Media & Information

Esteemed specialists working in the fields of media education, digital media, multimedia and radio services

Ronak Barhanpurkar

Ronak Barhanpurkar

I am is a seasoned User Experience Designer with a strong focus on automotive UX, human factors, and digital accessibility. With over 4 years of industry experience, I currently contribute to the UX team at Maruti Suzuki, where we craft intuitive and meaningful in-vehicle experiences that blend technology, human behavior, and design innovation. Their expertise lies in designing digital ecosystems that not only meet user needs but also drive broader business and societal impact.

In 2024, I delivered a well-received talk at UX India on enhancing user experience in automobiles, a session that sparked widespread discussions on the future of mobility design. Beyond professional projects, I am passionate about mentoring young designers, promoting accessibility in digital spaces, and pushing the boundaries of user-centered innovation in complex industries like automotive and connected mobility.
Outside of work, I am a photography enthusiast, an avid non-fiction reader, and a traveler who loves exploring diverse cultures and ideas. This unique blend of technical expertise, user empathy, and a visionary outlook positions me as a strong voice for how design can act as a transformational force for people, businesses, and the planet.

I am is a seasoned User Experience Designer with a strong focus on automotive UX, human factors, and digital accessibility. With over 4 years of industry experience, I currently contribute to the UX team at Maruti Suzuki, where we craft intuitive and... Show more

Tiankai Feng

Tiankai Feng

Tiankai Feng is a Data & AI leader, musician, and optimist. As Director of Data & AI Strategy at Thoughtworks and author of "Humanizing Data Strategy" & "Humanizing AI Strategy", he brings 13+ years of experience in analytics, governance, and transformation. Passionate about the human side of technology, he makes data and AI more approachable—and even fun—through music, memes, and fresh perspectives.

Tiankai Feng is a Data & AI leader, musician, and optimist. As Director of Data & AI Strategy at Thoughtworks and author of "Humanizing Data Strategy" & "Humanizing AI Strategy", he brings 13+ years of experience in analytics, governance, and transf... Show more

Peter van Jaarsveld

Peter van Jaarsveld

I've spent 25+ years proving a thesis most organisations resist: that value lives at the edges, not the centre. The best talent isn't where you expect it. The best ideas don't come from headquarters. And the biggest returns come from reconceiving how work gets done — not optimising how it's always been done.

My route in was making things — directing commercials, editing, VFX, hanging from helicopters to get the shot. That hands-on creative background shapes everything I do now: I don't theorise about transformation, I build it. From a startup that moved high-end visual effects off six-figure hardware onto the desktop, to a globally-distributed operation spanning 1,000+ people across seven countries, built years before remote work went mainstream. Same pattern each time: find value trapped behind an artificial barrier, build the mechanism to release it.

Now I focus on what happens when AI meets real operations — not the demo, but the deployment.

I speak about operational transformation, growth, culture, AI beyond the proof-of-concept, and the patterns that repeat every time new capability demands new ways of working.

I've spent 25+ years proving a thesis most organisations resist: that value lives at the edges, not the centre. The best talent isn't where you expect it. The best ideas don't come from headquarters. And the biggest returns come from reconceiving how... Show more

Deepali Narsiker

Deepali Narsiker

Deepali is a passionate and highly accomplished media professional with over 20 years of rich experience in the TMT (Technology/Media/Telco) Sector. In her last assignment, she worked on a premium OTT Platform called HOOQ which was a joint venture between SingTel Telecommunications, Warner Brothers, and Sony Entertainment. She enjoys consulting startup companies to organize content, metadata, and distribution deals in a way where the company can grow rapidly by internationalizing the business through a global strategy.

Deepali is a passionate and highly accomplished media professional with over 20 years of rich experience in the TMT (Technology/Media/Telco) Sector. In her last assignment, she worked on a premium OTT Platform called HOOQ which was a joint venture be... Show more

Lisa G

Lisa G

Lisa G is an innovation strategist and transformation architect who has shaped the digital evolution of global brands including Fortune 50 media companies, The New York Times, and Etsy. With more than two decades of experience bridging technology, creativity, and culture, she helps organizations translate complexity into clarity and scale transformation with precision and purpose.

