Media & Information

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

Dan Mazzella

Dan Mazzella

Dan has been building software since before the dot-com days, responsible for the modernization, site reliability and greenfield projects, as well as responsible for hiring software and devops engineers at various stages and skill levels, from junior to architect level. He has built a career at TRIRIGA, IBM, Wipro, and now as the Global Director of Software for Arcadis, a leading design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services across every phase of asset creation and management for projects all around the world.

Dan has been building software since before the dot-com days, responsible for the modernization, site reliability and greenfield projects, as well as responsible for hiring software and devops engineers at various stages and skill levels, from junior... Show more

Emmanuel Ekunke

Emmanuel Ekunke

Emmanuel Ekunke is the visionary CEO and Founder of Demfati, a leading event technology platform that is revolutionizing ticketing, online voting, and user engagement across the globe. Founded in 2020, Demfati is at the forefront of the conversational commerce movement, utilizing proprietary AI (including their "Deeva" chatbot) to enable seamless, cross-platform transactions via services like WhatsApp and Telegram.

​Under His leadership, Demfati has redefined what it means to be an all-in-one event solution, successfully processing over 20,000+ tickets, 20,000+ forms filled and 100,000+ votes by prioritizing simplicity, accessibility, and automation. Emmanuel's core mission is to bridge digital barriers and empower creators in high-growth economies by leveraging AI to deliver immersive, efficient, and scalable digital experiences. He is a passionate advocate for Africa-first technology that is ready for the world stage.

Emmanuel Ekunke is the visionary CEO and Founder of Demfati, a leading event technology platform that is revolutionizing ticketing, online voting, and user engagement across the globe. Founded in 2020, Demfati is at the forefront of the conversationa... Show more

Pavithra Addanki

Pavithra Addanki

Pavithra Addanki is an entrepreneur, mentor, and student leader passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry. Founder & CEO of MXC Ignite LLP, she has collaborated with leading institutions and innovation hubs to create outcome-based learning opportunities. She is Co-Founder for Sri Raagni Organics. A Startup World Cup Mentor and advocate for personal branding, she also works in data analytics and has a LinkedIn community of over 11K followers with 9,05,400 + annual impressions.

Pavithra Addanki is an entrepreneur, mentor, and student leader passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry. Founder & CEO of MXC Ignite LLP, she has collaborated with leading institutions and innovation hubs to create outcome-bas... Show more

Liza Katz

Liza Katz

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

Scott Chacon

Scott Chacon

Scott Chacon was the cofounder of GitHub; now cofounder and CEO of GitButler, a next generation version control client, based in Berlin. Scott helped grow GitHub from 4 cofounders to 450 employees over 8 years, eventually being acquired by Microsoft for $7.5 billion. Scott is also the author of Pro Git, published by Apress and found online at git-scm.com. In unrelated news, he holds a WSET Level 3 certification in Wines and Spirits and owns a dog rescue outside of Berlin.

Scott Chacon was the cofounder of GitHub; now cofounder and CEO of GitButler, a next generation version control client, based in Berlin. Scott helped grow GitHub from 4 cofounders to 450 employees over 8 years, eventually being acquired by Microsoft ... Show more

Lorenzo Pieri

Lorenzo Pieri

It's never easy to describe oneself, especially when one is interested in so many different topics and fields and I guess that says something about who I am afterall. I find it fun and entertaining to teach difficult subjects through exotic methods and stories and people seem to also have fun while I do so.

I believe in the union between science and human values (read fun) and I often work and participate in non-profit organization and projects which aim to bring culture and scientific knowledge.

