Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Jeremy Treadwell

Jeremy Treadwell

Futurist | Founder | Educator | Speaker | Author

Jeremy Treadwell is a visionary entrepreneur and futurist from Chicago, IL, living in Maryland, minutes from our national capital, Washington, D.C. With a passion for guiding individuals and businesses toward their desired futures, Jeremy has earned the moniker “Vision Capitalist.”

As the founder and owner of Treadwell Agency, a highly respected consulting firm, Jeremy has been instrumental in helping countless individuals and businesses define their visions, gain clarity, and pave the way toward success. Jeremy has empowered clients to reach their full potential and navigate the complexities of the ever-evolving business landscape through innovative strategies and keen Foresight.

Beyond his consulting endeavors, Jeremy shares his wealth of knowledge and expertise as an esteemed adjunct professor at Bradley University, where he imparts his wisdom in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience Strategy. His dedication to education and commitment to nurturing the next generation of visionaries showcase his leadership inside and outside the classroom.

A true believer in the power of Foresight, Jeremy has earned recognition as a certified Futurist through the esteemed Institute of the Future. As a sought-after speaker, he captivates audiences with engaging talks on Cybersecurity, Strategic Futures, and User Behavior, leaving a lasting impact on individuals and organizations alike.

Constantly embracing new challenges, Jeremy is working on his upcoming book, delving deep into the realm of Foresight. With his unique insights and innovative thinking, he aims to inspire others to harness the power of Foresight to achieve greatness.

In addition to his professional achievements, Jeremy is known for his strong sense of community and commitment to helping others. His philanthropic endeavors have left an indelible mark on those fortunate to cross paths with him.

As a visionary thought leader, Jeremy’s relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering dedication to empowering others sets him apart as a true trailblazer in the business world. Jeremy continues to shape a brighter future for individuals, businesses, and society through his visionary approach and compassionate spirit.

Futurist | Founder | Educator | Speaker | Author Jeremy Treadwell is a visionary entrepreneur and futurist from Chicago, IL, living in Maryland, minutes from our national capital, Washington, D.C. With a passion for guiding individuals and busines... Show more

itza Zujuy Blanco

itza Zujuy Blanco

Passionate about tech and creativity. Graphic design roots, IT engineering background. Former marketing lead, now crafting frontend magic at Warner Bros Discovery. Embracing technology's limitless canvas to create captivating experiences!

Passionate about tech and creativity. Graphic design roots, IT engineering background. Former marketing lead, now crafting frontend magic at Warner Bros Discovery. Embracing technology's limitless canvas to create captivating experiences! Show more

Dina Bavli

Dina Bavli

Data Scientist with experience in NLP, Graph theory, NetworkX, churn prediction, and ASR (automated speech recognition). Her Master's thesis deals with classifying and characterizing persuasion. She is a former teaching assistant for ML and an experienced international public speaker. She is a data science content writer for workshops, meetups, and online courses, and an official author of the Towards Data Science and Better Programming publications. Spend a significant part of the summer at the German aerospace data science center (DLR).
Dina is passionate about data, sharing knowledge, and contributing to society and open source.
Whenever she can't find a sufficient tutorial, she creates one.

Data Scientist with experience in NLP, Graph theory, NetworkX, churn prediction, and ASR (automated speech recognition). Her Master's thesis deals with classifying and characterizing persuasion. She is a former teaching assistant for ML and an experi... Show more

Janosch Felde

Janosch Felde

Janosch Felde ist Softwareentwickler und Psychosozialer Berater. Er arbeitete viele Jahre freiberuflich als Coach in der DACH-Region und war Verantwortlicher für Mitarbeiterentwicklung im Technischen Bereich des Weltmarktführer für Carsharing-Technologie. Seine Leidenschaft liegt darin, Menschen und Organisationen durch Klarheit und Wertorientierung dabei zu unterstützen, die Belastungen und Herausforderungen ihres Alltags konstruktiv zu gestalten.
Im Moment arbeitet er bei der REWE Digital als Agile Coach und liebt es, als Coach und Berater Menschen und Organisationen aller Art zu verstehen und gemeinsam mit ihnen auf eine positive Zukunft hin zu arbeiten.

