School for Startups Radio

Dr. Sarah Choudhary – Founder of ICE Rideshare and Author of Unleashed: The 90-day field manual for the founder who keeps starting You are not tired from working too much. You are tired from deciding too little things. Dr. Sarah Choudhary is a technology executive, AI strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of ICE Rideshare, an AI powered transportation platform developed through her innovation company, ICE Innovations. With more than 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence, data science, and enterprise technology, she has led large scale digital transformation initiatives for global organizations including EY, Truist, and Pearson. Today, she serves as a Senior Principal Architect at Pearson, where she helps shape enterprise AI and generative AI strategy while building solutions that deliver measurable business results. Throughout her career, Dr. Choudhary has combined deep technical expertise with hands on entrepreneurial experience. She has built and led high performing data organizations, developed AI systems that have reduced costs and improved operational performance, and created multiple technology ventures spanning transportation, food delivery, and AI powered software. Her work focuses on connecting AI strategy to real business outcomes while ensuring solutions are scalable, ethical, and practical. She is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council, a frequent speaker on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and a contributor to Entrepreneur. Dr. Choudhary is the author of Unleashed: The 90-day Field Manual for the Founder Who Keeps Starting and several other books on entrepreneurship, leadership, and artificial intelligence. She holds a PhD in Data Science, a MicroMasters in Statistics and Data Science from MIT, an MBA, and multiple cloud certifications. Passionate about expanding access to technology and education, she also founded the nonprofit Taleem, which supports educational opportunities for women and underserved communities. Through her work, she helps organizations and entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into innovative, scalable businesses. Amanda Denise – Journalist & NC True Crime Podcaster of Cold & Told People forget the faces and the names of these victims, and I want to remind people that these families still need answers and these victims still need justice. Amanda Denise is an award winning journalist, former television news reporter and anchor, and the creator and host of the North Carolina based true crime podcast Cold and Untold. With academic backgrounds in criminal justice and new media journalism, she combines investigative reporting with compassionate storytelling to bring renewed attention to unsolved murders and missing persons cases. Through her work, Amanda provides families with a platform to share their loved ones’ stories while encouraging the public to help generate new leads and keep long forgotten cases in the spotlight. In addition to hosting Cold and Untold, Amanda serves as a civilian cold case investigator for the Kinston Police Department and is a member of the North Carolina Crime Stoppers Board. Her reporting emphasizes facts, firsthand interviews with victims’ families and law enforcement, and carefully researched case records rather than speculation, helping to raise awareness and support ongoing investigations. Amanda is also the author of Cold and Untold, a book that explores some of North Carolina’s most compelling unsolved cases. Through her journalism, podcast, and investigative work, she is committed to advancing justice, preserving victims’ stories, and giving hope to families still searching for answers. Erickson Gonzalez – Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves and Manager, Global Enterprise Affairs at Capital One Finding what your new mission is, and then just translating your skills from the military over to a civilian career can be very difficult. Erickson Gonzalez is a Manager in Global Enterprise Affairs at Capital One and a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He brings together experience in corporate strategy, public affairs, and military leadership to help organizations solve complex challenges through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and execution. At Capital One, he supports initiatives that strengthen the company’s community impact and enterprise affairs efforts, while helping drive strategic programs that create meaningful value for customers and communities. Throughout his career, Erickson has built expertise in program and portfolio management, organizational change, and business technology platforms, including SAP, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. Known for simplifying complex problems into practical solutions, he has led cross functional initiatives and strategic projects that improve organizational performance, stakeholder engagement, and operational effectiveness. His leadership experience spans both the private sector and military service, giving him a unique perspective on leading teams in dynamic, high pressure environments. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Erickson is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and helping others reach their full potential. He combines a commitment to lifelong learning with a servant leadership philosophy that emphasizes adaptability, continuous improvement, and developing people. Whether serving his country, leading strategic initiatives, or coaching others, Erickson is dedicated to building stronger organizations and empowering those around him.

Hunter Hastings – Co-Author of Venture Mode: Escape the Administration Trap by Finding and Unleashing Entrepreneurial Leaders Innovation doesn’t count until the customer says it counts. Hunter Hastings is an economist, entrepreneur, venture investor, and business strategist who has spent his career helping companies create value through entrepreneurship, innovation, and customer focused growth. He is the founder of The Value Creators, an education platform and podcast dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses, and serves as a managing partner at Bialla Venture Partners, where he works with early stage companies to develop and scale innovative business models. Over the course of his career, Hunter has held senior leadership roles across startups, global corporations, and consulting firms. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of a Silicon Valley marketing technology startup, Chief Marketing Officer for major consumer products companies, and advisor to Fortune 500 organizations on branding, growth strategy, and innovation. His experience spans entrepreneurship, venture capital, marketing, and organizational design, giving him a unique perspective on how businesses can thrive in rapidly changing markets. Hunter is the author and co author of several books on entrepreneurship, marketing, economics, and value creation, including The Post Managerial Era of Capitalism and Venture Mode: Escape the Administration Trap by Finding and Unleashing Entrepreneurial Leaders. A graduate of the University of Cambridge with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics, he is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurial leadership, economic freedom, and building organizations that create lasting value for customers, employees, and society. Magnolia Sevenler – Founder of Pendulum The people that end up coming back to the events usually know each other and they want to come back because they know people at the event. Magnolia Sevenler is the founder of Pendulum, a private members community and lifestyle events brand that brings together accomplished professionals through curated experiences at the intersection of business, culture, and innovation. Under her leadership, Pendulum has built a global network by creating exclusive events that foster meaningful conversations, authentic connections, and a strong sense of community among founders, executives, investors, and creative leaders. Its experiences have included gatherings around world renowned events such as Art Basel and Formula 1, connecting influential people in inspiring settings. 

Stuart D. Kliman – Head of Business Development of PrescriberPoint & Co-Author of All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value The worst thing to do is learn what you have or maybe don’t have after the event has already happened. Stuart D. Kliman is a business development executive, leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and collaboration expert with more than three decades of experience helping leaders, teams, and organizations work together more effectively. As Head of Business Development at PrescriberPoint, he focuses on building strategic partnerships that help healthcare providers improve patient access to essential therapies. Throughout his career, Stuart has specialized in leadership development, organizational culture, negotiation, and creating high performing partnerships across a wide range of industries. Stuart is the founding partner of Vantage Partners, a consulting and training firm known for its work in negotiation, relationship management, and organizational collaboration. He also co founded Building Industry Partners, a private equity firm dedicated to creating ownership cultures within lower and middle market companies. In addition, he has advised innovative startups including Breez AI and previously served as Vice Chair of Our.Love. He is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Board for the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership. As the co author of All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value, Stuart explores how organizations can transform differences in perspective, background, and experience into a competitive advantage. His work combines practical leadership experience with behavioral science and proven collaboration strategies, helping leaders build stronger relationships, make better decisions, and create cultures where both people and organizations thrive. Karen Collins – Vice President at American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) The worst thing to do is learn what you have or maybe don’t have after the event has already happened. Karen Collins is the Vice President of Property and Environmental at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), the nation’s largest property and casualty insurance trade association. In her role, she leads policy development and advocacy on property insurance, catastrophe resilience, and environmental issues, representing more than 1,200 member companies that write nearly 60 percent of all property and casualty insurance in the United States. She is widely recognized for her expertise in risk mitigation, disaster resilience, and public policy related to natural catastrophes including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Before joining APCIA, Karen spent nearly two decades working with major insurance carriers, gaining extensive experience across product management, sales, information technology, claims, and corporate training. Her background spans direct, captive, and independent agency distribution channels, with particular expertise in personal lines insurance, including homeowners, automobile, umbrella, and recreational products. She has also held property and casualty, life, and health insurance licenses in California. Combining hands on industry experience with deep policy expertise, Karen works closely with legislators, regulators, and industry leaders at the state, federal, and international levels to advance solutions that strengthen insurance markets and improve community resilience. Her work focuses on helping consumers, businesses, and communities better prepare for and recover from the growing risks posed by natural disasters.  Ian Giammanco, PhD – Managing Director of Atmospheric Science and the Lead Research Meteorologist at IBHS Dr. Ian Giammanco is the Managing Director of Atmospheric Science and Lead Research Meteorologist at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), where he leads applied research that transforms complex atmospheric science into practical solutions for improving the resilience of homes, businesses, and communities. His work bridges meteorology, engineering, insurance risk, data analytics, and building science, with a focus on severe convective storms, hurricanes, hail, wildfire, roofing systems, and building performance. He also helps guide the development of research priorities, technical standards, and data driven strategies that strengthen resilience and improve real world decision making. With nearly two decades of meteorological field research experience, Dr. Giammanco has led and contributed to numerous hurricane, tornado, and severe thunderstorm research projects. He serves as the principal investigator and field coordinator for the IBHS Characteristics of Hailstorms research campaign and has helped pioneer innovations including the first published measurements of hailstone strength, the use of three dimensional laser scanning to create digital models of hailstones, and the development of the IBHS hail impact testing protocol and asphalt shingle impact rating system. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of how severe weather affects buildings and infrastructure. In addition to his leadership role at IBHS, Dr. Giammanco is an Adjunct Faculty Research Associate at the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and both his master’s degree in Atmospheric Science and doctorate in Wind Science and Engineering from Texas Tech University. A frequent speaker, published researcher, and leader within the American Meteorological Society and other professional organizations, he is dedicated to translating rigorous science into practical solutions that help communities better prepare for and withstand extreme weather. Scott Baradell – CEO of Idea Grove and author of Trust Signals: Brand Building in a Post-Truth World It’s not that people can’t make great content using it. It’s that it has to be a tool. Scott Baradell is the founder and CEO of Idea Grove, a nationally recognized B2B marketing and public relations agency that has been named a three-time Inc. 5000 company and a two-time Inc. Best Workplace. For more than two decades, Scott has helped technology and business-to-business companies increase their visibility, credibility, and market authority through integrated strategies that combine public relations, content marketing, search optimization, and brand positioning. As the author of the best-selling book, Trust Signals: Brand Building in a Post-Truth World, Scott has become a leading voice on how businesses earn trust in an era of misinformation, skepticism, and rapidly changing digital behavior. His work explores how brands can build authentic credibility and why trust remains the most valuable asset a company can possess. He is currently releasing an updated edition of Trust Signals that addresses the growing influence of artificial intelligence on brand discovery and reputation. Scott is also the creator of Idea Grove’s Trust Signals® Framework and Total Visibility System, which help companies align PR, SEO, content, and AI optimization into a unified strategy. His insights have become increasingly relevant as consumers turn to AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini for research, while still relying on reviews, search results, and media coverage to validate purchasing decisions. Before founding Idea Grove, Scott served as chief communications officer for two billion-dollar companies, co-founded and led marketing for a venture-backed startup, and worked as an award-winning journalist. Today, he continues to advise growth-focused companies on how to build authority, increase visibility, and earn customer trust in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace.

Yoni Tserruya – Co-founder & CEO of Lusha I don’t want volume; I want high quality leads that I need to spend my time there Yoni Tserruya is the co-founder and CEO of Lusha, one of the world’s leading data intelligence platforms for go to market teams. Since launching Lusha in 2016 as a side project while working as an iOS developer, Yoni has grown the company into a trusted platform used by sales, marketing, and revenue teams to access verified business contacts, real time buying signals, and actionable data that power modern customer acquisition. Under his leadership, Lusha has become a key part of the technology stack for companies looking to build smarter, data driven revenue strategies. A software engineer by training, Yoni combines deep technical expertise with a forward looking vision of how artificial intelligence is transforming sales and business development. He believes the future belongs to organizations that successfully integrate human expertise with AI, using high quality data as the foundation for better decisions and more effective go to market execution. As CEO, he leads Lusha’s product strategy, innovation, and long term vision while focusing on building exceptional teams and anticipating the evolving needs of customers. Yoni earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Ben Gurion University and regularly shares insights on the future of AI, sales technology, and data intelligence. His work continues to shape how businesses leverage accurate, real time information to drive growth in an increasingly AI powered marketplace. He now has 240 employees. Benjamin Chen – Founder & CEO of FromTheMat.academy and Co-Author of Lessons from the Mat: The 12 Martial Arts Principles That Will Help You Succeed in Business and in Life You need to take your ego and put it on the shelf, and that’s also something that martial arts provides you Benjamin Chen is an entrepreneur, investor, business strategist, and lifelong martial artist who has spent decades helping companies grow through innovation, disciplined leadership, and strategic execution. Throughout his career, he has worked across industries including consumer electronics, enterprise software, cloud computing, wireless technology, online marketing, and commercial lighting. He has helped raise more than $500 million in investment capital, guided venture backed startups, brought hundreds of products to market, and played a key role in leading multiple companies to successful public offerings in the United States. Benjamin has founded and scaled several technology companies and has held senior executive leadership roles, including serving as Senior Vice President and General Manager of RAB Lighting, where he led one of the largest electrical product launches in U.S. history. He has also advised startups and investors as an entrepreneur in residence, served on the boards of public and private companies, and collaborated with global brands including Sony, Disney, Toyota, Yahoo, Best Buy, Verizon, and Mercedes Benz. A lifelong student of martial arts, Benjamin holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He believes the principles that create success on the mat, including discipline, adaptability, resilience, and calm under pressure, are the same qualities that drive exceptional leadership and business performance. He shares those lessons through his company, FromTheMat.academy, as a speaker, mentor, and in his book, Lessons from the Mat: The 12 Martial Arts Principles That Will Help You Succeed in Business and in Life. Benjamin lives with his family on a small plumeria farm in San Diego, California, where he also teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Sayre Blake – Technical Founder and CEO of SkillSaige Sayre Blake is the Technical Founder and CEO of SkillSaige, a Colorado based learning platform dedicated to helping people develop the human skills that matter most in an AI driven world. Combining expertise in software engineering, game design, storytelling, and behavioral design, Sayre creates engaging learning experiences that strengthen communication, leadership, adaptability, resilience, and other essential workplace skills. Her work is driven by the belief that as artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, uniquely human capabilities become even more valuable. With more than a decade of experience as a systems engineer, programmer, designer, and creative problem solver, Sayre has built a career at the intersection of technology and creativity. She enjoys translating complex technical challenges into intuitive, visually engaging solutions and approaches programming with the same artistic mindset she brings to design and animation. Whether developing software systems or crafting interactive learning experiences, her focus remains on creating tools that are both practical and meaningful. Through SkillSaige, Sayre is helping organizations and early career professionals prepare for the future of work by blending technology, behavioral science, and engaging educational design. Her work explores how AI can enhance learning while ensuring that communication, collaboration, and critical thinking remain at the center of professional success. David Fung – Founder & Executive Coach of Coachful Coaching David Fung is the founder and executive coach at Coachful Coaching, where he helps founders, executives, and emerging leaders become more effective, confident, and authentic leaders. Drawing on more than 23 years in the technology industry, including 15 years at Salesforce where he served as a Senior Director, David combines real world leadership experience with professional coaching to help clients navigate difficult conversations, build high performing teams, and lead through change with clarity and confidence. Throughout his corporate career, David led large solution engineering organizations, managed leaders and individual contributors, and drove growth across an $800 million business. His firsthand experience hiring, developing, promoting, and coaching talent gives him practical insight into the challenges leaders face at every stage of their careers. Today, he brings that experience to his coaching practice, helping clients overcome leadership roadblocks, strengthen emotional intelligence, and make better strategic decisions. David is an ICF Professional Certified Coach as well as an EQ i 2.0 Certified Practitioner and Leadership Circle Profile Certified coach. He is also the creator of the “Wait, Trade, Designate” diagnostic framework, designed to help organizations think more strategically about artificial intelligence adoption. Known for his calm, direct, and practical coaching style, David equips leaders with actionable tools that create lasting personal and professional growth.

Megan Brown Bennett – Founder of Light Years Ahead and Founder of Glam Your Pet App The only thing you have to be good at is following the directions and being patient Megan Brown Bennett is the founder and CEO of Light Years Ahead, a boutique public relations agency that has spent more than two decades helping consumer brands build visibility through strategic storytelling, media relations, and creative campaigns. Specializing in beauty, wellness, lifestyle, food, technology, and consumer products, Megan has secured national media coverage for clients in leading outlets including Good Morning America, Forbes, Bloomberg, Vogue, Today, Shape, Wired, and CNET. Known for her relentless approach to media outreach and her ability to spot emerging trends, she has built a reputation for helping brands break through crowded markets and earn meaningful attention. In addition to leading Light Years Ahead, Megan is the creator of Glam Your Pet, an AI powered app that transforms pet photos into fun, over the top glam portraits. The app combines her passion for creativity, technology, humor, and animals, offering pet lovers a unique and highly shareable experience. Through both ventures, Megan continues to explore innovative ways to connect brands and audiences while embracing new technologies that shape consumer engagement. A graduate of Skidmore College with a degree in Communications, Megan is also a frequent lifestyle expert on television and podcasts, where she shares insights on public relations, branding, media trends, and entrepreneurship. Kevin Voisin – Head Coach & COO of Apogee Strong You can only optimize what you’ve executed. Once you have bad results, you can get better results. But if you have no results, you can’t optimize that. It’s nothing. It means you’ve taken no action. Kevin Voisin is the Head Coach and Chief Operating Officer of Apogee Strong, a leadership and mentorship organization dedicated to helping individuals and families build lives of purpose, strength, and freedom through education, accountability, and personal growth. A sought after speaker, executive coach, and entrepreneur, Kevin has spent years mentoring men, women, and young people to develop resilient mindsets and excel in the areas of faith, family, finance, fitness, and fun. In addition to his leadership role at Apogee Strong, Kevin is the founder of Forge Legend, an elite coaching organization focused on helping individuals overcome adversity, embrace responsibility, and create lasting personal transformation. Throughout his career, he has coached more than 30,000 people, delivered keynote presentations on five continents, completed an Ironman 70.3, and drawn from his own life experiences to help others navigate leadership, relationships, and personal challenges with authenticity and confidence. As COO of Apogee Strong, Kevin leads the organization’s strategic growth while expanding its mission to equip families with practical tools for success. Known for his direct, compassionate coaching style and unwavering commitment to excellence, Kevin inspires others to reject mediocrity, embrace challenge, and build a legacy that impacts future generations.

