Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Stephanie Lee Hayes

Stephanie Lee Hayes

Stephanie Lee Hayes is a somatic educator and writer specializing in nervous system education and the biological foundations of emotional safety, learning, and human behavior. Her work focuses on helping people understand how the nervous system shapes attention, perception, and emotional responses, and why physiological safety is the foundation for learning and meaningful change.

She is the founder of Roots & Rituals Somatic Education, where she develops educational guides and resources that translate nervous system science into clear, practical frameworks. Her teaching helps individuals recognize protective nervous system patterns and understand how safety supports engagement, clarity, and connection.

Her work is informed by both scientific research and her own lived and embodied experience navigating nervous system dysregulation, which deepens her ability to translate complex concepts into practical, accessible education.

Stephanie Lee Hayes is a somatic educator and writer specializing in nervous system education and the biological foundations of emotional safety, learning, and human behavior. Her work focuses on helping people understand how the nervous system shape... Show more

Serhii Savin

Serhii Savin

I'm a data scientist with hands-on experience in Python, PySpark, SQL, and R, specializing in machine learning, geospatial analytics, and A/B experimentation. At Lyft, I’ve developed predictive models, built dashboards, and led initiatives that saved millions by improving toll cost accuracy. I work across the full data stackfrom data engineering to modeling to stakeholder communication, and enjoy turning complex data into actionable insights. My background combines advanced statistical training with real-world impact in high-scale tech environments.

I'm a data scientist with hands-on experience in Python, PySpark, SQL, and R, specializing in machine learning, geospatial analytics, and A/B experimentation. At Lyft, I’ve developed predictive models, built dashboards, and led initiatives that saved... Show more

Gaetano Cuomo

Gaetano Cuomo

Product Manager nel tech, passo le giornate a cercare di far funzionare prodotti e team in contesti complessi. Mi interessa la psicologia applicata al lavoro: decisioni, attriti, cose non dette. In passato ho usato i Teletubbies per spiegare dinamiche di team (ha funzionato più del previsto). Oggi continuo a usare metafore pop per raccontare cosa succede quando il lavoro “regge”, ma le persone un po’ meno.

Product Manager nel tech, passo le giornate a cercare di far funzionare prodotti e team in contesti complessi. Mi interessa la psicologia applicata al lavoro: decisioni, attriti, cose non dette. In passato ho usato i Teletubbies per spiegare dinamich... Show more

Katerina Brandes

Katerina Brandes

Katerina Brandes hat einen Bildungshintergrund in Ressourcenmanagement und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und verfügt über Forschungserfahrung zu globalen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen, unter anderem in Tansania und Indien. Ihre freiberufliche Arbeitserfahrung in der Erwachsenenbildung führten sie an das Zentrum für Lehrentwicklung der TH Köln. Dort arbeitet sie in einem Karriereentwicklungsprogramm für Wissenschaftler*innen früher Karrierestufen mit dem Schwerpunkt transformative Wissenschaft. Ihr besonderes Interesse liegt in der Gestaltung kreativer, interaktiver Workshopformate mit körperorientierten und theaterpädagogischen Methoden.

Katerina Brandes hat einen Bildungshintergrund in Ressourcenmanagement und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und verfügt über Forschungserfahrung zu globalen Nachhaltigkeitsthemen, unter anderem in Tansania und Indien. Ihre freiberufliche Arbeitserfahrung i... 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

Alex Znamenskiy Znamenskiy

Alex Znamenskiy Znamenskiy

I have been working in sales since 2011 starting as a regular sales representative managing mostly cold sales. In 2013 I qualified for a corporate training specialist and further became a head of a training department. Later on in 2021 I transitioned to be fully responsible for managing sales and business growth which I have quite a significant experience with. I will be glad to share this experience with you.

