Dr. Carmela Maxell is a licensed mental health professional, professor, author, podcast host, proud mother of three, and woman of color dedicated to making psychology practical, accessible, and deeply human. She is the creator and host of the *Rooted & Rising* podcast, where she translates evidence-based mental health concepts into engaging conversations that help listeners navigate resilience, grief, relationships, leadership, identity, and personal growth.

Drawing on years of experience in behavioral health, higher education, and leadership, Carmela is passionate about bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and everyday life. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful conversations can change lives, and she strives to create spaces where people feel seen, challenged, and empowered to grow.

In addition to podcasting, Carmela is the author of *Bereavement*, a dystopian novel exploring grief, memory, and what it means to remain human in a society that regulates emotion. Whether speaking to students, podcast creators, professionals, or community audiences, she brings warmth, authenticity, humor, and practical insight to every conversation.

As a woman of color, educator, clinician, author, and single mother balancing multiple careers, Carmela brings a unique perspective on resilience, sustainable creativity, and building meaningful connections through storytelling. Her mission is simple: to help people—and the creators who reach them—build trust, foster authentic connection, and create lasting impact, one conversation at a time.

Dr. Carmela Maxell is a licensed mental health professional, professor, author, podcast host, proud mother of three, and woman of color dedicated to making psychology practical, accessible, and deeply human. She is the creator and host of the *Rooted... Show more

Fort de mon expérience en accompagnement de projets et d’équipes, j’ai décidé de m’engager dans le coaching et la formation, métiers tournés vers l’individu, le collectif, et le vivre ensemble.

J’agis pour une vie plus simple, plus humaine, plus respectueuse. Je suis profondément convaincu par le potentiel de chacun et que nous avons tous en nous la force de réaliser nos projets.

Fort de mon expérience en accompagnement de projets et d’équipes, j’ai décidé de m’engager dans le coaching et la formation, métiers tournés vers l’individu, le collectif, et le vivre ensemble. J’agis pour une vie plus simple, plus humaine, plus r... Show more

Ulf is founder of mindful-leaders.net, serial entrepreneur, and full Professor for Educational Management and Lifelong Learning at the Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University. In 2011 the Ministry of Higher Education called him to spearhead the launch of Germany’s first Cooperative University as Vice-President, a large scale initiative, with today 35 thousand students. In 2017, he launched NextEducation, an international boutique-research group focussing on Future Skills, Microcredentials & digital transformation in higher education. Just recently he was appointed as Scientific Director at the Future Learning Laboratory at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Ulf is founder of mindful-leaders.net, serial entrepreneur, and full Professor for Educational Management and Lifelong Learning at the Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University. In 2011 the Ministry of Higher Education called him to spearhead th... Show more

Après 10 ans à fournir des solutions dans le Product Management et dans le Process management, j'aide aujourd'hui les managers à sortir la tête de l'eau et (re)prendre plaisir dans le travail.

Après 10 ans à fournir des solutions dans le Product Management et dans le Process management, j'aide aujourd'hui les managers à sortir la tête de l'eau et (re)prendre plaisir dans le travail. Show more

👋 Hello! I'm Vivian Acquah, a Certified Inclusion Strategist (CDE®), Certified ESDP, LinkedIn Top Voice, and Nominee for European Businesswoman 2023 (ESDP). I'm also a passionate advocate for topics related to inclusion, in particular neurodiversity, and a transformational speaker, facilitator, and trainer.

🔎 Background Information
After becoming a mother, I transitioned from a Finance/IT consulting career to inclusion consulting. I promised my son (Orlando) and future generations to create thriving workplaces for EVERYONE.

Today, I am the founder of Amplify DEI and the co-founder of Global Inclusion in Practice, where I operate as an Inclusion Coach and Consultant.

💼 What
Employees are the foundation of any organization. I support managers in engaging, energizing, and keeping their team members safe and sustainably, leading to increased revenue for your company. I also perform workplace audits to uncover stress points and identify wins, and I consult on strategies to improve your organization's workplace wellness.

