Humanities & Social Sciences

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

itza Zujuy Blanco

itza Zujuy Blanco

Passionate about tech and creativity. Graphic design roots, IT engineering background. Former marketing lead, now crafting frontend magic at Warner Bros Discovery. Embracing technology's limitless canvas to create captivating experiences!

Passionate about tech and creativity. Graphic design roots, IT engineering background. Former marketing lead, now crafting frontend magic at Warner Bros Discovery. Embracing technology's limitless canvas to create captivating experiences! Show more

Amber Herbert

Amber Herbert

Amber Herbert is a (mostly) speculative fiction author living in Colorado Springs, CO with her husband and two gremlins. She self-published her debut novel, Lipstick Covered Magnet, in 2022 and has since been penning an epic fantasy series and various horror stories she hopes to traditionally publish. She graduated the University of Colorado with a BA in English literature and worked as a freelance editor for eight years. She now writes full time (when she isn't minding children or rescue dogs).

Outside of writing and reading, Amber enjoys baking, going to emo/punk/post-hardcore gigs, playing complicated board games, and watching and critiquing TV and film.

Amber Herbert is a (mostly) speculative fiction author living in Colorado Springs, CO with her husband and two gremlins. She self-published her debut novel, Lipstick Covered Magnet, in 2022 and has since been penning an epic fantasy series and variou... Show more

Arne Mertz

Arne Mertz

Arne Mertz has been working with modern and not-so-modern C++ codebases for over 15 years in various kinds of embedded and enterprise contexts. He is a mentor and teacher for clean code and modern C++ for colleagues and customers at Zühlke Engineering. Since 2015 he has written more or less frequently about those topics on his blog "Simplify C++!"

Arne Mertz has been working with modern and not-so-modern C++ codebases for over 15 years in various kinds of embedded and enterprise contexts. He is a mentor and teacher for clean code and modern C++ for colleagues and customers at Zühlke Engineerin... Show more

Mohit Nikhade

Mohit Nikhade

2024 pass-out undergraduate in department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

2024 pass-out undergraduate in department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Show more

Mya Matos

Mya Matos

Mya Matos is a proud Afro-Latina, veteran, and self-taught solution engineer with a career defined by resilience, curiosity, and a passion for storytelling. Known for her ability to connect with audiences and demystify complex technical topics, Mya brings a unique blend of authenticity, technical expertise, and customer-centricity to every stage of her work.

As a Senior Solution Engineer at Toast, Mya partners closely with sales teams to drive revenue while ensuring customers feel heard and supported throughout their journey. Her approach combines technical storytelling and real-world examples, helping customers envision themselves thriving with the technologies she presents. With a deep commitment to values-driven excellence, Mya leverages her background and natural curiosity to deliver impactful solutions that foster long-term customer engagement.

Mya’s speaking engagements include Salesforce World Tour, Dreamin in Color, the Gartner Conference, and Salesforce-led DEI initiatives, where she’s been celebrated for her conversational, inspirational style and actionable insights. Audience members leave her talks energized and ready to take action, armed with a clear understanding of how technology applies to their unique challenges and goals.

Outside of work, Mya is a passionate mentor and advocate for underrepresented communities. She has mentored over 30 veterans, with half securing meaningful work, and regularly volunteers with Hiring Our Heroes to train, inspire, and guide fellows transitioning into tech careers.

With a career spanning military service, hospitality, and technology, Mya brings a fresh and compelling perspective to the SE profession. Her dedication to authenticity and connection continues to fuel her success and inspire those around her.

Mya Matos is a proud Afro-Latina, veteran, and self-taught solution engineer with a career defined by resilience, curiosity, and a passion for storytelling. Known for her ability to connect with audiences and demystify complex technical topics, Mya b... Show more

Virginie Jugie

Virginie Jugie

With a rich background in agile methodologies and engineering team management, I have had the privilege of sharing my expertise at several renowned conferences and meetups in France. In 2018, I spoke at Agile Tour Toulouse and Montpellier, presenting on the Scrum Master role, and at Toulouse Devfest 2023, where I addressed the challenges of managing remote teams. Internally at MonkeyPatch in October 2024, I gave a talk on the "No Estimate" practice.