I have been working in sales since 2011 starting as a regular sales representative managing mostly cold sales. In 2013 I qualified for a corporate training specialist and further became a head of a training department. Later on in 2021 I transitioned... Show more

Satya Subrahmanya Sai Ram Gopal Satya Subrahmanya Sai Ram Gopal

Satya Subrahmanya Sai Ram Gopal Satya Subrahmanya Sai Ram Gopal

Satya Subrahmanya Sai Ram Gopal Peri (Ram Gopal Peri) is a seasoned Business Integration Architecture leader with over 28 years of global experience delivering large-scale HCM and Payroll transformation initiatives for Fortune 100 companies and global enterprises across technology, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, aviation, oil & gas, and life sciences.
Renowned for bridging strategic vision with hands-on execution, he has architected and implemented complex HR technology solutions across on-premise and cloud ecosystems, led multi-country deployments, established Centers of Excellence, and championed modernization strategies with AI, ML, and automation. His career highlights include integrating AI-driven workforce management at Halliburton, directing HR solutions for Microsoft across 109 countries, leading greenfield SuccessFactors implementations for Etihad Airways, and managing SAP HR and Payroll for Shell in 125 countries.
Currently at Accenture, he drives enterprise-wide transformation programs for leading U.S.-based organizations, focusing on scalability, compliance, and user experience through effective stakeholder engagement and global delivery models. An accomplished author with multiple publications and books on HR innovation, AI, and strategic leadership, he holds advanced credentials from premier institutions and is recognized for his expertise in aligning people, processes, and platforms in the evolving digital HR landscape.

Satya Subrahmanya Sai Ram Gopal Peri (Ram Gopal Peri) is a seasoned Business Integration Architecture leader with over 28 years of global experience delivering large-scale HCM and Payroll transformation initiatives for Fortune 100 companies and globa... 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

Petra Grundler Glavica

Petra Grundler Glavica

Petra Grundler Glavica has built a successful career spanning over 14 years in global companies and various industries, including INA, Carlsberg Croatia, and A1 Hrvatska. As a strategic HR business partner, her expertise lies in organizational design, performance management, people and leadership development, employer branding, and talent management.
In July 2022, Petra founded Strive and worked at Toptal as a Talent Coach, supporting IT freelancers in their job opportunities. She also cooperated with international and local companies to provide education and training for managers and employees, implement strategic HR projects, and offer individual coaching for managers and employees.
Petra is a psychologist with certifications as an SDI and DISC Flow facilitator and AOPL practitioner. She is an EMCC Accredited Coach at Practitioner level and a Mentoring Byte volunteer mentoring community member.
Petra is dedicated to supporting organizations in creating a highly productive environment for their employees and helping individuals unlock their full professional potential.

Petra Grundler Glavica has built a successful career spanning over 14 years in global companies and various industries, including INA, Carlsberg Croatia, and A1 Hrvatska. As a strategic HR business partner, her expertise lies in organizational design... 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

Doraly Mayorga

Doraly Mayorga

Doraly Mayorga es Conferencista, Coach Autora y Entrenadora de líderes en empresas de alto impacto. Es creadora de la metodología META: Mente, Emoción, Transformación y Acción, la cual ha impactado a cientos de personas y se ha convertido en referencia en desarrollo humano y liderazgo.

Es coach empresarial y personal y cuenta con certificaciones como Coach Ejecutivo, de Equipo y de Vida por la ICC. Además, es Maestra en Terapia Gestalt, Maestra en Desarrollo Humano, Maestra en Desarrollo Organizacional y Maestra en Recursos Humanos. Adicionalmente, cuenta con certificaciones internacionales en Programación Neurolingüística, Heal Your Life, Coaching Points of You y Liderando Mente y Emoción.

Doraly es conferencista certificada por la Red Mundial de Conferencistas (RMC), galardonada con reconocimientos como Líder de América a la Excelencia Profesional y Premio Júpiter como Conferencista Revelación en Desarrollo Humano. Ha participado como conferencista internacional en eventos como el IX Congreso Internacional de Dirección de Proyectos, el Congreso de Desarrollo Humano: Edición Interclusters, el I y II Congreso Mundial de Desarrollo Personal, el Congreso “5 Sentidos: La Experiencia”, México para el Mundo, el Congreso Internacional de la RMC y la Cumbre Empresarial, entre otros.

