[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"schedule-sessions":3},{"days":4,"sessions":35,"tracks":1818,"stages":1819,"total":1820},[5,11,17,23,29],{"key":6,"number":7,"shortLabel":8,"heading":9,"mobileHeading":10},"2026-11-02","01","Mon · Nov 2","Day 1 — Monday, Nov 02","Day 1 — Mon, Nov 02",{"key":12,"number":13,"shortLabel":14,"heading":15,"mobileHeading":16},"2026-11-03","02","Tue · Nov 3","Day 2 — Tuesday, Nov 03","Day 2 — Tue, Nov 03",{"key":18,"number":19,"shortLabel":20,"heading":21,"mobileHeading":22},"2026-11-04","03","Wed · Nov 4","Day 3 — Wednesday, Nov 04","Day 3 — Wed, Nov 04",{"key":24,"number":25,"shortLabel":26,"heading":27,"mobileHeading":28},"2026-11-05","04","Thu · Nov 5","Day 4 — Thursday, Nov 05","Day 4 — Thu, Nov 05",{"key":30,"number":31,"shortLabel":32,"heading":33,"mobileHeading":34},"2026-11-06","05","Fri · Nov 6","Day 5 — Friday, Nov 06","Day 5 — Fri, Nov 06",[36,59,66,99,110,131,150,157,167,185,204,229,249,267,284,300,309,336,354,365,385,409,416,434,441,468,486,504,510,519,526,544,564,571,587,594,610,627,645,673,690,721,738,755,766,784,800,823,840,858,877,888,915,939,965,983,992,1000,1017,1047,1064,1083,1115,1140,1147,1172,1180,1190,1217,1235,1267,1284,1293,1301,1307,1321,1345,1362,1384,1394,1419,1430,1455,1471,1478,1496,1521,1529,1547,1562,1579,1588,1621,1638,1645,1668,1693,1709,1731,1747,1766,1773,1781,1786,1792,1811],{"id":37,"title":38,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":41,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":42,"startTime":48,"endTime":49,"dayKey":6,"speakers":50,"calendarUrl":58},"8767afb8-05b6-4b04-bd9a-f039e9c8544b","Student Orientation","","Networking","Meeting Room 310",[43,44,45,46,47],"All Access","Executive","HealthStack","Premiere","Student","2026-11-02T18:30:00.000Z","2026-11-02T19:00:00.000Z",[51],{"id":52,"name":53,"title":54,"company":55,"image":56,"about":57,"linkedin":39,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"c1f46ed4-abe3-4bbb-aa9d-384703db92cd","Shanique Liz Yates","Independent Journalist with bylines in AfroTech, Madamenoire, Blavity ","Host of Black Culture in Motion on aspireTV","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F9OrUX8OPRt6JV1vtYb4F_headshot-1787593169412.png","\u003Cp>Shanique Liz Yates is an award-winning journalist, creator, and cultural storyteller with 10+ years of experience covering Black culture, entertainment, and business. Her work has appeared in AfroTech, Blavity, Madamenoire,  and more, and she has interviewed icons including Mary J. Blige, Denzel Washington, and Halle Berry. She created and executive produced the short documentary, \u003Cem>Voices Unheard\u003C\u002Fem>, and was named a Top 25 Black Journalist in 2026.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=8767afb8-05b6-4b04-bd9a-f039e9c8544b",{"id":60,"title":61,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":41,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":62,"startTime":49,"endTime":63,"dayKey":6,"speakers":64,"calendarUrl":65},"65ea0252-438d-41b7-a5c0-40d1528e5d20","AFROTECH U Programming",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-02T22:30:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=65ea0252-438d-41b7-a5c0-40d1528e5d20",{"id":67,"title":68,"description":69,"plainDescription":70,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":41,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":72,"startTime":73,"endTime":74,"dayKey":6,"speakers":75,"calendarUrl":98},"a043b1d5-c96d-413f-adfd-8e645143917b","Strategies for Success Beyond College Presented by PwC","\u003Cp>As you think about what’s next, what will set you apart in an AI-enabled world? We believe it’s your human skills: how you think, communicate, adapt, and connect. Join PwC professionals, Bryce Badger, Jaida Day and Tevin Slaughter, for a conversation on career readiness, financial confidence, and continuous learning as technology evolves. You’ll hear real experiences and gain practical ideas to help you build your professional and personal foundation and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>","As you think about what’s next, what will set you apart in an AI-enabled world? We believe it’s your human skills: how you think, communicate, adapt, and connect. Join PwC professionals, Bryce Badger, Jaida Day and Tevin Slaughter, for a conversation on career readiness, financial confidence, and continuous learning as technology evolves. You’ll hear real experiences and gain practical ideas to help you build your professional and personal foundation and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.","Future of Work",[47],"2026-11-02T19:30:00.000Z","2026-11-02T20:15:00.000Z",[76,84,91],{"id":77,"name":78,"title":79,"company":80,"image":81,"about":82,"linkedin":83,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"99145960-48c6-4345-b507-8426e99ef59f","Bryce Badger","Manager, Technology Strategy","PwC","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FUStFGMlaSyHMdLGojIQh_headshot-1786725407313.jpg","\u003Cp>Bryce is a consultant in the strategy platform at PwC. In his role, Bryce focuses on enterprise architecture, software & product innovation, program management, and Digital & AI Strategy. He has relevant work experience in the U.S., China, Japan, Ethiopia, U.K., India, Norway, and Spain across Financial Services, Private Equity, and TMT sectors.\u003Cbr \u002F>\u003Cbr \u002F>In addition to his client work, Bryce currently leads the New York Metro Shine LGBTQ employee resource group at PwC. Outside of work, Bryce can be found at language classes, riding at SoulCycle, or taking his dogs to the dog park.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmbrycebadger\u002F",{"id":85,"name":86,"title":87,"company":80,"image":88,"about":89,"linkedin":90,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"8969e078-8066-4c79-8516-4fa3e25a10ff","Jaida Day","Senior Associate, AI Engineering, Commercial Technology and Innovation Office","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F2yyAoXHRQ6Syc774wQ3W_headshot-1786725590807.jpg","\u003Cp>Jaida Day is a Software Engineer within PwC’s Commercial Technology Innovation Office - building full-stack, generative AI-focused solutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally from Los Angeles she pursued her studies in southern California, earning her B.S. in Math & Computer Science from UC San Diego.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is now based in the DMV area and recently became CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) certified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside of work, she’s dedicated to building a community that connects students with resources and industry support. She’s passionate about fostering real conversation, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing, and enjoys creating spaces for growth.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjaida-day\u002F",{"id":92,"name":93,"title":94,"company":80,"image":95,"about":96,"linkedin":97,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"0765cd80-fdac-4b8c-9243-13143cf72d51","Tevin Slaughter","Director, Cyber, Risk, and Regulatory","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F16cGafAQTKyAJT2v4DJ5_headshot-1786725806089.jpg","\u003Cp>Coming soon!\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftevin-slaughter-cisa-crisc-00a09957\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=a043b1d5-c96d-413f-adfd-8e645143917b",{"id":100,"title":101,"description":102,"plainDescription":103,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":104,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":105,"startTime":106,"endTime":107,"dayKey":6,"speakers":108,"calendarUrl":109},"7bc668db-f06d-4c23-a024-ffcec91fbdae","Official AFROTECH™ Partner Events","\u003Cp>See a list of all Official AFROTECH™ Event Partners \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fposh.vip\u002Fc\u002Fafrotech-event-partners?location=%7B%22type%22%3A%22all%22%2C%22location%22%3A%22All+Locations%22%7D\">HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>","See a list of all Official AFROTECH™ Event Partners HERE","Partner Events",[],"2026-11-02T22:00:00.000Z","2026-11-03T06:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=7bc668db-f06d-4c23-a024-ffcec91fbdae",{"id":111,"title":112,"description":113,"plainDescription":114,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":117,"startTime":119,"endTime":120,"dayKey":12,"speakers":121,"calendarUrl":130},"ad0512fc-5be4-4498-8ff4-047813903c55","Build Your First AI Agent: A Hands-On Crash Course","\u003Cp>Nicholas Renotte has built ML models for Fortune 500 companies, founded an EdTech startup, and now leads AI developer advocacy at IBM. In this workshop, he walks through what agents are, how they differ from standard AI tools, and how to build one in 15 minutes. Attendees leave with a working example and a framework for where agents fit in real workflows.\u003C\u002Fp>","Nicholas Renotte has built ML models for Fortune 500 companies, founded an EdTech startup, and now leads AI developer advocacy at IBM. In this workshop, he walks through what agents are, how they differ from standard AI tools, and how to build one in 15 minutes. Attendees leave with a working example and a framework for where agents fit in real workflows.","AI Edge Training","Exhibit Hall E (1st Floor)",[118],"AI Edge","2026-11-03T14:30:00.000Z","2026-11-03T15:30:00.000Z",[122],{"id":123,"name":124,"title":125,"company":126,"image":127,"about":128,"linkedin":129,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"3f29bcb8-6dd4-4b5d-86a8-222adab87922","Nicholas Renotte","Head of AI Developer Advocacy","IBM","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fsi9xYaxUQUmPFHr2STxx_headshot%20(1)%20(1).jpg","\u003Cp>Nicholas Renotte, Global Head of AI Developer Advocacy, started coding in VBA when he was eight years old but gave it all up for a life of finance. He finally came to his senses, has since built machine learning models for Fortune 500 companies, founded an EdTech startup and currently heads up worldwide developer advocacy for AI at IBM. Over the past 5 years, he has built a following of over 300,000 AI engineers and data scientists on YouTube, created hundreds of machine learning models and shared over 50,000 lines of code on GitHub, which has helped thousands of organisations and individuals take their first steps into the field of AI to build better, faster, more efficient businesses.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fnicholasrenotte\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=ad0512fc-5be4-4498-8ff4-047813903c55",{"id":132,"title":133,"description":134,"plainDescription":135,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":138,"startTime":120,"endTime":139,"dayKey":12,"speakers":140,"calendarUrl":149},"3e498bf1-a3a9-4a5c-a68c-79ad53928a1c","From APIs to Agents: How Agentic AI Handles Ambiguity (Live Demo)","\u003Cp>Agentic AI handles what rigid workflows cannot: messy inputs, ambiguous requests, and processes spanning multiple systems. This live demo shows agentic AI acting as adaptive middleware, connecting and orchestrating systems in real time, interpreting intent, and adjusting when conditions change. Built for engineers, architects, and technical leaders designing trustworthy AI systems at scale.\u003C\u002Fp>","Agentic AI handles what rigid workflows cannot: messy inputs, ambiguous requests, and processes spanning multiple systems. This live demo shows agentic AI acting as adaptive middleware, connecting and orchestrating systems in real time, interpreting intent, and adjusting when conditions change. Built for engineers, architects, and technical leaders designing trustworthy AI systems at scale.","Artificial Intelligence","Grand Ballroom A",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T16:00:00.000Z",[141],{"id":142,"name":143,"title":144,"company":145,"image":146,"about":147,"linkedin":148,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d7f0b85e-fec0-4534-86f2-d9d576962e36","Jonathan Yeldell","Solutions Architect","AWS (Amazon Web Services)","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FMTfhuoIQO218MT1QXWDi_IMG_8125.JPG","\u003Cp>I’m Jonathan Yeldell, an AWS Solutions Architect specializing in cloud systems, AI-driven workflows, and large-scale system architecture. I help large enterprise customers design and implement cloud-native AI platforms, including integrating AI into legacy applications to orchestrate workflows, automate processes, and unify complex systems. My experience spans building scalable, resilient, and auditable platforms, from intelligent document processing pipelines to AI-mediated orchestration layers. I bring a systems-level perspective that connects deep technical architecture with strategic impact, equipping organizations to adopt AI responsibly and effectively.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjonathan-yeldell-9a4bb6159\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=3e498bf1-a3a9-4a5c-a68c-79ad53928a1c",{"id":151,"title":152,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":153,"startTime":120,"endTime":154,"dayKey":12,"speakers":155,"calendarUrl":156},"a08e10f2-42a8-4fc2-b2f3-819e64a4bcb7","Human Centered AI for Leaders Summit",[],"2026-11-03T20:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=a08e10f2-42a8-4fc2-b2f3-819e64a4bcb7",{"id":158,"title":159,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":160,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":162,"startTime":163,"endTime":164,"dayKey":12,"speakers":165,"calendarUrl":166},"17124662-278b-415f-bb07-538e337a0f17","Future of Marketing Summit Presented by People INC. Begins","Future of Marketing","Grand Ballroom C",[],"2026-11-03T15:45:00.000Z","2026-11-03T15:46:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=17124662-278b-415f-bb07-538e337a0f17",{"id":168,"title":169,"description":170,"plainDescription":171,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":172,"startTime":173,"endTime":174,"dayKey":12,"speakers":175,"calendarUrl":184},"44c8b59c-1924-4ce0-ba8e-ef9689de7854","Responsible AI: Protecting the Business While Moving Fast","\u003Cp>For professionals responsible for revenue, risk, and community impact, moving fast with AI means more than knowing how to prompt. In this workshop, Daphne Charles demos a real five-step AI pipeline she built and shipped, then shows attendees how to map their own workflows onto the same pattern, translating organizational values into system constraints that hold up when real stakes are on the line.\u003C\u002Fp>","For professionals responsible for revenue, risk, and community impact, moving fast with AI means more than knowing how to prompt. In this workshop, Daphne Charles demos a real five-step AI pipeline she built and shipped, then shows attendees how to map their own workflows onto the same pattern, translating organizational values into system constraints that hold up when real stakes are on the line.",[118],"2026-11-03T15:50:00.000Z","2026-11-03T16:35:00.000Z",[176],{"id":177,"name":178,"title":179,"company":180,"image":181,"about":182,"linkedin":183,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"730b5483-68e4-4fb5-9cb3-2b37471dded1","Daphne Charles","Senior Software Engineer","Salesforce","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FpwWI5j6GREuJOcV89hIw_1731101205784%20(1).jpeg","\u003Cp>Daphne Charles is a Senior Software Engineer with 7+ years building scalable platforms at Salesforce, American Express, and BMW, including products serving 50,000+ daily users. She architects and ships production multi-agent AI systems using Claude API, LangGraph, and MCP. As Global VP of Salesforce Women in Tech, she led technical workshops for a community of 1,000+ members across 5+ countries.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdaphneacharles\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=44c8b59c-1924-4ce0-ba8e-ef9689de7854",{"id":186,"title":187,"description":188,"plainDescription":189,"track":190,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":191,"startTime":192,"endTime":193,"dayKey":12,"speakers":194,"calendarUrl":203},"8d575ee6-fc6a-4531-942b-7fa1a428de80","Achieving Low Latency AI-Data with Edge Computing","\u003Cp>Production-ready agentic AI demands more than a good model. It demands data architecture built for what agentic systems actually require. This session shows how edge computing, vector databases, event brokers, and frameworks like Spring AI combine to move AI from proof-of-concept to production with real resilience and low latency. If AI initiatives keep stalling before they ship, this session answers why.\u003C\u002Fp>","Production-ready agentic AI demands more than a good model. It demands data architecture built for what agentic systems actually require. This session shows how edge computing, vector databases, event brokers, and frameworks like Spring AI combine to move AI from proof-of-concept to production with real resilience and low latency. If AI initiatives keep stalling before they ship, this session answers why.","Engineering",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T16:15:00.000Z","2026-11-03T17:10:00.000Z",[195],{"id":196,"name":197,"title":198,"company":199,"image":200,"about":201,"linkedin":202,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"80b7a598-4bb0-4bf6-8180-2d03ae8cabc5","Gregory Green","Principal Solutions Architecture","VMware by Broadcom","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fuoqxvhj0Qhm550NeM12x_Greg.Green.Profile.Large.jpg","\u003Cp>Transforming how the world builds modern software with over 25 years of diverse experience in various industries such as financial, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, and more. Specializing in cloud-native data services. Extensive expertise in modern data solutions, application modernization, digital transformations, and domain-driven design patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fgregory-green-5619748","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=8d575ee6-fc6a-4531-942b-7fa1a428de80",{"id":205,"title":206,"description":207,"plainDescription":208,"track":160,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":209,"startTime":210,"endTime":211,"dayKey":12,"speakers":212,"calendarUrl":228},"9fb70807-1a7c-4ba3-96fc-52f51745fa27","Bet on Black: Louis Carr on Marketing In Every Era","\u003Cp>Louis Carr has spent four decades generating over $10 billion in advertising revenue, developing leaders, and making the case that Black audiences are among the most valuable and underestimated consumers in America. He has been right every time. This session is a working conversation about what it takes to lead at scale over the long term, how to build deep audience intelligence, develop real talent pipelines, and stay indispensable across every era of industry change.\u003C\u002Fp>","Louis Carr has spent four decades generating over $10 billion in advertising revenue, developing leaders, and making the case that Black audiences are among the most valuable and underestimated consumers in America. He has been right every time. This session is a working conversation about what it takes to lead at scale over the long term, how to build deep audience intelligence, develop real talent pipelines, and stay indispensable across every era of industry change.",[],"2026-11-03T16:30:00.000Z","2026-11-03T17:15:00.000Z",[213,221],{"id":214,"name":215,"title":216,"company":217,"image":218,"about":219,"linkedin":220,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d66eb745-1e96-4585-904c-022f3d0351fc","Louis Carr","President","BET","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FgWvMTaS1S8CH08KDaQgn_Louis%20Carr%20HS%202025.JPG","\u003Cp>Louis Carr is the President of BET, a role he assumed in December 2025 after nearly four decades of transformative leadership within the company. Across his 39-year tenure, Carr has helped shape BET into the premier media destination for Black audiences worldwide, driving culture, impact, and community empowerment at every step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before becoming President, Carr served as President of Media Sales, where he redefined the multicultural space for some of the world's biggest brands and stimulated over $10B in advertising sales through strategic partnerships with corporations like Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Unilever, McDonald's, Meta, Toyota, and many more. Carr has driven BET to have the largest repository of information on Black consumers than any other media company worldwide. His understanding of this data has inspired him to create content and messages that help marketers sell products and services and become good corporate citizens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to his stellar professional career, Carr has had a long-term commitment to young people and his community. He founded the Louis Carr Internship Foundation to improve diversity in corporate America through paid internships. The foundation has provided 300+ paid internships, with 70 alumni now holding full-time jobs within the industry. Carr also launched WayMaker, a brand built to provide direction, wisdom, and inspiration to people wanting to grow their lives and change the world. Through the quarterly WayMaker Journal and other avenues, the umbrella brand offers insight from subject matter experts across a wide range of fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2023, Carr was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame and received the Chicago Advertising Federation Silver Medal Award the same year. He has been recognized by boardiQ as a Top 100 Hall of Fame African American and named one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Flouiscarrtv\u002F",{"id":222,"name":223,"title":224,"company":225,"image":226,"about":227,"linkedin":39,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d0596f75-13c5-4041-94ab-3609c2719344","Joi-Marie McKenzie","Editor in chief","Life at Business Insider","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FzKbYPv8SE6Hj120y0DXt_headshot-1787158465988.jpg","\u003Cp>Joi-Marie McKenzie Lewis is an Emmy Award-winning writer, editor, and author. She is editor in chief of Business Insider’s Life division, overseeing lifestyle news globally. She is the author of \u003Cem>The Engagement Game\u003C\u002Fem> and coauthor of Porsha Williams’ memoir, \u003Cem>The Pursuit of Porsha\u003C\u002Fem>. Her work has earned recognition from the Emmys, ASME, LA Press Club, and Edward R. Murrow Awards.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=9fb70807-1a7c-4ba3-96fc-52f51745fa27",{"id":230,"title":231,"description":232,"plainDescription":233,"track":234,"stage":39,"room":41,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":235,"startTime":237,"endTime":238,"dayKey":12,"speakers":239,"calendarUrl":248},"14ac2173-f671-427b-9328-1a04e59d4cd1","Building Financial Confidence Through Life's Uncertainty Presented by Prudential","\u003Cp> Why is it that a great salary doesn't always translate to peace of mind? As your career grows, so do the financial decisions. Promotions, equity compensation, changing markets, supporting family, buying a home, and life's unexpected turns can leave even high earners wondering if they're making the right financial decisions. In this session, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Kofo Akosile will explore how holistic financial planning can help you move from simply reacting to life's uncertainty to responding with confidence. You'll walk away with practical strategies to make more informed financial decisions, align your money with the life you're building, and create a plan that evolves alongside your goals. Because true wealth isn't measured by what you earn, it's measured by the freedom and confidence to navigate whatever comes next.\u003C\u002Fp>","Why is it that a great salary doesn't always translate to peace of mind? As your career grows, so do the financial decisions. Promotions, equity compensation, changing markets, supporting family, buying a home, and life's unexpected turns can leave even high earners wondering if they're making the right financial decisions. In this session, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Kofo Akosile will explore how holistic financial planning can help you move from simply reacting to life's uncertainty to responding with confidence. You'll walk away with practical strategies to make more informed financial decisions, align your money with the life you're building, and create a plan that evolves alongside your goals. Because true wealth isn't measured by what you earn, it's measured by the freedom and confidence to navigate whatever comes next.","Wealth",[43,44,236,46,47],"Medical","2026-11-03T16:45:00.000Z","2026-11-03T17:45:00.000Z",[240],{"id":241,"name":242,"title":243,"company":244,"image":245,"about":246,"linkedin":247,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"deed6edc-2dee-4025-8aca-17c42c4335ef","Kofo Akosile","Financial Planner ","Prudential Advisors","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FCLC7acgnQYeDtKkxuAgt_headshot-1785798024338.jpg","\u003Cp>Kofo Akosile, CFP®, ChFC®, is a financial planner with Prudential Advisors and the founder of DreamMaker Financial. With more than a decade of experience helping professionals and families make confident financial decisions, she is passionate about empowering others, especially first-generation wealth creators, to break financial cycles and build lasting wealth. Her greatest fulfillment comes from making financial advice accessible and relatable so that anyone, regardless of their background, can take charge of their financial future with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fkofoakosile","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=14ac2173-f671-427b-9328-1a04e59d4cd1",{"id":250,"title":251,"description":252,"plainDescription":253,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":254,"startTime":255,"endTime":256,"dayKey":12,"speakers":257,"calendarUrl":266},"d8c3bd43-ad50-472a-adef-493efeda1525","AI Productivity in your Day to Day Workflow","\u003Cp>Better outputs start with better inputs. This session introduces context engineering, the discipline of designing, optimizing, and managing the information you send to an AI model. Context engineering shapes up to 99% of an AI's effective data footprint. Attendees leave with a framework for mapping their own workflows and techniques for building reliable, scalable AI integrations.\u003C\u002Fp>","Better outputs start with better inputs. This session introduces context engineering, the discipline of designing, optimizing, and managing the information you send to an AI model. Context engineering shapes up to 99% of an AI's effective data footprint. Attendees leave with a framework for mapping their own workflows and techniques for building reliable, scalable AI integrations.",[118],"2026-11-03T16:50:00.000Z","2026-11-03T17:40:00.000Z",[258],{"id":259,"name":260,"title":261,"company":262,"image":263,"about":264,"linkedin":265,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"31306157-7710-4e15-b9b0-f17fb2f13598","Melvin Hillsman","Principal Software Engineer","Red Hat","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FnLYOedZTMCMOOaA66smn_mrhillsmanhs.png","\u003Cp>Melvin Hillsman is a Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat who believes the most powerful technology is the kind people can not only use but build. He works at the intersection of AI, cloud-native infrastructure, and systems architecture — building bridges between what's possible and what's practical. Considering the power of storytelling — problems, constraints, and people — his talks are about the journey, showing how emerging and future tools collapse the distance between idea and working software. He is particularly driven to ensure that people aren't just invited to technological revolutions but equipped to build in them.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Flinkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmrhillsman","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=d8c3bd43-ad50-472a-adef-493efeda1525",{"id":268,"title":269,"description":270,"plainDescription":271,"track":190,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":272,"startTime":193,"endTime":273,"dayKey":12,"speakers":274,"calendarUrl":283},"0ed7300f-a482-4838-af00-35aa6964c888","What's Next After LLMs? Building AI Products at Scale","\u003Cp>Dr. Olukunle Owolabi, ML Engineer at Meta AI, has taken products from zero to production at scale inside one of the largest AI organizations in the world. This session covers what nobody tells you about building real AI products: aligning stakeholders early, why your eval framework matters more than your model choice, and the privacy and cost tradeoffs behind decisions that look purely technical.\u003C\u002Fp>","Dr. Olukunle Owolabi, ML Engineer at Meta AI, has taken products from zero to production at scale inside one of the largest AI organizations in the world. This session covers what nobody tells you about building real AI products: aligning stakeholders early, why your eval framework matters more than your model choice, and the privacy and cost tradeoffs behind decisions that look purely technical.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T17:55:00.000Z",[275],{"id":276,"name":277,"title":278,"company":279,"image":280,"about":281,"linkedin":282,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"e0337a1c-4327-4456-841f-aeefa171acd5","Olukunle Owolabi","AI Engineer","Meta","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FOEYOVx8PQ7qXGH7od3w5__P2A3038.jpg","\u003Cp>I am an AI Engineer within Meta AI where I support large scale AI products. Broadly conceived, my experience spans LLMs, recommender systems, anomaly and fraud detection, forecasting, and optimization. In my earlier stint at Meta, I worked in the infrastructure space developing efficient ML driven systems for MySQL, edge data, and RIM. Between those two roles, I led applied AI, recommender systems, and fraud detection efforts at Mindbody. I received the inaugural UChicago Rising Stars in Data Science award and I am an AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My interest has always been in real world applications of machine learning and the broader idea of using data for good. I hold a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on applied machine learning from Tufts University, where I used data driven models to study electric power grids, climate systems, and ecological interactions. My research has appeared in KDD, Data Science in Science, Environment Systems and Decisions, Environmental Research Communication, and IOP Science.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I also earned an MSc in Engineering with Distinction and a BSc First Class (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Ibadan, respectively, which helped shape my early interest in data and systems. I am originally from Nigeria and have lived in Scotland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Washington. Outside of work, I enjoy football, I support Manchester United, and I love being outdoors.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdipo123\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=0ed7300f-a482-4838-af00-35aa6964c888",{"id":285,"title":286,"description":287,"plainDescription":288,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":289,"startTime":256,"endTime":273,"dayKey":12,"speakers":290,"calendarUrl":299},"439c87d9-320f-4b14-adf4-9246418c904e","AI Is Quietly Rewiring Your Thinking","\u003Cp>AI won’t replace your judgment, but it may be eroding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As AI becomes embedded in everyday decision-making, leaders are offloading more cognitive work than they realize, introducing a new and largely unexamined risk to performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Murray, a neuropsychologist working at the intersection of brain science and executive function, will help attendees understand how AI is reshaping cognition and what leaders must recognize to remain effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This focus is not about rejecting AI. It’s about recognizing the cognitive tradeoffs and knowing where reliance becomes risk.\u003C\u002Fp>","AI won’t replace your judgment, but it may be eroding it.\nAs AI becomes embedded in everyday decision-making, leaders are offloading more cognitive work than they realize, introducing a new and largely unexamined risk to performance.\nDr. Murray, a neuropsychologist working at the intersection of brain science and executive function, will help attendees understand how AI is reshaping cognition and what leaders must recognize to remain effective.\nThis focus is not about rejecting AI. It’s about recognizing the cognitive tradeoffs and knowing where reliance becomes risk.",[118],[291],{"id":292,"name":293,"title":294,"company":295,"image":296,"about":297,"linkedin":298,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"73edb5b9-dfce-4c92-8214-a0697c8acb7e","Dr. Nicole Murray","Chief Neuropsychologist ","Durham Region Center for Cognitive Health","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FSQcQfjCATOyo2etjAS4O_NicoleMurray_089.jpg","\u003Cp>Dr. Murray is a neuropsychologist specializing in executive cognition, decision-making, and performance under pressure. She works with high-performing professionals and leaders to assess and optimize cognitive function in high-stakes environments, including those navigating complex roles and cognitive demands. Her work sits at the intersection of neuroscience and performance, translating brain science into strategic advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdr-nicole-murray-neuropsychologist","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=439c87d9-320f-4b14-adf4-9246418c904e",{"id":301,"title":302,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":303,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":304,"startTime":305,"endTime":306,"dayKey":12,"speakers":307,"calendarUrl":308},"6e66a0a9-0c0f-4543-86a6-2f44ad1ab645","Expo Hall Hours","Expo Hall",[],"2026-11-03T18:00:00.000Z","2026-11-03T23:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=6e66a0a9-0c0f-4543-86a6-2f44ad1ab645",{"id":310,"title":311,"description":312,"plainDescription":313,"track":314,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":315,"startTime":316,"endTime":317,"dayKey":12,"speakers":318,"calendarUrl":335},"d78ce8a8-7701-4c1b-9df8-fe27618ea02e","Your IP Is the New Real Estate","\u003Cp>For generations, real estate was the primary vehicle for building and transferring wealth. Today, your voice, likeness, content, and personal brand can do what property once did: generate income, appreciate in value, and be passed down. Denise Bailey-Castro and Thai Randolph have built companies on this thesis. This conversation is about how to structure your IP as a real wealth-building asset and what to do right now to start.