Creature Canyon

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency, Producer/Studio Engineer, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Hailing from the vibrant scene of San Diego, CA, Creature Canyon ignites the essence of indie/alternative rock fused with tinges of modern psychedelia. Comprised of Austin Steele, Ryan Amyot, and Aaron Lund, the band radiates with electrifying performances that have garnered acclaim from Billboard, Paste, and various industry tastemakers. With a sonic journey that began with EPs like "Life I Know" and "Did You Want That," and a notable feature of their track "Brooklyn Baby" in the hit series Shameless.

Having left an indelible mark with their debut album ‘Remarks’, Creature Canyon has collaborated with the talents of producer Christian Lum (Private Island), recording engineer Mike Schuppan (Foster The People, Young the Giant), mixing engineer Jordon Silva (Vance Joy, The Avett Brothers), and mastering engineer Brian Lucey (Cage The Elephant, Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys). The band now strides confidently into the future, embracing the next phase of their musical evolution.


Cardinal Bloom

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, PR/Publicity Agency, Producer/Studio Engineer, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Cardinal Bloom is an Indie Rock Band from Salt Lake City Utah, one of the birth places of the modern Indie Rock genre. Cardinal Bloom's debut album “The Only Place I’ve Ever Known” released September of 2024 marking a new era of their music while still holding true to the sound they've carved as their own. Cardinal Bloom’s music encapsulates the nostalgic and bittersweet feeling of ‘better days,’ yet leaving you a notion there is still so much life ahead of us to be lived.

Cardinal Bloom is currently on tour throughout the U.S. and you can find tickets here on spotify or on their website www.cardinalbloom.com.

“Everything they did worked together to absolutely nail that dusty Deseret sound—one that sits in between pop, rock, and folk.” -Zach Collier (Provo Music Magazine)

Their members include Joey St. John on guitar and vocals, Jacob Silvester on the bass and vocals, Josh Thomas on guitar, and Nate Adair on drums.


J Soulja

Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

J Soulja is a powerhouse in Austin’s hip-hop scene—known for his sharp lyricism, electric performances, and trailblazing hustle. He’s rocked stages alongside stars like Wale and members of TDE, toured Texas with Curren$y, and headlined his own sold-out show in Austin.

His music caught major attention after he created the official theme song for comedian Brian Simpson’s Netflix Special “Live From The Mothership,” now surpassing 100,000 streams and 10,000+ Shazams across platforms.

Beyond the mic, J Soulja is the founder of The Pre-Roll ATX, the city’s premier open mic and artist development platform that’s launched countless local talents onto major festival stages like SXSW, ACL, and even Roskilde Festival in Denmark.
With brand collaborations from Swisher Sweets to Adidas & even including receiving a Proclamation for his own day in Austin Texas - J Soulja stands as both an artist and architect of Austin’s next hip-hop era—turning independent grind into global momentum..


The All-American Rejects

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Other Artists to Tour With, Sync/Music Supervisors

Formed in 1999 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, The All-American Rejects quickly became one of the most iconic rock bands of the 2000s. Led by Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler, the band debuted in 2002, featuring their hit "Swing, Swing." Their 2005 album Move Along cemented their place in rock with chart-toppers like "Dirty Little Secret" and "It Ends Tonight." In 2008, "Gives You Hell" became a global hit and a Billboard No. 1 in 2009. The band continued pushing creative boundaries on Kids in the Street in 2012. Throughout the years, The Rejects have continued evolving, taking their sound in new directions while staying true to the emotional core that’s always defined their music. Their latest singles, “Eggshell Tapdancer” and “Easy Come, Easy Go”, from their upcoming 5th album have proven their undying commitment to writing songs that resonate with fans and prove that their relevance and connection with fans are only getting stronger with time.


MORGAN

With combined streams of over 100 million and a dedicated online following, Morgan is doing things her way. Morgan began performing at just three years old and by eighteen she’d joined Rudimental as a globally-touring vocalist. Her solo debut ‘My Year’ spotlit her brand of sparkling pop, before a collaboration with Ebenezer (‘Mulholland Drive’) earned her over 10 million streams. Her subsequent EP ‘Alien’ referenced golden-era pop. That same year, ‘ADCT’ (written when she was 17) soared to the #1 spot on both TikTok Trending Sounds and the UK Top 50, earning over 30 million streams. Morgan also co-wrote and featured on Rudimental & Digga D’s ‘Be the One’, Sigma’s ‘Adrenaline Rush’ and Purple Disco Machine's most recent album.  She’s been writing for some of the biggest K-pop artists (including NCT’s Jaehyun, TWICE & Aespa).

Morgan released her EP ‘Emotional Gangster’ last October and went on to sell out her first UK headline tour at the end of the year including a show at London’s iconic Jazz Cafe. She turned up the heat with the release of ‘One Man’ featuring the legendary Beenie Man, paired with the unapologetic anthem ‘Bad Gyal Energy’.

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard


DJ AG

DJ AG is a genre-shifting DJ and producer whose influence sits at the crossroads of Black British culture, global pop and contemporary electronic music. His sets move from grime and UK rap to afrobeats and alternative soul without losing pace or purpose. This approach has made him a trusted name for artists and audiences who want more than a standard club experience.

AG has shared stages with and played for artists including Ed Sheeran, Will Smith, Burna Boy and Skepta. His profile continues to grow as he brings his sound to live shows, brand events and cultural moments that pull in diverse crowds. Known for reading a room with accuracy rather than hype, AG builds environments where every transition feels intentional.

His work has been covered by a range of platforms and press titles reflecting his reach across culture, style and music. Coverage includes features and appearances in GRM Daily, Complex, Notion, Trench, Mixtape Madness and BBC platforms which have positioned him as one of the most versatile names emerging from the UK scene.


Agatha is Dead!

Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Formed in the lockdown winter of 2021, Agatha Is Dead! began as a post-punk experiment between longtime friends Lilly and Noah, who first made music together in their school days. Their shared love for Joy Division, The Cure, Molchat Doma, and Fontaines D.C. laid the foundation for their darkly urgent sound. With the addition of drummer Joey Ramone Hansen−bringing grunge and pop−punk bite−and Arthur on bass, the band played their first shows in 2022 and quickly carved out a place in Berlin's underground scene.

The band signed to Berlin label Duchess Box Records in May 2025 and will release their debut EP "order" in on 10th October.

The first singles drew attention from big online magazines such as Post-Punk.com and Diffus as well as major radio station airplay and big playlist support from Spotify and Apple Music.

This September, the band will embark on their first-ever headline tour with shows in Berlin and Leipzig selling out in advance., marking a new chapter in their journey. Their Berlin show at Privatclub sold out an incredible five months in advance, underscoring the growing excitement surrounding the band.

Drawing further inspiration from The Pretty Reckless, DIIV, Liily, and Bloc Party, Agatha Is Dead! have honed a sound that is heavy, hypnotic, and deeply emotional. With their debut EP Order on the horizon, the band are staking their claim in the next wave of alternative rock−grabbing hearts, shaking stages, and refusing to go unnoticed.


Lila Tristram

Wanderlust Wine Co.

Kayanne Peppa

Shot by: @Kynan_Productions, Edited by: @Kaptured.by.Kayanne

Shot by: @Kynan_Productions , Edited by: @Kaptured.by.Kayanne


Mosmo

Brand Partnership, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - Worldwide, Sync/Music Supervisors

Carlos Ramos Molina, known as MOSMO, is a new voice reshaping regional Mexican music.
Born in Hermosillo, Sonora, he broke into the spotlight in 2022 on Netflix’s La Firma, performing before industry leaders including Rauw Alejandro, Yandel, Nicki Nicole, Lex Borrero, and Tainy.

Blending corridos with raw emotion, MOSMO fuses the bélico with the romantic, the party with introspection. Inspired by tumbados but influenced by pop, trap, and urban melancholy, his music is honest, unfiltered, and deeply personal.

Built without shortcuts or backing, MOSMO represents a generation raised on Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano, and Junior H, while carving a lane entirely his own.
He’s not chasing virality. He’s building something real


Big Soto

Gustavo Rafael Guerrero Soto, known professionally as Big Soto, is a Venezuelan singer and songwriter recognized for blending synthwave and city pop with trap, R&B, reggaetón, hip-hop, and soul. Born on October 19, 1996, in Cumaná, Venezuela, he began his career in 2017 and quickly became a pioneer of these sounds in his country, building a global audience with over 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Big Soto stands out for his fresh sonic identity and introspective lyrics that reflect everyday life experiences. In October 2024, he released SOTORIUS, an album filled with deeply personal stories that further strengthened his connection with fans. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with artists such as Eladio Carrión, Neutro Shorty, Santa Fe Klan, Danny Ocean, Mora, Junior H, Farruko, Jowell & Randy, Lunay, and Gera MX. His music has been recognized at multiple award ceremonies, positioning him as one of the most promising artists of his generation. Notable songs from his catalog include “Todo Va a Estar Bien,” “Vengo de Nada,” “La Noche Entera,” “Mezcalito en Copa,” and “El Favorito de Mami.”


FAMA

Brand Partnership, Other Artists to Tour With, Producer/Studio Engineer

FAMA is the musical project of brothers Facundo and Mateo, born in Peru with Argentine roots. Their name [Fa + Ma] reflects a lifelong bond shaped by music, art, and shared creative curiosity. Blending intimate acoustic pop with touches of country, funk, and organic textures. Their first-ever release surpassed 100K views on YouTube, and they continue to build momentum with a steady stream of new music.

Raised on influences like Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Justin Bieber, and Shawn Mendes, both brothers bring distinct creative backgrounds (acting, fashion, and DJ culture) into a single, authentic vision. Currently working with Los Angeles-based producers including Joel Jones, Brandon Shoop, and Juan Ariza, FAMA represents the meeting point between intimacy and universality, music that feels personal, yet instantly relatable.

