Dr. Dennis Hong

Professor & Founding Director, RoMeLa (Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory) of the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department
University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Dennis Hong, a TED alumnus, is a Professor and the Founding Director of RoMeLa (Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory) of the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at UCLA. His research focuses on robot locomotion and manipulation, autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. He is the inventor of a number of novel robots and mechanisms, including the ‘whole skin locomotion’ for mobile robots inspired by how amoeba move, a unique three-legged walking robot STriDER, an air-powered robotic hand RAPHaEL, and the world’s first car that can be driven by the blind. His work has been featured on numerous national and international media. Washington Post magazine called Dr. Hong “the Leonardo da Vinci of robots.”

Dr. Hong has been named to Popular Science’s 8th annual “Brilliant 10,” honoring top scientists younger than 40 years of age from across the United States, “Forward Under 40” by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni Association, and also honored as “Top 40 Under 40” alumni by Purdue University. Hong’s other past awards include the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award, the SAE International’s Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, and the ASME Freudenstein / GM Young Investigator Award to name a few. Dr. Hong also actively leads student teams for various international robotics and design competitions winning numerous top prizes including the DARPA Urban Challenge where they won third place and the $500,000 prize, and the RoboCup, the international autonomous robot soccer competition where his team won First Place in both the Kid-Size and Adult-Size Humanoid divisions and brought the Louis Vuitton Cup Best Humanoid Award to the United States for the very first time.

Dr. Hong received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1994), his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University (1999, 2002).

X. Eyeé

Chief Executive Officer
Malo Santo

X. Eyeé is an expert in AI and emerging technologies. A high school and college dropout turned military combat veteran, X forged their own path into tech. Over the past 17 years, X has become a pioneer in blockchain and artificial intelligence serving as an engineering leader, product manager, and researcher for companies like Microsoft, Google, and the Department of Defense.

At Microsoft, X worked on cutting-edge Ambient Intelligence solutions that combined blockchain, AI, and IoT for Fortune 500 companies around the world. They are credited with bringing some of the first enterprise blockchain apps to market. At Google, X worked across all of Google’s AI products & research to ensure they were built responsibly and ethically. X created novel research teams, including the Skin Tone team, which developed techniques to improve AI’s ability to recognize diverse skin tones. This work set new industry standards for measuring skin tone in AI and enhanced products like the Pixel phone’s camera and Google’s Image Search.

Now, as CEO of Malo Santo, an AI consulting firm, X empowers companies to build AI that scales – across geographies, cultures, and within communities. In its first 6 months, Malo Santo has provided AI education, governance, and development services to companies such as L’Oreal, Mozilla, and the Emmy award-winning production company Hillman Grad.

Jasmine Crowe-Houston

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Goodr

Jasmine Crowe-Houston is an award-winning social entrepreneur, children’s book author, and determined leader working to make the world a better place. In 2017, after years of feeding people experiencing homelessness from her own kitchen, Jasmine launched Goodr, a sustainable waste management company that leverages technology to combat hunger and reduce food waste. She has been featured on CNBC, Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Fast Co., New York Times, and named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 100 influential female founders, as well as Insider’s 100 People Transforming Business. Under Jasmine’s leadership, Goodr has provided over 30 million meals to those in need and redirected millions of pounds of materials from landfill. Jasmine currently sits on the board for Metro Atlanta Chamber and Drawdown Georgia.

Scott Faris

Co-Founder
Universe Creative

Scott grew up in West Virginia and attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts before teaching fifth grade on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. After working as a video producer for Teach For America, he co-founded Universe Creative, an LA-based documentary production company, with his friend and long-time colleague, Meg Griffiths. Universe Creative’s clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Amazon Studios. Scott enjoys stories that challenge conventional wisdom and preconceived notions about people and places often overlooked by popular media.

