Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Jennifer Abernathy-Felix

Jennifer Abernathy-Felix

Jennifer Abernathy-Felix is a creative problem-solver and curious visionary with broad and diverse professional and personal experiences. With degrees in Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Business Administration, Jennifer’s career is "less ladder, more Swiss Army knife."

Inspired by moving across 3 countries and 6 U.S. states, plus pursuing 3 degrees and over 15 certificates, she brings a global and inquisitive lens to every interaction. In her career, She has led human-centered transformation across industries and design specializations, proving that a design mindset is the ultimate tool to influencing change. In her personal life, she’s spent over a decade working to accept the long-term mental health issues brought on after a traumatizing car accident.

Jennifer’s path has been shaped by a deep commitment to understanding human behavior, organizational dynamics, and the transformative power of psychological safety. She believes that the strongest outcomes are born at the intersection of Design, Business, and People. Her mission is to help build healthy workplace cultures where curiosity leads to breakthrough innovation and execution is built on a foundation of clarity, empathy, and range.

Jennifer Abernathy-Felix is a creative problem-solver and curious visionary with broad and diverse professional and personal experiences. With degrees in Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Business Administration, Jennifer’s career is "less ladd... Show more

Kevin Wilkie

Kevin Wilkie

Kevin has been wrangling data and dodging dirty reads for over 15 years — back when SQL Server 6.5 was considered "modern" and query tuning meant praying to the optimizer gods.

His journey began as an "Accidental DBA" — one misfired report and suddenly he was deep in sys.objects, pretending sp_who2 was an actual plan. Since then, he's played nearly every role in the SQL Server ecosystem: SQL Developer, BI Associate, Production DBA, and now a Data Architect with a mission.

These days, Kevin spends his time normalizing chaos, denormalizing silos, and preaching the gospel of clean, well-modeled data. He’s been known to pivot on the fly, avoid Cartesian relationships, and bring deadlocks back to life — all while gently reminding teams that SELECT * is a cry for help.

If it involves data, Kevin's in — tuning queries, architecting solutions, or just nerding out about why surrogate keys are misunderstood. He’s not just passionate about data — he’s got a clustered index on it.

Kevin has been wrangling data and dodging dirty reads for over 15 years — back when SQL Server 6.5 was considered "modern" and query tuning meant praying to the optimizer gods. His journey began as an "Accidental DBA" — one misfired report and sud... Show more

Kris Freedain

Kris Freedain

Kris Freedain (he/him) is the Senior Community Manager for the OpenSearch Project. He has decades of experience in tech, but finds connecting people to be the most fulfilling part of being a community professional.

Kris Freedain (he/him) is the Senior Community Manager for the OpenSearch Project. He has decades of experience in tech, but finds connecting people to be the most fulfilling part of being a community professional. Show more

Nadjalisse Rodriguez

Nadjalisse Rodriguez

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

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

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

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

She leads the Get Griefy 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

Tajah M. Gross, PhD

Tajah M. Gross, PhD

Dr. Tajah M. Gross is Founder & CEO of Ethilect, an AI governance, risk, and decision intelligence firm helping organizations confront the hidden human risks inside artificial intelligence systems. A recognized voice in responsible AI, escalation architecture, and operational oversight, she is known for translating complex AI risk into practical governance strategies leaders can actually use.

Her expertise spans agentic AI, autonomous decision systems, human oversight design, AI governance, and enterprise risk visibility. Through her signature frameworks, Question Everything and ReasonGate, Dr. Gross challenges organizations to rethink how AI decisions are monitored, escalated, interrupted, and trusted at scale.

Blending executive strategy with real-world implementation, she helps institutions design AI systems that remain observable, accountable, and human-centered under pressure—not just efficient. Dr. Gross has delivered high-impact sessions for nationally recognized venues including North Carolina A&T State University and DLAC Ignite.

