Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Laura Maguire

Laura Maguire

Dr. Laura Maguire is an expert on the cognitive work of software developers and work system design to handle the socio-technical complexity of large-scale distributed software systems.

As a Cognitive Systems Engineer & Researcher who studies complex, high-value work, she supports better human-machine teams by providing evidence-based designs for tooling, processes, and work systems. Her work is both theoretical and practical and offers insights into both individual strategies and organizational design that can optimize performance in software engineering.

She holds a Master's degree in Human Factors & Systems Safety from Lund University and a Ph.D. in Integrated Systems Engineering from Ohio State University.

Dr. Laura Maguire is an expert on the cognitive work of software developers and work system design to handle the socio-technical complexity of large-scale distributed software systems. As a Cognitive Systems Engineer & Researcher who studies comp... Show more

Phil Ledgerwood

Phil Ledgerwood

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packaging, and served as a linguist in the Air Force. He taught himself HTML when the Netscape browser was still a thing, and the rest is history.

Phil is a twenty-year veteran of the software development industry in the Kansas City area. If you’re in the Kansas City area, he is two degrees of separation away from any programmer you know and has probably worked for, at, or with your company.

When the agile movement hit town, Phil knew a good thing when he saw it and became an early adopter of first wave agile practices. He has used these practices to ideate, build, and complete software projects ranging from loan forecasting to routing irrigation trucks to managing pharmacies to predictive lead generation to selling teddy bears. When people ask what vertical his company serves, he says, “Yours.”

Phil has incorporated Lean methodologies into software development just like his father used to do in manufacturing. When he partnered with Travis Dietz to start Integrity Inspired Solutions in 2012, they laid the foundation in Lean to make the custom software development enterprise more humane, predictable, and focused on the success of everyone involved.

A regular speaker at developer, Lean, and Agile conferences, Phil has a passion for taking his company’s ways to other companies whether they create software or not. He loves to see them transform from a collection of interactions riddled with disappointments and broken promises to team-oriented relational companies enjoying newfound trust, joy, efficiency, and success. Several companies from all over the world in all different industries contract Phil to help coach them through their own journeys. He also hosts the successful "Agile Bites" podcast.

When he’s not helping project managers learn predictive metrics or helping developers write customer-focused features, he’s enjoying a wide array of highly geeky hobbies including fantasy and sci-fi novels, gaming, and teaching Filipino stick fighting. His main hobby is making the world a better place for everyone who has to share the planet with him, and the engine for that is love.

Phil Ledgerwood’s resumé looks like seven other people’s resumés stitched together. He has baked bagels, guarded Clint Black’s town home, cooked for a gourmet food shop, freed stuck college students from elevators, managed printing plates for packagi... Show more

Hana Amiri

Hana Amiri

I’m a technology leader who thrives at the intersection of architecture, strategy, and organizational design. For over a decade, I’ve led platform transformations, built distributed systems at scale, and helped companies rethink how they build, deliver, and operate software.
I work hands-on with engineering teams, coach leadership, and speak at conferences to challenge outdated assumptions and share lessons from the field.
🗺️ International experience. Polyglot. Opinionated, but always curious.
🎤 Speaker on topics like digital platforms, team dynamics, and sustainable software.
🌻 Occasionally philosophical

I’m a technology leader who thrives at the intersection of architecture, strategy, and organizational design. For over a decade, I’ve led platform transformations, built distributed systems at scale, and helped companies rethink how they build, deliv... Show more

Yashvardhan Rathi

Yashvardhan Rathi

Pursuing a PhD at University of the Cumberlands with a focus on Data Engineering, data security & cloud computing. A certified Mountaineer and a FIDE rated Chess player.

