Media & Information

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

Kevin Blanco

Kevin Blanco

I help companies build repeatable Developer Relations programs that consistently drive measurable user acquisition, product adoption and tie to business outcomes.

Kevin Blanco is a Senior Developer Advocate and growth strategist with over 16 years in tech leadership. Distinguished as one of the leaders who deeply understand advanced technical concepts, PLG, GTM, and Enterprise + Partner Strategies. Kevin understand how developer adoption compounds into B2B & B2D pipelines and structure programs to capture that value.

Kevin has established himself as the go-to keynote speaker for developer conferences worldwide, having delivered 60+ impactful presentations at premier events including Google Cloud Next, DevRelCon, DrupalCon, All Things Open AI, and multiple developer conferences across North America and LATAM. Known for his ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights, he connects deeply with technical audiences through engaging storytelling and practical frameworks. His presentations consistently drive measurable increases in product adoption and community engagement, making him a sought-after voice for events focused on developer relations, AI integration, and product-led growth strategies.

From shaping AI strategies at IBM Watson to building scalable cloud solutions for Google, Microsoft, and Nintendo, Kevin has a proven record of driving innovation and delivering measurable results. His rare combination of technical knowledge, storytelling expertise, and data-driven growth strategies enables him to craft video content that not only educates but also accelerates user acquisition and product adoption.

As a Google Developer Expert and Google for Startups Mentor, he advises Seed to Series A AI-focused startups on product strategy, sustainable scaling, and leveraging Google's ecosystem of resources and networks.
As a Google Certified Educator and Trainer and Certified Blackmagic Trainer for DaVinci Resolve, Kevin demonstrates exceptional teaching capabilities across both technical education and professional video production.

Speaker at Featured Events:

- Google I/O
- Google Cloud Next
- DevRelCon
- DrupalCon
- All Things Open AI
- Nerdearla
- KubeCon
- DevRelX Summit
- Techstars Founder Catalyst
- Google DevFest Montreal
- Google DevFest Calgary
- Google DevFest New York

Certifications and Recognitions:
- Google Developer Expert
- Google Innovator
- Google Champion
- Google Certified Educator/Trainer
- Google Certified Cloud Architect
- Blackmagic Design Certified Trainer
- Davinci Resolve Certified Editor
- Davinci Resolve Certified Colorist

I help companies build repeatable Developer Relations programs that consistently drive measurable user acquisition, product adoption and tie to business outcomes. Kevin Blanco is a Senior Developer Advocate and growth strategist with over 16 year... Show more

Eve Brennan

Eve Brennan

Having launched her career as a software engineer apprentice seven years ago, Eve now excels as a Cloud Engineer III at a NYC media giant. She has led high-profile cloud migrations and digital transformations across multiple organisations. As a Co-Organiser of DevOps Belfast, a Google Women Techmakers Ambassador, and BelTech curator, she empowers the tech community through speaking engagements, events, and initiatives focused on DevOps, AI, and women in tech.

Having launched her career as a software engineer apprentice seven years ago, Eve now excels as a Cloud Engineer III at a NYC media giant. She has led high-profile cloud migrations and digital transformations across multiple organisations. As a Co-Or... Show more

Oskar Dudycz

Oskar Dudycz

I'm a developer, technical team leader, and architect. I started a career before StackOverflow existed. For over 17 years, I've been creating systems close to the business process. I believe that Event-Driven Architecture and Event Sourcing are great ways to achieve that.

I'm an active open-source developer active especially in the Event Driven space (I was working on tools like Marten, EventStoreDB, and now Emmett). I'm sharing my journey and findings on my blog https://event-driven.io and practical samples at https://github.com/oskardudycz.

