13 years at Deutsche Telekom, 10 years as Enterprise Architekt, 2 years Reorganisation Telekom IT CoreTeam, 2 years IT@Motion Stream "Culture of Trust" CoreTeam, 2,5 years People Lead Chapter Business Analyst, founded Passioneers in January 2025

13 years at Deutsche Telekom, 10 years as Enterprise Architekt, 2 years Reorganisation Telekom IT CoreTeam, 2 years IT@Motion Stream "Culture of Trust" CoreTeam, 2,5 years People Lead Chapter Business Analyst, founded Passioneers in January 2025 Show more

With over 13 years in the IT industry, I’ve built my career at the intersection of technology, global business strategy, and people empowerment.

I joined WorkWithPlus in 2013, starting in support and later leading the Support and Customer Experience teams. That hands-on journey shaped my deep understanding of customer needs, product value, and long-term relationships - all of which now guide my role as Chief Commercial Officer, where I lead sales and commercial strategy in 35+ countries, always striving to build lasting relationships that empower our clients, partners, and community.

As a Computer Engineer with a Master’s in Computer Science, I combine a strong technical foundation with expertise in sales strategy, customer success, and partner ecosystems. This allows me to understand complex systems, lead product conversations with clarity, and bridge business and technology in meaningful ways. I see AI as a key enabler to build smarter, more inclusive, and more efficient experiences.

I’m passionate about multicultural leadership, with a style centered on inclusion, adaptability, and lasting impact. To strengthen these skills, I completed the Cultural Awareness for Global Business course at MIT and the Strategic Sales Management Program at ESADE. I’m also a Santander W50 Leader and a proud Google Women Techmakers Ambassador.

With over 13 years in the IT industry, I’ve built my career at the intersection of technology, global business strategy, and people empowerment. I joined WorkWithPlus in 2013, starting in support and later leading the Support and Customer Experien... Show more

Sebastiano is an engineering leader passionate about helping others grow in their careers. Sebastiano is currently a Director of Engineering at Upwork, and over the years, he has led multiple teams at companies like Pinterest, Paypal, Snap, and Spotify in domains ranging from shopping and crypto to messaging, video creation, and ads. Sebastiano is an avid listener of leadership, management, and wellness podcasts.
Sebastiano received an MS in Software Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan and an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.

Sebastiano is an engineering leader passionate about helping others grow in their careers. Sebastiano is currently a Director of Engineering at Upwork, and over the years, he has led multiple teams at companies like Pinterest, Paypal, Snap, and Spoti... Show more

Growth Coach for professionals and Businesses | Startup Mentor | Scaling Impact-Driven Leadership Without Burnout | International Keynote Speaker | Peak Performance for Leaders in AI age

Growth Coach for professionals and Businesses | Startup Mentor | Scaling Impact-Driven Leadership Without Burnout | International Keynote Speaker | Peak Performance for Leaders in AI age Show more

David has worked across the globe in varying industries from Fiserv to LiSci. The only thing he likes more than a smooth Agile-led project, is a data-driven smooth Agile-led project.

David has worked across the globe in varying industries from Fiserv to LiSci. The only thing he likes more than a smooth Agile-led project, is a data-driven smooth Agile-led project. Show more

Dr. Patrick Drechsler is a software developer at MATHEMA GmbH. His current focus is on Testing, TDD, Domain-Driven Design and Functional Programming. You have a good chance of meeting him at regional software crafting events such as Softwerkskammer or other local meetups.

Dr. Patrick Drechsler is a software developer at MATHEMA GmbH. His current focus is on Testing, TDD, Domain-Driven Design and Functional Programming. You have a good chance of meeting him at regional software crafting events such as Softwerkskammer ... Show more

Bandana Kaur is a recent high school graduate and cybersecurity researcher passionate about securing technology at every layer - from networks and APIs to AI systems and the humans behind them. Currently working as a Security Research Engineer at APISec, she investigates real-world vulnerabilities and explores the offensive side of cybersecurity, with a growing focus on AI red teaming.

