Some title about speakers
Leading experts, designers, researchers and product folks — from across the globe have participated at BeMore Festival.
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A former aspiring lawyer-turned-tech-marketer, Kim began her career in media litigation and First Amendment law before jumping client-side with a global Fortune 500 company, leading high-performing, cross-functional teams and producing multimillion-dollar media and marketing campaigns in highly-regulated industries, from B2B SaaS/tech to financial services with Capital One. Most recently, she worked on growing the .com domain name in Latin America as the Regional Business Lead & Senior Manager. Kim now heads up a savvy, nimble team of product and events marketing, and business development reps in the increasingly complex world of data, information, and AI governance. She is a seasoned speaker, host, and facilitator across multitudes of topics, audiences, and industries, from private organizations and public sector agencies to household names like Booz Allen Hamilton and General Assembly.
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Former CTO at public and private companies turned C-Suite strategy advisor. Klaas brings a unique perspective of deep technology, finance and commercial instinct. He's usually called on to find a path forward when there are no easy choices. Klaas was lucky to have great people surround him early in his career and is now paying it forward as a mentor to the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.
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Design Director, Creative Mentor & Branding Soul. With +12 years in the design field. Working with iconic DTC brands, tech disruptors, and e-commerce empires, focusing on building brands with a purpose. From directing a photoshoot to creating a design system with AI, or leading the packaging team, there are no limits. But mostly, inspiring, mentoring, and boosting young designers to develop their career growth.
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Being keen on building human-centric technology, Mareike ventured out into the software tech scene 8 years ago. She has been part of a variety of product teams in different start-ups ever since, learning how (not) to do Product. Since then Mareike has not only become a strong-hearted product leader but also a people person who believes in servant & conscious leadership. Currently, she works as Director of Product at a Danish startup called Onomondo.
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With nearly three decades in design, Mario Van der Meulen [mvdm] is a visionary leader, crafting human-centric strategies for forward-thinking companies to deliver real business impact.
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Matt Karakilic is an established leader in the UX field, with a rich history at prominent companies like Hitachi Energy, autoTRADER, BestBuy, UKG, HP, and SAP. He imparts his vast knowledge as a mentor at the VFS, BCIT, and ADPList, and previously as an instructor at RED Academy and SFU. Specializing in UX design, research, and content. Matt offers his expertise to both upcoming and seasoned UX professionals, alongside consulting services for entrepreneurs keen on user-centric product development. As a passionate Experiential Design Leader, and a UX Advocate, Matt is City Host for Vancouver, Canada for ADPList Ambassador Program. His dedication extends to his role as the volunteers' chair and a committed volunteer at the User Experience Professional Association (UXPA), contributing significantly to the UX community. With a BSc. in Media Arts and Design from Simon Fraser University and over 15 years of hands-on experience in UX, Matt's expertise spans from aiding startups to advising Fortune 500 companies, marking him as a versatile and influential figure in the field.
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Megan has been in the design industry for close to 20 years. She stumbled upon the field of user experience after being rejected for many graphic design roles because she wanted to create work that was intuitive, rather than just good-looking. She started out her UX career specialising in form design, and has worked for many of Australia’s tech giants over the years. Megan lead the Design and UX Research team at 99designs for 6 years, up until their acquisition where she joined the Vista UX Leadership team as a Senior Director of UX.
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Melvin, an acclaimed Creative Director, brings over 17 years of extensive expertise in visual design, product design, and branding to the table. Melvin specializes in crafting cutting-edge omnichannel content that aligns seamlessly with corporate strategies and objectives. His work with globally renowned brands has endowed him with a distinctive insight into the industry, driving his passion for developing innovative creative solutions that deeply connect with audiences. In addition to his professional accolades, Melvin is fervently engaged with the digital art scene, AI and web3 technologies, consistently bringing vibrant, new perspectives to his work. Melvin is also well-regarded for his ability to mentor and develop emerging talents and small creative collectives, helping them to thrive in the constantly evolving landscape of the creative sector.
