Humanities & Social Sciences

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

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

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

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

Justin Paluku Mbunzule

Justin Paluku Mbunzule

Justin Paluku is an IT Specialist and currently taking the MIT MacroMasters Data science course. Justin was born in May 1991, in Butembo, eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo where he was forced to flee to Uganda in 2012 looking for safety.

To support refugee and low income communities to access quality education and advanced technology in Africa, Justin has founded an organisation named Up With Africa based in Uganda.

About his work engagement, Justin has worked as a Research Enumerator with the University of Oxford - Refugee Study Center on a Refugee Economy Study in Uganda in 2018, where he successfully conducted interviews with 123 adult refugees from different slums and households.

Justin has also worked on many projects with the University of Toronto (for 6 years) in Uganda such as: refugees reproductive health, stress management and Virtual Reality as an mental health intervention, managing communication from online systems to refugees' WhatsApp massaging as part of the study.

Additionally, Justin has worked in refugee settlements in Uganda like Nakivale, Kyaka II, Bidibidi and Kiryandongo where he supported the creation of ICT, Entrepreneurship and Conflicts Resolution online course contents for refugees to learn remotely.

Justin Paluku is an IT Specialist and currently taking the MIT MacroMasters Data science course. Justin was born in May 1991, in Butembo, eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo where he was forced to flee to Uganda in 2012 looking for safet... 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

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

Florian Rampelt

Florian Rampelt

Florian Rampelt leitet im Stifterverband den Programmbereich "Future Skills & KI" und ist Geschäftsstellenleiter des KI-Campus.

Der Bildungs- und Erziehungswissenschaftler arbeitet an einer zukunftsfähigen Aus- und Weiterbildung für die digitale Transformation. Seine Forschung fokussiert sich derzeit auf Wissen, Kompetenzen und Qualifikationen zu Künstlicher Intelligenz.

Zuvor war er Director of Education bei dem gemeinnützigen Start-up Kiron Open Higher Education und wiss. Mitarbeiter an der Universität Passau in einem Projekt der Qualitätsoffensive Lehrerbildung. Florian Rampelt hat an der Universität Passau Staatswissenschaften, European Studies, Lehramt an Mittelschulen sowie Bildungs- und Erziehungswissenschaften studiert.

Florian Rampelt leitet im Stifterverband den Programmbereich "Future Skills & KI" und ist Geschäftsstellenleiter des KI-Campus. Der Bildungs- und Erziehungswissenschaftler arbeitet an einer zukunftsfähigen Aus- und Weiterbildung für die digitale ... 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

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

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson is the founder of Brightwell Leadership, a leadership development consultancy that helps growing organizations build stronger leaders during moments of change. She partners with HR and People leaders who are supporting managers and leadership teams as expectations rise faster than support, particularly during growth, transition, or increased complexity.

Ashley brings over 15 years of experience designing and leading leadership development, facilitation, and advisory work across multiple industries. Her background includes leading enterprise leadership development and talent initiatives at Hilton, Levi Strauss & Co., and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, where she supported leaders and teams navigating scale, evolving expectations, and organizational change.

Her work focuses on helping organizations move beyond one-off programs toward clearer leadership expectations, capability-based development, and learning approaches that are embedded in real work. Ashley is known for her human-first, systems-aware approach and her ability to translate leadership theory into practical tools leaders can actually use.

She speaks frequently on leadership transitions, manager capability, and designing development that drives both performance and trust.

Ashley Johnson is the founder of Brightwell Leadership, a leadership development consultancy that helps growing organizations build stronger leaders during moments of change. She partners with HR and People leaders who are supporting managers and lea... Show more

Stella Ihenacho

Stella Ihenacho

Stella Ihenacho is a dynamic speaker and multifaceted professional who shares her expertise on global platforms, including TEDx, covering topics such as Agile, Project Management, Leadership, DEI Advocacy, and Career Development. Her goal in every engagement is to create transformation and lasting change in her diverse audiences.

Stella is the Co-Founder and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies, an ed-tech work force development institution in Atlanta, GA, where she has transforms the learning landscape for students/professionals through innovative training programs. Her work has enabled countless professionals to advance their careers, contributing to their communities and the local economy.

With over a decade of experience in Agile coaching, Stella leads enterprise agile transformations in the Data and AI organization at Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of open-source solutions. She spearheads initiatives that foster agility, innovation, and collaboration unlocking new possibilities for data-driven customer experiences. Her efforts enhance Red Hat’s products and services, contributing to the company’s ongoing business transformation

Beyond her professional roles, Stella is deeply committed to social and community impact. Passionate about immigrant advocacy, she plays a key role in the African Immigrant Collective, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating the ecosystem and infrastructures for African immigrants to thrive in the diaspora. Additionally, she is involved in diverse-empowered networks such as Women Doing It Afraid, Women of Project Management and Women in Software Engineering. These initiatives align with her mission to create inclusive spaces and advocating for underrepresented groups and championing change.

