Francis Onukwu is a skilled software developer crafting innovative Web2 and Web3 solutions, with a strong focus on Rust and TypeScript. As co-founder of Open Source Nest, he drives Africa’s vibrant open-source movement, empowering beginners and pros through engaging workshops, AMAs, and community outreaches. Previously, as a former GDG On Campus Lead and past NACOS Director, he sparked student tech enthusiasm and leadership at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned his BSc in Computer Science. With a passion for accessible tech, Francis leverages certifications in NVIDIA Deep Learning and Google Cloud to inspire inclusive innovation.

Francis Onukwu is a skilled software developer crafting innovative Web2 and Web3 solutions, with a strong focus on Rust and TypeScript. As co-founder of Open Source Nest, he drives Africa’s vibrant open-source movement, empowering beginners and pros ... Show more

Logan O’Neil is a Solutions Consultant at Blink, where she helps organizations evaluate the Blink Employee Experience platform and envision how it can unlock the full potential of their workforce. She brings a strong background in SaaS solutions consulting, with prior experience spanning intelligent communications and CPG insights. In addition to her client work, Logan serves as an Investor Advisory Board Member for Moxey and an Executive Committee Board Member for the Alabama A-Club.

A former Witt University Fellow at The University of Alabama, as well as an NCAA Division I athlete and two-year team captain on The University of Alabama Women’s Rowing Team, Logan brings a competitive edge and a bold servant-leadership style to her work. She holds a Mathematics degree and an MBA from The University of Alabama.

Logan has delivered energizing sessions at Consensus DemoFest East Coast (2023), Sloss Tech (2025), Ragan Employee Experience (2025), and Elevate & Empower (2026) earning a reputation for her practical, insightful, and immediately actionable approach to career and workplace growth.

Logan O’Neil is a Solutions Consultant at Blink, where she helps organizations evaluate the Blink Employee Experience platform and envision how it can unlock the full potential of their workforce. She brings a strong background in SaaS solutions cons... Show more

Digital transformation doesn't fail because of bad technology — and Dinara has the case studies to prove it. A Product Manager with 10+ years across e-commerce, healthcare, finance, and energy, she now leads GBS digitalization at Philip Morris International, turning fragmented operations into platforms that people actually use.
She speaks for PMs, BAs, and change leads who know the org chart is never the whole story - bringing real cases, real missteps, and the frameworks that came after.
Dinara is a Certified Digital Product Manager, member of Product School and active member of its global PM leadership community.

Digital transformation doesn't fail because of bad technology — and Dinara has the case studies to prove it. A Product Manager with 10+ years across e-commerce, healthcare, finance, and energy, she now leads GBS digitalization at Philip Morris Intern... Show more

Pallab Haldar is an accomplished SAP HANA Data Architect and Generative AI Specialist with over 19 years of transformative experience in enterprise data architecture, advanced analytics, and AI/ML innovations. Currently serving as SAP Technical Data Architect at Cognizant Technology Solutions, he has delivered high-impact solutions for Fortune 500 clients including 3M, Delta, and Yokohama Tire.
Pallab specializes in architecting enterprise-scale SAP HANA Database solutions, seamlessly integrating data models with core business processes across SD, MM, FI, BW, and analytics domains. His expertise spans the complete data lifecycle—from ingestion and provisioning to governance and analytical consumption. As a recognized SAP GenAI expert, he pioneers AI-driven transformations, implementing conversational AI assistants with SAP Joule, predictive forecasting in SAP Analytics Cloud, and RAG pipelines using LangChain and Haystack.
His technical mastery encompasses SAP HANA performance optimization, XSA application development, and cloud platform integration across SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry, and Neo environments. Pallab has successfully led complex migrations from XSC to XSA, engineered ML models for predictive analytics, and developed deep learning solutions using TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch.
A thought leader in the SAP community, Pallab actively shares knowledge through technical blogs and holds 15+ SAP certifications, including SAP Generative AI Developer and multiple Solution Architect credentials. His innovative approaches to database optimization, query performance tuning, and AI/ML adoption have consistently delivered measurable business impact through process optimization and enterprise automation.
With deep expertise in programming languages including SQL, Python, Java, and ABAP, combined with extensive experience in DevOps practices and cloud technologies, Pallab continues to shape the future of enterprise data architecture and AI integration. He is an active IEEE member and maintains a strong presence in the professional community through his contributions and thought leadership.

