Shane is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer who leads Open Source Strategy in Google's Open Source Program Office. Before joining OSPO, he led Google Cloud's Public Datasets Program and was a member of NOAA's Data Archive and Access Requirements Working Group for 6 years. Prior to joining Google, Shane was the project manager of NOAA’s Open Data Dissemination Program and an officer in the US Army specializing in both Air Defense Artillery and Public Affairs. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Carolina in Sports and Entertainment Management and has a Master's in Data Analytics from UMGC.

You can follow him on Bluesky for a comprehensive list of his work and dad jokes.

Shane is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer who leads Open Source Strategy in Google's Open Source Program Office. Before joining OSPO, he led Google Cloud's Public Datasets Program and was a member of NOAA's Data Archive and Access Requirements W... Show more

Gary J. Nix is a consultancy founder and speaker who is known for combining traditional marketing principles with modern marketing techniques. Moreover his firm, the brandarchist: strategy as a service serves its client partners understand how the road to ultimate success is via a foundation of building or bolstering the indivisible connectivity between culture and commerce.

Gary J. Nix is a consultancy founder and speaker who is known for combining traditional marketing principles with modern marketing techniques. Moreover his firm, the brandarchist: strategy as a service serves its client partners understand how the ro... 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

Matt has been an Umbraco developer for 15 years, is a member of both the Umbraco CMS and Umbraco Cloud Advisory boards and a long time Umbraco Certified Master. When he's not at the keyboard you'll either find him with a camera view finder pressed to his eye taking black and white photographs or building things with Lego.

Matt has been an Umbraco developer for 15 years, is a member of both the Umbraco CMS and Umbraco Cloud Advisory boards and a long time Umbraco Certified Master. When he's not at the keyboard you'll either find him with a camera view finder pressed to... Show more

Kae9mm is a cyber musician who blends hip-hop, techno and futuristic themes in his music. He is known for his innovative use of virtual reality and augmented reality in his live performances and music videos. He has recently partnered with United Realites, a leading metaverse company, to create immersive and interactive experiences for his fans. Kae9mm aims to push the boundaries of music and technology and to explore new dimensions of creativity and expression.

Kae9mm is a cyber musician who blends hip-hop, techno and futuristic themes in his music. He is known for his innovative use of virtual reality and augmented reality in his live performances and music videos. He has recently partnered with United Rea... Show more

A middle school teacher turned web developer, Nasser Abouelazm has always embraced the art of building epic and engaging experiences that delight, educate, and enchant a broad audience of users. As a senior full-stack engineer working to support Bloomberg Media, he is focused on developing solutions and features that support the Bloomberg.com subscriber experience. His first heavy production use of GraphQL was at his previous company, Voice - a startup building an NFT marketplace for creators.

A middle school teacher turned web developer, Nasser Abouelazm has always embraced the art of building epic and engaging experiences that delight, educate, and enchant a broad audience of users. As a senior full-stack engineer working to support Bloo... Show more

I am is a seasoned User Experience Designer with a strong focus on automotive UX, human factors, and digital accessibility. With over 4 years of industry experience, I currently contribute to the UX team at Maruti Suzuki, where we craft intuitive and meaningful in-vehicle experiences that blend technology, human behavior, and design innovation. Their expertise lies in designing digital ecosystems that not only meet user needs but also drive broader business and societal impact.

In 2024, I delivered a well-received talk at UX India on enhancing user experience in automobiles, a session that sparked widespread discussions on the future of mobility design. Beyond professional projects, I am passionate about mentoring young designers, promoting accessibility in digital spaces, and pushing the boundaries of user-centered innovation in complex industries like automotive and connected mobility.
Outside of work, I am a photography enthusiast, an avid non-fiction reader, and a traveler who loves exploring diverse cultures and ideas. This unique blend of technical expertise, user empathy, and a visionary outlook positions me as a strong voice for how design can act as a transformational force for people, businesses, and the planet.

I am is a seasoned User Experience Designer with a strong focus on automotive UX, human factors, and digital accessibility. With over 4 years of industry experience, I currently contribute to the UX team at Maruti Suzuki, where we craft intuitive and... Show more

Tiankai Feng is a Data & AI leader, musician, and optimist. As Director of Data & AI Strategy at Thoughtworks and author of "Humanizing Data Strategy" & "Humanizing AI Strategy", he brings 13+ years of experience in analytics, governance, and transformation. Passionate about the human side of technology, he makes data and AI more approachable—and even fun—through music, memes, and fresh perspectives.

