I speak to leaders and teams navigating fragmented data, manual processes, and growing organizational complexity who want systems they can rely on, not workarounds.

With over 15 years of experience leading teams and operations, including more than 6 years owning enterprise data architecture, analytics platforms, and automation, I work closely with executive leadership to align data decisions with real business priorities. My focus is not on tools for their own sake, but on clarity, trust, and long term ownership.

I am known for simplifying complex environments, reducing unnecessary tools, and establishing clear standards for data quality and integration so reporting holds up in real world use. Most recently, I led enterprise automation and integration initiatives that generated over $274K in annualized recurring value within a single quarter, while strengthening data trust across the organization.

Audiences value my ability to translate technical complexity into practical, executive relevant guidance that resonates with both leadership and practitioners. My sessions are grounded in real enterprise experience and focus on decision confidence, adoption, and sustainable operating models.

In addition to my full time role, I lead A River of Data, advising founders and finance leaders on designing practical, well governed BI and automation systems that support sustainable growth.

I work best with organizations that care about building technology that works for people, not just systems.

Topics I Speak On

• Making data meaningful for people, not just systems
• Reducing tool sprawl and restoring trust in reporting
• Designing data and automation systems that scale with the business
• From dashboards to decisions: enabling leadership confidence
• Data governance that supports adoption, not friction
• Change management for analytics and automation initiatives
• Bridging the gap between technical teams and executive leadership

Attendees Leave With

• A clear framework for evaluating data and reporting environments
• Practical guidance for reducing manual work and system fragmentation
• A stronger understanding of how trust in data is built and sustained
• Insight into aligning data and automation initiatives with business priorities
• Language and structure for leading change, not just implementing tools

I speak to leaders and teams navigating fragmented data, manual processes, and growing organizational complexity who want systems they can rely on, not workarounds. With over 15 years of experience leading teams and operations, including more than... Show more

Erik Darling started using SQL Server after a dispute with Excel over a vlookup.

He enjoys public arguments with the optimizer, and wine photography.

Erik Darling started using SQL Server after a dispute with Excel over a vlookup. He enjoys public arguments with the optimizer, and wine photography. Show more

Stefan is co-author of Domain Storytelling: A Collaborative, Visual, and Agile Way to Build Domain-Driven Software (Addison-Wesley). He studied Software Engineering and has a PhD in computer science. Since 2005, Stefan has worked for WPS – Workplace Solutions, helping teams develop software that does the right job the right way.

Stefan is co-author of Domain Storytelling: A Collaborative, Visual, and Agile Way to Build Domain-Driven Software (Addison-Wesley). He studied Software Engineering and has a PhD in computer science. Since 2005, Stefan has worked for WPS – Workplace ... Show more

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded for her approach to business, partnering with clients to find unique strategies that ensure their goals are met. Christina builds connections through her keynote addresses, training workshops, and technological education. She uses these tools to help individuals and businesses cultivate value in everyday media. Christina has delivered talks on all 7 continents, presenting training workshops for the Microsoft MVP community, Las Vegas Raiders, Yale School of Public Health, international corporations, and conferences worldwide. Christina uses her charisma and expertise to inspire others by mentoring women in business like herself. She also has sat on state and local boards supporting women in tech, entrepreneurship, mental health, and children with learning disabilities.

She is the recipient of the Las Vegas Women in Tech Community Service Award, the Distinguished Woman of the Year Award in STEM. Learn more at: Luckygirliegirl.com.

Christina Aldan is a brand strategy consultant, keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor. She offers businesses brand consulting and creative content for everyday media. With over 18 years of experience in the digital realm, Christina is highly regarded ... Show more

Edyta’s story with Microsoft technology has started in 2013. She helps organizations with digital transformation by developing change management strategies, guiding companies through the entire process, and training end-users on the practical use of Microsoft 365. She believes technology should be helpful to all users, regardless of their role in the organization or their technical abilities. Only then we can talk about the success of digitization. In addition to that Edyta is an active Microsoft Community Enthusiast. Since 2015 she organizes SharePoint Saturday Warsaw, now CollabDays Poland, co-hosts ACM Teams Europe, and speaks at Microsoft Community conferences.
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional M365 Apps & Services since 2019.