Lisa G is an innovation strategist and transformation architect who has shaped the digital evolution of global brands including Fortune 50 media companies, The New York Times, and Etsy. With more than two decades of experience bridging technology, cr... Show more

Emily Riederer

Emily Riederer

Emily Riederer is a Senior Analytics Manager at Capital One where she leads a team dedicated to the development of sustainable data products (including datamarts, internal analysis toolkits, and self-service business intelligence capabilities) for business partners ranging from entry-level analysts to senior executives. She is particularly passionate about bringing open source tools and mindsets to industry and empowering communities of practice within organizations.

Emily is a contributing author to 97 Things Every Data Engineer Should Know (O’Reilly) and The R Markdown Cookbook (CRC Press), and frequently writes about all things data on here blog at https://emilyriederer.netlify.com/. In her spare time, she serves as an editor for rOpenSci and maintains the dbtplyr dbt package and the projmgr and convo R packages.

Emily Riederer is a Senior Analytics Manager at Capital One where she leads a team dedicated to the development of sustainable data products (including datamarts, internal analysis toolkits, and self-service business intelligence capabilities) for bu... Show more

Damilola Ogunleye

Damilola Ogunleye

Damilola Ogunleye is a seasoned creative professional and multidisciplinary designer with 12+ years of experience in visual communication, design, and animation. He began his creative journey during his undergraduate years, working on impact-driven projects and collaborating with non-governmental organizations, which laid the foundation for his problem-solving and storytelling approach to design

He is the Founder and Creative Director of Spectarkle Design & Multimedia, a design and animation studio focused on helping brands stand out through thoughtful design systems, compelling visuals, and immersive storytelling. Through Spectarkle, he has delivered branding, product design, and multimedia solutions for local and international clients across diverse industries.

Over the years, Damilola has held senior and leadership design roles across multiple organizations, including Creative Manager at FirstFounders Inc., where he led visual storytelling and brand experiences for portfolio companies, collaborated closely with developers and product managers on UI/UX for fintech and credit assessment platforms, and produced high-impact marketing and presentation materials.
He has also served as Lead Graphics & UI/UX Designer for brands such as Orokii, OrokiiPay, Ecomoto, InternSify, and Deezydecks, where he led design teams, built scalable design systems, revamped brand identities, and delivered user-centred digital products that improved brand recognition and engagement.

Beyond client and corporate work, Damilola is passionate about community building and talent development. He is a mentor at SheFoundry Limited, where he has guided and supported a community of 100+ women founders teaching them design and branding fundamentals that has uplifted their brand and businesses and positioning them for growth.
He also serves as the Director of Meetings, Design, and Multimedia at Junior Chamber International (JCI) Lagos Metropolitan, where he oversees the organization’s end-to-end design and multimedia initiatives, ensuring consistent visual communication across events, campaigns, and digital platforms.

He is an advocate for continuous learning and creative excellence, Damilola speaks on design strategy, branding, UI/UX, animation, creative leadership, and building sustainable creative careers. Outside professional work, he is deeply interested in character-driven animation and visual storytelling, and is currently developing short, relatable animated content.

Damilola Ogunleye is a seasoned creative professional and multidisciplinary designer with 12+ years of experience in visual communication, design, and animation. He began his creative journey during his undergraduate years, working on impact-driven p... Show more

Art Stewart

Art Stewart

Art’s perspective has been acquired from thirty years of experience across the spectrum of his profession, many of those years living and working in the vibrant innovation community of Boston’s Route 128 tech beltway as well as in Washington, DC. Together with his pioneering clients, who were eager to re-order many of the old paradigms, they navigated through the swings of dramatic change for the U.S. tech world and the global business landscape.

Having been involved in the responsible business movement since its seeding years, Art has originated and/or collaborated on groundbreaking industry research and thought leadership as well as business processes and trainings. His clients have been central players in the business, technology, and nonprofit advancements seen across a wide range of industries.