Janosch Felde ist Softwareentwickler und Psychosozialer Berater. Er arbeitete viele Jahre freiberuflich als Coach in der DACH-Region und war Verantwortlicher für Mitarbeiterentwicklung im Technischen Bereich des Weltmarktführer für Carsharing-Technol... Show more

Fred Brandon

Fred Brandon

Fred is a SharePoint Solutions Architect and Microsoft Certified Professional. With over 20 years of IT experience, he has developed solutions for clients across the globe. He's been a part of the SharePoint community since 2007 and enjoys using his creativity to solve problems. He's a visionary, world traveler, author, and avid Blockchain enthusiast.

Fred is a SharePoint Solutions Architect and Microsoft Certified Professional. With over 20 years of IT experience, he has developed solutions for clients across the globe. He's been a part of the SharePoint community since 2007 and enjoys using his ... Show more

Himanshu Patel

Himanshu Patel

A technologist with a solid breadth and depth, firm believer of simplistic, sustainable design and practitioner of agile methodologies and lean management Techniques.
Ability to influence Top to Down and drive executive strategic decisions pertaining to Technology and Process for the organization.
Most Importantly, keeping up very close with time and changing industry.
Help organizations transform into new era of building software systems for increased efficiency, quality & predictability while reducing the cost.
Outstanding motivator and builder of the culture full of passion, hunger to continuous improvement, positive synergy, independence, innovation and creativity.
Hands on with Spring Boot, Microservices, Docker, Vagrant, MongoDB, ElasticSearch, Big Data (Hadoop, Spark), Kafka, Cloud and Virtualization (AWS, Cloudera, Azure), CI/CD and DevOps areas.
Ability to drive Development Efficiency, Tool standardization, Vendor Management, Technology Governance, Continuous Integration, Estimation, Budgeting, Build vs. Buy Analysis, Prototyping, Resource/Talent Management and Performance Reviews.

A technologist with a solid breadth and depth, firm believer of simplistic, sustainable design and practitioner of agile methodologies and lean management Techniques. Ability to influence Top to Down and drive executive strategic decisions pertaini... Show more

Mathias Segerlund

Mathias Segerlund

Har jobbat med området mellan IT och människor samt kostnadsanalyser sedan 2011, innan dess har det varit inom olika serviceyrken

Har jobbat med området mellan IT och människor samt kostnadsanalyser sedan 2011, innan dess har det varit inom olika serviceyrken Show more

Ray'Chel Wilson

Ray'Chel Wilson

Ray’Chel Wilson is a Certified Financial Therapist™ and Certified Financial Education Instructor® who helps first‑generation wealth builders and mission‑driven organizations heal financial trauma and turn it into financial traction. She is the CEO of Raise the Bar Investments and co‑founder of ForOurLastNames.io, a financial technology venture rooted in North Tulsa’s historic Black Wall Street.

A former Teach For America high school personal finance teacher, Ray’Chel created what became the internationally selling Black Wealth Freedom workbook series, equipping thousands of readers with practical, values‑aligned money strategies. Her expertise in financial resilience and money mindsets has led to invitations from institutions such as Boston University, Urban Leaders Fellowship, and Impact Tulsa.

Named the 2024 U.S. Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Oklahoma, Ray’Chel blends behavioral economics, lived experience, and trauma‑informed care to close wealth gaps for underinvested communities. Event organizers choose her for sessions that are both grounding and galvanizing—leaving audiences with language for their money story and clear next steps to change it.

Ray’Chel Wilson is a Certified Financial Therapist™ and Certified Financial Education Instructor® who helps first‑generation wealth builders and mission‑driven organizations heal financial trauma and turn it into financial traction. She is the CEO of... Show more

Jocyl Sacramento

Jocyl Sacramento

Jocyl Sacramento is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at Cal State East Bay, where she serves as the Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy for INSPIRE, a First Year Experience program. Her praxis bridges Asian American Studies with women of color feminisms, relational racialization, Ethnic Studies pedagogies, Pinayism, and love. She co-edited the forthcoming Comparative Ethnic Studies textbook, Love, Knowledge, and Revolution (Routledge).

Jocyl Sacramento is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at Cal State East Bay, where she serves as the Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy for INSPIRE, a First Year Experience program. Her praxis bridges Asian American Studies with women of colo... Show more

Claire Van Der Meulen

Claire Van Der Meulen

Claire is a seasoned Agile Coach with a passion for people and building relationships that matter. She has a creative mind in continuous search of new conundrums to master and solve.

With close to 2 decades of experience in project and program management, working in diverse sectors ranging from automotive to government, Claire has a down-to-earth approach when it comes to people, processes and challenges. Over the past decade, her focus grew more towards the people side, so she took the lead in setting up a mentorship program, mentoring & coaching coworkers.