Pursuing a PhD at University of the Cumberlands with a focus on Data Engineering, data security & cloud computing. A certified Mountaineer and a FIDE rated Chess player. Show more

Caro Sabatini

Caro Sabatini

Hi! I'm Caro 🧠✨
I've spent the las 10 years in HR & Leadership, with a background in communications & design and a loud curiosity abput how the uniiverse works. So, for the past two years I have been researching the brain, decision-making, and our connections in remote environments from a DEIB and neuroaffirmative standpoint. I have led tech teams, where I discovered that each brain processes and collaborates from different parameters. My passion lies in designing inclusive environments—not by correcting people, but by configuring teams to learn better together

As a gifted AuDHD girly 💅🏼 I bring a unique perspective that bridges neuroscience, communication, and technology. My talks inspire audiences to rethink collaboration, embrace neurodiversity, and foster truly inclusive cultures in both remote and in-person settings. I am committed to sharing actionable insights that help organizations unlock the full potential of their teams by understanding how our brains work and how we can design environments where everyone thrives. And have fun. Fun is key, neuroscience says.

Hi! I'm Caro 🧠✨ I've spent the las 10 years in HR & Leadership, with a background in communications & design and a loud curiosity abput how the uniiverse works. So, for the past two years I have been researching the brain, decision-making, and our... Show more

Gregory Adaka MD

Gregory Adaka MD

With more than thirty years in healthcare, Dr. Adaka has held leadership roles across clinical, administrative, and educational domains. Currently, he is the Associate Chief Medical Officer for Correctional Health Services of Miami-Dade County. He has been an Attending Physician in Emergency Medicine both in England and America. His capabilities encompass a deep understanding of IT systems management, fueled by formal training and prior experience as an IT Systems Engineer in London.

With more than thirty years in healthcare, Dr. Adaka has held leadership roles across clinical, administrative, and educational domains. Currently, he is the Associate Chief Medical Officer for Correctional Health Services of Miami-Dade County. He h... Show more

Patricia Soler Herrero

Patricia Soler Herrero

Patricia is author of the Children´s book: "El secreto que esconden los colores" that will be soon published in English. She has a university degree in Biology. She developed her Marketing and Business background at UCSD and SDSU in San Diego. She holds a Marketing Certificate in ESADE and a Communication Master in EADA (Barcelona). She is a certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation and also certified in Organization Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC CRR Global)
Patricia has extensive experience in coaching, facilitation and consultancy around topics like leadership, communication, management, career development, Emotional Intelligence, time management, and day-to-day performance management. Patricia is working for the European Institutions (Commission, Parliament and Courts of Justice) and for NATO in Brussels and Luxembourg. In the private sector she works with companies like Inditex (Massimo Dutti, ZARA, Bershka), GSK, ING, L’Oréal, Astra Zeneca, Delitraiteur, Cargolux, Banco Santander, IPSEN and TOTAL in Brussels, London, Paris…working together with Human Resources to create specific and adapted trainings and conferences.
Lecturer in Gdansk University of Technology, ICHEC Business School in Brussels and EU Business School.
She is also a Keynote Speaker for Commerce schools like ESADE, companies like JUMP and many other institutions that need to boost their employees. Loves writing articles and podcasts for companies or for pleasure.
Her passion now is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize his or her own performance, and the best reward is their success.
She works in Spanish, English, French and Catalan.

Patricia is author of the Children´s book: "El secreto que esconden los colores" that will be soon published in English. She has a university degree in Biology. She developed her Marketing and Business background at UCSD and SDSU in San Diego. She ho... Show more

Tim Huff

Tim Huff

Tim Huff is a decorated combat veteran, certified executive coach, and award-winning CEO recognized for servant leadership and character. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Ranger School, Tim served 14 years as an Infantry Officer, culminating in a year-long deployment to Afghanistan with the US Army National Guard as Chief of Operations for a brigade responsible for training and sustaining the Afghan National Army. For his leadership in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

After active military service, Tim made what he calls his ‘most extreme transition’… from command of over a dozen tanks and leading 100 troops, and a few months later, to a cubicle at The Walt Disney Company, managing spreadsheets. That moment reinforced in him that genuine leadership isn’t tied to uniforms, titles, or settings. It’s about character: the one constant that endures when pressure mounts. He later advanced in technology leadership roles with Macy’s, CRH Americas, and Owens & Minor, but his life took another defining turn in 2017 when he became the client of an executive coach. The experience gave him a profound sense of leadership freedom and clarity and set him on a new mission: to help leaders everywhere discover the same success based in character.

