Keynote Speakers
Please note: All times are listed in U.S. Eastern Time Zone.
Opening Keynote | Wednesday, May 27
Liberty & Independence Ballrooms
7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast buffet and seating
8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Program and Opening Keynote speaker
Kate O'Neill
Known worldwide as the "Tech Humanist," Kate is a digital innovator, chief executive, business writer, and globally recognized speaker. As founder and CEO of KO Insights, she helps the world's leading organizations enhance human experiences at scale through data-driven and AI-led interactions.
She was one of the first 100 employees at Netflix. Since then, she's advised Google, IBM, Microsoft, and the United Nations. Her groundbreaking insights have been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and WIRED, and she's shared her expertise on NPR and the BBC.
Kate has been named to the Thinkers50—the definitive global ranking of top management thinkers—and honored as "Technology Entrepreneur of the Year." Her podcast, “The Tech Humanist Show,” won a Web Excellence Award for Best Tech Podcast. And her latest book, What Matters Next, was just named to the Thinkers50 Best New Management Booklist.
With six influential books and over 25 years shaping the future of technology and humanity, she's going to help us navigate what's next.
Closing Keynote | Friday, May 29
Marquis Ballroom 5-10
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Brunch buffet and seating
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Program and Closing Keynote speaker
Matthew Soldner
Dr. Matthew Soldner serves as Acting Director of IES and Acting Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Between July 2018 and July 2025, he served as Acting Commissioner of the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE). Dr. Soldner's areas of expertise include the use of rigorous evidence to improve education policy and the implementation and evaluation of efforts to improve postsecondary outcomes for students. His PhD is from the University of Maryland's College of Education.
