Dr Alisha is a physician, executive leadership coach and keynote speaker who works at the intersection of medicine, neuroscience and self mastery.

For over a decade she has worked with CEOs, founders, physicians and C-suite leaders, helping these leaders close the gap between external success and internal coherence. Her methodology draws on clinical medicine, heart coherence as well as validated leadership models to help you understand not just how you perform, but the subtle ways that performance degrades under pressure - and what it takes to restore the internal conditions for sustained, clean leadership and execution.

Her work sits deliberately at the edge of what most leadership development brushes over: the body at a cellular level, nervous system engagement and energy, and the alignment between a leader's intelligence fields.

She has spoken globally and she brings the same precision and depth to a keynote stage that she brings to her clinical practice.

Dr Alisha is a physician, executive leadership coach and keynote speaker who works at the intersection of medicine, neuroscience and self mastery. For over a decade she has worked with CEOs, founders, physicians and C-suite leaders, helping these... Show more

Indra is a postdoctoral fellow in applied mathematics at the University College Dublin, Ireland, working on all things "dynamical systems". He takes a computational approach to tackle complex problems, and his current research is focused on understanding collective behaviour exhibited by coupled neurons. He is an avid Python user and has been a speaker at multiple Python-related conferences before. More information can be found in his website: https://indrag49.github.io/.

Indra is a postdoctoral fellow in applied mathematics at the University College Dublin, Ireland, working on all things "dynamical systems". He takes a computational approach to tackle complex problems, and his current research is focused on understan... Show more

Barno is a consultant and researcher specializing in AI security, data engineering, and machine learning security. She works at the intersection of offensive and defensive AI security & developing methodologies to protect AI systems from adversarial threats across the full stack, from data pipelines and ML models to LLM-powered applications and autonomous agents. Additionally in her role as an AI security trainer Barno has designed and delivered hands-on training programs covering AI red teaming, prompt injection, adversarial ML, RAG and vector database security, and the OWASP Top 10 for LLM and Agentic AI. Her training approach is practitioner-first: participants attack and defend real-world AI systems, leaving with techniques they can apply immediately. She is actively involved in AI governance and evaluation efforts at the national level and regularly contributes to the AI security community through speaking engagements, publications, and conference submissions. She bridges the gap between rapid AI adoption and the critical need for robust, field-tested defenses in an evolving threat landscape.

Barno is a consultant and researcher specializing in AI security, data engineering, and machine learning security. She works at the intersection of offensive and defensive AI security & developing methodologies to protect AI systems from adversarial ... Show more

Dr. Ivo van den Berk ist wissenschaftlicher Leiter Transfer und Teamleiter Wissenstransfer in der Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre. Mit seinem Team hat er den Transferkiosk (die Projekt- und Maßnahmen- und Publikationsdatenbank der StIL) entwickelt. Zuvor war er u.a. Leiter hochschuldidaktischer Einrichtungen in Emden und Hamburg, an der Universität Hamburg zudem Studiendekan des Master of Higher Education sowie Vertretungsprofessor für Hochschuldidaktik. Er ist Initiator und Mitherausgeber der Online Zeitschriften die hochschullehre und patternpool. Er ist Fellow des Stifterverbands und Mitglied des Netzwerks Lehre-hoch-N. Seine Interessen und Arbeitsschwerpunkte liegen in der Weiterentwicklung von Lehre und Studium, insbesondere durch Verbesserung der Zugänglichkeit zu sowie der Systematisierung von hochschul- und wissenschaftsdidaktischem Wissen.

Dr. Ivo van den Berk ist wissenschaftlicher Leiter Transfer und Teamleiter Wissenstransfer in der Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre. Mit seinem Team hat er den Transferkiosk (die Projekt- und Maßnahmen- und Publikationsdatenbank der StIL) ent... Show more

Pav Lertjitbanjong is a Decision Scientist focused on how leaders think clearly, exercise judgment, and make consequential decisions in the AI era. Her work asks a timely question: when AI can generate the answer, who should make the decision and who is responsible for what happens next?

She is the founder of PAVNESS Lab, a decision science company. Over more than 20 years inside Fortune 500 and global organizations, most recently as Head of Strategic Analytics at Adobe, Pav advised senior leaders on the data, go-to-market, and marketing strategies behind some of their highest-stakes decisions.

Her PAVNESS THINK Protocol combines two decades of operator pattern recognition with Decision Science and research-informed training for thinking and performing under pressure.

