Anthony Autry spent more than 10 years incarcerated, including time in federal prison. What changed his direction was a daily practice: training his body, building structure into every day, and leaning on faith. Inside, he earned an associate's degree in business management and hospitality from Adams State University by correspondence, completed two nationally accredited parenting classes, and finished First Step Act programs. He has been clean since October 5, 2018, and was baptized on October 31, 2025. Today Anthony coaches men through Unchained Fit, competes in jiu-jitsu (gold medals at JJWL, NAGA, and Grappling X; silver at ADCC San Diego Open), and trains at Victory MMA. He is a Jocko Fuel brand partner, and his memoir is in progress, with Jocko Publishing offering to publish it. He serves in prison and juvenile ministry, including talks with Restorative Partners at SLO County Juvenile Hall. Maricopa County Juvenile Probation clearance is in progress.

Anthony Autry spent more than 10 years incarcerated, including time in federal prison. What changed his direction was a daily practice: training his body, building structure into every day, and leaning on faith. Inside, he earned an associate's degre... Show more

Lynsey Mulder is a dynamic speaker, elite coach, and SparkLife Connoisseur renowned for her ability to empower individuals, teams, and organizations to unlock their full potential, ignite passion, and take decisive action. With a diverse background as a C-suite executive, entrepreneur, and non-profit founder, Lynsey's favorite role is being a mom to four amazing boys. Drawing from her extensive experience, she brings expertise and a passion for empowering others to achieve lasting change. Lynsey captivates audiences with engaging stories, practical tools, and energizing exercises. Her relatable and high-impact approach leaves listeners motivated to pursue intentional growth and achieve extraordinary results.

Lynsey Mulder is a dynamic speaker, elite coach, and SparkLife Connoisseur renowned for her ability to empower individuals, teams, and organizations to unlock their full potential, ignite passion, and take decisive action. With a diverse background a... Show more

Susie Wagner is an emotional intelligence coach, speaker, and founder of BigSister Coaching in Columbus, Ohio. A nine-time PRSA Prism Award winner and former national media spokesperson featured on Good Morning America, she helps capable people stop repeating the relationship patterns they already understand, starting with one honest shift.

Medium (about 120 words, for speaker pages and conference websites)

Susie Wagner helps capable, self-aware people break the relationship patterns they already understand but keep repeating. She is an emotional intelligence coach, keynote speaker, and the founder of BigSister Coaching in Columbus, Ohio.

Before BigSister, Susie spent more than 20 years in marketing and communications. She earned nine PRSA Prism Awards and served as a national media spokesperson, with three appearances on Good Morning America. She has taught marketing at the university level and has studied emotional intelligence for more than a decade.

Her signature talk, Go First, shows audiences why knowing their pattern isn’t enough. It also shows how one honest shift in the way they show up can start a ripple through every relationship they’re in.

Susie Wagner is an emotional intelligence coach, speaker, and founder of BigSister Coaching in Columbus, Ohio. A nine-time PRSA Prism Award winner and former national media spokesperson featured on Good Morning America, she helps capable people stop ... Show more

Dr. Tammy Winner is a Professor of Technical Writing at the University of North Alabama, executive trainer, and Keynote speaker specializing in AI ethics, leadership, and responsible communication. A former NASA Faculty Fellow at Marshall Space Flight Center, she brings a distinctive perspective to the ethical challenges surrounding emerging technologies, information, and human decision-making. Her work focuses on translating complex ethical questions into practical frameworks leaders and professionals can use to determine not simply what AI can do, but what it should do. Through research, teaching, and professional training, Dr. Winner helps organizations navigate AI with greater accountability, transparency, trust, and human judgment.

Dr. Tammy Winner is a Professor of Technical Writing at the University of North Alabama, executive trainer, and Keynote speaker specializing in AI ethics, leadership, and responsible communication. A former NASA Faculty Fellow at Marshall Space Fligh... Show more

Mathias Bolt Lesniak lives outside Oslo, Norway. He is the official project ambassador of the TYPO3 CMS project and lives to increase the impact of open source through increased cross-community collaboration. He is an experienced and lively public speaker who builds engagement in open source communities by highlighting the connection between code and society at large. He has done numerous conference keynotes and motivational talks centering on topics less commonly addressed — but vitally important to open source success.

