James Kaminsky is a senior editorial director and digital content strategist who has overseen editorial teams for leading names in the media industry. His professional experience covers both print and digital publishing, and he has directed content strategy for Maxim, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, Realtor.com, and Homes.com.

James was raised in Westport, Connecticut. He attended Boston University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Film and Broadcast Journalism. While still a student, he contributed to the university newspaper and completed an internship at The Boston Globe, which provided him with valuable early newsroom experience. After graduating, he moved to New York and began his career in business publishing, steadily progressing through editorial ranks to become editor-in-chief at Act III Communications. In that position, he guided teams focused on content that spanned entertainment, business, and technology.

As his career advanced, he shifted toward consumer magazines and freelanced for several respected publications. This eventually led to senior editorial roles at Men’s Journal and Conde Nast Sports for Women, where he helped develop editorial strategies and launch new initiatives—his time at Men’s Journal involved shaping the magazine’s direction. At the same time, at Conde Nast, he gained experience with new publication launches.

In 1999, James Kaminsky joined Maxim as executive editor, contributing to the publication’s rapid rise in the United States. He later became an editorial director at Playboy, where he played a pivotal role in evolving the brand and updating its journalistic approach to appeal to a new audience.

He continued to take on leadership roles at Wenner Media, working with both Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal to strengthen content offerings and expand digital efforts. Returning to Maxim, he helped steer the magazine through changing industry dynamics.

James then took on editorial leadership at Life Reimagined for AARP. He went on to serve as Senior Editorial Director at Realtor.com for more than eight years, building a digital news operation from the ground up. His latest position at Homes.com involved directing content about luxury real estate in New York.

Today, James Kaminsky enjoys cycling, hiking, and films. He now works independently as a consultant and writer, bringing his editorial expertise to a range of projects and clients.

James Kaminsky is a senior editorial director and digital content strategist who has overseen editorial teams for leading names in the media industry. His professional experience covers both print and digital publishing, and he has directed content s... Show more

Leslie Grandy is an accomplished author, speaker, and CEO advisor who helps companies, teams, and product leaders leverage creative thinking to elevate their organizations, conquer their markets, and maintain relevance in a rapidly changing world. Leslie works with start-ups and large publicly traded companies, including Oracle, Starbucks, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, to empower individuals at all levels to identify innovative solutions and think expansively.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Leslie Grandy has taken an unconventional path as a creative leader. From her successful stint in the film industry in Los Angeles as a member of the Directors Guild of America, she transitioned to leadership roles in iconic brands such as Amazon, Best Buy, Discovery, T-Mobile, and Apple. Her ability to build teams from scratch and launch pioneering products has been the hallmark of her success, leading the team that launched the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, and the ground-breaking digital media subscription service RealOne SuperPass. This innovative streaming service included major content brands like Turner, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, CNN, and ABCNews and, as part of its development, Leslie co-authored a patent currently held by Intel. She has also led internal innovation labs and is an IDEO-trained leader in Design Thinking.

More recently, Grandy co-created the Product Management Leadership Accelerator, part of the University of Washington Foster School of Business Executive Education program, where she serves as the Lead Executive in Residence. Leslie Grandy is also a member of the Board of Advisors and Adjunct Faculty at Regis College's Marshall Sloane School of Business, as well as West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media.

Leslie Grandy is an accomplished author, speaker, and CEO advisor who helps companies, teams, and product leaders leverage creative thinking to elevate their organizations, conquer their markets, and maintain relevance in a rapidly changing world. Le... Show more

Nalin Theodore is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies. During his time at CNU, Nalin was actively involved in the Presidential Leadership Program, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, Residence Life, and the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. Nalin’s interest in sustainability grew through his involvement in student-led environmental initiatives and his work as a Reuzzi Student Ambassador. In this role, he used his strengths in communication, storytelling, and video production to create engaging promotional content that raised awareness of Reuzzi’s sustainable solutions and encouraged more environmentally conscious choices among college students. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management at George Mason University while working as a Sales Consultant at Safford Subaru Manassas. Nalin is passionate about using communication, leadership, and creative media to strengthen communities and make sustainability more accessible and engaging. Outside of his professional and academic work, he enjoys volunteering in his community, creating videos, staying active, exploring the outdoors, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Nalin Theodore is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies. During his time at CNU, Nalin was actively involved in the Presidential Leadership ... Show more