Dr. Tajah M. Gross is Founder & CEO of Ethilect, an AI governance, risk, and decision intelligence firm helping organizations confront the hidden human risks inside artificial intelligence systems. A recognized voice in responsible AI, escalation arc... Show more

Arthit Suriyawongkul

Arthit Suriyawongkul

I’m a Research Ireland funded PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin researching AI accountability standards and semantic web technology. An SPDX core contributor, I co-lead its AI working group, review specification, and maintain the NTIA Conformance Checker, spdx-python-model, and SPDX online tools.

I also created Pitloom, an AI SBOM generator creating SPDX 3 SBOM from Python projects and various AI model formats. Alongside my regulatory technology research, I volunteer with the Thai Netizen Network, a Bangkok-based digital rights group.

I’m a Research Ireland funded PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin researching AI accountability standards and semantic web technology. An SPDX core contributor, I co-lead its AI working group, review specification, and maintain the NTIA Conforman... Show more

Simon Keller

Simon Keller

Fort de mon expérience en accompagnement de projets et d’équipes, j’ai décidé de m’engager dans le coaching et la formation, métiers tournés vers l’individu, le collectif, et le vivre ensemble.

J’agis pour une vie plus simple, plus humaine, plus respectueuse. Je suis profondément convaincu par le potentiel de chacun et que nous avons tous en nous la force de réaliser nos projets.

Fort de mon expérience en accompagnement de projets et d’équipes, j’ai décidé de m’engager dans le coaching et la formation, métiers tournés vers l’individu, le collectif, et le vivre ensemble. J’agis pour une vie plus simple, plus humaine, plus r... Show more

Jimmy Sjølander

Jimmy Sjølander

Jimmy Sjølander is the Founder & CEO of Ahead XR, a Norwegian company pioneering the future of Active Gaming through immersive XR technology. With a background in UX design and extended reality development, he has built innovative experiences that combine physical movement, gaming, and social interaction.

Jimmy is the driving force behind Ahead XR Arena, a concept designed to transform traditional gaming into engaging, physical, and inclusive experiences. His work focuses on lowering the barrier to activity for young people while creating new opportunities for learning, health, and community building through technology.

He has presented Ahead XR on major stages, including Digithon 2025, where he showcased the vision for the next generation of gaming. As a finalist at Digithon and a nominee for the VRINN Awards, Jimmy is recognized as an emerging voice in the intersection of gaming, health, and immersive technology.

Through his talks, Jimmy challenges the traditional e-sports model and inspires audiences to rethink how gaming can create movement, connection, and real-world impact.

Jimmy Sjølander is the Founder & CEO of Ahead XR, a Norwegian company pioneering the future of Active Gaming through immersive XR technology. With a background in UX design and extended reality development, he has built innovative experiences that co... Show more

Albane Veyron

Albane Veyron

Ancienne astrophysicienne aujourd’hui coach d'organisation, experte en engagement et coach professionnelle depuis plus de 8 ans. J’interviens auprès des entreprises pour les aider à se transformer et à renforcer l’engagement, tout en accompagnant individuellement dirigeant·es et particuliers dans leurs objectifs personnels et professionnels. TEDx speaker, je crée des conférences interactives en mobilisant les sciences humaines, une approche systémique et des expériences concrètes d’accompagnement en entreprise.
Mon objectif : faire bouger les lignes sur des sujets qui impactent profondément notre quotidien.

Ancienne astrophysicienne aujourd’hui coach d'organisation, experte en engagement et coach professionnelle depuis plus de 8 ans. J’interviens auprès des entreprises pour les aider à se transformer et à renforcer l’engagement, tout en accompagnant ind... Show more

Tim Rayburn

Tim Rayburn

Tim Rayburn is a Vice President of Consulting with Improving Enterprises, a software and project management consulting company in Dallas, TX. He is a passionate advocate of apprenticeship and mentorship in corporate environments. He has been awarded the Microsoft MVP in recognition of his expertise and community leadership 11 times. He is also a conference organizer, an author, and can be found speaking across the nation on agile processes, software design, and career management. He lives in the North Dallas area with his amazing wife Kate and their loyal dogs Dresden and Radagast.