She loves the outdoors, takes pleasure in the simple joys of life and recently grew her family with Tess, the German Shepherd, and Wolf, the Malinois. She firmly believes in mens sana in corpore sano. Her motto? Live. Love. Life!

Claire is a seasoned Agile Coach with a passion for people and building relationships that matter. She has a creative mind in continuous search of new conundrums to master and solve. With close to 2 decades of experience in project and program man... Show more

Dr. Stefan T. Siegel

Dr. Stefan T. Siegel

Education Researcher & Lecturer 👨‍🏫
@HSGStGallen 🇨🇭 | Researching #educationaltheory #educationalmyths #educationalmedia | Enjoying #highered #sustainability #openscience

🧠#PKM Nerd using #ObsidianMD

#Hochschuldidaktik #Hochschullehre #Nachhaltigkeit #Erziehung #Bildung #Lehren #Lernen #Evidence #Misconceptions #Bildungsmedien #Videos #PKM #OER #sotl #academicdevelopment

Education Researcher & Lecturer 👨‍🏫 @HSGStGallen 🇨🇭 | Researching #educationaltheory #educationalmyths #educationalmedia | Enjoying #highered #sustainability #openscience 🧠#PKM Nerd using #ObsidianMD #Hochschuldidaktik #Hochschullehre #Na... Show more

Elias Mokole

Elias Mokole

Harness the Power of Your Voice to Build Trust, Inspire Action, and Lead with Confidence

Elias Mokole is a keynote speaker, voice coach, and former opera singer with over 800 performances worldwide. With two decades of experience spanning vocal performance, communication strategy, and leadership training, Elias helps professionals develop a powerful, authentic presence that resonates—onstage, on-screen, or in the boardroom.

He works with leaders, analysts, educators, and teams to elevate how they speak, listen, and connect. Whether facilitating high-stakes conversations or leading global workshops, Elias brings together technical voice training and emotional intelligence to help clients communicate with clarity, credibility, and calm.

At the 2025 BA & Beyond Conference in Denmark and the Netherlands, Elias delivered sessions on vocal resilience and presence in change-driven environments, receiving praise for his engaging exercises, real-world voice tools, and memorable delivery.

Elias holds an MFA in Voice & Performance and blends artistic discipline with practical leadership insights. Through interactive keynotes, voice-based coaching, and applied storytelling, he helps people use their voice not just to be heard—but to move others.

Harness the Power of Your Voice to Build Trust, Inspire Action, and Lead with Confidence Elias Mokole is a keynote speaker, voice coach, and former opera singer with over 800 performances worldwide. With two decades of experience spanning vocal pe... Show more

Verónica Recchia

Verónica Recchia

Verónica Analía Recchia is an Argentine lawyer and psychologist, lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology (UBA) and instructor at the Centro de e-Learning, UTN FRBA, where she teaches leadership, cognition, and applied decision-making in high-pressure environments.

Her research combines cognitive science, ethics, organizational psychology and AI-driven decision architectures. She is the author of Agilidad y Talento. Egoísmo y Altruismo del Poder (A pesar de la Mente Click) and is currently developing her new book MenteClick.IA (La continuidad de la especie) — ISBN 978-631-01-1706-5 — on artificial intelligence, evolutionary continuity and human-machine alterity.

Her work explores how intuitive cognition and structured ML pipelines can coexist to preserve human judgment and ethical direction in accelerated technological ecosystems.

Verónica Analía Recchia is an Argentine lawyer and psychologist, lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology (UBA) and instructor at the Centro de e-Learning, UTN FRBA, where she teaches leadership, cognition, and applied decision-making in high-pressure e... Show more

Vijeta Pai

Vijeta Pai

I'm a Program Manager and Technical Evangelist with experience implementing strategies and trainings globally to provide competitive edge to organizations in diverse, evolving customer environments. Championing a personal brand of empathy, trust and reliability, I've managed cross-functional teams in India and the US to deliver operational excellence on mission-critical programs and drive innovation using adaptive communications. Currently I'm working on my passion to demystify Cloud technologies using web comics, animated videos; harnessing the power of storytelling and analogies. A storyteller and technical enthusiast by heart, I want to use my experience to grow, give back to the profession and make technology accessible, fast, scalable and reliable.

