Khayri has over a decade of engineering experience, from co-founding a Knight Foundation award winning security startup to leading engineering at Al Jazeera America, The Atlantic, and Axios. He has spent his career building products that reach millions. Now he's building the digital layer that recreational sports has always been missing.

Khayri has over a decade of engineering experience, from co-founding a Knight Foundation award winning security startup to leading engineering at Al Jazeera America, The Atlantic, and Axios. He has spent his career building products that reach millio... Show more

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 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

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

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

Jeremy Conescu helps leaders and innovators craft authentic stories that drive trust, connection, and measurable success. With over 20 years of experience with brands like Adobe, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, and NASA, Jeremy has led more than $1B of client projects that have transformed businesses around the world.

Drawing from his background and education in theater and graphic design, Jeremy coaches audiences to find their authentic voice, and turn complex data into persuasive narratives. Whether you’re seeking to motivate a small group of stakeholders, inspire hundreds of executives, or energize thousands of attendees, Jeremy delivers engaging stories with hands-on activities that inspire lasting change.

Jeremy Conescu helps leaders and innovators craft authentic stories that drive trust, connection, and measurable success. With over 20 years of experience with brands like Adobe, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, and NASA, Jeremy has led more than $1B of client p... Show more

Michael Collett is a San Francisco born-and-based career designer with nearly two decades of experience in graphic, print, brand, web and generalized two-dimensional design. He has also taught, designed, developed and built exhibitions and public programs, while operating as a sole practitioner and team member at studios, start-ups and institutions.

He is currently the Design Director and a co-founder at Àrokò Cooperative, a worker-owned design studio and publishing concern.

Michael Collett is a San Francisco born-and-based career designer with nearly two decades of experience in graphic, print, brand, web and generalized two-dimensional design. He has also taught, designed, developed and built exhibitions and public pro... Show more

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

Multiple award winning agency owner. Started with zero resources, zero network and built a million dollar agency that is the only one in europe that has won tiktok awards twice, one of europe’s most sought after public speaker within field of AI and marketing. An international speaker seen on stages at Cannes Lions festival, TEDx, a taste of Brilliant Minds, Techarenan, Innowave Summit and many more.

Founder of Bright Mind Agency and oriiion.ai

Speaks from experience of working with some of the worlds biggest brands, how to actually succeed with marketing and ai, sharing personal stories and practical insights, tools and work flows that anyone could implement for immediate results.

Multiple award winning agency owner. Started with zero resources, zero network and built a million dollar agency that is the only one in europe that has won tiktok awards twice, one of europe’s most sought after public speaker within field of AI and ... Show more

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 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

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

I have been a Web Developer for over 14 years (Frontend, Fullstack).
I had experience working as a single web developer, as a member of big teams in FinTech, and as a Team Lead.

I enjoyed working on web 3D projects, awesome animations, visualizations, and good infographics. I am a speaker & organizer of tech meetups and conferences. I helped many students at different schools with learning web development. 
I like tech communities and modern technologies.

Over the last 8 years, I have been living in Luxembourg and organising the Lux TechPulse meetup. Last years I switched to Technical Management.

My passion is 🎮 video/board games, 🏞️ traveling, 🤿 diving, animals (I have a red cat 🐈), and cinema 🎥. I collect children's books from different countries and Christmas tree decorations.

I have been a Web Developer for over 14 years (Frontend, Fullstack).
I had experience working as a single web developer, as a member of big teams in FinTech, and as a Team Lead. I enjoyed working on web 3D projects, awesome animations, visualizati... Show more

Annalisa Nash Fernandez is a specialist in world cultures, focusing on cultural elements in technology and business strategy. An experienced corporate strategic planning director who worked globally as an expatriate executive based in emerging markets, she bridges her dual background as a sociolinguist to navigate cross-cultural communication in marketing, leadership, and the digital economy. Her expert quotes are featured widely, including by CIO magazine and the BBC, and her articles are published in trade journals and in leading media. Annalisa held various roles at Philip Morris International and Kraft Foods, based in São Paulo, Brazil, and investment banks, including Bankers Trust, based in New York City and Santiago, Chile. Annalisa holds an M.A. in language and translation from the University of Wisconsin, and a B.S. in international finance from Georgetown University.

Annalisa Nash Fernandez is a specialist in world cultures, focusing on cultural elements in technology and business strategy. An experienced corporate strategic planning director who worked globally as an expatriate executive based in emerging market... Show more

Nearly 20 years of industry experience launching national campaigns, spearheading announcements and counseling some of the country's most recognized brands including Ancestry, Cantu McDonald's, Pernod Ricard and Staples. Paris specializes in integrated brand communications with deep expertise in media relations, thought leadership, influencer marketing and event activations.