Tim Rayburn is a Vice President of Consulting with Improving Enterprises, a software and project management consulting company in Dallas, TX. He is a passionate advocate of apprenticeship and mentorship in corporate environments. He has been awarded ... Show more

Thomas Chopin

Thomas Chopin

J’aide les équipes et les organisations, en France et particulièrement dans la région nantaise, à adopter l’agilité. Spécialisé dans l’accompagnement des dirigeants et des managers, je les aide à naviguer dans la complexité, à renforcer leur leadership et à structurer leur gouvernance en s’appuyant sur des outils agiles concrets et une prise de décision éclairée.
Je place l’humain au cœur des transformations, convaincu que l’amélioration continue est une opportunité pour chacun. J’encourage un apprentissage permanent et le développement de l’esprit critique, indispensables pour naviguer dans un monde en constante évolution. Mon rôle est d’ouvrir des perspectives, de challenger les certitudes et de créer des environnements propices à l’expérimentation et à l’adaptabilité.

J’aide les équipes et les organisations, en France et particulièrement dans la région nantaise, à adopter l’agilité. Spécialisé dans l’accompagnement des dirigeants et des managers, je les aide à naviguer dans la complexité, à renforcer leur leadersh... Show more

Joanne Gouaillier

Joanne Gouaillier

Je suis tombée dans l'agilité il y a déjà pas mal d'années, sans en connaître le nom. Ce mindset, ainsi que ses valeurs et principes, sont pour moi cruciaux pour toute organisation, toute démarche, tout projet. Non pas que les méthodes liées à l'agilité soient toujours les + adaptées, mais ce mindset fondé sur l'humain, l'écoute, la co-construction, l'adaptation et la création de valeur est transposable à toutes les échelles. Je suis aujourd'hui coach pour les équipes agiles, et j'accompagne aussi l'individu et les organisations à se transformer.

Je suis tombée dans l'agilité il y a déjà pas mal d'années, sans en connaître le nom. Ce mindset, ainsi que ses valeurs et principes, sont pour moi cruciaux pour toute organisation, toute démarche, tout projet. Non pas que les méthodes liées à l'agil... Show more

Neha Lagoo Ratnakar

Neha Lagoo Ratnakar

Neha Lagoo Ratnakar is a tiny speaker with a big name and an even bigger message. Her talks are part wakeup call and part kick in the behind.

Neha’s bestselling book, Back on Your Feet (Goodreads 4.5, Amazon 4.7) has helped hundreds of women start their career comeback journey and she’s spent hours directly coaching them.

But throughout her career spanning 8 countries, and her work as the Head of Education at a non-profit in Europe, she was shocked to hear that it was difficult for leaders to bridge the gender numbers despite their best intentions.

So Neha made it her mission to help organisations bridge this gap and support women on their journey.

What she has to say may offend you, could provoke you, but will definitely make you think. If you’re looking for a keynote speaker who can talk from authentic global experiences infused with actionable insights, then Neha is your choice.

Neha Lagoo Ratnakar is a tiny speaker with a big name and an even bigger message. Her talks are part wakeup call and part kick in the behind. Neha’s bestselling book, Back on Your Feet (Goodreads 4.5, Amazon 4.7) has helped hundreds of women star... Show more

Barbara Slopko Bekavac

Barbara Slopko Bekavac

I'm a UX researcher and designer specializing in e-commerce optimization and neuroscience-driven user experience. As the founder of Intuera, I combine UX, CRO, and behavioral science to uncover how people actually think, decide, and trust online.
My work explores how design decisions shape user behavior, influence purchase confidence, and reduce friction across the customer journey. By optimizing cognitive load, clarity, and interaction patterns, I help brands increase conversions while building long-term trust.