In 2019, I organized workshops and meetups for my company, including the popular "Artist vs Specifier" workshop, as well as sessions focused on improving visual management through sketch notes. More recently, in 2024, I was invited to participate in the French podcasts IFTTD and Tech Lead Corner to discuss engineering team management strategies.

As a speaker and workshop facilitator, my aim is always to empower teams to improve collaboration, foster a strong team culture, and streamline project management practices.

With a rich background in agile methodologies and engineering team management, I have had the privilege of sharing my expertise at several renowned conferences and meetups in France. In 2018, I spoke at Agile Tour Toulouse and Montpellier, presenting... Show more

Clara Rohloff

Clara Rohloff

Clara Rohloff promoviert über Influencer-Rhetorik auf YouTube an der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. Nebenberuflich arbeitet sie als Rhetoriktrainerin und bietet Vorträge und Workshops für FLINTA*-Empowerment in der Wissenschaft an.

Clara Rohloff promoviert über Influencer-Rhetorik auf YouTube an der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. Nebenberuflich arbeitet sie als Rhetoriktrainerin und bietet Vorträge und Workshops für FLINTA*-Empowerment in der Wissenschaft an. Show more

Bowen Gillings

Bowen Gillings

Bowen Gillings writes to keep fiction fun. Known for his thrillers and fantasy fiction laced with snark, wit, and characters you could share a beer with, Bowen’s quirky, offbeat style “boggles the genre mind.” He loves giving back to fellow writers through media engagement and by leading workshops on the craft, business, and lifestyle of writing. He holds a Master of Education, five martial arts black belt certifications, and is an Army veteran. Travel enthusiast, lover of the outdoors, and habitual volunteer, Bowen’s secret joys include quiet moments by the fireplace and cooking big meals for family and friends.

Bowen Gillings writes to keep fiction fun. Known for his thrillers and fantasy fiction laced with snark, wit, and characters you could share a beer with, Bowen’s quirky, offbeat style “boggles the genre mind.” He loves giving back to fellow writers t... Show more

Curtis Cox

Curtis Cox

Curtis Cox is a seasoned Career Brand Strategist and the founder of Curtis Careers, a leading career consulting platform dedicated to helping professionals and businesses elevate their brands, scale their careers, and unlock new opportunities. With deep expertise in career branding, professional development, and career scaling, Curtis has guided countless individuals in navigating career transitions, building powerful personal brands, and positioning themselves as leaders in their industries.

Through Curtis Careers, Curtis provides strategic career coaching, workforce development solutions, and executive branding services tailored for millennial professionals, corporate teams, and entrepreneurs. His mission is to equip individuals with the tools to thrive in competitive job markets and achieve long-term career success.

As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, Curtis shares valuable insights on career growth, professional branding, and networking. Whether hosting workshops, leading career-focused discussions, or delivering impactful keynote talks, he is dedicated to empowering professionals to turn ambition into achievement.

Curtis Cox is a seasoned Career Brand Strategist and the founder of Curtis Careers, a leading career consulting platform dedicated to helping professionals and businesses elevate their brands, scale their careers, and unlock new opportunities. With d... Show more

Suvarna Kulkarni

Suvarna Kulkarni

Suvarna is an experienced agile enthusiast supports organisations in unlocking their full potential and elevating their impact and success using agile ways of working, a blended methodology of Mindset-maps, Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, NLP, and Positive Psychology.
As a certified coach, she's dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, empowering teams to deliver results consistently. Her commitment, authenticity, and trust values have proven invaluable in facilitating successful transformations for high-impact projects, establishing psychologically safe environments, and collaborating with leaders to ensure seamless alignment between strategy and execution.

Suvarna is an experienced agile enthusiast supports organisations in unlocking their full potential and elevating their impact and success using agile ways of working, a blended methodology of Mindset-maps, Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, NLP, ... 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

Sam Kabert

Sam Kabert

Sam Kabert is a successful serial entrepreneur turned spiritual seeker. He is known for his ability to put together teams to execute the vision. He is the Author of the #1 Bestselling book SOUL/Life Balance, Founder of SwagWorx & Clone Yourself University, and hosts the Soul Seekr Podcast. Despite all of Sam’s ventures and business success and being recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s “40 Under 40” at just age 31 years old and “Rising Star” in the promotional products industry, he soon recognized that something was missing. Sam realized that despite his success, he was unhappy. This understanding catapulted him on his most recent exploration of his life’s purpose.

