Barkha Herman is a technologist, experienced developer advocate, and the founder of WiTVoices and South Florida Women in Tech. With a deep understanding of technology and a love for fostering inclusive and diverse tech communities, Barkha is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In addition to her work at WiTVoices, she takes great pride in leading South Florida Women in Tech. These organizations are committed to empowering women in technology and creating a supportive environment for their professional growth. Through mentorship programs, networking events, and educational initiatives, they strive to break barriers and foster inclusivity in the tech industry.

Barkha Herman is a technologist, experienced developer advocate, and the founder of WiTVoices and South Florida Women in Tech. With a deep understanding of technology and a love for fostering inclusive and diverse tech communities, Barkha is dedicate... Show more

Victor Dantas has over 25 years of experience in digital transformation. Recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), he is part of a select group of over 3,000 global MVPs known for their deep expertise in Microsoft technologies. Victor is the founder of Eyedeas Inc., where he helps businesses enhance productivity and innovation through Power Platform services.

Victor is also an international speaker, sharing his knowledge on digital transformation with audiences around the world. His work has not only improved numerous organizations but has also inspired many in the tech community. Victor continues to guide businesses through digital transformation, solidifying his reputation as an expert in the field.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZeroToHeroesAcademy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevictordantas

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thevictordantas

Victor Dantas has over 25 years of experience in digital transformation. Recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), he is part of a select group of over 3,000 global MVPs known for their deep expertise in Microsoft technologies. Vict... Show more

Nico Vermeir is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, where he has a strong focus on application innovation and AI.

Being a strong believer in the importance of communities he tries to share knowledge wherever he can, be it on BlueSky, at a user group or conference. He has spoken on many international conferences such as NDC Oslo, NDC Sydney, NDC London, Swetugg, Build Stuff, DotNext.
Nico is a former Microsoft MVP in Developer Technologies, crew member of Techorama BE and NL and crew member of VISUG, Belgium's largest .NET user group.

In his spare time he enjoys brewing (and tasting) beer, playing the guitar, riding his Harley-Davidson and doing Karate.

Nico Vermeir is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, where he has a strong focus on application innovation and AI. Being a strong believer in the importance of communities he tries to share knowledge wherever he can, be it on BlueSky, at a use... Show more

Hi, I’m Achraf Ben Alaya a Cloud and Azure Architect, Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and DevSecOps Engineer.

Today, my work focuses on designing and delivering modern cloud architectures, helping organizations build secure, scalable, and reliable solutions on Microsoft Azure. With a strong background in .NET, Xamarin, full-stack development, DevOps, and security practices, I bring both architectural vision and hands-on technical experience to every project.

As a lifelong learner, I believe that growth comes from continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. Beyond my work as an architect, I’m passionate about helping the tech community better understand Azure, Cloud, DevOps, and DevSecOps through practical content, training, and real-world insights.

My goal is to simplify complex technologies, share what I learn, and inspire others to keep growing in their own cloud and technology journeys.

Whether you’re an architect, developer, DevOps engineer, cloud enthusiast, or someone exploring modern technology, welcome to my space.

Website: achrafbenalaya.com

YouTube: Achraf Ben Alaya

Hi, I’m Achraf Ben Alaya a Cloud and Azure Architect, Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and DevSecOps Engineer. Today, my work focuses on designing and delivering modern cloud architectures, helping organizations build secure, scalable,... Show more

George is a distributed systems expert and a hands-on engineering leader. He is a Director of Engineering at MongoDB, focusing on implementing cloud native technologies at enterprise scale. He is an Ambassador of the Data on Kubernetes community and the author of The Platform Engineering Playbook, by Packt. Most recently, he has been a speaker at global events like Kubecon, OpenSource Summit, Hashiconf, LeadDev, SaaStr, and more.

