Media & Information

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

Mrinal Jain

Mrinal Jain

Mrinal Jain is an Engineering Manager at STAGE OTT with 7+ years of experience building scalable full-stack and Flutter applications. A recognized tech speaker and Meta Community Lead, he has led impactful developer communities and shared insights at major tech events. Known as the Introvert Influencer, Mrinal combines deep technical expertise with community-first leadership to empower developers and scale product success.

Mrinal Jain is an Engineering Manager at STAGE OTT with 7+ years of experience building scalable full-stack and Flutter applications. A recognized tech speaker and Meta Community Lead, he has led impactful developer communities and shared insights at... Show more

Susan Moore

Susan Moore

Susan Moore is the Senior Community Engagement Manager at IIBA. Before joining IIBA, she spent over 20 years as a business analysis professional in finance, insurance, and utilities, working in both the business and technology.

She holds IIBA’s Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) and Agile Analysis Certification (AAC), along with a few more business analysis and agile badges.

As the host of IIBA’s podcast, Business Analysis Live!, Susan talks with business analysis professionals from around the globe to share their insights and experiences.

When she’s not immersed in all things business analysis, you’ll find Susan dancing, traveling, or cheering on her alma mater, the University of North Carolina. #GoHeels

Susan Moore is the Senior Community Engagement Manager at IIBA. Before joining IIBA, she spent over 20 years as a business analysis professional in finance, insurance, and utilities, working in both the business and technology. She holds IIBA’s C... Show more

Amit Grinvald

Amit Grinvald

Amit is a communication expert with over a decade of experience helping professionals and business leaders deliver impactful messages that captivate and inspire. He has worked with high achievers from all backgrounds — from Fortune 500 leaders to Olympic medalists and aerospace engineers — and has been trusted by organizations like Microsoft, Deloitte, Rolls-Royce, the Olympics, and TED.

As a seasoned speaker and workshop facilitator at international conferences, Amit specializes in turning complex ideas into clear, actionable insights. With a background in international business, entrepreneurship, and finance across seven countries, he brings a practical, cross-disciplinary perspective to every session. His work bridges the gap between technical depth and human connection, equipping professionals with strategies to communicate with confidence, clarity, and influence

Outside of work, Amit is an avid traveler and fitness enthusiast, always seeking new ways to integrate personal growth with professional excellence. His mission is to empower others to communicate with clarity and purpose, driving innovation and meaningful connection.

Amit is a communication expert with over a decade of experience helping professionals and business leaders deliver impactful messages that captivate and inspire. He has worked with high achievers from all backgrounds — from Fortune 500 leaders to Oly... 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

David Akinyemi

David Akinyemi

David Akinyemi is a Web Designer, SEO Specialist, and Tech Entrepreneur with a deep passion for people, missions, and enterprise. He co-founded YouLift in August 2015, a start-up dedicated to launching ambitious tech solutions for the Global South, and is currently at the helm of developing the Churched App, a one stop hub community automation tool for churches.

With a rich background in technology and digital marketing, David has worked in various capacities, from leading community initiatives at Gtext Media in Ogba, Lagos to serving as a Business Assistant and Web Designer at WebBoxOut in Ikoyi. Over the past 9 years, he has also led development, design, and digital marketing efforts at YouLift in Ibadan. Beyond his work with YouLift, David has collaborated with notable organizations such as Carviva - a leading autocare startup in Nigeria, ManageMyWebsite in the United Kingdom and Sustainable Digital in Vermont, United States. Currently, he holds a position as a Senior Web Designer and SEO Specialist with Spaceworks Studio in the UAE.

As a dedicated mentor and educator, David has trained over 1000 young university students across Nigeria, in a bid to inspire the next generation of tech leaders. He’s also the founder of the David Akinyemi School of Thought and Philosophical Engagement, a family trust bequeathed with the responsibility of sponsoring the education of public high school students who stand out during an annual debating and essay writing competition in Ondo State, Nigeria. He also give back to the community through Autoimmune Africa and gibormag. He recently spoke at TedxUCHIbadan on the struggles of chronic disease patients seeking access to quality healthcare in Nigeria.

