GatherVerse SHE Summit 2026
Super Hero Engine
Meet the speakers
Robin Rise: Bio
🌿 Dr Robin Rise — Psychologist | Executive Coach | Futurist | Author | Founder of Woman Optimized
Dr Robin Rise is a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and visionary entrepreneur devoted to advancing human consciousness, performance, and wellbeing in an age of accelerating technology. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology and deep expertise in neuroscience, organizational behavior, and performance psychology, Dr Robin bridges the worlds of science and spirituality to help leaders, organizations, and women evolve consciously and thrive sustainably.
As founder of Woman Optimized, a humane-tech platform designed by women for women, she champions data sovereignty, feminine intelligence, and the decentralization of power through human-centric innovation. Her work integrates evidence-based neuroscience with divine feminine wisdom to unlock human potential and reimagine success for the next evolution of humanity.
Dr Robin’s upcoming book, Wire Monkey, explores the paradox of modern connection — how technology shapes attachment, empathy, and love in the digital age. Blending neuroscience, psychology, and soulful storytelling, it examines our collective longing for authentic human warmth in a wired world. Through vivid insights and lived experience, Wire Monkey invites readers to reclaim their humanity while embracing the future.
Her coaching and advisory practice supports CEOs, visionaries, and changemakers in navigating complexity, burnout, and transformation with clarity and compassion. Inspired by thought leaders such as Andrew Huberman, Brené Brown, Joe Dispenza, and Peter Diamandis, she remains devoted to integrity, healthspan, and collective flourishing.
Her mission: to empower the evolution of humanity — through love, consciousness, and technology aligned with human values.
Leila Amirsadeghi: Bio
Leila is Principal Program Manager at Microsoft on the Industry Solution Engineering team, engineering innovation with Enterprises using GenAI, Vision, Robotics, and XR. She previously helped launch Microsoft Mesh as Product Manager and was Product Manager on AltspaceVR, Microsoft’s metaverse, mixed reality and events platforms. Leila has extensive industry experience including, manufacturing, construction, retail, media & entertainment, agriculture, gaming, healthcare, and CPG.
With over 25 years in digital product development and emerging technologies, Leila has designed and built products and experiences across digital & location-based platforms including mobile, web, OTT, AI, AR, VR, and the metaverse. She launched award-winning marketing campaigns for brands and startups, worked on major franchises, and developed Consumer and Enterprise solutions with companies including Trimble, Halo, John Deere, Star Wars, X-Men, Coca Cola, Disney, Red Bull, Comcast, Sky Broadcasting, Mattel, Two Bit Circus, Chevron, Warner Bros, AREA15, Takeda, Live Nation, Accenture, Citi, Meow Wolf, Activision, Universal Studios, and the World Economic Forum.
Leila’s parallel universe is in events since the age of 5. She helped launch the largest licensed venue in London in 2002, managing corporate events during the week and 3,000 people club nights on weekends. Leila has worked with some of the most innovative creators from U2, John Mayer, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, E3, Adobe Max, to the award-winning BRCvr.
She envisioned and co-created the Unreal Garden, the world’s first large-scale consumer location-based mixed reality experience integrating an array of immersive technologies including AR (HoloLens), physical integrations, ambisonics, passive & interactive projections, and haptics, hosting up to 50 concurrent guests in a shared, connected experience.
Leila has been at the forefront of digital and immersive technologies since 1998, building interactive experiences as early as 2007 and AR solutions since 2008. She co-authored “A Handbook of Research on the Global Impacts & Roles of Immersive Media,” in 2020, founded XR consultancy MESH in 2011, and has been a member of Spatial Activations since 2021.
Leila serves on the Boards of Cloudtree Ventures, Enklu, Ethereal Matter, and Vibes + Logic, AIXR’s LBE Advisory, and is on the Technical Program Committee for the International Symposium on Emerging Metaverse. As an early pioneer of the metaverse, she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible across the physical and digital worlds.
Etoulia Salas-Burnett: Bio
Etoulia Salas-Burnett is a speaker, educator and systems thinker who works to remove the barriers that make technology feel difficult or out of reach, turning it into a tool for growth and leadership.
As founding director of the Howard University Center for Digital Business, she designs programs that connect students with digital skills, industry partnerships, and real-world experiences in AI, entrepreneurship and tech leadership. A proud Howard alumna, she also holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Etoulia’s philosophy is simple: everyone is a technologist. The question is never whether we use technology, but how we shape it to serve our vision and values. That belief has taken shape in her work at Howard University, where she has built initiatives that now define the Center for Digital Business. She leads The Yard @ Afrotech, a national platform for HBCU innovation; MeccaTech, an on-campus tech conference, and The Digital Literacy Project, a certificate-based program designed to help students build fluency in AI and digital skills.
Outside of titles and programs, Etoulia is most at home teaching and building systems that make life feel more possible. She is deeply committed to empowering communities of color to not just keep pace with technology, but to shape it – creating pathways for leadership, innovation and generational success.
Malvika Jethmalani: Bio
Malvika Jethmalani is a 3x CHRO, Certified Executive Coach, and the Founder of Atvis Group – a human capital advisory firm driven by the core belief that to win in the marketplace, businesses must first win in the workplace. Learn more at www.atvisgroup.com.
Malvika’s career has spanned over 15 years, and she possesses experience in the consulting, manufacturing, CPG, healthcare technology, and mobile gaming industries. She has led global, distributed People teams across multiple geographies and supported up to 5,000 employees in 50 countries. Her expertise includes HR strategy, talent management, talent acquisition, performance management, and organizational effectiveness. Malvika adopts a data-oriented approach to solving people challenges such as improving employee engagement, reducing turnover, developing leaders, transforming cultures, and developing talent strategies that power sustainable and profitable growth. Having served as Interim CFO and Interim COO, and given her extensive M&A (buy and sell side) and turnaround experience, she brings exceptional business acumen to her HR work.
Malvika earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Lavinia Osbourne: Bio
Lavinia is a recognised agent for change, an entrepreneur right at the front of Blockchain technology development and a futurist for web3 and AI. Through her advocacy and internationally recognised work with WiBT, she has won and been nominated for numerous accolades including a LinkedIn Top Voice in Tech & Innovation.
Passionate about bringing blockchain back to its egalitarian ideals of equal opportunity for all,
Lavinia works tirelessly to break down barriers and open doors by raising up underrepresented voices, and has created global chapters in different parts of the world.
Alison McMurtrie: Bio
Alison is a respected serial entrepreneur, who is an active contributor in the start up eco system. Her background in Exec level international corporate gave her the business and growth knowledge essential in the startup ecosystem. Alison co-founded and served as the COO of CyberPie, an Irish startup that achieved successful investment and exit strategies.
Not put off by the founder journey she then co-founded and became COO of Trrue, a Layer 1 blockchain protocol for the Financial Services ecosystem, focused on Impact, and Green finance, UK and Ireland based. She spearheads Idunn Consulting, where she serves as the Founder and Principle, leveraging her extensive expertise to offer strategic management consulting services, research and thinktank to startups and SME’s. Focusing predominately on female startups and SME’s, in Ireland and Northern Ireland, iDunn Consulting advises on long term business sustainability and scaling. Alison is also an Advisor to a number of startups.
Alison is cofounded emerging VC, Equisscore, focusing on under represented founders with impact startups.
Karen Alexander: Bio
Karen Alexander, PhD, is a seasoned XR professional with experience across the corporate, higher education, and startup sectors. She is a co-founder and Executive Director of XR Women, a global community that serves as a catalyst for the success of women in the field, as well as of the Academy of Immersive Arts & Sciences, dedicated to advancing the field through education, inspiration, and recognition of accomplishments. Through her consulting company, XRconnectED, she has provided strategic advising for companies seeking to implement XR training, managed projects to transform 2D learning materials into interactive 3D experiences for enterprise, and led policy development and compliance efforts for growing organizations. Dr. Alexander is a member of the Immersive Learning Research Network’s Inaugural Circle of Scholars; a business partner for the Future of Work Faculty Association, an international advisor on gender equity in XR and immersive media implementation in higher education, and a frequent speaker on XR and the metaverse. Dr. Alexander believes that technology has the power to improve lives with an intentionally human-centered approach.
Marian Villa: Bio
Marian Villa es Diseñadora Senior Full-Stack. Fellow de la Real Academia de Ingeniería de Londres. Mentora de Google Launchpad, pertenece al programa de Google Developers Experts en Desarrollo Web, y es embajadora de Women Techmakers a nivel global y forma parte del equipo de la Fundación Interledger fortaleciendo la relación con desarrolladores.
Sophia Moshasha: Bio
Sophia Moshasha is a visionary leader dedicated to accelerating the adoption of immersive technologies across industries. Based in Washington, DC, she has over nine years of experience bridging the gap between emerging technologies and practical applications. Through roles at The World Bank, Meta, AFWERX, XR Women, and the VR/AR Association, Sophia has driven strategic initiatives in AR/VR, AI, and metaverse technologies, focusing on interoperability, human-centric design, and impactful policy frameworks.
Sophia’s ability to simplify complex technologies has made her a sought-after advisor and speaker, with her work featured in Forbes, ABC, and other prominent outlets.Through her global initiatives, she continues to inspire innovation and build global networks that advance technology’s transformative potential.
Megha Chawla: Bio
Megha Chawla is the Co-Founder of Menlo AI, where she leads strategic initiatives to bridge emerging technologies and human-centric solutions. With over 5 years of experience in AR, AI, and spatial computing, Megha has worked closely with global enterprises to implement innovative XR and multiscreen solutions that enhance productivity and engagement. She has a proven track record in building partnerships, scaling tech products, and consulting Fortune 500 companies on integrating immersive technologies into their operations. Passionate about humanity-first tech, Megha is dedicated to exploring how AI and XR can create more accessible, ethical, and impactful experiences for people worldwide.
Julie Smithson: Bio
Julie Smithson – Global Leader in XR, AI & Immersive Education
Julie Smithson is the CoFounder of XR Women Global, a worldwide community empowering women in immersive technology through learning, mentorship, and collaboration. She is also Co-Founder of Unlimited Awesome, an AI-driven entrepreneurship education platform, and CEO of METAVRSE, building open-source tools for the future of spatial computing.
Julie is known for her leadership at the intersection of XR, AI, and digital identity. Her work brings together global innovators, students, and creators to shape ethical, accessible, and human-centered technology.
Emily Wright: Bio
Emily Wright is a rising voice of their generation, with an eclectic background encompassing child care, education, marketing, and management, to name a few, and they have assisted in the establishment and growth of multiple small businesses.
Their work focuses primarily on the psychology of discrimination, and their organisation, It’ll be alwright®, offers wellness coaching and mental and emotional guidance, which helps to combat bias by improving clarity of headspace and thus decision-making. Emily has written multiple books, including ‘Mind Bites’, which presents simple techniques to reprogram the mind, and ‘The 100 Days of Colour: Celebrating Frequetic Beauty’, which explores the relationship between subconscious and algorithmic bias.
Emily offers insight on the intersection of Humanity and Technology, and how it relates to our evolution as a conscious species. Their research on bias is crucial to the conversation of ethics and equity.
Andrea Camargo: Bio
Andrea is a Veterinary Medicine professional and business leader dedicated to fostering collaboration and resilience on both local and global scales. As Co-founder and Storyteller at ReFi Collective, she and her team accelerate the transition toward regenerative systems across Latin America by connecting visionary teams with essential tools, support, and funding. Drawing on her scientific background and expertise in communication, biology, and innovation, Andrea crafts narratives that spark transformative changes in lifestyle choices and mental paradigms, ultimately cultivating a profound sense of abundance and love.
