Speakers

Dr. Connie Bell is a transformational executive and scholar-practitioner known for her ability to lead with both vision and compassion. A native Californian now residing in Texas, Dr. Bell brings over 30 years of dynamic leadership experience in corporate, academic, and global spaces. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Security Risk, Global Incident Response, and Fraud Detection & Analytics at Teleperformance, where she leads strategic governance initiatives across security, ethics, and operational resilience. In addition to her corporate leadership, Dr. Bell is a respected doctoral professor and dissertation chair at the University of Phoenix, where she mentors emerging scholars in business and leadership disciplines. Her scholarly research explores the intersection of ethical leadership, systemic equity, and high-risk organizational environments. As a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Bell brings a deep personal understanding of the importance of wellbeing, self-advocacy, and resilience. She speaks candidly about how ignoring early signs of illness nearly cost her everything and how her recovery redefined her leadership philosophy. This experience fuels her current work in promoting trauma-informed leadership and well-being-centered organizational cultures. Known for her mantra, “Lift as you climb,” Dr. Bell is committed to opening doors for others, mentoring future leaders, and advocating for environments where high performance and human dignity are not in conflict. Her mission is to transform systems from the inside out, bridging governance, innovation, and wellbeing to foster sustainable change for people, communities, and institutions. Credentials: • Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) • SVP of Global Security Risk & Incident Response • Professor & Dissertation Chair, University of Phoenix • Conference Speaker | Research Mentor | Survivor Advocate Contact: Email: connie.bell@teleperformance.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/connie-bell

Dr. May Li is an international speaker and author who helps individuals navigate defining moments in business and career. Raised in a family that valued education as the primary predictor of success, she pursued it relentlessly, earning degrees from three Ivy League institutions and a PhD in science. Despite her academic achievements, wealth did not follow readily. She researched further and discovered it was not a lack of knowledge or strategy holding people back, but internal patterns that impede decisions at critical moments. With this insight, her approach shifted, and so did the outcomes. As new opportunities emerged, she began evaluating and selecting those that truly resonated, laying the foundation for her platform, Millionaire Mindset for Women. Dr. Li subsequently developed the Power on the Edge™ framework, which examines why capable people hesitate when called to expand and how to sustain momentum when higher levels of performance are required. Today, her program supports corporate women and entrepreneurs at all stages of expansion and wealth creation.

Edna White is a Life & Entrepreneurship Consultant, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and creator of Keeping It Real on Purpose. She helps women navigate life and career transitions, rethink what’s possible, and make confident moves toward a life and business that fit who they are now. With more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, a background in real estate and healthcare, and 30+ published books, Edna brings a powerful combination of lived experience, business insight, and straight-talk strategy to the stage. Her work challenges women to stop letting old definitions, past experiences, and fear dictate what comes next. Edna is known for her raw, conversational style and her ability to turn real-life challenges into practical next steps. Her message is simple: Your past may have shaped you, but it doesn’t have to decide what comes next. Her signature focus is helping women answer the question: “What’s my next move?”

Julie Reby Waas is a Certified High Performance Coach, motivational author, speaker, and dedicated advocate for women navigating midlife transformation. Drawing on decades of experience as a successful attorney, accomplished artist, and mother of three adult sons — including one with autism — she brings a unique blend of professional expertise, resilience, and personal insight to her work. Committed to empowering women through life’s transitions, Julie helps individuals move beyond limiting expectations, reconnect with their authentic values, and rediscover purpose, passion, and confidence. Through her coaching, speaking, and writing, she inspires women to embrace midlife as a powerful season of growth, reinvention, creativity, and meaningful transformation.