Meg Griffiths

Co-Founder
Universe Creative

Meg began her career as a photo and video journalist at the Houston Chronicle and then held a leadership role at Teach For America where she built the nonprofit’s first video studio. After overseeing content development and digital strategy at an LA-based agency, Meg co-founded Universe Creative, a documentary production company focused on social impact storytelling. Meg’s work has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and is supported by the International Documentary Association and Redford Center. She holds a MA in journalism from The University of Texas at Austin.

Eduardo Briceño

Author & Facilitator
Growth.how

Eduardo Briceño is a global keynote speaker, facilitator, and author who guides many of the world’s leading companies in developing cultures of learning and high performance. His TED and TEDx talks have been viewed over 9 million times. He is the author of “The Performance Paradox,” which was selected as a “Must-Read” by the Next Big Idea Club. Eduardo was shortlisted by Thinkers50 (described by the Financial Times as the “Oscars of management thinking”) for the Breakthrough Idea Award, given to thinkers who “have ignited Eureka moments in management, offering radical ideas that have the potential to reshape the future of business as we know it.” Earlier in his career, he was the co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, which he led for over a decade, and prior to that he was a venture capital investor with the Sprout Group.

Misty Gaither

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB+)
Indeed

Misty Gaither is Indeed’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB+) leading a global team across the US, APAC, and EMEA. Misty is also responsible for helping Indeed achieve its 2030 ESG goals and developing the DEI International strategy for Recruit Holdings HR Tech Strategic business unit, the parent company for Indeed and Glassdoor. Misty has spent most of her career in various leadership roles within sales organizations, including Altria Group and JPMorgan Chase. Most recently, she pivoted into DE&I by way of a business development role at a nonprofit start up focused on racial equity and inclusion in tech.

As a business development leader, Misty gained recruiting, HR, and D&I operations experience at some of the most coveted tech companies in Silicon Valley. She later took an opportunity to go “in-house” to work on D&I at Twilio as their first D&I business partner. Misty’s cross-industry experience contributes to her wealth of knowledge and unique approach to developing strategies that embed DI&B into the company’s infrastructure.

Kunal D. Patel, Ph.D.

Medical Director

Dr. Kunal Patel is an International Health physician and Director at iheed. He is an academic and global health specialist whose work focuses on the themes of global health and the interface between technology, patients, health education and training. Dr Patel has worked extensively within the international development sector, forming partnerships and developing research, which has been instrumental for primary care system strengthening, improving health outcomes and improved advocacy for the use of public health approaches for clinical research using technology and in advocating for greater health education globally.

He is the Programme Director for the Masters in Public Health at the University of Warwick and his recent clinical work has focused heavily on the humanitarian response to the conflict in the Middle East and recent earthquakes in regions such as Afghanistan. Recent publications have included the world’s leading review on compassion in AI driven healthcare and narrative reviews on topics such as interprofessional collaboration and learning in diabetes care.

Caitlin Iseler

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Happyly

Caitlin Iseler is the Founder & CEO of Happyly, the corporate engagement platform designed to bring teams together (in person) through volunteerism and impact. Both through the app platform and concierge planning service, Happyly makes it easy for teams to come together and connect in meaningful ways that support individual mental health, team connection and make a positive impact on the world.

After spending 20 years in executive search and talent advisory with both large and boutique firms, Caitlin and her team set out to change the way companies spend time and resources to build culture and to bring people together. Today, they work with companies like Deloitte and Navy Federal Credit Union to bring these programs to life.

Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a M.S. in Informational Technology Management and a B.A. in Religious Studies.

Ebbie Parsons, Ed.D.

Founder
Yardstick Management | Diversified Search Group

Dr. Ebbie Parsons, III, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Yardstick Management. A seasoned business executive with a passion for intentional impact, he has been applauded for his strategic thinking, engaging leadership, and results-oriented mindset throughout his successful career. After working at Fortune 500 companies, including Intel, Medtronic, and American Express, Dr. Parsons III decided to transition from a promising career in business in 2007 to join the prestigious Broad Residency Program in Educational Leadership. The Broad Residency was his first introduction to the inner workings of America’s public education system, where he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Hartford Public Schools.