Dmytro is a Senior Cloud Operations Engineer at Sage Austria and an AWS Community Builder based in Vienna, Austria. He co-leads AWS User Group Vienna alongside AWS Hero Linda Mohamed, helping grow one of Central Europe's most active cloud communities.
Before Sage, Dima built his cloud foundation at APA-IT — the technology arm of the Austrian Press Agency — where he architected cloud infrastructure for Austria's national broadcaster ORF and developed media workflow systems where latency and reliability are not negotiable. That background in broadcast-grade infrastructure shaped how he thinks about every system he touches today.
By day, Dima manages complex enterprise infrastructure — AWS migrations, Cloudflare security at scale, Progress OpenEdge systems, and production environments where a wrong config means a very bad morning for a lot of people. He's the engineer who gets paged at 2 AM when 1.6 million requests hit in a single day, and who turns those incidents into architecture lessons worth sharing.
His talks bridge the gap between deep technical depth and real-world pragmatism: no theoretical slides, no happy-path demos. If he's on stage, there's a production story behind it, numbers to back it up, and something the audience can implement on Monday.
Outside of infrastructure fires, Dima is a photographer who built a serverless AWS pipeline to process over 8,000 community event photos in a single conference season — because if you're going to automate something, it might as well be something you love.
Dima speaks at AWS Community Days across Europe — Vienna, Prague, Budapest — and has presented at events as far as Abu Dhabi. He's been recognized as Rookie of the Year at Sage and brings the same energy to the community that he brings to an incident bridge call: calm, direct, and focused on what actually works.

Dmytro is a Senior Cloud Operations Engineer at Sage Austria and an AWS Community Builder based in Vienna, Austria. He co-leads AWS User Group Vienna alongside AWS Hero Linda Mohamed, helping grow one of Central Europe's most active cloud communities... Show more

In over 25 years of creative leadership in branding and marketing, Adam has discovered that the most powerful form of connection, communication, and persuasion is also the oldest—great storytelling. With rich support from neuroscientists, psychologists, and behavioral economists, he shows audiences why that is, and how they can use it to their advantage.

Best of all, the insights in Adam’s keynotes explain phenomena that many people sense are true without knowing why. Armed with the tools, research, and empathy Adam brings to the stage, they emerge as more confident communicators in their personal and professional lives.

Based in Rhode Island, Adam has earned rave reviews by audiences from Boston to Borneo. And with the rise of AI, Adam is determined to empower as many people as possible to become compelling, connection-building storytellers.

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In this high-energy, aha-moment-filled keynote, you’ll learn why stories have such a powerful hold on us, how they work, the transformative effect storytelling can have on your business, and how to do it.

Here are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy immediately:
- Unparalleled ROI
- Increased sales and fundraising revenue
- Greater productivity
- Higher retention
- …and much, much more

Learn more at https://www.rustleandspark.com/story

In over 25 years of creative leadership in branding and marketing, Adam has discovered that the most powerful form of connection, communication, and persuasion is also the oldest—great storytelling. With rich support from neuroscientists, psychologi... Show more

Harsha Vardhan, as technologist, business consultant, and lifelong learner, Founder of HarVa Groups and CEO of FreakVinci. I help organizations grow through practical technology integration, strategic planning, and hands-on corporate training.

I spends much of his time mentoring, teaching teams how to use AI in their daily work, and helping businesses automate and streamline their operations. Beyond business and technology, much interests span creative writing, design, cybersecurity, and science communication (as Science Sleuth).

I enjoys solving problems, building useful things, and sharing what I learns along the way.

Harsha Vardhan, as technologist, business consultant, and lifelong learner, Founder of HarVa Groups and CEO of FreakVinci. I help organizations grow through practical technology integration, strategic planning, and hands-on corporate training. I s... Show more

With over 20 years in the design industry, James is Silverstripe’s Creative Director. He believes in making things work simply and intuitively and has an eye for typography and clean lines. After immigrating to New Zealand in 2009, James has worked with the likes of Weta Workshop, NZTA, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Social Development, Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, Westpac, Meridian and many others. James heads up the creative side of the Strategy & Design team, working with designers to create beautiful, intuitive sites to keep the users' needs at the forefront of everything we do. James is also an artist, exhibiting throughout New Zealand and internationally.

