Cindy Gross is a leadership clarity coach who helps women and non-binary leaders in tech lead with courage, clarity, and confidence. A former Microsoft data and cloud architect with 25+ years in enterprise tech, she knows firsthand what it means to thrive in high-pressure, male-dominated environments—while carrying the emotional labor of being “the only one.”

Now, as the founder of Befriending Dragons, Cindy supports underestimated leaders who are ready to stop shape-shifting to survive and start leading from their full selves. She blends systems thinking, equity-centered coaching, and lived experience to help clients navigate burnout, bias, and big decisions with grounded insight and practical strategy. Her work invites leaders to reclaim their voice, set powerful boundaries, and lead in ways that are both effective and deeply aligned.

Cindy’s keynotes and workshops have sparked reflection and change in tech teams, leadership cohorts, coaching communities, and public sector organizations. She speaks with sharp insight, mythic perspective, and deep compassion for what it really takes to lead when the system wasn’t built for you. Her message is simple and powerful: you’re not broken. You get to lead as your full self—and when you do, you change everything.

Cindy Gross is a leadership clarity coach who helps women and non-binary leaders in tech lead with courage, clarity, and confidence. A former Microsoft data and cloud architect with 25+ years in enterprise tech, she knows firsthand what it means to t... Show more

UI/UX designer and entrepreneur building SaaS, fintech, and Web3 products that turn complex ideas into simple, usable experiences.

UI/UX designer and entrepreneur building SaaS, fintech, and Web3 products that turn complex ideas into simple, usable experiences. Show more

Shane Heroux is a Principal Engineering Partner Manager at Red Hat, working at the intersection of open technology and partner ecosystems. His first Linux install was Slackware in the mid-'90s, and he's been building in open source ever since. He has worked across the hybrid cloud, translating complexity into outcomes that make sense for partners and customers. He combines technical depth with systems thinking to help organizations build architectures that are open and built to last.

Shane Heroux is a Principal Engineering Partner Manager at Red Hat, working at the intersection of open technology and partner ecosystems. His first Linux install was Slackware in the mid-'90s, and he's been building in open source ever since. He has... Show more

I fell in love with tech trying to understand the minds working behind the code. I studied a master's in cognitive sciences applied to computational thinking, I also hold a master's in HR and currently, I am studying behavioral sciences through primatology (yes! monkeys).
The scientific approach has greatly benefited my partnering with tech leads, allowing me to collaborate with them in understanding their team's behavior from the roots of our humanity, avoiding clichés and abstract theories.

I fell in love with tech trying to understand the minds working behind the code. I studied a master's in cognitive sciences applied to computational thinking, I also hold a master's in HR and currently, I am studying behavioral sciences through prima... Show more

Seit 2025 Freiraum25-Projekt „SKiLLs“, Bergische Universität Wuppertal
2024 Promotion, Fachgebiet Arbeitswissenschaft, Bergische Universität Wuppertal
2020 M.Sc. Work, Health and Career, Maastricht University
2019 B.Sc. Therapie- und Gesundheitsmanagement (dual), Fachhochschule Münster

Seit 2025 Freiraum25-Projekt „SKiLLs“, Bergische Universität Wuppertal 2024 Promotion, Fachgebiet Arbeitswissenschaft, Bergische Universität Wuppertal 2020 M.Sc. Work, Health and Career, Maastricht University 2019 B.Sc. Therapie- und Gesundheitsma... Show more

Adrian Sanchez Hernandez is a Staff Security Engineer at Google, specialising in nation-state threat intelligence, detection engineering and cryptocurrency attribution.

As a core member of Google's Frontline Intelligence Operations (FIO) team, Adrian leads the Gene CoE, a Centre of Excellence focused on detection signal strategy where he architects adversary-centric frameworks and automated workflows to support malware analysis, intrusion investigations and intelligence reporting at scale.

Adrian serves as Google's designated DPRK subject matter expert within the Koreas Mission, covering North Korean cybercrime operations with a particular focus on cryptocurrency theft, blockchain money laundering and sanctions evasion. He has contributed to the attribution of major incidents including 3CX, Bybit and Safe{wallet}, integrating on-chain tracing with traditional threat telemetry to attribute complex activity across the Web3 ecosystem.