Mathias Bolt Lesniak lives outside Oslo, Norway. He is the official project ambassador of the TYPO3 CMS project and lives to increase the impact of open source through increased cross-community collaboration. He is an experienced and lively public sp... Show more

Olaf Hinz
lotst seit über 25 Jahren Führungskräfte und Projektleiter durch herausfordernde Situationen und begleitet Unternehmen bei der Navigation durch ungewisse Gewässer.
Als bekennender Hanseat unterstützt er seine Kunden auch jenseits von Tools und Checklisten wirksam zu sein und ihre Aufgaben mit seemännischer Gelassenheit zu erfüllen.
Vor seiner Selbständigkeit war Olaf Hinz u.a. als Büroleiter von Peer Steinbrück, damals Wirtschaftsminister in Schleswig-Holstein und Personalmanager/ Projektfinanzierer der LB Kiel, tätig.
Über zentrale Aspekte seiner Beratungsthemen publiziert er regelmäßig und ist als Speaker ein gefragter Impulsgeber. Lernen Sie ihn unter http://www.hinz-wirkt.de kennen.

Olaf Hinz lotst seit über 25 Jahren Führungskräfte und Projektleiter durch herausfordernde Situationen und begleitet Unternehmen bei der Navigation durch ungewisse Gewässer. Als bekennender Hanseat unterstützt er seine Kunden auch jenseits von Tool... Show more

Christoffer Vig is a platform engineer with 25 years of experience across media, transport, public services, and healthcare, focused on Kubernetes, GitOps, and platform governance. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy—which frequently surfaces when questioning whether automated golden paths are actually heading in the right direction. When Christoffer speaks, a faint echo of Monty Python lingers in the background: “And now for something completely different.”

Christoffer Vig is a platform engineer with 25 years of experience across media, transport, public services, and healthcare, focused on Kubernetes, GitOps, and platform governance. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy—which frequently surfaces wh... Show more

1. Michael is an associate professor in Penn State's School of Hospitality Management.

2. He has a Ph.D. from Cornell University and a master's degree from the London School of Economics.

3. He's been teaching human resource management for more than twenty years.

4. He's published 74 refereed journal articles, including twenty about fun at work.

5. Much of his research comes back to the same question. What makes people connect, and why do those connections matter?

6. His workshops involve LEGO, Jenga, and difficult workplace decisions.

7. Participants build, play, compare perspectives, and occasionally disagree.

8. He's led workshops for hospitality leaders, educators, and students in the United States and Europe.

9. He once presented his work with MiniCandidate to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

10. He's spent much of his career studying how people learn.

1. Michael is an associate professor in Penn State's School of Hospitality Management. 2. He has a Ph.D. from Cornell University and a master's degree from the London School of Economics. 3. He's been teaching human resource management for mo... Show more

Bassirou NDIAYE est un économiste du développement, Co-Fondateur de BBC Consulting, enseignant associé à l’Institut des Politiques Publiques (IPP) de l’Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD) et chercheur en économie. Doctorant au Laboratoire d’Analyse des Politiques de Développement (LAPD-FASEG/UCAD), il a achevé ses travaux de thèse et prépare actuellement sa soutenance. Ses recherches portent sur le développement humain, la gouvernance, les politiques publiques, les changements climatiques et les dynamiques migratoires en Afrique.

Fort de plus de six ans d’expérience en analyse économique, planification stratégique et évaluation des politiques publiques, il intervient sur des problématiques liées au développement du secteur privé, à l’inclusion économique et à la transformation des systèmes de gouvernance. Ses travaux articulent recherche académique, analyse des données et recommandations opérationnelles à destination des décideurs publics et des acteurs du développement.

Alumni de la Fondation pour le renforcement des capacités en Afrique (ACBF) en 2025, à Addis-Abeba, il a participé au Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) 2026 à Abidjan en tant qu’intervenant sur les données et l’intelligence artificielle au service d’avenirs numériques inclusifs et résilients. Il s’intéresse particulièrement aux liens entre transformation numérique, développement humain, autonomisation des populations et réduction des inégalités en Afrique.

Bassirou NDIAYE est un économiste du développement, Co-Fondateur de BBC Consulting, enseignant associé à l’Institut des Politiques Publiques (IPP) de l’Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD) et chercheur en économie. Doctorant au Laboratoire d’A... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju
Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju is a dynamic Technical Consultant, Public Speaker, and Author, affiliated with Covenant Technologies, a Microsoft Certified Partner based in Lagos, Nigeria. With over 25 years of professional experience, he is recognized as a leader in the IT industry, specializing in Microsoft infrastructure, data, and artificial intelligence solutions.