I'm a Program Manager and Technical Evangelist with experience implementing strategies and trainings globally to provide competitive edge to organizations in diverse, evolving customer environments. Championing a personal brand of empathy, trust and ... Show more

Suvarna Kulkarni

Suvarna Kulkarni

Suvarna is an experienced agile enthusiast supports organisations in unlocking their full potential and elevating their impact and success using agile ways of working, a blended methodology of Mindset-maps, Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, NLP, and Positive Psychology.
As a certified coach, she's dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, empowering teams to deliver results consistently. Her commitment, authenticity, and trust values have proven invaluable in facilitating successful transformations for high-impact projects, establishing psychologically safe environments, and collaborating with leaders to ensure seamless alignment between strategy and execution.

Suvarna is an experienced agile enthusiast supports organisations in unlocking their full potential and elevating their impact and success using agile ways of working, a blended methodology of Mindset-maps, Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, NLP, ... Show more

Tiwa Hervé

Tiwa Hervé

Dr Hervé TIWA est le Fondateur et Directeur Exécutif de Med.ia Lab Association, une organisation camerounaise à la pointe de la démocratisation des technologies numériques et de l'intelligence artificielle en Afrique Centrale. Créé en 2024, Med.ia Lab s'est rapidement imposé comme un acteur majeur de la formation aux humanités numériques, touchant plus de 300 bénéficiaires en moins d'un an.

Titulaire d'un Doctorat en Sciences de l'Information et de la Communication, Dr TIWA combine expertise académique et expérience terrain. Il occupe le poste de Chef de Département de Communication à l'Institut Universitaire d'Afrique (IUA-ISTIC) de Yaoundé, où il forme la prochaine génération de professionnels de la communication. Journaliste de formation, il apporte une perspective unique sur l'intersection entre médias, technologies et société.

Avec plus de 10 ans d'expérience dans la formation en humanités digitales, Dr TIWA a développé une expertise particulière dans l'adaptation des technologies émergentes aux contextes africains à ressources limitées. Ses formations couvrent l'IA appliquée, la recherche scientifique augmentée par l'IA, le journalisme numérique et la production de contenu multimédia.

Med.ia Lab a établi des partenariats stratégiques avec des organisations de renom : Fondation Friedrich Ebert, Association Civic Watch Cameroon, Laura Dave Media, IA4AFRICA, Institut Goethe Cameroun, et HYSACAM. Ces collaborations permettent de déployer des programmes de formation inclusifs, ciblant aussi bien les cadres d'entreprises que les chercheurs et les professionnels des médias.

La vision de Dr TIWA : construire un écosystème numérique africain résilient où les technologies de pointe sont accessibles à tous, favorisant l'innovation locale et l'autonomisation des communautés.

Dr Hervé TIWA est le Fondateur et Directeur Exécutif de Med.ia Lab Association, une organisation camerounaise à la pointe de la démocratisation des technologies numériques et de l'intelligence artificielle en Afrique Centrale. Créé en 2024, Med.ia La... Show more

Art Stewart

Art Stewart

Art’s perspective has been acquired from thirty years of experience across the spectrum of his profession, many of those years living and working in the vibrant innovation community of Boston’s Route 128 tech beltway as well as in Washington, DC. Together with his pioneering clients, who were eager to re-order many of the old paradigms, they navigated through the swings of dramatic change for the U.S. tech world and the global business landscape.

Having been involved in the responsible business movement since its seeding years, Art has originated and/or collaborated on groundbreaking industry research and thought leadership as well as business processes and trainings. His clients have been central players in the business, technology, and nonprofit advancements seen across a wide range of industries.

He has served as a strategist and program developer, advisor-counselor, and implementer to a diverse range of CEOs, senior executives, public and other organization leaders. His C-suite work includes supporting the M&A process, providing guidance during business or industry upheaval, tackling the dramatically changed risk terrain, managing clients’ reputational risk liabilities, and complementing the work of corporate counsel during escalations and legal disputes. As a Board Member, Art is a Founding Director of a groundbreaking AI venture for American veterans.

Art has led a range of organizational development facilitations. As an educator, he researched and developed a multi-level curriculum and content platform on the “New Responsibility Paradigm” – launching the undergraduate edition at Emerson College. He was also one of only five faculty members at Emerson invited to teach a visiting delegation in a summer residency from the Communications University of China. For eight years he held an honorary role as Research Fellow at the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University and has taught graduate students at Northeastern University.