Pallab Haldar is an accomplished SAP HANA Data Architect and Generative AI Specialist with over 19 years of transformative experience in enterprise data architecture, advanced analytics, and AI/ML innovations. Currently serving as SAP Technical Data ... Show more

Having loved NAV/BC as a user, Aldeen has taken her experiences and learnings from the Food Manufacturing and Operations world and transformed them into valuable insights. Now as a Senior Consultant and Trusted Business Advisor, she continues to challenge the boundaries of technology and employ innovative solutions to empower users and drive real business results.

Having loved NAV/BC as a user, Aldeen has taken her experiences and learnings from the Food Manufacturing and Operations world and transformed them into valuable insights. Now as a Senior Consultant and Trusted Business Advisor, she continues to chal... Show more

Samhita is a Principal Data Engineer at HP, having worked across diverse domains including marketing, supply chain and insurance in her career. Samhita is passionate about empowering others having mentored over 100 individuals, guiding them to navigate the career path in data engineering.

Samhita is a Principal Data Engineer at HP, having worked across diverse domains including marketing, supply chain and insurance in her career. Samhita is passionate about empowering others having mentored over 100 individuals, guiding them to navig... Show more

Being actively involved with the SaaS and Open Source industry, Shruti has a good hold on everything eCommerce and has expertise in strategising GTM, studying audience preferences, and framing content, including web content, web marketing, and guest posts. Staying up-to-date with industry trends, she delivers the right content to help the end audiences grow their eCommerce sales.

Ms. Tiwari is a proud Ambassador at Women Techmakers, I am Ramarkable facilitator, and lead the content marketing and partner collaboration between CEDCommerce and the Grow Big Initiative. When not working, Shruti can be found napping, binge-watching, or making friends.

Being actively involved with the SaaS and Open Source industry, Shruti has a good hold on everything eCommerce and has expertise in strategising GTM, studying audience preferences, and framing content, including web content, web marketing, and guest ... Show more

cloud native enthousiast, declarative systems nerd, networking and programming.

cloud native enthousiast, declarative systems nerd, networking and programming. Show more

Senior Frontend Developer at MTN, a computer engineering graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University.

Senior Frontend Developer at MTN, a computer engineering graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University. Show more

Long-time Nix user, maintainer of the NixOS integration test driver, C++ book author. I like static type systems for modeling robust software.

Long-time Nix user, maintainer of the NixOS integration test driver, C++ book author. I like static type systems for modeling robust software. Show more

A student tech founder and full-stack engineer specializing in mobile app development, AI automation workflows, and next-gen AI agents.

A student tech founder and full-stack engineer specializing in mobile app development, AI automation workflows, and next-gen AI agents. Show more

Hi, I’m Rohan, I co-founded Datazip and spend most of my time working on OLake, our open-source project that makes it easier to sync database data into Apache Iceberg. I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with data systems and figuring out how to make them simpler and faster for engineers to use. Along the way, I’ve learned a ton from the open-source community, and I love giving back by sharing what’s worked (and what hasn’t!) as we build. Excited to swap stories and learn from all of you at the meetup!

Hi, I’m Rohan, I co-founded Datazip and spend most of my time working on OLake, our open-source project that makes it easier to sync database data into Apache Iceberg. I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with data systems and figuring out how to make them ... Show more

Brenda Keomany is living proof that authentic leadership is about rising through difficulty, growing stronger, and helping others do the same.
Over a period of six years, Brenda faced a cascade of profound challenges: she lost her mother-in-law; who was like a mother to her and lived with the family for 19 years, as is customary in her late husband’s Khmu tribe, the passing of her father, and supported her husband through a long illness, ultimately becoming widowed at 46 while raising a teenage daughter.
In the midst of these hardships, Brenda returned to Oregon after being away for 24 years. She left behind her established support network to start over, rebuilding her community from scratch and re-establishing her business in a new landscape. Through each upheaval, Brenda chose resilience, adaptability, and growth over resignation.
Today, as President of Status Accounting, LLC, Brenda does more than manage numbers. She and her team partner with clients to create practical workflows and accounting systems that tell the story of their businesses, empowering them to use financial insights for stronger and more strategic decisions. Brenda believes accounting is not just about compliance but about clarity and opportunity.
What sets Brenda apart is her ability to turn adversity into empathy and deep expertise. She guides her family, her team, and her clients through change, complexity, and opportunity, while never losing sight of the importance of community and connection.
Brenda’s talks go beyond inspiration. She offers actionable guidance on building resilience and forging genuine connections, even when rebuilding from the ground up. When you hear Brenda speak, you experience wisdom forged in real life, with practical lessons any business or team can use to thrive, no matter the circumstances.
Listen to Brenda for genuine insight, hard-won resilience, and practical know-how your business can put to use wherever your next chapter begins.