I'm a UX researcher and designer specializing in e-commerce optimization and neuroscience-driven user experience. As the founder of Intuera, I combine UX, CRO, and behavioral science to uncover how people actually think, decide, and trust online. M... Show more

Arjun Sharda

Arjun Sharda

Arjun Sharda is the 15-year-old Executive Director of TLEEM (Arabic: تعليم), Texas's largest K-12 networking nonprofit with over 4,000 K-12 and college student members from 11 countries through 37 clubs. Aside from TLEEM, he's been programming for over seven years and has written for outlets such as the Washington Post and the Austin-American Statesman. He has received recognition from Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas State Board of Education.

Arjun Sharda is the 15-year-old Executive Director of TLEEM (Arabic: تعليم), Texas's largest K-12 networking nonprofit with over 4,000 K-12 and college student members from 11 countries through 37 clubs. Aside from TLEEM, he's been programming for ov... Show more

Jason Wodicka

Jason Wodicka

Jason has spent almost twenty years in the tech industry. In that time, they've been a teacher, a test engineer, a development manager, a software engineer, and performed one ill-advised attempt at program management. Today they're working in engineering advocacy, helping people find new ways to think about our industry. They live with their husband in the drizzly paradise of Seattle. Ask them about board games, community-building, puzzle design, queer theory, or anything you're deeply excited by.

Jason has spent almost twenty years in the tech industry. In that time, they've been a teacher, a test engineer, a development manager, a software engineer, and performed one ill-advised attempt at program management. Today they're working in enginee... Show more

LaShawnda Rodgers

LaShawnda Rodgers

LaShawnda Rodgers, MBA, PMP, CSM, is a global speaker, workplace transformation strategist, technology leader, entrepreneur mentor, and founder of Rodgers Global Leadership Consortium. With over 20 years of experience across technology, project management, operations, leadership development, organizational strategy, workforce development, and innovation, she helps organizations and professionals prepare for the future of work with clarity, confidence, and practical execution.

LaShawnda’s work sits at the intersection of technology, people, leadership, operations, and transformation. She equips organizations to navigate AI adoption, cybersecurity awareness, digital skills development, workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, and business growth. Her approach bridges the technical and human sides of change, helping leaders understand not only what technology can do, but how people, processes, and culture must evolve to use it responsibly and effectively. She is passionate about helping businesses understand the human side of technology including how AI, automation, cybersecurity, and digital transformation impact employees, leaders, customers, and long-term business success.

As the founder of Rodgers Global Leadership Consortium, LaShawnda provides consulting, workshops, leadership programs, technical training, and strategic advisory services that support organizational growth, employee development, customer experience, and workforce readiness. Her experience includes leading global initiatives, supporting technical teams, managing complex projects, improving business processes, and helping organizations align strategy with execution.

LaShawnda is also deeply committed to expanding access and opportunity in technology and entrepreneurship. She mentors women pursuing careers in tech, serves on IT and technology advisory boards for institutions such as Wake Tech Community College and Durham Tech Community College, and advises entrepreneurs and small business owners through platforms and ecosystems including Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Her work helps professionals identify their value, build confidence, strengthen their career strategy, and position themselves for success in emerging industries.

A recognized speaker and thought leader, LaShawnda brings a unique blend of technical insight, leadership wisdom, operational strategy, creativity, and people-centered transformation. Whether speaking to executives, entrepreneurs, students, cyber professionals, workforce leaders, or emerging tech talent, she delivers practical, engaging, and empowering sessions that help audiences take action.

Her speaking topics include AI transformation, cybersecurity awareness, leadership in the digital age, workforce readiness, organizational growth, entrepreneurship, personal branding, career advancement, emotional intelligence, innovation, and future-ready workplace strategy.

