Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Michaela Gyasi-Agyei

Michaela Gyasi-Agyei

Michaela Gyasi-Agyei is a lawyer and policy professional who is interested in the intersection between technology, policy and digital rights. She holds a Bachelors of Economics/Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland, and graduated as Valedictorian of my cohort. Michaela has worked in government agencies and private organisations advising on privacy, data governance, and corporate responsibility. She is currently participating in the She Codes Plus and Cyber5050 programs. In 2024, Michaela was selected to join the inaugural cohort of the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) Australia.

Michaela Gyasi-Agyei is a lawyer and policy professional who is interested in the intersection between technology, policy and digital rights. She holds a Bachelors of Economics/Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland, and graduated as Valedi... Show more

Andres Cabrera

Andres Cabrera

Ingeniero en Computación que ha pasado por diferentes puestos como soporte técnico, programación web, marketing digital, y ahora UX, específicamente en investigación.

Dedica su tiempo libre en dar mentorías en Laboratoria y ADPList. Si aun así le sobre tiempo, comparte contenido en su canal de Youtube y Blog personal.

Además de conocer y escuchar opiniones del gremio de IT en comunidades, foros y redes sociales, le emociona conocer otras personas en videojuegos como World of Warcraft y League of Legends.

Ingeniero en Computación que ha pasado por diferentes puestos como soporte técnico, programación web, marketing digital, y ahora UX, específicamente en investigación. Dedica su tiempo libre en dar mentorías en Laboratoria y ADPList. Si aun así le ... Show more

Edward Barnard

Edward Barnard

Edward Barnard applies decades of Cray Research supercomputing expertise to modern Artificial Intelligence relationships. Ed has a monthly column in PHP Architect magazine, which has now passed 100 published articles.

Edward Barnard applies decades of Cray Research supercomputing expertise to modern Artificial Intelligence relationships. Ed has a monthly column in PHP Architect magazine, which has now passed 100 published articles. Show more

Sonam Pankaj

Sonam Pankaj

Sonam is the co-author of the open-source library Embed-Anything, an Ingestion, Inference, and Indexing pipeline built in Rust and widely loved by developers. She worked as a Generative AI Evangelist at Articul8, which spun off from Intel, providing high-end solutions. Previously, she worked as an AI researcher at Saama, where she extensively developed clinical trial analytics solutions with Pfizer. She is passionate about topics such as biases in language models. She has also published a paper in the most reputable journal of computational linguistics, COLING, in the ACL Anthology.

Sonam is the co-author of the open-source library Embed-Anything, an Ingestion, Inference, and Indexing pipeline built in Rust and widely loved by developers. She worked as a Generative AI Evangelist at Articul8, which spun off from Intel, providing ... Show more

Angharad Edwards

Angharad Edwards

Angharad channels vibrant energy into people development, empowering not just managers but everyone ready to level up. As a dynamic motivational speaker and training specialist, she champions a growth mindset, drives the five key behaviours for high-performing teams, and practices radical candor—with a healthy dose of humour. In her engaging workshops, she equips leaders and teams with practical tools and witty insights, transforming everyday challenges into opportunities for growth (and a few laughs). Whether she's lighting up the boardroom or sparking creativity on the workshop floor, Angharad inspires organisations to develop their people, nurture talent, and enjoy the journey every step of the way.

Angharad channels vibrant energy into people development, empowering not just managers but everyone ready to level up. As a dynamic motivational speaker and training specialist, she champions a growth mindset, drives the five key behaviours for high-... Show more

Adit Gupta

Adit Gupta

Adit Gupta is a seasoned design leader and entrepreneur with a deep-rooted passion for mathematics and philosophy. For over 15 years, he has driven high-impact design initiatives across a wide spectrum of industries — from education and travel to payments, retail, finance, health, and customer experience.
As Director of Product Design at ServiceNow, Adit built and scaled world-class design teams while shaping products that serve millions of users globally. Today, he's the founder of BookStates—a reading companion that helps people track and discover books through intelligent, intuitive design.Adit believes the most meaningful products emerge where

Adit Gupta is a seasoned design leader and entrepreneur with a deep-rooted passion for mathematics and philosophy. For over 15 years, he has driven high-impact design initiatives across a wide spectrum of industries — from education and travel to pay... Show more

Anna van Dillen

Anna van Dillen

Anna van Dillen is a freelance consultant, trainer and coach working with tech organisations on agile leadership, product development and ways of working – currently supporting a German industrial tech company in the Black Forest alongside other clients. Previously a travelling consultant at Thoughtworks, a tribe master building a big data organisation, and a people development manager in a cloud-native startup, she brings over a decade of hands-on experience in delivery and organisational change. In recent years she has integrated systemic coaching and breathwork training into her practice, using simple, evidence-informed nervous system tools to help leaders and teams stay clear-headed, collaborative and sustainable in high-pressure environments.