In his personal life, David is a devout Christian, a loving husband to Vek Akinyemi, and a proud father to Iyebiye and Tirenioluwa. He participated in a Bachelor of Arts program in Theatre and Media Arts at the University of Benin from 2014 - 2017 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Ibadan from 2017 – 2024. An avid Liverpool Football Club supporter, he also enjoys writing poetry and playing checkers in his free time.

David Akinyemi is a Web Designer, SEO Specialist, and Tech Entrepreneur with a deep passion for people, missions, and enterprise. He co-founded YouLift in August 2015, a start-up dedicated to launching ambitious tech solutions for the Global South, a... Show more

Tracy Lee

Tracy Lee

Tracy is the CEO and Chief Technologist at This Dot Labs, a consultancy focused on helping leaders achieve their most ambitious digital initiatives through technology leadership and engineering talent.

She is also a Github Star, Google Developer Expert, Microsoft MVP, RxJS Core Team member, and a frequent keynote speaker at conferences.

You can find her on Linkedin at /in/tracyslee, on Twitter @ladyleet or at thisdot.co

Tracy is the CEO and Chief Technologist at This Dot Labs, a consultancy focused on helping leaders achieve their most ambitious digital initiatives through technology leadership and engineering talent. She is also a Github Star, Google Developer E... Show more

Lizzi Pittman

Lizzi Pittman

Lizzi's career in client services encompasses a wide variety of projects across multiple disciplines: video & media production, traditional & digital advertising, and app & website development. As a Sr. Project Manager, Lizzi manages projects from discovery to delivery, with a focus on collaborative and compassionate leadership.

Lizzi's career in client services encompasses a wide variety of projects across multiple disciplines: video & media production, traditional & digital advertising, and app & website development. As a Sr. Project Manager, Lizzi manages projects from di... 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

Tim Pietrusky

Tim Pietrusky

is a dx engineer at Runpod building agents, a co-organizer of JSConf Budapest / CodePenDay Germany, a mentor, an international speaker, a generative artist, a vj for dnb parties & a series-founder

the most important part of his life are his two daughters (7, 8) <3

is a dx engineer at Runpod building agents, a co-organizer of JSConf Budapest / CodePenDay Germany, a mentor, an international speaker, a generative artist, a vj for dnb parties & a series-founder the most important part of his life are his two d... Show more

Thimo Buchheister

Thimo Buchheister

Since 2017 Organizer and Speaker of a monthly happening .Net Meetup
Speaker on local events

2004 - 2019 CTO of All about Ashley GmbH
2017 - 2019 CTO of Xircuit GmbH & Co. KG
Since 2019 CEO of ThreeB IT GmbH

Since 2017 Organizer and Speaker of a monthly happening .Net Meetup Speaker on local events 2004 - 2019 CTO of All about Ashley GmbH 2017 - 2019 CTO of Xircuit GmbH & Co. KG Since 2019 CEO of ThreeB IT GmbH Show more

Santiago Bustelo

Santiago Bustelo

Pionero de UX en Argentina. Fundador de Kambrica, consultora de UX estratégico. Desde 1996 ha trabajado en más de 1000 proyectos para más de 40 industrias. Fue docente en 11 universidades y orador en más de 30 conferencias en 24 países. Creador de Experience Decisión Making, sistema que integra teoría de la decisión a los procesos de UX. Mentor de profesionales que quieren dar el salto de ejecutores a líderes.

Pionero de UX en Argentina. Fundador de Kambrica, consultora de UX estratégico. Desde 1996 ha trabajado en más de 1000 proyectos para más de 40 industrias. Fue docente en 11 universidades y orador en más de 30 conferencias en 24 países. Creador de Ex... Show more

Vontavius Hurd

Vontavius Hurd

Vontavius Hurd is an award-winning marketing strategist, licensed real estate agent, and creator of the Presence to Profits Blueprint™ framework. He helps entrepreneurs, business owners, real estate pros, and organizations grow strategically so they stay relevant and never become extinct. When he’s not speaking, he runs his marketing agency, sells out impactful webinars and workshops, and partners with brands as a lifestyle and travel influencer. Off the clock, you’ll probably find him gaming or streaming.