🚀 How
I use a holistic approach to build sustainable employability. I consider all wellness and well-being elements, including physical, mental, career, social, community, and financial wellness, while purposefully incorporating fairness and inclusion.

👣 Your Next Step
Ready to make your organization a better place to work and be a part of? I offer services in English and Dutch, including interactive (online) keynotes, training, workshops, and strategy development. Learn more about the impactful Amplify Empathy with Virtual Reality training via bit.ly/amplifyempathytraining.

📞 Call to Action
Whether you're looking for inspiring workshops/training or an interactive keynote speaker, I'm just a DM and a call away. Don't forget to visit my LinkedIn Recommendations to see what others say about my workstyle/trainingstyle. Book me as a speaker/trainer at bit.ly/vivaspeak or email info@amplifydei.com.

👋 Hello! I'm Vivian Acquah, a Certified Inclusion Strategist (CDE®), Certified ESDP, LinkedIn Top Voice, and Nominee for European Businesswoman 2023 (ESDP). I'm also a passionate advocate for topics related to inclusion, in particular neurodiversity... Show more

Je suis coach pro systémique, coach agile, facilitateur et formateur.
Après de nombreuses années à travailler dans des environnements complexes à forte interactions humaines, je suis persuadé que la collaboration est la clef des grands enjeux de demain.

Très impliqué dans les communautés agile et tech Lyonnaise, j'anime les Agile Playgroung à Lyon et je contribue à l'organisation de la conférence Agile Lyon.

Je suis coach pro systémique, coach agile, facilitateur et formateur. Après de nombreuses années à travailler dans des environnements complexes à forte interactions humaines, je suis persuadé que la collaboration est la clef des grands enjeux de dem... Show more

Daria Rudnik is a Team Architect and Executive Leadership Coach — and the author of CLICKING, a practical framework for building high-performing teams that don't depend on the leader to function.
A former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte professional with 15 years of international experience in tech and telecom, she has helped leaders across six continents navigate financial crises, wars, and COVID-19.
Today she works with executives and HR leaders who are building teams that can perform — and hold together — in an AI-driven world.

Daria Rudnik is a Team Architect and Executive Leadership Coach — and the author of CLICKING, a practical framework for building high-performing teams that don't depend on the leader to function. A former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte profess... Show more

With over seven years of experience across multiple industries and countries, Ahad is a seasoned data practitioner specializing in building data infrastructures from scratch for Small Medium Organisations. Recognizing the importance of the human element in technology, Ahad emphasizes on bringing the attention back to the human instead of another tool.

In November 2024, Ahad will deliver a TEDx Talk at TEDxEindhoven 2024 on "Karma Democracy," discussing how incentivising humans could be the key to a better democracy and leveraging technology to scale this idea.

With over seven years of experience across multiple industries and countries, Ahad is a seasoned data practitioner specializing in building data infrastructures from scratch for Small Medium Organisations. Recognizing the importance of the human elem... Show more

Angela Legh is a bestselling middle-grade author, speaker, and recipient of the 2024 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions supporting emotional resilience, literacy, and family connection. She is the creator of The Bella Santini Chronicles and the author of the upcoming book The Emotional Landscape of the Tween Years: Understanding the Feelings That Drive Your Child’s Behavior.

Angela works with schools, educators, and families to help adults better understand the emotional world of children and the hidden experiences that often drive behavior. Her work combines storytelling, emotional resilience education, and practical strategies designed to strengthen connection, emotional safety, and healthy communication within schools and families.

Angela Legh is a bestselling middle-grade author, speaker, and recipient of the 2024 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions supporting emotional resilience, literacy, and family connection. She is the creator of The Bella Santin... Show more

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packaging, and served as a linguist in the Air Force. He taught himself HTML when the Netscape browser was still a thing, and the rest is history.

Phil is a twenty-year veteran of the software development industry in the Kansas City area. If you’re in the Kansas City area, he is two degrees of separation away from any programmer you know and has probably worked for, at, or with your company.