In her spare time, you can meet her reading a book, running, caring for friends, or with a suitcase at the airport. An empathetic extrovert by nature. 😉

Edyta’s story with Microsoft technology has started in 2013. She helps organizations with digital transformation by developing change management strategies, guiding companies through the entire process, and training end-users on the practical use of ... Show more

With over 20 years of hands-on experience in programming, Pablo is a well-versed professional who has successfully transitioned into leadership roles, currently serving as an Engineering Manager in Viaplay Group. He is dedicated to fostering collaborative environments and helping individuals discover more effective ways of working together, navigating challenges such as remote team collaboration and conflict resolution. In his talks, Pablo offers a fusion of technical knowledge and leadership insights, based on years of practical experience, exploring the intersection of technology, management, and the human diversity that drives successful teams.

With over 20 years of hands-on experience in programming, Pablo is a well-versed professional who has successfully transitioned into leadership roles, currently serving as an Engineering Manager in Viaplay Group. He is dedicated to fostering collabor... Show more

Engineer with over a decade of Frontend development experience, passionate about automation, accessibility, and scaling complex systems.

Working at Zattoo as a Principal Engineer, focusing on delivering frontend solutions across Web, React, and React Native for streaming media content.

Organizer of the React Berlin Meetup, actively contributing to the development community.

Engineer with over a decade of Frontend development experience, passionate about automation, accessibility, and scaling complex systems. Working at Zattoo as a Principal Engineer, focusing on delivering frontend solutions across Web, React, and Re... Show more

Dr. Kylie Bragdon, Ed.D., is a transformational leadership expert and workforce strategist committed to solving one of today’s most pressing challenges: 75% of businesses are struggling to find employees with the right skills. Drawing on her background as an educator and executive leader, Dr. Bragdon empowers organizations to close the talent gap by building innovative, future-ready training solutions.

She is widely recognized for her ability to translate complex challenges into actionable strategies, blending real-world leadership experience with cutting-edge approaches to workforce development. With deep expertise in upskilling, organizational change, and talent pipeline design, she equips leaders with the tools to foster resilience, cultivate high-performing teams, and drive sustainable growth.

Dr. Bragdon’s work is rooted in the belief that the future of work will be built, not found. Her mission is to change the world with kindness by helping organizations create environments where people and performance thrive together.

Dr. Kylie Bragdon, Ed.D., is a transformational leadership expert and workforce strategist committed to solving one of today’s most pressing challenges: 75% of businesses are struggling to find employees with the right skills. Drawing on her backgr... Show more

Full time power platform enthusiast @Microsoft

Full time power platform enthusiast @Microsoft Show more

❤️Passionate change and adoption driver within Microsoft 365. Microsoft MVP in M365 Copilot and Teams.
My aim is to help people work smarter within the digital workplace in order to free up time and brain power.
I believe that by working smarter, we do not only improve our professional lives but also create more space for creativity, strategic thinking and time for being a good and present colleague.

❓ How we get there? By learning about the benifits of the whole Microsoft 365-platform and how all the apps are connected added with a dash the magical wand called M365 Copilot.

❤️Passionate change and adoption driver within Microsoft 365. Microsoft MVP in M365 Copilot and Teams. My aim is to help people work smarter within the digital workplace in order to free up time and brain power. I believe that by working smarter, w... Show more

Boomie is a senior software engineering leader with over 20 years of experience building and scaling engineering teams and platforms. She is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and helping others grow into their fullest potential, while keeping things fun and practical.

Boomie has shaped and led engineering teams at companies including Accenture, NPR, and Capital One. She currently oversees the engineering organization at a fast-moving technology company. Beyond her day job, Boomie is an active speaker, mentor, and board trustee for organizations that advance leadership development and STEM education.

Her talks bring an energetic, grounded perspective to topics like engineering leadership, team strategy, developer enablement, and building healthy technical cultures.

Recent talks and speaking topics are listed below.

Boomie is available for conferences, webinars, and corporate training sessions focused on engineering leadership, technical strategy, and authentic leadership development.

Boomie is a senior software engineering leader with over 20 years of experience building and scaling engineering teams and platforms. She is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and helping others grow into their fullest pot... Show more

Lokesh Karanam is a Staff Software Engineer specializing in Machine Learning Systems for Regulated Cloud Data Platforms and Generative AI Operations, backed by over five years of industry experience. He currently works at RR Donnelley (Austin, TX) and previously held a role as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon Web Services.
His educational background includes an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Missouri.
Lokesh's career highlights feature significant original technical contributions, such as developing a large-scale, privacy-compliance deletion platform and implementing solutions that drove substantial cloud cost savings and platform efficiencies. He also led an AI marketing platform project with a pending patent. His scholarly contributions include multiple peer-reviewed publications in prestigious conferences like IEEE DeSE and AMIA, covering advanced topics from Intrusion Detection using deep learning to Continuous Anticipation of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the ICU. Lokesh's contributions have earned him recognition, including the Diamond Award and service as a Session Chair at the IEOM conference.