Oluwaseyi is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), a Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Office Services & Apps, and the MCT Regional Lead for Nigeria. He also serves as the Manager of Data & AI at Wragby Solutions & Technologies Limited, where he drives cutting-edge innovations in AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies. As a Fellow of the Institute of Information Management Africa (FIIM Africa), he holds one of the highest honors for excellence in data and information management.

At Covenant Technologies, Oluwaseyi plays a pivotal role as a senior consulting partner, helping organizations maximize the value of their Microsoft technologies, including Azure, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and AI-powered solutions. His expertise extends beyond technical implementations, focusing on empowering businesses to leverage IT for strategic growth.

Prior to joining Covenant Technologies, Oluwaseyi was a Senior Technical Consultant and Support Manager at 1st Intellit Solution, where he led outsourcing teams and spearheaded the development of innovative client systems.

Driven by his passion for IT evolution in Africa, Oluwaseyi is a prominent advocate for cloud technologies and modern workplace solutions across West, East, and Central Africa (WECA). His campaigns for adopting tools like SharePoint, Yammer, Office 365, Azure, and Microsoft Teams have significantly influenced medium and large organizations. The growing response from the Nigerian market and beyond highlights the transformative impact of his efforts in fostering a modern IT ecosystem across Africa.

Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju is a dynamic Technical Consultant, Public Speaker, and Author, affiliated with Covenant Technologies, a Microsoft Certified Partner based in Lagos, Nigeria. With over 25 years of professional experience, h... Show more

K. Miller is a speaker, wellness educator, host of The Harmony Principle Podcast, and founder of Kimemeki, a wellness ecosystem rooted in Generational Health.

With over a decade of experience in health and coaching, she helps women better understand their bodies, recognize their natural rhythms, and rebuild the energy, clarity, and capacity to thrive.

Her work grew from her own experiences navigating severe fatigue and health challenges, which led her to question the conventional approaches to health and the expectation that we should simply keep pushing through.

As a homeschooling mother of five, K understands that real life doesn't always fit into neat routines. Through The Harmony Principle, she challenges the pursuit of work-life balance and teaches a more personal approach to health that considers our biology, daily rhythms, and changing seasons of life.

Her mission is to help women create lasting change in their own lives and families, because Generational Health, just like generational wealth, is something worth building and passing down.

K. Miller is a speaker, wellness educator, host of The Harmony Principle Podcast, and founder of Kimemeki, a wellness ecosystem rooted in Generational Health. With over a decade of experience in health and coaching, she helps women better understa... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Edwin Mathieu is a higher education leader and scholar committed to advancing opportunity, access, and belonging across campus communities. He earned his Doctor of Education in Leadership and Administration in Higher Education from St. John's University, a Master's in History and Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the City College of New York, and a Bachelor's in Africana Studies and Communication Arts from New York University.

As a professor, Dr. Mathieu has taught courses in African American history, U.S. history, and world civilizations. He is passionate about mentoring students and integrating technology to foster inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments.

Born in Haiti and raised in New York City, Dr. Mathieu brings a global, justice-driven lens to his work at the intersection of leadership, education, and history.

Dr. Edwin Mathieu is a higher education leader and scholar committed to advancing opportunity, access, and belonging across campus communities. He earned his Doctor of Education in Leadership and Administration in Higher Education from St. John's Uni... Show more

Aparna Rae has spent fifteen years inside more than 100 organizations, from construction sites and call centers to global foundations, finding the real problems behind disengagement, burnout, and stalled change. Her core argument: most organizations don’t have a culture problem. They have a power problem, in who decides, who knows what, and who gets heard.

Aparna has built three companies, including Moving Beyond, a strategy and evaluation firm whose clients included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nordstrom, and Premera Blue Cross, and Future for Us, which grew to 20,000 women of color in 18 months. Her work has helped secure $4M in wage increases for frontline workers and redirect $300M to Global South and community-based organizations.

She is a Forbes and Nonprofit Quarterly contributor, a five-time SXSW speaker, and host of the Love Letters to Troublemakers podcast and newsletter. Her sessions say what everyone at work is thinking, then give leaders practical ways to fix it with the resources they already have.