With over 20 years in the design industry, James is Silverstripe’s Creative Director. He believes in making things work simply and intuitively and has an eye for typography and clean lines. After immigrating to New Zealand in 2009, James has worked w... Show more

Tatyana Arrington is an entertainment journalist, TV host, and founder of What The Film, a film and pop culture platform reaching millions of viewers each month. With more than seven years of experience covering entertainment, she has interviewed talent including Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Keke Palmer, Edward Norton, and Tessa Thompson, and has appeared across platforms including BBC News, NewsNation, Yahoo Entertainment, and more. Her work blends celebrity interviews, cultural commentary, red carpet coverage, and personality driven storytelling designed to make audiences feel closer to the moments shaping entertainment.

Tatyana Arrington is an entertainment journalist, TV host, and founder of What The Film, a film and pop culture platform reaching millions of viewers each month. With more than seven years of experience covering entertainment, she has interviewed tal... Show more

In the beginning... There was teaching English.

But I began writing professionally for the countercultural Spanish tech magazine @rroba in the 90s, and then went on to be the editor/layout monkey/translator/jack-of-all-trades of the Spanish edition of "Linux Magazine – Chronicle of the Revolution".

When that closed, I also quit teaching completely and became editor-in-chief of Linux Magazine — the German one this time, but again in Spanish. I founded a publishing house with German partners in 2004. We published several tech magazines for a decade, covering free software, Linux, open hardware, and mobile technologies. I wrote scathing editorials criticising big tech, public administrations, proprietary vendors, opportunistic politicians, and everything in between. I did layout, marketed the mag to readers and advertisers, unloaded trucks full with pallets of copies, built an online subscription portal, and learned everything about the publishing business I could, just in case it would come in handy.

When the magazine market went belly up in the late 2000s and early 2010s, we held on until 2014 and then called it quits, and I recycled myself into a "communications expert" because, why not?

I started working as a marketing consultant for KDE e.V. in 2017. I work with the members of the Promo team, setting goals, managing campaigns and analysing results. I also help KDE projects optimise their communication strategies, and I copywrite and proofread their websites and blog posts.

I also run most of KDE's fundraising efforts, and consult for GNOME on the stuff I have become experienced with.

Am I expert? I guess so. I think I can answer a lot of questions of what's going on in the open source market, and can figure out what will work in a campaign, and see opportunities where they are not obvious. Either way, I'll let you be the judge of that.

In the beginning... There was teaching English. But I began writing professionally for the countercultural Spanish tech magazine @rroba in the 90s, and then went on to be the editor/layout monkey/translator/jack-of-all-trades of the Spanish editio... Show more

Demi is a 2nd year PhD Student at University of Nottingham. Her PhD explores the development of scalable technologies to foster safe listening in music venues. With her background in Computer Science, she aims to understand the nature of sound exposure in music for event attendees. Her current projects include the development of a common data model to standardise the storage and analysis of sound level data, as well as the calculation of individual sound exposure for event goers using indoor location tracking.

Alongside her research endeavours, Demi seeks to gain a greater understanding of the intersections of research, technology and creativity in the 21st century. Through several years of writing, she has documented her computer science journey online and continues to share lessons from completing the PhD in the current day. Her current creative exploration involves the exploration of quiet leverage, which involves answering the question: What does it mean to build a meaningful career in your 20s? She explores this through written mediums and video formats (short and long form videos). She has grown an combined audience of over 3,000 followers ranging from LinkedIn, TikTok and X. She's incredibly skilled at sharing introspective ideas in a way that makes people feel seen and heard.

Demi is a 2nd year PhD Student at University of Nottingham. Her PhD explores the development of scalable technologies to foster safe listening in music venues. With her background in Computer Science, she aims to understand the nature of sound exposu... Show more

Ray Voice is a Forbes-featured independent economic analyst, CEO, marketer, and author. For over sixteen years, he has served as a brand advisor to financial institutions, investment funds, and prominent legal firms across Wall Street and international capital markets, guiding complex brand positioning, institutional communication, and high-stakes PR cases.

As the Chief Executive Officer of Voice/Muramasa Agency Group and Co-Managing Partner of Rykaur, Ray oversees a portfolio of strategic ventures dedicated to advancing individual sovereignty and liberty, while servicing specific demographics aligned with those market requirements. He is known for a hedge-fund-like brand management and advertising strategy that leverages macroeconomic forces and quant-like models—prioritizing the right risk-and-return profile for each business rather than pursuing the volatile, high-risk tactics rampant across the advertising and PR industries.