As a distinct voice in the workplace, she is dedicated to championing the causes where women, immigrants, and business leaders can achieve their fullest potential. Her vision is to uplift diverse voices in the tech industry and beyond and empower individuals to take ownership of their careers and lives.

Stella Ihenacho is a dynamic speaker and multifaceted professional who shares her expertise on global platforms, including TEDx, covering topics such as Agile, Project Management, Leadership, DEI Advocacy, and Career Development. Her goal in every en... 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

Tom Sherman

Tom Sherman

In 2017, Tom Sherman discovered the 5th season of the year after nearly a decade of studying timekeeping and measurement systems. He then spent the next 3 years deconstructing the Gregorian Calendar and re-engineering a New Calendar system using modern math, science and logic that divides time evenly, precisely, and accurately, for the first time in the history of time. With humor, philosophy, and curiosity, Tom is able to expand your perception of reality and uncover new systems and patterns that are currently hiding in plain sight.

In 2017, Tom Sherman discovered the 5th season of the year after nearly a decade of studying timekeeping and measurement systems. He then spent the next 3 years deconstructing the Gregorian Calendar and re-engineering a New Calendar system using mode... Show more

Bonita Pannell

Bonita Pannell

Bonita Pannell brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach at UPMC Women’s Magee Hospital. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the hospital and the community, working to enhance access to care, broaden care options, and foster meaningful partnerships. A passionate advocate for the BIPOC community, Pannell develops and leads initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting self-empowerment. Her initiatives include organizing Community Health Fairs featuring on-site health screenings, hosting Maternal Health educational baby showers, and providing ongoing mentoring and support groups.
Pannell is an active member of several UPMC councils, including the Diversity Council, the Family Advisory Council, and the Community Doula & Birth Worker Advisory Board, where she advocates for policy changes that strengthen trust and collaboration between healthcare providers and the community. Additionally, she serves as the Director of the UPMC Affiliate Council of Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit organization focused on empowering girls in grades 3 through 8 by strengthening their social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills. The program operates at 64 school sites and serves over 1,500 girls annually.
Before joining UPMC, Bonita was part of the Gateway Health Plan case management team, where she managed insurance authorizations and cases for individuals with special needs. She also served as the General Manager for Hospice Care of Pittsburgh and Viator Hospice, overseeing care for terminally ill patients for 16 years and Director of Lutheran Senior Life Home Care.
Bonita holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Waynesburg University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Slippery Rock University. She is also a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and earned a certificate in Project Management from Villanova University.
A devoted mother, Bonita has two children—Aaron Burden and Tyler-Nicole Pannell—as well as two bonus children, Teona Williams and Brandon Pannell. She is an active member of Triumph Church, where she serves as a Deacon and the Coordinator of the Usher Ministry. Bonita is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter.

Bonita Pannell brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach at UPMC Women’s Magee Hospital. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the hospital and the community, working to enhance ... Show more

Leslie Herrera

Leslie Herrera

Desarrolladora web con 5 años de experiencia. Actualmente me desempeño como software developer en LATAM Airlines.

En mi tiempo libre, estoy enfocada en explorar el cruce entre Web y AI, buscando cómo estas tecnologías pueden mejorar la experiencia del usuario y habilitar nuevas posibilidades para productos digitales en producción.

Me apasiona investigar, prototipar, analizar datos y compartir lo que aprendo. También creo firmemente en la importancia de crear contenido técnico en español, especialmente sobre Web + AI, para democratizar el conocimiento en Latinoamérica.

Además, soy community builder activa y organizadora de eventos que impulsan la diversidad y la inclusión en tecnología.

Desarrolladora web con 5 años de experiencia. Actualmente me desempeño como software developer en LATAM Airlines. En mi tiempo libre, estoy enfocada en explorar el cruce entre Web y AI, buscando cómo estas tecnologías pueden mejorar la experiencia... Show more

Consuelo Lollobrigida

Consuelo Lollobrigida

Consuelo Lollobrigida, Ph.D., is Professor of Art History at the University of Arkansas Rome Program. Her research focuses on early modern women artists and Baroque visual culture.
She is the curator of the Annual International Women in the Arts Conference (AIWAC) and author of Plautilla Bricci. Pictura et Architectura celebris. L’architettrice del Barocco Romano and Following Women Artists. A Guide to Rome; her forthcoming monograph is The Forgotten Brush: Virginia da Vezzo (1600–1638), The Hidden Muse (Brepols, 2025).
She co-convenes AIWAC (Annual International Women in the Arts Conference) and is series co-editor, with Adelina Modesti, of “Women and Gender in the Arts: New Horizons” (Brepols/https://www.brepols.net/series/wia - https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9782503606828-1

Consuelo Lollobrigida, Ph.D., is Professor of Art History at the University of Arkansas Rome Program. Her research focuses on early modern women artists and Baroque visual culture. She is the curator of the Annual International Women in the Arts Co... Show more

Wilma Elliott

Wilma Elliott

Hey, I’m Dr. Wilma. I’m a psychologist and experiential designer. I intentionally curate human centered spaces that allow people to heal in community fostering vulnerability, connection, play, and creativity.

