Apoorva Panidapu, born in 2005, is a talented mathematician, researcher, writer, artist, and advocate for youth in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). By the age of 19, she has published six peer-reviewed mathematical papers and has been mentored by renowned number theorist Dr. Daniel Goldston. Her work in mathematics, which includes an Erdos number of 2, has earned her prestigious recognitions such as the Davidson Fellows Laureate and the World Science Scholar.

Apoorva is deeply committed to making STEM accessible to all. She created the “Gems in STEM” column, reaching over 80,000 readers by using pop culture to simplify complex mathematical concepts. Her YouTube channel has also garnered significant attention, with over 3.5 million views and 17,000 subscribers. Additionally, she has spoken at major conferences, addressing over 100,000 people on topics like innovation and ethical AI.

Beyond academics, Apoorva has raised over $50,000 for various causes through her art and tutoring. As the Chief STEAM Advisor for the Girls Leadership Academy Meetup, she has mentored over 1,000 girls from diverse backgrounds. Currently studying at Stanford University, she continues to focus on ethical AI and tech policy while inspiring the next generation of tech leaders.

Sneha Revanur, a 19-year-old student at Stanford University, is the founder and president of Encode Justice, the largest youth-led movement focused on promoting safe and equitable AI. Her interest in AI regulation began in 2020 when she mobilized young people in California against Proposition 25, a ballot measure proposing the replacement of cash bail with a risk-based algorithm. After the initiative’s defeat, Encode Justice expanded its mission, now boasting 800 members across 30 countries, focusing on AI policy advocacy and education.

Revanur’s efforts have garnered significant attention, leading to her recognition as the youngest individual named to TIME’s 2023 list of the 100 most influential voices in AI. She has played a pivotal role in urging the inclusion of young people in AI oversight, organizing an open letter to U.S. congressional leaders and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This advocacy led to her participation in a roundtable on AI hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, marking a milestone in youth engagement in AI policy discussions. Revanur’s work underscores her commitment to ensuring that the next generation is actively involved in shaping the future of AI.

Jiangyi, a 19-year-old student, has demonstrated a strong passion for technology and advocacy. She is the founder of Project Peony, a mobile app aimed at improving women’s health education, for which she has raised over $1,600 in grants from organizations like Ashoka and Girl Up. Her journey in technology began with learning Scratch and later Java, which she studied at a community college despite being a high school freshman. This experience led her to a research position at Berkeley National Laboratory, where she focuses on graph algorithms with public welfare applications.

Her interest in AI and technology has driven her to participate in various prestigious programs, including AI research at Stanford’s AIMI Center and cognitive assistant projects at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory.

In addition to her technical pursuits, Jiangyi is committed to gender equity. She serves on her county’s women’s commission and leads Girl Up’s USA Pacific Coast region. She has developed websites for her school’s Career Center, organized career talks with tech giants, and raised $55,000 for a school hackathon. Her leadership extends to organizing hackathons such as HydraHacks and Superposition, empowering marginalized communities in technology

Mary Adegbesan is a high school student and a participant in Google’s Code Next program. She is passionate about computer science and is working to make technology education accessible to underserved communities. As the founder and executive director of CTRL Code, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Mary aims to bridge the digital divide, particularly for youth in Nigeria, by providing free online coding resources. CTRL Code offers both pre-recorded lessons and offline guides to ensure that students without consistent internet access can still engage with programming.

Mary is also the author of “Coding Unplugged: An Offline Guide to Python Programming,” which focuses on teaching Python through hands-on exercises, allowing students to learn even without computers. Her commitment to technology education highlights her leadership in empowering young people to explore computer science and develop valuable skills for the future.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Mary serves as a Section Leader for Stanford University’s Code in Place program, where she guides students in foundational computer science concepts. She is also Co-Chair of the National Girls Collaborative Project Youth Advisory Board, organizing meetings and discussions to advocate for youth in STEM.

Mary is student at Saint Agnes Academy, where she is President of the Girls Who Code Club and has received multiple academic awards.

Mithilya, a high school student and team captain of her FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Team, has demonstrated strong technical leadership by developing autonomous code for her team’s robot and leading them to qualify for international, state, and regional competitions. She has also organized over 50 public events and outreach programs, including Women in STEM presentations and mentoring other robotics teams, impacting over 1,000 students. Her efforts contributed to her team winning the Inspire Award.

Mithilya’s passion for STEM extends beyond robotics. She has interned at several Fortune 500 companies, such as JP Morgan Chase and Cisco, and participated in NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars Program. Additionally, she founded an initiative offering free STEM tutoring and college counseling to over 500 students and provided 130+ hours of math and science tutoring to underprivileged communities through the “Learn To Be” platform, earning her the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

Her leadership in STEM education is further reflected in her work with Sewa International, where she led efforts to educate 50+ refugee students, and her role as Publicity Lead at Women In Action, collaborating with GirlUp Africa to distribute 100,000 educational books to girls in Africa. Mithilya’s contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the NCWIT Regional Aspiration in Computing Award and a scholarship from the Society of Women Engineers, which she will use to study Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

Reeva is a young innovator, researcher, and programmer who has developed several impactful projects aimed at addressing critical issues. Motivated by her uncle’s near-fatal Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR), Reeva spent over two years researching ADRs and created MedAid, a mobile application that uses machine learning and OCR technology to diagnose and prevent ADRs. MedAid has received $15,000 in seed funding and has been recognized globally, winning awards such as Best Social Impact at The International Youth Tycoons Business Challenge. Additionally, Reeva has published her work on MedAid in a book on precision medicine.

