Event
Agentic AI for Small Business: Human-Centered Innovation & Skills for the Future

Sarah Bowden is a senior leader at Microsoft with a passion for empowering small businesses through strategic partnerships, digital tools, and inclusive innovation. With a career spanning global markets and partner ecosystems, she helps business owners navigate change with clarity and confidence. Sarah brings a leadership lens grounded in trust, resilience, and people-first technology—essential qualities in the shift toward Agentic AI. Read more

Lina Sha is an Executive Coach, Clinical Naturopath, and Corporate Wellbeing Strategist. With over a decade of experience at Microsoft across partner strategy and internal leadership coaching, she brings a unique blend of tech industry insight and human-centered leadership. Her bold, psychology-informed approach challenges conventional norms and empowers small businesses to lead with empathy, resilience, and purpose in the age of Agentic AI. Read more

Ben Faranda leads skilling initiatives for Microsoft’s Small, Medium Enterprises and Channel segment in Australia, helping small businesses develop the confidence and capabilities to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. With a strong background in inclusive learning design and facilitation, Ben enables teams to adapt to disruptive technologies like Agentic AI - AI that reasons, collaborates, and evolves with your business. His work focuses on building practical, human-centered skills that make AI adoption both accessible and empowering. Read more

Lee-ann Dias is a cybersecurity strategist and digital trust expert with a strong background in risk management, compliance, and tech governance. A former Microsoft leader, she now works at the intersection of ethics, AI, and security—helping organizations build trust-first cultures in an increasingly automated world. Lee-ann brings a pragmatic, people-first perspective to data protection, making her insights especially relevant for small businesses navigating Agentic AI. Read more

Sanaz Kalantari is a people development leader with a passion for building future-ready teams through coaching,learning, and skills transformation. With experience across global L&D, DEI, and change initiatives, she bridges strategy with empathy to help individuals thrive in fast-evolving environments. Sanaz believes that the human potential unlocked through coaching is key to adapting and growing alongside Agentic AI. Read more

Dmitry Butko is a cybersecurity expert with deep experience securing businesses across Asia Pacific. At Microsoft, he leads security strategy and programs tailored for small and medium enterprises, helping them confidently navigate evolving threats and compliance challenges. Dmitry’s practical, risk-focused approach empowers small businesses to manage AI-driven security risks and build resilience in the age of Agentic AI. Read more

Parveen Kumar is Microsoft Australia’s Data & AI Sales Lead, helping businesses of all sizes become AI-ready through practical, purpose-driven strategies. With deep expertise in data platforms and AI adoption, including hands-on experience guiding small enterprises, Parveen enables owners to embrace Agentic AI tools that automate workflows, enhance productivity, and scale growth. His focus is on empowering non-technical leaders to confidently integrate AI agents that act autonomously yet align closely with business values. Read more