Dr. Debra Mrock is a Leadership Performance Strategist, speaker, and founder of Lead & Speak Without Permission™. She holds a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership, a Master’s degree in Education, and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Communication. Her work integrates leadership psychology, performance science, and executive communication to train leaders to perform decisively in high-stakes, high-visibility environments. On the She Roars Boldly podcast, she spotlights women entrepreneurs who have built bold platforms, navigated visibility, and stepped forward without waiting for permission. A certified IAPO coach, Distinguished Speaker, and recipient of the Distinguished Speaker Excellence Award (WEL–UJWEL), Golden Talk Award (Euro-American), Dr. Mrock also serves as an Assistant Editor at UJWEL Magazine. She has delivered more than 30 professional speaking engagements across the United States and internationally, including presentations at Harvard University, King’s College, Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and conferences in six additional countries. Dr. Mrock works with executives, professionals, athletes, and emerging leaders who navigate moments when visibility, scrutiny, and consequences are high. She specializes in closing the gap between preparation and participation—equipping capable individuals to manage cognitive load, accelerate decision-making, and communicate with clarity and visible authority. Her methodology emphasizes behavioral performance rather than motivational confidence. Through structured regulation strategies, decisiveness training, and executive presence development, she addresses hesitation patterns that quietly erode influence. She teaches leaders to move before certainty, speak before comfort, and demonstrate authority without waiting for validation or invitation. She is the author of four books, including From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Mastering the Art of Dramatic Speaking, She Roars Boldly, Brave, Bold and Built to Roar, and Lead and Speak Without Permission. Her signature philosophy is clear: Lead and Speak Without Permission — before certainty, before comfort, before invitation.

Tracy Kyler is a speaker, coach, and former human-services professional who spent years working with children and families navigating crisis and generational trauma. Her personal story — from childhood abuse and teenage motherhood to rebuilding her life after a devastating car accident — gives her a uniquely compassionate and insightful perspective on emotional resilience and the hidden ways trauma passes from one person to another. Tracy’s work focuses on helping adults recognize the emotional patterns they’ve inherited, understand how those patterns shape the people they love, and learn how to interrupt the ripple effect with awareness and courage. Her message combines relatable storytelling, trauma-informed research, and bold humor that makes even difficult truths feel empowering and hopeful.

Cynthia Encinas-Concordia is a transformational life coach, published author, podcaster, a mother and a grandma. As a Human Resource practitioner at the World Bank (retired, Headquarters, Washington, DC) her job involved dealing with diverse groups of people. This professional knowledge, experience, skills coupled with her personal life journey led her to share and work with others to create the life they would like to live … “I had the best opportunity—through my life journey, to see the value of making a positive impact on others' lives. I felt a calling to make a difference by inspiring others and creating awareness to empower people to unlock their full potential and create a life they love. I am results-oriented and passionate about personal growth and mindset mastery. With me fulfilling my purpose, I am now leaving my footprints so the young generation may be inspired and continue what we are doing – making an impact in this world. Join me on this incredible journey of self-discovery and let's create the life you've always dreamed of. I want you to live your dreams and welcome each day full of gratitude, saying, Life is great!” Cynthia is the proud founder of Dream to Rise, LLC. Her books include My Journey Into Becoming, Overcoming Self-Sabotage and Dream to Rise Anthology.

Goldie Uttamchandani is an ICF-certified executive coach, author, international speaker, and advocate for human-centred leadership. Her work explores the intersection of leadership, wellbeing, and personal transformation - helping people lead with greater self-awareness, resilience, and purpose. A pioneer of youth coaching initiatives in public schools in Spain, Goldie is passionate about bringing coaching beyond the boardroom and equipping the next generation with the inner skills to thrive. She has brought this message to international stages, including Bangkok, championing a powerful idea: meaningful leadership begins within - and the ability to shape our future can be cultivated at any age.

Michelle Briggs is an author, speaker, transformation coach, and founder of Journey to Heal LLC. She empowers women to rediscover their identity, rebuild self-worth, and turn pain into purpose after difficult experiences and major life transitions. Drawing from her personal journey through abandonment, rejection, and the rebuilding of her life after divorce, Michelle brings compassion, honesty, and faith to her work. Her message encourages women to recognize their worth, establish healthy boundaries, and confidently become who God created them to be. Michelle is the author of Searching for a Father’s Love: A Journey of Brokenness, Healing, and Grace and Loving Me While Becoming, and the creator of the Healing Affirmation Coloring Book. Through her signature topic, “The Journey Back to You,” she shares practical steps for reconnecting with yourself when life has changed you. Based in Central Texas, Michelle is a mother of four adult children and grandmother of seven grandsons. Through speaking, coaching, and writing, she helps women find hope in their stories and take intentional steps toward the lives they want to build.