George is a distributed systems expert and a hands-on engineering leader. He is a Director of Engineering at MongoDB, focusing on implementing cloud native technologies at enterprise scale. He is an Ambassador of the Data on Kubernetes community and ... Show more

Dr. Henry Ruiz is a Research Scientist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Remote Sensing. His work focuses on the development of advanced software systems and computational algorithms for analyzing multi-source remote sensing data, including satellite imagery, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
As a Google Developer Expert in AI and Google Cloud, Dr. Ruiz actively contributes to the AI and open-source communities through research, software development, public speaking, and mentorship. With more than a decade of experience as a researcher, full-stack software developer, and data scientist, he drives innovation at the intersection of AI, geospatial analytics, and scientific computing.
His current research focuses on the emerging capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs), particularly their abilities in reasoning, planning, and agent-based collaboration, to enhance analytical pipelines for remote sensing and geospatial data analysis. By integrating multi-agent systems, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and multimodal AI workflows, he is developing intelligent, scalable frameworks to address complex scientific, agricultural, and environmental challenges.

Dr. Henry Ruiz is a Research Scientist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research, specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Remote Sensing. His work focuses on the development of advanced software systems and computational algorithms for analyzing multi-... Show more

Bülent has worked at Avande for 15 years, where he drives Copilot and Copilot Studio. He is passionate about sharing and entertaining with his knowledge and insights on Copilot and the Power Platform.

Bülent has worked at Avande for 15 years, where he drives Copilot and Copilot Studio. He is passionate about sharing and entertaining with his knowledge and insights on Copilot and the Power Platform. Show more

April Dunnam is a Principal Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and author of The Copilot Compass (Apress, 2026), a practical guide to navigating Copilot and agents in Microsoft 365. Known for her ability to demystify the Power Platform and AI for both developers and makers, she blends deep technical knowledge with a knack for making complex topics approachable and fun.

With a passion for community and sharing knowledge, April runs a popular YouTube channel dedicated to Power Platform, AI, and low-code development. She actively contributes to the Microsoft 365 and Power Platform community through sample contributions, community calls, and mentorship.

April's expertise has been recognized with the Microsoft Technology Excellence Award for her innovative Power Platform solutions. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences, helping businesses and developers harness the full potential of AI and the Power Platform. When she's not advocating for the Power Platform, you can find her performing with her rock band or fueling her caffeine and LEGO building habits.

April Dunnam is a Principal Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and author of The Copilot Compass (Apress, 2026), a practical guide to navigating Copilot and agents in Microsoft 365. Known for her ability to demystify the Power ... Show more

Martin Förtsch is an IT-consultant of TNG Technology Consulting GmbH based in Unterföhring near Munich who studied computer sciences. Work wise his focus areas are Agile Development (mainly) in Java, Search Engine Technologies, Information Retrieval and Databases.

As an Intel Software Innovator and Intel Black Belt Software Developer he is strongly involved in the development of open-source software for gesture control with 3D-cameras like e.g. Intel RealSense and has built an Augmented Reality wearable prototype device with his team based on this technology.

Furthermore, he gives many talks at national and international conferences about Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D-camera technologies, Augmented Reality and Test Driven Development as well. He was awarded with the Oracle JavaOne Rockstar.

Martin Förtsch is an IT-consultant of TNG Technology Consulting GmbH based in Unterföhring near Munich who studied computer sciences. Work wise his focus areas are Agile Development (mainly) in Java, Search Engine Technologies, Information Retrieval ... Show more

Mauro Bennici is active in the R&D area of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Natural Language Generation (NLG). He is a Data Scientist, Professional Scrum Master (PSM), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and .NET foundation member. Member of the SME Focus Group on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence, European Community.

Mauro Bennici is active in the R&D area of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Natural Language Generation (NLG). He is a Data Scientist, Professional Scrum Master (PSM), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and .NET foundation member. Member of the ... Show more

As GCD of Xebia Microsoft Services, Rene enables consultants to help organizations and leadership teams to build an engineering culture that allows them to build, deliver, and operate software in a secure and compliant way. With a focus on both the technical and cultural aspects of a company, Rene helps clients transform their work processes, operating model, and culture to become high-speed, innovative, and productive.