Bandana has been discussing the impact of AI on the cybersecurity workforce since she was 15 and now serves as a board member at the UN Dynamic Teen Coalition, where she brings a youth perspective to global digital safety policy and leads their cybersecurity discussions. Her work bridges technical research and public impact, whether through hands-on testing, policy engagement, or speaking at international conferences and podcasts on topics ranging from OSINT and Social Engineering to attacks against LLM APIs.

An influential speaker, she's delivered talks on international forums while blending deep technical insight with clarity and simplicity. Through her online persona HackWithHer, Bandana is building a reputation as part of a new generation of researchers who see security not just as a profession, but as a responsibility.

Some of her previous talks include:
'Talk to Hack: Why the future of API abuse is conversational' at APISec | Con 2025
'OSINT and Social Engineering for CISOs' (2x) at the CISO Deep-Dive training programme, MeitY, NeGD & IIPA, 2024
'The Hackers Among Us: The Gen-Z guide to Cybersecurity' at NICE Cybersecurity Career Week 2024
STEAM Speaker Series Inaugural Speaker representing Technology at AWIS Washington DC, 2024
Also a guest speaker on various podcasts...

Her guiding motto as HackWitHer is “making the cyberspace liveable for all” - a vision that drives her to build safer, more inclusive systems. Blending curiosity with responsibility, she represents a new generation of security thinkers shaping the future of ethical hacking, AI safety, and internet freedom.

Bandana Kaur is a recent high school graduate and cybersecurity researcher passionate about securing technology at every layer - from networks and APIs to AI systems and the humans behind them. Currently working as a Security Research Engineer at API... Show more

**Trish Kane, MBA**
CEO and Founder, Healerverse

Trish Kane is a visionary leader and the creative force behind Healerverse, an innovative platform designed to unite spiritual and holistic wellness worldwide. As a Healer, Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Decentralization Advocate, and Author.

In 2014, she experienced a life-changing event when she was found unresponsive, battling a dangerously low body temperature of 86°F (30°C). After a near-death experience, including a trip “to the other side,” a miraculous recovery involving resuscitation, a 9-day coma, and two strokes, Trish dedicated more than a decade to healing through spiritual and holistic practices. This profound personal journey inspired her to create Healerverse, a community that nurtures growth, connection, and healing.

Healerverse is a pioneering platform that addresses the fragmented nature of spiritual and holistic solutions for both practitioners and seekers. It offers a comprehensive SaaS platform that enables practitioners to manage their entire business seamlessly while connecting with users through a global directory of verified professionals eager to support personal growth with diverse services, courses, events and more. Additionally, the proprietary platform features a cutting-edge event ticketing service for both virtual and in-person engagements, streamlining access to healing opportunities.

Trish holds a BBA from Iona University and an MBA from Florida Atlantic University.

Learn more about Healerverse and Trish at:
[5Dhealerverse.com](https://5dhealerverse.com) and visit her personal website at: [trishkane.com](https://trishkane.com).

**Trish Kane, MBA** CEO and Founder, Healerverse Trish Kane is a visionary leader and the creative force behind Healerverse, an innovative platform designed to unite spiritual and holistic wellness worldwide. As a Healer, Inspirational Keynote ... Show more

Matt has over twenty years of experience helping companies create and capture enterprise value from both an organic and inorganic perspective. Matt founded boutique consulting firm Town Square Advisors where he created the proprietary Square Management System to facilitate improved performance through optimal organizational design methods framed around a concept called Constrained Indepence. A book, The Culture of Alignment, further detailing these concepts is pending publication.

In addition to Town Square Advisors, Matt has led global inorganic growth strategy/M&A for multiple private equity-backed portfolio companies, currently as a member of the executive team for Quickbase (a B2B work management SaaS provider) owned by Vista Equity. Prior, Matt established global Corporate Development departments for Green Street Advisors (CRE data and analytics SaaS provider owned TA Associates) and International Data Group "IDG" (B2B tech-focused market intelligence SaaS owned by Blackstone). During his tenure at IDG Matt led (6) transformative M&A transactions and was recognized as a Finalist for the prestigious Thought Leader of the Year awarded by the Alliance of M&A Advisors.