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Mike Gadsby is the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at O3, a Philadelphia-based digital experience consultancy. As a human-centered design practitioner and AI strategist with over 25 years of experience, Mike has advised everyone from dynamic startups to global brands, including Comcast, Aramark, Vanguard, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Passionate about the future of technology, Mike leads O3’s innovation and AI practice, helping businesses harness the power of AI to elevate their digital experiences for customers, employees and the people they serve. A frequent speaker and educator, Mike shares his insights at industry events nationwide, focusing on how AI can improves the human experience and unlocks untaped potential. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Mike also teaches and guest lectures on entrepreneurship and the future of customer experience, inspiring the next generation of innovators.
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Product leader and mentor with 12 years of experience in hypergrowth tech based in Berlin, Germany. Specializing in AI and automation products, with a focus on CX and customer service. Currently leading the product unit building the next generation of autonomous AI agents at Zendesk.
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Nicole leads operations, marketing, and strategy at KindWorks.AI. She has 20 years of experience in marketing, brand, and business development, working on both the client and agency sides for large Fortune 100 companies and early-stage startups. She led brands at Anheuser-Busch InBev and served as Director of Brand Strategy at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In her agency leadership experience, she grew US business into a diversity of new industries and revenue streams working with brands such as Sephora, Nickelodeon, IBM, Chrysler, and more. Nicole has led and grown teams, products, and businesses from conception to scale. She is a solution-focused leader who understands how to design a big-picture vision and to efficiently and effectively operationalize it. She hosts the podcast On Kindness where she speaks with leaders of all ages and geographies to discern what Kindness means to them and why it’s critical to our future.
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With over 18 years of experience in the IT software industry as a Technology Leader, I am dedicated to spearheading digital transformation initiatives using cutting-edge technologies like microservices, AI, and APIs. My role has involved driving impactful projects for major corporations, focusing on developing transformative software solutions primarily in the sectors of B2B banking, media, and healthcare.
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Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. Nir previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003 and was dubbed by The M.I.T. Technology Review as, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.” Bloomberg Businessweek wrote, “Nir Eyal is the habits guy. Want to understand how to get app users to come back again and again? Then Eyal is your man.” He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. His books have resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in over 30 languages. Nir invests in habit-forming products that improve users’ lives. Some of his past investments include Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify), Kahoot! (KAHOOT-ME.OL), Canva, Homelight, Product Hunt, Marco Polo, Byte Foods, FocusMate, Dynamicare, Wise App, and Sunnyside.
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I'm a video media specialist with an interest in creating the most compelling content possible. For over 15 years, I've been helping businesses and individuals push the boundaries of visual communication. I specialize in video production, motion graphics, and love collaborating on anything video related. When I'm not on the job, I love running, hiking with my wife, catching a movie at a local cinema house, and indulging in seeing new places. I'm passionate about telling meaningful stories and doing so with excellence.
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👋🏼 I'm Peter Zhao 👦🏻; I am a thinker, explorer, and visual communicator. I am dedicated to creating meaningful experiences, solving business problems, and bringing positive impacts to users. With over 8+ years of industry experience, I've transitioned from a craft-driven creator into a system thinker and problem solver. I’ve been able to apply my human-centered design philosophy to translate company visions into viable and pleasurable products. In my role, I led the strategy and design, took multiple products from 0 to 1, implemented design systems, led design teams, and worked with cross-functional teams to adopt UX best practices into scrum ceremonies. From an early age, I've had a deep yearning to understand the 'why' and 'how' of everything, and experiment with new ideas. I’m not one to shy away from the unfamiliar and never satisfied with “just good enough”. I’m always looking for new lessons to learn, new stories to hear, new dots to connect, and passing on that learning. Outside of work, I’m an enthusiast cinema photographer, die-hard techie, toys collector, and a huge proponent of new experiences through adventure.
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A seasoned Business Intelligence professional with a decade of experience in leveraging complex data to inform strategic decision-making and achieve measurable business results. Proven expertise in leading high-performing analytics teams within the IT and Finance sectors. Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into actionable insights that drive tangible business outcomes. Results-oriented leader with a passion for innovation and a commitment to delivering value through data-driven initiatives.
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Rajeev Reddy Vishaka is a renowned engineering leader with exceptional expertise in Blockchain, Web3, DeFi, and AI. His transformative influence extends across finance technology and health care. Through visionary leadership and innovative strategies, he has spearheaded pioneering technological advancements, co-authored patents and research papers, enhancing open financial systems and upholding stringent global regulatory standards. With experience building multiple 0-to-1 products and leading high performing teams across startups, mid-sized, and large-scale companies, his contributions reflect a commitment to driving progress and ensuring robust compliance in a complex, highly regulated landscape. Additionally, as a mentor, judge, and advisor for startups, he plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders.