Art writes and speaks on the transformation of business and institutions into agents of change for solving our most significant global challenges. He partnered with the Private Directors Association on a five-part podcast series “ESG Insights”. In Summer 2023, he produced a webinar on private markets ESG in a collaboration with Blank Rome, and recently partnered with the Board Risk Committee on a panel webinar addressing the new risk management and Corporate Impact 2.0. As a blogger for the Corporate Responsibility Association, one of his posts became the fourth most-read in their content program that regularly reached 120K+ business leaders. He was the first author to publish a work on Corporate Social Responsibility in the annual “Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications” (JIMC) for the Medill School, Northwestern University.

Art earned a mid-career Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, a postgraduate certificate in Senior Executive Leadership also from Georgetown, an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications from Emerson College, and has completed “Dealing with an Angry Public,” with the MIT-Harvard Law School Public Disputes and Negotiation Program.

He is included in various Marquis’ Who’s Who editions, such as Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Media and Communications. Art is ranked as a "Top Thought Leader" in several categories by Thinkers360, including for CSR; Change Management; and Business, Strategy, Management, and Leadership.

Art’s perspective has been acquired from thirty years of experience across the spectrum of his profession, many of those years living and working in the vibrant innovation community of Boston’s Route 128 tech beltway as well as in Washington, DC. Tog... Show more

Shirley Koss

Shirley Koss

Shirley Koss is a relationship cultivation expert and community building specialist currently serving as Community and Member Success Manager at Woodard. With her natural talent for fostering authentic professional connections, Shirley has developed a proven approach to network development that transforms casual contacts into valuable business relationships.
Throughout her career, Shirley has demonstrated exceptional skill in creating environments where professionals can meaningfully connect, collaborate, and grow together. She understands that powerful networks aren’t built on business card exchanges, but through genuine engagement and strategic relationship nurturing.
In her role at Woodard, Shirley applies her expertise daily by creating opportunities for bookkeeping and accounting professionals to build supportive communities that drive both personal and business success. Her practical insights on relationship-building in professional contexts have helped countless individuals transform their networking approach from transactional to transformational.

Shirley Koss is a relationship cultivation expert and community building specialist currently serving as Community and Member Success Manager at Woodard. With her natural talent for fostering authentic professional connections, Shirley has developed ... Show more

Sarah Becker

Sarah Becker

Sarah Becker ist seit Winter 2025 als Werkstudentin im CHE-Team des Hochschulforums Digitalisierung tätig. In ihrer Rolle unterstützt sie das Projektmanagement in den Bereichen Bildung und Digitalisierung.
Sarah studiert aktuell an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum im Master Philosophie mit einem persönlichen Fokus auf Technikphilosophie und Technikethik, insbesondere mit Schwerpunkt auf Bildungstechnologien und Künstliche Intelligenz.

Sarah Becker ist seit Winter 2025 als Werkstudentin im CHE-Team des Hochschulforums Digitalisierung tätig. In ihrer Rolle unterstützt sie das Projektmanagement in den Bereichen Bildung und Digitalisierung. Sarah studiert aktuell an der Ruhr-Universi... Show more

Deirdre Morrison

Deirdre Morrison

Deirdre Morrison is Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer (CSIO) at ION (Institute for Organisational Neuroscience) and founder of Leading Mind Strategies, where she helps professionals apply practical neuroscience to leadership, resilience, decision-making, and other key areas. A sought-after speaker and consultant, she delivers engaging workshops and talks on brain science for real-world leadership challenges. With a background in strategy, communications, and human development, she translates cutting-edge neuroscience into tools leaders and teams can use every day.

Deirdre Morrison is Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer (CSIO) at ION (Institute for Organisational Neuroscience) and founder of Leading Mind Strategies, where she helps professionals apply practical neuroscience to leadership, resilience, decision-m... Show more

Amanda Menezes

Amanda Menezes

Amanda Menezes é servidora pública há quase 20 anos, mestre em Ciência Política e especialista em gestão pública. É analista em Ciência e Tecnologia, atualmente, é coordenadora na Diretoria de Gestão da CAPES/MEC, colaboradora do LA-BORA! gov – Laboratório de Gestão Inovadora do MGI e instrutora de meditação mindfulness e yoga. Tem experiência em gerenciar equipes e ministrar cursos, palestras e oficinas para o setor público em temas como: gestão inovadora, comunicação, liderança e trabalho colaborativo.