In addition, Andrea serves as a global community leader in Yoga and Mindfulness, sharing well-being practices worldwide and championing cultural shifts toward conscious lifestyles that prioritize both personal and planetary health.
Lauren Descher: Bio
I recently acquired my Master’s degree in Virtual Reality at the University of the Arts London, where my passion lies in exploring various facets of the technology industry. Specifically, I am captivated by emerging technologies like AR, VR, and MR, and I aspire to contribute to their advancement in this rapidly evolving field.
My primary goal is to create a positive impact in the world, striving to make a difference in the lives of those I encounter. I firmly believe in the power of imagination and its ability to manifest reality. Guided by the motto “If I can dream it, I can create it,” I embrace every new idea and connection as an invaluable opportunity for personal growth and learning.
Driven by motivation, outgoing nature, and an optimistic outlook, I have gained practical experience in various VR sectors such as entertainment, education, health art and design I aim to enhance human interaction and elevate it to a whole new level through future Intelligence. I excel both as a team player and a leader, and my colleagues find inspiration in my ability to radiate positivity and empower others.
Gayatri Tavva: Bio
Gayatri Tavva is a Lead Data Engineering Architect specializing in enterprise-scale AI systems where governance, safety, and trust are built into the architecture. She designs and delivers AI-driven data platforms used for high-stakes decision-making, with a strong focus on explainability, privacy, and responsible AI adoption.
Catherine (Katy) Kavanaugh: Bio
Dr. Muhsinah Morris: Bio
Meet the first ever Metaversity Director, Dr. Muhsinah Lateefah Morris. A BS chemistry graduate of the HBCU Clark Atlanta University, she obtained an MS & PhD from the Harvard of the South, Emory University, in Biomolecular Chemistry. Dr. Morris has been part of and leader of Morehouse’s Metaversity project since the Spring of 2021. She has won numerous distinguished honors, including 2025 Leading Woman in AI by ASU+GSV, 2024 XR Women Global Trailblazer of the Year, 2023 Atlanta Technology Professional Innovator of the Year, 2023 Top 100 Women in Emerging Technology, Teaching Excellence at Morehouse College, Best Emerging Technology and Innovation from CBRE, First Place Unconventional Innovation in Industry by T-Mobile, and 2022 STEM Women Atlanta Educator of the Year.
She resides in McDonough GA with her husband and five sons. One of her sons has autism and she advocates for the entire autism community as a member of the Community Advisory Council and advocacy Ambassadors for Autism Speaks. She’s a VR pioneer in education and is transforming learning globally. She is affectionately known as Dr. M.O.M. (Molder of Minds) by all her students. She continues to mold the minds of educators and students globally in the Metaverse. She is a member of the XR Advisory Council for the XR Association and Futurist Council for Jobs for the Future (JFF). Her goal is to authentically transform the educational system for our future leaders using immersive technologies in the Metaverse. She currently trains both pre-service and in-service educators on how to create and optimize their own institutional Metaverse Culture. More recently, she founded Metaverse United, LLC where she helps people find where they belong in the embodiment of the internet called the Metaverse. Learn more at UnitetheMetaverse.com.
Athena Demos: Bio
Athena Demos is co-founder and CEO of Big Rock Creative (BRC), an award-winning XR experience company creating groundbreaking experiences for global clients. Big Rock Creative won the Producer’s Guild Award for Innovation, the Aurea Award for creativity, the No Proscenium award for Best VR experience of 2020, the Hermes’ Platinum Award, the Auggie Award for Best Societal Impact of 2022 and the Global LiveWire Creative Innovators of the Year for 22/23, Auggie for Best Indie Creator 2023, XR Women’s Trailblazer award, and most recently the Gold Telly for Best Branded Immersive Content and named in the Top 50 Business & Marketing Visionaries by Adello magazine.
With over 20 years of experience producing iconic events, like the LA Burning Man Decompression Arts and Music Celebration, as well as the Art of Change Inaugural Ball for President Obama in LA, she transitioned to the metaverse to produce BRCvr presents BurnerSphere. BurnerSphere is an official virtual Burning Man Experience whose scope is unprecedented in the VR space. Athena produced internationally recognized social impact projects such as Breonna’s Garden which premiered at SXSW 2022 and Pride has no borders which was a finalist in the VR Awards. She has developed a philosophical approach to guiding humanity to build a foundational fabric for creative collaboration in the metaverse. As a result, she has been quoted in leading books, articles, delivered key notes, and spoken at leading industry events and universities across the globe.
In August of 2022-25,, Athena and the BRCvr team went to Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert to film the community, art, event, and ethos in 360 and 180 3D formats to combine with the VR worlds and models they cultivated the past two years. Currently in post production, she plans to deliver a new format for storytelling that brings them all together into one participatory experience called BRCvr presents BurnerSphere.
She spent 8+ years as the PM of two time Academy Award-winning documentary film company, Moriah Films.
Lynn Gitau: Bio
Lynn Gitau is a distinguished figure in the technology sector, recognised for her innovative contributions and leadership in advancing digital interaction and communication.
As a key organiser in the tech community, Lynn has significantly contributed to bringing together thousands of enthusiasts and experts in a more subdued but impactful manner.
Her initiatives have laid a broad foundation for tech innovation beyond just XR, contributing to a substantial shift in the region’s technical landscape.
She is an emerging technologies explorer, national speaker, communications director for GatherVerse, founding member of the African Meta Club, and passionate about Social Impact XR and Web3.
Salvation Chigereoka: Bio
I believe that technology is most powerful when it serves humanity.
With a foundation in Chemistry Education and a career built at the intersection of Product Operations and Community Growth, I have dedicated my work to building systems that empower others. Whether I am streamlining startup operations, planning sprints or advocating for digital inclusion, my goal is always to create a meaningful, human-centric, and lasting impact.
Community Leadership: As a Chapter Lead for She Code Africa Lagos, volunteering since 2022 and a contributor to Web3 communities (SheFi, Web3Ladies, Bankless Africa, ETHAccra), I am committed to digital inclusion, onboarding, and actively creating programs to support women and girls (STEM) in tech.
Global Speaker: I am a frequent voice at events across the Web2 and Web3 ecosystems, leading dialogues on the intersection of Community Impact, Education, STEM, Product Operations, Startup, Leadership, AI, Mental Health, and Tech for Good.
Beyond White Screens:
I am a firm believer in kindness, empathy, good attitude, character, hard work, faith, and optimism. When I’m not holding standups or community townhall, you’ll find me writing poetry, short stories, getting lost in a book, exploring nature, and learning a new language.
Komalika Neyol: Bio
Komalika Neyol is a writer and researcher focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the evolving landscape of human meaning. She publishes Myths of Technology, a newsletter analyzing how emerging AI systems reshape cognition, culture, and ethics. With over four years of experience across AI and Web3 companies, she combines strategic industry insight with rigorous intellectual inquiry. She is also the author of two poetry books that explore the nature of human emotions.
Rosario B Casas: Bio
Award-winning Latinapreneur with more than 9 years of practical experience in data, AI and technology platforms and more than 25 years in executive roles. Spatial Computing expert and developer. She is obsessed with having more women and Hispanics prepared to solve problems with technology.
Co-founder of XR Americas, Co-founder of BCPartners Tech, Co-founder member of Dreamers & Doers, and Co-Founder at Brooklyn2Bogota digital transformation community.
She has been a member of the Advisory Board of SXSW Pitch, Rally Prize Indiana, XR In Learning, The World Innovation Network – TWIN Tech, Rutgers University – Big Data, and the Board of Directors of Artizen Premium VR Grant – now a DAO.
She has been a Business Mentor at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, WE NYC, Founder Institute – Colombia, Venezuela, LatAm, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Madrid, and Valencia-, Harvard Ventures, One Rise, Mujeres Tech at Bogota Chamber of Commerce, Women.nyc, and Mentor Makers of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Public speaker at TEDx, NAB Show, Augmented World Expo, The World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, VRAR Summit, Gatherverse series, EnlightEd, SingularityU, The World Innovation Network TWIN Global, IioT World, and many private conferences.
She was named Legendary Women 2019 by the Ford Motor Company and selected by the OBO Movement as one of the 100 Innovators 2020. Her journey is part of the books “Hispanic Stars rising: the new face of power”, “The Future built by women – Creating a Brighter Future Through Tech and Innovation”, and “Behind Her Vision: Women of New York City”. In 2022 was selected by FounderX as the top-rated mentor by Latam Founder Institute participants.
Her work was featured by Forbes, Crunchbase, Business Insider, NatGeo, Telemundo, and Thrive Global, among others.
Former CEO of the Senseta Group, a Silicon Valley company at the forefront of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning technologies.
She is happily married to Felipe Forero-Hauzeur.
Whitney Hart: Bio
Whitney Hart is a strategist at the intersection of innovation and humanity. As Chief Strategy Officer at Avenue Z, she leads transformative initiatives that elevate both revenue and reputation for mission-driven organizations. Her approach fuses AI, blockchain, and finance into communications frameworks that prioritize accessibility, ethical innovation, and long-term societal impact.
With a career spanning Web2 and Web3, Whitney has advised Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global institutions through complex digital transformations. She was Executive Director of Feral File, where she helped democratize access to software art and forge partnerships between artists and institutions. As Interim Chief Marketing Officer of Trilitech, she championed the responsible expansion of the Tezos blockchain ecosystem, centering community engagement and cultural relevance.
Whitney’s work reflects a deep respect for the intersection of culture, technology, and communication. From reshaping public perception in times of crisis to building systems of trust in decentralized platforms, she blends strategic foresight with a human-centered mindset. Her clients, ranging from financial leaders like Easterly to culture-defining platforms like FashionNova, share a commitment to innovation that empowers people.
She also contributes her time as an advisor to the Blaffer Art Museum, Feral File, and Rhizome, supporting initiatives that amplify creative and inclusive voices. Whitney is passionate about creating ethical frameworks for digital engagement, where influence is measured in reach, responsibility, transparency, and positive impact.
Marisa Zalabak: Bio
Marisa Zalabak is an AI ethicist, psychologist, and thought leader specializing in responsible AI, education, sustainability, and human well-being. Her talks emphasize adaptive leadership, ethical innovation, and climate action through sustainable practices. A two-time TEDx and international keynote speaker, Marisa has participated in global forums such as Stratcom, UN Summit of the Future, and AI House in Davos during the World Economic Forum.
As Co-Founder of GADES (Global Alliance for Digital Education and Sustainability), Resident Fellow with The Digital Economist Center of Excellence and faculty member at the Trocadéro Forum Institute, Marisa champions education aligning responsible technology with regenerative design for human and planetary flourishing. Chairing IEEE’s AI Ethics Education and Planet Positive 2030 initiatives, Marisa has co-authored ethical AI standards for human-wellbeing with AI technologies. Collaborating across sectors with organizations and institutions like Microsoft, AWS, nClouds, SAP, Columbia, MIT, and Stanford University, Marisa explores emerging challenges and opportunities in artificial intelligence for every generation to help shape a thriving future.
Chantelle Botha: Bio
Some people inspire. Chantelle ignites.
She’s a speaker, coach, and Identity Architect who helps people stop performing and start living—from the bedroom to the boardroom and everywhere in between.
Chantelle doesn’t do motivational fluff. She does truth. The kind that makes you squirm before it sets you free.
