Emily Hawkins is a leader and community builder who has dedicated her career to driving positive change in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. As the Founder and CEO of The Black Tech Collective, she has created a vibrant community that empowers underrepresented tech professionals to connect, collaborate, and achieve their full potential. This innovative platform provides a safe and supportive space for techies to network, learn, and grow. Her passion for creating a more inclusive industry drives her to champion increased representation and recognition for underrepresented tech talent and to advocate for equitable tech policies. 

 Professionally, Emily has spent the past two decades in strategic communications -- building and protecting brands, managing complex issues, and driving positive media coverage for prominent companies including Alvin Ailey, Amazon, Google, and Macy's.

Emily is a lifelong arts and culture enthusiast and holds a BA in Sociology and African American Studies from Columbia University.

Farrah Holifield is a seasoned IT professional with over a decade of leadership experience in complex, high-impact environments. She has a strong background in managing dynamic teams and driving innovative solutions that support global operations within the technology sector. With an MBA from Georgia Southern University, she combines strategic vision with technical expertise to deliver meaningful results. Outside of work, she enjoys snowboarding, freelance floral arranging, and volunteering at women's shelters in Washington, DC.

Anthony M. Mitchell is a seasoned government affairs professional and political strategist with more than a decade of experience in public policy, lobbying, and stakeholder relations on the federal, state, and local levels. He excels at building public-private partnerships and navigating complex political landscapes. As a visionary and results-oriented leader, Anthony effectively communicates across diverse audiences and thrives in high-impact projects.

A proud New Orleans native, he is passionate about bridging the gap between the corridors of power and everyday Americans, especially those from underrepresented communities. Anthony is a decorated leader in his field, featured in various media outlets, and actively serves on the boards of several prominent institutions - including Penn State's School of Public Policy, the National TRIO Alumni Association, and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. Beyond his many titles and achievements, Anthony is dedicated to giving back to his community and empowering individuals to pursue their passions.

Christopher Mullings has over 20+ years of management experience as a logistics and transportation professional in key senior leadership positions at UPS, XPO Logistics, CSX Transportation, and most recently for the past decade at Amazon. Chris stood up Amazon’s organic linehaul operations network which is now Amazon Transportation Services back in 2015. As a seasoned people leader managing various large organizations, Chris has developed a passion for providing professional development and career navigation support for individuals in the private sector and the military.

Chris is an Atlanta native, where he obtained his BA in Political Science from Georgia State University, and his MS in International Affairs from the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Chris is also a highly decorated Combat Veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq Campaigns. As a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Chris has held positions with SEAL TEAMS SEVENTEEN and EIGHTEEN, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, and most recently the Joint Chiefs of Staff Logistics Directorate at the Pentagon where he managed the entire DoD Joint Logistics Enterprise. Chris is now a Foreign Area Officer assigned to the United States Africa Command advising foreign dignitaries on political-military matters.

Haywood L. Perry III is an investor at Mark Cuban Companies and co-leads MCC Network, a digital broadcast platform democratizing access to the insights of industry titans, c-suite execs, professional athletes, and entrepreneurs.

Previously, Haywood invested in student entrepreneurs at First Round Capital's Dorm Room Fund, directed impact investments at Kapor Capital, and helped launch SoftBank's $100M Opportunity Fund. He has also served as an Innovation Advisor for Yale, a Program Associate at the Aspen Institute, and an Obama White House Intern.

Haywood has a strong commitment to social impact, evident in his work with community development in South Africa and India, his service on the Board of Whitman-Walker Health, and his recognition as an Emerging Black LGBT Leader by the Obama Administration. A fifth-generation Washingtonian and brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Haywood holds a Master's from Yale Divinity School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Serwadda is a strategy, operations, and global affairs leader. He recently served as Director of Global Affairs and Chief of Staff for HP’s Global Government Affairs & Public Policy organization. Prior to his role at HP, Michael held strategic leadership positions at Appian Corporation, 3M Company, and The Washington Post. With a proven track record of leadership and strategic influence, Michael is a Corporate Council Member at Meridian International, an Executive Fellow at the Economic Club of Washington, DC, Vice Chair of the Corporate Advisory Council at Black Professionals in International Affairs, and a member of the Chief of Staff Association.

An alumnus of New York University Stern School of Business, Michael holds an MBA with a focus on Strategy and Finance. He earned his BA in Public Relations and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin. In his spare time, he embraces an active lifestyle, enjoying long bike rides and playing golf.

Kimathi Williams is a Senior Cyber Architect for the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) where he develops, trains, and provides orchestration consultation to organizers of large-scale cyber exercises across the 54 states and territories. 

He is also a 25-year Army veteran with multiple overseas tours as an Air Defense Systems Integrator and continues to serve domestically as an Army Cyber Chief Warrant Officer, specializing in Exploitation Analysis and Cyber-Kill-Chain execution.     

Kimathi holds a Master of Science degree in Information Technology with a concentration in information architecture from Florida State University. He also maintains certifications as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and in Penetration Testing (GPEN).

Johnnie Tangle is a dynamic business development executive, tech consultant, and strategic partnership architect, known for his ability to bridge innovation, analytics, and culture to drive impact. Based in Los Angeles, he currently serves as the National Chair-Elect for the NSBE Professionals, where he leads national strategies and corporate partnerships for one of the largest Black STEM organizations in the country.

Johnnie is the Founder of Friends of the Program, a business development consultancy that has led strategic execution of a $5M client portfolio across tech, sports, entertainment, and philanthropic sectors. His efforts have generated over $15M in portfolio growth and yielded corporate partnership expansions across 100+ national accounts. He is also partner at the Whittley Agency, a premier lifestyle and corporate communications agency.

A forward-thinking leader, Johnnie is celebrated for cultivating long-term relationships, influencing C-suite stakeholders, and leading strategic negotiations that have increased organizational reach and revenue. During his tenure with Apple, he developed solutions for small businesses that drove over $2M in technology sales annually. At NSBE, he increased professional conference revenues by 300% and helped generate over $7M in national funding—while enabling more than 500 technical placements for Black engineers across global firms.

His leadership and technical influence also extend into fraternal and Masonic service. Johnnie is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he serves on the Technology Committee for the Beta Psi Lambda chapter in Los Angeles. He also serves on the Grand Lodge board as the Chairman of the IT and Website Committee for both the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California. and the Orient of California of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. Last but not least, serves on the National IT and Media Committee for the National Alumni Association of Florida A&M University.

Johnnie holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Florida A&M University and an Associates in Commercial Real Estate from the Marquette University. He also earned a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.

A self-described analytics junkie, envelope pusher, and culture enhancer, Johnnie Tangle is passionate about shaping inclusive innovation at the intersection of business, technology, and community impact.