Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Antonio Bugni

Antonio Bugni

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

Swapna Chimanchodkar

Swapna Chimanchodkar

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

Kelsey Ratcliffe

Kelsey Ratcliffe

Kelsey Ratcliffe is the Founder of KR Criminal Profiling & Analysis and a commercial security consultant with over 15 years of law enforcement experience. A former Lieutenant, child abuse investigator, hostage negotiator, and incident commander, she specializes in workplace violence prevention, behavioral threat assessment, de-escalation strategies, and employee wellness.

Kelsey helps organizations identify concerning behaviors before they escalate into violence, develop practical prevention strategies, and create safer environments for employees, customers, and stakeholders. Her presentations combine real-world experience, behavioral science, and actionable de-escalation tools that audiences can immediately apply in the workplace.

She has delivered training to construction, corporate, educational, and community audiences on topics including workplace violence prevention, behavioral indicators of risk, conflict de-escalation, and resilience through mindfulness practices.

Kelsey Ratcliffe is the Founder of KR Criminal Profiling & Analysis and a commercial security consultant with over 15 years of law enforcement experience. A former Lieutenant, child abuse investigator, hostage negotiator, and incident commander, she ... Show more

Clara Mate

Clara Mate

Hace más de 7 años que trabajo en el mundo de los Recursos Humanos. A lo largo de mi carrera fui creciendo en distintas áreas, pero siempre con un foco muy claro: las personas y el marco legal que las protege dentro de las organizaciones.

Actualmente sigo aprendiendo y desarrollándome como especialista laboral en DQS, donde me encargo de acompañar a los equipos en todo lo relacionado con normativa laboral, auditorías internas, conflictos y mucho más. También colaboro con procesos de talento: onboarding, desarrollo, formación, clima y cultura. Siempre buscando generar espacios de trabajo sanos y alineados con la cultura y valores de la empresa.

Hace más de 7 años que trabajo en el mundo de los Recursos Humanos. A lo largo de mi carrera fui creciendo en distintas áreas, pero siempre con un foco muy claro: las personas y el marco legal que las protege dentro de las organizaciones. Actualme... Show more

Max Rohrbacher

Max Rohrbacher

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

Andreea Lungulescu

Andreea Lungulescu

Andreea is your typical, neurospicy human being, acting as a Talent Expert, with over 15 years of experience, across technology and specialist engineering. The founder of the Talent Crunch - Berlin community and "The Principal Recruiter" Consultancy, she pocketed 2 X Global Innovation awards with Zalando and Wayfair and now leads the Tech TA transformation for thermondo.

Passionate about career development and hiring excellence, Andreea shares her insights through her website, social media, and at various conferences, podcasts, and articles. Some of her notable achievements include establishing Wayfair’s Tech Development Centre in India, redesigning Zalando’s Product Management Interviewing Framework, and creating company-wide Internal Mobility programs.

Outside of work, Andreea loves the automotive world (Audi is truly a weak spot 😍), architecture, music, and the arts, with a special passion for acrylic painting. And if you love to dance, you know who to call on!

Andreea is your typical, neurospicy human being, acting as a Talent Expert, with over 15 years of experience, across technology and specialist engineering. The founder of the Talent Crunch - Berlin community and "The Principal Recruiter" Consultancy,... Show more

Kashif Khan

Kashif Khan

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

Anna Abesadze

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

Eszter Iványi

Eszter Iványi

Eszter Iványi, with 5+ years in asset management and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Coaching from ELTE University, she combines corporate expertise with coaching principles to drive organizational change and professional development.

Eszter Iványi, with 5+ years in asset management and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Coaching from ELTE University, she combines corporate expertise with coaching principles to drive organizational change and professional development. Show more

Tessel Haagen

Tessel Haagen

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

Nathan M. Thornhill

Nathan M. Thornhill

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

Todd Walls

Todd Walls

Dr. Todd Walls, DM, MBA (Human Resource Management & Healthcare Management), MSW, is a Human Resource (HR), learning and development (L&D), privacy, governance, and workforce systems consultant. A former federal Privacy Officer, he holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional - U.S. Government (CIPP/G) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and brings cross-functional experience spanning HR, L&D, organizational development, privacy, compliance training, employee engagement, accessibility, disability inclusion, workforce data, regulated environments, and prior Air Force information systems/security duties, including service as a Terminal Area Security Officer, Computer Workgroup Manager, and Client Server Administrator.

Todd is a frequent conference and workshop speaker whose experience includes regional HR conferences, national and regional disability inclusion programs, national privacy law compliance training, and invitations to speak internationally on privacy law compliance and information security. He has developed and delivered privacy, compliance, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and organizational learning content for diverse adult audiences, including large federal training audiences.