Vontavius Hurd is an award-winning marketing strategist, licensed real estate agent, and creator of the Presence to Profits Blueprint™ framework. He helps entrepreneurs, business owners, real estate pros, and organizations grow strategically so they ... Show more

Nadiia Kuzmenko

Nadiia Kuzmenko

Based in Bulgaria, I am Nadiia Kuzmenko, an experienced editor, publishing agent, and ghostwriter dedicated to bringing clarity and creativity to every project I undertake. With a strong background in editing, proofreading, writing, translating, ghostwriting, and publishing, I help authors and businesses craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audience and meet high professional standards.

My passion lies in transforming ideas into polished and publish-ready content. I work closely with clients to understand their unique voice and goals, ensuring every piece I handle is meticulously refined and tailored for maximum impact in the marketplace. Whether you need a thorough edit or complete ghostwriting services, I am committed to delivering quality work that elevates your message and advances your professional objectives.

Based in Bulgaria, I am Nadiia Kuzmenko, an experienced editor, publishing agent, and ghostwriter dedicated to bringing clarity and creativity to every project I undertake. With a strong background in editing, proofreading, writing, translating, ghos... Show more

James Kaminsky

James Kaminsky

James Kaminsky is a senior editorial director and digital content strategist who has overseen editorial teams for leading names in the media industry. His professional experience covers both print and digital publishing, and he has directed content strategy for Maxim, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, Realtor.com, and Homes.com.

James was raised in Westport, Connecticut. He attended Boston University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Film and Broadcast Journalism. While still a student, he contributed to the university newspaper and completed an internship at The Boston Globe, which provided him with valuable early newsroom experience. After graduating, he moved to New York and began his career in business publishing, steadily progressing through editorial ranks to become editor-in-chief at Act III Communications. In that position, he guided teams focused on content that spanned entertainment, business, and technology.

As his career advanced, he shifted toward consumer magazines and freelanced for several respected publications. This eventually led to senior editorial roles at Men’s Journal and Conde Nast Sports for Women, where he helped develop editorial strategies and launch new initiatives—his time at Men’s Journal involved shaping the magazine’s direction. At the same time, at Conde Nast, he gained experience with new publication launches.

In 1999, James Kaminsky joined Maxim as executive editor, contributing to the publication’s rapid rise in the United States. He later became an editorial director at Playboy, where he played a pivotal role in evolving the brand and updating its journalistic approach to appeal to a new audience.

He continued to take on leadership roles at Wenner Media, working with both Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal to strengthen content offerings and expand digital efforts. Returning to Maxim, he helped steer the magazine through changing industry dynamics.

James then took on editorial leadership at Life Reimagined for AARP. He went on to serve as Senior Editorial Director at Realtor.com for more than eight years, building a digital news operation from the ground up. His latest position at Homes.com involved directing content about luxury real estate in New York.

Today, James Kaminsky enjoys cycling, hiking, and films. He now works independently as a consultant and writer, bringing his editorial expertise to a range of projects and clients.

James Kaminsky is a senior editorial director and digital content strategist who has overseen editorial teams for leading names in the media industry. His professional experience covers both print and digital publishing, and he has directed content s... Show more

Caleb Jenkins

Caleb Jenkins

Caleb Jenkins is an international speaker, author and 6 time Microsoft MVP award recipient, currently works as the Director of Developer Experience at Charles Schwab.

As a long time community leader and former Microsoft Developer Evangelist Caleb is well known for his engaging speaking style, depth of knowledge and creative energy. He approaches software from a fresh perspective that spans UX, Agile and enterprise customers from across the globe. He has previously led UX product design teams, coached multi team agile transformations and architected and mentored at some of the largest companies in the world.

