Business Leaders

**From Expat to Founder: Startup Networking in Berlin** ❯ Are you an **international professional in Berlin** with a **startup** idea, entrepreneurial ambition, or an interest in the local startup ecosystem? Join this in-person networking session at **the IamExpat Fair Berlin, hosted by Founder Institute Germany.** ❯ Register via the **IamExpat Fair website** to get access to the Fair and the networking event for free: [https://tinyurl.com/IamExpat](https://tinyurl.com/IamExpat) ❯ **Founder Institute** supports early-stage entrepreneurs in turning ideas into validated, fundable companies. This session is designed for expats and international residents who want to connect with like-minded people, explore startup opportunities in Berlin, and meet founders, mentors, advisors, and ecosystem partners. Whether you already have a startup idea, are considering becoming a founder, or simply want to understand the Berlin startup scene better, this session is a good place to start. ❯ **Your hosts of the day:** * [Kai Malkwitz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/malkwitz/) * [Nikos Nakos](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikosnakos/) ❯ **Who should Attend?** * Anyone interested in entrepreneurship and networking around it * Anyone who has a pre-seed tech company or a startup idea * Anyone interested in joining a startup accelerator * Anyone who is looking for a cofounder or would want to join a startup as a cofounder ❯ **What is the Agenda?** * Welcome and short introduction by Founder Institute Germany * Guided startup networking for expats and international residents and people interested in entrepreneurship * Exchange with other aspiring founders, early-stage entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem participants ❯❯ This is a live offline event at the IamExpat Fair Berlin. To join the networking session and the fair for free, please register via the IamExpat Fair website: [https://tinyurl.com/IamExpat](https://tinyurl.com/IamExpat) ❯❯ To join our upcoming Founder Institute program in October 2026, you can apply here: [https://fi.co/Germany](https://fi.co/Germany)**.** For more information about the investors, accelerators, incubators, and [tech events available in Berlin](https://fi.co/events/berlin), see our [list of Startup Resources](https://fi.co/startup-resources). **About IamExpat:** IamExpat is a leading English-language media platform for internationals in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Founded and run by expats, IamExpat provides practical information, news, job listings, housing services, events and lifestyle content for the international community. The IamExpat Fair Berlin brings together expat-friendly companies, service providers, workshops and networking opportunities in one place, on one day. The 2026 edition takes place at Estrel Berlin and is designed to help international residents connect with the people, services and opportunities they need to build their lives and careers in Germany. **About Founder Institute** The [Founder Institute](https://fi.co/berlin) is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,000 entrepreneurs raise over $1.75BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.

​**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. ​Every Saturday morning we gather together and run through Tiergarten. Join us in one of these 3 routes: ​\* **5K** – for new & beginner runners ​\* **7K** – for regular runners ​\* **11K** – for more experienced runners **OBS**: We are usually around 30 people, between regulars and newcomers (from here and from Luma), so don't be scared if there are not a lot of people confirmed on the event here. The pace is chill and conversational, around **6:30**. On the 7k and 11k some people like to push a bit more, but no one gets left behind. We finish with a nice coffee and amazing conversations. The vibe is always great. Pets, friends, family, are welcome. More about **FRC**: ​🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 50+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community ​**Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats?utm_source=luma) Berlin Instagram [http://instagram.com/frcberlin](http://instagram.com/frcberlin?utm_source=luma) ​ **Global FRC**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/?utm_source=luma) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/?utm_source=luma) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC?utm_source=luma) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/?utm_source=luma)

🚀 **From Idea to First 10 Customers — Part 2** ​The journey doesn’t stop after building the idea. The real challenge begins when you need people to actually use — and pay for — what you created. ​After the great response to our first session, we’re bringing back Part 2 with deeper discussions, practical insights, and real founder experiences focused on getting traction in the early stages. ​This session is designed for founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, freelancers, and anyone interested in understanding how startups move from an idea to their first real users and customers. ​No unrealistic “growth hacks.” No theory overload. Just practical conversations around early-stage growth, validation, customer acquisition, and building momentum. *** # ​💡 What We’ll Discuss ​• How to get your first users • Finding early adopters • Mistakes founders make in the beginning • Why validation matters more than perfection • Building trust before scaling • Realistic approaches to early customer acquisition • Lessons from startup experiences *** # ​🎯 Why Join ​Because getting your first customers is often harder than building the product itself. ​This session will help you better understand: ✔ how people discover products ✔ why some ideas gain traction and others don’t ✔ what founders should focus on in the early stages *** # ​📅 Event Details ​📅 **May 30, 2026** ⏰ **13:00 – 15:30** 📍 **The Social Hub** ​See you there! Check out our websites: Company-[Datenstrom-3ag.com](https://datenstrom-3ag.com/?utm_source=luma) Application-[Growfirma.com](https://growfirma.com/?utm_source=luma)