A la fecha ha contribuido con grandes empresas a alcanzar sus metas organizacionales mediante procesos de coaching y facilitación, apoyando la consolidación de equipos de trabajo, así como el desarrollo de competencias clave como liderazgo, comunicación y trabajo en equipo. Entre estas empresas destacan Lenovo, GNP, Oxxo Gas, DEACERO, Caintra NL, Christus Muguerza, Vimifos, Green Paper, Krista Films, Maraga, ProMujer, FM Global, Súper Gutiérrez, Ruhrpumpen y Hill-Rom, por mencionar algunas. En conjunto con la Secretaría de Economía de Nuevo León diseñó y facilitó el Programa de Emprendimiento Senior para la mujer.

Doraly es coautora de los bestsellers Liderazgo Consciente y Acción Transformadora e Inquebrantables: Líderes con Propósito, y autora del libro Muero de miedo: una guía práctica para vivir desde la confianza, donde ofrece herramientas prácticas para la transformación profesional y personal.

Doraly Mayorga es una mujer comprometida, sensible y energética, a quien le encantan las conversaciones profundas y los pequeños detalles. Es madre de dos hijas, Victoria y Fernanda, se considera en continuo proceso de reinvención personal y es feliz de vivir su misión de vida al poner la sabiduría del corazón al servicio del otro.

Doraly Mayorga es Conferencista, Coach Autora y Entrenadora de líderes en empresas de alto impacto. Es creadora de la metodología META: Mente, Emoción, Transformación y Acción, la cual ha impactado a cientos de personas y se ha convertido en referen... Show more

Ahniyah Perry

Ahniyah Perry

Born and raised in Texas, Ahniyah Perry is a community advocate renowned for her innovative ventures and steadfast commitment to social impact. Embarking on her college academic journey at the age of 15, Ahniyah demonstrated exceptional potential as a leader.

In 2017, she launched an online retail company, achieving remarkable success with a threefold increase in profits. Her entrepreneurial zeal led her to establish numerous startups, further solidifying her reputation for creative business ventures. Ahniyah's philanthropic spirit shone through with the founding of Santa's Helpers, a seasonal initiative offering free, gift-wrapping services to local community members. She currently works as an Aide for the District 6 office of Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, while also pursuing a dual master's degree in Organizational Leader and Business Administration. Her outstanding achievements earned her statewide recognition, highlighting her exceptional entrepreneurial and servant leadership qualities.

Born and raised in Texas, Ahniyah Perry is a community advocate renowned for her innovative ventures and steadfast commitment to social impact. Embarking on her college academic journey at the age of 15, Ahniyah demonstrated exceptional potential as ... Show more

Marieke Prien

Marieke Prien

Marieke arbeitete in mehreren Projekten an der Hochschule Osnabrück zu den Themen KI im Gesundheitswesen sowie digitale und KI-gestützte Hochschullehre. Seit Oktober 2025 koordiniert sie das Projekt "Innovative Lehr-/Lern-Tools entdecken, testen, bereitstellen" innerhalb des Digitale Lehre Hub Niedersachsen.

Marieke arbeitete in mehreren Projekten an der Hochschule Osnabrück zu den Themen KI im Gesundheitswesen sowie digitale und KI-gestützte Hochschullehre. Seit Oktober 2025 koordiniert sie das Projekt "Innovative Lehr-/Lern-Tools entdecken, testen, ber... Show more

Riccardo Tommasini

Riccardo Tommasini

Riccardo Tommasini is a researcher, associate professor, and educator specialised in streaming data management, with a particular focus on rich query languages, data integration, and multimodal streaming systems. Currently a Maître de Conférences at INSA Lyon, he leads the POLYFLOW project (ANR JCJC), which pioneers solutions for polyglot query processing over multimodal data streams.

