Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Hazirah M

Hazirah M

Hazirah is an introspective web developer and micropreneur. After an early career in e-government, she went on to work in software and web development. She's been a reading advocate and a volunteer in local tech and sports communities. She dreams of digitally archiving Brunei, our culture and communities, for the future.

Hazirah is an introspective web developer and micropreneur. After an early career in e-government, she went on to work in software and web development. She's been a reading advocate and a volunteer in local tech and sports communities. She dreams of ... 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

Saroj Chumber

Saroj Chumber

Author, journalist, career counselor and interpreter. With over three decades of experience of experience in the creative fields as a resident of Oslo. Born in India, speaking five languages, Saroj runs two writers group in Oslo. Oslo Skriveklubb and Writers Cafe Oslo.
By organising workshops and literary events she has carved a niche for herself in the literary landscape of Oslo.
With extensive experience of working with immigrant groups, she frequently explores themes of identity, culture and love in her stories.

Author, journalist, career counselor and interpreter. With over three decades of experience of experience in the creative fields as a resident of Oslo. Born in India, speaking five languages, Saroj runs two writers group in Oslo. Oslo Skriveklubb and... Show more

Tyler Suard

Tyler Suard

Tyler Suard is a Python software developer in the field of Machine Learning and AI. He loves spaceships, giant robots, and his cat Ridley.

Tyler Suard is a Python software developer in the field of Machine Learning and AI. He loves spaceships, giant robots, and his cat Ridley. Show more

Mila -

Mila -

Mila je član SFere koji se mota po Kajzerici već par godina, a sad se dala nagovoriti i na organizaciju SFeraKona. Postavlja naizgled jednostavna pitanja na konovima, koja vas zapravo tjeraju na razmišljanje. Odavno igra razne društvene igre, a (skoro) uvijek je otvorena za probati novu. Član hrvatske Carcassonne reprezentacije 2024. i 2025. Kapetan hrvatske Azul reprezentacije 2025./2. sezona

Mila je član SFere koji se mota po Kajzerici već par godina, a sad se dala nagovoriti i na organizaciju SFeraKona. Postavlja naizgled jednostavna pitanja na konovima, koja vas zapravo tjeraju na razmišljanje. Odavno igra razne društvene igre, a (skor... Show more

Sam Cranford

Sam Cranford

Long-time agile jiggler, eXtreme programmer and agile catalyst, amateur bon vivant. Bilingual EN/FR - fr_US

Long-time agile jiggler, eXtreme programmer and agile catalyst, amateur bon vivant. Bilingual EN/FR - fr_US Show more

Nyi Aye

Nyi Aye

Nyi founded ThitsaWorks in 2016 to create data-driven solutions that assist financial institutions in managing payments, data, and risk mitigation. Nyi has over 27 years of expertise in public administration, finance, fintech, software development, and financial inclusion.

Before launching ThitsaWorks, Nyi dedicated over two decades to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, working in the finance and technology sectors. In his final role there, he served as the Chief of the Information Systems Unit in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. Here, he led a team of IT experts and software developers, overseeing the development, maintenance, and support of worldwide IT operations for UN conference activities.

Nyi has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University and a Master of Science in Information Systems from the City University of New York.

Nyi founded ThitsaWorks in 2016 to create data-driven solutions that assist financial institutions in managing payments, data, and risk mitigation. Nyi has over 27 years of expertise in public administration, finance, fintech, software development, a... Show more

Matteo Carella

Matteo Carella

My work is spreading agile and lean culture, helping people with theory and practice, mentoring, facilitating and supporting them. I also coach teams, managers and executives (CTOs, CEOs) in order to help them grow strong in applying Agile methodologies to their work.

My work is spreading agile and lean culture, helping people with theory and practice, mentoring, facilitating and supporting them. I also coach teams, managers and executives (CTOs, CEOs) in order to help them grow strong in applying Agile methodolog... Show more

Paul Umaru

Paul Umaru

Paul is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Jos and holds global certifications as a trainer from both Microsoft and Google. He is also certified in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity by IBM, bringing extensive expertise in the field of responsible AI. His passion for innovation and commitment to excellence have established him as a seasoned application developer and consultant.

