Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Kristyna Ferris

Kristyna Ferris

Kristyna Ferris is a solution architect at P3 Adaptive. Her experience includes implementing and managing enterprise-level Power BI instance, training teams on reporting best practices, and building templates for scalable analytics. Passionate about participating and growing the data community, she enjoys co-writing on Data on Wheels (dataonwheels.com) and speaking at various events. She also a co-organizer for Lexington Data Technology Group.

Kristyna Ferris is a solution architect at P3 Adaptive. Her experience includes implementing and managing enterprise-level Power BI instance, training teams on reporting best practices, and building templates for scalable analytics. Passionate about ... Show more

Joshua Fernandes

Joshua Fernandes

Joshua Fernandes is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Axelerant, a Diamond-certified Drupal partner, and a doctoral researcher in human-centred AI governance at IIM Sambalpur. Through Axelerant he works embedded with Salsa Digital on Australian government platforms, including GovCMS and the Victorian Government's Single Digital Presence, and is part of the teams behind CivicTheme, the award-winning open-source design system, and Drupal AI Context.

He has contributed to Drupal since 2015, maintains more than 16 community projects, and works across AI agents, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, offline AI systems and AWS. His research asks how AI systems that make decisions about people can be empathetic, trustworthy and accountable, and he builds the open-source ai_empathy module to put that research into practice.

Joshua has spoken at DrupalCamp Atlanta, DrupalCamp NYC and Drupal GovCon. He mentors new contributors through Discover Drupal, and teaches Drupal and AI to students and teachers in Goa, where he founded Smart Educational Technologies in 2013.

Joshua Fernandes is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Axelerant, a Diamond-certified Drupal partner, and a doctoral researcher in human-centred AI governance at IIM Sambalpur. Through Axelerant he works embedded with Salsa Digital on Australian governme... Show more

Stefan Koehler

Stefan Koehler

Stefan’s work has touched fields that at first sight have little in common: music, large-scale open-source migrations, enterprise architecture, fine cuisine, organizational development, and AI. On closer inspection, they share recurring questions about structure, interaction, complexity, adaptation, and how individual parts form a functioning whole.
Across these contexts, his focus is less on individual technologies than on the relationships between components, people, processes, and institutions. His approach is shaped by systems thinking and Kanban: making work and dependencies visible, reducing unnecessary complexity, and enabling deliberate change. He is interested in how complex systems can remain understandable, maintainable, observable, and adaptable and how technical architecture can support autonomy without losing sight of organizational reality.
He has contributed to initiatives including LiMux and the architectural groundwork for what later became openDesk. His technical work spans AI system architecture, corrective RAG, hybrid retrieval and reranking, observability and provenance, security, reproducible infrastructure, Infrastructure as Code, and deployment across environments from personal computers to data centers and cloud infrastructure. Today he brings these strands together in praivate, a privacy-focused AI platform built around free software, modularity, high engineering standards, reproducibility, and operational control.
Previous speaking engagements include LinuxCon Europe, FOSSASIA, SFSCon, CeBIT, and AI Tech Summit Belgrade, Big Data Week Bucharest and Kiss the Future Sarajevo. Forthcoming appearances include DSC Europe 26, DeAI Summit Malta, and Commons AI Paris.

Stefan’s work has touched fields that at first sight have little in common: music, large-scale open-source migrations, enterprise architecture, fine cuisine, organizational development, and AI. On closer inspection, they share recurring questions abo... Show more

Chris Hetzler

Chris Hetzler

Hello! I'm a Solution Architect at Eide Bailly Advisory LLC, a top-notch business advisory firm, and a proud Featured Fabric Partner. I love working with clients and teams to craft and deliver innovative solutions to business challenges using Microsoft technologies and platforms.

With over 20 years of experience in software engineering, I hold master's degrees in both software engineering and data science. I'm also certified in over 25 industry areas, including Microsoft Solution Architect certifications for AI, Azure, Power Platform, and Dynamics.

My expertise spans across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Development frameworks, tools, and DevOps, as well as major open-source development platforms. I specialize in designing and implementing no-code, low-code, and custom solutions, and I thrive on leading and collaborating with both on-shore and off-shore development teams to drive innovation and deliver customer value.

