Kumaran Ponnambalam is a technology leader with 20+ years of experience in AI/ML, Data and Analytics. His focus is on creating robust, scalable AI models and services to drive effective business solutions. He is currently leading Generative AI initiatives at Outshift by Cisco, building next-generation AI innovations and products to help enterprises. In his previous roles, he has built conversational bots, ML platforms, data pipelines and cloud services. A frequent speaker at technology conferences, he has also authored several courses on the LinkedIn Learning Platform in AI/ML and Big Data.

Avantika is currently a Global Solutions Architecture Leader, Media & Entertainment, Gaming & Sports at AWS. She has deep expertise driving technology strategy, working with fortune 100 customers as well as digital native customers. She has the innate ability to comprehend new technologies and map it to customer’s business, identifying value creation and realization opportunities. She is a trusted advisor to customer executives, driving operational excellence, top line growth, and innovative product development.

David MacDonald is EVP, Head of Retail and Commerce Practice at Razorfish. In this role, David helps Razorfish’s clients connect brand purpose to performance through a unified commerce experience. Previously David was the EVP, Managing Director of Publicis Commerce. He is an expert in digital commerce experiences and has spent 23+ years in the IT Industry ­–– with the last 20 years across various Publicis Groupe agencies leading and consulting on data-driven global transformation projects. As a results-oriented leader, he excels at adapting to rapidly changing environments, breaking down organizational silos, and providing visionary approaches to business transformation engagements. Hailing from Canada, David currently resides in Dallas. When not spending time with his wife and four daughters, you’ll often find him spearheading innovative digital experiences that optimize the customer journey and maximize business value. 

Michael Stitch, Partner at CourtAvenue: For more than 25 years Michael and his teams have helped executives understand and capitalize on innovation. Michael currently serves as Partner at CourtAvenue, overseeing Clients and Capabilities. CourtAvenue is AdWeek’s Fastest Growing Agency in the US, 2021-2024, and helps clients with corporate reinvention. Michael works closely with clients such as Kia, Epson, General Mills, US Air Force, Dell and Elanco to understand their latest marketing challenges, and develops custom solutions to address them. He is also an advisor, board member and investor in various startups. Prior to joining CA in 2020, Michael served as the WPP Global Client Leader for Dell Technologies, and as Chief Business Officer for VML. In these roles, Michael worked closely with C-Suite clients across all aspects of marketing: brand, media, commerce, loyalty, martech, data and organizational design. Before that he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Innovation Officer for Rockfish, where he helped structure and scale it into one of the largest digital agencies in the US. During that time, he grew and created new capabilities for some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies, including Ford, Walmart, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Sam’s Club. Prior to Rockfish, Michael served in senior marketing, strategy and venture capital roles for Bridge Worldwide (now WundermanThompson), Texas Instruments, McKinsey and Dell. In the high-tech industry, Michael helped launch the first $999 multimedia PC, the Windows 2000 desktop for Dell, the integrated xDSL/802.11n/VoIP broadband gateway, and multiple consumer web and mobile innovations. Michael serves as a frequent speaker and writer on a variety of digital marketing topics, including marketing frameworks, ecommerce, AI, search, analytics, Customer experiences, and startups. He was recognized as a Cincinnati Marketing Legend by the American Marketing Association, and the COO winner of the C-suite Awards by the Cincinnati Business Courier. Michael is a happy husband and father of four, an adviser to Fortune 50's and startups alike, and loves to play guitar in rock cover bands and at church on Sundays.

Greg Young has over 30 years experience in cybersecurity. As Vice President of Cybersecurity at Trend Micro, he is responsible for guiding and communicating cybersecurity strategy. He was a Gartner analyst and Research Vice President for 14 years where he led research for network security and threat trends authoring more than 20 Magic Quadrants for firewall, IPS, WAF, and UTM, and was Conference Chair for 4 Gartner Security Summits in the Middle East region. He cowrote the first research note coining "Next Generation Firewall". He headed several large security consulting practices, was CISO for the Federal Department of Communications, Chief Security Architect for a security product company, and was a commissioned officer in the military police and counter-intelligence branch. Greg is also the Industry Co-Chair at ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada), which is responsible for a number of the federal government's functions in regulating industry and commerce, promoting science and innovation, and supporting economic development.

Michael Olaye, formerly, EVP, Managing Director, Huge: With an illustrious career spanning over 25 years in the digital industry, Michael has seamlessly intertwined technology, creativity, growth, and product development to establish his distinguished reputation. Currently holding the position of Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Strategy and Innovation at R/GA, he brings forth his exceptional expertise and visionary leadership. He works with industry-leading organizations, creating products and services powered by automation within Health, automotive, travel, and finance. Michael has held a variety of C-suite roles that give him a unique insight into how technology turns organizations on or off, from being the CEO of ad agency Dare, where he was responsible for repositioning the agency as an experience-driven digital company - and as Group Chief Technology officer at Oliver Agency and Head of Technology & Innovation at Havas London. Between 2001 and 2010, Olaye worked at digital creative agency U-Dox, where he was a founding member and head of digital and served clients including Adidas, Nickelodeon, and EMI. Earlier in his career, Olaye worked as a software engineer and flash animator. Olaye studied Electrical Engineering at the London Metropolitan University. Michael's outstanding contributions have garnered widespread acclaim, reflected in his receipt of numerous prestigious accolades, including Cannes Lions, LIA, D&AD, Guldagget, Eurobest, Cristal, and Clios.