Beyond MedAid, Reeva has developed SPED, a web application that enhances virtual learning for students with disabilities, and FoodCerve, which connects restaurants with surplus food to local food banks, potentially redirecting over 100,000 pounds of excess food annually. She has won 17 international hackathons, including Hack NYU and Yale CBIT, and was named one of Major League Hacking’s Top 50 Hackers of 2022.

Reeva is also a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. She co-organized gender-focused hackathons like Superposition VI, which involved over 300 female hackers, and has led initiatives through organizations like Girl Genius and Techgirlz, impacting over 460,000 young girls globally.

Brian Moran is a product manager and innovator who co-founded Boolean Girl, an organization dedicated to increasing gender diversity in STEM. His motivation stemmed from observing the underrepresentation of women in technology and the low number of girls pursuing STEM fields. Boolean Girl focuses on engaging girls and non-binary students aged 8 to 14 in coding, engineering, and other STEM activities through project-based learning.

Since its inception, Boolean Girl has provided in-person and virtual computer science education, particularly targeting underserved and lower-income communities. The program has been successful in cultivating early interest in STEM, with over 90% of participants recommending the camps and a high return rate of campers.

Brian’s commitment to gender diversity is also reflected in his leadership approach. He consistently highlights the achievements of the Boolean Girl community, board members, and staff rather than his own contributions. His efforts have not only helped close the gender gap in technology but have also inspired a new generation of girls and non-binary students to pursue careers in STEM

Alexis Bonnell serves as the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). In this role, she is responsible for executing the AFRL Information Technology strategy and leading the development of advanced technologies and platforms to support air, space, and cyberspace forces. Her efforts focus on integrating digital capabilities, IT infrastructure, and technological innovation across the lab’s operations.

Before her current role, Alexis worked at Google as an Emerging Technology Evangelist, where she promoted the use of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to enhance efficiency within government organizations. She also co-founded the Global Development Lab at USAID, where she reviewed over 25,000 innovations and funded 1,200 of them. Her leadership at USAID earned the agency a top innovation ranking in the Results for America Rankings.

Alexis has contributed to various Department of Defense innovation initiatives, including AFWERX and Kessel Run, and has experience in challenging environments, such as supporting DOD operations in warzones. Her work has consistently bridged public and private sectors, driving digital transformation and fostering innovation culture across multiple domains.

Barbara Grofic has been a key figure at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for over four decades, currently serving as the Associate Director of the Flight Projects Directorate/Astrophysics Projects Division. She manages 23 active missions, including the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, with a focus on ensuring their operational success and scientific output. Barbara oversees a $489 million annual budget with 143 full-time equivalent civil servants and over 700 contractors.

Her contributions include leadership roles across the mission lifecycle, from software development to systems engineering and mission management. She played a pivotal role in the Hubble Space Telescope’s mission control upgrades and has directed significant projects like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and the Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics (Athena).

Barbara’s commitment to diversity is evident in her establishment of NASA Goddard’s first all-women division leadership team in 2021 and her support for organizations like the National Society of Black Physicists. She also champions mentorship, guiding interns and developing training plans to foster future leaders in astrophysics. Her work in integrating cutting-edge technologies and promoting inclusivity has had a lasting impact on the global space science community.

Iris Mwanza is the Deputy Director of the Gender Equality Division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She focuses on enhancing women’s representation and influence in health, law, and economics across priority regions. Born and raised in Zambia, Iris’s early exposure to gender inequality motivated her to pursue a career advocating for women’s rights. Her academic background includes law degrees from Cornell University and the University of Zambia, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.

In addition to her role at the Gates Foundation, Iris serves on the boards of Care International and WWF US. Her work spans international development and global health, with significant contributions to HIV/AIDS, health systems strengthening, and community health initiatives. Iris’s commitment to gender equality is also reflected in her scholarly work, including her Ph.D. dissertation on women’s and children’s rights in Commonwealth Africa. She is also an author, having written a thriller novel, The Lions’ Den, which centers on themes of gender equality.

Tea Trumbic currently manages the Women, Business, and the Law project within the World Bank’s Development Economics vice-presidency. In this role, she leads a team responsible for producing data and analysis on how laws and regulations affect women’s economic participation. With two decades of experience in both government and international organizations, Tea has focused on developing policies that promote sustainable and inclusive economic development. Since joining the World Bank in 2006, she has contributed to the Doing Business project, particularly in areas related to tax and credit information regulations. She has also developed indicators for agribusiness regulations and has conducted extensive regulatory analysis across various countries, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Prior to her tenure at the World Bank, Tea worked at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia and the International Monetary Fund. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University and a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics.

QuantumBloom, formerly known as Launched2Lead, is a pioneering initiative dedicated to empowering women in STEM fields by addressing systemic challenges such as the “leaky pipeline” and the “broken rung.” Founded to tackle the early career exodus of women from STEM, QuantumBloom provides a comprehensive ecosystem of support through professional development, coaching, skill improvement, and a strong community network.

The organization offers three key programs: the Flagship Program, which includes a curriculum, coaching, and community support; ERG in a Box, a facilitated monthly curriculum; and a Subscription service that provides accessible resources and community engagement. QuantumBloom’s approach is data-driven, focusing on measurable impacts like increased retention, productivity, and innovation within partner companies. Their mission is to support 80,000 underrepresented professionals and transform 500 companies into models of equity and excellence within the next decade.