Tiankai Feng is a Data & AI leader, musician, and optimist. As Director of Data & AI Strategy at Thoughtworks and author of "Humanizing Data Strategy" & "Humanizing AI Strategy", he brings 13+ years of experience in analytics, governance, and transf... Show more

I've spent 25+ years proving a thesis most organisations resist: that value lives at the edges, not the centre. The best talent isn't where you expect it. The best ideas don't come from headquarters. And the biggest returns come from reconceiving how work gets done — not optimising how it's always been done.

My route in was making things — directing commercials, editing, VFX, hanging from helicopters to get the shot. That hands-on creative background shapes everything I do now: I don't theorise about transformation, I build it. From a startup that moved high-end visual effects off six-figure hardware onto the desktop, to a globally-distributed operation spanning 1,000+ people across seven countries, built years before remote work went mainstream. Same pattern each time: find value trapped behind an artificial barrier, build the mechanism to release it.

Now I focus on what happens when AI meets real operations — not the demo, but the deployment.

I speak about operational transformation, growth, culture, AI beyond the proof-of-concept, and the patterns that repeat every time new capability demands new ways of working.

I've spent 25+ years proving a thesis most organisations resist: that value lives at the edges, not the centre. The best talent isn't where you expect it. The best ideas don't come from headquarters. And the biggest returns come from reconceiving how... Show more

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION, (Penguin Classics). He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration (Chin Music Press), and with collaborators Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki was named a Finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Washington State Book Award. He won an American Book Award with Cheung and Greg Robinson as co-editor of JOHN OKADA: The Life & Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy (University of Washington Press), in which he authored the first-ever biography of Okada and traced the origins of his novel. He is currently developing a new stage adaptation of NO-NO BOY in partnership with Seattle Rep.

Abe wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning PBS documentary CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION on the largest organized resistance in the camps, and with writer Frank Chin helped organize the first-ever “Day of Remembrance” in Seattle in 1978. He was an original member of Chin’s Asian American Theater Workshop in San Francisco and studied at the American Conservatory Theater.

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION, (Penguin Classics). He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration (Chin Mu... Show more

Lisa G is an innovation strategist and transformation architect who has shaped the digital evolution of global brands including Fortune 50 media companies, The New York Times, and Etsy. With more than two decades of experience bridging technology, creativity, and culture, she helps organizations translate complexity into clarity and scale transformation with precision and purpose.

Lisa G is an innovation strategist and transformation architect who has shaped the digital evolution of global brands including Fortune 50 media companies, The New York Times, and Etsy. With more than two decades of experience bridging technology, cr... Show more

Damilola Ogunleye is a seasoned creative professional and multidisciplinary designer with 12+ years of experience in visual communication, design, and animation. He began his creative journey during his undergraduate years, working on impact-driven projects and collaborating with non-governmental organizations, which laid the foundation for his problem-solving and storytelling approach to design

He is the Founder and Creative Director of Spectarkle Design & Multimedia, a design and animation studio focused on helping brands stand out through thoughtful design systems, compelling visuals, and immersive storytelling. Through Spectarkle, he has delivered branding, product design, and multimedia solutions for local and international clients across diverse industries.

Over the years, Damilola has held senior and leadership design roles across multiple organizations, including Creative Manager at FirstFounders Inc., where he led visual storytelling and brand experiences for portfolio companies, collaborated closely with developers and product managers on UI/UX for fintech and credit assessment platforms, and produced high-impact marketing and presentation materials.
He has also served as Lead Graphics & UI/UX Designer for brands such as Orokii, OrokiiPay, Ecomoto, InternSify, and Deezydecks, where he led design teams, built scalable design systems, revamped brand identities, and delivered user-centred digital products that improved brand recognition and engagement.

