Akira Brand wants to live in a world where digital privacy is sacred, the internet has no ads, and cable management comes easy. 

Honored by numerous organizations for her teaching, leadership, and technical acumen, she travels all over the United States speaking on tech and cyber, often drawing inspiration from a nature-based lens. She has spoken at RSA, BSides Denver, and many others.  She also has has appeared on multiple podcasts such as the Application Security Podcast with Chris Romeo.  
A budding technology leader, she recently led the Application Security department at a global financial services firm, where she honed her craft in both the technical and political aspects of bootstrapping an AppSec program from greenfield. 
When they are not working on their home lab, writing talks, or navigating the politics of cyber at an executive level, they enjoy tinkering with their hi-fi system and spending time in the wilderness. 

Andreae Pohlman is a cybersecurity professional with experience ranging from hands-on technical work to executive strategy. She has built and led proactive and reactive cybersecurity programs for public and private sector organizations, from government agencies to global enterprises.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Andreae began her career as a Systems Administrator before joining Microsoft’s Corporate Incident Response and Compromise Recovery teams, where she helped organizations recover from major cyber incidents.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu, leading mentorship and STEM initiatives to inspire future cybersecurity leaders.

As Director of Security Engineering, Chris leads Secure Yeti’s team of security consultants while delivering security assessments for high-profile clients. Guided by a passion for empowering diverse students to succeed in cybersecurity, Chris runs the Cybersecurity Career Accelerator (CCA) program at City Colleges of Chicago to help bridge the gap between education and career. Chris’s enthusiasm for knowledge sharing is matched only by her commitment to community impact. She serves on Latinas in Cyber’s (LAIC) Advisory Board, the DEF CON Groups Global team, and as Deputy Conference Associate Coordinator for Black Hat USA. Away from the keyboard, Chris is happily outnumbered by her Border Collie and Australian Shepherd, who insist on fresh air and adventure.

Clea is Wolfpack Security’s Co-Founder and CEO. She leads the company in vision and delivery and brings the ability to bridge tech and people into the AppSec consulting space. She has been in security and tech for 15 years, playing roles in sales, delivery, advisory, and product management. Clea loves to get to the root cause of problems and find a win-win solution for everyone. 


Before Wolfpack, Clea worked at Code42 as Field CISO, where she helped build and develop data security solutions. She has spoken at conferences and podcasts, including Blackhat, Open Source North, The CISO Series, Enterprise Sec Weekly, and more. She is active in the Women in Tech communities and continues to organize events nationwide.

Off the keyboard, Clea loves to cook, garden, draw, and generally create beautiful things.

Craig Taylor is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) since 2001, and a 30-year veteran of Cybersecurity. In 2014 he co-founded a cybersecurity training company - CyberHoot - to help SMBs, MSPs, and Enterprises teach cyber literacy skills to employees. During his career, Craig has led cybersecurity organizations in Web Hosting (CSC), Finance (JP Morgan Chase), and manufacturing (Vistaprint). Additionally, Craig leads a cybersecurity consultancy that has delivered virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services to more than 50 companies (multiple industries). 

Most people see Craig as a cybersecurity professional, but what drives him is teaching — helping people understand complex technology in a way that builds confidence, not fear. He co-founded CyberHoot to make cybersecurity education more positive and approachable, proving that people learn best when they feel rewarded and empowered.

Dd Budiharto, founder of Cyber Point Advisory, LLC, a leader in fractional CISO firm that provides cyber security advisory services to startup, emerging, and global organizations. She partners with executive teams, business stakeholders, and IT leaders to develop strategy and road map to enhance the organization’s cyber security posture. 

Her expertise in IT/OT security has been instrumental in delivering significantly enhanced information and cyber security for the oil and gas industry. Dd has been a digital security visionary for over 30 years. As an industry leader, she worked closely with the White House on Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity initiatives.

Dd was the recipient of the 2024 ORBIE Houston CISO Leadership Award and a nominee for Team8’s 2025 Cyber25-Women of Impact.

She is currently a Governing Member of Gartner and SecureWorld CISO Executive.