I'm known for my exceptional communication skills, which allow me to connect with both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels. I've had the pleasure of presenting at several industry conferences, including the FabCon, Microsoft Ready, Microsoft Convergence, and StarWest / East.

In my spare time, I enjoy indulging in my interests in U.S.A. Swimming, space exploration, science, engineering, and Lego. I'm passionate about creating software that solves real problems and makes a positive impact.

Hello! I'm a Solution Architect at Eide Bailly Advisory LLC, a top-notch business advisory firm, and a proud Featured Fabric Partner. I love working with clients and teams to craft and deliver innovative solutions to business challenges using Microso... Show more

Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson is the author of I Think, Therefore I Know: Scientific Thinking for Unscientific Organizations, co-host of The Agile for Agilists podcast, and organizer of Agile Detroit. His career has taken him from assembly lines in West Michigan to Fortune 500 technology companies on the West Coast. His writing and speaking offer practical lessons on building organizations that learn, adapt, and create value. He is based in Metro Detroit.

Brad Nelson is the author of I Think, Therefore I Know: Scientific Thinking for Unscientific Organizations, co-host of The Agile for Agilists podcast, and organizer of Agile Detroit. His career has taken him from assembly lines in West Michigan to Fo... Show more

Caroline Nicole Letaru

Caroline Nicole Letaru

**Caroline Nicole Letaru** is a Career Coach, Talent Strategist, and Founder of Kazini Consults, with **7 years of experience** helping professionals navigate career growth, employability, and international opportunities. Her work focuses on helping African professionals build future-ready careers through strategic career planning, skills development, and practical positioning in an evolving world of work.

Nicole has led technical recruitment for global institutions, including the United Nations and UNHCR, and has coached over 500 professionals across technical and non-technical fields, including software engineering, UX design, PowerShell, and AI. She brings a talent-market perspective to conversations about how people develop relevant skills, navigate changing industry expectations, and translate their capabilities into meaningful opportunities.

Her international speaking experience includes the International AIDS Society Conference in Germany, the Going Global Conference in the United Kingdom, and the SCORE Conference in Tanzania. She also received the Best Essay Award at the South American Business Forum in Argentina for her contribution to conversations on youth, development, and innovation.

Through Kazini Consults, Nicole champions practical, people-centred approaches to career development and the future of work, helping African talent navigate change, recognise emerging opportunities, and build sustainable professional pathways.

**Caroline Nicole Letaru** is a Career Coach, Talent Strategist, and Founder of Kazini Consults, with **7 years of experience** helping professionals navigate career growth, employability, and international opportunities. Her work focuses on helping ... Show more

Els van Vessem

Els van Vessem

Els van Vessem (they/them) works as a Data Engineer and Scrum Master for the House of Representatives in the Netherlands, after some years working as general data specialist and project lead for several healthcare organizations. They focus on topics of diversity, non-data skills needed for data jobs, compassion and mental health. Outside of work they hang out on bluesky (@geekingthething.bsky.social), help events with their code of conduct and harassment/abuse policies, read too many books, and watches political debates for fun.

Els van Vessem (they/them) works as a Data Engineer and Scrum Master for the House of Representatives in the Netherlands, after some years working as general data specialist and project lead for several healthcare organizations. They focus on topics ... Show more

Divya Akula

Divya Akula

Hosting 16+ years with AI, Copilot,Azure, SharePoint & M365 technologies.

Hosting 16+ years with AI, Copilot,Azure, SharePoint & M365 technologies. Show more

Dennis Nerush

Dennis Nerush

Dennis Nerush is the VP of AI at Elementor, where he leads the company's AI strategy and guides teams through the integration of GenAI technologies that enhance productivity while preserving human creativity and accountability.

With over 15 years of experience as a developer, manager, director, and adviser across multiple tech companies and startups, Dennis has dedicated his career to building people-first cultures rooted in continuous learning, curiosity, and growth. He believes that when individuals thrive, teams and businesses flourish, a philosophy that has guided him in founding dozens of teams and mentoring over 100 managers.