Today, Tim is the President & CEO of Turknett Leadership Group, a 38-year-old Atlanta-based firm trusted by Fortune 500 companies and global organizations. He is a Titan 100 honoree and recipient of the Servant Leader of the Year Award, recognized for his commitment to building leaders who live and lead with integrity, respect, and responsibility. In 2024, he extended that commitment in the most personal way, by donating a kidney to help save the life of a colleague.

Tim’s message is clear: skills can be taught, strategies can shift, but character is the bedrock of leadership. Whether on the battlefield, in the boardroom, or at the side of someone in need, it’s character that inspires trust, courage, and authentic leadership.

He lives in Cumming, Georgia with his wife, Kristin, and enjoys hiking in the North Georgia mountains where he finds both rest and renewal for his life of service!

Tim Huff is a decorated combat veteran, certified executive coach, and award-winning CEO recognized for servant leadership and character. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Ranger School, Tim served 14 years as an Infantry Officer, culminating in a year-l... Show more

LaShawnda Rodgers

LaShawnda Rodgers

LaShawnda Rodgers is a visionary leader in change management, DEI, and leadership development, standing at the forefront of organizational transformation. As the Founder and Principal Consultant at Rodgers Global Leadership Consortium, she brings over 20 years of experience in guiding multi-million-dollar global projects, technical consulting, coaching, career growth, and stakeholder management.

LaShawnda’s expertise extends into the realms of data science and technology, where she has successfully led initiatives that leverage data-driven insights to enhance customer engagement, leadership development, and employee experience. Her technical acumen is complemented by her role as a Microsoft Partner and a member of Microsoft’s Black Partner Initiative, where she collaborates on innovative solutions and strategies.

In her capacity as Vice President of Community Outreach for Blacks in Technology, LaShawnda partners with organizations to increase African American representation in the technology fields. She is also a Founding Member of Tech Ladies, mentoring and equipping women with the tools to advance their careers in tech. Her efforts have empowered many professionals to confidently negotiate their salaries, articulate their value, and achieve their desired career outcomes.

LaShawnda’s commitment to creating equitable, inclusive work environments has led to significant increases in profitability for organizations. Her recognition with the 40 Under 40 Award and features on platforms like Hired.com, Mentor Me Tech Summit, and Power To Fly underscore her impact as a thought leader dedicated to uplifting individuals and businesses alike.

When she is not speaking, consulting, or coaching, LaShawnda enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and spending time with her family.

LaShawnda Rodgers is a visionary leader in change management, DEI, and leadership development, standing at the forefront of organizational transformation. As the Founder and Principal Consultant at Rodgers Global Leadership Consortium, she brings ove... Show more

Mathias Verraes

Mathias Verraes

Mathias Verraes is the founder of Aardling, a software modelling & design consultancy, with a penchant for complex environments. His focus is on design strategy and messaging-centric domain modelling. Since leaving a lead developer job in 2011 and moving to consulting in 2011, Mathias has worked with clients in Finance, Government, Supply Chain, Mobility, Energy, E-Commerce, and more.

Mathias writes about software design at verraes.net since 2011. As a speaker, he's been at major conferences such as NDC and Goto, and has been a keynote speaker DDD eXchange, ExploreDDD, KanDDDinsky, and others. Occasionally, he teaches courses on Domain-Driven Design & messaging architecture. Mathias is also the founder of the DDD Europe conference.

Mathias has a Masters in Music from the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, and is an autodidact on software. When he’s at home in Kortrijk, Belgium, he helps his two sons build crazy Lego contraptions.

Mathias Verraes is the founder of Aardling, a software modelling & design consultancy, with a penchant for complex environments. His focus is on design strategy and messaging-centric domain modelling. Since leaving a lead developer job in 2011 and mo... Show more

Simen Svenkerud

Simen Svenkerud

Simen Svenkerud is a Senior consultant at Webstep with extensive experience in data engineering , Data science and platform architecture. His career spans significant roles in major Nordic organizations, with particular expertise in regulated industries and complex data environments.
At Norwegian Air Shuttle, he is leading their data platform modernization initiative, implementing a group-wide data sharing solution and modernizing their data warehouse architecture.

