Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Mathias Segerlund

Mathias Segerlund

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

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

Stéphane Clavier

Stéphane Clavier

J'ai toujours cultivé une certaine polyvalence dont les différentes facettes s'enrichissent mutuellement.
Coach professionnel et agiliste, j'écoute et je questionne individus et organisations pour les aider à clarifier leurs problématiques et à construire leurs propres solutions.

J'ai toujours cultivé une certaine polyvalence dont les différentes facettes s'enrichissent mutuellement. Coach professionnel et agiliste, j'écoute et je questionne individus et organisations pour les aider à clarifier leurs problématiques et à cons... 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

Kim Escobedo

Kim Escobedo

Kim es una ingeniera con una visión holística del liderazgo. Su enfoque se centra en el desarrollo integral de las personas, combinando habilidades técnicas con habilidades blandas como la comunicación efectiva, la resolución de conflictos y la inteligencia emocional. Con más de 17 años de experiencia en la industria IT y certificaciones en la metodología Agile y una maestría en Neuroliderazgo y Coaching Cognitivo, Kim ha demostrado su capacidad para transformar equipos y organizaciones.

Kim es una ingeniera con una visión holística del liderazgo. Su enfoque se centra en el desarrollo integral de las personas, combinando habilidades técnicas con habilidades blandas como la comunicación efectiva, la resolución de conflictos y la intel... Show more

Dalia Mostafa Abdulrahman

Dalia Mostafa Abdulrahman

Dr. Dalia Mostafa Abdulrahman is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Early Childhood Education, Cairo University, specializing in children's literature and early childhood development. Holds a Ph.D. in Education from Cairo University, where master's and bachelor's degrees were also earned, all related to children's literature and education. Additionally certified in the Montessori Method of Teaching, holds a Diploma in Public Policy and Children's Rights, and a Diploma in Museum Studies. Serves as Editorial Assistant for International Research in Children's Literature (IRCL).

Dr. Dalia Mostafa Abdulrahman is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Early Childhood Education, Cairo University, specializing in children's literature and early childhood development. Holds a Ph.D. in Education from Cairo University, where mast... Show more

Maryam Razavian

Maryam Razavian

Maryam Razavian is Assistant Professor at TU/e, researching the human side of software architecture and AI-enabled systems. Her work focuses on architectural decision-making, collaboration, cognitive biases, and value-aware architecting in complex socio-technical systems.

Maryam Razavian is Assistant Professor at TU/e, researching the human side of software architecture and AI-enabled systems. Her work focuses on architectural decision-making, collaboration, cognitive biases, and value-aware architecting in complex so... Show more

Weam Taha

Weam Taha

I am an Academic Content Specialist and Teacher Trainer at Tihama, where my focus is on aligning curriculum design with the realities of classroom practice. My foundation in education was built as an IB high school English teacher, an experience that instilled in me a deep commitment to crafting learning experiences that are both intellectually rigorous and genuinely responsive to student needs.

In my current role, I lead professional development initiatives and oversee academic content strategy, working to ensure that educators are equipped with resources that are coherent, purposeful, and adaptable. I believe that strong content is the cornerstone of effective teaching, and that every curriculum decision ultimately serves a learner who deserves clarity, relevance, and inspiration.

I am honored to join the GESS community to share insights drawn from my journey and to contribute to the ongoing dialogue shaping our profession.

I am an Academic Content Specialist and Teacher Trainer at Tihama, where my focus is on aligning curriculum design with the realities of classroom practice. My foundation in education was built as an IB high school English teacher, an experience that... Show more

Valérie Arnold

Valérie Arnold

Valérie Arnold is an Executive Educator with Harvard Business Impact and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council.

As the head of her boutique advisory office, she counsels C-suite leaders, global executives, and sovereign family offices on elite leadership performance within high-stakes, volatile environments.

Her pioneering work sits at the precise intersection of applied leadership practice, predictive brain science, and complex organizational dynamics.

Rather than focusing on standard communication scripts, Valérie specializes in Signal Architecture—examining how a leader's biological signaling, cognitive load management, and internal regulation directly dictate organizational clarity, systemic trust, and execution under intense pressure.