Dennis is a seasoned public speaker and writer who shares his insights on AI integration, leadership, and team performance at international conferences. He's passionate about helping leaders develop the skills and confidence to excel in a world where human leadership and AI collaboration go hand in hand.

In his free time, Dennis loves cooking and spending time with his kids. His main goal is to help people reach the next level.

Dennis Nerush is the VP of AI at Elementor, where he leads the company's AI strategy and guides teams through the integration of GenAI technologies that enhance productivity while preserving human creativity and accountability. With over 15 years ... Show more

Suzana Melo

Suzana Melo

Suzana Melo is a full-stack engineer and AWS Community Builder who moved into tech in her 40s, after 20+ years in journalism and media leadership in Brazil. She founded The Mentor Gap (thementorgap.org), a free initiative that creates resources for people growing without a mentor, and for new mentors getting started. She also founded the AWS Women’s User Group Sweden, co-organizes the AWS User Groups Skåne and Manaus and AWS Community Day Baltic, and mentors career changers and women in tech through Women Innovating in Cloud Africa (WIICA) and Escola da Nuvem. Her talks, workshops, and mentoring reach tech communities across Europe, West Asia, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, in English and Portuguese. Suzana spoke at AWS re:Invent 2024, is studying for a postgraduate specialization in AI and Machine Learning at PUC Minas, and writes about cloud, AWS, and AI for developers and career changers at suzanamelo.com.

Suzana Melo is a full-stack engineer and AWS Community Builder who moved into tech in her 40s, after 20+ years in journalism and media leadership in Brazil. She founded The Mentor Gap (thementorgap.org), a free initiative that creates resources for p... Show more

Ville Gullstrand

Ville Gullstrand

I inspire people to embrace the potential of today!

This is what it means to me, broken down word by word.

Inspire - This is the method I trust and believe in. By inspire first (the why), I'm confident people will find instructions after (the how).
People - I don't work with organizations. I work with people! We should listen to hear, not to be able to respond.
To embrace - For you to be fully motivated, I want you to drive your practice from within. For your own reasons. That's why it's important that you embrace.
The potential - This could be so many things! Productive ways of work, applications, methods and much more. I want you to reach your highest potential and be the best you.
Of today - Whatever potential is available, I want you to be inspired to embrace it. In an evergreen world, everything constantly changes. This keeps me on my toes and keeps you informed on the latest and greatest.

Blog: https://villezekeviking.com

I inspire people to embrace the potential of today! This is what it means to me, broken down word by word. Inspire - This is the method I trust and believe in. By inspire first (the why), I'm confident people will find instructions after (the h... Show more

Valarie Regas

Valarie Regas

Valarie Regas is a DevOps fanatic, a Georgia Tech coding bootcamp graduate, and a veteran mommy. She holds a BA in Psychology and currently works in Computer Science education. After years being a stay-at-home mom, she decided to change her life by entering tech, and has learned a lot along the way. Outside of work, she enjoys mixed martial arts fighting, table-top role playing games, public speaking, creating tiny humans, and activism of all sorts.

Valarie Regas is a DevOps fanatic, a Georgia Tech coding bootcamp graduate, and a veteran mommy. She holds a BA in Psychology and currently works in Computer Science education. After years being a stay-at-home mom, she decided to change her life by e... Show more

Amanda Chestnut

Amanda Chestnut

Amanda Chestnut, JD, founded Money Mastery LLC to help small-business owners understand how their books, taxes, and decisions fit together. Based in southeastern North Carolina, she helps owners uncover problems, anticipate tax consequences, and make informed choices while there is still time to act. She understands that behind those decisions are families, livelihoods, and people carrying more responsibility than others often see.

An Accredited Business Accountant through the National Society of Accountants and an elite-level Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Amanda brings more than 20 years of experience. Her bachelor’s degree in social psychology informs her approach: useful advice starts with understanding the person who needs to use it.