Ran Aroussi – Open Source Finance Platform Creator, Host of Old School / New Tech and Founder of MUXI Every time that I build something that is not the actual business process that I use, I open source it… I don’t think that I would be where I’m at right now, or the internet would be where it is right now without the contribution of open source. Ran Aroussi is a software architect, entrepreneur, and artificial intelligence infrastructure expert with more than 35 years of experience building large scale technology systems. Throughout his career, he has designed production software that powers billions of requests each day and developed open source projects used by millions of developers worldwide. His work focuses on creating reliable, scalable systems that move beyond prototypes into real world applications. Ran is the founder and lead architect of MUXI, an open source platform for building and operating autonomous AI systems, and the author of Production Grade Agentic AI, a practical guide to designing, deploying, and managing intelligent systems in production environments. Through his companies, VarOps and Automaze, he advises organizations on AI adoption, automation strategy, and the operational frameworks needed to build dependable, enterprise ready technology. He is also the host of Old School / New Tech, a live podcast that explores business, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and entrepreneurship through the lens of decades of hands on experience. Blending timeless engineering principles with emerging technologies, Ran helps founders, executives, and developers cut through the hype to build systems and businesses that are designed to last. Susan MacKenty Brady – CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership and Co-Author of All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value Difference is the daily tension of life and work… leaders determine whether it compounds or collapses. Susan MacKenty Brady is a leadership educator, executive coach, keynote speaker, and the founding CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, where she also serves as the Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership. For more than 25 years, she has worked with leaders and executive teams around the world, helping organizations build high performing cultures rooted in trust, inclusion, collaboration, and respect. Her work focuses on developing the human capabilities that enable leaders to strengthen relationships, bridge differences, and create environments where both people and organizations thrive. A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Susan has written and co authored several influential leadership books, including Arrive & Thrive, Mastering Your Inner Critic, and All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value. She is also the host of the Better Understanding podcast, where she explores leadership, human connection, and the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly complex world. Throughout her career, she has advised more than 500 organizations, interviewed global leaders from business, government, and academia, and shared practical insights on leadership through speaking engagements, executive coaching, and media appearances, including ABC’s Good Morning America. Before joining Simmons University, Susan served as Executive Vice President at Linkage, where she founded the Women in Leadership Institute and launched the firm’s global practice on advancing women leaders and inclusive leadership. Today, she continues to help leaders cultivate greater self awareness, strengthen teams, and unlock the power of diverse perspectives to drive innovation, performance, and lasting organizational success.

Marco Benitez – CEO & Founder of Rook When you have a lot of information, you can see patterns. Marco Benitez is the CEO and co founder of ROOK, a digital health company that transforms wearable and health data into standardized, actionable insights for healthcare, wellness, and insurance organizations. A biomedical engineer, former pharmaceutical executive, and national Tae Kwon Do champion, Marco combines expertise in health technology with a lifelong passion for human performance. His mission is to bridge the gap between fitness, healthcare, and preventive medicine by making health data accurate, accessible, and meaningful. Before founding ROOK, Marco built his career in clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry with companies including Roche and Novartis, where he saw firsthand the potential of data to improve patient outcomes. He was Head of Medical Affairs at Roche. Recognizing the challenges organizations faced in integrating information from hundreds of wearable devices, he co founded ROOK to simplify access through a single, standardized platform that enables personalized health insights and better decision making. Marco’s passion for wearable technology is deeply personal. As an athlete, he used recovery and sleep data to become a national Tae Kwon Do champion, proving that performance depends on more than just training. Later, a wearable device he gave to his father detected a serious heart condition, reinforcing his belief that better health data can save lives. Today, Marco leads ROOK with the vision of creating a future where technology empowers healthier lives through trusted, high quality data that supports prevention, wellness, and better healthcare for everyone. Danny M Goldberg – President at GoldSRD and Author of A Little Bit A$$hole Don’t try to be everything to everyone, and don’t be the low cost provider. Find something you’re good at, charge a premium, and if you’re good at it, people are going to pay it. Danny M. Goldberg is the founder and president of GoldSRD, a professional services firm specializing in staff augmentation, executive recruiting, and leadership development. With more than 25 years of experience in internal audit, risk management, executive coaching, and talent development, Danny has built a reputation for helping organizations strengthen both technical excellence and the people skills that drive long term success. Through GoldSRD, he works with Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, and professional associations to develop stronger leaders, build high performing teams, and recruit exceptional talent. An internationally recognized speaker, Danny has delivered more than 350 presentations around the world on leadership, communication, internal audit, and professional development. He is the co author of several books on leadership and people centric skills, including the pioneering People Centric Skills, and the author of A Little Bit A$$hole, which explores the balance between kindness, accountability, and assertiveness in leadership and life. His articles have appeared in leading industry publications, and he has consistently been recognized as one of the highest rated speakers at major professional conferences. Danny holds eight professional certifications, including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Information Systems Auditor. He has served in numerous leadership roles with the Institute of Internal Auditors and other professional organizations, and remains committed to advancing leadership, communication, and professional excellence across industries.

Nasir Ali – Managing Director at Rise360 Ventures When the market gets uncertain and there’s all these volatile shifts, people want certainty. So you go to hard assets, and there’s always stability in affordable housing. Nasir Ali is the Managing Director of Rise360 Ventures and a second-generation manufactured housing community specialist with more than four decades of experience in the industry. Raised in his family’s first manufactured housing community, Ali began leasing and selling homes at the age of sixteen and has spent his career developing a deep understanding of one of the nation’s most resilient and affordable real estate asset classes. Combining hands-on operational expertise with institutional-level analysis, Ali has managed thousands of home sites, worked as a manufactured housing community appraiser, and developed systems for transforming underperforming properties into stable, high-value communities. His experience spans acquisitions, operations, valuation, and asset optimization, giving him a unique perspective on both the business and investment sides of the industry. Throughout his career, Ali has worked on projects involving hundreds of communities and has participated in the valuation of more than 1,600 commercial assets with a combined value exceeding $2 billion. He has also pursued advanced studies in entrepreneurship, leadership, and real estate, including coursework through Harvard Extension School. Today, through Rise360 Ventures, Ali helps investors access the manufactured housing community sector by identifying opportunities that combine strong financial performance with long-term housing affordability. Known for his practical insights, disciplined approach, and lifelong commitment to the industry, he is a trusted advisor to investors seeking stable cash flow, downside protection, and sustainable growth. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ali enjoys spending time with his family and pursuing his passions for music, cigars, and lifelong learning. John Bielinski – Author of How to Correct Your Life: Practical Tools for Those Who Lead, Fight, and Build Empathy is where you don’t try to fix anything and you don’t try to dodge the pain. You sit with them in it. John Bielinski is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, medical educator, keynote speaker, and author dedicated to helping people unlock their full potential through better learning, stronger leadership, and intentional living. After struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia that led him to leave high school without graduating on time, John joined the Marine Corps, where he discovered a learning approach built on repetition, visualization, and practical application. His experiences during Operation Desert Storm, serving as a Dragon gunner responsible for identifying and engaging enemy armored vehicles, shaped the teaching philosophy that would define his career. Inspired by the military’s highly effective training methods, John founded CME4Life, an Inc. 5000 medical education company that has transformed the way physician assistants and other healthcare professionals prepare for certification and recertification exams. Through his Active Engagement Learning system, which combines storytelling, audience participation, memory techniques, and critical thinking, CME4Life has become one of the nation’s highest rated medical education organizations and now partners with more than 50 universities and colleges across the United States. John is the author of several books, including How to Correct Your Life: Practical Tools for Those Who Lead, Fight, and Build, Before the Calm, Elemental Medicine, and Surviving PA School. Drawing on his experiences in military service, emergency medicine, entrepreneurship, and personal recovery, he equips leaders and high performers with practical frameworks for building resilience, overcoming adversity, and living with greater purpose, discipline, and gratitude.

Melissa Franks – Founder of On Call COO and Three-time OnCon Icon “Top 100 COO” Honoree Melissa Franks is a technology and operations executive, business strategist, and founder of On Call COO, where she helps entrepreneurs and growing companies build the operational systems needed to scale with confidence. With decades of executive leadership experience, Melissa specializes in organizational transformation, operational excellence, mergers and acquisitions, and business process optimization. Her passion is helping founders move out of the day to day operations of their businesses so they can focus on vision, growth, and long term success. Before launching On Call COO, Melissa spent more than 20 years leading large scale operations and technology initiatives for global organizations, including Allianz. She managed portfolios exceeding $100 million, led complex merger integrations, reduced major technology incidents by 70 percent, improved employee engagement and retention, and consistently delivered significant cost savings while building high performing teams. Her work also helped create global business models and operational frameworks adopted across multiple international organizations. Today, Melissa combines Fortune 500 executive experience with practical entrepreneurial insight to help business owners create scalable operations, stronger leadership teams, and sustainable growth. Through consulting, coaching, and strategic advisory services, she equips leaders with the structure, systems, and confidence needed to build businesses that thrive without depending on the founder for every decision. Santarvis Brown – Founding Director of Partnerships of Pro Q Solutions and Author of 365 Days of Grace and Grit   find youtube channel Dr. Santarvis Brown is an educator, leadership strategist, author, and equity centered executive with more than two decades of experience helping institutions strengthen leadership, transform organizational culture, and create lasting impact. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of The Equity & Elevation Collective, he partners with universities, nonprofit organizations, and mission driven institutions to develop inclusive leadership, improve governance, and build sustainable strategies that move organizations from intention to measurable results. Throughout his career, Dr. Brown has served in executive leadership and faculty roles at institutions including Excelsior University, Cornell University, and the University of Virginia. A distinguished professor, keynote speaker, and executive coach, his work focuses on leadership development, institutional transformation, accreditation strategy, curriculum innovation, and community engagement. His leadership and scholarship have earned national recognition, including features on the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square, and appointments as a Distinguished Scholar Practitioner at the European Institute for Higher Education and a Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute. Dr. Brown is the author of several leadership books, including 365 Days of Grace and Grit, Leading While Limping, The Equitable Edge, and Leading in Color. Through his writing, consulting, and speaking, he equips leaders to lead with courage, purpose, integrity, and compassion while building organizations where people and communities can thrive.

Arun Gupta – CEO of NobleReach Foundation and Co-Author of The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future People feel comfortable when they stay in their lanes of expertise, because there’s a safety in that, and there’s a security in that. The problem with that, though, is that there’s not a growth that comes with that Arun Gupta is the CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, venture capitalist, educator, and bestselling author of The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future. He is also the co-author of the national bestseller Venture Meets Mission and is widely recognized for his work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, public service, and workforce development. For more than two decades, Arun built a distinguished career in venture capital, including 18 years as a partner at Columbia Capital, where he led investments in cybersecurity, national security technologies, artificial intelligence, government technology, SaaS, and cloud infrastructure. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with entrepreneurs and innovators developing solutions to some of society’s most important challenges while helping scale companies that drive both economic and social impact. Today, Arun leads the NobleReach Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring and recruiting the next generation of talent into public service and mission-driven careers. Through NobleReach, he works to connect highly skilled young professionals with opportunities to address critical national challenges, bringing entrepreneurial thinking and innovation into government and public sector institutions. In addition to his leadership and investing work, Arun teaches entrepreneurship and innovation at Stanford University and Georgetown University, where he has received multiple faculty teaching awards. His writing and speaking focus on the changing nature of work, the growing importance of purpose-driven careers, the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce, and how emerging generations are redefining success beyond traditional measures of wealth and status. Arun earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Through his work as an investor, educator, author, and nonprofit leader, he continues to advocate for a future where entrepreneurship, innovation, and public service work together to create meaningful opportunities and lasting impact. Melisa Buie – Author of Faceplant: FREE yourself from failure’s funk We want people to be, you know, playing actively on the field and engaged in life, not sitting in the bleachers, just watching other people from the stands Dr. Melisa Buie is an engineer, operations executive, author, and problem solving strategist with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations build stronger cultures of innovation, resilience, and continuous improvement. Throughout her career, she has led global transformation initiatives in engineering, manufacturing, and operational excellence for industry leaders including Coherent, Lam Research, Applied Materials, Advanced Energy, and Neptune Technology Group. Her expertise spans strategic planning, lean manufacturing, business transformation, and organizational leadership, with a passion for helping teams solve complex problems through experimentation and continuous learning. Raised on a farm in Alabama, Melisa developed a practical, resourceful approach to problem solving that has shaped her entire career. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Troy University, a master’s degree in physics from Auburn University, and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Plasma Physics from the University of Michigan. She also holds multiple patents, has published more than 40 technical papers, and spent nearly a decade teaching graduate engineering courses at San Jose State University. Melisa is the author of Problem Solving for New Engineers and Faceplant: FREE Yourself from Failure’s Funk, where she shares practical frameworks for overcoming setbacks, embracing experimentation, and building the courage to grow through failure. Through her books, workshops, and speaking engagements, she helps leaders and organizations replace fear of failure with curiosity, resilience, and a culture where innovation can thrive.

Geoff Curtis – Co-Founder of of The Future Voices Collective and Author of Embracing Your Own Purgatory You have to ask yourself who you are without the job. Geoff Curtis is the co-founder of The Future Voices Collective, a communications strategist, executive advisor, and author of Embracing Your Own Purgatory. With nearly three decades of experience in healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical communications, Geoff has helped global organizations navigate complex business challenges, strengthen executive leadership, and build impactful corporate communications strategies. Throughout his career, Geoff has held senior leadership positions on both the corporate and agency sides of the communications industry, including serving as Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Horizon Therapeutics. His experience also includes leadership roles with Abbott Laboratories, Edelman, GCI, W2O Group, and other leading organizations, where he advised executive teams on strategic communications, media relations, executive visibility, crisis management, and organizational effectiveness. After a corporate acquisition unexpectedly eliminated his executive role, Geoff embarked on a deeply personal journey of rediscovery that inspired his book, Embracing Your Own Purgatory. Drawing from that experience, he now helps professionals navigate career transitions, redefine purpose, and embrace change as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback. Geoff serves on several nonprofit and corporate boards and was a member of the inaugural Leadership and Society Initiative fellowship at the University of Chicago. A first generation college graduate, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Lake Forest College and a master’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising from DePaul University. Through his writing, speaking, and advisory work, Geoff combines decades of executive leadership with an authentic perspective on resilience, purpose, and building a meaningful career. Matthew Chancey – Founder of Tax Alpha Companies and Author of Tax Alpha Solutions: Effective Tax Management Strategies for High-Net-Worth Investors One of the biggest mistakes that most investors make is not knowing the difference between what’s an investment and what’s a speculation Matthew Chancey is a Certified Financial Planner™, tax strategist, and founder of Tax Alpha Companies, where he helps high net worth individuals, business owners, and investors legally reduce, defer, and eliminate taxes through sophisticated planning strategies. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in financial planning, investment management, and tax strategy, Matthew is dedicated to helping clients keep more of what they earn while building long term wealth. Matthew’s expertise was shaped by years working in construction and real estate, where he discovered that taxes influence nearly every major financial decision, from property development and business ownership to investment sales and estate planning. That experience led him to specialize in advanced tax planning, helping clients navigate complex issues involving capital gains, business sales, real estate transactions, retirement planning, trusts, tax credits, and wealth preservation. In addition to providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management, Matthew regularly teaches continuing education programs for CPAs, attorneys, commercial real estate professionals, and mergers and acquisitions advisors. He is recognized for translating complex tax laws into practical strategies that create meaningful financial outcomes for his clients. Matthew is the author of Tax Alpha Solutions: Effective Tax Management Strategies for High Net Worth Investors, where he shares proven approaches for reducing tax burdens while strengthening long term financial security. His expertise has been featured by The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox News, and he is a sought after speaker for conferences, educational workshops, and industry events. Based in Tampa, Florida, Matthew works with clients throughout the United States and around the world, helping investors and entrepreneurs make smarter financial decisions through proactive tax planning.