\u003C\u002Fp>","For generations, real estate was the primary vehicle for building and transferring wealth. Today, your voice, likeness, content, and personal brand can do what property once did: generate income, appreciate in value, and be passed down. Denise Bailey-Castro and Thai Randolph have built companies on this thesis. This conversation is about how to structure your IP as a real wealth-building asset and what to do right now to start.","Entrepreneurship",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T18:30:00.000Z","2026-11-03T19:15:00.000Z",[319,327],{"id":320,"name":321,"title":322,"company":323,"image":324,"about":325,"linkedin":326,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"bec37a7e-5abe-4b75-9a72-dab5fd36059f","Denise Bailey-Castro","CFO & COO","Westbrook","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FkTdV8puSEaPjXUYGyCUw_DBC%20Headshot_20231228%20-%20104.jpg","\u003Cp>Denise Bailey-Castro is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Westbrook Inc., the independent, diversified media company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. A strategic finance and operations executive, she sits at the intersection of media, technology, and culture—bringing public-company discipline to founder-led, creative businesses to unlock growth, scale, and long-term value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since joining Westbrook in 2023, Bailey-Castro has spearheaded operational transformation initiatives, improving margin and scalability across content production and distribution units, and implemented best-in-class controls. She drives board-level strategic priorities in collaboration with the CEO and Board of Directors, with a focus on opportunities in emerging markets across the Middle East and Asia. She also helped structure Westbrook’s first-look film deal with Paramount and led the sale of Telepool, a leading international film distributor, to Vuelta Group, backed by Great Mountain Partners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Bailey-Castro spent nearly a decade at Paramount Global, where she served as Brand Chief Financial Officer for BET Media Group (BETMG), overseeing its portfolio across cable, streaming, studios, and digital businesses. She was part of the founding team, including Tyler Perry, behind BET+, the leading streaming service for Black content, and BET Studios, alongside Kenya Barris. Prior to joining BETMG, Denise led affiliate negotiations with cable and satellite partners on Viacom Media Networks’ Content Distribution Team. Her other work experience includes roles at HBO and JPMorgan. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She holds a MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, a MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdenise-bailey-castro-8695a76\u002F",{"id":328,"name":329,"title":330,"company":331,"image":332,"about":333,"linkedin":334,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"84c0146d-134f-491b-ba83-ef5523c642d4","Thai Randolph","Founder and CEO","NILE & Co.","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F4MUxRAIqRWWU8QVwmkuh_headshot-1780599835523.png","\u003Cp>Thai Randolph is an entrepreneur, producer, brand builder, and business architect. Founder and CEO of NILE & Co. and former co-founder and CEO of Hartbeat, where she led a $100M+ capital raise — one of the largest ever secured by a Black woman for a private company — and scaled the company to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Career spans senior roles at Sony, Lionsgate, WPP, Publicis, and Meta. Recognized on Variety’s and Entrepreneur’s Women of Impact lists, Billboard’s Power Players: Hip-Hop & R&B;, Cynopsis’s Visionary Leaders, and AdAge’s 40 Under 40. Gracie Award-winning podcast host and producer. LP, Brainstrust Fund. Board member, Rock The Bells.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fthairandolph\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=d78ce8a8-7701-4c1b-9df8-fe27618ea02e",{"id":337,"title":338,"description":339,"plainDescription":340,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":341,"startTime":342,"endTime":343,"dayKey":12,"speakers":344,"calendarUrl":353},"c94f0fee-184b-48d5-9aaa-0de549735029","Know Your Chips: Optimizing AI Compute Without Overspending","\u003Cp>Most teams buying compute have no framework for right-sizing it, and the cost of that gap is real. Drawing on experience at AWS and NVIDIA, this session walks through how GPUs perform in real systems, when a CPU is the better call, and what the difference means for budget and runway. A practical, scenario-based playbook for founders and builders who want smarter AI infrastructure decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>","Most teams buying compute have no framework for right-sizing it, and the cost of that gap is real. Drawing on experience at AWS and NVIDIA, this session walks through how GPUs perform in real systems, when a CPU is the better call, and what the difference means for budget and runway. A practical, scenario-based playbook for founders and builders who want smarter AI infrastructure decisions.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T18:45:00.000Z","2026-11-03T19:30:00.000Z",[345],{"id":346,"name":347,"title":348,"company":349,"image":350,"about":351,"linkedin":352,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"7e7861c5-9778-4b98-8612-f604c2a4ef88","Nicole Murray","Sr. Solutions Architect, DGX Cloud (AI Platform Engineering)","NVIDIA","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F680O3nxIRFSDFZPhQT0x_nicole-awsnic-custom-photo.png","\u003Cp>Nicole Murray is a Senior Solutions Architect on NVIDIA's Customer Success Engineering team for DGX Cloud, where she helps customers design and scale high-performance AI platforms on GPU infrastructure. She brings a rare dual perspective to AI compute, having spent six years at AWS across public sector, startups, and AI\u002FML before joining NVIDIA to work inside the company that builds the hardware powering those workloads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nearly 20 years across systems integration, cloud operations, public sector IT, and AI\u002FML, Nicole has a track record of translating complex technology into clear, actionable guidance. At AWS, she architected cloud solutions for New York City's largest government agencies, then shifted to helping generative AI startups optimize GPU spend, build distributed training pipelines, and ship AI products to market. She led the inaugural AWS AI League for startups, bringing hands-on competition and enablement to 100+ founders and engineers. She's spoken at AWS re:Invent, Databricks Data+AI Summit, NYC Pride Summit, and numerous industry events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nicole is passionate about making AI infrastructure knowledge accessible, especially for founders and engineers from underrepresented communities. She started her career on a help desk, worked her way through systems engineering, and now builds at the intersection of cloud, GPU, and AI. She believes that understanding your compute stack is a business survival skill, not just a technical one.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fnicolemariemurray\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=c94f0fee-184b-48d5-9aaa-0de549735029",{"id":355,"title":356,"description":357,"plainDescription":358,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":359,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":360,"startTime":361,"endTime":362,"dayKey":12,"speakers":363,"calendarUrl":364},"86d6894c-6585-4046-bdbb-d6ffac094205","HBCU Student Meetup","\u003Cp>Join us for a dynamic gathering designed to celebrate and connect students from HBCUs. This meetup is a space for students to build community, exchange ideas, and network with peers who share a common academic and cultural experience. Attendees will have the chance to foster meaningful relationships, share resources, and gain inspiration from one another. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, collaboration, or simply a supportive environment, this meetup is all about honoring the legacy of HBCUs while creating new pathways for success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","Join us for a dynamic gathering designed to celebrate and connect students from HBCUs. This meetup is a space for students to build community, exchange ideas, and network with peers who share a common academic and cultural experience. Attendees will have the chance to foster meaningful relationships, share resources, and gain inspiration from one another. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, collaboration, or simply a supportive environment, this meetup is all about honoring the legacy of HBCUs while creating new pathways for success.","Expo Hall \u002F The Yard",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T19:00:00.000Z","2026-11-03T20:30:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=86d6894c-6585-4046-bdbb-d6ffac094205",{"id":366,"title":367,"description":368,"plainDescription":369,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":370,"startTime":371,"endTime":372,"dayKey":12,"speakers":373,"calendarUrl":384},"fc1a6f1d-13bb-4159-87c4-f1f7ce2a6907","Decision Intelligence: From Data to Decision Visualization and Storytelling","\u003Cp>Using Microsoft Fabric as the foundation, this session shows how unified data architecture and governance tools make it possible to build AI solutions that are technically sound and inclusive. The focus: connecting data across sources, applying transparency labels, and using visualization and storytelling to make analytics accessible and actionable for the people who need to act on them.\u003C\u002Fp>","Using Microsoft Fabric as the foundation, this session shows how unified data architecture and governance tools make it possible to build AI solutions that are technically sound and inclusive. The focus: connecting data across sources, applying transparency labels, and using visualization and storytelling to make analytics accessible and actionable for the people who need to act on them.",[118],"2026-11-03T19:10:00.000Z","2026-11-03T20:10:00.000Z",[374],{"id":375,"name":376,"title":377,"company":378,"image":379,"about":380,"linkedin":381,"twitter":382,"instagram":39,"facebook":383},"8bfe85ba-e55d-4825-a55f-1f378d020f6b","Araine Greer","SR. Cloud Solution Architect Engineering Data & AI ","Microsoft","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F0jEbMcbT7aWSd0aWOlxR_headshot-1784241725398.jpg","\u003Cdiv>Araine Greer, known as FashionTECHDiva, did not follow a traditional path into technology,she built one! After motherhood ended the fashion career she once dreamed of, she started over, learned to code using SQL Server, earned a Microsoft certification, and transformed a leap of faith into a 13-year career in tech. Today, as a Senior Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, she helps organizations design cloud, data, and AI solutions while inspiring and mentoring others. Her story challenges people to view disruption differently: to pivot with purpose, embrace lifelong learning, and believe that new beginnings can lead to extraordinary success.\u003C\u002Fdiv>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Faraine-greer-5165b297\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Ffashiontechdiva?igsh=cXNuaDA4NGFmZXdp&utm_source=qr","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fshare\u002F1H4G2bKcKG\u002F?mibextid=wwXIfr","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=fc1a6f1d-13bb-4159-87c4-f1f7ce2a6907",{"id":386,"title":387,"description":388,"plainDescription":389,"track":160,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":390,"startTime":317,"endTime":154,"dayKey":12,"speakers":391,"calendarUrl":408},"63520833-79cb-4bc0-8c3f-198b13249ba8","Building Brands That Command Attention","\u003Cp>Every channel is saturated. AI has made content creation nearly free. Consumer loyalty is harder to earn than ever. Shannon Womack and Keena Grigsby are leading brand strategy at three of the most recognized names in business and navigating these pressures at scale every day. This conversation examines what it actually takes to cut through, build lasting consumer trust, and lead creative teams when the rules of brand are being rewritten in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>","Every channel is saturated. AI has made content creation nearly free. Consumer loyalty is harder to earn than ever. Shannon Womack and Keena Grigsby are leading brand strategy at three of the most recognized names in business and navigating these pressures at scale every day. This conversation examines what it actually takes to cut through, build lasting consumer trust, and lead creative teams when the rules of brand are being rewritten in real time.",[44,45],[392,400],{"id":393,"name":394,"title":395,"company":396,"image":397,"about":398,"linkedin":399,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"3d7d5558-4930-40cd-b3a9-3748549c28cc","Keena Grigsby","Chief Marketing Officer, Mobile eXperience","Samsung Electronics America ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F5IDylEL1SpK93Eh0SmvQ_headshot-1788197428417.jpg","\u003Cp>Keena Grigsby is Chief Marketing Officer & Vice President, U.S. Mobile Experience (MX) at Samsung Electronics America. Keena leads marketing and communications for Samsung’s mobile portfolio — including Galaxy smartphones, wearables, tablets, PCs and the connected ecosystem.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keena is a seasoned global marketing leader with nearly 20 years of experience leading talented marketing teams at Microsoft, Apple, and Verizon. Most recently, Keena served as General Manager and Global Head of Windows Marketing at Microsoft, where she led the go-to-market strategy, campaigns, integrated marketing, communications, and operations for the consumer and commercial segments of the Windows business. Keena built and launched global positioning for Copilot+ PCs, redefined the AI-powered Windows brand narrative, and led the multi-channel campaigns that expanded global awareness and relevance. Prior to that, Keena led Global Product Marketing for Surface, where she launched flagship devices including Surface Pro, Surface Laptop and Surface Accessories and drove creative collaborations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Microsoft, Keena was Head of Americas at Apple, supporting Beats by Dre, where she oversaw brand, sales and marketing for North and South America and later led Worldwide Product Go-to-Market and Launch Readiness at Beats by Dre.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keena began her career in tech and spent a decade at Verizon where she held roles across marketing, product, finance and sales. Beyond her resume, Keena is an intentional, people-first leader who is passionate about brand building, scaling high-performing teams, and shaping marketing that drives measurable results. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keena holds an MBA with a marketing concentration from Northeastern University and a B.S. in Finance from Hampton University.  She previously served on the board of the National Black MBA Association in Los Angeles. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fkeena-grigsby-64198813\u002F ",{"id":401,"name":402,"title":403,"company":404,"image":405,"about":406,"linkedin":407,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"1b44829c-4140-49f4-ae92-094e93987519","Shannon Womack","Head of Global Brand and Creative","Delta Air Lines","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F5bn77xsFQqKLAYoyHvDg_transformed-1778671313040.png","\u003Cp>Shannon Womack leads Global Brand and Creative at Delta Air Lines - one of the world's most emotionally resonant airline brands - where she is focused on building the creative system, cultural presence, and commercial capability that translates Delta's brand equity into enterprise outcomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She has spent her career at the intersection of brand and business - in financial services, sports, healthcare, and travel with a consistent belief that the strongest brands don't just communicate well, they build systems that make every customer touchpoint feel like the same experience. At Delta, that conviction has shaped roles spanning the full marketing ecosystem, leading paid media, social, and CRM channels, performance, product and lifecycle marketing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With 15+ years of experience spanning a range of industries, Shannon began her career in the advertising space and at the US Open Tennis Tournament before joining Delta.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shannon has been recognized by Brand Innovators as a Top 40 Under 40 and Woman to Watch, and by Adweek and Adcolor for her work at the intersection of brand and culture. She has served as Jury Chair for the Cannes Young Lions Marketing Competition and on the Clio Awards Brand Jury, and sits on the Board of She Runs It. She is a graduate of Northwestern's Chief Marketing Officer Program and holds degrees from Northwestern University and NYU.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fshannonwomackmktg\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=63520833-79cb-4bc0-8c3f-198b13249ba8",{"id":410,"title":411,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":160,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":412,"startTime":154,"endTime":413,"dayKey":12,"speakers":414,"calendarUrl":415},"383ab8bf-c7d4-4af9-915a-1c65fabc7088","Future of Marketing Summit Presented by People INC. Ends",[],"2026-11-03T20:01:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=383ab8bf-c7d4-4af9-915a-1c65fabc7088",{"id":417,"title":418,"description":419,"plainDescription":420,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":421,"startTime":422,"endTime":423,"dayKey":12,"speakers":424,"calendarUrl":433},"0cd23d8f-6221-4197-a3ef-187bfd4f73ff","Everyday AI Productivity: Mapping Out Workflows & Integrations","\u003Cp>MCP is quickly becoming the standard for connecting AI assistants to the tools, data, and systems they need to take action. This session introduces Model Context Protocol servers in clear, accessible terms: what they are, what problems they solve, and how to apply them to real business workflows and automations. Useful for engineers building the infrastructure and leaders who need to understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>","MCP is quickly becoming the standard for connecting AI assistants to the tools, data, and systems they need to take action. This session introduces Model Context Protocol servers in clear, accessible terms: what they are, what problems they solve, and how to apply them to real business workflows and automations. Useful for engineers building the infrastructure and leaders who need to understand it.",[118],"2026-11-03T20:15:00.000Z","2026-11-03T21:00:00.000Z",[425],{"id":426,"name":427,"title":428,"company":429,"image":430,"about":431,"linkedin":432,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"2ebc6cc9-64aa-4596-b9d3-88a84d7a3726","Charles Meruwoma","Senior Solutions Architect","Amazon Web Services","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FqYdUgnaOQbKa6l8lapFu_Charles%20Meruwoma.JPG","\u003Cp>Charles is a Senior Solutions Architect in cloud, AI, and enterprise design. He helps organizations scale AI and cloud solutions from prototype to production, with a focus on security, scalability, and business impact. Charles is passionate about building systems that deliver business value.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fcmeruwoma\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=0cd23d8f-6221-4197-a3ef-187bfd4f73ff",{"id":435,"title":436,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":115,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":437,"startTime":423,"endTime":438,"dayKey":12,"speakers":439,"calendarUrl":440},"eb0a9afc-14da-4bee-af52-05ac0eb330dd","Show & Tell, Coworking, Questions & Closing",[118],"2026-11-03T21:45:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=eb0a9afc-14da-4bee-af52-05ac0eb330dd",{"id":442,"title":443,"description":444,"plainDescription":445,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":447,"startTime":448,"endTime":449,"dayKey":12,"speakers":450,"calendarUrl":467},"2bcffa9c-d7af-40db-9ba9-bd3348ede868","The Human Cost of Smarter Systems with Timnit Gebru","\u003Cp>Behind every AI breakthrough are datasets collected without consent, workers paid pennies to label training data, and communities bearing costs they never agreed to. Timnit Gebru, founder of the DAIR Institute, brings her research on algorithmic harm and AI power directly to the AfroTech stage. This conversation challenges every leader in the room: if your organization is building with AI, who is it actually built for?\u003C\u002Fp>","Behind every AI breakthrough are datasets collected without consent, workers paid pennies to label training data, and communities bearing costs they never agreed to. Timnit Gebru, founder of the DAIR Institute, brings her research on algorithmic harm and AI power directly to the AfroTech stage. This conversation challenges every leader in the room: if your organization is building with AI, who is it actually built for?","Main Stage (Exhibit Hall E 1st Floor)",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T21:05:00.000Z","2026-11-03T21:35:00.000Z",[451,459],{"id":452,"name":453,"title":454,"company":455,"image":456,"about":457,"linkedin":458,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"07311775-dd72-4e02-8df3-9c5bfd571ed0","Dr. Timnit Gebru","Founder & Executive Director","Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute – DAIR","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FR78srWTgRvKRc0l3fDeO__Z5A9589.JPG","\u003Cp>Timnit is the author of the forthcoming book, \u003Cem>Deep Unlearning\u003C\u002Fem>, a memoir + manifesto arguing for a technological future that serves our communities instead of one that is used for surveillance, warfare, and the centralization of power by Silicon Valley. She is also the founder and Executive Director of The Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Institute, which performs community-rooted AI research that imagines a technological future supporting the needs of marginalized communities. Timnit has appeared in notable lists including TIME’s 100 influential people, and Nature’s 10 influential people within the world of science. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftimnit-gebru-7b3b407\u002F",{"id":460,"name":461,"title":462,"company":463,"image":464,"about":465,"linkedin":466,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"162ed903-2fab-436d-8b66-d271529fbbdc","Morgan Debaun","Founder, CEO and Chairman","Blavity, Inc.","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FSri4YFiPRRyP8uXQdQLU_headshot-1787332155670.png","\u003Cp>Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author and visionary leader in media and\u003Cbr \u002F>technology. She is the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Blavity Inc. and CEO of AfroTech, the\u003Cbr \u002F>leading platform at the intersection of technology, culture and consumer innovation. A\u003Cbr \u002F>recognized authority on AI and the future of work, Morgan advises executives on practical AI\u003Cbr \u002F>adoption and human-centered upskilling.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmorgandebaun","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=2bcffa9c-d7af-40db-9ba9-bd3348ede868",{"id":469,"title":470,"description":471,"plainDescription":472,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":473,"startTime":474,"endTime":475,"dayKey":12,"speakers":476,"calendarUrl":485},"fc3063d2-607a-45ad-b948-74c28225959a","Work After AI: What the Data Shows and How to Stay Ahead","\u003Cp>Dr. Andrew Forde leads AI research at KPMG, where he tracks how AI is reshaping industries, roles, and career paths across client organizations worldwide. In this opening session, he brings the data: where work is changing fastest, which skills and functions are gaining value, and what professionals can do right now to position themselves ahead of a labor market being rewritten in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>","Dr. Andrew Forde leads AI research at KPMG, where he tracks how AI is reshaping industries, roles, and career paths across client organizations worldwide. In this opening session, he brings the data: where work is changing fastest, which skills and functions are gaining value, and what professionals can do right now to position themselves ahead of a labor market being rewritten in real time.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T21:40:00.000Z","2026-11-03T21:55:00.000Z",[477],{"id":478,"name":479,"title":480,"company":481,"image":482,"about":483,"linkedin":484,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"0212b765-de30-478b-a102-755c500e71bf","Dr. Andrew Forde","Partner, Head of AI Research","KPMG","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fb5zHrpxyThCMxmVI9TDh_Headshot_2026.png","\u003Cp>Dr. Andrew Forde is a dynamic leader, strategist, and community advocate whose work is guided by a commitment to excellence, equity, and meaningful impact. Known for bringing clarity, warmth, and purpose to every space he enters, Dr. Forde has built a reputation as a thoughtful voice on leadership, innovation, and the importance of building institutions and communities where people can thrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a career shaped by scholarship, service, and lived experience, Dr. Forde approaches his work with both intellectual rigor and deep humanity. He is passionate about creating opportunities, opening doors for emerging talent, and helping individuals and organizations translate bold ideas into practical action. Whether collaborating with colleagues, mentoring the next generation, or contributing to community initiatives, he leads with integrity, curiosity, and a belief in the power of collective progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Forde’s continuously reflects on his connection to the richness, resilience, and creativity of the African and Caribbean diaspora. He celebrates culture not only as heritage, but as a living source of knowledge, innovation, joy, and belonging. His work and public engagement are grounded in the understanding that representation matters, stories matter, and community spaces matter, especially those that honour identity while inviting people to imagine an even stronger future. He is especially drawn to initiatives that connect culture, education, and civic imagination in tangible ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A polished and engaging communicator, Dr. Forde is recognized for his ability to bridge ideas, people, and possibilities. He brings a calm confidence, a collaborative spirit, and a deep respect for the communities he serves. At the heart of his journey is a simple but powerful commitment: to use his platform, experience, and voice to inspire progress, strengthen connections, and contribute to a world where more people have the opportunity to lead, belong, and flourish.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fanf-kpmg\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=fc3063d2-607a-45ad-b948-74c28225959a",{"id":487,"title":488,"description":489,"plainDescription":490,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":491,"startTime":492,"endTime":493,"dayKey":12,"speakers":494,"calendarUrl":503},"ae0aa4b5-8f1b-4b3b-9fe9-e37b09f7bfaa","Live: AI Music Experience with King Willonius","\u003Cp>King Willonius turned a crowdsourced lyric into BBL DRIZZY, one of the most viral AI-generated songs of the past decade, earning a TIME 100 Most Influential in AI nod and a response from Drake. In this 15-20 minute mainstage moment, he does it again, live. He will pull sounds, prompts, and ideas directly from the audience and build a track in real time. No slides. No lecture. Just the process, unfiltered, in front of thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>","King Willonius turned a crowdsourced lyric into BBL DRIZZY, one of the most viral AI-generated songs of the past decade, earning a TIME 100 Most Influential in AI nod and a response from Drake. In this 15-20 minute mainstage moment, he does it again, live. He will pull sounds, prompts, and ideas directly from the audience and build a track in real time. No slides. No lecture. Just the process, unfiltered, in front of thousands.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-03T22:00:00.000Z","2026-11-03T22:20:00.000Z",[495],{"id":496,"name":497,"title":498,"company":499,"image":500,"about":501,"linkedin":502,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"0baf0d07-ab06-4aba-bc21-e1b58694af0b","King Willonius","AI Story-teller, Filmmaker, Comedian","AI & The Culture","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F5M8HLbihSK2qi6LFzcsh_headshot-1786535099956.jpg","\u003Cp>Willonius “King Willonius” Hatcher is a comedian, author, futurist, and creative technologist redefining what entertainment, storytelling, and innovation look like in the age of artificial intelligence. Widely recognized for fusing humor, music, worldbuilding, and emerging technology, he creates culture-shaping experiences that make the future feel human, accessible, and unforgettable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hatcher was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, a 2025 Ebony Power 100 honoree, and a member of Ad Age’s 2025 Power Tech List. His viral AI hit “BBL DRIZZY” became one of the most influential creative works of the decade, generating millions of remixes, inspiring a response from Drake, and igniting global conversations around AI, authorship, and Black creativity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sought-after speaker, he has shared insights at SXSW, TEDx, MIT, Harvard, Bridge Summit, and The Next Web. Whether on stage or in the lab, King Willonius helps audiences understand not just where culture and technology are going, but how to shape what comes next.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fwill-hatcher\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=ae0aa4b5-8f1b-4b3b-9fe9-e37b09f7bfaa",{"id":505,"title":101,"description":102,"plainDescription":103,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":104,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":506,"startTime":492,"endTime":507,"dayKey":12,"speakers":508,"calendarUrl":509},"fb3908ed-8a35-4992-bbfb-18f16edee503",[],"2026-11-04T06:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=fb3908ed-8a35-4992-bbfb-18f16edee503",{"id":511,"title":512,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":513,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":514,"startTime":515,"endTime":516,"dayKey":12,"speakers":517,"calendarUrl":518},"ba486735-d382-430b-868f-755af9fc3926","All Access Reception","The Grove",[43],"2026-11-04T00:00:00.000Z","2026-11-04T02:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=ba486735-d382-430b-868f-755af9fc3926",{"id":520,"title":521,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":522,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":523,"startTime":515,"endTime":516,"dayKey":12,"speakers":524,"calendarUrl":525},"7065cad2-200b-4588-8d9c-b981bdda13f6","Executive Reception","Executive Lounge",[43],[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=7065cad2-200b-4588-8d9c-b981bdda13f6",{"id":527,"title":528,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":529,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":531,"startTime":532,"endTime":533,"dayKey":18,"speakers":534,"calendarUrl":543},"4d8caf5e-ec76-411d-b1e1-93428443f55e","Opening Welcome:  Why HealthStack, Why Now","Equity, Bias and Clinical Trust","HealthStack General Session (Marriott)",[43,45],"2026-11-04T14:00:00.000Z","2026-11-04T14:05:00.000Z",[535],{"id":536,"name":537,"title":538,"company":539,"image":540,"about":541,"linkedin":542,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"33478487-b1b4-453e-b807-25fa7c9eeb0a","Tanya Sam","Co-founder"," Elizabeth & Minnie Publishing","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002FC6nVShOiS6S1WL7TRlnI_DB%20PIC%20copy-transformed.JPG","\u003Cp>Tanya Sam is an entrepreneur, angel investor, media personality, and co-founder of Elizabeth & Minnie Publishing, an independent publishing house amplifying underrepresented voices. She is also the founder of Tanya Time Book Club, a vibrant literary community connecting readers through powerful stories, author conversations, and cultural experiences.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftanyasam\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=4d8caf5e-ec76-411d-b1e1-93428443f55e",{"id":545,"title":546,"description":547,"plainDescription":548,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":551,"startTime":552,"endTime":553,"dayKey":18,"speakers":554,"calendarUrl":563},"b6ae951b-55b5-4927-be10-e87f44eaf54c","Cyber Warfare and Its Impact On Every Industry","\u003Cp>The tactics used to compromise critical infrastructure, satellite systems, and supply chains are now showing up inside enterprise environments. Senior technical leader Candice Scarborough-Sanchez brings a national security lens to the decisions every builder is making right now, breaking down how AI-enabled attacks are evolving and what it takes to design systems built to hold up against them.