Amanda is rethinking how an accounting firm operates, using her own practice as a testing ground for AI. She is building systems that take on reviews, track documents, and support communication, while questioning which processes and software still earn their place. She generously shares what she learns with fellow accountants. Her purpose is to create space for the work that requires human attention: sound judgment, difficult conversations, and helping someone feel understood enough to ask the next question.

A Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipient and NC Project LEAD Entrepreneur Innovator Award nominee, Amanda is a Reframe Society Leader and certified in Exactly What to Say for Accountants.

Amanda Chestnut, JD, founded Money Mastery LLC to help small-business owners understand how their books, taxes, and decisions fit together. Based in southeastern North Carolina, she helps owners uncover problems, anticipate tax consequences, and make... Show more

Eduardo Spotti

Eduardo Spotti

I'm a passionate professional about business, entrepreneurship, technology, continue improving of human and technical skills to me and teams that I worked.
I'm acquired experience and knowledge in differents roles and practices that I like share and still learning from others. I was fortunate to work in the largest companies in our region and the globe. Argentine Telecom, Globant, Mercadolibre, Amazon Web Services
My mainly skill topics are SaaS, Platform engineering, SRE, Dev(Sec)Ops, Agile, Lean and Cloud Architecture.
I'm a football fan, animal lover, MMA practitioner and father of two beautiful childs.

I'm a passionate professional about business, entrepreneurship, technology, continue improving of human and technical skills to me and teams that I worked. I'm acquired experience and knowledge in differents roles and practices that I like share and... Show more

Moises Jauregui-Sanchez

Moises Jauregui-Sanchez

Moisés Jauregui-Sanchez is an AI & EdTech leader, futures/foresight strategist, and strategic designer helping universities, governments, and companies build education’s future with AI, games, and evidence. He is Director of the School of Video Game Programming Engineering at Universidad Xochicalco and a PhD researcher in Human-Computer Interaction at UABC, where his doctoral work focuses on a serious games design model for cognitive stimulation in older adults. Ranked Mexico’s #1 Futurist Keynote Speaker by Favikon, he engages 160K+ followers across platforms and writes LongeviPlay LATAM, a newsletter on AI, serious games, and cognitive sovereignty. A Perplexity AI Business Fellow, he has delivered keynotes and masterclasses across LATAM. His talks explore AI in education, futures thinking, game-based learning, and human-centric innovation.

Moisés Jauregui-Sanchez is an AI & EdTech leader, futures/foresight strategist, and strategic designer helping universities, governments, and companies build education’s future with AI, games, and evidence. He is Director of the School of Video Game ... Show more

Aubrey Wade

Aubrey Wade

Aubrey Wade is a seasoned consulting professional, speaker, certified coach and counselor, and blogger with a passion for transforming workplace relationships and driving positive change. Based in Memphis, TN, she specializes in helping organizations improve processes, build strong teams, and guide C-suite leaders in driving company-wide transformation. With a proven and successful hands-on, results-driven approach, Aubrey isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo to help companies reach their full potential.

Armed with a Masters in Mental Health and over 20 years of experience in technology, Aubrey has successfully partnered with multiple Fortune 300 companies to enhance team dynamics, streamline processes, and deliver consistent, successful releases. Her expertise spans organizational transformation, enterprise reporting, and optimizing performance at all levels.

Outside of her consulting work, Aubrey is a devoted wife, sister, and mother to three daughters, and she enjoys speaking and teaching across the country. Her greatest passion is helping people grow — starting with herself.

Aubrey Wade is a seasoned consulting professional, speaker, certified coach and counselor, and blogger with a passion for transforming workplace relationships and driving positive change. Based in Memphis, TN, she specializes in helping organizations... Show more

Emily Harden

Emily Harden

Emily Harden is a knowledgeable consultant, skillful speaker, and community builder dedicated to fostering growth and impact. As the Founder and Owner of Harden Consulting, she provides tailored coaching to help people clarify what they want, navigate pivots, and thrive at work; so your passion becomes a sustainable path.
Emily draws on her deep roots in the tech ecosystem, where she previously served as Techlahoma's Executive Director, to connect challenges with creative solutions.