David Leiter – Founder of The Ultimate Investor and Author of Stop Making Stupid Investments: 7 Rules to Avoid the Hype and Build Real Wealth Emotions are the enemy of investing. David Leiter is a veteran investor, educator, and founder of The Ultimate Investor, where he teaches individuals how to build lasting wealth through disciplined, value based investing. With more than 30 years of experience investing in stocks and multifamily real estate, David focuses on helping everyday investors avoid costly mistakes by applying the timeless principles of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. David began his career on Wall Street, working at Credit Suisse First Boston and Schonfeld Securities before building and operating a successful New York City property management company. After selling the business in 2020 to the nation’s largest privately held property management company, he turned his attention to investor education, inspired by watching friends and colleagues lose money chasing speculative investments and market hype. His practical approach to investing gained national attention after he published his widely shared essay on avoiding poor investment decisions. That work led to invitations to speak at Tony Robbins’ Platinum Finance and Wealth Mastery events, where he has shared the stage with renowned financial leaders including Ray Dalio, Jamie Dimon, Paul Tudor Jones, and Jeffrey Gundlach. David is the author of Stop Making Stupid Investments: 7 Rules to Avoid the Hype and Build Real Wealth, where he provides a straightforward framework for identifying sound investments, avoiding common financial traps, and building wealth with confidence over the long term. Through The Ultimate Investor, his speaking engagements, online courses, and educational programs, David continues his mission of helping investors become more knowledgeable, disciplined, and financially independent. Becky Beach – Digital Business Scaling Coach & CEO of Becky Beach Coaching I regularly put out content, I don’t even care if I get very little likes or views. I know the AI is going to find it, and it’s hungry for new content. Becky Beach is a digital business scaling coach, entrepreneur, and CEO of Becky Beach Coaching, where she helps aspiring and established entrepreneurs create, market, and scale profitable digital product businesses. As a million dollar digital product seller, Becky has built a successful online business by transforming ideas into income and teaching others how to do the same. Through her coaching programs, courses, and educational content, Becky provides practical strategies for creating digital products, building audiences, and generating consistent revenue without relying on expensive advertising or spending countless hours on social media. Her step by step approach has helped countless business owners turn their expertise and ideas into successful online businesses. Becky has been featured in publications including Forbes and Business Insider for her expertise in digital entrepreneurship and online business growth. She is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to achieve greater financial freedom by building scalable businesses that align with their lifestyles and goals. As a speaker, coach, and business mentor, Becky combines real world experience with actionable guidance to help entrepreneurs navigate the rapidly evolving digital marketplace. Based in the Dallas, Texas area, she enjoys life with her husband, son, and their three beloved dogs while continuing to inspire others to transform their digital ideas into thriving businesses.

Skip Wilson – CEO of DRAFT Media Partners The biggest game changer was just listening to the market. Skip Wilson is the founder and CEO of DRAFT Media Partners, an advertising infrastructure company that helps agencies and brands execute scalable paid media strategies with greater speed, efficiency, and measurable results. With a career that spans digital media, advertising technology, and entrepreneurship, Skip has become a respected voice in modern marketing and media operations. His journey in advertising began at the age of 16 when he started writing copy to impress a girl who would later become his wife. That early passion for storytelling led him into web design, entrepreneurship, and digital media while still in college. He later joined CNN’s iReport team, where he helped develop emerging digital platforms before moving to Clear Channel, where he played a key role in building the company’s digital division. During his more than a decade with iHeartMedia, Skip served as Vice President of Digital Media, helping launch and grow what would become iHeartRadio and the iHeart Podcast Network. His experience in building large-scale media platforms and managing digital growth ultimately inspired him to launch DRAFT Media Partners, which now supports agencies and brands across multiple locations with advertising technology, media execution, and operational systems. In addition to his work as an entrepreneur, Skip is a bestselling author, investor, and host of The Advertising Podcast, where he shares practical insights on marketing, business growth, and the future of media. His company has received national recognition for innovation in marketing technology, earning honors for its software development and advertising solutions. Based in Greenville, South Carolina, Skip continues to help marketers, agencies, and business leaders build scalable systems that create meaningful results, combining decades of digital media experience with a passion for innovation, storytelling, and entrepreneurial growth.   Lorenzo Payman – Founder & Host Of Leader With A Heart Podcast, Keynote TEDX Speaker and Author of Leaders With A Heart (Volumes 1&2) Business is not the numbers game. Sure, numbers matter, but ultimately it’s a relationship nurturing process. We do business with people who we like, respect and trust. Lorenzo Payman is a TEDx speaker, four-time #1 international bestselling author, podcast host, and entrepreneur who helps business owners become the obvious authority in their industries. As the founder of the Profitable Podcast and YouTube Academy and the creator of the Undeniability Authority Method™, he teaches entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, and experts how to use strategic conversations, positioning, and relationship building to attract high-value clients without relying on large audiences or viral content. After rebuilding his life from rock bottom, Payman transformed his experiences into a mission to help others create meaningful impact and sustainable business growth. He is the host of the Leaders With A Heart podcast, where he has conducted more than 420 interviews with entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and changemakers from around the world. Payman is also the author of the Leaders With A Heart book series and a sought-after speaker who shares practical insights on authority building, influence, podcasting, and entrepreneurship. His approach emphasizes the power of authentic relationships, meaningful conversations, and getting into the right rooms to create opportunities that lead to long-term success. Through his coaching, speaking, and media platforms, Payman continues to help entrepreneurs position themselves as trusted experts, build stronger businesses, and create a lasting impact through leadership and service.

Marc Stefanski  – CEO & President of Third Federal and Author of People First: The Third Federal Way They’re are going to copy what you do more than what you say Marc A. Stefanski is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Third Federal Savings and Loan, one of the nation’s leading mortgage lenders and savings institutions. Since becoming CEO in 1987, he has guided the family-founded company through decades of growth while maintaining a strong commitment to customer service, employee engagement, and long-term financial stability. Founded by his parents, Ben and Gerome Stefanski, in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood in 1938, Third Federal has grown under Marc’s leadership into one of Ohio’s leading home mortgage lenders while expanding its presence in Florida and other markets. He has overseen the company’s modernization, including the adoption of online mortgage lending, which has become one of the company’s largest sources of loan applications. Marc is widely recognized for building a corporate culture centered on people first. His leadership philosophy emphasizes genuine care, trust, respect, excellence, and creating a workplace where associates and customers are valued equally. These principles have helped Third Federal earn a reputation for integrity, outstanding service, and strong employee loyalty. He is the author of People First: The Third Federal Way, which shares the leadership principles and values that have guided the company’s success for more than three decades. Through his work, Marc continues to demonstrate that organizations can achieve exceptional financial performance while placing people, culture, and service at the center of their business strategy Mike Grossman – Former CEO of Inflection and Author of Failure Is An Option: Reflections of a Silicon Valley CEO I think it’s actually a mistake to assume that if you work really hard and you do a really good job, the outcome is going to be good. It’s much less predictable than that in real life. Mike Grossman is a veteran Silicon Valley executive, entrepreneur, and author who has spent more than three decades leading venture backed technology companies through the challenges of startup growth, fundraising, leadership, and acquisition. Over the course of his career, he has served as CEO of six early stage technology companies, all of which were ultimately acquired, giving him a rare perspective on both the opportunities and realities of entrepreneurial leadership. Throughout his career, Mike has guided companies through periods of rapid growth, strategic change, and market uncertainty while navigating the difficult decisions that accompany startup leadership. His experience has taught him that success in entrepreneurship often depends not only on strategy and execution, but also on timing, resilience, and the ability to manage the emotional and ethical complexities that come with leading a company. Mike is the author of Failure Is An Option: Reflections of a Silicon Valley CEO, a unique collection of forty four candid and insightful stories drawn from his experiences as a startup CEO. Rather than offering a traditional business memoir or a step by step guide to success, the book provides an honest look at what it truly feels like to run an entrepreneurial company, exploring the loneliness of leadership, the pressure of difficult decisions, and the delicate balance between mission, money, and meaning. Today, Mike shares the lessons learned from decades in Silicon Valley, offering entrepreneurs and business leaders a realistic perspective on startup life and reminding founders that uncertainty, setbacks, and even failure are often essential parts of the entrepreneurial journey.

America Rocks!! I believe that you are born with a basket of gifts… and the best way to use those is to be an entrepreneur. This special show highlights 50 reasons why America is still the greatest entrepreneurial country on Earth!

Kelly Faetanini – Founder/Creative Director at Kelly Faetanini LLC At the end of the day, we all need money, we all want to be successful, but I try to do everything in my business in a way that feels inspiring and aligned to something that is fulfilling, so that way I get the best of both worlds, a fulfilling job that also brings in money. Kelly Faetanini is the founder and creative director of Kelly Faetanini LLC, an internationally recognized bridal fashion brand known for designing elegant, customizable wedding gowns for modern brides. Her passion for bridal design began at the age of 18, when she discovered the wedding industry and realized that creating gowns that help women feel beautiful and confident was her true calling. At just 19 years old, Kelly designed and sold her first wedding gown, an experience that inspired her lifelong commitment to bridal fashion. After working as an assistant designer for the renowned Priscilla of Boston bridal brand, she quickly established herself as one of the industry’s rising talents. By the age of 23, she became the youngest wedding gown designer to showcase a collection at New York Bridal Fashion Week. In 2012, Kelly launched her own label with a vision that extended beyond simply designing dresses. She built her company around creating a personalized experience for every bride, emphasizing honesty, trust, and exceptional service. Her collections feature a wide range of styles, from romantic and classic to dramatic and contemporary, with customizable options that allow brides to create gowns that reflect their own personalities and vision. Today, Kelly Faetanini gowns are sold through bridal boutiques around the world and are known for their craftsmanship, attention to detail, and modern elegance. Through her work, Kelly continues to inspire brides by combining timeless design with a deeply personal approach to the wedding experience.   Rey Ramsey – President & CEO of Nathan Cummings Foundation and Author of The Tyranny of False Choices: A Guide to Authentic Decision-Making Do you want narrow thinking or wide scale thinking? Every time I’m going to choose wide scale thinking, expand your aperture of thoughts and ideas, expand your sight lines rather than narrow them. Rey Ramsey is a transformational leader, social entrepreneur, and author with more than three decades of executive experience spanning the private sector, government, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropy. He currently serves as President and CEO of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, where he leads initiatives focused on social justice, economic opportunity, and systemic change. Throughout his career, Rey has built and led organizations dedicated to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise Community Partners, one of the nation’s leading affordable housing organizations, and as Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services. As founder and CEO of One Economy Corporation, he pioneered digital inclusion initiatives that connected hundreds of thousands of low income individuals and families to technology, education, and economic opportunities. He has also served as President and CEO of TechNet and as Chairman of Habitat for Humanity International. Rey’s leadership philosophy centers on challenging the false choices that often limit decision making in business and public life. He believes leaders do not have to choose between profit and purpose, growth and dignity, or conviction and collaboration. Instead, he encourages organizations and individuals to move beyond either or thinking and embrace more creative, principled, and effective solutions. He is the author of The Tyranny of False Choices: A Guide to Authentic Decision Making, which explores how leaders can break free from limiting assumptions, navigate complexity, and make decisions with greater clarity, courage, and purpose. Through his writing, speaking, and advisory work, Rey helps leaders expand their thinking, strengthen their organizations, and create meaningful impact while remaining grounded in human dignity and potential.

Rob Snyder – Operating Partner at Grix VC and Author of The Power of Pull: What You Need to Know About Customer Demand to Build a Successful Startup (and Why Most Founders Get It Wrong) The reason someone’s going to come back to your app exists not in your app, it exists in their world. Rob Snyder is an entrepreneur, startup advisor, investor, and Operating Partner at Grix VC who specializes in helping founders achieve product market fit and build customer demand. A graduate of Harvard Business School and former consultant with McKinsey & Company, Rob has spent his career studying what makes startups succeed and why so many fail to gain traction. As a founder, advisor, and entrepreneur in residence, Rob has helped more than 30 B2B startups grow from zero to more than $1 million in annual recurring revenue, including companies that have scaled from zero to $25 million in just two years. His work focuses on what he calls the “physics of startups,” particularly the role that customer demand plays in determining long-term success. Rob is the author of The Power of Pull: What You Need to Know About Customer Demand to Build a Successful Startup (and Why Most Founders Get It Wrong), which challenges conventional startup advice and provides founders with practical frameworks for building products that customers truly want. He also writes the popular How to Grow newsletter and advises early-stage companies on sales, product market fit, and growth strategy. In addition to his advisory work, Rob is a fellow at Harvard Innovation Labs, a venture partner with early-stage investment firms, and the founder of technology startup Restack. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and daughter. Daphne Woolsoncroft – Co-host of Going West Podcast and Author of The Season of Sinking We’re all so multifaceted, and we have so many different things to show that we should just kind of embrace that. Daphne Woolsoncroft is the co-host, producer, and writer of the hit true crime podcast Going West, one of the most popular independent true crime shows in the country. Alongside her co-host, she has built a devoted audience by exploring compelling criminal cases with thoughtful storytelling, detailed research, and a focus on the human side of each case. A Los Angeles native, Daphne previously lived in Oregon, where the atmospheric landscapes of Portland and the Pacific Northwest helped inspire her creative work. Her passion for suspense, mystery, and psychological storytelling led to her debut thriller novel, Night Watcher, which combines her fascination with crime and her talent for creating tension-filled narratives. Through both podcasting and fiction writing, Daphne has developed a reputation for engaging audiences with carefully crafted stories that blend investigation, emotion, and suspense. When she is not researching cases or writing, she enjoys spending time at the movie theater, reading, and relaxing at home with her English bulldog, Dewey. Kenchen Bharwani – Fashion Consultant at Empire Apparel If we do not buy it from the manufacturers, if people like us don’t buy it, it will go to the landfills… We essentially give those garments a second life. Kenchen Bharwani is a fashion consultant with Empire Apparel LLC and a recognized expert in the global off-price apparel industry. With more than 18 years of experience in fashion buying, consumer behavior, global sourcing, brand development, textile design, and import-export operations, she has built a reputation for identifying market opportunities and transforming excess inventory into profitable retail success stories. Kenchen’s journey began by helping her mother grow a business in the off-price fashion sector. What started as a family effort quickly evolved into a career fueled by a deep understanding of consumer buying psychology, fashion trends, and product positioning. Over the years, her ability to recognize hidden value in overlooked inventory and predict emerging market demand has made her a trusted advisor to brands, suppliers, and retailers around the world. At Empire Apparel, Kenchen specializes in sourcing and managing off-price apparel stocklots, including canceled shipments, export overruns, and excess inventory from manufacturers across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. She plays an active role in purchasing decisions and works closely with global suppliers to connect quality products with retailers and consumers throughout the United States and international markets. A passionate advocate for sustainability, Kenchen has helped divert more than seven million garments from landfills by finding innovative ways to redistribute excess inventory through off-price and export channels. Her work demonstrates how smart sourcing, creative merchandising, and responsible business practices can create value for companies while reducing waste across the fashion industry. Today, Kenchen shares her insights on fashion trends, sourcing strategies, consumer behavior, sustainability, and the business of off-price retail, helping brands and entrepreneurs better understand one of the most dynamic sectors in global fashion.

Dane Bruce Hudson – Founder & CEO of Impactful Leadership Consulting and Author of Discipline Beats Vision: How to Be the Leader Your Company Needs — Starting Monday Your vision is amazing and important, but it’s discipline that gets you to the finish line and helps you scale. Dane Hudson is an executive coach, leadership advisor, founder of Impactful Leadership Consulting, and author of Discipline Beats Vision: How to Be the Leader Your Company Needs Starting Monday. With more than three decades of executive leadership experience, including over 20 years as a CEO and 10 years as a CFO, Dane has led global organizations through rapid growth, operational turnarounds, mergers, acquisitions, and major strategic transformations. Since launching Impactful Leadership in 2020, Dane has coached and advised more than 150 founders, CEOs, and senior executives across a wide range of industries, including technology, renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture, hospitality, financial services, and manufacturing. He has also trained more than 900 C-suite and high-potential leaders, helping them build the discipline, leadership capability, and operational focus required to scale successful organizations. Before becoming an entrepreneur and advisor, Dane held senior leadership positions with some of the world’s most recognized organizations. His roles included Senior Vice President and Chief of Finance and Development for Yum Restaurants International, CEO of Australian Vintage, one of Australia’s largest wine companies, and Regional CEO of ISS Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for operations involving more than 200,000 employees across the region. Drawing on a career that spans consulting, finance, executive leadership, and coaching, Dane developed the Impactful Leadership framework, a practical leadership system built around discipline, change leadership, and operational excellence. Through his coaching, speaking, and writing, he helps founders and executives move beyond vision alone and become the disciplined leaders their companies need to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success. Dane holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and has completed executive studies at Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is an accredited executive coach, certified management consultant, certified director, and longtime member of YPO. Clark Ingram – Founder of People Profits and Author of Churn: Proven Strategies to Overcome Failing Conventional Talent Management and Achieve Zero Turnover What you have to figure out is what do you have that nobody else has. What’s different about you, what can you offer? Not necessarily money, but something else. Clark A. Ingram is the founder and president of People Profits, LLC, a workforce performance consulting firm dedicated to solving three of the most costly challenges facing organizations today: employee turnover, chronically open positions, and workforce skills gaps. With more than three decades of executive leadership experience, Clark has built a reputation for helping companies achieve measurable improvements in retention, staffing, engagement, and profitability through practical, results-driven strategies. After beginning his career in finance, Clark transitioned into human resources when he was tasked with solving severe turnover problems that threatened an organization’s future. Over the next 30 years, he served as Chief Human Resources Officer across four different industries, including industrial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and apparel manufacturing. Throughout his career, he developed and refined a data-driven approach that aligns workforce management with business performance, helping organizations reduce turnover by more than 40 percent and achieve staffing levels exceeding 90 percent, even in highly competitive labor markets. Clark is the author of Churn: Proven Strategies to Overcome Failing Conventional Talent Management and Achieve Zero Turnover, in which he challenges traditional HR thinking and presents a practical framework for creating workforce stability, stronger engagement, and long-term organizational success. Widely respected for his willingness to question conventional wisdom, he is known as a thought leader who focuses on measurable outcomes rather than management trends. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M University Texarkana. His professional credentials include Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), and Associate in Risk Management (ARM). Through consulting, speaking, training, and writing, Clark continues to help business leaders transform their people strategies into a competitive advantage.

