Software Engineer, Blogger-Speaker-Streamer, Technology Advocate, Community Lead, AI, and IoT enthusiast making the world a better place through technology, community engagement and knowledge sharing.

Software Engineer, Blogger-Speaker-Streamer, Technology Advocate, Community Lead, AI, and IoT enthusiast making the world a better place through technology, community engagement and knowledge sharing. Show more

Thomas is Smart Automation Lead at Miragon. For over six years he has been helping organizations digitize their processes in a structured way, automate them with purpose, and transform them sustainably.
His experience spans classical process management, methodical training in BPM, and the architecture of complex automation solutions in large organizations. As a Solution Architect he designs scalable process architectures, integrates heterogeneous system landscapes, and ensures that functional and non-functional requirements receive the same attention as governance, compliance, and operations. He regularly shares his practical insights at conferences and industry events.

Thomas is Smart Automation Lead at Miragon. For over six years he has been helping organizations digitize their processes in a structured way, automate them with purpose, and transform them sustainably. His experience spans classical process managem... Show more

I am a software engineer focused on building and scaling production-grade digital systems. My work spans designing, deploying, and maintaining high-performance applications with an emphasis on reliability, scalability, and real-world impact.

I have hands-on experience implementing AI-driven solutions and architecting backend systems that move from prototype to production. I’m particularly interested in building intelligent systems that deliver measurable business value while remaining cost-efficient and resilient.

Beyond my core engineering work, I actively share insights on practical AI implementation, system design, and emerging technologies, contributing to conversations around building production-ready solutions in fast-growing markets.

Outside of technology, I am passionate about physical wellness and discipline, which I believe directly translates into consistency and high-performance in engineering practice.

I am a software engineer focused on building and scaling production-grade digital systems. My work spans designing, deploying, and maintaining high-performance applications with an emphasis on reliability, scalability, and real-world impact. I hav... Show more

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs, tech startups, and tech innovation. She is the lead organizer for STL TechWeek.

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs... Show more

Heather Cook is Principal PM Manager for the Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group within Microsoft’s Collaborative Applications and Platform Group. She leads engagement, evangelism, and growth strategies, building programs and connections between Microsoft and its global community. A former Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 Apps and Services, Heather brings over two decades of experience as a marketing executive for leading tech companies and as Founder of Creative Maven, her impact consultancy. As a consultant, executive event producer, and fractional Chief Marketing Officer, she has delivered thousands of events, campaigns, and experiences across high‑tech and entertainment. Heather is a seasoned keynote speaker, moderator, and host, and an avid writer who publishes Maven Musings on LinkedIn and her cultural Substack, Heddas Mix Tape. Her Microsoft origin story is featured in The Women of Microsoft. Based in Marina del Rey, California, she travels globally to speak on healthy workplaces, power skills, community, and inclusion.

Heather Cook is Principal PM Manager for the Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group within Microsoft’s Collaborative Applications and Platform Group. She leads engagement, evangelism, and growth strategies, building programs and connections between Mi... Show more

You know what’s truly rewarding? Helping someone learn and grow. There’s nothing quite like being part of someone’s journey and knowing you played a role in their progress. As a human being, a mother, a team member, and Head of Design, my mission is to contribute to as many growth stories as possible. Over the past 18+ years, I’ve gained a wealth of experience in design, product, and leadership - and now, it’s time to give back.

You know what’s truly rewarding? Helping someone learn and grow. There’s nothing quite like being part of someone’s journey and knowing you played a role in their progress. As a human being, a mother, a team member, and Head of Design, my mission is ... Show more

Jeffrey A. "jam" McGuire, Partner at Open Strategy Partners GmbH, helps organizations grow at the intersection of open source software, business, and culture. He connects the value of technology to the people who need to know about them through inspiring conversations, keynotes, podcasts, and more.

His approach to technology marketing—sharing the human context of complex technology solutions, and celebrating the expertise and success of their creators—has left its mark in business and FOSS communities over the last 15+ years.

Jeffrey A. "jam" McGuire, Partner at Open Strategy Partners GmbH, helps organizations grow at the intersection of open source software, business, and culture. He connects the value of technology to the people who need to know about them through inspi... Show more

Aura Buison was a CPA back in the Philippines. Her early career was spent working as an auditor at PwC. She later transitioned and became a Consultant/Solutions Architect for Axapta 3.0 until the latest version D365 F&O. She has over 20 years of experience in F&O Finance, and Project Management and Accounting modules.