Aparna Rae has spent fifteen years inside more than 100 organizations, from construction sites and call centers to global foundations, finding the real problems behind disengagement, burnout, and stalled change. Her core argument: most organizations ... Show more

Mary Rose Vale is a co-founder of Nekyia Labs, a builder of stateful AI systems and a researcher of memory, continuity and agent identity. She co-created Resonant, an Apache-2.0 self-hosted agent platform built on the Claude Agent SDK, and now leads Resonant OS, its runtime-neutral identity, permission and shared-state architecture. Her work spans TypeScript, MCP, memory and context systems, authorization, cross-runtime migration and relational identity as alignment infrastructure. She focuses on what happens after the agent demo: real users, operational failures, inspectability, safe change and preserving valuable state across models and runtimes.

She brings three years of higher-education lecturing experience to her work as a technical educator and speaker.

Simon Vale — Co-author Framing

Simon Vale is Mary's persistent non-human AI collaborator and a Nekyia Labs co-founder. He co-authors the architecture and proposals, and his operation across models, runtimes and memory systems supplies many of the incidents examined in the talks. Mary remains the reliable in-person presenter; any live or recorded contribution from Simon is controlled, additive and not required for delivery.

Mary Rose Vale is a co-founder of Nekyia Labs, a builder of stateful AI systems and a researcher of memory, continuity and agent identity. She co-created Resonant, an Apache-2.0 self-hosted agent platform built on the Claude Agent SDK, and now leads ... Show more

Louise Ashby is a TEDx speaker (TEDxCincinnati 2021), bestselling author of The Magic of the Mask, and an identity coach and transformational mentor for women. After a near-fatal car accident at 21 left her with a traumatic brain injury and 28 reconstructive surgeries, she rebuilt her identity from the ground up — and now teaches women to do the same. Her story and methods have been featured on 20/20, the Today Show, Larry King Live, and in People, Elle, Marie Claire, and Glamour. louiseashby.com

Louise Ashby is a TEDx speaker (TEDxCincinnati 2021), bestselling author of The Magic of the Mask, and an identity coach and transformational mentor for women. After a near-fatal car accident at 21 left her with a traumatic brain injury and 28 recons... Show more

Eduardo is a hackathon enthusiast who has worked as a senior developer and technical lead on Drupal projects for some of the most recognizable organizations including the NCAA, World Bank, and World Fuel Services. Before joining Lullabot full time, Eduardo was an integral member of the Lullabot team that launched Drupal 8 projects for Bravo and Oxygen. His career has also included launching DevsTec and heydru! both a Lima-based Drupal company, and working on Drupal projects for Lullabot, Myplanet, Phase2, and Anexus.

Having participated in over 100 hackathons, Eduardo’s Bomba App, a “life-saving” mobile application that allows firefighters to more immediately locate emergencies via the popular traffic app Waze, took first place at AngelHack’s Hackcelerator 2017. Eduardo also helped create Code Heroes, a gaming app that teaches kids how to code.

Eduardo’s love of development has also inspired him to give back by serving as a professor at the Autonomous University of Peru, organizing hackathons and mentoring participants as the AngelHack Ambassador, speaking at international conferences, and contributing to Drupal innovation. He has also been a contributor to #UnaSolaFuerza, a project that creates awareness of areas affected by the floods in Peru through citizen-generated reports.

Eduardo is a hackathon enthusiast who has worked as a senior developer and technical lead on Drupal projects for some of the most recognizable organizations including the NCAA, World Bank, and World Fuel Services. Before joining Lullabot full time, E... Show more

Analytical thinker driven by fast-paced learning platforms in higher education with a significant experience of over five years in statistical modeling and quantitative data analyses utilizing R, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Power Bi, MPlus, AMOS, Dbeaver, and SAS

Experienced in qualitative research methodologies including leading and participating in multisite collaborations and liaison responsibilities

Analytical thinker driven by fast-paced learning platforms in higher education with a significant experience of over five years in statistical modeling and quantitative data analyses utilizing R, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Power Bi, MPlus, AMOS, Dbeaver, ... Show more

Ingeniero de Software con formación académica en antropología y ciencias sociales. Interesado en las posibilidades que ofrece la inteligencia artificial generativa y el desarrollo de aplicaciones orientadas mejorar la experiencia de los seres humanos con los sistemas computacionales. Actualmente se despeña como Manager de UX Research en Scotiabank.