When she’s not working, you can probably find her playing board games, trying out new video games, or off on an adventure with her husband and their dog, Patches!

Emily Harden is a knowledgeable consultant, skillful speaker, and community builder dedicated to fostering growth and impact. As the Founder and Owner of Harden Consulting, she provides tailored coaching to help people clarify what they want, navigat... Show more

Alyssa Nicoll

Alyssa Nicoll

Alyssa is an Senior Developer Advocate for Progress and a Google Developer Expert for Angular. She has spoken at over 50 conferences locally and internationally. She is the host of the Angular Air podcast and emcees ng-conf as well as Monorepo World. She enjoys gaming, scuba diving, and has a little one that fondly goes by "Mr. Milks".

Alyssa is an Senior Developer Advocate for Progress and a Google Developer Expert for Angular. She has spoken at over 50 conferences locally and internationally. She is the host of the Angular Air podcast and emcees ng-conf as well as Monorepo World.... Show more

Bert Fabry

Bert Fabry

As the founder of FabCore BV, Bert provides leadership, communication, and agile training and coaching to organizations and individuals worldwide, fostering environments that emphasize empathy and efficiency. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across communication, leadership consulting, training, and IT advisory work, he helps people and teams grow with intention — an approach captured in FabCore's tagline, "From the Heart."
He has also worked at the intersection of technology and road safety, contributing to BUMP where his tech expertise met a strong commitment to safer roads.
An international speaker, he regularly shares his insights at conferences, engaging audiences with his deep knowledge in technology, leadership, and agile practices. With a background spanning the arts, technology, and international development, he draws on a diverse array of experiences to champion empathic leadership and continual learning. His journey through personal challenges has fueled his dedication to professional growth and making a meaningful impact.
Outside of work, he indulges in cooking and storytelling, enhancing life's flavor as a culinary enthusiast and a veteran tabletop roleplaying game master.

As the founder of FabCore BV, Bert provides leadership, communication, and agile training and coaching to organizations and individuals worldwide, fostering environments that emphasize empathy and efficiency. Drawing on more than 25 years of experien... Show more

Samah Alafeef

Samah Alafeef

Samah Alafeef

Founder and CEO of Metanoia Training and Consulting

Project Management Professional and Regional Officer of the International Federation of Global and Green Information and Communication Technology (IFGICT).
Samah Alafeef a computer engineer brought a broad range of technical and data management skills to her extensive work experience. Samah holds a master's degree in Project Management Engineering and a diploma in Humanitarian Logistics and Supply chain. The combination of managerial and technical skills she has in both the Humanitarian and Commercial sectors enabled her to serve as a consultant in various aspects related to management and technology. Samah is a PMP® certified, Risk RMP ® certified, Agile ACP certified, certified Microsoft innovative educator, and certified green IT professional. She is coaching people and organizations to develop their professional images, being agile, and jump to a higher professional level.

Samah Alafeef Founder and CEO of Metanoia Training and Consulting Project Management Professional and Regional Officer of the International Federation of Global and Green Information and Communication Technology (IFGICT). Samah Alafeef a compu... 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

Giulia Scalaberni

Giulia Scalaberni

Giulia began her journey as a web dev, moved to data analyst and today she’s a product manager of a BI tool in an IT healthcare company, leading remote Scrum teams with members from 8 different cultures, starting from India. She’s relentlessly people‐centric, fascinated by how diverse cultures interact and always reading and exploring differences to make teamwork more “human”. When she’s not shaping product strategy or pondering team dynamics, you’ll find her at concerts imagining the tour management behind the scenes, or with a plane ticket already booked - Osaka and Lisbon are her places of the heart. She’s hopelessly obsessed with bubble tea, loves kangaroos and shares honest storytelling and practical insights that anyone can steal and use tomorrow.

Giulia began her journey as a web dev, moved to data analyst and today she’s a product manager of a BI tool in an IT healthcare company, leading remote Scrum teams with members from 8 different cultures, starting from India. She’s relentlessly people... Show more

Paula Bria

Paula Bria

Psicóloga y especialista en Business Intelligence, IA y automatización de procesos. Conecto datos, tecnología y psicología para que las organizaciones trabajen mejor y tomen mejores decisiones.