Simen specializes in designing and implementing modern data platforms with a focus on security, scalability, and regulatory compliance.
His approach combines deep technical knowledge with practical business understanding, enabling him to deliver solutions that balance security requirements with operational efficiency. He works in transforming legacy systems and establishing robust data governance frameworks in enterprise environments. Simens started as Research methodologist and statistician. Moving though the roles working with data and moving down the stack. Having interacted with data and technology from multiple angles, provides him with several perspectives to draw upon in his talks.

Simen Svenkerud is a Senior consultant at Webstep with extensive experience in data engineering , Data science and platform architecture. His career spans significant roles in major Nordic organizations, with particular expertise in regulated industr... Show more

Ang Buxton

Ang Buxton

Ang Buxton is a product and delivery strategist who helps mission-driven teams ship work that matters. Currently, Ang is the lead project manager for the MyMassGov portal with the state of Massachusetts via Last Call Media.

As Lead Product & Delivery Manager at Last Call Media, Ang has stewarded Drupal implementations across higher education, nonprofit, and civic sectors—including projects for Wentworth, Haverford, Smith College, Northland Pioneer College, and Asia Society. Their work combines agile expertise with a commitment to equity, inclusion, and real human connection.

A former public school teacher and Teach For America alum, Ang brings over a decade of experience building systems that work—for students, staff, and stakeholders. Whether leading multi-year platform migrations or shaping storytelling-driven community hubs, they operate at the intersection of strategy, empathy, and execution. Ang's current focus is on civictech and collaborating with technologists leverage AI do more than automate away nuance -- deepen understanding, rebuild trust, and bring people closer—especially within our most essential institutions.

Ang Buxton is a product and delivery strategist who helps mission-driven teams ship work that matters. Currently, Ang is the lead project manager for the MyMassGov portal with the state of Massachusetts via Last Call Media. As Lead Product & Deliv... Show more

Aryan Gupta

Aryan Gupta

Currently pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science, I’ve always had a strong passion for design. While my academic journey has focused on technology, my creative instincts have consistently drawn me towards art. Having a partner who is a UX Designer inspired me further and gave me the push to dive deeper into this field. Want to do something big in life.

Currently pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science, I’ve always had a strong passion for design. While my academic journey has focused on technology, my creative instincts have consistently drawn me towards art. Having a partner who is a UX Designer ins... Show more

Darryl Kanouse

Darryl Kanouse

Darryl Kanouse has led enterprise-scale data science, AI/ML, and analytics product development at global organizations including AWS, Amazon, Canva, and Activision. For over two decades, he has built and scaled data systems and capabilities that enable large, complex organizations to make better decisions, optimize performance, and operate with precision at scale. Throughout his career, Darryl has built cross-functional teams that bridge engineering, product, analytics, and business strategy, focusing on structural alignment over strict process.

In recent years, Darryl has evolved his work in systems thinking to focus on the structural foundations of organizational success. As a Viability Architect, he identifies and addresses the underlying causes of dysfunction: misaligned feedback loops, boundary ambiguity, and resource allocation failures. His systems-level approach helps executive teams move beyond surface-level fixes to implement durable, high-leverage structural change.

Darryl Kanouse has led enterprise-scale data science, AI/ML, and analytics product development at global organizations including AWS, Amazon, Canva, and Activision. For over two decades, he has built and scaled data systems and capabilities that enab... Show more

Seconde Nimenya

Seconde Nimenya

Renowned for her ability to captivate audiences globally, Seconde Nimenya draws on her rich life experiences and multicultural heritage to inspire and empower individuals. With a compelling repertoire of life-changing insights, she offers invaluable perspectives on navigating adversities and achieving personal growth.

Nimenya is an author with five published books, including her latest, "Unlocking Diversity: How to Create Inclusive Cultures in a World of Differences," a book that delves into the timely and thought-provoking topic of inclusive leadership. Her TEDx talk, "We Are Not All That Different," is an exploration of race and identity constructs that has garnered widespread acclaim and continues to serve as a powerful catalyst for embracing diversity across the globe.

Recognized for her leadership and unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, Nimenya has been instrumental in forging connections across varied multicultural communities. Her academic credentials include a master's degree in business management, and she is pursuing a graduate certificate in equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging leadership from Harvard University.