By integrating long-term systemic change with individual support, QuantumBloom aims to create a significant, lasting impact on the STEM landscape, promoting diversity and inclusion across the industry. Their initiative represents a scalable solution to retaining women in STEM and fostering a more inclusive and innovative environment.

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 with the mission to amplify women’s voices in leadership roles, recognizing that progress in communities and nations depends on the inclusion of women leaders. The organization acts as a “venture catalyst,” identifying women with bold visions for addressing global challenges such as gender-based violence, economic inequalities, and the climate crisis. Through long-term investments, Vital Voices enhances the skills, networks, and visibility of these leaders, enabling them to scale their impact.

Over its history, Vital Voices has directly supported more than 20,000 women across 185 countries. The organization has played a pivotal role in the early stages of leaders who have gone on to achieve significant global recognition, including Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, and prime ministers. Vital Voices’ focus on sustainable change and measurable impact has built one of the most influential global networks of women leaders dedicated to creating a more equitable world.

Swathi Nelabhatla is the Founder of SheJobs, a job portal dedicated to supporting women and underrepresented minorities in the USA and India. SheJobs specifically assists women with career gaps in re-entering the workforce and helps organizations enhance their diversity and inclusion initiatives. The platform also focuses on supporting mothers of children with disabilities, offering tailored resources to address their unique challenges.

Under Swathi’s leadership, SheJobs has gained recognition for its impact, being named the 2022 Impact Company of the Year by DotCom Magazine. Swathi has also received numerous personal accolades, including being recognized as one of the 20 most Inspiring Women Leaders by Women’s Leaders magazine and as one of the 100 Women to KNOW Across America by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Her contributions have been further acknowledged through awards such as the Tech Titans 2023 “Community Hero” and a finalist position for the TECHTITANS 2023 “Startup CEO” award.

Beyond her work with SheJobs, Swathi has trained and certified over 200 women and underrepresented minorities as Senior System Architects, demonstrating her commitment to providing career advancement opportunities in technology. She is also a TEDx speaker, using her platform to advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech.

Nikita Gupta is the founder of Careerflow.ai, an AI-powered career platform designed to support job seekers, particularly those from underrepresented communities. With a background in engineering, data analytics, and talent recruitment at companies like Uber and Amazon Web Services, Nikita leveraged her expertise to create Careerflow.ai. The platform has helped over a thousand individuals secure employment by providing personalized career guidance and job search support.

Nikita’s initiative focuses on inclusivity, partnering with universities, corporations, and nonprofits to extend the platform’s reach to minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Careerflow.ai has grown to a community of over 400,000 users across multiple countries within its first 18 months, emphasizing its impact on improving job placement rates for underrepresented groups.

In recognition of her contributions, Nikita has received several accolades, including the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Women in IT Summit & Awards Series 2023. She is also a keynote speaker, having delivered over 30 talks at industry events, and her work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, Business Insider, and Fast Company.

Sakshi Dubey is a Software Technical Program Manager at Amazon Robotics with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Space Robotics. She has extensive experience in software engineering, particularly in managing autonomous robots and leading initiatives like Scanless Technologies, which has impacted over 1 trillion barcode scans through robotic automation.

Sakshi is also the founder of the “Pink Tech Decoded” initiative, which aims to inspire high school girls from diverse backgrounds, including rural areas of India and Ivy League schools in the U.S., to pursue careers in STEM and computing. Through this initiative, she has coached over 400 girls, advocating for greater gender diversity in technology.

In addition to her technical work, Sakshi has been a strong advocate for women’s education and empowerment in tech. She has held executive roles in various women in tech organizations and has spoken at over 20 conferences on the importance of closing the gender gap in STEM fields. Sakshi has also addressed these issues at national and international forums, including a TEDx talk at Georgia Tech.

Tonya L. Hicks is the President and CEO of Power Solutions, Inc. (PSI), a company she founded in 2000 that focuses on green technology and renewable energy. With a background in mathematics and computer science, Tonya became the first African American woman to earn the title of journeyman wireman in Mississippi’s Local 917 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Under her leadership, PSI has developed expertise in renewable energy projects and smart city technology, contributing to sustainable practices in the electrical contracting industry.

In 2022, Tonya founded shEV, a company that manufactures electric vehicle (EV) chargers with a focus on safer charging locations for women, the elderly, and disabled individuals. This initiative supports the broader adoption of EVs and promotes inclusivity in the transition to cleaner transportation.

Tonya has been recognized for her work internationally, including features in Forbes Japan and The New York Times. She is a Sustainability Ambassador for the City of Atlanta and a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2022. Her contributions to green technology have earned her accolades such as the Minority Contractor of the Year by the National Association of Minority Contractors and recognition as one of the Top 100 Women in Construction in 2023.

Etosha R. Cave is a mechanical engineer and the co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Twelve, a company focused on recycling carbon dioxide into useful products. Growing up in Houston, Cave developed an interest in recycling oil and gas, which led her to join the National Society of Black Engineers and earn an NSBE Scholarship. After high school, she gained practical experience at McMurdo Station, where she worked on HVAC systems and helped build a laser diode for NASA missions.

Cave later pursued a Ph.D. at Stanford University, where she developed electrochemical methods to convert carbon dioxide and water into products like plastics and cleaners. She built a gas analysis system to measure these reactions in real-time and completed her Ph.D. in 2015.