\u003C\u002Fp>","The tactics used to compromise critical infrastructure, satellite systems, and supply chains are now showing up inside enterprise environments. Senior technical leader Candice Scarborough-Sanchez brings a national security lens to the decisions every builder is making right now, breaking down how AI-enabled attacks are evolving and what it takes to design systems built to hold up against them.","Cybersecurity","Meeting Room 320",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T14:30:00.000Z","2026-11-04T15:10:00.000Z",[555],{"id":556,"name":557,"title":558,"company":559,"image":560,"about":561,"linkedin":562,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"09039fed-5222-48e4-a27b-2415cf7c2823","Candice Scarborough","Sr. Director, National Security Operations, Analytics & Engineering","Parsons","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FxL04yDRyKDbmTDbmFRrg_Purple%20Suit.png","\u003Cp>Candice Scarborough-Sanchez is a Senior Technical Director at Parsons Corporation, where she leads advanced cybersecurity, analytics, and engineering initiatives supporting national security missions. With over 20 years of experience in software engineering, cyber defense, and system architecture, she has led high-performing technical teams conducting vulnerability assessments and resilience engineering across critical defense and infrastructure systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her work focuses on identifying cyber risks in complex environments—including weapons systems, cloud platforms, and large-scale data ecosystems—and translating those insights into actionable strategies for mission and enterprise success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond her role in national security, Candice is the CEO of CNSible Solutions and host of the Glitch Grind Glow podcast, where she empowers tech professionals, founders, and underrepresented communities to navigate and lead in the evolving digital landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is a sought-after speaker known for bridging the gap between deep technical expertise and real-world business impact, delivering insights that are both strategic and immediately actionable.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fcandice-scarborough\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=b6ae951b-55b5-4927-be10-e87f44eaf54c",{"id":565,"title":566,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":567,"startTime":552,"endTime":568,"dayKey":18,"speakers":569,"calendarUrl":570},"1c05e3ca-22d3-449a-aecd-69b2202b985e","Cybersecurity Summit Begins",[],"2026-11-04T14:31:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=1c05e3ca-22d3-449a-aecd-69b2202b985e",{"id":572,"title":573,"description":574,"plainDescription":575,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":576,"startTime":552,"endTime":577,"dayKey":18,"speakers":578,"calendarUrl":586},"37a5112d-5a4d-48b2-ac7f-f19e72aa1f10","The Competitive Edge in AI Training","\u003Cp>In the AI era, competitive advantage runs on people, not just tools. Who leads matters as much as what you adopt. This session delivers a practical framework for inclusive leadership, intentional reskilling, and workforce development as the real differentiators, with an AI reskilling roadmap, leadership tactics, and a tool for aligning people, process, and technology within any organization.\u003C\u002Fp>","In the AI era, competitive advantage runs on people, not just tools. Who leads matters as much as what you adopt. This session delivers a practical framework for inclusive leadership, intentional reskilling, and workforce development as the real differentiators, with an AI reskilling roadmap, leadership tactics, and a tool for aligning people, process, and technology within any organization.",[44,45],"2026-11-04T15:30:00.000Z",[579],{"id":580,"name":581,"title":582,"company":39,"image":583,"about":584,"linkedin":585,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"7f08d119-89ac-4504-9f27-7ce74de720e1","Tope Iluyomade","AI & Enterprise Advisor","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F3bzJGqjlREKAPrYYNfZL_Tope%20Iluyomade.png","\u003Cp>Tope Iluyomade is the CIO\u002FCISO at BetterUp, where he oversees the company’s comprehensive security programs and leads initiatives in AI Security and Ethics. His role includes developing and implementing a robust suite of security measures encompassing infrastructure protection, risk management, data privacy, and compliance. With deep expertise across information technology functions, Tope has a proven track record of providing strategic guidance to organizations ranging from startups to publicly traded corporations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prior to BetterUp, Tope served as Vice President of Business Technology at Marqeta, Inc., a Forbes Fintech 50 company, where he aligned business strategies, streamlined operational processes, and built high-performing IT and systems teams. He also held pivotal roles at General Electric (GE), where he honed his skills in technology leadership, and General Dynamics, where he contributed to mission-critical operations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier in his career, Tope worked as an NSF Machine Learning researcher, focusing on the practical applications of AI and machine learning to solve complex problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tope holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computer Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, specializing in Machine Learning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At BetterUp, Tope is passionate about empowering teams to innovate while bridging the gap between ideas and execution. He is dedicated to fostering a culture of ethical AI practices, security awareness, and trust, positioning BetterUp as a leader in responsible AI implementation within the corporate wellness sector. His approach combines a commitment to technical excellence with a people-first mindset, driving meaningful impact across the organization.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftopeiluyomade\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=37a5112d-5a4d-48b2-ac7f-f19e72aa1f10",{"id":588,"title":302,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":303,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":589,"startTime":590,"endTime":591,"dayKey":18,"speakers":592,"calendarUrl":593},"d30e45df-d4ba-464c-ad05-3513ec610abd",[],"2026-11-04T15:00:00.000Z","2026-11-04T23:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=d30e45df-d4ba-464c-ad05-3513ec610abd",{"id":595,"title":596,"description":597,"plainDescription":598,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":599,"startTime":590,"endTime":577,"dayKey":18,"speakers":600,"calendarUrl":609},"71d13ab0-eb4b-4298-9442-7da5893cc18c","How to Ace an Informational Interview in Tech","\u003Cp>Used strategically, informational interviews are one of the most powerful career tools available at any level. This session reframes them as a long-term asset. Drawing on years in Strategy and Operations and fielding high-volume outreach, the speaker shares what separates a conversation that leads somewhere from one that goes nowhere, and how to turn a 30-minute call into a lasting relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>","Used strategically, informational interviews are one of the most powerful career tools available at any level. This session reframes them as a long-term asset. Drawing on years in Strategy and Operations and fielding high-volume outreach, the speaker shares what separates a conversation that leads somewhere from one that goes nowhere, and how to turn a 30-minute call into a lasting relationship.",[43,44,45,46,47],[601],{"id":602,"name":603,"title":604,"company":605,"image":606,"about":607,"linkedin":608,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"c87faf91-a0c7-4531-a603-f0862b9754bd","Folakemi Gbadamosi","Associate Director, City Compliance","Lime","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FZfwCHblrQbCcQYHClFWm_headshot-1781201739081.jpg","\u003Cp>I’m a first-generation Nigerian-American and Strategy & Ops leader at Lime, where I lead global city compliance across 260+ markets. I didn’t start my career in tech, I came from an international affairs and consulting background and had to navigate my way into the industry and into leadership without a traditional playbook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past 5 years at Lime, I’ve grown from a Regional PM (NA-ANZ) to Associate Director, building my career through a combination of operational excellence, relationship-building, and consistently stepping into high-impact work. Today, I lead a global team focused on compliance, risk, and regulatory strategy in highly complex, fast-moving environments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My work has centered on making the complex scalable. I’ve built automated reporting systems covering 98% of global permit submissions, reducing production time by 85%, and launched a self-service platform now used across 90% of regulatory and business reporting. I’ve also driven $18.5M in revenue impact through strategic initiatives and helped reduce fines by 48% in key markets through stronger compliance frameworks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I care deeply about building systems and people - leading a team with a 92% engagement score and mentoring others trying to break into and grow within tech. My experience navigating a non-linear path into leadership is what shapes both my work and the perspective I bring to others.\u003C\u002Fp>","www.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ffola-gbadamosi-42880279","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=71d13ab0-eb4b-4298-9442-7da5893cc18c",{"id":611,"title":612,"description":613,"plainDescription":614,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":615,"startTime":590,"endTime":616,"dayKey":18,"speakers":617,"calendarUrl":626},"61c0a367-3c88-4bf7-a0d1-b755813e3cc0","NeuroSpicy Minds & The Next Decade of Tech Leadership","\u003Cp>Building on last year's high-impact AfroTech session, this workshop evolves the conversation from inclusion to performance. Attendees explore how ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and related cognitive differences function as high-performance architecture in complex, fast-moving environments, leaving with practical frameworks for leveraging those strengths in leadership and concrete strategies for managing the challenges.\u003C\u002Fp>","Building on last year's high-impact AfroTech session, this workshop evolves the conversation from inclusion to performance. Attendees explore how ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and related cognitive differences function as high-performance architecture in complex, fast-moving environments, leaving with practical frameworks for leveraging those strengths in leadership and concrete strategies for managing the challenges.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T15:40:00.000Z",[618],{"id":619,"name":620,"title":621,"company":622,"image":623,"about":624,"linkedin":625,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"6a22b350-1493-4e09-bfd7-9fdf949763ea","Sandra Crespo","CEO\u002FFounder","Unalome Consulting Group LLC","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FsewiiaGuQsyjFAHndHsq_2026%20Headshot%20(1).jpeg","\u003Cp>Sandra N. Crespo, LICSW, known as The NeuroSpicy Social Worker, is a clinical leader, speaker, and founder redefining how we think about leadership, performance, and mental health in high-impact spaces. A proud Latina, she blends lived experience with executive expertise to position neurodivergence as a driver of creativity, resilience, and innovation—not a limitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is the Founder and CEO of Unalome Consulting Group, where she partners with leaders and organizations to build inclusive, neuroaffirming cultures that enhance performance, retention, and long-term success. With over 18 years of experience across clinical practice, systems leadership, and program design, Sandra brings a unique lens that bridges human behavior and organizational strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sought-after speaker, Sandra has delivered impactful talks at national platforms including AFROTECH and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where she challenges outdated narratives around productivity and empowers high-achieving professionals to lead with authenticity, clarity, and intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently pursuing her Doctor of Social Work at Simmons University, her work focuses on neurodivergent leadership and redefining success through adaptability, self-awareness, and sustainable excellence.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsandracrespo\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=61c0a367-3c88-4bf7-a0d1-b755813e3cc0",{"id":628,"title":629,"description":630,"plainDescription":631,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":632,"startTime":553,"endTime":633,"dayKey":18,"speakers":634,"calendarUrl":644},"bb636f02-c087-49b6-8450-799672cf9f2a","AI-Native or AI-Exposed? Securing the Next Generation of Developers","\u003Cp>AI is rewriting how developers build software but speed without guardrails creates risk. This session explores how AI coding assistants are accelerating development while introducing new cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Attendees will learn about prompt injection, insecure coding patterns, hallucinated libraries, and the “32% problem” of over-trusting AI outputs. The talk also covers practical strategies for embedding security into AI-assisted workflows and designing guardrails that protect innovation without limiting creativity.\u003C\u002Fp>","AI is rewriting how developers build software but speed without guardrails creates risk. This session explores how AI coding assistants are accelerating development while introducing new cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Attendees will learn about prompt injection, insecure coding patterns, hallucinated libraries, and the “32% problem” of over-trusting AI outputs. The talk also covers practical strategies for embedding security into AI-assisted workflows and designing guardrails that protect innovation without limiting creativity.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T15:50:00.000Z",[635],{"id":636,"name":637,"title":638,"company":639,"image":640,"about":641,"linkedin":642,"twitter":643,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a8face53-ead0-436e-b538-1dc9ae9418ba","Nicole Dove","Head of Customer Value & Community","Frame Security","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FmN4cUTq1SxaQzUlSgLAF_IANS_011.JPG","\u003Cp>Nicole Dove is an award-winning cybersecurity executive, advisor, author, and Head of Customer Value & Strategy at Frame Security. With more than 20 years of experience spanning cybersecurity, consulting, audit, and technology leadership, she helps organizations navigate the intersection of AI, security, and business performance. Nicole serves as IANS Faculty, has taught more than 125,000 learners through LinkedIn Learning, hosts two cybersecurity podcasts, and is the author of Learning Cybersecurity Fundamentals.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjnicoledove\u002F","IssaUrbanGirl","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=bb636f02-c087-49b6-8450-799672cf9f2a",{"id":646,"title":647,"description":648,"plainDescription":649,"track":650,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":651,"startTime":652,"endTime":653,"dayKey":18,"speakers":654,"calendarUrl":672},"7feda313-9f44-43cb-9260-69afa38f6d4c","Telehealth Access: Who Digital Health Isn't Reaching and How to Fix It","\u003Cp>Telehealth has expanded rapidly, but significant gaps persist in who actually benefits. Dr. Kevin Johnson examines the populations still underserved by digital health, including rural communities, older adults, Medicaid patients, and those facing language or digital literacy barriers, and outlines evidence-based strategies to design and scale more inclusive telehealth solutions without sacrificing clinical quality.\u003C\u002Fp>","Telehealth has expanded rapidly, but significant gaps persist in who actually benefits. Dr. Kevin Johnson examines the populations still underserved by digital health, including rural communities, older adults, Medicaid patients, and those facing language or digital literacy barriers, and outlines evidence-based strategies to design and scale more inclusive telehealth solutions without sacrificing clinical quality.","Telehealth & Digital Care",[43,45],"2026-11-04T15:15:00.000Z","2026-11-04T15:45:00.000Z",[655,663],{"id":656,"name":657,"title":658,"company":659,"image":660,"about":661,"linkedin":662,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"1fa0b6ba-a894-46cc-b4ae-ba9d3c333715","Kevin B. Johnson MD, MS","David L. Cohen University Professor of Pediatrics, Biomedical Informatics, and Communication","University of Pennsylvania","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FI3R9COteSuCGGx472P6W_Kevin%20Johnson%20Headshot%201to1.jpg","\u003Cp>Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS, is Penn’s David L. Cohen University Professor and Vice President of Applied Clinical Informatics. A pediatrician, computer scientist, and internationally recognized informatics leader, his work focuses on AI and clinical documentation. He has authored 200+ publications, co-created the Who, Me? STEMM book series, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. His forthcoming memoir, MisFit: Notes on Belonging, Brilliance, and the Spaces Between, traces a Black physician-scientist’s journey from otherness and compartmentalization toward belonging, wholeness, and authentic leadership.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdrkevinbjohnson1023\u002F",{"id":664,"name":665,"title":666,"company":667,"image":668,"about":669,"linkedin":670,"twitter":671,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"addf2988-7cae-46e8-9ac6-3e804331894a","Kirk Barnes","CEO","TransPharMed, Digital Health Sales Institute","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FpTsz2PgxQiCfEme3JxAh_headshot-1781622876351.png","\u003Cp>Kirk Barnes is the founder of the TransPharMed Commercialization Lab and the world's first Digital Health Sales Institute—building the commercial infrastructure and workforce pipeline the digital health industry needs to scale. A former biopharma executive, Georgia Tech innovator, and global ecosystem builder, Kirk has coached hundreds of founders and thousands of sales professionals across four continents.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fkirkbarnes\u002F","na","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=7feda313-9f44-43cb-9260-69afa38f6d4c",{"id":674,"title":675,"description":676,"plainDescription":677,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":678,"startTime":577,"endTime":679,"dayKey":18,"speakers":680,"calendarUrl":689},"ef9045f2-4d46-4e88-be60-d79b352780bd","Building a Successful Tech Career in Uncertain Times","\u003Cp>Tech careers are not built on coding skills alone. This session makes the hidden rules of hiring and opportunity more visible for students and early-career professionals, especially those without mentors, industry connections, or a clear roadmap. In a market shaped by AI, layoffs, and tougher competition, attendees learn how to build a skill stack, create proof of work, build relationships, increase visibility, and leave with a 12-month action plan.\u003C\u002Fp>","Tech careers are not built on coding skills alone. This session makes the hidden rules of hiring and opportunity more visible for students and early-career professionals, especially those without mentors, industry connections, or a clear roadmap. In a market shaped by AI, layoffs, and tougher competition, attendees learn how to build a skill stack, create proof of work, build relationships, increase visibility, and leave with a 12-month action plan.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T16:10:00.000Z",[681],{"id":682,"name":683,"title":684,"company":685,"image":686,"about":687,"linkedin":688,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d279e626-348e-4989-a0a4-5a625f33ced8","DeShawn Spellman","Program Architect","NextGen | Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fz7SDsJ6oR5WQPpyCsbUX_DeShawn%20Spellman-s%20Headshot%20.jpeg","\u003Cp>I am a strategic program architect and early talent development leader with more than 15 years of experience designing and scaling programs that prepare college students and early-career professionals for careers in technology, business, and emerging industries. My work sits at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, and industry, where I focus on career readiness programming and experiential learning opportunities that help students transition successfully from college to career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout my career, I have led the development and execution of large-scale early talent and professional development programs in partnership with organizations such as Apple, the National Basketball Association (NBA), Ally Financial, Gucci, Lyft, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. I specialize in building programs from the ground up, including curriculum design, student engagement strategy, corporate partnership development, and program execution — with a focus on creating access and opportunity for students from underrepresented communities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My work has supported thousands of students through conferences, immersion programs, innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, and early career development programs designed to build technical skills, professional skills, and career exposure. I have managed multimillion-dollar program budgets, led cross-functional teams, and built national programs that connect diverse talent to career opportunities in tech and other competitive industries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a master’s degree in Human Service Counseling, and I am currently completing a Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Administration. I am passionate about helping early talent not only access opportunities, but understand how to strategically navigate their careers and build long-term success in the tech industry.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdeshawn-s-spellman-9b632068\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=ef9045f2-4d46-4e88-be60-d79b352780bd",{"id":691,"title":692,"description":693,"plainDescription":694,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":695,"startTime":653,"endTime":696,"dayKey":18,"speakers":697,"calendarUrl":720},"c5413b1d-0d67-4236-bcf7-d42b42abc03d","Protecting Your Financial Future in the Age of AI Presented by Morgan Stanley","\u003Cp>As AI makes scams, deepfakes, and cyberattacks more sophisticated, protecting financial assets has never been more critical. In this session, Morgan Stanley leaders Devon Rollins, Sherette A. Constant, & Millicent Auma explore how AI is reshaping the threat landscape and how financial institutions are using AI to fight back. Learn how emerging technologies are changing fraud, trust, and wealth protection, and what individuals and organizations can do to stay secure in an increasingly AI-powered world.\u003C\u002Fp>","As AI makes scams, deepfakes, and cyberattacks more sophisticated, protecting financial assets has never been more critical. In this session, Morgan Stanley leaders Devon Rollins, Sherette A. Constant, & Millicent Auma explore how AI is reshaping the threat landscape and how financial institutions are using AI to fight back. Learn how emerging technologies are changing fraud, trust, and wealth protection, and what individuals and organizations can do to stay secure in an increasingly AI-powered world.",[],"2026-11-04T16:45:00.000Z",[698,706,713],{"id":699,"name":700,"title":701,"company":702,"image":703,"about":704,"linkedin":705,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"8067671f-fdfd-48ca-91a3-7f3552b1dcdd","Devon Rollins","Managing Director, Global Head of Security Operations and Incident Response","Morgan Stanley","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FfvRv0iLTgWyIvGXuhTeV_headshot-1786112386813.jpg","\u003Cp>Devon Rollins is a visionary technologist and dynamic leader, currently serving as the Global Head of Security Operations and Incident Response at Morgan Stanley. Renowned for pioneering initiatives that accelerate cyber investigations and safeguard emerging technologies, Devon’s career is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nearly two decades of experience, Devon has led elite cyber intelligence and engineering teams, consistently outsmarting cybercriminals and neutralizing threats to enterprise platforms at petabyte scale. His strategic acumen and commitment to risk management have earned him prestigious honors, including induction into the National Science Foundation CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Hall of Fame and the Circle of Excellence Award at Capital One.As a thought leader, Devon has shaped cybersecurity policy as a Policy Fellow for New America’s Cybersecurity Initiative and the Center for American Progress Leadership Institute. His insights have been featured by the Aspen Institute, MIT Technology Review, and at premier industry events, culminating in his appointment to DC’s Mayoral Innovation and Technology Council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon’s commitment to community impact is equally inspiring. Through his nonprofit STEMLY, he has championed STEM education in Washington, DC, awarding full-tuition scholarships and helping launch the Washington Leadership Academy—a high school offering four years of computer science education and recipient of the $10M XQ Super School grant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon holds two degrees in Computer Science from North Carolina A&T State University, where he serves on the industry advisory board, and a master’s in information security policy and management from Carnegie Mellon. He resides in Washington, DC with his family, continuing to inspire future generations through his leadership, vision, and dedication to innovation and community advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdevonrollins",{"id":707,"name":708,"title":709,"company":702,"image":710,"about":711,"linkedin":712,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"4ecc8104-3b26-43f5-b71d-316cccadfa7c","Sherette Constant","Managing Director, Head of North America Firm Resilience and Global Head of Third-Party Technology Risk and Resilience","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FjwApxHCSR6eWnHTfaz9v_transformed-1780324605146.png","\u003Cp>Sherette A. Constant is a Managing Director in Morgan Stanley’s Cyber, Data, Risk and Resilience Division, leading the Firm’s Third-Party Resilience and Vendor Risk Management Teams.  These teams focus on identification, management and mitigation of risks associated with critical vendors.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prior to her current role, Sherette led the Physical Technology Asset Control Team for Wealth Management, where she was responsible for defining and overseeing the handling and management of Technology data-bearing assets. ​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherette joined the Firm as a Trainee and spent over 25 years leading Technology Operational Support teams in both the Institutional Securities Group (ISG) and Wealth Management (WM) Divisions of the Firm.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout her career, Sherette has remained active in Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, founding multiple groups focused on development, mentorship, and support of minorities and women.  She is currently a Co-Chair of RED (Race and Ethnic Diversity in Technology) and a Co-Chair of the Black Employee Network’s Representation and Professional Development Pillar.  ​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recognition of her contributions, in 2015, the National Society of Black Engineers awarded Sherette the “Outstanding Woman in Technology” Award.  In 2021, the Technology, Operations and Firm Resilience D&I Advisory Council awarded her “Advocate of the Year”.  In 2023, the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) awarded her the Tech Catalysts Award.​\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherette, who is a proud graduate of Tuskegee University, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management Science and resides in New Jersey with her husband, Robert, and their two children.​ As a mother of a college student and a soon-to-be emerging professional entering the workforce, she is personally invested fostering a culture that embraces experimentation and builds AI fluency in future leaders, while also encouraging the critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration skills required for sound strategic judgment in an AI-enabled world.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsheretteconstant",{"id":714,"name":715,"title":716,"company":702,"image":717,"about":718,"linkedin":719,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"90e2cf2f-ae48-4bb7-baf3-5d2a44593b48","Millicent Auma","Director, Generative AI Enablement Lead","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FI4VXPYebSJm7emQ0MKIS_headshot-1786112313225.jpg","\u003Cp>Millicent is a GenAI Enablement Lead for Morgan Stanley’s Cyber Data Risk and Resilience group, focused on integrating AI across the business unit. She supports GenAI use case teams throughout the full lifecycle of their projects and works to identify synergies across departments, promoting common solutions for aligned business needs. With 5 years of experience in Technology, including 2 focused on AI adoption, she specializes in bridging business and technology, with hands-on experience in Enterprise AI governance and strategy. She works closely with AI developers, compliance, and risk partners to ensure regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Millicent graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a double major in Computer Science and Psychology. She joined Morgan Stanley in 2021 through the Technology Analyst Program after completing a successful summer internship in 2020. She began her career in Wealth Management Technology first as a Technical Business and Data Analyst and later as a Software Developer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond her professional role, Millicent is passionate about broadening access to technology for under-represented youth. She volunteers with the Technology Philanthropy team to design curriculum and teach emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to the next generation of technologists. She’s also two-time Grace Hopper Speaker (2024, 2025) where she facilitated 500-600 attendee workshops on inclusive leadership topics in technology. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, dancing, and listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmillicent-auma","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=c5413b1d-0d67-4236-bcf7-d42b42abc03d",{"id":722,"title":723,"description":724,"plainDescription":725,"track":650,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":726,"startTime":633,"endTime":727,"dayKey":18,"speakers":728,"calendarUrl":737},"7725dc4a-42bd-465c-bfbd-432b576fa1c2","Remote Monitoring & Digital Therapeutics","\u003Cp>Remote patient monitoring and digital therapeutics are extending care beyond traditional clinical settings and creating new models for continuous, data-driven intervention. Dr. Charles DeShazer provides a practical framework for implementation across cardiometabolic and behavioral health conditions, covering patient selection, workflow integration, data governance, and how to distinguish FDA-regulated digital therapeutics from consumer wellness tools.\u003C\u002Fp>","Remote patient monitoring and digital therapeutics are extending care beyond traditional clinical settings and creating new models for continuous, data-driven intervention. Dr. Charles DeShazer provides a practical framework for implementation across cardiometabolic and behavioral health conditions, covering patient selection, workflow integration, data governance, and how to distinguish FDA-regulated digital therapeutics from consumer wellness tools.",[43,45],"2026-11-04T16:20:00.000Z",[729],{"id":730,"name":731,"title":732,"company":733,"image":734,"about":735,"linkedin":736,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"2132ff2e-7050-420d-a4a4-20017e1e923f","Dr. Charles DeShazer","Managing Partner ","Nuvanta Consulting Group","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FVrPuo7fxQo2oDLuIJ1RL_DeShazer%20Square.png","\u003Cp>Dr. Charles DeShazer is a nationally recognized physician executive and Managing Partner of Nuvanta Consulting Group, advising healthcare and life sciences leaders on AI strategy and governance. A former C-suite leader at Cigna, Google Health, and Highmark, he integrates data, digital infrastructure, and AI to advance quality, value-based care, and health equity across complex health systems.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdrdeshazer\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=7725dc4a-42bd-465c-bfbd-432b576fa1c2",{"id":739,"title":740,"description":741,"plainDescription":742,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":743,"startTime":744,"endTime":745,"dayKey":18,"speakers":746,"calendarUrl":754},"cb7bc0ef-c0e5-4a48-88b2-e4692badf9ef","How AI Is Transforming the Workplace","\u003Cp>Geography used to define opportunity. Carrol Chang, CEO of Andela, brings a global lens to that shift. Andela's developers have operated in distributed environments out of necessity for years, adapting and upskilling long before distributed work became a Silicon Valley talking point. This session explores how leading organizations are rethinking hiring and workforce strategy in an AI-first world.