Brandon Pipkin – President of BrandonPipkin.com and Co-Author of Rock Your Business: Navigating the Road from $50 Million to $500 Million and Beyond  Autobahn Consulting Every day that you operate without a strategy and without coaching and without measurables within your sales function, you’re giving money away to your competitors. Brandon Pipkin is a business strategist, leadership expert, speaker, author, and President of BrandonPipkin.com. He helps growth-stage companies improve performance through stronger leadership, more effective sales systems, strategic planning, talent development, and operational alignment. His work focuses on helping founders, owners, and executives build scalable organizations that grow without chaos while creating sustainable, repeatable results. Over the past fifteen years, Brandon has trained more than 12,000 sales professionals and over 3,000 leaders from hundreds of organizations. As the creator of the H3 Leadership and H3 Sales frameworks, he teaches leaders and sales teams how to align their head, heart, and habits to achieve long-term success. His practical approach emphasizes trust, communication, accountability, and consistent execution rather than relying on short-term tactics or heroic effort. Brandon is the co-author of Rock Your Business: Navigating the Road from $50 Million to $500 Million and Beyond and the author of 21 Questions for 21 Millionaires: How Ordinary People Create Extraordinary Success. His work as a social researcher has led him to interview high-performing entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, and other achievers to uncover the patterns and principles that drive exceptional results. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Human Resources and Organizational Development and an MBA in Healthcare Management. A sought-after speaker, consultant, and trainer, Brandon is passionate about helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential. When he is not working with clients, he enjoys spending time with his five children, traveling, riding motorcycles, and continuing his lifelong study of human performance and success. Elisabeth Mack – Co-Founder of Holistic Caring & The Green Nurse, CEO of Bloom Hemp and Author of Wine, Women, and Weed: A Memoir of Faith, Hope, and Love Nobody had ever talked to me about cannabis or CBD as an actual healing therapeutic option, and once I healed myself, and I started to feel better, I said, ‘You know what, I’ve got to help others. Elisabeth Mack, RN, BSN, BA, MBA, is a healthcare entrepreneur, nurse educator, author, and advocate for integrating holistic and cannabinoid-based wellness approaches into modern healthcare. She is the co-founder of Holistic Caring and The Green Nurse, organizations dedicated to educating patients and healthcare professionals on the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of cannabis and hemp-derived products. She also serves as CEO of Bloom Hemp, a woman-owned and nurse-led company that provides premium organic hemp wellness products and educational resources for consumers and healthcare practitioners. With a professional background that spans nursing, healthcare administration, insurance leadership, and medical education, Elisabeth has spent more than two decades helping patients navigate complex healthcare decisions. Her corporate experience includes serving as a healthcare executive with Anthem Blue Cross, while her clinical and educational work has focused on helping bridge the gap between traditional medicine and emerging cannabinoid therapies. Inspired by her own personal healing journey, she became passionate about helping others explore alternative healthcare options that support quality of life and overall wellness. Elisabeth is an approved continuing education provider for the California Board of Registered Nursing and has authored comprehensive educational programs that train healthcare professionals to become Cannabis Nurse Health Coaches. Through her curriculum development, consulting, and training programs, she has helped equip nurses, healthcare providers, and wellness professionals with the knowledge needed to guide patients on cannabinoid use, dosing considerations, product selection, and safety. In addition to her leadership roles, Elisabeth has served in numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the American Cannabis Nurses Association, Los Angeles NORML, and the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network. She is also the author of Cannabis for Health: Become a Coach and Wine, Women, and Weed: A Memoir of Faith, Hope, and Love, a deeply personal account of healing, resilience, and personal transformation. Through her businesses, educational programs, and writing, Elisabeth is committed to empowering patients and healthcare professionals with trusted information, compassionate guidance, and innovative approaches to wellness. Her mission is to help reshape healthcare by creating a more informed, personalized, and holistic model of care.

Alex Smereczniak – Founder of Franzy, Helping aspiring entrepreneurs find & fund the right franchise and Creating 1M business owners through smarter franchise matchmaking There’s not a lot of easy buttons or shortcuts, it’s not mailbox money. Alex Smereczniak is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Franzy, a platform designed to help people find and fund the right franchise—essentially, the “Zillow” for franchising. Before launching Franzy, he co-founded and scaled 2ULaundry and LaundroLab into multi-market, venture-backed businesses, gaining deep insights into the rewards and challenges of franchising. With experience as a co-founder, franchisor, and now a tech operator, Alex brings a unique perspective to modernizing the $800 billion franchise economy. Through Franzy, he aims to make entrepreneurship more accessible, with the ambitious goal of helping one million people become business owners. Along his journey, he has raised over $30 million, built scalable systems, and developed teams across multiple markets—driven by a firm belief that franchising is one of the most overlooked paths to business ownership. Alex frequently shares insights on franchising, small business trends, startup alternatives, and how to simplify entrepreneurship for the next generation of business owners. Natalia Zacharin – Founder of Zacharin Consulting You always have options and you can make improvements. Natalia Zacharin is the founder and CEO of Zacharin Consulting, an Inc. 5000 recognized accounting and fractional CFO firm that helps growing businesses improve profitability, strengthen cash flow, and make smarter financial decisions. Working primarily with service-based companies generating between $1 million and $30 million in annual revenue, Natalia specializes in helping entrepreneurs turn financial confusion into clarity and sustainable growth. Natalia’s business success is rooted in a remarkable personal journey. After a difficult divorce in her early forties, she found herself reentering the workforce after years as a stay-at-home mother. Unable to secure professional opportunities, she accepted a retail job earning $7.10 per hour while struggling to support her family. Determined to create a better future, she steadily rebuilt her career, gained valuable experience, and eventually launched her own business at age fifty. What began as a solo operation grew into a multimillion-dollar company in just a few years. Today, Zacharin Consulting generates millions in annual revenue and has earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Through bookkeeping, accounting, and fractional CFO services, Natalia and her team help business owners understand where their money is going, identify hidden profit leaks, improve cash flow, and build companies that are scalable, sustainable, and ultimately more valuable. Natalia is passionate about helping entrepreneurs understand that profit and cash flow are not the same thing and that growth alone cannot solve operational or financial weaknesses. Her practical, data-driven approach helps founders use their financial statements as a strategic decision-making tool rather than simply a record of the past. By focusing on forecasting, profitability, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency, she helps business owners create stronger companies and greater financial freedom. Today, Natalia shares both her financial expertise and her personal story of resilience to inspire entrepreneurs facing challenges of their own. Her journey from financial hardship to Inc. 5000 founder demonstrates the power of persistence, smart decision-making, and a willingness to keep moving forward when circumstances seem impossible.

Greg Hoover – Founder of Third Star Consulting and Author of Lead Anyway: Ordinary You. Extraordinary Impact If you see a place you can make a difference, take action. Greg Hoover is a leadership advisor, speaker, author, and founder of Third Star Consulting, where he helps organizations, teams, and individuals improve performance through stronger leadership, greater accountability, and better execution. Drawing on more than four decades of business experience, including over twenty-five years in executive leadership roles, Greg works with companies and leaders who want to strengthen culture, align strategy, and achieve sustainable results. Throughout his career, Greg has served in C-suite positions including CEO, President, COO, and Chief Marketing Officer across a variety of industries, including transportation, logistics, technology, mobility, financial services, real estate, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. He has led organizations ranging from emerging businesses to enterprises approaching $1 billion in revenue, overseeing strategy, operations, sales, marketing, organizational development, and growth initiatives. His experience also includes serving on numerous boards and governance committees, giving him a broad perspective on leadership and organizational effectiveness. Today, through Third Star Consulting, Greg advises executives, business owners, leadership teams, and emerging leaders on strategy execution, operational alignment, leadership development, and performance improvement. His work is built on a simple belief: most organizations do not suffer from a lack of talent, but from bottlenecks, poor accountability, and a tendency to wait for someone else to lead. He helps clients remove those barriers and create cultures where leadership is practiced at every level. Greg is the author of Lead Anyway: Ordinary You. Extraordinary Impact, a practical guide that challenges the traditional view of leadership as something reserved for people with titles or authority. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, the book demonstrates how ordinary individuals can create meaningful impact by taking responsibility, stepping forward, and leading where they are. A passionate advocate for developing future leaders, Greg regularly works with students, athletic teams, and emerging professionals, helping them build the habits and mindset necessary for long-term success. Through his speaking, coaching, and consulting, he continues to inspire people to recognize that leadership is not a position to be earned, but a choice to be made every day.     Helen Wada – Founder of The Human Advantage and Author of HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence Have your focus in mind, but always put the other person at the heart of the conversation. Helen Wada is an executive coach, leadership expert, author, and founder of The Human Advantage, a leadership development and coaching firm dedicated to helping professionals lead with authenticity, build influence, and achieve sustainable success. Drawing on more than thirty years of commercial experience and over a decade as an executive coach, Helen helps leaders and business professionals develop the confidence, self-awareness, and relationship-building skills needed to thrive in today’s complex business environment. Helen began her career as a chartered accountant before moving into senior commercial leadership roles, including serving as a Global Client Leader at KPMG, where she was responsible for sales, strategic growth, and managing key client relationships. Although sales was never part of her original career plan, she discovered that the coaching skills she developed along the way became a powerful advantage in building trust, influencing decision-makers, and creating meaningful relationships in the boardroom. Today, Helen combines her experience in business development, leadership, and executive coaching through her work with The Human Advantage. Her approach focuses on helping professionals lead from within by understanding who they are, what they value, and how they can create impact through genuine human connection. She works with executives, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams to strengthen communication, influence, confidence, and commercial effectiveness. Helen is the author of HUMAN-WISE: How to Lead from Within and Sell with Confidence, which brings together lessons from her corporate career, coaching practice, and leadership development work. The book explores how human-centered leadership and authentic relationship-building can drive both personal and professional success. She is also the host of the Human Wise podcast, where she shares conversations and insights on leadership, influence, personal growth, and building a more human-centered workplace. Through her writing, coaching, speaking, and consulting, Helen is committed to helping leaders create stronger connections, inspire greater trust, and achieve meaningful results by leading with authenticity, confidence, and purpose.

Kae Wagner – President of North Star Marketing and Bold Authors Network and Author of The Bold Author’s Playbook: 3 Simple Steps to Turn Unknown Books Into Perennial Sellers The point of writing a book is not to sell books. Kae Wagner is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, publisher, speaker, and bestselling author who has spent her career helping business owners, entrepreneurs, and authors gain visibility, attract customers, and grow successful brands. She is the founder and president of North Star Marketing, a firm that has helped clients build stronger businesses through strategic marketing, lead generation, branding, relationship building, and customer engagement. Under her leadership, North Star Marketing grew into a multi-million-dollar company by combining innovative marketing strategies with a deep understanding of human connection. Raised in a large entrepreneurial family on a dairy farm, Kae learned the values of hard work, perseverance, creativity, and resilience from an early age. Those lessons became the foundation of her business philosophy and her mission to help entrepreneurs turn great ideas into thriving enterprises. Throughout her career, she has embraced emerging technologies and evolving marketing trends, helping clients stay ahead of the curve while creating memorable brands and lasting customer relationships. Kae is also the founder of The Bold Authors Network and author of The Bold Author’s Playbook: 3 Simple Steps to Turn Unknown Books Into Perennial Sellers. A bestselling and award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction, she is passionate about helping writers overcome the fear of self-promotion and build sustainable platforms that allow their books to reach the audiences they deserve. Through coaching, training, and community-building initiatives, she helps authors transform from hesitant marketers into confident advocates for their work. Known for her belief that successful marketing is built on meaningful human connections, Kae teaches a practical approach that combines visibility, credibility, and relationship building. Whether working with entrepreneurs, executives, or authors, her goal is to help people discover opportunities, create lasting impact, and build businesses and brands that support the lives they were meant to live. North Star Marketing is a full-service creative branding and marketing agency located in Lancaster, PA. The agency handles nationally known brands, specializing in food, industrial, and lifestyle products. The company has been in business since 1989 and the agency has grown into a team of 15 brand specialists. The agency uses integrated programs that reinforce the brand position long term while increasing sales short term via PR, Interactive, Branding, Advertising and Social Media. Mason Duchatschek – CEO of Workforce Alchemy and Author of Built Wright: What It Takes to Build Something That Lasts I want discipline in my absence, not compliance in my presence. Mason Duchatschek is a bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur, and CEO of Workforce Alchemy, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations improve hiring, employee engagement, retention, leadership effectiveness, and workforce performance. For more than three decades, Mason has worked with business owners, executives, and leadership teams ranging from family-owned companies to major organizations such as Miller Brewing, Purina Mills, and Land O’Lakes, helping them build stronger cultures and more productive teams. Mason is known for challenging conventional thinking about workforce challenges. Rather than viewing employees as the source of business problems, he helps leaders uncover the systems, leadership practices, and organizational blind spots that often limit performance and profitability. His work focuses on identifying hidden profit leaks within organizations and creating practical strategies that improve engagement, accountability, retention, and long-term growth. A lifelong student of human performance and achievement, Mason brings an unusual perspective to leadership and business. He is the author of eleven books, a sought-after keynote speaker, and host of The Mason Duchatschek Show, where he interviews entrepreneurs, executives, and high achievers about the lessons behind their success. His personal accomplishments include completing marathons, ultramarathons, Ironman triathlons, earning two Guinness World Records, and pursuing challenges that reinforce his belief that growth happens when people move beyond their comfort zones. Through Workforce Alchemy, Mason helps organizations transform workplace performance by combining practical business experience with a deep understanding of human behavior. His mission is simple: help leaders build organizations where people thrive, teams perform at a higher level, and businesses achieve sustainable success.

Adam von Gootkin – Founder & Chairman of Highclere Castle Spirits People are not drinking the average or middle of the road things. When they do have a cocktail, they want the best. Adam von Gootkin is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of several internationally recognized luxury brands, including Highclere Castle Spirits. Drawing on a family legacy in the spirits industry that dates back to the 1800s, Adam has built a career around creating premium products rooted in authenticity, history, and craftsmanship. His entrepreneurial heritage includes generations of distillers and risk-takers, including a great-grandfather who operated a Prohibition-era speakeasy and shipping business along the Connecticut River. Adam first gained national recognition as co-founder of Onyx Spirits Co., an award-winning craft distillery that introduced America’s first ultra-premium moonshine and helped revive whiskey production in New England. His entrepreneurial journey and approach to brand building were chronicled in his book, Living Proof: Onyx Moonshine’s Journey to Revive the American Spirit, which explores the challenges and rewards of launching and scaling a consumer brand in a highly competitive industry. In 2017, Adam partnered with the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, owners of Highclere Castle, the historic estate known worldwide as the setting for Downton Abbey. Together they launched the Highclere Castle Cigar Company, followed by Highclere Castle Spirits in 2019. The company’s flagship product, Highclere Castle Gin, has earned more than 180 international awards and helped establish the brand as one of the fastest-growing luxury spirits companies in its category, achieving a valuation approaching $40 million within a few years of launch. Beyond his business ventures, Adam serves on numerous corporate and philanthropic boards and advisory councils. He is a founding trustee of the Royal Ethiopian Trust, an advisor to His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, a member of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust advisory network, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Recognized as a Connecticut 40 Under 40 honoree, Adam is also a sought-after keynote speaker who has been featured by Bloomberg, Forbes, Fortune, NBC, ABC, and other major media outlets. Through all of his ventures, Adam remains focused on building global luxury brands that celebrate heritage, provenance, sustainability, and authentic storytelling while creating long-term value for consumers, partners, and investors. Terry James – Founder of offleash’d and Nibble and Wag They have this unique, special thing that they can do, right, where you take them to a dog park, you have the ability to connect with people maybe you would never normally have a conversation with. Terry James is an entrepreneur, business leader, and founder of both Offleash’d and Nibble and Wag, two innovative companies focused on improving the lives of pets and the people who love them. As CEO and Co-Founder of Offleash’d, Terry is building an AI-powered social ecosystem designed to help pet parents create meaningful relationships, find community, and combat the growing challenges of loneliness and social isolation. Through technology, events, and real-world engagement, Offleash’d is creating new ways for pet owners to connect with one another while strengthening the bond they share with their pets. Before entering the pet industry, Terry built a successful 25-year career in wealth management, sales leadership, and real estate development. He earned recognition as a National Sales Director Award winner at Morgan Stanley, placing him among the firm’s top performers, and later served as a Wealth Manager at UBS. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in more than $500 million in real estate transactions and development projects, gaining extensive experience in leadership, business growth, strategic planning, and relationship building. Terry also serves as Founder and CEO of Nibble and Wag, a pet food company dedicated to providing trusted, affordable nutrition while fostering stronger connections within the pet community. His vision for both companies is rooted in the belief that pets play a unique role in bringing people together and improving quality of life. Recognized for his entrepreneurial leadership and innovation, Terry was featured on the cover of Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine. Today, he combines decades of experience in finance, real estate, technology, and brand development to create businesses that leverage technology for a greater purpose. His mission is to build communities where both pets and people thrive, proving that stronger human connections often begin with the companionship of a beloved pet.