Over a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years, Valérie has developed a profound expertise in real-time, high-pressure environments, complemented by a decade of pioneering intensive virtual executive development.

Her advisory initiatives and masterclasses have directly influenced more than 74,000 leaders globally. Her corporate and institutional portfolio features some of the world's most prominent organizations, including:
• LVMH
• Procter & Gamble
• American Express
• Cognizant
• The United Nations
• Sovereign Family Structures (navigating complex governance and authority succession)

Renowned for her exceptional stage command, Valérie is highly sought after for her ability to deliver high-impact, deeply psychological interventions under unpredictable, unscripted, and high-stakes conditions.

She has been invited to deliver keynotes and lead panels for elite global institutions, including NATO Headquarters (for International Women’s Day) and various European Union institutions, alongside exclusive international executive forums.

Born in France and currently based in Bali, Indonesia, Valérie embodies a rare cross-cultural fluency.

This global perspective has been meticulously shaped by over two decades of operating across sharply contrasting leadership ecosystems, allowing her to bridge cultural divides and help global leaders build deep somatic alignment and psychological safety across borders.

Valérie is represented by DORÉE, a French strategic brand office; please contact the DORÉE team for booking inquiries.

Valérie Arnold is an Executive Educator with Harvard Business Impact and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council. As the head of her boutique advisory office, she counsels C-suite leaders, global executives, and sovereign family offices... Show more

Robyn Butterfield

Robyn Butterfield

Robyn Butterfield (she/her) serves as the Manager of New Student Programming at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) in Massachusetts. With over 21 years of experience in higher education—including 18 years in financial aid and 16 years in the Massachusetts community college system—Robyn now leads orientation and first-year programming as part of MWCC’s Title III grant initiatives. She is especially excited to be working in the new student space, helping to build career-connected, student-centered onboarding experiences that support equitable access and success. Robyn is also a PhD student in Higher Education at Purdue University, with research interests focused on student withdrawal behavior, financial aid equity, and the obligation gap in community colleges.

Robyn Butterfield (she/her) serves as the Manager of New Student Programming at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) in Massachusetts. With over 21 years of experience in higher education—including 18 years in financial aid and 16 years in the Ma... Show more

Dave Barbier

Dave Barbier

Dave is a professional administrator, educator and facilitator with expertise in sustainability, project development and completion, Higher Education and Experiential Education. He has been an environmental advocate for over 35 years and is currently directing the Office of Sustainability at University of Wisconsin of Stevens Point.

Dave is a professional administrator, educator and facilitator with expertise in sustainability, project development and completion, Higher Education and Experiential Education. He has been an environmental advocate for over 35 years and is currentl... Show more

Emmanuel Apraku-Siaw

Emmanuel Apraku-Siaw

Emmanuel Apraku-Siaw is the founder of Rheoh Purpose Lab, a Ghanaian workforce development organization that has reached over 6,000 young professionals across nine universities through structured mentorship, career development programming and proprietary assessment tools.

Over five years, Rheoh Purpose Lab has built one of West Africa’s most systematic approaches to professional transformation, including the Rheoh Composite Life-Map, a structured decision-making framework for education and career choices, and RheohPOS, a framework that helps organizations systematically onboard, develop, and measure the performance of graduate trainees and entry-level professionals.

His work sits at the intersection of human capability development and organizational performance, making him a distinctive voice in conversations about why technology implementations succeed or fail based on the people behind them. At DynamicsCon Regional: Africa 2026, he brings a practitioner’s perspective that most ERP rooms never hear: what happens on the human side of the system before and after go-live.

Emmanuel Apraku-Siaw is the founder of Rheoh Purpose Lab, a Ghanaian workforce development organization that has reached over 6,000 young professionals across nine universities through structured mentorship, career development programming and proprie... Show more

Christoffer Vig

Christoffer Vig

The secret sauce in the composition of this hacker may be his masters degree in philosophy. Loves hard stuff, curious, tries to do good.