Riccardo holds a PhD in Information Technology from Politecnico di Milano, where his research laid foundational work in Stream Reasoning, integrating continuous data with semantics for real-time analytics. He has significantly contributed to threshold-based and time-based scheduling strategies, streaming knowledge graph management, and incremental query processing.

Since 2015, Riccardo has been an active contributor to the Stream Reasoning initiative, advancing continuous data integration with semantics for real-time decision-making. His work spans foundational contributions to threshold-based and time-based scheduling, query maintenance, and streaming knowledge graphs.

Previously, he held academic and research roles in Estonia, Italy, Belgium, and the US, collaborating with leading institutions and research labs such as Kno.e.sis and Politecnico di Milano. Riccardo regularly shares his insights at top-tier conferences and industry forums, including TheWebConf, VLDB, ICDE, DEBS, and ISWC.

Riccardo has also delivered hands-on tutorials and industry-focused talks at industrial venues, notably at DockerCon 2017, Kafka Meetup Milano (2019), and Time Series Meetup Tallinn (2020). He was also Influx Data official trainer from 2018 until 2021.

Riccardo Tommasini is a researcher, associate professor, and educator specialised in streaming data management, with a particular focus on rich query languages, data integration, and multimodal streaming systems. Currently a Maître de Conférences at ... 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

Mark Christopher Lawrence

Mark Christopher Lawrence

Meet Mark Christopher Lawrence, a dynamic presenter with a multi-faceted career that spans comedy, film, television, and beyond. With decades of experience making audiences laugh, think, and feel, Mark is an exceptional speaker who knows how to captivate a room.

A longtime Comedian, Film & Television Actor, Writer, and Producer: Mark has honed his craft across multiple entertainment mediums, bringing an unparalleled depth of experience to the stage. A Two-Time Emmy Award Nominee, his talent has been recognized at the highest levels,

Mark is an International Headliner, sharing stages with comedy legends such as Sinbad, Jerry Seinfeld, Rodney Dangerfield, and Jeff Foxworthy, entertaining audiences around the globe.

When you Book Mark For Your Next Event, You Get:

A Skilled Speaker and Natural Storyteller: Armed with a BFA in Theater from USC, earned through a Public Speaking Scholarship, Mark combines academic rigor with his inherent flair for storytelling.

An Experienced Event Emcee: Mark is adept at keeping audiences engaged and events running smoothly, ensuring your occasion is both memorable and timely.

Engaging, Inspiring, and Funny Presentations: His presentations are a perfect blend of humor, inspiration, and audience engagement, leaving lasting impressions on all who attend.

An Expert at Event Alignment: Mark excels at tailoring his presentations to meet your event goals, ensuring your audience receives a message that’s as aligned as it is impactful.

Whether you seek a hilarious anecdote or a moving inspirational story, Mark’s ability to align his presentations with your event’s needs makes him an invaluable addition to any lineup. Book him now to guarantee your event's success!

Meet Mark Christopher Lawrence, a dynamic presenter with a multi-faceted career that spans comedy, film, television, and beyond. With decades of experience making audiences laugh, think, and feel, Mark is an exceptional speaker who knows how to capti... Show more

Eva Weyer

Eva Weyer

Eva Weyer, M.A. Erziehungswissenschaft, bringt Expertise und Leidenschaft für Bildung, Kompetenzentwicklung und nachhaltiges Lernen mit - in verschiedenen Kontexten von Kindheits- bis Erwachsenenpädagogik, vom informellen bis zum institutionellen Lernen.

Eva Weyer, M.A. Erziehungswissenschaft, bringt Expertise und Leidenschaft für Bildung, Kompetenzentwicklung und nachhaltiges Lernen mit - in verschiedenen Kontexten von Kindheits- bis Erwachsenenpädagogik, vom informellen bis zum institutionellen Ler... Show more

Stephane Vandenbussche

Stephane Vandenbussche

Facilitateur graphique & coach agile, je combine pensée visuelle, intelligence collective et agilité pour accompagner les organisations dans leurs transformations.
Passionné par la transmission et la dynamique des groupes, j’anime des ateliers qui rendent les idées visibles et les échanges plus vivants.
Fondateur des Ateliers du Bosquet, j'explore des approches sur-mesure pour cultiver l’Humain et faire grandir le collectif.

