believes that humor, clarity, and simplicity are most important.

Since 1999 in IT – Practical – Simplifier – #BulletPointFree Public Speaker - Likes sharing knowledge – Projects and changes only – Has also a technical focus – Acts as bridge between business and technology – Founded DerkIT in 2017 and Blue Identi... Show more

Ifeanyi Idiaye

Ifeanyi Idiaye

I am a passionate data scientist and software developer with a strong background in machine learning, data visualization, natural language processing, dashboards, graph data science, and full-stack development. I thrive on turning data into actionable insights and creating software solutions that drive business success.

Awards:
* Winner: International Data Visualization Competition
* Top Contributor: AA Idea Rally
* Hall of Famer: Hacktoberfest

I am a passionate data scientist and software developer with a strong background in machine learning, data visualization, natural language processing, dashboards, graph data science, and full-stack development. I thrive on turning data into actionabl... Show more

Philippe Paulus

Philippe Paulus

As an engineer, I first became interested in the technical side of things as a developer, then as a software architect and finally as a technical director. During this period, I became aware that if you want to obtain the best result, you have to take into account the human aspect: from the users to the implementation teams. That's when I discovered agility. It became a passion and I made it my job: agile coach and trainer.

As an engineer, I first became interested in the technical side of things as a developer, then as a software architect and finally as a technical director. During this period, I became aware that if you want to obtain the best result, you have to tak... Show more

Just Isaac

Just Isaac

Just Isaac - Your Breakthrough Specialist

Just Isaac is renowned for his powerful and transparent approach to public speaking, empowering audiences to break through personal barriers and discover their true potential. A six-time boxing champion, Top 40 radio artist, lead actor, and three-time author, Just Isaac draws on his diverse experiences to deliver impactful messages that resonate deeply. He overcame significant challenges, including bullying and suicidal thoughts, to inspire others to rise above their limitations.

Known for connecting authentically with people, Just Isaac's talks are more than motivational—they are transformative. His words encourage audiences to embrace their inner greatness and push beyond their perceived boundaries. Whether speaking to small groups or large audiences, Just Isaac leaves a lasting impression, equipping listeners with the mindset and tools for lasting change.

Just Isaac - Your Breakthrough Specialist Just Isaac is renowned for his powerful and transparent approach to public speaking, empowering audiences to break through personal barriers and discover their true potential. A six-time boxing champion, T... Show more

Elsa Iguedjtal

Elsa Iguedjtal

Tamara Lechner

Tamara Lechner

Tamara Lechner is a distinguished expert in flourishing science and peak performance, specializing in individual and cultural change. As Chair of the AI for Human Flourishing think tank within the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, Tamara leads initiatives that explore how AI can be harnessed to enhance humans’ ability to thrive in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape Committed to placing humans at the heart of AI, she partners with organizations to help them a create work environments where technology and people work in harmony, driving exceptional results.

Tamara Lechner is a distinguished expert in flourishing science and peak performance, specializing in individual and cultural change. As Chair of the AI for Human Flourishing think tank within the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, Tamara leads in... Show more

Matthew Dickson

Matthew Dickson

Matthew Dickson helps people with mental illness in developing countries so they can get access to basic mental health care at MindAid.ca.

Mind Aid is the world's first website with all the organizations working on mental health in developing countries on one site (they are otherwise scattered across the web).

These organizations use models of basic mental health care that are low-cost, proven effective, and scalable.

Some of these organizations have been endorsed by Bill Clinton, Forest Whitaker, Arcade Fire, Ashley Judd, as well as Zak Williams (son of Robin Williams) and Tim Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics.

Matthew has successfully recovered from schizophrenia and has bicycled across Canada twice.

Matthew Dickson helps people with mental illness in developing countries so they can get access to basic mental health care at MindAid.ca. Mind Aid is the world's first website with all the organizations working on mental health in developing coun... Show more

Nishant Aanjaney Jalan

Nishant Aanjaney Jalan

I'm a programming enthusiast pursuing Computer Science at Imperial College London. I started writing code about ten years ago, majorly covering the fields of Android App development and Full Stack Development.

I'm a programming enthusiast pursuing Computer Science at Imperial College London. I started writing code about ten years ago, majorly covering the fields of Android App development and Full Stack Development. Show more

Pavel Fedotov

Pavel Fedotov

Pavel Fedotov is a seasoned Full Stack Blockchain Developer with over 4 years of experience in engineering decentralized applications using a diverse tech stack that includes Rust, Solidity, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, and Next.js. He successfully completed the Filecoin grant related to decentralized identity and secured a RetroPGF grant from the Optimism foundation with 25 ballots for his project, Pin Save.

Pavel holds a BA in Business Studies and Economics from the University of Manchester, where he published a popular academic article on the electric vehicle industry, amassing over 50,000 downloads. Notably, he has received approximately $40 million in delegated ARB tokens during pivotal committee elections on Arbitrum.

An active contributor to the Web3 community, Pavel has presented at significant conferences, including ETH Belgrade 2024 and IPFS Camp 2024. His data science achievements in Web3 include a comprehensive analysis report on Gitcoin Grants data and innovative ideas for Ethereum security data collection.

Pavel Fedotov is a seasoned Full Stack Blockchain Developer with over 4 years of experience in engineering decentralized applications using a diverse tech stack that includes Rust, Solidity, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, and Next.js. He succ... Show more

Guilherme Diaz-Berrio

Guilherme Diaz-Berrio

With over a decade of experience in analytics, Guilherme has a proven track record in transforming data into actionable insights across various industries, including automotive with BMW Group and financial services with BMW Bank. He also led marketing analytics at Kindred Group and authored “Data Analytics for Marketing” by Packt Publishing.

With over a decade of experience in analytics, Guilherme has a proven track record in transforming data into actionable insights across various industries, including automotive with BMW Group and financial services with BMW Bank. He also led marketin... Show more

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