Your last keynote speaker got polite applause and a room full of people checking email by slide four. The feedback said "nice." Nobody mentioned it Monday.

I'm the opposite of that.

I'm Alexia Georghiou — an interactive keynote speaker who designs experiential sessions where audiences participate, connect, and leave with tools they use the next morning. Not inspiration that fades by lunch. Tools.

I use Happiness Habits Method to turn passive listeners into active participants. Event planners book me because something actually shifts in the room — and people talk about it after.

I don't show up with a pre-packaged talk and swap your company name on slide one. I ask what your people are actually facing. Then I build the session around that.

My keynotes and workshops move rooms on:

→ Employee engagement and workplace wellbeing
→ Executive presence and communication under pressure
→ Technostress, burnout, and the human cost of always-on culture
→ The future of work — and the skills AI can't automate
→ Human connection, trust, and the listening deficit in leadership
→ Happiness habits that drive performance and retention

I've delivered keynotes and talks at SHRM25 in San Diego, SHRM Talent in Nashville and Dallas, the University for Peace (UPEACE) Executive Education in Costa Rica, and the 28th Annual SIOPSA Conference in Pretoria, South Africa. I teach executive presence at the University of Tennessee.

I'm the author of The Future of Work is Human. I'm the founder of the Knoxville Happiness Coalition — a SHRM Recertification Provider offering PDCs for SHRM-CP® and SHRM-SCP® — and the World Happiness Fellowship, an annual gathering of leaders and practitioners exploring what it means to flourish at work and in life.

Here's what I believe: As AI automates everything that can be automated, we will be left standing as human beings. The organizations that thrive won't have the best tech stack. They'll have the best listeners. The most present leaders. The people who stayed human on purpose.

Your audience won't say "nice." They'll say "when can she come back?"

🎤 Speaking Reel: http://www.youtube.com/@AlexiaGeorghiou/
📩 alexia@knoxvillehappinesscoalition.com
🌐 www.alexiageorghiou.com

Your last keynote speaker got polite applause and a room full of people checking email by slide four. The feedback said "nice." Nobody mentioned it Monday. I'm the opposite of that. I'm Alexia Georghiou — an interactive keynote speaker who desi... Show more

Your systems are built. Your people don't trust them.

That's the problem I solve.

As Data & Automation Director at HEI Civil, I've led enterprise data and automation strategy across multi-state operations. I speak to leaders and teams navigating fragmented data, manual processes, and growing complexity who want systems they can rely on, not workarounds.

Why I speak: Technical teams build systems all the time. Fewer get people to trust, use, and own them. I've generated $1M+ in recurring ROI while eliminating 19,000+ manual hours per year, but the real insight is that adoption is the implementation problem. I speak because that's where the real value is

My sessions focus on:
- Why well-designed programs fail without adoption
- How to design systems leaders actually trust
- Change management and governance as competitive advantages
- Why the hardest part of any data, AI, or automation initiative is never the tool

Bilingual: English and Spanish. Available for keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, and internal consulting engagements.

Your systems are built. Your people don't trust them. That's the problem I solve. As Data & Automation Director at HEI Civil, I've led enterprise data and automation strategy across multi-state operations. I speak to leaders and teams navigatin... Show more

Suzana Melo is a full-stack developer and AWS Cloud Practitioner who transitioned into software development in her 40s without a tech background. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and has over 20 years of experience. As a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, she actively works on initiatives that empower women and underrepresented groups in tech, mentors juniors and graduates, and drives tech community enablement across the Middle East, Africa, APAC, Europe, and the Americas. Suzana is an AWS Community Builder, founder of the AWS Women's User Group Sweden, and co-organizer of AWS Community Day Baltic. She is enrolled in a postgraduate specialization in AI and Machine Learning at PUC Minas, is a featured speaker at AWS re:Invent 2024, and writes articles reaching 14,000+ readers.

Suzana Melo is a full-stack developer and AWS Cloud Practitioner who transitioned into software development in her 40s without a tech background. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and has over 20 years of experience. As a strong advocat... Show more

Jorge Litvin is a criminal lawyer turned cybersecurity strategist — author, international speaker, university professor, Founder & CEO of Safe-U, and board advisor.