Ray is the author of Parasocial Influence and writes the widely circulated Across Wealth & Influence newsletter, read by over 7,800 subscribers, including investors, executives, philanthropists, NGOs, activists, and civil attorneys. For his insights on advertising, business, finance, search engine architecture, and social media algorithm architecture, he has been featured in over 300 media outlets, including Forbes.com.

"Sovereignty over oneself is the only valid proof of wealth, success, and liberty."
— Ray Voice

Ray Voice is a Forbes-featured independent economic analyst, CEO, marketer, and author. For over sixteen years, he has served as a brand advisor to financial institutions, investment funds, and prominent legal firms across Wall Street and internation... Show more

Iva Jovanovic is an experienced Content Marketing Specialist & SEO consultant, and the organizer of the Belgrade SEO Conference and Heapcon. She specializes in SEO and content creation for websites and social media, but also works on Technical SEO and web development. As an active member of Heapspace, a vibrant community for IT professionals, she has been on the organizing team for Heapcon since 2022 and Belgrade SEO Conference, and has hosted Heapspace Meetups and SEO Talks. Originally an MA Art Historian and curator, she has been in the content marketing and SEO industry since 2018 and has worked with brands across Europe and the US in various industries ranging from IT, AI, cybersecurity, and SaaS to lifestyle, travel, transport, automotive, and relocation. She's also been a guest on podcasts, panels, meetups, and conferences.

Iva Jovanovic is an experienced Content Marketing Specialist & SEO consultant, and the organizer of the Belgrade SEO Conference and Heapcon. She specializes in SEO and content creation for websites and social media, but also works on Technical SEO an... Show more

Jaydee is a Venture Developer and Ecosystem Enabler co-founded and has developed more than 17 ventures in multi sectors and industries and is heavily verged on the tech space, particularly on AI, Blockchain & emerging technologies to focus on social impact. They joined ETH Global one of the largest and most prominent hackathon series in the world, taking home 2 crowns (Best Use and Best Integration) and he is continually bridging the gaps of emerging technologies. Led several communities such as AI Network PH, Cryp-to-learn, Web3 Batangas, Alabang Breakfast Club and Baguio Breakfast Club, continually building and empowering communities.

He is also one of the core lead of ETH63, supported by Devcon by Ethereum Foundation in Southeast Asia focusing on the growth of ecosystem in the Philippines. They recently led the Ethereum Southeast Asia Hub in Devcon7 SEA and one of the presenters in ETHSEA Day.

He is also passionate about organizing meaningful events, dubbed as “superconnector” by the community Now he is on a mission to create an impact and make a difference through enabling ecosystem and people.

Jaydee is a Venture Developer and Ecosystem Enabler co-founded and has developed more than 17 ventures in multi sectors and industries and is heavily verged on the tech space, particularly on AI, Blockchain & emerging technologies to focus on social ... Show more

Yuliya Gorenko is an award-winning influencer marketing strategist with over a decade of hands-on experience building and executing influencer programs.
Yuliya has worked with 100+ brands globally, facilitated thousands of brand-influencer partnerships, and scaled cybersecurity influencer programs from zero to eight-figure budgets. From LinkedIn creator campaigns and podcasts to short-form video and in-person activations, she’s done it all and knows how to make each channel perform.
Yuliya has been championing influencer-led storytelling in cybersecurity long before it was widely accepted. She now drives influencer strategy at Mischka, the leading cybersecurity influencer marketing agency.

Yuliya Gorenko is an award-winning influencer marketing strategist with over a decade of hands-on experience building and executing influencer programs. Yuliya has worked with 100+ brands globally, facilitated thousands of brand-influencer partners... Show more

KAMPIRE NADINE Temba is Congolese young Lawyer, she is the cofounder and the coordinator at Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs a community based online media outlet which provides news and educational contents on health, peace, natural disaster management and fight against fake news, disinformation and hate speech online for the communities of the Great Lakes countries, she is based in Goma in the North province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Before founding AFIA-AMANI Grands Lacs, she served as media consultant for many regional and international organizations such as INTERNEWS which have been operating in Eastern DRC.
She is among the first intake of East African women fellow at Media Defence (a UK based Ngos’which trained lawyers to advance digital rights and Technology law through strategic litigation and provide support and legal assistance to journalists, bloggers and independent Media), where she was a 2022 Fellow. She is a 2023 and 2025 CIPESA fellow and digital security trainer.
She has a particular interest in Human rights and Digital Rights with a special focus on Freedom of expression, Tech & Internet governance, regulation and Policy, digitat inclusion and digital transformation.