LaShawnda Rodgers, MBA, PMP, CSM, is a global speaker, workplace transformation strategist, technology leader, entrepreneur mentor, and founder of Rodgers Global Leadership Consortium. With over 20 years of experience across technology, project manag... Show more

Nimish Sharma

Nimish Sharma

Results - driven Cybersecurity Engineer with diverse experience across Healthcare, Banking, Public, and Telecom sectors, cross-functional project guidance and stakeholder support, security architecture strategy, application/ agentic AI security, predictive analytics, and enterprise risk management. Adept at designing and implementing scalable solutions, driving automation, and delivering quantifiable value and innovation.

Results - driven Cybersecurity Engineer with diverse experience across Healthcare, Banking, Public, and Telecom sectors, cross-functional project guidance and stakeholder support, security architecture strategy, application/ agentic AI security, pred... Show more

Phil Ledgerwood

Phil Ledgerwood

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packaging, and served as a linguist in the Air Force. He taught himself HTML when the Netscape browser was still a thing, and the rest is history.

Phil is a twenty-year veteran of the software development industry in the Kansas City area. If you’re in the Kansas City area, he is two degrees of separation away from any programmer you know and has probably worked for, at, or with your company.

When the agile movement hit town, Phil knew a good thing when he saw it and became an early adopter of first wave agile practices. He has used these practices to ideate, build, and complete software projects ranging from loan forecasting to routing irrigation trucks to managing pharmacies to predictive lead generation to selling teddy bears. When people ask what vertical his company serves, he says, “Yours.”

Phil has incorporated Lean methodologies into software development just like his father used to do in manufacturing. When he partnered with Travis Dietz to start Integrity Inspired Solutions in 2012, they laid the foundation in Lean to make the custom software development enterprise more humane, predictable, and focused on the success of everyone involved.

A regular speaker at developer, Lean, and Agile conferences, Phil has a passion for taking his company’s ways to other companies whether they create software or not. He loves to see them transform from a collection of interactions riddled with disappointments and broken promises to team-oriented relational companies enjoying newfound trust, joy, efficiency, and success. Several companies from all over the world in all different industries contract Phil to help coach them through their own journeys. He also hosts the successful "Agile Bites" podcast.

When he’s not helping project managers learn predictive metrics or helping developers write customer-focused features, he’s enjoying a wide array of highly geeky hobbies including fantasy and sci-fi novels, gaming, and teaching Filipino stick fighting. His main hobby is making the world a better place for everyone who has to share the planet with him, and the engine for that is love.

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packagi... Show more

Enid-Mai Jones

Enid-Mai Jones

Enid-Mai Jones does not talk about transformation in the abstract. She has lived it — in boardrooms, budget cycles, and staff meetings where real organizational change happens.
As the founder and CEO of EMJ Consulting LLC and its AI consulting division, InsightfulAI Strategies, Enid-Mai equips association and nonprofit leaders to build learning portfolios that drive revenue, adopt artificial intelligence with intention and ethics, and lead with the kind of clarity that moves organizations forward when the stakes are high.

Her proof is specific. At LifeSpan Network, Maryland's premier senior care association, she scaled educational programming from 35 to more than 100 annual events, grew conference attendance by 106 percent, and increased non-dues revenue by 160 percent — from $350,000 to $1.5 million. She has managed budgets up to $3 million, led teams across 17 state chapters, and built certification programs with a 90 percent first-year pass rate.

Enid-Mai holds dual master's degrees from the University of Kansas and credentials including the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Certified Association AI Professional (AAiP), and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE). She is an ASAE DELP alumna and has spoken at United Way Worldwide, the National Leadership Alliance, and the American Society of Association Executives.

Her sessions are built to move people — not just inform them. Attendees leave with a framework they can use the next morning.

Enid-Mai Jones does not talk about transformation in the abstract. She has lived it — in boardrooms, budget cycles, and staff meetings where real organizational change happens. As the founder and CEO of EMJ Consulting LLC and its AI consulting divis... Show more

Kim B Miller

Kim B Miller

Kim B Miller is a TEDx speaker, Poet Laureate Emerita, and former corporate executive redefining leadership through bold storytelling, spoken word, and real-world experience.