It's never easy to describe oneself, especially when one is interested in so many different topics and fields and I guess that says something about who I am afterall. I find it fun and entertaining to teach difficult subjects through exotic methods a... Show more

Astrid Ruppin

Astrid Ruppin

Diplom-Soziologin und Betriebsinformatikerin
2002 - 2014: Consultant für die Bereitstellung von Websites und die Einführung von Intranets und IT-Trainerin
Seit April 2014 bei WBS GRUPPE als Digital Experience Managerin
- Projektteam Einführung eines Social Intranets
- Interne Kommunikation
- Projektleitung Einführung Microsoft 365 im Unternehmen
- Microsoft 365 Cloud Navigator
- SO SharePoint, Teams, Viva Engage u.a. M365-Tools

Diplom-Soziologin und Betriebsinformatikerin 2002 - 2014: Consultant für die Bereitstellung von Websites und die Einführung von Intranets und IT-Trainerin Seit April 2014 bei WBS GRUPPE als Digital Experience Managerin - Projektteam Einführung ein... Show more

Gema Molina

Gema Molina

Cuento con más de 15 años de experiencia en el sector de la informática. Inicié mi carrera como desarrolladora .NET y, en los últimos nueve años, me he especializado en Microsoft 365, diseñando y desplegando soluciones en SharePoint y Power Platform. En los dos últimos años, mi foco se ha centrado en Copilot, explorando su potencial para transformar la productividad y la innovación dentro del ecosistema Microsoft.

Más allá de la parte técnica, me motiva compartir conocimiento y despertar vocaciones tecnológicas en nuevas generaciones. Dedico parte de mi tiempo libre a mentorizar a chicas que quieren iniciarse en este ámbito, apoyar a preadolescentes en sus estudios de matemáticas y transmitir mi pasión por el deporte enseñando a los más pequeños a esquiar y jugar al fútbol.

Cuento con más de 15 años de experiencia en el sector de la informática. Inicié mi carrera como desarrolladora .NET y, en los últimos nueve años, me he especializado en Microsoft 365, diseñando y desplegando soluciones en SharePoint y Power Platform.... Show more

Patrick Wahlmueller

Patrick Wahlmueller

Patrick Wahlmueller is an IT professional, Microsoft MVP, and community organizer with a strong focus on AI-driven automation and Microsoft cloud technologies. His background spans classic IT operations and service management as well as modern, cloud-native and low-code solutions.

Today, Patrick works primarily with Copilot Studio, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Foundry, and intelligent automation, helping organizations move beyond AI hype toward practical, secure, and responsible implementations. He is especially interested in how large language models can be integrated into existing IT landscapes to simplify processes, improve decision-making, and create measurable value.

Known for his clear, pragmatic approach, Patrick enjoys breaking down complex technical topics and making them accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences. As a long-time community contributor and conference organizer, he strongly believes in knowledge sharing, open discussion, and continuous learning.

Based in Austria, Patrick regularly speaks at events and conferences across Europe, sharing hands-on insights on AI, automation, security, and the future of IT.

Patrick Wahlmueller is an IT professional, Microsoft MVP, and community organizer with a strong focus on AI-driven automation and Microsoft cloud technologies. His background spans classic IT operations and service management as well as modern, cloud... Show more

Samu Niemelä

Samu Niemelä

Samu Niemelä is a seasoned data architect and Domain Lead at Zure, where he helps organizations turn messy data into modern, scalable platforms—mostly on Microsoft Azure, and occasionally with some strong opinions. With over a decade of experience, he’s wrangled technologies like SQL Server, Azure Synapse Analytics, Snowflake, and Microsoft Fabric. Samu lives in the liquorice capital of the world—Kouvola, Finland—with his family, lots of coffee, and surprisingly few debugging regrets.

Samu Niemelä is a seasoned data architect and Domain Lead at Zure, where he helps organizations turn messy data into modern, scalable platforms—mostly on Microsoft Azure, and occasionally with some strong opinions. With over a decade of experience, h... Show more

Prae Songprasit

Prae Songprasit

Prae is a UX Engineer, on a mission to help people create more accessible web experiences.

She speaks about crafting user interactions, accessibility, playing nice with other disciplines, and growing front-end capabilities.

Prae spends her free time on Kyudo (Japanese archery), and eating around town.

Prae is a UX Engineer, on a mission to help people create more accessible web experiences. She speaks about crafting user interactions, accessibility, playing nice with other disciplines, and growing front-end capabilities. Prae spends her free... Show more

Yaslie Chávez

Yaslie Chávez

¡Hola!, mi nombre es Yaslie y soy una persona muy entusiasta y con muchas ansias por aprendizaje.