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I am a multidisciplinary design lead creating digital products for over a decade. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with impactful organizations including Apple, Meta, LinkedIn, Huawei, and Google. My ultimate goal for every challenge is to deliver human value through intuitive, beautiful design. Outside of design, I have an outdoor photography and mental health advocacy background bi-locating between California and Alaska.
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Sandesh is a seasoned global leader with a proven track record of excellence in Enterprise Technology Leadership, Product Management, CxO Advisory, and Business Transformation. Currently he works as a Director of Strategic Advisory at Salesforce Inc. He has successfully led numerous large enterprise initiatives for business transformation and technology modernization at many fortune 500 organizations, especially for Cloud Migration, Data Analytics, AI, and Blockchain technologies.
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Emmy® Award winning Executive, Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur and Innovator – Shawn Johnson is the Founder and President of SocioPunk & Seichō Syndicate. Over the past 25 years, his products have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world - creating positive, memorable and lasting relationships through evolving consumer and technology ecosystems. An entrepreneur, and former executive leader for Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal and Microsoft – Shawn builds effective strategies and high performing cross-functional teams to create Most Lovable Products that thrive at the intersection of design, technology, and imagination of the human spirit.
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Stephen Gates is a renowned designer with a career spanning over two decades global design leader building world-class organizations that drive a long-term vision and near-term business impact. He is currently the founder of CRZY, which is an independent strategy, design, and inspiration studio helping companies find a new vision and purpose for their brands, digital experiences, creativity, and existence. He previously worked at InVision, Citi, Starwood Hotels, WW, and McCann Erickson, building teams that created award-winning global advertising campaigns, multiple Fortune 100 brands, and innovative digital experiences. He shares what he has learned through his international speaking engagements and his award-winning podcast, The Crazy One, which an in-depth exploration of issues that matter to creatives, including leadership, creativity, and career development, innovation, and more.
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Experienced product leader with a proven track record of managing large teams and complex projects. Currently leading a product cluster of over 60 professionals focused on Web and Content Platforms, including 5 product managers and 7 product teams. Previously headed Program Management for Learn and Shop for volvocars.com, managing over 25 product teams and 300+ colleagues across Sweden, the USA, and India, delivering a premium online car-buying experience in 100 countries. Recognized as Linked in Top Voice for 2023. Transitioned from Developer to Product Leader and have mentored around 250+ people to move to product space.
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Tianyi is the Head of Product and co-founder of Flourish Science, a public benefit company that shares scientific insights and practical steps for improving happiness and well-being. With experience at Google, C3 AI, and CVS Health, she enjoys blending science, technology, and design to create intuitive, user-friendly experiences. Tianyi holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and a Master's in Interactive Telecommunications from NYU. As a serial entrepreneur and former KP Design Fellow, she was part of the founding team at Giaran, which was later acquired by Shiseido America in 2017. In her free time, Tianyi finds joy in painting, traveling and cat-sitting.
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Tim Yeo is dedicated to empowering quiet achievers to make a big impact at work without pretending to be extroverts. With nearly 20 years of experience as a designer and leader in the tech industry, Tim has navigated environments dominated by big personalities with strong opinions and loud voices, gaining deep insight into the unique challenges and strengths of quiet achievers. Since 2020, Tim has successfully coached hundreds of quiet achievers, helping them excel in various professional settings. His expertise includes mastering public speaking, handling difficult conversations, speaking up and performing in meetings, facilitating workshops, increasing your visibility in your organisation, saying no (politely), engaging in small talk without awkward silences, performing in interviews, and networking effectively online and in real life. Best known for saying complex things simply, Tim is a sought-after keynote speaker at international conferences. When he’s not coaching or speaking, Tim enjoys bookbinding and working remotely from his farm in Australia, where he lives with his partner and the fluffiest Old English Sheepdog ever.