FAMA is born from the need to feel without fear. To speak from the heart in a world that so often hides it. They don’t come to be perfect, they come to be real. FAMA doesn’t seek fame; it seeks connection. Every verse, every chord, every silence is an invitation to look inward and recognize yourself, always from a place of love.


Lynn

LYNN is a 24-year-old artist from Birmingham, Alabama, making waves in the Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B scene. Her music is all about owning the moment, showcasing the power of women through bold, unapologetic rap bars, while also hitting us with those smooth, soulful R&B vibes.
Though she’s just getting started, LYNN has already made a big splash, earning the title of “Bama Hip-Hop/Rap Female Artist of the Year” at the 2022 Alabama Music Awards. She’s all about breaking boundaries and creating a space for herself in the industry while uplifting her community along the way.
With her unique sound and unstoppable energy, LYNN is on a mission to inspire and pave the way for others, all while cementing her place as one of the freshest voices in the game.


New Constellations

Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Sync/Music Supervisors

New Constellations – the ethereal brainchild of lifelong sidekicks Harlee Case and Josh Smith –
encapsulates a sonic dreamscape of eager melodies, striking guitar hooks, and celestial vocals
that softly tangles listeners into a web of cosmic glow.
The Portland-based duo first explored collaborating when they were 14, recording a song together in
Josh’s childhood bedroom, before spending the next 15 years exploring their individual
approaches to music separately and eventually crafting the dynamic perspective that would
become New Constellations.
The two debuted with the single, “Hot Blooded,” an incomprehensibly magnetic voyage that
offers warmth and compassion, and has now amassed over 120M streams. After a monumental
first few years, Harlee and Josh are electric as ever, poising themselves for upcoming releases that
can only be described as a continuation of their signature gilded alchemy.


Aiko

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency

Czechia raised, UK based, Aiko is an alt pop artist with music talking about confidence and empowerment and a high energetic performance as a duo together with the drummer Kat Almagro. Highlights include:
- representing Czechia at Eurovision 2024
- headline European tour with 23 stops, multiple sold out stops in cities like London, Warsaw, or Paris
- performing at SXSW, Japan EXPO, Sziget festival, Rock for people, and many more
- appearing on Times Square as part of the Spotify Equal programme, editorial playlisting, face of the Glow playlist
-  music in the Netflix show Elite, Love Island UK and multiple MTV series
- latest album accumulated over 10 million streams
- mentions in Vogue, Harpers Bazaaar, The Rolling Stone UK, Austin Chronicle, Elle and many more

Aiko is currently in the process of creating her fourth album that is planned to be released in September/October 2026 and with another headline tour ahead of her in Autumn of 2026.


Bára Zmeková

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“Dreamlike.” “Poetic.” “Beautiful.” — this is how audiences describe Bára Zmeková’s performances.
The moment she steps on stage, intimacy and imagination take over. A Prague-based singer, pianist and composer, she draws from the rich Czech singer-songwriter tradition while blending it with modern jazz and subtle electronics, creating music that feels both deeply rooted and strikingly contemporary.
Her expression is civil yet emotionally powerful, inviting listeners into an inner world shaped by melody, atmosphere and nuance. Although she sings in Czech, language is never a barrier; the natural rhythm and softness of the language add a distinctive colour to her sound. Audiences across Europe and Japan consistently respond beyond words.
Her trio moves between quiet minimalism and expressive intensity, built on strong melodies and precise interplay.
The critically acclaimed Lunaves established her as one of the distinctive voices of the contemporary Czech scene. In 2024 came the album Jediný na světě, followed by the single Jiné stromy, recorded with Norwegian tubist Daniel Herskedal.
Following their second Japan tour in early 2026, the trio heads to SXSW directly from Tokyo.


N@te!

Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency, Sync/Music Supervisors

N@te! is an up and coming artist hailing from the land of the 7—the 757, the 7 Cities. Known for his raw, unmistakable sound, N@te! is a true lyrical powerhouse, effortlessly delivering both hard-hitting hip-hop/rap and smooth R&B hits. His music blends sharp storytelling with emotion and melody, showcasing versatility, authenticity, and a voice that commands attention across genres.


Brionne

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Booking Agent - US, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

After the raving success of her first two EP’s “23” and “Playa Shit Only” followed by the certification of her position as the DON DADA on her first full length project “ Donatella,” Brionne is ready to expand her territory towards new horizons. Meet the Griselda Blanco of Dallas’ rising Hip-Hop scene. In the past three years since her introduction to the game, she’s invested the blood, sweat, and tears which earned her the stripes needed to bet on her ability to turn a phrase for “Profit.” For those that know of Brionne, her style is, quiet as kept, setting the precedent that she is no less accepted at the table of success in any room she inhabits. Words are her luxury. Never lacking in intentionality, Brionne carefully crafts her flows together into a web that leaves you stuck hanging on her every word.


Anaya Kobe

Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - US, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Producer/Studio Engineer, Sync/Music Supervisors

Anaya Kobe is a Houston-based Hip-Hop and R&B artist originally from Columbus, Ohio, known for her emotionally resonant lyricism, refined storytelling, and moody, early-2000s-inspired aesthetic. A classically trained musician and lifelong creative, she blends soulful melodies with incisive rap, exploring themes of love, power, vulnerability, and personal reckoning.

Her most-streamed single, “Love Sick,” has connected deeply with listeners, showcasing her ability to translate emotional complexity into memorable hooks and intimate songwriting.

In 2025, Anaya released her second EP, Lord Save Me, a fully self-directed, zero-budget visual project that reflects her commitment to cohesive storytelling and independent creative control. She was selected as an official SXSW Artist for 2025 and has been featured in The Austin Chronicle for her live performances, recognized for their commanding presence and genre-blending sound.

With a growing catalog and a distinct visual identity, Anaya Kobe continues to carve out her own lane — poised, emotionally compelling, and unmistakably her own


Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes

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Chuck Prophet’s streak of more than a dozen critically acclaimed solo records stretches all the way back to 1990, when the California native first shifted focus from his tenure with pioneering neo-psych band Green on Red to working under his own name. Since then, his songs have appeared in a slew of films and television shows, and his work has been covered by Bruce Springsteen, Solomon Burke, Heart, and a host of others. Rolling Stone dubbed him a “streetwise city kid with an eye for the country,” while Uncut proclaimed him a “renaissance-rocker,” and NPR declared that “no one can turn tales from the outer limits into catchy songs quite like Prophet does.”

Wake The Dead, Chuck Prophet’s extraordinary new album recorded with ¿Qiensave?, dives headfirst into the world of Cumbia music. The songs are intoxicatingly rhythmic, all but demanding you move your body while you listen. There are flashes of rock and roll, punk, surf, and soul, wrapped up in the rich legacy of a genre that traces its roots back hundreds of years and thousands of miles.


Wilby

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Jersey-born Maria Crawford has been paving her way through the Nashville independent music scene since 2014. Now Brooklyn-based, she continues to capture listeners with her fiercely vulnerable songwriting and compelling live performances. Wilby’s debut single “Bad” (2020) gained immediate attention, followed by "Translucent Beauty” (2021), drifting between bedroom pop and indie rock. Her sophomore EP, “Happiest Woman” (2023), marked a shift toward showcasing a full-band production, mirroring the force of Wilby’s live sound. Wilby’s debut album, “Center of Affection” (2025, via Hit the North Records), explores both the cathartic side of indie-rock and the vulnerable side of twangy folk. Wilby has been featured in FLOOD Magazine, Luna Collective, and Ones To Watch, named an Artist to Watch by Atwood Magazine, with support from Seattle’s KEXP and Nashville’s WNXP and Lightning 100.


Don Glori

Brand Partnership, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Unpicking the thread that stitches together Don Glori’s music would be an impossible task. His records combine elements of Jazz, Funk, Soul, RnB and Samba, yet he doesn’t fit neatly into any of those genres. His live show is more jazz - punk - funk than anything. One thing is certain, there is an undeniable, joyful, spirit that permeates through his music.

Following on from the success of his 2024 album ‘Don’t Forget to Have Fun’, Don Glori is back with his third offering, this time on Mr. Bongo - ‘Paper Can’t Wrap Fire’.
“A kaleidoscopic genre-surfing odyssey that brings together the worlds of jazz, soul and funk. Feeling both contemporary and classic, familiar yet novel, it’s an assured third release that sees an artist in full flight, showcasing their creative prowess and the uniqueness of their musical voice.”


Vin Zeal

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US

Vin Zeal is a Houston, Texas–based artist blending the emotional depth of R&B with the infectious appeal of pop. Performing professionally since 2012, Vin Zeal has spent over a decade honing a sound rooted in authenticity, stage presence, and connection—bringing both polish and passion to every performance.

Known for smooth vocals, melodic storytelling, and live guitar accompaniment, Vin Zeal creates music that feels both timeless and contemporary. Her ability to seamlessly incorporate guitar into her performances adds a dynamic, intimate edge to both recorded and live experiences.

With extensive live performance experience and a clear artistic vision, Vin Zeal continues to build a compelling catalog that bridges pop accessibility with R&B soul—positioning her as a dynamic and evolving artist with longevity in mind.


Alien Chicks

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Alien Chicks are a trio hailing from the streets of South London, known for their electrifying blend of punk, rap and jazz. They create a sound that is raw and innovative, capturing the spirit of London's underground music culture. The line-up features the vocals and sharp guitar work of Josef Lindsay, the pulsating basslines of Stefan Parker-Steele and the explosive drumming of Martha Daniels. Whether delivering rapid-fire rap verses, intricate jazz-inspired bass riffs, or thunderous punk rhythms, Alien Chicks continue to push boundaries and defy expectations, drawing praise from The Independent, NME, Rolling Stone, and Radio 1.