He works at the intersection of cybersecurity, business risk, AI and organizational culture, translating technical complexity into decisions that executives and boards can act on.

Author of Hackeados (200,000+ downloads across 35 countries), he has spoken at more than 300 events in 10+ countries and 30 universities across 15+ countries, in Spanish and English.

As a regional media reference, he reaches 100,000+ professionals across social media and publishes columns in FORBES, Infobae, La Nación, El País, and CNN, among others.

His thesis: cybersecurity needs judgment, not fear.

Jorge Litvin is a criminal lawyer turned cybersecurity strategist — author, international speaker, university professor, Founder & CEO of Safe-U, and board advisor. He works at the intersection of cybersecurity, business risk, AI and organizatio... Show more

David Parry is a Principal Architect with 25+ years building enterprise systems, cloud platforms, and AI integrations. Starting in 1996, he has focused on scalable, mission-critical solutions, from government-grade communication systems to guiding Fortune 500 companies into the autonomous agentic era. His work emphasizes deterministic guardrails, governed agent orchestration, and production-ready architectures that ensure reliability, security, and measurable outcomes in AI systems.

David Parry is a Principal Architect with 25+ years building enterprise systems, cloud platforms, and AI integrations. Starting in 1996, he has focused on scalable, mission-critical solutions, from government-grade communication systems to guiding Fo... Show more

Author of the Pro .NET Memory Management book. Programming for over a dozen years, solving performance problems and architectural puzzles in the .NET world. A big fan of AI and LLMs. ex-Microsoft MVP in the Visual Studio and Development Tools category. Co-founder of https://dotnetos.org initiative

Author of the Pro .NET Memory Management book. Programming for over a dozen years, solving performance problems and architectural puzzles in the .NET world. A big fan of AI and LLMs. ex-Microsoft MVP in the Visual Studio and Development Tools categor... Show more

Elena is a data-driven Director of Product at Payoneer, with a powerful track record of leading AI and machine learning products to success. Over her 16-year career, including 9 years dedicated to this field, she has honed the skill of taking products from a raw idea to a market-leading solution. She brings a rare blend of technical expertise and business acumen to her work, a skillset she built on her B.A. in Management with a specialization in Computer Science. Driven to give back, Elena is a dedicated mentor to product professionals and a fierce advocate for women in tech.

Elena is a data-driven Director of Product at Payoneer, with a powerful track record of leading AI and machine learning products to success. Over her 16-year career, including 9 years dedicated to this field, she has honed the skill of taking product... Show more

Engincan Veske is a Software Engineer at @Volosoft, where he works on building scalable, modular applications with .NET and contributes actively to the open-source ABP Framework (14k+ stars).

In his role, he has delivered hundreds of hours of hands-on training on the ABP Framework and a wide range of software development topics, including but not limited to modular monolith architecture and microservices -- helping development teams upskill and apply modern patterns effectively.

He regularly shares deep-dive technical content on his blog (https://engincanveske.substack.com), covering .NET, distributed systems, software architecture, and AI agents / tools.

He's also the co-host of two Turkish podcasts -- dotcode and Sıfırdan Bire -- focused on software engineering and career growth.

👉 To explore Engincan’s previous talks and access their slides or resources, visit: https://github.com/EngincanV/presentations

Engincan Veske is a Software Engineer at @Volosoft, where he works on building scalable, modular applications with .NET and contributes actively to the open-source ABP Framework (14k+ stars). In his role, he has delivered hundreds of hours of hand... Show more

Computer Engineer and Technology Consultant specializing in Enterprise Architecture, integrations, IA, and data governance within the financial sector. Former IBM developer and business analyst at Grupo Carso, currently working on large-scale architecture and integration projects. Passionate about cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and empowering the next generation of women in STEM.

Computer Engineer and Technology Consultant specializing in Enterprise Architecture, integrations, IA, and data governance within the financial sector. Former IBM developer and business analyst at Grupo Carso, currently working on large-scale archite... Show more

Kim is the Head of Developer Relations and Founding GTM Engineer working on security for agents at Keycard. Kim's career is rooted in Identity, software engineering, and developer experience strategy. She enjoys teaching, mentoring, and learning from folks in the product technology space and loves to travel, overland, design stickers, and craft miniatures and artisan keycaps.

