A systemic design thinker working for a better world.

A systemic design thinker working for a better world. Show more

Synergy creator | Initiator Generalist | All-rounder | With people. For people.
I am an Employer Branding Specialist & your personal HR Business Partner. I stand for diversity, equity & inclusion. Passionate about exploring future trends, digitalization & technologies, and their innovational potential for business developments and society.

Synergy creator | Initiator Generalist | All-rounder | With people. For people. I am an Employer Branding Specialist & your personal HR Business Partner. I stand for diversity, equity & inclusion. Passionate about exploring future trends, digitaliza... Show more

I am an AI/ML Engineer based in Ireland with a passion for developing scalable deep learning and real-time streaming systems. My work focuses on solving real-world challenges in renewable energy and industrial IoT through cutting-edge machine learning workflows.

As part of my MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Limerick, I designed and built a real-time wind turbine anomaly detection and predictive maintenance system using Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, and advanced deep learning models.

I also have experience with AWS Sage Maker, Lang Chain, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), developing Conversational AI platforms and cloud-native ML solutions. My goal is to create sustainable, efficient, and impactful AI systems that drive innovation and support a cleaner, smarter future.

I am an AI/ML Engineer based in Ireland with a passion for developing scalable deep learning and real-time streaming systems. My work focuses on solving real-world challenges in renewable energy and industrial IoT through cutting-edge machine learnin... Show more

Born and raised in Texas, Ahniyah Perry is a community advocate renowned for her innovative ventures and steadfast commitment to social impact. Embarking on her college academic journey at the age of 15, Ahniyah demonstrated exceptional potential as a leader.

In 2017, she launched an online retail company, achieving remarkable success with a threefold increase in profits. Her entrepreneurial zeal led her to establish numerous startups, further solidifying her reputation for creative business ventures. Ahniyah's philanthropic spirit shone through with the founding of Santa's Helpers, a seasonal initiative offering free, gift-wrapping services to local community members. She currently works as an Aide for the District 6 office of Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, while also pursuing a dual master's degree in Organizational Leader and Business Administration. Her outstanding achievements earned her statewide recognition, highlighting her exceptional entrepreneurial and servant leadership qualities.

Born and raised in Texas, Ahniyah Perry is a community advocate renowned for her innovative ventures and steadfast commitment to social impact. Embarking on her college academic journey at the age of 15, Ahniyah demonstrated exceptional potential as ... Show more

IT professional since 2001. Passionate about tech and people. Founded and supported PHPSP for 12 years. Moved to Agile and management for the past years. From Brazil to Portugal, loving to write about identity and psychology.

IT professional since 2001. Passionate about tech and people. Founded and supported PHPSP for 12 years. Moved to Agile and management for the past years. From Brazil to Portugal, loving to write about identity and psychology. Show more

Product Designer

Product Designer Show more

Bringing people together is something that lives on through my workshops and training. Whether they take place online or on-premise, I facilitate workshops and learning experiences that focus on high participation, on learning by doing and verifying that the concepts are integrated. I use Live Online Learning Activities to ensure people get a chance to practice their understanding of the new concepts.

What better way is there to give meaning to what we say than to draw to make our thoughts explicit? When we add visual information to what we’re saying, suddenly our intention becomes much more precise, and we can begin to work on shared understanding. This is why I love bringing people in contact with the power of Visual Thinking, of getting back to our roots and using pen and paper to bring people closer together.

Stories are another option for bringing sensitive topics to the surface, which I recently started to explore through my self-development practice, as well as during numerous Around the world in (less than) 80 days workshops throughout the past years!

Bringing people together is something that lives on through my workshops and training. Whether they take place online or on-premise, I facilitate workshops and learning experiences that focus on high participation, on learning by doing and verifying ... Show more

Dr. Ellen-Rae Cachola is the Librarian and Digital Archivist of the Center for Labor Education and Research at University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu.

Dr. Ellen-Rae Cachola is the Librarian and Digital Archivist of the Center for Labor Education and Research at University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu. Show more

Dr. Dionne Mahaffey is an organizational psychologist, licensed psychotherapist, and award-winning entrepreneur whose career bridges the worlds of technology and mental health. She began her professional journey as a software developer, later rising to the C-Suite in the tech industry before transitioning into psychology. Today, she integrates her unique multidisciplinary background to help professionals and organizations thrive at the intersection of innovation, emotional well-being, and ethical responsibility.