Soy originaria del estado de Oaxaca y actualmente radico en Puebla, me encuentro estudiando una Ingeniería en tecnologías de la información en la BUAP, pues tengo una gran pasión por la tecnología y mucho amor por el área informática.

Me apasiona el crear e innovar, y busco ver la tecnología desde una perspectiva interseccional. Me interesa cómo las decisiones técnicas impactan a las personas y cómo podemos construir entornos digitales más accesibles, solidarios y pensados para todas las voces. Busco unir lo técnico con lo humano para crear soluciones que realmente transformen.

Tengo experiencia en el área laboral como barista y una gran pasión por crear grandes experiencias.
Orgullosamente parte de la comunidad de Chavos que inspiran por parte de fundación BBVA y fundadora de 0xC.

Abierta siempre a oportunidades de voluntariado y aprendizaje, me encanta el concepto de comunidad y el compartir. Amante del café, los videojuegos y la buena música. Activa, optimista y con mucha dedicación.

¡Hola!, mi nombre es Yaslie y soy una persona muy entusiasta y con muchas ansias por aprendizaje. Soy originaria del estado de Oaxaca y actualmente radico en Puebla, me encuentro estudiando una Ingeniería en tecnologías de la información en la BU... Show more

Victor Aguayo

Victor Aguayo

Víctor Aguayo, Technology Architect en BCP con +20 años en tecnología y miembro de Rust Perú. Diseña plataformas cloud-native en Kubernetes (AKS/ACA) y estandariza microservicios con Dapr (invocación, pub/sub, estado, secretos, observabilidad). Orquesta flujos event-driven con Kafka y Flink e integra agentes de IA (MCP). En BCP lidera POCs, define guías/baselines y optimiza costos. Ex Principal Architect en Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes (AWS). Speaker en Peru Global Azure (PUCP), DevFest 2025 (UPC), miembro de la comunidad Rust Peru.

Víctor Aguayo, Technology Architect en BCP con +20 años en tecnología y miembro de Rust Perú. Diseña plataformas cloud-native en Kubernetes (AKS/ACA) y estandariza microservicios con Dapr (invocación, pub/sub, estado, secretos, observabilidad). Orque... Show more

Anke Kiener

Anke Kiener

As a Tech Lead and Sitecore specialist, 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 specialist, 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. ... Show more

Aileen Villanueva Lecuona

Aileen Villanueva Lecuona

My background includes 10 years experience in Web development and currently venturing into Machine Learning, I am deeply passionate about empowering and inspiring others, which is why I proudly serve as a Women Techmaker Ambassador, dedicated to sharing my knowledge and experiences with the community and fostering diversity in the tech industry.

My background includes 10 years experience in Web development and currently venturing into Machine Learning, I am deeply passionate about empowering and inspiring others, which is why I proudly serve as a Women Techmaker Ambassador, dedicated to shar... Show more

Joel Silverstone

Joel Silverstone

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

Benjamin Legrand

Benjamin Legrand

Web things lover, Typescript fanboy, Angular expert, Musician.

Web things lover, Typescript fanboy, Angular expert, Musician. Show more

Pierdomenico Reitano

Pierdomenico Reitano

Passionate about front-end development and UX, I turn interfaces into smooth and effective experiences. Naturally curious, I also explore ‘under the hood’ code to refine every step of the process. I talk about development, design, and team collaboration with a sprinkle of humor and plenty of nerdy analogies.

Passionate about front-end development and UX, I turn interfaces into smooth and effective experiences. Naturally curious, I also explore ‘under the hood’ code to refine every step of the process. I talk about development, design, and team collaborat... Show more

Natalia Moreira Legarda

Natalia Moreira Legarda

Arquitecta funcional de soluciones en aplicaciones de negocio, especialista en Dynamics 365 Field Service y Project Operations.

Arquitecta funcional de soluciones en aplicaciones de negocio, especialista en Dynamics 365 Field Service y Project Operations. Show more

Alan Ridlehoover

Alan Ridlehoover

Passionate software engineer. (I ❤️ Ruby!)
Empathetic leader (@ Cisco Meraki).
Fallible human.
Storyteller. International speaker.
Environmentalist. Feminist. Ally.
Swell photographer. Rusty drummer.
Loving twins dad and husband.
Owner of too many hats, given I only have the one head.