Kim is the Head of Developer Relations and Founding GTM Engineer working on security for agents at Keycard. Kim's career is rooted in Identity, software engineering, and developer experience strategy. She enjoys teaching, mentoring, and learning from... Show more

Maya Shavin is a Lead Software Engineer at Salesforce, where she leads frontend and fullstack initiatives with a focus on performance, scalability, and developer experience. With a background in Computer Science and Business, she brings a balanced technical expertise and product mindset to modern web architecture, emphasizing on accessibility and engineering quality.

Beyond coding, Maya is an international speaker, author of Learning Vue, and the host of the “Build With Maya” podcast, where she shares insights on engineering decisions, system design, and building in the age of AI.

Maya Shavin is a Lead Software Engineer at Salesforce, where she leads frontend and fullstack initiatives with a focus on performance, scalability, and developer experience. With a background in Computer Science and Business, she brings a balanced te... Show more

Blaize is a Microsoft MVP and has been interested in software development since childhood and wrote his first software while still in high school. Since that time, Blaize has had broad experience in all things IT ranging from a network administrator to a software architect and everything in between.

Blaize is a Microsoft MVP and has been interested in software development since childhood and wrote his first software while still in high school. Since that time, Blaize has had broad experience in all things IT ranging from a network administrator ... Show more

Niall McPhillips is an Oracle ACE Director and a member of Symposium 42. He has presented many times at international conferences on different subjects including the use of Oracle technologies including APEX, ORDS, PL/SQL, REST, JSON, Oracle Text, SODA, Multimedia as well as on his experiences with the implementation of large APEX projects.

He has been using Oracle since 1989, has been using Oracle PL/SQL Web technologies since 1995 and Oracle APEX since 2005.

Niall has developed many large, multilingual applications for multinational companies and organisations all over the world. He is a strong believer in PL/SQL and APEX solutions because of their stability, scalability, and rapid development speed.

Niall McPhillips is an Oracle ACE Director and a member of Symposium 42. He has presented many times at international conferences on different subjects including the use of Oracle technologies including APEX, ORDS, PL/SQL, REST, JSON, Oracle Text, S... Show more

With over 15 years in the Java ecosystem, I focus on growing and supporting global communities across the Java and Jakarta EE landscape. My work centers on creating opportunities for learning, collaboration and open source participation, helping individuals develop their skills, advance their careers and play a more active role in the Java community.

I have led educational initiatives, community programs and industry events that bring together developers, open source contributors and technology teams. A regular speaker at Java and open source conferences, I collaborate closely with Java User Groups, Java Champions and ecosystem leaders to amplify community voices and encourage knowledge sharing.

As one of the original team members at Payara, I helped shape the company’s brand and grow its global user community from the ground up. Today, as a Senior Developer Advocate at Azul, I continue to support and strengthen communities around Azul Payara Community, Jakarta EE and OpenJDK, driving education and collaboration while bringing community insight back into the evolution of enterprise Java technologies.

With over 15 years in the Java ecosystem, I focus on growing and supporting global communities across the Java and Jakarta EE landscape. My work centers on creating opportunities for learning, collaboration and open source participation, helping indi... Show more

Evan is a community lead and software engineer with Preset, Inc. and works closely with the Apache Superset community. Evan's interests lie in UI design, data visualization, and frontend engineering. He spends the bulk of his time growing and engaging with the Superset community, striving to improve the product and its processes. When not working on software, he's a dad, a bassist, a beer judge, and an enthusiast of time well-spent in a garage.

Evan is a community lead and software engineer with Preset, Inc. and works closely with the Apache Superset community. Evan's interests lie in UI design, data visualization, and frontend engineering. He spends the bulk of his time growing and engagin... Show more

Savannah Dill is an influential Business Intelligence Analyst, deeply passionate about Microsoft's Power Platform. Her mission is to demystify data analytics and empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions using data insights, blending technical with storytelling.

Outside of her professional life, Savannah dedicates her time to managing "Not a Pickle Blog" and is in the process of launching a podcast named "D20 Dynamics," aiming to broaden her educational outreach and foster deeper community engagement. S

Always warm and human.