Certified by Chainalysis in Ethereum Investigations and Reactor. Speaker at BSides Dublin, GovWare Singapore and Token2049 side-events. Author of Google Cloud blogs, M-Trends 2025 contributor, and credited in WIRED's "TraderTraitor: The Kings of the Crypto Heist"

Adrian Sanchez Hernandez is a Staff Security Engineer at Google, specialising in nation-state threat intelligence, detection engineering and cryptocurrency attribution. As a core member of Google's Frontline Intelligence Operations (FIO) team, Ad... Show more

Kashif Khan is a co-chair of CNCF TAG Infrastructure and maintainer of the CNCF project Metal3.io for 6 years. He works as an open source Architect for Ericsson Software Technology, Finland. He holds a PhD in Computer Science. Kashif is a research and open source enthusiast and his current area of interest is kubernetes deployments on baremetal systems in distributed cloud scenarios.

Kashif Khan is a co-chair of CNCF TAG Infrastructure and maintainer of the CNCF project Metal3.io for 6 years. He works as an open source Architect for Ericsson Software Technology, Finland. He holds a PhD in Computer Science. Kashif is a research an... Show more

Anna Abesadze is an internationally recognized professional whose work has earned her multiple prestigious honors. As a co-author of internationally published books, gifted at the Academy Awards, including a #1 Amazon bestseller, she has reached global audiences.
With experience studying and working in five countries, she brings a global perspective to her roles as Adviser to the Rector and lecturer at Grigol Robakidze University and as Global Governance Coordinator at World Vision International.
She is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award presented by Barack Obama and has been named Woman Changemaker 2024, Leader of the Year 2024 and Global Impact Award 2025. Anna was a US Department of State and EU Commission scholar and a Presidential Scholar for academic excellence. Anna Abesadze was also named among MSN Magazine’s Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders of 2026.
A mother of two, she supports other women, participates in charity initiatives and serves as a board member and judge for women’s awards. Anna continues to inspire through impact and leadership.

Anna Abesadze is an internationally recognized professional whose work has earned her multiple prestigious honors. As a co-author of internationally published books, gifted at the Academy Awards, including a #1 Amazon bestseller, she has reached glob... Show more

Sono un papà bis, da decenni nel mondo del software con una passione per la mente e per questo mi sono laureato in Psicologia. Negli ultimi anni, parallelamente al mio lavoro tra architetture software e engineering management in scaleup e realtà internazionali, mi sono dedicato alla ricerca e alla divulgazione all'intersezione tra scienze cognitive e ingegneria del software, con The Mental Stack su Medium. Sono convinto che le persone restino il motore reale di qualsiasi organizzazione che voglia costruire prodotti che durano e che capire come funziona la mente sia oggi più urgente che mai, in un settore che sta cambiando più velocemente della nostra capacità di adattarci.

Sono un papà bis, da decenni nel mondo del software con una passione per la mente e per questo mi sono laureato in Psicologia. Negli ultimi anni, parallelamente al mio lavoro tra architetture software e engineering management in scaleup e realtà inte... Show more

Tessel is a consultant in data & AI at Info Support, specialized in interpretable AI. In her daily work, she applies AI-augmented engineering to build and evaluate intelligent systems, or gives trainings about AI. She is known as an enthusiastic knowledge source and an insatiably curious lifelong learner. Outside of work, she channels her strategic thinking into board games (with a soft spot for complex strategy games) and escapes into fantasy novels. With an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, an MSc in Computer Science, and an MA in Linguistics, she combines a strong technical foundation with a deep interest in language and reasoning.

Tessel is a consultant in data & AI at Info Support, specialized in interpretable AI. In her daily work, she applies AI-augmented engineering to build and evaluate intelligent systems, or gives trainings about AI. She is known as an enthusiastic know... Show more

Starting as a Python programmer, I chose to transition into a Scrum Master role—driven by my passion for active listening and cultivating human connections—before specializing as an Agile Coach, with a laser focus on OKRs as a Global Partner at OKRs.com.

Partnering with organizations, I foster agile mindsets to stay ahead of the curve and unlock untapped potential. Drawing on my Agile Coaching expertise, I guide teams to simplify complexity and deliver meaningful results through tailored practices. With OKRs.com, I empower leaders to turn strategy into actionable goals, amplifying focus, alignment, and transparency across their teams.