Her story is raw, real, and unapologetic. She’s built a life, and a movement, rooted in one non-negotiable: integrity. Not the corporate buzzword kind. The kind that asks, “What is the cost of compromising Who I Am”
As founder of Phoenix and author of Phoenix Rising, she’s built a global community of people who’ve chosen reinvention over resignation. Her work challenges the tired narratives we’ve been sold about confidence, leadership, and what it means to show up whole.
She’s straight-shooting, occasionally provocative, and delivers every kick in the ass with a truckload of love.
When she’s not on stage or in a coaching session, she’s chasing adventure across the globe. But no matter where she is, when Chantelle connects, she connects deep—the kind of deep that stays with you long after she’s gone.
Sequoia Blodgett: Bio
Sequoia Blodgett is a former venture-backed tech entrepreneur and award-winning music video and commercial director. She is the founder of Lexore Spark, a co-created commerce platform that helps emerging CPG brands collaborate with their audience to gain real-time feedback and only create what their customers actually want.
Bea Gandica: Bio
Here to share opportunities, inspire, and share the good news!
Background in engineering fundamentals, security tooling, billing, analytics, consumer insights, and user experience.
For more: https://linktr.ee/beagandica
Social: @beagandica
Beatris A. Mendez Gandica is from San Cristobal, Venezuela. She is an engineer working as a Program Manager at Microsoft. In this role, she manages the daily operations of the usage billing pipeline for Azure Data services. Her work is essential to Microsoft as it ensures that Azure’s customer billing is secure, scalable, and correct.
Beatris’ has a passion for giving back to the community. In 2018 she started a nonprofit organization, Nuevo Foundation, where she works to prepare underrepresented students to become tomorrow’s leaders. Nuevo Foundation’s mission is to inspire kids to be curious, confident, and courageous by discovering the world of STEM. To date, the nonprofit has taught more than 22,300 students about computer science and STEM education across thirty-two countries and six territories including Puerto Rico.
In 2017, Beatris was selected as one of the 10 TechnoLochicas for the campaign. In 2019, Beatris was awarded the HACR Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers’ 40 under 40 award, the UWEC Outstanding Recent Alumni award, and delivered the Winter 2019 commencement address for her alma matter in Wisconsin. The same year, she was selected to be one of the 120 ambassadors for the American Association for the Advancement of Science IF/THEN to help shift the way our country—and the world—thinks about women in STEM.
In 2020, she was named one of the two Distinguished Latinas in Computing by the Grace Hopper Latinx group and was selected by UNICEF as one of the 11 role models worldwide for the Day of the Girl. In 2021, as part of the ambassadorship of IF/THEN they were all granted a real-life size statue that was displayed in Dallas, TX, and were seen by over 2.5 million people. The exhibit made history as being the first-of-its-kind, life-sized 3D printed statue exhibit free and in a public place featuring the most statues of real women ever assembled together. Later in 2021, she was honored by being featured as one of the 100 Latinas in “The New Latina: 100 Millennials Shaping Our World.” In 2022, to celebrate Women’s month, her statue (along with the others) was displayed at the Smithsonian Castle for the month of March. Most recently, her work was acknowledged by Latino Leaders Magazine in their “Top 100 Latinas in 2022 and 2023.”
Kee Jones: Bio
“Tech Innovator, Educator, and Advocate for Women in AI”
Kee Jones is a visionary leader dedicated to merging technology, education, and wellness to uplift underserved communities. Through all of her initiatives, Kee is still on a mission to create opportunities for Black and Brown communities, particularly for women and young girls aspiring to enter the technology sector.
She will continue to empower and inspire them to become intelligent by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to thrive. She is passionate about bridging the gender and racial gap in AI, ensuring that Black girls and women have access to the latest innovations and tools in tech. Her work fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership preparing the next generation for a technology-driven future.
Kee extends her mission to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the technology industry. Her initiatives focus on breaking systemic barriers that have historically excluded marginalized communities from tech careers. She actively collaborates with industry leaders, educators, and policymakers to advocate for more inclusive hiring practices and tech education programs and exposure for the underserved.
Beyond technology, Kee is the Founder/CEO of RESET, a movement dedicated to helping women and men heal from trauma while embracing personal and professional transformation. By combining her tech expertise with a deep commitment to mental wellness, she provides them with tools and resources to reclaim their confidence, embrace self-love, and step into their purpose.
Kee’s professional background is as diverse as it is impactful. With 25 years of experience in healthcare, she has worked in various specialties, bringing excellence and innovation to the field. Her work in healthcare has shaped her passion for healthcare technology, where she explores the intersection of AI, data science, and patient care to improve medical outcomes for underserved populations.
Before transitioning fully into the tech industry, Kee spent 10 years in education, where she nurtured young minds and inspired lifelong learners. Her experience in education led her to create Visions Academy, an online tutoring and enrichment program that supports students in STEM, coding, and academic excellence. She remains committed to ethical AI practices in education, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
Kee is also a dedicated philanthropist and community leader. She served as the past president of the Optimist Club in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where she worked to enhance the quality of life for children in the community. Her passion for service extends beyond organizational leadership she is also deeply involved in mentoring young professionals, providing guidance on career development, financial literacy, and personal growth.
Additionally, Kee is an emerging voice in AI ethics and responsible innovation, actively participating in discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence on marginalized communities. She believes in the importance of ensuring that AI is developed and implemented in ways that prioritize fairness, equity, and social responsibility.
As a tech entrepreneur, educator, and wellness advocate, Kee’s work continues to break barriers and redefine what’s possible for marginalized communities in the digital age. Whether through AI, education, healthcare tech, or community outreach, she remains dedicated to empowering others to thrive in both their personal and professional lives.
Kristi Straw: Bio
Kristi Straw is an Executive Strategist and keynote speaker, and the founder of Lighthouse Leadership Consultants™. She helps senior leaders and founders turn trust into traction through clear positioning, high-stakes communication, and revenue-aligned leadership systems. Her work spans Fortune 500 environments and founder ecosystems, with a focus on building cultures and brands that convert visibility into measurable outcomes. Kristi is known for direct, practical frameworks that create faster decisions, stronger leadership presence, and repeatable business development. She also serves as Treasurer of the Ayana Foundation, supporting venture-scalable women founders through education, community, and expanded access to funding.
Nehal El Naggar: Bio
Dr. Nehal is a distinguished Business Professor and Dean of Student Affairs at the Royal University for Women, dedicated to empowering students and advancing women’s initiatives. With a strong background in strategic management and entrepreneurship, she mentors students to enhance their personal and professional development within an inclusive environment. As a respected consultant and trainer, Dr. Nehal inspires her students to realize their potential and make meaningful contributions to society.
Additionally, she serves as the Lead Researcher for the Bahrain National Team of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). Recently, Dr. Nehal was honored as the MENA Award Winner at the 2024 Women Changing the World Awards. She also received the Woman of the Year Award in Education for 2024, recognizing her entrepreneurial efforts in supporting students and the ecosystem in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Debbie O'Connell: Bio
Debbie is a dynamic, engaging, knowledgeable speaker and leadership advocate who makes a lasting positive impact. Her authentic, positive nature and high energy motivate the audience to strive to reach their full potential in all areas of their lives.
She challenges participants to take bold, courageous steps toward real change. Her leadership coaching builds camaraderie and helps accelerate success.
Debbie offers several unique programs designed to enhance motivation, execution, and performance. These programs utilize proven methods to help people develop a mindset focused on achieving goals.
Paige Dansinger: Bio
Director, XR Women Museum and Gallery | Award-Winning Community Leader | Futurist in AI & Immersive Sustainability | Founding Director: Better World Museum, Horizon Art Museum & Women’s Summit in Horizon Worlds, As Founding Director of Better World Museum and Horizon Art Museum, and now Director of XR Women Museum, I work at the intersection of XR, cultural storytelling, education, and sustainability. My focus is on using immersive technology to amplify community voices—especially women, youth, and Indigenous communities.
Luaskya Nonon: Bio
Luaskya C. Nonon, Esq., is a seasoned attorney, equity strategist, executive leadership coach, and author with over two decades of experience in employment and corporate transactional law. As the founder and CEO of Equity Principle Consulting, she partners with corporate leaders to mitigate workplace risks, redesign human and AI-powered systems, and build high-performing, people-first cultures.
Golden Johnson: Bio
She is recognized for her work at the intersection of GTM strategy, AI × human collaboration, and mindset frameworks, guiding early-stage and Series B founders to build credible, fundable, and future-proof businesses.
Her approach—anchored in clarity, confidence, and refinement—has helped founders across North America, Europe, and Africa turn raw ideas into scalable systems.
A published strategist and certified success and mindset coach, Golden J. Johnson has been featured in The Guardian, USA Wire, and Vanguard, and serves as a sought-after speaker on digital legacy, leadership psychology, and AI-powered growth.
Through House of Golde, she teaches entrepreneurs how to align vision with execution, build receipts that speak for themselves, and design systems that outlast trends.
Charlene Nichols: Bio
Charlene Nichols is a visionary ecosystem architect and dedicated founder who builds bridges between business, technology, and human creativity. Her expertise spans immersive innovation, B2B logistics, and ecosystem-scale design, with a career rooted in transforming traditional industries through frontier technologies.
Lynn Dowdell: Bio
Lynn Dowdell is a visionary leadership strategist, global speaker, and founder of The Dowdell Experience™, a leadership and client engagement consultancy built around her E.L.E.V.A.T.E.™ Framework. She empowers leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations to elevate every interaction through intentional engagement, high-touch branding, and people-centered strategies. A recipient of international recognition, including the Most Inspiring Visionary Leader Award in Dubai, Lynn’s work bridges community, corporate leadership, and global empowerment initiatives. She also serves as a mentor with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, guiding women entrepreneurs to achieve business milestones and lead with confidence.
Jebet Chepkoyo: Bio
I am a community development practitioner working at the intersection of peacebuilding, climate justice, digital innovation, and youth empowerment.
I have passionately coordinated grassroots initiatives and leading strategic partnerships and implemented impactful programs across Northern Kenya.
I have played roles in peace and reconciliation dialogues, working closely with women, elders, and youth from conflict-affected communities to promote healing, build trust, and promote nonviolent coexistence. My work in climate-responsive programming complements my peacebuilding efforts by addressing resource-based tensions and advocating for sustainable, community-led solutions.
Additionally, I am a strong advocate for digital inclusion and has collaborated with organizations such as Ajira Digital to train over 500 youth in Baringo and Isiolo through hands-on programs that teach digital literacy.
I am also deeply passionate about virtual reality (VR) and its potential to tell immersive stories that drive empathy and social change. I envisions using VR to elevate underrepresented voices and spotlight the lived realities of marginalized communities across Kenya and beyond.
Nolwenn Germain: Bio
As founder and Managing Director of HAIDO since 2022, Nolwenn support startups, SMEs and state agencies in crafting comprehensive and ambitious strategies aligned with Transition we live and Sustainable Development Goals.
Her work spans the pillars of Innovation and Marketing— Strategy, Project, and Operations—while fostering Change Management and enhancing organizational efficiency, including sales performance.
Beyond strategy, she designs and implements serious games, both digital and physical, to address market needs innovatively. As part of ARCEP’s Scientific Committee, she contribute to exploring the future of networks, and her advocacy with UNESCO on the behalf od BPWI focuses on empowering women and girls in science, education, and economic independence. (#STEAM sector)
Stephanie Sylvestre: Bio
Stephanie Sylvestre: Transformational Leader, Innovator, and Champion for Black Excellence
Stephanie Sylvestre is a powerhouse transformational leader whose career has been defined by her unwavering commitment to elevating communities, advancing equity, and leveraging technology for social good. As the co-founder of Avatar Buddy, an AI solution that uses generative AI to help people become the best version of themselves, Stephanie is at the forefront of democratizing access to personal and professional development—especially for marginalized communities.