Kim Lee – Founder of LoticSystems and Author of Building a Coaching Culture: The Ripple Effect Raising Performance and Growth Everybody wants to do their best when they know their role and how it impacts the team. Kim Lee, SPHR, is a leadership strategist, executive coach, human resources expert, and founder of LoticSystems. She is the author of Building a Coaching Culture: The Ripple Effect Raising Performance and Growth, a practical guide for leaders seeking to create high-performing organizations by developing people, fostering trust, and unlocking human potential. With a career spanning executive leadership, organizational development, talent strategy, and workplace transformation, Kim has built a reputation for helping organizations create human-centered cultures where employees and leaders can thrive. Her work focuses on coaching-based leadership, employee engagement, performance development, emotional intelligence, and preparing organizations for the evolving future of work. Kim’s leadership philosophy was shaped early in life when a coach helped her recognize strengths she did not yet see in herself. That experience inspired a lifelong commitment to helping others discover and develop their potential. Today, she brings that same philosophy to her work with executives, managers, and teams, helping leaders create environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow. As an AI strategist and faculty member with Hacking HR, Kim also helps organizations navigate the intersection of technology and humanity, ensuring that innovation strengthens rather than diminishes workplace culture. Known for combining strategic business insight with empathy and emotional intelligence, she helps leaders address complex organizational challenges while building cultures that are resilient, inclusive, and future-ready. Through her writing, coaching, consulting, and speaking, Kim advocates for a leadership approach rooted in trust, curiosity, and development. Her mission is to help leaders create positive ripple effects throughout their organizations by building coaching cultures that elevate performance, strengthen relationships, and drive sustainable growth Steve Hochman – Author of THE 3: How To Shred Fat, Get Healthy, and Be Fit Without Counting Calories, Calculating Macros, or Starving—and Keep Eating the Delicious Foods You Love   You could literally eat anything that you can imagine if you understand the glycemic index. Steve Hochman is an international bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator of THE 3, a simple health and fitness system designed to help people lose weight, improve their health, and build sustainable habits without counting calories, tracking macros, or giving up the foods they love. He is the author of THE 3: How To Shred Fat, Get Healthy, and Be Fit Without Counting Calories, Calculating Macros, or Starving—and Keep Eating the Delicious Foods You Love. Steve’s path to success was anything but conventional. Raised in a difficult environment and facing significant personal challenges, he experienced periods of homelessness, battled Tourette’s syndrome, struggled with anxiety, and at one point weighed 287 pounds while dealing with serious health concerns, including high blood pressure. Refusing to accept that his circumstances would define his future, Steve developed a practical, science-based approach to health and personal transformation that helped him lose more than 80 pounds and completely change the trajectory of his life. What began as a personal solution evolved into a larger mission. Through his coaching, speaking, writing, and health programs, Steve has helped thousands of people improve their health, regain confidence, and create lasting lifestyle changes. His work focuses on simplifying fitness and nutrition, removing unnecessary complexity, and helping people achieve results through consistency rather than extreme diets or unsustainable routines. Beyond health and fitness, Steve is passionate about personal growth, resilience, and overcoming adversity. He frequently shares lessons on mindset, discipline, leadership, and perseverance, demonstrating how personal transformation can become the foundation for success in business and life. His story is a powerful example of how determination, self-belief, and simple daily actions can help anyone overcome obstacles and build a meaningful future.

Robert Siciliano – Co-Founder of Protect Now You just need to have a pulse, and if you have a pulse, they’re coming after you. Robert Siciliano is a cybersecurity expert, private investigator, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and co-founder of Protect Now, a security awareness and human risk management company focused on helping organizations defend against cybercrime, fraud, and social engineering attacks. For more than 30 years, Robert has worked at the intersection of physical security, personal safety, identity protection, and cybersecurity, helping individuals and businesses understand and respond to evolving threats. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading security experts, Robert has become a trusted media resource on cybersecurity, identity theft, scams, privacy, and fraud prevention. His expertise has been featured on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC’s Today Show, and hundreds of other television and radio programs. Over the course of his career, he has appeared on more than 500 television broadcasts, contributed to more than 1,000 radio programs, and been quoted in thousands of news and media articles. Robert is the creator of the Strategic Human Firewall™, a practical approach to security awareness that focuses on the human side of cybersecurity. His work helps organizations understand that technology alone cannot stop modern threats and that effective protection requires people who can recognize manipulation, deception, and increasingly sophisticated AI-driven scams. Through training, consulting, and certification programs, he helps businesses transform employees from potential vulnerabilities into active participants in organizational security. A Certified Speaking Professional and author of multiple books on identity theft, privacy, and personal security, Robert is known for translating complex security topics into straightforward, actionable advice. Drawing on decades of experience as a private investigator and security professional, he teaches audiences how to protect their data, finances, reputation, and organizations in an increasingly connected world. His philosophy is simple: all security is personal, and the habits that protect individuals at home are often the same habits that protect businesses at work. Rachael Davila – Founder of Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance and Author of Hey! Do I Need a VA? If you’re finding you’re spending more time on your admin tasks versus the money making things, then it might be time to at least explore the options. Rachael Davila is a virtual assistant implementation strategist, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance. For more than two decades, she has helped business owners reclaim their time, increase productivity, and build the support systems needed to grow successful businesses. Drawing on her unique experience as both a long-time virtual assistant and a business owner who has hired and managed support staff herself, Rachael understands the challenges entrepreneurs face when transitioning from solopreneur to supported leader. As the creator of the Extra Hands Method, Rachael guides overwhelmed business owners through the process of identifying what tasks should come off their plate, defining the right support role, hiring effectively, and building productive working relationships with virtual assistants. Her practical approach combines leadership development, mindset shifts, delegation strategies, and operational systems that help entrepreneurs focus on the highest-value activities in their businesses. Rachael is the author of Hey! Do I Need a VA? and host of the podcast of the same name, where she shares insights on delegation, leadership, hiring, productivity, and business growth. Since launching her business in 2005, she has worked with entrepreneurs across a variety of industries, helping them overcome the common bottlenecks that prevent growth and create unnecessary stress. Passionate about helping business owners stop trying to do everything themselves, Rachael believes that the right support structure can transform both a business and the life of its owner. Through her coaching, consulting, writing, and speaking, she helps entrepreneurs build teams, create capacity, and confidently step into the role of leader.

Sara Blackmer – Senior Partner at Solyco Capital and CEO of FluidLogic Every single time a new innovation comes that people are frightened of it, in fact creates more jobs. Sara Blackmer is a technology executive, investor, entrepreneur, and retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who has built a career at the intersection of leadership, innovation, defense, and emerging technology. As Senior Partner at Solyco Capital, she works closely with portfolio companies to accelerate growth, strengthen operations, and build high-performance cultures that drive long-term value creation. She also serves as CEO of FluidLogic, a pioneering human performance technology company developing adaptive hydration systems designed to optimize cognitive and physical performance in demanding environments. Throughout her career, Sara has delivered results for technology-focused organizations serving both defense and commercial markets. Her expertise spans executive leadership, business development, corporate strategy, team building, customer engagement, and operational excellence. Recognized as one of Crain’s Notable Women in Tech and featured in dBusiness Magazine’s Powered by Women, she has become a respected voice on leadership, innovation, and technology commercialization. Sara is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, universities, and professional events, sharing insights on leadership, emerging technologies, organizational culture, and the challenges of scaling innovative companies. Her influence extends across numerous advisory and governance roles, including service on the Executive Boards of the Robotics Technology Consortium and the National Advanced Mobility Consortium, as well as advisory positions with Oakland University, the University of Michigan’s M-TRAC Transportation Program, Intel, and NVIDIA. Drawing on a family legacy that spans generations of military service, Sara brings a mission-driven approach to leadership and innovation. Whether guiding technology companies, investing in transformative ventures, or advancing human performance solutions, she is passionate about helping organizations achieve meaningful impact while building cultures that empower people to perform at their highest level. Doug Levy – Founder of Lexington Rose Consulting and LogicWise Ops We’re hiring on vibes, and there’s a lot more of a process behind it. Doug Levy is an operations strategist, business consultant, and founder of Lexington Rose Consulting and LogicWise Ops. He specializes in helping founder-led service businesses improve operational efficiency, strengthen accountability, protect margins, and build the systems necessary to scale successfully. With more than two decades of operations leadership experience, Doug has worked closely with business owners who have outgrown the systems that helped them reach their current level of success and are looking for a more sustainable path forward. Before launching his consulting practice, Doug served in senior operations leadership roles, including as Chief Operating Officer of a multi-million-dollar services company. Throughout his career, he has overseen hundreds of hiring decisions, managed complex business operations, and helped organizations navigate the challenges that come with growth. His experience has given him a practical understanding of where businesses commonly experience bottlenecks, inefficiencies, accountability gaps, and profit leakage. Through Lexington Rose Consulting, Doug works directly with small and mid-sized companies to analyze how work flows through their organizations, identify operational obstacles, and implement practical solutions that improve performance. His approach is highly customized, focusing on the specific realities of each business rather than relying on generic consulting frameworks. Doug is also the creator of LogicWise Ops, a platform designed to provide growing businesses with structured operational systems typically found in much larger organizations. Its flagship offering, the LogicWise Hiring System™, helps companies make more consistent and effective hiring decisions through a disciplined, repeatable evaluation process. Known for his straightforward and practical approach, Doug helps entrepreneurs build businesses that are easier to manage, more profitable, and better prepared for long-term growth. His core belief is that most business frustrations are not people problems but systems problems, and that the right operational foundation can unlock significant improvements in performance and scalability.

Bradley Akubuiro – Head of Bully Pulpit International and Author of Faster. Messier. Tougher.: Crisis Communication Strategies in an Era of Populism, AI, and Distrust Truth should always be the absolute standard, but the way that businesses are interacting with consumers, and leaders are interacting with their workforce and with others, they’re finding that people actually generally expect that they are lying about many things unless they have a trusting relationship with that leader or with that organization. Bradley Akubuiro is a nationally recognized expert on corporate reputation and crisis communications, known for counseling Fortune 500 leaders and boards through high-stakes situations that threaten business resilience. A partner at Bully Pulpit International—an advisory firm founded by leaders of the Obama campaigns and administration—Bradley leads the corporate communications practice, providing strategic counsel to some of the world’s largest brands across sports, tech, fashion, financial services, food and beverage, manufacturing, and more. He also guides clients on inclusion-related strategy and communications, helping organizations navigate complex cultural, reputational, and stakeholder expectations. Previously, Bradley served as Chief Spokesperson and Head of Global Media Relations for The Boeing Company during the 737 MAX crisis and COVID-19. Before Boeing, he led global media relations and public affairs for United Technologies (now RTX), navigating industry-altering M&A, presidential intervention, and other complex stakeholder challenges. His career includes experiences that shaped his approach to communications: serving as policy advisor to Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., working as a governance reform consultant in post-civil war Liberia under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and operating as a management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. A frequent writer and commentator, Bradley’s columns appear regularly in Inc. Magazine, where he writes about corporate leadership and communications. His insights have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Bloomberg, Axios, and The Boston Globe. In 2022, he was named to 40 Under 40 lists by both Crain’s Chicago Business and PR Week. He is the author of Faster. Messier. Tougher. Crisis Communications in the Era of Populism, AI, and Distrust. Bradley is an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications – his alma mater – where he also serves on the school’s Board of Advisors. He serves on the boards of The Institute for Public Relations and The 19th News, and is a member of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. He is based in Chicago. Fleet Maull – Founder of Heart Mind Institute, Prison Dharma Network, Prison Mindfulness Institute, Center for Mindfulness in Public Safety, National Prison Hospice Association, and Windorse Seminars & Consulting The place where we have any real power is with our own choices. Dr. Fleet Maull is a pioneering mindfulness teacher, author, social entrepreneur, and leadership trainer whose work has helped bring mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and resilience training into prisons, public safety agencies, healthcare organizations, businesses, and communities around the world. He is the co-founder of the Engaged Mindfulness Institute, Transforming Justice Initiative, Rwanda Bearing Witness Retreat & Peace Initiative, and the Center for Contemplative End-of-Life Care at Naropa University. He currently serves as CEO and Director of Training, Research & Development for the Prison Mindfulness Institute, the Center for Mindfulness in Public Safety, and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute, while also serving as CEO and senior trainer for Heart Mind Institute and Windhorse Seminars & Consulting. With more than five decades of meditation practice and over four decades of teaching experience, Dr. Maull has trained extensively in the Tibetan, Zen, and Vipassana Buddhist traditions. He was a close student and personal attendant of renowned Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, founder of Naropa University, and a Dharma successor of Zen master, social entrepreneur, and peacemaker Roshi Bernie Glassman. Dr. Maull is a fully empowered senior Dharma teacher in both the Tibetan and Zen traditions, serving as an Acharya in the Shambhala Meditation Community and a Roshi in the Zen Peacemaker Order and Soto Zen lineage. He is also a fully ordained senior Zen priest in the Soto Zen lineage of Maezumi Roshi. Since 1981, Dr. Maull has taught mindfulness-awareness meditation to thousands of practitioners worldwide, leading more than 100 meditation retreats and offering programs for both newcomers and advanced students. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in the modern mindfulness movement and has developed innovative mindfulness-based emotional intelligence, trauma-informed leadership, and resilience training programs. His pioneering Mindfulness-Based Wellness & Resiliency (MBWR®) programs have been used to support first responders, law enforcement professionals, correctional officers, healthcare workers, and social service providers. A certified professional mindfulness teacher and teacher trainer, Dr. Maull serves on the advisory board of the International Mindfulness Teachers Association (IMTA), the Institute for Organizational Mindfulness, and the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism. He is also a certified Council Trainer with the Ojai Foundation and the Center for Council Training. Dr. Maull taught Socially Engaged Buddhism, Buddhist Psychology, Contemplative Approaches to Peacemaking and Social Action, and Integral Politics at Naropa University from 1999 to 2010. He has also been a guest lecturer at institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Medical School, Brown University, Emory University, the University of Colorado, the University of Illinois, Colorado State University, and Smith College. A sought-after keynote speaker, he regularly presents at conferences and professional gatherings focused on mindfulness, corrections, social work, trauma recovery, resilience, and end-of-life care. He is the author of The Mindful C.O. (2021), Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live Your Highest Purpose, and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good (2019), and Dharma in Hell: The Prison Writings of Fleet Maull (2000), along with numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. Throughout his career, he has trained public safety professionals, treatment providers, trauma counselors, and prison volunteers across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Chile, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Rwanda. Today, Dr. Maull continues to travel globally leading mindfulness retreats, transformational leadership programs, resilience training, prison initiatives, and bearing witness retreats, while also offering these programs online through his various organizations.

Jonathan Sherrill – Founder of Waypoint Founders and Co-Author of The Extraordinary Exit: How to Sell Your Business for Maximum Value, Protect Your Legacy, and Walk Away with No Regrets It takes time and it’s extra work to train someone to do something that you do, and so we fall into the trap of it’s just easier to do it myself. Jonathan Sherrill is an entrepreneur, investor, author, and founder of Waypoint Founders, an organization dedicated to helping business owners successfully navigate the personal and professional challenges of selling a company. After spending more than twenty-five years building, scaling, and investing in businesses, Jonathan developed a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, mergers and acquisitions, leadership, and what happens after a successful exit. Jonathan is best known for transforming a shuttered sawmill into Quicken Steel, a high-growth company that achieved Inc. 500-caliber success before being sold in 2022. The transaction delivered a 6.5 times return on invested equity, but the experience also revealed an often-overlooked reality of entrepreneurship: the most difficult part of selling a business is frequently what comes next. The unexpected challenges of identity, purpose, relationships, and life after the deal inspired Jonathan to devote his work to helping founders prepare for the transition beyond the closing table. He is the co-author of The Extraordinary Exit: How to Sell Your Business for Maximum Value, Protect Your Legacy, and Walk Away with No Regrets. The book provides practical guidance for entrepreneurs navigating one of the most significant events of their professional lives, addressing both the financial and personal dimensions of a business sale. Through Waypoint Founders, Jonathan works with founder-operators before, during, and after an exit, helping them prepare for the emotional, relational, and strategic realities that traditional advisors often overlook. He is also an active investor, speaker, and advisor whose insights on entrepreneurship, business growth, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, founder psychology, and life after exit have resonated with business owners across the country. Today, Jonathan’s mission is to help entrepreneurs achieve not only a successful transaction but also a successful transition, ensuring that the next chapter of life is every bit as rewarding as the business they worked so hard to build. Fred Marshall – CEO of Quantum Learning and Author of Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock The superpower to develop is the ability to learn fast and adapt fast. Fredric Marshall is the founder and CEO of Quantum Learning, a performance improvement and consulting firm that has helped some of the world’s most innovative companies accelerate growth, navigate change, and launch successful new products. Over the course of his career, Fred has become a recognized expert in change management, leadership development, sales force effectiveness, and high-performance behaviors, working with organizations including Apple, Pfizer, Genentech, Biogen, and Janssen. For more than three decades, Fred has studied the research-based behavioral patterns that separate top performers from the rest and has helped organizations scale those behaviors across entire teams. He has personally trained more than 130,000 professionals in fourteen countries, while the Quantum Learning team has supported the launch of more than seventy new biopharmaceutical brands that have generated billions of dollars in revenue and growth. Known for his ability to simplify complex challenges and transform uncertainty into action, Fred has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to executives, sales leaders, and organizations operating in highly competitive and rapidly changing markets. His work focuses on helping individuals and teams develop the mindset, skills, and adaptability needed to thrive in environments defined by constant disruption and accelerating change. Fred is the author of Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock, a practical guide for navigating uncertainty, reducing overwhelm, and building momentum in both business and life. Drawing on decades of experience helping organizations compete and win in fast-moving industries, the book provides actionable strategies for transforming anxiety into confidence and change into opportunity. In addition to leading Quantum Learning, Fred has served as a guest lecturer at Cornell University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Wharton-Japan Program. He is also a frequent contributor to industry publications and conferences, where he shares insights on leadership, innovation, performance, and the future of work. Through his consulting, speaking, and writing, Fred continues to help leaders and organizations thrive in a world where change has become the new constant.

