Gabrijela Vratarić is Sales Manager and licensing specialist at CITUS d.o.o. With years of experience in technology companies in the sales segment, communication with partners and customers, with an emphasis on using IT in everyday business and business process improvement. By working in Microsoft she has gained insight into the latest trends and effects of implementing IT solutions in a variety of business environments. She transmitted her knowledge through a series of workshops and trainings she held for both her team members and Microsoft solution users. She was the holder of the prestigious MVP title for Microsoft 365 Apps & Services for 7 years.

Gabrijela Vratarić is Sales Manager and licensing specialist at CITUS d.o.o. With years of experience in technology companies in the sales segment, communication with partners and customers, with an emphasis on using IT in everyday business and busin... Show more

Swathy Santhosh is a seasoned software engineer with over 10 years of experience in the IT industry, playing multiple roles spanning global teams. She has a passion for full-stack engineering and has a keen eye for user experience for the products that she leads. She has led engineering teams developing mission-critical applications across a wide variety of industries such as financial services, health care, and logistics.

While she isn't in front of her computer, she dabbles in creating mural arts or canvas paintings based on whatever inspires her and hopes to someday focus a lot more time on the arts. She is also an avid traveller and is always in search of her next dream destination.

Swathy Santhosh is a seasoned software engineer with over 10 years of experience in the IT industry, playing multiple roles spanning global teams. She has a passion for full-stack engineering and has a keen eye for user experience for the products th... Show more

I'm a software engineer with 10+ years of experience, passionate about building scalable systems and contributing to open-source. I enjoy the challenge of designing core components for data automation, developing robust systems, and creating efficient client libraries (SDKs). Recently, I've been diving deep into machine learning, building a model to predict product health. It's mind-blowing to see AI doing its thing! I'm also super excited to be sharing what I've learned about Vertex AI, generative AI, and all things Google Cloud at GDG Kathmandu.

I'm a software engineer with 10+ years of experience, passionate about building scalable systems and contributing to open-source. I enjoy the challenge of designing core components for data automation, developing robust systems, and creating efficie... Show more

Maria Betancourt Thompson, Ed.D., is a distinguished expert in transformational leadership, instructional equity, and school culture. Her journey from homelessness and trauma due to domestic abuse and family mental illness has profoundly shaped her mission. Maria's "True North" is child-centered, dedicated to ensuring that the educational system serves every child, regardless of their challenges. Her inspiring "First Generation" story, from school custodian to district director, reflects her resilience and dedication. As a child, Maria helped her hard-working immigrant parents clean the school she attended, contributing to the family's livelihood and influencing her drive and work ethic.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Maria has an extensive background in education, having served as a classroom teacher, dean, assistant principal, school principal, and district director. She currently holds the position of State Leadership Development Chair for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Maria is a prolific author and creator, with numerous published articles, photographs, presentations, and over $13 million in successful grant writing to her credit.

Maria is renowned for her ability to help school and district leaders discover their “why” and apply it to their work, combining heart and humor to engage and inspire. She is passionate about transforming educational environments and is unafraid to challenge the status quo to remove barriers and ensure access for all students. Her focus is on maximizing educator talent to achieve grade-level or better learning outcomes for every student.

An avid hiker, photographer, and traveler, Maria enjoys creating lasting memories with family and friends. She currently works for the Charter Oak Unified School District and resides in the San Gabriel Valley with her husband Mark, son Michael, and cherished pets, Daisy the Cattle Dog and Winnie-Pooh the Adventure Pug.

Maria Betancourt Thompson, Ed.D., is a distinguished expert in transformational leadership, instructional equity, and school culture. Her journey from homelessness and trauma due to domestic abuse and family mental illness has profoundly shaped her m... Show more

Satej works as Principal Data Engineer at Zalando SE with over 14 years of experience in the industry. He has worked with renowned organizations such as Boeing, Adidas, Honeywell specializing in architecture, big data and machine learning use cases. With a strong track record of architecting scalable and efficient systems, Satej has successfully delivered data-driven and ML applied solutions. He's also an author of two programming books named "Building Secure PHP Applications" and "PHP 8 Basics: For Programming and Web Development" with Apress / Springer publications with another one in pipeline.

Satej works as Principal Data Engineer at Zalando SE with over 14 years of experience in the industry. He has worked with renowned organizations such as Boeing, Adidas, Honeywell specializing in architecture, big data and machine learning use cases. ... Show more

Software developer with 5+ years of experience, specializing in backend development with Django and implementing cross-platform mobile solutions with Flutter. Google Developer Group Lecce Organizer.