Beyond client and corporate work, Damilola is passionate about community building and talent development. He is a mentor at SheFoundry Limited, where he has guided and supported a community of 100+ women founders teaching them design and branding fundamentals that has uplifted their brand and businesses and positioning them for growth.
He also serves as the Director of Meetings, Design, and Multimedia at Junior Chamber International (JCI) Lagos Metropolitan, where he oversees the organization’s end-to-end design and multimedia initiatives, ensuring consistent visual communication across events, campaigns, and digital platforms.

He is an advocate for continuous learning and creative excellence, Damilola speaks on design strategy, branding, UI/UX, animation, creative leadership, and building sustainable creative careers. Outside professional work, he is deeply interested in character-driven animation and visual storytelling, and is currently developing short, relatable animated content.

Damilola Ogunleye is a seasoned creative professional and multidisciplinary designer with 12+ years of experience in visual communication, design, and animation. He began his creative journey during his undergraduate years, working on impact-driven p... Show more

Art’s perspective has been acquired from thirty years of experience across the spectrum of his profession, many of those years living and working in the vibrant innovation community of Boston’s Route 128 tech beltway as well as in Washington, DC. Together with his pioneering clients, who were eager to re-order many of the old paradigms, they navigated through the swings of dramatic change for the U.S. tech world and the global business landscape.

Having been involved in the responsible business movement since its seeding years, Art has originated and/or collaborated on groundbreaking industry research and thought leadership as well as business processes and trainings. His clients have been central players in the business, technology, and nonprofit advancements seen across a wide range of industries.

He has served as a strategist and program developer, advisor-counselor, and implementer to a diverse range of CEOs, senior executives, public and other organization leaders. His C-suite work includes supporting the M&A process, providing guidance during business or industry upheaval, tackling the dramatically changed risk terrain, managing clients’ reputational risk liabilities, and complementing the work of corporate counsel during escalations and legal disputes. As a Board Member, Art is a Founding Director of a groundbreaking AI venture for American veterans.

Art has led a range of organizational development facilitations. As an educator, he researched and developed a multi-level curriculum and content platform on the “New Responsibility Paradigm” – launching the undergraduate edition at Emerson College. He was also one of only five faculty members at Emerson invited to teach a visiting delegation in a summer residency from the Communications University of China. For eight years he held an honorary role as Research Fellow at the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University and has taught graduate students at Northeastern University.

Art writes and speaks on the transformation of business and institutions into agents of change for solving our most significant global challenges. He partnered with the Private Directors Association on a five-part podcast series “ESG Insights”. In Summer 2023, he produced a webinar on private markets ESG in a collaboration with Blank Rome, and recently partnered with the Board Risk Committee on a panel webinar addressing the new risk management and Corporate Impact 2.0. As a blogger for the Corporate Responsibility Association, one of his posts became the fourth most-read in their content program that regularly reached 120K+ business leaders. He was the first author to publish a work on Corporate Social Responsibility in the annual “Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications” (JIMC) for the Medill School, Northwestern University.

Art earned a mid-career Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, a postgraduate certificate in Senior Executive Leadership also from Georgetown, an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications from Emerson College, and has completed “Dealing with an Angry Public,” with the MIT-Harvard Law School Public Disputes and Negotiation Program.

He is included in various Marquis’ Who’s Who editions, such as Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Media and Communications. Art is ranked as a "Top Thought Leader" in several categories by Thinkers360, including for CSR; Change Management; and Business, Strategy, Management, and Leadership.

Art’s perspective has been acquired from thirty years of experience across the spectrum of his profession, many of those years living and working in the vibrant innovation community of Boston’s Route 128 tech beltway as well as in Washington, DC. Tog... Show more

Chevron is a gray wolf, gamer, and event host from New Jersey. He works with several VRChat-based convention groups like the Furality Online Xperience, TailBass, Misho's Feeshquarium, Lords of Floof, WaterWolf, Projekt Community, and xCirrex Media to create events and bring people together for fun nights, games, friendship, and great times. He hosts Thursday VRChat Games alongside NoxTheSergal and Scottish Gamer every week (which are often attended with full instances), as well as in-person gatherings monthly. He passionately embraces VRChat and its rave and convention scene, especially with Furnal Equinox, CozyCon, Projekt Community, WaterWolf, and the Furality Online Xperience. You'll find him most often sharing photos on his art galleries to help promote his favorite events and organizations. Furrydelphia, Furnal Equinox, and Anthro New England's first ever VRChat Meet-and-Greets and Intro Panels were co-hosted by TJCoyote, Chief, Chevron, Lilithe Lotor, mBlade, and members of the Fluffy Fur Friends. Motivated by the TailBass and Furality VRChat portals, Chevron is now working to set up VRChat portals and meets at other in-person conventions.

