Michael Novasio serves as Chief AI and Trust Officer at Gottman Inc., where he focuses on AI strategy, policy, and product management. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Microsoft for over two decades, where he led enterprise compliance and content moderation platforms with a focus on trust, safety, and security.

Varshaa Kutik joined BIS on 1 March 2022 as their first Culture and Inclusion adviser. Her role has since expanded to include Talent management and is currently Talent, Culture & Inclusion Advisor. She has 18 years of experience in the DEI space and has worked across several industries. Prior to joining the BIS she was the APAC LEAD for D&I for Bank of America based in HK. Across her career she led D&I for the APAC & EMEA regions for Cargill, a Minnesota-based global leader in trading and distributing agricultural commodities. She also held a global role in Cargill driving learning, talent management, and D&I for one of Cargill’s 5 global businesses for over a year and was based in Minneapolis. Before Cargill, she was employed with Goldman Sachs in India and led their D&I efforts. Varshaa has a master’s degree in Globalization and Development from Warwick University in the UK. She is currently pursuing a doctorate at Warwick Business School. She has lived and worked in 5 countries (India, UK, US, Singapore & Hong Kong) and she is currently based in Basel Switzerland.

Steve Way is an actor, comedian, writer, and speaker. He was born with Muscular Dystrophy and is an advocate for disability awareness. Steve performs stand up comedy in the NJ/NY area, public speeches around the country, and can be seen in the Hulu show Ramy.

Steve has been performing stand up for over 12 years with his first set at the Comedy Charity Explosion in his hometown of Rutherford, NJ.

Since the early age of 10, Steve has been public speaking, most notably with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has spoken at major events and fundraisers and now does motivational speaking on overcoming adversity, healthcare, and workers’ rights.

Jack Skinner is Director of Partner Development at Forage, where he leads new business partnerships and manages key global relationships. With over a decade of experience in relationship management, business development, and new business acquisition, Jack brings a well-rounded perspective to his work. His background spans higher education and the not-for-profit sector, giving him a deep understanding of the employment landscape for students and early-career talent. Based in Birmingham, UK, Jack is proudly football mad.

Maria Xiao is the Global HRBP Director for Operations, Quality, and Finance in TE Connectivity’s Automotive Sector. Since joining TE in 2018, she has held multiple leadership roles driving organizational effectiveness and talent strategy.

As Global Co-Chair of the Asian Heritage ERG since 2024, Maria has scaled the network from a regional initiative to a global platform—strengthening leadership engagement, advancing inclusion, and directly connecting culture with business impact and talent outcomes.

With over 13 years of HR leadership experience across multinational organizations including GE and Essilor International, she brings a global, cross-cultural perspective to building inclusive, high-performing organizations.

Maria relocated from Shanghai to the U.S. in 2022 and is currently based in the Charlotte area.

Brittany Cowan is a Research Analyst on the HR Executive Board team at Seramount, where she partners on talent acquisition leadership development and strategy projects. Previously, Brittany held roles in human factors, working on everything from autonomous driving simulations to VR/AR headset usability. Her interests span behavioral science and UX design, reflecting a deep curiosity about how people interact with technology and systems.

Brittany earned her B.A. in Psychology from Penn State and a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction from Iowa State University. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she now lives in Richmond, Virginia. Outside of work, Brittany enjoys going to concerts, reading poetry, visiting art museums, and exploring Richmond with her Aussie, Henry.

Manaal Talukder is a Senior Research Associate at Seramount, where she partners with leading organizations to advance workplace inclusion and drive equitable talent strategies. In her role, she leads both qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, translating complex data into actionable insights that help organizations navigate evolving workforce challenges. Previously, Manaal worked in account management at EAB, supporting partner engagement, contract strategy, and cross-functional collaboration.

Manaal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from American University. She brings a strong foundation in research and storytelling, along with a passion for helping organizations build more inclusive and effective workplaces. She is based in Washington, DC.