Dr. Mahaffey has worked with leaders in high-pressure industries including technology, entertainment, and business, providing strategies for burnout prevention, resilience, and human-centered performance. As the founder of Roots to Branches Psychology & Wellness, she creates spaces where mental wellness and professional excellence coexist. She is also a professor, researcher, and public speaker, known for her ability to translate complex concepts into actionable insights that empower diverse audiences.

Passionate about responsible AI, Dr. Mahaffey draws on lessons from psychotherapy, such as empathy, boundaries, and cultural humility, to inspire more ethical and humane approaches to technology design.

Dr. Dionne Mahaffey is an organizational psychologist, licensed psychotherapist, and award-winning entrepreneur whose career bridges the worlds of technology and mental health. She began her professional journey as a software developer, later rising ... Show more

Mercy is an accomplished technical writer with over a year of professional experience in the field. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various companies, specializing in enhancing and revitalizing their blogs and technical documentation. By focusing on clarity and user engagement, she transforms complex information into easily understandable content, ensuring that readers can effectively grasp the subject matter. Mercy's meticulous attention to detail and her ability to organize information logically make her a valuable asset to any team seeking to improve their communication materials.

Mercy is an accomplished technical writer with over a year of professional experience in the field. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various companies, specializing in enhancing and revitalizing their blogs and technical documentation... Show more

I am a data scientist and AI architect with a specialism in speech processing and natural language processing. I have broad experience of incorporating AI into solutions, especially virtual assistants. In my current role, I help clients adopt watsonx Assistant for Z, enabling them to power up their mainframe operations with AI.

I am particularly interested in ethical and inclusive technology. Technology plays an ever increasing role in our world, and it will take collaboration and thoughtful design from across all sectors to make sure it works for everyone. I have led work on Coercive Control Resistant Design as part of IBM’s Academy of Technology, which was featured on BBC News.

I am a data scientist and AI architect with a specialism in speech processing and natural language processing. I have broad experience of incorporating AI into solutions, especially virtual assistants. In my current role, I help clients adopt watson... Show more

I'm Andreas Stenhall and my work passion is the Windows client in combination with security. I do consulting, I produce and teach my own courses, I lecture and I present, and my formal work title is principal workplace architect and advisor at Coligo in Stockholm, Sweden. I'm also proud to be a Microsoft MVP since 2009. I have presented at BUILD, TechEd in the US and Europe and regional TechDays and various user groups and other events.

I'm Andreas Stenhall and my work passion is the Windows client in combination with security. I do consulting, I produce and teach my own courses, I lecture and I present, and my formal work title is principal workplace architect and advisor at Coligo... Show more

Passionate about front-end development and UX, I turn interfaces into smooth and effective experiences. Naturally curious, I also explore ‘under the hood’ code to refine every step of the process. I talk about development, design, and team collaboration with a sprinkle of humor and plenty of nerdy analogies.

Passionate about front-end development and UX, I turn interfaces into smooth and effective experiences. Naturally curious, I also explore ‘under the hood’ code to refine every step of the process. I talk about development, design, and team collaborat... Show more

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

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

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

Kayla Ooms has been serving as the Social Media Specialist at Purdue University Northwest since 2022. In her role, she manages the university's primary social media platforms, coordinates marketing events, and oversees digital marketing assets. Kayla is passionate about using marketing and public relations to achieve significant results in the digital landscape. With a strong background in social media management, she enjoys creating engaging content and developing strategic campaigns to enhance the Purdue Northwest brand and foster meaningful connections with current students, prospective students, parents, alumni, and the community.

Kayla Ooms has been serving as the Social Media Specialist at Purdue University Northwest since 2022. In her role, she manages the university's primary social media platforms, coordinates marketing events, and oversees digital marketing assets. Kayla... Show more

Communications expert, event organizer, community gatherer. OSS contributor, sailing the K8s ocean since 2019. Marketing Director @Mia-Platform.
Strong believer that better software engineering brings to better development for the planet.