He serves as a Photographer for the Furality Online Xperience, operator for the Operations Department for WaterWolf, Events Host for Projekt Community, and a tournament co-host for xCirrex Media events.

Chevron's love and passion for Furnal Equinox motivated him to cosplay as "Badgie" (Virtual Furnal Equinox 2021's unofficial mascot made of nothing but attendee badges) at the in-person convention in 2022. He reprized his role in-person in 2023 and 2024, and also attends other conventions as "Badgie" who is often referred to as "Attendee Man."

Chevron first attended Furnal Equinox in March 2021 over VRChat. The experience was so enjoyable that he dared to compared his experience at Furnal Equinox to Furality 2000 (November 2020). This motivated him to attend the in-person Furnal Equinox convention for the first time in March 2022. The trip was a first of many for Chevron: His first time in Canada, first time using Lyft, and first time public suiting and marching in a fursuit parade. Chevron has now added Furnal Equinox to his list of yearly attended conventions.

A lifelong player of EVE Online, Mechwarrior, Armed Assault III, Halo, Command & Conquer, and Dance Dance Revolution, Chevron holds a particular appreciation for older games of the late 1990s-early 2000s, such as the first Ghost Recon (2002) and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. His first video game was Mario on the original Game Boy when he was five years old. His admiration of cyberpunk and all things futuristic is on full display with his Illumi Cyberwear LED visor. His fursuit was made by Sarahcat. Outside of the fandom, he works in the IT industry as a cybersecurity administrator and is (jokingly) addicted to Mountain Dew.

Chevron's ultimate goal is to bring people together for fun and great times. He embraces the future with open arms and is eager to dive right into all the fun that can be had together with friends and the fandom.

Chevron is a gray wolf, gamer, and event host from New Jersey. He works with several VRChat-based convention groups like the Furality Online Xperience, TailBass, Misho's Feeshquarium, Lords of Floof, WaterWolf, Projekt Community, and xCirrex Media to... Show more

Andrew builds powerful systems: AI platforms, digital ecosystems, and high performance human capability.

Andrew designs and scales AI powered platforms and ecosystems at Uniform and advise on AI strategy through the MACH Alliance, operating at the intersection of architecture, product, and execution. Beyond work, I lead and invest across KUMA Performance, Yellow Hat Media, Lumioso AI, and RegulationLayer.

Andrew values clarity over noise, restraint over hype, and mastery of systems, mind, and body.

Andrew builds powerful systems: AI platforms, digital ecosystems, and high performance human capability. Andrew designs and scales AI powered platforms and ecosystems at Uniform and advise on AI strategy through the MACH Alliance, operating at the... Show more

He currently works for a media & Entertainment company at Burbank, California.

He has been awarded with Microsoft Office and Servers MVP for the year 2015 -2016 -2017-2018-2019.

He blogs at https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/members/lakshmanan-sethu

He runs the website www.letsharepoint.com

He has gathered around 14k points in Microsoft Technet forum
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/profile/lakshmanan%20sethu/

He currently works for a media & Entertainment company at Burbank, California. He has been awarded with Microsoft Office and Servers MVP for the year 2015 -2016 -2017-2018-2019. He blogs at https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/members/lakshmanan-set... Show more

17 years of experience in reporting, data analytics and business intelligence in finance, insurance and media.

17 years of experience in reporting, data analytics and business intelligence in finance, insurance and media. Show more

Bri Williams helps leaders speak confidently.

She ensures your voice is heard, your contributions are known, and your value is undeniable within your organization through public speaking and leadership development.

An international speaker, she has delivered talks worldwide to culturally diverse audiences in APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.

She brings 20 years of experience in talent, learning, and development within financial services and IT industries, from graduate programs to leadership development.

