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.

Tianna Christine Bernard is a proud DMV native who has spent the past decade in software development, combining technical expertise with people-centric leadership. As a dedicated servant leader at Cisco, she excels at guiding global teams to surpass their goals. She currently serves as chapter co-lead for the Connected Black Professionals ERG at Cisco. Tianna thrives on fresh ideas and values innovation as the key to success.

Beyond tech, Tianna is a yoga and meditation teacher focused on making mindfulness accessible to working professionals. Whether she’s coaching teams or leading sun salutations, Tianna aims to foster clarity, connection, and confidence. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, audiobooks, concerts, and supporting wellness professionals in launching and growing their businesses. She devotes herself to developing future leaders across tech industries and wellness.

Jethro Dely is a proud Boston native with deep connections to his Haitian heritage. He earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, with a minor in Political Science, from UMass-Boston and obtained a Master’s in Economics from Cleveland State University. With a strong foundation in economic theory and data analysis, Jethro is an economist and analyst at the Department of Defense. In this role, he leads diverse projects on economic analysis, data modeling, forecasting, and data science, leveraging his expertise in multiple programming languages to deliver impactful insights and solutions.

Jethro enjoys running, cycling, hiking, golfing, and traveling outside of work. His adventurous spirit and love for the arts are reflected in his passion for exploring new cultures and attending poetry slams. Committed to growth and community, he strives to make meaningful contributions both personally and professionally.

Michaela Hillman is a dynamic marketing professional who is passionate about understanding how people interact with their environments—both digitally and physically. She holds a BS in Public Policy Analysis and Technology Management and an MS in Information Systems from Indiana University.

Currently, Michaela serves as a Marketing Research, Insights, and Analytics Manager at Google, where she blends her expertise in data-driven storytelling, data visualization, and consumer behavior to craft impactful strategies. Her career spans roles in federal consulting, sales, and retail. She is also deeply committed to volunteering with children’s education initiatives and is currently involved with College Bound, Inc., helping DC youth prepare for and thrive in higher education.

In her free time, Michaela loves traveling, hiking, and exploring interior design and DIY projects. Her curiosity about how people navigate and shape their surroundings is a thread throughout all that she does.

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.

Jerome Johnson, II is a distinguished technology executive with 20+ years of experience in the commercial and government sectors. As Director of Solutions Architecture for National Security at Amazon Web Services (AWS), he leads a $1.5B portfolio in cloud solutions and emerging technologies and his expertise in Cloud Computing, AI/ML, and Quantum Computing drives innovation within his sector. Throughout his decade at AWS, Jerome has modernized Intelligence Agency programs, specializing in space systems, signal, and natural language processing. Before AWS, he held leadership roles at Booz Allen Hamilton and Bank of America.

Jerome holds dual degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Charleston Southern University and an MBA from Virginia Tech. He is advancing his leadership through Wharton's CTO Program, has completed McKinsey's Black Executive Leadership Program, holds Quantum Computing certifications from MIT, and is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Jerome values family time and is a Commanders season ticket holder.

C. Ryan Jones, a native Washingtonian, currently serves as GM for Microsoft’s Industry Consulting practice in the US’s Northeast quadrant. A thought leader for industry transformation at Microsoft since 2016, Ryan has held leadership roles in Microsoft’s Enterprise Industry and DIBs segments. Prior to Microsoft, Ryan led national sales and operations for Verizon’s Private and Public Sector businesses for 14 years. He serves on the Board of Directors for DC based non-profits Beacon House and OnRamps to Careers, organizations with a long history of supporting the academic advancement and personal growth of city youth. Additionally, Ryan runs a sales excellence coaching firm and is a frequent panelist for technology and leadership podcasts and trade shows. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Shepherd University in WV and an MBA from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Jason Kelley is a serial entrepreneur and community builder. He co founded The Wave, a business combining event production, consulting, and community building through tech and My Founder’s Keeper, an organization building community for Black business founders and investment funds. His work is focused on the intersection of Black communities and the pillars of technology, politics, philanthropy, experiential marketing, and marketing. He is a strong believer that technology is the greatest and most important tool to fight systemic racism and close the wealth gap.

Jason is originally from Richmond, Virginia, a proud brother of Alpha Phi Alpha, and has spent his adult life between the very Black cities of Atlanta and Washington, DC. As a former CNN journalist, he enjoys writing, traveling, and delighting in audiobooks of any topic.

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.

Earnest Offley was recently recognized by the U.S. Black Chambers with the 50 under 40 award. He serves as the Chief People and Diversity Officer at AiCure and is a recognized leader in human resources with a proven track record of success in high-growth environments. He champions a diverse and inclusive culture at AiCure, driving employee growth and development.

Prior to AiCure, Earnest held leadership roles at Building Hope Holdings, the Cambridge Housing Authority, and Boston Public Schools. He is a graduate of Roger Williams University with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration, with a core concentration in economics. He is also an alumnus of the Partnerships, Next Generation Executive Leadership Program.

Lauren Pate is a proud Memphis, Tennessee native and a seasoned operations and program management professional. Her career spans government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, with impactful roles at the United States Department of Justice, Twitter, the NAACP, and Hewlett Packard Enterprises. Lauren specializes in driving strategic initiatives, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and achieving operational excellence. Her expertise in trust and safety, compliance, and policy management makes her a dynamic leader in high-impact environments.

Lauren is passionate about community engagement and the arts and serves as Co-Director of Partnerships for The Black Tech Collective and Vice-Chair of Arena Stage’s Young Patrons Board. She is pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of Virginia’s Darden School, further honing her leadership and strategic acumen. Lauren is dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities and delivering innovative solutions that bridge organizational priorities with meaningful social impact.

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).