Lokesh Karanam is a Staff Software Engineer specializing in Machine Learning Systems for Regulated Cloud Data Platforms and Generative AI Operations, backed by over five years of industry experience. He currently works at RR Donnelley (Austin, TX) an... Show more

Yulia Kosarenko is the author of the books "Business Analyst: A Profession and a Mindset" and "Foundations of Business Analytics", speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer.
As the owner of Why Change Consulting Inc., she helps her clients grow mature enterprise architecture and business analysis practices, and plan and execute digital transformation programs.
As the Professor of Business Analytics at Humber College, she encourages her students to look for ways to solve business problems using analytics.
As a business analysis mentor, she leads the BA Mindset Mentorship Circle and encourages business analysts to learn, adapt, and thrive.
Yulia is active in the business analysis, architecture, and analytics communities, publishing articles and videos, joining podcasts, and advocating for applying common sense and critical thinking in all business endeavours.

Yulia Kosarenko is the author of the books "Business Analyst: A Profession and a Mindset" and "Foundations of Business Analytics", speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer. As the owner of Why Change Consulting Inc., she helps her clients grow ma... Show more

I'm Francesco Fullone, a business designer, consultant, and mentor and investor in technology companies focusing on sustainability or social impact.

I help companies (in any stage) to better define their business propositions to create options to validate them, and I advise them to organize themselves better to reach their goals.

I founded, and I contribute to Apropos, a company that helps communities, companies, and local groups organize events and workshops. If you attended an international conference about web technologies in Italy, you met me as a speaker, organizer, or attendee.

I founded companies such as Digitiamo to create NLP and AI-related products, Carma, to work on the next food technologies. In the past, Ideato, where I contributed to its growth for more than ten years, creating an innovative and quality reference for the development agencies in Italy.

I'm the president of the GrUSP, a no-profit association that encourages best practices in web development since 2002.

I'm Francesco Fullone, a business designer, consultant, and mentor and investor in technology companies focusing on sustainability or social impact. I help companies (in any stage) to better define their business propositions to create options to ... Show more

Changing the world, one solution at a time!

Passionate about automation and building a business to support clients on their digitisation/optimisation journeys while working with the youth in preparation for their entry into industry.

Enjoys dabbling in software development, automation, IOT, advanced analytics, data engineering and business intelligence while currently working towards completing a PhD that focuses on automation. Currently focusing on learning how businesses are formed and how the longevity of business functions are maintained.

Competencies include a high level of computer literacy, programming in various languages with newly acquired sales and business acumen.

Changing the world, one solution at a time! Passionate about automation and building a business to support clients on their digitisation/optimisation journeys while working with the youth in preparation for their entry into industry. Enjoys da... Show more

Sammie Walker Herrera runs a public speaking coaching consultancy called Speak Y'all (yes, she's from Texas), leveraging 10+ years coaching leaders on their impromptu speaking, interviewing, and leadership skills. Her clients are senior leaders at companies like Amazon, IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft. She focuses on creating a fun, non-judgmental space for folks to hone their speaking strengths. Sammie has completed Certified ADHD Coach training through the ADD/ADHD Coach Academy and is passionate about supporting neurodivergent professionals. Sammie earned two Bachelor's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master's of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University. Sammie is also a Latin dance instructor and performs improv comedy.

Sammie Walker Herrera runs a public speaking coaching consultancy called Speak Y'all (yes, she's from Texas), leveraging 10+ years coaching leaders on their impromptu speaking, interviewing, and leadership skills. Her clients are senior leaders at co... Show more

I’m a seasoned consultant with 20+ years of experience in large-scale software development, with a strong foundation in data engineering, observability, and search — including deep expertise in Elasticsearch and OpenSearch, specifically in the context of AI and search-driven applications.

I’m a seasoned consultant with 20+ years of experience in large-scale software development, with a strong foundation in data engineering, observability, and search — including deep expertise in Elasticsearch and OpenSearch, specifically in the contex... Show more

I am an active Kubernetes contributor. I recently authored a SIG Spotlight Blog on SIG CLI, provided valuable support during community elections (Writing emails and Tweets), currently shadowed under the social media coordinator of SIG_Contibex-comms, and made contributions to improve documentation.