The band’s journey began in grassroots venues across the city, in particular The Windmill, Brixton, where their high-energy performances and unique sound helped them build a loyal following. With huge momentum following their biggest London headliner yet at The Garage, following a sold out Oslo Hackney, four iconic sets at The Great Escape, 2000 Trees and Glastonbury. They have also toured with English Teacher, Lambrini Girls, The Libertines and Big Special.

Alien Chicks' music is a testament to their diverse influences and fearless approach to genre.


Grandmas House

Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Booking Agent - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Grandmas House, Bristol’s finest and loudest 4 piece, have been busy honing their grunge and post-punk influenced sound. With an attack that is both relentless and melodic, the all-female band are a genuinely unique proposition - refusing to be pigeon holed, they are here to shake up perceptions with their intelligent, stylish and raucous take on rock music.

Citing influences from Nirvana to Porridge Radio and Idles to boygenius, the band have been developing their dynamic songwriting. The music moves between aggressive and heavy instrumentation and slower, more melodic passages, creating a powerful contrast. They use their voices to create layered harmonies and the result is a unique and expansive sound.

The band have supported Idles, Big Special, Katy J Pearson and Arxx. They’ve been championed by BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1 and have had BBC 6 Music support from Steve Lamacq, Emily Pilbeam and Amy Lamé.


Haters

Label Management, Distribution - US, Distribution - Worldwide, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency

Haters are an Australian indie punk/garage band formed by Jai Sparks (vocals/guitar), James Priest (drums), and Kaito (Kaitlyn Hold – bass/vocals). For fans of Fontaines D.C., The Beths, IDLES, and Wunderhorse. Their songs are drenched in emotion and exist to make you feel something, they speak of real life, friendship, mental health, profound loss and the beauty of the human experience.

The band travelled to Canada to record their debut album non-violent with Scott Middleton (Cancer Bats), capturing their intense, unfiltered sound. Known for their high-energy live shows, Haters have performed at Bigsound (Australia), NXNE (Toronto), Sled Island (Calgary), and completed several cross-country Canadian tours.

Their debut album non-violent was released in March 2025, accompanied by sold-out shows throughout Canada and Australia accompanied by rapid growth across streaming and fan engagement, with listenership led by the US, followed by Canada and Australia, 1000's of playlist adds and major Apple Music and Spotify editorial support.
With a fierce commitment to honesty, connection, and powerful performances, Haters continue to build momentum as a force in the indie punk scene.


Lovpune

Brand Partnership, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, Producer/Studio Engineer, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Lovpune is a queer indie-electronic pop artist who moved from conservative Texas to Los Angeles. She channels that transformation into late-night soundscapes perfect for empty highways and midnight dance floor connections. Writing and producing her own music, she creates infectious hooks wrapped in shimmering melodies. Lovpune is a soundtrack to stories of chosen family and authentic self-discovery.


Alkyone

Alkyone is a Greek singer-songwriter hailing from the mountains of northern Greece. Born and raised in a small town surrounded by rivers and forests, she began her musical journey at the age of six, training as a classical pianist, before embracing songwriting as her true path.
Influenced by her father’s deep love for folk music, Alkyone began experimenting with traditional songs and textures, weaving a distinct folklore thread into her musical identity. Her sound blends indie songwriting, cinematic atmospheres, and folk elements from the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Singing in both English and Greek, her lyrics explore memory, growing up, and our evolving relationship with the world, while her concerts carry an intimate, personal, and emotionally charged atmosphere.
She has performed across Europe (Konzerthaus, Tonhalle, Carré, SNF, Onassis Foundation and others). In 2023, she collaborated with Vincent Moon and was featured on La Blogothèque. Her critically acclaimed debut album Exit Sign was released in 2023, while her second studio album, Small Philosophies, is expected in late spring 2026.
Her stage name, Alkyone, is a tribute to a recurring dream in which she was a bird.


willoh

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Missouri native willoh is riding the crest of a wave of excitement over her new series of singles leading up to her spring 2026 album release.  On her latest track, EARMILK writes ““OUCHIE” defies easy categorization, blending synth-pop, raw punk attitude, and alt-rock vibes into a shifting, avant-garde sound.”

Willoh’s self-produced 20205  debut, not more than that, but more please presents us with a raw honesty rendered through snowy vocals that sit in rarefied air and belies the artist’s 19 years. In September she released the labyrinthine “Buckshot” to critical acclaim.

From her home in Springfield, Missouri, willoh records and creates music, having first found her footing on Garageband before graduating to LogicPro–making the upgrade from her earnings working many long shifts at McDonalds.


Akira Galaxy

Born Akira Galaxy Ament, the 24-year-old singer cut her teeth as a musician while fronting high school bands in Seattle, having been steeped in eclectic music by her family since she was a toddler. In her songwriting and performance, she combines the grit and attitude of the alt-rock of her hometown—where she often retreats to write—with a sleeker, more transatlantic aesthetic. Aided by producers Chris Coady (Beach House, TV On the Radio, The Kills) and Sam Westhoff, the songs on the EP blend rock ’n’ roll edge with synth gestures reminiscent of ’80s dream pop. Akira’s smoky vocals feel intimate and otherworldly at the same time, mirroring the moments in her songs when the real and the imagined seem to fold together and become inextricable.

Ultimately, Akira hopes her songs will connect with people who have gone through experiences similar to hers and effectively describe inner states that feel difficult to articulate—for instance, the desire for complete knowledge of another person. In the most powerful moments on What’s Inside You, she writes about our strange proclivities in love without judgment. These indelible songs capture emotional truth—the bold handiwork of an artist who prizes depth and substance in addition to her adventurous sounds.


Registration (JW Marriott)

Pick up your SXSW Badge or Music Wristband in Griffin Hall of the JW Marriott. Your badge is required in order to attend any sessions, events, or socials.


Registration (Omni Austin Hotel - Downtown)

Pick up your SXSW Badge in the Guadalupe Room of the Omni Downtown. Your badge is required in order to attend any sessions, events, or socials.

REGISTRATION (OMNI AUSTIN HOTEL - DOWNTOWN)


Registration (Downright Austin)

Pick up your SXSW Badge or Music Wristband on the Capitol View Terrace of the Downright Hotel. Your badge is required in order to attend any sessions, events, or socials.


SXSW Expo: International Innovations

SXSW Expo 2025 - Photo by Melissa Bordeau Mark

Manchester Ballroom

SXSW Expo: International Innovations (Free & Open to the Public)

Precision Camera & Video and Fujifilm Presents: Free Professional Headshots

Featuring a powerful mix of established global brands and budding startups, the International Innovations Expo highlights cutting-edge businesses that are pushing boundaries to move the world forward. From groundbreaking concepts to bold new business models, exhibitors are redefining what’s possible across industries around the globe. Join the community that’s driving change on a worldwide scale.

Beijing ZhongChuan Aumedia Advertising Co., Ltd


Registration (Fairmont Austin)

Pick up your SXSW Badge in the Manchester Ballroom of the Fairmont Austin. Your badge is required in order to attend any sessions, events, or socials.


“Second Nature” Screening & Q&A

Nicole Bramley

Director Of Photography

Jennifer Steinman Sternin

Editor, Co-Producer, & Co-Writer

Drew Denny

Director, Writer, & Producer

Waller Ballroom A

Texas High School Shorts Screening & Q&A

From Who to What to You: The Weird AI-Infused Future of the Creator Economy

From Viral to Viable: Building IP as a Creator

Big Ideas, Tiny Budgets: How Creativity Wins

Did you know that clownfish change sex from male to female? (So if Nemo’s mom had died in real life, his dad would have become his mom!) Did you know that albatross, penguins and swans parent in same sex pairs? Or that bonobos, who are just as closely related to us as chimps, are matriarchal and have same-sex sex every day?!

Narrated by Elliot Page, Second Nature debunks myths that females are “inferior” and being queer is “unnatural,” following trailblazing Evolutionary Biologist Dr. Joan Roughgarden as she meets other groundbreaking scientists exploring the 1500+ animal species who engage in same-sex sexual behavior and parenting, change sex, form matriarchies, and more…

Second Nature — everything you didn’t learn in high school biology.


Welcome to SXSW

Greg Rosenbaum

SVP of Programming

The head of programming, Greg Rosenbaum, kicks off the 40th year of SXSW with opening remarks. Setting the stage for seven days of incredible content, connection, and impact across music, film, innovation, and comedy, this short address will share the must know info to make the most of your time at the event. From the new footprint to the experiential plans for this year, join to learn more about what SXSW has in store for you.


World Happiness Summit® on Tour at SXSW 2026

Red River Ballroom

When AI does the work, what do humans do next?

Trust, Autonomous Payments, and the Future of Finance

During SXSW 2026, WOHASU brings its global happiness movement to Austin for a one-day, boutique experience designed for connection, conversation, and bold ideas. World Happiness Summit®

(WOHASU) On Tour features The Live Podcast Extravaganza, with live recordings of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos and Happier with Gretchen Rubin, two of the world’s most listened-to happiness podcasts, alongside short talks from leading voices in happiness and wellbeing. With Hyatt as Official Host & Hotel Sponsor, enjoy audience Q&A and insights that go beyond the microphone.

More information here: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/world-happiness-summit-on-tour-sxsw-2026/

WORLD HAPPINESS SUMMIT? ON TOUR AT SXSW 2026


Valeo Tech Drive-in

The car is no longer just a vehicle, it's where the future of tech starts.

At the Valeo Tech Drive-In, we’re transforming the journey into a high-stakes arena. Experience the machine-learning-powered Valeo Racer, gaze-tracking Panovision head up display, and e-Chromic lenses that sync to the road’s pulse. We’re even exporting automotive thermal DNA to cool the AI revolution in global data centers. From hyper-personalized lighting to the cloud edge,, witness the vehicle become the world’s most immersive, high-performance tech frontier.