Pav holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BBA in Decision Science from the University of Kentucky, with additional Stanford training in AI Leadership and Public Speaking. Her upcoming speaking engagements include TED x KhonKaenU in Thailand, where she will present “AI Didn’t Make You a Bad Decision Maker (You Already Were),” and the AI Rising Conference in Ohio, where she will present “Think Clearly With AI.”

She is based in Minnesota and frequently works from Bangkok, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Pav Lertjitbanjong is a Decision Scientist focused on how leaders think clearly, exercise judgment, and make consequential decisions in the AI era. Her work asks a timely question: when AI can generate the answer, who should make the decision and who... Show more

With more than 18 years in the software industry, Luisa has evolved from being passionate about writing great code to focusing on building and nurturing high-performing teams. A Certified Encouragement Consultant and Empowering People in the Workplace Facilitator, she brings together deep technical expertise and a talent for fostering human-centered growth.

Since 2019, Luisa has delivered engaging talks and hands-on workshops that inspire teams and individuals to achieve their full potential. Her unique approach empowers organizations to drive both technological innovation and positive, sustainable change through collaboration and impactful leadership.

With more than 18 years in the software industry, Luisa has evolved from being passionate about writing great code to focusing on building and nurturing high-performing teams. A Certified Encouragement Consultant and Empowering People in the Workplac... Show more

Layshi Curbelo is a user experience designer specializing in digital accessibility, with a focus on creating inclusive solutions with high return on investment (ROI). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Advertising, a Master's degree in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design, and certifications in User Experience.

She is the CEO of Command Z Studio and the Command Z podcast, where she explores trends and challenges in design. Additionally, she produces other design-focused podcasts, including Design Tracks from Design Matters and If U Seek from the company Useberry. She is also the CTO and Co-Founder of Yestoday, an innovative software that blends creativity and functionality for entrepreneurs and creatives, ensuring that technology transforms ideas into tangible realities.

With over a decade of experience, Layshi has worked on international projects and has been a speaker at prestigious events such as Design Matters, South by Southwest, Interaction Foundation, and the 2020 Ibero-American Biennial, where she was a finalist. She has created educational materials used in more than 16 countries and has spoken at over 30 international conferences. Her commitment is to make every digital experience accessible and effective, changing the world one pixel at a time.

Layshi Curbelo is a user experience designer specializing in digital accessibility, with a focus on creating inclusive solutions with high return on investment (ROI). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Advertising, a Master's degree in Education with a... Show more

Xiaoya Xia studies how open-source communities and infrastructure evolve around emerging AI workloads and agent infra. At Ant Group, she uses ecosystem data to connect project activity with changes in AI technology and adoption. Her recent work includes the Agentic AI Landscape and research based on OpenDigger. She is a co-chair of KubeCon China 2026 and served on the Program Committees for Open Source Summit North America and Open Source Summit Japan in 2025.

Xiaoya Xia studies how open-source communities and infrastructure evolve around emerging AI workloads and agent infra. At Ant Group, she uses ecosystem data to connect project activity with changes in AI technology and adoption. Her recent work inclu... Show more

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

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 AI in the New Era, Nashville Microsoft Community Day, UN Blockchain Week, North Carolina A&T University, and Morgan State University.

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

Stephanie Colores Bueno is a former Fortune 100 HR executive with over 23 years at Procter & Gamble, where she led global leadership development, culture transformation, and enterprise change initiatives. In her final years, she played a key role in shaping the growth and restructuring of the Information Technology function, supporting enterprise digital transformation and the adoption of AI. She is the Founder of Strategic Connexus, a boutique advisory firm focused on strategy, transformation, and leadership development, helping founders and mid-sized organizations connect strategy, people, and technology to drive adoption, transformation, and growth. She is currently completing the Chief Human Resources Officer Executive Program at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania.
Stephanie is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and executive coach who equips leaders and teams to navigate complexity, lead through transformation, and build high-performing, human-centered cultures. Drawing from over two decades of global experience across three countries, she brings a practical, business-driven perspective grounded in real enterprise transformation. Her sessions combine leadership, change management, and storytelling to create engaging, actionable experiences that resonate from emerging leaders to C-suite executives. Known for translating strategy into people-centered execution, she helps organizations close the gap between vision and results in today’s fast-evolving digital environment. Her work focuses on enabling founders and leaders of growing, mid-sized organizations to lead at the pace of transformation—aligning strategy, people, and technology to accelerate adoption, strengthen execution, and deliver measurable business results.