Kimly Hoang-Nakata, M.Ed., is an award-winning educator, international keynote speaker, bestselling author, and educational innovator whose work is transforming how children learn, how educators teach, and how families support lifelong success. As the Founder and CEO of Achieve Education and the co-creator of MindSmart Learning®, Kimly has dedicated her career to helping children thrive by integrating brain science, emotional safety, executive functioning, and whole-child development into meaningful learning experiences. With more than two decades in education, Kimly has become an internationally respected voice in learning science, student engagement, executive functioning, and social-emotional development. Her work bridges neuroscience, education, and leadership, empowering children to build confidence, resilience, curiosity, and the lifelong skills needed to flourish both academically and personally. At the heart of her work is a simple yet powerful belief: Children learn best when they feel safe, seen, understood, and empowered. This philosophy inspired the development of MindSmart Learning®, an innovative whole-child framework that combines research-informed teaching practices with brain-based strategies to nurture confidence, strengthen executive functioning, and foster a genuine love of learning. Through partnerships with schools, educators, families, and community organizations, Kimly has helped countless children reconnect with learning, rebuild self-belief, and discover their unique potential. Building upon this vision, Kimly created CEO of Me™, a groundbreaking brain-based curriculum that teaches children the executive functioning and leadership skills essential for success in school and life. Kimly believes that every child has a CEO inside them. When children learn to lead their brain, emotions, choices, and actions, they develop the confidence to lead their learning—and ultimately, their future. Beyond her work in education, Kimly is an accomplished and internationally recognized author. Her award-winning bilingual children’s books celebrate language, culture, and identity while helping children develop pride in their heritage and appreciation for diverse communities. Her books have been recognized internationally for advancing literacy, multicultural understanding, and meaningful family connections, inspiring young readers to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. She is also the author of an award-winning book: The Glow: How to Lead with Light and Live with Purpose, an inspirational book that encourages readers to cultivate authentic leadership, resilience, and purpose. The book introduces The Glow Philosophy, Kimly’s signature message that true leadership is measured not by titles or achievements, but by the light we bring into the lives of others. Through this philosophy, she encourages individuals to pursue continual growth, serve with compassion, and create opportunities that positively influence future generations. The Glow book received Intetnational Impack Book Award and recognized on the New York Times Magazine. Kimly is also a co-author of the Amazon #1 bestselling anthology Impact Leaders alongside renowned entrepreneur and investor Kevin Harrington, the original Shark from Shark Tank, and other influential global leaders. The anthology highlights stories of perseverance, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership, reflecting Kimly’s unwavering commitment to empowering others through education and service. As an international keynote speaker, Kimly has inspired audiences across the United States and around the world, presenting to educators, school leaders, healthcare professionals, parents, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders. Her presentations combine compelling storytelling with practical, research-informed strategies rooted in neuroscience, leadership, and education, equipping audiences with actionable tools to create environments where children and adults alike can thrive. Committed to lifelong learning, Kimly continues to deepen her expertise through executive education at Harvard Medical School, studying brain science, resilience, emotional leadership, mindfulness, and leadership. This advanced learning continues to strengthen the MindSmart Learning® framework and reinforces her commitment to bringing evidence-informed practices into classrooms, homes, and organizations. Her work has been featured in national and international media, educational conferences, leadership summits, and global publications. Among her many recognitions, Kimly has received the NBC 7 Inspirational Teacher Award, numerous international literary honors, recognition as a bestselling author, and was named The Prime Today Magazine’s Most Influential Education Leader of 2026 for her transformative contributions to education and leadership. Whether speaking on global stages, mentoring educators, writing books, developing innovative curricula, or partnering directly with families, Kimly’s mission remains steadfast: To help every child discover their potential, every educator inspire meaningful learning, and every family experience the transformative power of education. Through Achieve Education, MindSmart Learning®, CEO of Me™, and The Glow Philosophy, Kimly Hoang-Nakata continues to shape the future of education—one child, one educator, one family, and one community at a time.