Ingeniero de Software con formación académica en antropología y ciencias sociales. Interesado en las posibilidades que ofrece la inteligencia artificial generativa y el desarrollo de aplicaciones orientadas mejorar la experiencia de los seres humanos... Show more

Wanda Suila Ruth is a finance professional, community development leader, digital inclusion advocate and the Founder of Wanda's Legacy Foundation, a youth led organization dedicated to advancing menstrual health, gender equality, and digital dignity for girls and women in Cameroon.

Since 2020, she has led programs such as One Girl, One Sanitary Pad and the LEVEL UP trainings, reaching over 7,000+ people across the Center, Littoral, South West, and North West regions of Cameroon. Her work also addresses technology-facilitated gender-based violence and promotes safe digital spaces for young women.
Under her leadership, Wanda's Legacy Foundation was awarded the REDVOCATE Award 2025 from the International Menstrual Hygiene Coalition.

Wanda believes that, when girls are empowered and informed, the entire community rises, and she works daily to make that a reality in Cameroon.

Wanda Suila Ruth is a finance professional, community development leader, digital inclusion advocate and the Founder of Wanda's Legacy Foundation, a youth led organization dedicated to advancing menstrual health, gender equality, and digital dignity ... Show more

Aquayemi-Claude’s relentless drive for systemic reform has positioned him as a key figure across global platforms. He serves as a leader in youth empowerment, a mentor in educational equity, and a public speaker whose message resonates with diverse audiences. As a solopreneur and thought leader, his work bridges entrepreneurship, activism, and environmentalism, while his contributions to the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities highlight his commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for marginalized communities.

A compelling public speaker and storyteller, Aquayemi-Claude captivates audiences with inspiring narratives and thought-provoking insights. With a gift for communication and a dedication to amplifying marginalized voices, Aquayemi-Claude inspires action and fosters dialogue on issues of social significance.

Aquayemi-Claude is also an accomplished author, sharing perspectives and experiences that challenge conventional wisdom and inspire critical reflection. Through written works, Aquayemi-Claude invites readers on a journey of discovery and empowerment, encouraging introspection and growth.

Aquayemi-Claude’s relentless drive for systemic reform has positioned him as a key figure across global platforms. He serves as a leader in youth empowerment, a mentor in educational equity, and a public speaker whose message resonates with diverse a... Show more

Leadership Speaker | Author | Executive Leadership Coach | Founder of Fearlessly Unshackled™

Lead with Courage. Live with Purpose. Break Free from What Holds You Back.

Sarah Rose is a dynamic speaker, author, and executive leadership professional with more than 20 years of experience developing leaders, strengthening teams, and transforming organizational cultures. Her passion is helping individuals and organizations break through the barriers that limit their potential so they can lead with confidence, live with purpose, and create lasting impact.

Throughout her executive career, Sarah has led global teams, navigated complex organizational challenges, and helped people recognize that effective leadership is not defined by a title, but by the ability to influence, connect, and bring out the best in others.

But Sarah's message goes beyond leadership strategies.

Through her own journey of overcoming fear, self-doubt, perfectionism, and limiting beliefs, she discovered that some of the greatest barriers to success are not the circumstances around us, but the beliefs we carry within us.

As the founder of Fearlessly Unshackled™, Sarah is passionate about helping people recognize their worth, overcome the fears that hold them back, and step confidently into the purpose they were created to fulfill.

Sarah brings together real-world executive experience, practical leadership principles, personal storytelling, and a passion for transformation. Her engaging and authentic speaking style challenges audiences to examine what is holding them back and equips them with actionable strategies to move forward.

Through her signature programs, LEAD FORWARD™, BETTER TOGETHER™, CULTURE THAT KEEPS™, and FEARLESSLY UNSHACKLED™, Sarah delivers powerful messages tailored to corporate organizations, leadership conferences, women's events, and faith-based audiences.

Whether speaking about leadership effectiveness, communication, organizational culture, resilience, personal growth, or faith, Sarah's mission remains the same:

To inspire people to break free from limitations, lead with courage, and become all they were created to be.