He has served as a strategist and program developer, advisor-counselor, and implementer to a diverse range of CEOs, senior executives, public and other organization leaders. His C-suite work includes supporting the M&A process, providing guidance during business or industry upheaval, tackling the dramatically changed risk terrain, managing clients’ reputational risk liabilities, and complementing the work of corporate counsel during escalations and legal disputes. As a Board Member, Art is a Founding Director of a groundbreaking AI venture for American veterans.

Art has led a range of organizational development facilitations. As an educator, he researched and developed a multi-level curriculum and content platform on the “New Responsibility Paradigm” – launching the undergraduate edition at Emerson College. He was also one of only five faculty members at Emerson invited to teach a visiting delegation in a summer residency from the Communications University of China. For eight years he held an honorary role as Research Fellow at the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University and has taught graduate students at Northeastern University.

Art writes and speaks on the transformation of business and institutions into agents of change for solving our most significant global challenges. He partnered with the Private Directors Association on a five-part podcast series “ESG Insights”. In Summer 2023, he produced a webinar on private markets ESG in a collaboration with Blank Rome, and recently partnered with the Board Risk Committee on a panel webinar addressing the new risk management and Corporate Impact 2.0. As a blogger for the Corporate Responsibility Association, one of his posts became the fourth most-read in their content program that regularly reached 120K+ business leaders. He was the first author to publish a work on Corporate Social Responsibility in the annual “Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications” (JIMC) for the Medill School, Northwestern University.

Art earned a mid-career Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, a postgraduate certificate in Senior Executive Leadership also from Georgetown, an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications from Emerson College, and has completed “Dealing with an Angry Public,” with the MIT-Harvard Law School Public Disputes and Negotiation Program.

He is included in various Marquis’ Who’s Who editions, such as Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Media and Communications. Art is ranked as a "Top Thought Leader" in several categories by Thinkers360, including for CSR; Change Management; and Business, Strategy, Management, and Leadership.

Art’s perspective has been acquired from thirty years of experience across the spectrum of his profession, many of those years living and working in the vibrant innovation community of Boston’s Route 128 tech beltway as well as in Washington, DC. Tog... Show more

Andrew Kumar

Andrew Kumar

Andrew builds powerful systems: AI platforms, digital ecosystems, and high performance human capability.

Andrew designs and scales AI powered platforms and ecosystems at Uniform and advise on AI strategy through the MACH Alliance, operating at the intersection of architecture, product, and execution. Beyond work, I lead and invest across KUMA Performance, Yellow Hat Media, Lumioso AI, and RegulationLayer.

Andrew values clarity over noise, restraint over hype, and mastery of systems, mind, and body.

Andrew builds powerful systems: AI platforms, digital ecosystems, and high performance human capability. Andrew designs and scales AI powered platforms and ecosystems at Uniform and advise on AI strategy through the MACH Alliance, operating at the... Show more

Hannah Waller

Hannah Waller

Event Marketing Professional with over 20 years experience, conferences, exhibitions, parties, weddings, promotional stunts, dinners.

Event Marketing Professional with over 20 years experience, conferences, exhibitions, parties, weddings, promotional stunts, dinners. Show more

Lakshmanan Sethu Sankaranarayanan

Lakshmanan Sethu Sankaranarayanan


He currently works for a media & Entertainment company at Burbank, California.

He has been awarded with Microsoft Office and Servers MVP for the year 2015 -2016 -2017-2018-2019.

He blogs at https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/members/lakshmanan-sethu

He runs the website www.letsharepoint.com

He has gathered around 14k points in Microsoft Technet forum
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/profile/lakshmanan%20sethu/

He currently works for a media & Entertainment company at Burbank, California. He has been awarded with Microsoft Office and Servers MVP for the year 2015 -2016 -2017-2018-2019. He blogs at https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/members/lakshmanan-set... Show more

Leyonce Baha

Leyonce Baha

Je m’appelle Leyonce Baha. Je suis entrepreneur, spécialiste en marketing et communication, ainsi qu’agent publicitaire. Je suis CEO des ETs ZOE, fondatrice de VoiceTPOT Empower, et leader principal de VoiceTPOT TV Média.