Cristina Solis Wilson is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, leadership strategist, mentor, and Combat Veteran whose career has been defined by purpose, resilience, service, and developing others. With more than 27 years of service in the U.S. Army and six deployments, Cristina has led in some of the most demanding environments while remaining committed to helping others recognize their potential, strengthen their leadership, and move forward with intention. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that purpose is not something we simply discover, but something we learn to command. As the creator of Command Your Purpose™, Cristina helps leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging changemakers connect who they are with how they lead. Through speaking, coaching, mentoring, and leadership development, she encourages others to move beyond achievement alone and build lives and careers grounded in clarity, courage, authenticity, and meaningful impact. Cristina serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Entrepreneur Power Network and Chief Publishing Officer of Power Reads Publishing, where she contributes to the development of entrepreneurs, authors, and leaders seeking to turn ideas, expertise, and lived experiences into greater influence and impact. Her work across business, leadership, publishing, and personal development reflects her commitment to helping others create sustainable growth while remaining connected to their purpose. An accomplished speaker and leadership practitioner, Cristina brings a unique perspective shaped by military leadership, entrepreneurship, law enforcement, authorship, nonprofit service, and more than two decades of experience leading and developing people. Her presentations combine personal storytelling with practical leadership principles and actionable strategies that encourage audiences to lead with confidence, navigate change, embrace adversity, and recognize the value of their own experiences. Cristina is an International Trainer and Coach with the John Maxwell Team and has extended her passion for leadership development beyond the United States. She contributed to Transformación Paraguay, a large-scale leadership initiative that trained more than 20,000 leaders and reinforced her belief that intentional leadership can transform individuals, organizations, communities, and future generations. Mentorship and community impact have remained central throughout Cristina’s journey. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Crossroads Leadership Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing young leaders through leadership development, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, mentorship, character, and civic engagement. Her commitment to service has also included leadership within professional and community organizations supporting women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders. A graduate of the Yale School of Management Women’s Leadership Program, Cristina continues to invest in lifelong learning while using her experiences to help others grow. Her leadership and impact have earned recognition across business, leadership, publishing, and professional communities. She has been recognized as a 2026 Influential Woman, recipient of the 2026 Business Leadership Excellence Award, 2025 Author of the Year by the International Impact Book Award organization, 2025 Inspirational Influencer Trailblazer by the International Association of Women, 2025 Business Woman of the Year by the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2024 Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle, and 2023 Woman of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine. Her previous honors also include the Estrella de Tejas Award, Hispanic Women Making History Award, and Women of Distinction Award. Cristina is the award-winning author of Finding Your Why, recipient of the International Impact Book Award, and a co-author of The Impact Leaders alongside entrepreneur and original Shark Tank investor Kevin Harrington. The Impact Leaders became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in five categories, further expanding Cristina’s work in purpose-driven leadership and personal development. At the heart of Cristina’s work is a simple but powerful belief: our experiences, including the difficult ones, can become preparation for something greater when we choose to lead them with purpose. Through Command Your Purpose™, she challenges individuals to recognize the strength in their stories, take ownership of their next chapter, and intentionally use their leadership, voice, and influence to create impact that extends

Dr. Anne Katona Linn is an educational consultant, coach, speaker, and author who helps women leaders and school communities move from crisis mode to greater safety, resilience, and effectiveness. With more than 20 years of experience in education, behavior support, and leadership development, she equips women with practical tools to lead with courage, clarity, and compassion. Dr. Anne is a Doctor of Educational Psychology, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, university instructor, and creator of the Building Resilient Classrooms coaching program. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, she speaks on resilience, trauma, adaptive leadership, and the power of creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and heard. Her work empowers women to lead meaningful change in their organizations, communities, and lives.