He is a SHRM chapter President-Elect, national keynote presenter, former IAPP CIPP/G Certification Advisory Board member, and published thought leader in HR Executive, HR.com, Training Industry, and International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), including articles on employee data trust, employee voice, workforce systems, privacy law compliance, incident response, and NoSQL database vulnerabilities.

Dr. Todd Walls, DM, MBA (Human Resource Management & Healthcare Management), MSW, is a Human Resource (HR), learning and development (L&D), privacy, governance, and workforce systems consultant. A former federal Privacy Officer, he holds the Certifie... Show more

Marián Hernández

Marián Hernández

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

Harender Singh

Harender Singh

Harender Bisht, PhD, is a Technical Architect and Lead Developer with more than 10 years of experience designing and delivering enterprise technology solutions across insurance, reinsurance, finance, regulatory reporting, data engineering, and applied artificial intelligence. Based in New Jersey, he currently serves as a Lead Developer and Technical Architect at Crum & Forster, where he leads strategic initiatives involving IFRS 17, reinsurance modernization, financial automation, enterprise data architecture, intelligent reporting, and AI-enabled decision-support systems.

His work includes designing a company-wide IFRS 17 data and calculation framework that integrates claims, premiums, reinsurance, actuarial, and financial information with platforms such as Moody’s Analytics and OneStream. He has architected enterprise integrations for Sapiens Reinsurance, supported the modernization and retirement of legacy systems, and developed a hybrid cloud and on-premises job orchestration platform for centrally managing, monitoring, scheduling, and auditing enterprise batch operations.

Harender’s applied AI work focuses on building governed, secure, and explainable AI capabilities for enterprise environments. He has contributed to intelligent financial reporting solutions that combine retrieval-augmented generation, large language models, natural-language querying, semantic search, metadata-driven retrieval, and structured enterprise data pipelines. These solutions are designed to help business users explore financial and operational information, identify trends and variances, compare reporting periods, and generate evidence-based insights while maintaining traceability to authoritative data sources.

He has also designed microservices for OFAC sanctions screening using Azure Cognitive Search, fuzzy matching, weighted entity attributes, configurable decision thresholds, and auditable screening workflows. His broader AI architecture experience includes agentic workflows, intent classification, dynamic query planning, vector and keyword retrieval, prompt orchestration, model evaluation, human feedback, confidence assessment, observability, and responsible AI guardrails. He emphasizes the importance of grounding AI-generated responses in validated enterprise data, preserving lineage, controlling access, monitoring performance, and reducing hallucinations in high-stakes financial and regulatory applications.

His technical expertise includes Azure cloud architecture, enterprise AI architecture, microservices, .NET, C#, Python, SQL, data engineering, Snowflake, OneStream, Azure Cognitive Search, retrieval-augmented generation, large language models, LangChain, LangGraph, LangSmith, semantic search, and enterprise integration patterns. He works closely with finance, actuarial, compliance, operations, data, and technology leaders to ensure that technical and AI architectures align with business objectives, regulatory obligations, security standards, governance policies, and operational requirements.

Harender earned his PhD in Information Technology from the University of the Cumberlands, where his research examined the ethical implications of explainable artificial intelligence in insurance fraud detection. His research focused on how fairness, transparency, accountability, trust, interpretability, and auditability influence the adoption and use of AI-supported decisions in high-stakes insurance environments. His work bridges technical AI development with responsible AI governance and the practical needs of professionals who rely on algorithmic recommendations.

He also holds a master’s degree in Computer Applications from the University of Bridgeport and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Amity University. His professional and academic work reflects a continued focus on developing scalable, trustworthy, and business-aligned AI systems that strengthen enterprise decision-making without compromising governance, transparency, or human oversight.

Harender Bisht, PhD, is a Technical Architect and Lead Developer with more than 10 years of experience designing and delivering enterprise technology solutions across insurance, reinsurance, finance, regulatory reporting, data engineering, and applie... Show more

Pascal Ogil

Pascal Ogil

De développeur à Architecte à Coach Agile à Coach Pro, je suis passionné par la découverte de ce qui peut permettre d'amener des relations plus sereines dans une transformation.
J'ai découvert la CNV il y a 6 ans, à laquelle je me suis formé, j'ai coeur à rendre le monde meilleur en partageant ce merveilleux outil.