I'm a developer, technical team leader, and architect. I started a career before StackOverflow existed. For over 17 years, I've been creating systems close to the business process. I believe that Event-Driven Architecture and Event Sourcing are great... Show more

Jordan Powell

Jordan Powell

Jordan Powell is a Developer Productivity Engineer at Nx who specializes in optimizing developer workflows, improving build performance, and enhancing software quality at scale. With extensive full-stack engineering experience building enterprise applications, he brings a deep understanding of both technical implementation and developer experience challenges. As a Google Developer Expert, Jordan stays at the forefront of industry trends and actively shares his expertise through mentoring, open-source contributions, and community engagement. His passion for automation and testing drives his commitment to reliability, readability, and performance in software development. Beyond his technical work, Jordan serves as co-founder and CEO of Dream On: Global, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring individuals to pursue their dreams, demonstrating his commitment to making meaningful impact both within and beyond the tech community.

Jordan Powell is a Developer Productivity Engineer at Nx who specializes in optimizing developer workflows, improving build performance, and enhancing software quality at scale. With extensive full-stack engineering experience building enterprise app... Show more

Abdifatah Hassan Roble

Abdifatah Hassan Roble

Abdifatah Hassan Roble is Somali technologist, writer, and advocate from the Bay region of Somalia. Abdifatah brings incredible experience, perseverance, and expertise as an online platform builder, writer, and activist for the education of Somali youth and greater Somali community through technological empowerment. Abdifatah was born in Sanca, Yemen while his family was internally displaced from the civil war in Somalia. He hails from Mogadishu. Abdifatah embodies Somali values and is committed to lifting the Somali community as a whole.

Abdifatah graduated from Salaam University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (2025), focusing on Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Artificial Intelligence. Abdifatah is the first university graduate in his family. He is studying for his Master’s and PhD in Cybersecurity and AI, with the intention of contributing to global research and policy making.

Abdifatah Hassan Roble founded Somali Tech Digest in 2025, aiming to educate Somali speaking populations and a global audience on technology policies, digital security, and the innovation shaping the region. Abdifatah critically examines laws and policies pertaining to cybersecurity in countries which matter most to Somali tech stakeholders, and writes original content in both English and Somali for his readers. By drawing parallels to similar trends in the West, Abdifatah consistently delivers smart, accessible coverage of rapid digital transformation for Somali Tech Digest readers.

Professionally, Abdifatah is a Sales Representative at Premier Bank as well as Shaakir Furniture where he gained key skills such as business communication and building customer trust while utilizing technology to effectively engage in promotional activities. Abdifatah combines expertise in this field while emphasizing the importance of effective communication that links to the technical knowledge that the customer is seeking.

Abdifatah is dedicated to serving the Somali population and the global community at large. He is deeply involved in the local community and is an avid promoter of youth empowerment and growth. Abdifatah is an avid reader and publisher of law review articles, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity law. In his free time, Abdifatah enjoys learning about cultural differences and exploring the lives of rural Europeans. Abdifatah is a persistent, motivated, and hopeful individual that thrives in the face of adversity. Most importantly, Abdifatah is driven by a desire to leave a lasting legacy. As such, he strives to achieve the maximum potential of every endeavor that he pursues.

Areas of Expertise

Cybersecurity & Artificial Intelligence

Digital Strategy & Business Agility

Editorial Leadership & Community Engagement

Stakeholder Analysis & Communication

Comparative Cybersecurity Law

Sessions

1. Database-Last Design in Somali Context
For decades, software started from the database out, with the database at the core and the rest of the application circling around it. In modern application design, we start from the user tasks and work our way out, trying to be as flexible as possible. In this talk, I will highlight to Somali developers and organizations how “database-last” design can be used to build sustainable, scalable, and user-centric software systems.
You’ll learn:
The transition from database-centric to user-centric design

Architecture of CQRS, microservices, NoSQL (practice)

How agile, cross-functional teams succeed with loosely coupled components

Life After Story Points: Somali Agile Planning

Story points are often the focus of much consternation during sprint planning. This talk presents alternative planning techniques that actually use real numbers and has been validated with Somali developers with strict, fixed capacity limits.
You’ll learn:
Put some real numbers behind your decision making

Ways to structure your time so that you get the most out of it

Agile Requirements: Building What Somalia Needs
Requirements gathering is a hard problem

too rigid in traditional approaches and too fuzzy in early agile adoption. In this talk, a balanced approach will be presented for capturing requirements to improve productivity in Somali organizations.
You’ll learn:

