Alok Band is a product leader with 18+ years of experience building and scaling streaming platforms, developer ecosystems, and adtech services. He is currently Head of Product for Developer Platform and Media Services at The Trade Desk, where he is part of the founding team of the Ventura CTV operating system. Previously he led product and partnerships at Google (Google TV ecosystem, 50M+ partner devices; Google Duo, 1B+ downloads), Roku (Director of PM, built The Roku Channel's ML-powered growth platform), Google Fiber, and Netflix (200M+ partner device activations). He writes about product strategy in the agentic AI era and is pursuing independent speaking on AI agents, developer platforms, and product leadership.

Alok Band is a product leader with 18+ years of experience building and scaling streaming platforms, developer ecosystems, and adtech services. He is currently Head of Product for Developer Platform and Media Services at The Trade Desk, where he is p... Show more

Heather Satterley is the Director of Education of Media at Woodard.

Heather’s passion for helping others and her love for technology have shaped her career in public accounting. Her affinity for facilitating change within an organization is paramount to her work, helping businesses design and automate their business processes using cutting-edge technologies. Heather wholeheartedly believes in the power of community and the magic that is created when people work together toward the same purpose.

In addition to her work with Woodard, Heather is the co-host of The Appy Hour with Liz and Heather, a webinar series devoted to demystifying the world of technology and apps in the accounting profession. She is also the co-creator and producer of Appy Hour Camp, a collaborative retreat experience created to connect and nurture the relationship between accounting professional educators and software developers.

Heather was named a categorical top 10 ProAdvisor in 2017 and 2019 and was listed as one of the top influential people in accounting by Accounting Today in 2019.

Heather Satterley is the Director of Education of Media at Woodard. Heather’s passion for helping others and her love for technology have shaped her career in public accounting. Her affinity for facilitating change within an organization is param... Show more

Jean-Yves AHOUANVOEDO is a digital professional who combines web development, agile project management, and content creation. He progressed from freelance web developer to IT project manager over the course of more than three years. He has led Digitalize Bénin since 2022 and has been creating content for the media outlet Bénin Bouge since 2024. Since September 2026, he has been the head of information systems in charge of R&D at Agence PROCOM. As an enthusiast of artificial intelligence, he is well-positioned to bridge the gaps between technology, communication, and innovation in Benin, a country that is heavily investing in AI.

Jean-Yves AHOUANVOEDO is a digital professional who combines web development, agile project management, and content creation. He progressed from freelance web developer to IT project manager over the course of more than three years. He has led Digita... Show more

Olga Shpuntenko is an engineer by training who has spent twenty years building measurement systems for people inside technology companies. She currently leads people and AI adoption inside a distributed European technology group and runs Employee Rocks, an independent research practice on AI adoption measurement. She writes on how LLMs actually work for people who are not engineers and shares her practice openly with the professional community.

Olga Shpuntenko is an engineer by training who has spent twenty years building measurement systems for people inside technology companies. She currently leads people and AI adoption inside a distributed European technology group and runs Employee Roc... Show more

Katherine Druckman is a senior technologist, speaker, and longtime advocate for open ecosystems. Currently Head of Community and Partnership Engagement at JetBrains, she specializes in developer experience, combining software ecosystem strategy, content strategy, and community building, grounded in a foundation of hands-on software engineering experience and proven leadership. She is a long-time open source advocate, developer, and podcaster, and is currently the host of the Reality2.0 podcast.

Katherine Druckman is a senior technologist, speaker, and longtime advocate for open ecosystems. Currently Head of Community and Partnership Engagement at JetBrains, she specializes in developer experience, combining software ecosystem strategy, cont... Show more

Maurice Cherry is an award-winning creative leader, editorial strategist, and cultural producer whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, technology, media, and design. For more than 25 years, he has built platforms, creative systems, and bodies of work that turn ideas into meaningful experiences for audiences. His approach combines editorial judgment, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of how communities form around stories—particularly stories and perspectives that traditional creative industries have too often overlooked.