When the agile movement hit town, Phil knew a good thing when he saw it and became an early adopter of first wave agile practices. He has used these practices to ideate, build, and complete software projects ranging from loan forecasting to routing irrigation trucks to managing pharmacies to predictive lead generation to selling teddy bears. When people ask what vertical his company serves, he says, “Yours.”

Phil has incorporated Lean methodologies into software development just like his father used to do in manufacturing. When he partnered with Travis Dietz to start Integrity Inspired Solutions in 2012, they laid the foundation in Lean to make the custom software development enterprise more humane, predictable, and focused on the success of everyone involved.

A regular speaker at developer, Lean, and Agile conferences, Phil has a passion for taking his company’s ways to other companies whether they create software or not. He loves to see them transform from a collection of interactions riddled with disappointments and broken promises to team-oriented relational companies enjoying newfound trust, joy, efficiency, and success. Several companies from all over the world in all different industries contract Phil to help coach them through their own journeys. He also hosts the successful "Agile Bites" podcast.

When he’s not helping project managers learn predictive metrics or helping developers write customer-focused features, he’s enjoying a wide array of highly geeky hobbies including fantasy and sci-fi novels, gaming, and teaching Filipino stick fighting. His main hobby is making the world a better place for everyone who has to share the planet with him, and the engine for that is love.

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packagi... Show more

If you're comfortable with the status quo, you won't enjoy listening to Stephen Parkins.

Stephen is a seasoned innovation strategist, executive coach and business leader with over two decades of experience turning uncertainty into opportunity.

With a career spanning roles as an energy trader, global head of innovation, and startup founder, Stephen has worked with companies of all sizes - from agile one-person ventures, to European scale-ups, to multinational corporations with over 100,000 employees.

As the founder of Culturedge®, Stephen advises medium to large enterprises on building the structures and strategies they need to embed innovation, take manageable risks and achieve exponential growth.

As the co-founder of Strategy Quest, Stephen gives companies the opportunity to co-design AI-powered business simulations and wargames - to strengthen their resilience and decision-making under uncertain conditions.

Known for pushing boundaries and telling executives not what they want, but what they need to hear – Stephen has helped redesign flagship products like ABN AMRO Bank's Tikkie and established global innovation frameworks at organisations like SGS.

A polyglot and global citizen, Stephen has lived in five countries and speaks five languages, bringing an international perspective to every new challenge.

If you're comfortable with the status quo, you won't enjoy listening to Stephen Parkins. Stephen is a seasoned innovation strategist, executive coach and business leader with over two decades of experience turning uncertainty into opportunity. ... Show more

Kim B Miller is a TEDx speaker, Poet Laureate Emerita, and former corporate executive redefining leadership through bold storytelling, spoken word, and real-world experience.

She challenges audiences to rethink accountability, recognition, and workplace culture while drawing on her extensive experience in parenting and family facilitation to provide insights into communication, coaching, and guiding individuals through complex challenges.

Kim delivered keynotes at the Women’s Leadership Summit at Rochester Institute of Technology, the S.E.A.L. Awards at Northern Virginia Community College, and the YMS B.O.L.D. Moves™ Conference 2026. She has also performed internationally in Paris, France, and on stages such as The Atlas Performing Arts Center (DC) and La Peña Cultural Center (CA).

A dynamic facilitator, Kim leads interactive workshops on leadership, communication, storytelling, culture, and personal growth equipping audiences with practical strategies and unforgettable experiences that drive lasting impact.

Kim B Miller is a TEDx speaker, Poet Laureate Emerita, and former corporate executive redefining leadership through bold storytelling, spoken word, and real-world experience. She challenges audiences to rethink accountability, recognition, and wor... Show more

Caroline Benefield Weeks is a wife, stepmom, avid collector of hobbies, and freelance digital marketing consultant living in Atlanta. After a long career in nonprofit and higher education communications, Caroline pivoted to a career as a romance author before opening her boutique marketing agency, Southern Grit Digital. When she's not nerding out over audience segmentation and storytelling, she can be found hiking and trail running across the Southeast, learning ever more fiber arts, and planning her next national park visit.