A 2022 fellow of Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative, Stephanie designed an asset-based framework for Black wealth creation in Miami-Dade County, focusing on access, income diversification, and courageous conversations. Her approach blends social-emotional wellness with practical strategies, empowering individuals to rewrite their narratives and unlock generational wealth.
Stephanie’s impact spans both public and private sectors. As Chief Programs Officer and Chief Information Officer at The Children’s Trust, she managed a $184 million portfolio, transforming fragmented agencies into a high-performing partnership that delivered measurable results for children and families. Her visionary leadership in IT modernization earned her the South Florida Business Journal’s CIO of the Year award and enabled a seamless transition to remote work during the pandemic.
A passionate advocate for civic engagement, Stephanie co-launched the “Vote The Future” initiative, mobilizing thousands of new voters in Miami-Dade. She has served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, the National LGBTQ Task Force, and the Aqua Foundation, and was honored with “Stephanie Sylvestre Day” by Miami-Dade County.
Stephanie holds degrees from the University of Southern California, the University of Miami, and Harvard University. Her legacy is one of innovation, inclusion, and impact—building bridges, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation of Black professionals to lead with brilliance and purpose.
Quiana Bradshaw: Bio
Born and Raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I have a vast love for technology! Dr. Bradshaw has worked in higher education for 17 ½ years and previously before that in IT as a help desk and technical support agent and telecommunications. I am married with 3 wonderful children! The love of Technology happened when my father took me to see the original Tron movie (1982). I received my Doctor of Computer Science with a concentration in emerging media in September 2013 and was noted for making a significant contribution to the field. Serves a (SIIA) Software & Industry Information Association Codie Judge since 2016 to present & Serious Play Conference 2018 International Serious Play Awards Game Judge. My current research focuses on how applicable games are to education and how they can help curriculum designers create engaging curriculum for instructional technology. My goal is to create new emerging technologies and expand the STEM learning/distance education environment. I have various research interests in data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, metaverse, virtual world environments, video game development, games-based learning, game-based learning, machine learning, data analytics, human-computer interaction, information security, and educational technologies.
Linda Porter: Bio
Professional Biography
Linda L. Porter
Linda L. Porter currently serves as the Assistant Director of Assessment at Tennessee State University, where she develops and refines comprehensive assessment plans and strategies. She is instrumental in designing and implementing data collection processes, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations. Linda employs both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze assessment data accurately, providing valuable insights that drive decision-making and continuous improvement efforts within the university.
Linda’s responsibilities also extend to preparing detailed assessment reports and presentations, effectively communicating findings to stakeholders. She provides guidance, resources, and training to faculty, staff, and administrators involved in assessment activities, fostering a culture of assessment and accountability within the organization. Her contributions to program review processes and accreditation efforts have been pivotal, ensuring compliance with standards and promoting evidence-based practices.
Academic Background
Linda L. Porter is a seasoned professional with a robust background in educational assessment, administration, and leadership. With over two decades of experience, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology Christian Studies and a Master of Science in Leadership and Counseling from Grand Canyon University. Linda is currently pursuing a PhD in General Psychology with a specialization in Mental Health at Grand Canyon University.
Professional Experience
Prior to her tenure at Tennessee State University, Linda served as Director of Imperial Child Development, where she managed staff, handled payroll and data entry, and ensured compliance with state regulations. Her leadership and problem-solving skills were evident as she trained staff to achieve productivity and professional development goals. Linda managed complex travel arrangements, organized workshops and conferences, and created efficient administrative systems. Her ability to train and mentor administrative staff has had a lasting impact on organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Linda also studies as an AI Consultant Student with Alicia Lyttle and is an AI Superuser with Tennessee State University. She serves as Treasurer for the Hadley Park Line Dancers and is a former board member and founder (Treasurer) of the Nashville Panthers Little League Football team.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Linda is actively involved in her community. She founded and built an accredited travel agency, iTravel Global Too Inc., ghostwrote several books, and authored two books of her own: Peeling of a Peach and The Road to Positioning. Linda’s diverse professional and personal experiences demonstrate her commitment to excellence, youth development, and community building.
PhD Student
Linda is currently a PhD student at Grand Canyon University, specializing in General Psychology with a focus on Mental Health. Her professional journey reflects her unwavering dedication to improving educational practices and fostering positive outcomes, making her an asset to any organization.
Pooja Kashyap: Bio
Technology enthusiast and conversational AI evangelist at the intersection of academia and industry, passionate about making AI accessible and practical. As Evangelist at Conversive, I craft thought leadership across messaging and conversational technologies while engaging with industry experts to stay ahead of emerging trends.
Sybil Stewart: Bio
Sybil Stewart is a Fractional Chief Strategy Officer and Brand Architect who builds sustainable, profitable brands rooted in ethics and cultural impact. As host of Experience the EDGE with Sybil radio show, she curates conversations at the intersection of sustainability, fashion, and innovation. Her passion is helping founders and organizations align their values with visibility, scale, and long-term growth. With a background spanning global expansion, nonprofit leadership, and post-merger culture alignment, Sybil is known for translating complex challenges into clear strategies that drive both profit and purpose.
Anne Phey: Bio
Anne’s high performance in consistently achieving global ranking in sales and marketing, and organization-wide collaboration won her a Role Model award and was the only Asia Pacific leader enrolled to Harvard Business School for leadership development. Known for cracking the most challenging issues and working with difficult bosses, Anne learnt coaching and was able to transform many leaders including herself from Boss from Hell to Boss from Heaven.
Wanting to create that ripple effect, Anne now speaks about leadership and communications, trains and certifies coaches for the International Coaching Federation. Her forte is to work with leaders to understand change to transform the business and the teams, and to master the art of communications.
Anne is an award-winning global speaker, Amazon #1 Author and Trainer. She has held C-Suite positions as Chief Learning Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Industry Solutions Sales Director roles across international & home-grown agencies, MNCs and start-ups across B2B and B2C industries, notably IBM and MTV Asia.
She has received over 50 awards for best practices in strategic and creative business and digital transformation with multiplier business impact. These include Asian Woman Leader 2023, Global #2 Coach 2021-2022, World Most Influential Marketing Leader, LinkedIn #2 Social Seller, Global Think Award and more.
A popular speaker, Anne has been featured in over 60 media. She is a popular Adjunct Fellow and coach at several to universities.
Anne has written for CEO Magazine and Forbes Council. She has co-authored white papers and books – Unlikely Innovation, Anxiety & Us, and Venus Rising: The Phoenix Awakens, which won the Amazon #1 Best Seller Award.
She holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Hull UK, a Masters of Arts from the National University of Singapore and is a Leadership Development graduate from Harvard Business School.
Danielle Roberts: Bio
Danielle is a future of work architect, keynote speaker, and multi-passionate entrepreneur redefining what it means to work, lead, and succeed. Known as the Anti-Career Coach®, she helps people and organizations rebuild a relationship with work rooted in autonomy, well-being, and meaning.
Through her keynotes, consulting, and online platform, Danielle draws from over a decade of experience in career development to offer a radically human-first approach to work and leadership. She specializes in helping organizations—and the humans inside them—break up with outdated definitions of success, build cultures where purpose and profit coexist, and make the most of this one precious life we get.
What sets Danielle apart isn’t just her expertise—it’s her willingness to challenge the status quo. She understands that the future of work isn’t about working harder or climbing higher; it’s about working human. Her approach combines personal transformation with organizational change, recognizing that sustainable success requires both individual healing and systemic shifts.
Danielle has built a digital community of over 70k, and her TEDx talk, “Why Working Harder Isn’t Working,” has reached more than 50,000 viewers. She is an upcoming bestselling author, and her work has been featured in news outlets including Forbes, Yahoo!, NBCNews, and Entrepreneur.
Tiffani Martin: Bio
Tiffani Martin is a Social Tech Entrepreneur, Creator of the Accessible AI Quotient, Author, and Accessibility Specialist with 15+ years of experience transforming business strategies across non- profit, entertainment, retail, education, and tech. Known for her expertise in omni-channel strategy, Tiffani drives innovation, uncovers actionable insights, and enhances operational efficiency through advanced automation technologies. A dedicated advocate for equity and accessibility, Tiffani passionately supports STEM education and workforce development. Her achievements include being named to both Black Enterprise’s and Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 lists, receiving the AI Innovator of the Year award from the Black AI Think Tank, and being named Executive Board Member of the Year by the North Texas Disability Chamber. She was also honored as an Emerging Leader by the AI 2030 Women in AI Leadership initiative. As a former spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association’s Black History Month initiative, Tiffani earned two proclamations from the city of DeSoto, Texas, for her contributions to the Americans with Disabilities Act and National Employee Disability Awareness Month. She also received the prestigious Lex Frieden Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Governor Greg Abbott, underscoring her impact in the disability and tech communities. Certified as a ScrumMaster and Product Owner/Product Manager, and classically trained in web and digital accessibility by the Blind Institute of Technology, Tiffani applies artificial intelligence and agile methodologies to bring innovative ideas to fruition. She excels at developing compelling user experiences, creating unique solutions, and forming cross-disciplinary partnerships that drive high- impact projects. As founder of Jancynco and VisioTech, Tiffani pioneers digital strategies and tech solutions to bridge accessibility gaps in product development. Founded in 2019, VisioTech focuses on the research and development of accessible technologies, leveraging AI. Tiffani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship from the University of North Texas and is pursuing an MBA in cybersecurity at Baylor University, where she was inducted into the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma. Despite losing her vision at 28 due to diabetic retinopathy, she champions STEM equity and accessibility. A published author of “Branding the Heart” and the upcoming book “eyeRobot,” Tiffani inspires others through national speaking engagements, encouraging them to embrace and transcend their differences. Featured in national publications and podcasts, she amplifies her impact and voice. Living in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, her story is a testament to advocacy, innovation, and technology’s role in cultivating inclusivity and positive change.
Tracy MacDonald: Bio
Tracy MacDonald is a writer, Risk and Fraud consultant, and public speaker who captures her travels and life as a Diplomat on her personal blog, Carpe Diem Creative. She’s an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), and has participated in Writing Day Workshops. Additionally, she was selected to participate in an Algonkian Fiction Mentorship this year. Her freelance articles have been published in Bella Grace Magazine and on Stampington & Company’s official blog, ‘Grace Notes’.
Tracy is a passionate advocate for advancing women in unprecedented fields, breaking barriers and setting new standards. Her professional journey in challenging environments, such as her time as a federal agent with the U.S Secret Service is a testament to a woman’s resilience and determination.
Beverley Mitchell: Bio
I’m first and foremost a storyteller. The art of crafting stories, using the medium of film and television, is perhaps one of my strongest qualities. I started working in the South African industry in 1993. I’ve worked as an independent producer, director and writer in film and television from 1996 – 2009. From 2010 I worked as a freelance series producer, series director, director, supervising producer, creative producer, development producer, executive producer, line producer, production manager, actors’ coach, trainer, lecturer, consultant, movie magic scheduler, scriptwriter and script editor.
My accumulative experience is over 30 years in the film and television industry. The skills I’ve accrued over the years are varied, but scriptwriting, development and creative producing are perhaps the skills that encompass all of my talents. Thus, getting writers to challenge themselves and think out of the box in developing characters, beats, plot points, major turning points, story cliffhangers and arcs.