Across writing, design, podcasting, voice acting, and creative strategy, Maurice's work is connected by a consistent idea: good creative work needs more than execution. It needs a point of view, an audience, and a system that allows it to endure. That philosophy is perhaps best represented by Revision Path, the groundbreaking podcast he created to document the experiences of Black designers, developers, and digital creatives. Revision Path made history as the first podcast inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). His other independent projects—including the Black Weblog Awards, 28 Days of the Web, The Year of Tea, and the design anthology RECOGNIZE—similarly reflect a career spent creating spaces for ideas, people, and communities that deserve greater attention.

His design work, advocacy, and projects have garnered acclaim from leading organizations and publications, including Apple, Adobe, NPR, Forbes, and Fast Company. Most recently, in 2025, he was honored as one of the Eames Institute's Curious 100, recognizing his innovative contributions to reframing perspectives, amplifying voices, and inspiring action. He served as the Maryland Institute College of Art's 2021 William O. Steinmetz designer-in-residence, and in 2018, he received the Steven Heller Prize for Cultural Commentary from AIGA, was named one of GDUSA’s “People to Watch,” and was included in The Root 100, their annual list of the most influential African-Americans ages 25 to 45. That same year, Creative Loafing Atlanta recognized him as one of their Influentials in the fields of business and technology. Earlier in his career, Maurice was named one of Atlanta’s “Power 30 Under 30″ in Science and Technology by the Apex Society and was selected as one of HP’s “50 Tech Tastemakers” in collaboration with Black Web 2.0. He is also a valued executive member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Maurice’s approach to design strategy, problem solving, and creative systems is grounded in analytical thinking developed through his studies at Morehouse College, where he earned a degree in Mathematics.

Maurice Cherry is an award-winning creative leader, editorial strategist, and cultural producer whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, technology, media, and design. For more than 25 years, he has built platforms, creative systems, and ... Show more

Francesco Marinoni Moretto works on agent-native commerce, how merchants and publishers make their catalogs and content legible to AI purchasing agents.

He is the author of the Layered Agentic Retrieval (LAR) working paper and the forthcoming book "Selling to Agents: The Merchant Playbook for Agentic Commerce".

His current focus is the publisher-side surfaces -and the payment rails (UCP/ACP, HTTP Message Signatures)- that sit in front of MCP and APIs. He also builds open tooling for probing and serving agent-consumable commerce endpoints (like ucp-probe and the LAR spec).

He also created two open-source frameworks on AI reliability, Stream Coding, a documentation-first methodology for AI-accelerated development (stream-coding.com), and Clarity Gate, a pre-ingestion verification protocol for RAG epistemic quality (github.com/frmoretto/clarity-gate), both from a single thesis: LLMs don't need help, they need clear and excellent documentation.

Based in Milan, he is AI Practice and Community Leader at N1AI, a 400+ member professional group.

Recently he moderated a roundtable hosted by GS1 Italy on agentic commerce and was the guest in a fireside chat at the ILTA Legal Tech On Tour in Milan. He presents regularly at Milan AI events including Claude Code Meetup, AI Tinkerers and Aperitivo AI.

Francesco Marinoni Moretto works on agent-native commerce, how merchants and publishers make their catalogs and content legible to AI purchasing agents. He is the author of the Layered Agentic Retrieval (LAR) working paper and the forthcoming book... Show more

Jonas Rashedi is Chief Digital Officer and a member of the management board at FALKE KGaA, where he owns IT, data and AI — scalable architectures and data-driven decision processes inside an international family-owned business.

Before FALKE he was Chief Data Officer at FUNKE Mediengruppe and Director Data Intelligence & Technologies at Douglas. Across 16+ years he has built data teams, platforms and governance from scratch — in corporates as well as in the German Mittelstand.

He hosts MY DATA IS BETTER THAN YOURS, the largest German-language Data & AI podcast, with 330+ episodes and weekly conversations with CDOs, Heads of AI and data practitioners across DACH. He is the author of six Springer books on data strategy, customer data platforms, data-driven organizations and online targeting — two of them in English.

Jonas has delivered 100+ talks on stages including DMEXCO, OMR, CMCX, d3con, K5, Medientage München and tekom, and lectures on data-driven marketing at DHBW. He also curates the monthly Data & AI Meetup series across DACH cities and the annual conference BEYOND THE DASHBOARD.