Caroline Benefield Weeks is a wife, stepmom, avid collector of hobbies, and freelance digital marketing consultant living in Atlanta. After a long career in nonprofit and higher education communications, Caroline pivoted to a career as a romance auth... Show more

Tina Mirro is a seasoned Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform expert with deep experience designing, architecting, and delivering enterprise CRM solutions. A Microsoft‑certified Solution Architect and Data Analyst, she has built her career around transforming complex business challenges into scalable, human‑centered digital systems. Her work spans consulting, solution strategy, and hands‑on platform innovation, including contributions to community‑driven tools that expand Dynamics 365 capabilities.

A long‑time advocate for women in technology and a proud member of the Microsoft Federal Government ecosystem, Tina brings a blend of technical mastery, empathy, and real‑world implementation insight to every stage of digital transformation. Her background includes leadership in anti‑trafficking advocacy and accessibility‑focused volunteer work, reflecting her commitment to technology that empowers people.

Recognized for her passion, clarity, and ability to demystify complex systems, Tina is a dynamic speaker who inspires audiences to embrace modern business applications, rethink customer engagement, and unlock the full potential of the Power Platform.

Tina Mirro is a seasoned Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform expert with deep experience designing, architecting, and delivering enterprise CRM solutions. A Microsoft‑certified Solution Architect and Data Analyst, she has built her career aroun... Show more

Dor Amram is a Technical Leader with over a decade of experience in software engineering, delivering high-quality and scalable systems. He has expertise in several programming languages and is adept at mentoring junior developers. Dor is passionate about staying current with the latest industry technologies and loves spending time finding simple solutions to complex problems.

Dor Amram is a Technical Leader with over a decade of experience in software engineering, delivering high-quality and scalable systems. He has expertise in several programming languages and is adept at mentoring junior developers. Dor is passionate a... Show more

Martín Merino is a partner at BeUpFlow, a team of consultants who develop senior talent to help companies transform and boost their growth. As an Agile Professional, he develops interdisciplinary transformation projects promoting intrapreneurship and applying Agile methodologies. He is a trainer, mentor, coach and content creator.

Author of the book "Lean Blitz: Mejora tu proceso de negocio radicalmente" (https://amzn.eu/d/aFwId7R)

With a degree in Physical Sciences, he has studied Business Innovation Management and Management and specialized in various agile methodologies such as Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Scrum, Kanban, etc. He has been trained as an Agile Coach by the Telefónica Agile Academy and is certified as a Scrum Master Professional, Lean Change agent, Team Kanban Practitioner or SAFe agilist, among others.

With more than 9 years of experience as a strategic and transformation consultant in companies in the telco sector, he has worked on innovation and efficiency projects in operations and network areas, putting models such as Lean Management and Agile into practice.

He is a collaborating professor in the University Expert Program in agile methodologies at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR) in Spain and is part of its mentoring program for university students.

In accordance with his commitment to sustainability and rural and natural development, he lives in a small town far from Madrid surrounded by mountains, forests and enjoying his animals.

Martín Merino is a partner at BeUpFlow, a team of consultants who develop senior talent to help companies transform and boost their growth. As an Agile Professional, he develops interdisciplinary transformation projects promoting intrapreneurship and... Show more

Guido X Jansen is a Community Strategist who builds technical ecosystems that drive business growth. He has built community functions from zero multiple times: Dutchento/Meet Magento (600+ annual attendees), CRO.CAFE (200+ podcast episodes), and Spryker's enterprise community (130+ clients).

His cognitive psychology background helps him understand why technical users behave the way they do, designing communities that create real business value rather than just activity metrics. He has spoken at 200+ conferences across 26 countries.

Guido advocates for open source, privacy-first technology, and building resilient systems. Based in the Netherlands, working remotely.