Software developer with 5+ years of experience, specializing in backend development with Django and implementing cross-platform mobile solutions with Flutter. Google Developer Group Lecce Organizer. Show more

A dedicated and evolving Programs Lead and Software Engineer.

A dedicated and evolving Programs Lead and Software Engineer. Show more

Canine furry and fursuiter from Toronto. Organizer of the Furnal Equinox "Tour De Fur" public fursuit walk since 2017.

Canine furry and fursuiter from Toronto. Organizer of the Furnal Equinox "Tour De Fur" public fursuit walk since 2017. Show more

Engineer, architect and hands-on lead with expertise in distributed systems and agile software development.

● Focus on infrastructure architecture, performance, availability, security, and the delivery aspects of applications
● 12+ years in cloud-native software development/operations
● 13 years in real-time market data distribution/ telecommunications/data centre operations
● Experience in the financial services, banking, public safety, logistics, insurance and retail verticals

Engineer, architect and hands-on lead with expertise in distributed systems and agile software development. ● Focus on infrastructure architecture, performance, availability, security, and the delivery aspects of applications ● 12+ years in cloud... Show more

Miracle is the Co-Founder of Glotale, a company dedicated to helping ambitious individuals achieve their relocation dreams through expert support with the UK Global Talent Visa process. He brings a unique perspective to the table, having transitioned from a non-tech background himself and served as a data coach in the UK's digital upskilling programmes. This experience allows him to deeply understand the challenges faced by professionals navigating the UK digital sector and the Global Talent Visa process.

Miracle is the Co-Founder of Glotale, a company dedicated to helping ambitious individuals achieve their relocation dreams through expert support with the UK Global Talent Visa process. He brings a unique perspective to the table, having transitioned... Show more

Chaitanya Dadi is an accomplished Azure SQL DBA and Microsoft Data Platform DBA with over 10 years of experience in SQL database administration, optimization, and cloud solutions. He is Microsoft Certified in SQL Database Administration and holds a certification as a SAFe 6.0 Practitioner. Chaitanya has a proven track record in managing complex database environments, improving system performance, and ensuring high availability. His expertise spans a wide range of technologies, including SQL Server and Azure cloud solutions, where he has consistently delivered scalable and efficient solutions for various industries.
Chaitanya’s technical skills include deep knowledge of high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions, such as log shipping, database mirroring, always-on availability groups, and clustering. He has extensive experience in installing, configuring, upgrading, and maintaining SQL Server across various versions (from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2022), ensuring optimal performance and security. Additionally, he is skilled in migrating databases between various platforms, including SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and more. He is proficient in database performance tuning, query optimization, and implementing best practices for database maintenance.
In his current role at National Grid, Chaitanya has demonstrated his ability to reduce costs by optimizing Azure database resources, achieving a 40% reduction in costs through resource optimization and strategic use of auto-scaling. He has been instrumental in migrating mission-critical databases to Azure, ensuring minimal downtime and enhancing system performance by 35%. He has also implemented high availability and disaster recovery solutions using Azure technologies, including Azure Site Recovery and Always On Availability Groups, to ensure business continuity.
Before joining National Grid, Chaitanya worked in various industries, including healthcare, telecom, and insurance, where he contributed significantly to database performance improvements, cost savings, and the successful migration of on-premises databases to the cloud. At UP Health System, for example, he consolidated over 100 SQL servers, reducing licensing costs and improving the performance of critical healthcare applications. His experience also includes working with large-scale databases (up to 10 TB) and implementing Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) for securing sensitive data.
Chaitanya’s technical expertise is complemented by his strong problem-solving skills, leadership in automation and process optimization, and his ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams. His hands-on experience in database migrations, security, backup, and disaster recovery strategies, along with his extensive use of Azure cloud services, makes him a highly valuable asset to any organization looking to improve database performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

Chaitanya Dadi is an accomplished Azure SQL DBA and Microsoft Data Platform DBA with over 10 years of experience in SQL database administration, optimization, and cloud solutions. He is Microsoft Certified in SQL Database Administration and holds a c... Show more

Victoria Nduka is an evolving creative with diverse interests. In her relatively short career, she’s brewed beer as a supply chain management intern at Nigerian Breweries, designed digital experiences as a UX designer, and is now exploring cloud engineering—because why not?

Victoria dreams of traveling the world, and maybe even finishing that one crochet project she abandoned. Until then, she’s making an impact from her little corner of the world, through writing, speaking, and volunteering.