Caleb will come at you from multiple angles, he has the hip hop that doesn’t stop, and to quote some other people:

“watching one of my new favorite speakers” (@JesseLiberty ) “
“to call Caleb a ball of energy would be an understatement” LinkedIn Review
“had me laughing so hard I could hardly eat my nachos” Speakerpedia Review and Blogged
You’ll laugh, you’ll have a great time, and you’ll learn something while you’re at it.

Caleb Jenkins is an international speaker, author and 6 time Microsoft MVP award recipient, currently works as the Director of Developer Experience at Charles Schwab. As a long time community leader and former Microsoft Developer Evangelist Caleb... Show more

Julia Redner

Julia Redner

Julia has been an active member of the Microsoft community for more than 15 years. She began her career at knk with a dual study program in Business Administration (B.Sc.) at the FH Nordakademie. After graduating, she built up and now leads the marketing department of the internationally operating knk Group.

Together with her team, Julia is responsible for marketing and communication across all product lines of the knk Group: knkMedia based on Microsoft D365 Business Central, knk365 for Media Sales based on D365 for Sales, knk365 Marketing Automation based on D365 for Marketing, and VM Media Manager. In addition to product marketing, her responsibilities include employer branding.

Beyond her leadership role in marketing, Julia is passionate about team development and organizational culture. As a facilitator, she has supported implementation teams on their path to self-organization and regularly guides teams in achieving clarity and results in their meetings.

Julia has been an active member of the Microsoft community for more than 15 years. She began her career at knk with a dual study program in Business Administration (B.Sc.) at the FH Nordakademie. After graduating, she built up and now leads the marke... Show more

Denise Zubizarreta

Denise Zubizarreta

Denise Zubizarreta is a cultural strategist, arts leader, and digital resilience advocate working at the intersection of creative expression and social impact. As Director of Business Development and Communications at the New Mexico Local News Fund, she supports sustainable, equity-driven journalism while championing the voices of underserved communities.

With a background in nonprofit leadership, military service, and interdisciplinary art, Denise brings a unique perspective to conversations about cybersecurity, media representation, and cultural preservation. Her work focuses on making complex systems—like digital security and public infrastructure—accessible to small orgs, artists, and mission-driven teams.

She is also an engagement director at Latina Media Co and co-host of the Latina Unpacked podcast. Whether she’s curating an art show, building out a CRM, or training nonprofit staff on digital safety, Denise is all about connecting the dots between creativity, justice, and real-world systems change.

Denise Zubizarreta is a cultural strategist, arts leader, and digital resilience advocate working at the intersection of creative expression and social impact. As Director of Business Development and Communications at the New Mexico Local News Fund, ... Show more

Mena Darré

Mena Darré

Mena is a certified Hello Seven Business and Mindset Coach and a proud graduate of the Goldman Sachs Black In Business Program. Based in St. Louis, she’s a branding photographer, strategist, content creator, and coach on a mission to help entrepreneurs grow their brands and show up like the experts they are.

After three years of teaching in the classroom, Mena made the bold leap into full-time entrepreneurship in 2017. These days, she blends her background in education with her creative skills to coach, photograph, and guide business owners as they build brands that actually sell.

With 8 years of experience as a branding and lifestyle photographer, Mena has worked with major names like Getty Images, Airbnb, Design Essentials, and the American Heart Association. She’s helped countless clients from boutique owners to political figures launch campaigns, boost their visibility, and confidently claim their space in their industries.

Her creative reach also extends into the education space, where she creates social media strategies and video content for institutions like Marian Middle School and Washington University, helping them tell authentic stories and stay connected with their communities online.

Mena’s work has been featured in Forbes, Black Enterprise, St. Louis Magazine, Ladue News, and many more. Whether she’s behind the lens or leading a branding strategy session, she brings energy, intention, and results.

Mena is a certified Hello Seven Business and Mindset Coach and a proud graduate of the Goldman Sachs Black In Business Program. Based in St. Louis, she’s a branding photographer, strategist, content creator, and coach on a mission to help entrepreneu... Show more

Brittany Abdool

Brittany Abdool

Brittany Abdool is a seasoned strategist and agency leader with over 15 years of experience shaping digital and social media campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands. A first-generation college graduate, Brittany built her career across global agencies and boutique firms, leading award-winning campaigns and building high-performing teams from the ground up.