Championing the overhaul of the district’s school funding methodology, he negotiated the state’s first pay-for-performance teacher union contract. He led the redistricting of the city to an “All-Choice” system of schools. Following his time in Hartford, Dr. Parsons, III, was on the founding team of the groundbreaking Relay Graduate School of Education, where he led the organization’s Human Capital function. Following Relay, he took on a new challenge to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the third-largest Charter Management Organization in the U.S., Mosaica Education, Inc. At Mosaica, Dr. Parsons, III, managed over 80 schools across eight states, Washington, D.C., the Middle East, and Asia. He led Mosaica to its two consecutive most profitable years in its 14-year history while simultaneously leading the company to its highest academic performance results in years.

Leveraging his wealth of experience and expertise in business and education, he launched Yardstick Management with a vision to become a leader in transforming and impacting the global landscape of the management consulting industry. Less than a decade later, Yardstick Management has become a world thought leader and powerhouse in providing specialized Management, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Talent consulting services to renowned mission-driven brands and organizations worldwide. Yardstick Management is committed to building its clients’ internal capacity to enhance its ability to deliver extraordinary results to its constituents.

Reena Patel, Ph.D.

Global Managing Partner
Yardstick Management | Diversified Search Group

Reena Patel, Ph.D. serves as the Global Managing Partner on the Yardstick Management Team. Her expertise includes digital strategy, casino gaming, product licensing, and organizational growth. In her former position with Playboy Enterprises Inc (PLBY Group) Reena functioned as President of International and Chief Operating Officer of Global Licensing and Joint Ventures. She was responsible for Playboy’s brand monetization across licensing, gaming, digital products, and third-party retail. She previously served as a member of the senior management team as Vice President of Global Licensing at International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) with additional experience in various roles with Merrill Lynch and Sun Life Investments. Reena also has community-based board experience with California health advocacy and service provider, HealthRight 360 and women’s mental health and services provider, Prototypes.

Reena holds a B.Sc. in Basic Medical Sciences from the University of Toronto, Canada, a MBA from Plymouth University, New Hampshire, and a Ph.D. in International Business from the ISM, Paris. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner, two boys, and three pups.

Naima Greenwood, MBA

Chief Operating Officer
Yardstick Management | Diversified Search Group

Naima Greenwood serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Yardstick Management, responsible for growing the company’s portfolio and managing ongoing projects. Before joining Yardstick Management, Naima served as a Senior Manager on a government contract with the Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Naima has a diverse background in Sales and Marketing, Operations, and Retail.

Naima holds a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Florida A&M University and an Executive MBA in Global Business from Georgia Institute of Technology. Naima started her career at Target Corporation as a Business Analyst in their entertainment division. There she collaborated with major movie studios and record labels in managing their releases.

She later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where she managed a $1 billion domestic landscape business for over 2,200 retail stores for The Home Depot. After completing her Executive MBA, Naima was recruited by Bank of America where she served as an Assistant Vice-President. She oversaw efforts to convert California accounts to a single platform for improved efficiency and reliability and managed a multi-million-dollar project to develop global consumer risk assessment plans for call centers.

Naima resides in Atlanta with her husband Andre, and their daughters, Ava and Aubree. In her spare time, she actively volunteers in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including Habitat for Humanity, and the Andrew & Walter Young YMCA. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Slma Shelbayah, M.A.

Chief Communications & Marketing Officer
Diversified Search Group

Slma Shelbayah serves as the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at Diversified Search Group. Her background includes more than 15 years of experience as an award-winning journalist, communication, and public relations expert in the media industry, including experience as a reporter, show host, editor, writer, voice-over artist, and producer.

Previously, Slma was the Chief Communications Officer at Yardstick Management and oversaw the internal and external communications strategy alignment, marketing, public relations, branding, and project management solutions for clients. Additionally, Slma managed her own communication consulting firm. She brings with her experience as a former Director of Corporate Public Relations with Savannah College of Art and Design. Previous to that role, she spent many years in journalism as a producer, writer, and assignment editor at CNN. She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor of communications, language, and business for several universities, including Brenau University, Georgia State University, and Clayton State University.