Matt also worked as a middle-market-focused investment banker with Capstone Partners and Tully & Holland and focused on sell-side mandates for privately held B2B SaaS and tech-enabled businesses.

Matthew's strategy and finance experience is complemented by his decade+ executive management tenure in professional sports managing Minor League Baseball franchises, several of which set multiple sales, attendance and merchandise records. During his sports tenure, Matt was recognized as a Rising Star Award Winner as a top “40 under 40” business professional by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. And, two franchises earned recognition as the Freitas Award Winner as “Best Triple-A” & “Best Double-A” Minor League Baseball Franchise by Baseball America.

A sought-after thought leader, Matthew has been featured throughout his career as a speaker in numerous trade, industry and association conferences, events and webinars and as a guest lecturer at the University of Colorado and Metro State College. A graduate of Colgate University, Matt also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Finance (MSF) from Boston College. Matt is based in greater Boston, where he lives with his family. In his spare time, Matt enjoys traveling to new restaurants, competing in long-drive golf, attending stand-up comedy shows and pursuing his passion for classic cars.

Matt has over twenty years of experience helping companies create and capture enterprise value from both an organic and inorganic perspective. Matt founded boutique consulting firm Town Square Advisors where he created the proprietary Square Manageme... Show more

Over 20 years of experience in the Dynamics world. Currently leading implementation projects and delivery teams at Reach, where we focus on delivering and fixing Dynamics 365 implementations.

Over 20 years of experience in the Dynamics world. Currently leading implementation projects and delivery teams at Reach, where we focus on delivering and fixing Dynamics 365 implementations. Show more

Caio co-founded NP Digital Brazil and worked with Neil Patel for over a decade. After scaling the agency in Brazil, he moved to the U.S. to help grow NPD's SMB division as COO. Now, he leads International Growth, supporting NP Digital’s expansion across over 20 countries.

Caio co-founded NP Digital Brazil and worked with Neil Patel for over a decade. After scaling the agency in Brazil, he moved to the U.S. to help grow NPD's SMB division as COO. Now, he leads International Growth, supporting NP Digital’s expansion acr... Show more

Shawn is passionate about harnessing the power of data strategy, engineering, and analytics in order to help businesses uncover new opportunities. As an innovative technologist with over 15 years of experience, Shawn removes technology as a barrier and broadens the art of the possible for business and product leaders. His holistic view of technology and emphasis on developing and motivating strong engineering talent, with a focus on delivering outcomes whilst minimising outputs, is one of the characteristics which sets him apart from the crowd.

Shawn’s deep technical knowledge includes distributed computing, cloud architecture, data science, machine learning, and engineering analytics platforms. He has years of experience working as a consultant practitioner for a variety of prestigious clients ranging from secret clearance level government organizations to Fortune 500 companies.

Shawn is passionate about harnessing the power of data strategy, engineering, and analytics in order to help businesses uncover new opportunities. As an innovative technologist with over 15 years of experience, Shawn removes technology as a barrier a... Show more

With 15+ years of experience in the ERP industry, I have progressed from support roles to becoming a Solution Architect, specialising in manufacturing solutions across diverse sectors including plastics, design-driven manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage. My passion lies in designing and implementing systems that not only streamline business operations but also enhance people's lives by reducing stress and enabling smarter, more efficient workflows. Witnessing the transformative power of technology in driving business growth is what fuels my dedication and passion to this field.
Academically, I hold a BA (Hons) in English Literature and am currently pursuing an MSc in Computer Science with a focus on AI. Alongside my academic endeavours, I maintain professional Microsoft certifications and continue to expand my expertise in the latest technological innovations.

With 15+ years of experience in the ERP industry, I have progressed from support roles to becoming a Solution Architect, specialising in manufacturing solutions across diverse sectors including plastics, design-driven manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, ... Show more

I work as a mid-level Software Engineer, focusing primarily on backend development with Python.