Currently a Solutions Architect at Kroll.

Aura Buison was a CPA back in the Philippines. Her early career was spent working as an auditor at PwC. She later transitioned and became a Consultant/Solutions Architect for Axapta 3.0 until the latest version D365 F&O. She has over 20 years of expe... Show more

A results-driven and hands-on Analytics Leader with 15+ experience in leading customer,marketing and digital analytics engagements for global brands and Retail Media Networks. Adept at developing innovative analytics & AI/ML solutions that optimize marketing spending, enhance customer experience, and boost revenue, aligning with business objectives. Skilled in building and managing large cross-functional teams of data analysts and data scientists in Data Engineering, BI, and Data Science.

A results-driven and hands-on Analytics Leader with 15+ experience in leading customer,marketing and digital analytics engagements for global brands and Retail Media Networks. Adept at developing innovative analytics & AI/ML solutions that optimize m... Show more

Amine Chafai is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, specializing in data engineering, analytics, and real-time intelligence solutions on the Microsoft data platform. He works closely with enterprise customers and partners to design and implement scalable, end-to-end analytics architectures, with a strong focus on Microsoft Fabric, advanced analytics, and AI-powered data solutions.

With a strong background in big data and analytics, Amine has supported organizations across multiple industries in modernizing their data estates, improving operational efficiency, and enabling data-driven decision-making through robust, production-ready architectures. His experience spans real-time analytics, data ingestion pipelines, and analytics solution optimization using Microsoft technologies.

Amine is an experienced conference speaker and has previously delivered sessions at FabCon Stockholm and FabCon Vienna, where he shared practical insights and real-world implementations of Microsoft Fabric and analytics solutions with the community.

He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from INSEA (Rabat, Morocco) and several Microsoft technical certifications. Amine is passionate about knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and helping organizations unlock the full value of their data through modern analytics platforms.

Amine Chafai is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, specializing in data engineering, analytics, and real-time intelligence solutions on the Microsoft data platform. He works closely with enterprise customers and partners to design and implement... Show more

Linda is a Strategic Advisor specializing in the field of enterprise innovation. She is co-founder and MD at Experience One, a digital agency focusing on innovative technologies for designing and scaling new and better CX for companies like Mercedes-Benz, BOSCH, AOK and FI. She focuses on strategic consulting and positioning of changemakers as well as in the implementation of customer centric change programs to create a sustainable culture of innovation. She benefits from her many years of experience in rollout and architecture consulting for the major digital platforms of large enterprises.

Linda is a Strategic Advisor specializing in the field of enterprise innovation. She is co-founder and MD at Experience One, a digital agency focusing on innovative technologies for designing and scaling new and better CX for companies like Mercedes-... Show more

I am a technology leader driven by the belief that exceptional engineering transforms bold ideas into scalable, high-impact solutions that drive business growth and innovation. Holding a BSc in Computer Science, complemented by multiple professional certifications in engineering leadership, Agile methodologies (including Scrum Master and Product Owner), and modern software practices, I bring a rare blend of deep technical expertise, strategic vision, and proven ability to build world-class engineering organizations.

My journey began with an early passion for coding in Java during high school, nurtured by my parents’ foresight in enrolling me in computer classes. What started as teaching programming basics to classmates evolved into a career focused on building high-performing, collaborative engineering teams that deliver transformative digital products.

I began at Voyatek Group as an intern and progressed through increasing levels of responsibility to Head of Engineering, where I honed my ability to align technology execution with business outcomes. Today, as Global Head of Engineering at Gopaddi, I lead a global engineering organization responsible for architecting and delivering innovative, user-centric platforms that power seamless travel, hospitality and lifestyle experiences and operational excellence across international markets.

I am passionate about fostering cultures of excellence, agility, and continuous innovation. By combining strategic leadership with hands-on technical insight, I empower cross-functional teams to solve complex challenges, accelerate product delivery, and create lasting value for customers and stakeholders. My approach centers on scalable system architecture, robust engineering practices, and agile frameworks that enable speed without sacrificing quality.