As an alumnus of the prestigious Microsoft EMEA Gold Ambassador program, Paul was recognized for his outstanding contributions and leadership within the Microsoft technology ecosystem. This accolade underscores his dedication to advancing innovation and fostering global connections within the tech community. His core mission is to collaborate, share knowledge, and build networks with professionals both within and beyond the tech industry.

Paul is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Jos and holds global certifications as a trainer from both Microsoft and Google. He is also certified in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity by IBM, bringing extensive expertise in the ... Show more

Gopal Balakrishnan

Gopal Balakrishnan

Balakrishnan's work consistently displays an interdisciplinary erudition spanning the fields of history, political theory, philosophy, and economics. This breadth of interests formed the basis of his doctoral research, which evolved into his groundbreaking first book, "The Enemy: An Intellectual Portrait of Carl Schmitt." This work provided a meticulous analysis of Schmitt’s political thought conceived as a series of responses to the crises of the German and European state systems from 1919 to 1945. 

A collection of his essays, "Antagonistics: Capitalism and Power in an Age of War," came out subsequently offering reflections on the history of the interstate system and the future of warfare, the significance of Machiavelli as a theorist of the founding of new orders, of De Tocqueville as a conservative critic of democracy, and on the European origins of identity politics. 

As an editor, Balakrishnan has contributed significantly as an editor, assembling highly influential collections on nationalism, and the forms of empire in a supposedly post-national age in "Mapping the Nation" and "Debating Empire", respectively.
 
More recently, Balakrishnan has been working on a reconstruction of Karl Marx's economic thought that identifies its concealed conceptual structure, making its historical and logical assumptions more apparent and thus opening up new questions regarding its adequacy as an account of the structure and history of capitalism. 

His forthcoming association with the journal SS African Mercury is the beginning of a new chapter in Balakrishnan’s intellectual career. This journal sets a new standard for political and cultural criticism, and his contributions to it can be expected to further highlight its distinctiveness in the contemporary intellectual scene. He foresees writing pieces for this journal that continue the practice of criticism through careful reconstruction that characterized his earlier work but with a more trenchant style influenced by his study of the genre of polemics.   

Balakrishnan currently participates in a number of study groups and private seminars on topics as varied as classical political economy, Marxist writing on the Graeco-Roman world, and the Bible in its historical context. Here he seeks to inspire others with the spirit of pure intellectual inquiry, free from current fashion and ideological pieties.

Currently, he is working on a reconstruction of Marx’s Capital that uncovers its conceptual organization as a system and raises new questions regarding its adequacy as an account of the nature and history of capitalism.

Balakrishnan's work consistently displays an interdisciplinary erudition spanning the fields of history, political theory, philosophy, and economics. This breadth of interests formed the basis of his doctoral research, which evolved into his groundbr... Show more

Ingo Kleiber

Ingo Kleiber

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After previously working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Technology at the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching and Studies of the University of Cologne. He is currently also pursuing his Ph.D. at the intersection of corpus/computational linguistics and foreign language teaching.

Ingo Kleiber studied English, political science, and economics at Heidelberg University, pursuing a teaching degree. After previously working at the Heidelberg School of Education, he is now a Senior Expert for Digital Education and Educational Techn... Show more

Emma Gilmour

Emma Gilmour

Emma Gilmour is an accessibility consultant and frontend developer originally from Co. Monaghan.

Following secondary school in Co. Antrim, she studied Media and Fine Art in Liverpool before running a photography business and art studio. Later, she retrained in construction and spent several years as a decorator and furniture maker.

In 2018, she retrained as a developer, working mainly in frontend development for companies like AO, where she became known as an accessibility subject matter expert and co-founded the Accessibility Guild.

After almost 20 years in Liverpool, she relocated to the Glens of Antrim and founded Pathfinder Accessibility, an accessibility consultancy and training business that helps organisations on their accessibility journey.