I am an active Kubernetes contributor. I recently authored a SIG Spotlight Blog on SIG CLI, provided valuable support during community elections (Writing emails and Tweets), currently shadowed under the social media coordinator of SIG_Contibex-comms,... Show more

Marie Wiese is a marketing strategist and founder of Marketing Copilot®. She is a Microsoft MVP in AI and host of the international podcast, Women Talk Tech and the podcast The Hot Seat for Microsoft Partners. Marie has worked in the technology sector for 35 years and focuses on marketing automation/CRM and the digital transformation of the sales and marketing functions. Marie helps Microsoft partners, ISVs and customers build demand generation programs for their organizations.

Marie Wiese is a marketing strategist and founder of Marketing Copilot®. She is a Microsoft MVP in AI and host of the international podcast, Women Talk Tech and the podcast The Hot Seat for Microsoft Partners. Marie has worked in the technology secto... Show more

Scott is an artist, engineer & dad, collaborating on a different kind of world. Into collective art, activism, therapy & open source nerdy stuff. Scott is a Cloud Native Ambassador, speaker, organizer of CNCF community events including the New York Kubernetes Meetup and New York KCD, and international conferences including GitOpsCon. He enjoys helping develop Free and Open Source Software that anyone can use, including co-maintaining CNCF projects Helm, Flux and OpenGitOps.

Scott is an artist, engineer & dad, collaborating on a different kind of world. Into collective art, activism, therapy & open source nerdy stuff. Scott is a Cloud Native Ambassador, speaker, organizer of CNCF community events including the New York K... Show more

Jason Rivera is a Collaboration Architect in the Philadelphia area and author of Building Solutions with the Microsoft Power Platform. Jason is the organizer of M365 Philly and the Tri-State Office 365 User Group (https://www.meetup.com/tsspug/) which both typically meet in Malvern, PA. Jason has been a long time blogger (https://sharepointlessons.wordpress.com/), writing about various topics in SharePoint, Power Platform, AI, and the Microsoft Cloud.

Jason Rivera is a Collaboration Architect in the Philadelphia area and author of Building Solutions with the Microsoft Power Platform. Jason is the organizer of M365 Philly and the Tri-State Office 365 User Group (https://www.meetup.com/tsspug/) whi... Show more

Gunnard began in software development during the Dot Com boom of the 2000s in Atlanta, Ga. The rapidly changing landscape of technology and needs created an environment full of learning opportunities -- beginning with Perl and quickly moving to PHP. He specializes in the modernization of legacy applications, APIs and creating modern development team solutions.

Gunnard Believes in FOSS and has contributed to projects such as Wordpress, The Devil Box, and DischordPHP. As an author, Gunnard has written multiple articles for php[Architect] magazine as well as 2 books from APRESS Publishing on PHP 8. Gunnard has also been a notable speaker at multiple conferences such as MadisonPHP, longhornPHP, Techlahoma and Chaos Carnaval.

You may find him at gunnard.org, @gunnard@phpc.social on Mastoodn, @gunnard on twitter or his pseudonym @ansivideos on youtube. Gunnard currently lives in the north Georgia mountains with his wife, two boys, 12 chickens and 3 goats.

Gunnard began in software development during the Dot Com boom of the 2000s in Atlanta, Ga. The rapidly changing landscape of technology and needs created an environment full of learning opportunities -- beginning with Perl and quickly moving to PHP. ... Show more

Joel is an experienced CTO Coach who supports talented start-up and scale-up CTOs to successfully grow in their roles as their team and company evolves.

He has over 20 years experience leading software development teams including roles as CTO and COO at a range of start-ups and scale-ups.

Joel is an experienced CTO Coach who supports talented start-up and scale-up CTOs to successfully grow in their roles as their team and company evolves. He has over 20 years experience leading software development teams including roles as CTO and ... Show more

Gerrit Tamboer, Chief Evangelist at TrueFullstaq, CNCF Ambassador and co-founder of (formerly) Fullstaq, brings a strong technical background to his leadership role. With extensive experience in Kubernetes implementations, Gerrit has transitioned from hands-on technical work to strategic oversight, now focusing on spreadsheets and presentations. In addition to his duties as Chief Evangelist, he also serves as a business consultant, guiding clients as they evolve from managing technical logistics to developing strategic initiatives.