Passionate software engineer. (I ❤️ Ruby!) Empathetic leader (@ Cisco Meraki). Fallible human. Storyteller. International speaker. Environmentalist. Feminist. Ally. Swell photographer. Rusty drummer. Loving twins dad and husband. Owner of ... Show more

Grace Okubo

Grace Okubo

Grace Okubo uses strategic foresight to tackle complex problems for organisations.

Grace Okubo uses strategic foresight to tackle complex problems for organisations. Show more

Revanth Reddy Airre

Revanth Reddy Airre

Revanth Reddy Airre is a Staff Engineer at Silicon Valley–based AI healthcare startup HippocraticAI, where he works on building safety-critical, large-scale AI platforms for healthcare. His work focuses on designing distributed AI infrastructure, including large-scale distributed systems, distributed scheduling, KV-cache–aware systems, and prefix-aware inference routing to support high-performance LLM serving in production environments.

Previously, Revanth was part of the Comcast Silicon Valley Innovation Center, where he helped build and scale a major data platform serving over 70 million users, tackling complex distributed systems and data infrastructure challenges. Earlier in his career, he worked at Paris-based startup CAST Software and with multiple Silicon Valley startups across AI and blockchain, gaining experience across both enterprise and startup ecosystems.

Revanth is also an active IEEE contributor, serving as Chair of the IEEE Silicon Valley Blockchain Chapter and as Global Student Coordinator for the IEEE Blockchain Technical Community. He has served on program committees for international blockchain research conferences. He is also the founder of FreeCodingSchool, a nonprofit initiative that provides accessible coding education through mentorship and open learning resources.

Revanth Reddy Airre is a Staff Engineer at Silicon Valley–based AI healthcare startup HippocraticAI, where he works on building safety-critical, large-scale AI platforms for healthcare. His work focuses on designing distributed AI infrastructure, inc... Show more

Mahi Garg

Mahi Garg

I’m a passionate and forward-thinking mobile developer, currently working as a Senior Software Engineer at MoveInSync, dedicated to crafting high-quality, impactful mobile experiences. With 3+ years of professional experience, I specialize in building Android and iOS applications that blend performance with intuitive design. Proficient in Kotlin, Swift, and modern mobile frameworks, I focus on delivering apps that are both cutting-edge and user-centric.

Beyond coding, I actively share insights through technical writing and contribute to mobile development communities—mentoring, collaborating, and inspiring fellow developers to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

I’m a passionate and forward-thinking mobile developer, currently working as a Senior Software Engineer at MoveInSync, dedicated to crafting high-quality, impactful mobile experiences. With 3+ years of professional experience, I specialize in buildin... Show more

Joshua Johnson

Joshua Johnson


Joshua Johnson is an American technology executive who serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TREE Industries, a company founded in September 2017 and headquartered in Washington, Missouri, specializing in sustainable AI innovation to address environmental challenges through ethical, eco-friendly artificial intelligence solutions focused on accessibility, privacy, and open-source technologies. As CTO since the company's inception, Johnson architects next-generation emerging technologies and AI solutions, leading TREE Industries' efforts to integrate sustainability first principles into AI development for global problem-solving, including advancements in voice-powered tools, 3D avatars with open-source AI assistants, and collaborative virtual beings. His notable public contributions, documented since 2017, include spearheading the release of TREE's first video game, Ultimate Disc Golf, in December 2019; developing a voice-powered virtual production tool using Unreal Engine and open-source AI in February 2020; creating the first 3D avatars integrated with the Mycroft AI assistant in March 2021; launching a desktop control skill for Mycroft AI in June 2021; and developing BlenderGPT, an AI tool for generative 3D modeling, which was featured in NVIDIA's 2023 SIGGRAPH keynote, all emphasizing ethical and environmentally conscious tech innovation. Johnson is further distinguished in the field by his role in collaborations, such as TREE Industries' partnership with Fable on AI-driven projects, and his co-founding of Geppetto AI to advance real-time AI applications.