Writing clear, simple user stories

Using acceptance criteria to capture details

Balancing analysis with responsiveness

The value of documenting conversations and decisions

Great Retrospectives that Drive Change
This interactive session explores how to keep the ritual fresh and go home with real improvements!
You’ll learn:

Setting goals and benefits for retrospective session

Feedback Best Practices for Improved Outcomes

Formats that generate actionable outcomes

Methods to measure success beyond intuition

Scrum vs. Kanban: Lessons for Somali Teams
Scrum vs Kanban? Both methods have been used successfully in many environments and contexts. In this meeting we will go through the strengths and weaknesses of Scrum and Kanban so Somali teams can decide which method suits them better.
You’ll learn:

Misconceptions about both methodologies

Visibility of work and planning timelines

Handling work in progress and shifting priorities

Mixing and blending traditional and modern methods

Hunting Down the Elusive MVP
One of the biggest challenges when creating a new product or service is defining a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This interactive session gives Somali startups and innovators tools to identify and deliver a relevant MVP.
You’ll learn:

Visioning, personas, and user journeys

Story mapping and risk evaluation

Creating a realistic release plan

Building a canvas that ties everything together

When traditional sizing is not useless

Abdifatah Hassan Roble is Somali technologist, writer, and advocate from the Bay region of Somalia. Abdifatah brings incredible experience, perseverance, and expertise as an online platform builder, writer, and activist for the education of Somali yo... Show more

Michelle Storm

Michelle Storm

Michelle is a multipassionate portfolio careerist who intentionally lives on cross-boundary intersections, bringing together innovation, creative expression, and human well-being. As an Innovation Designer and Human Well-Being Insight Designer, she explores how people live, work, and thrive, translating complex insights into meaningful everyday practices and solutions. Her work as a Vision-to-Experience Curator connects ideas to real-world impact, helping individuals and organizations bring purposeful concepts to life.

She has led workshops, trainings, and sessions focused on leveraging creativity and technology to drive innovative thinking, collaborating with diverse teams to tackle complex challenges. Committed to building bridges between different perspectives, she thrives on turning bold ideas into actionable strategies that yield meaningful, sustainable impact in both the short and long term. Her aim is always to bring people together in ways that spark self-discovery, creative expression, and personal liberation—ultimately empowering every individual to step fully into their potential.

Alongside these roles, Michelle is an author, artist, and podcaster, using storytelling and creative expression to explore themes of purpose, resilience, and modern innovative work. Her multidisciplinary path reflects a commitment to curiosity, integrity, and designing a life that aligns with her values, vision of success, and purpose.

With experience across multiple sectors and creative fields, Michelle brings a grounded, integrated perspective to conversations about wellness, innovation, and entrepreneurship, offering insights shaped by both lived experience and intentional design.

Michelle is a multipassionate portfolio careerist who intentionally lives on cross-boundary intersections, bringing together innovation, creative expression, and human well-being. As an Innovation Designer and Human Well-Being Insight Designer, she e... Show more

Engin Eser

Engin Eser

Engin Eser is Co-Founder of Event Punks GmbH, a Creative Tech Studio that transforms business challenges into playable experiences. From gamified recruiting and immersive brand activations to game-based training and edutainment, built on platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and the Web.

On the Microsoft side, Engin is a Microsoft MVP and Power Platform practitioner with a strong focus on Power Apps Code Apps, Copilot extensibility, and AI Agent development. He builds solutions that bridge the gap between low-code and pro-code and believes that great technology should feel less like a tool and more like an experience.

He speaks at international conferences about gamification, UX-driven app design, and the future of immersive digital experiences.

