Costa Rica

Daniel Montiel

Founder and Owner, Gitanos

Daniel Montiel is the founder and owner of Gitanos in Costa Rica, a renowned and leading agency specializing in brand building within the region.

As both the founder and owner, he offers expert counsel to numerous business clients across multiple countries in Latin America and the United States. He has applied his creative abilities to serve a wide array of clients, including major names like Coca-Cola Company, Jeep, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Costa Rica Brewery (Imperial Beer), Essential Costa Rica (country brand), and more.

Across his career, Montiel has displayed remarkable tenacity and an unwavering drive for success. He has achieved exceptional results, garnering over 60 prestigious international awards at some of the most renowned advertising festivals. Additionally, his thought leadership is evident through numerous publications in prominent blogs and advertising magazines, solidifying his status as a global authority in the fields of branding and design.

Brazil

Vilmar Fernandes

Global UX/UI, Samsung

Vilmar Fernandes is a Global UX/UI Product professional at Samsung, bringing over 17 years of experience in the digital industry.

Vilmar Fernandes specializes in UX/UI, Product, Interface Design, Interactive Design, and Experience Design, bringing over 17 years of expertise in the digital industry. Over the years, he has collaborated with global brands such as Google, Motorola, Lenovo, LG, Coca-Cola, Bradesco, Natura, Danone Activia, Vivo, Nokia, Oi, MTV, Fox Sports, Claro, and many others. He has delivered projects across brand activations, integrated 360 campaigns, game design, art initiatives, and UI/UX solutions.

Chile

Pancho Gonzalez

Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Inbrax

Páncho Gonzalez is the Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Inbrax.

In his capacity as Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of a branding company, Gonzalez leads the development of strategic, story-driven brand experiences that connect creativity with measurable impact. He oversees the creation of integrated campaigns across digital and physical platforms, guiding teams in transforming ideas into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. His expertise spans branded content, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, marketing strategy, and full-funnel planning, allowing him to shape solutions that align brand vision with performance and long-term growth.

He is recognized with honors from international award programs and serves as a mentor with Acción Emprendedora, Female Foundry, and Red de Mentores. He also teaches as an MBA Professor at Miami Ad School and Universidad de Santiago de Chile, hosts the #IABDigitalTalks podcast, and coaches emerging talent through programs such as LIASON and D&AD.

United States

Mahesh Vankayala

Principle Software Engineer, Oracle America Inc

Mahesh Vankayala is a seasoned software engineer with nearly a decade of experience in developing robust web applications and cloud technologies. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to innovative problem-solving and delivering high-quality solutions across diverse sectors, including healthcare, finance, and retail.

Mahesh has held pivotal positions such as Principal Software Engineer at Oracle and Principal Software Consultant at Ascension Hospitals and Optum Services. In these roles, he has led code reviews, developed proofs of concept, and resolved complex technical roadblocks, ensuring the seamless delivery of scalable and reliable software solutions. His expertise lies in deploying and managing services on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and designing API specifications that drive performance and efficiency.