Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., J.D is a healthcare strategy executive and speaker focused on healthcare, AI, and digital innovation. With dual doctorates in medicine and law, he graduated with honors, concentrating on AI’s impact on healthcare. As a consultant and technology executive, he advises Fortune 500 firms and C-suite leaders. He leverages his clinical, legal, and management background. In his free time, he enjoys reading nonfiction and writing.
Trey Bowles is a serial entrepreneur, social capitalist, and educator. He co-founded the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC), a central location for entrepreneurs to learn how to start, build, and grow businesses through training, education, mentorship, promotion, and capital investment. Under his leadership, the DEC launched a public-private partnership called the Dallas Innovation Alliance to help design, develop, and launch a Smart Cities solution in Dallas.
Dr. Khimen Cooper began teaching as a fitness instructor in undergrad, later bringing that energy to English classrooms in 2011. She holds a doctorate in Rhetoric and Composition from Texas A&M–Commerce, specializing in Rhetoric Theory and YA Literature. She teaches a range of English courses with a focus on Critical Pedagogy. Her recent book, Fck the Five Paragraph Essay*, reflects her passion for writing across disciplines and contexts.
Dr. Eric Kildebeck MD, PhD, leads UT Dallas’s Center for Engineering Innovation and CAIQUE, advancing tech with an entrepreneurial focus. He directs the Polycraft World team, creating immersive training in Minecraft for learners and AI. In 2024, he co-founded Pedegree Studios, an EdTech UTD spinout, where he now serves as SVP of Education, guiding its personalized learning, pedagogy, and AI strategy.
Cheryl “Action” Jackson is a keynote speaker, award-winning social entrepreneur, author, TV host, and producer. She has persevered from experiencing hunger to providing more than 31 million meals to children and families through her award-winning organization, Minnie’s Food Pantry, a charity she founded to honor her mother, the late Dr. Minnie Hawthorne-Ewing.
Tejasvi Manoj. Tejasvi Manoj is a high school junior who blends tech and advocacy to create impact. After her grandfather faced an online scam, she built Shield Seniors—an AI-powered app for cybersecurity education. Honored by the Congressional App Challenge and AARP, she leads seminars, writes for national groups, and serves as Secretary of the NTFB Young Advocates. A CyberPatriot Semifinalist, she’s also pursuing her Eagle Scout rank.
Pam Rosener is the President and Founder of Young Men’s Service League (YMSL). Passionate about mentoring, she helps young men grow through service and leadership, while strengthening mother-son bonds. Pam’s mission is to expand YMSL’s reach nationwide and globally. With over 100 chapters in 15 states, YMSL has logged more than 2 million service hours, offering impactful experiences to families and communities.
Shivam Dhol Tasha Pathak is a North Texas–based Indian-American drum ensemble founded in 2014. Merging tradition with modern energy, they bring dhol tasha into global arenas. Named for “Shiva” and “Om,” they channel spiritual rhythm in every performance. With diverse members, Shivam has performed at NBA games, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and a U.S. Presidential Inaugural Parade, redefining culture through percussion.
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