In addition to my professional work, I code extensively in my free time: exploring procedural generation, designing video games, diving into computer vision, and automating processes.

With three years of practical experience and a degree in Software Engineering, programming isn't just my career, it's my personal superpower. Python is my trusted companion day in and day out.

Even during holidays, going a week without coding feels like something is missing. For me, coding isn't merely about writing lines of code; it's about solving problems. That's why I see myself as more of a problem-solver and builder enthusiast than just a programmer.

I work as a mid-level Software Engineer, focusing primarily on backend development with Python. In addition to my professional work, I code extensively in my free time: exploring procedural generation, designing video games, diving into computer v... Show more

Przemysław Mikulski is the co-founder of Kodlot ApS, a boutique consultancy delivering cloud-native data platforms across Europe and the US. With hands-on experience across AWS, Kubernetes, and modern data architectures, he helps enterprises in regulated industries and high-growth sectors scale platforms, automate operations, and align engineering with business goals.

He has led cross-border teams in the Nordics, Switzerland and Poland. He specializes in implementing data mesh, optimizing cloud costs, and integrating AI into operational workflows. Przemysław combines deep technical expertise with a strong focus on practical outcomes, making his talks both actionable and grounded in real-world delivery.

Przemysław Mikulski is the co-founder of Kodlot ApS, a boutique consultancy delivering cloud-native data platforms across Europe and the US. With hands-on experience across AWS, Kubernetes, and modern data architectures, he helps enterprises in regul... Show more

Dr. Muhsin Tamturk is currently a Senior Researcher in R&D at Antares Global. He is also a Quantum Advocate and a certified IBM Quantum Computing Developer. His academic background includes a BSc in Mathematics, an MSc in Financial Mathematics, a PhD in Actuarial Mathematics, and an additional MSc in Applied Quantum Computing.

Dr. Tamturk has previously held positions as a Senior AI Engineer, Data Scientist, and Analytical Developer. He has authored several academic papers in the fields of quantum computing, insurance, and finance.

Dr. Muhsin Tamturk is currently a Senior Researcher in R&D at Antares Global. He is also a Quantum Advocate and a certified IBM Quantum Computing Developer. His academic background includes a BSc in Mathematics, an MSc in Financial Mathematics, a PhD... Show more

Sydney Parriott, MA, CCC-SLP, MBA, is a well-recognized communication expert and founder of Speak Like a Professional. A former Kansas State Champion and Top-12 National Finalist in Informative Speaking, Sydney now brings the same energy and mastery of message design to her work as a licensed speech-language pathologist.

Drawing on nearly a decade of clinical experience, she helps professionals, executives, and organizations master the mechanics and mindset of effective communication. This includes everything from vocal power and body language to emotional regulation and audience connection. Sydney’s approach blends science, psychology, and strategy to make communication not just a skill, but a competitive advantage.

Whether speaking on stage or consulting behind the scenes, Sydney empowers every audience to find their authentic voice and use it with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Sydney Parriott, MA, CCC-SLP, MBA, is a well-recognized communication expert and founder of Speak Like a Professional. A former Kansas State Champion and Top-12 National Finalist in Informative Speaking, Sydney now brings the same energy and mastery ... Show more

Directeur adjoint de GreenAlp, j'ai en charge des missions de Gouvernance & Organisations. J'ai porté des projets de transformation, d'innovation ou de refonte d'activité.

Coach professionnel, je m'attache à faciliter la mise en mouvement, en particulier de collectifs.

Directeur adjoint de GreenAlp, j'ai en charge des missions de Gouvernance & Organisations. J'ai porté des projets de transformation, d'innovation ou de refonte d'activité. Coach professionnel, je m'attache à faciliter la mise en mouvement, en part... Show more

Vijaya Kumar Katta is an accomplished IT professional with over 17 years of experience in software engineering, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and enterprise application development. Currently working as a Technical Architect at Infinite Computer Solutions in Tampa, FL, he specializes in leading large-scale technology transformations, with a strong focus on security engineering, cloud-native development, and AI/ML-driven solutions.