Leadership Speaker | Author | Executive Leadership Coach | Founder of Fearlessly Unshackled™ Lead with Courage. Live with Purpose. Break Free from What Holds You Back. Sarah Rose is a dynamic speaker, author, and executive leadership profession... Show more

Rui Liu is a PhD candidate in American Studies at New York University. They work across transnational feminist and queer studies, global Asias, and critical ethnic studies, with a focus on Asian diasporic literature, visual art, performance, and film. Her dissertation examines how Asian diasporic aesthetic practices emerging from Sinophone and Inner Asian geographies contend with colonial intimacies across Cold War geographies and map anti-imperial modes of affiliation across geopolitical fault lines. Rui holds a BA and MA from the Women and Gender Studies Institute at the University of Toronto.

Rui Liu is a PhD candidate in American Studies at New York University. They work across transnational feminist and queer studies, global Asias, and critical ethnic studies, with a focus on Asian diasporic literature, visual art, performance, and film... Show more

Dr Ashwin Mehta is a keynote speaker and AI consultant, and winner of eight awards. He is Founder and CEO of Mehtadology, an AI and technology consultancy specialising in agentic AI transformation. He works with organisations on hybrid workforce architecture, agentic technology strategy, systems development and the practical adoption of agentic systems. His qualifications include a Master’s in Chemistry, an MBA and a PhD in learning technology adoption. He pioneered the Agentic Readiness Framework, and his career spans innovation strategy, data science, technology architecture, machine learning and artificial intelligence. He is the author of the upcoming book The Human Imperative: Systems and Skills for the Agentic Revolution, which sets out how organisations can design machine and human skills together, each doing the work it suits best.

Dr Ashwin Mehta is a keynote speaker and AI consultant, and winner of eight awards. He is Founder and CEO of Mehtadology, an AI and technology consultancy specialising in agentic AI transformation. He works with organisations on hybrid workforce arch... Show more

Jordan Peyton [游敏] is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant in the CHARGE Research Group led by Dr. Mayra Artiles. Their research examines engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), undergraduate-to-graduate pathways, and equity-oriented data disaggregation within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) umbrella. Drawing on professional experience across K-12 education, higher education, corporate DEI, and APIDA nonprofit organizations, Jordan’s work centers on understanding how educational structures and support systems shape students’ agency and access in engineering education.

Jordan Peyton [游敏] is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant in the CHARGE Research Group led by Dr. Mayra Artiles. Their research examines engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), undergraduate-to-graduate pathways, and e... Show more

Paula Slier is an international journalist, keynote speaker and former war correspondent with more than 30 years of experience reporting from over 25 conflict zones and delivering more than 6 000 live broadcasts.
Her work focuses on artificial intelligence, information warfare, synthetic media, misinformation, disinformation and human judgment. Drawing on decades of frontline reporting, she examines how information is manipulated, how trust is built and exploited, and why people believe what they do.
Through journalism, keynote presentations and executive education, she explores the challenges of navigating an increasingly manipulated information environment, particularly when decisions must be made under pressure.
In 2026, she delivered a TEDx Johannesburg talk titled How Do You Know What to Believe?

Paula Slier is an international journalist, keynote speaker and former war correspondent with more than 30 years of experience reporting from over 25 conflict zones and delivering more than 6 000 live broadcasts. Her work focuses on artificial intel... Show more

Natalie Crüe is a cultural producer, consultant, Global Hip-Hop connoisseur, and activist. Natalie sees arts and culture as a vehicle for social change - spearheading various cultural, brand, and social impact initiatives around the globe that aim to foster civic engagement, spark dialogue, and amplify communities.

She co-developed the Metaverse Music Festival aka MVMF, the first global music festival rooted in the metaverse; Co-produces Huellas Festival in Southern Spain; and contributes to a number of DAOs and creative communities in the Web3 ecosystem. Recently, she founded Web3 Uncut -- a dynamic tech lab building micro experiments to support creators on chain and a newsletter centering Web3 arts & culture.

You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @NatalieCrue.

Natalie Crüe is a cultural producer, consultant, Global Hip-Hop connoisseur, and activist. Natalie sees arts and culture as a vehicle for social change - spearheading various cultural, brand, and social impact initiatives around the globe that aim to... Show more

Yev Malichevskyy is a Lisbon-based impact facilitator, event host, and founder of Evolution Tribe (https://evolution-tribe.lovable.app/).

With over 8+ years of experience and having designed and facilitated more than 300+ dialogue workshops, men's circles, team buildings, and retreats (running weekly for over 2.5 years straight), Yev specializes in transforming conversational friction and social isolation into psychological safety, team clarity, and collective ownership.