Ma carrière se concentre sur le marketing digital, les nouvelles technologies et la communication, avec un accent particulier sur la puissance transformatrice de l’intelligence artificielle. Mon objectif est de stimuler la croissance économique mondiale tout en promouvant l’éducation et la transformation sociale, notamment chez la jeunesse.

Je m’appelle Leyonce Baha. Je suis entrepreneur, spécialiste en marketing et communication, ainsi qu’agent publicitaire. Je suis CEO des ETs ZOE, fondatrice de VoiceTPOT Empower, et leader principal de VoiceTPOT TV Média. Ma carrière se concentre ... Show more

Bobbie Carlton

Bobbie Carlton

Bobbie Carlton is the founder of Carlton PR & Marketing, Innovation Nights and Innovation Women, or, as she calls them, the day job, the night job and the dream job. Carlton is an entertaining, tell-it-like-it-is speaker who speaks extensively (and passionately) about public speaking and how it can be the driving force behind career growth and business success. She's a TEDx speaker; an entertaining startup event host; she's spoken at the United Nations; she's shared the stage with storytelling legend (and NPR's Snap Judgment host) Glynn Washington; and she's been on the main stage for some of the world’s best-known conferences for technical and professional women. Carlton has been featured on CBS News, in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, USA Today and other major media. She was previously the head of global PR at two different enterprise software companies and the head of marketing for a brand devoted to providing positive role models for preteen girls. She’s inspired thousands of technical, entrepreneurial and executive women to take control of their own speaking careers and has worked with event managers around the world to deliver diverse and inclusive events.

Bobbie Carlton is the founder of Carlton PR & Marketing, Innovation Nights and Innovation Women, or, as she calls them, the day job, the night job and the dream job. Carlton is an entertaining, tell-it-like-it-is speaker who speaks extensively (and p... Show more

S. David Ramirez

S. David Ramirez

S. David Ramirez, CFEE, is an award-winning marketing technologist based in San Antonio, Texas. He is the founder and principal consultant of SDMRamirez, LLC, a micro-agency serving events, entrepreneurs, and ecosystems across North America. He is a subject matter expert, speaking about marketing and technology at top-tier conferences like Adweek Magazine's Social Media Week North America, the Hospitality and Finance Technology Professionals conference, and the Meeting Professionals International World Education Summit. He serves on the faculty for the National Event Management School and the Texas Event Management Institute. He is a board member of the International Festivals and Events Association Foundation. Mostly, he's a nerd; talk to him about anime, craft beer, and science fiction.

S. David Ramirez, CFEE, is an award-winning marketing technologist based in San Antonio, Texas. He is the founder and principal consultant of SDMRamirez, LLC, a micro-agency serving events, entrepreneurs, and ecosystems across North America. He is a ... Show more

Kamal Rawat

Kamal Rawat

With expertise spanning SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media, I help brands elevate their visibility, skyrocket organic traffic, and drive measurable engagement. Whether it’s optimizing site structure, crafting high-impact content, or building performance-driven campaigns, I believe in strategies rooted in data and designed for results.

With expertise spanning SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media, I help brands elevate their visibility, skyrocket organic traffic, and drive measurable engagement. Whether it’s optimizing site structure, crafting high-impact content, or buildi... Show more

Ximena Orjuela

Ximena Orjuela

Ximena is a Public Relations professional with over 10 years of experience collaborating with startups and scaleups across a wide range of areas. She has supported communities and is an organizer of mad_in_api, a Google Cloud community in collaboration with Google Spain. She has also worked on the organization, management, and execution of acceleration programs for startups such as "Google for Startups" in Latin America.

As a WTM ambassador, her goal is to be a supportive voice for the neurodiverse population in the IT industry, particularly for women. She draws on her personal experience of having a circle of neurodiverse family members working in the IT industry.