Emma Gilmour is an accessibility consultant and frontend developer originally from Co. Monaghan. Following secondary school in Co. Antrim, she studied Media and Fine Art in Liverpool before running a photography business and art studio. Later, she... Show more

Dread One

Dread One

Founder of VYBZ ( NFT project showcasing true community spirit )
Founder of SYS AMA ( Web3 Vetting Show )
Just a guy who knows how to get product to market within the WEB3 Space

Founder of VYBZ ( NFT project showcasing true community spirit ) Founder of SYS AMA ( Web3 Vetting Show ) Just a guy who knows how to get product to market within the WEB3 Space Show more

Elena Dumitrana

Elena Dumitrana

I am a data-driven design strategist.
I specialise in transforming raw data into blueprints for intelligent, human-centred services and products. With a career spanning MI, data engineering and data solutions, I see data as a design tool that powers innovation. I champion a design philosophy that places human needs, ethical considerations and user control at the forefront of AI-driven automation.
I advocate for technology designed to enhance, rather than dictates human experience.

I am a data-driven design strategist. I specialise in transforming raw data into blueprints for intelligent, human-centred services and products. With a career spanning MI, data engineering and data solutions, I see data as a design tool that power... Show more

Laurent Cervilla

Laurent Cervilla

Après plusieurs années à œuvrer en tant que développeur, chef de projet, directeur de projet, j'accompagne depuis 10 ans des leaders, managers et organisations dans le changement.
Que ce soit des PME, ETI et grand groupe, les changements sont une nécessité et l'adaptabilité une aptitude tant personnelle qu'organisationnelle indispensable.
L'accompagnement des personnes n'est pas tout le temps au centre des préoccupations, pourtant c'est un facteur clé de succès ou d'échec. C'est pour cela que je continue de me former, d'échanger et de partager avec passion et conviction.
Le changement c'est tout le temps et connaître ses ressources et freins individuels et collectifs face à lui est un gage d'adaptabilité et de succès.

Après plusieurs années à œuvrer en tant que développeur, chef de projet, directeur de projet, j'accompagne depuis 10 ans des leaders, managers et organisations dans le changement. Que ce soit des PME, ETI et grand groupe, les changements sont une né... Show more

Tyler Ross

Tyler Ross

Tyler Ross recently relocated from Manhattan to San Francisco, California, with his wife and daughter after living in New York City for over 10 years. The family is now adjusting to their new life on the West Coast. In his free time, when he’s not spending time with his daughter or working on his books, Tyler explores the Bay Area, documenting the sights, sounds, culture, and cuisine for others considering a similar move.

Tyler’s primary profession is writing. He has a deep passion for storytelling and self-expression. Writing allows him to create, reflect, and connect with others through words. Engaging deeply with his readers brings him a sense of purpose and satisfaction. His writing serves as a tool to share his experiences and ideas, fostering connection and reflection.

In addition to writing, Tyler has a wide range of other interests. As a writer, collector, cyclist, and foodie, he blends these passions into his daily life. Tyler writes about various topics, from historical insights and rare collectibles to local cuisine and biking adventures. His creativity and reflective nature shape his writing, offering readers a personal and unique perspective on his life in San Francisco.

Tyler is an avid cyclist who enjoys the challenge of San Francisco’s hills and terrain. He has been working through over 62 miles of mountain bike trails and bike lanes. Along the way, he photographs landmarks and maps out bicycle-friendly routes, rating them based on difficulty. His passion for cycling and exploration allows him to share valuable insights with other cyclists while enjoying the city’s natural beauty.

Having lived in Manhattan for many years, Tyler enormously appreciated food. Now in San Francisco, he is testing the city’s culinary offerings. From Mexican and Italian to Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine, he enjoys the variety of flavors. He also indulges in the fresh seafood, especially the famous local crabs and oysters, and appreciates the region’s farm-to-table culture.

Tyler is also a dedicated collector of rare stamps, coins, historical books, and manuscripts. He enjoys preserving these unique items and connecting with their history. In addition to his collections, Tyler plays tennis and golf, valuing the physical challenge and mental discipline these sports offer.

Tyler Ross’s love for travel, reading, and photography further enhances his writing. His travels inspire his work, while photography lets him capture precious family moments. Tyler graduated from the University of Chicago, where his education in critical thinking helped shape his approach to writing.