On stage he is practitioner-first: no buzzwords, no recycled consulting decks. Monday morning CDO, Friday evening speaker. Available in German and English.

Jonas Rashedi is Chief Digital Officer and a member of the management board at FALKE KGaA, where he owns IT, data and AI — scalable architectures and data-driven decision processes inside an international family-owned business. Before FALKE he was... 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. She recently became a Licensed Massage Therapist and opened her own bodywork business.

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

Deepak Wadhwani is a New Delhi-based speaker and entrepreneur known as the Business Buddha — a philosophy built on a simple premise: ambition guided by awareness, and calm as a leadership strategy, not a compromise on it.

As a speaker, Deepak has taken the stage at TEDx with "The Art of Persuasion," a talk built around a counter-intuitive idea — that real influence comes not from being louder, but from being clearer. He regularly speaks at business forums, leadership events, and entrepreneur communities on persuasion, conscious leadership, and the discipline of staying still in fast-moving industries. His talks are conversations, not performances — reflective, direct, and built around the question rooms full of business owners are usually too busy to ask themselves.
He is also a frequent voice on podcasts, where his unscripted, in-conversation style has become one of his most recognized formats — long-form discussions on business, persuasion, and leadership where the value lies in honest thinking rather than rehearsed answers.

Alongside his speaking work, Deepak is the founder of Natraj Home Furnishings and serves as India Growth Director for The Alternative Board (TAB), where he advises CEOs and business owners directly. He also runs the Chirag Foundation, a nonprofit established in memory of his late brother.

His core message across stages, podcasts, and boardrooms remains the same: build without noise. The most important decisions are rarely made in urgency — they're made in stillness, after the noise settles.

Deepak Wadhwani is a New Delhi-based speaker and entrepreneur known as the Business Buddha — a philosophy built on a simple premise: ambition guided by awareness, and calm as a leadership strategy, not a compromise on it. As a speaker, Deepak has ... Show more

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

With a broad, multidisciplinary background in software development, architecture, product ownership, and marketing, Fernandez is a gifted technology leader. He holds degrees in informatics and computer science and a Master’s in Finance, which shaped his combined expertise in technical and business realms.

Over the past 20 years, Fernandez has overseen more than 250 projects across four continents and 25 countries, delivering technical solutions in content, commerce, mobile, and martech for some of the world’s most renowned companies. From writing code as a developer and designing systems as an architect to training teams, serving as a CTO, advising global enterprises, defining product roadmaps, and developing marketing strategies, he has taken on nearly every role in technology and digital innovation.

Fernandez has led multicultural teams of managers, content experts, engineers, strategists, and architects (he is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English). His professional mission is to constantly close the gap between business vision and technical execution. His work in media, retail, banking, hospitality, telecoms, and technology has given him a comprehensive view of the possibilities and challenges businesses face in the digital age.

Currently serving as Executive Director of Technology in VML, Fernandez is focused on the future of content, marketing, and automation platforms, investigating how companies can produce, distribute, and profit from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, composable architectures, and data-driven personalization.

With a broad, multidisciplinary background in software development, architecture, product ownership, and marketing, Fernandez is a gifted technology leader. He holds degrees in informatics and computer science and a Master’s in Finance, which shaped ... Show more

Rex Rainey is a creative director, designer, and illustrator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He specializes in branding, UX design, and illustration. Since 2005, he's combined these skills to develop creative solutions that are engaging, exciting, and effective.

Rex Rainey is a creative director, designer, and illustrator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He specializes in branding, UX design, and illustration. Since 2005, he's combined these skills to develop creative solutions that are engaging, exciting, a... Show more

Otobong Samuel is a storyteller and writer with a background in Computer Engineering. He blends creativity with clarity, making complex tech ideas simple and relatable. Through his narratives, he shows how technology isn’t just about tools, but about people, challenges, and the stories that shape our future.

Otobong Samuel is a storyteller and writer with a background in Computer Engineering. He blends creativity with clarity, making complex tech ideas simple and relatable. Through his narratives, he shows how technology isn’t just about tools, but about... Show more

Svetlana Kouznetsova (Sveta) is an independent B2B accessibility strategy consultant, published author, and international speaker. She advises businesses on identifying and closing gaps between formal compliance and the actual customer experiences of the estimated 1.85 billion disabled people worldwide — a substantial and frequently underserved market. Her work addresses digital platforms, customer service, communications, media, and events.