Hoy trabajo como consultora independiente: acompaño a empresas y profesionales a automatizar tareas repetitivas, incorporar IA en su trabajo diario y ordenar sus datos para convertir intuiciones en métricas accionables. Menos tiempo perdido en procesos manuales, más tiempo para lo que importa. Según cada proyecto, sumo especialistas en Power BI, Excel, IA y SQL.

Vengo de la investigación. Soy Psicóloga y Magíster en Psicodiagnóstico y Evaluación Psicológica (UBA), doctoranda en Psicología y docente de Psicología Social en la UBA. Además, estoy cursando la Especialización en Ciencia de Datos aplicada a Ciencias del Comportamiento. Investigué variables emocionales y cognitivas hasta que decidí llevar ese pensamiento analítico al análisis de datos.

Trabajo con lo que hay. Automatizo procesos. Profesionalizo reportes. Ordeno el caos. Creé y desarrollé sectores desde cero, instalando cultura data-driven en organizaciones que no siempre contaban con grandes presupuestos, pero sí con desafíos complejos.

Mi diferencial:
- Entiendo cómo piensan las personas.
- Entiendo los datos, la tecnología y el negocio.
- Y sé cómo hacer que conversen.

Soy creadora y host de "La Cocina del Dato", un espacio donde entrevisto a referentes tecnológicos desde una mirada humana, porque la cultura de datos también se construye desde la comunicación, la comunidad y la creatividad.

Mi motor es claro: abrir puertas. Mostrar que el mundo de los datos y la IA no es exclusivo ni inaccesible, y ayudar a que más personas se animen a dar el salto.

Herramientas: Power BI (DAX, Power Query), Power Automate, IA generativa, SQL, Python, R, Excel.

Contacto: mpaulabria@gmail.com

Psicóloga y especialista en Business Intelligence, IA y automatización de procesos. Conecto datos, tecnología y psicología para que las organizaciones trabajen mejor y tomen mejores decisiones. Hoy trabajo como consultora independiente: acompaño a... Show more

Francesco Gallo

Francesco Gallo

I work to make complex systems simple. In mixology, I do the exact opposite, with the same level of seriousness. People who know me have stopped looking for consistency. :-D

I am a partner at BC Soft, where I serve as COO, CTO and Solution Architect, leading a technology factory focused on cloud, application modernization, AI, DevOps, Microsoft 365 and enterprise solutions.

My work is about helping companies and teams turn complex systems into architectures that are more governable, observable and sustainable, where code, infrastructure, processes and costs stop living in separate worlds. This is where my interest in application modernization, Azure cloud-native architectures, applied AI, DevOps and FinOps comes from.

In my sessions, I bring field experience: real projects, real constraints, architectural decisions, mistakes, trade-offs and lessons learned. I am less interested in presenting technology as a promise, and more interested in showing it as a tool to make complexity understandable, measurable and governable.

In my free time, I make cocktails, play golf and can happily talk for hours about software architecture and volleyball. After all, they are all systems: balance, timing and the right ingredients at the right moment.

I work to make complex systems simple. In mixology, I do the exact opposite, with the same level of seriousness. People who know me have stopped looking for consistency. :-D I am a partner at BC Soft, where I serve as COO, CTO and Solution Archite... 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

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 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 futurist at Citrix, he's at the forefront of helping organizations navigate the rapidly ev... Show more

Ashley Rivera

Ashley Rivera

Your systems are built. Your people don't trust them.

That's the problem I solve.

As Data & Automation Director at HEI Civil, I've led enterprise data and automation strategy across multi-state operations. I speak to leaders and teams navigating fragmented data, manual processes, and growing complexity who want systems they can rely on, not workarounds.

Why I speak: I used to say I did it to "share knowledge" or "help the community." The real answer took longer to find. Early in my career I learned that building something correct isn't the same as building something people actually use, a gap that cost me more than I expected until I dug into the psychology of adoption and trust. That's the same work that's generated $1M+ in cost avoidance and returned 19,000+ hours a year at HEI Civil. I speak so other developers, managers, and leaders don't have to learn the hard way what I learned the hard way. Read the full story on my blog.