Engin Eser is Co-Founder of Event Punks GmbH, a Creative Tech Studio that transforms business challenges into playable experiences. From gamified recruiting and immersive brand activations to game-based training and edutainment, built on platforms li... Show more

Karen Riley-Love

Karen Riley-Love

Karen Riley-Love is a hyper-local tourism strategist and entrepreneur who has helped transform Anna Maria Island into a sought-after wedding destination through local-first partnerships and marketing. She is a CO—100 Honoree, recognized as one of the Top 100 Small Businesses in the nation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and one of only ten businesses awarded the Customer Champion distinction. Karen is a multi-time Visit Florida Flagler Award winner, including Best of Show, and was named Tourism Ambassador of the Year by the Bradenton Area CVB and featured in First for Women Magazine. She is a featured speaker at The Digital Marketing Conference, sharing how community-driven brands scale with authenticity. Karen blends creativity with strategy to promote sustainable, high-value tourism, leveraging community, culture, and local charm to create visitor experiences that resonate far beyond the shoreline.

Karen Riley-Love is a hyper-local tourism strategist and entrepreneur who has helped transform Anna Maria Island into a sought-after wedding destination through local-first partnerships and marketing. She is a CO—100 Honoree, recognized as one of the... Show more

Andrew Hess

Andrew Hess

Andrew Hess is a Senior Solution Architect on Microsoft's Copilot Acceleration Team (CAT) although speaking events are normally under his own person brand and company Hess IT Solutions. Andrew helps organizations get real results from the Power Platform, Copilot, and Microsoft AI. A national award winner in Power Apps and an accomplished application developer, Andrew also shares his expertise as a YouTuber, helping the community grow through practical guidance and real-world innovation.

Andrew Hess is a Senior Solution Architect on Microsoft's Copilot Acceleration Team (CAT) although speaking events are normally under his own person brand and company Hess IT Solutions. Andrew helps organizations get real results from the Power Platf... Show more

Derek Mitchell

Derek Mitchell

Derek is a senior analyst with extensive experience working across Europe’s largest organizations in the pharmaceutical, retail, banking, and media sectors. Over his career, he has helped global companies turn complex data into actionable insights that drive commercial growth and strategic decision-making.

A regular speaker at international conferences, Dereks work has been cited in several books and he is known for bringing clarity to complexity, connecting analytical rigor with practical and pragmatic business impact. His work focuses on enabling organizations to harness data intelligently, foster innovation, and achieve measurable performance improvement across diverse markets.

Derek is a senior analyst with extensive experience working across Europe’s largest organizations in the pharmaceutical, retail, banking, and media sectors. Over his career, he has helped global companies turn complex data into actionable insights th... Show more

Lemon 🍋

Lemon 🍋

With a lifelong passion for the weirdness of the internet and a day job as a development lead for whoever hired him, Lemon spends his professional time making websites for money and his free time making websites for no money.

He's created a number of stupid things for the internet, like all the games on kinda.fun, the wikiHow guessing game damn.dog, the Google Autocomplete game idiots.win, and a bunch of other things of questionable use. He also hosts a podcast that looks at some of the internet's weirder subcultures. It is not safe for your work, unless you work somewhere really cool.

With a lifelong passion for the weirdness of the internet and a day job as a development lead for whoever hired him, Lemon spends his professional time making websites for money and his free time making websites for no money. He's created a number... Show more

Jennie Ocken

Jennie Ocken

Jennie has solved business problems with technology for two decades. She has managed products for companies large and small with software developers, marketers, customer support, and clients from a wide variety of industries, proprietary and open source, B2B and B2B2C. She loves talking shop about how to solve user problems, build the right thing, and help teams thrive.

Jennie has solved business problems with technology for two decades. She has managed products for companies large and small with software developers, marketers, customer support, and clients from a wide variety of industries, proprietary and open so... Show more

Elliott Mower

Elliott Mower

Elliott is the CEO of Current, a full-stack digital agency that builds, optimizes, and markets digital products in a continuous cycle — ensuring the work never stops performing after launch.

Since joining Mediacurrent in 2021, Elliott has moved quickly through the organization — from Creative Strategy Director to Head of Product to CEO — before building Current through the strategic combination of Mediacurrent and Rhythm. That journey reflects a through-line he's carried across his career: the belief that great digital products and smart marketing shouldn't live in separate worlds.

