David Gokhshtein is the founder and CEO of Gokhshtein Media, an independent newsroom and market-data company covering markets,
crypto, politics, technology, sports, and world news, and the host of The Breakdown, a daily show with more than 780 episodes. His beat is retail money: what ordinary investors are buying, selling, and arguing about, tracked in his own newsroom's data and reported without a position to sell. He appears on Fox Business and Sky News, among others, and is a former congressional candidate. Gokhshtein Media was founded in 2017 and includes Gokhshtein (gokhshtein.com), GMARKETS (gmarkets.io), and Gokhshtein PR (gokhshteinpr.com).

David Gokhshtein is the founder and CEO of Gokhshtein Media, an independent newsroom and market-data company covering markets, crypto, politics, technology, sports, and world news, and the host of The Breakdown, a daily show with more than 780 epis... Show more

Sushrut is a marketing and community manager at Bito AI. He has worked with 20+ SaaS startups in branding, marketing, and lead generation.

Sushrut is a marketing and community manager at Bito AI. He has worked with 20+ SaaS startups in branding, marketing, and lead generation. Show more

Paco Nathan leads DevRel for the Entity Resolved Knowledge Graph practice area at Senzing.com and is a computer scientist with +40 years of tech industry experience and core expertise in data science, natural language, and graph technologies. He's the author of numerous books, videos, and tutorials about these topics. He also hosts the monthly "Graph Power Hour!" webinar. Formerly: Director of Learning Group at O'Reilly Media; and Director of Community Evangelism at Databricks.

Paco Nathan leads DevRel for the Entity Resolved Knowledge Graph practice area at Senzing.com and is a computer scientist with +40 years of tech industry experience and core expertise in data science, natural language, and graph technologies. He's th... Show more

Maurissa Dawson is a digital marketing and communications specialist with 8+ years in brand strategy, content marketing, and data-driven campaign management. She is currently a CRM and Lifecycle Management Associate at TRUECar, where she builds, tests, and launches email and lifecycle campaigns in Iterable and leads partner outreach for new program concepts.

Her background sits at the intersection of two things that rarely share a stage: enterprise-scale communications and scrappy solo brand building. At Gallagher she ran multi-phase digital communications for clients supporting more than a million employees, segmenting by eligibility, geography, and workforce attributes so messages landed with the right people. Alongside that, she spent eight years as the entire marketing department for a boutique mobile veterinary practice, handling brand voice, SEO, email, website, and analytics with no team and no budget.

That range is what she talks about. Whether an audience is twelve people or a million, the work is the same: figure out who you are speaking to, say one true thing, and measure whether it worked.

Maurissa studied at Pepperdine University, including a year in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is currently at USC Annenberg. She is based in Los Angeles.

Maurissa Dawson is a digital marketing and communications specialist with 8+ years in brand strategy, content marketing, and data-driven campaign management. She is currently a CRM and Lifecycle Management Associate at TRUECar, where she builds, test... 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

Diego Dell'Agostino trabaja en la intersección entre producto, medios, operaciones y tecnología.

Cofundó Posta, una de las principales productoras de pódcast de Latinoamérica, adquirida por PodX Group en 2022, donde construyó productos, equipos y operaciones para más de 400 shows y 90 clientes.

Luego fue parte del equipo fundador de Roxom TV, una señal global de noticias 24/7, trabajando en producto, operaciones, sistemas editoriales, automatización y herramientas internas.

Actualmente diseña y experimenta con agentes y workflows de IA aplicados a research, contenido, producto y operaciones, con foco en cómo incorporar estas tecnologías dentro de sistemas de trabajo reales.

Speaker Photo

Diego Dell'Agostino trabaja en la intersección entre producto, medios, operaciones y tecnología. Cofundó Posta, una de las principales productoras de pódcast de Latinoamérica, adquirida por PodX Group en 2022, donde construyó productos, equipos y ... Show more

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

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

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

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

Chad Crawford is a third-generation Floridian and a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and outdoor adventurer with a unique perspective on Florida unlike anyone else in the world. Over his 25-year career, he has dedicated himself to telling the story of the state he loves. Chad has collaborated with major government agencies, conservation groups, and tourism organizations, giving him a rare perspective into the tourism industry. In his current role as Director of Strategic Partnerships with Conservation Florida, he continues to build valuable relationships to help protect the state's natural resources. Chad is a father of four and resides in Lake Mary. He enjoys fishing, camping, open water swimming, and taking on whatever adventures Florida can serve up.