With more than 25 years of experience in design, technology, and accessibility, Sveta combines professional expertise with lived experience as a deaf person. Her work examines how decisions made by leadership, customer experience, marketing, design, technology, content, and frontline teams can either create or remove barriers.

Sveta is the author of Sound Is Not Enough and the founder of Audio Accessibility. Her book and TEDx talk examine the business value of high-quality captioning and communication access. She holds an MS in Internet Technology and has presented internationally since 2007.

Svetlana Kouznetsova (Sveta) is an independent B2B accessibility strategy consultant, published author, and international speaker. She advises businesses on identifying and closing gaps between formal compliance and the actual customer experiences of... Show more

A co-founder of QuestionsHeal Inc, and A2Agile Inc., Tom has overseen the delivery of hundreds of projects with budgets counted in the billions. He has been creating, teaching, and implementing agile methodologies for almost two decades with a current focus on building AI enabled teams.

Tom was a co-founder of one of the most successful little agile software development houses in the country, Menlo Innovations LLC. He consults on how to leverage ceremony, feedback, and metrics to achieve higher levels of engagement and success.

Tom has a direct marketer’s view on metrics. His best-selling book Ultimate Guide to Facebook Advertising was first published in 2011 by the Entrepreneur Press, the fourth edition was released in 2020.

Tom is a strong advocate for ceremony, something he considers a forgotten art, and authored the book Ceremony: A Profound New Method for Achieving Successful and Sustainable Change, released June 2017.

A co-founder of QuestionsHeal Inc, and A2Agile Inc., Tom has overseen the delivery of hundreds of projects with budgets counted in the billions. He has been creating, teaching, and implementing agile methodologies for almost two decades with a curren... Show more

Abdel Aziz Oumar El-Bashi is a digital communications specialist and elections observer, currently serving as Communications Officer at the Policy Lab for Civic Innovation and Community Solutions. Trained in law, with over six years of experience in digital marketing, branding, and strategic communications, he is a member of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Alliance and a participant in the 2026 UNESCO MIL Hackathon challenge, where he contributed to technology-driven responses to disinformation. As an election observer, he has witnessed several elections firsthand, gaining direct insight into how disinformation, online harassment, and toxic digital environments shape civic discourse, voter confidence, and participation. He previously served as Chapter Executive Vice President of JCI Yaoundé Universities, was named Best Member of JCI Cameroon for the first half of 2020, and is a Gold Award holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, a member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and an alumnus of the Aspire Institute Training Program. His advocacy centers on digital literacy, safe civic spaces, and inclusive participation, ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized voices can engage in democratic processes without fear or harm.

Abdel Aziz Oumar El-Bashi is a digital communications specialist and elections observer, currently serving as Communications Officer at the Policy Lab for Civic Innovation and Community Solutions. Trained in law, with over six years of experience in ... Show more

Favour Onwuka is a Marketing Communications and Media Professional who builds the systems behind how ideas grow and scale. She is a trained Medical Laboratory Scientist, and that systems-first thinking now shapes her work across media, communications, creative strategy, and the creator economy.

She helps creators and professionals build things that last, including projects, careers, and commercially valuable brands. Over the past seven years, she has worked across energy, health-tech, food, and digital media, contributing to creator-led projects, digital communities, content and IP development, partnerships, and campaigns that have generated 3M+ views and reached audiences across multiple platforms.

Through her work, Favour explores how creators, communities, brands, and cultural ideas can be structured for sustainable growth and commercial value. She also runs Socialmediamadam Digital, where she helps professionals and creators build intentional digital presence and sustainable growth strategies.