She challenges audiences to rethink accountability, recognition, and workplace culture while drawing on her extensive experience in parenting and family facilitation to provide insights into communication, coaching, and guiding individuals through complex challenges.

Kim delivered keynotes at the Women’s Leadership Summit at Rochester Institute of Technology, the S.E.A.L. Awards at Northern Virginia Community College, and the YMS B.O.L.D. Moves™ Conference 2026. She has also performed internationally in Paris, France, and on stages such as The Atlas Performing Arts Center (DC) and La Peña Cultural Center (CA).

A dynamic facilitator, Kim leads interactive workshops on leadership, communication, storytelling, culture, and personal growth equipping audiences with practical strategies and unforgettable experiences that drive lasting impact.

Kim B Miller is a TEDx speaker, Poet Laureate Emerita, and former corporate executive redefining leadership through bold storytelling, spoken word, and real-world experience. She challenges audiences to rethink accountability, recognition, and wor... Show more

Caroline Benefield

Caroline Benefield

Caroline Benefield Weeks is a wife, stepmom, avid collector of hobbies, and freelance digital marketing consultant living in Atlanta. After a long career in nonprofit and higher education communications, Caroline pivoted to a career as a romance author before opening her boutique marketing agency, Southern Grit Digital. When she's not nerding out over audience segmentation and storytelling, she can be found hiking and trail running across the Southeast, learning ever more fiber arts, and planning her next national park visit.

Caroline Benefield Weeks is a wife, stepmom, avid collector of hobbies, and freelance digital marketing consultant living in Atlanta. After a long career in nonprofit and higher education communications, Caroline pivoted to a career as a romance auth... Show more

Tina Mirro

Tina Mirro

Tina Mirro is a seasoned Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform expert with deep experience designing, architecting, and delivering enterprise CRM solutions. A Microsoft‑certified Solution Architect and Data Analyst, she has built her career around transforming complex business challenges into scalable, human‑centered digital systems. Her work spans consulting, solution strategy, and hands‑on platform innovation, including contributions to community‑driven tools that expand Dynamics 365 capabilities.

A long‑time advocate for women in technology and a proud member of the Microsoft Federal Government ecosystem, Tina brings a blend of technical mastery, empathy, and real‑world implementation insight to every stage of digital transformation. Her background includes leadership in anti‑trafficking advocacy and accessibility‑focused volunteer work, reflecting her commitment to technology that empowers people.

Recognized for her passion, clarity, and ability to demystify complex systems, Tina is a dynamic speaker who inspires audiences to embrace modern business applications, rethink customer engagement, and unlock the full potential of the Power Platform.

Tina Mirro is a seasoned Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform expert with deep experience designing, architecting, and delivering enterprise CRM solutions. A Microsoft‑certified Solution Architect and Data Analyst, she has built her career aroun... Show more

Brian Madden

Brian Madden

Brian Madden is a renowned workplace AI strategist, future of work expert, and dynamic speaker with over 30 years of experience in digital transformation. As a Technology Officer and Futurist at Citrix, he's at the forefront of helping organizations navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in the workplace.

Expertise & Current Focus
• Workplace AI strategy and implementation
• Future of work and digital workplace transformation
• AI's impact on employee productivity and HR practices
• Ethical considerations of AI in the workplace
• Bridging the gap between technology and human resources

Career Highlights
• Currently a VP, Technology Officer & Futurist, Citrix
• Creator of the Workplace AI Strategy Guide project, a comprehensive, continuously-updated resource for organizations adapting to AI
• Author of 6 books and over 2,000 articles on technology and workplace transformation
• Founder of BriForum, the largest vendor-neutral End-User Computing conference (2005-2016)
• Former Distinguished Technologist at VMware, focusing on the Future of Work
• Creator and leader of multiple influential tech community programs (Citrix CTP, VMware EUC vExperts)