Communications expert, event organizer, community gatherer. OSS contributor, sailing the K8s ocean since 2019. Marketing Director @Mia-Platform. Strong believer that better software engineering brings to better development for the planet. Show more

As a dynamic Product Designer and Product Owner, I’ve led the end-to-end design and strategy of transformative digital products across Africa, US and in the UK. I previously served as a Product Designer at Torus Mara, where I crafted inclusive fintech and crypto payment experiences that power economic freedom. I also lead product at Lovebox Africa, a tech for good platform reimagining community giving. From scaling early concepts into polished, user-centered platforms to overseeing agile product teams, my work reflects a deep commitment to intentional design, cultural relevance, and high-performance product systems. I’m passionate about creating scalable solutions that solve real-world problems while enabling underserved users to thrive.

I’m also an open-source contributor with Women Coding Community, where I volunteer and collaborate on inclusive tech solutions, and a design mentor at Veet, empowering aspiring designers and product owners across the globe. My prior speaking engagements span product strategy, design systems, tech-for-good, and community-led innovation. I bring fresh, global insight into building cross-cultural, impact-driven digital products, and I’m driven to share this knowledge to inspire the next generation of product leaders. Whether on stage or in workshops, I deliver talks that prompt, equip, and empower audiences to build boldly and build products that solve real life problems.

As a dynamic Product Designer and Product Owner, I’ve led the end-to-end design and strategy of transformative digital products across Africa, US and in the UK. I previously served as a Product Designer at Torus Mara, where I crafted inclusive fintec... Show more

With over 20 years of experience in the video gaming industry, primarily in leadership roles, I've managed multicultural teams, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.

Like any journey, mine has had its share of challenges, including imposter syndrome, redundancy and burnout. But these experiences have only strengthened my determination and deepened my understanding of the struggles others may face.
This journey has also led me and my family to move from Paris, France, to Brighton, UK, marking a significant life and career change!

Today, I share my insights on overcoming self-doubt and reclaiming empowerment at various conventions. In addition to public speaking and team workshops, I offer one-on-one coaching sessions in a supportive, empowering, and non-judgemental environment.

I live in Brighton and, when I'm not coaching, you can find me training for running events, chasing after my two mischievous dogs, or playing detective to figure out what my teenagers are up to (hey, no one's perfect, right?).

With over 20 years of experience in the video gaming industry, primarily in leadership roles, I've managed multicultural teams, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Like any journey, mine has had its share of challenges, including impost... Show more

Matthew Pothoff is a dedicated individual from Dubuque County, Iowa, whose life is defined by hard work, curiosity, and passion. Growing up, he found joy in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and tennis, each of which shaped his character and developed his teamwork skills. His appreciation for history and craftsmanship led him to collect military rifles, where his interest in both mechanical design and historical context continues to grow.

Raised in Epworth, Iowa, Matthew attended Western Dubuque High School after spending his early education years in Catholic school. The structured environment taught him values of respect, focus, and perseverance. These formative lessons became the foundation for his professional and personal life. His upbringing in a close-knit community instilled in him an appreciation for tradition, discipline, and the value of self-improvement through hard work.

After high school, he pursued a degree in Criminal Justice at Hawkeye Community College, which deepened his sense of integrity and responsibility. Professionally, he began working in the automotive industry, where he developed hands-on skills and a strong work ethic. Now employed as a paint line laborer in a metal fabrication company, he applies coatings with precision, ensuring each product meets quality standards while maintaining a high level of craftsmanship.

Sports remain an enduring part of his life and identity. Baseball was his first love, one that he played until he turned nineteen. Throughout high school, he stayed active in football, basketball, and tennis, finding motivation and purpose through competition. Matt Pothoff still follows his favorite teams—the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Cavaliers—remaining an enthusiastic supporter of the games he grew up loving.

Beyond athletics, his fascination with firearms and military history reflects his curiosity about the intersection of technology and human innovation. Collecting surplus military rifles allows him to connect with historical eras and craftsmanship from around the world. He takes pride in understanding the function and history behind each piece, exploring the strategies and stories that shaped military development over time.

Outside of work, Matthew enjoys outdoor activities like hunting, camping, and hiking. He values time spent in nature for its balance and clarity, often engaging in deer and turkey hunts. Health and fitness are also priorities for him, as he experiments with new diets and routines to stay active. His lifestyle reflects discipline, passion, and respect for both history and the natural world.

Matthew Pothoff is a dedicated individual from Dubuque County, Iowa, whose life is defined by hard work, curiosity, and passion. Growing up, he found joy in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and tennis, each of which shaped his character... Show more

Laxmi Vanam is a data and analytics professional with 16+ years of experience across multiple industries, from financial services to retail and beyond. She designs decision intelligence frameworks that merge analytics, predictive modeling, and human insight—driving innovation, trust, and ROI in high-stakes, regulated environments worldwide.