At Stanford, she co-founded Twelve, which uses metal catalysts to convert carbon dioxide into chemicals, materials, and fuels. Twelve operates from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and has received funding from the National Science Foundation and I-Corps. The startup has been recognized with the Forbes Change the World Award and was part of the Advanced Manufacturing Office Cyclotron Road program. In 2018, Cave was a finalist for the Carbon Xprize, highlighting her contributions to sustainable technology and carbon recycling.

Kristal Hansley is the Founder and CEO of WeSolar, a company focused on providing affordable and accessible community solar energy to under-resourced communities. With her leadership, WeSolar aims to address environmental justice issues by making clean energy available to marginalized groups and helping them benefit from associated financial incentives.

Before establishing WeSolar, Kristal served as the Director of Government and Community Relations for a prominent community solar energy company in Maryland. In this role, she facilitated significant savings on electricity bills for thousands of low-to-moderate-income families by connecting them to solar energy options.

Kristal’s career began in public service as a Capitol Hill staffer. She worked as a Community Affairs Liaison for U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton and as a Program Manager for the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative under the Office of Majority Leader Harry Reid. These roles allowed her to build strong skills in leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement, which she now applies to advancing sustainability goals through WeSolar.

Her work bridges the gap between clean energy access and underserved communities, demonstrating how targeted solar energy initiatives can contribute to environmental sustainability while addressing social equity challenges.

Mariam Ispahani, the founder of Sonali Bioplastics, leverages her experience in technology and climate-focused startups to develop plant-based alternatives that address plastic pollution and reduce carbon emissions. Her company targets the packaging and household goods markets, promoting eco-friendly practices and supporting sustainable living. Sonali Bioplastics also runs awareness campaigns, such as the “Unplastic Minds!” initiative, to educate youth on reducing plastic use.

Mariam has co-founded three technology startups and established two climate-focused startups, reflecting her commitment to sustainability and innovation. Her career spans Silicon Valley and international markets, involving various startup ecosystems. She has mentored and judged in global entrepreneurship competitions, with a particular focus on engaging youth and women.

In addition, Mariam has delivered motivational talks at academic institutions and think tanks, discussing topics related to startups, climate tech, cleantech, and sustainable practices. Her interests include swimming, squash, reading, writing, and exploring diverse cultures. Her professional work emphasizes promoting a circular economy, renewable energy, and bioplastics, showcasing her dedication to creating a greener future.

Siyu Huang is the Founder and CEO of Factorial Energy, a company specializing in advanced battery technology. With over a decade of corporate leadership experience, Siyu holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and an MBA from Cornell University. Prior to her current role, she was part of the Marketing Leadership Development Program at Johnson & Johnson, where she developed her entrepreneurial venture from the ground up.

Factorial Energy focuses on creating high-performance solid-state batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), residential applications, and critical industries. The company aims to enhance battery safety and extend the range per charge. Factorial has entered joint development agreements with major automotive manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai Motor Company. The company’s work has been recognized in publications such as The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

Factorial Energy is supported by venture capital, with $200 million raised in Series D funding via Crunchbase. The company’s mission is to advance the clean energy sector through innovative battery technologies, contributing to more sustainable energy solutions

Magi Richani is the Founder and CEO of Alpine Bio, a plant genetics company dedicated to advancing protein production. Alpine Bio focuses on developing highly efficient and regenerative systems for protein manufacturing, aiming to replace resource-intensive production methods. Since its establishment in 2016, the company has been working on transforming soybeans into efficient protein factories through its proprietary biomanufacturing platform.

Under Richani’s leadership, Alpine Bio has developed its first ingredient, casein, a dairy protein essential for cheese production. The company has successfully designed the seeds, grown the plants, and purified the protein. Alpine Bio’s branded product, Nobell Foods, plans to introduce animal-free mozzarella in 2025.

Richani’s work with Alpine Bio represents a significant step towards sustainable protein production and showcases her commitment to environmental sustainability and innovative biomanufacturing techniques

Sandy Carter is the Chief Operating Officer of Unstoppable Domains, a leading company in Web3 and blockchain technologies. With an extensive background in technology leadership, she has held senior roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM, where she contributed to projects like Watson and led teams across AI, cloud, and IoT.

As the founder of Silicon-Blitz, she has trained future leaders in emerging technologies and innovation. Carter is also the driving force behind “Unstoppable Women of Web3,” an initiative aimed at increasing female representation in decentralized technologies. She has spoken internationally and authored three books, focusing on technology and innovation.

Carter’s work has been recognized through numerous awards, including AI Executive Champion of the Year and Most Influential Sales Leader. She also serves on the boards of Girls in Tech and Women in Technology International (WITI), contributing to the education and empowerment of women in tech globally.

Her leadership in Web3 advocacy has brought attention to gender equity in the field, engaging global forums like Davos to address these challenges. Sandy Carter continues to make significant contributions to blockchain and decentralized applications while advocating for a more inclusive Web3 ecosystem.

Linda Jeng is the Founder and CEO of Digital Self Labs, an advisory firm that integrates blockchain software expertise with policy and regulatory strategy. With over 20 years of experience in FinTech, policy, and regulation, she helps clients develop solutions that promote interoperability, transparency, and efficiency in the digital and financial sectors. Her work focuses on empowering individuals to control their digital identities and assets in the evolving Web3 landscape.

Linda is also an adjunct professor and researcher, affiliated with Georgetown University Law Center, Duke University Law School, and the Bank for International Settlements. She teaches and conducts research on topics such as open banking, digital identity, and decentralized finance (DeFi). She has published extensively on these subjects and is a regular speaker and commentator in the media, including as a Forbes contributor.