My mission? To build workplaces where people flourish and companies hit the mark—combining purpose, progress, and performance.

Starting as a Python programmer, I chose to transition into a Scrum Master role—driven by my passion for active listening and cultivating human connections—before specializing as an Agile Coach, with a laser focus on OKRs as a Global Partner at OKRs.... Show more

Nick Lavery (pronounced Nick Lay-Very) is an active-duty Green Beret in the United States Army Special Forces and the founder & CEO of Precision Components LLC.  After a life-altering injury sustained in combat, he transformed his challenges into a series of curriculums on leadership, resilience, and goal achievement. As one of the most sought-after speakers and mentors in the country, Nick and his team of assets share valuable insights on discipline, work ethic, and teamwork, in turn empowering others to unlock capacity and increase capability. 

Nick has a long and distinguished list of military awards, but to name a few, he has been awarded the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Valor, three Bronze Stars for service, the Bruce Price Leadership award, and the Special Operations Command Excalibur award. 

Nick is the best selling author of Objective Secure- the battle-tested guide to goal achievement, and most significantly, he is a proud husband and father of two boys. 

Nick Lavery (pronounced Nick Lay-Very) is an active-duty Green Beret in the United States Army Special Forces and the founder & CEO of Precision Components LLC.  After a life-altering injury sustained in combat, he transformed his challenges into a s... Show more

I’m Nancy Kokori a lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator, and a speaker on growth and habits.

Growing up, I believed the big things ,the big dreams, the big projects were what mattered most. It took me years to see the truth: those things are only ever built on small, daily habits. Most people don’t fail because they lack ambition. They fail because of habits they built long before they ever named the dream.

That’s the gap I exist to close — between who you are and who you were made to be. Whether I’m speaking to young people, women, educators, or businesses, my message stays the same: growth isn’t a big idea, it’s a decision you repeat until it becomes you.

I’m Nancy Kokori a lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator, and a speaker on growth and habits. Growing up, I believed the big things ,the big dreams, the big projects were what mattered most. It took me years to see the truth: those things are only eve... Show more

Cloud Engineer with over 8 years of experience leading migrations from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. As an AWS Community Builder, he is dedicated to advancing cloud practices and sharing insights with the broader tech community. Scott is currently pursuing a Doctor of Technology at Purdue University Online, focusing his research on the intersection of artificial intelligence and ethics.
He is passionate about staying at the forefront of AWS developments and enjoys mentoring others in cloud technologies. Outside of work, Scott can often be found storm chasing, reading, painting, playing video games, or simply relaxing.

Cloud Engineer with over 8 years of experience leading migrations from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. As an AWS Community Builder, he is dedicated to advancing cloud practices and sharing insights with the broader tech community. Scott is c... Show more

Nathan M. Thornhill is an independent researcher and author of Foundations of the Existence Threshold: The Scholarly Collection. He works without a university, a funding body, or a department.

His research addresses one question: how do you tell whether a mind is still there? He built a measure for it, then published the account of what it cannot do.

The question came from clinical work rather than philosophy. He spent years in healthcare, from nursing assistant to Long Term Care Administration and through ICU admissions, where families asked him whether their loved one was still in there. He never had a good answer for them.

The same question now applies to artificial intelligence, and that is where much of the work sits. He founded the Institute for Complexity Science and Advanced Computing (ICSAC), which publishes the research, and built CiteStamp, which catches the citations AI systems invent. He holds four provisional patents.

He is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and travels for speaking engagements.

Nathan M. Thornhill is an independent researcher and author of Foundations of the Existence Threshold: The Scholarly Collection. He works without a university, a funding body, or a department. His research addresses one question: how do you tell w... Show more

In 2017, Tom Sherman discovered the 5th season of the year after nearly a decade of studying timekeeping and measurement systems. He then spent the next 3 years deconstructing the Gregorian Calendar and re-engineering a New Calendar system using modern math, science and logic that divides time evenly, precisely, and accurately, for the first time in the history of time. With humor, philosophy, and curiosity, Tom is able to expand your perception of reality and uncover new systems and patterns that are currently hiding in plain sight.