\u003C\u002Fp>","Geography used to define opportunity. Carrol Chang, CEO of Andela, brings a global lens to that shift. Andela's developers have operated in distributed environments out of necessity for years, adapting and upskilling long before distributed work became a Silicon Valley talking point. This session explores how leading organizations are rethinking hiring and workforce strategy in an AI-first world.",[43,44,45],"2026-11-04T16:00:00.000Z","2026-11-04T16:30:00.000Z",[747],{"id":748,"name":749,"title":666,"company":750,"image":751,"about":752,"linkedin":753,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"7af20dc3-7e46-4099-a7e8-97ec5603ea10","Carrol Chang","Andela","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fg4dtJts9S4NfQjSg2YFN_Chang%2C%20Carrol.jpg","\u003Cp>Serving as CEO of Andela since September 2024, Carrol is committed to scaling the business while remaining true to its mission-driven approach of connecting brilliance with opportunity. She joined Andela from Uber, where she led efforts to improve work for nearly 7 million flexible workers around the world as the Global Head of Driver & Courier Operations. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr \u002F>Carrol has held positions with McKinsey Company, Portraits of Hope, and the administration of President Barack Obama. She is passionate about expanding opportunity in all forms to underrepresented populations and making commerce more generous and kind for all stakeholders.  She holds a BA from Harvard and both a JD and MBA from Northwestern University. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fcarrolchang\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=cb7bc0ef-c0e5-4a48-88b2-e4692badf9ef",{"id":756,"title":757,"description":758,"plainDescription":759,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":761,"startTime":727,"endTime":762,"dayKey":18,"speakers":763,"calendarUrl":765},"bbf23fb4-e607-4f60-b39d-629331b27086","AI Music Creation Demo with King Willonius","\u003Cp>King Willonius takes input from the room and produces a track live. The audience calls out words, vibes, references, and he feeds them into his AI music workflow on screen, narrating every decision as he goes. He created BBL DRIZZY this way. This demo makes the method transparent: what a good prompt actually looks like, what the tools do with it, and what King Willonius adds that the AI cannot.\u003C\u002Fp>","King Willonius takes input from the room and produces a track live. The audience calls out words, vibes, references, and he feeds them into his AI music workflow on screen, narrating every decision as he goes. He created BBL DRIZZY this way. This demo makes the method transparent: what a good prompt actually looks like, what the tools do with it, and what King Willonius adds that the AI cannot.","Product & Innovation Stage (Exhibit Hall C&D (1st Floor))",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T17:00:00.000Z",[764],{"id":496,"name":497,"title":498,"company":499,"image":500,"about":501,"linkedin":502,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=bbf23fb4-e607-4f60-b39d-629331b27086",{"id":767,"title":768,"description":769,"plainDescription":770,"track":650,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":771,"startTime":772,"endTime":773,"dayKey":18,"speakers":774,"calendarUrl":783},"72746d87-7211-46ce-a9f8-e0db8d1f694e","Beyond the Console: How Robotic Surgery is Reshaping Medicine","\u003Cp>Robotic surgery is no longer experimental. It is where complex care is increasingly delivered. Dr. Irlna Tantchou, a colorectal surgeon with more than 700 robotic cases and one of very few Black women operating at this level, covers how AI and data analytics are reshaping surgical outcomes, what it takes to build a high-performance robotics program, and how to expand access beyond academic medical centers into underserved communities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","Robotic surgery is no longer experimental. It is where complex care is increasingly delivered. Dr. Irlna Tantchou, a colorectal surgeon with more than 700 robotic cases and one of very few Black women operating at this level, covers how AI and data analytics are reshaping surgical outcomes, what it takes to build a high-performance robotics program, and how to expand access beyond academic medical centers into underserved communities.",[43,45],"2026-11-04T16:40:00.000Z","2026-11-04T17:15:00.000Z",[775],{"id":776,"name":777,"title":778,"company":779,"image":780,"about":781,"linkedin":782,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"cc22c426-b2e0-486c-bd9e-a5f4778b9edf","Irlna Tantchou","Colon & Rectal Surgeon ","Mercy Health ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FfZ0XpXslSBCjcCZl84oz_RLR_9740February%2014%2C%202023Dr%20Tantchou_crop_web.jpg","\u003Cp>I am a double board certified general and colorectal surgeon nationally recognized leader in robotic surgery. As Medical Director of robotic Colorecal Program, I specialize in advanced oncologic procedure, including organ-preserving and incision-free techniques that are transforming the management of colorectal cancer. With over 700 robotic colorectal cases performed, I operate at the forefront of surgical technology, integrating robotics, data analytics, and innovation to improve patient outcomes and recovery.  I am a strong advocate for healthcare equity, working to expand access to advanced surgical care for underserved communities. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Firlna-tantchou-md-facs-fascrs-871a8782\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=72746d87-7211-46ce-a9f8-e0db8d1f694e",{"id":785,"title":786,"description":787,"plainDescription":788,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":789,"startTime":772,"endTime":762,"dayKey":18,"speakers":790,"calendarUrl":799},"5ab5b666-90df-4a10-863e-78ed8699683f","Trust, Security, and the Rise of Robots","\u003Cp>When software can move, mistakes cause real harm. As robots and autonomous systems enter workplaces and public spaces, old security models fail. This session examines why trust breaks down and what must change before consequences scale.\u003C\u002Fp>","When software can move, mistakes cause real harm. As robots and autonomous systems enter workplaces and public spaces, old security models fail. This session examines why trust breaks down and what must change before consequences scale.",[43,44,45,46,47],[791],{"id":792,"name":793,"title":794,"company":795,"image":796,"about":797,"linkedin":798,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"ee681945-927b-4aeb-a81a-23ade331b3ba","Wayne Dennis","Global CISO - Operational Technology ","Solventum ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FJ8gRExfTS8if043QJI40_headshot-1788479657406.png","\u003Cp>Wayne Dennis builds infrastructure-scale security organizations from nothing. He leads where security, infrastructure, and AI are the same problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As CISO for Global OT Security at Solventum, he built the program from a blank page — securing the factories, labs, and connected devices behind patient care, where a breach is a safety event, not a data event. At Meta's Reality Labs, he led product privacy and security across hardware, AI, and platform teams. Earlier, he founded Accenture's global Google Cloud Security practice, and served as a Senior Fellow on security and AI at the Bipartisan Policy Center.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fwaynedennisjr\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=5ab5b666-90df-4a10-863e-78ed8699683f",{"id":801,"title":802,"description":803,"plainDescription":804,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":805,"startTime":696,"endTime":806,"dayKey":18,"speakers":807,"calendarUrl":822},"268d8a24-74a0-45d4-8b01-0fe4af5d66d1","The Battle of Agentic AI: Securing vs. Security Usage Presented by PwC","\u003Cp>This session is intended to provide insights into key security considerations for organizations and individuals using agentic AI, explore effective use cases and potential benefits of adopting agentic AI within CISO organizations and security departments, and address additional AI-related security measures to help safeguard enterprises. \u003C\u002Fp>","This session is intended to provide insights into key security considerations for organizations and individuals using agentic AI, explore effective use cases and potential benefits of adopting agentic AI within CISO organizations and security departments, and address additional AI-related security measures to help safeguard enterprises.",[],"2026-11-04T17:45:00.000Z",[808,815],{"id":809,"name":810,"title":811,"company":80,"image":812,"about":813,"linkedin":814,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"2b88d4be-ac70-49df-98ee-50891b33e8fe","Kevin Simmonds","Principal","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FPqYdanHnRpGkbAQO61jq_headshot-1787324516489.jpg","\u003Cp>Kevin is an Atlanta-based Principal in the PwC US Cyber, Data & Tech Risk (CDTR) practice. He has over 20 years of experience assisting companies with developing business-aligned Information Security programs, developing sustainable Payment Card Industry (PCI) programs, executing technical security assessments, and recovering from cyber incidents. Kevin also provides oversight for PwC’s Cyber Penetration Testing Team (CPT2), comprised of advanced practitioners focused on adversary attack simulation services (e.g., red teaming, purple teaming, application security testing, and more) for clients across industries. \u003C\u002Fp>","linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fkevin-simmonds-6b094b2",{"id":816,"name":817,"title":818,"company":80,"image":819,"about":820,"linkedin":821,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"dbf6900d-8af0-4629-8ca0-630ed0a2b363","Karthik Ramakrishnan","Director","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FuZXAUY4ZQBqrKqcM4Ap9_headshot-1785256053060.jpg","\u003Cp>Karthik Ramakrishnan is a Director at PwC with 16+ years in Cyber, Data, and Tech Risk across Financial Services, Retail, Healthcare, and Telecom. He specializes in AI Risk Management, cyber risk frameworks, breach remediation, and regulatory compliance. Karthik has led large-scale risk program transformations and developed AI risk frameworks for major North American financial institutions. He has driven cyber risk assessments, controls testing, and maturity strategies for top-tier banks and credit reporting agencies.​\u003C\u002Fp>","linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fkarthik-ramakrishnan-64a29113","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=268d8a24-74a0-45d4-8b01-0fe4af5d66d1",{"id":824,"title":825,"description":826,"plainDescription":827,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":828,"startTime":762,"endTime":829,"dayKey":18,"speakers":830,"calendarUrl":839},"53b09e0c-339d-4944-b45e-c7758f08389d","How I’d Hack You (and How to Stop Me)","\u003Cp>If you have ever used public WiFi, reused a password, or clicked a link that felt slightly off, you are already a target. This session breaks down three real cyberattacks: a fake public WiFi network, a password exposed in a data breach, and a spoofed AfroTech login page. Security engineer Lamarr Henry walks through how each attack works and exactly what you can do to stop it. No jargon required.\u003C\u002Fp>","If you have ever used public WiFi, reused a password, or clicked a link that felt slightly off, you are already a target. This session breaks down three real cyberattacks: a fake public WiFi network, a password exposed in a data breach, and a spoofed AfroTech login page. Security engineer Lamarr Henry walks through how each attack works and exactly what you can do to stop it. No jargon required.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T18:00:00.000Z",[831],{"id":832,"name":833,"title":834,"company":835,"image":836,"about":837,"linkedin":838,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"6b5ed511-9727-494c-9da0-121b13761ebf","Lamarr Henry","Security Engineer","Figma","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FVhh4jJQSRnSLcDKW5YQ3_Lamarr%20Henry%20(1).jpg","\u003Cp>Lamarr Henry is a security engineer at Figma and a lecturer at The Ohio State University, where he teaches the next generation to build and break complex systems. A returning AfroTech speaker, Lamarr led the 2024 session \"How I’d Hack You and How to Stop Me,\" where he demonstrated live offensive security tactics. With a Master’s in Cybersecurity from Georgia Tech and a background in reverse engineering at Battelle, he has spent his career at the intersection of offensive and defensive security. From architecting serverless cloud environments to scaling secure infrastructure at P&G, Lamarr focuses on building security into the foundation of products. He is driven by the belief that true technical mastery comes from understanding how to dismantle a system as well as you assemble it. At AfroTech 2026, he brings a builder-first perspective on how agentic AI can outpace legacy security debt.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Flamarrd","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=53b09e0c-339d-4944-b45e-c7758f08389d",{"id":841,"title":842,"description":843,"plainDescription":844,"track":314,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":845,"startTime":846,"endTime":847,"dayKey":18,"speakers":848,"calendarUrl":857},"631711b1-c785-40d5-ae6f-cc5b62f402e7","Building Products Rooted in Real Community Needs","\u003Cp>Dave Salvant did not set out to disrupt an industry. He walked into barbershops, listened, and built what was missing. As co-founder of SQUIRE, he turned a deeply cultural community space into a $750M platform serving barbers nationwide. This session, including a live product demo, shows what happens when a founder builds from lived experience instead of market research. Come see how trust becomes a competitive moat.\u003C\u002Fp>","Dave Salvant did not set out to disrupt an industry. He walked into barbershops, listened, and built what was missing. As co-founder of SQUIRE, he turned a deeply cultural community space into a $750M platform serving barbers nationwide. This session, including a live product demo, shows what happens when a founder builds from lived experience instead of market research. Come see how trust becomes a competitive moat.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T17:06:00.000Z","2026-11-04T17:35:00.000Z",[849],{"id":850,"name":851,"title":852,"company":853,"image":854,"about":855,"linkedin":856,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"f375134a-31ff-41b6-bd40-eb0561a5647a","Dave Salvant","Co-Founder & President","SQUIRE","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fc0hERiTbQaqCQk0iNXUm_Dave%20Salvant_Headshot%20.png","\u003Cp>Dave Salvant is Co-Founder & President of SQUIRE, the leading barber business management platform. Since 2015, he has helped scale the company into a $750M business, transforming how barbershops operate and serve clients. His work focuses on using technology to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen local communities.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdavesalvant\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=631711b1-c785-40d5-ae6f-cc5b62f402e7",{"id":859,"title":860,"description":861,"plainDescription":862,"track":863,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":864,"startTime":865,"endTime":866,"dayKey":18,"speakers":867,"calendarUrl":876},"e9391d86-27fa-4a75-9eca-a8cafb0f601f","Building Fairness Into the Data Supply Chain","\u003Cp>Bias in healthcare AI begins before training, embedded in decisions about missing data, labels, and success metrics. Waverly Rose Brim demonstrates how a clinical prediction model with strong global performance can still fail Black patients and the underinsured, then walks through a fairness-aware correction workflow. Attendees leave with a practical framework for equity-first dataset design and go\u002Fno-go deployment standards.\u003C\u002Fp>","Bias in healthcare AI begins before training, embedded in decisions about missing data, labels, and success metrics. Waverly Rose Brim demonstrates how a clinical prediction model with strong global performance can still fail Black patients and the underinsured, then walks through a fairness-aware correction workflow. Attendees leave with a practical framework for equity-first dataset design and go\u002Fno-go deployment standards.","Data & Clinical AI",[43,45],"2026-11-04T17:20:00.000Z","2026-11-04T18:20:00.000Z",[868],{"id":869,"name":870,"title":871,"company":872,"image":873,"about":874,"linkedin":875,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"be02bb34-cac2-4a18-9ec8-12101d3e858f","Waverly Rose Brim","Research Engineer","The John's Hopkins University ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FoEjgoJnHQKCvFxi28emQ_WRBHEADSHOT.jpg","\u003Cp>Waverly Rose Brim is an AI research engineer building intelligent systems at the intersection of computer vision, biological foundation models, and surgical data science. Her work focuses on moving machine learning beyond the lab and into clinical environments where reliability, interpretability, and human decision-making matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She develops production-grade AI systems that transform patient records, imaging studies, pathology, and clinical guidelines into auditable, decision-ready intelligence for care teams. Her current projects include SCRUB, a surgical computer vision platform designed to track gloved hands in the operating room where conventional pose-estimation models break down; an optimized brain-to-image reconstruction framework capable of running on consumer hardware; and methods for evaluating the safety, fairness, and clinical risk of medical prediction algorithms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her earlier work spans multimodal computational pathology and genomics for meningioma characterization, AI-driven surgical skill assessment, operating room analytics, and DARPA-supported neural engineering efforts developing genetically encoded voltage indicators. She has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in medical artificial intelligence and neuro-oncology and previously moderated the “Dr. AI” session at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brim is currently pursuing an M.S. in Artificial Intelligence at Johns Hopkins University and is driven by a simple question: How do we build AI systems that clinicians can trust, patients can benefit from, and society can responsibly scale?\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fwaverlyrosebrim\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=e9391d86-27fa-4a75-9eca-a8cafb0f601f",{"id":878,"title":879,"description":880,"plainDescription":881,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":882,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":883,"startTime":884,"endTime":885,"dayKey":18,"speakers":886,"calendarUrl":887},"ac238164-5bc1-4e37-a44a-e80b5e706f62","Creators Meetup","\u003Cp>Connect and build community with other content creators, storytellers, entrepreneurs, and creative innovators. Whether you're growing your personal brand, scaling a creator business, or exploring new platforms, this is an opportunity to exchange ideas with peers who understand the journey. \u003C\u002Fp>","Connect and build community with other content creators, storytellers, entrepreneurs, and creative innovators. Whether you're growing your personal brand, scaling a creator business, or exploring new platforms, this is an opportunity to exchange ideas with peers who understand the journey.","Balconies B - McKinney Balcony",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T17:30:00.000Z","2026-11-04T19:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=ac238164-5bc1-4e37-a44a-e80b5e706f62",{"id":889,"title":890,"description":891,"plainDescription":892,"track":893,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":894,"startTime":895,"endTime":896,"dayKey":18,"speakers":897,"calendarUrl":914},"dc12c42b-193b-4ad8-bf90-91a590fd164b","AI for All: Turning Innovation into Opportunity at Scale","\u003Cp>Inclusion, accessibility, and equity must be designed into AI systems from the start. In this session, Brian Tippens, SVP and Chief Social Impact Officer at Cisco, shares how organizations move beyond policy commitments to build AI that expands economic mobility at scale. Drawing on Fortune 100 and community impact experience, Tippens delivers a direct case for what responsible AI looks like in practice.\u003C\u002Fp>","Inclusion, accessibility, and equity must be designed into AI systems from the start. In this session, Brian Tippens, SVP and Chief Social Impact Officer at Cisco, shares how organizations move beyond policy commitments to build AI that expands economic mobility at scale. Drawing on Fortune 100 and community impact experience, Tippens delivers a direct case for what responsible AI looks like in practice.","GovTech&Civic",[44,45],"2026-11-04T17:40:00.000Z","2026-11-04T18:10:00.000Z",[898,906],{"id":899,"name":900,"title":901,"company":902,"image":903,"about":904,"linkedin":905,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"5f10f49a-25fb-47a1-8cdc-496512106b1c","Brian Tippens","Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact & Sustainability Officer at Cisco","Cisco","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F9KdmbFw0Suebbos0FXV5_Brian_Tippens_Thumbnail.jpg","\u003Cdiv>Brian Tippens is Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact & Sustainability Officer at Cisco. In this role, Brian leads the company’s integrated social impact and sustainability work, overseeing crisis response, accessibility, employee community impact, environmental sustainability, inclusion, and the Cisco Foundation to advance Cisco’s purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All. He helps drive long-term value for Cisco, its stakeholders, and communities around the world by connecting social impact, resilience, and sustainability across the business.\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr \u002F>Brian is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in global social impact and sustainability. He is a World Economic Forum (WEF) Contributor, a proud member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), and has served as a director or advisor to several organizations including Operation HOPE, the Hispanic IT Executive Council (HITEC), Corporate Eco Forum (CEF), the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), the Cisco Foundation Board of Trustees, and the UN Global Compact Network USA, the American chapter of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.\u003Cbr \u002F>\u003Cbr \u002F>Brian’s career spans more than 30 years of leadership in the IT industry. Prior to joining Cisco, he served as Chief Sustainability Officer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and President of the HPE Foundation, where he led the company’s sustainability strategy and social impact initiatives. He previously spent five years as HP\u002FHPE’s Chief Diversity Officer, reporting to the Chief People Officer. He was also a member of HPE’s Political Action Committee (PAC) and AI Ethics boards. Prior to joining HP in 2000, Brian spent three years at Intel Corporation providing legal support for the manufacturing and IT organizations.\u003Cbr \u002F>\u003Cbr \u002F>Brian is a purpose-driven leader committed to advancing opportunity, resilience, and responsible business practices to address the world’s most pressing challenges. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of San Francisco and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Brian and his wife live in Houston and are the parents of three adult children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fbriantippens",{"id":907,"name":908,"title":909,"company":910,"image":911,"about":912,"linkedin":913,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"ff02b86b-9760-4add-a7df-b89975c7a461","Damien Hooper-Campbell","Former Chief Impact Officer","StockX","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FbZmykQQMS7i32tGl0KjE_transformed-1776720133728.png","\u003Cp>Damien Hooper-Campbell has led impact at the intersection of people, culture, business, and community for 20+ years. He built functions as StockX's first Chief Impact Officer, the first Chief Diversity Officer at both Zoom and eBay, Uber's first Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, and as a Diversity Strategist at Google. Earlier, he was a VP in Goldman Sachs' Pine Street Leadership Group. He serves on the boards of Mammoth, Inc. and GLAAD, and is a graduate of Morehouse and Harvard Business School.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdhoopercampbell\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=dc12c42b-193b-4ad8-bf90-91a590fd164b",{"id":916,"title":917,"description":918,"plainDescription":919,"track":234,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":920,"startTime":885,"endTime":921,"dayKey":18,"speakers":922,"calendarUrl":938},"3025845f-267a-4495-96c8-22c5fa524689","Rethinking Income with Andrew Yang","\u003Cp>As AI and automation reshape industries at unprecedented speed, leaders across business and government are rethinking the future of work and economic stability. In this executive-stage fireside chat, Andrew Yang explores the growing conversation around Universal Basic Income, workforce disruption, entrepreneurship, and financial resilience in an AI-driven economy. The discussion focuses on practical solutions, long-term thinking, and how innovation can create broader opportunities in a rapidly changing world.\u003C\u002Fp>","As AI and automation reshape industries at unprecedented speed, leaders across business and government are rethinking the future of work and economic stability. In this executive-stage fireside chat, Andrew Yang explores the growing conversation around Universal Basic Income, workforce disruption, entrepreneurship, and financial resilience in an AI-driven economy. The discussion focuses on practical solutions, long-term thinking, and how innovation can create broader opportunities in a rapidly changing world.",[44,45],"2026-11-04T19:30:00.000Z",[923,931],{"id":924,"name":925,"title":926,"company":927,"image":928,"about":929,"linkedin":930,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d305a7aa-5ddc-40e3-bdcd-cc3d27bd081f","Andrew Yang","Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author & Co-Founder","Forward Party","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FsBr1YdIRUCkbwc2ITIG1_headshot-1780504933684.jpg","\u003Cp>Andrew Yang is the cofounder of the Forward Party, a new independent political movement\u003Cbr \u002F>dedicated to restoring the promise of US democracy. A Democratic presidential candidate in\u003Cbr \u002F>2020, he is the founder of Humanity Forward and Venture for America. His New York Times\u003Cbr \u002F>bestseller The War on Normal People helped introduce the idea of universal basic income into\u003Cbr \u002F>the political mainstream, and his most recent book, Forward: Notes on the Future of Our\u003Cbr \u002F>Democracy, became a national bestseller. He is also co-author of the political thriller The Last\u003Cbr \u002F>Election.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fandrewyangvfa\u002F",{"id":932,"name":933,"title":934,"company":935,"image":936,"about":937,"linkedin":39,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"70e12ba0-34f6-4dc9-8621-09886f3f9045","Will Lucas","Brand Manager","AfroTech and Black Tech Green Money","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002F5lSuRxNeQpOufAPK5jRk_Will_Lucas-transformed.png","\u003Cp>Will Lucas is an entrepreneur with holdings in the hospitality and restaurant, marketing technology, real estate, and software industries. He is founder and CEO at aWLCo, a holdings company with ownership interests in ventures including Creadio, a marketing technology and production agency, and TolHouse, a private social club located in his hometown of Toledo, OH. He also serves as Brand Manager for both AfroTech and Black Tech Green Money, where he leads brand strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=3025845f-267a-4495-96c8-22c5fa524689",{"id":940,"title":941,"description":942,"plainDescription":943,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":944,"startTime":945,"endTime":946,"dayKey":18,"speakers":947,"calendarUrl":964},"02de4cba-0391-4ee6-aaef-e41cefe56cef","Hardening AI-Assisted Development Against Modern Threat Actors","\u003Cp>AI-assisted development moves fast. Security gaps move faster. Vibe coding enables production in hours, but threat actors are already targeting AI-generated applications for the weaknesses speed creates. This session equips builders with OWASP Top 10 and MITRE ATLAS as practical guardrails, techniques for prompting AI toward secure outputs, and a clear workflow for shipping reliable applications.\u003C\u002Fp>","AI-assisted development moves fast. Security gaps move faster. Vibe coding enables production in hours, but threat actors are already targeting AI-generated applications for the weaknesses speed creates. This session equips builders with OWASP Top 10 and MITRE ATLAS as practical guardrails, techniques for prompting AI toward secure outputs, and a clear workflow for shipping reliable applications.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T19:20:00.000Z","2026-11-04T20:30:00.000Z",[948,956],{"id":949,"name":950,"title":951,"company":952,"image":953,"about":954,"linkedin":955,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"ae466f08-ead0-4828-b271-518e1bec3ebb","Selena Crummie","Lead Cybersecurity Architect","JP Morgan Chase","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FA3iYLom1Tp6oR2hd4l4P_Selena%20Crummie%20Headshot.jpg","\u003Cp>Selena Crummie is a Lead Cybersecurity Architect at JPMorganChase within Cybersecurity Technology and Controls, where she designs and implements security architecture solutions for cloud-based and data-intensive systems. She focuses on strengthening the security posture of modern applications through threat modeling, detection engineering, and security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and OWASP Top 10. Her work includes identifying gaps in security coverage, defining mitigation strategies, and driving end-to-end lifecycle management of security findings across enterprise environments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, she served as a Software Engineer at JPMorganChase, where she built and supported real-time data streaming applications on AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service using Java, Spring Boot, and Terraform. Her work spanned system migration, observability, CI\u002FCD pipelines, and production resiliency, with an emphasis on secure and scalable cloud-native architecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to her engineering work, Selena has a strong passion for technology education and community development. She has served as an assistant python instructor during her undergraduate studies and currently serves as a Lead Instructor with Black Girls Code, where she teaches Python programming, scratch and prompt engineering to students ages 10–18, introducing foundational and emerging concepts in modern software development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena is also a co-founder of Black BELT (Brilliant Engineering Leaders in Technology), an employee affinity group at JPMorganChase that champions Black technologists and technology-adjacent professionals. With over 150 members, Black BELT is focused on fostering an inclusive community centered on professional growth, technical excellence, and meaningful connection, while supporting increased retention and representation of Black engineers across the organization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Michigan State University, along with AWS Cloud Practitioner and CompTIA Security+ certifications. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between emerging AI-assisted development practices and enterprise-grade cybersecurity, ensuring that as software development becomes faster and more accessible, it remains secure, resilient, and trustworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fselenacrummie\u002F",{"id":957,"name":958,"title":959,"company":960,"image":961,"about":962,"linkedin":963,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"421f06f2-4e17-4c03-849c-8c962bde8f5d","Candice Biamby","Vice President, Product Manager of Cyber Threat Intelligence","JPMorganChase & Co","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fl60ls3rbSzCXO0VWp0V8_2024%20headshot.jpg","\u003Cp>Candice Biamby is a cybersecurity leader and product manager shaping the future of tech through security, strategy, and inclusion. As Vice President of Cyber Threat Intelligence at JPMorgan Chase, she brings deep expertise in building enterprise-level security frameworks and advising on threat intelligence. Her career spans hands-on technical work, regulatory compliance, and client-facing advisory roles at industry leaders like CrowdStrike and EY, backed by certifications from GIAC, AWS, and CrowdStrike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Candice’s passion extends beyond the technical, she is committed to creating pathways for underrepresented voices in tech. She’s led community-driven initiatives to help students discover careers in cybersecurity and  partnered with nonprofit organizations to make cybersecurity education accessible and empowering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Gates Millennium Scholar and Grace Hopper Scholar, Candice holds a degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia. With a unique blend of technical acumen, leadership, and heart, Candice is redefining what it means to lead in cybersecurity—and inspiring the next generation to build, secure, and thrive in the digital world.