The secret sauce in the composition of this hacker may be his masters degree in philosophy. Loves hard stuff, curious, tries to do good. Show more

Michelle Huang

Michelle Huang

Michelle N. Huang is assistant professor of English and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. She is the author of Racial Beings: Experiments in Asian American New Materialisms (Duke, 2026). Her film essay, INHUMAN FIGURES: Robots, Clones, and Aliens, can be viewed online at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center website.

Michelle N. Huang is assistant professor of English and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. She is the author of Racial Beings: Experiments in Asian American New Materialisms (Duke, 2026). Her film essay, INHUMAN FIGURES: Robots, Clone... Show more

Zeki Ubor

Zeki Ubor

I am the founder of Mindvest Global Resources, an ecosystem built around a simple conviction: better outcomes require better people, better thinking and better systems.
My work brings together human development, unconventional learning, business development, design and practical execution.
Through initiatives including The Becoming Institute, Origin Thinking Platform and Elevation Studio, I have explored different ways of helping people move beyond information and into capability—learning how to think, make decisions, solve problems, build value and execute.

I am the founder of Mindvest Global Resources, an ecosystem built around a simple conviction: better outcomes require better people, better thinking and better systems. My work brings together human development, unconventional learning, business dev... Show more

Ferigul Gungoren

Ferigul Gungoren

I've been working in entrepreneurship, innovation, and gender equality, with a particular interest in creating better opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in these fields.

I have been involved in innovation and intrapreneurship programs in big technology organizations such as Turkish Aerospace, TürkTraktör and HAVELSAN for the last 14 years. My work is about entrepreneurial learning, facilitation, mentoring, startup collaboration and ecosystem building to support people and organizations in turning ideas into action.

Outside of my corporate role I am passionate about women in STEM and entrepreneurship. I launched TechWomenClub, a women in tech initiative sponsored by the British Embassy, delivered workshops as a certified #IamRemarkable trainer and contributed to research and international discussions on gender equality in entrepreneurship. I co-created and co-hosted a video-podcast series on gender equality for 1.5 years.

I am a Chevening Scholar and hold an MSc in Technology Entrepreneurship (Distinction) from UCL. My academic and professional interests include inclusive entrepreneurship, innovation programmes, experiential learning, and women's participation in technology and entrepreneurship. I love creating spaces for honest conversations and learning through speaking, workshops, podcasts, and community initiatives.

I've been working in entrepreneurship, innovation, and gender equality, with a particular interest in creating better opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in these fields. I have been involved in innovation and intrapreneurship prog... Show more

Regina Trittin

Regina Trittin

https://www.ibp.uni-rostock.de/regina-trittin/

https://www.ibp.uni-rostock.de/regina-trittin/ Show more

David Aronchick

David Aronchick

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this.

Previously, I led product management for Kubernetes on behalf of Google, launched GKE, and co-founded the Kubeflow project, and led Open Source ML Strategy at Azure. I have also worked at Protocol Labs, Amazon and Chef and co-founded three startups.

I am CEO and co-founder of Expanso, the company behind the distributed compute platform Bacalhau. This means I spend most of my time helping humans to convince machines to be smarter. I am only moderately successful at this. Previously, I led prod... Show more

Mathilde Ançay

Mathilde Ançay

Mathilde is a final-year Media Engineering student at the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland with a passion for gamification and human-centric design. She brings a unique perspective to software development, holding a previous Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Medieval French. During her 6-week internship at Avalia Systems, she single-handedly designed, built, and delivered a full-stack team mood-monitoring plugin for Backstage. This talk marks her conference debut.

Mathilde is a final-year Media Engineering student at the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland with a passion for gamification and human-centric design. She brings a unique perspective to software development, holding a previous Bachelo... Show more

Paul Barrett

Paul Barrett

Paul is an agile, executive, and leadership coach and educator with nearly 20 years of experience working across a wide range of industries. He has a passionate focus on the Agile Values of Individuals and Interactions over the Processes and Tools.

His passion is people and he is a frequent conference speaker, having spoken on topics of transformational leadership, relationship building, and psychological safety.