For further details about Seconde Nimenya's work, visit: https://www.bechangegroup.com/home

Renowned for her ability to captivate audiences globally, Seconde Nimenya draws on her rich life experiences and multicultural heritage to inspire and empower individuals. With a compelling repertoire of life-changing insights, she offers invaluable ... Show more

Natália Granato

Natália Granato

I work as a Cloud Platform Engineer at iFood, integrating the SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) ecosystem and providing cloud infrastructure resources to over 5,000 developers. I currently participate in the Platform project, contributing to the development of the internal engineering platform. In this context, I use technologies such as Golang, microservices, Temporal Workflow, and infrastructure as code.

I have extensive experience in Cloud Native technologies, cloud computing, and microservices-oriented architectures. My expertise includes migrating workloads to containers, implementing CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Delivery) pipelines, orchestrating and defining applications in Kubernetes, and applying observability practices, including traces, logs, and metrics. I have extensive experience in infrastructure as code, process automation, and DevSecOps practices, focusing on adopting standards for provisioning, configuring, and maintaining scalable and secure platforms.

I was one of the people responsible for building the Celeste Platform—Magalu Cloud's internal infrastructure platform. In this project, I led the implementation of the observability solution, encompassing over 30 services and enabling AZ/DC for customers.

I am a CNCF Ambassador and Docker Captain, actively involved in open source projects such as Kubernetes, and promote the dissemination of Cloud Native technologies through articles, lectures, workshops, and technical events. I also participate in the organization of DevOpsDays Belo Horizonte.

I work as a Cloud Platform Engineer at iFood, integrating the SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) ecosystem and providing cloud infrastructure resources to over 5,000 developers. I currently participate in the Platform project, contributing to the dev... Show more

Russell Cotter

Russell Cotter

Russell has worked with people to bring out their best, in ways to improve their value, to overcome challenges and to make those “aha!” moments come to life, in Australia and the US.

Russell’s unicorn-like approaches to people engagement, collaboration and knowledge sharing have been used in his works through diverse areas such as professional consulting, technology strategy, martial arts instruction and even fitness motivation to name a few.

A published author, world explorer, ex-soldier, father, human centered design thinker, student of behavior, with the mind of an architect, the creativity of an artist and the curiosity of a child have helped him to grow from having a mastery of unicorns, but to become the unicorn!

Russell would love to hear more from people who are looking for that unconventional speaker with the rare blend of interests, Aussie accent and stories from all over the world that can make their event fun, engaging and informative.

Russell has worked with people to bring out their best, in ways to improve their value, to overcome challenges and to make those “aha!” moments come to life, in Australia and the US. Russell’s unicorn-like approaches to people engagement, collabo... Show more

Ray Kim

Ray Kim

Ray Kim is an advocate for documentation and technical communication. He is a co-founder of the Albany, NY SQL group (CASSUG) and a member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC). He has spoken at PASS Summit and STC Summit, as well as numerous SQL Saturdays and other events. He has worked various positions in technology, including as a developer, webmaster, analyst, technical writer, and instructor. He holds an MS in technical communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BS in computer science from Syracuse University. He currently works as a technical writer and trainer for The Professional Development Program at The Research Foundation for SUNY.

A musician in his spare time, Ray plays four different instruments (piano, clarinet, mallet percussion, saxophone). He also enjoys going to ball games and doing CrossFit, and is a two-time SQLServerCentral.com fantasy football champion. He lives in Troy, NY with his wife, Lianne, and their tuxedo cat, Bernard.

Ray Kim is an advocate for documentation and technical communication. He is a co-founder of the Albany, NY SQL group (CASSUG) and a member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC). He has spoken at PASS Summit and STC Summit, as well as nume... Show more

Gemma Astafanous

Gemma Astafanous

Gemma Astafanous works at the intersection of human performance and embodied intelligence. With a background in corporate project leadership, she bridges structured, results-driven approaches with somatic practices that help people move beyond stress and mental overload into clarity, creativity, and grounded presence.