Alpha X Showcase

The future of education is here. Step inside Alpha Austin for the SXSW Alpha X Showcase, where students launch entrepreneurial ventures, invent solutions, and bring bold ideas to life. Attendees experience hands-on innovation, witness AI-powered personalized learning driving mastery and life skills, and engage directly with students shaping the next generation of education. From startups to engineering feats, this immersive showcase proves how Alpha equips students to create, lead, and thrive in school, life, and beyond.


hālo haus

4th St Closure (between Congress & Colorado)

hālo haus is a 4 day gathering centered on beauty, wellness, and longevity. Hosted on a full street closure in downtown Austin, the program blends fireside chats, leading voices, experiential activations, and recovery-focused offerings within an open, discovery-driven format. hālo haus brings together founders, creators, clinicians, and cultural leaders to explore how self-care and performance are evolving alongside culture.


Featured Session: Moonshots that Move the Needle

Steve Ritter

Chief Scientist

Steve Ritter is Founder and Chief Scientist at Carnegie Learning. Dr. Ritter earned a doctorate in cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon University and was instrumental in the development and evaluation of the Cognitive Tutors for mathematics. Dr. Ritter is the author of numerous papers on the design, architecture and evaluation of adaptive instructional systems and is recognized as an expert on learning analytics and on using Artificial Intelligence in education. He has received several awards, including the Best Paper award at the International Conference on Educational Data Mining. At Carnegie Learning, Dr. Ritter leads a research team devoted to using learning engineering to improve the efficacy of the company’s products. Current funding focuses on using generative AI to produce content and to appropriately direct content to students, supports for teaching math to struggling readers and the UpGrade tool for supporting rigorous field tests.

Eden Xenakis

Chief of Staff

Eden Xenakis is deeply committed to advancing equity for young people worldwide by working alongside youth, communities, policymakers, and practitioners to help close the opportunity gap. As Chief of Staff at the Bezos Family Foundation, she collaborates closely with the Foundation’s Founders and senior leadership to drive strategic initiatives, manage cross-functional programs, and steward philanthropic priorities. Before joining the Foundation, Eden spent a decade at Deloitte, where she played a key role in launching Deloitte Digital—a division of Deloitte Consulting—partnering with founding leaders to shape its early vision and growth. With a career rooted in collaboration and innovation, Eden brings a thoughtful, action-oriented approach to building partnerships and driving meaningful change.

Kumar Garg

President

Kumar Garg is the President of Renaissance Philanthropy. Previously, Kumar worked with Eric Schmidt to design and launch moonshot initiatives in education, provide early support to game-changing ideas, and build ongoing multi-donor and multi-sector collaborations. He has also served in various roles in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Obama Administration and led the administration’s efforts to bolster STEM education, including policy development, implementation, and communication for various science and technology issues. Before these roles, he worked on behalf of parents and children seeking educational reform as an education lawyer and advocate. He has a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Yale Law School.

Arati Prabhakar

Office Of Science And Technology (Biden Administration)

Former Presidential Science & Technology Advisor

Arati Prabhakar was President Biden’s science and technology advisor and a member of his Cabinet while leading the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In these roles, she helped improve the course for artificial intelligence, health outcomes, climate and clean energy, and the innovation system to enable a prosperous and secure America. She previously led two different federal R&D agencies, serving as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In the private sector, she spent a decade as an early-stage venture capitalist and founded an innovation nonprofit. Today, Arati is advocating for better, bigger ambitions for AI and standing up for public investment in R&D.

Hilton Grand Ballroom (Salon HJK)

SXSW Community Service Awards Recognition: The Bell

Featured Session: Strategy in the Times of Chaos: Imagining Futures of Education

Featured Session: How to Support Resilient Youth in an AI World

Featured Session: Social Health Trends & Predictions: Connection is the New Frontier

Advanced tech is quickly expanding the ways we can support teachers and students both in and out of the classroom. But how do we design and fund programs that turn potential into impact? This panel explores how setting bold, time-bound learning goals can accelerate and level-up innovation while catalyzing impactful financial support. From coordinated research programs to targeted funding strategies, this session will explore how moonshot-centered models can rally diverse innovators around a shared outcome, encourage rigorous validation, and accelerate breakthroughs for teaching and learning.

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FEATURED SESSION: MOONSHOTS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE


Media That Matters: Nuclear Weapons & the Next Generation

James McKeon

Program Officer for Nuclear Security

James McKeon is a Program Officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York in the International Peace and Security program, where he manages the nuclear security portfolio. Previously, he was a senior program officer at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), focusing on U.S.-Russia and U.S.-China nuclear relations, emerging technology, and arms control. He also held roles at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and the Council for a Livable World, and was a Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow at the Stimson Center. His analysis has appeared in outlets such as USA Today, The Washington Post, Politico, CBS News, and BBC Radio. He holds a B.A. in political science from Northeastern University.

Ira Helfand

Physician, Author, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Ira Helfand, MD, is a member of the International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He is also immediate past president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), the founding partner of ICAN and itself the recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. He is also co-founder and past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, IPPNW’s US affiliate.

Susan Wilkins

Director of Social Studies Curriculum & Instruction

Susan Wilkins is Director of Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction at GBH Education. Sue leads social studies work throughout the GBH Education Department, ranging from the creation of curriculum and learning resources for the U.S. History Collection and Civics Collection on PBS LearningMedia to classroom resources to accompany AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE films. She is Principal Investigator on the NCER IES (U.S. Department of Education) grant to research, develop, and scale Youth Stand Up, a civic engagement and action curriculum for eighth graders. Previously, Sue was Director of Education at the International Museum of World War II and taught high school social studies for over 20 years. She holds an M.S. in Education from Northwestern and an A.B. in history from Harvard.

Waller Ballroom D

Rethinking Higher Education to Build an AI-First Workforce

The Big Blur: Rethinking the Transition from School to Work

Building AI Pathways for HBCU Talent & Community Impact

The Fandom Force: How to Create a Fan-First Social Approach

From Field to Fan: The Future of Sports Storytelling

How can we prepare a generation to understand the renewed global nuclear threats when so many students know little about nuclear history or policymaking? This session features two nuclear policy experts–supporters of education on these issues–and spotlights public media’s role in creating compelling video, primary sources, and inquiry-based learning to bring nuclear history and global security policy into the classroom. We’ll explore how media-based tools can help teachers address topics like deterrence, disarmament, and democratic accountability in a complex world.

MEDIA THAT MATTERS: NUCLEAR WEAPONS & THE NEXT GENERATION


The Box Sent Back from the Future

Jackie Moy

Experiential Designer

Jackie Moy is an experiential designer who studied architecture to explore how space can shape storytelling. Her work spans haunted houses, immersive theater sets, retail windows, selfie palaces, art installations, and parade floats. She has also contributed to arts organizations, from a nonprofit dedicated to global textile traditions to a foundation supporting Japanese American artists. Today she brings the same sense of immersion and narrative into digital environments, playfully experimenting with techniques like deep fakes and forgeries, always with benign intent.

Tara Odorizzi

Staff Interactive Designer

Tara is an artist and multidisciplinary graphic designer, with 15 years of experience crafting interactive multimedia experiences for businesses large and small, like Square, Mixpanel, and Tile. She embraces all types of materials and techniques in her visual art, transforming junk mail, packaging, and other trash into mixed media creations that she sends through the mail via the International Union of Mail Artists.

She is inspired by how belief impacts the reality we experience and seeks to shape new realities by experimenting with distortions in perception and weaving narratives that engage with the limits of human understanding. At the core of her work is a desire to remind people of their personal power to elicit change in the world.

Marc Chun

Designer

Dr. Marc Chun creates immersive learning experiences at the intersection of the power of storytelling, the rigor of research, and the promise of equity. He’s built playwriting labs that surface hidden narratives, escape rooms that spark empathy, and hackathons that activate communities.

A Stanford-trained sociologist, Marc draws on his work at the Stanford d.school to design spaces that invite reflection and action. Having moved from teaching to research to philanthropy, his design work has expanded in scale—from lessons for students, to strategies that change systems, to experiences that help communities learn. His journey reflects a steady pursuit of one question: how people learn, connect, and change—and how design can make those moments more equitable, delightful, and transformative.

Rio Grande Ballroom AB

Steal C-Suite Tools to Reset Schools, Like a Boss

Augmented Reality & Place-Based Learning: Layers of Place

A mysterious archive of artifacts from the year 2051 has just been discovered in Austin, and SXSW EDU participants are the first invited to investigate. In this imaginative, immersive, hands-on session, participants will explore provocative “ephemera from the future of education,” collaborate to reverse-engineer how we got there, and reflect on what must change now to shape a better tomorrow. Featuring worldbuilding, collective analysis, and live performance, this experience invites educators to engage in creative resistance for a future aligned with justice, joy, and collective imagination.


Mentor Session: Ajay Shah (AW Vanguard)

Ajay Shah

Co-Founder

Ajay Shah is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of AW Vanguard, where he helps high-growth companies. He’s launched several start-up's that have been backed by Magic Leap and Coca-Cola. He currently advises and invests in companies; venture backed startups, CPG brands and health & wellness products. With an MBA in International Business he previously served as Head of Strategy at Kurlon, India’s largest mattress company. He started his career at Fortune 500 companies including CVS Corporate, P&G, and Weyerhaeuser.  Ajay was invited to the White House as part of WHIAAPI’s leadership planning committee under the Biden Administration. In his spare time he helps curate immersive experiences and supports artists including Tetro the Mentalist and Illusionist.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Funding, Entrepreneurship.