He is on a mission to bridge the gap between the way we conduct ourselves in business, mindful practices, how we communicate with everyone, especially oneself, all through prioritizing psychological safety and mental health first.

Sam Kabert is a successful serial entrepreneur turned spiritual seeker. He is known for his ability to put together teams to execute the vision. He is the Author of the #1 Bestselling book SOUL/Life Balance, Founder of SwagWorx & Clone Yourself Unive... Show more

Jasmine Fluker

Jasmine Fluker

Jasmine Fluker, a visionary in leadership and equity, spearheads transformative change through the Pivotal Paradigm Project. With over a decade of executive leadership, she's reshaping how we approach diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jasmine's dynamic blend of strategic problem-solving and community-driven initiatives electrifies audiences, inspiring them to challenge the status quo. Join her in paving the way for a future where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered.

Jasmine Fluker, a visionary in leadership and equity, spearheads transformative change through the Pivotal Paradigm Project. With over a decade of executive leadership, she's reshaping how we approach diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jasmine's dynam... Show more

Bartosz Lysakowski

Bartosz Lysakowski

Studied Forensic Science and Engineering at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Afterwards teaching methods of forensic biological analysis, 3D printing and drones. For several years a co-worker at the Cottbus Zoo in the educational department. Since 2023 drone pilot and the member of the EXPAND+ER project at the BTU Cottbus

Studied Forensic Science and Engineering at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Afterwards teaching methods of forensic biological analysis, 3D printing and drones. For several years a co-worker at the Cottbus Zoo in the educational department. Since 2023 dron... Show more

Ingo Kleiber

Ingo Kleiber

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After previously working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Technology at the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching and Studies of the University of Cologne. He is currently also pursuing his Ph.D. at the intersection of corpus/computational linguistics and foreign language teaching.

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After previously working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Techn... Show more

Tetiana Gulei

Tetiana Gulei

Tetiana is a Senior UX Designer at BIMcollab in the Netherlands. Starting her career as an engineer, she developed a passion for user-centric and accessible design, together with an interest for technology and innovation. Her work emphasizes ethical design and sustainability, creating products that make a positive impact.

She also shares her UX expertise through conference talks and LinkedIn Learning courses on various UX topics, reaching over 35,000 students worldwide.

Tetiana is a Senior UX Designer at BIMcollab in the Netherlands. Starting her career as an engineer, she developed a passion for user-centric and accessible design, together with an interest for technology and innovation. Her work emphasizes ethical ... 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

Tamas Piros

Tamas Piros

Tamas is a Google Developer Expert in Web Technologies and a seasoned Developer Evangelist. He is a passionate advocate for modern web technologies, helping people understand and unlock the latest & greatest features of web development.

Tamas is a Google Developer Expert in Web Technologies and a seasoned Developer Evangelist. He is a passionate advocate for modern web technologies, helping people understand and unlock the latest & greatest features of web development. Show more

Jörg Pareigis

Jörg Pareigis

Jörg Pareigis is an assistant professor in Business Administration and director of library as well as the head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Karlstad University, Sweden. He has vast experience of developing open online graduate courses for lifelong learning based on strategically important research centres at Karlstad University. Jörg was a participant of FDOL and is since 2019 part of the organising team of Open Networked Learning.

Jörg Pareigis is an assistant professor in Business Administration and director of library as well as the head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Karlstad University, Sweden. He has vast experience of developing open online graduate courses f... Show more

Kaitlin Desselle

Kaitlin Desselle

I'm Kaitlin (she/her)!

My superpowers are developing emotionally-intelligent leaders and revolutionizing organizational cultures into the most profitable asset. I have a proven track record of authenticating company values to impact employee engagement, efficiency in systems, and rapid growth of bottom line.

I founded Wayfinders Coaching & Consulting after spending over a decade in operations management and people leadership in high-performance organizations. I've worked cross-functionally in HR, business development, change management and learning and development, and across many industries--from higher education, food service, and retail--to DEI consulting.