Her work combines breathwork, movement, and nervous system regulation to create practical tools for developers, leaders, and innovators navigating high-pressure environments. For Gemma, embodiment is about “debugging the noise” — learning to listen to the body’s signals as another system of intelligence, just as vital as logic and code.

Through global workshops, coaching, and group programs, she has supported individuals and teams in releasing unproductive patterns, strengthening resilience, and showing up with authenticity and impact. Splitting her time between the UK and Mexico, Gemma brings a grounded yet human-centered perspective to tech spaces, making wellbeing as integral as performance in building the future.

Gemma Astafanous works at the intersection of human performance and embodied intelligence. With a background in corporate project leadership, she bridges structured, results-driven approaches with somatic practices that help people move beyond stress... Show more

Cade Bradford Knudson

Cade Bradford Knudson

Cade Bradford Knudson is a financial professional with tremendous experience managing multi-million dollar portfolios for various clients across the broader financial industry. While working for hedge funds, he has learned various skills, including quantitative analysis, relative valuations, and macroeconomic analysis. He spends a significant amount of time analyzing financial trends, valuing different companies, and looking for investment opportunities on behalf of his clients. He also keeps his eyes open, learning from some of the top professionals in the industry, and applying everything he knows to his own career. This steady approach helps him focus on process, risk control, and clear communication.

Cade Knudson of Denver set his sights on the business world early. He noticed how people around him made decisions and looked for small ways to practice those habits. He graduated toward the top of his class in high school and went on to one of the top colleges in the country. In college, he took numerous business courses, held part-time jobs that taught accountability, and followed through on internships he used to network. Because the business world is incredibly competitive, particularly for those who want to work in equities, he aimed to build simple routines he could repeat—read carefully, test assumptions, and explain conclusions plainly.

After he finished college, he spent several years working. He wanted to apply what he learned, refine judgment, and earn trust with results. The hours were long, but the lessons were practical. By learning how to take lessons from the school and apply them in real life, he built many essential skills that he continues to use. He also got to work with various business clients, continuously generating positive returns on their behalf. That record helped him gain admission to one of the top graduate programs in the country and confirmed the value of preparation and steady execution.

He decided to go back to graduate school and attend DU. There, he distinguished himself from a lot of his peers, graduating magna cum laude from the program. The recognition opened doors, but the habits behind it mattered more: careful research, clear writing, and attention to risk. He immediately garnered the attention of some of the top firms in the industry, which allowed him to land an exceptional job. In his current role, he moves projects from planning to delivery, aiming for straightforward memos and measured position sizing.

Working with different teams has been an essential part of his development. He has shown an ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, which helps him consistently meet deadlines and requirements for client deliverables. He tries to listen first, ask specific questions, and keep meetings centered on next steps. When results arrive, he reviews what worked, notes what did not, and adjusts his process.

Service is part of his week. Cade Knudson of Denver regularly donates to a safe house for domestic violence victims in Denver. He also supports a food bank in the Rocky Mountains. Many people in the area do not have access to a steady supply of fresh food, and he helps the organization maintain resources so neighbors can count on a nutritious meal. These efforts are practical and local, focused on steady help rather than headlines.

Outside of work, he spends time outdoors. Denver offers easy access to mountains, and he takes advantage of that. During the winter, he often skis at nearby resorts. As seasons change, he turns to fishing and fly fishing for quiet and patience. He also spends time with family and friends exploring some of the Rocky Mountains’ most beautiful hiking and biking trails.

Even though his job is demanding, he tries to gather with loved ones during the holidays and check in during the year. He enjoys mentoring people interested in finance, sharing simple practices that helped him start. The goal is consistent: do the work carefully, keep learning, and humbly serve clients and the community. This path continues to guide Cade Bradford Knudson in the financial sector.

Cade Bradford Knudson is a financial professional with tremendous experience managing multi-million dollar portfolios for various clients across the broader financial industry. While working for hedge funds, he has learned various skills, including q... Show more

Ashley René Casey

Ashley René Casey

Ashley René is a speaker, strategist, and founder of Presence Over Pixels, a St. Louis–based company helping people take back control of their time, focus, and relationships in a tech-dominated world. With a background in corporate leadership and a passion for human connection, Ashley René teaches professionals how to set boundaries with their devices, stay present in high-demand environments, and lead with intention - online and off. Her work lives at the intersection of wellness, leadership, and digital culture, offering practical tools for anyone looking to thrive without burning out. When she's not leading workshops or speaking on stages, Ashley René is performing with her band, Bourbon Jury, and actively engaged in the local arts scene of St Louis.