She has advised organizations including AARP, Accenture, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, and Target. Her work on Bank of America’s Friends Again campaign earned a Gold SABRE Award for excellence in digital influence.

Brittany is known for bridging creative vision with operational rigor, helping brands not only tell their stories—but ensure those stories create real connection. Her leadership philosophy centers on people, process, and product as the core drivers of innovation.

She previously served on the Board of Directors for Washington Women in Public Relations and regularly speaks at industry conferences on digital strategy, social media, and brand leadership. She currently lives in Chicago with her family and is the founder of Ona Media Company, a consultancy focused on building bold, reputation-first social strategies for complex organizations.

Brittany Abdool is a seasoned strategist and agency leader with over 15 years of experience shaping digital and social media campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands. A first-generation college graduate, Brittany built her career acro... Show more

Ming Johanson

Ming Johanson

Ming Johanson works with businesses across the globe from training social media to managing (with her team) complex digital strategies that deliver tangible and desirable financial returns. She is dedicated to shaping the landscape for leaders to adapt their management, sales and marketing culture to fit into the modern day world of hyper-connectivity.

Recently recognised and awarded for her ongoing contribution to the technology industries in the 2019 Women In Technology Tech [+] 20 Awards. Ming is a passionate mental health Ambassador for R U OK? Day, a co-facilitator in Startup Weekend Perth and a regular Australian Media Commentator as a Tech Evangelist on a range of topics in Mental Health, Social Media & Technology. 

Ming Johanson works with businesses across the globe from training social media to managing (with her team) complex digital strategies that deliver tangible and desirable financial returns. She is dedicated to shaping the landscape for leaders to ada... Show more

Mark Techson

Mark Techson

Mark loves to code, teach and create transformational experiences for audiences all over the world. He's spoken at prestigious events, taught at world class institutions and worked for some of the best companies in the world.

Mark loves to code, teach and create transformational experiences for audiences all over the world. He's spoken at prestigious events, taught at world class institutions and worked for some of the best companies in the world. Show more

David Levai

David Levai

Fullstack product engineer creating content about building production-ready apps as a solopreneur.

Over the past decade, I've worked as a freelance full-stack developer mostly with startups and small businesses. In 2020 I decided to deepen my business and product knowledge, to build outstanding products.

As of now, I'm building production-ready products efficiently, and documenting my journey as a solopreneur product engineer. Twitter, YouTube, and my blog.

Why building in public?
Following other people's journeys can teach you a lot. As well as you, I follow many other creators.
Being active on social media and building in public allowed me to be part of a club that prioritizes shipping and giving value.

Fullstack product engineer creating content about building production-ready apps as a solopreneur. Over the past decade, I've worked as a freelance full-stack developer mostly with startups and small businesses. In 2020 I decided to deepen my busi... Show more

Annalisa Nash Fernandez

Annalisa Nash Fernandez

Annalisa Nash Fernandez is a specialist in world cultures, focusing on cultural elements in technology and business strategy. An experienced corporate strategic planning director who worked globally as an expatriate executive based in emerging markets, she bridges her dual background as a sociolinguist to navigate cross-cultural communication in marketing, leadership, and the digital economy. Her expert quotes are featured widely, including by CIO magazine and the BBC, and her articles are published in trade journals and in leading media. Annalisa held various roles at Philip Morris International and Kraft Foods, based in São Paulo, Brazil, and investment banks, including Bankers Trust, based in New York City and Santiago, Chile. Annalisa holds an M.A. in language and translation from the University of Wisconsin, and a B.S. in international finance from Georgetown University.