Paris has partnered, collaborated and advised senior leaders to create impactful communications plans that amplify companies' brand stories, authentically connect with diverse audiences and drive results leading to industry honors such as Anthem, Global Sabre, PR Week and Shorty Impact.

Drawing on this experience, she founded Vibrant Communications to help organizations tell their most authentic stories, connect deeply with audiences, and achieve bold growth.

Nearly 20 years of industry experience launching national campaigns, spearheading announcements and counseling some of the country's most recognized brands including Ancestry, Cantu McDonald's, Pernod Ricard and Staples. Paris specializes in integrat... Show more

Short Bio:
James has supported several ecosystems within Blockchain, DeFi & Web3 and is currently the Business Growth Manager at Hype. Hype is a crypto superagency specialising in 'go-to-market' for launching products, services & tokens.

James is a Brand Ambassador for one of the leading NFC companies within the crypto space - Card3.ai, as well as a Core Contributor and advisor for Steelo.io, a new SocialFi platform and dApp that is changing the way that the music industry engages with creators.

Long Bio:
James is a Web3 agency Founder and Marketer within c-suite. Having represented household brands as an Account Manager for over 14 years within Web2, he pivoted into the world of Web3 in 2019, as a CMO with the GratefulDAO.

He was integral in launching the GratefulDAO’s first NFT project - the Grateful Giraffes, raising $2.2 million through pre-sales and their public mint. He built the marketing team from the ground up and set out the Marketing strategy through their Social Media campaigns and Content Calendars.

Following his time with the GratefulDAO, he embarked on a Community Lead role with the 3rd biggest Crypto Media publication globally - BeInCrytpo. It was his responsibility to align and bolster their local communities around the world, operating in a total of 14 countries.

Financial freedom, inclusivity & self-sovereignty have been a passion for James from the beginning (buying his first Bitcoins in 2009), therefore naturally he has always been drawn towards DeFi.

In 2023 he joined the UK’s first FCA-regulated L1 blockchain - ReDeFi, alongside the BABB (Bank Account Based Blockchain) team as a Senior Marketing Manager. He helped grow their marketing team, establish their brand authority, optimise their content strategy and bolster their community as they launched their second token $RED. ReDeFi operated on a substrate layer 1 for privacy with a Layer 2 EVM-compatible para-chain with it's own ERC20 token $BAX. BABB is a NEO bank and launching the L1 with the team, allowed them to set the foundations for their own ecosystem and not just operate within the ethereum ecosystem.

Fast forward to today, he is the Business Growth Manager at Hype, a crypto super agency supporting web3 companies as they take their products, services and tokens to market.

🌴 https://linktr.ee/jayrae212

Short Bio: James has supported several ecosystems within Blockchain, DeFi & Web3 and is currently the Business Growth Manager at Hype. Hype is a crypto superagency specialising in 'go-to-market' for launching products, services & tokens. James is... Show more

Jon Rivers is the Co-Founder and COO of Marketeery, where he helps ERP and CRM partners, ISVs, and technology companies turn complex solutions into clear, compelling marketing that drives real pipeline. With 20+ years in the Microsoft and broader tech ecosystem, Jon focuses on the intersection of SEO, AEO, GEO, social media, and AI-driven search—and how those shifts are changing buyer behavior in the Dynamics channel.

Known as a pioneer in the Microsoft partner community, Jon leads go-to-market strategy at Marketeery across fractional CMO engagements and content-driven campaigns, with a sharp, performance-obsessed approach to improving traffic, engagement, and opportunities. He’s also a frequent conference and webinar speaker, regularly presenting at Directions North America, Community Summit, and Dynamics user groups and local chapters.

Jon Rivers is the Co-Founder and COO of Marketeery, where he helps ERP and CRM partners, ISVs, and technology companies turn complex solutions into clear, compelling marketing that drives real pipeline. With 20+ years in the Microsoft and broader tec... Show more

Passionated Product Manager shaping products that have impacted millions of lives over the past decade-many of which you likely use daily.

Throughout his career at NOS, Sanoma and Disney, Sam has collaborated with R&D teams from leading tech companies, consumer electronic manufacturers and automotive industry.

Passionated Product Manager shaping products that have impacted millions of lives over the past decade-many of which you likely use daily. Throughout his career at NOS, Sanoma and Disney, Sam has collaborated with R&D teams from leading tech compa... Show more

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

Native from a small south Caribbean island, passionate about good music and good food, Jonathan was convinced that he would have followed his dreams. Instead of being a chef in a starred restaurant on a paradise island, or being the sound engineer for several major international artists in a large studio in L.A., he finally preferred to take the red pill from the hands of Morpheus in order to fight in the Matrix.
Fervent defender of Neo, he first started with Mouse as a web developer. Following many updates, and more than 15 years of hard fighting, he is now in control of the Oracle as PO/PM and Product Coach to better guide this small team.