Jennifer A Parker is a heart transplant survivor, and former healthcare leader. Her life’s work now centers on empowering others to speak up for themselves and their loved ones. A more than 20 year stage IV breast cancer survivor, Jennifer’s journey has included chemotherapy induced congestive heart failure and a lifesaving heart transplant in 2023. These experiences have shaped her mission to champion compassionate, patient centered care. Before becoming an Patient Advocate, Jennifer spent over two decades in healthcare with West Tennessee Healthcare, serving in various clinical and leadership positions. Before she retired, she served as Laboratory Operations Manager managing multiple departments, teams, and system wide initiatives. She also brings years of experience as an elementary school teacher and as the owner and lead floral designer of Southern Sparkle Florals, with work featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Southern Bride, Green Wedding Shoes, and June Bug Weddings. Her story is one of resilience and active living. Within months of her transplant, Jennifer completed multiple 5Ks, won gold and silver medals at the Tennessee Senior Olympics, and competed in the Transplant Games of America. Today, she serves as an ambassador for Legacy of Hope in Birmingham, Alabama, honoring her donor by advocating for organ and tissue donation and encouraging others to take an active role in their healthcare. Jennifer’s message is simple and powerful: advocacy saves lives, and every patient deserves to be heard.

Dr. Rebel Heasley is a keynote speaker, nurse leader, educator, researcher, and Maxwell Leadership speaker with more than 30 years of experience across healthcare leadership and clinical practice. Her career has spanned home health, hospice, acute care, palliative care, education, research, and executive leadership. Rebel's story is one of resilience, courage, and intentional growth. After an unhealthy relationship, divorce, and $35,000 in debt, she made a decision that changed the trajectory of her life: she would not allow one difficult chapter to determine what came next. She returned to school, continued investing in herself, advanced through leadership roles, pursued doctoral education, conducted research, and discovered that some of life's most difficult chapters can prepare us for possibilities we cannot yet see. That experience became the foundation for her signature message, Your Past is NOT Your Potential™. Through authentic storytelling, humor, vulnerability, and practical insight, Rebel helps audiences reframe the stories they tell themselves about their past, build resilience, embrace intentional growth, and think bigger about what is possible. Her professional journey includes executive healthcare leadership, evidence-based practice, research, national and international presentations, published work, and mentoring and precepting nurses and graduate and doctoral learners. She brings that experience together with a passion for leadership development and helping others recognize and use their own potential. Rebel believes growth isn't simply about achieving more. Sometimes, it's about choosing differently, finding the courage to take the next step, and using what we've learned to add value to others. Her message is simple: Your past may inform you, but it does NOT define your potential.

Mayumi Pachkoski is a respected beauty industry expert with more than 20 years of experience in holistic anti-aging skincare and transformative energy healing. As an immigrant to the United States with no local family or support network, she successfully built her Maryland-based salon into a thriving six-figure business. Her expertise has been recognized by more than 22 media outlets, including AP News, Yahoo! Finance, Morningstar, and affiliates of ABC, NBC, and Fox News. A former aesthetics instructor, Mayumi integrates the best of Asian and Western skincare practices with energy healing to deliver a holistic approach to wellness. Today, she mentors energy healers and wellness professionals, helping them establish credible, sustainable businesses while creating lasting impact and long-term growth.

Alla Kaplan is a writer and culture commentator. Born in communist Russia she immigrated in early 1980 to the U.S. with her single mother. She quickly assimilated into American society and has always been inquisitive about the darker side of life. Having survived child sexual abuse and an abusive marriage, she has written about escaping survival mode and turning pain into purpose with her writing and her podcast. She feels that her lived experience in the adult industry gives her some insight into human nature. She is also very proud of her Jewish heritage and a staunch defender of her faith and culture.

