Senior Director of Machine Learning Research at Apple

Samy Bengio (PhD in computer science, University of Montreal, 1993) is a senior director of machine learning research at Apple since 2021 and adjunct professor at EPFL since 2024. Before that, he was a distinguished scientist at Google Research since 2007 where he was heading part of the Google Brain team, and at IDIAP in the early 2000s where he co-wrote the well-known open-source Torch machine learning library.

His research interests span many areas of machine learning such as deep architectures, representation learning, vision and language processing and more recently, reasoning.

He is action editor of the Journal of Machine Learning Research and on the board of the NeurIPS foundation. He was on the editorial board of the Machine Learning Journal, has been program chair (2017) and general chair (2018) of NeurIPS, program chair of ICLR (2015, 2016), general chair of BayLearn (2012-2015), MLMI (2004-2006), as well as NNSP (2002), and on the program committee of several international conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ECML and IJCAI. More details can be found at http://bengio.abracadoudou.com.

Associate Partner at Bain

Peter Accomando is an advisor with deep experience at the intersection of technology, strategy, and value creation. He is currently with Bain & Company, where he advises companies across technology and professional services, bringing a broad, analytical perspective to growth, operating strategy, and investment decision-making.

In addition to his general consulting work, Peter has participated in commercial due diligence for over 50 potential acquisitions. He has supported investors and leadership teams as they evaluate markets, competitive dynamics, and long-term value creation opportunities. His experience spans software, hardware, and technology-enabled services, giving him a well-rounded view of how innovation translates into durable business models.

He is particularly motivated by identifying value in overlooked places—whether emerging technologies, underappreciated markets, or early-stage talent—and is excited to support the Blakeney Fund’s mission to empower the next generation of women investors through thoughtful, ethical, and forward-looking capital allocation.

Vice President at 645 Ventures

Mendy Yang is a Vice President on 645 Ventures' Investment & Research team, where she partners with new and existing founders in enterprise AI with a particular focus on cybersecurity, compliance, IT and customer support/success.

Mendy kicked off her investing career at Vista Equity Partners, a software-focused private equity fund where she discovered her love for enterprise SaaS. She moved into venture capital to work more closely with founders at the earliest stages and was previously a B2B SaaS investor at Lerer Hippeau and Soma Capital.As an avid foodie with endless wanderlust, Mendy loves traveling across the world and trying different cuisines (or oftentimes just finding the best local spots in New York)!

Founder of Leaders of the Future

Tarja Stephens is an internationally recognized advisor and keynote speaker with over two decades of experience at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and talent development. As a Finnish-American business leader and entrepreneur, Tarja empowers CEOs and executives to drive successful AI transformations by focusing on the people who bring technology to life. Her human-centric approach emphasizes equipping teams with the skills and mindset needed to thrive amid exponential technological change. By aligning innovation with workforce readiness and personal intelligence, she fosters ethical integration and inclusive innovation that empowers leaders to shape the future.

As founder of Leaders of the Future, a global leadership network, and managing partner of AI Opportunity Agency, an advisory group guiding senior executives in the practical integration of AI into leadership roles, Tarja is a trusted advisor to CEOs and global initiatives. She has collaborated with leading organizations to reshape workforce dynamics and build future-ready teams.

A sought-after speaker at global forums, Tarja inspires leaders to invest in their people—and in themselves. She emphasizes the urgent need to upskill workforces to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy, ensuring people are equipped for the transformative impact of AI. Tarja encourages leaders to redefine leadership and cultivate uniquely human qualities as the superpowers of future leadership. She believes that investing in people creates a ripple effect, unlocking AI’s potential and advancing bold, inclusive innovation.

Professor at Phillips Academy

Dr. Aly Blakeney (Dr. B) is an Instructor of Economics and World History at Phillips Academy Andover. Her research interests primarily involve young adult financial wellness, particularly in regard to accessing and completing higher education. She is a member of the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance (HEFWA) Research Committee and (full disclosure) the faculty advisor to Women in Finance.

Dr. B received her bachelor's in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Merced, her master's in Resource and Applied Economics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and her PhD in Economic Education from the University of Delaware. She lives on campus with her husband and service dog, Nanook (aka, PA's one and only sentient teddy bear).