It's a conviction he's put into practice across education, financial services, and media and entertainment — and one he developed long before Current. At EY Design Studio and Doberman NY, Elliott's work ranged from reimagining the grocery store of the future for the world's largest retailer, to building an accessible technology ecosystem for a New York City arts institution, to crafting an award-winning digital platform for a national fast-casual brand. Different problems, same instinct: making complex systems feel invisible for the people who use them.

Elliott is the CEO of Current, a full-stack digital agency that builds, optimizes, and markets digital products in a continuous cycle — ensuring the work never stops performing after launch. Since joining Mediacurrent in 2021, Elliott has moved qu... Show more

Miklos Philips

Miklos Philips

Lead UX/Digital Product Designer with over 20 years of experience and certification in design strategy. My career spans major tech hubs, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London, where I've delivered impactful digital solutions across diverse industries.

Beyond client work, I'm committed to advancing the design community through thought leadership and mentorship. I regularly publish insights on UX and product design, speak at industry conferences and events, and mentor emerging designers. My work has built an engaged audience of 10,000+ followers across Medium, LinkedIn, and X.

Lead UX/Digital Product Designer with over 20 years of experience and certification in design strategy. My career spans major tech hubs, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London, where I've delivered impactful digital solutions acro... Show more

Matthew Christiansen

Matthew Christiansen

Matthew Christiansen is a software engineer, community leader, and Angular Google Developer Expert specializing in Angular, Gemini, Firebase, and Generative AI. He is a Co-Organizer of the Google Developer Group (GDG) Salt Lake City and the official Angular Community Meetup, where he helps build and inspire developer communities through talks, workshops, and mentoring.

As a featured speaker at conferences including DevFest Salt Lake City, Denver Dev Day, and West Slope Startup Week, Matthew has presented on Angular, Gemini, Agentic AI, and Firebase, helping developers bridge practical implementation with cutting-edge innovation. He also serves as a trainer and presenter at GDG events, delivering hands-on sessions in Generative AI and Google technologies.

Matthew co-produces and co-hosts the DevLife Podcast, a community-driven show featuring conversations with programming experts, business leaders, and fellow community members about software, growth, and the developer journey.

Professionally, Matthew is a lead implementor of Angular in large-scale system designs at Limble, where he guides teams in building scalable, maintainable frontends integrated with Nest and Go services. His previous experience as CTO of Bright Bridge Web includes leading tech teams, scaling startups, and delivering 180+ apps for Fortune 500 companies and bestselling authors.

Matthew plans to continue long-term as a conference speaker and community educator, advancing the developer ecosystem through ongoing talks, workshops, and real-world implementations of Angular, Gemini, Firebase, and Generative AI. Beyond the keyboard, he’s often found rock climbing, riffing on guitar, or exploring big ideas with his community.

Matthew Christiansen is a software engineer, community leader, and Angular Google Developer Expert specializing in Angular, Gemini, Firebase, and Generative AI. He is a Co-Organizer of the Google Developer Group (GDG) Salt Lake City and the official ... Show more

Caleb Jenkins

Caleb Jenkins

Caleb Jenkins is an international speaker, author, and 6-time Microsoft MVP award recipient, previously led Developer Experience at Charles Schwab, and is an ex-Microsoft/Sabre/Rocket Mortgage engineering leader - currently coaching teams in one of the largest digital transformation efforts in the world.

As a long time community leader and former Microsoft Developer Evangelist Caleb is well known for his engaging speaking style, depth of knowledge and creative energy. He approaches software from a fresh perspective that spans UX, Agile and enterprise customers from across the globe. He has previously led UX product design teams, coached multi team agile transformations and architected and mentored at some of the largest companies in the world.

Caleb will come at you from multiple angles, he has the hip hop that doesn’t stop, and to quote some other people:

“watching one of my new favorite speakers” (@JesseLiberty ) “
“to call Caleb a ball of energy would be an understatement” LinkedIn Review
“had me laughing so hard I could hardly eat my nachos” Speakerpedia Review and Blogged
You’ll laugh, you’ll have a great time, and you’ll learn something while you’re at it.