Savannah Dill is an influential Business Intelligence Analyst, deeply passionate about Microsoft's Power Platform. Her mission is to demystify data analytics and empower individuals and organizations to make informed decisions using data insights, bl... Show more

Ben Gamble is a engineering leader and self-described technology sommelier — his real skill is pairing the right technologies together, and knowing which cheese goes with them. He's spent his career in open source and data streaming, building the fast, real systems underneath logistics platforms, multiplayer worlds, and real-time data pipelines. The brief never changes: make it fast, make it real, and make it solve the actual problem in front of the user.  Off the clock, he builds video games, collects trading cards, and is reliably outnumbered by his children and his ducks.

Ben Gamble is a engineering leader and self-described technology sommelier — his real skill is pairing the right technologies together, and knowing which cheese goes with them. He's spent his career in open source and data streaming, building the fas... Show more

Ashwin Hariharan is a Developer Advocate at Redis, with over eight years of experience as a full-stack software engineer. He's passionate about making complex ideas simple, helping developers build faster, more reliable systems, and understand the "why" behind the tools they use. His current work focuses on applied AI, and exploring how intelligent, real-time applications can be built using retrieval-augmented generation, vector search, agentic AI, and other emerging technologies.

Outside of tech, he spends time learning piano and basic music production, hitting the gym, and exploring big questions about how the world works. He's also fascinated by how people think and learn, often channeling that curiosity into talks, writing, and conversations about science and critical thinking.

Ashwin Hariharan is a Developer Advocate at Redis, with over eight years of experience as a full-stack software engineer. He's passionate about making complex ideas simple, helping developers build faster, more reliable systems, and understand the "w... Show more

As a Tech Lead and Sitecore MVP (technology), I help teams design and deliver composable, cloud-native solutions. With years of hands-on experience across XP and XM Cloud projects, I focus on building scalable platforms that align tech and business goals. I’m passionate about turning complexity into clarity—and transforming real-world challenges into Sitecore success stories. As an active community member, I share knowledge, connect people, and tell stories that make technology feel human.

As a Tech Lead and Sitecore MVP (technology), I help teams design and deliver composable, cloud-native solutions. With years of hands-on experience across XP and XM Cloud projects, I focus on building scalable platforms that align tech and business g... Show more

Andy Malone MVP, MCT

From winning the prestigious Microsoft Speaker Idol to captivating audiences at Microsoft Ignite, Techmentor Live 360, ESPC, Spiceworld, and beyond - Andy has become a global icon in tech education. With a delivery style that’s equal parts passionate, fun, and razor-sharp, Andy brings complex security concepts to life like no one else. Whether you’ve seen him on stage or on his hit YouTube channel (millions of views across 110+ countries!), you know Andy doesn’t just teach - he inspires. His work spans bestselling fiction, contributions to legendary security books like Tribe of Hackers, and cutting-edge tutorials on Microsoft 365. Subscribe to Andy’s YouTube Channel www.Youtube.com/@Andymalonemvp and visit his website at Andymalone.org

Andy Malone MVP, MCT From winning the prestigious Microsoft Speaker Idol to captivating audiences at Microsoft Ignite, Techmentor Live 360, ESPC, Spiceworld, and beyond - Andy has become a global icon in tech education. With a delivery style that’... Show more

Enthusiastic developer interested in solving problems, communication, learning and with an everlasting love of the web. Host of Kortslutning Podcast and Public Speaker. Trying to make the industry better as a Chief Technology Officer in Variant.

Enthusiastic developer interested in solving problems, communication, learning and with an everlasting love of the web. Host of Kortslutning Podcast and Public Speaker. Trying to make the industry better as a Chief Technology Officer in Variant. Show more

Bertrand Delacrétaz has spent more than 40 years building software that matters, notably for the Swiss Federal Parliament, the Swiss Television (RTS), and for Adobe, where he served as Principal Scientist before retiring in early 2026. A 14-year Apache Software Foundation Board member and open-source champion, he's been a regular conference speaker for over two decades. His motto: technology should serve people, not the other way around.