Dr. Sara Rabinovitch is a Workplace and Clinical Psychologist, Behavior Scientist, and Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer of Pacific Mindful Wellbeing @ Work. She specializes in bringing evidence-based compassion and stress-recovery science to high-pressure fields like cybersecurity, tech, and STEM. Her work transforms cutting-edge behavioral research into practical tools and micro-interventions that enhance focus, resilience, and performance. With expertise in physiological measurement (HRV, respiratory rate) and intervention design, she creates engaging, gamified approaches to burnout prevention and nervous-system regulation. A Harbor-UCLA postdoctoral fellow and Adjunct Professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, she bridges science, leadership, and wellbeing—helping organizations build sustainable performance cultures that thrive under pressure.

Mariana Padilla, co-founder and CEO of HACKERverse.ai, is a dynamic leader with a proven entrepreneurial track record and an unwavering commitment to success. Her expertise spans leadership, sales, marketing, and community-driven growth, which she now brings to HACKERverse.ai to revolutionize the cybersecurity sales process.
HACKERverse.ai, is a platform that streamlines Proof of Concept (PoC) evaluations for cybersecurity buyers and vendors. Under her leadership, the company has achieved significant milestones, including participation in TechStars Chicago and the Google Growth Academy AI Cybersecurity cohort and building strategic partnerships.

Mea is a force in cybersecurity leadership, blending decades of hands-on experience with a rare ability to bridge the technical and strategic. As Principal Executive Advisor for Cyber Risk Engineering at Liberty Mutual, she helps demystify emerging threats and empowers organizations to act with clarity and purpose.

From Zero Trust and supply chain security to GRC frameworks rooted in NIST standards, Mea brings a rigor and eloquence that’s reshaping how enterprises approach risk. She’s not just leading—she’s lifting others along the way: a 2024 Cyversity Educator of the Year, mentor, published author, and advocate for inclusion in cybersecurity.

Outside the boardroom? Mea is a quilt historian, folk singer, and Tin Whistle player (yes, she's even recorded on an album 🎶). She reminds us that vigilance isn’t just technical—it’s deeply human.

Naomi Buckwalter, CISSP CISM, is the Director of Product Security for Contrast Security and author of the LinkedIn course: “Training today for tomorrow's solutions - Building the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals”. She is the founder and Executive Director of Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to closing the demand gap in cybersecurity hiring. She has over 20 years' experience in IT and Security and has held roles in Software Engineering, Security Architecture, Security Engineering, and Security Executive Leadership. A dynamic speaker and mentor, her passion is helping people, particularly women, get into cybersecurity. Naomi has two Masters degrees from Villanova University and a Bachelors of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Robert “Rob” Whetstine has spent over 20 years in technology and cybersecurity, known for his relentless curiosity and nerdy bowties. His journey started young, tinkering with discarded computers, and grew into a career that includes building Disney’s IoT and mobile security platforms, helping secure Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and leading Disney’s anti-phishing and social engineering program. Today, he’s a Director of Information Security at a Fortune 500 company, focused on penetration testing and vulnerability management.

A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech, Rob mentors people around the world and works with nonprofits to expand access to cybersecurity careers. He also hosts the podcast BowTieSecurityGuy After Dark, offering honest conversations about life in the field. Off the clock, he builds props, fixes toys, restores “motorcycles” (mopeds), and one of his replicas is on display at the Goonies Museum in Astoria, Washington

Cybersecurity Aficionado: Currently protecting the digital frontier as a Senior Account Manager at Omada Technologies.

The Pivot: Former educator turned tech guru following a very productive quarter-life career crisis.

Endurance Specialist: 17-time marathoner. 

Plant-Powered: Committed vegetarian and vocal advocate for all things furry and four-legged.

Chief Chaos Coordinator: Proud mom of three energetic humans

Stacey Champagne is the Founder & CEO of Hacker in Heels, a pioneering organization dedicated to elevating women into positions of power within the cybersecurity industry. As both an active cybersecurity practitioner and transformational coach, she continues to lead from the front lines while guiding others to success. Drawing from over a decade of experience securing Fortune 500 companies and startups, Stacey combines her technical expertise in insider risk, security investigations, and program management with professional coaching skills to transform women's careers.

Through carefully crafted content, specialized courses, personalized coaching, and strategic events, Hacker in Heels equips women to get paid their worth, secure promotions, and gain recognition for their contributions to the field. Stacey's innovative approach and proven track record of helping women navigate and thrive in traditionally male-dominated environments has earned industry-wide recognition.