Slma holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Sociology and an M.A. in Linguistics with a focus on cross-cultural linguistics of Spanish and Arabic, both degrees from Georgia State University. She was inducted and graduated from LEAD Atlanta’s distinguished and highly selective leadership program for the class of 2018. She has also obtained a certificate from Oxford University, in the U.K., during which students were selected from 30 countries across the world to pursue a seminar on global media policy: technology and new themes in media.

Monica Miller-Smith, Ed.D.

Director of Research & Impact
Yardstick Management | Diversified Search Group

Dr. Monica Miller-Smith serves as the Director of Research and Impact at Yardstick Management, where she oversees training and development. For nearly fifteen years, she instructed courses in Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut, University of Bridgeport, and Central Michigan University. She possesses expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, low-income populations, civic engagement, and distance education. Some of her most notable academic and education-related experiences are developing a mentoring program that provided service-learning experiences for thousands of elementary students and hundreds of college students in Connecticut, presenting at national and international conferences on civic engagement, economic inequality, and experiential learning, and creating early childhood, socioemotional teacher trainings and developmental screening assessments to connect families in Nevis, West Indies with speech language and behavior therapy resources.

Her textbook, Families and Children Living in Poverty, was published in March 2020. It explores the factors that contribute to the existence of poverty, as well as the social, developmental, and environmental ramifications of poverty. Through scholarly studies, case studies, historical events, and contemporary happenings, readers examine the connections between poverty and family-related challenges, including adverse childhood experiences, lack of a living wage, health disparities, social exclusion, and homelessness. Monica is currently working on the second edition of her textbook.

Monica earned her Doctorate in Education from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. She is an avid traveler and has lived in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Puerto Rico, and Nevis, West Indies. She currently lives in St. Simons Island, Georgia with her husband and two daughters.

Nedra Dickson

Managing Director
Accenture

Nedra Dickson leads Accenture’s Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability Team in 22 countries. With strong expertise in Procurement transformation, Supplier Relationship Management and Supply Chain, she has managed over $4B in procurement operations spend. Under her leadership, Accenture spends over $1B with diverse suppliers across multiple categories.

Within her current role in Global Supply Chain, Nedra is responsible for finding sustainable and innovative opportunities with small and diverse-owned businesses globally. She works with her clients to help build a supplier diversity strategy creating Tier 1 and Tier 2 spend and successfully integrating them into the supply chain. She is credited for expanding Accenture’s supplier development program (DSDP – Diverse Supplier Development Program). This program is currently in 7 countries and expanding to a new country each year. This program represents a customized curriculum set around growing and developing diverse businesses to help drive global economic impact.

Nedra was listed in the top 100 women in Supply Chain, and she was named Minority Supplier Development – UK (MSDUK) 2022 Global Supplier Diversity Advocate of the year. She has been recognized by Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the Top Diversity and Inclusion Officers of Atlanta, ranked number 14 out of 100 Top women in Procurement, and was the USAPCC- SE region Mentor of the Year. Additionally, she was celebrated as the Global Supplier Diversity Champion by NGLCC, Georgia Top 25 Women in their Female Success Factor Series, one of America’s Top 100 Leaders in Corporate Supplier Diversity in WE magazine, Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity, WBENC Corporate Mentor of the Year, and Top 30 Champions in Diversity. Nedra is also an esteemed graduate of Leadership Atlanta – class of 2022.

Nedra grew up in Arkansas and holds an MBA from University of Southern California, a BS degree from Florida State University, and BA degree from California State University, Northridge. Nedra enjoys traveling as she has been to over 65 countries. She also enjoys reading and playing golf in her spare time.

Kelly McKee

Vice President, Decentralized Clinical Trials
and Patient Registries

Kelly McKee serves as Vice President of Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) and Patient Registries at Medidata. She is responsible for creating new solutions to engage patients pre-trial, in-trial, and post-trial, to improve access, awareness, and inclusion of patients in clinical research.