Caleb Jenkins is an international speaker, author, and 6-time Microsoft MVP award recipient, previously led Developer Experience at Charles Schwab, and is an ex-Microsoft/Sabre/Rocket Mortgage engineering leader - currently coaching teams in one of t... Show more

Michael Hidalgo

Michael Hidalgo

Michael Hidalgo has spent more than 25 years leading, building, and speaking. He has spoken to over 50,000 people, from intimate C-suite retreats to audiences of 2,500+.

He is a GiANT-certified 5 Voices Guide and award-winning author of two books. Michael has led fast-growing organizations and served as an advisor to the Denver Mayor's office and the Colorado Governor. His film school and screenwriting background means his keynotes aren't talks, they are experiences.

His past clients include Alvarez & Marsal, Canes Midstream, ATD, InTempo Software, along with corporate leadership teams across multiple industries.

Michael Hidalgo has spent more than 25 years leading, building, and speaking. He has spoken to over 50,000 people, from intimate C-suite retreats to audiences of 2,500+. He is a GiANT-certified 5 Voices Guide and award-winning author of two books... Show more

Ming Johanson

Ming Johanson

Ming Johanson works with businesses across the globe from training social media to managing (with her team) complex digital strategies that deliver tangible and desirable financial returns. She is dedicated to shaping the landscape for leaders to adapt their management, sales and marketing culture to fit into the modern day world of hyper-connectivity.

Recently recognised and awarded for her ongoing contribution to the technology industries in the 2019 Women In Technology Tech [+] 20 Awards. Ming is a passionate mental health Ambassador for R U OK? Day, a co-facilitator in Startup Weekend Perth and a regular Australian Media Commentator as a Tech Evangelist on a range of topics in Mental Health, Social Media & Technology. 

Ming Johanson works with businesses across the globe from training social media to managing (with her team) complex digital strategies that deliver tangible and desirable financial returns. She is dedicated to shaping the landscape for leaders to ada... Show more

Jo Hasenau

Jo Hasenau

Jo Hasenau is an open source veteran who has been building, maintaining, and scaling community-driven software ecosystems for more than two decades.

He started out in the early days of the internet, moved from a late-80s designer background to digital media production in the 90s, and then shifted his focus to large-scale platforms and integration problems - from corporate environments such as T-Systems and Deutsche Telekom to long-running open source projects such as TYPO3, maintained in the open.

He is known for shipping pragmatic tools and growing communities, as a maintainer of widely used extensions, a trainer and coach, a speaker at conferences, developer days, and camps, and an organizer of formats such as the User Experience Week. He has also contributed through publications, including the O’Reilly TYPO3 Cookbook.

After serving as CTO at InnoCoding, he now works at the next layer beyond websites as a Big Picture Brainiac at Cybercraft, focusing on AI-enabled content infrastructure, interoperability, and digital sovereignty.

Jo Hasenau is an open source veteran who has been building, maintaining, and scaling community-driven software ecosystems for more than two decades. He started out in the early days of the internet, moved from a late-80s designer background to dig... Show more

Nathan Saldanha

Nathan Saldanha

Nathan Saldanha is the Global Sales Director at Codehouse and a Sitecore Ambassador MVP (2025 & 2026). With Ten years of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 experience, he specialises in crafting compelling business cases for enterprise website rebuilds and Personalisation at scale. Nathan has been part of Sitecore implementations across APAC and North America, including award-winning projects. He is passionate about helping organisations unlock real business value through scalable, future proofed architecture and smart platform strategy.

Nathan Saldanha is the Global Sales Director at Codehouse and a Sitecore Ambassador MVP (2025 & 2026). With Ten years of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 experience, he specialises in crafting compelling business cases for enterprise website r... Show more

Kris Freedain

Kris Freedain

Kris Freedain (he/him) is the Community Manager for the OpenSearch Project. He has decades of experience in tech, but finds connecting people to be the most fulfilling part of being a community professional.