Amanda Menezes é servidora pública há quase 20 anos, mestre em Ciência Política e especialista em gestão pública. É analista em Ciência e Tecnologia, atualmente, é coordenadora na Diretoria de Gestão da CAPES/MEC, colaboradora do LA-BORA! gov – Labor... Show more

Nicole Weydmann

Nicole Weydmann

Nicole Weydmann ist Professorin für qualitative Methoden an der Hochschule Furtwangen, Mitglied des Lehrwerkstätten-Netzwerks und Mit-Herausgeberin der FQS-Debatte "Lehren und Lernen qualitativer Methoden". Ihre Arbeitsschwerpunkte sind qualitative Sozialforschung mit Fokus auf reflexiven und performativen Methoden sowie die Transformation von Lehr- und Lernbedingungen in (Hoch-) Schule. Darüber hinaus beschäftigt sie sich mit gesellschaftlichen Transformationsprozessen und Mensch-Umwelt-Beziehungen in Zeiten krisenhafter Umweltveränderungen.

Nicole Weydmann ist Professorin für qualitative Methoden an der Hochschule Furtwangen, Mitglied des Lehrwerkstätten-Netzwerks und Mit-Herausgeberin der FQS-Debatte "Lehren und Lernen qualitativer Methoden". Ihre Arbeitsschwerpunkte sind qualitative S... Show more

Jan Schlatter

Jan Schlatter

Studium der Geschichtswissenschaft (Passau, Potsdam)
Arbeitsorte:
ZDF (Redaktion Zeitgeschichte / ZDF History), Mainz
Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Halle
Lehrstuhl Neueste Geschichte, Universität Würzburg
Lehrstuhl Fränkische Landesgeschichte, Universität Würzburg
Stabsstelle Kompetenzentwicklung in Studium und Lehre, Universität Passau

Aktuell Instructional Designer, mediendidaktische Beratung zu digitaler Lehre, KI-Implementierungen in der Hochschullehre

Studium der Geschichtswissenschaft (Passau, Potsdam) Arbeitsorte: ZDF (Redaktion Zeitgeschichte / ZDF History), Mainz Kulturstiftung des Bundes, Halle Lehrstuhl Neueste Geschichte, Universität Würzburg Lehrstuhl Fränkische Landesgeschichte, Univ... Show more

Sierra Domb

Sierra Domb

Sierra Domb is a globally recognized speaker, health communicator, medical advocate, and research collaborator who has helped advance education, physician-patient communication, and care for under-recognized neurological and chronic conditions, including Visual Snow Syndrome, Erythromelalgia, autoimmune disorders, and overlooked topics in women’s health and neuroscience. She has created research collaborations, global educational resources, and patient-centered humanitarian programs that promote health literacy, resilience through adversity, and healthcare reform. Drawing on her personal experience living with complex medical conditions, Sierra has transformed challenges into actionable efforts that educate, inspire, and bridge gaps between patients, doctors, and researchers. Her presentations combine personal, professional, and academic expertise with compassion and science, making complex ideas accessible, highlighting the connection between physical and mental health, and providing practical, evidence-based strategies to help audiences better understand and navigate healthcare.

Sierra Domb is a globally recognized speaker, health communicator, medical advocate, and research collaborator who has helped advance education, physician-patient communication, and care for under-recognized neurological and chronic conditions, inclu... Show more

Zakir Mahmud

Zakir Mahmud

Zakir Mahmud was born on August 29, 2005, in the calm village of Titpallah, Jamalpur, Bangladesh. Growing up in a humble family and a peaceful rural setting, he learned from an early age the values of honesty, respect, and perseverance. His parents, Md Rafiqul Islam and Mst. Muslima Begum played an essential role in shaping his personality and outlook on life. His father taught him the importance of commitment and discipline, while his mother’s kindness and patience fostered empathy and thoughtfulness. His siblings have been a steady source of motivation and friendship, helping him stay focused and confident throughout his journey.

He began his education at Light House Lab School and College, where he studied from classes 1 to 5—these years helped him develop a sense of curiosity, responsibility, and a positive attitude toward learning. Later, he joined Police Lines Ideal High School, Tangail, where he continued his studies from classes 6 to 10. His determination and focus on academics earned him a GPA of 4.33 out of 5 in the SSC Examination 2021. He then enrolled at Jamalpur Residential Model College, Jamalpur, where he achieved a GPA of 4.08 out of 5 in the HSC Examination 2023. For him, education represents growth, discipline, and preparation for future responsibilities beyond academic achievement.

Zakir is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the Government. Titumir College, Dhaka. His decision to study sociology reflects his interest in people, communities, and the structures that shape society. He believes this field enables him to understand human behavior and social development, which he hopes to apply to make a positive contribution to his community.