Facilitateur graphique & coach agile, je combine pensée visuelle, intelligence collective et agilité pour accompagner les organisations dans leurs transformations. Passionné par la transmission et la dynamique des groupes, j’anime des ateliers qui r... 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

Alex Hart, Ed.D.

Alex Hart, Ed.D.

Originally from Roseville, CA, working in residence life began for Alex when he was a first-year student at William Jessup University near Sacramento, CA. A professional staff member asked Alex to apply to be an Orientation Leader and later on a Resident Advisor. Since then Alex finished his Masters Degree in Student Development Counseling & Administration at Indiana Wesleyan University and his Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership at Azusa Pacific University, studying the development of programming to increase residential college students' sense of community. Alex loves television shows, movies, camping, traveling, and sitting around and talking.

Originally from Roseville, CA, working in residence life began for Alex when he was a first-year student at William Jessup University near Sacramento, CA. A professional staff member asked Alex to apply to be an Orientation Leader and later on a Resi... Show more

Debralyn Arellano

Debralyn Arellano

Debra Andres Arellano was born and raised on Maui, Hawaiʻi. Her roots in the Philippines are Marcos, Ilocos Norte and San Fernando, La Union. She holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa Educational Foundations Program. Her dissertation research includes critical pedagogy, culturally-responsive teaching, and liberatory education for Lahaina. She aspires to contribute to Ilokano research, the Nakem Conferences movement, and to education programming and policy. She is passionate about empowering Filipino youth through education, community and social justice, and is passionate about her hometown and people of Lahaina.

Debra Andres Arellano was born and raised on Maui, Hawaiʻi. Her roots in the Philippines are Marcos, Ilocos Norte and San Fernando, La Union. She holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa Educational Foundations Program. He... Show more

Michèle Ruffault

Michèle Ruffault

Michèle a mené des transformations Lean et Agiles d’organisations. Au fil de ses expériences, elle a constaté l’importance du facteur humain au-delà des processus, des méthodes et des outils. Elle étudie les difficultés relationnelles et les facteurs qui les entretiennent. Son travail s’appuie sur l’approche systémique, les techniques de médiation et la communication non violente.

Michèle a mené des transformations Lean et Agiles d’organisations. Au fil de ses expériences, elle a constaté l’importance du facteur humain au-delà des processus, des méthodes et des outils. Elle étudie les difficultés relationnelles et les facteurs... 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

Sylvia Schulze-Achatz

Sylvia Schulze-Achatz

Studium der Anglistik, Germanistik, Erziehungswissenschaft an der TU Dresden. Nach der Promotion wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am CODIP der TU Dresden. Seit 2022 Projektmitarbeiterin D2C2 an der Berufsakademie Sachsen / Duale Hochschule Sachsen.

Studium der Anglistik, Germanistik, Erziehungswissenschaft an der TU Dresden. Nach der Promotion wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am CODIP der TU Dresden. Seit 2022 Projektmitarbeiterin D2C2 an der Berufsakademie Sachsen / Duale Hochschule Sachsen. Show more

Nicole Radtke

Nicole Radtke

I describe myself as a talent matchmaker, a recruiting futurist, or a bridge‑builder between people and technology.

My motto: “Hire with heart, decide with data.” sums up my approach perfectly.

For over a decade, I’ve been shaping recruiting and talent strategy in (IT) environments—across regions, teams, and stakeholder groups, and almost always with a tangible impact on the organization. My focus is not the tool stack for its own sake. Instead, I’m devoted to the processes and the people behind the processes.

My aim is to build and empower hiring communities, think digital transformation from a people‑first perspective, and I love exploring one essential question: How do we want to live and work in the future—and what must recruiting contribute so that technology and AI create real value?

I also actively champion Women in Tech—spotlighting role models, mentoring emerging talent, and creating visibility for women’s contributions so that more diverse voices shape the future of our industry.