Annalisa Nash Fernandez is a specialist in world cultures, focusing on cultural elements in technology and business strategy. An experienced corporate strategic planning director who worked globally as an expatriate executive based in emerging market... Show more

昌彦 庄司

昌彦 庄司

東京都葛飾区出身。2002年中央大学大学院総合政策研究科博士前期課程修了。2002年より国際大学GLOCOM研究員。同准教授・主幹研究員を経て2019年より現職。武蔵学園データサイエンス研究所副所長、東京大学空間情報科学研究センター客員教授、国際大学GLOCOM主幹研究員も務める。
社会的な活動として、デジタル庁オープンデータ伝道師、総務省「地方自治体のデジタルトランスフォーメーション推進に係る検討会」座長、総務省「自治体システム等標準化検討会(住民記録システム・税務システム・選挙人名簿管理システム)」座長、三重県デジタル推進フェロー、一般社団法人オープン・ナレッジ・ファウンデーション・ジャパン代表理事なども務めている。

東京都葛飾区出身。2002年中央大学大学院総合政策研究科博士前期課程修了。2002年より国際大学GLOCOM研究員。同准教授・主幹研究員を経て2019年より現職。武蔵学園データサイエンス研究所副所長、東京大学空間情報科学研究センター客員教授、国際大学GLOCOM主幹研究員も務める。 社会的な活動として、デジタル庁オープンデータ伝道師、総務省「地方自治体のデジタルトランスフォーメーション推進に係る検討会」座長、総務省「自治体システム等標準化検討会(住民記録システム・税務システム・選挙人名簿管理シ... Show more

Heather Satterley

Heather Satterley

Heather Satterley is the Director of Education of Media at Woodard.

Heather’s passion for helping others and her love for technology have shaped her career in public accounting. Her affinity for facilitating change within an organization is paramount to her work, helping businesses design and automate their business processes using cutting-edge technologies. Heather wholeheartedly believes in the power of community and the magic that is created when people work together toward the same purpose.

In addition to her work with Woodard, Heather is the co-host of The Appy Hour with Liz and Heather, a webinar series devoted to demystifying the world of technology and apps in the accounting profession. She is also the co-creator and producer of Appy Hour Camp, a collaborative retreat experience created to connect and nurture the relationship between accounting professional educators and software developers.

Heather was named a categorical top 10 ProAdvisor in 2017 and 2019 and was listed as one of the top influential people in accounting by Accounting Today in 2019.

Heather Satterley is the Director of Education of Media at Woodard. Heather’s passion for helping others and her love for technology have shaped her career in public accounting. Her affinity for facilitating change within an organization is param... 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

Brandon Birkmeyer

Brandon Birkmeyer

Brandon is a personal branding specialist and a former Coca-Cola and Apple advertising executive with over 22 years of experience at Madison Avenue advertising agencies advising top FORTUNE 100 companies on brand strategy. In 2018, he launched the Brands On Brands podcast, consistently ranked as a Top 5 Branding Podcast on Apple Podcasts. This session comes from Brandon's new book, Front & Center Leadership, published July 31st, 2024!

Find Brandon’s speaking reels for keynotes and workshops at brandonbirkmeyer.com/speaking.

Brandon is a personal branding specialist and a former Coca-Cola and Apple advertising executive with over 22 years of experience at Madison Avenue advertising agencies advising top FORTUNE 100 companies on brand strategy. In 2018, he launched the Br... Show more

Shobhit Verma

Shobhit Verma

Shobhit Verma (aka TheJugaadGuy) is an SRE Lead with 14+ years of experience in Infrastructure, Cloud, and Observability. He has led large-scale projects in banking and telecom, working extensively with AWS, Terraform, ELK, and Dynatrace to build reliable and scalable systems. Beyond engineering, he is a filmmaker and content creator with 50,000+ followers, known for simplifying complex technical topics through engaging content.

As an active community member in AWS User Group Pune, Atlassian Community, and Toastmasters, Shobhit brings a unique mix of technical depth, storytelling, and stage presence. He is now building his journey into Developer Relations (DevRel), where his mission is to empower developers with the right tools, stories, and confidence to succeed.