Brenda Keomany is living proof that authentic leadership is about rising through difficulty, growing stronger, and helping others do the same. Over a period of six years, Brenda faced a cascade of profound challenges: she lost her mother-in-law; ... 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

I am Software Engineer 3 at Google. Previously I had worked at Intuit. I have 4+ years experience in the software industry working on cutting edge technologies and building scalable products for millions of users. Apart from tech, I enjoy playing badminton and chess.

I am Software Engineer 3 at Google. Previously I had worked at Intuit. I have 4+ years experience in the software industry working on cutting edge technologies and building scalable products for millions of users. Apart from tech, I enjoy playing bad... Show more

In his commitment to organizational transformation, Randolf co-founded cogrow.space, after two decades of working with leaders, teams and business units in global enterprises, to bring a different voice to enterprise transformation work. As a global citizen, he collaborates with thought leaders in societal evolution.

Randolf takes great satisfaction in offering his guidance to practitioners as they realize their full potential and capacity in regenerative transformation. He is committed to design and lead cohorts for teams of leaders and change agents to enable effective change in their organizations.

In his commitment to organizational transformation, Randolf co-founded cogrow.space, after two decades of working with leaders, teams and business units in global enterprises, to bring a different voice to enterprise transformation work. As a global ... Show more

Anh is a passionate Data Professional who has a solid international background in data analytics and data management across Asia and Europe. With more than 11 years of experience in different industries such as finance, ride-hailing, travel technology, manufacturing and wholesale, she is keen on bringing to the audience her unique perspectives, best practices and know-how when it comes to applying disruptive technologies.

Anh is a passionate Data Professional who has a solid international background in data analytics and data management across Asia and Europe. With more than 11 years of experience in different industries such as finance, ride-hailing, travel technolog... Show more

you may recognise me from this year's BBC The Apprentice.

I bring a unique blend of business leadership and media experience. Earlier this year, I appeared on BBC’s The Apprentice, reaching Week 8 with five wins including one as Project Manager, and a feature in the final episode. Following the show, I was invited to share my story on BBC News, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC South East, Manoto (Persian TV), and across multiple radio stations including BBC Radio Sussex, V2 Radio, and Greatest Hits Radio. I’ve also been featured in publications such as Daily Mail, Metro, The Mirror, The Sun, Recruiter Magazine, and Yahoo News.

As a speaker, I’ve delivered talks at Spotify, NBC Universal, and the University of Brighton (I will have completed a TedX Talk by the time this event is coming up, as it’s booked for October) covering topics including entrepreneurship, women in business, diversity and inclusion, how men can be great advocates for women, working in a male dominating industry such as recruitment, how to start a business, career independence, and the evolving AI landscape. I also host SkillTorch Disrupt, a podcast spotlighting stories of leadership and innovation within the tech and AI space.

Raised by a single father in an immigrant Persian household, I’ve always been fiercely independent. From buying my first property at a young age and now having 3, moving to Southern California alone in my 20s, to launching a business that works with global tech leaders, my journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a passion for impact.

you may recognise me from this year's BBC The Apprentice. I bring a unique blend of business leadership and media experience. Earlier this year, I appeared on BBC’s The Apprentice, reaching Week 8 with five wins including one as Project Manager, a... Show more

I am a Data Architect, Senior Data Engineer, and expert in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, with extensive experience in building AI-powered digital products that drive business innovation. My journey began in software development, where I honed my skills in Python, Scala, and SQL, eventually transitioning to cloud data architecture and machine learning technologies. Over the years, I have specialized in harnessing the power of data to unlock new opportunities for businesses.

As the founder of Datahual LLC, I lead the development of innovative digital products such as AI Stream Pro and MetaLife, along with providing consultancy services. My primary focus is on creating scalable, AI-driven solutions that empower businesses to make smarter, data-driven decisions. My expertise in cloud platforms like AWS allows me to design applications that optimize operational efficiency and push the boundaries of what data products can achieve.

Working closely with AWS, I specialize in cross-functional Data, Development, and Machine Learning, leveraging AWS’s extensive infrastructure to build cutting-edge applications. I’ve had the opportunity to share my knowledge through recording courses and podcasts in the USA on topics like Big Data, Cloud Computing, and AI, engaging a global audience and promoting the practical applications of advanced data technologies.