It’s a time to sit in a circle of friends and sing mantras from the heart. Let these sounds soothe both the mind and the heart. During this evening, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the sounds of yoga and discover a sense of inner peace. Our session offers a gentle chance to slow down, find harmony, and reconnect with the depths of your heart🧡 Live music will make the evening even more enchanting. 🎵We’ll use acoustic instruments that help you relax and fill the space with a peaceful, nurturing atmosphere. As the session unfolds, we’ll naturally flow into a soft kirtan meditation — the beautiful culmination of this shared journey. To end the evening with care, we’ll offer warm tea and a sweet treat☕️ You are warmly welcome! Don’t hesitate — join us for this unique inner journey ✨ 📆 When: Saturday , May 30 🕗 Time: 6:30 PM 📍 Location: Flowsol studio, Apostel-Paulus-Straße 30 10823 Berlin

There’s a peace and relaxation possible for everyone, that can occur with total ease, with a simple body process, called Access Bars ® Access Bar is like hitting the delete button on your computer’s hard drive. Negative thought patterns and mental chatter can be released and a space for peace, ease and new possibilities opens up. Best, everyone can learn this body process in a one day class. You can give the Bars® to your family and friends and to your clients. And of course you can let the Bars run also on yourself. Access Bars ® and Bodyprocess classes in English take place once a month, classes in German twice a month. Just ask for your desired date. Would this class be a contribution to your body, to your life, your business? Then I would like to have you in a one-day Access Bars. Consider this your invitation to a totally different paradigm for healing, change and transformation in all aspects of your life. The Access Bars class fee is 380 Euro, Practitioner License, Manual, Charts, food and drinks included. PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY PHONE. For more information please visit my website: https://www.i-feel-so-good.de/home-en.html What happens in the brain during a Bars Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgGbFRjqQPk If you have any question or you want to book a session, do not hesitate to contact me. Once a week we have an Access Bars ® evening that gives you the opportunity to exchange the Bars® and to meet other practitioners. ®

Have you ever blanked out during a meeting or presentation, or struggled to get your message across in English? This 1-day [English presentation skills training](https://www.presentation-school.com/one-day-presentation-skills-training-berlin) in Berlin is designed for non-native English speakers, especially professionals in tech, consulting, and management, who want to present with clarity, confidence, and impact. Trusted by professionals and world-class organizations, Presentation School Berlin transforms stage fright and uncertainty into structured, engaging, and memorable presentations. **What You’ll Learn** * Calm & Confident Delivery: Speak clearly under pressure. * Presentation Structure That Works: Use our 3-part framework: Opening, Body and Close. * Story, Science & Stats (S³ Framework): Make your message persuasive and memorable. * Left-Brain / Right-Brain Engagement: Keep your audience focused and emotionally connected. * Live Feedback & Personalized Coaching: Improve immediately during the session. **Who Should Attend?** * Non-native English speakers presenting in professional settings - meetings, pitches, or conferences. * Professionals who want to lead with influence and communicate ideas with confidence. * Participants seeking practical tools, live coaching, and small-group, hands-on training. **Your Investment** * Berlin Presentation Lab members receive 10% off. * Includes training materials, practice exercises, feedback videos, and a certificate of completion. **[Training Package](https://www.presentation-school.com/one-day-presentation-skills-training-berlin)** * Pre-training questionnaire * Full-day group training * Live practice + feedback * Follow-up resources * Everything in Standard * Structured asynchronous feedback (themes-based) * Group office hours * Deep scenarios * Priority in-room feedback * High-stakes case work **About Your Trainer (Kunle: Founder, Presentation School Berlin)** After freezing on stage himself, Kunle developed a proven method to help professionals overcome stage fright, structure their presentations, and deliver with confidence. His training has supported professionals and organizations across Europe, Africa, and the UK, from emerging leaders to executive teams. **Practical Information** Language: English Address: Chausseestraße 86, 10115 Berlin Max 9 participants for hands-on coaching and live, actionable feedback. Price: €349 per person. Time: 09:30 am - 05:30 pm [Reserve your seat now!](https://www.presentation-school.com/one-day-presentation-skills-training-berlin)

