Made Possible By
Ingrid Tappin
Founder & CEO @ Diverse Leaders in Tech
Ingrid Tappin, CEO and Founder of Diverse Leaders in Tech (DLiT), is dedicated to setting the standard for DEI excellence in European tech. She leads the first community-driven DEI platform in the Netherlands through DLiT. Her organization employs a data-led approach, peer-to-peer learning solutions, and a robust DEI partner network to help companies attract, retain, and harness the innovation power of diverse teams, all supported by scalable tech solutions. Ingrid Tappin’s commitment to social impact is evident in her efforts to foster inclusive workplaces that not only recognize but also leverage the benefits of diversity. Her work ensures that DEI initiatives are not just theoretical but practical and impactful, driving real change within organizations. Join us at the DEI Stage and Diversity & Inclusion Lounge to gain valuable insights from Ingrid Tappin and learn how to transform your organization’s approach to diversity and inclusion. This event promises to be a pivotal moment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the tech industry.
Natasha ten Cate
Senior Vice President Marketplace @ Booking.com
As Senior Vice President of Marketplace, Natasha ten Cate oversees Booking.com’s efforts to enable a seamless end-to-end traveler experience and accelerate the development of the business’s Connected Trip ambition. In her role, Natasha focuses on driving customer-centric innovation and operational excellence and leads a team of 1,500+ AI, Product, UX, and Technology experts in Amsterdam, Manchester, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv. She is also responsible for Genius, our flagship Customer Loyalty Program, which enhances how travelers experience Booking.com’s global marketplace. Natasha joined the business in 2024, having built a career specializing in online marketplace platforms, with deep expertise in building Data Science and AI, Strategy, and Commercial Operations at a global scale. Most recently she served as President of a Digital Marketing Business Unit at a German media company, and prior to that held EU leadership roles such as Chief Strategy and Data Officer, CFO and Chief Commercial Officer for OLX, a leading online classifieds platform. Earlier in her career, Natasha spent eight years at eBay Classifieds Group, where she progressed from revenue analyst to leadership roles such as CFO for the Northern European Business and Director of the Core Consumer Business of Marktplaats, the largest online classifieds platform in the Netherlands.
Floriana Zefi
Senior Machine Learning Scientist I @ Booking.com
Floriana is a Senior Machine Learning Scientist at Booking.com whose work currently focuses on increasing customer safety worldwide and preventing fraud. With a Ph.D. in High-Energy Astrophysics from École Polytechnique and hands-on experience applying machine learning in finance, she blends scientific insight with practical know-how. Outside of work, Floriana enjoys sharing her passion for data science and machine learning at meetups, and she's always planning her next travel adventure.
Michalis Sflomos
Director of Engineering @ Booking.com
Michalis is a positive, empathetic, and highly motivated leader with a strong focus on people and culture. He is passionate about servant leadership and deeply committed to fostering personal and professional growth to build high-performing, self-organized teams that continuously deliver value. While software engineering is a passion, what truly fascinates him is leadership - creating diverse, psychologically safe environments where individuals and teams can thrive.
Gwen Kolader
VP Global Head DE&I @Hexaware & Mobiquity
During her career as People & Culture professional, her passion has always been in Diversity & Inclusion. Not only because of personal experience and moral imperative, but also because Gwen truly believes it to be crucial for business. D&I enables your company to become a talent magnet for the right people to join, engage and develop themselves, to attract and deepen relationships with customers, partners and suppliers, to build an authentic and strong company narrative & brand and to achieve the biggest successes.
Bogdan Manta
Founder The Essential Experts
Bogdan Manta is a Neuroscience for Business Expert. By understanding how our brain works, he combines practical insights with strategic thinking in a business context. What it all comes down to – after 20 years of unleashing neuroscience in business – is a simple insight: ‘’we are not thinking machines that feel; rather, we are feeling machines that think.’’