Her talks help emerging leaders develop unshakeable speaking confidence and skills for:
🟢 Internal and external meetings
🟢 Presentations and Training
🟢 Media
🟢 Events

Her clients are regularly featured in the media, including CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg, COP26, and Macy's, at top industry events or making waves internally with their teams and stakeholders.

Bri has been featured on Thrive Global, International Women's Day and is the in-house communication expert for the wellness app LiveMore.

✔️ 94% of hosts book Bri to speak again.
✔️ 93% of her audience rates her talks as Actionable, Engaging, Inspiring, and Relevant.

Australian-born 🇦🇺 and after a decade of living in London 🇬🇧 Bri is now based in the South of France 🇫🇷 (…if you can't pick the accent!) and loves living between the mountains and the sea, but is always happy to speak at your in-person event or deliver virtually.

Bri Williams helps leaders speak confidently. She ensures your voice is heard, your contributions are known, and your value is undeniable within your organization through public speaking and leadership development. An international speaker, sh... Show more

Erich Archer has spent over two decades in television and media production, combining a deep understanding of storytelling with a forward-thinking approach to technology. An Emmy-winning producer, he has led high-impact projects across film, television, and branded content, always pushing the boundaries of creative storytelling. As the founder of CGA Creative, Erich helps brands integrate generative AI into their content strategies, making high-quality production more efficient and accessible.
His expertise in AI-driven storytelling has made him a sought-after consultant, working with companies across Hollywood, Bollywood, and beyond to navigate the intersection of AI and media. Recognized in The CEO’s AI Playbook by Chuck Bolton, Erich is actively shaping conversations about how AI is transforming creative industries, guest lecturing at Section, Innovating with AI, and Harvard University.
A regular podcast guest, Erich shares insights on the evolving role of AI in content creation, storytelling, and business strategy. As the creator of Smarty Pants AI, an AI ecosystem designed for industry professionals, he is helping companies integrate AI into strategic decision-making.
With AI rapidly changing how content is produced and consumed, Erich’s experience in both traditional media and emerging AI technologies offers a practical perspective for businesses looking to stay ahead. His work focuses on making AI an asset for storytellers, marketers, and creators—helping them produce engaging, high-quality content at scale.

Erich Archer has spent over two decades in television and media production, combining a deep understanding of storytelling with a forward-thinking approach to technology. An Emmy-winning producer, he has led high-impact projects across film, televisi... Show more

Je m’appelle Leyonce Baha. Je suis entrepreneur, spécialiste en marketing et communication, ainsi qu’agent publicitaire. Je suis CEO des ETs ZOE, fondatrice de VoiceTPOT Empower, et leader principal de VoiceTPOT TV Média.

Ma carrière se concentre sur le marketing digital, les nouvelles technologies et la communication, avec un accent particulier sur la puissance transformatrice de l’intelligence artificielle. Mon objectif est de stimuler la croissance économique mondiale tout en promouvant l’éducation et la transformation sociale, notamment chez la jeunesse.

Je m’appelle Leyonce Baha. Je suis entrepreneur, spécialiste en marketing et communication, ainsi qu’agent publicitaire. Je suis CEO des ETs ZOE, fondatrice de VoiceTPOT Empower, et leader principal de VoiceTPOT TV Média. Ma carrière se concentre ... Show more

Accomplished executive and visionary leader, recognized as one of the top women in Web3 and AI by Unstoppable Women of Web3/AI and shortlisted by Wirex for Best Founder. With a distinguished track record in immersive entertainment, blockchain, and decentralized tech education, Stacy has built and scaled transformative ventures, including the first fully immersive, technology-driven entertainment complex in the U.S. and pioneering blockchain platforms in education and entertainment. A leader in tokenizing ticketing, streaming educational content on-chain, and using NFTs as souvenirs for events, she has also driven initiatives to fund artists and release new music through blockchain-backed models, enabling creators to connect directly with audiences and unlock new revenue streams. Known for driving strategic growth, building influential partnerships, and leading high-profile, tech-driven projects, Stacy excels at creating transformative opportunities within the Web3 space across industries. Skilled in investor relations, brand positioning, and team development, she is dedicated to reshaping the future of tech, entertainment, and decentralized learning, empowering communities, and fostering innovation in high-growth sectors.