Alongside his academic career, he has also entered the professional world as a Junior SEO Executive at Aan Nahl Software Company. His work focuses on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Digital Marketing, and Online Reputation Management (ORM). His daily responsibilities include conducting keyword research, optimizing content, and building links. Through this role, he has developed analytical skills, teamwork, and adaptability—qualities essential in a fast-evolving digital industry.

Mahmud's ambition is to become a skilled SEO and Digital Marketing professional while remaining connected to social causes, including education, youth empowerment, and digital literacy. Outside of work, he enjoys writing, planning, and playing cricket, activities that help him maintain creativity and balance in life.

The journey of Zakir Mahmud is one of effort, discipline, and continuous growth. From his simple beginnings in Jamalpur to his academic and professional success in Dhaka, Mahmud continues to move forward with dedication and the vision to create meaningful change.

Zakir Mahmud was born on August 29, 2005, in the calm village of Titpallah, Jamalpur, Bangladesh. Growing up in a humble family and a peaceful rural setting, he learned from an early age the values of honesty, respect, and perseverance. His parents, ... Show more

Lee Tonouchi

Lee Tonouchi

Lee A. Tonouchi stay one Okinawan American writer known as "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" for his activism in campaigning for Pidgin a.k.a. Hawai‘i Creole for be accepted as one legitimate language. He wuz da 2023 recipient of da American Association for Applied Linguistics Distinguished Public Service Award for his work in raising public awareness of important language-related issues and promoting linguistic social justice.

Lee has always been one leader. When he wuz just starting out back in 2000, he wuz one of twelve selected participants nationwide for attend da Emerging Asian Pacific American Leaders in the Arts Convening in New York, one summit sponsored by da Ford Foundation. Lee wen organize and edit Da Kine Dictionary, da first eva community Pidgin dictionary project that came out from Bess Press. He wen write da first eva essay in Pidgin about Pidgin that wuz publish inside College English, das da Journal of Composition and Rhetoric from da National Council of Teachers of English. He wen create da first eva college course devoted soley to Pidgin Literature and for doing so he got recognitions on top da front page of The Wall Street Journal in 2005.

Lee stay one very prolific Pidgin author and playwright. He get one award-winning Pidgin short story collection called Da Word from Bamboo Ridge Press and one collection of Pidgin essays called Living Pidgin: Contemplations on Pidgin Culture from Tinfish Press. He wen also edit da anthology Buss Laugh: Stand Up Poetry from Hawai‘i. Lee had several of his plays produce before by Kumu Kahua Theatre, da Hawai‘i Conservatory of Performing Arts, da Honolulu Theatre for Youth, and East West Players in LA. His Pidgin play Three Year Swim Club wuz even one Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice Selection.

He one multiple time winning Honolulu magazine fiction contest Grand Prize Winner. He get several Kumu Kahua Playwriting Contest prizes. Lee won da Cades Award for Literature and da Tony Quagliano Poetry Prize. His Pidgin pieces wuz publish in numerous literary magazine in Hawai‘i, on top da continent, and internationally. An'den Lee stay kinda da only Pidgin journalist. For decades he been writing Pidgin reviews, articles, and interviews for various publications. He currently get one Pidgin column called Much Mahalos that he does for Discover Nikkei, das da online magazine for The Japanese American National Museum.

In his more recent works, Lee stay exploring more of his Uchinaanchu identity. His Pidgin poetry collection Significant Moments in da Life of Oriental Faddah and Son: One Hawai'i Okinawan Journal won da Association for Asian American Studies Book Award. His children's picture book Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos got one Skipping Stones Honor Award. His latest book wuz da anthology, Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai'i Okinawan Literature. Currently he stay working with Playbuilders Hawai‘i and The Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association for write one community-based play inspired by da stories he stay gathering from Hawai‘i's Local Okinawan community.

Lee A. Tonouchi stay one Okinawan American writer known as "Da Pidgin Guerrilla" for his activism in campaigning for Pidgin a.k.a. Hawai‘i Creole for be accepted as one legitimate language. He wuz da 2023 recipient of da American Association for Appl... Show more

Sandya Venugopal

Sandya Venugopal

Dr. Sandya Venugopal is an award-winning neurosurgeon-scientist, public policy scholar, and interdisciplinary leader with accomplishments across academic, government, and private sectors. Her global expertise spans healthcare, public health, scientific research, health policy, data analytics, bioethics, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation—all applied to advancing impactful solutions for societal and policy challenges.