Guido X Jansen is a Community Strategist who builds technical ecosystems that drive business growth. He has built community functions from zero multiple times: Dutchento/Meet Magento (600+ annual attendees), CRO.CAFE (200+ podcast episodes), and Spry... Show more

Luca Minudel (he/him) is an Agility/XP/Lean, Complexity-thinking, and modern Product/Engineering Management advisor, mentor, coach, change agent for hire. He is an organisational gardener, culture curator, collaboration orchestrator, and delivery facilitator with over 20 years of experience in professional software development. He is also an author and a speaker.

He contributed to the adoption of lean and agile practices by Ferrari's F1 racing team. For ThoughtWorks, he delivered training, coaching, assessments and organisational transformations in top-tier organisations in the UK, Europe and the United States. He worked as Agile Transformation Lead, Head of Agility, Interim Product Director, Lean/Agile Practice Lead, and as Lean/Agile Coach in companies such as Lloyds, BP, The AA, Japan Tobacco International, HSBC, LexisNexis, Marsh McLennan.

Luca is the founder and CEO at SmHarter.com, a company that helps organisations turn their way of working into their competitive advantage.

https://www.smharter.com/blog/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucaminudel/
https://bsky.app/profile/lucaminudel.bsky.social/
https://mstdn.social/@lukadotnet/
https://twitter.com/lukadotnet (inactive)

Luca Minudel (he/him) is an Agility/XP/Lean, Complexity-thinking, and modern Product/Engineering Management advisor, mentor, coach, change agent for hire. He is an organisational gardener, culture curator, collaboration orchestrator, and delivery fa... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

Ian Gilmour is the lead engineer and product designer for Bezoku Limited (Canada) and AI Forum (UK).

Ian holds a degree in economics and previously worked for Deutsche Bank, IBM and PwC.

I focus on Indigenous and data scarce languages for Bezoku and analytics and visualisation for AI Forum.

Ian Gilmour is the lead engineer and product designer for Bezoku Limited (Canada) and AI Forum (UK). Ian holds a degree in economics and previously worked for Deutsche Bank, IBM and PwC. I focus on Indigenous and data scarce languages for Bezok... Show more

Dr. Ellie Ebrahimi is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She earned her Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing from Clemson University in 2017, following her M.Sc. in Mechatronics Engineering from K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Iran, and her B.Sc. in Robotics Engineering from Shahrood University of Technology, Iran.

Dr. Ebrahimi's career is dedicated to finding innovative ways to adapt and improve ideas and theories to enhance STEM and cybersecurity education and workforce development, address mental health challenges in adolescents primarily due to cyberbullying, and support language learning in multilingual children. Her research interests are diverse and interdisciplinary, reflecting her commitment to making a meaningful impact across various fields.

With a specialization in teaching game development, Python programming, and human-computer interaction, Dr. Ebrahimi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. She is dedicated to improving educational practices and outcomes, making significant contributions to her field.

Dr. Ellie Ebrahimi is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She earned her Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing from Clemson University in 2017, following her M.Sc. in Mechatronics Engineering from K. N. Toosi University... Show more

🍞 My bread and butter is designing a sustainable and healthy company culture, where people can strive for their best. The rest will follow.

🧠 Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working with both startups and enterprises, helping to bring digital products and services to life. My diverse roles have included Marketing Manager, Startup Founder, Product Manager, Agile Coach, Lecturer, Trainer, and Consultant, co-host of the Agile Book Club podcast, co-organizer of the ACE Conference, among others.

🤓 These experiences have enriched my empathy and provided a systemic approach to working across various organizations and business domains. I’ve come to understand that every product or service we create begins and ends with people.

💃 My passion lies in studying human behavior and finding holistic methods to help companies build environments where everyone can thrive. In my work, I integrate all of my passions. I blend domain knowledge and diverse work experiences with neuroscience, principles of accelerated learning, coaching practices, facilitation skills, burnout prevention strategies, and sports and movement expertise. Ensuring employee well-being is not just a luxury—it’s essential for creating outstanding products and driving business success.