Mickie Kennedy – Founder of eReleases and Author of Worth Building & Glandscape A lot of people feel they’re too small to matter, but that’s an advantage when it comes to the media. Mickie Kennedy is an entrepreneur, author, poet, and founder of eReleases, one of the leading press release distribution companies serving small businesses, startups, authors, and entrepreneurs. For more than two decades, he has helped organizations gain media attention, build credibility, and increase visibility by connecting them with journalists, news outlets, and influential media platforms. Through eReleases, Mickie has assisted thousands of businesses in earning meaningful press coverage and establishing themselves as trusted authorities in their industries. A recognized expert in public relations and media outreach, Mickie is passionate about helping small businesses compete with larger organizations by leveraging strategic publicity rather than expensive advertising. His work focuses on helping entrepreneurs build trust, strengthen their online presence, and create the kind of third-party validation that drives growth and credibility. Through speaking, consulting, and educational content, he shares practical insights on media relations, press releases, branding, and authority building. In addition to his entrepreneurial career, Mickie is an accomplished poet and author. He is the author of the poetry collection Worth Burning and the chapbook Glandscapes. His work has appeared in numerous respected literary publications, including POETRY, Prairie Schooner, The Threepenny Review, The Southern Review, and The Sun. His writing often explores themes of identity, resilience, family, memory, and personal transformation. Mickie earned an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University, where he studied under acclaimed poet Carolyn Forché. Originally from rural North Carolina, he now divides his time between Maryland and Delaware. Whether helping businesses earn media coverage or sharing stories through poetry, Mickie is driven by the belief that authentic stories have the power to connect people, build trust, and create lasting impact. Jon Ostenson – Founder & CEO of FranBridge Consulting and Author of Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership Non-sexy is the new sexy when it comes to business ownership. Jon Ostenson is an entrepreneur, franchise investor, consultant, speaker, and author specializing in non-food franchising and alternative paths to business ownership. He is the founder and CEO of FranBridge Consulting, a two-time Inc. 5000 company, where he helps entrepreneurs, executives, and investors evaluate franchise opportunities and build wealth through business ownership. Recognized as a top franchise consultant, Jon has guided hundreds of clients through the process of selecting, financing, and launching franchise businesses that align with their financial goals, lifestyle preferences, and long-term objectives. Drawing on experience from both the franchisor and franchisee sides of the industry, Jon brings a unique perspective to franchise investing. Prior to founding FranBridge Consulting, he served as President of ShelfGenie, an Inc. 500 franchise system with more than 200 locations across North America. He is also a multi-brand franchise owner and investor, giving him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges entrepreneurs face when building businesses through proven franchise systems. Jon is the author of the bestselling book Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership, which highlights the growing opportunities available outside of traditional food and restaurant concepts. He is a frequent contributor and thought leader on franchising, business ownership, and entrepreneurship, with insights featured in publications including Forbes, Inc., and Bloomberg. Before entering the franchise industry, Jon held executive leadership roles with major national companies, including serving as Vice President of Sales for Carter’s, Inc., where he oversaw more than $350 million in annual sales. He began his career as a consultant with Accenture, working with clients both domestically and internationally. Jon earned both his BBA in Finance and MBA from the University of Georgia and was recognized by the University of Georgia Alumni Association as a recipient of its prestigious 40 Under 40 award. Today, Jon is passionate about helping professionals create financial freedom, diversify their investments, and pursue business ownership through scalable franchise opportunities. Through his consulting, writing, and speaking, he helps aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the franchise landscape with confidence and clarity.

Patrick Engasser – Author of If I Can Do It, You Can Do It!: Inspiration for Eliminating Excuses, Overcoming Challenges, and Succeeding in Business and Life  Find out what your dream is, find out what your version of vacation is, and do your best to build your business around that lifestyle and build that life the way you want it. Patrick Engasser is a bestselling author, business coach, motivational speaker, and sales leadership expert who has spent his career helping individuals and organizations achieve extraordinary results by overcoming obstacles and maximizing their potential. Blind since birth, Patrick has built a successful career by refusing to let limitations define his future, becoming a powerful example of resilience, determination, and achievement. Patrick began his professional career with a Fortune 500 insurance company, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the organization’s top-performing sales professionals. By his third year, he earned recognition as a Top Account Closer and later advanced into leadership roles, building and managing a seven-figure sales organization. Throughout his career, he has coached and mentored numerous sales professionals, helping them develop successful careers while earning three of the company’s highest honors for Management Excellence. Today, Patrick is the author of If I Can Do It, You Can Do It!: Inspiration for Eliminating Excuses, Overcoming Challenges, and Succeeding in Business and Life. Through his writing, coaching, and speaking, he shares practical lessons on personal responsibility, perseverance, leadership, sales success, and overcoming adversity. His message resonates with entrepreneurs, executives, sales professionals, students, and anyone seeking to break through self-imposed limitations. A highly sought-after speaker, Patrick has delivered hundreds of presentations and training programs across the United States for corporations, universities, leadership organizations, sales teams, and youth groups. His unique combination of business expertise and life experience allows him to inspire audiences while providing actionable strategies for achieving success in both business and life. Through his coaching and consulting work, Patrick continues to help professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and high achievers eliminate excuses, overcome challenges, and reach their goals faster, proving that determination and mindset often matter far more than circumstance. Anne Candido & April Martini – Co-Founders of ForthRight People and Author of The Power of Your Personal Brand: A Playbook for Struggling Middle Managers Who Want to Do Big Things If you don’t define your personal brand, somebody else is going to do it for you. Anne Candido & April Martini are the authors of The Power of Your Personal Brand: A Playbook for Struggling Middle Managers Who Want to Do Big Things, and co-founders of ForthRight People, a leadership performance company focused on building high-performing leaders from the inside out. They believe a leader’s Personal Brand is their greatest competitive advantage – and when understood and activated intentionally, it becomes a powerful driver of influence, credibility, and impact in pursuit of a leader’s “Big Thing.” Their perspective is grounded in more than 45 years of combined experience navigating the realities of middle management and coaching hundreds of leaders through career inflection points. Having lived the challenges of the “struggling middle,” Anne and April bring practical frameworks, candid stories, and real-world application to help leaders move from a state of struggle to one of clarity, intentionality and credibility. Together, they challenge the idea that Personal Brand is something you manufacture. Instead, they teach leaders how to uncover what’s already there – and use it to guide decisions, shape presence, and accelerate growth for themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

Geoffrey Cain – Author of Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary I would have never gotten where I am in life or business if I hadn’t had people mentoring me. Geoffrey Cain is an award-winning author, investigative journalist, foreign correspondent, and expert on technology, innovation, and leadership. He is the author of Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary, a deeply researched account of the twelve years Steve Jobs spent outside Apple and how failure, setbacks, and reinvention shaped the entrepreneur who would ultimately lead one of the greatest comebacks in business history. Over the course of his career, Geoffrey has interviewed world leaders, technology founders, corporate executives, investors, dissidents, and innovators at pivotal moments in history. His reporting and research have taken him around the world, producing acclaimed books that explore the forces shaping technology, business, and society. His previous books include Samsung Rising, which was longlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award, and The Perfect Police State, which was named NPR’s Book of the Day and received a citation from the Overseas Press Club for the Cornelius Ryan Award. Geoffrey’s work has been praised by leading publications including the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Forbes, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews. Known for combining investigative rigor with compelling storytelling, he specializes in uncovering the hidden struggles, failures, and turning points behind remarkable success stories. In addition to his writing, Geoffrey is a frequent guest on CNN, NPR, Bloomberg Television, and other major media outlets, where he provides analysis on technology, business, global affairs, and innovation. He has also testified before the United States Senate and advised leaders seeking to communicate complex ideas and build lasting influence. As Managing Partner of Alembic Partners, Geoffrey works with founders, investors, and executives to develop thought leadership, strategic positioning, and powerful narratives that help them stand out in competitive markets. Whether writing about global technology giants or entrepreneurial reinvention, his work explores a central theme: how people recover from failure, adapt to change, and ultimately achieve extraordinary success. P. Scott Being – CEO of MonoSol, LLC and Author of The Back Nine: Inspiration and Insights on Retaining Relevance, Purpose, and Integrity in Retirement A lot of what the wilderness is, is learning to work with the limitations of the world and finding your place within it. P. Scott Bening is an accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, author, and former CEO of MonoSol, LLC, the company that pioneered and commercialized water-soluble film technology used in single-dose detergent products around the world. During his tenure as President and CEO, Scott helped grow MonoSol from a small startup operation into a global industry leader serving the multibillion-dollar consumer goods market. Under his leadership, water-soluble unit-dose packaging became the worldwide standard for laundry and household cleaning products, transforming consumer behavior and reshaping an entire industry. Drawing on expertise in innovation, strategic partnerships, marketing, manufacturing, and business development, Scott built a reputation for guiding companies through rapid growth while maintaining a strong focus on customer needs and long-term value creation. His success earned widespread recognition, including induction as a Fellow of The Society of Innovators of Indiana, recognition by the United States Congress, and membership in the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Today, Scott serves as CEO of MBS2 Advisors, where he mentors entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders on growth strategy, leadership, innovation, and organizational development. He is also the author of The Back Nine: Inspiration and Insights on Retaining Relevance, Purpose, and Integrity in Retirement, a book that explores how successful professionals can continue to find meaning, contribution, and fulfillment during the later stages of life and career. A graduate of St. Lawrence University and the University of Illinois Chicago, Scott also serves on the Board of Trustees at Butler University. Through his advisory work, writing, and speaking, he continues to share lessons learned from building a global company while helping others navigate leadership, personal growth, and purposeful transitions in business and life.

Jen Austin – Founder & President of Riply, the first AI-powered newsroom designed for local radio As long as we have it as a human-led entity, then it can be very effective. Jen Austin is a three-decade radio veteran and on-air personality who has been heard on more than 100 stations across the U.S., reaching over 10 million listeners through Townsquare Media, Virtual News Center, Global 1 Media, Mountain Dog Media, iHeart, Baroka Broadcasting, and others. After decades in the business, Jen saw the same challenge again and again: shrinking staffs, tighter budgets, and local communities losing reliable news coverage. That experience led her to found Riply, a full-service, ready-to-air newsroom built specifically for radio stations, podcasters, and content creators. Riply delivers local and regional news, weather, sports, lifestyle, and entertainment content using a powerful blend of AI speed and human editorial oversight. Stations can choose human or AI voices, add new voices without new hires, and fill programming gaps across mornings, afternoons, nights, weekends, and holidays. Jen is not a tech founder who discovered radio. She is a broadcaster who built the platform she always wished existed. As president of Riply, she remains hands-on with editorial standards, sound quality, and ensuring every piece of content is natural, accurate, credible, and broadcast-ready. Riply was created to support local radio, not replace it. Its mission is simple: help stations expand their on-air presence quickly, affordably, and responsibly, while giving teams more time and flexibility to focus on the content that matters most to their communities. Joseph Moore PhD – Author of How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice that Worked (& Didn’t) The lesson of history is clear: upward mobility is as alive as ever before. Joseph Moore is the author of How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice that Worked (& Didn’t). He is an author, historian, and investor whose research into America’s 300-year pursuit of wealth helped make him financially independent in his mid-40s. Moore spent more than a decade studying the financial strategies Americans have used to get ahead, from stocks and real estate to scams, speculation, crypto, and wild get-rich schemes. He even tested some of history’s strangest ideas himself, including buying land on the moon, founding a cryptocurrency, shorting Jim Cramer’s stock picks, and renting out every room in his house. His writing combines serious historical research with sharp humor and unforgettable stories, including tales like Teddy Roosevelt’s wife taking away his checkbook. His work has appeared through HarperCollins, The New York Times, Oxford University Press, and other major outlets. His first book was praised as “extraordinary” and “witty,” and his newest book has been described as one that “leaves you believing in the American Dream again.”

Andrea Baumann Lustig – Manager Partner at Fischer Stralem Advisors and Author of Legacy on the Line: Overcome Blind Spots to Grow and Transfer Your Wealth The same hustle that built your business can actually work against you when it comes time to sell it. Andrea Baumann Lustig is Managing Partner of Fischer Stralem Advisors, where she helps entrepreneurs, executives, and multigenerational families build, protect, and transfer wealth with long-term purpose and strategy. With more than 30 years of experience in wealth management, investment banking, and management consulting, Andrea specializes in guiding founders through the often-overlooked transition from business success to lasting personal wealth. A sixth-generation wealth adviser whose family legacy in finance dates back to Banque Levy in 1810, Andrea has been repeatedly recognized on the Forbes list of Top Women Wealth Advisors. She is also the author of the upcoming book Legacy on the Line, which explores why founders should begin wealth planning long before a business sale or liquidity event occurs. Andrea believes many entrepreneurs make a costly mistake by delaying wealth planning until after they exit their business. By then, critical decisions involving taxes, estate strategy, ownership structures, philanthropy, and family wealth transfer may already be fixed, limiting flexibility and reducing long-term outcomes. Her work focuses on helping founders think strategically years before a sale so they can maximize both financial opportunity and family legacy. At Fischer Stralem Advisors, Andrea leads a multi-generational advisory firm that coordinates closely with attorneys, accountants, and insurance professionals to create highly personalized wealth strategies. Clients rely on her team not only for investment management, but also for integrated planning that aligns financial decisions with long-term goals and values. Andrea earned BA and MPA degrees in International Relations from Princeton University and an MBA from Yale University. Beyond her professional work, she is deeply involved in philanthropic and educational organizations, serving in leadership roles with institutions including Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Weizmann Institute of Science, and Park Avenue Synagogue. Andrea is a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, wealth stewardship, succession planning, philanthropy, and the historic transfer of wealth now underway in America. Kurt Belding – Founder of Western Obsessions TV The biggest thing videos do is pop and exposure, exposing more people to what we do, and then also starts to build trust within the brand. Kurt Belding is the founder and host of Western Obsession TV and the driving force behind Hunt Adventures, a company dedicated to connecting hunters with exceptional guided experiences across North America and beyond. A lifelong outdoorsman with a deep respect for the fair chase tradition, Kurt has built his reputation on authenticity, integrity, and a passion for the hunting lifestyle. Through Western Obsession TV, he shares real world hunting adventures, showcasing the people, places, and wildlife that make the outdoors so compelling. Kurt and his team personally evaluate every outfitter and destination featured through Hunt Adventures, ensuring that each experience meets the same standards viewers have come to expect from the show: genuine hunting opportunities, quality outfitters, and unforgettable adventures. His mission is simple: help hunters create lasting memories in the field while preserving the traditions and values that define the hunting community.

Rene Sonneveld – Author of The Elephant in the Family Room: Managing the Complexities of Legacy Businesses The less we talk about those things that are hard but are necessary to talk about, the bigger the elephant gets. René Sonneveld is an executive coach, educator, former international executive, and author of The Elephant in the Family Room: Managing the Complexities of Legacy Businesses. For more than 25 years, he has worked with business families, entrepreneurs, and ultra high net worth family enterprises around the world, helping them navigate the often-unspoken emotional dynamics that shape succession, governance, leadership, and long-term family unity. René began his career as an international tax lawyer, working across the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Curaçao before moving into senior leadership positions with major global financial institutions. At UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank, he advised some of the world’s most successful family enterprises and wealthy families, leading initiatives in wealth management, family governance, succession planning, fiduciary structures, and family office strategy. Through that work, he discovered that even the most sophisticated governance systems fail when they ignore the human side of family relationships. Drawing on those experiences, René developed Enterprise Family Coaching, an approach that combines governance expertise with the psychological and relational realities that determine whether family businesses thrive across generations. Since 2012, he has advised family controlled companies and business families worldwide, helping them address issues that are often difficult to discuss openly but critical to preserving both family harmony and business success. A Master Certified Coach and Vice Chairman of the International Coaching Federation’s Global Board of Coaching Education, René also teaches leadership coaching and organizational performance at American University, Rutgers University, and North Carolina State University. His work spans six continents and focuses on helping leaders, families, and organizations address what others leave unsaid. Through his writing, teaching, and advisory work, René provides a rare inside perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing multi-generational family enterprises. Brian Smith – Keynote Speaker & Founder of UGG If you did all the research and knew what was ahead, you would never start. Brian Smith is an Australian born entrepreneur, bestselling author, and keynote speaker best known as the founder of the UGG Australia brand, the iconic sheepskin footwear that grew into a global fashion and lifestyle phenomenon. After graduating as a chartered accountant in Australia and studying at the UCLA Graduate School of Management, Brian left public accounting and moved to California driven by his passion for surfing and business. Noticing that there were no sheepskin boots available in the United States, he and a friend imported a small number of pairs from Australia and began building what would become the UGG brand, growing it into a national business over seventeen years before selling it to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, where it continued to expand into a billion dollar global brand. Drawing on his experience building and selling UGG, Brian became a sought after business speaker, sharing lessons on entrepreneurship, brand building, leadership, resilience, and company culture with audiences around the world. He is also the author of The Birth of a Brand, and his talks combine personal stories with practical insights to inspire business owners and leaders of all ages.