Committed to fostering inclusive and forward-thinking dialogue, Sandya leverages her diverse background to inspire meaningful change. Her contributions bridge the gap between advanced technologies and humanity’s needs, offering fresh perspectives on how innovation can transform lives ethically and equitably.

Dr. Sandya Venugopal is an award-winning neurosurgeon-scientist, public policy scholar, and interdisciplinary leader with accomplishments across academic, government, and private sectors. Her global expertise spans healthcare, public health, scientif... Show more

Bonita Pannell

Bonita Pannell

Bonita Pannell brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach at UPMC Women’s Magee Hospital. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the hospital and the community, working to enhance access to care, broaden care options, and foster meaningful partnerships. A passionate advocate for the BIPOC community, Pannell develops and leads initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting self-empowerment. Her initiatives include organizing Community Health Fairs featuring on-site health screenings, hosting Maternal Health educational baby showers, and providing ongoing mentoring and support groups.
Pannell is an active member of several UPMC councils, including the Diversity Council, the Family Advisory Council, and the Community Doula & Birth Worker Advisory Board, where she advocates for policy changes that strengthen trust and collaboration between healthcare providers and the community. Additionally, she serves as the Director of the UPMC Affiliate Council of Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit organization focused on empowering girls in grades 3 through 8 by strengthening their social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills. The program operates at 64 school sites and serves over 1,500 girls annually.
Before joining UPMC, Bonita was part of the Gateway Health Plan case management team, where she managed insurance authorizations and cases for individuals with special needs. She also served as the General Manager for Hospice Care of Pittsburgh and Viator Hospice, overseeing care for terminally ill patients for 16 years and Director of Lutheran Senior Life Home Care.
Bonita holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Waynesburg University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Slippery Rock University. She is also a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and earned a certificate in Project Management from Villanova University.
A devoted mother, Bonita has two children—Aaron Burden and Tyler-Nicole Pannell—as well as two bonus children, Teona Williams and Brandon Pannell. She is an active member of Triumph Church, where she serves as a Deacon and the Coordinator of the Usher Ministry. Bonita is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter.

Bonita Pannell brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach at UPMC Women’s Magee Hospital. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the hospital and the community, working to enhance ... Show more

Kevin Paczkowski

Kevin Paczkowski

I solve the $2M problems that happen when brilliant technology meets confused humans.

Over the past decade, I've built AI platforms that generate $5M ARR, transformed failing products into 340% growth stories, and led 50,000+ user migrations with zero downtime. But here's what I've really learned: the biggest technology challenges aren't technical at all. They're psychological.

With my Master's in Social Data Science from Oxford, I've spent my career at the intersection where human behavior meets enterprise technology. I've worked across healthcare, finance, and global consulting at Accenture, consistently discovering that the same patterns emerge everywhere: smart people make predictable, irrational decisions about technology adoption.
I'm the product leader who gets called in when expensive AI implementations sit unused, when teams resist change despite obvious benefits, or when leadership needs someone who can translate between C-suite vision and developer reality. My "human first AI" framework is now adopted by 3 Fortune 500 companies because it works with human psychology rather than against it.
My superpower is turning complex technological chaos into revenue generating clarity. I've reduced patient wait times from 48 hours to 4 hours, cut compliance review time by 87%, and helped teams embrace AI tools they initially feared. I understand both the technical possibilities (Python, TensorFlow, cloud architecture) and the human realities (cognitive bias, change resistance, team dynamics) of making technology actually work.

Whether I'm speaking about AI manipulation psychology, the neuroscience of developer attention, or why brilliant teams make terrible technology decisions, I bring data driven insights combined with real world war stories from the trenches of enterprise transformation.
I
believe the future belongs to leaders who understand that every technology problem is fundamentally a people problem. And people problems are endlessly fascinating to solve.

I solve the $2M problems that happen when brilliant technology meets confused humans. Over the past decade, I've built AI platforms that generate $5M ARR, transformed failing products into 340% growth stories, and led 50,000+ user migrations with ... Show more

Moiz Penkar

Moiz Penkar

Moiz feels the Internet can be more mindful and friendlier to not just the end-users but also the developers and adopt more lean principles. He has worked in various roles including front-end development, product management, consulting, research (in Human-Computer Interaction), and teaching. He also organises the monthly TED-Style Talks and, if he has any free time left, enjoys some photography, badminton, and squash.

Moiz feels the Internet can be more mindful and friendlier to not just the end-users but also the developers and adopt more lean principles. He has worked in various roles including front-end development, product management, consulting, research (in ... Show more

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