Anna van Dillen is a freelance consultant, trainer and coach working with tech organisations on agile leadership, product development and ways of working – currently supporting a German industrial tech company in the Black Forest alongside other clie... Show more

Lana Lesik

Lana Lesik

With my two core strengths - I'm a psychologist and a full-stack developer - I have a keen eye for both technical aspects and team dynamics. In startups or large-scale projects, my contribution extends beyond code — I’m dedicated to accompanying organizations through their digital and cultural transformations.
Passionate about DX and designing solutions that empower users and adapt to diverse environments.

With my two core strengths - I'm a psychologist and a full-stack developer - I have a keen eye for both technical aspects and team dynamics. In startups or large-scale projects, my contribution extends beyond code — I’m dedicated to accompanying orga... Show more

Andy Vargo

Andy Vargo

Andy Vargo is a professional speaker, author, life-change coach, podcast host and comedian known for his engaging and humorous approach to personal development. He empowers individuals and organizations to embrace their unique traits through his "Own Your Awkward" concept. Andy has authored several books, including Own Your Awkward Life Changes and Own Your Awkward Thoughts. He also hosts the "Own Your Awkward Talks Speaking Course," coaching individuals to present confidently. With a diverse skill set in public speaking, content creation, and personal branding, Andy is a sought-after speaker and coach who brings laughter and insight into life's challenges.

Andy Vargo is a professional speaker, author, life-change coach, podcast host and comedian known for his engaging and humorous approach to personal development. He empowers individuals and organizations to embrace their unique traits through his "Own... Show more

Nick Benson

Nick Benson

I like to do things that haven't been done before and like to help other humans build cool things.

I like to do things that haven't been done before and like to help other humans build cool things. Show more

David Chege

David Chege

I am passionate about market research, focusing on SME market segments and business ecosystems. My work revolves around need-based innovation, particularly within social entrepreneurship spaces, where I explore sustainable solutions that drive long-term impact.

With a keen eye for emerging trends, I specialize in identifying opportunities for social sustainability ventures. I bridge gaps between market needs and transformative innovations, and I thrive on fostering collaborations that create business models with lasting social value.

I am passionate about market research, focusing on SME market segments and business ecosystems. My work revolves around need-based innovation, particularly within social entrepreneurship spaces, where I explore sustainable solutions that drive long-t... Show more

Theo Gonzalves

Theo Gonzalves

Dr. Theodore S. Gonzalves is a scholar of comparative cultural studies and a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. A Fulbright scholar and former interim director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, he has taught in the United States, Spain, and the Philippines since 1991. His acclaimed book Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects (2023) earned the Smithsonian Secretary’s Research Prize. An accomplished musician and past president of the Association for Asian American Studies, Dr. Gonzalves was appointed to the Organization of American Historians’ Distinguished Lectureship Program and currently serves on the board of the American Council of Learned Societies.

Dr. Theodore S. Gonzalves is a scholar of comparative cultural studies and a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. A Fulbright scholar and former interim director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, he has ta... Show more

Chris Lawrence

Chris Lawrence

Chris is an experienced nonprofit professional who has spent the last 15 years as a dedicated educator, network builder, and advocate for non-profit organizations. Chris is currently the Head of Programs at the Interledger Foundation. He oversees all aspects of the programatic activity of the foundation.

Chris is an experienced nonprofit professional who has spent the last 15 years as a dedicated educator, network builder, and advocate for non-profit organizations. Chris is currently the Head of Programs at the Interledger Foundation. He oversees all... Show more

Almudena Barreiro Carrillo

Almudena Barreiro Carrillo

Almudena Barreiro es cofundadora de Data for Good Madrid, una iniciativa sin ánimo de lucro que ayuda a organizaciones del tercer sector a aprovechar el poder de los datos para generar impacto social. Su trabajo se centra en el uso ético e inclusivo de la inteligencia artificial, con un fuerte compromiso hacia valores como la equidad, la transparencia y la protección de la dignidad humana.

Actualmente es consultora y científica de datos en Next Digital, donde lidera proyectos relacionados con la calidad del dato, analítica predictiva e inteligencia artificial responsable. Combina una sólida formación en matemáticas y estadística con experiencia técnica aplicada y una mirada crítica sobre el impacto de los sistemas algorítmicos en la sociedad.

