BITS 2024

Michi Yamamoto is an AI Architect specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence and game mechanics. As the Founding Engineer at sound.fan, Michi focuses on designing innovative AI-driven solutions that enhance user experiences and drive strategic business outcomes. Michi has a strong track record in the AI and user experience space, having organized and hosted several events for the AI Meets User Experience meetup group and continuing to foster valuable discussions and showcase cutting-edge developments in the field.

Jessica Garson is a Python programmer, educator, and artist. She currently works at Elastic as a Senior Developer Advocate. Previously, Jessica was at Twitter for four years, working in Developer Relations. She has spoken at conferences all over the globe, ranging from PyCon to Write the Docs. In her spare time, she uses code and modular synthesizers to make music and audio-reactive video art.

Shafik Quoraishee is a Senior Android Engineer on the New York Times Games Team, where he plays a key role in integrating popular games like Wordle, Connections, and the NYT Crossword into the NYT Games Android app. With a strong background in artificial intelligence, Shafik has several years of experience in the field, including published research that has been applied across various real-world systems, from civilian to government applications. His expertise in both mobile development and AI makes him a distinguished speaker on technology and innovation.

Adam Schroeder is a Community Manager at Plotly Technologies, where he supports the growth and engagement of the Plotly Dash user community. His efforts have contributed to 3 million monthly downloads of Dash, the leading Data App Platform for Python. Prior to joining Plotly, Adam taught Plotly Dash on YouTube as @CharmingData, attracting over 60,000 views per month. He also co-authored The Book of Dash, a guide for building effective dashboards. At Plotly, Adam continues to foster a vibrant community around interactive, scientific data visualization.

Daniel Burdeno is an educator with a passion for introducing new students to the tech industry through Data Science. With over 6 years of experience in nonprofit marine environmental conservation, Daniel has a deep commitment to protecting the environment. His academic background includes extensive studies in biology, conservation, and statistics, which have fueled his dedication to both education and environmental advocacy. Daniel’s unique blend of expertise in conservation and data science allows him to bridge the gap between environmental work and technology, making a meaningful impact in both fields.

Felicia Reyes is a brand strategist and co-founder of Let’s Get Weird, a studio focused on innovative brand and culture strategies. Previously the Creative Director at West Ventures, she specializes in aligning brand strategy with business goals for tech, venture, and portfolio companies. Felicia now teaches brand strategy at Parsons School of Design and will be a visiting instructor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Fall 2024, focusing on personal branding for musicians. Her innovative approach to branding continues to make waves in the industry, reflecting her commitment to pushing the boundaries of conventional brand strategy.

Yiyi is a community organizer, artist, and human rights lawyer based in Brooklyn. As a queer immigrant woman of color, she is deeply committed to advocating for diverse and supportive communities in the gaming industry. Currently, she serves as the PR + Community Manager at Heart Machine, the LA-based studio behind Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash. Yiyi is also on the Board of Directors for GUMBO Collective, the Vice President of Death By Audio Arcade, and an advisor for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Digital Games Industry Council. Additionally, she runs Women in Games NYC, a professional networking group for women and femme people in the industry. In her free time, Yiyi contributes as a graphic designer for Qweerty Gamers and works as an attorney, assisting asylum seekers and refugees in gaining safety and status in the United States.

Jyro Blade is a game developer based in Brooklyn. Currently the Product Lead for PlayFi, he has previously worked as a Senior Engineer on AimLabs and led development for award-winning titles Killer Queen and Kleptocrat at BumbleBear Games. Jyro also creates unique artwork for commercial clients, focusing on interactive installations. He is an active member of GUMBO, where he organizes educational collaborations, professional networking events, and exchange programs with collectives worldwide.

Guligena Aierken is a Software Engineer at JPMorganChase with a strong background in public speaking and college recruitment. She has delivered impactful presentations and led discussions that emphasize company culture, career opportunities, and the benefits of joining JPMorganChase. Guligena's ability to connect with students and communicate key messages has made her a valued speaker in internal company events. Her experience in engaging with diverse audiences and representing her company professionally makes her a standout voice in the tech industry.

Steven Reubenstone is a product engineer, product manager, and startup founder with over seven years of experience building social networking and educational platforms. He founded UpskillHero, a microlearning platform designed to help users identify and fill key knowledge gaps that may be hindering their career growth. Through AI-driven, self-discovery prompts, UpskillHero creates personalized learning paths that continuously adapt as users share their life goals and passions. Additionally, guidance from other users is integrated into learning tracks when flagged as valuable by the AI.

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Previously, Steven founded Collaborizm, an online incubator for inventors and engineers, which grew to over 62,000 monthly active users. He is also the author of the educational fantasy novel, The Nestomir, which embeds coding instruction within its story and is used as a teaching tool in the U.K. In addition, Steven has led innovation projects at Reckitt and developed full-stack applications for various clients.