Rene is passionate about learning new technologies and exploring the cultural and people aspects of companies. He believes that by focusing on both technical implementation and cultural development, we can drive our industry forward. He loves sharing his knowledge and insights at conferences and training events.

As a frequently asked speaker at well-known industry events like GitHub Universe, NDC, Techorama, AllDayDevOps, NDC, and Visual Studio Live!, Rene is known for his expertise in Microsoft Azure, DevOps and DevOps Culture. In addition to being a Microsoft MVP since 2012, he is also the founder of the popular community event Global DevOps Bootcamp.

As GCD of Xebia Microsoft Services, Rene enables consultants to help organizations and leadership teams to build an engineering culture that allows them to build, deliver, and operate software in a secure and compliant way. With a focus on both the t... Show more

Rod Trent is an experienced cybersecurity professional and best-selling author with deep expertise in content marketing, community development, and product and program management. During his long career, Rod has built and sold many successful businesses and regularly speaks and keynotes and provides hosting skills for various conferences, webinars, and live podcasts. In his spare time, Rod writes KQL queries, authors fiction and non-fiction books, tells proud stories about his grandkids, brags about his Six Million Dollar Man addiction, and teaches AI to behave.

Rod Trent is an experienced cybersecurity professional and best-selling author with deep expertise in content marketing, community development, and product and program management. During his long career, Rod has built and sold many successful busines... Show more

Daniel is a Microsoft .NET MVP and software consultant at Lean TECHniques. He helps teams deliver high-quality software while adopting modern practices such as effective CI/CD, automated testing, AI usage, and product management. With experience spanning multiple industries, including finance, retail, and agriculture, he has served as a technical coach, agile coach, and tech lead, with a primary background as a software developer. Outside of work, he enjoys playing piano and guitar, swing dancing, and game development.

Daniel is a Microsoft .NET MVP and software consultant at Lean TECHniques. He helps teams deliver high-quality software while adopting modern practices such as effective CI/CD, automated testing, AI usage, and product management. With experience span... Show more

💫🙆🏻‍♀️ Founder @ Stratadom
🎨📊 Data visualization and AI training
🧑‍🏫🤖 IA/ML Instructor @ LinkedIn Learning
🏅💻 Microsoft MVP Data Platform & AI Platform

I trust the power of data and persuasive communication.

Data visualization services: www.uxforpowerbi.com
More info: www.stratadom.com

💫🙆🏻‍♀️ Founder @ Stratadom 🎨📊 Data visualization and AI training 🧑‍🏫🤖 IA/ML Instructor @ LinkedIn Learning 🏅💻 Microsoft MVP Data Platform & AI Platform I trust the power of data and persuasive communication. Data visualization ser... Show more

Sharon is the founder and CEO of Smarter Consulting, a business and technology consulting company. She founded her business to grow and diversify the technology resource pool. She has created a business based on diversity, inclusion, and opportunity.

As a Microsoft RD, MVP, MCT, and Productivity Expert, Sharon's background in Software Development, Business and Systems Analysis, Project Management, and Agile combined with her Developmental Psychology degree and Six Sigma Black Belt blend perfectly with her love of helping and training people to make her a well-rounded leader, consultant, and coach.

Solving both process and technical problems, Sharon has the unique ability to listen and uncover client pain points to develop a plan that will not only build the needed solutions but also drive change, adoption, and education in a way not typically seen from technical consultants.

Being part of the community is extremely important and she is an active leader, participant, and mentor. Sharon speaks professionally globally on subjects such as Microsoft 365, Business Analysis, Leadership, Teamwork, and Women in Technology. She is the founder and lead organizer of the Kansas City M365 User Group, CollabCon, and the Founding President of the Kansas City IIBA chapter.