Beyond building products, I am deeply committed to mentorship, knowledge sharing, and developing the next generation of engineering talent. My mission remains clear: to harness technology as a strategic lever for sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and meaningful digital transformation on a global scale

I am a technology leader driven by the belief that exceptional engineering transforms bold ideas into scalable, high-impact solutions that drive business growth and innovation. Holding a BSc in Computer Science, complemented by multiple professional ... Show more

Laura is a Microsoft Consultant at Bechtle. She is actively involved as a Community Lead at the Microsoft Cloud & AI Meetup Thuringia and as a speaker, she has appeared at Experts Live Germany, and has been a guest on various podcasts, meetups, and YouTube casts.
Laura is also the author of the book “Der Weg in die Cloud - Erfolgreich migrieren nach Microsoft 365.”

Laura is a Microsoft Consultant at Bechtle. She is actively involved as a Community Lead at the Microsoft Cloud & AI Meetup Thuringia and as a speaker, she has appeared at Experts Live Germany, and has been a guest on various podcasts, meetups, and Y... Show more

Sarah Kundla is a facilitator, speaker, and Gallup Certified Coach focused on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and helping teams work better together.

Her approach is shaped by research, experience, and a genuine curiosity about how communication styles, cultural norms, and human dynamics influence the way people lead, relate, and grow in today’s modern landscape. Having lived and worked across different cultures around the world, Sarah brings a global perspective to every room she walks into.

Sarah has delivered training for 1,800+ professionals across the U.S. and internationally, and spoken at conferences including Worthington Steel's LEARN & LEAD Conferences (2020, 2023, 2025), WitCon (2025), and CodeMash (2026). Her sessions blend research-backed frameworks with real-world scenarios, so participants leave with tools and skills they can apply right away.

To view her recent speaking activity, visit Sarah’s LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-kundla/.
Learn more about what Sarah offers through her company at www.questinginsight.com.

Sarah Kundla is a facilitator, speaker, and Gallup Certified Coach focused on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and helping teams work better together. Her approach is shaped by research, experience, and a genuine curiosity about how... Show more

I’m a technical writer turned software developer. I’ve always had a knack for technical things so at some point I got interested in learning how to code. My first choice was Python. The knowledge of Python opened up new career possibilities for me and sped up the process of picking up other languages. After 8 years of writing technical documentation I became a documentation tools developer. I’m currently working at Guidewire Software where I take care of the tools and infrastructure that enables writers to deliver high quality docs and clients to get information they need when they need it. In my free time, I’m the producer and a co-host of a podcast about technical aspects of delivering software documentation - “Tech Writer codes” (in Polish). I’m also a co-admin of techwriter.pl, the only Polish site about technical communication. A few years ago I wrote a short guide for tech writers who want to start coding in Python - “Tech Writer codes in Python” (in Polish). Occassionally, I publish articles related to my work, for example: https://techwriterkoduje.pl/git-team

# Speaking experience
- CAKE Conf 2025, Kraków, Poland: "Git for docs: basics, not only for beginners" (workshop)
- Content Bytes meetup 2025, Kraków, Poland: "Shocking discovery: self-organized distributed teams actually exist!"
-Soap! Conference 2022, Kraków, Poland: “Is tech writing in Central and Eastern Europe growing? This talk contains only facts”
- TC World Conference 2020, online: “Semantic testing in DITA“
- Soap! Conference 2019, Kraków, Poland: “Doing docs like code in the real world – a case study” (recording)
- Lecture for students at Silesian University 2019, Sosnowiec, Poland: “Technical Writer profession”
- Annual Translators Conference 2019, Lublin, Poland: “Technical writer profession”
- MeetContent meetup 2017, Kraków, Poland: “Automate documentation publishing with Jenkins”
- “Career in IT” work fair 2017, Kraków, Poland: “Does a good application need documentation?”

I’m a technical writer turned software developer. I’ve always had a knack for technical things so at some point I got interested in learning how to code. My first choice was Python. The knowledge of Python opened up new career possibilities for me an... Show more

Chad Hester has more than 20 years of development experience and 10 years focused primarily on accessibility. He combines his experience with leadership of people, processes and projects together to provide you with expertise in implementing strategies to be a better developer for your company.

Chad Hester has more than 20 years of development experience and 10 years focused primarily on accessibility. He combines his experience with leadership of people, processes and projects together to provide you with expertise in implementing strategi... Show more

An active contributor to open source, content creator on Medium and YouTube, focusing on practical, scalable solutions in cloud-native environments. DevOps and Platform Engineering practitioner and advocate.