Paul is an agile, executive, and leadership coach and educator with nearly 20 years of experience working across a wide range of industries. He has a passionate focus on the Agile Values of Individuals and Interactions over the Processes and Tools. ... Show more

Marta Scandellari

Marta Scandellari

Marta is a pattern seeker, cerca da sempre come funzionano le cose, umane e tecnologiche, la ragione che completa il sentimento. Ha studiato legge, cinese, scritto codice per più di dieci anni e alla fine intuito che tutte le regole hanno delle eccezioni. L'importante è saperle intercettarle.

Marta is a pattern seeker, cerca da sempre come funzionano le cose, umane e tecnologiche, la ragione che completa il sentimento. Ha studiato legge, cinese, scritto codice per più di dieci anni e alla fine intuito che tutte le regole hanno delle eccez... Show more

Michael Arbuckle

Michael Arbuckle

Michael Arbuckle serves as Executive In Residence within LadderStone’s Banking Practice, bringing deep expertise in financial product innovation, banking technology stack development, and strategic capital advisory. Michael leverages extensive experience in fintech, including roles at leading financial institutions such as Silicon Valley Bank and Charles Schwab, to guide LadderStone’s banking clients through complex technology transformations and product development initiatives. He actively leads projects involving the design, implementation, and enhancement of core banking systems, treasury workstations, trading platforms, and fintech solutions tailored to meet evolving regulatory requirements and market demands. Michael’s hands-on approach enables banks and financial institutions to integrate innovative technology solutions, streamline operational processes, and successfully deploy new financial products, positioning them to capitalize on strategic growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Michael Arbuckle serves as Executive In Residence within LadderStone’s Banking Practice, bringing deep expertise in financial product innovation, banking technology stack development, and strategic capital advisory. Michael leverages extensive experi... Show more

Maria Aruldass

Maria Aruldass

Maria Veena Aruldass is the Head of Counseling & Safeguarding at Ambassador international school in Dubai, with over 15 years of experience in school counselling, psychology education, safeguarding and social-emotional learning. She is passionate about designing school cultures where wellbeing is embedded into everyday practice rather than delivered through isolated initiatives.

Throughout her career, Maria has led the development of whole-school wellbeing frameworks, restorative practices, parent engagement programs, safeguarding systems and values-based life skills curricula. She has also taught IB and ISC Psychology and worked extensively with students, educators and families to strengthen psychological safety, belonging and help-seeking cultures.

Maria has presented at international education conferences on topics including restorative practices, student wellbeing and the psychological impact of artificial intelligence. Her work bridges psychology, education and leadership, equipping schools with practical, evidence-informed approaches to creating environments where every student feels safe, seen and supported.

Maria Veena Aruldass is the Head of Counseling & Safeguarding at Ambassador international school in Dubai, with over 15 years of experience in school counselling, psychology education, safeguarding and social-emotional learning. She is passionate abo... Show more

Tia Murry

Tia Murry

Dr. Tia Murry is an influential leader and the Co-Founder of Veridian Christian University (VCU), where she focuses on blending faith with learning to empower students for impactful careers. Dr. Tia is also the Founder of FLI, LLC, where her transformative F.L.I. method (Forgive. Let Go. Initiate.) inspires women to lead balanced, purpose-driven lives. Dr. Tia has a proven record in driving strategic initiatives, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and developing sustainable growth strategies.

A sought-after International Speaker, Dr. Tia has delivered keynotes for universities, nonprofits, and conferences, including the renowned SpeakerCon stage with figures like Les Brown. Her bestselling book, F.L.I. Forgive. Let Go. Initiate., quickly became an Amazon Best Self-Help Short Read, chronicling her journey through personal challenges with courage and resilience.

Recognized with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Tia has received numerous honors, such as the Women of Distinction by the United Nations Global Women Foundation, Women In Management Africa, Champion Leadership Award U.K., and the Lifetime Commitment to Community Service Award.

Dr. Tia's true joy lies in empowering women, advocating for economic advancement, and inspiring audiences through her talks on leadership, faith, and personal growth. Outside of her professional sphere, she is a devoted mother to Derrick, Tamia, and Jazmyn, and a proud grandmother to Amaiah. Her passion for inspiring transformation makes her an invaluable presence at events where she combines authenticity with actionable insights.