Kelly is a proven clinical trial leader and trailblazer in operationalizing global solutions across organizations including innovations in optimizing patient, site, and sponsor experiences. Prior to Medidata, she spent over 20 years within clinical operations and patient recruitment at top-tier pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi, Merck, Eli Lilly and Co., and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Kelly is passionate about celebrating the role that clinical trial participants bring in making new medicines and vaccines possible and was named one of Life Sci Voice’s Top Industry Leaders in 2022, PharmaVoice’s 100 Most Inspiring Leaders in 2020, Centerwatch’s Top 20 Innovators of 2018, and PharmaTimes’ Clinical Researcher of the Year, Clinical Research Teams, in 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bryn Mawr College and a masters degree in clinical research administration from George Washington University.

Winston Roberts

AI Education Consultant & Teacher
KIPP New Jersey

Winston Roberts stands as a beacon of innovation in education, with over seven years of dedication to shaping the next generation at KIPP BOLD Academy in Newark, NJ. A proud Morehouse Man, Winston graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 2014, armed with a BA in Political Science and a Master’s from the Relay Graduate School of Education, sharpening his pedagogical skills for a rapidly evolving world.

At the heart of Winston’s educational philosophy is a keen eye on the future, especially the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in learning. His work culminated in a groundbreaking presentation alongside Dr. David Jackson at the National Literacy Institute Mega Conference, introducing “Artificial Intelligence’s Reinvention of Literacy Planning” to the educational community. This initiative showcased the seamless integration of AI in lesson planning, heralding a new era of personalized and efficient instruction.

Winston’s influence extends beyond the classroom through his “Teacher in a Suit” YouTube channel, where he demystifies AI tools like ChatGPT, making them accessible to educators, parents, and students alike. His advocacy for AI in education led to a transformative policy change within the KIPP NJ network: AI tools, once blocked for staff use, were unblocked due to his efforts. This pivotal shift now enables teachers to harness the power of ChatGPT, significantly easing their workload and combating educator burnout, thereby enriching the teaching and learning experience across the board.

His expertise and innovative approach to education have positioned him in esteemed circles, including a featured panelist role at the Walton Family Foundation’s Q3 Education Committee meeting. There, alongside luminaries like Jim Walton, and Carrie Walton Penner, and with Sal Khan presenting virtually, Winston shared insights on leveraging AI tools in education, underscoring the caliber of discourse he contributes to.

Winston’s life is enriched by his membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and his roles as a devoted husband and new father, grounding his vision for a future where education empowers all students to thrive in an AI-enhanced world.

Myrna Soto

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Apogee Executive Advisors LLC

Myrna is the Founder and CEO of Apogee Executive Advisors. Apogee Executive Advisors is a boutique advisory firm focused on providing strategic consulting in the areas of Technology Risk, Cybersecurity, Technology integrations, Digital Transformations and Enterprise Risk Management. The firm’s work is specific to Executive Leaders and Boards (Public & Private). In this capacity, she also serves as a Strategic Advisor and on the Advisory Boards of multiple privately held organizations. She is a frequently sought-after speaker on Governance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Technology Integrations, AI, and financial oversight topics. She is a faculty member of NACD and has also served as an expert speaker for the Diligent Institute.

She previously served as the Chief Strategy and Trust Officer for Forcepoint (a technology provider for enterprises and the federal government). Myrna led strategy around product development, market fit, and elevation of brand recognition of the organization’s product portfolio. She was part of the executive team that led the transaction deal team that successfully spun out the company from the Parent organization (Raytheon) to a growth private equity firm.

Myrna served as COO of Digital Hands via an investment interest. Digital Hands was an award-winning managed security service provider (MSSP), and Managed Technology Services provider focused on providing world-class Cybersecurity, and IT operations to customers and partners. She was responsible for Security Operations, Service Delivery, Global Sales, Customer Success, Marketing, and HR. Myrna was responsible for the funding of the company’s first capital round, growing top-line revenue, and developing a world-class team prior to her engagement completion.