Además, colabora en Sesgo404, una sección del canal de YouTube Sirviendo Código, donde analiza las implicaciones éticas y sociales de la IA para acercar estos temas complejos a una audiencia más amplia.

Almudena Barreiro es cofundadora de Data for Good Madrid, una iniciativa sin ánimo de lucro que ayuda a organizaciones del tercer sector a aprovechar el poder de los datos para generar impacto social. Su trabajo se centra en el uso ético e inclusivo ... Show more

Noreen Rodriguez

Noreen Rodriguez

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Educational Justice in the Department of Teacher Education and core faculty in the Asian Pacific American Studies and Muslim Studies Programs at Michigan State University. Her current research, funded by the Spencer Foundation, examines the implementation of Asian American Studies in K-12 classrooms across the U.S. She has published over fifty peer-reviewed book chapters and articles in scholarly and practitioner journals such as Harvard Educational Review, Curriculum Inquiry, and Journal of Children's Literature, and is co-author of Social Studies for a Better World: An Anti-Oppressive Approach for Elementary Educators with Katy Swalwell and Teaching Asian America in Elementary Classrooms with Sohyun An and Esther Kim. Before becoming an award-winning researcher and teacher educator, Noreen was a bilingual elementary teacher in Austin, Texas for nine years.

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education and Educational Justice in the Department of Teacher Education and core faculty in the Asian Pacific American Studies and Muslim Studies Programs at Michigan State University. ... Show more

Lakshmi Pillai Gupta

Lakshmi Pillai Gupta

Lakshmi Pillai Gupta is a technologist, author, and founder of the Human–AI Futures Lab at Ammara Technologies Pvt. Ltd., where she leads research and engagement at the intersection of AI, gender, identity, and society. With more than two decades in product leadership and digital transformation, she has built and advised large-scale technology solutions across corporate, startup, and public-sector contexts.

She is the author of The Gender Glitch: Decoding Identity in the Age of AI, a widely discussed work on how algorithms perform gender and shape human self-perception, behavior, and power relationships. Lakshmi also writes the Equal Bytes column for The Times of India, where she translates complex tech shifts into accessible, human-centered narratives.

As a YASHODA AI Mentor, she contributes to national efforts to expand AI literacy and inclusive leadership among women. Her work blends research, lived experience, and systems thinking to imagine more equitable AI futures.

Lakshmi Pillai Gupta is a technologist, author, and founder of the Human–AI Futures Lab at Ammara Technologies Pvt. Ltd., where she leads research and engagement at the intersection of AI, gender, identity, and society. With more than two decades in ... Show more

Kaitlin Desselle

Kaitlin Desselle

I'm Kaitlin (she/her)!

My superpowers are developing emotionally-intelligent leaders and revolutionizing organizational cultures into the most profitable asset. I have a proven track record of authenticating company values to impact employee engagement, efficiency in systems, and rapid growth of bottom line.

I founded Wayfinders Coaching & Consulting after spending over a decade in operations management and people leadership in high-performance organizations. I've worked cross-functionally in HR, business development, change management and learning and development, and across many industries--from higher education, food service, and retail--to DEI consulting.

What I found along the way is that the core ingredients for successful relationships (and ultimately business growth) are rooted in emotional intelligence, trust-based communication, and intercultural competence. Now I offer coaching, training, consulting, and thought-partnership for individuals and teams seeking to build these skills.

I work with an incredibly diverse team of practitioners, with go-to methodologies that include critical HROD, change management frameworks, emotional intelligence (EQ-i), intercultural development (IDI), systems audits, and cultural assessments.

I live on the Little Feminist Farm just outside of Atlanta, where we enjoy sustainable homesteading and host holistic wellness workshops and sanctuary retreats.

I'm Kaitlin (she/her)! My superpowers are developing emotionally-intelligent leaders and revolutionizing organizational cultures into the most profitable asset. I have a proven track record of authenticating company values to impact employee engag... Show more

Kelly Thibault

Kelly Thibault

Kelly Thibault (she/her) is the Executive Director of Secure Diversity (SD), which focuses on increasing diversity in cybersecurity. Her leadership of SD includes running the Day of Shecurity conferences. Before SD, she was the Learning & Development partner for Engineering, Product, & Design at Opendoor, where she was introduced to cybersecurity and open source. Before transitioning into the tech industry, she spent nearly 12 years in higher education administration, functioning in program management, risk management, operations, events, compliance, DEI, HR, leadership, and IT support. Her love of technology and innovation was part of her desire to change industries. Kelly is the Regional Chapter Head of Out in Tech - San Francisco Bay Area, where she leads four volunteer teams that plan events in the four regions of the Bay Area (SF, East Bay, North Bay, South Bay/Peninsula). She finds professional joy in creating more equitable and inclusive environments, cross-functional projects, leading teams, building programs, organizing, public speaking, and influencing change. She geeks out about learning something and improving efficiency and organization.