Tyler Ross recently relocated from Manhattan to San Francisco, California, with his wife and daughter after living in New York City for over 10 years. The family is now adjusting to their new life on the West Coast. In his free time, when he’s not sp... Show more

Marco Calzolari

Marco Calzolari

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

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

Symone Johnson

Symone Johnson

Symone is a cybersecurity and data privacy consultant with a strong focus on data protection, governance, and risk management. Her expertise spans across multiple areas including GRC, privacy operations, vulnerability management, and data security. She is passionate about making security approachable and uses her voice as a speaker to break down complex topics and inspire others to grow in the field.

Symone is a cybersecurity and data privacy consultant with a strong focus on data protection, governance, and risk management. Her expertise spans across multiple areas including GRC, privacy operations, vulnerability management, and data security. ... 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

Guillermo Pallavicini

Guillermo Pallavicini

Guillermo Pallavicini es actor, director de teatro y Speaker de Programas de Entrenamiento en Comunicación Directiva con una extensa trayectoria en los escenarios. Se especializó en Ciencias de las Comunicaciones en la Universidad de Colonia, Alemania.
Durante más de 20 años, ha impartido programas de formación en empresas multinacionales, universidades y a un gran número de profesionales. Inspirado por la neurociencia, las ciencias cognitivas del cerebro y la programación neurolingüística, creó el método Cerebral Performance for Communication, CERPERFCT. Este método activa las neuronas directivas para dominar la voz, emoción, expresión corporal y la razón, logrando potenciar la Inteligencia Comunicacional.
Con una capacidad innata para conectar con el público, su estilo es sensible, entretenido y simpático, logrando emocionar, divertir y hacer reflexionar. Su objetivo es que cada persona se lleve la certeza de que la vida puede ser mucho mejor y que tenemos la capacidad de dirigirnos a nosotros mismos para liderar nuestros entornos.
Su vida es una historia de aventuras y sacrificio, forjada desde muy joven por una gran capacidad de trabajo, inteligencia y una profunda pasión por todo lo que hace. Ha publicado un libro y ha sido entrevistado por el canal Global Coach & PNL de Barcelona en el segmento "Entrevistas Inspiradoras", logrando generar un antes y un después en quienes lo siguen. Es un ser mágico, dinámico y encantador de cerebros.

Guillermo Pallavicini es actor, director de teatro y Speaker de Programas de Entrenamiento en Comunicación Directiva con una extensa trayectoria en los escenarios. Se especializó en Ciencias de las Comunicaciones en la Universidad de Colonia, Alemani... Show more

Julio Cesar Mom von Kotsch

Julio Cesar Mom von Kotsch

A professional with more than 15 years of experience in human resources, focused on promoting development through a modern, effective, and technological strategy.

Profesional con más de 15 años de experiencia en recursos humanos, orientado a potenciar el desarrollo a través de una estrategia moderna, eficaz y tecnológica.

Profissional com mais de 15 anos de experiência em recursos humanos, focado em promover o desenvolvimento por meio de uma estratégia moderna, eficaz e tecnológica.

A professional with more than 15 years of experience in human resources, focused on promoting development through a modern, effective, and technological strategy. Profesional con más de 15 años de experiencia en recursos humanos, orientado a poten... Show more

Tetiana Gulei

Tetiana Gulei

Tetiana is a Senior UX Designer at BIMcollab in the Netherlands. Starting her career as an engineer, she developed a passion for user-centric and accessible design, together with an interest for technology and innovation. Her work emphasizes ethical design and sustainability, creating products that make a positive impact.

She also shares her UX expertise through conference talks and LinkedIn Learning courses on various UX topics, reaching over 35,000 students worldwide.

Tetiana is a Senior UX Designer at BIMcollab in the Netherlands. Starting her career as an engineer, she developed a passion for user-centric and accessible design, together with an interest for technology and innovation. Her work emphasizes ethical ... Show more

Thomas Scola

Thomas Scola

Thomas Scola, founder and CEO of The Bluefly Collective (Bluefly.io), brings over 20 years of industry expertise to digital solutions in Drupal and AI technologies. A former Acquia leader and pioneer of the Collaborative Impact Model, Thomas merges technical excellence with organizational innovation inspired by open-source principles. Since co-founding the Maine Drupal User Group in 2007, he has championed human-centric approaches that transform both technological implementations and organizational structures.