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fcandice-biamby\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=02de4cba-0391-4ee6-aaef-e41cefe56cef",{"id":966,"title":967,"description":968,"plainDescription":969,"track":970,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":971,"startTime":921,"endTime":972,"dayKey":18,"speakers":973,"calendarUrl":982},"1b3fc872-625b-4190-9551-13409f7445dc","Engineering Scalable & Sustainable Infrastructure for the AI Era","\u003Cp>AI has a power problem. As compute demand explodes, the grid cannot keep up, and the fight for megawatts is colliding with land use and community preservation. Using the 3.3 MWdc Hope Haven Agrivoltaics project as a case study, this session shows how solar energy and AI infrastructure can share the same footprint.\u003C\u002Fp>","AI has a power problem. As compute demand explodes, the grid cannot keep up, and the fight for megawatts is colliding with land use and community preservation. Using the 3.3 MWdc Hope Haven Agrivoltaics project as a case study, this session shows how solar energy and AI infrastructure can share the same footprint.","Energy & Sustainability",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T20:00:00.000Z",[974],{"id":975,"name":976,"title":977,"company":978,"image":979,"about":980,"linkedin":981,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"68019fdb-010c-4c36-9ea6-016220b2620d","Miles Braxton","Chief Executive Officer","Okovate Sustainable Energy","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F7NPyAkLXTUCWKoSTausR_Miles%20Headshot.jpg","\u003Cp>Miles Braxton is the CEO and Co-Founder of Okovate, a climate-tech development firm pioneering the \"Energy Layer\" for the AI era. By engineering agrivoltaics—the strategic integration of solar energy with active farming—Miles and his team are solving the critical land-energy bottleneck that threatens both Big Tech’s expansion and global food security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his leadership, Okovate has secured a contracted portfolio of over 180 MW in agrivoltaic development commitments, proving that high-density energy production and agricultural preservation can scale in tandem. Miles led the successful acquisition of Fundusol, an AI-driven modeling platform that optimizes the complex physics of crop health and energy yield. This \"Software-Enabled Development\" approach allows Okovate to originate and de-risk high-value energy assets, providing the \"ready-to-build\" infrastructure required by the world’s largest tech companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strategic approach is informed by a deep institutional background in project finance, asset risk management, and large-scale solar development, having previously held key roles at Goldman Sachs Renewable Power and Summit Ridge Energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With capital backing from the Schmidt Family Foundation, Miles has positioned Okovate at the forefront of the $3T energy infrastructure supercycle. His industry impact has earned him global recognition, including the Forbes 30 Under 30, the EBONY Media Power 100, the GreenBiz 30 Under 30, and the AfroTech Future 50.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A graduate of the University of Virginia and a board member of the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center, Miles is committed to a future where the global diaspora moves from being mere consumers of power to continued stewards of the land. Through Okovate’s model, he ensures that families maintain ownership of their farms and agricultural revenue streams, preserving land heritage while fueling the next generation of energy innovation.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmbraxtoncleanenergy\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=1b3fc872-625b-4190-9551-13409f7445dc",{"id":984,"title":985,"description":986,"plainDescription":987,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":882,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":988,"startTime":972,"endTime":989,"dayKey":18,"speakers":990,"calendarUrl":991},"0cba3b66-45fc-4240-96ec-ffeae5e3c74a","AI Edge Meetup Presented by Palo Alto Networks","\u003Cp>A dynamic networking space where innovators, professionals, and enthusiasts come together to explore the future of artificial intelligence. This meetup will foster community, conversation, and collaboration, connecting attendees with peers and industry leaders to share ideas, insights, and opportunities shaping the AI landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>","A dynamic networking space where innovators, professionals, and enthusiasts come together to explore the future of artificial intelligence. This meetup will foster community, conversation, and collaboration, connecting attendees with peers and industry leaders to share ideas, insights, and opportunities shaping the AI landscape.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T21:30:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=0cba3b66-45fc-4240-96ec-ffeae5e3c74a",{"id":993,"title":994,"description":995,"plainDescription":996,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":359,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":997,"startTime":972,"endTime":989,"dayKey":18,"speakers":998,"calendarUrl":999},"279e96c0-5470-400c-8e9c-bec0e486c504","Divine Nine Meetup","\u003Cp>Celebrate the legacy and unity of the NPHC at our Divine Nine Meetup. This gathering brings together members, alumni, and supporters of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities to connect, share experiences, and strengthen bonds across organizations. This space is to honor the culture, traditions, and impact of Black Greek life while building new relationships and fostering community pride.\u003C\u002Fp>","Celebrate the legacy and unity of the NPHC at our Divine Nine Meetup. This gathering brings together members, alumni, and supporters of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities to connect, share experiences, and strengthen bonds across organizations. This space is to honor the culture, traditions, and impact of Black Greek life while building new relationships and fostering community pride.",[43,44,45,46,47],[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=279e96c0-5470-400c-8e9c-bec0e486c504",{"id":1001,"title":1002,"description":1003,"plainDescription":1004,"track":529,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1005,"startTime":1006,"endTime":989,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1007,"calendarUrl":1016},"62e2c173-2744-4e14-ad16-8088ccc0de45","From Bias Evaluation to Trustworthy Healthcare AI Implementation","\u003Cp>AI tools are moving from pilot to deployment across healthcare, and the stakes around bias, governance, and oversight are no longer theoretical. Dr. Tiffani J. Bright provides a practical roadmap for implementing trustworthy AI, covering how to evaluate algorithmic bias, assess data representativeness, build governance structures, and sustain continuous monitoring.  Attendees leave with concrete strategies for deploying equitable, high-performing AI in real clinical settings.\u003C\u002Fp>","AI tools are moving from pilot to deployment across healthcare, and the stakes around bias, governance, and oversight are no longer theoretical. Dr. Tiffani J. Bright provides a practical roadmap for implementing trustworthy AI, covering how to evaluate algorithmic bias, assess data representativeness, build governance structures, and sustain continuous monitoring.  Attendees leave with concrete strategies for deploying equitable, high-performing AI in real clinical settings.",[43,45],"2026-11-04T20:20:00.000Z",[1008],{"id":1009,"name":1010,"title":1011,"company":1012,"image":1013,"about":1014,"linkedin":1015,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"552a6b2d-6169-467f-b6eb-3aecab762c1c","Dr. Tiffani Bright","Co-Director, Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Assistant Professor of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center","Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F3Q8jSTEWTriuHM8J7cXO_headshot_pink_square1080_zoom.jpg","\u003Cp>Dr. Tiffani J. Bright is an Assistant Professor in Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Computational Biomedicine and Co-Director of the Center for AI Research & Education. Her work advances trustworthy, ethical AI in healthcare by developing and evaluating models and methods that detect and mitigate bias in machine learning. She is recognized as the first Black woman in the United States to earn a PhD in Biomedical Informatics and the first from Columbia University to do so. She is a Fellow of ACMI.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftiffanibright\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=62e2c173-2744-4e14-ad16-8088ccc0de45",{"id":1018,"title":1019,"description":1020,"plainDescription":1021,"track":970,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1022,"startTime":946,"endTime":1023,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1024,"calendarUrl":1046},"c895f632-8752-49c8-95fc-820aa53de48a","Cloud Control: The Intersection of AI and Aerospace","\u003Cp>Led by Nimbus Aerospace, one of the few Black-owned aviation and aerospace companies in the world, this panel explores how AI, sustainability, and engineering are converging to reshape flight. From autonomous systems to sustainable aviation fuels to air traffic data infrastructure, attendees get a direct look at where the industry is heading.\u003C\u002Fp>","Led by Nimbus Aerospace, one of the few Black-owned aviation and aerospace companies in the world, this panel explores how AI, sustainability, and engineering are converging to reshape flight. From autonomous systems to sustainable aviation fuels to air traffic data infrastructure, attendees get a direct look at where the industry is heading.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T21:15:00.000Z",[1025,1032,1039],{"id":1026,"name":1027,"title":666,"company":1028,"image":1029,"about":1030,"linkedin":1031,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"9aaa6d56-3e0f-41ef-b7a9-c5a52173cb8e","Adrian Groos","Nimbus Aerospace","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FB1viYUaTFS5nXT5NFcJQ_headshot-1781617245000.png","\u003Cp>Adrian Groos is the co-founder and CEO of Nimbus Aerospace, an investor-backed aerospace company building next-generation hybrid-electric business aircraft. The company combines advanced manufacturing with proprietary, AI-driven certification software developed in-house. Nimbus is backed by Techstars and advised by leaders from SpaceX, Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Adrian leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and operators with experience at organizations including Raytheon, Bombardier, and Microsoft. Prior to co-founding Nimbus Aerospace, he worked in product management roles at SoLo Funds and Platform Science.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fadrian-groos-373320149\u002F",{"id":1033,"name":1034,"title":1035,"company":1028,"image":1036,"about":1037,"linkedin":1038,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"3086d2eb-8e07-442b-b8f0-532468f966f1","Akim Niyonzima","Chief Technology Officer","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FLMaXJt7LT9uLvrHRWvft_headshot-1781617481899.png","\u003Cp>Akim Niyonzima is the co-founder and CTO of Nimbus Aerospace, an investor-backed aerospace company developing next-generation hybrid-electric business aircraft. The company integrates advanced manufacturing with proprietary, AI-driven certification software built in-house. Nimbus is backed by Techstars and advised by leaders from SpaceX, Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Akim leads a team of engineers with experience at organizations including Raytheon and Microsoft. Prior to co-founding Nimbus Aerospace, he worked in avionics and operations at Bombardier.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fakim-niyonzima-9059ab1b4\u002F",{"id":1040,"name":1041,"title":1042,"company":1028,"image":1043,"about":1044,"linkedin":1045,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"23f28e58-1d1a-4d7c-8f33-0a2f04febb8b","Eno Oduok","Chief Marketing Officer","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FwdnYu8MtQcy2YeSZn5CO_headshot-1781617268859.png","\u003Cp>Eno Oduok, MBA, also known as E, is an award-winning multidisciplinary founder. She is the Chief Marketing Officer at Nimbus Aerospace. She founded el powr, an AI-powered energy management software platform. She founded Naija Comm, an award-winning multimedia company and community that has been featured on platforms reaching over 1 million people globally. She has worked with visionary brands and clients including HBO, Black Girls Code, WhatsApp, and I Stand With Immigrants (a subsidiary of FWD.us — founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Joe Green, and Drew Houston), among others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and MIPAD’s Most Influential People of African Descent (in support of the United Nations) to publishing written work, her contributions have been featured in Business Insider, Ad Age, AfroTech, Forbes Africa, and more.She has worked in PR\u002Fmarketing and digital media at AMC Networks and Wieden+Kennedy, has worked in the venture capital and tech startup space as an Associate at Techstars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She has contributed to notable brand campaigns including McDonald's All American Games, Boss Beauties NFT, and more.With experience across venture capital, startups, marketing\u002Fadvertising, and tech, E has spoken on prominent platforms such as the NBA and VidCon. Her bylines and articles have appeared in Adweek, the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute, and other publications.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Feno-oduok","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=c895f632-8752-49c8-95fc-820aa53de48a",{"id":1048,"title":1049,"description":1050,"plainDescription":1051,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1052,"startTime":946,"endTime":1053,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1054,"calendarUrl":1063},"ce612c83-229d-4934-a1d7-ed2b5c6a47f6","Is Quantum Going to Kill Cybersecurity as We Know It?","\u003Cp>Quantum computing is already forcing governments and enterprises to rethink encryption standards they have relied on for decades. This session breaks down which cryptographic systems are most vulnerable, what post-quantum security requires, and what professionals need to understand now. No physics degree required. Built for leaders who want to get ahead of this shift, not just survive it.\u003C\u002Fp>","Quantum computing is already forcing governments and enterprises to rethink encryption standards they have relied on for decades. This session breaks down which cryptographic systems are most vulnerable, what post-quantum security requires, and what professionals need to understand now. No physics degree required. Built for leaders who want to get ahead of this shift, not just survive it.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T21:10:00.000Z",[1055],{"id":1056,"name":1057,"title":1058,"company":1059,"image":1060,"about":1061,"linkedin":1062,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"202b50e1-26d0-4ca5-977b-8a538d6b35ca","Subhash Kodnad","Senior Vice President, Engineering Network Security","Palo Alto Networks","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F1w3Xm45TcSX2x1C8xkT9_Subhash_profile_picture.jpg","\u003Cp>Subhash Kodnad is the Senior Vice President of Engineering, Network Security at Palo Alto Networks, leading a global organization that is securing the world’s most complex environments. He drives the vision and execution for the company’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) portfolio (Hardware, Software & Cloud), leveraging the common PAN-OS platform to protect users, applications, AI\u002FAgents and infrastructure from advanced cyberthreats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His teams are redefining Network Security by scaling the PAN-OS platform for the Cloud\u002FAI era and integrating future-proof technologies like Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Advanced Virtual Patching.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fskodnad\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=ce612c83-229d-4934-a1d7-ed2b5c6a47f6",{"id":1065,"title":1066,"description":1067,"plainDescription":1068,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1069,"startTime":1023,"endTime":1070,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1071,"calendarUrl":1082},"2f3bdc47-5c29-4d34-9381-556b9ad7405d","Protect Your Power in the Workplace with Lee Merritt","\u003Cp>Lee Merritt has won some of the most consequential civil rights cases in recent American history: Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson. What he has learned inside those cases is that legal knowledge is one of the most underused tools Black professionals have. This conversation translates federal civil rights law into something you can use in the workplace: how to document, how to build leverage, and how to protect your position in any professional environment.\u003C\u002Fp>","Lee Merritt has won some of the most consequential civil rights cases in recent American history: Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson. What he has learned inside those cases is that legal knowledge is one of the most underused tools Black professionals have. This conversation translates federal civil rights law into something you can use in the workplace: how to document, how to build leverage, and how to protect your position in any professional environment.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T21:55:00.000Z",[1072,1081],{"id":1073,"name":1074,"title":1075,"company":1076,"image":1077,"about":1078,"linkedin":1079,"twitter":1080,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"f0bc8b14-8507-4a9f-8c5b-ec194d7b7f4f","Lee Merritt","National Civil Rights Attorney & Community Organizer for Landmark Cases | Adjunct Professor at Harvard | Forbes Power 100 Attorney | Congressional Black Caucus Nation Builder | Top 10 Influential Leader |","Merritt Law","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F5sAuaqVTGmFo2n9ESjlK_headshot-1781125844437.jpg","\u003Cp>S. Lee Merritt is a nationally recognized civil rights attorney and Movement Lawyer who represents families in landmark cases including the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, and Atatiana Jefferson. Based in Texas with a federal practice rooted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, he uses Section 1983 litigation, qualified immunity challenges, and federal oversight to hold institutions accountable when local systems fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merritt has used platforms before Congress and international bodies to testify on policing and human rights, extending the impact of his cases beyond individual verdicts. Known for bridging protest, courtroom strategy, and policy advocacy, he works alongside movement organizations and local counsel to secure results that outlive the news cycle.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fleemerritt\u002F","@leemerrittesq",{"id":52,"name":53,"title":54,"company":55,"image":56,"about":57,"linkedin":39,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=2f3bdc47-5c29-4d34-9381-556b9ad7405d",{"id":1084,"title":1085,"description":1086,"plainDescription":1087,"track":863,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1088,"startTime":989,"endTime":1089,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1090,"calendarUrl":1114},"4c6e4d99-cf19-464c-a066-32559a538968","Bad Data Is Costing Black Lives","\u003Cp>Health disparities are too often blamed on biology. The data tells a different story. Dr. Uché Blackstock and Dr. Charles R. Rogers examine the origins of data inequities, how they persist, and what it takes to dismantle them. From fragmented clinical records to public health reporting gaps, biased data delays diagnoses and misallocates resources. This session makes the case for health systems designed around transparency and equity.\u003C\u002Fp>","Health disparities are too often blamed on biology. The data tells a different story. Dr. Uché Blackstock and Dr. Charles R. Rogers examine the origins of data inequities, how they persist, and what it takes to dismantle them. From fragmented clinical records to public health reporting gaps, biased data delays diagnoses and misallocates resources. This session makes the case for health systems designed around transparency and equity.",[43,45],"2026-11-04T22:30:00.000Z",[1091,1098,1106],{"id":1092,"name":1093,"title":330,"company":1094,"image":1095,"about":1096,"linkedin":1097,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a8302509-a9a4-47d5-9f46-0d14f5542fd5","Dr. Uché Blackstock","Advancing Health Equity","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Faac14vARS8irVvkiPWUE_new%20photo%20-4.JPG","\u003Cp>Dr. Uché Blackstock is a physician, health care systems architect, and Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, where she partners with organizations to redesign how care is delivered, led, and experienced. A Harvard Medical School graduate and board-certified emergency physician, she is recognized for advancing health care quality, accountability, and systems change. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine. Through her consulting, writing, and media work, Dr. Blackstock calls for equity to be treated as a measurable performance standard, not merely an ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fuche-blackstock-md\u002F",{"id":1099,"name":1100,"title":1101,"company":1102,"image":1103,"about":1104,"linkedin":1105,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"f4ea18c1-97e8-4b8b-95ad-6cb9af864ba3","Dr. Charles R. Rogers","Founder & Chief Advisor","Rogers Solutions Group","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F1HtrtdblSCCMh8saDbQ3_Dr.%20Charles%20R.%20Rogers%202026%20Headshot%20Update.jpg","\u003Cp>Charles R. Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, MCHES\u003Csup>®\u003C\u002Fsup> is a nationally recognized behavioral scientist, health equity strategist, and population health researcher focused on how trust, behavior, data, and systems design shape outcomes. He is Founder & President of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation and Founder & Chief Advisor of Rogers Solutions Group, where he advises health systems, nonprofits, foundations, and industry partners on translating health equity into impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A leading voice on prevention, patient engagement, and community-centered innovation, Dr. Rogers explores why effective technologies, evidence-based interventions, and public health recommendations often fail to achieve their intended impact. His work focuses on the human factors that influence decision-making, including trust, lived experience, culture, and credibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Rogers has led community-engaged initiatives addressing cancer disparities and population health challenges among Black Americans, Native Hawaiians, Hispanic populations, rural residents, sexual minorities, and people experiencing housing insecurity. His work helps organizations move beyond awareness toward behavior change and improved outcomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With training spanning applied mathematics, statistics, public health, health policy, and cancer prevention, Dr. Rogers brings an interdisciplinary perspective to healthcare transformation, data-driven decision making, and equitable innovation. His work sits at the intersection of behavioral science, implementation, community engagement, and systems change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Rogers' research has been supported by the National Cancer Institute and the V Foundation for Cancer Research and published in The Lancet Oncology, JAMA Health Forum, and other leading journals. His expertise has been featured by NPR, ESPN, HuffPost, & other national media outlets. Through research, speaking, and advisory work, he helps organizations rethink how trust drives engagement, improves outcomes, and creates impact.\u003C\u002Fp>"," http:\u002F\u002Flinkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fcrrogersphd\u002F ",{"id":1107,"name":1108,"title":1109,"company":1110,"image":1111,"about":1112,"linkedin":1113,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"24edf27e-868e-4d10-be96-fac29a7aada6","Segun Oduolowu","Founder & Principal ","SAA & Associates Emmy Award-Winning  Host Journalist Commentator ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F6WluFBsySMS5f6hgPCQ8_headshot-1786401341434.jpg","\u003Cp>Segun Oduolowu is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, host, and media commentator known for sharp analysis of culture, business, and entertainment. He helped create and host the award-winning Boston Globe Today. He appears on CNN, NewsNation, Access Hollywood, and Australia’s Today Show, covering the stories driving headlines. A University of Houston graduate and former Division I basketball player, he brings authority, clarity, and energy to every conversation. His brand is \"Intelligent Entertainment.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsegunoduolowu\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=4c6e4d99-cf19-464c-a066-32559a538968",{"id":1116,"title":1117,"description":1118,"plainDescription":1119,"track":893,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1120,"startTime":989,"endTime":1121,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1122,"calendarUrl":1139},"a3ab7601-6e55-4c7e-8975-b9057ede036d","GovTech Careers, Contracts, and Clearances with Symoné Berry","\u003Cp>Federal tech spending exceeds $100B annually, and despite recent workforce disruptions, government contracts and cleared positions remain among the most stable, highest-paying paths in tech. Symoné “Beez” Berry has 15+ years inside defense and federal systems and built GovTech Con to be the entry point for professionals who want in. She will demystify government contract procurement and clearances and give attendees a real roadmap into this sector.\u003C\u002Fp>","Federal tech spending exceeds $100B annually, and despite recent workforce disruptions, government contracts and cleared positions remain among the most stable, highest-paying paths in tech. Symoné “Beez” Berry has 15+ years inside defense and federal systems and built GovTech Con to be the entry point for professionals who want in. She will demystify government contract procurement and clearances and give attendees a real roadmap into this sector.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-04T22:15:00.000Z",[1123,1131],{"id":1124,"name":1125,"title":1126,"company":1127,"image":1128,"about":1129,"linkedin":1130,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"2b10e930-2e1e-445c-9cc0-e40fc1b406cd","Symoné Berry","Principal Radar Systems Engineer and Founder","GovTech Academy","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002F62CQiKpSYBDTT93fRtGw_Symone%CC%81%20Beez-transformed.png","\u003Cp>Symoné B. is a Principal Radar Systems Engineer with over 15 years of experience supporting mission-critical technology programs across defense, aerospace, and federal sectors. She is also the founder of GovTech Academy. Her expertise spans radar systems engineering, software engineering, and cybersecurity, with a focus on delivering high-reliability solutions for government environments. She has served in key technical roles across international assignments in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, working on complex defense systems and high-stakes test operations. Symoné has been recognized for her technical leadership and has been featured by outlets such as Business Insider, AfroTech, ClearanceJobs, and Handshake for her contributions to the GovTech and engineering fields. As a trusted expert in systems validation and mission assurance, Symoné brings both deep technical insight and global field experience to every stage she steps on.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsymonedb\u002F",{"id":1132,"name":1133,"title":330,"company":1134,"image":1135,"about":1136,"linkedin":1137,"twitter":1138,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"dd313234-544b-4947-bba4-ab125dc1ced1","Dr. Christine Izuakor","Rauk AI","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FHjEq5EFsTgGJTiSjIKGl_official%20headshot.JPG","\u003Cp>Dr. Christine Izuakor is a global tech leader and speaker dedicated to helping professionals connect, learn, and grow through curated, AI-matched experiences and conversations. She has over a decade of Fortune 100 cybersecurity experience and earned a Ph.D. in Security Engineering, becoming the youngest student and first African American to do so. Christine holds leading certifications like CISSP and CISM and is a seasoned cybersecurity professor. Her work has been presented globally, from Italy to South Korea, including features in Crain’s, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fchristineizuakor","stineology","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=a3ab7601-6e55-4c7e-8975-b9057ede036d",{"id":1141,"title":101,"description":102,"plainDescription":103,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":104,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1142,"startTime":1143,"endTime":1144,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1145,"calendarUrl":1146},"2771dd6e-0d73-4124-82cb-ff1bf15706b6",[],"2026-11-04T22:00:00.000Z","2026-11-05T06:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=2771dd6e-0d73-4124-82cb-ff1bf15706b6",{"id":1148,"title":1149,"description":1150,"plainDescription":1151,"track":190,"stage":39,"room":161,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1152,"startTime":1143,"endTime":1089,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1153,"calendarUrl":1171},"d0d7f2ab-afd4-4580-88be-a8cd04ba9409","The Engineering Edge","\u003Cp>Aaron Russell leads the infrastructure that delivers AI-powered content to billions of users across Meta's global platforms, from edge compute and GPU caching to video optimization at hyperscale. For engineers building AI-powered products, this is the conversation happening one layer below the model: how do you architect systems when AI becomes an infrastructure constraint rather than just a feature? Aaron brings the view from the technical frontier that most engineers will never see up close.\u003C\u002Fp>","Aaron Russell leads the infrastructure that delivers AI-powered content to billions of users across Meta's global platforms, from edge compute and GPU caching to video optimization at hyperscale. For engineers building AI-powered products, this is the conversation happening one layer below the model: how do you architect systems when AI becomes an infrastructure constraint rather than just a feature? Aaron brings the view from the technical frontier that most engineers will never see up close.",[43,44,45,46,47],[1154,1162],{"id":1155,"name":1156,"title":1157,"company":279,"image":1158,"about":1159,"linkedin":1160,"twitter":1161,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"76f6ac8e-46bf-482a-a2cc-78131c565807","Aaron Russell","Director, Network Infrastructure ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F1sNmBXtSRqJkhrqE0EBv_headshot-1788474201424.jpg","\u003Cdiv>As Global Director of Edge Network Infrastructure at Meta , I lead a global engineering organization responsible for advancing Meta's edge infrastructure strategy. My work focuses on extending GPU compute and caching closer to users through our Edge Cloud, and content delivery network PoPs, enhancing performance and minimizing latency for Meta's family of apps, A.I., and Reality Labs content. Our work enabled to deliver billions of videos and photos efficiently across Meta's platforms to users, along with supporting the training of our open weights models across our network infrastructure stack. \u003C\u002Fdiv>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Faaron-russell-970a9a54","NA",{"id":1163,"name":1164,"title":1165,"company":1166,"image":1167,"about":1168,"linkedin":1169,"twitter":1170,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"38b73de5-fc09-464e-bbeb-a2eb3ed6659d","Janeen Uzzell","CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers","National Society of Black Engineers","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FBQRtl60GRGSiBCg8ZWOX_Janeen_Uzzell_(cropped).jpg","\u003Cp>Janeen Uzzell is CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the largest student-run organization in the United States, with more than 25,000 members worldwide. A mechanical engineer by training and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, she has spent her career at the intersection of technology, equity, and global leadership. Before NSBE, Uzzell served as COO of the Wikimedia Foundation, where she led a staff of 500+, managed a $140M budget, and launched the $4.5 million Wikimedia Knowledge Equity Fund to close racial disparities in global access to free knowledge. Prior to that, she spent nearly two decades at General Electric, heading Women in Technology across a 300,000-person workforce and leading healthcare and infrastructure initiatives across Africa. She has been recognized by ADWEEK as a Top Black Women Trailblazer in Tech, honored with the United Nations Global Leadership Award, named one of the 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business by The Network Journal, and appointed by President Biden to the White House Board of Advisors on HBCUs. She sits on the boards of Mercy Ships International, the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission, and the DFree Global Foundation, and is a venture capital investor and Chairwoman of the Greybridge SPAC.