Keynote Speakers

Kian Gohar
Opening Plenary Speaker, Wednesday, October 25
Keynote Address: AI, Adaptability, and the Future of Work

Kian Gohar is a futurist, leadership coach and bestselling author. He inspires organizations to build exponential teams to thrive in the new world of work. He is Founder/CEO of Geolab, an innovation research and leadership development firm.

In 2022, he co-wrote the Wall Street Journal bestselling book “Competing in the New World of Work” with Keith Ferrazzi, which was published by Harvard Business Review.

A former executive director of the XPRIZE Foundation and Singularity University, Kian has coached the leadership teams of dozens of Fortune 500 companies on innovation, leadership and the future of work.

He is regularly featured in global media and is a sought-after keynote speaker for marquee events globally like the World Economic Forum and South By Southwest. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School.

Dr. Helen Papagiannis
Plenary Speaker, Friday, October 27

A pioneer in the world of augmented reality, Dr. Helen Papagiannis is a globally recognized authority on immersive technologies and spatial computing. She has dedicated nearly two decades of her life towards this ever-evolving technology, exploring its potential to expand human intelligence and amplify human possibility. With great gusto, Papagiannis offers a fascinating and cutting-edge look at our virtual future and how today’s business leaders can prepare for the many “realities” ahead.

The bestselling author of Augmented Human: How Technology is Shaping the New Reality, Papagiannis is the founder of XR GOES POP, a consulting firm focused on AR, XR, and immersive technologies across retail and popular culture. She is also a member of The World Economic Forum’s invite-only Global Future Council on Augmented and Virtual Reality, and a Metaverse Initiative Partner.

Prior to this, Papagiannis was the Chief Innovation Officer at Infinity Augmented Reality Inc. (acquired by Alibaba) and a senior research associate at York University’s Augmented Reality Lab. She also worked for the internationally acclaimed Bruce Mau Design studio, where she was the project lead on “Massive Change: The Future of Global Design”. This 20,000 square foot touring exhibition and bestselling book examined the inventions and technologies reshaping our world.

With clients such as Louis Vuitton and Adobe, and features in The New York Times, WIRED, and Harvard Business Review, Papagiannis has presented at such renowned events as TEDx, SXSW, ISMAR (International Society for Mixed and Augmented Reality), AWE (Augmented World Expo), and ISEA (International Symposium for Electronic Art). Her TEDx talk was named one of the top 10 on augmented reality and gamified life.