An active contributor to open source, content creator on Medium and YouTube, focusing on practical, scalable solutions in cloud-native environments. DevOps and Platform Engineering practitioner and advocate. Show more

Joel brings 25 years of global experience, supporting Fortune 500 companies and thousands of participants. He specializes in empowering leaders and teams with effective communication skills, fostering more impactful collaboration and motivation. His expertise lies in enabling individuals to authentically influence others towards deeper business relationships, fostering trust and enhancing engagement.

Joel thrives to lead engaging and interactive sessions based on 'Learn, Laugh, and Do!'

When you communicate effectively, people feel heard, seen, and understood- mutual respect is created, and you start connecting and unlocking the motivators for you and the other.

Drawing from his background as a former professional actor and improviser- Joel brings unique tips and activities for everyone to practice and implement.

You can listen to or watch Joel as the host of "The Great Canadian Leadership" and "This Feels Right" Podcasts and YouTube – interviewing leaders and experts on influencing and communications skills."

Joel brings 25 years of global experience, supporting Fortune 500 companies and thousands of participants. He specializes in empowering leaders and teams with effective communication skills, fostering more impactful collaboration and motivation. His ... Show more

I am a senior backend and platform engineer at eBay with over 14 years of experience building and modernizing enterprise systems. I work on large scale billing and financial platforms that demand high reliability, strong security, and precise data correctness. I spend most of my time modernizing legacy architectures, designing cloud ready services, and building APIs and pipelines that hold up under heavy traffic and real world failure modes.

Lately, I have been integrating AI into engineering workflows, focusing on diagnostics, observability, testing, and automation that help teams move faster without sacrificing safety.

On stage, I share field tested patterns and mistakes to avoid, from migrations and cutovers to incident driven design and operational readiness. My goal is to give engineers practical takeaways they can apply immediately when building and modernizing systems at scale.

I am a senior backend and platform engineer at eBay with over 14 years of experience building and modernizing enterprise systems. I work on large scale billing and financial platforms that demand high reliability, strong security, and precise data co... Show more

With nearly 18 years in the software industry, Luisa has evolved from being passionate about writing great code to focusing on building and nurturing high-performing teams. A Certified Encouragement Consultant and Empowering People in the Workplace Facilitator, she brings together deep technical expertise and a talent for fostering human-centered growth.

Since 2019, Luisa has delivered engaging talks and hands-on workshops that inspire teams and individuals to achieve their full potential. Her unique approach empowers organizations to drive both technological innovation and positive, sustainable change through collaboration and impactful leadership.

With nearly 18 years in the software industry, Luisa has evolved from being passionate about writing great code to focusing on building and nurturing high-performing teams. A Certified Encouragement Consultant and Empowering People in the Workplace F... 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 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 Payara Community Edition, 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

Ynte Jan Kuindersma is a Senior Technology Advisor and Developer at BIRD Automation.
He is a longtime freelance developer of database-driven applications in the Microsoft Universe. Since 2015 he uses Power BI and the surrounding Power Platfom tools.
His goal is not just programming, but making people and organizations more efficient in their daily work by means of some clever code and ETL.
And he is very persistent in finding the best way to find a solution for a given problem.
Besides programming he is an enthusiastic teacher and speaker at community developer conferences.
Dived into Fabric from the beginning and earned a DP 600 Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate certificate in Juni 2024.

Ynte Jan Kuindersma is a Senior Technology Advisor and Developer at BIRD Automation. He is a longtime freelance developer of database-driven applications in the Microsoft Universe. Since 2015 he uses Power BI and the surrounding Power Platfom tools.... Show more

Surya Rao Rayarao is a distinguished thought leader at the forefront of artificial intelligence and data modernization. With deep expertise in machine learning applications and enterprise transformation, he specializes in helping organizations navigate the complex landscape of digital evolution.

His work particularly focuses on the financial and insurance sectors, where he has pioneered innovative approaches to hyperautomation, anomaly detection, and intelligent data processing. Through his speaking engagements, Surya shares practical insights on implementing AI solutions that drive real business value.

Known for his "enlightening" and "inspiring" presentations, Surya combines technical depth with accessible communication, making complex AI concepts understandable for diverse audiences from technical teams to executive leadership.