Bertrand Delacrétaz has spent more than 40 years building software that matters, notably for the Swiss Federal Parliament, the Swiss Television (RTS), and for Adobe, where he served as Principal Scientist before retiring in early 2026. A 14-year Apac... Show more

I'm a passionate tech professional who loves turning cutting-edge ideas into reality. As a Hybrid Cloud Solution Architect with deep expertise in the Microsoft Azure ecosystem, I thrive on designing scalable cloud solutions, building smart AI-driven applications, and streamlining development workflows. My mission? Helping organizations unlock the full potential of the cloud to drive innovation and growth.

But my impact goes beyond code and infrastructure. I'm a huge believer in the idea that “sharing is caring.” That’s why I'm always trying to share my knowledge with the tech community—whether it’s through mentoring up-and-coming developers, hosting hands-on workshops, or speaking at industry events. I'm even on YouTube, sharing tips, tutorials, and insights to help others grow. For me, it’s all about making a meaningful impact on the ecosystem and the lives of those around me.

Want to explore how cloud and AI can transform your business? Or swap ideas and stories? Reach out to me—I'd love to connect!

I'm a passionate tech professional who loves turning cutting-edge ideas into reality. As a Hybrid Cloud Solution Architect with deep expertise in the Microsoft Azure ecosystem, I thrive on designing scalable cloud solutions, building smart AI-driven ... Show more

AI Platform Lead | Data & AI Strategist | Agentic Systems Advocate

With more than 20 years of experience in data, analytics, and digital transformation, I have spent my career helping organizations turn information into measurable business value. My foundation lies in data analytics, data platforms, and enterprise-scale data governance, where I have led teams, platforms, and strategic initiatives in highly regulated environments.

Over the past years, my focus has evolved from building data-driven organizations to enabling AI-driven organizations. Today, I lead the intersection of Data Platforms and AI Platforms within the Swiss health insurance industry, helping shape the foundations for trusted, scalable, and governed AI adoption.

Key Areas of Expertise

- AI Platform Leadership
Leading the evolution from traditional data platforms toward enterprise AI platforms, enabling organizations to operationalize Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation at scale.

- AI Governance & Responsible AI
Designing governance frameworks that balance innovation, security, compliance, and transparency in one of the most regulated industries. My work focuses on ensuring AI solutions remain trustworthy, auditable, and aligned with business and regulatory requirements.

- Agentic Development & AI Engineering
Specialized in designing and implementing enterprise-grade AI agents using the Microsoft Agent Framework, combining modern software engineering practices with AI-native architectures. My focus includes multi-agent systems, orchestration patterns, identity propagation, and secure agent-to-agent collaboration.

- Data & AI Platforms
Deep expertise in Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Data Mesh, and enterprise data platforms. I believe that future AI capabilities can only succeed when built upon strong foundations of data quality, governance, interoperability, and platform thinking.

- Leadership & Transformation
Leading multidisciplinary teams through technological change, fostering innovation cultures, and helping organizations navigate the transition from data-centric to AI-centric operating models.

Vision

I believe the next generation of enterprise systems will be built around intelligent agents that act as active participants within business processes. Data products will evolve into intelligent, interactive products capable of reasoning, collaborating, and creating value autonomously.

My mission is to help organizations build the platforms, governance models, and engineering capabilities required to make this transformation secure, scalable, and sustainable.

AI Platform Lead | Data & AI Strategist | Agentic Systems Advocate With more than 20 years of experience in data, analytics, and digital transformation, I have spent my career helping organizations turn information into measurable business value. ... Show more

Vanji is a Senior Manager - Software Architecture and Engineering at a Fortune 500 company and a committer for the Apache Synapse Project. He spearheads a team of engineers to design and develop an API and Developer Experience. He is also a veteran in the integration space and contributed to many open-source projects in the industry.

Vanji is a Senior Manager - Software Architecture and Engineering at a Fortune 500 company and a committer for the Apache Synapse Project. He spearheads a team of engineers to design and develop an API and Developer Experience. He is also a veteran i... Show more

Mathew Caplan has spent more than 25 years helping organisations navigate cybersecurity challenges and build resilience in an increasingly complex world.

By day, he serves as Director of International Professional Services at Orange Cyberdefense⁠, advising organisations around the world on how to strengthen resilience, manage cyber risk and build trust.