Chad Crawford is a third-generation Floridian and a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and outdoor adventurer with a unique perspective on Florida unlike anyone else in the world. Over his 25-year career, he has dedicated himself to telling the st... Show more

En 3 ans à gérer des campagnes Meta, TikTok et Pinterest pour des marques de mode e-commerce en Europe, j'ai appris ce qui fait vraiment vendre en ligne. Mais appliquer ces techniques telles quelles au Cameroun échoue souvent parce que le vrai problème n'est pas la technique, c'est la confiance. Les Camerounais achètent ce qu'ils comprennent et voient directement, pas ce qu'on leur explique. Cette session décortique pourquoi le ciblage et la créa publicitaire européens ne se transposent pas tels quels ici, et propose une méthode concrète : cibler autrement quand les données utilisateurs sont peu fiables, et construire des créas "preuve d'abord" plutôt que "argumentaire d'abord".

En 3 ans à gérer des campagnes Meta, TikTok et Pinterest pour des marques de mode e-commerce en Europe, j'ai appris ce qui fait vraiment vendre en ligne. Mais appliquer ces techniques telles quelles au Cameroun échoue souvent parce que le vrai problè... Show more

Rahat is a computer science student at Polaris School of Technology and a Project Manager at the Open Mainframe Project, where he works on community growth, outreach, and content that helps make the mainframe ecosystem more visible and approachable. He began his journey through the Linux Foundation Mentorship Program and later grew into a broader community and content role, supporting podcast and video storytelling across the Mainframe Connect platform.

Through interviews with both experienced mainframers and newer entrants, Rahat has helped surface real career journeys, community perspectives, and practical lessons that make the platform feel more human and easier to enter. He has also helped grow Open Mainframe Project social channels, was selected as a speaker for OSS Summit Korea 2025, and has been recognized as one of the youngest ambassadors of the Open Mainframe Project.

Rahat is a computer science student at Polaris School of Technology and a Project Manager at the Open Mainframe Project, where he works on community growth, outreach, and content that helps make the mainframe ecosystem more visible and approachable. ... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Julia Kolodkina is a creative entrepreneur, brand strategist, and creator of Tasteology — an original methodology exploring how human experience, emotional intelligence, judgment, and AI shape better marketing decisions.

With 10+ years across global brands, agencies, startups, and enterprise, she has built brands, led marketing strategy, created communities, and developed ideas at the intersection of business, culture, creativity, and human behavior.

Julia is the Founder & CEO of ALIIIENS, a Brand Venture for business transformation, growth, and innovation, and
ALL EYES ON US, a curated NYC community of 3,000+ women entrepreneurs.

Julia Kolodkina is a creative entrepreneur, brand strategist, and creator of Tasteology — an original methodology exploring how human experience, emotional intelligence, judgment, and AI shape better marketing decisions. With 10+ years across glob... Show more

Visionary leader and architect of innovative business models, Mauro Rojas brings over 23 years of experience in the creative industry. For nearly two decades, he has been at the helm of Eonminu® Brands Laboratory™, an initiative dedicated to redefining brand development through regenerative creativity, experimentation, and conceptual reinvention.

As founder and president of the Association of Entrepreneurs of Ecuador, Mauro actively fosters entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, solidifying his role as a key figure in Ecuador’s business landscape. His extensive portfolio spans multiple industries, featuring successful projects across diverse sectors. Currently, Mauro focuses on the knowledge economy and digital media, fields where his work continues to create meaningful and lasting impact.

Mauro has shared his projects and ideas on international platforms, including entrepreneurship conferences, art exhibitions, creativity workshops, and specialized publications. His insights have resonated with audiences in Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Ecuador, the United States, Portugal, and Türkiye, highlighting his global influence.

Today, Mauro leverages his expertise as a business coach, brand strategist, executive mentor, entrepreneurship trainer, and digital artist, driving innovation and excellence. His commitment to redefining industries and creating avant-garde business solutions underscores his transformative approach.

Visionary leader and architect of innovative business models, Mauro Rojas brings over 23 years of experience in the creative industry. For nearly two decades, he has been at the helm of Eonminu® Brands Laboratory™, an initiative dedicated to redefini... Show more

Mathias Bauer is Head of Department Media at jambit GmbH, where he also serves as Topic Owner for the company-wide integration of AI Assisted Software Development. He works at the intersection of software architecture, team leadership, and AI governance, driving the build-out of sovereign, cost-transparent AI infrastructure across the entire software development lifecycle. Previously, as software architect, project and team lead, and technical product owner, he led multi-year projects for major German media companies and grew one of them into the largest account in his division. One focus of his work is the question of how companies can retain control over costs and business-critical processes amid rapid AI adoption.

Mathias Bauer is Head of Department Media at jambit GmbH, where he also serves as Topic Owner for the company-wide integration of AI Assisted Software Development. He works at the intersection of software architecture, team leadership, and AI governa... Show more

Marcia is a Principal Developer Advocate at AWS with over 20 years of experience building and scaling software. She specializes in Serverless, cloud architecture, and AI agents — and is known for making complex technical concepts approachable and practical.

She is also the founder of Desplegando.cloud, a YouTube channel, newsletter, and community focused on AWS Serverless in Spanish, where she helps thousands of developers across Latin America and Spain build real projects in the cloud.