Laxmi Vanam is a data and analytics professional with 16+ years of experience across multiple industries, from financial services to retail and beyond. She designs decision intelligence frameworks that merge analytics, predictive modeling, and human ... Show more

Deborah A. Carroll is Director of the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research focuses on local government fiscal policy, specifically taxation, revenue diversification, and water pricing and affordability. Dr. Carroll has produced 75 scholarly publications and 25 white papers and technical reports reflecting more than $2.75 million in research funding. She has been invited to share her expertise with academic and practitioner audiences across the U.S. and in several other countries. Dr. Carroll began her career in public service as a budget and policy analyst for the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With a passion for applied research intended to inform public policy and improve public sector management, Dr. Carroll pursued her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which she completed in 2004 along with a Graduate Certificate in State and Local Taxation from the UWM Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business.

Deborah A. Carroll is Director of the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research focuses on local government fiscal policy, specifically taxation, revenue diversification, and water pricing and affordabilit... Show more

Nick Woodley is an ISO 42001 Lead Auditor with over 25 years of enterprise technology experience, uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between AI innovation and governance requirements. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Cybersecurity Architect Expert, Nick combines deep Microsoft platform knowledge with practical AI governance implementation experience.
Relevant Credentials:

ISO 42001 Lead Auditor (AI Management Systems)
Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
CISSP & CCSP (ISC2)
Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) Associate Member

Current AI Governance Experience:
As Cyber Security and Power Platform Principal at Ascent, Nick has developed AI compliance offerings incorporating DORA and NIST frameworks for European financial institutions. His recent work includes conducting AI risk assessments for global engineering companies and implementing AI governance frameworks that strike a balance between innovation and regulatory compliance.
Practical Audit Insight:
Nick's experience as an active ISO 42001 Lead Auditor provides unique insights into what actually works during audits, as opposed to theoretical compliance. His background spanning regulated industries (banking, government, insurance) gives him a practical understanding of how AI governance requirements vary across different regulatory environments and organisational contexts.
As an ISC2 East Midlands Chapter Officer, Nick actively contributes to the cybersecurity community's understanding of emerging AI security and governance challenges, making him well-positioned to share practical, implementable strategies with conference attendees.

Nick Woodley is an ISO 42001 Lead Auditor with over 25 years of enterprise technology experience, uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between AI innovation and governance requirements. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Cybersecurity Architect Ex... Show more

Jay is a national expert on aging and disability services, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), health policy, and assistive technology. Before joining Guidehouse, he served under three governors as the State Director for Aging and Adult Services where he was responsible for a wide range of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for vulnerable adults, including the administration of the Older Americans Act, Medicaid 1915c waiver programs, protective services, and public guardianship. He was also Vice President for State Markets for a global healthcare IT company where he served as an SME for state clients. He also led the Human and Social Services division efforts related to data analytics, machine learning, and AI for Medicaid and other vulnerable adult populations. Jay is passionate about technology and helps states evaluate and envision how technology can help them meet current and future goals and objectives.

In his current role with Guidehouse, and as a former state government leader, professor, and President of the National Association of State Units on Aging and Disability; Jay has worked closely with state and federal leadership on strengthening protections for vulnerable adults and people with SMI / SUD, developing clinical and performance benchmarking data for recipients of traditional and Managed LTSS services. Jay has more than 13 years of experience leading the development and implementation of state programs such as 1915(b)(c)(i) and 1115 waivers, No Wrong Door (NWD) / Single Entry Point for LTSS, Balancing Incentive Program, Money Follows the Person, and administration of HCBS services. As an SME, he has testified before Congress and various state legislative committees and subcommittees.

As a tenured professor, he developed the first nationally accredited graduate program in Long-Term Care (LTC) administration and he has developed and taught graduate-level courses in statistics, research methods, public policy, healthcare administration, aging and disability services networks, and applied data analytics.

As a state director and later as an SME at Guidehouse, he applies these academic techniques to support the administration and oversight of state programs and services. He develops, promotes, and maintains relationships with leaders at health systems, government agencies, universities, and associations to drive a better understanding of the need to integrate health, social, and behavioral supports.