In 2017, Tom Sherman discovered the 5th season of the year after nearly a decade of studying timekeeping and measurement systems. He then spent the next 3 years deconstructing the Gregorian Calendar and re-engineering a New Calendar system using mode... Show more

Philosopher and entreprenuer, involved with technology and communication since 1999. Co-founder of Agile Reloaded and Nobilita. Currently working with corporates teams in order to get their companies ready for the future, evolving the way they works and hacking their culture.

Philosopher and entreprenuer, involved with technology and communication since 1999. Co-founder of Agile Reloaded and Nobilita. Currently working with corporates teams in order to get their companies ready for the future, evolving the way they works ... Show more

Dorka is a PCC-certified organisational developer with a specialization in neuroscience and performance, CEO of Y2Y Ltd.

Dorka is also a professional speaker, having been awarded 'Best Speaker' more than twenty times. She has presented at more than 200 HR and Supply Chain Congresses around the world, from Tallinn to Mombasa.

As an organizational development consulting company, Y2Y increases leaders' and organizations' consciousness levels using methods of individual and team coaching, organizational and leadership development, and authoring the world's 11th most-read leadership blog.

Y2Y has two main pillars: learning & development consulting, and organizational effectiveness and supply chain. They are offering whole S&OP introduction programs, including intercompany cooperation, demand planning, supply chain planning, and S&OP meeting culture introduction.

Dorka is a PCC-certified organisational developer with a specialization in neuroscience and performance, CEO of Y2Y Ltd. Dorka is also a professional speaker, having been awarded 'Best Speaker' more than twenty times. She has presented at more tha... Show more

Mathias Bolt Lesniak lives outside Oslo, Norway. He is the official project ambassador of the TYPO3 CMS project and lives to increase the impact of open source through increased cross-community collaboration. He is an experienced and lively public speaker who builds engagement in open source communities by highlighting the connection between code and society at large. He has done numerous conference keynotes and motivational talks centering on topics less commonly addressed — but vitally important to open source success.

Mathias Bolt Lesniak lives outside Oslo, Norway. He is the official project ambassador of the TYPO3 CMS project and lives to increase the impact of open source through increased cross-community collaboration. He is an experienced and lively public sp... Show more

Fui deportista profesional durante más de 10 años y esto me dejó una cultura del esfuerzo y del trabajo en equipo. Con formación en Recursos Humanos y Relaciones Laborales, inicié mi carrera en un equipo de Administración y Finanzas y pronto me incorporé a la consultoría ERP. Mi energía y dinamismo me llevó hasta el ámbito del Desarrollo de Negocio, terminando por fin en lo que ahora es mi pasión, liderar la estrategia de Talento en una consultora Tecnológica.

Fui deportista profesional durante más de 10 años y esto me dejó una cultura del esfuerzo y del trabajo en equipo. Con formación en Recursos Humanos y Relaciones Laborales, inicié mi carrera en un equipo de Administración y Finanzas y pronto me incor... Show more

Frank Köhne is co-head of viadee's Data Science division. He has a research background and has spent the last 15 years coordinating the company's collaborations with universities in the region, but he has also spent a lot of time on software development and architecture, often in insurance or logistics.
He is currently leading a BMBF-funded consortium with the goal of leveraging process workarounds in the context of Industry 4.0 for process innovation.

Frank Köhne is co-head of viadee's Data Science division. He has a research background and has spent the last 15 years coordinating the company's collaborations with universities in the region, but he has also spent a lot of time on software developm... Show more

Mateja Tomšič Petrovski – Akengen je autorica knjige „Između svetova – Priče predaka“, Iyanifa – Majka tajne, duhovna orijentatorica, šamanka, terapeutkinja i voditeljica Akengen rada. Više od dva desetljeća istražuje odnos čovjeka prema duši, precima, nasljeđu, tijelu, svijesti i nevidljivim slojevima života.

U svom radu povezuje Ifa mudrost, rad s precima, arhetipske energije prirode, NLP, mnoge šamanske tehnike, trans terapije i hipnoterapiju. Kroz predavanja, radionice, edukacije i individualne procese istražuje kako se duhovno, simboličko, obiteljsko i kulturno nasljeđe utjelovljuje u stvarnom životu čovjeka.