Brittan Heller

Lecturer, Program in Law, Science, and Technology

Brittan Heller is a leading voice on ethics and human rights in immersive technology. She is a founding board member of the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences and leads the Virtual Worlds pillar for the UN’s ITU Citiverse Initiative. She advises the Council of Europe on XR and fundamental rights and has spoken on the ethics and adoption of immersive tech at Davos, UNESCO, and global policy forums. A Stanford Law lecturer and former U.S. prosecutor, Heller completed a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency on the shift to 3D computing and serves as an advisor to governments and Fortune 500 companies navigating the social impact of emerging tech.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Immersive Technology, XR, Policy.

MENTOR SESSION: BRITTAN HELLER (STANFORD LAW SCHOOL)


Avantika Bagri

Investor

I am an Investor at Centana Growth Partners, focusing on early-growth equity investments in fintech and enterprise SaaS. I am passionate about bridging funding gaps for underrepresented founders and guiding early-career women and minorities exploring careers in finance. My background spans investing, portfolio support, and strategic roles at Morgan Stanley in sustainability and technology investment banking. As a founding member of Brydge Club and a mentor with Girls Into VC, I am committed to expanding access, education, and representation in finance and entrepreneurship.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Funding, Fintech, "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion".

MENTOR SESSION: AVANTIKA BAGRI (CENTANA GROWTH PARTNERS)


Ali Tager

VP of Communications

Ali Tager is the Vice President of Communications at the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) where she helps Americans make sense of crypto by sharing real stories of how crypto can benefit everyday life and support communities with the most to gain. Her focus is on giving a voice to the millions of people and businesses using crypto, providing educational resources to demystify the hype and jargon, and offering guidance and support. She's previously worked with tech, finance and consumer brands including PayPal/Venmo, Microsoft, Adobe and Canva.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Fintech, Nonprofits.

MENTOR SESSION: ALI TAGER (NATIONAL CRYPTOCURRENCY ASSOCIATION)


Agents vs Managers: When are you ready to be signed and by who?

Luca Schafer-Charlton

Creator / Influencer

Luca (@mostlyluca) is a notable Canadian influencer and internet personality who rose to fame via social media. He first created his presence with comedic and lip-sync videos on musical.ly and TikTok, and today he is also firmly established on both Instagram and Snapchat with supporters and fans worldwide. Luca is known for his loyal following and solid engagement levels across all platforms.

Laura McDonald

Agent

Room 412

The Price of Influence: Why Undefined Value Kills Trust

10 Truths About Technology That Are Shaping Your Life

Tackling the “snakes” undermining digital rights

Come Play at Grief Camp: Healing with Story & Community

The line between agents and managers is blurrier than ever, especially for creators and talent building multi-income careers. This session breaks down how representation works today, including who does what, when each role is needed, how opportunities flow, and where incentives can misalign. Panelists include Laura McDonald, agent at Gersh Agency representing nonfiction talent and producers, creator Luca Schaefer-Charlton (MostlyLuca), and moderator Jeff Duncan, CEO of Ingenuity Live, offering perspectives from agency, creator, and management sides.

AGENTS VS MANAGERS: WHEN ARE YOU READY TO BE SIGNED AND BY WHO?

Creator Economy track sponsored by Yamaha


Aniesia Williams

Chief Impact & Venture Officer

Aniesia Williams is a powerhouse strategist and venture architect, driving growth and innovation through her firm, dreambloc. With a distinguished 20+ year career in marketing and entrepreneurship, she's not just building businesses; she's shaping ecosystems.

As the founder of AW+CO, successfully acquired in 2023, Aniesia demonstrated her ability to build and scale ventures from the ground up. Her strategic leadership as Chief Client Officer at Epigen Technology and SVP at Edelman, where she managed portfolios exceeding $250 million, solidified her reputation as a results-driven executive.

Recognized as a Network Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, Aniesia is deeply committed to democratizing access to capital, curating spaces for venture capital and family offices, and empowering founders through mentorship with Tech Stars, Build In Tulsa, and Black Ambition. Her storytelling expertise, honed through agency experience and freelance journalism, combined with her ability to create impactful experiential activations, makes her a sought-after advisor across technology, healthcare, entertainment, and CPG sectors.

Aniesia holds an MA in Management from the University of Phoenix and an honors BA in Business from Walden University.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Entrepreneurship, Funding, Business Development, Nonprofits, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

MENTOR SESSION: ANIESIA WILLIAMS (DREAMBLOC)


Why the Future Depends on How Kids Play

Esther Huybreghts

Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer

Esther Huybreghts is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Pok Pok, a TIME100-recognized startup challenging how the tech industry thinks about kids, play and screen time. She leads Pok Pok’s creative vision, shaping digital play that treats children as imaginative, capable people.

With a background in illustration, storytelling and animation, Esther creates open-ended experiences that prioritize creativity, emotional intelligence and meaningful play over overstimulation. She is also the co-host of We’re Doing Great, a podcast for imperfect parents about the realities, contradictions, and quiet wins of raising kids today.

Melissa Cash

Co-Founder & CEO

Melissa Cash is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pok Pok, an award-winning startup challenging how the tech industry thinks about kids, play, and screen time. Pok Pok was named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies, recognizing its role in reshaping digital experiences for young children.

With a background in product design at The Walt Disney Company, Melissa now builds digital experiences for kids that prioritize imagination over addiction and creative thinking over consumption. She also co-hosts We’re Doing Great, a podcast for imperfect parents about the realities, contradictions and quiet wins of raising kids today.

Salon B

Innovating in Science & Tech When Budgets are Tight

How To Meaningfully Connect in a World That Has Gone to Sh*t

It's a Whole Thing: Gen Z Work Relationships in the Age of AI

Better Leadership Starts with Understanding the Stressed Brain

Forget Recruiting. Design Your Own Workforce.

Using kids’ play and games as a lens, this session reframes imagination as one of the most critical future skills, challenging creators, designers, educators and technologists to consider how the experiences they make today shape how the next generation thinks tomorrow.

Drawing from early childhood development and game design, this talk explores why creative thinking isn’t innate but shaped early, how children develop imagination through open-ended play, and why games—often dismissed as passive entertainment—can be powerful environments for learning how to think. In a world where AI generates endless content and instant answers, the ability to ask better questions, see possibilities and imagine new paths forward will matter more than ever—making how kids play one of the most important design challenges of our time.


Designing the Partnership Ecosystem: Five Systems Missions

Christopher Brida

Director of CTE & Pathways

Chris Brida is the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Portland Public Schools, where he leads innovative, equity-centered strategies that connect education to workforce and community. A former teacher, school leader, and now doctoral candidate, Christopher blends practitioner insight with systems-level thinking and deep research. He is the architect behind the partnership ecosystem, a model that reimagines cross-sector collaboration as a strategy for lasting change. With experience leading national conversations on CTE, AI integration, and design thinking, he brings both bold ideas and practical tools to the work of educational transformation. His sessions are known for being high-energy, hands-on, and deeply human.

Room 604-605

From Burnout to Bandwidth: Using AI to Reclaim Your Day

Future Tense: A Vibecoding Experience for Educators

What if partnerships worked like ecosystems—adaptive, intentional, and built to lift entire systems? In this immersive workshop, participants become boundary-spanning “agents,” completing five design missions: The Connector, The Broker, The Buffer, The Coordinator, and The Innovator. Each mission unlocks a new way to build systems that connect education, industry, and community around shared purpose. Blending research, design thinking, and play, this session turns collaboration into strategy. Attendees leave with a blueprint for designing ecosystems that sustain innovation and measurable impact.

DESIGNING THE PARTNERSHIP ECOSYSTEM: FIVE SYSTEMS MISSIONS


From TikTok to Toolbelt: Preparing Gen Z for Work

Victor Jones

Career and Technical Education Coordinator

Dr. Victor Jones is a dynamic educational leader with over 15 years of experience in K–12 administration, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and school improvement initiatives. Currently serving as the CTE Coordinator for Frisco ISD, he has also held principal and assistant principal roles in Lewisville and Irving ISDs and led CTE programs across more than 35 campuses statewide. A passionate advocate for innovation and equity, Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas and brings a collaborative, tech-forward, and community-centered mindset to every initiative he leads.

Doug Donovan

CEO

Doug Donovan is the CEO and Founder of Interplay Learning, a pioneering platform for immersive, simulation-based training in the skilled trades. Under his leadership, Interplay has transformed technical education by providing scalable, accessible, and effective VR and 3D learning experiences for careers in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and more. With over 1,500 partners and 175,000+ learners, Doug’s work bridges workforce development and cutting-edge tech. He previously founded two software companies and holds an MBA from UC Berkeley.

Greg Toppo

Senior Writer

Greg Toppo is a longtime journalist and author of two books on education. His latest, co-authored with educator James Tracy, is Running with Robots: The American High School’s Third Century, (MIT Press, 2021). From 2017 to 2021, he was president of the Education Writers Association. From 2020 to 2021, he taught journalism at Northwestern University in Qatar. In Fall 2022, he was a Visiting Journalist in Residence at Knox College in Illinois. He is a senior writer at The74Million.

Amanda Kocon

Chief Strategy & Operations Officer

Amanda Kocon serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Edmentum, a comprehensive provider of K-12 digital solutions, which leverage adaptive technologies to accelerate learning and improve student achievement in all 50 states and in over 100 countries. Amanda oversees corporate strategy & development, product, research, and marketing, focusing on creating alignment between Edmentum’s company vision, emerging student and educator needs, and the evolution of its portfolio of product and services. Amanda has been a leader in education for 15 years, driven by a passion for creating engaging learning experiences that deliver outcomes for all students. Previously, she spent nearly a decade at TNTP as CSO for the education research, advocacy and consulting organization, and 15 years at JP Morgan Chase.