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjaneenuzzell\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fx.com\u002Fjaneenuzzell","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=d0d7f2ab-afd4-4580-88be-a8cd04ba9409",{"id":1173,"title":1174,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":549,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1175,"startTime":1176,"endTime":1177,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1178,"calendarUrl":1179},"b0db4166-2cb0-44af-b8a8-2a1e5a5750bc","Cybersecurity Summit Ends",[],"2026-11-04T22:16:00.000Z","2026-11-04T22:17:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=b0db4166-2cb0-44af-b8a8-2a1e5a5750bc",{"id":1181,"title":1182,"description":1183,"plainDescription":1184,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":1185,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1186,"startTime":1089,"endTime":1187,"dayKey":18,"speakers":1188,"calendarUrl":1189},"76a17097-d373-4e17-b4da-85c57c291ecd","Queer Meetup","\u003Cp>A welcoming and intentional space created for LGBTQ+ AfroTech attendees to connect and build community. This affirming experience centers identity, visibility, and shared stories in a relaxed and celebratory environment. Designed for attendees seeking meaningful, identity-aligned connections.\u003C\u002Fp>","A welcoming and intentional space created for LGBTQ+ AfroTech attendees to connect and build community. This affirming experience centers identity, visibility, and shared stories in a relaxed and celebratory environment. Designed for attendees seeking meaningful, identity-aligned connections.","Balconies C - Avenida Balcony",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-05T00:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=76a17097-d373-4e17-b4da-85c57c291ecd",{"id":1191,"title":1192,"description":1193,"plainDescription":1194,"track":1195,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1196,"startTime":1197,"endTime":1198,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1199,"calendarUrl":1216},"e5ac489b-97cf-4cad-8be7-338cf2da0caf","State of Maternal Health and the Digital Future with Dr. Jessica Shepherd","\u003Cp>Maternal health is being transformed by digital tools, AI, and telemedicine, but innovation alone does not equal better outcomes. Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Chief Medical Officer at Hers, examines what it will actually take to build maternal care systems that are more accessible, more effective, and more patient-centered, drawing on clinical expertise, health technology, and the responsibility that comes with building care at scale.\u003C\u002Fp>","Maternal health is being transformed by digital tools, AI, and telemedicine, but innovation alone does not equal better outcomes. Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Chief Medical Officer at Hers, examines what it will actually take to build maternal care systems that are more accessible, more effective, and more patient-centered, drawing on clinical expertise, health technology, and the responsibility that comes with building care at scale.","Maternal Health in Practice",[43,45],"2026-11-05T14:20:00.000Z","2026-11-05T15:00:00.000Z",[1200,1208],{"id":1201,"name":1202,"title":1203,"company":1204,"image":1205,"about":1206,"linkedin":1207,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"207ab6bd-35d7-438b-adad-a10647fd2133","Dr. Jessica Shepherd","Chief Medical Officer","Hers","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FiXNqds9OSmqO5xV4Dv9e_headshot-1781199161121.jpg","\u003Cp>Dr. Jessica Shepherd is Chief Medical Officer at Hers. A board-certified OB\u002FGYN with nearly twenty years of clinical experience in obstetrics, gynecology, and surgery, Dr. Shepherd is a women's health, sexual wellness, and menopausal expert, the founder of Sanctum Med and Wellness, and the author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause. As Hers' first-ever Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shepherd guides the clinical expertise that forms the foundation of the Hers brand across perimenopause and menopause, sexual health, dermatology, weight loss, and mental health.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjessica-shepherd-md-mba-facog-5ba9ab66\u002F",{"id":1209,"name":1210,"title":1211,"company":1212,"image":1213,"about":1214,"linkedin":1215,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"8dd9375a-db06-4499-84cc-48685b1951f2","Dr. Chemen Neal MD, CPCC, FACOG","Vice President Academic Medicine & Strategic Integration, Associate Professor OBGYN","IU Health Medical Group & IU School of Medicine","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FL3RDVUuiQmusJBoDZiq7_headshot-1781813058871.jpg","\u003Cp>Chemen M. Neal, MD, CPCC is a physician–executive, educator, and leader in organizational culture, academic medicine, and strategic integration across complex health systems. She serves as Vice President of Academic Medicine and Strategic Integration for IU Health Medical Group, Indiana’s largest multi-specialty medical group. In this role, she advances physician pipeline and workforce efforts, strengthens alignment across 16 hospitals and 300 clinical sites, and leads enterprise initiatives that support the evolving needs of Indiana’s largest healthcare system.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fchemen-neal-md-3398b841\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=e5ac489b-97cf-4cad-8be7-338cf2da0caf",{"id":1218,"title":1219,"description":1220,"plainDescription":1221,"track":71,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1222,"startTime":1223,"endTime":1224,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1225,"calendarUrl":1234},"cb95918d-d593-47d3-bc2b-2391db5d6592","The New Sales Playbook Presented by Sierra","\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>Reggie Marable went from professional football player to working at a call center to building the sales engine behind Sierra, one of the fastest-growing enterprise AI companies in the world. In this talk, he shares how AI is changing the entire selling motion — from prospecting to closing deals — and how being adaptable and willing to learn is more important than ever.\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv> \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>","Reggie Marable went from professional football player to working at a call center to building the sales engine behind Sierra, one of the fastest-growing enterprise AI companies in the world. In this talk, he shares how AI is changing the entire selling motion — from prospecting to closing deals — and how being adaptable and willing to learn is more important than ever.",[],"2026-11-05T14:25:00.000Z","2026-11-05T14:40:00.000Z",[1226],{"id":1227,"name":1228,"title":1229,"company":1230,"image":1231,"about":1232,"linkedin":1233,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"6cc0a912-5b62-4439-8772-4c83aa3c6f1e","Reggie Marable","Chief Customer Officer","Sierra","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FUrY2LCxwSOxEKHpW9wIA_headshot-1784735497775.jpg","\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Reggie Marable is the Chief Customer Officer for the Americas at Sierra, the leading platform for customer experience AI agents, trusted by brands including Vanguard, ADT, Rocket Mortgage, SiriusXM, Cigna, and Sonos. Prior to Sierra, Reggie held senior leadership roles at Slack and Salesforce, actively supporting and advancing diverse talent across the tech ecosystem.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Freggiemarable\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=cb95918d-d593-47d3-bc2b-2391db5d6592",{"id":1236,"title":1237,"description":1238,"plainDescription":1239,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":137,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1241,"startTime":1224,"endTime":1242,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1243,"calendarUrl":1266},"76dc9372-9c3c-491b-8a60-88b467a45ccb","Discover & Preserve the Stories that Shape US Presented by Ancestry","\u003Cp>Every family has stories worth preserving, but many begin with only a few names, photos, or memories. In this session, attendees will learn how to transform what they already know into a living family history using Ancestry's powerful genealogy tools and AI-powered discovery experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Led by Ancestry CTO Sriram Thiagarajan, VP & Chief Legal Officer Lisa Garden Glover, and Principal Product Manager Breana Jones, this session will guide participants through building the foundation of a family tree, uncovering historical records with AI, and preserving family photos, documents, and stories for future generations. Along the way, attendees will gain insight into the importance of responsible AI, privacy, and trust when preserving their family's legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>","Every family has stories worth preserving, but many begin with only a few names, photos, or memories. In this session, attendees will learn how to transform what they already know into a living family history using Ancestry's powerful genealogy tools and AI-powered discovery experience.\nLed by Ancestry CTO Sriram Thiagarajan, VP & Chief Legal Officer Lisa Garden Glover, and Principal Product Manager Breana Jones, this session will guide participants through building the foundation of a family tree, uncovering historical records with AI, and preserving family photos, documents, and stories for future generations. Along the way, attendees will gain insight into the importance of responsible AI, privacy, and trust when preserving their family's legacy.","Global",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T15:40:00.000Z",[1244,1252,1259],{"id":1245,"name":1246,"title":1247,"company":1248,"image":1249,"about":1250,"linkedin":1251,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a13902cd-0b15-4fbe-b047-18fd5dba10de","Sriram Thiagarajan","EVP & Chief Technology Officer","Ancestry","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F1dZV4nhQRhSE493iZAi4_headshot-1785967254571.png","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Sriram Thiagarajan\u003C\u002Fstrong> is Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Ancestry, where he leads the company's engineering, AI, data science, cybersecurity, cloud, and platform strategy. Since joining Ancestry in 2017, he has helped drive technology innovation that enables millions to discover and preserve their family stories. With more than 20 years of technology leadership experience, Sriram has previously held executive roles at Infoblox, Twitter, Yahoo, VeriSign, and Ernst & Young. He holds engineering degrees from Florida Atlantic University and Anna University.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsriram-thiagarajan-206439\u002F",{"id":1253,"name":1254,"title":1255,"company":1248,"image":1256,"about":1257,"linkedin":1258,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"e59164b7-33bb-4a15-b73c-5ee2f2dfebb1","Lisa Glover-Gardin","Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Privacy and Product","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FQ9xygzioSXKO5S3TOTNv_headshot-1785967995230.jpg","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Lisa Glover Gardin\u003C\u002Fstrong> is Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Privacy and Product at Ancestry, where she leads legal strategy for privacy, regulatory compliance, and product innovation. Before Ancestry, she served as Global Head of Privacy Legal at PayPal, overseeing global privacy strategy and regulatory compliance. Lisa also held senior legal leadership roles at Google and Meta's Reality Labs, helping launch consumer products with privacy-by-design principles. She earned law degrees from Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley School of Law.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Flisa-glover-gardin-6318204\u002F",{"id":1260,"name":1261,"title":1262,"company":1248,"image":1263,"about":1264,"linkedin":1265,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"18cf8ff8-8be1-4751-9da8-5f2ff08484f0","Breana Jones","Principal Product Manager","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F0ijhMc4TnaP8WRwFJdJw_headshot-1785968217317.jpg","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Breana Jones\u003C\u002Fstrong> is a Principal Product Manager at Ancestry, where she leads Storytelling experiences that help people discover, understand, and preserve their family history. With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of storytelling and technology, she has built products at ESPN's Andscape, FiveThirtyEight, Medium, and VICE. A journalist by training, Breana holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri and a Master's degree from New York University.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fbreanamjones\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=76dc9372-9c3c-491b-8a60-88b467a45ccb",{"id":1268,"title":1269,"description":1270,"plainDescription":1271,"track":863,"stage":39,"room":1272,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1273,"startTime":1198,"endTime":1274,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1275,"calendarUrl":1283},"757c2109-ea47-4062-95b4-2ea20b7f148f","AI in Nursing Workflows","\u003Cp>AI is reshaping how nurses work across inpatient, ambulatory, and virtual care settings. This session examines practical applications, including clinical documentation automation, decision support tools, patient monitoring, and workforce optimization. Vanessa Riley covers how AI can reduce administrative burden and improve care coordination, and what nurses and healthcare leaders need to know to integrate these tools responsibly.\u003C\u002Fp>","AI is reshaping how nurses work across inpatient, ambulatory, and virtual care settings. This session examines practical applications, including clinical documentation automation, decision support tools, patient monitoring, and workforce optimization. Vanessa Riley covers how AI can reduce administrative burden and improve care coordination, and what nurses and healthcare leaders need to know to integrate these tools responsibly.","HealthStack Seminar Room (Marriott)",[43,45],"2026-11-05T15:30:00.000Z",[1276],{"id":1277,"name":1278,"title":1279,"company":39,"image":1280,"about":1281,"linkedin":1282,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"56bb0c54-8bd1-4be0-b23f-a87d187d6d2f","Vanessa Riley","CEO, American Board of Nursing Artificial Intelligence Founder, KhonsuAI & VytalFlow AI President, Global Nursing AI Alliance","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FKG7wCzyPT9myGhqvhOJm_Untitled%20design%20(16).png","\u003Cp>I grew up in Rochester New York, raised by my Baptist grandparents in a city that carries two very different legacies. Rochester helped shape modern technology through companies like Eastman Kodak Company and Xerox. At the same time it has been ranked one of the worst cities in the United States for racial inequality, with neighborhoods still shaped by decades of redlining and disinvestment. Growing up there made it impossible not to see how systems shape opportunity and health outcomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a teenager I believed my path forward would be engineering. I attended a technical high school focused on science and technology and completed a youth apprenticeship at Kodak, where I was exposed early to the culture of innovation that once defined the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life redirected my path when my grandmother became ill and the engineering mentor guiding me through school was laid off. I pivoted toward nursing to help support my family, a decision that became the foundation of the next twenty years of my career. I advanced from bedside nurse to Nurse Practitioner and began specializing in infectious diseases in the fall of 2019.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only months later the COVID nineteen pandemic began. Hospitals were pushed to their limits and the role of digital infrastructure in healthcare became impossible to ignore. At the same time my hometown was confronting another crisis after the death of Daniel Prude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching these events unfold while working inside healthcare made one thing clear to me. Systems matter, and the people designing them determine who benefits and who gets left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That realization brought me back to technology. I founded KhonsuAI to build tools that help clinicians reduce documentation burden and improve workflow. I also founded the Global Nursing AI Alliance, an international coalition working to ensure nurses have a voice in shaping healthcare technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Rochester studying cardiovascular disease in African American women and how artificial intelligence can be designed to reduce health disparities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In many ways my journey has come full circle. I thought I was going to become an engineer when I was sixteen. It just took me twenty years to realize that I still am one.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fvanessa-riley-418b4b168\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=757c2109-ea47-4062-95b4-2ea20b7f148f",{"id":1285,"title":1286,"description":1287,"plainDescription":1288,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":1185,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1289,"startTime":1198,"endTime":1290,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1291,"calendarUrl":1292},"b741d413-49b7-45b8-9cf0-a51b53766fda","Cybersecurity Meetup","\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cp>Come join other security professionals, engineers, ethical hackers, and aspiring practitioners and grow your networks. Exchange insights on emerging threats, career growth, and the future of cybersecurity while building meaningful relationships with peers across the industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv> \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv> \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv> \u003C\u002Fdiv>","Come join other security professionals, engineers, ethical hackers, and aspiring practitioners and grow your networks. Exchange insights on emerging threats, career growth, and the future of cybersecurity while building meaningful relationships with peers across the industry.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T16:30:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=b741d413-49b7-45b8-9cf0-a51b53766fda",{"id":1294,"title":1295,"description":1296,"plainDescription":1297,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":882,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1298,"startTime":1198,"endTime":1290,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1299,"calendarUrl":1300},"1fe28d83-e40f-4d4e-a10a-337be1128554","Engineering Meetup","\u003Cp>An energizing space curated for engineers from various industries to connect, collaborate, and share emerging best practices. From system design to dev tools, this meetup offers networking opportunities for those building the infrastructure behind today’s most innovative products. Perfect for attendees driving technical excellence.\u003C\u002Fp>","An energizing space curated for engineers from various industries to connect, collaborate, and share emerging best practices. From system design to dev tools, this meetup offers networking opportunities for those building the infrastructure behind today’s most innovative products. Perfect for attendees driving technical excellence.",[43,44,45,46,47],[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=1fe28d83-e40f-4d4e-a10a-337be1128554",{"id":1302,"title":302,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":303,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1303,"startTime":1198,"endTime":1304,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1305,"calendarUrl":1306},"a564c773-b128-44ba-9b4b-060dc7f97f54",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T23:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=a564c773-b128-44ba-9b4b-060dc7f97f54",{"id":1308,"title":1309,"description":1310,"plainDescription":1311,"track":234,"stage":39,"room":41,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1312,"startTime":1198,"endTime":1290,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1313,"calendarUrl":1320},"6cb25c33-5215-4593-9bc0-1b989b333043","STOCK UP!: A Hands-On Wealth-Building Workshop","\u003Cp>Larry Jones started driving Uber in 2016 to build a stake he could invest with. Today, nearly 700,000 people follow his market breakdowns, and his Traffic Trader system is taught to thousands through Money Moves. . This is not a lecture on why you should invest. Larry will explore how he reads charts while walking the room through the exact reads he makes before entering a position: where momentum is real, where it is noise, and how he sizes risk. Attendees leave with a process they can run themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>","Larry Jones started driving Uber in 2016 to build a stake he could invest with. Today, nearly 700,000 people follow his market breakdowns, and his Traffic Trader system is taught to thousands through Money Moves. . This is not a lecture on why you should invest. Larry will explore how he reads charts while walking the room through the exact reads he makes before entering a position: where momentum is real, where it is noise, and how he sizes risk. Attendees leave with a process they can run themselves.",[43,44,236,46],[1314],{"id":1315,"name":1316,"title":666,"company":1317,"image":1318,"about":1319,"linkedin":39,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a26659eb-9634-46ae-9d66-04415818cc7c","Larry Jones","Stock Up With Larry Jones","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FRM6iEAQPQw2EIvMIgOPw_headshot-1786551147500.png","\u003Cp>Larry Jones is one of the most recognizable and trusted voices in the stock market and cryptocurrency education space. Since launching his financial education platform in 2020, he has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals gain confidence in investing, wealth building, and financial literacy. Through his YouTube channel, educational programs, live events, and speaking engagements, he has made investing accessible to everyday people seeking to create generational wealth and financial independence. His content focuses on stocks, cryptocurrency, options, market trends, portfolio management, and practical wealth-building strategies.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=6cb25c33-5215-4593-9bc0-1b989b333043",{"id":1322,"title":1323,"description":1324,"plainDescription":1325,"track":314,"stage":39,"room":116,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1326,"startTime":1198,"endTime":1274,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1327,"calendarUrl":1344},"c1e088f9-f887-4dd5-be7c-96ede701b97c","The Portfolio Life","\u003Cp>The operating role built your expertise. Now build with it. Larry Quinlan spent decades running global technology strategy at one of the world's largest firms, then turned that knowledge into advisory work, coaching, and a multi-industry portfolio of influence. This session is the playbook for executives ready to move from one title to many.\u003C\u002Fp>","The operating role built your expertise. Now build with it. Larry Quinlan spent decades running global technology strategy at one of the world's largest firms, then turned that knowledge into advisory work, coaching, and a multi-industry portfolio of influence. This session is the playbook for executives ready to move from one title to many.",[44,45],[1328,1336],{"id":1329,"name":1330,"title":1331,"company":1332,"image":1333,"about":1334,"linkedin":1335,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"9d9d987f-68b4-454b-ac1e-29d50cae2cc9","Larry Quinlan","Fortune 500 & Private Equity Company Board Director","Former Global Chief Information Officer, Deloitte","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FaUcLfa3TWWYHapZNI3Cw_LQDTTOfficialLookingatCamera.jpg","\u003Cp>Larry Quinlan has over 35 years of experience creating value through inspired, strategic leadership. He is a digital and technology transformation expert with extensive experience in complex enterprise systems integrations, cybersecurity, technology  organizational design, and global shared services models. He is sought after for his understanding of the strategic impacts of emerging technologies including analytics, AI, cloud and mobility. Larry most recently served as Global Chief Information Officer for  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deloitte, the $50B professional services firm. He had responsibility for all facets of technology strategy and operations, leading over 10,000 IT professionals in 175 countries. He led Deloitte’s  global implementations of ERP systems, including some of the world’s largest SAP and  Salesforce platforms leveraging data analytics, cloud, and collaboration technologies from AWS,  Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and ServiceNow. He also led the development of proprietary, custom  technology platforms critical to Deloitte’s profitability. Larry and his team successfully executed  post-merger technology integration for Deloitte’s acquisitions. He worked directly with the firm’s Global Board as leader of a multi-billion-dollar global technology and cyber program. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to his CIO role, Larry drove significant revenue delivering services to Deloitte global  clients in the hospitality and technology sectors. He advised company boards and CEOs on a  range of IT, cyber, and digital strategic priorities. Larry led the Deloitte CIO Academy, a  leadership development program for client executives aspiring to the corporate CIO role. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Larry serves on the Boards of three Fortune 500 companies: ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), a cloud  digital workflow leader, where he sits on the Audit Committee; Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL), a  global leader in real estate where chairs the Audit & Risk Committee while serving on the  Nominating, Governance & Sustainability Committees; and Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), the leading provider of online travel, where he chairs the Board’s Cyber Subcommittee. Larry is  also Board Director of UBS Americas where he chairs the Technology & Cyber Committee. He  is Chairman of the Board at Hexaware Technologies and serves on and advises other private  equity portfolio company boards. Larry is active in non-profit governance…he chairs the  NPower Emeritus Board and the Technology Committee of United Way of Miami. He is a past  Board co-chair of Global Leadership Forum and a former Board member of the Executive  Leadership Council (ELC). Larry is NACD Directorship Certified and serves on the NACD 2024 Blue Ribbon Commission on Board Oversight of Technology. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Larry is a founding member of The TechPACT, a CIO organization committed to bridging the  digital divide. He mentors startups at The Venture Mentoring Team. Larry is an avid boater and  diver. He holds an MBA from Baruch College, CUNY and a BSc (Hons) from the University of the  West Indies. In 2018, he was inducted into the CIO Hall of Fame and The University of the West  Indies conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree in recognition of his  leadership in industry. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Flarryquinlan\u002F",{"id":1337,"name":1338,"title":1339,"company":463,"image":1340,"about":1341,"linkedin":1342,"twitter":1343,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"393d2b7b-f91a-4a79-9fdb-e4544f2a9fb4","Jeff Nelson","Co-Founder & COO","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FTXsqVBTnSwmrD6aBZfNl_Jeff%20(2).jpeg","\u003Cp>Jeff Nelson is a serial entrepreneur who builds simple solutions to complex problems. He is the Co-Founder and COO of Blavity Inc.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjefftnelson\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fx.com\u002Fthatjeffnelson","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=c1e088f9-f887-4dd5-be7c-96ede701b97c",{"id":1346,"title":1347,"description":1348,"plainDescription":1349,"track":1195,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1350,"startTime":1274,"endTime":1351,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1352,"calendarUrl":1361},"4efe02b3-13bd-44e6-8916-8a4bb5916ec6","Reducing Maternal Morbidity Through Inclusive Design","\u003Cp>Maternal morbidity in the United States continues to rise, and clinical interventions alone have not closed the gaps. Dr. Dineo Khabele will explore real-world examples of how inclusive design principles, applied through culturally responsive care models, multidisciplinary collaboration, and data-informed redesign, can improve detection, engagement, and outcomes in obstetric care across diverse patient populations.\u003C\u002Fp>","Maternal morbidity in the United States continues to rise, and clinical interventions alone have not closed the gaps. Dr. Dineo Khabele will explore real-world examples of how inclusive design principles, applied through culturally responsive care models, multidisciplinary collaboration, and data-informed redesign, can improve detection, engagement, and outcomes in obstetric care across diverse patient populations.",[43,45],"2026-11-05T16:00:00.000Z",[1353],{"id":1354,"name":1355,"title":1356,"company":1357,"image":1358,"about":1359,"linkedin":1360,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"4fcadf0f-67c8-4a76-b6d8-5e2fb3ec1955","Dr. Dineo Khabele","Mitchell & Elaine Yanow Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology","WashU Medicine","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FMHVME2IRIGIqVb3l65Q0_Khabele_portrait.jpg","\u003Cp>Dr. Dineo Khabele is a physician-scientist and leader in obstetrics & gynecology (OBGYN) and women's health. She is recognized for her clinical expertise in gynecologic oncology and for her research focused on improving the treatment of ovarian cancer. As a leader in academic medicine, Dr. Khabele is committed to driving institutional change, training the next generation, and advancing OBGYN and women's health care for all.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdineo-khabele-0a460a76\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=4efe02b3-13bd-44e6-8916-8a4bb5916ec6",{"id":1363,"title":1364,"description":1365,"plainDescription":1366,"track":893,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1367,"startTime":1351,"endTime":1290,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1368,"calendarUrl":1383},"652708d9-00cd-4c7a-b532-df42254a3b30","Accountability and the AI Economy with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley","\u003Cp>Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has spent her career making sure policy reflects the people most affected by it. Now she turns that lens on AI: from data center environmental impact and bias in financial services to workforce displacement and the race to adopt AI without guardrails, this fireside examines who governs these systems and what leaders in the room are responsible for right now.\u003C\u002Fp>","Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has spent her career making sure policy reflects the people most affected by it. Now she turns that lens on AI: from data center environmental impact and bias in financial services to workforce displacement and the race to adopt AI without guardrails, this fireside examines who governs these systems and what leaders in the room are responsible for right now.",[43,44,236,46],[1369,1376],{"id":1370,"name":1371,"title":1372,"company":39,"image":1373,"about":1374,"linkedin":1375,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a1eff880-e928-414e-9d22-f8839fb9de9a","Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)","Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FTOXBEHdjQoqS3WOOytPv_Ayanna%20Pressley%20Unofficial%20Headshot.jpg","\u003Cp>Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) is an activist, a legislator, a survivor, and the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Throughout her career, Congresswoman Pressley has fought to ensure that those closest to the pain are closest to the power - driving and informing policymaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Congresswoman for Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District, she has been a champion for justice and healing: reproductive justice, justice for immigrants, consumer justice, justice for seniors, justice for workers, justice for survivors of sexual violence, justice for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, and healing for those who have experienced trauma. She has also turned her experience living with alopecia into action, becoming a leading voice fighting to raise awareness and support for the alopecia community across the nation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr \u002F>Congresswoman Pressley currently serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Prior to being elected to Congress, she served on the Boston City Council for eight years and was the first woman of color elected to the council in its 100-year history.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.congress.gov\u002Fmember\u002Fayanna-pressley\u002FP000617",{"id":1377,"name":1378,"title":666,"company":1379,"image":1380,"about":1381,"linkedin":1382,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d9c8b9cc-2cff-4cb0-b5b1-dda9f019120e","X Eyeé","Malo Santo","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002FCujnUuFR5iHmrtRXA3Ji_X_Eyee-transformed.jpg","\u003Cp>X Eyee is a Partner at Offline Research, where she investigates how humans shape AI\u003Cbr \u002F>systems, and measures how those system reshape us. A software engineer by trade, X spent two decades building technology for Google, Microsoft, and public sector. At Google, she developed and led two research teams whose work was adopted by more than 50 Google products, including Pixel, Search, and Waymo. Her research changed how computer vision systems are built and measured, now adopted as FDA and ISO standards. Recognized globally, X has lectured at Harvard, Stanford, is a regular commentator on CNBC and insights appeared in Forbes, Wired, and BET.