KAMPIRE NADINE Temba is Congolese young Lawyer, she is the cofounder and the coordinator at Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs a community based online media outlet which provides news and educational contents on health, peace, natural disaster management and fi... Show more

Anthony Martinez is an Emmy Award-winning multimedia producer and content strategist. He currently works as a producer for CBS News’ national morning show – CBS Mornings. Previously at CBS News, Anthony launched and managed the network’s only daily podcast.
Before joining CBS News in 2016, Anthony worked at Spectrum NY1 News for three years. He’s a graduate of American University, where he studied Political Science and Broadcast Journalism.

Anthony Martinez is an Emmy Award-winning multimedia producer and content strategist. He currently works as a producer for CBS News’ national morning show – CBS Mornings. Previously at CBS News, Anthony launched and managed the network’s only daily p... Show more

2x Latin Podcast Awards Winner from Honduras. Founder of Hondupod Studios and creator of the country's first podcast festival. International speaker and AI strategist helping independent creators activate their Dead Vault with the RECON Method.

2x Latin Podcast Awards Winner from Honduras. Founder of Hondupod Studios and creator of the country's first podcast festival. International speaker and AI strategist helping independent creators activate their Dead Vault with the RECON Method. Show more

Ana Sarmiento is a senior media executive and an expert in navigating the complexities of the post-AI media landscape. Her focus extends beyond content creation to the critical mechanics of performance: using AI to unlock deeper audience insights and solving the real-world challenges facing modern media companies. From combating the traffic implications of liquid content to standing out in increasingly saturated creator marketplaces, Ana provides real world data-backed tactics. She draws on her deep experience in revenue operations to help organizations identify hidden costs and implement the emerging business models required to thrive in a synthetic media world.

She is the Director of AI Revenue at Advance Local and has an extensive background at industry giants including Disney, Paramount, and HBO. She has an EMBA from UCLA Anderson and a BBA from The University of Georgia. She brings a rare trifecta to the stage: creative media intuition, technical product rigor, and the high-stakes financial strategy of management consulting. Ana provides an action-oriented blueprint for turning Generative AI innovation into commercial success.

Ana Sarmiento is a senior media executive and an expert in navigating the complexities of the post-AI media landscape. Her focus extends beyond content creation to the critical mechanics of performance: using AI to unlock deeper audience insights and... Show more

Benjamin is a software engineer engaged in open-source and civic tech since 2017. He's mostly known for his work at Open Collective, an open-source crowdfunding platform focused on money transparency and decentralized groups. He's also a core contributor to CaptainFact, an open-source fact-checking platform for online videos.

Benjamin is a software engineer engaged in open-source and civic tech since 2017. He's mostly known for his work at Open Collective, an open-source crowdfunding platform focused on money transparency and decentralized groups. He's also a core contrib... Show more

Aysenem Yassa is a global live experience and entertainment executive who orchestrates the strategic architecture and creative execution of the world's most complex, high-stakes mega-events.

Her 15-year career spans senior enterprise leadership for premier sports properties, international broadcast productions, and multi-venue live entertainment environments, including UEFA, FIBA and the Pan American Games.

She masterminds the cross-functional delivery of multi-million euro venue ecosystems, live-to-air broadcast environments, and audience-first experiential activations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

A senior strategist operating at the critical intersection of technical infrastructure, media production, and artistic direction, she balances high-stakes global delivery with creative disciplines in music, dance, and comedy to shape memorable experiences for global audiences.

Aysenem Yassa is a global live experience and entertainment executive who orchestrates the strategic architecture and creative execution of the world's most complex, high-stakes mega-events. Her 15-year career spans senior enterprise leadership fo... Show more

a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at Google, focused on advancing the core Android camera and media ecosystem. With over a decade of experience across the full tech stack, he currently partners with engineering teams at Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to implement high-end media capabilities and HDR technologies. Throughout his career at both startups and tech giants, Mozart has contributed to products used by millions, including Lyft, Plex, and Google Chrome. He is a Dolby Vision and Atmos Certified professional with deep technical expertise in C++, Kotlin, and the JUCE framework.

a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at Google, focused on advancing the core Android camera and media ecosystem. With over a decade of experience across the full tech stack, he currently partners with engineering teams at Instagram, TikTok, and Sna... Show more

Robert Shumake, PhD, known internationally as Ajarn Shaman Shu, is a uniquely credentialed scholar, spiritual teacher, and public intellectual. A direct student of Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Malidoma Patrice Somé, he is a fully initiated Buddhist Ajarn in the Theravada tradition, a Vajra Master in the Padmasambhava lineage, a consecrated High Priest of Yoruba Ifá (Babalawo and Oluwo Osain), and a Sri Vidya initiate of the Tamil Siddhar tradition.