Favour Onwuka is a Marketing Communications and Media Professional who builds the systems behind how ideas grow and scale. She is a trained Medical Laboratory Scientist, and that systems-first thinking now shapes her work across media, communications... Show more

Varun Poladiya is a tech marketer with 12+ years of experience across AdTech, EdTech, IT and AI. He started his career as an intern at Google, then worked at Media.net (Directi) helping publishers like Ookla Speedtest, MSN, VentureBeat, Reuters and others to increase their revenue from ad inventory, co-founded EduTronics and taught coding and robotics to 4000+ students and educators across India, Malaysia, Singapore and UAE and then joined navan.ai to lead marketing for AI products and solutions. He has taught vision AI development to 1500+ students and developers across India, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

He has recently founded FIRE with Founders where he helps B2B tech companies to build distribution as a moat. He is also one of the organizers at GDG Cloud Rajkot.

Contact: +918655482220 / varun@firewithfounders.com

Varun Poladiya is a tech marketer with 12+ years of experience across AdTech, EdTech, IT and AI. He started his career as an intern at Google, then worked at Media.net (Directi) helping publishers like Ookla Speedtest, MSN, VentureBeat, Reuters and o... Show more

Mathias Weber is a Managing Consultant in the Data & AI practice at a leading independent IT service provider. With two years of experience in Forensic Analytics and five years in Data Architecture Consulting, he helps clients navigate complex data & AI challenges and align technology solutions with strategic goals.

Beyond consulting, Mathias is an active technology scout in Berlin’s vibrant tech scene, having attended as well as documented more than 200+ tech events and having published insights in the book Other People’s Software Endeavours as well as on the website almatzo-techscouting.eu.

Mathias Weber is a Managing Consultant in the Data & AI practice at a leading independent IT service provider. With two years of experience in Forensic Analytics and five years in Data Architecture Consulting, he helps clients navigate complex data &... Show more

Amit Grinvald is a keynote speaker, moderator, and communication strategist who works with leaders and experts across corporate, startup, and investor environments to communicate complex ideas with clarity and conviction in high-stakes situations.

Over the past decade, he has worked with everyone from Fortune 500 executives and award-winning founders to Olympic medalists and aerospace engineers. His clients include leaders from organisations such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, Deloitte, Capgemini, Red Hat, Rolls-Royce, and Johnson & Johnson.

His work in the venture ecosystem spans both founder and investor perspectives. He is a mentor with Google for Startups and the Startup World Cup, and has supported companies through €60M+ fundraising rounds.

Amit regularly hosts and leads conversations at international conferences, including TED, SXSW London, and South Summit. He is also the founder and long-time lead organiser of TEDxUNYP, one of Europe's most recognised TEDx events, with multiple TED Editor's Picks and several talks ranked among the global Top 100.

His sessions are practical, interactive, and built for the room in front of him, whether that room is full of engineers, executives, or first-time speakers. Attendees leave with tools they can use in their very next meeting, pitch, or presentation.

Amit Grinvald is a keynote speaker, moderator, and communication strategist who works with leaders and experts across corporate, startup, and investor environments to communicate complex ideas with clarity and conviction in high-stakes situations. ... Show more

My goal is to help people develop media literacy in an environment where culture is accelerating faster than most people can interpret.

My work focuses on the systems underneath contemporary digital life: how memes encode cultural behavior, how algorithms reorganize attention, how advertising collapses spatial boundaries, and how the underlying protocols of media shape what we believe, share, and understand.

I’m a digital culture analyst and media theorist and I’ve spent my life moving through every major shift in digital culture. I began on a Commodore Vic20 writing BASIC programs on loose-leaf paper. I discovered the early web through Netscape in art school, studying Intermedia when digital experimentation was still a fringe idea. I worked through the rise of social platforms, the marketing era of Web2, the speculative creativity of Web3 and I’ve now arrived in the AI era as an educator and media theorist trying to explain what all of this means.

My work explains the systems behind contemporary digital life: meme dynamics, protocol aesthetics, algorithmic influence and the collapse of traditional media logic. Rather than focusing on tools, I work to uncover the deeper structures that shape how people think, communicate and create.

I’ve spent my life moving through every major shift in digital culture. I began on a Commodore Vic20 writing BASIC programs on loose-leaf paper. I discovered the early web through Netscape in art school, studying Intermedia when digital experimentation was still a fringe idea. I worked through the rise of social platforms, the marketing era of Web2, the speculative creativity of Web3, and I’ve now arrived in the AI era as an educator and media theorist trying to explain what all of this means.