My sessions focus on:

Why well-designed programs fail without adoption
How to design systems leaders actually trust
Change management and governance as competitive advantages
Why the hardest part of any data, AI, or automation initiative is never the tool

Bilingual: English and Spanish. Available for keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, and internal consulting engagements.

Your systems are built. Your people don't trust them. That's the problem I solve. As Data & Automation Director at HEI Civil, I've led enterprise data and automation strategy across multi-state operations. I speak to leaders and teams navigatin... Show more

Bonaventure Saturday

Bonaventure Saturday

Bonaventure Saturday is a researcher and project manager with over ten years of experience working at the intersection of digital rights, AI governance, data governance, gender justice, and civic engagement in Africa. His work focuses on online safety for women in public life, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, digital public infrastructure, responsible and inclusive AI, and the governance of emerging technologies. He has extensive experience managing and evaluating donor-funded programmes, conducting policy-relevant research, needs assessments, and stakeholder consultations, and convening multistakeholder actors across government, civil society, academia, the private sector, and regional institutions. He contributes evidence-based perspectives to debates on AI, platform governance, digital inclusion, data protection, and public interest technology. He is committed to advancing digital policies and systems that are inclusive, accountable, safe, and rights-respecting, particularly for women, girls, and historically underrepresented communities across Africa.

Bonaventure Saturday is a researcher and project manager with over ten years of experience working at the intersection of digital rights, AI governance, data governance, gender justice, and civic engagement in Africa. His work focuses on online safet... Show more

Vidhya Krishnamoorthy

Vidhya Krishnamoorthy

Vidya Krishnamoorthy is a Software Engineering Manager and Design System Tech Lead at Morgan Stanley with 18 years of experience building enterprise-grade UI systems across global teams. She specialises in front-end architecture, performance, accessibility, and future-ready UI foundations. A co-chair of the Women in Technology and UX/UI communities, Vidya champions women’s empowerment in tech, mentors engineers, and regularly speaks on software craftsmanship, UI engineering, and how modern tooling including AI is reshaping day-to-day engineering practice.
Vidhya's other interests include exploring places and cultures, travelling solo as an Indian female, psychology/mental heath, mentoring and Neurodivergence/ADHD.

Vidya Krishnamoorthy is a Software Engineering Manager and Design System Tech Lead at Morgan Stanley with 18 years of experience building enterprise-grade UI systems across global teams. She specialises in front-end architecture, performance, accessi... Show more

Angela Trego

Angela Trego

Dr. Angela Trego is a rocket scientist turned Confidence & Communication Expert and the #1 bestselling author of Squashing the Imposter Syndrome. She has trained thousands of professionals across six continents to strengthen confidence as a skill so they can communicate more effectively, lead more boldly, and contribute at their full potential. Her core message is simple: confidence is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened.

Her work focuses on imposter syndrome, soft skills development, mentoring, and practical leadership tools that translate across industries. In addition, she specializes in faculty development and training university educators. She focuses particularly on STEM and engineering fields to implement evidence-based confidence-building strategies, engaged teaching practices, and classroom management approaches that increase student motivation and belonging.

Dr. Trego works with institutions to strengthen teaching effectiveness while reducing faculty burnout. Before dedicating her career to speaking, teaching, and coaching, she held technical and senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries and around the globe. She now brings that real-world leadership perspective into both industry and academia.

Whether working with executives, faculty, or emerging leaders, Dr. Trego's mission is simple: equip people with the confidence and skills to thrive.

Available for keynotes, consulting, coaching, and short courses. Every engagement is customized to the client's specific audience, language, and goals. Participants don't just hear these tools. They practice them in the room and carry them out the door as confidence they can actually use. Discover more at www.angelatrego.com

Dr. Angela Trego is a rocket scientist turned Confidence & Communication Expert and the #1 bestselling author of Squashing the Imposter Syndrome. She has trained thousands of professionals across six continents to strengthen confidence as a skill so ... Show more

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