Terry Earthwind Nichols is a globally respected behavioral strategist, speaker, and the Father of Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression® (RBCR)—a groundbreaking technique that reveals a hidden early childhood memory influencing adult trauma and self-sabotage. A Top 10 Global Thought Leader, LinkedIn Top Voice & Business Influencer, Terry ranks among the Top 20 Marketers in Business Strategy. He is the author of 11 books, a former UN Peace Ambassador at Large, and Chair of Evolutionary Healer, LLC a transformational performance improvement company serving clients in 17 countries and 27 U.S. states. Terry’s signature talks blend neuroscience, leadership, and human behavior, providing audiences with powerful insights and tools to break through limiting patterns and achieve high-performance results. His latest book, Cellular Memory and It’s Use in Science Today: Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression® & The CR Process™, serves as his international keynote. Known for his presence, storytelling, and authenticity, Terry commands the room—whether on global stages, in corporate boardrooms, or virtually around the world. Through his own journey and while helping others, Terry discovered that self-sabotage doesn’t come from conscious thought - it comes from an unresolved memory stored outside of awareness. That realization became Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression® (RBCR). Instead of forcing memory recall, the process works with the body’s natural responses - allowing change without re-triggering trauma. All without years of talk therapy or reliving the past. Over the years, this work has helped leaders regain: clarity, confidence, emotional freedom, and follow-through. RBCR helps identify and neutralize the original imprint behind self-sabotage, imposter syndrome, repeating negative business or relationship patterns, chronic hesitation, fear, and/or burnout. Terry figured out how to disconnect the conscious and subconscious synchronization for memory recall, thus changing the behavioral health industry forever.

Ann Mracek is a composer, pianist, author, and keynote speaker based in St. Louis, Missouri. She founded Mracek Studio in 1979 and has taught piano for more than five decades, working with over 2,000 students. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Kansas, and she is the great-niece of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. Ann is the founder of Symphony of Self™, a platform built around her book Symphony of Self: Compose Your Life, which hit Amazon's #1 spot in four music categories and has won multiple awards, including a Literary Titan 5-star award and the International Impact Book Award. Her earlier memoir, Unpacking the Attic: A Path to Healing Your Inner Child, has won 28 awards, including a Kirkus "Buy It" recommendation. She has composed more than 300 original works, including her Symphony No. 1, Shadow Dragon. Ann hosts the Creativity With Purpose podcast and YouTube channel, Ann Mracek, which has drawn over 11 million views. Her keynote, "The 15 Laws of Music," pairs a live piano performance with her five-step framework: Tune, Clear, Compose, Conduct, Resonate. She lives in St. Louis with her husband, Richard, and has traveled to 38 countries.

Jenni Arnold is an AI educator, consultant, and speaker on a mission to make artificial intelligence accessible, practical, and human-centered for the businesses and communities that need it most. As the Founder of Human Kind Intelligence and the creator of Jenni Arnold AI, she bridges the gap between rapidly evolving technology and the people it’s meant to serve - translating complex AI concepts into clear, actionable strategies that drive real results. Since launching her woman owned small business in 2024, Jenni has trained over 1000 professionals across industries, earning a 5-star Google rating and helping clients implement AI workflows that save an average of 7 hours per week. Her programs span AI basics, workflow automation, AI ethics and safety, AI agents and tool-specific training across platforms including ChatGPT, Gemini, NotebookLM, Claude, Grok and Microsoft Copilot. Beginners are not just welcome - they are her specialty. Jenni’s consulting philosophy is grounded in a foundational principle: the best AI adoption starts with the task, not the technology. Whether she’s partnering with a small business owner looking to reclaim time, an educator or student who is navigating new AI tools, or a tourist-based company who wants to streamline processes, Jenni helps clients identify where AI creates genuine value - and how to implement it responsibly, sustainably, and in ways their teams will implement safely. Through Human Kind Intelligence, Jenni designs and delivers customized AI training programs, consulting engagements, and AI-powered workflow solutions for organizations at every stage of their AI journey. She is a regular speaker and educator with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), The AI Collective, Empressa AI for Women, AutoEDU, local chambers of commerce, and local businesses and events. Additional speaking engagement include ITEN Wired, Big Brothers Big Sisters, NAHEEFA and the AAF. Her philosophy is built on co-creation: working alongside clients to build solutions they understand, own, and can grow with. Her moto is Human First, Alway

Sandra Bonifacio is a Cross-Cultural Leadership Coach, Founder of Xpattitudes, https://xpattitudes.com/ and a Speaker who aims to inspire Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Expats to thrive across cultures. Her work is grounded in lived expat experience, cross-cultural leadership practice, and deep expertise in Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Intelligence. She is ICF Accredited, holds a Diploma in Ontological Business Coaching, and Certifications in Hogan Assessments, Emotional Intelligence, and Self-Management. Sandra has lived and worked across cultures most of her life. She understands what it feels like to stand between worlds, professionally, culturally, and personally.