With a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a Master’s in EU and International Law from Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, Linda brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. She was among the first U.S. regulators to collaborate with crypto startups, and she advocates for a digital ecosystem where individuals have control over their personal data and digital assets.

Pamela Draper is the President and CEO of Digital Commerce Payments and Pateno Payments Inc., both part of the Digital Commerce Group, which provides technology and development solutions in the payments sector. In her role, she oversees the development and implementation of payment solutions that leverage blockchain and decentralized technologies to improve financial transactions.

Before joining Digital Commerce Group, Pamela spent around 14 years in corporate and investment banking with major Canadian banks. She was a Director in BMO Capital Markets’ Equity Capital Markets group in Toronto, where she helped North American companies raise capital in public and private markets.

Pamela holds an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. She is also actively involved in the blockchain community as a Director for the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women, where she advocates for increased participation of women in blockchain technology. Additionally, she contributes to the Calgary Public Library Foundation as a board member. Her experience bridges traditional finance and innovative payment technologies, supporting the growth of Web3 and decentralized financial applications.

Calanthia is the co-founder of Masa, a decentralized network focused on creating a more connected and equitable digital world through Soulbound Tokens. Masa is recognized as the first and fastest-growing protocol for Soulbound Tokens, offering interoperable on-chain identifiers aimed at scaling Web3 to the next billion users. Masa is supported by notable backers, including Digital Currency Group, GoldenTree, and Binance’s MVB accelerator.

With over a decade of experience in fintech and investment, Calanthia was a founding member of PayPal’s venture capital arm, where she invested in 25 fintech and Web3 startups across various global markets, including the US, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. She has also been involved in scaling a fintech startup from 20 employees to 450, leading to its acquisition by a public company.

Calanthia’s expertise extends to contributing to global digital ID initiatives, such as those led by the World Economic Forum. Her work and insights have been featured in prominent industry publications, including CNBC, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, Blockworks, and at various Web3 and blockchain conferences like EthDenver and Consensus. Her approach emphasizes interoperability and data empowerment in the evolving Web3 landscape.

Leslie Ankney is a communications leader in the crypto industry with nearly a decade of experience in blockchain technology. She began her career in crypto in 2017 as a writer for crypto trade publications and later became Lead Analyst and Head of Communications for Forbes CryptoMarkets. At Forbes, she covered key topics such as crypto exchanges, institutional adoption, and regulation, helping to make complex concepts accessible to a broader audience.

Leslie then served as Director of the Blockchain and Digital Currencies Practice at Ditto PR, where she led communications strategies for top crypto firms. She is currently the Director of Communications at Anchorage Digital, a regulated digital asset platform backed by firms like KKR and Goldman Sachs. Leslie has played a key role in positioning Anchorage as a leader in secure and compliant digital asset custody for institutions. Her work has led to increased global media coverage and growth for Anchorage Digital, particularly during periods of regulatory and market uncertainty.

Leslie is also active in mentoring and advocating for women in Web3, drawing from her background as an educator and board member of the Financial Writers Society. She regularly speaks at global events on topics related to crypto and financial regulation.

Rita Singh has a distinguished career in computer voice recognition and artificial intelligence, with a focus on voice forensics. Since 1997, she has developed algorithms that have advanced the field of speech processing, particularly in making these systems language-agnostic and more effective in noisy environments. Her work emphasizes automation, scalable learning, and accurate processing of speech without relying heavily on human-generated knowledge.

In 2014, she shifted her research to profiling humans through voice, aiming to extract a wide range of personal characteristics from voice signals, such as physical, psychological, and behavioral traits. Her approach is unique in that it focuses solely on the voice signal, independent of language, drawing parallels to the uniqueness of DNA or fingerprints.

Currently, she is designing advanced AI systems that delve deeper into human profiling via voice, including genetic and biomarker discovery, as well as exploring emotions and personality. Her work also extends to creating general AI systems for universal speech and audio processing, with the ambitious goal of replicating the brain’s multisensory processing capabilities, potentially leading to AI systems with advanced cognitive and mobility functions.

Dr. Muhsinah L. Holmes Morris is a leading figure in the integration of virtual reality (VR) within higher education. As the Director of the Metaversity VR Program at Morehouse College, she has pioneered the use of immersive VR technology to enhance educational experiences. Her work in this area has gained significant recognition, including features on CNN International, NBCNews Now, and WSBTV.

In addition to her role at Morehouse, Dr. Morris is the founder of Metaverse United, LLC, an educational consulting agency established in 2021. The agency focuses on helping individuals across generations, from Baby Boomers to Generation Alpha, navigate and find their place in the evolving digital landscape of the Metaverse.

Dr. Morris holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and has extensive experience teaching advanced chemistry courses, including through innovative VR platforms. Her work exemplifies a disruptive approach to education, blending technology with traditional teaching to push the boundaries of how knowledge is imparted and absorbed. Through her efforts, Dr. Morris is reshaping the educational landscape and setting new standards for how immersive technologies can be leveraged for learning.

Yuexing Hao is a Ph.D. research fellow at Cornell University with a focus on Health Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction, and Artificial Intelligence. She holds degrees in Computer Science from Rutgers University (B.A.) and Tufts University (M.S.). Her work spans both academia and the healthcare industry, where she has made notable contributions to AI-based healthcare technology.

Yuexing’s research has been recognized with awards from prestigious organizations, including the National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) and the IEEE Communication Society. She has also published extensively in top-tier conferences like CHI, AAAI, and Bioinformatics. In addition to her research, Yuexing serves in leadership roles as the registration co-chair for FAccT and an associate chair for CSCW and CHI.