Surya Rao Rayarao is a distinguished thought leader at the forefront of artificial intelligence and data modernization. With deep expertise in machine learning applications and enterprise transformation, he specializes in helping organizations naviga... Show more

Andrea Griffiths is a Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub. She hosts The GitHub Podcast, Open Source Friday, and GitHub Checkout, and writes Main Branch, a weekly newsletter on developer fundamentals. She learned to code through freeCodeCamp in 2016 while raising her kids, made a career pivot in her mid-30s, and has been building developer tools ever since. Based on Florida's west coast, she creates content in English and Spanish and has deep ties to the Latin American developer community.

Andrea Griffiths is a Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub. She hosts The GitHub Podcast, Open Source Friday, and GitHub Checkout, and writes Main Branch, a weekly newsletter on developer fundamentals. She learned to code through freeCodeCamp in 2016 ... Show more

Ronith Sharmila is a Marketing Projects Specialist at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he manages campus-wide digital and brand initiatives. With experience spanning higher ed and industry, he combines project management, analytics, and AI-informed experimentation to improve email and web performance for Gen Z audiences. Ronith previously managed marketing projects at NC State and Compass Group and holds an MBA.

Ronith Sharmila is a Marketing Projects Specialist at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he manages campus-wide digital and brand initiatives. With experience spanning higher ed and industry, he combines project management, analytics, and ... Show more

Data Analyst with experience in People Analytics, BI, and Data Engineering. Passionate about transforming data into impactful decisions using tools like Power BI, SQL, Python, and Azure. Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Data Science (UNIR) and part of the organizing team at Power Platform Madrid. I gave my first technical talk at W4TT, co-presenting on AI in Power Query. Committed to continuous learning and sharing knowledge within the tech community.

Data Analyst with experience in People Analytics, BI, and Data Engineering. Passionate about transforming data into impactful decisions using tools like Power BI, SQL, Python, and Azure. Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Data Science (UNIR) a... Show more

Adam Gordon Bell is a Community Engineer at Pulumi and creator of the CoRecursive podcast, with several million downloads and interviews with the creators of SQLite, Chef, and PowerShell. He has over 20 years of experience as a software engineer and has written widely-read technical guides on AWK, jq, Bazel, and containers. Previously, he built cloud security products at Tenable and led developer relations at Earthly.

Adam Gordon Bell is a Community Engineer at Pulumi and creator of the CoRecursive podcast, with several million downloads and interviews with the creators of SQLite, Chef, and PowerShell. He has over 20 years of experience as a software engineer and ... Show more

I’m a Software Engineer, Google Developer Expert (GDE), and community builder based in Mexico. My work centers around JavaScript, web development, and emerging AI tooling. I use AI as a tool in my engineering workflow, helping me prototype rapidly and take my ideas further. I'm highly interested in the future of interaction design and building interfaces where users and agents work side-by-side. Outside of work, I actively organize tech communities in Mexico. Whether I'm running a meetup, hosting a workshop, or speaking at a conference, my goal is to create approachable spaces for anybody to learn and share knowledge

I’m a Software Engineer, Google Developer Expert (GDE), and community builder based in Mexico. My work centers around JavaScript, web development, and emerging AI tooling. I use AI as a tool in my engineering workflow, helping me prototype rapidly an... Show more

Domagoj Marić graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, where he initially specialized in the field of information security, while towards the end of his studies, he shifted more deeply into the field of data science with a focus on web content extraction (web scraping/crawling). He began his business career at Megatrend poslovna rješenja, where he worked on the development of Python applications and data solutions with a focus on creating virtual assistants and later as the head of the data science department. That role continued through his career at Comping. Today, he works at Pontis Technology as the AI customer delivery manager, leading the delivery of projects in the area of natural language processing, computer vision, predictive analytics and generative AI. In addition to responsibilities in the data science domain, he also has experience and works as a lecturer in the field of programming.

Domagoj Marić graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, where he initially specialized in the field of information security, while towards the end of his studies, he shifted more deeply into the field of data scien... Show more

Hi I’m Chris, the Principal Technologist at Transform Labs (formerly AWH) and the CTO of IncludeHealth, a healthcare start-up changing the face of Virtual Physical Therapy.

When I speak about technology, I like to keep it accurate and relatable. I share stories and insights that matter to tech enthusiasts and anyone interested in how technology intersects with our daily lives and work. It’s about making sense of tech and making it understandable.

Hi I’m Chris, the Principal Technologist at Transform Labs (formerly AWH) and the CTO of IncludeHealth, a healthcare start-up changing the face of Virtual Physical Therapy. When I speak about technology, I like to keep it accurate and relatable. I... Show more