Waller Ballroom C

Higher Ed's Losing Global Talent & the Bill Is Coming Due

It Takes a Region: Cybersecurity Pathways in Rural Alabama

Rethinking Discovery Algorithms for the Creator Economy

Breaking the Sound Barrier: Making Creativity Accessible to All

Dubbed the ‘toolbelt generation,’ over half of Gen Z respondents in a recent survey say they are considering a skilled trade career—up 12% from last year. Schools are now working to modernize career preparation to meet the moment, including by tapping immersive technology to expose students to in-demand skilled trades. This panel brings together tech, career prep and school leaders to discuss how we can harness tech to engage students in learning while preparing them to successfully meet workforce demands.

FROM TIKTOK TO TOOLBELT: PREPARING GEN Z FOR WORK

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


Engineering Confidence: Raising Girls to Build Companies

Cristal Glangchai

Founder, Board President

Dr. Cristal Glangchai is the Founder of VentureLab, a nonprofit on a mission to create the next generation of diverse innovators by teaching youth to think like entrepreneurs. A trained engineer, entrepreneur, and author of VentureGirls, she champions ESTEAM® (Entrepreneurship + STEM + Arts) learning that cultivates resilience, creativity, and problem-solving in all young people.

Audrey McLoghlin

Founder & CEO

Audrey McLoghlin, a former engineer and Georgia Tech graduate, founded Frank & Eileen in 2009 with one goal: to reinvent the button-up for women using the finest Italian fabrics. Named after her Irish grandparents, the sustainable brand has grown intentionally, earning B Corp status in 2020 and recertification in 2024 with the highest score for any woman-owned brand in the U.S. Through its $20 million Giving Pledge, F&E supports future women entrepreneurs through programs at top U.S. educational institutions. 15 years in, Audrey continues to empower women with generationless style, focusing her second decade as a founder, mother, and CEO.

Waterloo Ballroom 1-2

Afraid of AI? In Cleveland, It’s Enabling Economic Mobility

Glowing Brains & Robosuits: Terminating the AI Cliché

Higher Ed Needs Caring & Liberatory Leadership to Thrive

Two extraordinary engineers-turned-entrepreneurs share how early exposure to entrepreneurship can change the trajectory of young women’s lives. This fireside chat explores why entrepreneurial mindsets should be taught as early as elementary school, how engineering thinking fuels problem-solving, and how giving back can spark a movement. Through personal stories and practical strategies, this session highlights how nurturing girls’ confidence and creativity prepares them to launch ventures, shape industries, and transform the future of entrepreneurship.

ENGINEERING CONFIDENCE: RAISING GIRLS TO BUILD COMPANIES


CTRL + SHIFT: Reimagining School Engagement Through Esports

Danielle Johnson

Executive Director

Danielle is the Executive Director for the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation, a teacher-run, nonprofit, esports organization serving Texas schools. She is also the president of the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance, a network of K12 esports organizations.

Danielle has 15 years of experience in Texas public education. She completed a Fellowship with Google for Education. Danielle holds a BA from Baylor University and an M.Ed. from Texas Tech University. She lives in Dallas, Texas.

Paramount III

American Exchange Project: Experiential Civics in Action

The Art Gallery is the New Gym: Get Creative, Get Smarter

Reducing the Cognitive Cost of Change to Drive Innovation

School esports can increase attendance, raise engagement, and foster belonging. Learn why hundreds of Texas school districts (and thousands around the US) are investing in esports programs, both in the classroom and afterschool. This session breaks down the myths and shows how campus and district esports programs connect students to school and to each other.

CTRL + SHIFT: REIMAGINING SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH ESPORTS


Hsu Untied: Beyond Numbers: Decision-Making in the Math Classroom

Richard Hsu

Host & Producer

Richard Hsu is a retired lawyer and the Host and Producer of a two-time award-winning podcast, Hsu Untied (https://hsuuntied.com), where he has interviewed billionaire entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, best-selling authors, TED speakers, professional athletes, Olympic medalists, Emmy Award winners, and other celebrities.  He is also a member of the Ambassador Council for the Alliance for Decision Education.

Katey Arrington

NCSM & Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin

President (NCSM) & Director of Systemic Transformation (Charles A. Dana Center)

Dr. Katey Arrington is the Director of Systemic Transformation at the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin. She is also the President of NCSM, the premier national mathematics education leadership organization. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education, and a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Planning from the University of Texas at Austin. She has extensive experience in designing and implementing system-level transformation across K–16 and leveraging networks for initiating and scaling equitable solutions.

Charles Cassidy

Charles Cassidy, Organizational Development,  Senior Manager at the Alliance for Decision Education, is focused on strategy, logistics, and content production to support the growth of the Decision Education community.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Charles worked in education and science communication in London, UK. Following the development of educational research projects with The British Council across South America and Asia, Charles taught mathematics and science for 15 years. He is the founding director of the Evidence-Based Wisdom project, which translates academic research regarding the science and psychology of wisdom into understandable and helpful resources.

Waterloo Ballroom 3

The Learning Geeks: How to Think When Machines Think Faster

Chalk & Gavel: Navigating the Tides of an Education Law Sea Change

Beyond Voting: Defending Truth in Education: AI, Equity, & Power

Forget Moments Marketing: Welcome to Worldbuilding

Tradwives, Throuples, Trends: What Modern Love Means for Ads

Join a live podcast recording that explores the dynamic relationship between math and decision-making. Our guests will examine how math instruction can nurture decision-making skills such as probabilistic thinking and numeracy, and how applying decision-making contexts can lead to new math structures that feel more meaningful and relevant. Through practical examples, the discussion will show how integrating these approaches helps students apply mathematical reasoning to real-world choices and develop lasting habits of thoughtful, evidence-based analysis.

HSU UNTIED: BEYOND NUMBERS: DECISION-MAKING IN THE MATH CLASSROOM


Division Defiance: Building Cross-Racial Solidarity

Sarah Yee

Consultant

Dr. Sarah Yee is a former K-8 classroom teacher and now serves as a Program Manager and Race Equity Facilitator at the Center for Equity & Inclusion. In her work, she has collaborated with district leaders, administrators, and teachers from school districts across the Pacific Northwest. Informed by her lived experience as an Educator of Color, her research focused on the theory and praxis of retaining teachers of color through professional development. She is dedicated to advocating for educational equity by disrupting and dismantling the systems that perpetuate the marginalization of students and teachers of color.

Shannon Holder

Adjunct Professor

Dr. Shannon D. Anderson is the mother of two who has dedicated nearly thirty years to the field of education, serving in a variety of roles. Currently, she is the CEO of Onyx Equity Consulting, where she collaborates with schools to cultivate their ideal cultural environments. In addition to her consulting work, Dr. Anderson is the author of two children’s books, is currently employed in the public-school system, and serves as an adjunct professor at George Mason University. Her book The Encyclopedia of Educational Equity will be published by Corwin in May 2025.

Brazos I-III

In Search of Hope: Teaching Climate Emotions Through Story

Beyond Borders: Diverse Alliances for Immigrant Wellbeing

Future-Proof Your Strategy: An AI Test and Learn Lab

Pitch Camp! How To Win Creative Pitches by Being More Human

Marketing Without a Map: Building in the Age of Chaos

This interactive workshop explores how the Model Minority Myth and Anti-Blackness serve as tools of racial division, perpetuating a hierarchy that undermines collective liberation. Participants will unpack and analyze these harmful narratives, reflect on their own experiences within systems of oppression, and engage in practices that foster cross-racial solidarity. Designed for educators and advocates of educational equity, the session offers a space for building shared understanding and cultivating strategies for dismantling racial hierarchies in pursuit of cross-racial solidarity.

DIVISION DEFIANCE: BUILDING CROSS-RACIAL SOLIDARITY


AI’s Rise, Talent’s Fall: Fixing the Skills Deficit

Tanner Jackson

Head of AI Products

Tanner Jackson is General Manager of Corporate Solutions at ETS, where he leads the development of future-focused products that help employers tackle talent challenges and prepare for the future of work. For the past 11 years, he’s held leadership roles across strategy, research, and innovation at the organization. A respected voice on AI, durable skills, and skill measurement, he’s a sought after speaker, having taken the stage at SHRM Talent, ASU+GSV Summit, and Zoom Educator Summit. He is a member of Fortune's AIQ Advisory Board, and holds a PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of M.

Waller Ballroom B

Empowering Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Cracking Higher Ed: Why Startups Miss the Mark

Reigniting STEM Interest: A 7,700-Student Study

Startup Lessons from the Baby-Sitters Club

The Future is Low-Tech: Lessons from the Early 2000s

Everyone’s talking about AI disruption — but not enough are talking about the human talent disruption it demands. This candid session challenges the myth that AI alone will future-proof workforces. It exposes blind spots in today’s upskilling agendas — from overlooked durable skills to the illusion of instant AI fluency. Backed by global insights and fresh data, this session offers a bold roadmap to turn AI anxiety into human potential — where curiosity, creativity, and adaptability matter as much as code.

AI?S RISE, TALENT?S FALL: FIXING THE SKILLS DEFICIT


Building a New, Future-Proof University in 2026

Emily Balog

Rowan-Virtua New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, Rowan University

Associate Professor

A professor specializing in interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare, Emily's interest in elderly veterans began at age 14 working at Jack's Donuts. After 9/11, she enlisted in the Air Force, serving 6 years including deployment in Operation Enduring Freedom while pursuing Emergency Management and occupational therapy. Her mother's death sparked renewed purpose in veteran advocacy. She earned her OT degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 2007, specializing in geriatrics and "aging in place" - helping seniors remain independent in their communities. Now with a Ph.D. in Translational Health Sciences from GWU, she aims to connect research with programs supporting meaningful aging for older adults.