Ximena is a Public Relations professional with over 10 years of experience collaborating with startups and scaleups across a wide range of areas. She has supported communities and is an organizer of mad_in_api, a Google Cloud community in collaborati... Show more

Samuel Scott

Samuel Scott

After his careers in journalism and marketing, Samuel Scott is now a vaccinated professional keynote marketing speaker and member of Toastmasters International as well as the writer of The Promotion Fix column for The Drum. Born and raised in the United States, he now lives in Tel Aviv.

After his careers in journalism and marketing, Samuel Scott is now a vaccinated professional keynote marketing speaker and member of Toastmasters International as well as the writer of The Promotion Fix column for The Drum. Born and raised in the Uni... Show more

Andriani Manetta

Andriani Manetta

A pioneering marketing and communications strategist specializing in Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and digital transformation. Serves as Marketing Director of Sophia the Robot (Hanson Robotics) for Greece, Cyprus, and Australia, leading collaborations that connect technology, ethics, and culture while promoting responsible innovation.

As Founder and CEO of Victorious Network, Greece’s first AI-driven marketing and communications agency, she develops strategies that merge creativity, sustainability, and intelligent systems to drive meaningful impact across industries.

A graduate of the Oxford Executive Program in Artificial Intelligence, she is also an active mentor and international speaker, supporting women, startups, and innovation ecosystems through mentorship and participation in hackathons. Her guidance focuses on leadership, ethical innovation, and the responsible use of AI.

Her work bridges human creativity with emerging technologies, redefining how innovation serves society and inspires future digital leaders. She is currently developing AIsLAND 2026, a visionary global initiative connecting technology, sustainability, and culture.

A pioneering marketing and communications strategist specializing in Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and digital transformation. Serves as Marketing Director of Sophia the Robot (Hanson Robotics) for Greece, Cyprus, and Australia, leading collabor... Show more

Preksha Baid

Preksha Baid

A passionate graphic designer with a strong foundation in brand strategy, storytelling, and design rising from the city of joy - Kolkata. My journey began with a digital marketing internship in Class 11, shaping my creative path. Since then, I’ve gained hands-on experience in fashion, events, and marketing, including a full-time
internship at Spaceage Multiproducts Pvt. Ltd., where I
honed my skills in business operations and branding. I
specialize in event management and crafting impactful campaigns that emotionally connect with audiences. Inspired by travel and diverse cultures, I bring fresh,
innovative perspectives to my work.

A passionate graphic designer with a strong foundation in brand strategy, storytelling, and design rising from the city of joy - Kolkata. My journey began with a digital marketing internship in Class 11, shaping my creative path. Since then, I’ve gai... Show more

Leandro Melendez

Leandro Melendez

Leandro is an advocate and content creator helping everyone to ramp up on their Performance, QA and in general IT practices.

He has over 20 years of experience in IT and over 10 in the performance testing practice where he served multiple S&P500 customers all over the USA, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India, Austria, etc.

Author of the popular performance testing blog Señor Performo (www.srperf.com) where he curates a diverse set of learning material for performance testers and engineers.

He is the producer and host of the Spanish language version of the PerfBytes podcast and the Señor Performo learning YouTube channels.

He is an international public speaker participating in multiple conferences, events and webinars, with keynotes, workshops and multiple talks on his belt.

And last, author of "The Hitchhikers Guide To Load Testing Projects", a fun walkthrough that will guide you through the phases or levels of an IT load testing project.