Diana Lippert is a Whole-Life Success Coach, Transformational Speaker, and Wellness Expert who helps hardworking professionals break free from burnout, autopilot, and the pressure to keep doing more. Drawing on years of coaching, personal transformation, and principle-based mindset work, Diana specializes in helping high-achieving professionals redefine success in a way that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Her work focuses on helping professionals create more energy, more time for what matters, and a life that reflects their values rather than everyone else’s expectations. Known for her no-nonsense yet deeply caring style, Diana blends practical structure, mindset shifts, and habit change with an approach that is both supportive and direct. She is the coach who will lovingly call you out, help you recognize the patterns keeping you stuck, and then walk beside you as you turn awareness into meaningful change. Through her coaching and speaking, Diana challenges the belief that success has to come at the cost of well-being. Her message is simple: success should support your life, not consume it

K-La Duncan is Miss Nevada United States 2026, an advocate for women’s empowerment, and the founder of Beauty Within Bravery, an initiative focused on helping women and girls build confidence, recognize their strength, and feel empowered to protect and advocate for themselves. Throughout her reign, K-La has taken her platform beyond the stage by hosting complimentary self-defense workshops for women and girls across the West Coast. Through these workshops, she creates approachable spaces where participants can learn practical techniques while strengthening their confidence, awareness, and sense of personal security. As Miss Nevada United States, she will represent Nevada at the Miss United States competition and continues to use her title as an opportunity to connect with women from different backgrounds and encourage them to confidently take up space in their careers, communities, and everyday lives. K-La looks forward to bringing the message of Beauty Within Bravery to the conversation and reminding women that confidence is not simply how you present yourself, but knowing you have the tools to stand up for yourself.

Dr. Varil Williams, organizational psychologist, author, speaker, and ordained co-pastor and transformational coach who helps highly intelligent, accomplished women of faith 40+ navigate fear, identity shifts, and life transitions so they can rediscover who they are, renew their minds, and embrace their next chapter with grace, courage, and purpose. As the creator of V-Style Elite Collection, Dr. Varil also brings together her passion for beauty, fashion, confidence, and personal expression. Her experience with Exxcel Management & Talent, Inc. as a professional model and brand ambassador further reflects her belief that confidence, beauty, and excellence are expressed from the inside out. Through her Heart-to-Heart experiences she creates spaces where women are seen, honored, and encouraged to grow in their faith. Passionate about teaching, research, and empowerment, she guides women to dress in ways that honor who they are becoming, God-fearing chain breakers whose visual presence reflects their inner power. Her signature statement captures her philosophy. "When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you fulfill your God-given purpose boldly." Your story is still being written and your next chapter matters.

Cheryl Patterson, RN, BSN, MSN, MBA, PhD has 50 years’ experience in healthcare-- as a clinical caregiver with expertise in Orthopaedics, Pain Management, & Physical Rehab. She also has experience in many healthcare management roles at all levels, from Orthopaedic Unit Manager to Chief Operating Officer in different healthcare systems. She was a recipient of the prestigious Commonwealth Fund Executive Nurse Fellowship Award. She has conducted and published research studies, authored peer-reviewed journal articles and academic book chapters, and has taught at the university level. Cheryl has been a consultant to medical practices and hospitals. She is now a Health & Life Coach for people with autoimmune diseases as she has lived for decades with 2 different autoimmune diseases herself. Thus, her coaching builds on her professional and personal experience, knowledge and wisdom. It is her passion and purpose in life.