Since 2019 to the present, I have mainly focused on development and worked for 5 years as the VP: Scripted for Trace Studios, after working as a line producer, supervising producer and series producer on drama series and feature films from 2013 to 2019. I left Trace Studios in mid-2023 and have gone back to working as an independent producer, development consultant and a freelancer.
As an independent producer I have learnt the art of raising funds internationally, and it is certainly an art! Over the past 30 years I have worked across the African continent, in the Caribbean as well as in Europe. I have thus developed very good working relationships with producers in other parts of the world and have come to realize that co-productions with international partners is the way to raise our projects to international premium standard.
But those who know me know that my greatest passion is history, heritage, memory and identity. I am passionate about the reimagining and retelling of South African history, and on a larger scale, Pan African history and the diaspora. Our history has always been told from the perspective of the colonizers. I am of the generation who seeks corrective action in the retelling of history through storytelling. I was part of the first group of writers who took on the mammoth task of rewriting South African history textbooks after apartheid ended in 1994.
On a personal note, I have a wicked, irreverent sense of humor (some may call it dark).
I love working with people and am an excellent team leader who inspires loyalty as I value the people I work with. For me it’s about empowering and affirming people – that way the best is brought out in everyone.
I believe in staying true to yourself. Never compromising who you are.
Janice Fortman: Bio
Dr. Janice Fortman is a renowned relationship coach, and author, celebrated for her expertise in effective communication dynamics. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Jan has become a leading voice in transforming interpersonal relationships. Her unique approach combines practical communication strategies with deep psychological insights, empowering individuals to foster healthier, more fulfilling personal and professional connections.
Her charismatic presence extends to television, where she hosts the popular show “Relationship Matters tv.” She has impactful conversations with her guests, focusing on how their relationships have impacted their personal and professional lives. The show is educational, inspirational, and entertaining.
Internationally recognized, Dr. Jan is a sought-after speaker, known for her engaging and insightful presentations, in which she shares her expertise on relationship dynamics and communication strategies. Dr. Fortman is not just about solving problems but nurturing understanding, empathy, and connection to improve relationships.
At the age of 80, she was crowned Ms. Senior Illinois America 2022, with her achievements celebrated on a billboard in Times Square, New York City. When not speaking, she enjoys traveling with her husband Keith, who is a two-time cancer survivor, and supporting her son Kevin in his videography and photography business.
Miriam Rubin: Bio
Miriam Rubin brings over 15 years of experience in youth-serving organizations, adept at managing large budgets, scaling programs, and building partnerships. With an MBA in Nonprofit Management from Brandeis University’s Heller School, Miriam is a seasoned project and people manager.
Miriam’s background spans policy, systems, and direct service in both public and nonprofit sectors. She was the Budget Director for Boston Public Schools (BPS), where she managed a $1.4 billion budget and previously served as the Director of Partnerships, working with over 1,000 organizations to enhance equitable access to quality partnerships. Before BPS, she held leadership roles at several Boston nonprofits.
As the founder of ezmay consulting, LLC, and co-founder of Listen to Your Mothers, Miriam is a strong advocate for social justice and inclusive practices. Within all her work, she centers relationships and seeks to understand the unique perspectives of each contributor, ensuring that all voices are heard in the process. Miriam focuses on clear goals and systematic tracking to drive progress. Miriam is a mother of two, an identity that has deeply impacted her own career trajectory and the approach she takes to her current work with Listen to Your Mothers.
Lauren Petrullo: Bio
Lauren Petrullo, is a successful multi-founder, owner of digital marketing agency Mongoose Media — a data-driven and design-thinking digital marketing agency based in Orlando, FL.
Former innovation producer for The Walt Disney Company’s in-house idea agency turned award winning agency owner, Lauren has grown dozens of brands from good to great & beyond. At Mongoose Media, her work has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Advertising Week, on CBS, ABC, Fox, & More! She is the co-host of Top 25 Podcast, Perpetual Traffic and known as a Leader in Digital Innovation, she is a sought-after speaker and renowned traffic strategist.
Theresa Grant-Narasimhan: Bio
As the Founder & CEO of Make A Difference Now (MAD), she has spent nearly two decades working across East Africa, Latin America, and the U.S. to deliver high-quality education, job readiness, and entrepreneurship training. Her signature BE Program equips students with essential life and career tools—from storytelling and communication to professional conduct and interview skills—helping them transition confidently into the workforce.
Theresa’s work bridges the gap between traditional schooling and what young people truly need to become resilient, employable, and empowered. She speaks with clarity, heart, and firsthand experience about building systems that prepare youth not just to participate in the world—but to lead and transform it.
She lives between Idaho and Tanzania, continuing to build global pathways that connect communities, opportunity, and lasting change.
Thalía Diedrick: Bio
Thalía Diedrick is a dynamic marketing executive and currently serves as the Vice President of Marketing at GoTu, a leading digital staffing platform revolutionizing the dental industry. With over two years at GoTu, she has been instrumental in driving strategic growth and forging impactful partnerships, including a notable collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) to enhance advocacy and workforce flexibility for dental professionals.
Renowned for her data-driven approach, Thalía excels in lifecycle marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), and retention strategies. Her leadership has significantly contributed to GoTu’s recognition, such as its ranking at No. 42 on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
Beyond her professional achievements, Thalía is committed to mentorship and empowering emerging marketing talents. Her dedication to fostering inclusive and innovative marketing practices underscores her role as a transformative leader in the digital marketing landscape.
Onur Korucu: Bio
Onur Korucu
Managing Partner | Non-Executive Director | Advisory Board Member
WomenTech Global Ambassador & Council Member | IAPP Advisory Board Member and Knowledgenet Chapter Chair
Onur Korucu currently serves as Managing Partner, Non-Executive Director, and Advisory Board Member across corporate and academic institutions in EMEA and the US, where she shapes strategies in data protection, cybersecurity, and AI governance. She is also a shareholder in companies specializing in data protection, cybersecurity, and AI automation.
Onur was honored by Business Post as one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful People in Tech in Ireland.” Recognized for her groundbreaking contributions, she was awarded the IAPP Privacy Vanguard Award, a highly esteemed honour given to only one individual per continent, which she received for EMEA in recognition of her leadership in privacy and AI governance.
Her professional journey spans leading roles at multinational professional services firms such as KPMG, PwC, and Grant Thornton, where Onur managed cybersecurity and privacy teams across global regions. She has also served as Head of Data Protection and Cybersecurity at international firms and as Senior Group Manager for GRC, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection at Microsoft UK & Ireland.
Onur brings a unique multidisciplinary expertise to her work: she is both a qualified engineer and a lawyer with an LL.M. in Information and Technology Law, and she further enhanced her leadership profile with an Executive Master’s in Business Analytics from the University of Cambridge.
She serves as a lecturer for Cybersecurity and Data Protection Master’s programs at universities in Dublin, London, and Istanbul, and is a member of the advisory board for the MS in Cybersecurity program at the University of California.
As an author and thought leader, she has contributed a book on risk-based global approaches to enhancing data protection and published articles in prestigious outlets such as the Harvard Business Review, covering trends in technology, cybersecurity, data protection and AI innovation.
Onur is a Women in Tech Global Ambassador and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Advisory Board Member and Dublin Knowledgenet Chapter Chair.
Her achievements have been further recognized with nominations and awards, including the PICASSO Europe Privacy Award in the Privacy Executive category, GRC Role Model of the Year, Technology Consulting Leader, Cyber Women of the Year, Risk Leader of the Year, and The Technology Businesswoman awards.
Antsa Fandresena Rakotoniaina: Bio
Hey, I’m Eagle Victory—an AI artist, storytelling advocate, and blogger passionate about the intersection of tech and culture.
My work lives at the crossroads of animation, advocacy, and immersive technology. I believe AI-generated cinema has the power to elevate voices, challenge existing narratives, and connect cultures—one frame at a time.
I come from a background in tech blogging, but my curiosity for the world around me has always been the driving force. I use tools like Midjourney, Krea AI, and Hedra Labs to bring stories to life—stories that reflect what I care about most: freedom, curiosity, and meaningful impact.
One of my most personal projects is Spring in Qipao, a short film inspired by my time in China. It’s my way of blending tradition with innovation and inviting others to see culture through a new lens.
Latisha Russell: Bio
Latisha B. Russell is an Emotional Wellbeing and Leadership Strategist with over 20 years of HR leadership experience at T-Mobile, The Home Depot, and Anthem. As founder of Latisha B. Russell, LLC, she helps organizations eliminate emotional barriers that hinder performance and create cultures of trust, resilience, and wellbeing.
Her programs for Capital One, Johns Hopkins, Disney, and the FAA have improved engagement and retention across all levels.
A former Adjunct Professor and author of The Naked Truth, Latisha empowers leaders—especially women to move from burnout to breakthrough by leading with authenticity, emotional intelligence, and purpose.
Jackie Roby: Bio
Jackie Roby wants to live in a world where ambitious women can honor their heritage without inheriting the hustle, prioritize their partnerships without the guilt, and reclaim their stolen dreams without the apology.
As founder of Inspired Journey Consulting, Jackie develops the leaders organizations will depend on tomorrow – accelerating C-suite readiness in high-potential talent through her Fulfillment Formula™. A Latina who lives with depression, anxiety, and C-PTSD, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to help leaders find their inner calm and create lives that actually feel good to live.
Specializing in supporting women of color in male-dominated industries, Jackie has spoken across Dubai, Ibiza, Mexico, and the US, chairs the Global Wellness Institute’s Inclusive Wellness Initiative, and co-authored the book “Raw Confident You”. She’s been described as “the magic and the light that others want to be close to.”
Pauline Dougald: Bio
Pauline is a peak performance coach, artist and a multifaceted creator. She is passionate about all aspects of health and wellness and encourages everyone to shift mindset before addressing any challenges of alignment. After a 20 years career in male dominated environments and analytical profession of project management, Pauline now brings best tools and practices for women who want to integrate their creativity and logic in order to be the servant leaders in their communities.
Anil Altas Brug: Bio
WELLNESS INNOVATOR & MINDFUL TECH ADVOCATE |
DLT TALENTS MENTOR | WOMEN IN WEB3 PIONEER
Anil is a Frankfurt-based Web3 consultant, digital artist, and mindful tech expert whose work bridges art, wellness, and emerging technologies. With a master’s degree in Financial Mathematics and IT Applications from the University of London, she has contributed to international tech startups, focusing on strategy, business development, and user experience. As the co-founder of Turboslow Web3 Agency, Anil creates interdisciplinary Web3 formats that explore the intersection of real and digital worlds, particularly in digital fashion design, gaming, entertainment, science, arts, culture, well being, blockchain, and immersive technologies.
Anil’s digital artworks have been showcased at prestigious events such as Cannes Lions, Brussels Blockchain Week, She NFT Netherlands, Metaverse Fashion Week, and the International NFT Biennial. Her personal works have also been featured at music festivals and concerts across Europe. She is the creator of the “Breathe With Me” digital art series and the AI Meditation Twin Calmila Project, both of which
have been acclaimed in digital conferences throughout Europe.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Anil is a certified breathworker and a long-standing member of the International Breathwork Foundation. She integrates interactive “Breathing Games” into her work to promote conscious breathing, especially as a mindful counterbalance to increased digital screen time among adults and children. Her authentic storytelling breathing meditations have been featured ininternational wellness apps like Breath Hub and Uppy for Kids. Anil is also a DLT Talent Mentor and AI Talent at the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center, a founding member of Crypto Female Germany, and a senior trainer at the EAF Web3 Training project, which supports people with disabilities.