Leandro is an advocate and content creator helping everyone to ramp up on their Performance, QA and in general IT practices. He has over 20 years of experience in IT and over 10 in the performance testing practice where he served multiple S&P500 c... Show more

Telma Negreiros

Telma Negreiros

Telma Negreiros is an executive leader, author, keynote speaker, and executive coach with over 25 years of international experience in communications, technology, and corporate transformation.
A former CEO and Vice President, she has led global teams across Europe and the U.S., living and working in Amsterdam, Berlin, Lisbon, and New York — cities that have shaped her dynamic, cross-cultural approach to leadership and innovation.
Telma is the creator of the 7 Steps to Success™ Leadership Method and The Identity Rewire Code™, two acclaimed frameworks that empower leaders to build clarity, confidence, and impact. Her work bridges AI-driven strategy, inclusive leadership, and intentional communication, guiding organisations to thrive in an era of disruption and transformation.
Through her global keynotes and training programs, Telma helps leaders communicate with authenticity, lead with empathy, and transform with purpose.
Her belief: real transformation begins when leadership becomes unapologetically human.

Telma Negreiros is an executive leader, author, keynote speaker, and executive coach with over 25 years of international experience in communications, technology, and corporate transformation. A former CEO and Vice President, she has led global team... Show more

Angus Tookey

Angus Tookey

Previously the founder of a successful digital marketing agency in London, UK, Angus has been building in the space since 2018. Angus has led marketing and communications across a range of sectors in the crypto space, including Layer 1 (Telos), DeFi (MakerDAO), and Oracles (Chronicle). Head of Marketing & Communications - Previously the founder of a successful digital marketing agency in London, UK, Angus has been building in the space since 2018. Angus has led marketing and communications across a range of sectors in the crypto space, including Layer 1 (Telos), DeFi (MakerDAO), and Oracles (Chronicle).

Previously the founder of a successful digital marketing agency in London, UK, Angus has been building in the space since 2018. Angus has led marketing and communications across a range of sectors in the crypto space, including Layer 1 (Telos), DeFi ... Show more

Ana Sarmiento

Ana Sarmiento

Ana Sarmiento is a Growth Product Manager and AI evangelist with over a decade of experience bridging technical innovation and human-centered design. She has led projects in personalization, data strategy, and automation, helping cross-functional teams translate data into decisions. Ana is also the founder of Cabana Media, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting AI literacy in underserved communities, where she creates programs that empower seniors, immigrants, neurodivergent and BIPOC individuals to engage with AI as creators, not just consumers. Her mission is to build technology that tells stories, drives equity, and inspires the next generation of builders.

Ana Sarmiento is a Growth Product Manager and AI evangelist with over a decade of experience bridging technical innovation and human-centered design. She has led projects in personalization, data strategy, and automation, helping cross-functional tea... Show more

Christiana Ogaba

Christiana Ogaba

Christiana Edeanya Ogaba is a results-oriented Brand Manager and Designer with a passion for helping brands build a strong online presence and authentic identity. With 5+ years of hands-on experience, she brings a unique blend of creative and analytical skills to every project, ensuring that each brand story resonates powerfully with its target audience.

Her expertise lies in using design & storytelling as a strategic tool to create engaging and effective marketing campaigns that drive real results. From concept to execution, she specializes in translating ideas into visually compelling and impactful content that connects deeply with people.

Throughout her career, she has successfully led rebranding projects, launched high-impact digital campaigns, and supported organizations in expanding their visibility both locally and globally. She enjoys working at the intersection of creativity and strategy, translating business goals into clear, compelling messaging that resonates.

Her experience spans diverse industries such as tech, startup incubation, real estate, healthcare, NGOs, and finance, giving her a versatile perspective on brand and marketing challenges. Some of her skills include Visual Design, UI UX design, Search Engine Optimization, Digital Marketing, Website Design, and Social Media Marketing.

She is driven by a genuine love for storytelling and a commitment to helping brands and individuals realize their full potential. Beyond her professional work, she is passionate about mentoring, empowering young creatives, and exploring new ways to use communication as a tool for positive change.

As a creative problem solver and collaborative team player, she is committed to understanding each client’s unique needs and delivering exceptional results. She is also passionate about finding innovative ways to connect with audiences and crafting content that truly makes an impact.

She has trained over 200 lecturers from Nigerian universities on innovation pitching, and some of them have won grants for their innovations.