Stephanie Colores Bueno is a former Fortune 100 HR executive with over 23 years at Procter & Gamble, where she led global leadership development, culture transformation, and enterprise change initiatives. In her final years, she played a key role in ... Show more

Nizzar Ben Chekroune is the founder of Quantum Branding, an independent practice for companies with something important to improve, launch, rethink or build.

Making has become extraordinarily cheap. AI can produce strategies, interfaces, campaigns and software faster than most organizations can decide what is worth producing. The scarce part is judgment.

He works on the decision underneath the brief: what should change, what deserves to exist, and which direction survives contact with the market. Seventeen years across brands, institutions, technology and culture, including work connected to UNIDO, USAID, Diesel, Audi, Google Arts & Culture, TIME and the New York Times.

He speaks on judgment in an age of abundant production, on what brands are actually made of, and on where AI accelerates work and where it must not decide.

nizzar.com - thequantumbranding.com

Nizzar Ben Chekroune is the founder of Quantum Branding, an independent practice for companies with something important to improve, launch, rethink or build. Making has become extraordinarily cheap. AI can produce strategies, interfaces, campaigns... Show more

Ex-CEO turned author, consultant, and educator, I have spent thirty years of international leadership experience at the intersection of AI, Business Agility, and DevOps. I'm the author of The Supercharged Enterprise: Strategic Adaptation for Growth and Resilience (Business Expert Press) and Developing Agile Coaches, and I've distilled that experience into the Blueprint for Enterprise Agility — a framework built on eight Leadership Behaviours and eight Operational Processes that I teach and apply directly in client transformations.

My current work focuses on where AI meets governance and portfolio management: I've developed and deliver a course treating Lean Portfolio Management combined with AI as a control system, with AI as the sensing and optimisation layer — alongside advisory work helping financial services and other regulated organisations govern AI responsibly. I believe, and have proven repeatedly, that Enterprise Agility done well produces measurable growth and profit, not just cultural change for its own sake.

I've operated at every level from board to project team, across Financial Services, Banking, Payments, Insurance, FMCG, TV, and Retail — leading large-scale agile transformations and applying AI directly in software development and testing environments. That range across people, process, technology, and now AI governance lets me craft change initiatives that hold up under real organisational pressure, not just in the deck.

Ex-CEO turned author, consultant, and educator, I have spent thirty years of international leadership experience at the intersection of AI, Business Agility, and DevOps. I'm the author of The Supercharged Enterprise: Strategic Adaptation for Growth a... Show more

Milan Cheeks is the founder and CEO of SELF Labs Inc., a technology company developing AI-powered products and infrastructure designed to improve how people live, work, create, and interact with technology.

He is leading the development of SELF OS, an AI-native operating environment designed to bring intelligent agents, decentralized applications, digital identity, and user-controlled computing into a unified ecosystem. He is also developing ESSENCE, a blockchain-based utility and economic layer intended to reward verified participation and contributions within the SELF network.

Through SELF Labs, Milan works across artificial intelligence, decentralized infrastructure, robotics, real estate technology, digital economies, and next-generation human-computer interaction.

His broader mission is to build technology that gives individuals greater ownership of their data, intelligence, devices, and economic value—helping move society from centralized digital platforms toward more personalized and user-owned technological systems.

Milan Cheeks is the founder and CEO of SELF Labs Inc., a technology company developing AI-powered products and infrastructure designed to improve how people live, work, create, and interact with technology. He is leading the development of SELF OS... Show more

Erik Thorelli is an Engineering Leader at Cisco Meraki, leading the mobile engineering organization. He's been developing React and React Native apps for almost a decade, from startups to corporates and across sectors (defense, pharma, green, fintech, networking, and IoT)...and seen some stuff. Erik teaches courses and lectures at universities, workshops, conferences, and local tech meetups.

Erik Thorelli is an Engineering Leader at Cisco Meraki, leading the mobile engineering organization. He's been developing React and React Native apps for almost a decade, from startups to corporates and across sectors (defense, pharma, green, fintech... Show more

Cybersecurity researcher, digital dissident, and founder of Cybermidnight Club. First person wrongfully imprisoned in Uruguay for a computer crime (2017). His case was documented in episode 25 of Darknet Diaries. Specialist in forensic analysis, quantification of investigative failures, and defense of radical transparency against narratives fabricated by state and corporate actors. Creator of the Forensic Risk Indicator (FRI).