I’m not teaching people how to use tools. I’m trying to map the deeper structures.

I believe in what I’m talking about because I’ve been there to see it form:

A student in Web1.
A practitioner in Web2.
An educator in Web3.
A theorist in the AI era.

Everything I publish - talks, videos, essays, posts and digital projects is an attempt to make digital culture legible.

My goal is to help people develop media literacy in an environment where culture is accelerating faster than most people can interpret. My work focuses on the systems underneath contemporary digital life: how memes encode cultural behavior, how al... Show more

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

Maximillian Naza is an entrepreneur and technology executive who founded PasciVite and Hope Records, where he serves as CEO and CTO, respectively. He is also a General Partner at Bias Capital. With a background in computer science and software engineering, his work spans artificial intelligence, go-to-market strategy, media, and business development.

He mentors startups through Techstars, Alchemist Accelerator, and Plug and Play, with a particular focus on helping international companies enter and grow in the U.S. market. He has also delivered workshops for startup founder delegations from Italy, the Netherlands, and Kazakhstan, covering market research, go-to-market strategy, public relations, and enterprise sales.

As a speaker, Maximillian explores the decisions behind business growth, from how enterprises evaluate risk and unfamiliar vendors to how companies establish credibility, win customers, and expand into new markets. Drawing on his experience as a founder, operator, and investor, he examines how technology, marketing, and organizational reputation influence commercial outcomes, challenging conventional assumptions and sharing lessons grounded in practical experience.

Maximillian Naza is an entrepreneur and technology executive who founded PasciVite and Hope Records, where he serves as CEO and CTO, respectively. He is also a General Partner at Bias Capital. With a background in computer science and software engine... Show more

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
Digital Experience Managerin
- Projektteam Einführung eines Social Intranets
- Interne Kommunikation
- Projektleitung Einführung Microsoft 365 im Unternehmen
- Microsoft 365 Cloud Navigator
- Microsoft 365-Champion
- Service Owner Microsoft 365

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 Digital Experience Managerin - Projektteam Einführung eines ... Show more

Leslie has spent 16 years blending creativity and strategy to help businesses increase sales. Understanding communications is both an art and a science, she develops brand messaging that isn’t afraid to be bold with customer connection. Known for enhancing digital presences that spark new profits and secure buy-in, she's trusted by corporations and nonprofits to deliver results.

A champion of entrepreneurship, Leslie teaches how she turned her side hustle into a life-time six-figure business through her signature P.L.A.N. Method. She now shares that framework in workshops and keynotes, inspiring new entrepreneurs across the country. Daily, she runs her communications consulting firm, Sharpline Messaging Group, where she transforms businesses and nonprofits into brands that exceed revenue goals, and build lasting customer relationships.

Leslie is a proud alum of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Marketing. Through her academic excellence she was recognized as a Johnetta Haley Scholar, Dean's List Scholar, and Enterprise Corporation awardee. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the SIUE Alumni Association.

In 2025 she earned a certification in Artificial Intelligence Essentials for Business from Harvard Business School Online. In her career, she's led communications projects for corporations like 3M, Boeing and the American Heart Association, and guided digital growth as Communications Director for the largest church in Madison County, IL.

Originally from Chicago, she now calls the St. Louis area home and enjoys traveling with her husband, Jarrod.

Leslie has spent 16 years blending creativity and strategy to help businesses increase sales. Understanding communications is both an art and a science, she develops brand messaging that isn’t afraid to be bold with customer connection. Known for enh... Show more

I run Hit My Algo, a marketing agency in Saint Louis.
We build client-owned marketing systems that report their own results.

Content, social and funnel run as one machine.
A plan first, then the build, then the client either takes it from there or we run it for them.
The domain, the data and the accounts stay theirs.

The piece I build myself is the measurement layer.
PostTrace tracks post to payment, joining social, GA4, scheduling and payments into one place the business owns.
It has an MCP connector so you can ask it questions in plain language instead of reading a dashboard.

Before this, nine years in content across roughly a dozen industries.
I ran socials for Forbes-listed AI and SaaS platforms at Series A and B, and grew the personal brands of leaders at tech companies valued up to ten figures.