Larissa Schneider –  Co-Founder & COO of Unframe AI We didn’t want to be this company that is just sitting in a corner or basement and thinking about what the market wants. Larissa Schneider is a global enterprise technology executive and co-founder of Unframe, an AI company helping large organizations turn artificial intelligence from an expensive experiment into a practical business tool. With more than a decade of leadership experience in enterprise technology, Larissa has helped scale high-growth companies through IPOs, acquisitions, and major expansion phases, including senior leadership roles at Nutanix and Noname Security. Throughout her career, Larissa worked at the intersection of complex enterprise technology and the real-world business teams expected to use it. After watching companies struggle with clunky AI tools, painful integrations, and unclear ROI, she co-founded Unframe to solve the gap between AI’s promise and actual enterprise value. At Unframe, Larissa leads strategy and operations as the company builds an AI layer designed to make existing enterprise systems genuinely intelligent without forcing companies to rip out and replace their current infrastructure. The company raised $50 million to help enterprises deploy AI solutions that integrate quickly, deliver measurable outcomes, and reduce the friction that has slowed AI adoption across large organizations. Larissa discusses why so many enterprise AI projects fail, what businesses actually need from AI tools, how to bridge the gap between experimentation and execution, and why the future of enterprise AI will depend less on hype and more on seamless integration, usability, and measurable business impact. Kay Koplovitz – Chairman of Koplovitz & Co, Founder of USA Network & Sci Fi Channel and Author of Been There, Run That People actually do treat you in the end the way you treat yourself Kay Koplovitz started her amazing career by using geosynchronous orbiting satellites to broadcast the Thrilla in Manila between Ali and Frazier, opening the world to global communications. She launched the first satellite delivered basic cable network, USA Network, creating the two revenue stream model – advertising and licensing – that still exists today. It is the model that makes the cable networks so profitable. During her tenure, she built USA into the #1 ranking in prime time viewership among cable networks, for 13 consecutive years. The Company was sold in 1998 for $4.5 Billion and became a publicly listed company. Today, she is devoted to helping women build their companies and create jobs. As Chairman of Springboard Enterprises, the nation’s premier platform for connecting women with venture capital, Kay helped 481 companies raise over $5.5 billion in new capital. Springboard partners with Angel Funds, VC’s and corporations to grow great female owned companies that have yielded extraordinary growth levels and positive liquidity events for investors including IPO’s. Her latest passion is joining thought leaders at Singularity University and XPrize to brainstorm ways to bring technology innovation to commercial enterprise and better the lives of the 7 billion people around the globe.

Abbas Mohammed – Founder of Remote Leverage – Recruiting Agency Helping Businesses Hire English Speaking Virtual Assistants From Latin America & The Philippines for 70% Less Than U.S. Employees. Whatever that reason is, I would just go and hire more people to fill that gap, and then I would move on to the next reason. Abbas Mohammed is the founder of Remote Leverage, a global recruiting agency that helps businesses hire English-speaking virtual assistants and remote team members from Latin America and the Philippines at a fraction of traditional U.S. hiring costs. Starting with less than $5,000 at age 18, Abbas scaled the company to more than $1.5 million in monthly revenue in under two years, building a team of more than 120 people across 25 countries. 3x Founder. Rather than inventing something completely new, Abbas focused on executing a proven business model better than anyone else. After recognizing that successful entrepreneurs were already leveraging virtual assistants to scale operations, he built systems, processes, and recruiting infrastructure that made global hiring simpler, faster, and lower risk for growing companies. Today, Remote Leverage helps businesses build remote teams without the overhead and financial pressure of traditional local hiring. Abbas is a strong advocate for practical entrepreneurship, proving that business success does not require groundbreaking creativity or massive startup capital. Instead, he emphasizes disciplined execution, strong systems, and hiring the right people. Giuseppe Grammatico – Founder of GG The Franchise Guide Do not chase someone else’s version of success. Giuseppe Grammatico is a franchise veteran, consultant, author, speaker, and founder of GG The Franchise Guide, where he helps corporate professionals, executives in transition, and military veterans evaluate franchise ownership as a pathway to business ownership, income diversification, and long-term freedom. With more than two decades of experience spanning corporate leadership, franchise ownership, and master franchising, Giuseppe brings real-world perspective and hands-on experience to the franchise industry. He is the author of Franchise Freedom and host of the highly ranked Franchise Freedom Podcast, where he shares practical insights on entrepreneurship, semi-passive franchise models, and building financial security outside traditional investments. Since 2018, Giuseppe has appeared on numerous podcasts and media platforms discussing franchising as an alternative to stocks, crypto, and even real estate investing. Known for simplifying the franchise process, Giuseppe guides candidates through a structured, personalized approach to finding business models that align with their goals, lifestyle, and desired level of involvement. His expertise includes franchise evaluation, career-transition planning, scalable business models, and helping professionals create a “career safety net” through business ownership. Giuseppe’s content resonates strongly with audiences interested in entrepreneurship, wealth-building, alternative investing, and late-career pivots. He also maintains a strong online presence with more than 18,000 LinkedIn followers and actively promotes podcast appearances and collaborations across his network.

Kara Vaval, Esq. – Attorney, Keynote Speaker, Transformational Coach,The Laptop Lifestyle Lawyer and Author of From Clearance to Priceless Kara Vaval, Esq. is a Florida-based personal injury attorney, keynote speaker, transformational coach, author, and the creator of The Laptop Lifestyle Lawyer® brand. Born in Haiti, Kara overcame the loss of her father at age 14 and her grandmother four years later, using those early hardships as fuel to build a life rooted in purpose, resilience, and freedom. She is the CEO of Vaval Law, a personal injury law firm, and The InPowerment Institute, LLC, an educational and empowerment platform offering courses, coaching, retreats, and training for women who want to create fuller, freer, more intentional lives. Through her Laptop Lifestyle Lawyer Community, Kara helps women lawyers build virtual law practices, achieve financial independence, protect their well-being, and pursue success on their own terms. Kara is the author of 28,000 Days…Make Yours Count! and From Clearance to Priceless, which features a foreword by Lisa Nichols and became a bestseller in three categories within 24 hours of its March 2026 release. Through her Main Karacter™ framework, she encourages high-achieving women to step into the lead role of their lives, professionally and personally. She is also the founder and host of The Unfiltered with Kara Podcast and The Laptop Lifestyle Lawyer Podcast. Above all, Kara is most proud of being mom to her two children, Luc and Lia, who continue to inspire the life and business she has intentionally created. Joe Abraham – Serial Entrepreneur and Author of Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery that Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths Joe is founder/CEO of bosiDNA.com and it’s award-winning Accelerator. A serial entrepreneur himself, Joe has started up, grown and exited three companies of his own and invested in over 20 growing startups. He is author of Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery That Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths (McGraw Hill 2011). He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and on FoxNews, CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC, WGN and numerous nationally syndicated radio shows on topics related to entrepreneurship and small business growth – and serves as advisor to  entrepreneurship programs domestically and around the world. In 2005, Joe launched a boutique startup incubator/SMB accelerator in Chicago where he launched a dozen startups with various entrepreneurs. Every one of those startups are still in business today. In the fall of 2008, while working with some of those companies, he stumbled across the discovery of Entrepreneurial DNA and proceeded to call itBOSI (for Builder, Opportunist, Specialist and Innovator). Two-and-a-half years of R&D later, the book Entrepreneurial DNA laying out the discovery and findings was complete. Joe runs bosiDNA.com (a tech venture) and BOSI Performance Institute that provides training and consulting services surrounding BOSI.

Cheryl Einhorn – Consultant, Academic, Journalist and Author of The Human Edge, Smarter Decisions In the Age of AI AI doesn’t care about the consequences Cheryl Strauss Einhorn is the creator of the AREA Method, a research and decision-making system designed to help individuals, companies, and nonprofits solve complex problems with greater clarity and confidence. Her framework is widely used for business strategy, organizational decision-making, leadership development, and communication, helping leaders make smarter choices in high-stakes environments. Cheryl is the founder and CEO of Decisive, a decision-sciences company that provides leadership training, executive coaching, curriculum design, and professional development services. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Cornell University and previously taught at Columbia Business School and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. An award-winning investigative journalist, Cheryl has earned recognition for her reporting on business, international politics, and economic issues. Her expertise in research and analytical thinking led her to develop the AREA Method, which combines structured inquiry with behavioral psychology to improve both personal and professional decision-making. Cheryl is the author of several acclaimed books, including Problem Solved, Investing in Financial Research, Problem Solver, and Problem Solver Profiles. Her newest book, The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI, explores how human judgment and emotional intelligence remain essential in an increasingly AI-driven world. Through her writing, teaching, consulting, and widely viewed TED Talk, Cheryl continues to help leaders and organizations improve the quality of their decisions while navigating uncertainty, complexity, and rapid technological change. Eric Tabone – Founder and Managing Director of Nearshore Business Solutions The more you get your hands dirty, the easier you see the problem, and you could create the solution. Eric Tabone is the Founder and Managing Director of Nearshore Business Solutions, a recruiting firm that helps U.S. companies build high-performing remote teams across Latin America. Over the last 16 years, Eric has lived and worked throughout the region, helping growth-stage and mid-market businesses hire vetted professionals in countries including Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Costa Rica. Originally from the United States, Eric moved to Bogota with limited resources and no Spanish, expecting only a short stay. Instead, the experience became the foundation for a career spent building companies, leading cross-border teams, and helping U.S. businesses navigate international hiring and remote operations. Since then, he has supported more than 200 successful hires while developing a practical understanding of both Latin American business culture and the operational demands of U.S. companies. Through Nearshore Business Solutions, Eric and his team combine AI-powered sourcing with in-country recruiting expertise to help companies identify, vet, and onboard top talent in under 30 days. His leadership philosophy is shaped by firsthand experience adapting to unfamiliar environments, building businesses across cultures, and learning how to lead effectively through uncertainty and rapid growth. Outside of work, Eric is a father of two daughters, an avid traveler who has visited more than 30 countries, a foodie, amateur sommelier, and dedicated runner. Ironically, the only class he ever failed in school was Spanish, a language he now uses every day.

Erin Rollenhagen – Founder and CEO of People-Friendly Tech No one’s looking to download a new app, so you have to stake your claim to why this is worth space on someone’s home screen Erin Rollenhagen is the Founder and CEO of People-Friendly Tech and the author of Love at First Launch: A visionary’s guide to bringing extraordinary tech to life. With nearly two decades of experience guiding visionary executives, Erin has led over 200 successful technology launches spanning startups, healthcare, finance, and other highly regulated industries. Her work has been featured in TechCrunch and Axios, earned national awards, and positioned her as a trusted partner for leaders determined to build more than just functional products. Erin’s approach centers on preserving the magic of the original vision, balancing compliance with creativity, and designing experiences that spark deep emotional connection. Whether working with C-suite innovators or fast-growth entrepreneurs, Erin helps transform bold ideas into platforms that delight users, reshape businesses, and redefine industries. Jodi Grant – Executive Director at Afterschool Alliance & Gigi Antoni – Vice President, Youth Development, at The Wallace Foundation When their parents are working, they are going to be learning. The question is just what are they learning, and where are they doing it? Jodi Grant has spent two decades making afterschool and summer learning a national priority. As Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance, she has secured billions in federal and state investments, built a network of nearly 30,000 partners, and positioned afterschool and summer learning programs as essential supports for children, families, and communities. Gigi Antoni leads The Wallace Foundation team responsible for its work on summer learning and after-school system building. Before joining Wallace, Antoni served as president and CEO of Big Thought, a nonprofit that today serves 130,000 of Dallas’s most marginalized young people with school and community-based programming during the school day, after school, and over the summer. Bret Perkins – Senior Vice President of Community Growth and Economic Development at Comcast Every entrepreneur that takes that step makes a statement about taking a risk on themselves. Bret Perkins serves as Senior Vice President of Community Growth and Economic Development. He shapes and advances Comcast’s economic development efforts in partnership with government and business organizations to support investment, drive business growth, and strengthen regional economies. Bret joined Comcast in 2001 and most recently was Senior Vice President of External and Government Affairs, guiding the company’s growth from 2,500 to serving more than 6,000 communities. He helped create Internet Essentials, which has become the nation’s largest and most comprehensive internet adoption program for low-income Americans.

Eric Ries – Author of Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad… and How Great Companies Stay Great An organization that cannot be trusted cannot accumulate the most underrated asset in the world today, which is trustworthiness Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Lean Startup movement, whose work has transformed how modern companies approach innovation, growth, and long term sustainability. Over the last two decades, his ideas on continuous innovation, adaptive management, governance, and long term thinking have influenced startups, Fortune 500 companies, investors, and public institutions around the world. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Lean Startup, The Startup Way, and The Leader’s Guide, books that have become foundational texts for entrepreneurs and executives seeking to build resilient, innovative organizations. Beyond his writing, Ries has founded and helped lead several influential companies and initiatives, including IMVU, where the principles that became the Lean Startup methodology were first developed; the Lean Startup Company; Virgil, a legal services startup; Answer.AI, an artificial intelligence research and development lab; and the Long Term Stock Exchange, an effort to align capital markets with long term value creation. He has also served as an entrepreneur in residence at Harvard Business School and IDEO, advising leaders on innovation, organizational transformation, and sustainable growth. Ries is also the host of The Eric Ries Show, where he interviews world class founders, technologists, executives, and thinkers about the future of business, technology, and society. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children. His latest book, Incorruptible, explores why successful companies lose their way and how organizations can protect themselves from corruption, short term incentives, and institutional decay. Drawing on decades of experience working with founders, CEOs, investors, and policymakers, the book presents a framework for building companies that prosper financially while remaining aligned with human values, trust, and long term societal benefit. Eric Reveno – James C. Gaither Associate Head Coach and General Manager for Stanford Men’s Basketball The one thing that’s common about them is their values are pretty squared away. Eric Reveno is the James C. Gaither Associate Head Coach and General Manager for Stanford Men’s Basketball, bringing more than 28 years of Division I coaching experience and a reputation for transforming teams from the inside out. A former head coach at the University of Portland and a key leader at Stanford, Georgia Tech, and Oregon State, Reveno has built his career on one core belief: great leaders emerge from great teammates. Reveno’s framework flips the traditional leadership narrative. Instead of focusing on titles or hierarchy, he teaches individuals how to elevate the people around them — showing up with energy, building strong relationships, owning their influence, and staying relentlessly mission‑focused. His approach has shaped championship‑caliber cultures and offers a powerful blueprint for organizations navigating today’s collaborative, fast‑changing workplace. Whether speaking to executives, HR leaders, or managers, Reveno brings an “inside‑the‑huddle” perspective on what truly drives performance: trust, accountability, shared purpose, and the everyday behaviors that turn talented individuals into exceptional teams.

Lauren Schafer – Founder of Lake House Digital Media They remember how your story made them feel. Lauren Schafer is the founder of Lake House Digital Media, a boutique marketing agency that helps companies strengthen their digital presence through strategic SEO, content marketing, and thought leadership. She works with businesses across the United States, with a particular focus on life sciences, healthcare, startups, and highly specialized industries where trust and credibility are essential. Known for her hands on and relationship driven approach, Lauren helps brands improve visibility, generate qualified leads, and position executives as industry authorities. In addition to leading client strategy, Lauren is recognized for helping leadership teams maximize their presence on LinkedIn through profile optimization, executive branding, and practical training that drives authentic engagement. Through Lake House Digital Media, she partners with organizations ranging from early stage startups to established mid sized companies, creating marketing strategies designed to support long term growth and meaningful industry influence. Thomas Douglas – Chief Executive Officer of JMARK and The Author of Adapt or Die AI is more deceptive than a lot of other technologies, because it seems very simple. Thomas H. Douglas is the Chief Executive Officer of JMARK, an award-winning innovative IT solutions provider for organizations of all sizes. Thomas has led his company to 9 consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000, something only 1% of CEOs who make the list ever achieve. He became a part of JMARK designing, building, and maintaining its functional aspects as an entry-level engineer before purchasing the company in 2001. As JMARK’s CEO, he formulated processes that provided repeatable outcomes and a predictable revenue stream that placed JMARK on a growth trajectory that up to this day, is revolutionizing the region’s engagement with technology. JMARK has been providing I.T. support services in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for 30 Years; catering to various industries such as banking, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, accounting, legal, and oil, and gas. Thomas has seen it all as a father, veteran, business leader, and technologist. He visited 18 countries when he served in the US Navy and is also publishing a book entitled Adapt or Die, which explores Thomas’ algorithm of success. The algorithm is built on more than 30 years of lessons and business acumen that Tom has acquired through his tenure as CEO. He has now compiled his wisdom in order to provide the next generation of business leaders a launch pad to help them understand and determine product innovation, business strategy, growth, sales and marketing models, organizational strengths, operations, and processes. With his vast experience, Thomas is also a trusted technology adviser to international clients. He is an innovator in managed services and an engaging speaker on various topics like Executive Strategies, Entrepreneur Tactics, Technology Trends, IT Maturity Methodologies, Cybersecurity, and all Leadership and Technology related subjects.

