2026 Speaker Spotlight, Register by 30 May to Save $600, and More!

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2026 Speaker Spotlight

Welcome Our 2026 Sponsors

2026 Speaker Spotlight

Alesia Harwood, Special AI Consultant, Cisco

This inspiring 18 minute TED like talk, challenges the idea that AI reduces the need for technical writers and content experts—and instead shows why their expertise is becoming more strategic and influential than ever. With a motivational “Carpe Diem—seize the day” spirit, this session encourages technical communicators to recognize that this moment is not a disruption to fear, but an opportunity to claim.

Through practical insights and a forward-looking perspective, attendees will see how their role is evolving into that of knowledge architects, trust builders, and interpreters between humans and intelligent systems. This is a call to step forward, not stand back—to seize the opportunity to shape how the future of AI is understood and trusted.

For more information about this presentation click here or the graphic above.

About the Speaker

With over 20 years in the content industry, Alesia Harwood brings a uniquely broad perspective that spans technical writing, learning and development, change management, consulting, sales, and customer success. Her career reflects a consistent focus on helping organizations and professionals translate complex ideas into clear, actionable knowledge.

Alesia has been with Cisco for over a decade in roles across customer success and learning and development, where she supported global teams in driving adoption, capability building, and customer value. Today, she is an AI transformation strategist, partnering with sales organizations to harness AI in practical, human-centered ways.

The 2026 program—with speaker bios, session summaries, and lessons to be learned—is published. Learn more more about the trailblazers of our industry and the presentations coming to LavaCon 2026 Charlotte!

Need to build a business case to attend? Attach a copy of the Schedule at a Glance (PDF) to your training request and highlight all the sessions that would help solve your organization's content challenges. This year's program is epic!