I run Hit My Algo, a marketing agency in Saint Louis. We build client-owned marketing systems that report their own results. Content, social and funnel run as one machine. A plan first, then the build, then the client either takes it from there ... Show more

Mollie Adler is the creator and host of Back from the Borderline, a long-form podcast exploring depth psychology, philosophy, religious history, Western esotericism and the ways human beings develop their understanding of reality.

Her work investigates how we come to believe what we believe, how institutions influence our understanding of the world and how ideas change as they’re passed between generations. Through conversations with scholars and independent researchers, alongside her own audio essays, she explores everything from Jungian psychology and Christian mysticism to artificial intelligence, occult history and contemporary culture.

Her independent platform has grown into a substantial creator-supported community, with:

* 7,000+ Patreon members
* A global ranking in the top 0.5% of podcasts, according to Listen Notes
* Hundreds of long-form episodes exploring psychology, philosophy and contemporary life

Adler approaches controversial subjects with intellectual independence, investigating unconventional theories while remaining willing to question the authorities promoting them. Her work draws on historical research, depth psychology and cultural criticism, with a particular concern for how institutions can preserve valuable knowledge while also restricting the ways people understand and use it.

She is also the co-founder of MOODS, a reflective intelligence platform that uses AI to support dreamwork, Tarot study and sustained personal inquiry. The project explores how emerging technologies might support human reflection rather than simply provide instant answers.

Adler has spoken at South by Southwest (SXSW) about artificial intelligence and consciousness, and her work has been featured in outlets including Novara Media.

Her speaking subjects include artificial intelligence and consciousness, the psychology of emerging technologies, Western esotericism, religious history, Jungian psychology, institutional authority and the cultural forces influencing contemporary belief.

She welcomes invitations for conference talks, podcast interviews, panel discussions and media collaborations.

Speaking and media inquiries can be submitted through ⁠backfromtheborderline.com.

Mollie Adler is the creator and host of Back from the Borderline, a long-form podcast exploring depth psychology, philosophy, religious history, Western esotericism and the ways human beings develop their understanding of reality. Her work investi... Show more

Vontavius Hurd is an award-winning marketing strategist ,and content creator. He helps entrepreneurs, business owners, real estate pros, and organizations grow strategically so they stay relevant and never become extinct. When he’s not speaking, he runs his marketing agency, sells out impactful webinars and workshops, and partners with brands as a lifestyle and travel influencer. Off the clock, you’ll probably find him gaming or streaming.

Vontavius Hurd is an award-winning marketing strategist ,and content creator. He helps entrepreneurs, business owners, real estate pros, and organizations grow strategically so they stay relevant and never become extinct. When he’s not speaking, he r... Show more

Sujith Vellat is an accomplished technology executive with extensive experience leading and
implementing innovative solutions across industries.

As Chief Technology Officer, Sujith played a critical role in enhancing ViewLift's technology capabilities
and delivering cutting-edge solutions to streaming customers in broadcasting, entertainment,
and sports.
Under Sujith's leadership, ViewLift has implemented multi-cloud infrastructure, giving customers
the flexibility to choose their preferred cloud provider for their DTC streaming platform. He has
also spearheaded major enhancements to ViewLift's live streaming solutions, enabling
low-latency delivery at scale for clients across broadcasting, entertainment, and sports.
More recently, Sujith has led the development of ViewLift's practical AI innovations, including AI
Clipping, which turns live play into instant highlights; FanAssist AI, delivering always-on,
multilingual fan support; personalization powered by Vertex AI; and Conversational AI Search,
which uses semantic, intent-based understanding to help viewers discover content through
natural language.
Sujith's commitment to innovation and exceptional leadership have been instrumental in
positioning ViewLift as a leader in the streaming industry. He continues to drive the evolution of
ViewLift's proprietary technology stack, empowering D2C streaming properties to distribute
content across web, mobile, OTT, smart TVs, and gaming consoles, while enabling flexible,
hybrid monetization models that help clients acquire and retain viewers.

Sujith Vellat is an accomplished technology executive with extensive experience leading and implementing innovative solutions across industries. As Chief Technology Officer, Sujith played a critical role in enhancing ViewLift's technology capabil... Show more