Vijaya’s career spans leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase, Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services, and Unistring Tech Solutions, where he successfully led cross-functional teams in delivering mission-critical applications across domains such as telecommunications, finance, networking, and data science. He has architected and implemented scalable microservices, cloud migrations, and enterprise-grade security frameworks, while also mentoring teams in Agile and DevOps practices.

Academically, Vijaya holds a Master’s degree in Data Science from Bellevue University, USA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from Kakatiya University, India. His technical portfolio is vast, with expertise in Java, Spring Boot, microservices, RESTful APIs, AWS, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, and modern frontend frameworks. He also possesses hands-on knowledge in AI/ML, NLP, and computer vision, making him well-positioned to drive innovation in emerging technology areas.

Certified in AWS Cloud, SAFe Agile (Practitioner & Advanced Scrum Master), and Data Science & Big Data Analytics, Vijaya is recognized for his ability to design robust architectures, optimize business processes, and ensure compliance with stringent security standards. His strong background in communications, networking, and finance domains further enhances his ability to align IT strategies with business outcomes.

With a reputation for being both a visionary technologist and a collaborative leader, Vijaya thrives in dynamic environments where he can combine his technical depth with strategic thinking to deliver impactful solutions that accelerate digital transformation and business growth.

Vijaya Kumar Katta is an accomplished IT professional with over 17 years of experience in software engineering, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and enterprise application development. Currently working as a Technical Architect at Infinite Computer So... Show more

Austin Caudle, MSc
Vice President, SmartSkin Technologies

A seasoned pharmaceutical quality thought leader, Mr. Caudle has over two decades of experience across pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical devices, specializing in bridging technology with critical industry needs to advance quality and patient outcomes. He actively shapes industry standards as Immediate Past-President of PDA Southeast Chapter, a member of the PDA Regulatory and Quality Advisory Board (RAQAB), and a Regulatory Authority Engagement Liaison for the EMA Quality Working Party. He also contributes to ISPE CaSA Chapter and is a frequent contributor to discussions on data integrity, quality maturity, and regulatory science.

His extensive career includes roles at Fortune 500 companies (Kelly Science & Clinical, IQVIA, ThermoFisher), leadership at NSF Health Sciences and Charles River, and establishing Redica Systems as a leader in Quality and Regulatory Intelligence software. At SmartSkin, he drives strategic partnerships and customer engagement to accelerate technology adoption, empowering manufacturers by focusing on damage prevention, process control, and regulatory confidence.

Austin holds a BSc and MSc in Nutrition & Food Science from Auburn University and has published research in scientific journals.

Austin Caudle, MSc Vice President, SmartSkin Technologies A seasoned pharmaceutical quality thought leader, Mr. Caudle has over two decades of experience across pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical devices, specializing in bridging technology wi... Show more

Aaron Harrison is a Director of Advisory in Gartner's Information Technology Leaders practice. Mr. Harrison advises Application, Enterprise Architecture, and Software Engineering Leaders on subjects such as agile, modernization, API strategy, application rationalization, business architecture, creating ARB / CAB, test automation, metrics, coordinating product lines, team and org management and change, project to product transformation, as well as skills and competencies within Applications orgs. As an Advisor with over 25 years professional experience within the IT industry, he's adept at translating between technologists and the C-Suite.

Aaron Harrison is a Director of Advisory in Gartner's Information Technology Leaders practice. Mr. Harrison advises Application, Enterprise Architecture, and Software Engineering Leaders on subjects such as agile, modernization, API strategy, applica... Show more

Erica is currently an AI cybersecurity architect and consultant, and was a software engineer and cybersecurity hobbyist for several years before becoming an application security red-teamer in 2018. Since then, she has been earning bug bounties, releasing new CVEs and original exploit techniques, training penetration testers and conducting R&D projects as a cybersecurity technical lead. Erica organizes 2600, a local offensive cybersecurity meetup, and has spoken about hacking, bot writing, and various hacking topics at many conferences and meetups, including DC207, IC2, Tyler Connect, as well as SkyTalks, CactusCon, Live360! and DEFCON, the world's largest hacker conference. She has also volunteered at Red Team Village at DEFCON in Vegas. Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Southern Maine.