David Staley

Associate Professor of History

Dr. David Staley is an associate professor of History at The Ohio State University, teaching digital history and historical methods, with courtesy appointments in Design and Educational Studies. He's authored/co-authored 6 books including Visionary Histories (2022), Knowledge Towns (2023), and Alternative Universities (2019). He's a Fellow at ASU's Center for Science and the Imagination, hosts the "Voices of Excellence" podcast, won "Best Freelance Writer" in 2022 from Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for his futures column, and was Executive Director of the American Association for History and Computing (2003-2008).

Daris McInnis

Instructor in Education

Born in Flint to a teen mom, Daris valued education early. After his 2008 business degree, he became an Army officer inspired by his parents. Volunteering at struggling schools while stationed at Fort Lee sparked his education passion. He joined New Orleans Education Pioneers Fellowship (2013), earned teaching certification (2014), and taught early childhood in D.C. His dedication earned meetings with Presidents Obama and Clinton. He brought play to shelter families and taught at a Kenyan orphanage. Now studying literacy at Penn GSE, he supports Philadelphia programs and aspires to become an education professor advocating for early literacy in marginalized communities.

Dan Futrell

Founder

Dan Futrell is the founder of Polymath University, a new nonprofit university that is interdisciplinary, apprenticeship based, and debt-free. He is a former local elected official and a U.S. Army veteran. He served five years as a ranger-qualified infantry officer, deploying to Iraq in 2006 and 2009 for which he was twice awarded the bronze star medal. He’s held several nonprofit executive roles, most recently serving as CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation. He is an avid marathoner and adventurer, with a 2:48 marathon best and having led a successful expedition to recover the missing black box from a 1985 commercial plane crash in Bolivia atop a 20k foot mountain.

Waterloo Ballroom 5-6

A Model for Culturally Responsive STEAM Ecosystems

Future-Ready Frameworks for Higher Ed's Title IX Challenges

How to Raise Changemakers: Lessons from Brazil’s Youth

What happens when an academic's vision for transforming higher education meets building an actual university? This session explores the journey from Alternative Universities' theoretical framework to building a new university in 2026 that is debt-free and apprenticeship-based. We examine the "ROTC for private sector" funding approach that shifts costs from students to employers, polymathic curriculum combining three non-adjacent majors, and navigating 2026's unique obstacles like accreditation and funding while leveraging opportunities from starting without entrenched bureaucracy.

BUILDING A NEW, FUTURE-PROOF UNIVERSITY IN 2026


What We’re Unlearning on Supporting Education Systems

Enyi Okebugwu

Senior Program Manager

Enyi Okebugwu is a Senior Program Manager at Imaginable Futures. His work focuses on supporting field building and systems change for student parents in the US through nonprofit investments and partnerships. In addition, he supports the development and implementation of IF’s learning and impact practices. Prior to joining Imaginable Futures, he worked on the investment team at Village Capital, and spent time as an Impact Fellow with New Globe, where he drove the development process for New Globe’s first cohort of primary schools in Nigeria. Enyi began his career by founding a social enterprise, Legendary Tutors, focused on providing high-quality test prep and college admissions consulting to underserved high school students in the south side of Chicago.

Guadalupe

Shaping Education in a Culture x Tech World

Independent Film Publicity: How to Earn Media Attention

4D Volumetric Video & Gaussian Splats for XR Creators

The rules that have governed decades of education policy and practice are being rewritten. Advocates are adapting their strategies to play by the new rules and funders must also consider how its own rules can better meet the moment – from setting strategy or tracking impact amid rapid change to collaborating with other funders and partners through uncertainty. This meetup is a space for funders and other changemakers to discuss how philanthropy can adapt alongside advocacy partners and others to continue advancing change for all learners.

WHAT WE?RE UNLEARNING ON SUPPORTING EDUCATION SYSTEMS


AI & the Brain: As We Embrace AI, Let’s Not Forget Our Minds

Olivia Joseph

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Master’s Student in Computation & Cognition

Olivia Joseph is a Master’s student studying Computation and Cognition at MIT, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in Computer Science & Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She is interested in perceptual development and works as a researcher in the Sinha Lab, investigating both the computational principles and biological processes of brain plasticity. As an undergraduate, Olivia also concentrated in Education to better understand learning and development from both cognitive and classroom-based perspectives. She has worked in local public school classrooms and has been a tutor for grade school students for the past six years. Olivia is also a member of MIT’s women’s varsity basketball team.

Sanjay Sarma

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Sanjay Sarma, distinguished leader in academia and business, is professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. Until May 2025, he was CEO, President, and Dean of the Asia School of Business. Sarma received his PhD from UC Berkeley, his Masters from CMU and his Bachelors from IIT. His expertise includes RFID, sensors, manufacturing, autonomy, AI, sustainability and innovation. In addition to his academic achievements, Sarma has been highly influential in education, helping establish Singapore University of Technology and Design, serving as the first Director of Digital Learning at MIT and as the Vice President for Open learning at MIT. His initiatives include MIT Open Learning, MicroMasters, the Jameel World Education Lab, the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative and MIT xPro.

Izzat Jarudi

Co-Founder & CEO

Izzat Jarudi’s journey took him from Lebanon to the US, and from near dropout to MIT Phi Beta Kappa in Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Yale PhD in Cognitive and Social Psychology. He has worked in AI-driven companies such as Cambridge Mobile Telematics, where he was a manager for large product and data science teams supporting millions of users and using cutting-edge machine learning techniques. As Co-Founder and CEO of Edifii, Dr. Jarudi is developing an AI and Neuroscience-based mentor for students, counselors, and parents. Edifii was one of a dozen companies chosen nationally by the US Department of Education for its Small Business Innovation Research grant in 2024 and was a member of the inaugural cohort of Techstars Economic Mobility program in 2023.

Chris Gabrieli

Chairman

Chris Gabrieli has chaired the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education since 2015, making him the longest-serving state board chair in the U.S. and the only one appointed by both a Democratic and Republican Governor. He has led key policy initiatives, including the Massachusetts Early College Initiative, which serves nearly 10,000 students and boosts college success rates for historically underserved students. A Lecturer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education for over a decade, he teaches on education policy change and on innovations in blending K-12, college, and careers. Over 25 years, he has co-founded education nonprofits, including Empower Schools. He has held appointments from three Massachusetts Governors and the Mayor of Boston and served on several university boards.

Paramount I-II

Code Switch: Defending Black EdTech amid AI Crackdowns

Pedagogy, Politics, & Place: Video PD for a Polarized Age

Across homes, offices, and classrooms, AI is becoming ubiquitous—mapping our routes, writing our code, even dreaming up art in seconds. What once sounded like science fiction is now silently transforming our daily existence. And yet, amid this great digital leap forward, a quieter, more fragile system is at stake: the human brain.
We are perched at a precipice in history. As AI systems grow in power and presence, we must ask a question too few dare to voice: What is this doing to us - our capacity to explore, to learn, to reason, and to create? The machines are learning. But are we forgetting?

AI & THE BRAIN: AS WE EMBRACE AI, LET?S NOT FORGET OUR MINDS


Who’s Funding the Future—and Who’s Getting Left Out

Jose Pinero

Executive Director

José Piñero is the Executive Director of SomosVC, where he leads efforts to expand opportunity and representation for Latino/as and allies in venture capital. With more than 20 years of experience in business leadership, nonprofit governance, and community empowerment, José guides SomosVC’s strategy to strengthen the VC talent pipeline, elevate emerging fund managers, and grow the organization’s impact through scalable programs, partnerships, and data-driven thought leadership. José has held senior leadership roles at Microsoft and Procter & Gamble and has played key governance roles across the nonprofit sector, including serving as Board Chair of Hopelink, where he co-led a multi-million-dollar capital campaign. Nationally recognized as the “Top Coach for Latinos,” he is the creator of the Latino Career Test™ and a longtime advocate for Latino/a leadership and economic mobility across corporate, philanthropic, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Jay Lundy

Managing Director

Jay Lundy is the managing director of NAACP Capital, NAACP’s new venture capital fund leveraging innovation to close systemic gaps in healthcare, economic access, education, and climate equity for communities of color. With a $200 million fund underway, Jay pioneers investment in both founders and fund managers building scalable, high-impact solutions for a more inclusive economy. During the pandemic, he led the nationally recognized Secure Paycheck Protection Program, disbursing loans that helped over 2,500 small Black and Brown- owned businesses rebuild trust with financial institutions. Jay leverages his private sector leadership to deliver not just products but also dignity, to make the venture ecosystem more equitable.

Govind Shivkumar

Director, Investments

Govind Shivkumar, a Director at Omidyar Network, oversees for-profit investments in late-stage AI and emerging tech companies and funds. He also stewards portfolios and grants in Open-Source Technologies, Data Governance and Public interest AI initiatives. Some of his recent investments / portfolio include Anthropic, EleutherAI, Stanford HAI, Skydeck VC Fund, and Humane Intelligence.

Lili Gangas

Chief Technology Community Officer

Lili Gangas is the Chief Technology Community Officer at the Kapor Foundation, an operating foundation at the intersection of technology and racial justice, providing research and thought leadership, operating programs, supporting strategic partnerships and investments to increase diversity across the tech ecosystem--from K-12 education through entrepreneurship and venture capital. She co-leads the Kapor Center’s Equitable Tech Policy Initiative with a focus on inclusive technology policy with special interests in closing digital divide, scaling new tech workforce models, advocating for responsible emerging technology as well as providing foundational support across civic engagement issues and tech enablement of civic organizations.

Salon D

Thrive or Survive: Why Creativity is the Key to an AI-Future

The Story of Stories—The Million Year History of Storytelling

Skills You’ll Need To Succeed in the Post-AI Age

Through the Noise: The State of Science Storytelling

How Death Became the New Wellness Frontier

While billions flow into tech, too little reaches the people building for equity, justice, and long-term public benefit. This session brings together leaders rethinking who gets to fund emerging tech and why—across both venture capital and philanthropy. We'll explore how to back founders closest to the problems, build alternatives to extractive tech, and redirect capital toward innovation that actually serves communities. It's time to expand who defines innovation—and who profits from it.