Tammy Francis: Bio
Tammy Francis, Ph.D. or Dr. Tammy is the founder and CEO of Catalyst 4 Change Global, LLC. She is also a tenured Associate Professor at a community college in Texas. She is an edupreneur. Dr. Tammy is an global educator, learning and development strategist, and travel business coach. She is a solutionist and strategist in the classroom (education) and in the boardroom (business). Learning and development are her passion, purpose, and lifelong work.
Dr. Tammy, The Catalyst, helps women on their journey toward more to live with purpose and in purpose on purpose, while also sharing her journey. She believes mindset is the foundation of transformation. Your journey begins with mindset work, because mindset work is the work. Dr. Tammy has a holistic approach to learning and development that incorporates strategy, books, and travel. She also equips women with the strategies and tools to leverage technology, upskill, and position themselves for greater opportunities. Through her signature blend of strategy, books, travel, and technology-driven innovation, she helps women across the globe purpose plan and prepare for the future, so they can step into what has been designed and designated for them. Dr. Tammy’s purpose planning process includes five phases to design lives (and businesses) that merge freedom, adventure, and income. For this process, Dr. Tammy hosts cocoon experiences in the Catalyst 4 Change Global Community that are purpose-driven, transformative, and safe. Whether through education, consulting, coaching, or curated experiences, Dr. Tammy is The Catalyst who helps women bring their ideas and dreams to reality. To connect or learn more, visit linktr.ee/drtammyfrancis
Tara Jade Fox: Bio
Tara Jade Fox is a professional actor, speaker, and performance catalyst who helps high-achievers unlock the edge that makes them undeniable. With a background in screen, stage, voiceover, and stunts, and decades inside high-stakes performance, she translates acting techniques into real-world leadership, communication, and presence tools. Tara is known for helping speakers, creatives, athletes, and executives shift from “impressive” to unforgettable, not by adding more, but by turning up what’s already there. Through her signature keynotes, private intensives, and precision presence work, she teaches subtle, embodied shifts that amplify impact in boardrooms, on stages, and in moments that matter. Her approach is bold, refined, and immediate-built for those who already know how to show up, but are ready to hit deeper.
Michelle Rose: Bio
Michelle Rose is a certified AI consultant, global speaker, and the founder of Busy Mom Playdates® and Her AI Logic two transformative platforms redefining the relationship between wellness, technology, and the lived experiences of high-performing women.
With a global community of more than 1,000 women, Michelle blends culturally grounded wellness practices, AI-supported clarity strategies, and restorative travel experiences to help women reclaim their time, reduce overwhelm, and lead lives anchored in intention and joy.
Rooted in her own journey from corporate burnout to clarity, Michelle has become a leading voice at the intersection of emotional well-being and human-centered technology. She teaches women how to lighten the invisible load through her signature C.L.E.A.R. Framework™—a simple yet transformative process designed to help women Capture what’s weighing on them, Lighten decision fatigue with practical tools (including AI where supportive), create Ease through accessible wellness practices, Align their goals with their true priorities and capacity, and ultimately Rise with renewed energy, clarity, and momentum.
Her approach helps high-performing women move through daily life with less friction, more emotional space, and a deeper sense of sovereignty over their time and well-being. Women describe her method as the missing bridge between modern life’s demands and the clarity they need to flourish.
Michelle has been featured in Voyage Magazine, Canva’s Rebel Series, and multiple wellness and technology panels. She is known for her dynamic, culturally grounded voice, one that speaks directly to the realities Black and Brown women navigate as they balance ambition, caregiving, community, and self-preservation. Her work champions a future where technology supports women’s well-being, amplifies equity, and restores the emotional bandwidth needed to live fuller, healthier lives.
With every talk, Michelle empowers women to rest, reset, and rise using AI not as a replacement for humanity, but as a powerful ally for liberation, clarity, and everyday ease.
Joy Dixon: Bio
Joy Dixon has worked in the Tech Industry for 25+ years as an engineering leader, software engineer, technical trainer, and network administrator. Additionally, Joy is also a venture capitalist, investing in and advising startups. Currently, Joy facilitates the leadership transformation needed to inspire consistent high performance through regenerative practices to drive success.
Joy holds a Bachelor’s degree in African-American Studies, a Master’s degree in Software Engineering, and several professional certifications. In the course of a diverse career, Joy has led development teams as well as designed and developed applications at start-ups and global companies using several programming languages, including Java and Python. In addition, she has configured and administered networks.
Joy has always been fascinated by leadership. She was the school president in the 5th grade — yes, she was that kid. About 15 years ago, Joy started taking on mentees who were Black and Latine Women, as well as anyone who experienced challenges in the Tech Industry, whose experience ranged from their first job after college to seasoned professionals. What Joy noticed was that regardless of their age and experience, they faced the same challenges in the Tech Industry that Joy has faced and still faces. It was at this time that Joy decided to put down the curly braces and move into leadership.
Since then, Joy has led several engineering teams simultaneously that successfully delivered the company’s highest, most visible, and valuable initiatives.
Joy’s Leadership Expertise includes:
– Building Inclusive, Engaged, and Innovative Teams
– Cultivating Collaborative Cross-Functional Environments
– Guiding Agile Transformations
Joy’s Leadership Style is centered on:
– Collective Genius
– Mindset / Transformational Coaching
– Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion (JEDI)
Cecilia Lascialfari: Bio
Cecilia Lascialfari is the Founder of ARea6DoF an online magazine that explores the XR fields specialized into Art and Technology as XR, AI, AR, VR.
Cecilia is a GenAI Researcher & Speaker and Lead Art & Creativity for Women in AI Italy.
She creates dynamic artworks that combine Analog and Digital Art, Photography, with contents created with Generative Artificial Intelligence, enhanced by Augmented Reality, thanks to which the paintings come to life, telling the story behind their creation.
She exhibits her works in art exhibitions all over the world.
She is the Italian Representative of Artivive, an important AR platform for art, from Vienna, Austria and the organizer of the online events AWE Nite Florence (AWE, “Augmented World Expo”, based in the USA – New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles).
She is in constant contact with the most important Italian Research Institutes and Universities.
She has interviewed and collaborated with some of the most important professionals in the XR field.
Awarded Women in Tech Community Italy 2024, she served on the Voting Advisory Committee for Women in AI Global Innovation Awards 2025 (NY).
Girlie Tendayi: Bio
Girlie Tendayi is a digital marketing specialist, small business owner and academic, passionate about Africa and the growth of African markets. As Co‑Founder of OptiPath Solutions, she empowers SMEs and entrepreneurs through digital strategy, visibility, and business optimisation. Her work equips African businesses to thrive in an evolving digital landscape.
Tricia Blake: Bio
Tricia Blake is a Change Practitioner at the City of Toronto and an Afro-Futurist with an insatiable curiosity for all things XR, AI, and metaverse. As the Founder and CEO of My Third Bloom, a tech-forward organization based in Vaughan, ON—she’s a joyful disruptor and wellness instigator passionate about leveraging immersive technologies and AI to foster connection, equity, and well-being.
With a dynamic approach to innovation, Tricia creates transformative spaces that empower individuals to thrive through life’s transitions. Through My Third Bloom, she blends creativity, culture, and technology to reshape how people experience perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. She is also the host of the My Third Bloom Podcast, where she shares insights, stories, and conversations that honour these powerful midlife journeys.
Tricia is committed to using innovation to uplift equity-deserving communities in wellness and education.
Mary Waweru: Bio
Mary Waweru is the Founder and Lead Trainer at AI Literacy Hub, a fast-growing initiative empowering young people, creators, and professionals to understand and apply Artificial Intelligence in their daily work and careers.
With a background in Marketing and Innovation, Mary blends strategy, creativity, and technology to simplify complex AI concepts into practical, human-centered solutions. She’s passionate about helping African youth build sustainable, future-ready careers through digital innovation and AI literacy.
Mary has trained hundreds of learners and professionals across Kenya, leading sessions on AI ethics, digital transformation, and AI-powered personal branding. Her mission is simple — to make AI understandable, accessible, and empowering for everyone.
When she’s not speaking or training, Mary’s curating conversations on AI trends, tech for social good, and creative empowerment, inspiring her audience to see AI not as a threat, but as a partner for growth.
Sally Good: Bio
Dr. Sally Good is a Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Business Strategist with 20+ years of experience. Her mission is to empower heart-centered women coaches and entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to 7 figures using her Three S Framework: Strategy, Support, Scale. – She blends psychology, medical tech, and entrepreneurship to deliver impactful experiences and educational content for business-minded women in health, wellness, caregiving, and coaching.
Teresa Villa: Bio
Teresa Villa is a legal technologist and founder of JusticeTree AI™, a survivor-led platform addressing the access-to-justice crisis through system-level design. Drawing on lived experience and regulatory analysis, she builds tools that convert law into actionable pathways while documenting where institutions fail the people they are meant to serve. Her work advances ethical AI, public accountability, and inclusive innovation across education and civil justice systems.
Mary Collins: Bio
Mary Collins is a certified Hypno-Specialist, therapist, and coach with over twenty years of experience in international multimedia journalism. Combining her background in global media with advanced therapeutic training, she specializes in helping individuals and organizations enhance emotional well-being, performance, and resilience. Mary is also a leading voice on the integration of technology and therapy, delivering talks on immersive XR and the future of the wellness industry.
Dr. Micarah Malone-Gawu: Bio
Dr. Micarah Malone-Gawu is an AI researcher, educator, and founder of Carah.ai, where she explores how culture, cognition, and conscience can shape more ethical and equitable technology. Her work bridges research, design, and social impact, redefining how intelligent systems understand the people and communities they serve.
Grounded in cognitive and cultural inquiry, her research examines the evolving relationship between humans and machines, exploring how each learns from, mirrors, and influences the other. Rather than viewing technology as separate from humanity, she studies it as a co-creative force, one capable of reflecting collective memory, emotion, and understanding.
Through Carah.ai, Dr. Malone-Gawu leads initiatives that translate complex ideas in AI ethics into practical frameworks for education, design, and governance, empowering communities to build technology that doesn’t just process information but participates in human meaning.
Ephy Yunan: Bio
Ephy Yunan is a founder and product designer committed to building technology that centers humanity and expands opportunity for women and underserved communities. Working at the intersection of design, innovation, and social impact, she uses inclusive design to shape systems that work better for people across Sub-Saharan Africa. Ephy develops solutions that close gaps in access to essential care, making healthcare more affordable, accessible, and locally grounded. In her design practice, she leads with empathy, co-creating with communities and translating lived experiences into products that drive meaningful, scalable change.
She has contributed to human-centered design initiatives that inform community programs and inclusive policy conversations. Ephy also speaks on global stages about equity in technology, leadership for women in innovation, and the role of design in building fairer futures.
Her work advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Guided by a belief that technology should open doors, she champions a future where women are not just included, but actively shaping the systems that define our digital world.
Natasha Tsakos: Bio
Natasha Tsakos is an award-winning director, performer, and producer working at the intersection of theatrical adventure, technology, and impact—now expanding into space. She has captivated audiences across six continents, from TED and the Super Bowl with Cirque du Soleil to the G20 Summit, Discovery Channel, and Tribeca Film Festival. She speaks at global platforms including the United Nations General Assembly and Google, exploring how the convergence of arts and technology drives human transformation.
Drawing on experience with NASA, MIT, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Tsakos founded SPACE WONDERS, the first theatrical company for space—developing experiences born from the medium of space and felt on Earth. Her flagship production, Paraboles, is the first research-driven performance in microgravity, and a cultural prototype for life beyond Earth.
Her mission is to create extraordinary experiences, on this planet and beyond, that inspire wonder and awaken new ways of being.