What I found along the way is that the core ingredients for successful relationships (and ultimately business growth) are rooted in emotional intelligence, trust-based communication, and intercultural competence. Now I offer coaching, training, consulting, and thought-partnership for individuals and teams seeking to build these skills.

I work with an incredibly diverse team of practitioners, with go-to methodologies that include critical HROD, change management frameworks, emotional intelligence (EQ-i), intercultural development (IDI), systems audits, and cultural assessments.

I live on the Little Feminist Farm just outside of Atlanta, where we enjoy sustainable homesteading and host holistic wellness workshops and sanctuary retreats.

I'm Kaitlin (she/her)! My superpowers are developing emotionally-intelligent leaders and revolutionizing organizational cultures into the most profitable asset. I have a proven track record of authenticating company values to impact employee engag... Show more

Reneshan Moodley

Reneshan Moodley

Reneshan is a seasoned information technology professional with over two decades of experience. Throughout his career, he has excelled in various roles, including system administration, software development, project and product management, agile consulting, agile strategy and DevOps. Reneshan is passionate about guiding organisations in adopting a GESHIDO approach, offering his expertise through coaching, consulting, and training. He is committed to fostering environments that embrace agile principles and the GESHIDO mindset. Reneshan's comprehensive understanding of the IT landscape and his dedication to continuous improvement is instrumental in his role as co-founder of the GESHIDO framework.

Reneshan is a seasoned information technology professional with over two decades of experience. Throughout his career, he has excelled in various roles, including system administration, software development, project and product management, agile cons... Show more

Mathias Verraes

Mathias Verraes

Mathias Verraes is the founder of Aardling, a software modelling & design consultancy, with a penchant for complex environments. His focus is on design strategy and messaging-centric domain modelling. Since leaving a lead developer job in 2011 and moving to consulting in 2011, Mathias has worked with clients in Finance, Government, Supply Chain, Mobility, Energy, E-Commerce, and more.

Mathias writes about software design at verraes.net since 2011. As a speaker, he's been at major conferences such as NDC and Goto, and has been a keynote speaker DDD eXchange, ExploreDDD, KanDDDinsky, and others. Occasionally, he teaches courses on Domain-Driven Design & messaging architecture. Mathias is also the founder of the DDD Europe conference.

Mathias has a Masters in Music from the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, and is an autodidact on software. When he’s at home in Kortrijk, Belgium, he helps his two sons build crazy Lego contraptions.

Mathias Verraes is the founder of Aardling, a software modelling & design consultancy, with a penchant for complex environments. His focus is on design strategy and messaging-centric domain modelling. Since leaving a lead developer job in 2011 and mo... Show more

Wiebke Sophie Ost

Wiebke Sophie Ost

Wiebke Sophie Ost konzipiert und erprobt innovative Lehr- und Lernformate sowie flexible Studienmodelle an der Hochschule Koblenz. Zu ihren Forschungsschwerpunkten zählen immersives Lehren und Lernen im Bildungsbereich (insbesondere durch den Einsatz von VR und AR), Künstliche Intelligenz, Mehrsprachigkeit, Internationalisierung und interkulturelle Kommunikation.

Wiebke Sophie Ost konzipiert und erprobt innovative Lehr- und Lernformate sowie flexible Studienmodelle an der Hochschule Koblenz. Zu ihren Forschungsschwerpunkten zählen immersives Lehren und Lernen im Bildungsbereich (insbesondere durch den Einsatz... Show more

Justin Paluku Mbunzule

Justin Paluku Mbunzule

Justin Paluku is an IT Specialist and currently taking the MIT MacroMasters Data science course. Justin was born in May 1991, in Butembo, eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo where he was forced to flee to Uganda in 2012 looking for safety.

To support refugee and low income communities to access quality education and advanced technology in Africa, Justin has founded an organisation named Up With Africa based in Uganda.

About his work engagement, Justin has worked as a Research Enumerator with the University of Oxford - Refugee Study Center on a Refugee Economy Study in Uganda in 2018, where he successfully conducted interviews with 123 adult refugees from different slums and households.