Kris Freedain (he/him) is the Community Manager for the OpenSearch Project. He has decades of experience in tech, but finds connecting people to be the most fulfilling part of being a community professional. Show more

Chad Crawford

Chad Crawford

Chad Crawford is a third-generation Floridian and a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and outdoor adventurer, with a unique perspective on Florida like no one else in the world. Over his 25-year career, he has dedicated himself to telling the story of the state he loves. Chad has collaborated with major government agencies, conservation groups, and tourism organizations giving him a rare perspective into the tourism industry.
In his current role as Director of Strategic Partnerships with Conservation Florida, he continues to build valuable relationships to help protect the state's natural resources.
Chad is a father of four and resides in Lake Mary. He enjoys fishing, camping, open water swimming, and taking on whatever adventures Florida can serve up.

Chad Crawford is a third-generation Floridian and a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and outdoor adventurer, with a unique perspective on Florida like no one else in the world. Over his 25-year career, he has dedicated himself to telling the sto... Show more

Nyaradzo Bere

Nyaradzo Bere

Nyaradzo (Naya) Bere is a software engineer, speaker, and content creator, best known as the creator behind @theblackfemaleengineer- a vibrant platform that empowers over 200,000+ current and aspiring tech professionals across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Naya earned her degree in Finance and Accounting but launched her tech career after learning to code in just 6 months. She went on to work as a Software Engineer at a Fortune 50 company. Her journey into tech was far from linear, and that’s exactly why her content resonates so widely. By sharing both the highlights and hurdles of her experience, Naya has built a brand grounded in transparency, encouragement, and empowerment.

At the heart of her work are values of accessibility, representation, and cultural fluency. Naya doesn’t just teach tech — she redefines what it looks like to belong in the industry.

Nyaradzo (Naya) Bere is a software engineer, speaker, and content creator, best known as the creator behind @theblackfemaleengineer- a vibrant platform that empowers over 200,000+ current and aspiring tech professionals across TikTok, Instagram, YouT... Show more

Hara Ledaki

Hara Ledaki

I design for user agency across digital products and interactive narratives.

I’m a Principal Product UX/UI Designer at Persado, where I work on generative AI systems that shape how language influences behavior at scale. My focus is designing the space where AI output meets human judgment.

I have 9+ years of experience in product design, including leading a design team as Head of Design. With a background in Product & Systems Design Engineering, I approach products as systems rather than isolated screens.

I’m also co-founder of Choose Your Fate, a platform where creators build interactive fiction and readers shape the narrative through their choices.

I write for UX Collective and Bootcamp, mentor designers on ADPList, and speak on product design, AI, and user agency.

I design for user agency across digital products and interactive narratives. I’m a Principal Product UX/UI Designer at Persado, where I work on generative AI systems that shape how language influences behavior at scale. My focus is designing the s... Show more

Ronnie Atuhaire

Ronnie Atuhaire

I am a Computer Science Student at Makerere University. I am a proud member of many tech communities including Twilio, Blockchain, GDSC (Google Developer Students Club), the Cybersecurity Association, and the Internet Society of Uganda. Additionally, I actively engage in various micro meetups and organizations that align with my tech interests.

In my free time, I channel my passion for technology into technical writing and vlogging, allowing me to share knowledge and insights with a broader audience. Alongside these endeavors, I am deeply involved in nurturing my startup projects, including MpaMpe and mPoint Hub. As a lifelong learner, I continuously seek opportunities for personal and professional growth within the ever-evolving world of technology.

I have also made significant contributions to the tech landscape as a Microsoft and Wolfram Ambassador, Twilio Champion, Notion Campus Lead, and GDSC Lead facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing within global tech communities.

More: https://linktr.ee/Atuhaire

I am a Computer Science Student at Makerere University. I am a proud member of many tech communities including Twilio, Blockchain, GDSC (Google Developer Students Club), the Cybersecurity Association, and the Internet Society of Uganda. Additionally,... Show more

Jeff McWherter

Jeff McWherter

Jeff McWherter is a seasoned business leader and tenacious problem solver with over 26 years in the tech industry. He has a deep understanding of the business landscape with a keen ability to navigate complex challenges with creativity and agility. From local startup to Fortune 500, he has worked with a wide client range, always adapting to the unique needs and challenges of each project. He has developed a deep understanding of the trends and technologies shaping the future of business, and is constantly seeking out new ideas and insights to stay ahead of the curve. Jeff is a three time published author and avid speaker at technical conferences across the world. A Michigan State University graduate, Jeff has also been instrumental in improving the software development community in Michigan and beyond. He founded Gravity Works Design & Development during the 2009 recession, which has since grown into one of the country's leading digital agencies. Jeff has led more than a decade of consistent, managed growth and numerous creative accolades, including Addy, W3, Vega, Davey, and PACE awards.