Vanessa Monsequeira - चित्रलेखा
VP of People @ Gorilla
Vannessa leads with a people-first approach to drive organizational growth and culture. With a deep passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she focuses on building high-performing, inclusive workplaces that empower individuals to thrive. Vanessa brings extensive experience in talent strategy, leadership development, and organizational transformation, making a lasting impact on the future of work.
Sergio Panday
Co-Founder & CEO @Roots Inspire
Sergio, with nearly 20 years of international leadership experience in banking, is now driven by a mission to increase ethnocultural diversity in corporate leadership. He firmly believes in the power of diverse leadership teams and recognizes the vast pool of ethnocultural talent that remains underutilized and poorly managed. For him, fostering this diversity presents a clear win-win for individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. His dedication lies in unlocking this hidden value. As the founder of Roots Inspire (𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆.𝒄𝒐𝒎), he has built a platform that provides practical ethnocultural diversity solutions to companies at various stages, guiding them through Awareness, Action, and Integration.
Amhar Ford
Senior Technical Solutions Consultant - Ads at Google
Amhar Ford is a highly accomplished technology leader with over 15 years of experience driving innovation in advertising and marketing at Google. He is currently a Senior Technical Solutions Consultant at Google, where he leads Customer Engineering & Technical Support to push the boundaries of technology adoption for Google's most sophisticated advertising clients. Amhar is also deeply committed to using technology for social impact, demonstrated by his roles as a board member and treasurer for the Dutch Sickle Cell Foundation, and as an active angel investor and advisor with the Black Angel Group, supporting diverse and ethical startups. He also recently started as a board member for the Internet Society Netherlands, advocating for an open, accessible, and secure internet. Amhar holds a degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity from the University of Bath as well as a business degree from Rotterdam School of Management.
Sophie Tappin
Experience Expert & Aspiring STEM Leader
Sophie Tappin is a 16-year-old student at Daaf Geluk High School in Haarlem and an outspoken advocate for neuroinclusion. After experiencing an autistic burnout due to an unsupportive school environment, she made the courageous decision to drop out and prioritize her well-being. Her transfer to Daaf Geluk transformed everything—moving from survival to thriving, she is now a high performer with ambitious aspirations in STEM. As an ‘experience expert,’ Sophie shares her journey to highlight the profound impact of psychological safety, sensory-friendly environments, and redefined high performance. She hopes to inspire leaders, companies, and teams to create inclusive workplaces where neurodivergent talent doesn’t just cope but excels. At Life on the Spectrum: Creating Workplaces Where Neurodivergent Talent Thrives , Sophie will share her firsthand insights on what it takes to build environments where all minds can flourish.
The Hidden Champions: How Booking.com Mentors Close Opportunity Gaps for Women in Tech
By Ingrid Tappin, Natasha ten Cate, Floriana Zefi , Michalis Sflomos
Thursday, 11:00-11:30 CET | How can leaders break barriers and create real opportunities for everyone? Join Diverse Leaders in Tech (DLiT) in conversation with Booking.com to hear how intentional mentorship can level the playing field. Natasha ten Cate, Senior Vice President Marketplace at Booking.com, shares how Booking.com’s B.Champion mentoring and development program supports career progression for women in tech roles. Hear firsthand from a mentor and mentee about their personal experiences in B.Champion, as well as the scaling and wider impact of the program. Learn how to make the most of a mentoring relationship to develop your career - whether you’re a mentee or a mentor. If you’re a leader, get actionable insights into how to grow talent in your own organization and build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future in technology. Bonus: Don’t miss the chance to participate in Speed Group Mentoring with mentors from Booking.com's B.Champion program in the DEI Lounge - pre-book your 20-minute session
Cracking The Culture Code
By Gwen Kolader, Ingrid Tappin
Thursday 27 February 13:00 - 13:30 | Unlock the power of cultural diversity and take your team's performance to new heights. In this high-energy session, we’ll delve into the intricate connections between cultural perspectives and team dynamics. Through captivating stories and expert insights, you’ll discover how embracing diverse cultural viewpoints can supercharge communication, spark innovation, and strengthen collaboration within your teams. This isn’t about theory—it’s about action. Learn what Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is and how to apply it within your teams to create a high-performing, cohesive, and agile work environment. Gain practical strategies to navigate and leverage cultural differences, transforming potential friction points into fuel for growth. Walk away with the tools to build stronger, more inclusive teams that are ready to tackle any challenge.