Myrna serves on the Boards of CMS Energy/Consumers Energy (NYSE: CMS), Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE), TriNet (NYSE: TNET) and Popular Inc. which operates under the brand names of Banco Popular, and Popular Bank (NASDAQ: BPOP). She is recognized as a Governance and Board Leadership Fellow by the National Association of Corp Directors (NACD). Within her public Board service, she serves on a variety of committees including, Audit, Risk, and Compensation committees. She serves as the Nomination & Governance Committee Chair for CMS Energy. In addition to her public board service, Myrna serves on the Board of Delinea, a privately held Cybersecurity Technology Provider, on the Board of privately held Headspace Health, on the Board of Vectra.ai, a privately held cybersecurity and AI technology provider, as well as Huntress, a privately held cybersecurity technology and services provider. Myrna is also an advisor for ThreatConnect and a Senior Investment Advisor TPG Global.

Trey Causey

Head of Responsible AI & Senior Director of Data Science

Trey Causey is Head of Responsible AI and Senior Director of Data Science at Indeed, where he and his team work to ensure Indeed’s use of AI is beneficial to job seekers, employers, and society. As the author of Indeed’s responsible AI strategy, he leads an interdisciplinary group of data scientists, engineers, and researchers in tackling the sociotechnical issues of algorithmic, human, and systemic bias. He also is a member of Indeed’s Environmental, Social, and Governance leadership team, where he and his colleagues are changing the way the world hires, for good.

Ryan Butler

Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Recording Academy

Ryan Butler serves as Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Recording Academy® where he leads diversity, equity, and inclusion internally and externally for the Recording Academy and its affiliates. He is responsible for enterprise-wide diversity and inclusion efforts and ensuring the Academy’s core value of diversity, equity, and inclusion remains embedded throughout all aspects of the organization, including internal staff culture, Membership, Awards, Advocacy, and related programs. He also sets national and Chapter goals to accelerate outcomes for underrepresented communities and creators.

Butler joined the Academy in 2019 as a key member of the Advocacy and Public Policy team and later served as Director and then Senior Advisor of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion department. Within DEI, he’s led various efforts including the launch of the Academy’s first-ever Black Music Collective, the Women In The Mix® Study, alongside Berklee College of Music and Arizona State University, and the implementation of an Inclusion Rider for the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. Under Ryan’s leadership, the Black Music Collective has hosted the Recording Academy Honors event during GRAMMY Week and honored Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne & Sylvia Rhone to kick off the Academy’s celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary. One big step in the Recording Academy’s fight for change. Ryan continues to advocate for inclusion and education by helping the Academy give out multiple scholarships to HBCUs and students across the US, providing twelve scholarships in 2022 alone.

Qiana Conley Akinro

Senior Executive Director of The Los Angeles Chapter
Recording Academy/GRAMMYS

In 1999, Qiana Conley Akinro began working in music at Epic Records. Her career started in Promotions/A&R where she contributed to album projects by Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and B2K. As Director of Creative/A&R, Television, and Film, she worked for publishers Notting Hill Music Publishing (UK), Ole (Canada), and with Simon Cowell’s record labels Syco Records/Sony Music on albums for One Direction, Cher Lloyd, and Alexandra Burke. She quickly became known amongst her peers for her innovative curation of the catalogues and talent roster across genres, media platforms, and music markets.

In 2011, Conley Akinro founded Cue The Creatives where she began Music Supervising on projects such as Nickelodeon’s “How To Rock”, Lifetime’s holiday feature “Seasons of Love” starring Taraji P. Henson, Gladys Knight & Method Man, Lionsgate’s release “Public Disturbance” and currently on Showtime’s “Flatbush Misdemeanors”. Conley Akinro has also worked as a Music Supervisor on indie features premiering at festivals like Urbanworld (“She’s Got A Plan”), Pan-African Film Festival (The Muhammad Ali story entitled “The Last Punch”), Blackstar Film Festival (“1 Angry Black Man”), and the Moscow International Film Festival (Puk Grasten’s debut film “37” starring “Orange Is The New Black’s”, Samira Wiley).