**Relax. Connect. Create. ☕** After a full week of work, meetings, study sessions and life in fast-forward, it’s time to slow down. Join us this Saturday afternoon in Berlin for a relaxed coffee hang-out where this week's agenda is good company & warm drinks. You're also invited to bring some boardgames, drawing/coloring materials (I will bring an adult coloring book) **What’s the plan?** We’ll meet in a cosy spot, draw, chat about everything and nothing, swap stories and simply enjoy the moment. No pressure. No formalities. Just a bunch of friendly people sharing a Saturday coffee. **Who’s welcome?** Everyone! Whether you’re a Berliner born and raised, newly arrived in the city, from Germany or abroad, if you like meeting open-minded folks and spending some relaxed time—come join us. **When & how?** Saturday afternoon. Detailed time and place in our Telegram group. ➡️ Join us on Telegram: [https://t.me/berlinsaturdaycoffee](https://t.me/berlinsaturdaycoffee) Hop in, say hello, and we’ll share the final details. **Why join?** *Because you deserve a break. - Because you enjoy being creative. *Because you enjoy boardgames - Because meeting new people sparks fresh energy. *Because coffee tastes even better when shared. - Because Saturday afternoons were made for this. Respect and Safety: There is always at least one organizer present at every meetup. If you ever feel unsafe or bothered by someone’s behavior, you can reach out to an organizer privately. Your identity will remain confidential, your concern will be taken seriously, and no inappropriate behavior is tolerated — anyone making others feel uncomfortable will be removed from the group immediately. We hope to see you there. Bring yourself, your smile, drawing materials, your stories—or just your comfy self. Let’s make Saturday a little more laid-back, a little more social and a lot more nice. See you soon! —Your Saturday Creative Coffee Crew ☕

Chitta Walks is for people whose days move fast, while the mind never fully lands. Thoughts keep looping even when nothing is urgent. The body moves, but attention is elsewhere. Over time, this disconnect drains clarity and ease. This walk is a simple reset. We meet in Berlin’s Tiergarten and walk at a gentle pace. Parts of the walk are in silence, with light guidance and a few short prompts. The walk itself is the practice, bringing body and mind back into the same moment. No apps. No performance. Just a clear space to slow down and notice what is happening. If you want to slow down without withdrawing from life, join a Chitta Walk. ✨ **What to expect (approx. 90 minutes):** * A short arrival and orientation * A guided silent walk (phones off, no conversation) * One concise science-based impulse on attention or stress * Optional reflection in pairs or small groups * A simple takeaway or experiment for daily life 🚶**Who this is for:** * Professionals, creatives, and people in transition. * People who feel mentally busy and want more clarity and balance. * Those curious about mindfulness, but grounded and practical. * Anyone comfortable with silence and gentle self observation. 🔔 **Practical notes:** * Duration: 60-90 minutes * Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing * No prior experience needed * Group size is limited to keep the space quiet and focused 🧭 **Facilitator:** My name is Partha Sarathi, you can call me PS. I have lived in Berlin for over 12 years. With a background in physics and materials science, my interest in mindfulness grew through personal experience with stress and health challenges. I facilitate the space and structure of the walk, inviting shared exploration rather than instruction. 🤔 **Why Chitta Walks?** Chitta is a Sanskrit word referring to the mind or field of awareness, used here in a practical, non-religious sense. Chitta Walks is about noticing how the mind works by slowing down and walking together. Mindful walking makes thought patterns visible in real time, while moving and sensing in the world. The name points to a simple capacity: noticing what is happening in the mind without immediately trying to fix, judge, or optimize it. 🌿 **Possible effects:** A calmer nervous system. Clearer attention. A felt sense of being more present in your body. Subtle insights into how your mind reacts under everyday conditions. A quieter, more grounded way of moving through the city. **Come as you are. Walk. Notice. Leave with a little more space inside.**