Throughout my career, I’ve designed and implemented AI-powered solutions that integrate machine learning models for predictive analytics and business process automation. I have a proven track record in migrating legacy systems to cloud environments, utilizing platforms such as AWS, GCP, and Databricks, which has allowed companies to optimize their data storage and processing capabilities on a large scale.

As a recognized leader, I founded Big Data Guatemala and have spoken at international conferences, including DataStax Accelerate and the DataOps Summit, where I earned recognition as a "DataOps Champion" and "Data Rock Star". In addition to my leadership and speaking roles, I’ve mentored data engineers and product managers, helping them leverage AI, cloud technologies, and Big Data. My certifications in Apache Cassandra, Spark, Hadoop, and expertise as a Master Big Data Architect reflect my commitment to delivering innovative, world-class data solutions.

I am a Data Architect, Senior Data Engineer, and expert in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, with extensive experience in building AI-powered digital products that drive business innovation. My journey began in software development, where... Show more

Project manager and operations expert with 8+ years of experience in building scalable structures in SMEs and start-ups – from supply chain and process optimisation to change
management. My strengths: structuring complex topics, coordinating cross-functional teams and implementing solutions pragmatically.

Project manager and operations expert with 8+ years of experience in building scalable structures in SMEs and start-ups – from supply chain and process optimisation to change management. My strengths: structuring complex topics, coordinating cross-f... Show more

Nichi Aviña is the 2022 California Teacher of the Year, a middle school science teacher at Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs Unified School District, and co-author of Regulate to Educate: An EduProtocol Field Guide for Calm, Caring, and Resilient Classrooms. She holds a B.S. in Biology from UC San Diego and a Master of Education and began her career in cancer research before transitioning to education.

Nichi is a Community Resiliency Model (CRM) Teacher, HeartMath Facilitator, 300-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, and advanced Somatic Experiencing student. Her work integrates neuroscience, trauma-informed practices, nervous system regulation, and student leadership to help schools create cultures where students feel safe, connected, and ready to learn.

She developed the Regulate to Educate framework and the Students Regulating Students peer mentoring model, which trains middle school students to teach and apply regulation skills with younger peers, classmates, and families. Her work has been featured at state and national conferences and focuses on building student agency, belonging, wellness, and resilience through evidence-informed practices.

Through her teaching, writing, and professional learning workshops, Nichi helps educators implement practical strategies that strengthen regulation, relationships, and learning. Her mission is to help schools become sanctuaries of healing, belonging, and leadership—one regulated nervous system at a time.

Nichi Aviña is the 2022 California Teacher of the Year, a middle school science teacher at Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs Unified School District, and co-author of Regulate to Educate: An EduProtocol Field Guide for Calm, Caring, and Resi... Show more

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

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

Architect and IC for VPP transport stack, TLS, IPsec, Traffic management and VPP generic plugin features. Leading a team of engineers to deliver SSL and VPP based solutions to customers.

Architect and IC for VPP transport stack, TLS, IPsec, Traffic management and VPP generic plugin features. Leading a team of engineers to deliver SSL and VPP based solutions to customers. Show more

Senior Software Developer on project Helidon at Oracle, with more than 7 years of experience in designing and developing Enterprise Java components and APIs. Active open-source contributor, mainly to the project Helidon, but also contributing to the various related Jakarta EE projects such as JSON-B, Yasson and Jersey.

Senior Software Developer on project Helidon at Oracle, with more than 7 years of experience in designing and developing Enterprise Java components and APIs. Active open-source contributor, mainly to the project Helidon, but also contributing to the ... Show more

Harith is a cloud security architect at Amazon Web Services specializing in CDN, AWS WAF, DDoS mitigation, and API defense with over a decade of expertise protecting high-scale distributed systems. As an Edge Solutions Architect, he has architected security solutions for some of the world's largest digital platforms, including XXL ISV, Partners, Enterprise, and Public Sector customers across the globe. He is a featured speaker at several industry events, and his work focuses on the intersection of security and cloud-native defense architectures.

Harith is a cloud security architect at Amazon Web Services specializing in CDN, AWS WAF, DDoS mitigation, and API defense with over a decade of expertise protecting high-scale distributed systems. As an Edge Solutions Architect, he has architected s... Show more

Josi Aranda is a Principal Data Engineer at Macromill Inc., bringing nearly a decade of experience building data platforms at scale. He holds GCP Professional certifications (Cloud Architect, Data Engineer) and Astronomer's DAG Authoring for Apache Airflow certification. Previously at tiket.com, he built a self-service pipeline framework with Airflow and dbt that cut delivery time by days, and consolidated Airflow clusters saving 50% operational cost.