Joshua Johnson's early career in the technology sector began with roles focused on web development and software engineering, laying the foundation for his later work in AI and sustainable technologies. Alongside his role at TREE Industries, he founded and continues to lead eClarity Web Solutions, where he serves as CEO, assisting businesses and individuals in developing modern content management system (CMS)-powered websites. In this position, Johnson specialized in technologies such as Joomla!, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, PHP, Flash AS3, and HTML5, gaining expertise in web design and development over several years.These early experiences honed his skills in programming and digital solutions, enabling him to tackle more complex technical challenges in subsequent roles. Although specific timelines for his initial positions are not widely documented, his work at eClarity represented a key period of skill development in software engineering and client-facing tech services before transitioning to executive leadership in AI innovation.

Leadership at TREE Industries

Joshua Johnson was appointed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TREE Industries upon its founding in September 2017, where he has led the technical direction since inception. In this executive role, Johnson has focused on initial team-building efforts and aligning the company's technological vision with sustainable AI goals aimed at addressing environmental challenges through ethical and eco-friendly solutions. Key leadership milestones under Johnson's tenure include overseeing the expansion of research and development (R&D) activities from 2018 onward, such as the company's joining of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce in February 2018 to foster industry collaborations and the development of innovative AI tools, including a voice-powered virtual production tool using Unreal Engine and open-source AI in February 2020. By 2021, his strategic guidance contributed to further R&D growth, exemplified by the creation of 3D avatars integrated with Mycroft AI in March 2021, the release of a desktop control skill for Mycroft AI in June 2021, and the prototyping of an AI virtual being capable of real-time 3D art generation in August 2021 as part of TREE Industries' entry into The Culture DAO. These efforts highlight Johnson's role in hiring key engineers and forming partnerships with environmental and tech organizations to scale sustainable AI initiatives. Johnson's strategic initiatives have emphasized eco-friendly practices, including the implementation of sustainable operations in data centers and AI development processes, though specific budgets remain undisclosed in public records. His leadership has driven organizational growth, positioning TREE Industries as a leader in green AI technologies headquartered in Washington, Missouri.

Innovations in AI Sustainability

As CTO of TREE Industries, Joshua Johnson leads efforts to integrate sustainability principles into AI development, focusing on ethical and eco-friendly artificial intelligence solutions.

Key Projects and Initiatives:

Joshua Johnson has led several AI-driven projects at TREE Industries since joining as CTO in 2017, aligning with the company's vision for sustainable AI innovation to address environmental challenges through ethical and eco-friendly solutions. One notable initiative is the development of Ultimate Disc Golf, a video game incorporating AI and machine learning elements, launched in December 2019. This project aimed to advance accessible gaming technologies while exploring AI applications in simulation and real-time environments, with Johnson discussing its integration of AI for enhanced user experiences during a 2020 podcast interview. The effort contributed to TREE Industries' broader portfolio in ethical AI for entertainment, though specific environmental impact metrics were not publicly detailed. In 2021, Johnson oversaw the creation of DeepSpeech-based automatic speech systems for games, focusing on open-source AI to enable voice interactions in virtual environments. This initiative sought to promote affordable and privacy-focused AI tools, developed as part of TREE's commitment to socially responsible technology, with outcomes including prototypes for real-time 3D art creation. The project underscored ethical considerations in AI deployment for gaming industries.[More recently, in 2024, Johnson collaborated with Fable on an AI project bringing the Sam Altman saga to life through advanced chatbots, emphasizing innovative storytelling via eco-friendly AI practices. According to a Forbes article, these chatbots represented non-traditional applications, highlighting TREE Industries' role in sustainable AI collaborations that minimize computational waste. The partnership demonstrated measurable advancements in ethical AI for narrative simulations. Additionally, under Johnson's leadership, TREE Industries advanced the Unreal Agent plugin in 2025, an open-source AI copilot for Unreal Engine 5 that automates tasks like level design and content generation to optimize development workflows. This tool aims to reduce energy-intensive manual processes, supporting green AI goals through efficient, real-time integrations, with its GitHub release fostering community-driven sustainable innovations.