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftechwithx\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=652708d9-00cd-4c7a-b532-df42254a3b30",{"id":1385,"title":1386,"description":1387,"plainDescription":1388,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":1389,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1390,"startTime":1351,"endTime":1391,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1392,"calendarUrl":1393},"9b39ae8a-aeb4-401a-b5f4-6ba9518a7d42","Founders Meetup","\u003Cp>A focused networking experience crafted for emerging founders and small business owners navigating growth and innovation. This session offers an opportunity to exchange insights on brand development, funding, and scaling with intention. Designed for entrepreneurial minds ready to build and collaborate.\u003C\u002Fp>","A focused networking experience crafted for emerging founders and small business owners navigating growth and innovation. This session offers an opportunity to exchange insights on brand development, funding, and scaling with intention. Designed for entrepreneurial minds ready to build and collaborate.","Founder's Pavillion",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T17:30:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=9b39ae8a-aeb4-401a-b5f4-6ba9518a7d42",{"id":1395,"title":1396,"description":1397,"plainDescription":1398,"track":529,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1399,"startTime":1400,"endTime":1401,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1402,"calendarUrl":1418},"0531f6bc-bfa9-4fd0-8668-06080956672c","Clinical Operations, Policy, & Care Delays","\u003Cp>Care delays are among the most consequential and preventable drivers of poor health outcomes. In this fireside conversation, Tamiko Foster and Aparna Ahuja examine how operational workflows, prior authorization bottlenecks, reimbursement constraints, and regulatory complexity contribute to patient harm, and where redesign and policy reform are already improving timeliness and equity of care.\u003C\u002Fp>","Care delays are among the most consequential and preventable drivers of poor health outcomes. In this fireside conversation, Tamiko Foster and Aparna Ahuja examine how operational workflows, prior authorization bottlenecks, reimbursement constraints, and regulatory complexity contribute to patient harm, and where redesign and policy reform are already improving timeliness and equity of care.",[43,45],"2026-11-05T16:05:00.000Z","2026-11-05T17:00:00.000Z",[1403,1411],{"id":1404,"name":1405,"title":1406,"company":1407,"image":1408,"about":1409,"linkedin":1410,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a3c05130-e098-466d-8617-2a3acbba5980","Dr. Tamiko Foster","CEO & Founder","2 E.D.I.F.Y., LLC","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fz6rghwnMTAm4jAiFJMTK_Foster-130.jpg","\u003Cp>Tamiko Foster, MD, MPH, is a physician executive, National Medical Director, and CEO & Founder of 2 E.D.I.F.Y., LLC, a lifestyle medicine and wellness company. A former Chief Medical Officer and Health Policy Fellow, she works at the intersection of population health, health policy, and lifestyle medicine, applying community‑centered innovation in service of people. Her work advances whole‑person care models that advance health equity, optimize utilization, and improve outcomes at scale.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftamikofoster\u002F",{"id":1412,"name":1413,"title":1406,"company":1414,"image":1415,"about":1416,"linkedin":1417,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"bb5d5b19-7764-41c2-93f2-bb3c720b92aa","Dr. Aparna Ahuja","AJA LifeSciences Advisory LLC","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F7RlYrVNuS0Kpr15mAT8n_aparna.jpeg","\u003Cp>Aparna Ahuja, MD, is a physician executive and global leader in Medical, Clinical, and Scientific Affairs. With leadership roles at Abbott, BD, and T2 Biosystems, she has advanced innovation across diagnostics, medical devices, and clinical sciences. She specializes in evidence generation, regulatory strategy, and global product launches, with a focus on equitable healthcare, patient advocacy, and improving health outcomes through science and innovation.\u003C\u002Fp>","http:\u002F\u002Flinkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Faparna-jha-ahuja","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=0531f6bc-bfa9-4fd0-8668-06080956672c",{"id":1420,"title":1421,"description":1422,"plainDescription":1423,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":1424,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1425,"startTime":1290,"endTime":1427,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1428,"calendarUrl":1429},"93d7853c-7231-4388-9284-8e3b1fd05da7","AFROTECH™ Insiders Meetup","\u003Cp>The AFROTECH™ Insiders Meetup is an exclusive gathering for members of the AFROTECH™ Insiders community. This event creates space for meaningful connections, authentic conversations, and collaboration among some of the most innovative leaders in tech and culture. Attendees will gain access to unique insights, resources, and opportunities designed to elevate their careers and ventures. More than a networking event, the meetup celebrates community, innovation, and the collective power of AFROTECH™ Insiders.\u003C\u002Fp>","The AFROTECH™ Insiders Meetup is an exclusive gathering for members of the AFROTECH™ Insiders community. This event creates space for meaningful connections, authentic conversations, and collaboration among some of the most innovative leaders in tech and culture. Attendees will gain access to unique insights, resources, and opportunities designed to elevate their careers and ventures. More than a networking event, the meetup celebrates community, innovation, and the collective power of AFROTECH™ Insiders.","Insider x The Gathering Spot Lounge",[1426],"Insider Members","2026-11-05T18:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=93d7853c-7231-4388-9284-8e3b1fd05da7",{"id":1431,"title":1432,"description":1433,"plainDescription":1434,"track":314,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1435,"startTime":1290,"endTime":1436,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1437,"calendarUrl":1454},"c5eef528-6bf8-4c9b-b60b-2b4b4ed0d82f","Earn Your Leisure: Live Podcast Recording","\u003Cp>Join Earn Your Leisure for a live podcast recording featuring Morgan DeBaun as they reflect on a decade of building, funding, and scaling AFROTECH™. Through candid stories and hard-earned lessons, they'll share how they've created opportunities, built a thriving ecosystem, and expanded access for the next generation of builders and founders. As AFROTECH celebrates 10 years of innovation, this conversation offers a look back at the milestones that shaped the journey and the opportunities that lie ahead\u003C\u002Fp>","Join Earn Your Leisure for a live podcast recording featuring Morgan DeBaun as they reflect on a decade of building, funding, and scaling AFROTECH™. Through candid stories and hard-earned lessons, they'll share how they've created opportunities, built a thriving ecosystem, and expanded access for the next generation of builders and founders. As AFROTECH celebrates 10 years of innovation, this conversation offers a look back at the milestones that shaped the journey and the opportunities that lie ahead",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T17:15:00.000Z",[1438,1448,1453],{"id":1439,"name":1440,"title":1441,"company":1442,"image":1443,"about":1444,"linkedin":1445,"twitter":1446,"instagram":39,"facebook":1447},"386b1fd3-a57e-45be-89f2-5750615040e0","Troy Millings","Co-Founder & CEO ","Earn Your Leisure","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FHuf7frISmmv9orpVj9wj_Screenshot%202026-04-28%20at%202.19.28%E2%80%AFPM.png","\u003Cp>Troy Millings is an entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Earn Your Leisure, a leading media platform focused on business, investing, and financial literacy. A former educator with 16 years of experience, Troy partnered with Rashad Bilal to build EYL into a global media brand featuring a top-ranked business podcast, EYL University, and Invest Fest, the world’s largest financial literacy festival.\u003C\u002Fp>","N\u002FA","https:\u002F\u002Fx.com\u002FEarnYourLeisure","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fearnyourleisure\u002F",{"id":1449,"name":1450,"title":1441,"company":1442,"image":1451,"about":1452,"linkedin":1445,"twitter":1446,"instagram":39,"facebook":1447},"61fe31ae-7445-4497-bdcd-deaa73324637","Rashad Bilal","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FZrIza4KS4qi6VeRc8uJg_Screenshot%202026-04-28%20at%202.20.49%E2%80%AFPM.png","\u003Cp>Rashad Bilal is a financial educator, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Earn Your Leisure, a leading media platform focused on business, investing, and wealth building. After beginning his career at his family’s wealth management firm, The Bilal Group, he partnered with Troy Millings to launch EYL in 2018. Today, the brand includes a top business podcast, EYL University, and Invest Fest, the world’s largest financial literacy festival.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":460,"name":461,"title":462,"company":463,"image":464,"about":465,"linkedin":466,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=c5eef528-6bf8-4c9b-b60b-2b4b4ed0d82f",{"id":1456,"title":1457,"description":1458,"plainDescription":1459,"track":893,"stage":39,"room":41,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1460,"startTime":1290,"endTime":1401,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1461,"calendarUrl":1470},"61ce0e41-97df-4706-bb09-1d8e1ed9bdd7","Policy, Power, and Wealth","\u003Cp>Knowing how the rules around money are made gives you an advantage most people never develop. Pierre Whatley has spent his career inside those decisions at the Federal Reserve, the Senate Banking Committee, and on the campaign trail. This conversation breaks down how to access capital as an entrepreneur, what shifts in financial policy mean for your money and your business, and how to use that understanding to build wealth over the long term.\u003C\u002Fp>","Knowing how the rules around money are made gives you an advantage most people never develop. Pierre Whatley has spent his career inside those decisions at the Federal Reserve, the Senate Banking Committee, and on the campaign trail. This conversation breaks down how to access capital as an entrepreneur, what shifts in financial policy mean for your money and your business, and how to use that understanding to build wealth over the long term.",[44,45],[1462,1469],{"id":1463,"name":1464,"title":811,"company":1465,"image":1466,"about":1467,"linkedin":1468,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"b05dcc2f-7ec7-4f2e-bd48-e1b9848cf8c5","Pierre Whatley","FS Vector","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FoPXb337THW6rJBg2JtIz_IMG_7330.jpeg","\u003Cp>Pierre Whatley is a Principal on FS Vector’s Advocacy team where he helps bridge the gap between policymakers, regulators, and the financial services industry by educating stakeholders on legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments within the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Pierre served in both the House and Senate, first as a Professional Staff Member on the House Financial Services Committee under then-Chairwoman Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the first Black and first woman to lead the powerful committee, and later as Staff Director of the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Institutions & Consumer Protection and Senior Economic Policy Advisor for Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), the first Black United States Senator to be elected from the State of Georgia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prior to Capitol Hill, Pierre was a Senior Consultant at Deloitte LLP and has served in various federal regulatory roles at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Federal Reserve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since joining FS Vector, Pierre has been consistently recognized as one of The Hill's Top Lobbyists.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fpwhatley\u002F",{"id":1337,"name":1338,"title":1339,"company":463,"image":1340,"about":1341,"linkedin":1342,"twitter":1343,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=61ce0e41-97df-4706-bb09-1d8e1ed9bdd7",{"id":1472,"title":1473,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1474,"startTime":1475,"endTime":1401,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1476,"calendarUrl":1477},"e67e27d6-7d79-4281-9cf6-a80e8e761c6f","Global Summit Begins",[],"2026-11-05T16:59:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=e67e27d6-7d79-4281-9cf6-a80e8e761c6f",{"id":1479,"title":1480,"description":1481,"plainDescription":1482,"track":863,"stage":39,"room":1272,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1483,"startTime":1401,"endTime":1484,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1485,"calendarUrl":1495},"619718d7-7e03-4f23-8684-4790e1189b5a","Blood, Bytes & Bias: Clinical Trials and AI-Driven Research","\u003Cp>Medical AI is being trained on data that too often leaves Black patients out. Clinical trial participation, representative datasets, and accountable research infrastructure are not optional equity measures. They are the foundation for AI that can accurately diagnose, treat, and save Black lives. With Sickle Cell Disease and Multiple Myeloma as anchors to his argument, Travis Cleaves breaks down how EHR systems and trial pipelines feed medical AI, where Black patients go missing, and what the gap costs. \u003C\u002Fp>","Medical AI is being trained on data that too often leaves Black patients out. Clinical trial participation, representative datasets, and accountable research infrastructure are not optional equity measures. They are the foundation for AI that can accurately diagnose, treat, and save Black lives. With Sickle Cell Disease and Multiple Myeloma as anchors to his argument, Travis Cleaves breaks down how EHR systems and trial pipelines feed medical AI, where Black patients go missing, and what the gap costs.",[43,45],"2026-11-05T17:40:00.000Z",[1486],{"id":1487,"name":1488,"title":1489,"company":1490,"image":1491,"about":1492,"linkedin":1493,"twitter":1494,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"92efacfd-d920-42e5-a4b2-5d70f3628e79","Travis Cleaves","Deputy Director of Research Informatics and Data Science","American Society of Hematology Research Collaborative","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FNKBy10Qoy1TLVMDhAmwy_Travis%20Cleaves.jpg","\u003Cp>Travis Cleaves is the Deputy Director of Research Informatics and Data Science at the ASH Research Collaborative (ASH RC), the research arm of the American Society of Hematology — the world’s leading professional organization dedicated to the study and treatment of blood disorders. In this role, he leads initiatives in EHR data collection, quality assurance, and system optimization, driving the seamless integration of EHR and real-world data into ASH RC’s Data Hub to power hematologic disease research. His work is central to advancing clinical studies focused on Sickle Cell Disease and Multiple Myeloma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With deep expertise in health information management and informatics, Travis has implemented EHR systems at scale, conducted interface testing and architecture reviews, and optimized clinical data workflows across platforms, including Cerner Millennium and Epic. He brings advanced technical fluency in HL7 v2, FHIR\u002FJSON, and SQL, enabling robust EHR integration, interoperability, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining ASH RC, he served as a Health Informatics Subject Matter Expert at Booz Allen Hamilton and as an Interface Architect and EHRM Ambulatory Portfolio Lead at MicroHealth, LLC, where he led cross-functional teams in EHR integration and Meaningful Use attestations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Travis holds a BS in Biology from Prairie View A&M University and an AAS in Practical Nursing from Lone Star College. He is a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) and holds an Information Privacy and Security (IPS) certification. His rare combination of clinical nursing background, systems architecture expertise, and research informatics leadership gives him a uniquely grounded perspective on the human stakes of the data decisions the health tech industry makes every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftravis-c-6056ba1\u002F","www.ashrc.org","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=619718d7-7e03-4f23-8684-4790e1189b5a",{"id":1497,"title":1498,"description":1499,"plainDescription":1500,"track":529,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1501,"startTime":1401,"endTime":1502,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1503,"calendarUrl":1520},"3dd99491-4972-4f80-a675-bcde5a0037c0","Building Trust & Confidence Across Healthcare","\u003Cp>Trust is the foundation of effective healthcare delivery, yet it remains fragile across patients, providers, and systems. In this fireside conversation, Dr. Vindell Washington shares how healthcare leaders can sustain trust while scaling data, technology, and new care models. He covers transparency, data stewardship, interoperability, and patient engagement as pillars for confident adoption of AI and digital health tools.\u003C\u002Fp>","Trust is the foundation of effective healthcare delivery, yet it remains fragile across patients, providers, and systems. In this fireside conversation, Dr. Vindell Washington shares how healthcare leaders can sustain trust while scaling data, technology, and new care models. He covers transparency, data stewardship, interoperability, and patient engagement as pillars for confident adoption of AI and digital health tools.",[43,45],"2026-11-05T17:45:00.000Z",[1504,1512],{"id":1505,"name":1506,"title":1507,"company":1508,"image":1509,"about":1510,"linkedin":1511,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"1d355ca8-0c5e-45ae-a914-5d191fe09366","Toni Marshall","Head of Patient Insights & Engagement","UCB","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FgdxFSdnDTFyQq8BWshSl_Toni%20Marshall%20Headshot.png","\u003Cp>Toni Marshall is a health marketing, insights, and behavior change leader with more than 12 years of experience across pharma and public health. As Head of Patient Insights & Engagement at UCB, she leads the patient insights agenda across the U.S. business, partnering with commercial teams to shape strategy around patient needs. Her work challenges organizations to move beyond surface-level engagement to earn trust, influence behavior, and drive measurable health impact.  \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftoni11am\u002F",{"id":1513,"name":1514,"title":1515,"company":1516,"image":1517,"about":1518,"linkedin":1519,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"d731a098-39d7-4451-8e36-16db517c52cb","Vindell Washington","Chief Clinical Officer","Verily","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FrgfPQCLwSIdEZWPOVaDg_VW-%20headshot.jpg","\u003Cp>Vindell Washington, MD, MS, is the Chief Clinical Officer and Head of Health Equity Center of Excellence at Verily. Dr. Washington provides clinical leadership across Verilyʼs\u003Cbr \u002F>research and care product suites and currently leads the\u003Cbr \u002F>companyʼs Center of Excellence for Health Equity. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Onduo, Verilyʼs virtual care solution for chronic condition management. Prior to Verily, he was Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana where he oversaw network operations and contracting, medical policy and quality, disease\u003Cbr \u002F>management and pharmacy benefits. Dr. Washington also\u003Cbr \u002F>served as National Coordinator for Health Information\u003Cbr \u002F>Technology (ONC), where he provided high-level executive direction and leadership for ONC programs, operations and policies. He also served in several capacities at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System including, President of the Health System Medical Group, Chief Medical Information Officer and leader of health system quality and information technology. Dr. Washington received his MD from the\u003Cbr \u002F>University of Virginia and his MS in healthcare management from the Harvard University School of Public Health.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fvindell-washington-85190029\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=3dd99491-4972-4f80-a675-bcde5a0037c0",{"id":1522,"title":1523,"description":1524,"plainDescription":1525,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":359,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1526,"startTime":1401,"endTime":1427,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1527,"calendarUrl":1528},"9447ad86-3eaf-4ffe-aef2-73d0959c6618","HBCU Alumni Meetup","\u003Cp>An elevated networking experience celebrating the legacy, leadership, and cultural impact of HBCU alumni. This gathering creates space for connection, recognition, and community among those shaping the future of tech and more through historically rooted excellence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Afrotech Conference Badge Required\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>","An elevated networking experience celebrating the legacy, leadership, and cultural impact of HBCU alumni. This gathering creates space for connection, recognition, and community among those shaping the future of tech and more through historically rooted excellence.\nAfrotech Conference Badge Required",[43,44,236,46],[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=9447ad86-3eaf-4ffe-aef2-73d0959c6618",{"id":1530,"title":1531,"description":1532,"plainDescription":1533,"track":1534,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1535,"startTime":1401,"endTime":1536,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1537,"calendarUrl":1546},"e35e28c9-f19e-46af-8b7a-73758dc04e94","Keeping Satellites Alive: A Hands-On Demo","\u003Cp>Julia Weber will bring a real SuperDove satellite to the AfroTech stage, giving attendees a rare, hands-on look at the hardware behind the world’s largest commercial Earth observation fleet. As a satellite operations engineer at Planet Labs, she will explain how satellites capture daily images of Earth and support climate monitoring, disaster response, food security, and defense. Through this interactive demonstration, she will showcase the diverse careers shaping the future of space while inspiring greater representation in an industry where Black professionals and women remain significantly underrepresented.\u003C\u002Fp>","Julia Weber will bring a real SuperDove satellite to the AfroTech stage, giving attendees a rare, hands-on look at the hardware behind the world’s largest commercial Earth observation fleet. As a satellite operations engineer at Planet Labs, she will explain how satellites capture daily images of Earth and support climate monitoring, disaster response, food security, and defense. Through this interactive demonstration, she will showcase the diverse careers shaping the future of space while inspiring greater representation in an industry where Black professionals and women remain significantly underrepresented.","Smart Cities",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T17:20:00.000Z",[1538],{"id":1539,"name":1540,"title":1541,"company":1542,"image":1543,"about":1544,"linkedin":1545,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"a799584c-cbf6-41bd-9224-6a9774a99f37","Julia Weber","Satellite Manufacturing Engineer","Planet Labs","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FKhixjBiXSWmIUDMUCrSq_headshot-1786627841966.png","\u003Cp>I am a Satellite Operations Engineer at Planet Labs, where I help keep the largest commercial Earth observation fleet in history alive. From Planet's European headquarters in Berlin, I manage satellite health across a constellation of hundreds of spacecraft, coordinate collision avoidance maneuvers, resolve real-time anomalies, and lead launch campaigns to deploy new satellites into orbit. I am also the first engineer hired to help build Planet's first production facility outside the United States, where the next-generation Pelican satellites will be manufactured, a milestone in scaling global Earth observation.\u003Cbr \u002F>Growing up as the daughter of a German father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, I moved between two worlds but rarely saw myself reflected in the one I dreamed about most: space. Black women make up just 0.5% of the engineering workforce globally, and the number who directly command spacecraft is even smaller. That gap never discouraged me. It became my fuel.\u003Cbr \u002F>The reality hit hardest when I was invited to last year's \"Bonner Raumfahrtabend\", an exclusive gathering of Germany's top aerospace decision-makers. At 30, I was one of the youngest people in the room, the only Black person, and one of few women. The people shaping the future of spaceflight in Europe did not reflect the world they were building for. That moment crystallized my mission.\u003Cbr \u002F>Today I co-lead Planet's Black employee resource group and speak at events like Germany's national Space Day, using real satellite hardware to bring orbital mechanics to life for audiences who have never been that close to the technology. My goal is always the same: make this industry feel accessible to every Black professional, every engineer from the African diaspora, every person who has looked up and wondered if there is room for them in this field. The room exists, and AfroTech attendees belong in it.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjulia-weber-25a382124\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=e35e28c9-f19e-46af-8b7a-73758dc04e94",{"id":1548,"title":1549,"description":1550,"plainDescription":1551,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1552,"startTime":1401,"endTime":1391,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1553,"calendarUrl":1561},"452c4a7f-940a-40d6-ab46-9fad9d712fbc","Reframe Haiti: Media, Money, and Market Power","\u003Cp>Using Haiti as a global case study, this session examines how culture can become market power. The conversation moves beyond crisis narratives to examples in film, sports, fashion, Marvel storytelling, World Cup qualification, and digital media, showing how creators, technologists, athletes, and diaspora networks can turn visibility into investment, partnerships, ecosystem growth, and more informed engagement with emerging markets.\u003C\u002Fp>","Using Haiti as a global case study, this session examines how culture can become market power. The conversation moves beyond crisis narratives to examples in film, sports, fashion, Marvel storytelling, World Cup qualification, and digital media, showing how creators, technologists, athletes, and diaspora networks can turn visibility into investment, partnerships, ecosystem growth, and more informed engagement with emerging markets.",[43,44,236,46],[1554],{"id":1555,"name":1556,"title":666,"company":1557,"image":1558,"about":1559,"linkedin":1560,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"ad09b4b4-970c-4332-9d77-ff206098ed71","Shaïna Silva","World Connected Media Venturs","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2F9RaKJ2mRlOAOtaUZRQpp_DSC_5612.JPG","\u003Cp>Shaïna Silva is an award-winning entrepreneur, ecosystem architect, and digital transformation strategist dedicated to advancing growth across emerging markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is the CEO of World Connected Platforms, a venture-building studio and production company that develops technology platforms, ecosystem initiatives, and culturally driven storytelling experiences that support the innovation and creative economy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her work spans Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where she leads initiatives at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and economic development. Collaborating with startups, corporations, and governments, she has helped expand market access for high potential startups, and open new pathways for sustainable growth. At the heart of her work is a passion for storytelling and a commitment to reshaping narratives around underrepresented markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A steadfast advocate for women’s leadership, Shaïna founded the #SHE_BUILDS Global Initiative, an international platform connecting women entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and creators to mentorship, capital, and global opportunities. Through #SHE_BUILDS, she has cultivated a cross-border leadership network and curated immersion experiences that foster collaboration, investment, and shared growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaïna’s experience spans both entrepreneurship and corporate innovation. At Meta, she worked across product, strategy and operations, financial integrity, and creator monetization, building systems that help creators and businesses grow responsibly across global digital platforms. Prior to Meta, she served as Director of Industry Accelerators at RocketSpace, leading programs that connected Fortune 500 companies with emerging technology startups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr \u002F>She is a graduate of Babson College and an alumna of Draper University and Singularity University. She was selected as an Innovation Talent for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals where she actively participates in innovation labs for the advancement of the 2030 Agenda. Shaïna has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40, is a recipient of the Institute of Caribbean Studies’ \"30 Under 30 Emerging Leaders Award, and Babson College’s \"Nan-Langowitz Women Who Make a Difference Award\". \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fshainasilva\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=452c4a7f-940a-40d6-ab46-9fad9d712fbc",{"id":1563,"title":1564,"description":1565,"plainDescription":1566,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1567,"startTime":1391,"endTime":1568,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1569,"calendarUrl":1578},"5b142a5b-84f9-4112-9b36-59cffb112918","Africa's Fintech Opportunity","\u003Cp>Africa's fintech ecosystem is building financial infrastructure the rest of the world is watching. Mobile money, digital lending, and cross-border payments are being reimagined at scale, and the builders driving it are redefining what's possible. Zekarias Amsalu has accelerated 100+ African startups and helped unlock $400M in growth capital. This session explores what's being built and how diaspora professionals can actively participate.\u003C\u002Fp>","Africa's fintech ecosystem is building financial infrastructure the rest of the world is watching. Mobile money, digital lending, and cross-border payments are being reimagined at scale, and the builders driving it are redefining what's possible. Zekarias Amsalu has accelerated 100+ African startups and helped unlock $400M in growth capital. This session explores what's being built and how diaspora professionals can actively participate.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T18:10:00.000Z",[1570],{"id":1571,"name":1572,"title":1573,"company":1574,"image":1575,"about":1576,"linkedin":1577,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"1c3fcbf2-c368-49cd-838f-4463b0610421","Zekarias Amsalu","Co-Founder & MD","Africa Fintech Summit ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F30HqNlikQ4mkd8hIPaUa_Zekarias%20Amsalu%20-%20Co-Founder%20AFTS%20%26%20Founder%20-%20Ibex%20Frontier%20(1).JPG","\u003Cp>One of the Global Top 100 Most Influential Person of African Descent under 40(MIPAD) for 2018 under Business & Entrepreneurship, Zekarias is Co-Founder & Co-organiser of the premier Africa fintech Summit, a bi-annual summit that takes place in Washington DC and one African city every year as well as the Founder & MD of Ibex Frontier LLC, Route-to-Africa-market consultancy firm based in Washington DC. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For nearly a decade, Zekarias Amsalu — alongside his exceptional team — has co‑hosted biannual Africa Fintech Summit gatherings in Washington, D.C. and across major African cities. Through that work, he built a clear conviction: Africa’s fintech ecosystem deserves a global stage on its own terms. From putting the right narrative of the African fintech ecosystem to carefully selecting and accelerating African early stage startups through his flagship Alpha Expo Micro Accelerator & Pitch Competition Program, Zekarias has helped over 100+ African early stage startups get visibility, access and investor connection over the last 9 years while awarding participating startups over $2 Million worth of awards and benefits, as a resulting helping cohorts go on scale with over $400M in growth capital.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought-leader & voice and advocate of the African fintech ecosystem, Zekarias has been featured on various international media outlets including Pan African Vision’s cover story “Inside Africa's $65B Fintech Boom with Zekarias Amsalu”,  Top Global Voice to follow on Stablecoin,  Empower Africa’s top 35 Tech Titans in Africa,  Forbes Africa, CNN, CGTN, Digest Africa, Global Finance Magazine, PYMNTS.TV. , Africa Fintech Newsletter, and CGTN, among others. A seasoned speaker and moderator, Zekarias has moderated several high level international events including at the African Union, US-Africa Investment Summit, and at the UNGA side events!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zekarias is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and an MBA Graduate of Oxford Brookes University in the UK and lives in Virginia, USA splitting his time with frequent travel to Africa.