Victoria Nduka is an evolving creative with diverse interests. In her relatively short career, she’s brewed beer as a supply chain management intern at Nigerian Breweries, designed digital experiences as a UX designer, and is now exploring cloud engi... Show more

More than 22 years of experience in devoloping internet technologies to deliver performance engineering solutions for billion-dollar global applications systems.Profound understanding of business imperatives, sensitivities, and an array of methodologies, ensuring adaptability and strategic foresight in complex project environments.

More than 22 years of experience in devoloping internet technologies to deliver performance engineering solutions for billion-dollar global applications systems.Profound understanding of business imperatives, sensitivities, and an array of methodolog... Show more

I’m Isha Taneja, the CEO of Complere Infosystem and Chairperson at TiE Chandigarh. With over a decade of experience leading digital transformation and AI-driven innovation, I’ve had the privilege of helping 200+ clients across 11+ industries—ranging from Healthcare and E-commerce to Media, HR, and Finance—solve complex data challenges and achieve the power of actionable insights.
Recently featured on Times Now’s podcast “Leaders of Tomorrow".
I’ve also participated as a speaker and panelist at various forums to share thought-provoking perspectives on Data Engineering, AI Implementation, Business Optimization, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership in the ever-evolving startup ecosystem.
I am also was honored with the "Data Engineering & Analytics CEO of the Year" award by CEO Monthly.

I’m Isha Taneja, the CEO of Complere Infosystem and Chairperson at TiE Chandigarh. With over a decade of experience leading digital transformation and AI-driven innovation, I’ve had the privilege of helping 200+ clients across 11+ industries—ranging ... Show more

Bahar is a Flutter developer and co-founder at Altogether startup, a pioneering law tech platform designed to serve persons with disabilities. With a passion for inclusive design and innovation, Bahar played a pivotal role in leading her team to victory as the 1st place winner at the Global BeChangeMaker 2023 Competition held in Dublin, Ireland organized by WorldSkills and HP Foundation. Drawing on her extensive experience, Bahar has actively collaborated with persons with disabilities to identify and address accessibility challenges within Flutter applications. Through direct engagement and rigorous testing, she has managed to enhance accessibility and ensure adherence to legal compliance guidelines. Furthermore, Bahar also has a background in legal compliance complementing her technical expertise.

Bahar is a Flutter developer and co-founder at Altogether startup, a pioneering law tech platform designed to serve persons with disabilities. With a passion for inclusive design and innovation, Bahar played a pivotal role in leading her team to vict... Show more

25+ years in IT industry with experience. Have implemented plenty of modernizations, integrations, migrations, data pipelines, cloud native and serverless architectures, Event Driven Architectures, etc. Big fan of simple and pragmatic solutions.

25+ years in IT industry with experience. Have implemented plenty of modernizations, integrations, migrations, data pipelines, cloud native and serverless architectures, Event Driven Architectures, etc. Big fan of simple and pragmatic solutions. Show more

Design and Code are my pillars

Design and Code are my pillars Show more

Wes Shields, Principal and founder of Synthminds.AI, leads a team of 15 experts, propelling clients' AI strategies and objectives with ethical and innovative solutions. Under his stewardship, his full-service Artificial Intelligence agency provides bespoke services that exceed their strategic needs to an extensive list of clientele from academia to various industries including aviation, customer service, legal, marketing, logistics, education and technology. He was named one of the first 18 global “OpenAI Experts”, an endorsement awarded and recognized formally by OpenAI. Shields' exemplary work has earned him and his Synthminds team the "Expert-Vetted" AI Consultant accolade from Upwork, a title conferred on the top 1% of the 18 million professionals on the platform.

Recognized as an accomplished strategist and speaker in the field of AI, he is also the host of the popular podcast, 'How to Talk to AI.' He has a notable presence on Promptbase.com, the premier prompt sales marketplace, where his prompts rank him amongst the top 200 worldwide.

Shields possesses an impressive academic portfolio, holding an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, an MBA from the Mason School of Business at The College of William & Mary, and a BS in Economics from the esteemed United States Naval Academy. His contributions to academic research, particularly in the domains of complex network science and logistics technology integration, have been published and recognized, earning him graduate certifications from both the Kegan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the Naval Postgraduate School.

For more insights into his professional pursuits and areas of interest, visit https://synthminds.ai/.

Wes Shields, Principal and founder of Synthminds.AI, leads a team of 15 experts, propelling clients' AI strategies and objectives with ethical and innovative solutions. Under his stewardship, his full-service Artificial Intelligence agency provides b... Show more

Ingeniero de Sistemas colombiano apasionado por desarrollar soluciones que causen un impacto en la vida cotidiana de las personas. Sus lenguajes de programación favoritos son Ruby y Javascript.