By night, he is a cybersecurity storyteller who turns complex security problems into memorable tales.

Known for blending music, movies and real-world experience, Mathew makes complex cybersecurity concepts understandable, memorable and engaging. His talks explore topics ranging from third-party risk and AI to social engineering, trust, resilience and the weird and wonderful ways humans make security decisions.

A regular speaker at Insomni’hack, SecTor, DefCamp, NDC Security, Cybersec Europe and GrrCON, he believes the best conference presentations should leave audiences informed, entertained and thinking differently long after the conference ends.

Mathew Caplan has spent more than 25 years helping organisations navigate cybersecurity challenges and build resilience in an increasingly complex world. By day, he serves as Director of International Professional Services at Orange Cyberdefense⁠,... Show more

Kristin King is a Cybersecurity and Operational Technology risk management expert specializing in food, agriculture, zoo, and aquarium infrastructure. She is the founder of AnzenSage and co-founder/CEO of AnzenOT, helping industries that grow, feed, and inspire the world protect what matters most. With experience spanning environmental management, gorilla research, and more than 25 years in technology, Kristin brings a grounded, systems-based approach to her work. She also hosts the award-winning Bites & Bytes Podcast and is the author of the forthcoming Wiley book Securing What Feeds Us: Cybersecurity in Food and Agriculture.

Kristin King is a Cybersecurity and Operational Technology risk management expert specializing in food, agriculture, zoo, and aquarium infrastructure. She is the founder of AnzenSage and co-founder/CEO of AnzenOT, helping industries that grow, feed, ... Show more

A computer engineer with over 25 years of experience, my profession has fascinated me since I was a child, providing me with wonderful professional and personal experiences 👩‍💻

I enjoy building teams, sharing with them, growing together, and executing projects with the greatest possible success 👌

Enjoying my full return to the world of technology, security, AI, etc., constantly learning and exploring because knowledge is power, in addition to working as an event moderator, speaker, and writer 🚀

Author of my first book based on personal events with a stowaway named Alzheimer's, in homage to the woman who helped me become who I am today 🧠

Passionate about my life, my profession, and technology 💛

A computer engineer with over 25 years of experience, my profession has fascinated me since I was a child, providing me with wonderful professional and personal experiences 👩‍💻 I enjoy building teams, sharing with them, growing together, and exe... Show more

RAPHAEL KÖLLNER
Compliance Manager

Raphael Koellner combining the law and the information technology in particular the cloud computing. He worked for universities, Microsoft Germany (DX) and Microsoft Partner as consultant.

As CEO for KöllnService GmbH he works for huge international companies to migrate and implementate cloud solutions on a technical and a contract/law way.

Since 2019 Raphael Köllner is Microsoft Regional Director. He is the community guy, MVP for Office Server & Services, Windows 10 Insider MVP, MCT, Microsoft Student Partner Evangelist and become an attorney in Europe. He is the lead of the Office 365 Usergroup Germany, the Office 365 DACH, Leader of the Office 365 conference Germany, the SharePoint Saturday Cologne and one of 30 Windows 10 Top Insiders. Moreover he is member of the TEAMS Elite Team and the organizer of the TeamsCommunityDay. In this connection he leads the biggest Windows 10 Insider Community in Germany.

MVP: https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/mvp/Raphael%20%20Koellner-5000185

Microsoft Regional Director: https://rd.microsoft.com/en-us/raphael-koellner

RAPHAEL KÖLLNER Compliance Manager Raphael Koellner combining the law and the information technology in particular the cloud computing. He worked for universities, Microsoft Germany (DX) and Microsoft Partner as consultant. As CEO for KöllnSe... Show more

5X Microsoft MVP AI | Among first five AI MVP from INDIA |☁️ Cloud Evangelist at Capgemini| 🎙️Global AI Speaker | ✍️ Published Author | 👨‍💻 MS Docs Contributor | Founder of Dear Azure

5X Microsoft MVP AI | Among first five AI MVP from INDIA |☁️ Cloud Evangelist at Capgemini| 🎙️Global AI Speaker | ✍️ Published Author | 👨‍💻 MS Docs Contributor | Founder of Dear Azure Show more