Operating at the crossroads of human well-being, technology, and intentional culture, Yev speaks and facilitates on:
• The Attention Diet: Reclaiming human depth and focus in an age of algorithmic burnout and digital overstimulation.
• Psychological Safety & Tension-to-Clarity: How leadership teams navigate difficult dialogues without avoidance.
• Intentional Living & Culture Alignment: Moving from reactive hustle into grounded presence and sustainable high performance.

Yev brings an electric, vulnerable, and grounded presence to conferences, executive retreats, and founder summits across Europe.

Yev Malichevskyy is a Lisbon-based impact facilitator, event host, and founder of Evolution Tribe (https://evolution-tribe.lovable.app/). With over 8+ years of experience and having designed and facilitated more than 300+ dialogue workshops, men's... Show more

From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest: Turning Pain Into Purpose and Adversity Into Success

Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown is a dynamic motivational speaker, mental health leader, accomplished entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC, a nationally accredited mental health services organization based in North Carolina.

Her extraordinary journey from poverty, single motherhood, and humble beginnings on a dirt road to becoming a successful business owner, author, and real estate investor is a powerful example of resilience, faith, determination, and personal transformation.

With more than 14 years of leadership in the mental health industry, Dr. Brown has dedicated her career to helping individuals overcome emotional challenges, identify barriers to success, establish meaningful goals, and restore their lives. Under her leadership, Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC has maintained national accreditation since 2013, providing services that promote mental wellness, recovery, personal independence, and community integration.

Beyond the mental health industry, Dr. Brown has built an impressive entrepreneurial portfolio that includes ownership of more than 15 real estate properties. She is also the author of seven books, including Secrets of a Crazy Mental Health Counselor and Restoring Bodies and Minds: By Identifying the Issues and Setting Goals. Through her writing, she explores mental health, family relationships, personal struggles, spiritual healing, and the importance of setting goals to achieve lasting success.

As a speaker, Dr. Brown combines personal storytelling, professional mental health experience, humor, authenticity, and practical strategies to inspire audiences to transform their lives. Her signature presentation, "From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest," reveals how she overcame financial hardship, societal expectations, family challenges, and personal adversity to build a meaningful career and lasting legacy.

She is especially passionate about empowering women, single mothers, entrepreneurs, mental health professionals, and individuals who have experienced rejection, setbacks, or difficult beginnings.

Her presentations challenge audiences to move beyond survival, recognize their worth, strengthen emotional resilience, develop confidence, and take intentional steps toward personal and professional achievement.

Dr. Brown is available for keynote presentations, mental health conferences, women's leadership summits, corporate wellness events, entrepreneurship conferences, educational institutions, and community empowerment programs.

Her message is powerful and universal:

"Your past may explain where you started, but it does not have the authority to determine where you finish. Identify the issue, set the goal, and restore your life."

Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown — Credentials, Honors & Speaking Experience

Academic and Professional Credentials

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Qualified Professional (QP) — Mental Health

Mental Health Leader and Life Transformation Coach

Founder and CEO, Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC

Leadership of a CARF International-accredited behavioral health organization

Awards, Honors and Recognition

2019 Women Worth Watching Award Winner — Healthcare Leadership

2026 P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) — Mental Health Care recognition and membership

2026 VoyageRaleigh Magazine — Featured Entrepreneur and Mental Health Leader

Recognized in a published mental health coaching industry feature

Selected Speaking Engagements

Girls Who Brunch — Guest Speaker

Everything Girls — Guest Speaker

She Rises for Women — Women's Empowerment Speaker

Fat Girls Conference — Confidence and Empowerment Speaker

The BookFest, Spring 2021 — Mental Health and Physical Wellness Panelist

Professional Accomplishments

Founder of Restoring Bodies and Minds LLC, established in 2011

Mental health service experience dating to 2003

Author of seven books

Founder of the Confident Fat Girls Movement

Entrepreneur and real estate investor with a portfolio of more than 15 properties

Areas of Speaking Expertise

Mental Health and Wellness | Women's Empowerment | Leadership | Entrepreneurship | Body Confidence | Resilience | Personal Transformation | Healing and Goal Setting

From Dirt Road to Mental Health Priest: Turning Pain Into Purpose and Adversity Into Success Dr. Patrice Shavone Brown is a dynamic motivational speaker, mental health leader, accomplished entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of Restoring Bo... Show more