Njezina knjiga „Između svetova – Priče predaka“ kroz preplet mitologije, iskustvenog rada, duhovne tradicije i suvremenog pripovijedanja otvara prostor za razumijevanje predaka kao žive memorije roda, kulture i unutarnjeg života.

Mateja Tomšič Petrovski – Akengen je autorica knjige „Između svetova – Priče predaka“, Iyanifa – Majka tajne, duhovna orijentatorica, šamanka, terapeutkinja i voditeljica Akengen rada. Više od dva desetljeća istražuje odnos čovjeka prema duši, precim... Show more

Née à Madagascar, Mija Rabemananjara a grandi à la Réunion, à Bordeaux, en
région parisienne et décide de tenter l’expérience de l’Amérique du Nord en Septembre 2019 en
s’installant au Québec. Avec une forte expérience dans l’IT, elle devient coach agile en 2015 et
construit 2 cursus de formations :
 Devenir coach agile Agilopathe®
 Devenir un manager/gestionnaire agile avec Montessori Extended®

Son ambition est d’accompagner les organisations vers plus d’auto-organisation et au-delà pour
plus d’engagement, plus de performance, plus d’innovation, pour une société plus saine.

Sur son site http://lesagilopathes.com vous retrouverez ses publications, des vidéos de ses
conférences précédentes, la description de ses offres et les événements à venir !

Née à Madagascar, Mija Rabemananjara a grandi à la Réunion, à Bordeaux, en région parisienne et décide de tenter l’expérience de l’Amérique du Nord en Septembre 2019 en s’installant au Québec. Avec une forte expérience dans l’IT, elle devient coa... Show more

Being personally invited by the staff of grief pioneer Elisabeth Kubler-Ross to train with them and work with them in grief workshops. Working as a licensed therapist for over twenty years helping clients heal old wounds, navigate present stresses, and create new lives. Serving as a minister for over forty years, sitting by hospital bedsides or leading retreat groups. Talking over a cup of coffee as a business coach, helping leaders work more efficiently and authentically.

All of my different experiences have the same theme: being with people in those places and in those moments that matter. Those moments when everything has been turned upside down and you don’t know the next step to take or those moments when you realize that everything in your life is too much the same and that doesn’t work for you anymore.

These conversations have always fueled my work. Now I’m sharing that work with a wider audience through keynote speeches, seminars, and retreats, offering insights, inspiration, and tools.

Talking about things that matter can be challenging, reassuring (“You mean it’s not just me?”), surprising, funny, and joyful.

I’m here for all of it.

Being personally invited by the staff of grief pioneer Elisabeth Kubler-Ross to train with them and work with them in grief workshops. Working as a licensed therapist for over twenty years helping clients heal old wounds, navigate present stresses, a... Show more

Swapna Chimanchodkar is an accomplished transformation leader with nearly two decades of experience enabling sustainable business impact for global organizations through process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation. She has successfully led strategic initiatives spanning process and IT transformation, enterprise data strategy, and automation integrating technologies such as AI/ML, RPA, Gen AI, and advanced analytics to solve complex business challenges.
In her current role as Director at UBS Financial Services, Swapna drives large-scale transformation and integration programs across various areas of the bank. She oversees strategic integration, data modernization, and digital and process improvement initiatives, collaborating closely with senior leadership and cross-functional global teams.
A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Swapna brings a unique combination of analytical rigor, strategic insight, and change management expertise to every engagement. She has been instrumental in designing target operating models, and implementing automation frameworks that deliver measurable efficiencies.
As a thought leader, Swapna regularly contributes to industry dialogue. She served as a keynote speaker and panelist at the NexGen Banking Summit USA 2024, discussing AI-driven business innovation and data-led digital transformation in the banking sector.

Swapna Chimanchodkar is an accomplished transformation leader with nearly two decades of experience enabling sustainable business impact for global organizations through process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation. She... Show more

Dr. Cheryl Aguilar, PhD, LICSW, is a mental health clinician, researcher, and advocate dedicated to the mental health of Latine and immigrant communities. At The Hope Center for Wellness, an award-winning immigrant mental health agency in Washington, D.C., she leads wellness efforts to expand mental health access for diverse communities. Originally from Honduras, Dr. Aguilar’s lived experience as an immigrant inspirers her work, shaping her mission to advance mental health equity.