A participado como organizador y como charlista en diferentes eventos realizados en distintas ciudades de Chile y tuvo la oportunidad de participar como conferencista en la JSConf Colombia 2015, con una charla sobre aplicaciones de BitTorrent

Además le encanta el Karaoke y es un cristiano comprometido con su Iglesia.

Ingeniero de Sistemas colombiano apasionado por desarrollar soluciones que causen un impacto en la vida cotidiana de las personas. Sus lenguajes de programación favoritos son Ruby y Javascript. A participado como organizador y como charlista en di... Show more

You need a speaker who doesn’t just hold attention-but electrifies a room. That’s me. I’m Karis Gill, multi–award-winning founder, storytelling strategies, and the go-to speaker for businesses ready to harness the neuroscience of storytelling to drive real action.

With over 100 high-impact workshops and keynotes delivered across industries, I bring high energy, sharp humour, and strategies that stick. My sessions are known for getting audiences laughing, scribbling furious notes, and walking away saying: “Why has no one taught us this before?”

Because no one teaches you how to sell, lead, or pitch through story. That’s where I come in. I show you the neuroscience and how the brain is wired for story, why decision-makers buy with emotion, not logic- and how to craft business stories that move people. This isn’t fluffy theory. It’s science-backed storytelling that gives your team an unfair advantage.

As a founder, I’ve generated multi–seven-figure revenues over the last 5 years, using the exact storytelling principles I now teach. Whether I’m delivering a keynote to thousands or running an intimate workshop for your team, my goal is the same: to make you better at storytelling than 99% of people you’ll ever meet.

If you're ready to stop sounding like everyone else and start speaking in a way that connects, converts, and compels- let’s talk.

You need a speaker who doesn’t just hold attention-but electrifies a room. That’s me. I’m Karis Gill, multi–award-winning founder, storytelling strategies, and the go-to speaker for businesses ready to harness the neuroscience of storytelling to driv... Show more

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology and business strategy, I specialize in harnessing cutting-edge innovations to solve complex challenges in the Pension Investment industry. As an AI Automation Coach, I’ve led transformative initiatives that have streamlined back-office and administrative operations—delivering measurable time and cost savings.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

- CIO Canada Award Winner (2023, 2024)
- Microsoft Power Champions – Enterprise Hackathon Winner

I’m passionate about driving AI-powered transformation through platforms like Microsoft Copilot and the Power Platform, enabling organizations to boost efficiency, ensure compliance, and embrace intelligent automation.

Beyond my professional role, I actively contribute to the Microsoft 365 ecosystem by speaking at official Microsoft and Power Platform Community Conferences, sharing insights and fostering innovation within the tech community.

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology and business strategy, I specialize in harnessing cutting-edge innovations to solve complex challenges in the Pension Investment industry. As an AI Automation Coach, I’ve led transfor... Show more

Paul is the Founder and CEO of Carbon Six Digital and Rubber Cheese. He is an Umbraco veteran of 14 years and somewhat of a lapsed developer. He likes to think outside the box, often coming up with creative technical solutions that clients didn’t know were possible. Paul oversees business development and people management at Rubber Cheese and Carbon Six but in his heart just wants to solve problems with tech.

Paul is the Founder and CEO of Carbon Six Digital and Rubber Cheese. He is an Umbraco veteran of 14 years and somewhat of a lapsed developer. He likes to think outside the box, often coming up with creative technical solutions that clients didn’t kn... Show more

Raksha S. Vashishta is a well renowned Fintech Product Leader and prominent WomenInTech speaker based in United States . With over 6+ years of experience across transportation, retail, and smart mobility sectors, she specializes in payment automation and financial technology innovation. At Verra Mobility, Raksha led groundbreaking projects including an in-house payment automation solution processing over million monthly in invoice volume and a transformative ERP implementation. Her previous role as a Payment Processing Specialist has showcased her ability to streamline financial workflows, reducing processing time by 40%. As a recognized voice at global WomenInTech conferences, Raksha advocates for technology-driven financial innovation while sharing insights on payment solutions, data analytics, and cross-functional collaboration in the evolving AI-powered payments landscape.

Raksha S. Vashishta is a well renowned Fintech Product Leader and prominent WomenInTech speaker based in United States . With over 6+ years of experience across transportation, retail, and smart mobility sectors, she specializes in payment automatio... Show more

Rebecca Barnes is a seasoned storyteller, publisher, and destination marketing expert with over 30 years of experience turning communities into compelling brands. As CEO of Imagine, a creative agency specializing in tourism marketing, author and publisher of destination lifestyle magazines, Rebecca has helped destinations—from heritage trails to wedding venues—craft narratives that resonate and drive results. Her work blends strategic insight with heart-centered storytelling, empowering destinations to connect with visitors on a deeper level. A dynamic speaker and lifelong advocate for meaningful travel, Rebecca shows tourism professionals how to go beyond the brochure and tell stories that leave a lasting impact.