Cybersecurity researcher, digital dissident, and founder of Cybermidnight Club. First person wrongfully imprisoned in Uruguay for a computer crime (2017). His case was documented in episode 25 of Darknet Diaries. Specialist in forensic analysis, quan... Show more

Manuel Ledezma, known in the tech community as Tester Testarudo, is a software testing and automation specialist with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality and reliable software. Over the past years, he has focused on mastering QA practices and automation strategies, working in agile and fast-paced environments.
He has contributed to leading companies such as Mediktor, AXA, Telecom Argentina, Newfold, and Mojo Marketplace, where he implemented scalable testing solutions that improved product stability and user experience.
Manuel currently serves as the QA Automation Lead at Mediktor in Barcelona, Spain, where he leads automation initiatives to ensure robust and impactful digital products.
Beyond his professional work, Manuel empowers the QA community through Tester Testarudo, his educational project dedicated to helping newcomers learn testing in a clear, practical, and accessible way.

Manuel Ledezma, known in the tech community as Tester Testarudo, is a software testing and automation specialist with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality and reliable software. Over the past years, he has focused on mastering QA practices ... Show more

I’m a creative, people-first service and experience designer with 15+ years of transforming complex programmes into end-to-end services that leaders, boards, and delivery teams can understand, fund, and scale. I’m successful because empathy is where I start, not where I stop, to deliver quality products, services and experiences that make a positive impact.
My work bridges design thinking, service design, and systems thinking principles applied to AI enablement for products, workflows and teams. In practice, I lead service, experience, and learning design across tech-forward, AI-heavy programmes, often as the first and only designer in the room. In the past, I have helped several emerging teams and startups build a shared practice and find smarter, more inclusive ways through their most ambiguous challenges, so I’m confident as hire #1 or leading a growing team.

I’m a creative, people-first service and experience designer with 15+ years of transforming complex programmes into end-to-end services that leaders, boards, and delivery teams can understand, fund, and scale. I’m successful because empathy is where ... Show more

Emanuel Toledo is a Data Scientist and holds a degree in Public Management, specializing in the implementation of artificial intelligence and the strategic use of data in organizations.

With over 15 years of experience in the public sector, he works on designing practical frameworks for AI adoption, addressing its limitations, risks, and challenges in real-world decision-making contexts.

He is the founder of Thinking Out!, a consulting firm focused on data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, where he supports institutions and professionals in the effective integration of these technologies.

He is currently researching how the public sector can reduce its structural gaps and improve its capabilities through the strategic adoption of technology. As part of this work, he developed a digital transition approach adaptable to different types of organizations, aimed at effectively integrating data and artificial intelligence in real-world management contexts.

Emanuel Toledo is a Data Scientist and holds a degree in Public Management, specializing in the implementation of artificial intelligence and the strategic use of data in organizations. With over 15 years of experience in the public sector, he wor... Show more

As a facilitator, speaker, and instructional designer, I explore human behavior, the science of how people learn, and the modern trends shaping the way we connect in today's culture. That curiosity drives everything I do, helping leaders and teams understand the people they work with, so they can work more effectively together.

My approach is shaped by research, experience, and a deep interest in how communication styles, cultural norms, and human dynamics influence the way people lead, relate, and grow in today's modern landscape.

I've delivered training for 1,800+ professionals across the U.S. and internationally, and spoken at conferences including Worthington Steel's LEARN & LEAD Conferences (2020, 2023, 2025), WitCon (2025), and CodeMash (2026). My facilitation style is practical, relatable, and focused on driving lasting behavior change, the kind that shows up long after the session ends.

As a facilitator, speaker, and instructional designer, I explore human behavior, the science of how people learn, and the modern trends shaping the way we connect in today's culture. That curiosity drives everything I do, helping leaders and teams un... Show more

Michelle Courtney Berry — The Workplace Doc™ — is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and doctoral candidate in Leadership Studies at Louisiana State University Shreveport, where her original mixed-methods research (N=186) on toxic workplace environments and employee coping behavior has been accepted twice by the International Leadership Association Global Conference and at other esteemed venues and conferences.