A significant aspect of her impact is the co-founding of Hug Medical, Inc., a startup focused on personalized intelligent medication and dietary supplement management for older adults. The company’s AIoT-driven system offers real-time tracking, reporting, and reminders for safe medication use, providing a user-friendly interface that empowers older adults to manage their health effectively. Hug Medical has received multiple awards, underscoring Yuexing’s role in driving innovation that challenges and reshapes industry practices.

Sophia Lopez is the Founder and President of Kaleido, a company that offers the Blockchain Business Cloud, a SaaS platform designed to simplify the creation and management of modern business networks. With an engineering degree from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Sophia has a strong technical and business background.

Sophia began working with blockchain technology in 2015 and played a significant role in shaping its application within the enterprise sector. Before founding Kaleido, she led the IBM Blockchain Platform product portfolio, where she developed high-value offerings that facilitated better business outcomes through blockchain adoption. Her leadership at IBM included overseeing multi-billion dollar lines of business as a Profit and Loss (P&L) Leader.

In addition to her work at Kaleido, Sophia is actively involved in mentoring and advising future entrepreneurs. She serves as an Adams Apprenticeship Advisor and participates as a coach and judge in startup initiatives at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Her experience in driving product innovation and growth in the technology industry positions her as a significant contributor to the field, particularly in the area of blockchain technology.

Val Vacante serves as the VP of Solutions Innovation at Dentsu, where she focuses on identifying cultural trends, commerce dynamics, and emerging technologies to drive next-generation product innovations. She led the creation of the Meta Global Messaging Alliance, which provides joint clients access to alpha and beta products across Meta’s Business Messaging platforms, including Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Val is also the product innovator behind Dentsu’s Intelligent Messaging, a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools that enhance brand-consumer interactions throughout the customer journey. This work has been recognized at CES, SXSW, and the Shorty Awards. Additionally, she co-created Dentsu NXT Space, a virtual environment developed in collaboration with Microsoft, LinkedIn, and others, designed to explore emerging technologies and business growth opportunities.

Val founded Collabsco, a strategy and innovation firm where she developed award-winning digital products and connected experiences across IoT, AR, VR, and AI. Her portfolio spans over 50 global brands, including Microsoft, Hasbro, and PepsiCo.

She has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Women in Tech by PCR Magazine and has received multiple industry awards. Val also serves on several advisory boards, including Fast Company’s Executive Board and SXSW’s Innovation Advisory Board.

Melanie Nakagawa is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft, where she directs the company’s initiatives to become carbon negative, water positive, and achieve zero waste. With nearly two decades of experience intersecting policy, business, and technology, Nakagawa leverages technological innovation to advance sustainability.

Previously, she served as Special Assistant to President Biden and Senior Director for Climate and Energy on the National Security Council, where she contributed to shaping national climate policies. Before her role in the White House, Nakagawa was involved in launching Princeville Capital’s first global growth equity climate technology fund, which invests in companies addressing climate change.

Nakagawa holds a J.D. and M.A. from American University and an A.B. from Brown University. Her career exemplifies a commitment to integrating technology with international relations to drive progress in sustainability and climate policy.

Nadine Farid Johnson is the inaugural Policy Director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, where she leads the Institute’s policy and advocacy efforts and engages with U.S. government officials to advance policy objectives.

Previously, Farid Johnson was the Managing Director of PEN America’s Washington office and Free Expression Programs. Her focus included foreign policy, tech policy, privacy, press freedom, and educational censorship. She co-authored reports like “Speech in the Machine: Generative AI’s Implications for Free Expression” and has testified before Congress.

Farid Johnson has a background as a U.S. diplomat, with experience in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and multilateral affairs. She served as Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas and has taught constitutional, international, and intellectual property law at Gonzaga University and Harvard Law School. In the private sector, she worked as a patent litigator and managed operations and community engagement at Google in Los Angeles.

She holds degrees from DePauw University and Tulane Law School and has studied at the U.S. Naval War College. Farid Johnson is a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, focusing on human rights and national security. She resides in Washington, D.C.

Anne Termine is the Head of Policy at Yuga Labs, where she shapes the company’s policy priorities in the evolving web3 landscape. In this role, she engages with government and industry stakeholders to advocate for the development of the web3 ecosystem.

Prior to joining Yuga Labs, Termine was a partner at Bracewell LLP in the Government Enforcement & Investigations Group. She has nearly 20 years of experience with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where she represented clients in the commodities, derivatives, and cryptocurrency markets. Termine led the CFTC’s enforcement program addressing LIBOR, Euribor, and TIBOR manipulation, negotiating settlements with nine international financial institutions totaling over $2.8 billion. Her work involved extensive coordination with global regulatory and law enforcement agencies, earning her the Chairman’s Award for Excellence.

Earlier in her career, Termine was a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, handling over 140 jury and non-jury trials. She graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School and frequently speaks and writes on compliance and enforcement issues related to derivatives and cryptocurrencies.

Cari McCachren-Shah is the Deputy Coordinator for Digital Freedom in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she oversees efforts to advance U.S. cyber and digital policies that reflect core values such as liberty, justice, and equality.

Previously, McCachren-Shah led the bureau’s cyber policy engagement in the Americas, managing both bilateral and multilateral outreach to promote U.S. perspectives on the Internet and cyberspace. She has also worked in the State Department’s former Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, where her responsibilities included cyber capacity building, Internet freedom, public diplomacy, and cyber engagement in Africa.