Jeff believes strong relationships are the foundation of any successful business venture, and is committed to fostering those connections both inside and outside the office. As a father and active community member, Jeff knows success isn't just about achieving your own goals: it's about helping others reach theirs. Whether leading a project, volunteering locally, or cheering on his daughters, Jeff is always looking to make a positive impact in the world around him.

Jeff's commitment to helping others achieve their goals is a testament to his leadership, fresh perspectives, and innovative solutions. Join the conversation, and get information about speaking engagements and projects.

Jeff McWherter is a seasoned business leader and tenacious problem solver with over 26 years in the tech industry. He has a deep understanding of the business landscape with a keen ability to navigate complex challenges with creativity and agility. F... Show more

Mithun A. Sridharan

Mithun A. Sridharan

I'm Mithun A. Sridharan, an entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker on Strategy, Management Consulting and Digital Transformation. I'm a Forbes Technology Council Thought Leader and a Member of Harvard Business Review Advisory Council. As a strategy and technology executive, I advise senior leaders and corporations derive value from their strategic technology investment portfolios. I am a TEDx speaker and regularly share insights at industry conferences and corporate events. I have also contributed thought leadership to high-impact journals and magazines, such as the World Economic Forum, the American Banker, Wired, Bloomberg, etc. I hold an MBA from ESMT Berlin, a Master of Science from Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, both in Germany and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Madras, India.

I'm Mithun A. Sridharan, an entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker on Strategy, Management Consulting and Digital Transformation. I'm a Forbes Technology Council Thought Leader and a Member of Harvard Business Review Advisory Council. As a strategy... Show more

Margaret Juhae Lee

Margaret Juhae Lee

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of the award-winning Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House), which was named a best book of 2024 by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. A former literary editor at The Nation, she received a Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korea Foundation. Her articles have been published in The Nation, Newsday, Elle, ARTnews, Writer's Digest and The Rumpus. A seasoned public speaker, she has lectured and taught workshops at universities, libraries and community organizations on searching for family history and how to talked to loved ones about the past, She lives in Oakland, California, with her family.

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of the award-winning Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House), which was named a best book of 2024 by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. A former literary editor at The Nation, she received ... Show more

Jonny Selimović

Jonny Selimović

Jonny Selimović, a.k.a. his artist name, Jonny Music, is an Organ Cover Artist who has produced over 920 organ covers of popular tunes and soundtrack music and counting for over 10 years. For a long time, he's had a profound and long-lasting passion for music and its powerful effects on positively changing lives, including music/rhythm games like the Rock Band and Guitar Hero series. Bonus fact: He has two mascots representing his music artist brand: his ponysona, Silver Whistle, and his mouse fursona, Jonny Musemiš.

Jonny Selimović, a.k.a. his artist name, Jonny Music, is an Organ Cover Artist who has produced over 920 organ covers of popular tunes and soundtrack music and counting for over 10 years. For a long time, he's had a profound and long-lasting passion ... Show more

Kat Gaines

Kat Gaines

Kat leads the Developer Relations team at PagerDuty. She enjoys talking and thinking about incident response and incident management based on 11+ years in the field, as well as customer support, healthy communication, and automating the creation of a delightful end-user and employee experience. In her spare time, Kat is a mediocre plant parent and a slightly less mediocre pet parent to her two rabbits, Lupin and Ginny.

Kat leads the Developer Relations team at PagerDuty. She enjoys talking and thinking about incident response and incident management based on 11+ years in the field, as well as customer support, healthy communication, and automating the creation of a... Show more

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