Industry Influence:

Joshua Johnson has exerted influence in the sustainable AI sector through his thought leadership and participation in high-profile industry events. As CTO of TREE Industries, he spoke at the AI Film and Games Festival in San Francisco in 2023 and GatherVerse Summit 2025.This engagement underscores his role in promoting ethical AI practices that align with environmental goals, as TREE Industries emphasizes "Sustainability First" in its operations. In advisory capacities, Johnson serves as the Interoperability Committee Lead at The Culture DAO since April 2022, contributing to standards development in emerging technologies, including AI interoperability that supports sustainable applications. Johnson's contributions extend to open-source initiatives that advance sustainable AI tools. Under his technical guidance at TREE Industries, the company developed and released open-source projects such as 3D avatars integrated with Mycroft AI, a voice-powered virtual production tool using Unreal Engine and open-source AI, and a desktop control skill for Mycroft, all launched between 2020 and 2021 to make advanced technologies more accessible and environmentally responsible. These efforts have been adopted in communities focused on conversational AI, promoting energy-efficient offline processing solutions that reduce computational waste. Additionally, TREE's early involvement in open-source speech systems like DeepSpeech has influenced game development and AI applications with lower environmental footprints.Through these activities, Johnson has shaped industry discussions on sustainable AI, as evidenced by his commentary in media outlets like Forbes, where he highlighted innovative AI collaborations that prioritize ethical and eco-friendly advancements. His work has contributed to TREE Industries' promotion of AI adoption among local businesses via chamber of commerce memberships, fostering wider sectoral shifts toward sustainability.

Joshua Johnson is an American technology executive who serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TREE Industries, a company founded in September 2017 and headquartered in Washington, Missouri, specializing in sustainable AI innovation to addr... Show more

Simon Owen

Simon Owen

Simon Owen has a background of working in healthcare and manufacture, and has driven global adoption of the Power Platform. He's established CoEs to implement digital guardrails and governance, and grown internal communities of thousands of people spread across the globe.

He's an international speaker who has taken part in events across the Power Platform community as well as major Microsoft events. He's a passionate advocate of the Power Platform and the way it doesn't just transform organisations and processes, but also transforms lives... Including his! :)

Simon Owen has a background of working in healthcare and manufacture, and has driven global adoption of the Power Platform. He's established CoEs to implement digital guardrails and governance, and grown internal communities of thousands of people sp... Show more

Gil Bahat

Gil Bahat

A Gil, of all trades.
Speaker, Blogger, LGBTQ activist, Volunteer, Community manager.

I love a varied DevOps experience - from MLOps to FinOps to DevOps, from multimedia to healthcare to security. From source control to production monitoring. From large team interwork to a one-person show.

A Gil, of all trades. Speaker, Blogger, LGBTQ activist, Volunteer, Community manager. I love a varied DevOps experience - from MLOps to FinOps to DevOps, from multimedia to healthcare to security. From source control to production monitoring. Fro... Show more

Ian Utile

Ian Utile

I’m a tenth-generation local, San Jose founder's descendant, who traded my carpentry tools for the chaos of Silicon Valley. Co-creating 10 startups with brilliant teams has been equally challenging and rewarding. We've bootstrapped SaaS to $10M+ ARR scaling to a $28.6M Series A, patented ATTN.LIVE's “Attention Engine”, and launched a digital-asset community that reached a nine-figure market cap within six days. Whether lecturing at universities or advising platforms with a billion downloads, I bridge innovation with compliance: Capital ↔ Code ↔ Congress. Long before boardrooms, I found my purpose in the 4,000+ volunteer hours I logged with NGOs. Today, I’m grateful to have a seat at the table where the future is created. When provided with this influence, my prayer is to be a leader known for his joy, love, hope, and courage.