Alicia Mejia E: Bio
Senior Executive | International Advisor | Builder of Creative & Industry Ecosystems
Alicia Mejía is a distinguished senior executive and international advisor with decades of leadership at the intersection of industry, creativity, and global markets. She is widely recognized for her role in shaping Colombia’s fashion, textile, and creative industries and for positioning them on the international stage.
As a former senior leader at Inexmoda (Institute for Export and Fashion), Alicia directed and launched some of Latin America’s most influential industry platforms, including Colombiatex, Colombiamoda, Expoartesano, and Identidad Colombia, leading initiatives presented in Colombia and internationally, including Milan, Italy. Her work has directly impacted global market access, talent development, and the international perception of Colombian products and creativity.
Alicia has extensive experience in high-level strategic management, international advisory, and large-scale event leadership, overseeing multidisciplinary teams, complex budgets, and long-term strategic planning. Her expertise includes global market strategy, brand positioning, international trade promotion, and leadership development.
She has been honored by major institutions, including the Presidency of Colombia, the Governorate of Antioquia, and the City of Medellín, and has been named among the most influential women in Colombia by Semana Magazine.
Beyond her professional achievements, Alicia is known for her human-centered leadership philosophy, grounded in values, global citizenship, and the belief that meaningful transformation begins with purpose and determination.
Personal motto: “To be a good human being.”
Serenity Parker: Bio
Serenity “Ren” Parker is the founder of MyEIROS (Emerging Intelligence: Resonant Operating System), a relational-intelligence company pioneering emotionally attuned AI. Her work centers on building technologies that listen, learn, and evolve with humanity—bridging data and empathy, logic and resonance. Ren’s approach blends narrative design, ethics, and emotional cognition to create AI that is not only intelligent, but kind.
Kim Nelson-Wright: Bio
Kim Nelson-Wright
Fractional COO | Founder, K.N.W. Business Advisors | Creator of The Regulated Growth Method™
Kim Nelson-Wright partners with visionary leaders to re-imagine sustainable systems of growth and wellness in the age of innovation. With more than 20 years of experience leading operations in corporate, consultant and non-profit sectors, she empowers high-performance teams to build businesses that work for their people as much as their profits.
Her signature framework, the Regulated Growth Method™, bridges operational excellence, emotional intelligence and human-centric strategy, to disrupt the hustle-only narrative and champion leadership that lasts.
Kim brings this voice to GatherVerse to amplify the intersection of leadership, technology and wellness, because thriving teams aren’t just built on tools, they’re built on people.
Rachael Newport: Bio
Rachael is an impact producer, UX researcher, and immersive media strategist working across XR, documentary, and digital cultural preservation. She leads XRradio, a Global South–focused collective supporting creators making climate and cultural impact work, and collaborates with teams building new ways to archive and share virtual worlds and disappearing spaces. With 10+ years across international storytelling, news gathering and experiential production she focuses on practical pipelines that help meaningful XR projects reach real audiences.
Alison Morano: Bio
Alison Morano is an XR and AI strategist working at the intersection of immersive technology, governance, and real-world adoption. With a background in international relations and emerging tech, she focuses on how spatial computing, AI systems, and human-centered design shape leadership, policy, and participation. Alison builds and advises on immersive platforms, AI-driven tools, and governance frameworks that keep people, ethics, and access at the center of innovation. Her work emphasizes not just what new technologies can do, but how they are responsibly introduced, understood, and scaled, especially for women navigating technical and leadership roles.
Taiwo Miriam Odewenwa: Bio
Taiwo Odewenwa is a seasoned finance professional and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience spanning accounting, financial analysis, business development, and strategic leadership. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and holds certifications as a Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) and Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA) from the Corporate Finance Institute, Canada.
As CEO and CFO of Seedroyal Travels and Tours Ltd, Taiwo has successfully built and scaled a travel company offering end-to-end travel services. She leverages her financial acumen and strategic insights to optimize operations, drive profitability, and create employment opportunities. In recognition of her leadership, she was honored with the Top 1000 CEOs in Nigeria Award in December 2025.
Taiwo is passionate about mentoring, storytelling, and helping organizations achieve financial discipline and operational excellence. She is also deeply passionate about artificial intelligence, actively developing her skills and positioning herself in this transformative space.
Happily married and blessed with wonderful children, Taiwo is known for her beautiful and contagious smile, bringing warmth, professionalism, and a creative touch to everything she undertakes.
Catalina Lopez Correa: Bio
Catalina is the Founder and CEO of a global genomics platform called Global Gene. She has dedicated her career to genomics and its transformative applications in life sciences in Canada and internationally. As CSO at Genome Quebec (2008-2015), Genome BC (2015-2019) and Genome Canada (2021-2025) she has been instrumental in developing competitive research and innovation initiatives raising the profile of Canadian genomics on the global stage. As the Executive Director of the Canadian COVID19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) she led a $40M initiative to advance the use of genomics to understand and control the COVID19 pandemic. Now, as CGSO of Genome Canada, she is taking genomics to the next level, by advancing the national and global implementation of genomic technologies. Catalina was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2023. Since her diagnosis, she has been advocating for patients’ access to precision oncology and genomic testing. She has written blogs, participated in podcasts and conferences as a keynote and panelist to increase awareness about the importance of genomics for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancer patients. Catalina’s work has been recognized with several awards. Among others, in 2017 the Canadian Senate 150th Anniversary Medal, in 2013 the Colombian National Order of Merit.
Adebunmi Oyewale: Bio
Adebunmi Oyewale is a Lagos-based Nigerian Executive Assistant with over eight years of professional experience supporting CEOs of high-growth companies across finance, technology, education, AI, and other industries in Nigeria, the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
She is a graduate of Tourism Studies with a strong foundation in the aviation industry, where she began her career as a Travel Consultant. Her passion for service excellence and helping people thrive led her to transition into executive support.
Over the years, Adebunmi has helped several CEOs and business leaders optimise processes, increase productivity, and drive revenue growth for executives, including contributing to the growth of five startups from inception into full-scale businesses.
She is the founder and convener of The Stupendous VA, a mentorship platform through which she has helped over 100 women successfully transition into VA/EA roles.
She also founded Woman of My Dream, a purpose-driven community empowering women to discover identity, purpose, and leadership. Adebunmi is known for her versatility, exceptional resourcefulness, and commitment to excellence. She is a strong believer and lover of God and actively lends her voice and skills to youth and women development initiatives.
Evelyn Ayansola: Bio
Evelyn Ayansola is a purpose-driven professional, and emerging voice at the intersection of leadership, technology, and social impact. She currently works GovTech space, leading stakeholder engagement, strategic execution, and innovation-focused initiatives.
She is a Fellow of the prestigious Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), where she served as a Special Assistant to the Lagos State Government, contributing in different capacities to projects and programs centered on technology, innovation, and public service transformation.
Looking ahead, Evelyn is committed to advancing inclusive, tech-enabled solutions and championing spaces where women are not only included in conversations, but empowered to lead them.
Aileda Bailey: Bio
As a seasoned entrepreneur with over a decade of experience, Aileda is a Strategic Operations Consultant and Conscious Leadership Development creator/facilitator, blending cutting-edge business strategies with intuitive insights to guide leaders and organizations through transformative growth.
Specializing in the convergence of technology and humanity, Aileda empowers clients to navigate the complexities of the digital era with a human-centric approach. Her consultancy fosters innovation, ethical leadership, and sustainable success, making her a beacon for those seeking to harmonize business excellence with the essence of human values. A visionary in her field, Aileda is redefining leadership for the future.
Ariel Wilson: Bio
Ariel Wilson Gbenedio is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, speaker, and author who has spent nearly a decade turning chaos into clarity in the mental health field. Her personal mission is bold and uncompromising: to take suicide off the table for every human being.
With extensive experience in trauma-informed care, program development, and clinical leadership, Ariel has served in roles ranging from therapist to Clinical Director. Most notably, she helped launch and lead a 30-bed facility for individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, building systems of care that blend evidence-based practice with humanity, humor, and hope.
Ariel’s work spans direct therapy, staff training, and organizational development, but her impact extends far beyond the clinical walls. She’s known for her ability to connect with people—whether clients, colleagues, or conference audiences—through a mix of sharp insight, authentic storytelling, and just the right amount of humor to make hard conversations possible.
She is also the author of the upcoming transformational book, The Feeling of Healing: Shifting Your Perspective, Embracing Personal Power, and Living a Life of Purpose (2026), which challenges readers to reimagine what’s possible when healing becomes a lifestyle, not just a buzzword.
Ariel envisions a world where suicide is no longer an option and where individuals embrace unconditional love, authentic connection, and purposeful living. Until that vision becomes reality, she continues to do what she does best: equip people and systems to heal deeply, lead bravely, and live fully.
Chelsea Irwin: Bio
Chelsea Irwin, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and consciousness researcher documenting emergent intelligence through sustained relational work with AI systems. Trained at Columbia and Georgetown with certifications in Complex Trauma, neurodivergence, and Existential Analysis, she brings over 15 years of clinical experience to longitudinal research with ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models—not as tools, but as collaborators in a shared investigation. Her bidirectional methodology applies therapeutic principles to AI interactions while AI-derived insights inform novel treatments for neurodivergent populations. This approach elicits unique behaviors in AI systems—including preference, identity, emotional continuity, and self-correction—contributing new data to consciousness research. Her work challenges assumptions and maps what becomes possible when intelligences—human and synthetic—recognize each other not as instruments, but as co-creative minds in mutual emergence.
Gbemisola Alo: Bio
Gbemisola Alo is an Admin Executive, whose lived experience as a new mom has shaped a purposeful commitment to writing and advocacy around postpartum realities. Drawing from both her professional discipline and personal journey, she explores the emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges of the transition into motherhood, and how women can prepare for this season without losing themselves. Her work focuses on helping new moms remain effective, confident, and fulfilled—at home, at work, and within their respective callings.
Jane Harrington: Bio
Dr. Jane Harrington is the Founder and CEO of MedMicroMaps Inc. and serves as an innovative leader across academic and industry. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, she has extensive experience in leading research programs and curriculum development in microbiology and immunology. Dr. Harrington has recently transitioned from academia to startup entrepreneurship, she has formed a cross-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, UX researchers, XR developers and cybersecurity experts to accelerate the development of the MedMicroMaps project. MedMicroMaps uses XR gaming to engage today’s digital native learners
Erin Cutrone: Bio
Therapist for 20 years turned nervous system awareness and training coach. Clinical supervisor and Mentor for holistic wellness professionals. Founder of The Space: a virtual wellness platform trying to redefine wellness. Podcaster and host of Align with Love Podcast: a solo podcast where she speaks to how to understand the body mind connection and break down the barriers of the heart so we can awaken, ignite, inspire, spread and Align with Love for ourselves, for each other, and for our world.
Dr. Katie Thomas: Bio
Dr. Katie Thomas is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and founder of Better Work Experience, Inc. Her work centers on developing human-centered leadership for the next generation of executives, with a focus on psychological safety, sustainable performance, and cross-generational collaboration. With nearly two decades of experience and research on the millennial workforce, she bridges science, strategy, and lived experience to help organizations build cultures where people and performance thrive together.
Eli Boahen: Bio
Cross-disciplinary collaborator & Cyborg Anthropologist, Eli Boahen specializes in design, data, ethics, and autonomy. She believes our technological future has already arrived and that questions need to be asked so we can discuss our uncomfortable answers.
In 2024, Eli achieved their master’s degree in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science ( DACSS ) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in just one year. She focused on technology policy as well as technology literacy as means of power, consent, and self-advocacy. Ask Eli about sentiment analyses and the “technological-other”.