📚 **What’s the event?** A peaceful hour of silent reading in a beautiful library space, surrounded by fellow book lovers. 🧘‍♀️ **Perfect for you if you:** * Need an hour of focused, quiet reading * Are studying and want calm company * Want to meet new people without small talk pressure * Just love the vibe of libraries and stories *** ### **Reading Hour at Heinrich-Schulz-Bibliothek** **Need an hour of quiet, focused reading in a beautiful setting?** Studying for an exam and looking for some calm company? Want to meet new people while still getting your reading done on a weekend morning? If you answered yes to any of those questions, come join us at the beautiful Heinrich-Schulz-Bibliothek for a low-key, silent reading hour with fellow book lovers. Just bring your current read and enjoy the shared calm of collective reading. **Agenda:** * **10:00–10:30** – Arrivals & light socializing * **10:30–11:30** – The Venerable Silent Reading Hour (just you, your book, and the soft rustle of pages) * **11:30–12:00** – Optional social time: chat about your book, meet others, or just keep reading *** ### 📦 **What to Bring:** * **The book you're currently reading** (or studying) * **Yourself — just as you are** Come comfy, come curious — no sign-ups, no pressure, just a shared hour of peace. 🍽️ Afterward, we’ll head out for lunch nearby—come for the reading, stay for the company! **PS:** **Hi everyone!** Just a quick note ahead of our event at the **Heinrich-Schulz Library**: 🚪 Since we’re meeting **before the library officially opens**, the main doors might be locked. To avoid anyone being locked out, 📌 **Please arrive on time** — we’ll start settling in at **10:00 AM**. 📱 If you arrive and can’t get in, either knock on a window where the lights are on or push the button sitting on top of the metal pole where the door opener is. I'll come out and let you in. Looking forward to a calm, cozy morning of books and good company. See you soon! — Aneel

Looking to unwind, meet fellow founders, and connect with others in the startup world? Join us for a casual evening of good food, great company, and a friendly **poker tournament** with a €5 entry and €10 re-buy, 5/10 cent blinds that increase by 10 cents every hour. **What to Expect** **7:00 – 7:30 PM:** Check in & Mingle **From 7:30 PM:** Poker game begins (friendly competition, beginners welcome!) 🎟️ **€10 including Entry & Snacks + €10 Poker Chips to Play with, rebuy up €50.** **Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re a pro, a beginner, or just here to learn, we’ll divide tables based on experience. Please indicate your level with your name tag:** **🟢 Green – No clue, here to learn** **🟠 Orange – Beginner / Intermediate** **🔴 Red – Advanced / Professional** **✅ Spaces are limited, so claim your spot through this [SIGN UP FORM](https://forms.gle/QCjXZXioTk5V4wTh9)** **and [Join the WhatsApp Group Founders & Startups Poker Night ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/HZqJkAGiXQ51GECyLiQohZ)[♠️](https://chat.whatsapp.com/C02KYYSMS8cGgKocAoOhkk) where I will be sharing more details later**

Train Your Brain Confidence & Adaptability Under Pressure What if confidence, adaptability, and decision-making could be trained through play? This interactive workshop introduces Cognitive Agility Through Chess — a beginner-friendly experience designed to strengthen focus, resilience, strategic thinking, and communication in a supportive and engaging environment. This is not a traditional chess class. Chess is used as a tool for reflection, collaboration, adaptability, and cognitive development through interactive challenges and guided exercises. WHAT TO EXPECT ♟️ Beginner-friendly introduction to chess fundamentals 🧠 Interactive cognitive and strategic challenges 🤝 Team-based and collaborative gameplay ⚡ Exercises focused on adaptability and thinking under pressure 💬 Guided reflection and discussion THIS EXPERIENCE SUPPORTS • Confidence-building • Strategic thinking • Communication • Adaptability • Emotional resilience • Cognitive flexibility • Decision-making under pressure WHO IS THIS FOR? Women interested in: • self-development • leadership • psychology • strategy • meaningful social connection • cognitive performance • creative and reflective experiences No chess experience is needed. EVENT DETAILS 📍 Motel One — Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin 🕒 2 Hours 👥 Limited small group experience, from 6-12 participants per event PILOT SESSION This is part of a limited founding pilot series in Berlin designed to create a thoughtful, engaging, and collaborative learning experience. FACILITATED BY Radwa Omar Founder & Cognitive Agility Facilitator Train Your Brain — Cognitive Agility Through Chess Train how you think. Elevate how you perform.