💭 If you had told me 20 years ago that by the age of 30, I would write three books, earn an Executive MBA, work across continents, organize international conferences, host a podcast, and seize incredible learning opportunities, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it all happened because I:

- Dared to leave places where I wasn’t happy
- Learned that failure is part of the journey
- Recognized when to stop after hitting the glass ceiling
- Found joy in my work
- Overcame the fear of trying
- Committed to continuous learning and improvement

Currently:
🌞by day: I am working as a Product Coach & Manager
🌟 by night: I'm dedicated to creating scalable and accessible solutions for individuals and organizations to overcome burnout

🍞 My bread and butter is designing a sustainable and healthy company culture, where people can strive for their best. The rest will follow. 🧠 Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working with both startups and enterprises, helping to ... Show more

Amazed by Dostoyevsky and Albert Camus, Stefan studied Philology and earned a Bachelor's in Finance while working as a construction worker and, later, a Political Advisor.

Part of Refugees.com and involved in efforts to change the public administration in Romania through digitalization, he joined the beautiful world of web development. Growing from scratch to Senior Full Stack Engineer within ING Hubs Romania in three years, his aim is simply to give to others what he learned along the way—whether through everyday mentoring or sharing ideas at conferences like WebDevCon 2026.

Stefan writes about coding stuff on Linkedin and books on Instagram (@brutalbookvoices).

Amazed by Dostoyevsky and Albert Camus, Stefan studied Philology and earned a Bachelor's in Finance while working as a construction worker and, later, a Political Advisor. Part of Refugees.com and involved in efforts to change the public administr... Show more

Social Engineering Trainer & Consultant - Cyber Risk GmbH

Christina Lekati is a psychologist and a social engineer.
Christina has participated in penetration tests, law enforcement & corporate training, high-value target & corporate vulnerability assessments, and more.
She is working with Cyber Risk GmbH as a lead intelligence analyst & social engineer. In addition to her social engineering work, she is conducting Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) assessments to help organizations and high-value individuals identify and manage risks.

Social Engineering Trainer & Consultant - Cyber Risk GmbH Christina Lekati is a psychologist and a social engineer. Christina has participated in penetration tests, law enforcement & corporate training, high-value target & corporate vulnerability... Show more

I've worked in the book publishing industry for 20 years as a book editor and author coach. I specialize in helping coaches, speakers, and entrepreneurs share their voices, stories, and expertise with their target audiences and grow their fanbases by teaching them how to write and publish their biz books and memoirs professionally. I'm also a thriller writer with 7 bestselling novels published to date and I'm the author of Write! Grow! Launch! the unparalleled guidebook on successful selfpublishing.

I've worked in the book publishing industry for 20 years as a book editor and author coach. I specialize in helping coaches, speakers, and entrepreneurs share their voices, stories, and expertise with their target audiences and grow their fanbases by... Show more

Christie Tufts is the Founder and CEO of Rebel Tech Labs, Inc., where she independently develops AI-powered applications and the shared intelligence infrastructure supporting them.

Her work spans agentic AI, cloud infrastructure, operational automation, security, and human-centered governance. Through Rebel Assistant, Rebel Blueprint, and the company's Rebela intelligence infrastructure, she explores how autonomous systems can execute meaningful work while remaining observable, recoverable, and accountable to human authority.

Drawing on a multidisciplinary background in technology, business operations, and behavioral systems, Christie approaches AI architecture through a central principle: intelligence should expand human capability without displacing human sovereignty.

Her focus is translating that principle into practical systems that can operate responsibly in production.

Christie Tufts is the Founder and CEO of Rebel Tech Labs, Inc., where she independently develops AI-powered applications and the shared intelligence infrastructure supporting them. Her work spans agentic AI, cloud infrastructure, operational autom... Show more

Joshua McBride is a speaker and advocate whose work centers on courage, voice, resilience, and meaningful action. After surviving three brain surgeries and later an assault that exposed a gap in Texas law, he chose to take the issue public. His advocacy included working with lawmakers, community organizations, law enforcement, and state leaders, and ultimately contributed to the passage of Texas Senate Bill 194.
Today, Joshua speaks through his keynote, Significant Purpose, challenging audiences to examine what silence is costing them and what becomes possible when they choose to speak. His work is not built around motivation alone; it is designed to move people toward a specific decision, conversation, or action. He has spoken for Austin Chamber, Human Rights Campaign, and regional Amazon audiences, and also works through coaching and advocacy initiatives focused on helping people step forward with purpose.