Erica is currently an AI cybersecurity architect and consultant, and was a software engineer and cybersecurity hobbyist for several years before becoming an application security red-teamer in 2018. Since then, she has been earning bug bounties, relea... Show more

Rosh Ramadass is an accomplished Principal Engineer and cloud architect based in San Jose, California, with over 20 years of experience in building scalable, secure, and innovative technology solutions. Currently serving as Principal Engineer at Zscaler, Rosh specializes in Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and cloud infrastructure optimization.
Throughout his distinguished career, Rosh has demonstrated exceptional expertise across multiple cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. His technical proficiency spans container technologies like Kubernetes and Docker, microservice architectures, and modern DevOps practices. He holds an AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification, underscoring his deep cloud expertise.
At Zscaler, Rosh leads groundbreaking initiatives including the design and implementation of the Workload Observability Metrics Pipeline Platform, leveraging AI and machine learning for automated issue analysis and remediation. His innovative approach has significantly improved application reliability and reduced system downtime.
During his 13-year tenure at Juniper Networks as Principal Engineer, Rosh architected AWS-based deployment solutions, pioneered GitOps workflows, and developed AI-driven network policy automation frameworks. His contributions to cloud security, chaos engineering, and multi-cloud Kubernetes management have been instrumental in advancing Juniper's cloud-native offerings.
Rosh's innovation extends beyond implementation to intellectual property creation. He holds a US patent for "Optimistic concurrency control for managed network devices" (Patent no: 10,567,223 B1) and has another patent pending for "Network policy generation for continuous deployment," demonstrating his ability to solve complex technical challenges at scale.
His earlier roles at Novell and Sify provided a strong foundation in identity management, enterprise application development, and messaging systems. Throughout these positions, he consistently delivered solutions that enhanced security, improved performance, and streamlined operations.
With expertise in technologies ranging from Terraform and SaltStack to Prometheus and Grafana, Rosh combines deep technical knowledge with strategic thinking. His ability to analyze critical business needs and devise innovative solutions has made him a valuable asset in achieving organizational objectives across integrated global operational frameworks.
Rosh holds a Master of Computer Applications and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Madras, Chennai.

Rosh Ramadass is an accomplished Principal Engineer and cloud architect based in San Jose, California, with over 20 years of experience in building scalable, secure, and innovative technology solutions. Currently serving as Principal Engineer at Zsca... Show more

Ajit Gajre is an accomplished automotive engineering professional with over 12 years of experience specializing in software requirements, design release, and validation. He has more than 6 years of leadership and project management expertise, consistently driving cross-functional collaboration and delivering milestones on time.
At General Motors, Ajit has held multiple engineering leadership roles, including Subsystem Lead Engineer, Software Design Release Engineer and Operational Excellence & Quality Execution Lead where he defined subsystem-level requirements, managed design reviews, and led teams in delivering advanced occupant positioning features and safety-critical systems. He has also been instrumental in developing and validating chassis electronics, hybrid powertrains, active safety subsystems, and functional safety features, leveraging hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches and advanced validation processes.
Ajit’s career includes significant contributions to occupant positioning, steering, driveline, active safety, and hybrid control systems, as well as experience in mentoring engineers and leading global validation workshares. His achievements include transitioning outsourced software development in-house, resulting in projected multi-million-dollar savings, and delivering fully integrated software and calibration packages across multiple vehicle programs.
He holds dual master’s degrees, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and an M.S. in Project Management from Harrisburg University of Science and Technology along with a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Pune.
Certified as a DFSS Black Belt and Green Belt, and currently a Master Black Belt candidate, Ajit has also coached over 25 DFSS projects and guided 40+ engineers to certification. He is a certified SAFe 5 Practitioner and has advanced technical expertise in tools such as dSPACE Control Desk, DOORS Next Gen, Jira, Vehicle Spy, and CAN/GMLAN communications.