Shobhit Verma (aka TheJugaadGuy) is an SRE Lead with 14+ years of experience in Infrastructure, Cloud, and Observability. He has led large-scale projects in banking and telecom, working extensively with AWS, Terraform, ELK, and Dynatrace to build rel... Show more

Jesimiel Williams

Jesimiel Williams

Hi, I’m Jesimiel Williams. I’m an innovative Creative with experience in Design, UX and Content Development and Marketing. In 7 years, and through possibly hundreds of visuals, interfaces and written content, I’ve learned to craft interactions toward consumer-centric values, and as such have developed an understanding of consumer trends and how to optimize experiences and stories to drive adoption and growth for tech products. I’ve worked and consulted for brands in AI, Telecoms, Mobility, Edtech and many other spheres in Africa, Europe and the US including Lara.ng, Stutern, Chess in Slums Africa and many others, whilst also building a product for accessible Mental Health for Africa called Uncloudy.

Hi, I’m Jesimiel Williams. I’m an innovative Creative with experience in Design, UX and Content Development and Marketing. In 7 years, and through possibly hundreds of visuals, interfaces and written content, I’ve learned to craft interactions toward... Show more

Chevron (Commander A9)

Chevron (Commander A9)

Chevron is a gray wolf, gamer, and event host from New Jersey. He works with several VRChat-based convention groups like the Furality Online Xperience, TailBass, Misho's Feeshquarium, Lords of Floof, WaterWolf, Projekt Community, and xCirrex Media to create events and bring people together for fun nights, games, friendship, and great times. He hosts Thursday VRChat Games alongside NoxTheSergal and Scottish Gamer every week (which are often attended with full instances), as well as in-person gatherings monthly. He passionately embraces VRChat and its rave and convention scene, especially with Furnal Equinox, CozyCon, Projekt Community, WaterWolf, and the Furality Online Xperience. You'll find him most often sharing photos on his art galleries to help promote his favorite events and organizations. Furrydelphia, Furnal Equinox, and Anthro New England's first ever VRChat Meet-and-Greets and Intro Panels were co-hosted by TJCoyote, Chief, Chevron, Lilithe Lotor, mBlade, and members of the Fluffy Fur Friends. Motivated by the TailBass and Furality VRChat portals, Chevron is now working to set up VRChat portals and meets at other in-person conventions.

He serves as a Photographer for the Furality Online Xperience, operator for the Operations Department for WaterWolf, Events Host for Projekt Community, and a tournament co-host for xCirrex Media events.

Chevron's love and passion for Furnal Equinox motivated him to cosplay as "Badgie" (Virtual Furnal Equinox 2021's unofficial mascot made of nothing but attendee badges) at the in-person convention in 2022. He reprized his role in-person in 2023 and 2024, and also attends other conventions as "Badgie" who is often referred to as "Attendee Man."

Chevron first attended Furnal Equinox in March 2021 over VRChat. The experience was so enjoyable that he dared to compared his experience at Furnal Equinox to Furality 2000 (November 2020). This motivated him to attend the in-person Furnal Equinox convention for the first time in March 2022. The trip was a first of many for Chevron: His first time in Canada, first time using Lyft, and first time public suiting and marching in a fursuit parade. Chevron has now added Furnal Equinox to his list of yearly attended conventions.

A lifelong player of EVE Online, Mechwarrior, Armed Assault III, Halo, Command & Conquer, and Dance Dance Revolution, Chevron holds a particular appreciation for older games of the late 1990s-early 2000s, such as the first Ghost Recon (2002) and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. His first video game was Mario on the original Game Boy when he was five years old. His admiration of cyberpunk and all things futuristic is on full display with his Illumi Cyberwear LED visor. His fursuit was made by Sarahcat. Outside of the fandom, he works in the IT industry as a cybersecurity administrator and is (jokingly) addicted to Mountain Dew.

Chevron's ultimate goal is to bring people together for fun and great times. He embraces the future with open arms and is eager to dive right into all the fun that can be had together with friends and the fandom.

Chevron is a gray wolf, gamer, and event host from New Jersey. He works with several VRChat-based convention groups like the Furality Online Xperience, TailBass, Misho's Feeshquarium, Lords of Floof, WaterWolf, Projekt Community, and xCirrex Media to... Show more

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