Accomplished executive and visionary leader, recognized as one of the top women in Web3 and AI by Unstoppable Women of Web3/AI and shortlisted by Wirex for Best Founder. With a distinguished track record in immersive entertainment, blockchain, and de... Show more

With expertise spanning SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media, I help brands elevate their visibility, skyrocket organic traffic, and drive measurable engagement. Whether it’s optimizing site structure, crafting high-impact content, or building performance-driven campaigns, I believe in strategies rooted in data and designed for results.

With expertise spanning SEO, content marketing, PPC, and social media, I help brands elevate their visibility, skyrocket organic traffic, and drive measurable engagement. Whether it’s optimizing site structure, crafting high-impact content, or buildi... Show more

Alex Lieberman is a visionary serial entrepreneur best known for co-founding Morning Brew, the business media brand that grew from a small student project into a multimillion dollar company with more than four million subscribers. The newsletter’s success led to a $75 million acquisition by Business Insider.

He has earned spots on Forbes 30 Under 30 and AdAge 40 Under 40. Since exiting Morning Brew, Alex has built several new ventures including Storyarb, Distro, GrowthPair, and Tenex. Tenex focuses on helping large companies move fast on AI strategy and implementation. Across his work, Alex blends storytelling, technology, and growth to help teams communicate more clearly and innovate at pace.

As a speaker, he draws on real experience building and selling a major media brand. He covers entrepreneurship, content strategy, revenue growth, and leadership in an AI driven world. He also explores these themes on his podcasts Founder's Journal and Imposters. His sessions focus on practical tools that help audiences refine their messaging, build trust, and turn creative ideas into results.

With a combined following of more than 730,000, Alex has a reputation for clear thinking and straightforward advice on business growth and AI transformation.

Alex Lieberman is a visionary serial entrepreneur best known for co-founding Morning Brew, the business media brand that grew from a small student project into a multimillion dollar company with more than four million subscribers. The newsletter’s su... Show more

After 17 years at NBC Universal, Sheena transitioned from corporate executive to mission-driven storyteller and global partnerships leader supporting underrepresented communities. She now speaks internationally and co-hosts a cultural wellness podcast, empowering individuals and audiences to lead with purpose, identity, and impact.

Her work includes speaking alongside civic leaders and moderating global conversations — including at the Cannes Film Festival — on belonging, reinvention, and storytelling as a force for meaningful change.

After 17 years at NBC Universal, Sheena transitioned from corporate executive to mission-driven storyteller and global partnerships leader supporting underrepresented communities. She now speaks internationally and co-hosts a cultural wellness podcas... 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

Anupriy Kanti is a UX Design Leader and Content Strategist with over 14 years of experience designing for B2C and B2B products across various domains. He has led multidisciplinary teams in design agencies like Think Design and FoxyMoron, as well as high-growth unicorns such as Zeta and Infra.Market — where he built and scaled content design functions from the ground up.

Anupriy’s work intersects with systems thinking, storytelling, and UX clarity. He is known for developing frameworks and playbooks that make information architecture and content strategy accessible to cross-functional teams. As a design mentor and a frequent speaker across design communities, he employs metaphor-rich thinking to translate abstract ideas into practical tools and playbooks.

When he is not building design systems or advocating for content-informed UX, you will find him conducting mythological-prehistory walks in Bengaluru or decoding cosmic stories from deep time.

Anupriy Kanti is a UX Design Leader and Content Strategist with over 14 years of experience designing for B2C and B2B products across various domains. He has led multidisciplinary teams in design agencies like Think Design and FoxyMoron, as well as h... Show more

[ENG]

Nicolás works as a Sr. UX Designer at Mercado Libre, and is part of the Google Experts program as an expert in UX/UI and Product Strategy, in addition to being a Google Launchpad Mentor and Google Design Sprint Master.

After a long career in the advertising industry and technology companies, he has more than 12 years of experience working in user experience design. He has dedicated the last few years to sharing his knowledge throughout Latin America, giving conferences and workshops on User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Interaction Design, Material Design, and Google Design Sprint to hundreds of students and professionals in Latam, providing advice and consulting to different tech startups, fintech startups, agro startups, and more.