Ajit Gajre is an accomplished automotive engineering professional with over 12 years of experience specializing in software requirements, design release, and validation. He has more than 6 years of leadership and project management expertise, consist... Show more

Yael is a distinguished AI leader with a specialization in cybersecurity, shaped by her 8-year tenure in the Israeli defense forces. Her foundational experience equipped her with invaluable skills that led to her spearheading various R&D AI initiatives. Her leadership left a significant mark in both the defense forces and the private sector, notably contributing to the growth and success of a company that was later acquired for $600 million.
An accomplished strategist, Yael brings a unique blend of hands-on experience, strategic insight, and a proven track record of steering organizations towards data-driven excellence. With a wealth of experience spanning various industries, Yael serves as a trusted advisor and leader, guiding businesses across sectors to establish and manage highly successful AI ventures.

Yael is a distinguished AI leader with a specialization in cybersecurity, shaped by her 8-year tenure in the Israeli defense forces. Her foundational experience equipped her with invaluable skills that led to her spearheading various R&D AI initiativ... Show more

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

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

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

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

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

I did my Doctorate in the field computer vision for medical images. I have been working with images and textual data within medical domain. Currently, I have been involved in several projects related to bioinformatics, ML and multi-omics in veterinary science and evolutionary hologenomics. Apart from the main projects, I am working with other computer vision projects related to medical, infrastructure and other smaller projects. My future projects will include multi-modal models within health science.

I did my Doctorate in the field computer vision for medical images. I have been working with images and textual data within medical domain. Currently, I have been involved in several projects related to bioinformatics, ML and multi-omics in veterinar... Show more

Karthik Govardhanan is a Director Principal Engineer at CVS Health, leading AI-driven search, and SEO innovations for one of the world’s largest retail and pharmacy platforms. With over 14 years of experience spanning CVS, Macy’s, Capgemini, and The Home Depot, he specializes in search relevance, personalization, and conversational commerce. Karthik’s expertise includes large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, semantic search, and scalable e-commerce architectures. He holds a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communication Engineering and an MBA from Boston University.

Karthik Govardhanan is a Director Principal Engineer at CVS Health, leading AI-driven search, and SEO innovations for one of the world’s largest retail and pharmacy platforms. With over 14 years of experience spanning CVS, Macy’s, Capgemini, and The ... Show more

Bhaskardeep Khaund is a highly accomplished Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience in building secure, scalable, and compliant cloud-native systems. He currently leads a Security Green Team focused on implementing systemic security solutions for Microsoft’s massive Kubernetes infrastructure, which supports Microsoft 365 and other mission-critical services. Bhaskardeep specializes in Kubernetes security, container identity management, and secret lifecycle automation, working closely with Red and Blue teams to proactively close security gaps and ensure end-to-end policy enforcement. His leadership plays a key role in passing major audits like FedRAMP, SOC, IRAP, and GDPR. Holding a Master’s degree in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity from Florida Institute of Technology and an advanced certificate in Information Security from Stanford University, Bhaskardeep combines deep technical knowledge with strategic oversight. He holds multiple Microsoft certifications and patents related to cloud secret management and serverless security. Over his 15-year tenure at Microsoft, he has held engineering and leadership roles across Office 365, Exchange, and Azure-based platforms, consistently driving innovations in DevOps, compliance automation, and large-scale system resilience. His career also includes prior experience at Accenture and other firms, where he led teams developing enterprise software for sectors ranging from airlines to government manufacturing. A published blogger at nerdbackbone.blog, Bhaskardeep is an active voice in the cybersecurity and cloud engineering community.

Bhaskardeep Khaund is a highly accomplished Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience in building secure, scalable, and compliant cloud-native systems. He currently leads a Security Green Team focused on imp... Show more

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs, tech startups, and tech innovation. She is the lead organizer for STL TechWeek.

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs... Show more