She believes strongly in bringing quality music soundscapes to films of all artistic outreach regardless of budget demands. In 2014, Conley Akinro expanded into executive producing for film, TV, and live events, including co-creating/co-producing the Blackout Music and Film Festival with Ryan Coogler’s Blackout for Human Rights Organization. In 2015, she began producing/directing “The Untitled TLC Documentary,” which follows the journey of the iconic pop girl group, after a 20-year hiatus, as they take on the challenges of making their final album. The film offers a unique look at these groundbreaking women who are set on doing it all on their own.

Additionally, Conley Akinro served four years as Governor plus two terms in the Los Angeles Chapter Board Secretary position of the GRAMMYS’ parent entity, the Recording Academy®. In 2023, Conley Akinro became the Senior Executive Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy/GRAMMYS, working with some of today’s most influential music creators and professionals in guiding event programming, membership & board engagement on pioneering programs like “Care For The Culture” and “Stay In, Come Out, Let’s Talk”. Conley Akinro also oversees national and local advocacy efforts for the largest chapter of the Academy’s membership body through partnerships with GRAMMYS on the Hill, MusiCares, and the GRAMMY Museum Foundation.

Donald Knight

Chief People Officer
Greenhouse Software

Donald Knight is Chief People Officer at Greenhouse Software. He leads with a people-first mentality hoping to unlock the potential of Greenhouse talent globally. With a laser focus on the connection between people and the processes that serve them, Donald and his team create proximity by building bridges focusing on enhanced experiences that nurture culture and develop people.

In his role leading the People team, Donald works to help Greenhouse create an environment for people to do the best work of their lives. He is responsible for providing global strategy and leadership in developing, overseeing, and administering people programs. With expansion top of mind, the team delivers a scalable people strategy that enables the organization to expand globally. Before Greenhouse, Donald served as Senior Vice President of Global Talent for Edelman. He helped shape the HR brand as a proactive, insightful, and collaborative solution provider in this role. Donald has held numerous senior leadership roles for Southern Company Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), and the Defense Commissary Agency.

A native of Virginia, Donald holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Richmond. Donald is also a graduate of the project leadership program at the engineering school of Cornell University for business executives. He and his family reside in the Greater Atlanta area.

Autumn Rowe

Songwriter & Producer

A leading writer, producer and advocate for songwriter’s rights, Autumn Rowe won the Grammy Award for Best Album for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, one of two nominations in major categories for her extensive writing and producing work on Jon Batiste’s album “We Are.” Rowe co-wrote five of the album’s thirteen tracks, including the single “Freedom,” for which she also received a nomination in the Record of the Year category. Rowe, who grew up in the South Bronx without connections to the music industry, has become a rare woman of color to reach the most sought-after echelons of songwriting talent. She has collaborated with many of music’s biggest names, including Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, Pitbull, Zendaya, Ava Max, FKA Twigs, and Leona Lewis. Rowe’s hits as a songwriter include Alexis Jordan’s “Happiness,” which served as the official song of the FIFA World Cup and recently resurged in popularity after going viral on TikTok. Rowe is a celebrated vocal coach: she has appeared on The X Factor and on America’s Got Talent, where she served as the show’s only vocal coach for five years. She is also a talented DJ, who studied at Scratch Academy.

Along the way, Rowe has become a prominent player in the fight for songwriter’s rights, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing media landscape. She serves on the Songwriters of North America (SONA) board, where she sits on several committees, including DEI. During the pandemic, Rowe co-founded and became co-director of the Songwriter Fund, a nonprofit enterprise that provides emergency relief grants to songwriters affected by COVID-19. The Fund has raised and distributed more than $500,000 in such grants to date. Rowe has used her place in the Recording Academy community to help advance the causes of musicians. She attended last year’s Grammys on the Hill awards and lobbied extensively for songwriters’ rights with members of Congress. She helped to fundraise, including through her DJ’ing talents, for Raphael Warnock and Nancy Pelosi. Rowe was also a group leader for the Recording Academy’s District Advocate Day. In the recent Copyright Royalty Board trial, Rowe served as a key witness, sharing her personal story as a songwriter and helping to secure a landmark ruling in favor of fairer compensation for songwriters. Rowe has also been an outspoken champion for women songwriters and producers.