Native from a small south Caribbean island, passionate about good music and good food, Jonathan was convinced that he would have followed his dreams. Instead of being a chef in a starred restaurant on a paradise island, or being the sound engineer fo... Show more

Michael Bower is a 30+ year broadcasting and podcast veteran who has hosted national shows on Sirius Satellite Radio, delivered daily reports as a National Correspondent for NBC News Radio, and produced more than 1,000 podcasts across genres. As a former VP of Programming for Ingstad Minnesota Radio Network, he led talent development, coached on-air hosts, and even tested early AI “on-air personalities” — discovering why authenticity always beats automation.

Today, Michael brings that experience to the stage with talks that blend broadcast discipline, podcast innovation, and humor from his years in stand-up comedy. His signature sessions — Craft Over Clout, Process Over Perfection, and The AI DJ Problem — help creators cut through the noise, build loyal audiences, and reclaim quality in an algorithm-driven era.

Michael’s approach is simple but powerful: respect your listener’s time, earn their trust, and give them something they’ll come back for.

Michael Bower is a 30+ year broadcasting and podcast veteran who has hosted national shows on Sirius Satellite Radio, delivered daily reports as a National Correspondent for NBC News Radio, and produced more than 1,000 podcasts across genres. As a fo... Show more

Growth Product Manager @ Integrate | COO @ Agency 99 | Host @ CouzinTech Podcast | Community Lead @ The Product Leaders

Growth Product Manager @ Integrate | COO @ Agency 99 | Host @ CouzinTech Podcast | Community Lead @ The Product Leaders Show more

Amy Barthelemy is the solo founder of GovParti (govparti.net), a free civic intelligence platform covering all 3,127 US counties. The platform stores data from almost 50 federal sources locally, functioning as a living civic archive resilient to federal data removal. She is a published researcher (SSRN: 10928268), Latina first-generation American, military spouse, and mom.

Amy Barthelemy is the solo founder of GovParti (govparti.net), a free civic intelligence platform covering all 3,127 US counties. The platform stores data from almost 50 federal sources locally, functioning as a living civic archive resilient to fede... Show more

Lianne Stewart named something most marketing organizations feel but can't articulate: the Safety Tax. It's the cost of building narratives for the people who approve them internally rather than the people who need to believe them externally. Her work moves that conversation upstream, before the cost is already paid.

She's the founder of The Narrative Office, working with enterprise CMOs and senior marketing leaders at companies including Amazon Ads, Pinterest, Dolby, and Shopify. She spent 10+ years at Meta, including contributing to the internal communications strategy for the Facebook-to-Meta rebrand. She built the Narrative Council, an open-source scrutiny engine for the document nobody scrutinizes, and publishes The Safety Tax on Substack.

Lianne Stewart named something most marketing organizations feel but can't articulate: the Safety Tax. It's the cost of building narratives for the people who approve them internally rather than the people who need to believe them externally. Her wor... Show more

Josh Sanchez has been recognized as one of the Top Emerging Entrepreneurs by Forbes; The Culture. A Serial Entrepreneur Josh Sold his first company at 24. He has consulted for some of the biggest companies in the Silicon Slopes. His current entrepreneurial endeavor is DFRNT Media - that has garnered over +1,000,000,000 Views across all platforms for his clients' brands. He has produced 5 Podcasts in the Top 10% of Podcasts Globally with one peaking at Top 1% Globally.

Josh builds influence engines. Using video podcasting, media infrastructure, and storytelling systems, he helps founders, executives, and brands turn conversations into capital, authority, and long term leverage.
He is widely recognized for reframing media not as marketing—but as business infrastructure. Josh teaches leaders how to stop chasing attention and instead build owned media systems that compound trust, deal flow, and dominance.
Over the next era of creator and founder-led media, Josh is positioning as the definitive authority on video podcasting and clip-first media as a business acquisition engine.

Josh Sanchez has been recognized as one of the Top Emerging Entrepreneurs by Forbes; The Culture. A Serial Entrepreneur Josh Sold his first company at 24. He has consulted for some of the biggest companies in the Silicon Slopes. His current entrepren... Show more

Joris Quarshie is an Events and Programs Officer at Open Knowledge Impact Foundation, where he leads the planning and execution of impactful programs that promote open knowledge, community engagement, and digital inclusion. He works closely with diverse stakeholders to design initiatives that empower contributors, strengthen collaborative networks, and advance access to free and open information across communities.