Ashley René is a speaker, strategist, and founder of Presence Over Pixels, a St. Louis–based company helping people take back control of their time, focus, and relationships in a tech-dominated world. With a background in corporate leadership and a p... Show more

Jay Patel

Jay Patel

Nyah Macklin

Nyah Macklin

Nyah Macklin is a seasoned researcher and speaker on topics around AI, ML, Ethics, Governance, and Responsibility. Nyah serves as a Senior Developer Advocate for Artificial Intelligence at Neo4j, specializing in GraphRAG, knowledge graphs, and AI-driven developer tooling where Nyah has built high-impact technical communities and led initiatives that advance a critical understanding of AI and its use cases. They are also the Founder & CTO of Afros in AI, a technical community dedicated to showcasing the multifaceted nature of artificial intelligence. Beyond Nyah's technical expertise, Nyah has a background in government leadership and technology policy, having served as Chief of Staff in the U.S. state government, where they helped shape tech-driven legislative initiatives and equity-driven legislation. When not immersed in their work, Nyah cares about empowering, teaching, and tutoring engineers, live-streaming technical deep dives, and building open-source tools that make software more accessible, explainable, and community-driven.

Nyah Macklin is a seasoned researcher and speaker on topics around AI, ML, Ethics, Governance, and Responsibility. Nyah serves as a Senior Developer Advocate for Artificial Intelligence at Neo4j, specializing in GraphRAG, knowledge graphs, and AI-dri... Show more

Lorne Epstein

Lorne Epstein

Lorne Epstein, SHRM-SCP, MSOD, is a social scientist, keynote, and Vistage speaker who consults with senior leaders on improving decision-making outcomes by reducing biases. Over 60,000 professionals have taken his workshops worldwide. He has been quoted in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Christian Science Monitor, and other publications. His research focuses on improving decision-making and reducing the impacts of bias in the workplace. Lorne has been leading experiential workshops since 1993. His book, You're Hired! Interview Skills to Get the Job has been downloaded over a half-million times worldwide. Lorne is currently studying cognitive neuroscience at the master’s level at George Mason University. He was admitted to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Psi Chi, The National Honor Society of Psychology.

Lorne Epstein, SHRM-SCP, MSOD, is a social scientist, keynote, and Vistage speaker who consults with senior leaders on improving decision-making outcomes by reducing biases. Over 60,000 professionals have taken his workshops worldwide. He has been qu... Show more

Marshmallow / Tyler

Marshmallow / Tyler

I'm a comic artist from Toronto who draws a lot of gay positive comics, and self publish my work! I'm also the suiter of MarshmallowMaw!

I'm a comic artist from Toronto who draws a lot of gay positive comics, and self publish my work! I'm also the suiter of MarshmallowMaw! Show more

Christina Aldan

Christina Aldan

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded for her approach to business, partnering with clients to find unique strategies that ensure their goals are met. Christina builds connections through her keynote addresses, training workshops, and technological education. She uses these tools to help individuals and businesses cultivate value in everyday media. Christina has delivered talks on all 7 continents, presenting training workshops for the Microsoft MVP community, Las Vegas Raiders, Yale School of Public Health, international corporations, and conferences worldwide. Christina uses her charisma and expertise to inspire others by mentoring women in business like herself. She also has sat on state and local boards supporting women in tech, entrepreneurship, mental health, and children with learning disabilities.

She is the recipient of the Las Vegas Women in Tech Community Service Award, the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award in STEM. Learn more at: Luckygirliegirl.com.

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded ... Show more

Philippe Paulus

Philippe Paulus

With over 25 years of experience in managing projects, products, teams, and organizations, I support startups, SMEs, and large corporations in their transformation.

🚀 My expertise: helping organizations and teams achieve greater impact through agile practices.