INFLUENCE
• Recognition: Honored by the Global AI Council with the U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 4,000+ hours of volunteer work with NGOs like World Vision, International Justice Mission and Salvation Army.
• Attention: Primetime TV interviews. 100+ keynotes at major tech events on four continents. Hosted digital communities reaching millions through X.com Spaces. 1,000+ live-streamed podcasts with industry leaders.
• Lectures: University of San Francisco, Indiana University, City College of San Francisco, Central New Mexico College, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Ukraine), and the University of Nicosia (Cyprus).
• Advisory: Strategic advisor to organizations including Tricon (a BlackRock company), Female Founder School, United Nations, Hoverboard.com, Pro Athletes Outreach, Teen Challenge, Bethel, Bible.com (1B+ downloads).
• Entrepreneur in Residence EiR: CCSF’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation; Runway in Twitter’s HQ.

EXPERTISE
• Innovation – Venture building, community tokenization, product development.
• Diplomacy – Dealmaking, vision casting, recruiting, creative strategy, public speaking.
• Specialty – AI, Web3, enterprise infrastructure, consumer software, IP, regulation, compliance, policy.
• Versatility – Fluent in the dialects of the three global power centers: Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and D.C.

SUMMARY
Dealmaker with uncompromising ethics and courage. A “Swiss Army” executive operating at the intersection of Capital ↔ Code ↔ Congress. Ten-time co-founder with expertise in AI, Web3, enterprise infrastructure, consumer software, IP, regulation, compliance, and policy. Bootstrapped a SaaS platform to $10M+ ARR before Series A with nine-figure valuation. Led a digital-asset community launch reaching a nine‑figure token market cap in 6 days. C-suite board-ready leader with a trusted network of executives, celebrities, and senior policymakers.

I’m a tenth-generation local, San Jose founder's descendant, who traded my carpentry tools for the chaos of Silicon Valley. Co-creating 10 startups with brilliant teams has been equally challenging and rewarding. We've bootstrapped SaaS to $10M+ ARR ... Show more

Rebecca Solano

Rebecca Solano

Rebecca is a hands-on, human-centered, collaborative organizational change leader interested in developing great teams and culture, co-creating large-scale strategic vision, driving value nimbly, and a believer in integrating change strategies to develop organizational resiliency and competitive edge. She has 5+ years in cross-industry OCM for ERP implementations and tech adoption, as well as over 10 years in strategic and business communications, including 6 years of bilingual business communication & advocacy.

Rebecca is a hands-on, human-centered, collaborative organizational change leader interested in developing great teams and culture, co-creating large-scale strategic vision, driving value nimbly, and a believer in integrating change strategies to dev... Show more

Leszek Michalak

Leszek Michalak

For over nine years, Leszek Michalak has been a data professional within large-scale corporate environments. His career trajectory began in data analysis, evolved through business intelligence development, and for the past five years, has been focused on specialization in data engineering.

He operates at the intersection of managing complex legacy systems and architecting modern data solutions. His main focus is designing and implementing systems with thoughtful architecture, operational simplicity, and unwavering reliability.

For over nine years, Leszek Michalak has been a data professional within large-scale corporate environments. His career trajectory began in data analysis, evolved through business intelligence development, and for the past five years, has been focuse... Show more

Shahar Polak

Shahar Polak

With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, I am a seasoned Head of Engineering at ImagenAI, a cutting-edge startup that leverages AI to optimize image editing and processing. I have a proven track record of driving innovation, building robust solutions, and leading high-performing teams.

At ImagenAI, I oversee the engineering vision, strategy, and execution, while assembling top-tier talent and fostering a culture of agility, collaboration, and excellence. I am passionate about creating sleek and secure architectures that meet both business and engineering goals, and delivering exceptional user experiences that delight our customers. As a Technion MBA graduate and a recognized thought leader in Israel's tech scene, I have a unique blend of technical, business, and communication skills. I host a popular podcast and speak at various events, where I share my insights and expertise on topics such as cloud computing, AI, and UX. I also mentor and educate thousands of developers through my online courses and community initiatives. I am always eager to learn new things, challenge myself, and make a positive impact in the world.

With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, I am a seasoned Head of Engineering at ImagenAI, a cutting-edge startup that leverages AI to optimize image editing and processing. I have a proven track record of driving innovation, building ro... Show more

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