McCachren-Shah began her career in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and served as a Special Assistant on Cyber Issues to the Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. Prior to joining the State Department in 2011, she worked in the non-profit sector focusing on policy and advocacy related to women, youth, and children in Latin America and Africa. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in International Affairs from American University’s School of International Service.

Kay Firth-Butterfield is the CEO of Good Tech Advisory LLC and was named one of TIME’s Impact Awardees in 2024. She served as the inaugural Head of AI at the World Economic Forum, focusing on AI governance. A Barrister, former Judge, Professor, technologist, and entrepreneur, Firth-Butterfield specializes in the equitable application of new technologies, particularly AI.

She is an Associate Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and a Master of the Inner Temple in London. She served on the Lord Chief Justice’s Advisory Panel on AI and Law and was the world’s first Chief AI Ethics Officer in 2014. Firth-Butterfield also held key roles as Vice-Chair of the IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems and as a contributor to the Asilomar AI Ethical Principles.

Currently, she is on the Polaris Council for the Government Accountability Office (USA), the Advisory Boards for UNESCO’s International Research Centre on AI, and the Earth Species Project. She also serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on AI and the AI Governance Alliance. Firth-Butterfield holds advanced degrees in Law and International Relations and regularly speaks on AI’s technical, economic, and social impacts.

Rowena is the Innovation Lead and Co-Champion for Women at Global Affairs Canada’s Ontario Regional Office in Toronto. In this role, she focuses on advancing innovation and supporting gender equity within the organization. Previously, Rowena served as Head of Innovation at the Embassy of Canada to Japan, where she developed strategies to enhance Canada’s technological and innovative partnerships with Japan.

Rowena has extensive experience in trade policy and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. She has worked as a senior bilateral trade relations officer for South Korea and Japan, facilitating key trade discussions and agreements.

She holds an MBA in International Business and Finance from Dalhousie University and a BA in Japanese Studies from De La Salle University. Rowena is fluent in six languages, reflecting her deep commitment to fostering international relations and understanding.

Anne Vigier is a senior executive leading the Product Activation Organization at YouTube, where she oversees emerging products, including Gen AI features, YouTube Shorts, and Community Products. Her work focuses on driving the adoption of these innovations across the partner and creator ecosystem, particularly in response to the fast-changing macro environment. Prior to this role, Anne held leadership positions at Google, where she played a key role in the development of the Google hardware and services ecosystem, such as Google Home, Pixel Phone, and Fitbit. She also led the creation of Google’s first unified hardware brand and shaped the company’s early retail strategies.

Before joining Google, Anne was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, where she co-led the Luxury Practice in the U.S., advising on digital and omnichannel strategies for the fashion and luxury sectors.

Anne holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and General Management from CentraleSupélec and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as an executive sponsor of Women@YouTube and participating in the French American Foundation’s Young Leader Program. Residing in New York City, Anne balances her career with personal commitments, including mentoring young female leaders and supporting inclusive communities.

Denelle Dixon is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), a nonprofit organization focused on building and expanding the Stellar Network, a blockchain technology platform aimed at achieving global financial inclusion. At SDF, she leads a team dedicated to developing technology that provides real-world solutions for financial access and inclusion.

Before her current role, Denelle served as the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Business and Legal Officer, Senior Vice President and Associate General Councel at Mozilla Corporation. During her tenure at Mozilla, she led legal, policy, business, revenue, and operational initiatives, advocating for an open and transparent web. Her efforts included defending net neutrality, promoting encryption, and supporting greater user choice and control.

She also has experience in private equity, working at Terra Firma on brand management and risk assessment, and at Yahoo!, where she managed the legal team with a focus on products, human rights, antitrust, and litigation issues.

Denelle’s career reflects a strong commitment to leveraging technology for social good, particularly in the areas of financial inclusion and digital rights.

Tina Mathas is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the General Bank of Canada, with 27 years of experience in various leadership roles across technology and business sectors. Throughout her career, she has led teams ranging from 5 to over 50 members, operating in diverse cultural and international settings. Tina has worked with startups as well as multinational corporations, focusing on innovation, product development, and strategic consulting.

Her leadership style is collaborative and empathetic, emphasizing team success and collective problem-solving. Tina is known for her ability to bring out the best in her team members, fostering an environment where people can thrive. She describes herself as a “generalist” who has worn many hats, including entrepreneur, innovator, consultant, and coach.

Tina’s work is driven by a commitment to solving complex problems with a positive impact on society. Her approach combines creativity with a deep understanding of technology and business, underpinned by integrity and compassion. She strives to leave every organization and team she works with in a better state than when she arrived, demonstrating a strong commitment to both personal and professional growth.

Jennie Blumenthal is the Co-Founder of Ellevoy, a global intelligent matching platform connecting female and diverse founders to capital and talent, to help expand access for underrepresented entrepreneurs to thrive.

She also founded Corporate Rehab, focusing on leadership training, speaking and development for leaders on how to shift from just surviving hustle culture, to thriving in the future of work. Her work has reached over 10,000 leaders globally, and is based on her bestselling book – Corporate Rehab: Ditch the Hustle Culture and Thrive Again -which covers the process she took to reset her relationship with work and evolve her own leadership.