When she's not working, Sharon watches tv and movies, reads, hangs out with her family, or is traveling somewhere interesting, most likely on a cruise ship out of the country with limited access to communication.

Sharon is the founder and CEO of Smarter Consulting, a business and technology consulting company. She founded her business to grow and diversify the technology resource pool. She has created a business based on diversity, inclusion, and opportunity.... Show more

Claude Community Ambassador. Founder of CS Dojo, a programming education YouTube channel with 1.9M+ subscribers. Also the creator of an open-source coding assistant with ~1200 stars on GitHub, and a Claude Code tips repo with 10,000+ stars.

Claude Community Ambassador. Founder of CS Dojo, a programming education YouTube channel with 1.9M+ subscribers. Also the creator of an open-source coding assistant with ~1200 stars on GitHub, and a Claude Code tips repo with 10,000+ stars. Show more

Peter van den Bos is a Business Intelligence Consultant, speaker, and founder of Dutch BI Geek. For over a decade, he has helped organizations get a better grip on their data – making Power BI not just look good, but also run fast and make sense. With deep expertise in data modeling and DAX, Peter has a talent for explaining complex topics clearly and with energy.

He shares his insights through blogs, vlogs, and training sessions, always with one goal in mind: helping others make better, smarter decisions with data. Expect practical tips, performance tweaks, and well-grounded advice – straight from the field. His sessions are a favorite among controllers, analysts, and BI professionals who want to understand what’s really going on under the hood.

When he’s not training or presenting, you’ll find him tweaking data models just for fun, deliberately slowing down DAX queries (so he can fix them), or stress-testing visualizations like it’s a competitive sport. His Dutch-language YouTube channel is a playground for anyone with a passion for Power BI – or anyone ready to embrace their inner data nerd.

Peter van den Bos is a Business Intelligence Consultant, speaker, and founder of Dutch BI Geek. For over a decade, he has helped organizations get a better grip on their data – making Power BI not just look good, but also run fast and make sense. Wit... Show more

I’m a creative technologist with a decade of experience designing AI and data-driven solutions that are both scalable and customer-centric. At the intersection of cloud-native architecture and GenAI, I specialize in building data products and platforms that thrive in highly regulated industries.

I’m a creative technologist with a decade of experience designing AI and data-driven solutions that are both scalable and customer-centric. At the intersection of cloud-native architecture and GenAI, I specialize in building data products and platfor... Show more

Nikki is an experienced software engineer with a sharp eye for detail and craft. She focuses on building high-performant, resilient products that solve real problems for individuals and organizations. She is also a technical writer and speaker who has authored several articles featured across widely read developer platforms.

A Rive ambassador and package author, Nikki is passionate about community building. She believes deeply in knowledge sharing as a way to spark collaboration and support continuous learning across the tech ecosystem.

Outside tech, Nikki is a thinker with a curious mind and a love for art.

Nikki is an experienced software engineer with a sharp eye for detail and craft. She focuses on building high-performant, resilient products that solve real problems for individuals and organizations. She is also a technical writer and speaker who ha... Show more

Whether it’s operators or observability, agile or accessibility, my expertise shines because I’m passionate about all of it. I’ve been building software for more than a decade and I love sharing experiences via public speaking. I’m currently a Developer Advocate for Altinity where I help create educational content about ClickHouse and OpenTelemetry, and I am a contributor to the OpenTelemetry project.

Whether it’s operators or observability, agile or accessibility, my expertise shines because I’m passionate about all of it. I’ve been building software for more than a decade and I love sharing experiences via public speaking. I’m currently a Develo... Show more

Hafedh is a professional coach, agile coach, and trainer with over 12 years of experience in guiding individuals and organizations toward resilience, adaptability, and improved performance. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, agility, and human sciences, Hafedh integrates these disciplines to offer a comprehensive approach to personal and organizational development. His work focuses on helping teams and leaders navigate change and foster growth in dynamic environments. Throughout his career, Hafedh has been committed to empowering his clients with practical, science-based strategies for achieving long-term success.