Joshua McBride is a speaker and advocate whose work centers on courage, voice, resilience, and meaningful action. After surviving three brain surgeries and later an assault that exposed a gap in Texas law, he chose to take the issue public. His advoc... Show more

Zafar Riza is an entrepreneur, scientist, innovator, and published author, serving as President of ZR PRODUCTIONS. His interests and work span artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, advanced engineering, healthcare innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

Driven by a vision to shape the future, Zafar explores the intersection of technology, human intelligence, creativity, and societal progress. His philosophy, "Imagination Precedes Innovation," reflects his belief that transformative progress begins with ambitious thinking and is realized through scientific curiosity, leadership, and purposeful execution.

As a speaker, he aims to challenge conventional perspectives, make complex technological ideas accessible, and inspire entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and business leaders to think beyond existing limitations.

His central mission is to encourage people to become active participants in designing a more innovative and future-ready world.

Zafar Riza is an entrepreneur, scientist, innovator, and published author, serving as President of ZR PRODUCTIONS. His interests and work span artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, advanced engineering, healthcare innovation, sustainability... Show more

Adejoke (JK) has spent the last decade working at the intersection of technology, talent, and organisational change across African and global markets.
In 2018, she founded The African Tech Woman, a platform amplifying visibility for women in tech through storytelling, mentorship, and direct hiring support. The platform built a community for overlooked technical talent across the African continent and helped accelerate their careers globally.
At Abby, she works hands-on with organisations to design and deploy AI-enabled solutions that deliver real-world outcomes.
Through Function(), her AI community, she brings together builders, operators, and leaders for more grounded conversations about AI. JK is an aerialist and enjoys exploring hiking trails.

Adejoke (JK) has spent the last decade working at the intersection of technology, talent, and organisational change across African and global markets. In 2018, she founded The African Tech Woman, a platform amplifying visibility for women in tech th... Show more

Innovation, creativity, design and building things have been lifelong passions of mine. I simply can't leave a good idea untested!

I'm equally fascinated by people: the psychology behind why we do what we do, how we interact with one another, and how we shape — and are shaped by — the world around us. And then there are the big questions: the meaning of life, consciousness, and all the rabbit holes that come with them.

That curiosity is what led me to found INSO — a boutique innovation consultancy, network and community. Simply put, we give people and teams the confidence and momentum to bring their best ideas to life, through experiences, challenges and accelerators.

I'm also co-host of The Good Ideas Club podcast, where we explore big ideas, challenge perspectives and learn from some of the brightest minds around the world. I've spoken at three TEDx events and keynoted conferences including Leaders 21 in Prague.

A little about my journey: an engineering degree; former British Army Captain, The Parachute Regiment (Airborne); founder and inventor; finance, fintech and systems; and now founder of INSO.

Always up for a fascinating conversation or an opportunity to build something meaningful together. Let's make stuff happen!

Watch my talks:
• What good ideas need to survive – TEDxUNYP, Prague: https://youtu.be/JBBapukYP0U
• The walls we don't see – TEDx St Helier, Jersey: https://youtu.be/7m1CFIB7DxY
• Practical Prototyping – Leaders 21 keynote, Prague: https://youtu.be/ZpRhzf21WL0
• Becoming Human Again podcast with Stijn Staes: https://youtu.be/ie-XkzhLQE8
• Speaker showreel: https://youtu.be/87Yzn_08G10

Book a call: https://calendly.com/inso-info/30min

Innovation, creativity, design and building things have been lifelong passions of mine. I simply can't leave a good idea untested! I'm equally fascinated by people: the psychology behind why we do what we do, how we interact with one another, and ... Show more