She spearheaded the digital campaign for TETFAIR (Tetfund Alliance for Innovative Research) an initiative of TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Hub & i-FAIR Israel Nigeria (Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Innovators & Researchers) an initiative of the Embassy of Israel in partnership with Hub Innov8.

She is the Brand Manager at Innov8 Hub.

Follow her on her digital platform at www.ceogaba.com

Christiana Edeanya Ogaba is a results-oriented Brand Manager and Designer with a passion for helping brands build a strong online presence and authentic identity. With 5+ years of hands-on experience, she brings a unique blend of creative and analyti... Show more

Innocent Kawooya, NIM

Innocent Kawooya, NIM

I am Innocent Kawooya, NIM, the CEO of HiPipo, where, for over the last 20 years, I have championed financial inclusion, digital innovation, women empowerment, and the creative economy across Africa. Through flagship initiatives such as the Include Everyone Program, Digital Impact Awards Africa, Women in FinTech Hackathon & Summit, 40 Days 40 FinTechs, and the Middle East and Africa Digital Transformation Summit, I have worked to empower women, youth, cross-border traders, and grassroots communities.
HiPipo’s work has been strengthened and blessed with a long-term partnership with the Gates Foundation and collaborations with high-impact partners such as COMESA, helping us drive interoperability, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive trade across the region. I was honoured to receive Uganda’s National Independence Medal from His Excellency the President of Uganda and to be named FinTech CEO of the Year 2024 & 2025 (MEA Awards) for this work. Alongside finance, I am also a filmmaker and entrepreneur, committed to building Africa’s digital, cultural, and economic future. I previously served as Co-chair of the Mojaloop Community Council for two terms!

I am Innocent Kawooya, NIM, the CEO of HiPipo, where, for over the last 20 years, I have championed financial inclusion, digital innovation, women empowerment, and the creative economy across Africa. Through flagship initiatives such as the Include E... Show more

Michael Ronen

Michael Ronen

Michael Ronen is a leader in immersive design and creator of the Play Economy Framework, helping companies blend technology, empathy, and play to innovate faster and more effectively. With over 20 years of experience, Michael’s engaging, fun, and comedic speaking style has made him a favorite among executives and startups alike, driving real-world success from 0 to 1 through rapid product development and team alignment.

Michael Ronen is a leader in immersive design and creator of the Play Economy Framework, helping companies blend technology, empathy, and play to innovate faster and more effectively. With over 20 years of experience, Michael’s engaging, fun, and com... Show more

Kirsten "Kiki" Ringer

Kirsten "Kiki" Ringer

Kirsten “Kiki” Ringer is the founder of KLR Literary Management and brings 30+ years of experience in publishing and entertainment, including roles at The Walt Disney Studios, Penguin Putnam, and Russell & Volkening Literary Agency, where she worked with Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.

Through KLR, she helps writers navigate traditional, hybrid, and author-publisher paths with clarity, strategy, and heart—offering an accessible, author-centered approach to publishing and marketing. She’s passionate about demystifying the process and empowering authors to take control of their publishing journey.

Kirsten “Kiki” Ringer is the founder of KLR Literary Management and brings 30+ years of experience in publishing and entertainment, including roles at The Walt Disney Studios, Penguin Putnam, and Russell & Volkening Literary Agency, where she worked ... Show more

John Elbing

John Elbing

John Elbing helps brands stop sounding like everyone else. As a business storytelling expert and author of Storybuilding: Your Brand From Their Standpoint, he guides marketing and leadership teams to flip the script—from pushing messages to building stories people actually care about. Drawing on his work with startups, corporates, and nonprofits, John blends strategy, storytelling, and sharp humor to help organizations stand out, connect, and convert. His sessions are lively, practical, and rooted in real-world experience—whether you need to rally a team, realign a brand, or rethink the story you’re telling the market.