Dr. Cheryl Aguilar, PhD, LICSW, is a mental health clinician, researcher, and advocate dedicated to the mental health of Latine and immigrant communities. At The Hope Center for Wellness, an award-winning immigrant mental health agency in Washington,... Show more

Njord is a developer who loves software design, test-driven design (TDD) and continuous integration and development (CI/CD). He is also a bit of a language nerd and regularly shares his thoughts on language, programming and everything in between these two subjects at kodespraket.no. Before Njord started working as a developer he worked on digitization in the educational sector and he has held more than a hundred presentations and workshops on the subjects of digitalization, prototyping and programming. He has a master's degree in Cognitive Semiotics and two bachelor's degrees, one in Computer Engineering and one in Arts and Culture Studies.

Njord is a developer who loves software design, test-driven design (TDD) and continuous integration and development (CI/CD). He is also a bit of a language nerd and regularly shares his thoughts on language, programming and everything in between thes... Show more

Biography
Sarita Gupta as a versatile portfolio to bring to a balanced world with 12 years of software design and development experience at Microsoft in Redmond WA with prior software development experience of 3 years in startups and 2 years of experience on model based computing on government sponsored research projects. Sarita Gupta went to Vanderbilt University from where she graduated with Masters Degree in Computer Science. Sarita Gupta has been a Research Assistant working for government Space agency sponsored projects on manned mission to Mars and on fault detection system of f15 fighter planes. Sarita Gupta has published formal research papers and has technical awards and U.S. goverment patent on software object synchronization.

Biography Sarita Gupta as a versatile portfolio to bring to a balanced world with 12 years of software design and development experience at Microsoft in Redmond WA with prior software development experience of 3 years in startups and 2 years of expe... Show more

Technology companies rarely struggle because they lack tools, processes, or talented people. They struggle because software delivery has become too complex, important decisions are disconnected from business goals, and transformation initiatives produce activity instead of measurable results.

I help organizations identify and remove the real constraints that slow down engineering: unclear priorities, fragile architecture, ineffective delivery practices, legacy systems, organizational friction, and poorly adopted tools.

My work sits at the intersection of software engineering, product development, technology strategy, and organizational change. I combine more than 20 years of hands-on and leadership experience, including senior roles at Microsoft, to turn complex problems into clear decisions and executable plans.

I work primarily with C-suite executives and senior technology leaders on the restructuring, optimization, and transformation of product, engineering, and broader R&D organizations. This includes clarifying responsibilities, redesigning operating models, improving collaboration between product and engineering, removing organizational bottlenecks, and ensuring that teams are structured around business outcomes rather than internal activity.

Today, I focus particularly on AI-assisted software development, engineering productivity, software modernization, and pragmatic technology transformation. I help leaders and engineering teams decide where AI and modern tools create genuine leverage and where they merely add cost, risk, and complexity.

I challenge assumptions, simplify complicated environments, and focus on changes that improve delivery speed, software quality, organizational effectiveness, and business outcomes.

Technology companies rarely struggle because they lack tools, processes, or talented people. They struggle because software delivery has become too complex, important decisions are disconnected from business goals, and transformation initiatives prod... Show more

I'm a bird conservationist specialized in bird-friendly building policy development, research, and advocacy. I help governments appreciate the complex lives of birds and how our decisions about buildings and nighttime lighting affect avian populations. In 2023, I co-led a statewide campaign to pass Public Act No. 23-143, Connecticut's “Lights Out bill,” which requires CT state agencies to turn off unnecessary lights by 11pm for birds. As a policy researcher at the Yale Bird-friendly Building Initiative, I co-authored 'Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy." I routinely testify and submit public comments on municipal and institutional lighting plans. I hold an MA in cultural history from the University of Chicago and an MDiv in religion & ecology from Yale University.

I'm a bird conservationist specialized in bird-friendly building policy development, research, and advocacy. I help governments appreciate the complex lives of birds and how our decisions about buildings and nighttime lighting affect avian population... Show more