Kelly Thibault (she/her) is the Executive Director of Secure Diversity (SD), which focuses on increasing diversity in cybersecurity. Her leadership of SD includes running the Day of Shecurity conferences. Before SD, she was the Learning & Development... Show more

Julie Mesnier

Julie Mesnier

Avec une expérience de plus de 14 ans dans le monde de la RH-IT, mes compétences se sont enrichies au fil des années sur plusieurs domaines RH : GPEC, Formation, Onboarding, Recrutement, Rémunération.
Quelques exemples qui me font vibrer au quotidien dans mon job actuel :
- d'être autonome dans mes actions, me permettant notamment de continuer à développer ma curiosité 🔍
- de prendre le temps de rencontrer 🤝 et d'échanger 💬 avec les collaborateurs
- de découvrir de nouvelles pratiques de travail 🔮
- et surtout de travailler dans la bonne humeur 😃 et la bienveillance 🙏
Toujours partante pour de nouveaux challenges personnels (désolée chers voisins, je me mets au piano 🎹) et professionnels, en 2021, j’ai rejoint l'équipe "Conseils, Perspectives et Accompagnement RH" chez @Crédit Agricole Technologies et Services pour répondre aux besoins de ses collaborateur, équipe qui fonctionne en itération avec un positionnement collaborateur-first 💪

Avec une expérience de plus de 14 ans dans le monde de la RH-IT, mes compétences se sont enrichies au fil des années sur plusieurs domaines RH : GPEC, Formation, Onboarding, Recrutement, Rémunération. Quelques exemples qui me font vibrer au quotidie... Show more

Aldrich Obach

Aldrich Obach

Aldrich Obach is a GTM Enablement Manager at Deel, leading onboarding and enablement across APAC and EMEA. He is an ICF-accredited coach and Master of Decision Analytics candidate at UNSW Canberra, one of the world’s top 20 universities for AI research. With experience from Google, HubSpot, and Deel, Aldrich helps organizations combine decision science, AI, and leadership to build systems that think and people who decide with clarity.

Aldrich Obach is a GTM Enablement Manager at Deel, leading onboarding and enablement across APAC and EMEA. He is an ICF-accredited coach and Master of Decision Analytics candidate at UNSW Canberra, one of the world’s top 20 universities for AI resear... Show more

Raj Singh Rajawat

Raj Singh Rajawat

A systemic design thinker working for a better world.

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

Peter Barica

Peter Barica

I’m an Agile Coach and Professional Coach (ICF-trained) working through my company, Mindful Solutions. I help IT organizations cultivate agility and collaboration through coaching, facilitation, and Scrum Mastery. In addition to organizational consulting, I lead trainings in coaching skills based on the International Coaching Federation (ICF) framework.

I’m an Agile Coach and Professional Coach (ICF-trained) working through my company, Mindful Solutions. I help IT organizations cultivate agility and collaboration through coaching, facilitation, and Scrum Mastery. In addition to organizational consul... Show more

Anderson Casimiro

Anderson Casimiro

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

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

Eric Wamba

Eric Wamba

Eric Wamba is a speaker, coach, and author who integrates neuroscience and quantum physics to inspire personal and organizational transformation.
A former aerospace engineering graduate and science teacher, he now dedicates his work to exploring human potential.
Through his Neuro-Quantum 3A Method®, he blends predictive brain science, neuroplasticity, emotionally charged visualization, and principles from epigenetics and psychoneuroimmunology to show how thoughts, emotions, and the body shape tangible results.
He helps professionals, teams, and students break free from past loops and act within the 3–7 second window, when courage outpaces hesitation.
He believes that “emotion is the brain’s save button” and that failure is the greatest teacher of all.

Eric Wamba is a speaker, coach, and author who integrates neuroscience and quantum physics to inspire personal and organizational transformation. A former aerospace engineering graduate and science teacher, he now dedicates his work to exploring hu... Show more

Ellen-Rae Cachola

Ellen-Rae Cachola

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

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

Mariya Giy

Mariya Giy

Mariya Giy is a Software Engineer, AI Innovator, and Founder of Hackico.AI, a research-driven technology organization advancing open-source tools for education, data ethics, and human-centered innovation. Her engineering work powers communication and data infrastructure used by millions of families and educators across the United States.