Joris Quarshie is an Events and Programs Officer at Open Knowledge Impact Foundation, where he leads the planning and execution of impactful programs that promote open knowledge, community engagement, and digital inclusion. He works closely with dive... Show more

Cameron is a podcast strategist and awards analyst with nearly a decade in audio. He's helped 100+ brands develop podcasts, spoken at Podcast Movement multiple times, and been cited by Forbes, Podnews, and RadioInfo for his work on podcast awards.

Cameron is a podcast strategist and awards analyst with nearly a decade in audio. He's helped 100+ brands develop podcasts, spoken at Podcast Movement multiple times, and been cited by Forbes, Podnews, and RadioInfo for his work on podcast awards. Show more

Anastasiia Sosyniuk is an international digital strategist, marketing consultant, and speaker with more than 15 years of experience helping technology companies grow, scale, and enter new markets.

She is the Co-Founder of Go Global, a consultancy that supports businesses with international expansion, market positioning, content strategy, and AI-driven visibility. Anastasiia also leads the digital marketing function at Gart Solutions, where she develops growth strategies for cloud, technology, and B2B service companies.

Her expertise spans AI Visibility, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), content marketing, demand generation, and international go-to-market strategy. She works with organizations across Europe, North America, and the MENA region, helping them build authority, improve discoverability, and create scalable growth systems.

Anastasiia is an active advocate for practical AI adoption in marketing and business operations. She regularly advises founders, marketing leaders, and technology teams on how to leverage AI tools, automation, and emerging search technologies to improve efficiency and competitive advantage.

In 2026, she presented "AI Visibility for HealthTech: How HealthTech Startups Can Stand Out in AI Search" at the Nordic healthcare innovation conference Vitalis, where she shared frameworks for helping organizations become trusted sources in AI-generated search experiences.

Her speaking topics include:
• AI Visibility, GEO & AI Search
• International Market Expansion
• B2B & Technology Marketing
• Content Strategy & Thought Leadership
• SEO, AEO & Organic Growth
• Marketing Automation & AI Adoption

Based in Kyiv, Ukraine, Anastasiia combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution to help organizations navigate growth in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Anastasiia Sosyniuk is an international digital strategist, marketing consultant, and speaker with more than 15 years of experience helping technology companies grow, scale, and enter new markets. She is the Co-Founder of Go Global, a consultancy ... Show more

James Cridland is Editor of Podnews, the daily podcast newsletter.

Inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in January 2026, he was awarded the inaugural Ambies International Impact Award from The Podcast Academy in 2025.

James Cridland is Editor of Podnews, the daily podcast newsletter. Inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in January 2026, he was awarded the inaugural Ambies International Impact Award from The Podcast Academy in 2025. Show more

In the high-stakes B2B ecosystem, moving from a transactional business to a category-leading brand is not a cosmetic exercise. You cannot solve a deep positioning gap with a prettier logo, a generic press release, or superficial copy. It requires a structural redesign of how your business communicates its value.

My approach to strategic communications was forged over 7+ years of building brand strategies for high-growth enterprises and turning around struggling creative agencies and internal communications teams.

But what makes my methodology distinct is where I learned to analyze structures: the tax litigation matters of law firms, PwC India, and at the Delhi High Court. As a former tax litigation lawyer and LL.M. Gold Medalist, I spent 8 years dissecting complex corporate systems in an active legal practice pan-India. This brings unmatched analytical structure, logical flow, and risk-mitigation discipline to brand strategy, narratives, and visual language.

Today, as the Corporate Brand Architect and Founder of Alabaster Comms, I apply that exact analytical rigor to build corporate brand systems for mid-market enterprises, professional services firms, and startups, ensuring their communication strategies structurally align with their commercial goals.

I consult from a lived experience of:

M&A Value Creation: Designing the comprehensive brand strategy and positioning for a mid-tier IT services player, elevating its market posture to play a critical role in its successful acquisition.

Professional Services Scale: Architecting the organic regional narrative for a specialized cross-border law firm, driving their LinkedIn positioning to 10K+ high-value followers purely from scratch.

Agency Turnaround & Operations: Restructuring an APAC creative agency as Head of Client Services, stabilizing team operations, retaining major regional retainers, and securing a shortlist for South Asia Independent Agency of the Year.

Analytical Advocacy: Deploying the mental mobility, attention to detail, and cross-cultural adaptability gained from an LL.M. Gold Medal and an army background to solve high-pressure stakeholder alignment issues.

In the high-stakes B2B ecosystem, moving from a transactional business to a category-leading brand is not a cosmetic exercise. You cannot solve a deep positioning gap with a prettier logo, a generic press release, or superficial copy. It requires a s... Show more