Speaking and Thought Leadership
• Delivered 1000+ talks worldwide on technology's impact on work and productivity
• Ranked #1 speaker at major tech conferences multiple times
• Regular contributor to discussions on AI ethics, productivity, and workplace dynamics
• Passionate about democratizing knowledge and fostering inclusive tech communities

Brian's unique blend of technical expertise, strategic insight, and engaging presentation style makes him an ideal speaker for conferences exploring the intersection of AI, HR, and the future of work. He excels at breaking down complex technological concepts in humorous and relatable ways for diverse audiences, from C-suite executives to HR professionals and IT teams.

Brian Madden is a renowned workplace AI strategist, future of work expert, and dynamic speaker with over 30 years of experience in digital transformation. As a Technology Officer and Futurist at Citrix, he's at the forefront of helping organizations ... Show more

Dor Amram

Dor Amram

Dor Amram is a Technical Leader with over a decade of experience in software engineering, delivering high-quality and scalable systems. He has expertise in several programming languages and is adept at mentoring junior developers. Dor is passionate about staying current with the latest industry technologies and loves spending time finding simple solutions to complex problems.

Dor Amram is a Technical Leader with over a decade of experience in software engineering, delivering high-quality and scalable systems. He has expertise in several programming languages and is adept at mentoring junior developers. Dor is passionate a... Show more

Martin Merino Eiró

Martin Merino Eiró

Martín Merino is a partner at BeUpFlow, a team of consultants who develop senior talent to help companies transform and boost their growth. As an Agile Professional, he develops interdisciplinary transformation projects promoting intrapreneurship and applying Agile methodologies. He is a trainer, mentor, coach and content creator.

Author of the book "Lean Blitz: Mejora tu proceso de negocio radicalmente" (https://amzn.eu/d/aFwId7R)

With a degree in Physical Sciences, he has studied Business Innovation Management and Management and specialized in various agile methodologies such as Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Scrum, Kanban, etc. He has been trained as an Agile Coach by the Telefónica Agile Academy and is certified as a Scrum Master Professional, Lean Change agent, Team Kanban Practitioner or SAFe agilist, among others.

With more than 9 years of experience as a strategic and transformation consultant in companies in the telco sector, he has worked on innovation and efficiency projects in operations and network areas, putting models such as Lean Management and Agile into practice.

He is a collaborating professor in the University Expert Program in agile methodologies at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR) in Spain and is part of its mentoring program for university students.

In accordance with his commitment to sustainability and rural and natural development, he lives in a small town far from Madrid surrounded by mountains, forests and enjoying his animals.

Martín Merino is a partner at BeUpFlow, a team of consultants who develop senior talent to help companies transform and boost their growth. As an Agile Professional, he develops interdisciplinary transformation projects promoting intrapreneurship and... Show more

Crux Conception, M. Psych

Crux Conception, M. Psych

CRUX IS AN EXPERT ANALYST ON CBS, THE REAL CSI: MIAMI.
Click The Link To See Crux in The Real CSI: MIAMI

https://youtu.be/UsVswWyyFZg?si=L9lca4H98xypbGRz&t=49

Crux resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has over 20 years of law enforcement experience (Now retired), criminal profiling, and teaching experience (adjunct professor). Crux has now taken his years of experience, education research, and training; to incorporate novel methods of teaching/learning. Crux has utilized his background in Psychology, Team Building, and Behavioral Profiling to implement said methods to take out the law-enforcement aspect and make these skills people/civilian practical.

#Cybersecurity, #CriminalProfile, #Ninja, #Keynote, #Speaker, #TeamBuilding #TeamDynamics #TechPsychology, #Security, #DevopSec
Law Enforcement experience:

•Homicide Detective
•Criminal Profiler
•Gang Unit Specialist Detective
•Hostage Negotiator
•Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer
•School Resources Officer (SRO)
•Five years as a Special Agent with the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND (DHS)

Now retired, Crux worked as a Homicide Detective, Criminal Profiler, and Hostage Negotiator with the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Police Dept.