Hafedh is a professional coach, agile coach, and trainer with over 12 years of experience in guiding individuals and organizations toward resilience, adaptability, and improved performance. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, agility, and human... Show more

Michel Schildmeijer began his career in the pharmaceutical industry before moving into IT. He worked as a solutions and IT architect across multiple sectors and currently serves as an Enterprise Architect for the Dutch government. Michel regularly speaks at international conferences on cloud-native platforms and delivery engineering. He contributes to open source initiatives around containers and CI/CD and is the author of CI/CD Design Patterns.

Michel Schildmeijer began his career in the pharmaceutical industry before moving into IT. He worked as a solutions and IT architect across multiple sectors and currently serves as an Enterprise Architect for the Dutch government. Michel regularly sp... Show more

Radu Vunvulea is a technology enthusiast working as VP of Cloud for Endava. He has a vast experience in different technologies and industries. Most of his time is spent working with the cloud, helping companies to innovate and finding solutions to their business problems. He enjoys building bridges between people and helping others to grow. He shares his knowledge on his personal blog and at different events where he is invited as a speaker. In his spare time, he drives an IT community and he is also a Microsoft Regional Director and Microsoft Azure MVP.

Radu Vunvulea is a technology enthusiast working as VP of Cloud for Endava. He has a vast experience in different technologies and industries. Most of his time is spent working with the cloud, helping companies to innovate and finding solutions to th... Show more

Tim Spann is the Senior Solution Engineer - Financial Services working with Snowflake, Cortex AI, Apache NiFi, Apache Iceberg, Python, Apache Polaris, Streamlit, Cloud Data, Vectors, Data, Generative AI, ML, Hugging Face, Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Pytorch, big data, the IoT, machine learning, and deep learning. Tim has over a decade of experience with the IoT, big data, distributed computing, streaming technologies, and Java programming. Previously, he was a Principal Developer Advocate at Zilliz/Milvus, Principal Developer Advocate at Cloudera, Developer Advocate at StreamNative, Principal Field Engineer at Cloudera, a Senior Solutions Architect at AirisData and a senior field engineer at Pivotal. He holds a BS and MS in computer science.

https://medium.com/@tspann
https://www.youtube.com/@FLaNK-Stack

Tim Spann is the Senior Solution Engineer - Financial Services working with Snowflake, Cortex AI, Apache NiFi, Apache Iceberg, Python, Apache Polaris, Streamlit, Cloud Data, Vectors, Data, Generative AI, ML, Hugging Face, Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, ... Show more

I started my Collaboration journey by anticipating the release of SharePoint Server 2001 and was updated with an invitation to be an MVP. I tell stories from experience and real-world examples of how we implement M365, PowerPoint and AI Solutions across the Microsoft Landscape.

With a background in Stand-up comedy and 20+ years of experience moving people to collaborative working. My stories have helped people and business identify the value they can bring to their organisations.

Delivering MS Teams & SharePoint Change to companies like Heineken, US Army, Atlas Copco, Ford Motor Co. and Euroclear Bank. I now head up the Infrastructure Services team at Lineas NV Belgium.

I started my Collaboration journey by anticipating the release of SharePoint Server 2001 and was updated with an invitation to be an MVP. I tell stories from experience and real-world examples of how we implement M365, PowerPoint and AI Solutions acr... Show more

25 years in tech, marketing and leadership roles. All about software delivery optimization. 5 years in technical and executive training. Expert in Leadership, DevOps, Lean, Systems Thinking, Continuous Delivery, Cloud Native and Agentic Systems. Coder, speaker, writer. Fixated on improving the ways humans (and agents) collaborate by telling mind-provoking stories.