Marcia is a Principal Developer Advocate at AWS with over 20 years of experience building and scaling software. She specializes in Serverless, cloud architecture, and AI agents — and is known for making complex technical concepts approachable and pra... Show more

Hi, I’m Rasagy Sharma. I love making data meaningful, and I’ve spent 12+ years leading design teams & building data-heavy products.

I currently head the design team for DataLabs at Capital One, and was earlier heading the design team at Gramener. I’ve designed apps & data visualizations at large orgs like Microsoft & Barclays, and been one of the first designers at early-stage startups like Sundial, Mapbox (Data team) & Capillary Technologies.

In my free time, I love to make sense of knowledge through sketchnoting, create art using data & code, and support design communities through speaking, teaching & volunteering. I’m an Adjunct Assistant Professor at IDC, IIT Bombay, and I regularly teach for NID’s M.Des. in Information Design program (my alma mater).

I’m currently diving deep into design leadership & knowledge management, and I’m passionate about data visualization, cartography, creative coding & sketchnoting.

Hi, I’m Rasagy Sharma. I love making data meaningful, and I’ve spent 12+ years leading design teams & building data-heavy products. I currently head the design team for DataLabs at Capital One, and was earlier heading the design team at Gramener. ... 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

Lorena Carthy-Wilmot investigates the cases where phones and mobile devices hold the only evidence that matters, and where getting it right, fast, is non-negotiable.

Her career spans law enforcement, journalism, and consulting, always centered on mobile forensics and time-critical investigations. As a Special Investigator with the Norwegian Police's Section for Digital Police Work, she worked complex criminal cases requiring deep digital investigation. At Schibsted, she served as a security engineer across six newsrooms, protecting the communications and work of journalists operating in high-risk environments. She later led the Forensic Technology Services Lab at PwC Norway.

Today, at iVerify, Lorena manages incident response engagements, acting as the connective link between the threat hunting team and the client. She also serves as a subject matter expert in mobile security and digital forensics for CISOs and security leaders across Europe.

Based in Oslo, Norway, Lorena spends her downtime hiking and playing roller derby.

Lorena Carthy-Wilmot investigates the cases where phones and mobile devices hold the only evidence that matters, and where getting it right, fast, is non-negotiable. Her career spans law enforcement, journalism, and consulting, always centered on ... 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

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

I’m a full-stack, Senior Software Engineer at Capital One, building AI products in the Bank Technology division.

I have strong experience across the stack (TypeScript, React, Node, Python, Java), with a specialization in front-end architecture. I have deep familiarity with cloud architecture and production ML workflows as an AWS Certified Solutions Architect and AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer. Alongside my technical background, I’m a trained artist and often contribute to design workflows.

I’m an outgoing individual, passionate about public speaking and teaching. I’ve led trainings and taught classes to audiences ranging from young children to distinguished engineers on a wide variety of topics.

Previously, I was a core contributor to the live election results infrastructure at The Washington Post across multiple election cycles, including the 2022 midterms and the 2024 general election. I was also listed as a winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for my work at the Miami Herald.

I’m passionate about building scalable, reliable systems and improving user experiences, particularly in the context of AI/ML-powered products.

Feel free to reach me here or at danacassidy1@gmail.com.

I’m a full-stack, Senior Software Engineer at Capital One, building AI products in the Bank Technology division. I have strong experience across the stack (TypeScript, React, Node, Python, Java), with a specialization in front-end architecture. I ... Show more

Julien Ricciarelli-Bonnal is a senior expert in marketing, communications and strategy, an entrepreneur since 2011, and the founder of Ricciarelli Partners.

Originally trained as a journalist and a graduate of the École Supérieure de Journalisme, he brings the methods of analysis, investigation and editorial rigor into the business world. His work focuses on helping organisations clarify their positioning, strengthen their communication, improve strategic coherence and turn complex decisions into concrete, actionable directions.

For more than fourteen years, he has advised executives, SMEs, agencies and organisations on marketing, communications, commercial strategy, business transformation and the practical adoption of artificial intelligence.

His expertise in AI for business focuses on governance, organisational adoption, accountability and measurable business value rather than technical implementation alone. He examines how companies can move beyond experimentation and integrate AI into clear operating models, decision-making processes and responsible management practices.

Julien has completed certified programs with institutions including the University of London, MITx, HEC Paris, Google, Microsoft, IBM and IE Business School.

He is also an author and regular contributor to recognised French business and marketing publications, including Journal du Net and Webmarketing & co’m.

Through his speaking topics, Julien explores the intersection of strategy, marketing, communication, digital transformation and AI adoption, with one central belief: effective strategy is not about doing more, but about making an organisation more understandable, more credible and more coherent in what it says, does and represents.

Julien Ricciarelli-Bonnal is a senior expert in marketing, communications and strategy, an entrepreneur since 2011, and the founder of Ricciarelli Partners. Originally trained as a journalist and a graduate of the École Supérieure de Journalisme, ... 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

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