Teaching experience:
Currently, Crux is an Adjunct Professor:

•Psychology
•Business Psychology
•Social Media Psychology
•Criminal Profiling
•Criminal Behavior
•Computer Psychology
•Sociology (Group Dynamics)

Education:

•Bachelor of Science degree; Criminology (Ball State University, 1994).

•Master’s degree; Forensic Psychology (Walden University, 2012).

•Currently, a Ph.D. Candidate (Forensic Psychology) at Walden University

CRUX IS AN EXPERT ANALYST ON CBS, THE REAL CSI: MIAMI. Click The Link To See Crux in The Real CSI: MIAMI https://youtu.be/UsVswWyyFZg?si=L9lca4H98xypbGRz&t=49 Crux resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has over 20 years of law enforcement experi... Show more

Rob Litjens

Rob Litjens

I am a DBA since 1997 and have worked with SQL6, 6,5 and upwards. My interest are merely platform based, but also interested in performance and monitoring. With the requirements changing I am working in DevSEcOps for SQL for my employer. Security is getting more focus. That means I am trying to setup builds that are secure by designed and securely designed. Tools help with that.

I am a DBA since 1997 and have worked with SQL6, 6,5 and upwards. My interest are merely platform based, but also interested in performance and monitoring. With the requirements changing I am working in DevSEcOps for SQL for my employer. Security is ... Show more

Amanda Lentz

Amanda Lentz

Amanda Lentz is a speaker, podcast host, and Human Resources Business Partner whose work explores identity, change, and the human experience at work. Drawing from lived experience and a foundation in organizational psychology, she helps audiences navigate the moments when life or career disrupts the story they thought they were living.

She is the creator and host of Who We Become — Life Beyond Change, a podcast featuring honest conversations about reinvention and the in‑between spaces of transformation. Her graduate training in I/O Psychology, Leadership Development, and Business Administration shapes her practical, human‑centered approach to growth, resilience, and leadership.

Amanda speaks across industries — from healthcare and HR to women’s leadership, technology, and organizational development — offering language and frameworks for navigating uncertainty, rebuilding identity, and leading with humanity. Her signature talks help audiences name experiences they’ve been living but haven’t yet articulated.

Change is inevitable. Becoming is intentional.

Amanda Lentz is a speaker, podcast host, and Human Resources Business Partner whose work explores identity, change, and the human experience at work. Drawing from lived experience and a foundation in organizational psychology, she helps audiences nav... Show more

Nyah Macklin

Nyah Macklin

Nyah Macklin is a seasoned researcher and speaker on topics around AI, ML, Ethics, Governance, and Responsibility. Nyah serves as a Senior Developer Advocate for Artificial Intelligence at Neo4j, specializing in context engineering, knowledge graphs, and AI-driven developer tooling where Nyah has built high-impact technical communities and led initiatives that advance a critical understanding of AI and its use cases. They are also the Founder & CTO of Afros in AI, a technical community dedicated to showcasing the multifaceted nature of artificial intelligence. Beyond Nyah's technical expertise, Nyah has a background in government leadership and technology policy, having served as Chief of Staff in the U.S. state government, where they helped shape tech-driven legislative initiatives and equity-driven legislation. When not immersed in their work, Nyah cares about empowering, teaching, and tutoring engineers, live-streaming technical deep dives, and building open-source tools that make software more accessible, explainable, and community-driven.

Nyah Macklin is a seasoned researcher and speaker on topics around AI, ML, Ethics, Governance, and Responsibility. Nyah serves as a Senior Developer Advocate for Artificial Intelligence at Neo4j, specializing in context engineering, knowledge graphs,... Show more

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