John Elbing helps brands stop sounding like everyone else. As a business storytelling expert and author of Storybuilding: Your Brand From Their Standpoint, he guides marketing and leadership teams to flip the script—from pushing messages to building ... Show more

Rocky Mar

Rocky Mar

Coach Rocky Mar (she/her) helps Drupal teams turn training into Tuesday habits that ship. An Amazon bestselling author and Founder & CEO of Smart Life Investments, she teaches a 90-day, manager-led playbook of EI micro-skills, crisp standups/1:1s, and a lightweight delivery scorecard—tool-agnostic and community-first. Her sessions emphasize inclusive leadership, psychological safety with accountability, and responsible use of AI as a practice partner for feedback, reviews, and onboarding. Attendees leave with open templates they can use next sprint to raise velocity, improve first-time-right, and reduce burnout.

Coach Rocky Mar (she/her) helps Drupal teams turn training into Tuesday habits that ship. An Amazon bestselling author and Founder & CEO of Smart Life Investments, she teaches a 90-day, manager-led playbook of EI micro-skills, crisp standups/1:1s, an... Show more

Lauren V. Davis

Lauren V. Davis

Lauren V. Davis is a speaker and business strategist who helps entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners, and organizations grow with practical, actionable strategies. Audiences leave her sessions with proven tools they can apply immediately to strengthen visibility, attract loyal customers, and build personal brands that create lasting impact.

Lauren’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 19 when she opened a brick-and-mortar record store that grew into a iconic community hub for 15 years. During that time she built a non-for-profit to help local businesses market themselves in her community. She hosted conferences that rivaled national scale gatherings and knows what it takes to pick a good speaker, and provide a memorable experience. She will take an unforgettable hands-on approach to your audience.

Lauren's real-world experience taught her how to build customer loyalty, create marketing systems that work long-term, and see beyond one-hit-wonder tactics. Today, as a marketing and business strategist, she brings that same real-world perspective to the stage, equipping professionals with strategies that drive sustainable success in branding, marketing, and business growth.

As the founder of Lauren Davis Creative, she has guided speakers, authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs in establishing personal brands that generate consistent engagement and long-term clients. Her work has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Huffington Post, and across global top-rated podcasts. She also hosts The Real Personal Branding Podcast, rated as a top 2% podcast worldwide, where she interviews thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts about building authentic visibility.

Event organizers book Lauren because she delivers more than inspiration—she delivers outcomes. Her presentations are engaging, accessible, and designed for immediate action. Whether delivering a keynote, leading a workshop, or facilitating a mastermind, Lauren ensures audiences walk away with strategies they can implement right away.

Popular topics include:
Building a personal brand that attracts opportunities
Creating a marketing strategy without overwhelm or burnout
Using social media to connect with the right audience
Growing visibility and impact through authentic branding
Practical systems for long-term business growth

Lauren speaks at conferences, association meetings, masterminds, and corporate events across Rockford, Chicago, Northern Illinois, and nationwide. She is equally effective in virtual formats and in-person events, tailoring content to the needs of each audience.

Audiences benefit by gaining:
Clarity in their personal brand and marketing approach
Tools to create immediate traction with customers and clients
Frameworks for social media and marketing that are simple to implement
Confidence to communicate authentically both online and on stage
Long-term strategies that build community, visibility, and loyalty
Lauren knows how to talk to everyone, from well-established associations to low-tech, blue-collar communities and will meet your audience where they are.

Associations, small and medium businesses, and leadership groups turn to Lauren when they want a speaker who delivers actionable insights with relatable energy. Her background as a business owner and strategist allows her to connect with audiences who want practical solutions, not just theory.

When you book Lauren V. Davis as your marketing speaker, your audience will leave with the clarity, confidence, and strategies they need to take their brand and business to the next level.

Keywords: marketing speaker, business coach speaker, personal branding speaker, workshop facilitator, entrepreneur speaker, small business speaker, association conference speaker, mastermind facilitator, social media speaker, Rockford IL, Chicago, Northern Illinois, nationwide speaker.

Lauren V. Davis is a speaker and business strategist who helps entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners, and organizations grow with practical, actionable strategies. Audiences leave her sessions with proven tools they can apply immediately to... Show more

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