WHO?S FUNDING THE FUTURE?AND WHO?S GETTING LEFT OUT


Turning Up the Heat: Climate Content That Clicks

Susie Jaramillo

CEO

Susie Jaramillo is an Emmy-nominated director, artist, and board director, and the co-founder and CEO of Encantos, an award-winning children’s entertainment tech company named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. She is also the creator of Canticos, the #1 bilingual preschool brand and series, beloved by families everywhere.

At Encantos, Susie builds brands with purpose, fueled by fans and brought to life through apps, books, content, and consumer products. Encantos uses a digital, direct-to-consumer model to bring properties like Canticos™, Skeletina™, Tiny Travelers™, and This is Cooler™ to families worldwide, redefining the media landscape.

Susie has been widely recognized for her creative leadership and cultural impact, with features in Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, NPR, ABC, NBC, and CBS. She was recently named The Ad Club’s People of the Year and honored on NBCUniversal + Telemundo’s Inspiring America list.

A sought-after speaker on culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship, Susie has shared her insights at events across the country. She also serves on the board of The Moth.

Mindy Thomas

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Tinkerer, Host of Wow in the World

Mindy Thomas is the co-creator and co-host of NPR’s Wow in the World, the #1 science podcast for kids. Through contagious curiosity and irreverent humor, she’s helped millions of families fall in love with science—often through topics like climate, sustainability, and ecosystems. As a children’s media producer and co-founder of Tinkercast, Mindy’s mission is to entertain and educate kids while inspiring awe for the planet.

JJ Johnson

Founder, Executive Producer, Director

J.J. Johnson is a four-time Emmy-winning executive producer, director, and writer, and the founding partner of Sinking Ship Entertainment. He has created over 17 acclaimed children’s series, including Dino Dana, Annedroids (Amazon), Endlings (Hulu), Ghostwriter (Apple TV+), Lockdown (YouTube Originals), and Jane (Apple TV+), an environmental activism show created with the Jane Goodall Institute. A bestselling author and industry thought leader, J.J. has spoken at the UN, Geena Davis Institute, and International Communication Association, and co-authored multiple academic papers. He currently serves as co-chair of the Youth Media Alliance in Canada

Laura Schifter

Senior Fellow

Laura Schifter is a Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute and leads This Is Planet Ed, a national initiative focused on empowering educators, students, and parents to drive climate solutions. A former senior education staffer on Capitol Hill and lecturer at Harvard, she brings a unique blend of research, policy, and lived experience as a mother. Laura focuses on how parents can be activated as a powerful audience for climate communication and change, making her a leading voice on climate and kids.

Salon E

Growing Intelligence: Youth, AI, and the Future of Ag

Mall Rats Reborn: How Hot Topic is Using Entertainment to Revitalise Retail

Culture Under Fire: Storytelling for Public Power

How to Win Friends and Overthrow Systems

From YouTube science shows to animated series and hit podcasts, climate content is getting a creative reboot. And today, climate-smart content isn't optional; it's foundational.This session brings together leaders from media, education, and policy to explore how we prepare the next generation to adapt and lead in a changing world. Learn how storytelling, humor, and accessibility are helping families make sense of climate change and act on it together.

TURNING UP THE HEAT: CLIMATE CONTENT THAT CLICKS


Who Owns the Truth?

Tara Palmeri

Journalist

Tara Palmeri is the host of The Tara Palmeri Show and author of The Red Letter, a hard-hitting newsletter about power, politics, and the people who shape both. One of the most feared and fearless reporters in Washington, she has spent more than 15 years covering national politics and foreign affairs. Tara was previously a White House Correspondent for ABC News, where she covered the first Trump administration, and the Chief National Correspondent for POLITICO during the Biden years. She’s also served as a political analyst for CNBC, CBS, and CNN, and began her career as a columnist for the Washington Examiner before joining the New York Post. As a foreign correspondent for POLITICO Europe, she reported across the continent on global power shifts, including Brexit. Tara has hosted multiple acclaimed podcasts, including Broken: Jeffrey Epstein and Power: The Maxwells, and previously hosted Somebody’s Gotta Win for The Ringer while writing a politics column for Puck.

Imran Ahmed

CEO

Imran Ahmed is the founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), leading efforts to hold social media and AI companies accountable when their systems harm children and undermine our shared civic life. A recognized authority on the social and psychological impacts of digital platforms and the manipulation of our information environment, he regularly appears in the media and in documentaries and advises policymakers on common-sense safeguards that put people first.

Salon A

The Creative Power of Letting Go: Why Quitting Can Be Your Biggest Breakthrough

Charmageddon: Robots That Steal Hearts and Jobs

Shortchanged: Gen Z, the Economy, and Brands

SWIFTYNOMICS: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy

Prune or Perish: Cut Toxic Leadership for a Thriving Culture

Truth is harder to pin down than ever. This session explores how algorithms, AI, platform design, and evolving media ecosystems are reshaping how people understand what’s real. As trust in information sources shifts, we’ll look at how public belief is formed, how it can be influenced, and what that means for the future of shared reality. The conversation will offer practical insight into how creators, technologists, and communicators can help rebuild trust in an age of information overload. In conversation with Imran Ahmed, the session will feature a leading, award-winning journalist known for shaping national conversations on truth, media, and influence.


Technology Convergence: Winning the Exponential Upswing

Connie Kuang

Technology Convergence Initiative Lead

Connie leads the Technology Convergence Initiative at the World Economic Forum. Her publications at the Forum have spanned the Metaverse, Inclusive AI, and AI Transformation of Industries, shaping its thought leadership on emerging technologies and their cross-sector implications.

Previously, she served as Director of Marketing at Felix & Paul Studios, where she received a Primetime Emmy for contributions to Space Explorers: The ISS Experience. She brings a rare blend of strategic foresight, creative execution, and tech fluency, grounded in years of operating experience building content, products, and campaigns for audiences across immersive, consumer, and e-commerce platforms.

Kary Bheemaiah

Chief Tech & Innovation Officer- Capgemini Invent I Exec Fellow – World Economic Forum

Kary leads emerging tech initiatives, establishing Capgemini’s Quantum Lab, Engineering Biology accelerator, AIxRobotics Lab, and Edge AI practice. With expertise in strategic planning, execution (from funding to autonomy), and managing major innovation programs, Kary offers pragmatic solutions for firms’ challenges and market positioning. He is the lead author of the World Economic Forum’s Technological Convergence report and author of the book, The Blockchain Alternative. His insights appear in MIT Tech Review, WIRED, Harvard Business Review, and more. Formerly an Associate Research Scientist at Cambridge, Senior Fellow at Ecole des Ponts, and 2 X TEDx speaker. In a previous life, Kary served in the French Foreign Legion, earning the Cross of Valor for combat operations in Afghanistan.

Room 410

Leading the AI Future: How to Think Exponentially in a Chaotic Decade

CTRL + ALT + CREATE: How AI Is Reshaping the Creative Process

How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change: A Conversation with the authors of Somebody Should Do Something

Breaking Cultural Codes That Keep Latino Leaders Silent

Every industrial revolution started with mashups. Today, advanced digital, biological, and physical technologies are creating their S-Curves together, unleashing a burst of convergence that generates value none could release alone, a dynamic mapped by the World Economic Forum's Technology Convergence Report. In this hands-on session, executives and founders will work through a diagnostic framework to map the intricacies of today's technology landscape, stress-test where their next major bet sits within the convergence wave, and walk away with a practical lens they can apply immediately.

TECHNOLOGY CONVERGENCE: WINNING THE EXPONENTIAL UPSWING


Innovation Without Borders: The World’s Top EdTech Startups

Cecilia Waismann

Vice President

VP MindCET EdTech Innovation Centre, brings together educators, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation in education. Expert on the impact of cutting-edge tech and internet culture on how new generations learn and engage with education. PhD in Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, MSc in Social Psychology LSE. Career spans mental health, education, and policy across England, Spain, Brazil, and Israel, with leadership roles principal, researcher, policy advisor. Worked with the European Community, Maudsley Hospital, Andalusia Health Services, Tel Aviv University, and the Diaspora Museum. An internationally recognized speaker, she has published extensively on education, technology, and the evolving ways students learn in the digital age.

Avi Warshavsky

CEO

Avi Warshavsky MindCET CEO & Founder of MindCET, a global hub driving innovation, on Board of Directors of the Center for Educational Technology, held senior leadership positions Head of Humanities and Social Studies and Director of eBook initiatives, pioneering new models for digital learning in Israel’s education system. Acclaimed thought leader, pioneered global initiatives that have shaped today’s EdTech landscape. Founded the Global EdTech Startup Awards (GESAwards) in 2014, co-founded the UK–Israel EdTech Task Force, and currently chairs the board of many EdTech companies such as Connecteam, Plethora, Jotit, CodeMonkey, and is a Managing Partner at MindCET Capital. International voice a frequent speaker at leading EdTech forums across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa

Room 403-404

From Insight to Impact: Superintendents Share What Works

Discover the world’s largest and only community uniting EdTech organizations representing every world region,  connecting, supporting, and spotlighting the brightest startups shaping the future of learning. This session showcases the standout talents selected as the best by global EdTech leaders and investors (from 138 countries). Through real examples and direct engagement with the founders, participants will uncover actionable strategies for building cross-regional partnerships, designing adaptable learning solutions, and identifying what truly resonates with today’s learners and educators.

INNOVATION WITHOUT BORDERS: THE WORLD?S TOP EDTECH STARTUPS