When Rowe isn’t busy in the studio, she spends her time volunteering as a Grammy U mentor. She has also lectured at Berklee School of Music and Stargate’s music schools LAAMP in LA and LIMPI in Norway She recently launched a mentorship program with BMG and SONA called “Ask the Insider,” which matches industry experts and mentees. She continues to bring her powerful message of personal triumph and advocacy for others to audiences around the world. Autumn Rowe sees her success as a win for everyone. She uses her growing platform as an opportunity to give back to her community and fight for inclusivity, knowing from her own experience that, in a world where not all musicians can survive, there can be no music in the world.

Vaughn Davis

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Hyper Nimbus

Vaughn Davis is at the forefront of pioneering innovation in the hospitality sector, leveraging AI and robotics to transform the way hotels operate and enhance the guest experience. His extensive experience, spanning over ten years at the helm of luxury lifestyle hotels in prime locations such as New York and Los Angeles, has been marked by the successful introduction and growth of experiential luxury brands, thereby elevating industry benchmarks.

At the helm of Hyper Nimbus, Vaughn is breaking new ground by seamlessly integrating AI and robotics into the core operational framework of hotel management. Hyper Nimbus stands as a testament to Vaughn’s forward-thinking vision, delivering cutting-edge solutions that significantly enhance operational efficiency, elevate guest satisfaction, and seamlessly blend technology within the hospitality landscape. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Vaughn is deeply invested in community engagement and improvement. His active participation in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Los Angeles Tourism Board, his influential role on the Board of Directors for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and his leadership as Vice Chair for The Hollywood Partnership underscore his commitment to enriching the communal fabric of Los Angeles for residents and visitors alike.

With a background that traverses the realms of fashion and entertainment, coupled with a foundational education in Political Science from Hofstra University, Vaughn possesses a unique skill set that empowers him to lead and innovate within the hospitality industry, navigating its dynamic technological advancements. Vaughn Davis isn’t just navigating the future of hospitality technology; he’s actively sculpting it, establishing himself as a visionary leader in redefining the essence of modern hospitality.

Aileen K. Alexander

Chief Executive Officer
Diversified Search Group

Aileen K. Alexander is the Chief Executive Officer of Diversified Search Group, the largest woman-founded executive search firm in the world. Her responsibilities include oversight and management of the company. She previously served as Vice Chair, leading the firm’s Global Corporate Practice. Aileen is a Global Board Member of AltoPartners, a leading international alliance of executive search firms, with Diversified Search Group as the exclusive U.S. partner.

Based in Philadelphia, Alexander is a recognized leader in the executive search and talent management industry, having led C-suite and board-level searches from large, global corporations to high-growth entrepreneurial companies. She leverages her expertise in technology, cybersecurity, risk management, leadership, and succession planning to enable clients to achieve their purpose and strategic priorities. Alexander is committed to ensuring client service that is creative, nimble, responsive, always centered on people first, and building diverse teams that drive innovation, growth, and inclusive cultures.

Prior to joining Diversified Search Group, Alexander was a Managing Partner at Korn Ferry where she co-launched and co-led the firm’s Global Cybersecurity Practice. She had leadership responsibilities for Philadelphia and was also a member of the Technology Officers and Aerospace and Defense practices. She entered the industry with Heidrick & Struggles, in their Washington, DC office.

Before embarking on her career in executive search, Aileen worked in international security and defense policy at the Department of Defense and the U.S. House of Representatives. She is also a military veteran, having served as a Captain in the U.S. Army.

Aileen is a member of the CEO Council of Growth at the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the University City Science Center Board of Directors. Additionally, she sits on the Board of her alma mater, Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, PA.