Rebecca Barnes is a seasoned storyteller, publisher, and destination marketing expert with over 30 years of experience turning communities into compelling brands. As CEO of Imagine, a creative agency specializing in tourism marketing, author and publ... Show more

I work as a Cloud Architect and Consultant at Akamai Technologies, overseeing cloud computing products and cloud-native projects across the Asia region.

Prior to joining Akamai, I served as a Software Engineer at Samsung SDS, a Program Manager at Microsoft, and a Cloud Architecture and Security Platform Specialist at Vingroup in Vietnam.

I am the author of 12 IT books covering software engineering, web performance, DevOps, and cloud computing. I have also delivered numerous talks at international conferences such as KubeCon, as well as at Open Infrastructure and Kubernetes community events.

I work as a Cloud Architect and Consultant at Akamai Technologies, overseeing cloud computing products and cloud-native projects across the Asia region. Prior to joining Akamai, I served as a Software Engineer at Samsung SDS, a Program Manager at ... Show more

Allison Kozel is a seasoned educator, creative leader, and current district-level administrator with a passion for human-centered leadership. With a background that spans teaching, program management, and communications through work as a videographer aboard Princess Cruises, Allison brings a unique blend of strategic insight and heartfelt storytelling to her work. Her career took a transformative turn when she was forced to confront burnout head-on during her second year in district leadership—a moment that reshaped her perspective on wellness, balance, and what it means to lead sustainably.

Today, Allison uses her voice to advocate for the well-being of educators and administrators, weaving personal experience with practical tools that support healthier work cultures in schools. She believes that taking care of ourselves is not a luxury—it’s a leadership imperative.

Allison Kozel is a seasoned educator, creative leader, and current district-level administrator with a passion for human-centered leadership. With a background that spans teaching, program management, and communications through work as a videographer... Show more

Carsten interessiert sich für das Finden und Umsetzen von smarten Lösungen für die Softwareentwicklung in komplexen Umgebungen. Dabei setzt er auf agile Ansätze und umfangreiche Kollaboration mit allen Stakeholdern für die Anforderungsermittlung. Eine seiner Lieblingsdomänen ist Aviation.

Carsten interessiert sich für das Finden und Umsetzen von smarten Lösungen für die Softwareentwicklung in komplexen Umgebungen. Dabei setzt er auf agile Ansätze und umfangreiche Kollaboration mit allen Stakeholdern für die Anforderungsermittlung. Ein... Show more

Matteo is a Front End Engineer at Freedome, the first marketplace for outdoor activities in Italy. Passionate about accessibility, he is also the co-developer of Netychords, an accessible digital musical instrument playable with eye movements. In his spare time, he writes and plays music, runs a newsletter, has released an EP on Spotify, and has authored a scientific publication.

Matteo is a Front End Engineer at Freedome, the first marketplace for outdoor activities in Italy. Passionate about accessibility, he is also the co-developer of Netychords, an accessible digital musical instrument playable with eye movements. In his... Show more

Natalie Crüe is a cultural producer, consultant, Global Hip-Hop connoisseur, and activist. Natalie sees arts and culture as a vehicle for social change - spearheading various cultural, brand, and social impact initiatives around the globe that aim to foster civic engagement, spark dialogue, and amplify communities.

She co-developed the Metaverse Music Festival aka MVMF, the first global music festival rooted in the metaverse; Co-produces Huellas Festival in Southern Spain; and contributes to a number of DAOs and creative communities in the Web3 ecosystem. Recently, she founded Web3 Uncut -- a dynamic tech lab building micro experiments to support creators on chain and a newsletter centering Web3 arts & culture.

You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @NatalieCrue.

Natalie Crüe is a cultural producer, consultant, Global Hip-Hop connoisseur, and activist. Natalie sees arts and culture as a vehicle for social change - spearheading various cultural, brand, and social impact initiatives around the globe that aim to... Show more

I'm a product leader with nearly 20 years of experience building AI-driven products at companies like Microsoft, Nuance, and TripAdvisor. I specialize in pre-Product Market Fit, working in high-uncertainty contexts where strategy, speed, and clarity are critical.

I'm a product leader with nearly 20 years of experience building AI-driven products at companies like Microsoft, Nuance, and TripAdvisor. I specialize in pre-Product Market Fit, working in high-uncertainty contexts where strategy, speed, and clarity ... Show more