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As a seasoned IT Project Manager with 15+ years of experience, Tomasz specializes in Agile and Project Management methodologies. Tomasz has led numerous complex international IT projects in development, integration, and deployment. He is currently working on AI technologies such as Conversational AI, GenAI, and Computer Vision. Tomasz serves as a mentor and consultant and shares his expertise in Software Development and Agile & PM best practices. His dedication to continuous learning and passion for leveraging technology demonstrate his commitment to driving innovation and excellence. He obtained his education in Computer Science and Management. His professional credentials include PMP®, PMI-ACP®, and PRINCE2® among others. Tomasz has worked as a Startup founder and startup consultant - he has helped many Startups create products & services that customers love.
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Venkata Nedunoori is a seasoned technology leader with 16 years of experience spanning various industries—including Insurance, Securities, Airlines, and Media and advertising. Currently serving as an Associate Director at Dentsu International, Venkata leads the design and implementation of advanced cloud-based solutions. His expertise lies in architecting and delivering scalable, secure, and cost-efficient platforms that empower organizations to thrive in today's fast-paced digital era. As technology continues to evolve, Venkata is passionate about the intersection of cloud security and artificial intelligence, and he is eager to explore new opportunities to fortify digital landscapes.
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Veronica Lin is a NYC-based Italian-Chinese industrial designer, passionate about strategy and innovation, with a decade of experience in building brands, products, and services from the ground up. In her projects, she tackles complex challenges with elegant and impactful solutions through a holistic approach and vision, leading her to work across diverse industries and domains–spanning through design studios, design agencies, startups, and corporate environments. Her past clients include SodaStream, Claritin, Bowers & Wilkins, Aspirin, Zero Halliburton, Oxo, Drinkfinity, Movo Gelato, Zitsticka, Risa by Eva Longoria, and more. Her work has been exhibited at the Dyer Arts Center and featured in Designmilk, MoreWithLessDesign, and Azure Magazine; recipient of honors such as the IDEA Award, the Good Design Award, and the FastCompany Innovation by Design Award. Today, Veronica's career has taken a transformative turn towards creating regenerative and sustainable futures through system design, strategic foresight, business model design, and circular economy - responding to the urgency for sustainability and climate action. Veronica is originally from Florence, Italy; and a proud alumna of RIT ID.
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Vitaly loves beautiful content and does not give up easily. Born in Minsk, Belarus, he studied computer science and mathematics in Germany. While writing algebra proofs and preparing for software engineering at nights in the kitchen, at the same time he discovered passion for typography, interface design and writing. After working as a freelance designer and developer for 6 years, he co-founded Smashing Magazine back in 2006, a leading online magazine for designers and developers. His curiosity drove him from interface design to front-end to performance optimization to accessibility and back to user experience over all the years. Vitaly is the author, co-author and editor of Smashing Books (https://www.smashingmagazine.com/books), and a curator of Smashing Conferences (https://www.smashingconf.com). He is the UX lead with the European Parliament and Smashing Magazine (www.smashingmagazine.com) and front-end/UX consultant in Europe and abroad, working with large and small companies and organizations like Haufe-Lexware, Axel-Springer and others. He also runs Measure UX (https://measure-ux.com) and Smart Interface Design Patterns (https://smart-interface-design-patterns.com), friendly video courses on UX and design patterns, along with a live UX training for passionate UX and product designers.
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Wolfgang Bremer is a German-Canadian award-winning design veteran with over 20 years of experience and a rare combination of design and product knowledge. As a design leader in multiple Fortune 500 companies and highly funded startups, Wolfgang has managed global design teams and worked on products used by tens of millions of users in 190+ countries. Equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset, creative problem solving skills, and an excellent eye for detail, he drives product design & development and creates outstanding consumer & business products. In short, Wolfgang likes building products and simplifying people’s lives.
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Award-winning Designer, Design Leader, Speaker, and Mentor with over 20 years of career spanning across 5 different countries, half of which spent in agencies, and the last decade spent at startups, building innovative technologies and successful teams, now turned Founder & CEO of Nsight (nsightapp.com) on a mission to reinvent how design and product teams work, helping them launch faster and better products.
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Yee is the founder-artist of Thoth.ai, an AI art software that turns voice, video, and text content into 1-page infographic summaries. Previously, she was a world-leading visual scribe for 450 over global clients, including Bloomberg, Bain, Huawei, UNDP, and Meta. Her first startup, Idea Ink, was a multi-million dollar infographics design agency. For fun, she makes comics and writes bilingual poetry, both without AI.