Psychological Safety: Building Trust, Accountability, and Inclusion
By Bogdan Manta, Vanessa Monsequeira - चित्रलेखा , Ingrid Tappin
Thursday 28 February 15:15 - 16:00 | In a world where innovation thrives on bold ideas and open dialogue, psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams. This session dives deep into how organizations can create work environments where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be themselves. We’ll explore the critical role of accountability in fostering inclusion and examine how leaders can stimulate and reward inclusive behaviors while preventing exclusionary practices. This session will provide an open dialogue with tech talent who, due to their identities, may not always feel safe to be their authentic selves—whether that’s being open about their sexual orientation, religion, or other aspects of their identity. Through lived experiences and real conversations, we’ll highlight the unseen barriers faced by underrepresented groups and explore how organizations can create safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.
DLiT Networking Drinks and Meetup
Thursday 27 February 16:00 - 17:00 | Join the DLiT Network drinks. Unwind and celebrate with the community as we wrap up with drinks, dialogue, and shared purpose in the Diverse Leaders in Tech Lounge!
Leading with Identity: The Bi-Cultural Boss
By Sergio Panday, Amhar Ford, Ingrid Tappin
Friday 28 February - 11:00 - 11:30 | What does it mean to lead with authenticity in the world of tech? This dynamic 30-minute session, led by Sergio Panday from Roots Inspire, delves into the journey of underrepresented leaders striving for success while staying true to their identity. Together, we’ll explore themes of leadership, self-discovery, and the challenges of breaking barriers in professional spaces. This is not just a conversation—it's a transformative discussion about what it takes to rise, thrive, and lead with purpose and authenticity in the tech industry. Sergio will share personal reflections, hard-earned lessons, and actionable advice on navigating bias, building resilience, and creating inclusive pathways to leadership. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or an established one, this session offers invaluable insights for embracing authenticity as a powerful leadership tool.
Life on the Spectrum: Creating Workplaces Where Neurodivergent Talent Thrives
By Bogdan Manta, Sophie Tappin, Ingrid Tappin
Friday 28 February 13:00 - 13:30 | How can we build workplaces where neurodivergent talent doesn’t just survive, but truly thrives? In this engaging 30-minute session, we’ll explore the lived experiences of high-potential neurodivergent professionals and the impact of workplace environments on their well-being and performance. We’ll hear a powerful personal story about the toll an exclusionary workplace took on one individual—leading to burnout, insecurity, and declining health—and how a shift to a more inclusive organization, with just a few key adjustments, transformed her trajectory. Now thriving, she is not only excelling in her role but also contributing at a higher level, developing new skills, and driving innovation. This session will unpack key neuroinclusion concepts, discuss practical accommodations, and highlight how universal design principles can create workplaces where all minds can flourish. Expect valuable insights, expert perspectives, and actionable strategies for fostering environments that unlock the full potential of neurodivergent talent. Embracing neurodiversity isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s a strategic advantage that fuels innovation, enhances team dynamics, and strengthens organizations as a whole.
Speed Group Mentoring at the DEI Lounge
Thursday 27 February 11:45 - 13:45 and Friday 28 February 14:00 - 15:30 Join a Speed Mentoring session in the DEI Lounge with Booking.com mentors from the B.Champion program. In a small group setting, you’ll have 25 minutes to discuss your career challenges, leadership questions, or DEI-related topics. Get valuable insights, advice, and new perspectives from experienced mentors. Book your mentorship session now via the conference program and make the most of this unique opportunity to learn, connect, and grow!