Looking for a fun, energizing way to move your body and meet new people? Join us for a Silent Disco Hip Hop Dance Workout a unique experience that combines music, movement, and connection 🎧💃 ✨ What to expect: • Fun icebreaker games to get to know each other • A full-body Hip Hop dance workout (beginner-friendly) • Learn cool dance move with silent disco experience • Spark Connections over a fun time We’ll kick things off with fun, easy icebreaker games to get to know each other. Then enjoy a 1-hour guided silent disco dance workout (with your own Bluetooth headphones) with dance music and simple moves. No experience needed! Come solo or with a friend, you’ll leave feeling energized, uplifted, and connected 💫 👉 Join the WhatsApp group to connect before the event: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GaUmXBIg1oy4BtYgxuxEsu?mode=gi_t 📸 Check our vibes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkevents_510

Deadline Table — Focused Work Hours Bring your manuscript, your taxes, your laptop—whatever needs to get done. We have WiFi and phone sockets. You’ll sit on bar stools at the counter (not comfortable, by design). Two hours to focus hard. We’ll keep you accountable so you actually finish. Choose your intensity level: Level 1 — Light Touch: We check in once at the start, once at the end. You’re on your own. Level 2 — Mild: We check every 15 minutes. Gentle nudges if you drift. Level 3 — Strict: We’re watching. Phone down? We see it. Daydreaming? We call it out. Sign on your table says: “Stop procrastinating.” Two hours for €7.50 minimum order. If you need more time, it’s €3.20/hour after. Five seats, first come first served. No distractions. No bullshit. Just work that gets done. 100% plant-based. Inspired by Tokyo manuscript cafés. Hours: Wed–Thu: 1 PM–10 PM Fri: 4 PM–10 PM Sat–Sun: 12 PM–10 PM Closed Mon–Tue

**( Note: This community is specially curated and reserved only for South Asian women with roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan )** Ever feel like you sometimes lose sight of your goals or need a boost of motivation to get back on track? This meetup is for passionate and driven women who want to reconnect with their ambitions and support each other in becoming the best version of themselves. Join us for coffee, good conversation, and a dose of “It girl” energy to kick-start your week strong! What we’ll do together: • Reflect on where we are in this moment of life. • Define what we want to achieve or work toward. • Create a mini plan for the next two weeks with goal setting, scheduling, and accountability pairing. ☕ Bring your favorite drink order and an open mindset! Future meetups: We’ll meet twice a month on Sunday evenings to review progress, set new intentions, and keep the motivation flowing. Who are we? Desi Girls Global(Berlin) is a community of south asian girls in Berlin supporting each other. We host free community events for Desi women in Berlin (Desi = people from South Asia). And the group is very active, not commercial at all. To keep this a safe and comfortable space, I personally add members to the WhatsApp group after meeting them. If you’re interested in joining us, I encourage you to come to one of our meetup. To keep it safe, you can be part of the group only by attending the meetup.

Monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners. One specific topic, one to three actions you can run this week. You can be the best at what you do and still be invisible. If local buyers cannot find you, the phone does not ring. Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners focused on building relationships, local networking, and local marketing. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no upsell. **This month** Most local businesses pick one or two places to be visible and call it good. The result is inconsistent calls and a feeling that marketing is not working. We will walk through the three places every local business needs to show up, plus the fourth place most owners ignore that quietly produces the warmest leads. **What to expect** Doors open at noon. Order lunch and drinks at the cafe counter or bring your own. You get real conversation with other local owners and a focused marketing lesson. You leave knowing people and with one to three actions to run that week. The room is reserved through 1:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants clearer marketing direction and real local relationships. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Second Monday of every month * 12:00 to 1:30 PM * Good Cafe Easton, 4400 Easton Commons, Ste 150, Columbus, OH 43219 * Order lunch and drinks at the counter when you arrive * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local business owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator)

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

Please reserve your spot by registering on the below link : **Reserve** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-biggest-community-investors-founders-columbus-online-tickets-1988563717610?aff=meetup **QUESTIONS ?** Pls Reach out to; Ridhi - +971504724873 ( WhatsApp Only)

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.