A Cornell MPS alumna and two-time TEDx and encore SXSW speaker, Michelle has delivered more than 5,000 talks, trainings, and facilitated experiences across four continents — for Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, healthcare systems, hospitality organizations, and nonprofits. She is the creator of the Working Well, One Day at a Time® method and the founder and CEO of Courtney Consulting Enterprises, LLC.

An internationally-trained Usui Reiki Master Teacher and Karuna Master Teacher, Michelle is also an internationally-certified group conflict negotiator, a humorist, and the international bestselling author of Keeping Calm in Chaos: How to Work Well, Live Well, and Love Abundantly No Matter What.

Her work has appeared on Good Morning America and PBS, and she has shared stages with Dr. Maya Angelou, Howard Zinn, The Dalai Lama, Mos Def, and Amiri Baraka. She is a Cave Canem Poetry Fellow and former Second Poet Laureate of Tompkins County, NY.

Press kit: https://bit.ly/michelleEPK | michellecourtneyberry.com

Michelle Courtney Berry — The Workplace Doc™ — is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and doctoral candidate in Leadership Studies at Louisiana State University Shreveport, where her original mixed-methods research (N=186) o... Show more

Don Barden, Ph.D. is a behavioral economist, international speaker, and business consultant who has worked with organizations including the U.S. Army, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and OneAmerica Financial Partners. He is the author of The Perfect Plan and Here Come the Girls, and teaches C-suite teams and business owners how to install the decision-making instincts that grow revenue, reduce turnover, and prepare organizations for the next era of leadership.

Don Barden, Ph.D. is a behavioral economist, international speaker, and business consultant who has worked with organizations including the U.S. Army, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and OneAmerica Financial Partners. He is the author of The Perfect Plan and H... Show more

Freelance web developer and co-founder of Betabeers, a developer-focused meta-community. Actor and improvisation teacher at Impro Impar, I also coach teams using applied improvisation to foster creativity, communication, and collaboration.

Freelance web developer and co-founder of Betabeers, a developer-focused meta-community. Actor and improvisation teacher at Impro Impar, I also coach teams using applied improvisation to foster creativity, communication, and collaboration. Show more

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

Lani Gonzales helps successful women and high achievers who look accomplished on the outside—but feel exhausted, disconnected, or unfulfilled on the inside—create success without burnout and power without losing their soul.

Many of the women Lani works with have done everything “right.” They’ve built impressive careers, achieved financial independence, and earned respect—yet inside, they feel stuck, overextended, or quietly empty. The constant pressure to perform, produce, and prove has pulled them further from their intuition, their body, and their deeper sense of purpose.

After becoming a law firm partner at 23, Lani lived that same story. From the outside, she had it all. On the inside, she was driven by subconscious survival patterns and a nervous system locked in overdrive. Her own awakening led her to leave the legal profession and devote her life to studying the subconscious mind, human behavior, and the wisdom traditions that have guided healing and leadership for thousands of years.

Today, Lani blends neuroscience-based hypnotherapy, performance psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions to help high-achieving women:
- Rewire burnout and overdrive at the root
- Break free from subconscious self-sabotage
- Reconnect to clarity, intuition, and inner authority
- Build success that feels aligned, sustainable, and alive

Her talks are known for being raw, strategic, and deeply activating—combining modern science with timeless wisdom to create real, lasting transformation. Audiences leave with tools they can use immediately to change how they lead, live, and work.

Lani Gonzales helps successful women and high achievers who look accomplished on the outside—but feel exhausted, disconnected, or unfulfilled on the inside—create success without burnout and power without losing their soul. Many of the women Lani ... Show more

Dr. Christal L. Chatman is an author, speaker, Certified Professional Life Coach, and higher education leader who is passionate about helping people create healthier, more intentional lives. Drawing from her experience in leadership, coaching, relationships, and personal development, she brings practical insight, authenticity, and encouragement to every audience.

She is the creator of the "Girl, Rest" movement and "Connection" experiences, designed to help women and couples build stronger, healthier lives. Dr. Christal is also the author of "Girl, Rest: Taking Time for God and Yourself", "Man, Be Still", "Behind the Mask", and "Connection: A 12-Week Guided Journal for Couples".

With a Doctor of Business Administration, MBA, and bachelor's degree in Accounting, Dr. Christal combines more than three decades of higher education experience with her work as a coach, author, and speaker. Her speaking topics include rest and wellness, leadership, relationships, personal growth, boundaries, purpose, and creating sustainable balance in demanding environments.

