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AFRO FEST TECH DAY
Date: September 18, 2026 | Time: 5:00 PM – 8 PM Central Time
Location: 316 Brookview Pkwy SGolden Valley, MN
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afro-fest-mn-tech-day-tickets-1994631777340
In collaboration with MinnedeX, WeNetworkNow is hosting the Afro Fest Tech Day. The Afro Fest Tech Day is a initiative designed to bridge the digital divide and foster socioeconomic growth within African and Afro-diasporic communities. This event unites industry leaders, local businesses, and aspiring youth as a catalyst for capacity building, resource accessibility, and professional networking.
What you will experience?
- Cross-Industry Networking: Connect and build high-value relationships with professionals from diverse sectors.
- Actionable Insights: Participate in discussions on technology, professional development, and community impact.
- Collaborative Environment: Engage in a welcoming space where all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences are valued.
This event is FREE and open to everyone. Feel free to share the event with your network!
Meet our speakers
- Mamady Konneh is an enterprise cybersecurity leader, AI advisor, and community builder with more than a decade of experience driving digital identity and cyber resilience across the SaaS, healthcare, finance, and retail industries. Having led Identity Governance and Administration at Okta, Mamady combines deep technical execution with forward-looking technology strategy.
Following advanced training in AI and Machine Learning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mamady actively educates, implements, and advises professionals and startups on the responsible and secure adoption of AI. He is also a frequent speaker who shares insights on cybersecurity, AI, and community leadership.
He holds a master’s degree in Security Technologies from the University of Minnesota and is the Founder of WeNetworkNow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding cybersecurity opportunities through mentorship, education, and community engagement.
- Steve Buchanan is a startup advisor and technology leader delivering cloud and cloud-native services at a leading tech company that power SaaS products for Apple management used by more than 70,000 customers worldwide. With over 20 years in the tech industry, he brings a rare combination of executive leadership, strategic planning, and deep technical expertise to some of the world’s most recognized technology platforms.
A respected industry thought leader, Steve has appeared on more than a dozen podcasts, co-authored Minnesota’s computer science education plan, and written nine technical books. He is a Pluralsight and O’Reilly author, helping engineers and leaders master modern cloud, AI, and emerging technologies.
Steve is a Docker Captain and an 11-time Microsoft MVP. His work has been widely recognized, including features in the Star Tribune, being named to Onalytica’s “Who’s Who in Cloud?” Top 50 Thought Leaders, and receiving the 2024 Tekne Exceptional Technology Leadership Award.
A sought-after speaker, Steve has delivered keynotes and sessions at leading industry events, including Minnebar, DevOpsDays, Open Source North, Midwest Management Summit, Microsoft Ignite, Experts Live Europe, and OSCON.