25 years in tech, marketing and leadership roles. All about software delivery optimization. 5 years in technical and executive training. Expert in Leadership, DevOps, Lean, Systems Thinking, Continuous Delivery, Cloud Native and Agentic Systems. Cod... Show more

Natalie Johnson is a renowned consultant, performance coach, author and business motivational speaker with over three decades of experience transforming cultures worldwide. As the Co-founder and Chief Visionary of Vidl Work, Natalie specializes in optimizing organizational performance by increasing energy, fostering team connections, and developing courageous leaders.

With a background in human performance, including psychology, physiology, and resilience, Natalie is a sought-after speaker and trainer, known for her engaging, high-energy presentations. Her impactful work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, Champion of Healthcare, and Business Leader Woman Extraordinaire.

Natalie's dynamic speaking style and expertise in topics such as intentional culture, leadership development, and effective communication have made her a respected figure in the business world. Her ability to inspire and empower audiences to achieve their full potential has made her a valuable asset to organizations seeking to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

Natalie Johnson is a renowned consultant, performance coach, author and business motivational speaker with over three decades of experience transforming cultures worldwide. As the Co-founder and Chief Visionary of Vidl Work, Natalie specializes in op... Show more

Emily is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate for seamless user experiences- specializing in information architecture and user interface design (UX master certified by Nielsen Norman Group). She thrives on building accessible structures to help people find what they are looking for and better understand their surroundings. Emily is a recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award for 5 consecutive years and a member of the Microsoft 365 Patterns and Practices team.

A results-driven professional, Emily is recognized for her expertise in implementing Microsoft 365 solutions. She consistently delivers projects on time and within budget, with a particular focus on enhancing user satisfaction and usability. Emily aligns projects seamlessly with company culture and overarching goals leading to higher adoption. Emily has developed scalable environments for companies experiencing 10x growth in less than 5 years, managed migrations due to large-scale mergers and acquisitions, and specializes in initial implementations with hesitant new users. She possesses a deep understanding of what business owners need to implement intuitive and scalable solutions.

Emily’s experience as a communications manager, leadership development facilitator, and teacher provides a well-rounded background for interpreting and translating user needs across industries. She embeds effective training programs and compassionate change management strategies in every project, ensuring that all users are actively engaged in the journey. Emily believes a human-centered process will yield the best results.

Emily is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate for seamless user experiences- specializing in information architecture and user interface design (UX master certified by Nielsen Norman Group). She thrives on building accessible structures to help... Show more

Damian Synadinos has many labels. He spent 25 years as a software executive across diverse industries, gaining deep experience in technology, quality, and leadership. Along the way, he’s also been a schoolteacher, a children’s book author, a comedic improviser, and a portrait artist - experiences that sharpened his ability to communicate, connect, and think creatively. In 2016, he founded Ineffable Solutions to become a full-time speaker focused on people and fundamental topics such as communication, empathy, risk, identity, and trust – areas that are timeless and universal. His keynotes, talks, and workshops feature original content that blends conceptual depth, practical insight, and interactive humor, engaging the audiences’ hearts, minds, and funny bones. The result is a thought-provoking, relatable message that creates a lasting impact in any context.

Damian Synadinos has many labels. He spent 25 years as a software executive across diverse industries, gaining deep experience in technology, quality, and leadership. Along the way, he’s also been a schoolteacher, a children’s book author, a comedic ... Show more

Alvin Ashcraft is a veteran developer, author, and community leader with over three decades of industry experience. As a Senior Content Developer at Microsoft, he helps developers build the next generation of intelligent apps using Microsoft Foundry. Previously, he managed the documentation for WinUI, the Windows App SDK, and Windows SDK.

Alvin is a dedicated community builder, serving as a founding organizer, Treasurer, and acting VP for the TechBash conference. He has authored definitive guides for developers, including Learn WinUI 3 and Parallel Programming and Concurrency with C# and .NET.

Alvin Ashcraft is a veteran developer, author, and community leader with over three decades of industry experience. As a Senior Content Developer at Microsoft, he helps developers build the next generation of intelligent apps using Microsoft Foundry.... Show more