He also teaches UX and interface design classes in technology degree programs, is the local leader of the Google Developer Groups Montevideo, local leader of the Interaction Design (IxDA) community in Uruguay, and has an active participation in the Google Developer Groups and Google Developer Experts communities throughout Latin America and Hispanic America.

In 2022, he went to perform the first mapping for Google Street View in Antarctica, and in 2025, he did the first mapping in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands. Additionally, he has carried out smaller mappings in different Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Uruguay.

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[ESP]

Nicolás se desempeña como Sr. UX Designer en Mercado Libre, y forma parte del programa de Experts de Google como expert en UX/UI y Product Strategy, además de ser Google Launchpad Mentor y Google Design Sprint Master.

Luego de una larga trayectoria en el medio publicitario y empresas de tecnología, cuenta con más de 12 años de experiencia trabajando en diseño de experiencia de usuario. Ha dedicado los últimos años en compartir su conocimiento por todo Latinoamérica, dando conferencias y workshops de User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Interaction Design, Material Design y Google Design Sprint a cientos de estudiantes y profesionales de Latam, dando asesoramiento y consultorías a diferentes startups tecnológicas, startups fintech, de agro y más.

También, dicta clases de UX y diseño de interfaces en carreras de tecnología, es local leader del Google Developer Groups Montevideo, local leader de la comunidad de Interaction Design (IxDA) en Uruguay, y tiene una participación activa en las comunidades de Google Developer Groups y Google Developer Experts de todo Latinoamérica e Hispanoamérica.

En el año 2022 fue a realizar el primer mapeo para Google Street View en la Antártida, y en el 2025 hizo el primer mapeo en las Falklands/Malvinas Islands. Además, de realizar algunos más pequeños en diferentes países de Latinoamérica como ser, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador y Uruguay.

[ENG] Nicolás works as a Sr. UX Designer at Mercado Libre, and is part of the Google Experts program as an expert in UX/UI and Product Strategy, in addition to being a Google Launchpad Mentor and Google Design Sprint Master. After a long career... Show more

Kirsten “Kiki” Ringer is the founder of KLR Literary Management and brings 30+ years of experience in publishing and entertainment, including roles at The Walt Disney Studios, Penguin Putnam, and Russell & Volkening Literary Agency, where she worked with Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.

Through KLR, she helps writers navigate traditional, hybrid, and author-publisher paths with clarity, strategy, and heart—offering an accessible, author-centered approach to publishing and marketing. She’s passionate about demystifying the process and empowering authors to take control of their publishing journey.

Kirsten “Kiki” Ringer is the founder of KLR Literary Management and brings 30+ years of experience in publishing and entertainment, including roles at The Walt Disney Studios, Penguin Putnam, and Russell & Volkening Literary Agency, where she worked ... Show more

John Elbing helps brands stop sounding like everyone else. As a business storytelling expert and author of Storybuilding: Your Brand From Their Standpoint, he guides marketing and leadership teams to flip the script—from pushing messages to building stories people actually care about. Drawing on his work with startups, corporates, and nonprofits, John blends strategy, storytelling, and sharp humor to help organizations stand out, connect, and convert. His sessions are lively, practical, and rooted in real-world experience—whether you need to rally a team, realign a brand, or rethink the story you’re telling the market.

John Elbing helps brands stop sounding like everyone else. As a business storytelling expert and author of Storybuilding: Your Brand From Their Standpoint, he guides marketing and leadership teams to flip the script—from pushing messages to building ... Show more

Coach Rocky Mar (she/her) helps Drupal teams turn training into Tuesday habits that ship. An Amazon bestselling author and Founder & CEO of Smart Life Investments, she teaches a 90-day, manager-led playbook of EI micro-skills, crisp standups/1:1s, and a lightweight delivery scorecard—tool-agnostic and community-first. Her sessions emphasize inclusive leadership, psychological safety with accountability, and responsible use of AI as a practice partner for feedback, reviews, and onboarding. Attendees leave with open templates they can use next sprint to raise velocity, improve first-time-right, and reduce burnout.

Coach Rocky Mar (she/her) helps Drupal teams turn training into Tuesday habits that ship. An Amazon bestselling author and Founder & CEO of Smart Life Investments, she teaches a 90-day, manager-led playbook of EI micro-skills, crisp standups/1:1s, an... Show more