💡 What I offer:
✅ Organization Coaching: Assisting companies in overcoming obstacles, clarifying their operations, and creating an environment conducive to autonomous, aligned, and resilient teams.
✅ Team Coaching: Strengthening team cohesion and collective resilience, improving interactions, and establishing solid agile practices for sustainable adaptability.
✅ Initiating and Supporting Agile Transformations: Starting a transformation process, stabilizing it, or correcting it in case of difficulties.
✅ Coaching & Supporting Key Roles: Scrum Masters, Product Owners, RTE, PM, STE... to help them become true agents of change.
✅ OKR Expert (certified OKR Master): Training and support to align strategy and execution while ensuring robust implementation.
✅ Training in the SAFe® 6.0 framework in French:
🎯 Leading SAFe®
🎯 SAFe® Agile Product Management
🎯 SAFe® Lean Portfolio Management
🎯 SAFe® Product Owner / Product Manager
🎯 SAFe® Release Train Engineer

🎤 Speaker: Agile en Seine, Agile Tour Rennes, Nantes, Clermont-Ferrand, Printemps Agile de Caen

📢 Want to discuss your organizational challenges? Let's talk!

🌍 Founder of transformationagile.com

#Agility #Coaching #Transformation #Resilience #SAFe #Scrum #Kanban #OKR #AgileAtScale #Startup #SME #LargeCorporation

With over 25 years of experience in managing projects, products, teams, and organizations, I support startups, SMEs, and large corporations in their transformation. 🚀 My expertise: helping organizations and teams achieve greater impact through ag... Show more

Samah Alafeef

Samah Alafeef

Samah Alafeef

Founder and CEO of Metanoia Training and Consulting

Project Management Professional and Regional Officer of the International Federation of Global and Green Information and Communication Technology (IFGICT).
Samah Alafeef a computer engineer brought a broad range of technical and data management skills to her extensive work experience. Samah holds a master's degree in Project Management Engineering and a diploma in Humanitarian Logistics and Supply chain. The combination of managerial and technical skills she has in both the Humanitarian and Commercial sectors enabled her to serve as a consultant in various aspects related to management and technology. Samah is a PMP® certified, Risk RMP ® certified, Agile ACP certified, certified Microsoft innovative educator, and certified green IT professional. She is coaching people and organizations to develop their professional images, being agile, and jump to a higher professional level.

Samah Alafeef Founder and CEO of Metanoia Training and Consulting Project Management Professional and Regional Officer of the International Federation of Global and Green Information and Communication Technology (IFGICT). Samah Alafeef a compu... Show more

Sabrina Fatrdla

Sabrina Fatrdla

Sabrina Fatrdla is the Director of Operations at Stray Dog Support, where she leads global initiatives that bridge emergency rescue with long-term systems building. Her approach is shaped by a lived understanding of cultural nuance and the importance of equitable structures in community health and rescue. Her work spans shelter design, cross-organizational partnerships, and sustainable animal care models in countries such as Canada, Egypt, Mexico, Europe, Asia and India. Rooted in cultural integrity and collective healing, Sabrina centres her ethos on ethical storytelling, integrity, and shared responsibility.

Sabrina Fatrdla is the Director of Operations at Stray Dog Support, where she leads global initiatives that bridge emergency rescue with long-term systems building. Her approach is shaped by a lived understanding of cultural nuance and the importance... Show more

Steve Pereira

Steve Pereira

Steve Pereira has spent over two decades improving the flow of work across organizations. He’s worked through tech support, IT management, build and release engineering, and as a founding CTO for enterprise SaaS. After shifting to consulting large enterprises on value stream performance improvement, he created Flow Engineering to make value stream mapping simple, quick, and actionable. He serves as lead consultant for Visible Flow Consulting, as a board advisor to the Value Stream Management Consortium, Chair of the OASIS Value Stream Management Interoperability technical committee, and co-founder of the Flow Collective to bring flow-focused professionals together.

Learn more about his work at https://visible.is

Steve Pereira has spent over two decades improving the flow of work across organizations. He’s worked through tech support, IT management, build and release engineering, and as a founding CTO for enterprise SaaS. After shifting to consulting large en... Show more

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