Known for making meaningful topics relatable and actionable, Dr. Christal encourages audiences to slow down, reconnect with what matters, and make intentional choices that support both personal and professional growth.

Dr. Christal L. Chatman is an author, speaker, Certified Professional Life Coach, and higher education leader who is passionate about helping people create healthier, more intentional lives. Drawing from her experience in leadership, coaching, relati... Show more

As enthusiastic Agilist, I spent a long time in the world of Agility applied to large industries and I gradually understood why this model was withering away year after year without us accepting the real causes. First as a project player, then as a trainer and finally as a coach, I'm working to ensure that modern Agile models are used less strictly and more respectfully of people.

You can find my work in my book: https://tinyurl.com/darroux

As enthusiastic Agilist, I spent a long time in the world of Agility applied to large industries and I gradually understood why this model was withering away year after year without us accepting the real causes. First as a project player, then as a t... Show more

Akshat Sharma is a Open Source Advocate and Mentor and currently serves as Developer Advocate at Deskree, dedicated to building meaningful connections between technology and community.
In 2024, he was selected as one of 1,220 contributors from over thousands of applicants in Google Summer of Code. In 2025,2026 he returned as a mentor guiding contributors in Google Summer of Code 2025, Mifos Summer of Code, and Code for GovTech. His research journey has taken him to the University of California and IIT Indore, and he has authored ten research papers in recent advancements and technology. He has presented his work at prestigious conferences including ICACIS 2023, ICNSBT 2024, C3IT 2024, Interledger Summit 2024,Grpconf 2025, OpenSearchCon Japan 2025, Google Tokyo GSOC Meetup 2025, Fossasia 2026 and so on. Additionally, he regularly attended key industry-leading gatherings such as Open SSF, Open Source Summit India, and KubeCon + CloudNativeCon India, Pycon India.

Akshat Sharma is a Open Source Advocate and Mentor and currently serves as Developer Advocate at Deskree, dedicated to building meaningful connections between technology and community. In 2024, he was selected as one of 1,220 contributors from over... Show more

Ted Johnson is a software architect, entrepreneur, and researcher exploring the future of human-computer interaction in the age of AI. Over the past 25 years, he has built enterprise software and collaboration systems across multiple industries, with a focus on turning complex technology into practical tools that people actually use.

He holds a Master's degree in Computer Science with a focus on human-computer interaction (HCI), intelligent systems, and how people collaborate with technology. Long before the current AI boom, his academic work explored many of the questions that are now re-emerging around usability, intelligence, and human-machine collaboration.

Ted is currently co-founder of JoinIn.ai, where he is researching conversational AI, multi-party interaction, turn-taking, interruption handling, theory of mind, and what it would mean for AI systems to participate naturally in human conversations rather than simply respond to prompts. His work sits at the intersection of HCI, cognitive science, conversation research, and modern AI.

He believes the next major breakthrough in AI may not be smarter models, but more human-compatible interfaces.

Ted Johnson is a software architect, entrepreneur, and researcher exploring the future of human-computer interaction in the age of AI. Over the past 25 years, he has built enterprise software and collaboration systems across multiple industries, with... Show more

A cybersecurity expert, criminology researcher, and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Nevis Infosystems and the Co-Founder & Director of NCORE Foundation. At Nevis, he drives product development, secure technology solutions, and innovative GenAI-based services, while at NCORE he empowers law enforcement agencies and professionals through advanced cyber investigation and security training.

He has solved 150+ real-world cybercrime cases and trained 10,000+ students, 200+ teachers, and 300+ law enforcement officers on digital safety, cybercrime investigation, and cloud security. As an entrepreneur, he is building products like Neviscater — bridging design, security, and usability — to create safer and smarter digital ecosystems.

With past experience at the Ministry of Defence (DRDO) and as a Graduate Project Manager at Kounsel, he has led security-focused software projects and helped startups build safe, user-friendly products.

Known for simplifying complex cybersecurity concepts, he regularly speaks at global and national conferences, mentors young professionals, and supports law enforcement with modern investigation techniques. His mission is clear — to make technology safer, accessible, and impactful for everyone.

A cybersecurity expert, criminology researcher, and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Nevis Infosystems and the Co-Founder & Director of NCORE Foundation. At Nevis, he drives product development, secure technology solu... Show more