He is the author of over 140 books, including Shurooms: The African Roots of Sacred Plant Medicine, The Original Avengers, KRIYA, African Reiki, Roots of Heaven, and the multi-volume Living Archive Series on American media history. He is the Founder and Chancellor of Buddha University® and the Buddha Ayurveda School of Medicine, and the owner of one of the largest privately held newspapers in the United States. His keynotes connect ancient spiritual science with modern neuroscience, education, and leadership.

Robert Shumake, PhD, known internationally as Ajarn Shaman Shu, is a uniquely credentialed scholar, spiritual teacher, and public intellectual. A direct student of Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Malidoma Patrice Somé, he is a fully initiated Buddhist Aj... Show more

Ben May is the Founder and Managing Director of The Code Company, a specialist enterprise WordPress agency working with media, publishing and content-driven brands across APAC and internationally. His team's philosophy is simple: less tech, more journalism. Publishers should spend their energy on content and audiences, not fighting their platforms.
Ben has spent nearly two decades building on WordPress, from his personal blog (running since 2005) to large-scale publishing platforms handling serious traffic. More recently he's been focused on how publishers and agencies should actually think about AI, cutting through the hype to what solves real business problems. He also runs Enqueue, a curated WordPress developer conference in Australia.
He's based in Queensland, Australia, and writes regularly at thecode.co and benmay.org.

Ben May is the Founder and Managing Director of The Code Company, a specialist enterprise WordPress agency working with media, publishing and content-driven brands across APAC and internationally. His team's philosophy is simple: less tech, more jour... Show more

# About Esha Bargate

**Esha Bargate** is a media entrepreneur, producer, AI media strategist, marketing executive, and global advocate for the future of storytelling. She is the Founder & CEO of **Esha Bargate Productions LLC**, an AI-powered media production and marketing company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Founder & President of the **AI/VR Motion Picture Guild™**, an international professional organization advancing innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence, immersive technology, and cinema.

With more than a decade of experience across film, television, digital media, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Esha has built a career connecting creativity, business strategy, and emerging technology. Her work spans film production, entertainment marketing, public relations, distribution strategy, AI-powered content creation, and international business development.

Esha began her career in India before moving to the United States to expand her creative and professional journey. She earned an MBA in Media Management, completed documentary filmmaking studies at the New York Film Academy, and received a Master's degree in Media Communications from Webster University. Her global background continues to shape her mission of building creative bridges between Hollywood, India, and international media markets.

As a producer and entrepreneur, Esha has worked across television, film, entertainment marketing, and global distribution. She served as **Co-Producer** on the short film ***Sarhadein***, helping secure its distribution on **Apple TV** and **Google TV**. Earlier in her career, she independently pitched an original unscripted television show directly to **Amazon Studios, USA**, demonstrating her ability to develop and present original content to major entertainment platforms.

Through **Esha Bargate Productions LLC**, she supports filmmakers, startups, brands, and creative businesses with AI-powered media production, marketing strategy, branded content, entertainment promotion, and distribution consulting. Her company focuses on helping creators and organizations tell powerful stories, reach wider audiences, and adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape.

Beyond her business ventures, Esha is committed to industry leadership and education. Through the **AI/VR Motion Picture Guild™**, she promotes responsible AI adoption, professional development, global collaboration, and meaningful conversations about the future of filmmaking. She also leads **AI Meets Cinema™**, a global interview and education platform exploring how artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and emerging technologies are transforming storytelling.

Esha has also contributed to international volunteer media initiatives, including projects connected to United Nations programs, where she supported communications, video editing, educational content, and awareness campaigns. These experiences strengthened her belief that storytelling can educate, empower, and create meaningful social impact.

Recognized for her leadership in media, entrepreneurship, and creative technology, Esha continues to build platforms that connect independent creators, technology innovators, studios, educators, and global audiences. Her mission is to empower creators with innovative tools while preserving the human creativity, cultural perspective, and emotional truth at the heart of every powerful story.