Hey, I’m Dr. Wilma. I’m a psychologist and experiential designer. I intentionally curate human centered spaces that allow people to heal in community fostering vulnerability, connection, play, and creativity. Show more

Medina Huggins

Medina Huggins

In Undergrad, public speaking was a huge part of my academia. Sharing biomedical knowledge obtained through research at R1 Institution was something I thoroughly enjoyed.
Today, I would like to share my testing of triumph over trauma. Abused by an undiagnosed schizophrenic mother, raped and molested by 14 individuals by the time I was 16, to enduring a financially abusive marriage to now being on the other side with joy. My goal is to tell my truth to inspire hope that healing is possible!

In Undergrad, public speaking was a huge part of my academia. Sharing biomedical knowledge obtained through research at R1 Institution was something I thoroughly enjoyed. Today, I would like to share my testing of triumph over trauma. Abused by an u... Show more

Ana Monaco

Ana Monaco

Ana Lydia Monaco is a U.S.-born, internationally raised bilingual storyteller, Producer, and Writer-Director championing culturally intelligent narratives across film, television, and branded content. Her work bridges global perspective, creative strategy, and authentic human experience to tell stories that resonate across cultures and industries.
With a career spanning studio, indie, and branded spaces, Ana Lydia brings a rare ability to translate lived experience into compelling, market-aware storytelling. Her creative voice is shaped not only by her international upbringing, but also by navigating chronic illness and cancer — experiences that have strengthened her leadership, empathy, and commitment to meaningful representation.
Ana Lydia speaks on storytelling, creative leadership, cross-cultural narrative development, resilience, and building inclusive creative ecosystems. She is passionate about mentorship, access, and empowering the next generation of culturally fluent storytellers.

Ana Lydia Monaco is a U.S.-born, internationally raised bilingual storyteller, Producer, and Writer-Director championing culturally intelligent narratives across film, television, and branded content. Her work bridges global perspective, creative str... Show more

Marley Blonsky

Marley Blonsky

Marley Blonsky is a nationally recognized speaker, fat adventure cyclist, and co-founder and Executive Director of All Bodies on Bikes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating access, representation, and belonging for people of all sizes in cycling and outdoor spaces. She is also the co-host of the All Bodies on Bikes podcast, where she shares stories that challenge who cycling is “for” and celebrates riders of all backgrounds and bodies.

Marley’s work sits at the intersection of advocacy, sport, and culture. Through keynotes, workshops, and consulting, she helps organizations, brands, and event producers better understand size inclusion and translate inclusive values into meaningful action. Her approach blends lived experience, practical tools, and humor, making conversations about access and equity both approachable and actionable.

An avid cyclist, Marley loves long gravel rides, overnight adventures, and cruising around town on her cargo bike with her dogs in the front box. She may not be the fastest rider—but she rides with determination, grit, and perseverance, proudly earning multiple last-place finishes along the way. Marley believes that everyone deserves full access to life—at work, in sport, and at home—and she is committed to helping create spaces where all bodies truly belong.

Marley Blonsky is a nationally recognized speaker, fat adventure cyclist, and co-founder and Executive Director of All Bodies on Bikes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating access, representation, and belonging for people of all sizes in cycling and out... Show more

Peter Vasey

Peter Vasey

Higher-order cognitive skills are required in businesses that want to thrive in the modern world but the reality is that those skills are in steep decline, The more we offload to technology, the greater the decline. Learn how to push back and prepare your business.

Higher-order cognitive skills are required in businesses that want to thrive in the modern world but the reality is that those skills are in steep decline, The more we offload to technology, the greater the decline. Learn how to push back and prepare... Show more

Elie Alhajjar

Elie Alhajjar

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Army Cyber Institute in West Point, New York. Previously, Alhajjar served as a Research Scientist in the Computing and Communications Theory Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He holds a PhD in applied mathematics from George Mason University.

Elie Alhajjar, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at RAND, leading projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and government. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy and a Senior Research Scientist at the Ar... 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

Ashley Thibodeaux

Ashley Thibodeaux

Ms. Thibodeaux has dedicated the past eight years to the field of higher education, excelling in both administrative and faculty roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English from Lamar University. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Director of Academic Enrichment for Student Tutoring and Retention (STAR) services at her alma mater. Outside of her professional commitments, Ms. Thibodeaux is passionate about reading, traveling, and innovating new strategies to enhance student success.

Ms. Thibodeaux has dedicated the past eight years to the field of higher education, excelling in both administrative and faculty roles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English from Lamar University. Currently, she serves as the A... Show more

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