Jay provides clients with valuable insight, policy, and program consulting, budget analysis, and technical assistance while empowering them to realize success in areas such as organizational assessment, risk mitigation strategies, applied data analytics (including reimbursement and fee schedule analysis, network adequacy, budget neutrality, rate setting, and alternative payment models) for both FFS and Managed HCBS and LTC environments, program development, enhancing federal match, interagency collaborations, stakeholder engagement, and state planning services.

Jay is a national expert on aging and disability services, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), health policy, and assistive technology. Before joining Guidehouse, he served under three governors as the State Director for Aging and Adult Services ... Show more

Dr. Jennifer Elemen is an award-winning education leader, writer and speaker who designs and facilitates professional learning.

Dr. Jennifer Elemen is an award-winning education leader, writer and speaker who designs and facilitates professional learning. Show more

Dr. Jennifer Elemen is an award-winning education leader, writer and speaker who designs and facilitates professional learning.

Dr. Jennifer Elemen is an award-winning education leader, writer and speaker who designs and facilitates professional learning. Show more

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

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

Dr. Rolando Masís-Obando is a filmmaker, author, entrepreneur, and computational neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University. Rolando uses VR/AR, EEG, fMRI, AI, machine learning, and brain-computer-interface type methods to study how contexts shape the way we think and remember our day-to-day experiences. His academic journey spans from his Bachelor’s in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University to his PhD in Computational Neuroscience at Princeton. During his undergraduate studies, he co-founded Shuflix, the largest activity search engine (at the time), to help people interact with their environment in a playful way while helping small businesses get more exposure. Beyond academia, he channels his creativity through his YouTube channel where he shares programming tutorials on generative AI, AR/VR development, and CGI for sci-fi films. Additionally, he directs mini-documentaries exploring the ever-evolving landscape of technology. Recently, he co-founded one of the first, if not the first, hybrid academic/industry conference on the future of reality (Neuroethics & the Future of Reality; https://futurerealities.org/NFR2023/). Rolando and his brothers have an upcoming book titled “DIY AI” slated for release in 2025 with the practical know-how for coding and running your own AI models from home. Rolando also provides consulting for small businesses and start-ups in neuroscience, AI and XR.

Dr. Rolando Masís-Obando is a filmmaker, author, entrepreneur, and computational neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University. Rolando uses VR/AR, EEG, fMRI, AI, machine learning, and brain-computer-interface type methods to study how contexts shape th... Show more

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

Dr Raval is a researcher, educator, and mentor with over 25 years of experience and research expertise in computer vision, image processing, machine learning, data analytics, and engineering education. Dr. Raval has had the opportunity to engage in academic activities abroad and has received many accolades and awards. Dr. Raval's research has been published in reputable journals, magazines, conferences, and workshops, and his research has received support from institutions. He has been a reviewer for well-known publishers. He serves as Senior Editor and Associate Editor of IEEE Access and many other journals and has served IEEE.

Dr Raval is a researcher, educator, and mentor with over 25 years of experience and research expertise in computer vision, image processing, machine learning, data analytics, and engineering education. Dr. Raval has had the opportunity to engage in a... Show more

I'm the CTO and co-founder of Helio.AI, an AI agent platform transforming how recruiters work—trusted by 300+ international brands across 6 countries and backed by 500 Global. I have more than 6 years of experience in AI, combining new research ideas with useful tools for real businesses.

Alongside building AI products at scale, I serve as an AI researcher at GAIN, an EU-funded consortium between GTU, INRIA, and DFKI, where I explore topics like emotion recognition from EEG signals and face video. During the research I have published several articles in prestigious journals, held workshop on ACII 2024 and many more.

I'm honored to be a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a speaker at global conferences including ICLR, DataFest, the Forbes Women Conference, and more - where I share insights on real-world AI adoption, generative AI workflows, and the evolution of autonomous systems.

In addition to my work in startups and research, I have strong experience in education. I teach AI to university students at Georgian Technical University, run training programs for business teams, and lead public lectures and workshops to help people understand and use AI in their daily work.

My current work focuses on AI agents, human-in-the-loop decision-making, and making generative AI usable and safe for enterprise environments.

I'm the CTO and co-founder of Helio.AI, an AI agent platform transforming how recruiters work—trusted by 300+ international brands across 6 countries and backed by 500 Global. I have more than 6 years of experience in AI, combining new research ideas... Show more