Thomas Scola, founder and CEO of The Bluefly Collective (Bluefly.io), brings over 20 years of industry expertise to digital solutions in Drupal and AI technologies. A former Acquia leader and pioneer of the Collaborative Impact Model, Thomas merges t... Show more

Diana David

Diana David

Psicóloga con 8 años de experiencia en procesos de Recursos Humanos para la industria TI Internacional con filiales en Colombia y LATAM. Soy una intensa con el tema de la experiencia positiva del candidato - luego empleado, reflejo la calidad humana que todos admiran de los latinos en el ámbito corporativo y me encargo de contagiarla fácilmente a mi equipo. Veo a mis candidatos como clientes futuros y mensajeros invaluables de la industria, soy embajadora del feedback - feedforward para el candidato, y cuando no estoy trabajando estoy cantándole canciones de Rammstein a mi hija.

Psicóloga con 8 años de experiencia en procesos de Recursos Humanos para la industria TI Internacional con filiales en Colombia y LATAM. Soy una intensa con el tema de la experiencia positiva del candidato - luego empleado, reflejo la calidad humana ... Show more

Lucas Sahn

Lucas Sahn

Lucas has worked his whole career to unlock the door for students and early professionals to tiptoe their way into the tech world. Be it through global hackathons, enabling student campus leaders, or giving educators future forward tools, Lucas works to build as many bridges as possible for every brand of new professional.

Lucas has worked his whole career to unlock the door for students and early professionals to tiptoe their way into the tech world. Be it through global hackathons, enabling student campus leaders, or giving educators future forward tools, Lucas works... Show more

Nikita Shliakov

Nikita Shliakov

Crypto enthusiast

Crypto enthusiast Show more

Luanna Melo

Luanna Melo

Doutora em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Mestra em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Especialista em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente pelo Centro Universitário de João Pessoa. Graduada em Licenciatura Plena em Pedagogia pela Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Professora do Curso de Biblioteconomia da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. Atua nos campos da Ciência da Informação, com ênfase em Gestão, Tecnologia da Informação, Inteligência Artificial e Gênero.

Doutora em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Mestra em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Especialista em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente pelo Centro Universitário de João Pessoa. Graduada em Licenci... Show more

Rebecca Grier

Rebecca Grier

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to be more customer obsessed. Previously she moved Ford to consider people with disabilities in the design of their autonomous vehicles and the US DoD to include user experience in testing of systems. She currently lives in Dublin with her husband and son.

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to ... Show more

Dragan Vucic

Dragan Vucic

Dragan is passionate about applying technology and research in data and business processes, with expertise in banking and IT across diverse roles and responsibilities, from operational to C-level strategic positions. He led development of several cutting-edge AI/ML/CV/XR products. With a wealth of experience, he specializes in data and process analytics, process management, performance management, and change initiatives. He is Certified Data Engineer by Celonis, Germany, and Internal Control Auditor (CICA) by the Institute of Internal Controls in the USA. Moreover, he achieved the title of European Champion in Internal Auditing in 2021. Currently he has been pursuing a doctorate at the Catholic University of Louvan, Louvain School of Management in Belgium.

Dragan is passionate about applying technology and research in data and business processes, with expertise in banking and IT across diverse roles and responsibilities, from operational to C-level strategic positions. He led development of several cut... Show more

Bahar Ramazanova

Bahar Ramazanova

Bahar is a Flutter developer and co-founder at Altogether startup, a pioneering law tech platform designed to serve persons with disabilities. With a passion for inclusive design and innovation, Bahar played a pivotal role in leading her team to victory as the 1st place winner at the Global BeChangeMaker 2023 Competition held in Dublin, Ireland organized by WorldSkills and HP Foundation. Drawing on her extensive experience, Bahar has actively collaborated with persons with disabilities to identify and address accessibility challenges within Flutter applications. Through direct engagement and rigorous testing, she has managed to enhance accessibility and ensure adherence to legal compliance guidelines. Furthermore, Bahar also has a background in legal compliance complementing her technical expertise.

Bahar is a Flutter developer and co-founder at Altogether startup, a pioneering law tech platform designed to serve persons with disabilities. With a passion for inclusive design and innovation, Bahar played a pivotal role in leading her team to vict... Show more

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