Dr. Tia Murry is an influential leader and the Co-Founder of Veridian Christian University (VCU), where she focuses on blending faith with learning to empower students for impactful careers. Dr. Tia is also the Founder of FLI, LLC, where her transfor... Show more

Alex B. Hill

Alex B. Hill

Alex B. Hill highlights the intersections of power, privilege, and race in regards to health equity, access to basic services, and the social and political determinants of health. He is Project Director for the Detroit Food Map Initiative, Property Praxis, Detroit Atlas Collaboration, and DetroitData. Alex started DETROITography (detroitography.com) in 2013 to bring together various Detroit mapmakers and cartographers to showcase their work and encourage community members to start mapping their own city. He teaches in urban studies, public health, and geography at Wayne State University and Michigan State University. Alex is the author and cartographer of the books, Detroit in 50 Maps (2021) and Great Lakes in 50 Maps (2025) from Belt Publishing. He is a regular contributor to Model D Media, Flintside, Detroit PBS and the Detroit Free Press.

Alex B. Hill highlights the intersections of power, privilege, and race in regards to health equity, access to basic services, and the social and political determinants of health. He is Project Director for the Detroit Food Map Initiative, Property P... Show more

Anna Abesadze

Anna Abesadze

Anna Abesadze is an internationally recognized professional whose work has earned her multiple prestigious honors. As a co-author of internationally published books, gifted at the Academy Awards, including a #1 Amazon bestseller, she has reached global audiences.
With experience studying and working in five countries, she brings a global perspective to her roles as Adviser to the Rector and lecturer at Grigol Robakidze University and as Global Governance Coordinator at World Vision International.
She is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award presented by Barack Obama and has been named Woman Changemaker 2024, Leader of the Year 2024 and Global Impact Award 2025. Anna was a US Department of State and EU Commission scholar and a Presidential Scholar for academic excellence. Anna Abesadze was also named among MSN Magazine’s Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders of 2026.
A mother of two, she supports other women, participates in charity initiatives and serves as a board member and judge for women’s awards. Anna continues to inspire through impact and leadership.

Anna Abesadze is an internationally recognized professional whose work has earned her multiple prestigious honors. As a co-author of internationally published books, gifted at the Academy Awards, including a #1 Amazon bestseller, she has reached glob... Show more

Jonas Böddicker

Jonas Böddicker

Studierte Medienkultur und Medienwissenschaft. Seine Arbeit bewegt sich zwischen Medienanthropologie, Schreibforschung und Bildungspraxis. Schreiben versteht er als wirklichkeitsstiftende und subjektivierende Praxis, in der Wahrnehmungs-, Denk- und Handlungsweisen hervorgebracht werden. Aktuell koordiniert und konzipiert er das Projekt »mit.schrift – Schreiben und KI zusammendenken« in der Universitätsentwicklung der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar und ist zudem Teil des überregionalen Projekts »[˙le:a] – Laboratorium für experimentelle Autor:innenschaft Tübingen-Weimar«. Sein besonderes Interesse gilt einer Bottom-up-Didaktik, die Kompetenzen, Begriffe und normative Orientierungen nicht voraussetzt, sondern gemeinsam entwickelt.
Kontakt: jonas.boeddicker@uni-weimar.de
Foto: Larissa Barth

Studierte Medienkultur und Medienwissenschaft. Seine Arbeit bewegt sich zwischen Medienanthropologie, Schreibforschung und Bildungspraxis. Schreiben versteht er als wirklichkeitsstiftende und subjektivierende Praxis, in der Wahrnehmungs-, Denk- und H... Show more

Mercy Makinde

Mercy Makinde

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

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

Lens Mutombo

Lens Mutombo

10+ years in software industry

10+ years in software industry Show more

Mathias Bolt Lesniak

Mathias Bolt Lesniak

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

Lana Lesik

Lana Lesik

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

With my two core strengths - I'm a psychologist and a software architect with a background in full-stack engineering - I have a keen eye for both technical aspects and team dynamics. In startups or large-scale projects, my contribution extends beyond... Show more

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