# About Esha Bargate **Esha Bargate** is a media entrepreneur, producer, AI media strategist, marketing executive, and global advocate for the future of storytelling. She is the Founder & CEO of **Esha Bargate Productions LLC**, an AI-powered medi... Show more

Stella M. Chávez is an award-winning, Texas-based independent journalist focused on telling deeply reported and intimate stories about diverse populations, including immigrants and refugees. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant father and a Mexican American mother, Stella believes strongly in accurately reporting on these communities and correcting misperceptions about them. During her two-and-a-half-decade career, she also covered local government, education and national stories like the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart and the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Stella has reported for daily newspapers in Florida and Texas and public radio. Her work has been featured on NPR, BBC and CNN. Stella is a member of the Poynter Institute National Advisory Board and a regional judge for the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

Stella M. Chávez is an award-winning, Texas-based independent journalist focused on telling deeply reported and intimate stories about diverse populations, including immigrants and refugees. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant father and a Mexican... Show more

I'm a Frontend Developer and the Founder of Hirelyze AI, an AI-powered platform helping job seekers build stronger, ATS-friendly resumes and improve their chances of landing interviews.

Over the past few years, I've worked across frontend engineering, AI-powered products, SEO, and SaaS, building applications that prioritize performance, accessibility, and exceptional user experience. I specialize in React, Next.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, Tailwind CSS, and modern web technologies, with a passion for turning ideas into products people genuinely love to use.

As the builder behind Hirelyze AI, I've expanded beyond frontend development into AI product development, technical SEO, growth strategy, and startup execution. I enjoy sharing the lessons learned from building products from the ground up—what works, what doesn't, and how developers can create software that delivers real business and user impact.

I'm a Frontend Developer and the Founder of Hirelyze AI, an AI-powered platform helping job seekers build stronger, ATS-friendly resumes and improve their chances of landing interviews. Over the past few years, I've worked across frontend engineer... Show more

Dr. Amr Assad is a distinguished Academic Leader and Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Holding a PhD in Broadcasting from Cairo University, he has dedicated over two decades to excellence in teaching, research, and curriculum development within the field of mass media.

As a seasoned educator, Dr. Assad specializes in media literacy, digital storytelling, social media dynamics, and communication theory. He integrates advanced teaching methods and educational technologies to create engaging and inclusive learning environments to support diverse student populations in achieving academic excellence.

Throughout his career, Dr. Assad’s research has been published in reputable peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. His work explores valuable insights into social media usage, media ethics, and the impact of digital tools on communication practices. These contributions have significantly influenced academic discourse and the development of media curricula across multiple institutions.

Dr. Assad also actively participates in various scholarly and administrative committees, serving on the Program Academic Committee (PAC), Divisional Promotion Committee, and the Applied Media Industry Advisory Committee, among others, where he continues to integrate industry best practices and drive academic innovation.

Dr. Assad is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of communication professionals, providing personalized guidance, and nurturing an environment conducive to academic and professional success. He is open to connecting with fellow academics, industry professionals, and collaborators who share a passion for shaping the future of mass communication.

Dr. Amr Assad is a distinguished Academic Leader and Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Holding a PhD in Broadcasting from Cairo University, he has dedicated over two decades to excellence in teaching, res... Show more

Enrique is the CEO of Triad Leadership Solutions LLC. He is a multi-award-winning podcaster with shows focusing on leadership development and career success. He was named the Media Professional of the Year and #1 Leadership Podcast by the MVA Awards.

Enrique is the CEO of Triad Leadership Solutions LLC. He is a multi-award-winning podcaster with shows focusing on leadership development and career success. He was named the Media Professional of the Year and #1 Leadership Podcast by the MVA Awards. Show more

Dave Jackson founded the School of Podcasting in 2005. In 2018 he was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. In 2020, he authored the book Profit from your podcast and currently is the Head of Podcasting at podpage.com

Dave Jackson founded the School of Podcasting in 2005. In 2018 he was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. In 2020, he authored the book Profit from your podcast and currently is the Head of Podcasting at podpage.com Show more

Sugira Rubasha is the Founder and CEO of ETS Rubasha Media, a podcast strategist and speaker who helps business leaders use podcasting, personal branding, and social media to build influence, authority, and lasting legacy.

Sugira Rubasha is the Founder and CEO of ETS Rubasha Media, a podcast strategist and speaker who helps business leaders use podcasting, personal branding, and social media to build influence, authority, and lasting legacy. Show more