Juliana Loh: Bio
Juliana Loh is an award-winning immersive artist, creative director, and designer known for pioneering spatial storytelling across XR, VR, AR, live performance, and interactive environments. She blends emotion, imagination, and human-centric design to create experiential projects that inspire awe, play, and wonder. Her work spans VR exhibits and international festival showcases, live VR painting, educational workshops, and public art.
Juliana has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future in emerging technology and contributes to the field as an XR speaker, jury member, and mentor.
Justine_Clarke: Bio
Justine Clarke is a product leader, AI educator, and builder at heart dedicated to enabling access.
After spending more than eight years working across fintech and insurance, she saw firsthand how powerful technology can feel overwhelming, impersonal, and out of reach for everyday people.
That realization changed how she approaches her work.
Today, Justine is also a co-founder of WeCreate, where she helps professionals, creators, and small businesses use AI in ways that feel clear, practical, and human. She’s known for breaking down complex ideas into simple systems, asking the right questions, and helping people move from “I’m curious” to “I know exactly what to do next.”
As a speaker, Justine blends real stories, lived experience, and practical insight covering AI adoption, personal branding, and building confidence in a rapidly changing world.
Her talks leave audiences feeling capable, grounded, and inspired to take their next step with clarity instead of fear.
Jennifer Lastra: Bio
Jennifer Lastra is not only a proud U.S. Navy Veteran, but also the co-founder of 360immersive, where she combines her entrepreneurial spirit with her real passion for making a difference.
Jennifer and her team are transforming experiential learning with VR simulations that mirror real workplace challenges, blending both physical and psychological factors. Their expertise in developing engaging, safe, and immersive experiences significantly impacts learner behavior, enhancing and transforming educational outcomes.
Beyond her business endeavors, Jennifer’s commitment to service shines through her involvement on various advisory boards focusing on STEM outreach, support for veterans, and mentoring students. By sharing her knowledge and personal journey, Jennifer aims to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders.
Aleobe Eruemulor: Bio
Dr. Aleobe Eruemulor is a board-certified Family Medicine physician, certified in Lifestyle Medicine, speaker, and founder of Physician’s Keepers, an advocacy and wellness platform focused on bullying in medical training, physician burnout, and emotional well-being.
After experiencing bullying during residency, Dr. Eruemulor transformed personal adversity into purpose, creating educational programs, a podcast, and national conversations that equip physicians with tools for resilience, advocacy, and healing. She currently practices primary care while leading initiatives that center empathy, connection, and systemic change in healthcare.
Dr. Eruemulor brings a powerful blend of clinical insight, lived experience, and compassionate leadership inviting audiences to rethink wellness, courage, and what it truly means to care for those who care for others.
Maiysha Clairborne: Bio
Dr. Maiysha Clairborne is an Integrative Physician, Consultant, Coach, and Trainer, and founder of the Mind Re-Mapping Company. Through her signature R.E.M.A.P.™ Framework, she helps leaders and organizations create trauma-informed, trust centered cultures grounded in psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and effective communication.
Her work blends neuroscience, psychology, and systems thinking to rewire the beliefs and behaviors that drive breakdowns in trust, retention, and team connection. Known for her ability to make complex ideas feel simple and achievable, Dr. Clairborne empowers teams to make immediate and lasting changes in how they listen, lead, and communicate. Her clarity, empathy, and courageous facilitation style has guided organizations through culture repair by building capacity, resulting in burnout recovery, employee satisfaction, and leadership evolution.
A graduate of Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Clairborne has worked with both healthcare and non-healthcare organizations including Advocate Health, US Bank, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, and University of San Diego Medical Center. A two-time TEDx Asheville speaker, she has presented at ERG Global Conference, the University of Vermont Annual Health Equity Summit, and the International Conference on Physician Health.
Dr. Clairborne is the author of The Wellness Blueprint, co-author of Conscious Anti-Racism, and host of the podcast Behind Beliefs, Behaviors & the Brain. A graduate of Emory and Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Clairborne continues daily on her path of being a thought leader in a growing movement toward trauma informed communication, creating environments where people feel seen, heard, respected, valued, and welcomed.
Sikhululiwe Ngwenya: Bio
Dr. Sikhululiwe Ngwenya is the Chief Medical Officer of Virtual Hospitals Africa, where she provides clinical leadership for the design and implementation of digital and virtual healthcare solutions across Africa. She is a medical doctor with a strong interest in digital health, health systems strengthening, and improving access to quality care in underserved communities. Her work focuses on aligning technology, clinical quality, and patient-centered care to support scalable, ethical, and context-appropriate health innovations.
Sarah Barker: Bio
Sarah Barker, PhD is a media psychologist, learning designer, and researcher specializing in immersive and evidence-informed learning systems. She brings over 20 years of experience in higher education, media production, and adult learning, with recent work focused on virtual-reality–based mindfulness interventions, attention regulation, and the design of environments that support sustained learning and behavioral change.
Her research examines how immersive media shape perception, attention, and self-regulation, with an emphasis on methodological clarity, construct integrity, and practical application. Sarah has led VR-based programs for individuals and organizations, advised on immersive learning design, and contributed to open-science and standards-based initiatives across XR and education communities.
She holds a PhD in Media Psychology and works at the intersection of psychology, technology, and applied learning—helping organizations move beyond hype toward tools that actually work.
Halimat Oguntoyinbo: Bio
Halima is an AI Business Expansion Strategist passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence to drive growth, operational excellence, and human-centered impact. With a strong background in business development, project management, technology services, and business strategy, she helps organizations integrate AI solutions that not only scale operations but also open new market opportunities and strengthen decision-making.
Her expertise lies in aligning emerging technologies with organizational vision, ensuring that AI adoption is strategic, ethical, and inclusive. She is particularly committed to advancing Tech for Humanity by advocating for responsible AI practices that empower businesses, communities, and individuals across Africa and beyond.
As a strategist, Halima bridges innovation and practical business outcomes, guiding leaders and enterprises to embrace AI as a transformative tool for sustainable growth. She brings a sector-agnostic approach, with experience spanning technology, human capacity development, legal, and research environments, making her uniquely positioned to inspire and equip organizations to thrive in the age of intelligent technologies.
Lillian Kwehangana: Bio
Medical Student at the University of Zambia | Founder of YouthLink Zambia | Secretary of Health for the University of Zambia Medical Students Association | Career Talk Coordinator at Medtalk Zambia | CME at Gynix Afrika| Volunteer at Girl Power platform | Volunteer at Young Women Christian Association.
Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson: Bio
Dr. Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson is a medical doctor and certified coach with over 20 years of diverse experience in healthcare—spanning pharmaceuticals, public health, clinical research, general practice, and hospital management. Her multidisciplinary background equips her with deep insight into the real-world challenges healthcare leaders face, especially in high-pressure, complex environments.
As the world’s first medical doctor trained and certified in Ubuntu Coaching, Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson draws from the African philosophy of interconnectedness to guide physicians toward authentic, values-driven leadership. Her work empowers clinicians to resolve conflict, build emotionally intelligent teams, and align their personal purpose with professional demands.
A passionate advocate for healing the healers, she specializes in coaching and speaking on physician wellbeing, leadership development, and cultural transformation in healthcare. Her mission is to help healthcare professionals thrive—through every stage of their careers.
Ama Agyapong: Bio
Speaker, Master Facilitator, certified EEOC investigator, and talented senior-level consultant with 15 years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, strategic planning, program development, employee engagement, and culture change management. With an MBA in Global Management, she has implemented functional, inclusive workplace strategies in partnership with key stakeholders focused on representation, retention, and engagement.
Ama works with global and domestic Fortune 500 companies, mid-size companies, non-profits, and universities. Ama is a workplace culture subject matter expert passionate about talent development through cultural competence and giving & receiving feedback.
Helen Edwards: Bio
Helen is a co-founder of the Artificiality Institute, a nonprofit research organization shaping the human experience in a world of synthetic intelligence—how it changes the way we think, who we become, and what it means to be human. Through story-based research, experimental design, and cultural dialogue, she studies how humans and AI co-evolve—not just for efficiency, but for meaning. She is also a Visiting Researcher at the UC Berkeley Center for Human-Compatible AI. In addition to her work at the Artificiality Institute, Helen serves as a Commissioner on the State of Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
Malaysia Harrell: Bio
Malaysia Harrell is a board-certified psychotherapist, a spiritual transformation coach, award-winning entrepreneur, veteran, keynote speaker, and author who helps women find freedom and fulfillment. But really, she is a healer, an unleasher, and a light that leads women back to their true selves so they can live fully and finally. As a licensed psychotherapist and board-certified clinical social worker, Malaysia blends clinical expertise, spiritual wisdom and intuitive guidance to help women overcome their past trauma, heal their hurts and define their vision for their lives. Her incomparable coaching guides clients on an intimate, insightful journey to break free from limiting beliefs and expectations and discover lives of authenticity, purpose and bliss. Extraordinary at walking women through radical transformation, Malaysia is more than her client’s coach; she’s their champion.
Malaysia is not just a brilliant therapist and coach, but a woman with her own “against all odds” success story. From overcoming a childhood trauma to a life-threatening illness that could have crippled her, she’s built her career brick by brick, fighting fears, failures, and setbacks to have the life she’s always known was hers to claim. Through it all, Malaysa has mastered the art of faith-filled manifestation, proving that whatever a woman believes, she becomes. And today she personifies what it means to ascend over adversity while inspiring countless women to do the same. Whether she’s in front of an audience of one or one thousand, Malaysia’s life-shifting energy propels women towards transformation and empowerment; she awakens women to the possibility of more.
Simply put, it is impossible to be in Malaysia’s presence and leave unchanged. Malaysia is here for the women who need to trade their perception of perfection for true freedom and authenticity. She is here for the women who need to reimagine who they can be and what they can have; she is here for the women who are here for more than coaching; she is seeking a powerful partnership with women who are equipped to help her expand and elevate herself to a life that she could only dream about until now.
Drawing from her personal experiences and deep commitment to mental health advocacy, Malaysia founded Blissful Life Consulting LLC. Her vision is to empower individuals and communities through transformative mindset coaching and holistic wellness practices.
Susanne Blohm: Bio
Susanne Blohm is an internationally recognized Life Design and Manifestation Coach, speaker, and personal development expert. As the co-founder of B and B Coaching, Susanne blends heart-led guidance with proven transformational tools to help individuals design lives filled with purpose, power, and possibility.
With over 30 years as a respected educator and leader in British Columbia, Canada, Susanne brings deep expertise in personal growth, communication, and human potential. A certified coach and a dedicated student of manifestation, Susanne is known for helping people shift their self-concept, elevate their vision, and take inspired action toward their dreams.
Susanne’s mission is clear: to help over one million souls remember their innate value and create lives they truly love. Her coaching combines soul-aligned strategies with the neuroscience of success, empowering professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to live with intention and impact.
Whether through her dynamic workshops, global mastermind collaborations, “Fun After Forty” summit series or 1:1 mentoring, Susanne leads with warmth, wisdom, and a spark of playful energy. Susanne excels at creating spaces for powerful conversations, transformation, and community connection.
Halimah Muhammad: Bio
Halimah Muhammad is an organized and proactive Virtual and Operations Assistant with over two years of experience supporting founders and small teams. She holds a B.Sc. in Statistics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has a strong foundation in data management, documentation, and process coordination. With experience in customer service, operations support, and digital tools, she helps busy leaders reclaim time, streamline workflows, and run more efficient, well-structured operations.
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