Gerrit Tamboer, Chief Evangelist at TrueFullstaq, CNCF Ambassador and co-founder of (formerly) Fullstaq, brings a strong technical background to his leadership role. With extensive experience in Kubernetes implementations, Gerrit has transitioned fro... Show more

Laura is a Developer Advocate at Umbraco and based in the UK. She is an Umbraco MVP, international speaker, writer, and open-source contributor, and loves being part of the dynamic Umbraco community. When she's not being challenged by code, she can usually be found hanging upside-down at the nearest circus school!

Laura is a Developer Advocate at Umbraco and based in the UK. She is an Umbraco MVP, international speaker, writer, and open-source contributor, and loves being part of the dynamic Umbraco community. When she's not being challenged by code, she can u... Show more

As a passionate technology enthusiast with a focus on security, I specialize in Kubernetes and DevSecOps practices to create secure, scalable platforms. With a strong background in integrating security into cloud-native infrastructure, I help teams innovate safely. My goal is to inspire secure development practices and leverage Kubernetes to drive cutting-edge solutions in the tech world.

As a passionate technology enthusiast with a focus on security, I specialize in Kubernetes and DevSecOps practices to create secure, scalable platforms. With a strong background in integrating security into cloud-native infrastructure, I help teams i... Show more

James has been working in the Cloud and with Kubernetes for several years. He helped build a private cloud at GE Appliances and developed and supported REST APIs in AWS on docker. He helps companies migrate their applications to Kubernetes. James is a Solution Architect with Isovalent at Cisco; James helps companies navigate their adoption of Cilium.

James has been working in the Cloud and with Kubernetes for several years. He helped build a private cloud at GE Appliances and developed and supported REST APIs in AWS on docker. He helps companies migrate their applications to Kubernetes. James is... Show more

Simon Qualmann ist Corporate Learning Coach, Dozent an der Hochschule Diploma (Wirtschaftspsychologie) und Gesellschafter der [lernglust], die Unternehmen bei der Adoption von Microsoft 365 und den Veränderungen im „neuen Normal“ begleitet. Zudem leitet er auch die WissensFensterchen GmbH, die über ihre App strukturierte Lernansätze anbietet. Als digitaler Nomade kennt auch er Chancen und Herausforderungen eines ortsunabhängigen und global vernetzten Lifestyles.

Simon Qualmann ist Corporate Learning Coach, Dozent an der Hochschule Diploma (Wirtschaftspsychologie) und Gesellschafter der [lernglust], die Unternehmen bei der Adoption von Microsoft 365 und den Veränderungen im „neuen Normal“ begleitet. Zudem lei... Show more

Kristina Mostovaia is a remote leadership expert and a digital leader at a global learning platform for digital education.

With a background in Business Administration and Communication Design, her work focuses on organizational transformation, psychological safety, and people-centered leadership in digital environments.

She creates structures that help distributed teams work effectively, communicate transparently, and grow together.

Kristina sees technology as an enabler for empathy, learning, and genuine human connection. She is the author of the upcoming book “Next Level Leadership: Leading Successfully in a Digital Era” (to be published in May 2026) and frequently speaks on remote culture, inclusive collaboration, and the future of work.

She lives in Aachen with her husband and two daughters.

Kristina Mostovaia is a remote leadership expert and a digital leader at a global learning platform for digital education. With a background in Business Administration and Communication Design, her work focuses on organizational transformation, ps... Show more

Ponnam Karthik is a passionate Flutter expert and open-source contributor, author and maintainer of popular packages like fluttertoast (10M+ downloads) on pub.dev. He is a frequent speaker at Flutter events, including FlutterCon India 2025 with a talk on decoupling Material, Cupertino, and custom themes; Flutter Hyderabad Community on best practices and architecture; and Flutter Forward Extended Hyderabad on state management and scalable apps.
With over 8 years of professional experience and specializing in Flutter since 2017, he is a full-stack developer skilled in React and Vue for responsive web applications, alongside backend technologies like Node.js and Django. Currently serving as Software Enginner at GSynergy, he architects scalable cross-platform apps with Clean Architecture, Riverpod, BLoC, performance optimizations, and offline-first features. Previously, as Director and CTO at LDev Technologies—the company he co-founded—he led delivery of high-impact Flutter apps for millions of users across media, EdTech, and enterprise sectors.

Ponnam Karthik is a passionate Flutter expert and open-source contributor, author and maintainer of popular packages like fluttertoast (10M+ downloads) on pub.dev. He is a frequent speaker at Flutter events, including FlutterCon India 2025 with a tal... Show more