Today, I also work as a coach, mentor, and sparring partner—sharing practical playbooks on Talent Intelligence, modern employer branding, and candidate‑centric hiring. And I aim to show—by doing—that a clear stance and a good dose of courage are necessary to break with outdated hiring myths and ways of thinking.

I describe myself as a talent matchmaker, a recruiting futurist, or a bridge‑builder between people and technology. My motto: “Hire with heart, decide with data.” sums up my approach perfectly. For over a decade, I’ve been shaping recruiting a... Show more

Michael Cinquino

Michael Cinquino

Michael Cinquino has spent his career studying what happens to people under pressure, and what allows trust, clarity, and real collaboration to emerge when outcomes matter.

He began in high stakes environments as a United States Navy Rescue Swimmer, where presence was not a mindset but a requirement for survival.

After his military service, he trained as an actor, earning a BA in Acting and Directing and an MFA in Acting from Rutgers University, where he studied with William Esper, a protégé of Sanford Meisner. That lineage instilled a deep respect for listening, embodiment, and unforced response, and a firsthand understanding of how performance collapses when it becomes self protective.

Michael’s work later moved beyond the stage into leadership and organizational life. He spent nearly a decade working behind closed doors with the founders of the CIO Strategy Exchange, an invitation only forum that convened senior Chief Information Officers from Fortune 70 organizations including Goldman Sachs, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, Disney, Lockheed Martin, and Target. These leaders met for extended, off the record conversations designed to surface real tensions, think forward together, and speak candidly without performance.

Those rooms made something unmistakably clear: innovation and trust do not emerge from politeness or impression management. They emerge from environments where productive tension is allowed to exist and people are not punished for thinking out loud. As Edwin Land observed, politeness can be the poison of collaboration. Michael saw that principle lived, not theorized.

He later brought these insights into academic and applied settings, teaching at the University of New Hampshire’s Paul College of Business and Economics and building psychologically safe practice environments where people could rehearse human interaction without the cost of performance.

Today, Michael continues to develop Drop the Act through writing, speaking, and applied organizational work. He is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Applied Psychology at Northwestern University, deepening the integration between communication science, nervous system regulation, and leadership behavior.

Michael Cinquino has spent his career studying what happens to people under pressure, and what allows trust, clarity, and real collaboration to emerge when outcomes matter. He began in high stakes environments as a United States Navy Rescue Swimme... Show more

Annabel Kramp

Annabel Kramp

- seit 2018 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Zentrum für Qualitätssicherung und - entwicklung/Zentrum für Wissenstransfer und Weiterbildung an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz mit den Schwerpunkten Schreib- und Lesedidaktik, tutorielle Lehre und Lehrendenberatung, digitale Lehre, KI in der Lehre, Gutachterin für Habilitationen
- 2023 Dr. phil. in Germanistik
- 2016 Master of Education in Germanistik, Philosophie, Bildungswissenschaften und Master of Arts in Germanistik mit Schwerpunkt Neuere deutsche Literaturwissenschaft
- 2016/17 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Bereich Neuere deutsche Literatur und ihre Didaktik an der Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main

- seit 2018 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Zentrum für Qualitätssicherung und - entwicklung/Zentrum für Wissenstransfer und Weiterbildung an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz mit den Schwerpunkten Schreib- und Lesedidaktik, tutorielle Lehr... 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

Tobias Meixner

Tobias Meixner

Tech Entrepreneur who is passionate about building software that solves real problems.

Tech Entrepreneur who is passionate about building software that solves real problems. Show more

Sreeja Varnam

Sreeja Varnam

A Software Engineer passionate about Kubernetes and virtualization, currently working on the NGN (Nvidia Grid Network) platform, delivering GPU as a Service (Iaas) in the cloud.

A Software Engineer passionate about Kubernetes and virtualization, currently working on the NGN (Nvidia Grid Network) platform, delivering GPU as a Service (Iaas) in the cloud. Show more

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