De développeur à Architecte à Coach Agile à Coach Pro, je suis passionné par la découverte de ce qui peut permettre d'amener des relations plus sereines dans une transformation. J'ai découvert la CNV il y a 6 ans, à laquelle je me suis formé, j'ai c... Show more

Vladislav Guzey

Vladislav Guzey

Developer & PhD Researcher in AI, focused on generative AI and agent-based systems. I have 18+ years of experience in tech, spanning web development, data, and growth.

Today, I help developers work smarter by using AI-powered tools, agents, and practical workflows that improve productivity and real-world outcomes. I share what I learn through hands-on tutorials, tool reviews, and experiments, bridging research with everyday development work.

Developer & PhD Researcher in AI, focused on generative AI and agent-based systems. I have 18+ years of experience in tech, spanning web development, data, and growth. Today, I help developers work smarter by using AI-powered tools, agents, and p... Show more

Rashmi Nagpal

Rashmi Nagpal

Rashmi is a AI Research Scientist at Poseidon and a researcher at MIT CSAIL, working in the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. She has six years of industrial experience, having brought ideas to life at pre-seed startups and contributed to impactful redesigns and features at established industry giants. Beyond coding, Rashmi finds inspiration in capturing the wonders of the cosmos through her telescope and engaging in board games with friends.

Rashmi is a AI Research Scientist at Poseidon and a researcher at MIT CSAIL, working in the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. She has six years of industrial experience, having brought ideas to life at pre-seed startups and c... Show more

Ramsey Elkholy

Ramsey Elkholy

Ramsey Elkholy is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and anthropologist who founded the indietronica collective Monotronic in 2016. He conceived the project as a communal platform where instruments interweave into a single expressive force. Rather than spotlighting individual virtuosity, he emphasizes shared intention and group chemistry, encouraging collaborators to shape each track with their own textures, instincts, and creative voice.

Elkholy’s parallel career in anthropology informs that philosophy. He earned a PhD and authored Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience Among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra, a study of rainforest foragers in Indonesia. His research explored how identity, environment, and daily practice intertwine. That perspective carries into his music, where rhythm and atmosphere reflect lived experience and collective awareness.

Travel has also played a defining role in his artistic development. After spending three years backpacking across Asia and beyond, studying Indian music in Calcutta, and completing two years of fieldwork in Sumatra, Ramsey Elkholy Monotronic developed a deep sensitivity to polyrhythm and texture. He has described the rainforest at night as a vast, layered symphony. Raised in New York and now based in Los Angeles, he works from a home garage studio.

Monotronic’s 2026 album Waiting for You represents a significant chapter in the collective’s growth. The record features acclaimed bassist Mohini Dey on Close Enough and legendary drummer Omar Hakim throughout the project. Several accompanying videos, including Looking Away and Everything Moves, premiered at number one on VEVO, expanding the band’s reach and visual identity.

The album blends indie rock, pop, and electronic elements into a cohesive, cinematic sound marked by reflective lyrics and polished production. Everything Moves unfolds in a high-energy escape room setting, while Kettle Song pairs dynamic choreography with striking imagery. Many of the songs were written during time spent in Tulum, where coastal landscapes shaped the album’s contemplative mood.

Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2019, Monotronic has earned praise from outlets such as Rolling Stone and Relix. A rotating roster of accomplished musicians has contributed to the project, many of whom have ties to major artists across genres. Singles including Kids of Summer and In Between have drawn a strong critical response, reinforcing Elkholy’s reputation for genre-fluid songwriting and immersive sound design.

Ramsey Elkholy is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and anthropologist who founded the indietronica collective Monotronic in 2016. He conceived the project as a communal platform where instruments interweave into a single expressive force. Rather th... Show more

Claire Hayek

Claire Hayek

Claire Hayek, Eng., MBA, is a NeuroLeadership expert, TEDx speaker, and creator of Pressure-Proof Leadership™, a neuroscience-based system that protects decision quality, execution stability, and culture performance under pressure.

For more than 30 years, she has operated in high pressure environments, from growing up in war-torn Lebanon to engineering and executive leadership. Her work addresses one of the most expensive problems in business: leaders who lose strategic judgment precisely when it matters most.

Her thought leadership has been featured in International Business Times. She is the host of ‘The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast’, ranked in the top 5% of podcasts globally, and is releasing her second book 'The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You: Calm Under Fire in the Age of Disruption' in September 2026.

Her work bridges human resilience and organizational performance, focusing on one central question: how do we master pressure without becoming driven by it?

