Julia C. Rock is an employment expert and career coach who is passionate about transforming workplace dynamics to create collective success between organizations and their employees. As a former senior finance leader in the oil and gas sector who has managed and scaled global teams, Julia has personally overcome workplace burnout, disengagement, and inequality to coach and empower 1000+ employees to build meaningful careers. She has been featured in several major publications and platforms, including: Fortune, Business Insider, and xoNecole. Julia is a keynote speaker, presenter, and workshop facilitator who not only captivates and engages her audience, but also spurs them to action. With years of experience in speaking to both corporate and community audiences, she is skilled in connecting with groups from all walks of life. Some of her past speaking credits include notable platforms such as: TEDx, National Urban League, Women Impact Tech, and Tech Ladies amongst various other organizations and universities. Julia is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). She is also a published Author, co- authoring two books focused on helping athletes achieve career success after sports: The Six-Figure Athlete, and Athlete to Entrepreneur Vol II. 

Desireé B. Stephens is a distinguished decolonization educator and counselor, passionately committed to fostering liberation through decolonization and a whole self-healing philosophy. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of comprehensive wellness, she brings a transformative approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) spaces.

Born and raised in a multicultural community, Desireé was early on exposed to the intricacies of cultural intersections and the pressing need for systemic change.

Desireé’s career began in community outreach programs, where she developed innovative workshops aimed at dismantling oppressive structures through education and dialogue. Her unique approach combines traditional counseling techniques with decolonial theory, promoting healing that considers the whole person—mind, body, and soul—in the context of their cultural and historical backgrounds.

Her work extends to public speaking, where she eloquently addresses the importance of holistic approaches to equity and mental health.

Amber Ontiveros, a longtime civil rights advocate, served in advisory roles at the US Department of Transportation for the Bush and Obama Administrations, and now runs Ontiveros and Associates specializing in change management, policy development, executive and spiritual coaching.

Paul has a combined ten years of experience in academia, non-profits, and faith communities, becoming well-versed in the DEI challenges and needs of each sector. In higher ed, he has facilitated bystander intervention and sexual misconduct trainings with athletic teams, discussed systemic racism with faculty, and led full-day workshops on building inclusive cultures with student leaders. For non-profits, Paul has developed curriculum to center the needs of persons with disabilities, survivors of intimate partner violence, and survivors of sexual assault. Within faith communities, he has given presentations and led discussions on breaking racial barriers to create multi-ethnic ministries.

Casey Ariel Richardson is the founder and CEO of Blaze Group, a technology firm that adapts AI to cultivate Black women entrepreneurs. Casey Ariel started Blaze Group in December 2020, after spending a decade structuring multi-billion loans for tech companies - but never seeing other Black women on deal teams or the receiving end of funding. She left to take her knowledge and passion to the streets.

Blaze Group was created to decolonize pathways to economic freedom. The company brings deep familiarity and user-centric experiences to capacity-building frameworks for Black women entrepreneurs. Today, Blaze Group has an engaged audience of more than 110,000 Black women entrepreneurs and supporters around the globe. BLAZE means Building Leaders and Accepting Zero Excuses®️.

Casey is also heavily engaged in financial activism and advisory. From the United States to Sub-Saharan Africa, Casey has designed innovative solutions across diverse sectors to tackle systemic disparities and promote racial and gender equity. She serves on the advisory boards of Kiva US and Village Micro Fund and also provides management consulting to mid- to large-scale social enterprises. By leveraging her deep understanding of financial analysis, risk management, strategic planning, Casey helps startups and nonprofits streamline project execution, pilot innovative solutions, and achieve increased scale.

Casey Ariel is happily married and is primarily based in Nairobi, Kenya, though she and her partner travel the globe quite frequently for entrepreneurial engagements and pleasure. She grew up in Gadsden, South Carolina, and is an alumna of the University of South Carolina.