12/17/2025

2026 NCDA Global Career Development Conference - Keynote Speakers

Dr. Bidhan "Bobby" Parmar

Bidhan "Bobby" Parmar is the Shannon Smith Bicentennial Professor of Business Administration. Parmar teaches First Year Ethics, Second Year electives on collaboration, and creative and critical thinking at the Darden School of Business. He was named one of the top 40 business school professors under 40 in the world and has won several teaching and research awards.

Parmar's research interests focus on how managers make sense of uncertainty and collaborate to create value for stakeholders. His work helps executives better handle ambiguity in their decision-making. His latest book, Radical Doubt, helps decision makers turn doubt into a catalyst for learning. Parmar's work has been published in the leading management and psychology journals and he has co-authored two books on stakeholder theory.

Parmar works with executives across a wide variety of industries and functions on topics such as decision-making, stakeholder management, design thinking, leadership, and collaboration and influence.

Parmar earned his BA, MBA, and PhD from the University of Virginia. Parmar lives in Charlottesville with his wife and two daughters.

Azizi Marshall

Azizi Marshall is an award-winning film and theatre director, licensed clinical psychotherapist, international keynote speaker, and CEO of Content Studio Lab. She helps leaders, organizations, and public-facing professionals translate their expertise into clear, compelling communication that builds trust, influence, and long-term visibility.

Azizi is the creator of the Visibility Power System, a strategic approach to branded and evergreen video that helps organizations and leaders establish authority through intentional storytelling, long-form content, and scalable video assets, including branding videos, evergreen YouTube series, executive interviews, and testimonial videos. She is also the creator of Influence Rewired, a speaking and communication coaching methodology that blends psychology, performance training, and crisis communication. Drawing on her background as a SAG-AFTRA union actor and licensed psychotherapist, Azizi trains executives, founders, athletes, and high-pressure leaders to communicate with grounded presence, emotional intelligence, and impact.

Azizi’s work has been featured on NBC, CNN, SUCCESS Magazine, and Oprah Magazine. She partners with organizations internationally to elevate visibility, strengthen leadership communication, and ensure their stories are heard with clarity and credibility.

Dr. Jaana Kettunen

Dr. Jaana Kettunen is a Professor of Guidance and Vice-director at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER), at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland and a Research Associate at Florida State University's Center for Career Research. She currently serves as President of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG).

Dr. Kettunen´s research has a strong international orientation and revolves around career guidance practices, practitioner training, quality, strategic leadership and public policy development, with a special interest in the design and use of information and communication technology including AI in career guidance. Her work bridges research and practical application, and she has published in leading journals in the field. Widely recognized for her expertise, she has delivered invited lectures and keynotes across Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania, and has collaborated with UNESCO, OECD, ILO, and the European Commission.

Dr. Kettunen’s influence extends well beyond academia, as she collaborates with international organizations, including the European Commission, OECD, ILO, and UNESCO. Her contributions have been recognized with international honours, including the NCDA International Practitioner of the Year Award and the IAEVG–APCDA Academic Excellence Award.