Theme: Piece By Piece

"Piece by Piece" explores how small, intentional actions build a meaningful journey. It reflects the idea that every belief, decision, and action collaborate together to contribute to a greater whole. While the journey may seem incomplete or uncertain at times, each piece adds clarity and purpose, gradually bringing a larger vision into focus. From the resilience of personal journeys to the creation of policies that shape entire nations, the theme reveals how progress unfolds in countless intertwined ways; fitting together like pieces of an intricate puzzle. Just as each puzzle piece finds its place, the steady accumulation of efforts across diverse fields builds something monumental. It captures the essence of building bridges between vast disciplines, individuals, and ideas, demonstrating that no matter the field or focus, impactful change and groundbreaking innovation are born through carefully designed steps. “Piece by Piece” invites us to view challenges as opportunities, to embrace the journey as much as the destination, and to trust that these combined efforts have the power to shape something remarkable.

Connelly Auditorium
1001 Locust St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107
United States

Barron Peper

Architect

Barron Peper is a licensed architect, community-builder, and educator based in Missoula, Montana. Through his practice, Architecture of Belonging, he helps people redesign their front yards to foster connection, neighborliness, and belonging. Barron believes that addressing loneliness starts at the street level—and that casual, everyday interactions are the foundation of a healthy democracy. If we can’t connect across fences in our own neighborhoods, how can we expect to bridge divides anywhere else?

David Priemer

Scientist, Founder, Author

David Priemer started his career as an award-winning research scientist before spending two decades leading top-performing technology sales teams. Today, as the Founder of Cerebral Selling, David's unique science and empathy-based sales strategies have been published in the Harvard Business Review as well as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc. magazines. He is the author of two bestselling sales books available in 6 languages, and in his TEDx talk, David will help you supercharge your persuasive power by revealing the secret storytelling formula behind one of the most compelling and nostalgic forms of marketing: infomercials.

Gabrielle Pelicci

Professor of Integrative and Holistic Medicine

Gabrielle Pelicci, Ph.D., is a professor of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, bestselling author, and expert in transformational storytelling. She earned her doctorate at CIIS with a dissertation on women healers and has spent over two decades teaching and speaking globally. Named one of the Top 100 Women of the Future, Dr. Gabby helps individuals turn lived experience into powerful narratives—blending science, spirituality, and story to ignite personal growth and cultural change.

Khushi Khurana

Founder of Youth Coding Camp

Khushi Khurana, a freshman at Moorestown High School, is passionate about science, technology, and community service. She has led three coding camps for 50 underserved kids, presented award-winning research at major science fairs, and spoke at SIGCSE 2025. A dedicated coxswain, she raced at Youth Nationals and Head of the Charles. Khushi also volunteers at HindiUSA and plays piano at Carnegie Hall. She hopes to inspire girls in tech while pursuing science and rowing in college.

Laura Huang

Professor at Northeastern University

Laura Huang is a professor at Northeastern University and a leading expert on how perception and interpersonal dynamics shape success in entrepreneurship and leadership. Her research explores how individuals can create an edge—even in the face of disadvantage—by turning adversity into advantage and shaping how others see their value.

Nina Blackshear

Executive Coaching and Consulting

Nina Blackshear is an engaging speaker and executive coach who leverages her wide-ranging background to spark innovative thinking and cultivate growth-oriented mindsets. With warmth and directness, she empowers individuals and organizations to identify "What's Next," embrace change, and achieve authentic success through fresh perspectives. Nina's dynamic keynotes blend expertise, humor, and actionable insights to drive forward-thinking solutions and lasting transformation.

Risa August

Author

Risa August is an award-winning author, speaker, and transformational coach who turned a brain tumor diagnosis, a cross-country bike journey, and the unraveling of a former life into a story of radical reinvention. With a foundation in the modality of Gestalt and an inherent calling for patient advocacy, Risa is redefining the doctor-patient dynamic and reframing the language we use around healing. In her talk, Risa declares that sometimes the most life-changing shifts begin with one small word and the courage to believe in it. Through her creative and coaching work, she empowers others to transform adversity into purpose, and reminds us that thriving is always possible.

Sandie Gascon

Integrative Healing Practitioner

Sandie Gascon is an Integrative Healing Practitioner and author of Heal Yourself. In her talk, "The Secret Bank Account That Determines Your Future," she introduces a powerful new way to think about health. By reframing our bodies as "Body Bank Accounts," Sandie empowers us to understand how our daily choices are either "deposits" or "withdrawals" that determine our well-being. She teaches how to "check our balance" and make informed decisions so we can Piece by Piece build a legacy of health.