Claire Hayek, Eng., MBA, is a NeuroLeadership expert, TEDx speaker, and creator of Pressure-Proof Leadership™, a neuroscience-based system that protects decision quality, execution stability, and culture performance under pressure. For more than 3... Show more

Cheryl Aguilar

Cheryl Aguilar

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

Franco Vela

Franco Vela

GDG Nuremberg Organizer

I've worked at a multiple startups as Mobile Software Engineer specialized in building apps with Flutter. Additionally I've built and published multiple apps of my own. I am also organizer of the Google Developer Group Nuremberg.

GDG Nuremberg Organizer I've worked at a multiple startups as Mobile Software Engineer specialized in building apps with Flutter. Additionally I've built and published multiple apps of my own. I am also organizer of the Google Developer Group Nure... Show more

Njord Solberg

Njord Solberg

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

Sarita Gupta

Sarita Gupta

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

Amber Vanderburg

Amber Vanderburg

Amber Vanderburg is a multi-award winning businessperson, keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company, The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused learning journeys. Amber's history in talent development includes authoring top-reviewed online learning courses for platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Lecturio, and PluralSight, acting as Director of a national education leadership company, and coaching with professional sports team academies in Asia. In 2022, she published her first business adventure book "Uniquely Better" about building higher team performance.

Speaking engagements:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMNcx7Jwk9Sp6WxuvrfOOBqdP9440SKl0

Amber Vanderburg is a multi-award winning businessperson, keynote speaker, author, and founder of the international learning development company, The Pathwayz Group, which has led 800,000+ learners in more than 75 countries in action-focused learning... Show more

Jan Pospíšil

Jan Pospíšil

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

Manuela Raidl

Manuela Raidl

Manuela Raidl is a Change and Communication Manager who helps organizations navigate complexity and transformation with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

Her journey into change work began through agile. What started with becoming a Scrum Master evolved into a broader focus on how teams and organizations adapt, learn, and grow. Today, Manuela sees agility not just as a framework, but as a mindset that underpins successful change.

Over the past year, she has spoken at several conferences across Europe, sharing practical insights on topics such as cultural challenges and team development. Whether working with engineers or executives, Manuela builds bridges between strategy and people – turning change initiatives into real, lived progress.

Manuela Raidl is a Change and Communication Manager who helps organizations navigate complexity and transformation with clarity, empathy, and purpose. Her journey into change work began through agile. What started with becoming a Scrum Master evol... Show more

Meredith Barges

Meredith Barges

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

Víctor Izquierdo Montes

Víctor Izquierdo Montes

I am a 32-year-old from Córdoba with a lifelong passion for process optimization. Thanks to the versatility AI offers, I enjoy applying it to my projects as a Power Platform specialist at MDW Partners.

Originally, I pursued double majors in Business Administration and Management and Law, and I hold an MBA. However, I've always been fascinated by computer science. After several years of using reports for analytical decision-making, I decided to shift my focus to creating them directly.

Later, I discovered the potential of Power Platform, and I now focus on developing complete solutions using the tools available on this platform. With the growing interest in AI among companies, I incorporate Azure OpenAI tools like GPT, DALL·E, and Whisper into many of my projects.

I am a 32-year-old from Córdoba with a lifelong passion for process optimization. Thanks to the versatility AI offers, I enjoy applying it to my projects as a Power Platform specialist at MDW Partners. Originally, I pursued double majors in Busine... Show more

Martin Leon Refi

Martin Leon Refi

Diseño productos digitales desde hace 8 años, con experiencia en proyectos que van desde juegos hasta finanzas. Soy docente y mentor en Estudiando UX, un proyecto educativo que fundé para impulsar una educación digital más empática y humana.

Diseño productos digitales desde hace 8 años, con experiencia en proyectos que van desde juegos hasta finanzas. Soy docente y mentor en Estudiando UX, un proyecto educativo que fundé para impulsar una educación digital más empática y humana. Show more

Jody Cronk

Jody Cronk

A seasoned ERP Analyst with extensive experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and AX. With a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from The Ohio State University, Jody brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and creative problem-solving to every project.
Over the course of two decades, Jody has supported and led ERP implementations, system optimizations, and process improvements across diverse industries—including government and multiple manufacturing specialties, including fire apparatus and recreational vehicles. Her expertise spans financial systems analysis, supply chain management, change management, and user training for organizations ranging from 120 to 600+ users.
As a dedicated leader in the Dynamics community, Jody serves as a co-lead for the Ohio D365F&O-AX User Group and Dynamic Minds, and is a frequent speaker at DynamicsCon Live and other industry events. Passionate about leveraging technology to streamline operations, Jody thrives on transforming complex challenges into efficient, user-friendly solutions.

A seasoned ERP Analyst with extensive experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and AX. With a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from The Ohio State University, Jody brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and creative problem-solvi... Show more

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