Helper, advocate, and change-maker dedicated toward the service of those who deserve to be seen, heard, and connected with life-changing resources. As a neurodivergent life coach additionally, I assist communities to be strengthened, empowered, and instill hope today for a better future tomorrow.

Dr. Robin Sherrod is a minister, international speaker, award-winning author, and leadership and transformation strategist who empowers individuals to move beyond survival mode toward wholeness, purpose, and transformational leadership. Holding a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling with a trauma focus and a background in psychology, she integrates faith, emotional wellness, resilience, and practical strategies for personal transformation. A retired U.S. Army veteran with over four decades of military and federal service, Dr. Sherrod founded E3 Empowerment Solutions, LLC, and created The Whole Leader Advantage™, equipping leaders to lead from the inside out. As the author of Overcoming Soul Wounds and the award-winning Soul Food: A 52-Week Spiritual Journey to Transform the Soul, she addresses invisible wounds that influence identity, relationships, and leadership. A breast cancer overcomer and resilience advocate, Dr. Sherrod inspires women to reclaim their voices, renew their thinking, and embrace wholeness while living and leading with purpose.

Anita Karadalian-Girgis is a somatic healer, breathwork guide, and creator of The H.E.R. Method™ (Heal, Embody, Rise). Based in Las Vegas, she helps high-achieving women regulate their nervous systems, rebuild self-trust, and lead with authenticity. She is the founder of Arise with Anita and host of THE Arise with Anita Podcast. Through workshops, facilitation, and stage talks, Anita brings trauma-aware, experiential tools that turn wellness into embodied leadership — not another productivity hack.

Nora Hutchings, BA, B.Ed., is a trauma-informed practitioner, educator, entrepreneur, women’s advocate and storyteller whose work explores what becomes possible when women move from survival into leadership. With a background spanning education, child and family services, mental health and graduate-level psychology studies, Nora blends trauma-informed practice, somatic regulation, nervous-system work and neuroscience-informed approaches with a quantum-inspired perspective on identity, possibility and personal transformation. After experiencing domestic violence, profound financial loss and the dismantling of the life she once knew, Nora rebuilt her life from the inside out. That journey became the foundation for her advocacy, entrepreneurial work and belief that when our internal architecture begins to heal—our nervous system, beliefs, identity and sense of safety—our external reality can begin to change with it. Nora is the co-founder of Her Safe Place, host of Conversations in the Grey, and founder of Memento Mori Atelier, a healing and design concept exploring the relationship between nervous-system regulation, identity and the environments we inhabit. Her work helps women rebuild capacity, purpose, economic independence and embodied leadership after trauma

Lisa-Marie James is an experienced holistic practitioner, teacher and conscious movement facilitator, with 20 years in the health and wellbeing industry and 16 years in business. She is the founder of Sacred Embodiment Academy. Her work encompasses energy healing, including Reiki, crystal healing and shamanic practices, alongside her own spiritual journey. Through creating her own belly dance, burlesque and fusion approach, Lisa-Marie discovered new ways to integrate energetic awareness with physical expression and embodied experience. This evolution shaped her approach to sacred embodiment, bringing together spirituality, conscious movement and holistic healing to explore the relationship between body, mind, emotions and spirit. Passionate about authentic expression and personal transformation, Lisa-Marie invites people to move beyond intellectual understanding and into a deeper, felt experience of themselves through embodied awareness, creative movement and energy work.

Arnold Britto is an author, speaker, and business leader whose work explores technology, human connection, and reinvention. He is the founder of Connected Growth and Chief Growth Officer at Softility, bringing nearly three decades of enterprise leadership experience, including roles at AWS, Cognizant, Wipro, and HCL. His international award-winning debut, The Second Half: Stories of Soccer, Courage & Soulful Comebacks, draws on his soccer and life experiences to explore resilience and new beginnings. His upcoming book, The Human Link, examines why human connection matters in a digital world. Through stories and practical lessons, Arnold encourages people to build trust, recognize overlooked potential, and open doors for others. His message is simple: we move forward through courage and through the people who help us rise.