Justin has also worked on many projects with the University of Toronto (for 6 years) in Uganda such as: refugees reproductive health, stress management and Virtual Reality as an mental health intervention, managing communication from online systems to refugees' WhatsApp massaging as part of the study.

Additionally, Justin has worked in refugee settlements in Uganda like Nakivale, Kyaka II, Bidibidi and Kiryandongo where he supported the creation of ICT, Entrepreneurship and Conflicts Resolution online course contents for refugees to learn remotely.

Justin Paluku is an IT Specialist and currently taking the MIT MacroMasters Data science course. Justin was born in May 1991, in Butembo, eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo where he was forced to flee to Uganda in 2012 looking for safet... Show more

Melvin Thambi

Melvin Thambi

Melvin Thambi is a renowned Creative Director, Entrepreneur, and Global Speaker with over two decades of experience at the intersection of design, technology, and business. His expertise spans visual design, product innovation, and brand strategy, where he has led high-impact creative initiatives for global brands, shaping the future of design-driven business success.

A thought leader in AI, design monetization, and creative entrepreneurship, Melvin is a recognized speaker at international design and technology conferences. He brings a unique perspective on how designers can leverage AI, build scalable revenue models, and adopt a business mindset to thrive in an evolving creative economy.

In 2017, he was honored as Business Mentor of the Year by Entrepreneur of India, recognizing his impact in mentorship and leadership. His artistic work has also been exhibited on the global stage, including New York Times Square, reflecting his passion for blending storytelling, digital art, and cutting-edge technology.

Beyond corporate leadership, Melvin is deeply committed to mentorship and the future of design, empowering the next generation of creative professionals to move beyond execution—embracing strategy, innovation, and business acumen to drive real-world impact.

Melvin Thambi is a renowned Creative Director, Entrepreneur, and Global Speaker with over two decades of experience at the intersection of design, technology, and business. His expertise spans visual design, product innovation, and brand strategy, wh... Show more

Marinella Favot

Marinella Favot

Economic Expert in the following topics: Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility, E-waste, Green patents, Critical Raw Materials, Rare Earth Elements, Glass Reinforce Plastic and end-of-life boats.
She has published several articles and reports on these topics, and she has taught at Mater level classes. She is the scientific responsible for various research projects in her research centre.

Economic Expert in the following topics: Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility, E-waste, Green patents, Critical Raw Materials, Rare Earth Elements, Glass Reinforce Plastic and end-of-life boats. She has published several articles and ... 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

Gizem Saruhan

Gizem Saruhan

She is a technical lead who has specialized mobile. She is interested in positive psychology, and neuroscience and believes in the power of kindness. She loves doing yoga and playing cello because she knows how important it is to know herself. While she was a perfectionist asocial who saw herself as discouraged and unsuccessful, she was able to find courage in a community with the help of other people and now tries to be inspiring in this regard.

She is a technical lead who has specialized mobile. She is interested in positive psychology, and neuroscience and believes in the power of kindness. She loves doing yoga and playing cello because she knows how important it is to know herself. While ... Show more

Chris Brousseau

Chris Brousseau

Chris is the Founder and Data Scientist at Surface Owl, where he focuses on machine learning and data science to develop a transformative decision support platform and implement digital transformation programs for clients. As an active contributor to the Bay Area's technical communities and Conference Chair of PyBay, Chris helps support the development of tech skills and our local Python and ML community.

Chris is the Founder and Data Scientist at Surface Owl, where he focuses on machine learning and data science to develop a transformative decision support platform and implement digital transformation programs for clients. As an active contributor to... Show more

Michèle Ruffault

Michèle Ruffault

Michèle a mené des transformations Lean et Agiles d’organisations. Au fil de ses expériences, elle a constaté l’importance du facteur humain au-delà des processus, des méthodes et des outils. Elle étudie les difficultés relationnelles et les facteurs qui les entretiennent. Son travail s’appuie sur l’approche systémique, les techniques de médiation et la communication non violente.

Michèle a mené des transformations Lean et Agiles d’organisations. Au fil de ses expériences, elle a constaté l’importance du facteur humain au-delà des processus, des méthodes et des outils. Elle étudie les difficultés relationnelles et les facteurs... Show more

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