Keynote Presentations

The Power of Authenticity: Supercharge Your Career, Your Workplace Culture and Your Happiness

Mariana Atencio, Peabody Award-Winning Journalist & Host

Tuesday, May 20, 3:45pm – 5:00pm

It takes seven seconds for people to form an opinion about you. That’s why most of us are taught to fit in a box instead of embracing those parts of ourselves that stand out. As a budding national TV journalist, Mariana was often encouraged to leave parts of herself at the door. But ‘covering up’ who she really is did not lead to real belonging, especially in the workplace. Embracing her uniqueness did – and Mariana’s passion is empowering others to discover how to do the same. When people feel safe to be themselves, that authenticity builds trust, fulfillment, and credibility at work and in life. They’re able to embrace a mindset of transformation to meet change more resiliently. And leaders find fostering authenticity in their team spurs engagement, collaboration, innovation, and community.

As the kickoff keynote for SupportWorld Live 2025, Mariana’s insights will help you discover the traits that make you ‘Perfectly You’ and ways to increase personal fulfillment and a sense of purpose. You’ll also leave with Mariana’s 3-UP METHOD which details ways to inspire a workplace culture of innovation and openness. She’ll empower you with easy steps to cultivate transformation, impact outcomes, and enhance resilience in the face of change.

About the Speaker

Mariana Atencio is on a mission to help people supercharge their careers, workplace cultures, and happiness through authenticity. Born in Venezuela, she experienced the challenges of feeling different after moving to America. After graduating from Columbia University, she pursued journalism to tell stories that build bridges, earning a Peabody Award for her reporting across the globe. Her TEDx talk, What Makes YOU Special?, with over 23 million views, launched her into speaking, leading to her bestselling book, Perfectly You. Now heading her own media company, Mariana continues to share inspiring stories and deliver impactful keynotes.

Agility Unleashed: Powering What’s Next

Rod Mathews, CEO, TeamDynamix

Tuesday, May 20, 3:45pm – 5:00pm

Change is moving faster than ever—and agility is the new competitive edge. In this keynote, TeamDynamix CEO Rod Mathews explores how AI and automation can give IT leaders the superpowers they need to adapt quickly, work smarter, and deliver more with less. Learn how to reduce manual effort, boost efficiency, and contain costs—all while staying aligned with the pace of change. Come join us and let’s explore what’s possible.

About the Speaker

Rod is the CEO of TeamDynamix, where he leads strategy, operations, and culture with a customer-first mindset. With over 30 years in the tech industry, he combines deep technical insight with executive leadership. Before TeamDynamix, he was CEO of Axcient, where his innovation-driven approach led to rapid growth and a successful acquisition by ConnectWise. He has also held key roles at Barracuda Networks, EMC, Data Domain, and NetApp. Rod is passionate about empowering IT leaders with smarter, more connected tools to enhance service delivery, automation, and the strategic impact of IT.

Sponsored By:

Facing Our Futures – to 2030 and Beyond!

Nikolas Badminton, Chief Futurist

Wednesday, May 21, 8:30am – 10:00am

Nikolas sees so much potential for how disruption can drive exponential change. On Wednesday morning, he will deliver an energetic keynote that ignites curiosity, shifts your mindset from what is to what if, and teaches you how to think like a futurist. He will share stories of cultural shifts, insights into new disruptive technologies, and help you to rethink how you establish winning strategies in your organization by deploying foresight.

More specifically, this keynote will help you to:

• Understand the value of foresight - Foresight is the missing link between strategic planning, disruption and our futures. See how it supercharges your organization by exploring positive and challenging futures.
• See global megatrends shaping geopolitical dynamics - Economic power, population growth, water-energy-food, waste, climate change and energy.
• Know the trends that will change your industry - Future of Work, Artificial Intelligence and automation, Smart Cities and Urban Planning, Metaverse and Web3, Privacy and Security, Agriculture, Aerospace, Engineering and Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics, Finance and Insurance.
• Unlock a sustainability mindset - See how progressive ESG policy, United Nations SDGs, and circular economic principles will transform your organization.
• Operationalize foresight - How we can build anticipatory capabilities in your organization to drive more revenues and market capitalization.

Learn how creative industries are being revolutionized, industries automated, education redefined, high tech accelerated, and how the support and service management industry will be changed forever in this exciting keynote by one of the world’s top futurist speakers and #1 bestselling author.

About the Speaker

Nikolas Badminton is a world-renowned futurist who mentors leaders to build connected, curious, and creative teams that embrace futures design to anticipate risks and strengthen strategy. With over 30 years of experience, he has worked with leadership at 300+ top organizations, including NASA, the UN, Google, and Microsoft. His book, Facing Our Futures, explores foresight methods to shift mindsets from what is to what if, enhancing vigilance and profitability. His research has been featured in major media outlets like the BBC, Fast Company, and Forbes, and he has advised on projects like The Age of AI with Robert Downey Jr.

The Confidence Cycle: The Secret for Everyday Engagement and Motivation

Juan Bendana, Confidence Coach & Keynote Speaker

Thursday, May 22, 8:30am – 10:00am

Change is no longer an occasional challenge—it’s the new normal. In a world where uncertainty and increasing demands dominate, leaders and teams often feel overwhelmed and disengaged. But these challenges also present a powerful opportunity to grow, adapt, and thrive.

Based on his work with top CEOs, Olympians, and Fortune 100 leaders, Juan Bendana delivers the tools to transform moments of uncertainty into catalysts for growth, engagement, and high performance. Drawing from his ground-breaking research of over 250,000 leaders, Juan equips attendees with actionable tools to overcome imposter syndrome, elevate confidence, re-energize teams, and embrace change with trust and authenticity. Through inspiring stories, humor, practical insights, and audience interaction, this keynote will prepare leaders and teams to break through barriers of self-doubt, cultivate motivation and ignite excitement for the future.

As a result of this keynote, attendees will:

• Build a growth plan for everyday confidence
• Understand how to foster trust and collaboration across their organization
• Learn how to leverage their own psychology for higher engagement
• Take charge of how they authentically show up in the world
• Develop a resilience mindset to overcome challenges
• Connect to a higher level of enthusiasm and passion for their role
• Unlock new levels of courage to face uncertainty with confidence

As the final keynote for SupportWorld Live 2025, Juan’s dynamic delivery and empowering insights will leave you feeling inspired, engaged, and ready to tackle your biggest goals with renewed energy and optimism—no matter what the future holds.

About the Speaker

Juan Bendana is a leading confidence Coach to top CEO’s, Olympians, Actors and Peak Performers across every industry and is an internationally recognized keynote speaker that helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing an unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment. One of the most engaging and high-energy keynote speakers in North America, Juan brings a decade of experience on stage presenting to category-leading companies such as Disney, American Express, Sony Pictures & Zillow. His science-backed blueprint has helped over 250,000 leaders in person and millions online thrive both personally & professionally.