Jonathan centers his conference keynote speaking and leadership coaching work with associations, organizations and senior executives to measurably improve their leadership effectiveness, growth development, and business performance especially in the areas of Sales Performance, Service Quality, Leadership Communication, and Team Development. He believes that "Increased self-awareness accelerates professional relations and business success. Jonathan is a Global Speaking Fellow, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), Master Certified Coach (MCC), and one of Asia's leading Sales, Service & Leadership Optimiser, and International Author. He has successfully delivered his high-energy, engaging and transformational keynotes to audiences globally as he energises the heart, equips the mind and elevates the performances of the teams. Described by his clients as inspiring, empowering, and thought-provoking yet caring, Jonathan continues to let leaders explore deeper levels of self-awareness in a safe and trusting environment. This has helped his clients to experience greater intentional growth, inspiring them to new levels of discovery, productivity, and performance. Jonathan guides and coaches them through a plan that also involves valuable inputs and insights from key stakeholders to achieve results for their organizations, teams, and clients themselves. Jonathan has more than 25 years of in-depth executive experience in leadership, sales management, customer experience, and business resilience, working with executives and their leadership teams throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America. Over the years, Jonathan has earned numerous well-recognized professional talent development accreditations and certifications in the field of leadership, executive coaching, emotional intelligence, mental toughness, trust-building, resilience, and assessments by reputed international organizations.

Nikhil Maini is a global thought leader in organizational agility, leadership transformation, and strategic execution. With over 28 years of experience across 23 industries and a client base exceeding 500 organizations worldwide, Nikhil brings a rare blend of strategic insight, behavioral expertise, and systems thinking. As CEO of OKR International (UAE), Synergogy (UAE) and Seven People Systems (India), he has helped companies from startups to Fortune 500 giants embed agile practices, drive leadership effectiveness, and unlock sustainable growth. His pioneering work in OKRs and transformation consulting is backed by certifications in Adaptability (AQai Level 1), Neuroscience, DISC, and Organizational Development, making him a trusted advisor for navigating complexity in today’s BANI world. Through his AQai expertise, Nikhil empowers leaders and teams to thrive amid uncertainty by building adaptability intelligence across mindset, character, and environment. His approach integrates psychometric diagnostics, agile performance systems, and cultural alignment to foster resilient, high-performing organizations. With a proven ability to align vision, culture, and execution across global contexts, Nikhil champions the use of AQ as a catalyst for leadership evolution and strategic agility. Whether facilitating change initiatives or coaching senior executives, he combines evidence-based tools with deep human insight, helping organizations not just adapt but lead.

My consultancy, Optimal Affect, helps leaders and teams to solve problems by understanding real needs, building alignment, and unlocking group intelligence to drive meaningful action. I'm here to create a ripple effect of good. Optimal Affect was born from the firm belief that when organizations thrive, individuals find fulfillment and purpose, leading to health and wellbeing that extends to our communities. By prioritizing workplace culture, employee engagement, and productivity, we unlock the immense potential within organizations, fostering a ripple effect of positive change.