Josi Aranda is a Principal Data Engineer at Macromill Inc., bringing nearly a decade of experience building data platforms at scale. He holds GCP Professional certifications (Cloud Architect, Data Engineer) and Astronomer's DAG Authoring for Apache A... Show more

Oluwatobi Oladapo is Head of Product at myCircle, where he leads product innovation in social and behavioral finance. He previously co-founded Exchequer, a USSD-native savings platform. He speaks on why real adoption in fintech and beyond depends not only on trust but on embedding products into people’s existing behaviors, what he calls ‘behavior as infrastructure.

Oluwatobi Oladapo is Head of Product at myCircle, where he leads product innovation in social and behavioral finance. He previously co-founded Exchequer, a USSD-native savings platform. He speaks on why real adoption in fintech and beyond depends not... Show more

Arturo has had dual, sometimes competing, sometimes collaborating, passions in both music and technology since he was 10. After pursuing, and receiving, a Bachelors, Masters, and finally an Artist Diploma in Cello Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, and after then briefly performing as principal cellist of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in Shenzhen, PRC, Arturo's career took him in a completely different direction.

Currently, Arturo is tech lead for Fifth Third Bank in the areas of Software Security and Risk Mitigation, where he gets to cooperate with great people, solving interesting puzzles that make the online banking experience safer for all of Fifth Third's customers. While he still pursues music, off the clock Arturo works on crafting his own smart home system, building components from scratch, and working out how to get them to talk to one another. He spends equal amounts of time tending to his home lab, a sort of "digital garden".

Arturo has had dual, sometimes competing, sometimes collaborating, passions in both music and technology since he was 10. After pursuing, and receiving, a Bachelors, Masters, and finally an Artist Diploma in Cello Performance from Oberlin Conservat... Show more

Words that Ignite, Voices that Empower: Introducing Ajichei Chazyloyang

They say words have power, but I believe in the power of the speaker. That's what drives me, not just as a certified public speaker at the Texas Institute of Public Speaking (TIPS), but as a passionate advocate for youth empowerment. For the past two years, I've woven words into tapestries of inspiration, sharing quotes that ignite and stories that spark change.

My journey began with a simple question: How can I use my voice to make a difference? The answer led me to the world of youth development, where I discovered a profound need – the need to equip young minds with the tools they need to navigate life's complexities.

Over countless presentations, I've witnessed the transformative power of words. From helping teens make informed life choices to guiding young adults on their career paths, I've seen the spark of potential ignite in their eyes. It's a privilege to witness their confidence soar, their voices rise, and their dreams take flight.

My expertise doesn't just lie in words, but in understanding the unique challenges and aspirations of youth. I tailor my presentations to resonate with their realities, injecting humor, real-life examples, and interactive elements to keep them engaged. Whether it's facing the anxieties of exams or navigating the ever-changing job market, I empower them with practical strategies and a growth mindset.

Beyond the stage, I am a firm believer in mentorship. I connect with young individuals on a personal level, offering guidance and support as they navigate their journeys. Their successes become my triumphs, and their struggles fuel my passion to do more.

I am not just a motivational speaker; I am a partner, a cheerleader, and a catalyst for change. When you invite me to speak, you're not just getting a presentation; you're investing in the future – a future where young voices are heard, dreams are pursued, and possibilities are limitless.

So, are you ready to ignite the power within your youth? Let's spark a conversation, ignite a passion, and empower the next generation to write their own stories.

Together, let's make their voices heard!

Words that Ignite, Voices that Empower: Introducing Ajichei Chazyloyang They say words have power, but I believe in the power of the speaker. That's what drives me, not just as a certified public speaker at the Texas Institute of Public Speaking (... Show more

Thayna Bustamante is an Agile practitioner and transformation consultant with a track record of helping organizations rethink how they build, deliver, and collaborate. With experience spanning global consultancies and enterprise environments, she has worked with organizations such as EY, IBM, and Bosch, supporting teams and leaders in navigating the complexities of Agile adoption in a way that makes sense to them.

Thayna Bustamante is an Agile practitioner and transformation consultant with a track record of helping organizations rethink how they build, deliver, and collaborate. With experience spanning global consultancies and enterprise environments, she has... Show more