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fzekarias-amsalu-dubale-fcca-073ab414\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=5b142a5b-84f9-4112-9b36-59cffb112918",{"id":1580,"title":1581,"description":1582,"plainDescription":1583,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":1185,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1584,"startTime":1427,"endTime":1585,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1586,"calendarUrl":1587},"73962e37-b856-4b41-86ae-42c13a4c98e5","Future of Work Meetup","\u003Cp>A collaborative meetup for HR leaders and People Ops professionals passionate about building equitable, inclusive workplaces. Attendees will connect over real-world challenges, share strategies for organizational growth, team culture, and employee engagement, and exchange practical ideas in a supportive, solutions-driven space. Perfect for those who want to network, learn, and lead the way in shaping the future of work.\u003C\u002Fp>","A collaborative meetup for HR leaders and People Ops professionals passionate about building equitable, inclusive workplaces. Attendees will connect over real-world challenges, share strategies for organizational growth, team culture, and employee engagement, and exchange practical ideas in a supportive, solutions-driven space. Perfect for those who want to network, learn, and lead the way in shaping the future of work.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T19:30:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=73962e37-b856-4b41-86ae-42c13a4c98e5",{"id":1589,"title":1590,"description":1591,"plainDescription":1592,"track":314,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1593,"startTime":1594,"endTime":1595,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1596,"calendarUrl":1620},"67c77fae-0f6f-4943-bd88-0502316cd2c6","Building a Venture-Backable Company","\u003Cp>Profitable is not the same as venture-backable. Investors who have backed some of the most category-defining companies in tech break down what they are actually looking for at the earliest stages: how they evaluate founders, why most companies cap their own upside, and how creators and bootstrappers can build for scale without giving up their edge. Walk away with a capital strategy that meets you where you are.\u003C\u002Fp>","Profitable is not the same as venture-backable. Investors who have backed some of the most category-defining companies in tech break down what they are actually looking for at the earliest stages: how they evaluate founders, why most companies cap their own upside, and how creators and bootstrappers can build for scale without giving up their edge. Walk away with a capital strategy that meets you where you are.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T18:05:00.000Z","2026-11-05T19:00:00.000Z",[1597,1604,1612],{"id":1598,"name":1599,"title":1600,"company":39,"image":1601,"about":1602,"linkedin":1603,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"b0a3d26b-221f-4fef-8187-fe52c606aa9d","Arif Gursel","Founder, 8genC & Partner, UnCap Ventures","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FRlUHag9uRDasxm01rXoN_headshot-1784034643008.jpg","\u003Cp>Arif Gursel is a creative and technical executive who effortlessly transitions between left- and right-brain executions, demonstrating adaptability and versatility. He is currently the founder and managing director of 8genC (pronounced 'agency') Inc, a firm helping creators, brands, and technology companies scale through strategic leadership. Mr. Gursel's influence extends beyond borders, as evidenced by his multiple global leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Zillow, Salesforce, Netflix, and Google, he specializes in technology, partnerships, and the creator economy.  Arif also is the founder and Executive Director of the Cre8tive & Cre8tor Economy Alliance and invests in early-stage startups through Unified Capital.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Farifgursel\u002F",{"id":1605,"name":1606,"title":1607,"company":1608,"image":1609,"about":1610,"linkedin":1611,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"fa957380-cb2f-4b23-96d5-3599ba362c59","Monique Idlett","Co-Founder & General Partner","Reign Ventures","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FYNhXylnMR8KczL79ENRv_moniquehsafrotech.jpg","\u003Cp>Monique Idlett is an investor, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder\u002FGeneral Partner of Reign Venture Capital, a top-performing seed-stage firm investing in early-stage technology companies. With over 30 years of experience across entertainment, technology, and venture capital, she has founded successful music ventures and served as Executive Producer of the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated television series Empire. Monique is recognized for advancing innovation, equity, and social impact through business and philanthropy.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fmonique-idlett-41353b15\u002Foverlay\u002Fabout-this-profile\u002F",{"id":1613,"name":1614,"title":1615,"company":1616,"image":1617,"about":1618,"linkedin":1619,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"93fef9cd-2cc9-43f6-9cdc-69c3369faade","Kobie Fuller","General Partner","Upfront Ventures","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FEJ77V1fJTOQcpMK6VRzA_Kobie%20Fuller.jpg","\u003Cp>Kobie has been a General Partner at Upfront since 2016, where he focuses on applied AI and next generation human computer interaction platforms. Over more than two decades in venture capital, he has held key roles at Accel, OpenView Venture Partners, and Insight Venture Partners, backing category-defining companies including ExactTarget (acquired by Salesforce for $2.5B), UserTesting (IPO and $1.3B exit), and Oculus (acquired by Meta for $2B). At Upfront, his current investments include Sandbar, Laurel, Cordial, Martie and a growing set of companies shaping the future of AI-enabled work.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fkobiefuller\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=67c77fae-0f6f-4943-bd88-0502316cd2c6",{"id":1622,"title":1623,"description":1624,"plainDescription":1625,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1626,"startTime":1568,"endTime":1627,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1628,"calendarUrl":1637},"19dfd590-8bd5-4cce-98c0-e36cd8dd06c4","How Small Nations Are Winning Big in Global Tech Infrastructure","\u003Cp>Bermuda’s transformation into a critical hub for global digital infrastructure offers a blueprint for competing on the world stage. Minister Lightbourne will share how regulatory clarity, technical excellence, and strategic positioning helped secure Google’s Nuvem and Sol subsea cable infrastructure projects. The session highlights how smart governance accelerates trust, attracts billion-dollar investments, and enables small nations and underrepresented communities to win major tech partnerships through transparency, strong systems, and community engagement.\u003C\u002Fp>","Bermuda’s transformation into a critical hub for global digital infrastructure offers a blueprint for competing on the world stage. Minister Lightbourne will share how regulatory clarity, technical excellence, and strategic positioning helped secure Google’s Nuvem and Sol subsea cable infrastructure projects. The session highlights how smart governance accelerates trust, attracts billion-dollar investments, and enables small nations and underrepresented communities to win major tech partnerships through transparency, strong systems, and community engagement.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T18:40:00.000Z",[1629],{"id":1630,"name":1631,"title":1632,"company":1633,"image":1634,"about":1635,"linkedin":1636,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"0bb37c18-019d-4e96-8db9-92d3bb08bfbc","Hon. Alexa Lightbourne JP, MP","Minister of Home Affairs","Government of Bermuda","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FFj93FTDzTAa4hcHvNUfz_IMG_0021.jpeg","\u003Cp>The Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, is a passionate Bermudian who was raised on Dock Hill, Bermuda. Her career is defined by service. Following her successful win in Constituency 14 in the February 2025 General Election, she was appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs for the Government of Bermuda. Under her remit, Minister Lightbourne is responsible for the Department of Energy, Land Title Registry, Consumer Affairs, and the Regulatory Authority. Minister Lightbourne is a strategic consultant and policy advisor who is deeply committed to public service and community empowerment. She has a track record of impactful results locally and internationally, and her vision focuses on innovation, sustainability, and fostering inclusive growth for Bermuda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prior to her appointment, Minister Alexa Lightbourne served as the Head of Operations and Strategy and Chief of Staff to the Premier of Bermuda, where she drove critical government initiatives, improving efficiency, transparency, and operational excellence. She also was a public officer, serving in the role of Management Consulting Partner for the Government of Bermuda leading their change management initiatives across the service. Additionally, Minister Lightbourne supported transformative projects like the public LED light bulb exchange, solar rebate programme, and the Government Future Energy Strategy as a Government Consultant to Bermuda’s Deputy Premier and the Ministry of Home Affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Lightbourne’s international political experience includes work on successful campaigns in Antigua, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Grenada, as well as organizing for Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign and Campaign Manager for the PLP’s 2017 and 2020 general elections. \u003C\u002Fp>","http:\u002F\u002Flinkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Falexa-lightbourne-llb-9648b6249","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=19dfd590-8bd5-4cce-98c0-e36cd8dd06c4",{"id":1639,"title":1640,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":550,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1641,"startTime":1627,"endTime":1642,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1643,"calendarUrl":1644},"867f8bfd-2946-4152-8d74-9f55a09ea7d6","Global Summit Ends",[],"2026-11-05T18:41:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=867f8bfd-2946-4152-8d74-9f55a09ea7d6",{"id":1646,"title":1647,"description":1648,"plainDescription":1649,"track":314,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1650,"startTime":1651,"endTime":1585,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1652,"calendarUrl":1667},"b7f522f6-f7b5-4482-b11d-a3e286818351","Third Spaces & Building Real Community with The Gathering Spot","\u003Cp>Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen, co-founders of The Gathering Spot, share how they built one of the country's most influential membership communities and why intentional third spaces are essential for career growth, creative collaboration, and surrounding yourself with people who elevate you.\u003C\u002Fp>","Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen, co-founders of The Gathering Spot, share how they built one of the country's most influential membership communities and why intentional third spaces are essential for career growth, creative collaboration, and surrounding yourself with people who elevate you.",[43,44,45,46,47],"2026-11-05T18:45:00.000Z",[1653,1660],{"id":1654,"name":1655,"title":1656,"company":1657,"image":1658,"about":1659,"linkedin":39,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"594a570a-5ff2-4221-bf52-5e121416b457","TK Petersen","Co-Founder ","The Gathering Spot","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2Fbwfik0uTBamzi0AYrUeg_transformed-1778251740490.png","\u003Cp>TK Petersen is co-founder and CFO of The Gathering Spot, a private membership network built to foster community, collaboration, and connection. Under his leadership, the company has expanded from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and beyond. TK oversees operations and financial growth across the business and has been recognized by outlets including Forbes, Fast Company, and The New York Times for his impact in business and community building.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"id":1661,"name":1662,"title":1663,"company":1657,"image":1664,"about":1665,"linkedin":1666,"twitter":1445,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"6c70d75f-7b27-447b-8b57-9fc739473584","Ryan Wilson","CEO & Co-Founder ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2F8pJzpqPBRoiqt5NxUzHu_Ryan%20Wilson.jpeg","\u003Cp>Ryan Wilson is the visionary CEO and co-founder of The Gathering Spot, a national private membership network redefining community and collaboration for Black professionals. At just 24, he secured funding to launch TGS in Atlanta, which has since expanded to multiple cities and become a hub for entrepreneurs, creatives, and changemakers. A recognized thought leader, Ryan has spoken at major institutions and corporations, been honored as one of The Root 100 and the Ebony Power 100, and serves on numerous civic boards. A Georgetown University and Law Center graduate, he resides in Atlanta with his wife and children.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fryan-wilson-47656632\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=b7f522f6-f7b5-4482-b11d-a3e286818351",{"id":1669,"title":1670,"description":1671,"plainDescription":1672,"track":136,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1673,"startTime":1595,"endTime":1674,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1675,"calendarUrl":1692},"1b9358c0-ff8d-4716-9f08-543399a2a6cc","Closing the AI Trust Gap in CX","\u003Cp>Customer-facing AI is scaling fast. Trust is becoming the limiting factor. In this fireside chat, Zendesk Chief Legal Officer Shana Simmons breaks down what it takes to build AI that customers and frontline teams will actually adopt, built around three requirements: mandatory transparency, operational explainability, and real accountability. For technical leaders deploying AI in high-stakes customer moments.\u003C\u002Fp>","Customer-facing AI is scaling fast. Trust is becoming the limiting factor. In this fireside chat, Zendesk Chief Legal Officer Shana Simmons breaks down what it takes to build AI that customers and frontline teams will actually adopt, built around three requirements: mandatory transparency, operational explainability, and real accountability. For technical leaders deploying AI in high-stakes customer moments.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T19:40:00.000Z",[1676,1684],{"id":1677,"name":1678,"title":1679,"company":1680,"image":1681,"about":1682,"linkedin":1683,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"e5fb1790-d300-4cdf-a7ab-c51d229c1a5e","Shana Simmons","Chief Legal Officer ","Zendesk","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FPW39YI0gRpy1cGYkaOli_Shana%20Simmons.png","\u003Cp>Shana Simmons is the Chief Legal Officer at Zendesk where she leads the global legal department in facilitating growth, mitigating risk, and helping shape the company's strategy to maximize value for Zendesk's customers and stakeholders. Shana joined Zendesk in March 2024. Prior to Zendesk she served as the Chief Legal Officer at Everlaw where she spearheadedthe lgal department overseeing legal, regulatory, privacy, governance, risk and compliance. Before Everlaw, Shana was Head of Go-To-Market Legal at Google Cloud, where her team played a pivotal role in expanding the business into global and regulated markets. Shana is a leader who achieves results by investing in and mentoring team, helping people grow into their full potential. She earned her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and holds a B.A. with honors from Wesleyan University. Outside of work, she serves as a corporate board member for HiHello and Serves on the boards of Wesleyan University and the Oakland Zoo. Shana lives in Oakland, California with her husband and two children. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fshana-simmons\u002F",{"id":1685,"name":1686,"title":1687,"company":1688,"image":1689,"about":1690,"linkedin":1691,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"b76f505c-2662-49f2-a978-ddb485a20584","Yemi Akisanya","Vice President of Culture and People Experience","Axon","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FEv4wx33pTc23rrSvqg98_headshot-1788218418295.jpg","\u003Cp>Yemi Akisanya has spent his 20+ year career answering one question: what does it take for people to do the best work of their lives? Born in Chicago, raised in Lagos, he learned young that culture shapes everything. Today, as Vice President of Culture and People Experience at Axon, he leads a global strategy that ties belonging to high performance in service of a mission to protect life. He has transformed cultures on four continents, teaches MBA students, and serves on boards advancing economic opportunity. To thousands, he is proof that how we treat people is strategy. Culture, he says, is not a passport. It's a perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fyemiakisanya\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=1b9358c0-ff8d-4716-9f08-543399a2a6cc",{"id":1694,"title":1695,"description":1696,"plainDescription":1697,"track":529,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1698,"startTime":1585,"endTime":1699,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1700,"calendarUrl":1708},"f53b0bc4-cc94-4a28-b9f4-2da827a9d3ba","The HCP Skill Stack for 2030","\u003Cp>The skills that made a great clinician in 2015 are not the same ones needed in 2030. Dr. Shannon Barnes Martin examines the emerging competency stack healthcare professionals will need to navigate AI, digital transformation, and shifting care models, covering digital fluency, data literacy, clinical expertise, and leadership, and offers a practical framework for building those competencies into workforce development.\u003C\u002Fp>","The skills that made a great clinician in 2015 are not the same ones needed in 2030. Dr. Shannon Barnes Martin examines the emerging competency stack healthcare professionals will need to navigate AI, digital transformation, and shifting care models, covering digital fluency, data literacy, clinical expertise, and leadership, and offers a practical framework for building those competencies into workforce development.",[43,45],"2026-11-05T20:00:00.000Z",[1701],{"id":1702,"name":1703,"title":1704,"company":378,"image":1705,"about":1706,"linkedin":1707,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"3cb0bf29-bc59-4ec3-9da8-0e1fb3caad40","Dr. Shannon Barnes Martin","Principal Nurse Experience Manager","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2Fz0XUPxDCSfWUx2sgHBTA_bHeadshot%202024.jpg","\u003Cp>Dr. Shannon Barnes Martin is a nurse informaticist and healthcare technology leader with over 20 years of nursing experience across pediatrics, nephrology, medical-surgical care, and more. She currently serves as Principal Nurse Experience Manager at Microsoft, leading nursing initiatives and generative AI adoption in healthcare. Dr. Martin is also dedicated to community outreach through organizations including Girls Who Code and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fshannon-barnes-martin-dnp\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=f53b0bc4-cc94-4a28-b9f4-2da827a9d3ba",{"id":1710,"title":1711,"description":1712,"plainDescription":1713,"track":1240,"stage":39,"room":446,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1714,"startTime":1585,"endTime":1699,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1715,"calendarUrl":1730},"3166c32b-15cf-491b-b86d-1c40c8bcc174","The Sound of Change with Vic Mensa","\u003Cp>Vic Mensa has never separated the music from the business, the activism, or the ownership. From building 93 Boyz to reclaiming his story through Halfrican, he turns culture into equity, at home and across borders. This conversation unpacks what it takes to own your work, own your narrative, and build something that lasts.\u003C\u002Fp>","Vic Mensa has never separated the music from the business, the activism, or the ownership. From building 93 Boyz to reclaiming his story through Halfrican, he turns culture into equity, at home and across borders. This conversation unpacks what it takes to own your work, own your narrative, and build something that lasts.",[43,44,236,46],[1716,1723],{"id":1717,"name":1718,"title":1719,"company":39,"image":1720,"about":1721,"linkedin":1722,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"5ed08bf9-1332-4546-a2c3-ad43f1987ea1","Vic Mensa","Musician, Actor, Filmmaker, Founder, Philanthropist ","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FWFFzFs0GSUKJDzXNt4UW_VicMensaHeadshot2025%20copy.JPG","\u003Cp>Vic Mensa is a Ghanaian-American musician, actor, filmmaker and founder, recognized as a leading cultural voice. Beyond music, he drives global dialogue through his Webby-winning Orange Tree Series and builds impact with his cannabis brand 93 Boyz. With a multidisciplinary career spanning tech, culture and community, Mensa offers a forward-thinking perspective on ownership, creativity and ecosystem building.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fvic-mensa-7b7260161\u002F",{"id":1724,"name":1725,"title":1726,"company":463,"image":1727,"about":1728,"linkedin":1729,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"5e8e85a1-8c29-4f38-a58e-dc68d5809095","Simone Tyler","SVP, AfroTech and Live Events","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002FUOy4fa8kTmWPF5eUsUIv_Simone%20White%20(1)-transformed.png","\u003Cp>Simone Ashley Tyler is a dynamic media professional with over a decade of experience in media, community engagement, and platform building. As the Senior Vice President of AfroTech and Live Events at Blavity, Inc., Simone has become a leading voice in promoting diversity in the tech industry and highlighting the contributions of Black technologists. Simone's passion for impactful media began early on. After earning her Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and Business from Howard University, Simone led launch teams for several prominent media outlets, including Tribune Media and Politico, in Washington, DC. Her partnerships earned her recognition in the DC politics scene while she spearheaded a wide range of growth campaigns. Simone is an LA Native with a commitment to giving back to her community. She partnered with various organizations to develop programs that aim to transform the landscape of access through music, real estate and wellness initiatives. Throughout her career, Simone has proven to be a dynamic and influential leader, committed to driving meaningful change and creating lasting impact in the communities she serves. Her dedication to excellence and passion for well-being and inclusion have earned her widespread respect and recognition in the industry, making her a true trailblazer and inspiration to many.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsimoneashleywhite\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=3166c32b-15cf-491b-b86d-1c40c8bcc174",{"id":1732,"title":1733,"description":1734,"plainDescription":1735,"track":1534,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1736,"startTime":1674,"endTime":1737,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1738,"calendarUrl":1746},"a61dc0a6-165e-4709-a7f3-c4ffe5192f48","Leading the Next Era of Space Exploration","\u003Cp>As Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche leads the teams shaping the future of human spaceflight while advancing innovations that improve life on Earth. From developing technologies that strengthen sustainability and resilience to inspiring the next generation of leaders, she'll share how purpose-driven leadership, bold thinking, and collaboration fuel breakthroughs that reach far beyond space.\u003C\u002Fp>","As Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche leads the teams shaping the future of human spaceflight while advancing innovations that improve life on Earth. From developing technologies that strengthen sustainability and resilience to inspiring the next generation of leaders, she'll share how purpose-driven leadership, bold thinking, and collaboration fuel breakthroughs that reach far beyond space.",[43,44,236,46],"2026-11-05T20:10:00.000Z",[1739],{"id":1740,"name":1741,"title":818,"company":1742,"image":1743,"about":1744,"linkedin":1745,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"ff63662a-3601-493d-a87f-aa7339913af6","Vanessa E. Wyche","NASA’s Johnson Space Center","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fattendee-photo%2FCAAMdGMlT003QXnVD0xi_headshot-1782335546946.jpg","\u003Cp>Vanessa Wyche is the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, home to America’s astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, and Orion Programs. Her responsibilities included a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including development and operation of human spacecraft and NASA astronaut selection and training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wyche also oversees NASA Johnson’s activities supporting the commercialization of low Earth orbit, supporting the agency’s needs following the transition from the International Space Station in 2030, and led the center’s programs supporting the exploration of the Moon and Mars, including surface system capabilities for human and commercial robotic missions, as well as simulated missions for crews on Mars.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fvanessawyche\u002F","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=a61dc0a6-165e-4709-a7f3-c4ffe5192f48",{"id":1748,"title":1749,"description":1750,"plainDescription":1751,"track":529,"stage":39,"room":530,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1752,"startTime":1753,"endTime":1754,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1755,"calendarUrl":1765},"843fc7ee-f521-49fc-8ce6-d14b90b4f2e6","Who's Accountable for AI? Closing Health Care's Governance Gap","\u003Cp>Health systems are racing to adopt AI while their governance hasn't caught up: Deloitte's own 2026 industry research found that just 15% of health care organizations have adapted governance to keep pace with AI. In this candid fireside conversation, Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes, Deloitte's Vice Chair and US Life Sciences & Health Care Industry Leader, unpacks why that gap exists, what it's costing organizations, and what leadership teams need to do now to responsibly scale AI to institutional scale.\u003C\u002Fp>","Health systems are racing to adopt AI while their governance hasn't caught up: Deloitte's own 2026 industry research found that just 15% of health care organizations have adapted governance to keep pace with AI. In this candid fireside conversation, Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes, Deloitte's Vice Chair and US Life Sciences & Health Care Industry Leader, unpacks why that gap exists, what it's costing organizations, and what leadership teams need to do now to responsibly scale AI to institutional scale.",[43,45],"2026-11-05T20:05:00.000Z","2026-11-05T20:35:00.000Z",[1756,1764],{"id":1757,"name":1758,"title":1759,"company":1760,"image":1761,"about":1762,"linkedin":1763,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"ac3d627a-80eb-4918-9314-04619b18c978","Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes","Vice Chair, Life Sciences & Health Care Industry Leader","Deloitte","https:\u002F\u002Fcontent-cdn.sessionboard.com\u002Fevent-files%2FLJtopcuzRxStOrf2Cd6J_Dr.%20Kulleni%20Gebreyes.jpg","\u003Cp>Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes is a board member of Deloitte US and serves as vice chair and US Life Sciences and Health Care industry leader. She leads a team of diverse professionals focused on advancing the business of science and health through market-shaping and digitally enabled innovation. Dr. Gebreyes also oversees Deloitte’s strategic efforts to ensure that organizations have financially durable business models that improve the health span and life span for all consumers, employees, and communities. By background, she is a physician leader with more than 25 years of experience across the commercial and public sectors.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww2.deloitte.com\u002Fus\u002Fen\u002Fprofiles\u002Fkulleni-gebreyes.html",{"id":536,"name":537,"title":538,"company":539,"image":540,"about":541,"linkedin":542,"twitter":39,"instagram":39,"facebook":39},"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=843fc7ee-f521-49fc-8ce6-d14b90b4f2e6",{"id":1767,"title":101,"description":102,"plainDescription":103,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":104,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1768,"startTime":1769,"endTime":1770,"dayKey":24,"speakers":1771,"calendarUrl":1772},"1178334a-c12b-4d1c-8a0f-6aa1dea73044",[],"2026-11-06T02:00:00.000Z","2026-11-06T06:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=1178334a-c12b-4d1c-8a0f-6aa1dea73044",{"id":1774,"title":1775,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1776,"startTime":1777,"endTime":1778,"dayKey":30,"speakers":1779,"calendarUrl":1780},"8366cf87-58fa-478a-8552-ab07c0a25e88","Creators Summit",[],"2026-11-06T15:00:00.000Z","2026-11-06T19:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=8366cf87-58fa-478a-8552-ab07c0a25e88",{"id":1782,"title":302,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":39,"stage":39,"room":303,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1783,"startTime":1777,"endTime":1778,"dayKey":30,"speakers":1784,"calendarUrl":1785},"c50e34e2-20b7-4912-b5cd-580d44cbff8b",[],[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=c50e34e2-20b7-4912-b5cd-580d44cbff8b",{"id":1787,"title":101,"description":102,"plainDescription":103,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":104,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1788,"startTime":1777,"endTime":1789,"dayKey":30,"speakers":1790,"calendarUrl":1791},"65b60191-97bc-4178-b801-2d60ac01da99",[],"2026-11-07T06:00:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=65b60191-97bc-4178-b801-2d60ac01da99",{"id":1793,"title":1794,"description":1795,"plainDescription":1796,"track":1797,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1798,"startTime":1799,"endTime":1800,"dayKey":30,"speakers":1801,"calendarUrl":1810},"a6046858-32d9-4207-84e2-36fc033a4cd8","Turning Internal Expertise Into AI-Proof Personal Brands","\u003Cp>Layoffs in tech hit Black workers first and hardest. AI is accelerating that curve. Meanwhile, the professionals landing board seats, advisor roles, and next jobs before the old one ends all share one thing — a public personal brand they built while still employed. But Black corporate professionals are navigating landmines their peers aren't. Compliance reviews that hit harder. HR policies enforced selectively. The respectability tax. The real, rational fear of retaliation for speaking publicly about work. Roxy built Sloefy — a personal branding platform for corporate professionals — because she lived this. In this session she will walk through the Personal Brand Map framework she uses with clients, show attendees how to extract workplace expertise without crossing compliance lines, and leave them with a 30-day plan they can start Monday morning. This is not a \"build your personal brand\" talk. 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Before Sloefy, she spent 10+ years in [domain], where she learned firsthand that technical expertise alone doesn't create leverage — visibility does. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roxy Course is a digital storyteller and expert voice in corporate culture recognized for her wildly relatable millennial manager skits that captures the unspoken reality of work life with humor, honesty, and authority. Her content resonates deeply with millennials and working moms, translating everyday workplace experiences into laugh-out-loud moments while also empowering women to protect their well-being and build careers on their own terms. With 15 years of experience working in corporate spaces spanning startups and Fortune 500 companies such as Dillard’s Inc, Whirlpool Corporate, Avery Dennison and Univar Solutions, she brings real-world expertise and credibility to every stage and conversation. \u003Cbr \u002F>Roxy’s platform sits at the intersection of career growth, self-care, and lifestyle. She is passionate about helping women stay in the driver’s seat of their careers, build confidence through self-belief, and create sustainable routines that support long-term success. She champions personal finance as a key pillar of empowerment; encouraging women to take care of their money, plan for their futures, and pursue the lives they want without apology. \u003Cbr \u002F>Roxy’s voice is comedic, warm, and instantly recognizable making her a standout keynote speaker and panelist on topics like workplace culture, ambition and boundaries, confidence-building, and thriving as a working woman. She is also a Webby Nominated Creator with an audience of over 550K+ people and 100M+ views across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads, and has partnered with brands like LinkedIn, Anthropic, IBM, The Project Management Institute, P & G, CVS, Amazon, and more. Roxy has been featured in numerous media publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, Newsweek, and HuffPost. \u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Froxanna-couse\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tiktok.com\u002F@roxycouse","\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=a6046858-32d9-4207-84e2-36fc033a4cd8",{"id":1812,"title":1813,"description":39,"plainDescription":39,"track":40,"stage":39,"room":760,"venue":39,"ticketLevels":1814,"startTime":1815,"endTime":1778,"dayKey":30,"speakers":1816,"calendarUrl":1817},"02c32431-6a0e-480f-b402-a2a97d681d6e","AFROTECH™ Conference 10 Year Celebration",[],"2026-11-06T18:45:00.000Z",[],"\u002Fapi\u002Fschedule-calendar?id=02c32431-6a0e-480f-b402-a2a97d681d6e",[115,136,1797,549,863,970,190,314,529,160,71,1240,893,1195,40,1534,650,234],[],106]