Roya is a research scientist specializing in advancing artificial intelligence technologies. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering, she holds a US patent and has numerous publications in leading journals on electrical engineering, mathematics, and AI. Her primary research focuses on generative AI, computer vision, and pattern recognition, and she has developed machine learning solutions for healthcare, assistive technologies, and security.

Passionate about science and women's rights, Roya is a Google Developer Expert and Cloud Champion in AI/ML, a Google Women’s Techmaker Ambassador, and a co-organizer of the Google Developer Group (Cloud Boston). Through these roles, she empowers women and non-binary individuals in the workplace.

Tim Spann is a Principal Developer Advocate at Zilliz, where he focuses on technologies such as Milvus, Towhee, GPTCache, Generative AI, Python, Java, and various Apache tools like NiFi, Kafka, and Pulsar. With over a decade of experience in IoT, big data, and distributed computing, Tim has held key roles at Cloudera, StreamNative, and HPE. He also runs a popular Big Data meetup in Princeton & NYC, frequently speaking at conferences like ApacheCon, Pulsar Summit, and DeveloperWeek. In addition to his work, Tim is an active contributor to DZone as the Big Data Zone leader. He holds a BS and MS in computer science.

Zoe Darmé is a Senior Manager on the Consumer Trust team at Google, where she focuses on building responsibility and trust in products for Google Search, News, Maps, and Assistant. Previously, Zoe worked at Microsoft and Facebook, where she focused on multi stakeholder approaches to trust and safety, content governance and moderation, and the overall safety landscape online. Zoe also led global outreach for the establishment of Facebook's Oversight Board.

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Prior to joining the tech industry, Zoe served in various policy and program capacities with the United Nations' Department of Peacekeeping Operations. She has also served with the U.S. Department of Justice, where she focused on police and justice system reform. Zoe earned her M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) and her B.A. from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Zoe was also a nominee for the 2011 Service to America Medal.

Chanel is a Chemist and Mathematician turned Machine Learning Engineer, passionate about enhancing user experiences with trained model technologies. In May 2020, she founded the Mentor Me Collective to empower first-generation technologists with the knowledge and confidence to pursue their passions, achieve their dreams, and make a positive societal impact through mentorship and education. The Collective has grown to over 30,000 members across four continents.

Under her leadership, Chanel has helped over 400 first-generation individuals secure six-figure tech careers, totaling over $30 million in compensation. Known for her engaging conference sessions, she has spoken at prestigious events and is dedicated to uplifting various tech communities, focusing on amplifying first-generation representation. Her mission is to cultivate community, develop talent, and raise awareness of careers in the tech industry.

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Abhineet Kulkarni is a Senior Data Science Instructor at Flatiron School, where he has spent the past five years, with the last three focused on enterprise upskilling. He has worked with major clients like HSBC and Deloitte, delivering month-long programs that help professionals enhance their skills in data science and AI. Abhineet’s expertise lies in empowering individuals and organizations to navigate the evolving tech landscape through targeted education and practical insights.

Chinedu Echeruo is a serial entrepreneur and founder of the Beloved Ecosystem, focused on creating AI-powered startups to drive inclusive wealth globally. His DICE model merges human and artificial intelligence for collective innovation, with a goal of building a $25 billion ecosystem in ten years. Echeruo’s first startup, Talented, uses AI to connect youth with apprenticeships, aiming to generate 5,000 jobs and $5 billion in community wealth. He previously founded HopStop, acquired by Apple, and Tripology. Echeruo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated with honors from Syracuse University.

Alon Grinshpoon is the CEO and co-founder of echo3D, where he's pioneering the next frontier in 3D, AR, and VR technology. A Techstars alum and mentor, Alon holds an MS in Computer Science from Columbia University, specializing in immersive tech, and a BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering with a focus on cloud technology. Before launching echo3D, he honed his skills at NVIDIA and made significant contributions as a 3D UI researcher. Alon has captivated audiences at CES, SXSW, Augmented World Expo (AWE), NYVR, and more, sharing insights on the future of interactive and virtual experiences.

Angelica Spratley is a passionate Data Scientist with over 5 years of experience in the data space. With a unique blend of 7 years in education and 3 years in edtech, Angelica brings deep domain expertise and technical acumen to her work. She excels in leveraging tools like SAS, SQL, Python, and Tableau to extract actionable insights and has a proven track record of developing machine learning models, including NLP models, time series forecasts, and recommendation systems.

Angelica is dedicated to promoting data literacy and addressing issues of data equity and bias. She frequently shares her expertise through engaging talks, workshops, and educational content, including a her YouTube channel. Her leadership experience spans managing teams and collaborating with stakeholders to create impactful data and AI curriculum content.