With a rare combination of technical expertise and sociological insight, Mariya co-created the Early Insight & Engagement System (EIES) in collaboration with a professor at California State University, Northridge - a pioneering AI platform designed to help schools and communities identify early signs of disengagement and support adolescent well-being through proactive, compassionate interventions.

She speaks internationally about ethical AI, educational technology, and human-centered system design, inspiring engineers and innovators to build technology that empowers (not replace) human connection.

Mariya Giy is a Software Engineer, AI Innovator, and Founder of Hackico.AI, a research-driven technology organization advancing open-source tools for education, data ethics, and human-centered innovation. Her engineering work powers communication and... Show more

Mercy Makinde

Mercy Makinde

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

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

Kris Manché

Kris Manché

Kris Manche (Dr BC) is a seasoned BC expert with 25 years of continuous experience. Starting in tech support at Navision HQ, Kris became a leading authority in recovering failed implementations at AU’s largest partners. He later founded, grew, and sold a top-performing VAR to a leading European distributor.

Kris has re-engineered hundreds of organizations and has developed & implemented many addons for many industries. Kris has deep technical and functional knowledge of complex business processes, ERP delivery and organizational transformation. Kris founded DIY-ERP to build the ultimate Business Central Implementation Toolkit for partners and customers. The toolkit distils 300+ implementations worth of expertise into configuration templates, quoting tools, data migration processes, scope controls, client training assets, and assisted go-live automation — all designed to remove risk, increase outcomes and value, and make implementations a repeatable, scalable, and value added service for partners.

Our approach empowers partners to focus on value-added outcomes instead of rework, and clients to take ownership of their ERP journey. The result? Better adoption, stronger Microsoft stack utilization (Teams, Power Platform, Power BI, Shopify), and increased partner services in Modern Work and beyond.

Kris Focus is to enable new partners and customers to be instantly successful with Business Central, drastically transforming outcomes and Time to Value, filling the disconnect between vendor and partner support. DIY-ERP aim is to help Microsoft, Partners and Customers globally to change the way BC is implemented for the better. It's time for Change from ERP Implementations designed in the 70's

Kris Manche (Dr BC) is a seasoned BC expert with 25 years of continuous experience. Starting in tech support at Navision HQ, Kris became a leading authority in recovering failed implementations at AU’s largest partners. He later founded, grew, and so... Show more

Rebecca Bragdon

Rebecca Bragdon

Rebecca Bragdon is a dynamic speaker who weaves together storytelling, strategy, and authenticity to inspire audiences to see leadership, growth, and creativity in new ways. Known for her ability to make complex ideas feel personal and practical, Rebecca challenges listeners to lean into the future with curiosity and courage, rather than fear.
Her talks blend lived experience with sharp insight, offering audiences both inspiration and tangible takeaways. Whether she’s speaking about leadership, innovation, or the power of authenticity, Rebecca brings warmth, wit, and a bold perspective that leaves people thinking differently about what’s possible.
She believes the future belongs to those who choose connection over competition, hope over fear, and authenticity over perfection — and her mission is to help others step into that future with confidence.

Rebecca Bragdon is a dynamic speaker who weaves together storytelling, strategy, and authenticity to inspire audiences to see leadership, growth, and creativity in new ways. Known for her ability to make complex ideas feel personal and practical, Reb... Show more

Zahra S. Roozafzai

Zahra S. Roozafzai

Zahra Sadat Roozafzai holds a Ph.D. in English Applied Linguistics (TEFL) and Post-Doc in Intercultural Studies. As a scholar and assistant professor, she conducts interdisciplinary research in the Humanities, primarily across various regions in Europe. Her research explores language dynamics, digital humanities, communication, and applied linguistics. She bridges theoretical frameworks with practical teaching insights, emphasizing the transformative role of language in education and communication. Her academic contributions reflect a commitment to advancing linguistic scholarship and pedagogy.

“Where AI Worlds and Human Words Shape One Another” :
Where meaning becomes machine and machines learn to mean,
exploring the dance of language and intelligence where each gives life, thought, and meaning to the worlds they shape together.

Zahra Sadat Roozafzai holds a Ph.D. in English Applied Linguistics (TEFL) and Post-Doc in Intercultural Studies. As a scholar and assistant professor, she conducts interdisciplinary research in the Humanities, primarily across various regions in Euro... Show more

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