Dr. Nicole Yeldell Butts

Dr. Nicole Yeldell Butts is a bestselling and award-winning author, speaker, and organizational culture strategist who helps individuals and institutions unlock transformation. She is the founder of NLYB Solutions and creator of the SHIFT™ framework, which guides leaders in cultivating high-performing, purpose-driven cultures. Her work empowers executives, organizations, and women to lead boldly, live authentically, and create intentional impact. With more than 25 years of experience across sectors including technology, higher education, healthcare, and philanthropy, Dr. Butts brings a thoughtful and people-centered approach to leadership. She has served as Chief Diversity Officer, Vice President, and Director of Human Resources. With the 2026 release of The SHIFT Companion Guide and The SHIFT Journal, her acclaimed 2025 book SHIFT: A Transformational Journey From Playing Small to Unapologetically Thriving now anchors a complete, end-to-end three-book system: The SHIFT Journey set. Dr. Butts holds a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development with a specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is married and lives in Los Angeles.

Susan Gonzales is a recognized leader in the global movement for AI literacy. With a tech policy career spanning over many years in Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., she leverages deep tech expertise and policymaker relationships to advocate for a more inclusive digital future.

In 2019, Susan left her role as a policy executive at Facebook tolaunch AIandYou. Long before AI was a household term, she was on the ground offering a bilingual learning platform and AI-101 training to thousands of individuals across the U.S.

Susan served as AI literacy advisor to the Biden White House and the Transition Team on the National AI Advisory Committee (NAIAC). Sheworks directly with U.S. Senate, House members, and California legislators to encourage advocacy for AI literacy in their communities. Susan's specialty is translating complex technical topics into easy-to-understand language, ensuring that AI literacy remains rooted in the needs of ordinary people.

Susan sits on the UNESCO Women for Ethical AI advisory team. Susan was recently named the "AI Social Impact Leader of the Year, North America" 2025 by the global organization, Women in AI. Susan co-authored “AI Literacy for the United States” recommendation to The White House in 2024, “AI literacy and the new Digital Divide - A Global Call for Action”, UNESCO, 2024, and “A Blueprint for Equitable and Inclusive AI” World Economic Forum, 2022.

Shana Ayabe is the Founder of Grace Media Digital, a media and marketing company built for the AI era. With more than a decade of marketing and communications experience as former Senior Vice President & Head of Marketing in asset management, Shana now leads a venture that sits at the intersection of media, marketing, communications and technology. At Grace Media Digital, she and her team craft AI-assisted content assets that amplify voices, strengthen brands, and connect organizations to audiences with precision and impact. AI is the cornerstone of content asset production, enabling elevated quality, streamlined execution, and new possibilities for storytelling at scale. Backed by an advisory team with over two decades of communications, media and technology expertise, Grace Media Digital delivers content solutions that embody innovation, influence, and excellence. Previously, Shana spearheaded strategic communications, digital campaigns, and brand positioning for multiple affiliates in the investment industry. She has built high-performing marketing teams from the ground up, led public relations for an asset management firm with over $100 billion in client assets during her tenure and spearheaded high-profile communications for M&A initiatives, earning that firm industry recognition including Deal of the Year. Shana merges both technical, marketing and communications expertise with visionary leadership to her AI media entrepreneurship, Grace Media Digital.

Yannick is an Industrial/ Organizational Psychology PhD candidate and consultant with years of experience in understanding and measuring occupational health and culture. He brings his rich academic and applied expertise to provide effective solutions to improve organizational functioning. His research focuses on workplace incivility, destructive leadership, and their implications for employee health and wellbeing. He examines how everyday interpersonal mistreatment, stress processes, and individual differences shape psychological and physiological outcomes across work and academic contexts. Drawing on perspectives from occupational health psychology, stress and recovery research, and fair assessment practices, Yannick’s work aims to inform healthier, more equitable organizational environments.

Bryce Badger is a Tech Strategy manager at PwC, specializing in IPO readiness, program management and Digital & AI strategy. A Georgetown University alum from Orlando, Florida, Bryce splits his time between NYC and the Bay Area. He leads PwC’s NY Metro Shine LGBTQ+ network and is passionate about helping early-career talent harness AI for career success.