Prior to entrepreneurship, Jennie spent 20 years in as an executive in Corporate America counseling global C-suite Fortune 500 executives on growth powered by technology- specializing in Sales, Marketing, and Digital transformations. She previously led PwC’s Marketing, Sales and Service team for Consumer Markets, and was the US Leader of PwC’s Travel, Transportation & Hospitality practice. Jennie’s background includes growth strategy for companies looking to enter emerging markets – including leading teams across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and South Asia. She worked in marketing and channel sales for Verizon/MCI WorldCom, and in strategic planning and marketing with non-profits around the world.

Her work has been published in Bloomberg, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, CondeNast Traveler, AdWeek, Hotel Management, and HospitalityNet; and she is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist to global audiences of executives and entrepreneurs.

Sita Sonty is the Chief Executive Officer of Space Tango, where she oversees the implementation of the company’s mission and vision in the space industry. Prior to joining Space Tango, Sonty led the space industry practice for the Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm. She also made history as the Head of Human Spaceflight Sales at SpaceX, where she executed the first private spaceflight sale on the Crew Dragon on a Lower Earth Orbit Free Flyer and to the International Space Station while guiding global market strategy for Starlink’s expansion. Prior to SpaceX, Sita was Vice President for International Business with the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) teeing up the spinout of Sierra Space, as well as Director for National Security and International Business Development at Raytheon. Before joining the space industry, Sita amassed over seventeen years of service as a career U.S. diplomat. Sita led the International Security Advisory Board bringing Aerospace and Defense (A&D) companies’ strategic recommendations to Secretary Kerry; she also served as Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs and Senior Advisor for Defense Sales to South and Central Asia. Her overseas posts include Croatia, Libya, Syria, the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq (2004), and Egypt.

Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta is the fourth Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State, and the first woman of color to hold this position. Her career spans several decades of leadership in global health, gender equality, and philanthropy.

Before her current role, Ambassador Rao Gupta served as Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation and Senior Advisor to Co-Impact, a global philanthropy collaborative focused on systems change. From 2012 to 2016, she was the Deputy Executive Director, Programmes at UNICEF, where she played a key role in shaping global strategies for children’s health and well-being. Prior to that, she served as a Senior Fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Ambassador Rao Gupta spent over a decade as President of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), where she led research and advocacy efforts to promote gender equality worldwide. She has also chaired several influential boards, including the Global Advisory Board of Women Lift Health, and served on key committees such as WHO’s Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for Health Emergencies.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including InterAction’s Julia Taft Award for Outstanding Leadership and Harvard University’s Anne Roe Award. Ambassador Rao Gupta holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Bangalore University and advanced degrees from the University of Delhi.

Susan Penfield recently retired from Booz Allen Hamilton, where she had a distinguished 30-year career in leadership and technology roles. As Chief Technology Officer (CTO), she led a global technology team, focusing on accelerating growth and advancing government digital capabilities through the implementation of AI and emerging technologies. Before her role as CTO, she served as Chief Innovation Officer, where she spearheaded mission-centric innovation and new business models, significantly contributing to the company’s growth, particularly in the healthcare sector.

Penfield played a crucial role in expanding Booz Allen’s digital business, turning it into the company’s largest and fastest-growing segment. Her leadership in AI services positioned Booz Allen as a leading provider for the federal government, managing over 200 active AI projects and securing significant contracts with the Department of Defense.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Penfield is an active philanthropist, serving as chair emeritus of The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health and holding board positions with the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. She is a strong advocate for women in technology and frequently speaks on STEM topics.

Penfield’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2024 and 2023 Top Chief Technology Officer by Washington Executive and the 2020 WashingtonExec Lifetime Achievement Award. She holds a B.S. in Technology Management from Lock Haven University and a certificate in management from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business.

Paula Hunter is the Executive Director of the Mojaloop Foundation, which promotes global financial inclusion by supporting interoperable payment systems. Since the foundation’s establishment in 2020, Hunter has overseen its operations, including financial management and board governance. She has led key initiatives such as the Center of Excellence for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) and Mojaloop deployments in Asia. Under her guidance, the foundation has organized community outreach events in Africa and provides a free online training program for Mojaloop software.

Hunter’s career spans over 20 years in the financial and technology sectors. Before Mojaloop, she held executive roles in these industries, demonstrating a strong commitment to fintech innovation. She has been recognized by the Women in IT Awards as Business Leader of the Year and regularly participates in major industry events like the Africa Fintech Summit and the Linux Foundation’s Open Source in Finance Forum.

Hunter is also dedicated to mentoring future leaders, particularly women in fintech. She has sponsored events such as the Women in Fintech Hackathon and launched the Mojaloop Training Program, which offers virtual courses on building inclusive payment systems. Her work continues to drive advancements in financial inclusion and fintech education.

Katja Iversen is the CEO of the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live, a global museum focused on connecting people to the United Nations’ work and values through cultural and digital platforms. The museum engages with various sectors such as film, music, gaming, and sports to create global dialogues and promote a sense of global belonging and action.

With over 30 years in corporate, NGO, and UN roles, Iversen has advised world leaders on leadership, sustainability, and ESG issues. She is a board member of 4LifeSolutions and an advisor to institutions including the World Economic Forum and King’s College Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. Previously, she served on the G7 Gender Equality Councils for Presidents Macron and Trudeau, and was involved with UNILEVER’s Sustainability Advisory Council and the Clinton Global Initiative.

As President/CEO of Women Deliver, Iversen led the world’s largest gender equality conference. She is a noted speaker and moderator at major events such as Davos, the UN, and Harvard. Her honors include Dane of the Year, Apolitical’s Top 100 in Gender Policy, and an honorary doctorate for contributions to cross-cultural connections.