Steve is a lifelong educator, leadership coach, and former superintendent with more than 30 years of experience serving and supporting PK–12 public education systems across the country. He led three metropolitan school districts as Superintendent of Schools—Green Bay (WI), Iowa City (IA), and Wausau (WI)—each comprising urban, suburban, and rural communities, and each committed to advancing equity, access, and academic excellence for increasingly diverse student populations. Over the course of his superintendency, Steve guided communities through large-scale strategic initiatives including comprehensive facilities master plans, successful bond referenda totaling over $400 million, innovative STEM partnerships with higher education, 1:1 digital learning rollouts, and the expansion of multilingual, special education, and alternative learning environments. In Green Bay, he led the district through the COVID-19 pandemic, including a full remote launch, a return to in-person learning, and the development of a fully online elementary school. In higher education, Steve served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies at the University of Iowa, where he led principal and superintendent preparation programs, supervised clinical fieldwork, and taught across the M.A., Ed.S., and Ed.D. levels. He currently holds the title of Adjunct Lecturer (Emeritus) and continues to teach courses focused on educational politics. Since 2001, he has also taught at the University of Wisconsin–Superior, the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and Marian University. Today, Steve serves as Managing Partner of sfm consulting group, where he works with school districts and education organizations nationwide. His consulting and coaching portfolio includes leadership development, organizational coaching, resilience-based systems design, strategic planning, and executive search. He serves as a Managing Partner for Cognia’s Leadership Circle, Master Coach and Facilitator for PeopleBench, Strategic Planning Consultant for InnovateK12 and Meteor Education, Strategic Engagement Partner with Hanover Research, TalkPath+Live, and Wayfinder, and Search Consultant for McPherson & Jacobson. Through AASA and MASA, he facilitates national superintendent development programs and provides executive coaching to early- and mid-career leaders. A frequent advisor and board member, Steve contributes to organizations including the Education Research and Development Institute, EdWeb, New Era Superintendents, Rocket PD, and SAM Labs. He holds multiple professional certifications, including ICF Associate Certified Coach, TCI Certified Team Performance Coach, and credentials in DISC, Driving Forces, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Acumen Capacity Index (ACI), DNA, Levels 1 of AQai, and Resilience at Work (R@W). His academic background includes degrees from the University of Michigan (B.A.), University of Wisconsin–Madison (M.S. and Ed.S.), and doctoral coursework in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Steve is based in Iowa City and is married to Darci. Together, they have three adult children. When not working with educational leaders, Steve can often be found off the grid, hiking with a map in hand and a goal in mind.

Rob is an innovation consultant, leadership coach, investor, aspiring author and wannabe surfer, but mostly, a proud husband and father. Previously, he Co-founded Velocity11 in 1999, building robotics for drug discovery and cancer research, after acquisition in 2007 he was General Manager at Agilent Technologies, in 2010 became an Associate Founder and CEO of Singularity University (SU). He stepped down from his role as CEO in 2020 to focus on family and shifting to coaching and innovation work. Today he develops and facilitates programs at SRI’s Nomura-SRI-Innovation Center (NSIC), is a Venture Partner on AI Safety at Lionheart Ventures, and advises a variety of startups and technology businesses. His personal mission is to spread hope for an amazing future through inspiring stories, credible roadmaps, and collaborative networks.

Kelly Parke has been a creative and technical innovation consultant for more than 30 years. In his design consultancy, he has advised various groups and governments on creative strategies for some difficult challenges. Innovation projects have ranged from fan experience design in the NFL to strategy for the future of the Canadian healthcare system. He is a course director teaching multiple MBA innovation courses at the Schulich School of Business. At conferences, he has presented on the topics of technology and creativity to international audiences. He currently leads a design team that researches how to apply artificial intelligence in education.

Dr. Tina Persson is a visionary coach with a multifaceted background from both the university and the corporate world. She holds an ICF PCC certification as an Executive, Career & Team Coach, specializing in female leadership, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. These skills have played a crucial role in shaping her educational and coaching business. Additionally, Dr. Persson is a highly sought-after speaker, frequently facilitating workshops and seminars for senior leaders, c-level executives, and high-potential individuals to help them achieve their goals. She is also an expert in leadership and team coaching facilitation. Having spent nearly two decades in academia, Tina transitioned to the staffing industry, where she gained eight years of expertise as a Recruiter and Talent Sourcer. Leveraging her diverse experience, she empowers researchers to transition smoothly from academia to rewarding business-driven careers. As a successful businesswoman with an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit, she proudly serves as the Founder of Passage2Pro AB and Aptahem AB, a biotech start-up featured in over 20 scientific publications. Furthermore, Dr. Persson is the inventor of 2 scientific patents and hosts the popular PhD Career Stories podcast. You can find this passionate professional working out at the CrossFit Gym when she isn't coaching.

I am a people focused Transformation Leader and Agile Coach supporting businesses to change, and evolve to keep up with the ever changing high pace of industry. I work across starts up and global enterprise using Agile Methodologies and SAFe ways of working. My effectiveness is rooted in understanding the importance of the people involved and the culture we want to create. I am accomplished at leading and inspiring in technical and commercial environments, to create successful and self-reliant teams that achieve business outcomes on time and within budget.

Passionate about technology for good and empowering individuals, I am a certified AQ Practitioner and ExO Coach with international experience as a senior business executive successfully working in the U.S., EMEA and APAC by building winning teams and deli