Brandon Aversano – Founder of Alloy Market In some of the darkest times come the brightest moments. Brandon Aversano is the founder of Alloy Market, a Newtown, Pennsylvania-based fintech startup launched in 2023 to bring more transparency, trust, and simplicity to the gold and fine jewelry resale market. Alloy Market buys gold jewelry and other precious metals directly from consumers online, offering a tech-enabled alternative to the traditional “Cash for Gold” or pawn shop experience. The idea came from a deeply personal moment. While undergoing cancer treatment at age 30, Aversano brought jewelry he had inherited from his grandmother to Philadelphia’s historic Jeweler’s Row, hoping to sell it to help cover mounting medical bills. Instead, he had what he described as “an absolutely horrific experience,” marked by lowball offers and little clarity into how prices were being set. That experience became the foundation for Alloy Market. The company’s model gives customers a free evaluation kit, insured shipping, and an offer based on weight, gold content, and current market prices. Alloy uses X-ray fluorescence technology, certified scales, and real-time pricing data to analyze each item and provide a more transparent process. Now, Alloy Market has launched a new model where sellers get paid upfront and also keep a share of the resale upside, something rarely seen in this category. The goal is to give consumers immediate liquidity while allowing them to participate in the additional value their jewelry may create on the resale market. The timing is significant. Resale prices for fine jewelry are reportedly up about 17% year over year, with high-value pieces seeing roughly 22% growth on resale platforms. Gold has surged more than 200% since 2020, and demand is especially strong for high-purity gold pieces and everyday “wearable assets,” rather than only ultra-luxury jewelry. Mid-tier jewelry in the $500 to $2,000 range is now driving much of the resale volume, while pieces with intrinsic material value, including gold, pearls, and certified stones, are outperforming trend-based jewelry. Before founding Alloy Market, Aversano worked in management consulting, strategy at JetBlue, and financial services at JPMorgan Chase, where he oversaw a major co-branded credit card portfolio, including the Amazon Prime card. Since launching, Alloy has raised approximately $3 million from partners including 11 Tribes, Hustle Fund, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners. At its core, Alloy Market is built around a simple idea: customers deserve honesty, transparency, and respect when selling valuable personal items. As Aversano puts it, “We just try to be as honest and transparent as possible. I think that goes a really, really long way with customers.” Brandon can speak to why more consumers are liquidating jewelry right now, what is happening in the gold and estate resale market, the shift from pawn shops to digital resale platforms, and why more people are moving from “buy and keep forever” to “buy, wear, and eventually liquidate.” Alloy Market, just launched a model where sellers get paid upfront and keep a share of the resale upside, something we haven’t seen before in this category. Cindy Cohn – Executive Director of Electronic Frontier Foundation The AI doesn’t know when it’s lying to you and when it’s not. Cindy Cohn is the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. From 2000-2015 she served as EFF’s Legal Director as well as its General Counsel.  Ms. Cohn first became involved with EFF in 1993, when EFF asked her to serve as the outside lead attorney in Bernstein v. Dept. of Justice, the successful First Amendment challenge to the U.S. export restrictions on cryptography. Ms. Cohn has been named to TheNonProfitTimes 2020 Power & Influence TOP 50 list, honoring 2020’s movers and shakers.  In 2018, Forbes included Ms. Cohn as one of America’s Top 50 Women in Tech. The National Law Journal named Ms. Cohn one of 100 most influential lawyers in America in 2013, noting: “[I]f Big Brother is watching, he better look out for Cindy Cohn.” She was also named in 2006 for “rushing to the barricades wherever freedom and civil liberties are at stake online.”  In 2007 the National Law Journal named her one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in America. In 2010 the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of California awarded her its Intellectual Property Vanguard Award and in 2012 the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists awarded her the James Madison Freedom of Information Award. Ms. Cohn is the author of the professional memoir, called Privacy’s Defender published by MIT Press in March, 2026. As part of promoting the book, she appeared on The Daily.

Nikhil Choudhary – Managing Partner at Nirman Ventures The world we live in right now is designed around a human form factor Nikhil Choudhary is a Silicon Valley-based investor and operator focused on technologies modernizing the physical economy. He has spent more than two decades building and scaling businesses across construction, manufacturing, logistics, and real-asset–driven industries, before turning his attention to early-stage investing in robotics, autonomy, and applied AI systems deployed in real-world environments. His work centers on under-digitized sectors where productivity, safety, and labor constraints present both structural challenges and long-term technology opportunities. Choudhary’s perspective is shaped by hands-on operating experience, with an emphasis on solutions that perform outside controlled settings and deliver measurable outcomes on job sites, in warehouses, and across industrial operations. Mary Lou Panzano – Author of Cementing Change-Cracking the Code for Communications that Work & Cracking the Rich Code Volume 18 You can’t fix what you can’t see as a problem Mary Lou Panzano is an award-winning communications executive with over 35 years of experience in employee communications at global companies, empowering leaders to guide strategic organizational change. She is a certified leadership coach, communications advisor, speaker, and best-selling author, passionate about helping people succeed through any change they want to make in their business or lives. Mary Lou is a featured author in the Cracking the Rich Code, Volume 18 anthology and a contributing author in The Art of Connection: 365 Days of Resilience Quotes by Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and Influencers. Her solo book, Cementing Change: Cracking the Code for Communications that Work, will be published in 2026

Ted Yang – Author of Ageless Peak Performance: The Playbook for AI-Powered Excellence What becomes the real skill is knowing what’s real from AI slop. Ted Yang is a visionary entrepreneur, MIT-trained engineer, and multidisciplinary leader at the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact. With a career spanning elite institutions such as Bridgewater Associates and Citadel, Ted has led high-stakes investment strategies and built transformative businesses—from hedge funds and private equity platforms to high-growth startups like Daily Voice and Purple Insurance. Equally committed to public service and personal storytelling, Ted co-founded 4-CT, Connecticut’s largest COVID-19 relief fund, and earned a regional Emmy nomination for his creative work. He’s the author of a deeply personal memoir chronicling the premature birth of his triplets, Table for Five (see below!) and was appointed by Governor Lamont to the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, helping shape the future of learning in Connecticut. A compelling speaker and storyteller, Ted has taken the stage at South Summit, Startup Grind, Cleantech Open, and university commencements, and is known for translating complex ideas into actionable insights. His thought leadership has been featured by Fox Business News, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. Chris Seminatore – Founder of GetGeofencing A location is the strongest indicator of buying intent. Chris Seminatore is the founder of GetGeofencing.com, a location-based digital marketing agency that has worked with more than 1100 businesses across the U.S. and Mexico. He’s spent the past seven years helping organizations in highly practical, often overlooked industries like funeral homes, plasma donation centers, real estate, and political campaigns, and use geofencing and targeted advertising to drive measurable results. Before starting his agency, Chris served five years in the U.S. Navy, including deployments during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After leaving the military, his path included time in Los Angeles working in television commercial production, founding multiple businesses (one of which he exited), and eventually building GetGeofencing without outside funding. Today, he runs the company remotely from Mexico and is known for a straightforward, ROI-focused approach to marketing that prioritizes clarity, execution, and results over buzzwords or vanity metrics.

Joel Brewer – CEO of Brewer Digital You can move really, really fast, but you have to know where you’re headed. Joel Brewer is the Founder and CEO of Brewer Digital, a US based software development agency that helps early stage startup founders launch products with confidence. A software developer himself, Joel works directly with founders who have an idea, some traction, or fresh funding but no internal engineering leadership. His team builds MVPs, rescues failed offshore projects, and helps founders make smart technical decisions before they burn runway. Joel believes most startups do not fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they build the wrong thing or build it the wrong way. Brewer Digital partners with founders who value communication, clarity, and long term thinking over cheap shortcuts. With deep experience in HealthTech and FinTech, Joel helps founders decide what to build next, why it matters, and how to launch without creating technical debt that slows them down later. Dr. Dusty Hess –  Founder and CEO of Upstream Health If you see yourself as not playing a role in your own health, and you’re leaning on your health insurance to get you healthy, you’ve already lost Dr. Dusty Hess is a functional medicine doctor, speaker, and founder of Upstream Health, where he helps Christian families restore health by returning to God’s original design. Our modern world has drifted far downstream from the way we were created to live. Processed food, chronic stress, poor sleep, environmental toxins, and disconnected lifestyles have left many families feeling burned out, inflamed, anxious, and spiritually depleted. Dr. Hess believes the good news is that the body was built for more, and it still remembers how to heal. Through Upstream Health, Dr. Hess helps families turn upstream again by restoring physical, mental, and spiritual health through faith-driven functional medicine tools, education, and community. Through Upstream+, a personalized functional medicine membership, and Upstream Magazine, a monthly faith-based health publication, Upstream Health equips Christian families with practical, God-aligned habits to help prevent and reverse chronic disease, reclaim energy, and live with greater joy and purpose. As a speaker, Dr. Hess brings together science, Scripture, and humor to make audiences laugh, think, and take action. His talks are faith-filled, evidence-based, and designed to inspire lasting change long after the event ends.   Matt Atkenson – Executive Director of Sales & Operations at Ford Motor Company What I know from small business is that they watch their costs relentlessly. Matt Atkenson is the Executive Director of Ford Pro North America Sales and Operations at Ford Motor Company, where he leads sales and operational strategy for Ford’s commercial, government, and dealer reported business channels. In this role, he oversees key areas including production planning, inventory management, vehicle allocation, and scheduling, while working closely with dealers, fleet customers, field operations, and retail marketing teams. He also serves as chair of the Ford Pro Dealer Council and Fleet Advisory Board, helping strengthen Ford Pro’s dealer network and support businesses that rely on work vehicles every day. Atkenson has been with Ford for more than 20 years and has held leadership roles across sales, service, dealer relations, field operations, commercial and industrial sales, and retail communications. His work focuses on aligning Ford Pro’s vehicles, services, and customer support with the real needs of North American businesses, especially commercial fleets and small business owners.

Carrie Joy Grimes – Founder and CEO of WorkMoney and Author of The Joy of Money: How to Do More With and Feel Better About Your Money—No Matter How Much You Have Money is math plus motivation or feelings. Carrie Joy Grimes is the founder and CEO of WorkMoney, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping Americans lower costs, increase incomes, and build financial stability. Through its community of more than 9 million members, WorkMoney connects people with practical tools and resources that have helped them save more than $2 billion. Carrie Joy is the author of The Joy of Money: How to Do More With and Feel Better About Your Money No Matter How Much You Have, a practical guide that helps readers understand both the math and the emotions of money so they can build lasting financial security. Mike Michalowicz – Author of The Pumpkin Plan, CEO at Provendus Group Entrepreneurial success is around innovation based upon necessity. Mike Michalowicz is an entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling business author known for helping small business owners build more profitable and sustainable companies through simple, practical systems. He is the author of several widely recognized business books, including The Pumpkin Plan, Profit First, Clockwork, Fix This Next, and Get Different. By age 35, Mike had founded and sold multiple multimillion dollar companies before experiencing a major financial collapse that reshaped his approach to entrepreneurship. That experience became the foundation for his focus on building businesses that prioritize profitability, efficiency, and long term stability. Today, he serves as CEO of Provendus Group and continues to advise entrepreneurs around the world through speaking, writing, consulting, and media appearances. Mike is also a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and a former business makeover expert for MSNBC.

Jay Kopelman – CEO of Mission to Live Foundation and Author of From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, The War, And A Dog Named Lava These medicines don’t show you what you want to see or what you want to know. They show you what you need to know and what you need to see. Jay Kopelman is the CEO of the Mission to Live Foundation, dedicated to expanding access to psychedelic therapy for veterans navigating the invisible wounds of war—PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and addiction. A New York Times bestselling author, former Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, and two-time cancer survivor, transformed by ibogaine and  5-MeO-DMT therapy himself, Jay brings exceptional passion, lived experience, and urgency to this work. Jay works tirelessly to raise funds to provide psychedelic therapy scholarships for veterans and first responders in need. He has dedicated his life to service – either as an officer of the Marines for 20 years, a healthcare leader for 10 years, seeking improved patient outcomes (Johnson & Johnson, Airstrip); or as a business advisor to veteran entrepreneurs. A year after his transformation, Jay has evolved from participant to President and CEO of Mission to Live Foundation, having raised over $2 million to fund scholarships. He has firsthand knowledge of what’s at stake. In 2024, after a lifetime of service and battles both internal and external, he underwent a profound healing journey through ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. His authenticity, transparency, and courage in sharing his own story have been the catalysts. His vision is for the foundation to be the “American Cancer Society of Ibogaine Access”: raising awareness, mobilizing resources, and ensuring no one is left behind, knowing every veteran’s path is different, and healing doesn’t end when the retreat is over. Under his leadership, the Foundation is setting a new standard for veteran care: not just funding treatments, but full-spectrum healing journeys that include integration coaching, meditation, functional medicine, hormone balancing, long-term support, and data collection to provide outcomes evidence. Jay’s fight for mental health access is personal and lifelong. From a young age, he felt called to defend those who couldn’t defend themselves. As a Marine, he served with honor—including in combat in Iraq. As an author (From Baghdad with Love), he helped reshape public perceptions of war and recovery. As a nonprofit leader, he’s supported countless causes—animal rescue, wounded warriors, humanitarian relief. Also a cancer survivor, he understands what it means to face death and choose to fight—not just for himself, but for others. Living with intention, today, Jay trains daily in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, speaks publicly on the power of psychedelic therapy, and mentors fellow veterans navigating their own transitions. He describes his work as a second chance—not just to heal, but to do good. Jay’s ethos is simple: “Go into the world to do well, but more importantly, do good.” For him, that means showing up—day after day, donation after donation, veteran after veteran—to make sure the doors to healing are open for everyone who needs it. As Jay says, he’s “just a regular guy trying to inspire others and show a little grace every day.” Kevin Johnson – CEO of Johnson Media Inc. and Bestselling  Author of  The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs The energy that it takes to go after a big idea is the same energy that it takes to go after a small idea. Kevin D. Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Media Inc., has several years of experience leading his award-winning company as a successful marketing and communications firm. It serves many of the most notable Fortune 100 businesses today. As an innovative leader, he has appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS, CNN, Oprah Radio, and in The New York Times, The Financial Times, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal. Recently, Johnson Media Inc. was awarded two 2015 Telly Awards. With nearly 13,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Telly Awards honors the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. In October of 2014, the company was also awarded a 2014 International Davey Award by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts today. With nearly 4,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small firms, agencies and companies worldwide. He also supports non-profits and enjoys doing community service as a volunteer for the East Lake Foundation, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, Economic Empowerment Initiative, Latin American Association, and Boys & Girls Club of America.

Lee Benson – CEO of ETW and CEO of Dinner Table and Author of Value Creation Family: The Proven Playbook for Setting Up Your Family to Enjoy True Success All of the opportunity in the world, in my view, is in the struggle. CEO Lee Benson has spent more than three decades helping organizations and families focus on what creates the most value. A lifelong entrepreneur, Lee founded and led eight companies, including aerospace company Able Aerospace, which grew from just two employees into a global operation with more than 500 team members serving over 2,000 customers in 60 countries before achieving a nine figure exit in 2016. Today, through ETW and his family leadership platform Dinner Table, Lee helps business leaders and families align around purpose, values, execution, and long term success. Lee is also the author of the bestselling book Value Creation Kid and the new book Value Creation Family: The Proven Playbook for Setting Up Your Family to Enjoy True Success, where he shares practical frameworks for building stronger families, creating lasting impact, and defining success beyond money. Known for his straightforward and actionable approach, Lee has become a respected voice on leadership, value creation, execution, and strategy. His insights have been featured in major media outlets including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Inc. Magazine, and he has appeared on networks such as CNBC and Bloomberg. Jay Samit – “Coolest Job,” Video on Demand Creator and Author of Disrupt You!: Master Personal Transformation, Seize Opportunity, and Thrive in the Era of Endless Innovation Every obstacle out there is actually a new form of opportunity for an entrepreneur to create a solution to make life better and profit Jay Samit has been described by Wired magazine as “having the coolest job in the industry.” He is a leading technology innovator who has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for startups, sold companies to Fortune 500 firms, taken companies public, and partnered with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Coca Cola, McDonald’s, General Motors, United Airlines, Microsoft, Apple, Verizon, and Facebook. Samit is CEO of SeaChange International, a leading global multi-screen video software company. A technology innovator and entrepreneur, he was a senior advisor to LinkedIn and was appointed to the White House initiative for education and technology by President Bill Clinton. Samit is the host of the Wall Street Journal Startup of the Year series. Samit helped grow pre-IPO companies such as Linkedin, held senior management roles at Sony and Universal Studios, pioneered breakthrough advancements in mobile video, internet advertising, ecommerce, social networks, ebooks, and digital music that are used by billions of consumers every day. An adjunct professor at USC, Samit teaches innovation at America’s largest engineering school and is author of Disrupt Yourself: Master Personal Transformation, Seize Opportunity, and Thrive in the Era of Endless Innovation. He frequently appears on ABC, Bloomberg, CBS, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, NBC and tweets daily motivation to the over 100,000 business professionals who follow him on Twitter. An expert on transformational corporate change, Samit has been quoted in The New York Times, The Economist, Businessweek, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Fast Company and TechCrunch. He was awarded with the Leonardo Da Vinci Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bob Nienaber – CEO of BenefitRFP Life has so much excitement that I really truly do live each day at its fullest Bob Nienaber, CEO of BenefitRFP,  a fintech executive benefits firm that helps HR leaders and CEOs turn executive compensation from a cost into a strategic advantage while increasing shareholder equity. Bob specializes in uncovering hidden revenue opportunities, typically $3–5M per company, by optimizing IRS and regulatory components of executive plans. Using proprietary tools like the benefitMATRIX™, companies can reveal $1M+ in untapped value in as little as 20 minutes. He has helped numerous Fortune 500 companies and large enterprises identify opportunities they didn’t even know existed, showing HR leaders how executive plans can drive real business impact. Beyond uncovering hidden value, Bob provides practical, actionable strategies HR leaders can implement immediately. From rapid plan audits to real-world success stories, he shows how optimizing executive benefits not only boosts shareholder equity but also improves employee retention, engagement, and satisfaction. His approach turns complex compensation plans into clear, measurable tools that drive both financial and organizational results. Larry Wyman – Co-founder of Okeanos We are poisoning ourselves daily with the amount of plastic that’s being made. Larry Wyman was a founding partner in the international commercial real estate development firm HRO International, Ltd. beginning in 1981, when he left the practice of law at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson in New York. He was responsible for all aspects of the commercial development process on 12 major projects in New York City during the 1980’s and 1990’s. He also directed HRO’s activities in London and Frankfurt from 1996 to 2004, as well as HRO Asset Management in New York beginning in 2004. Since stepping down from day-to-day involvement at HRO, he remains a member of HRO’s advisory board, with projects now focused in Paris. He became a Board Member of Okeanos in September, 2019, and has since stepped into the role of Chief Strategy Officer. Larry and his wife of 35 years, Sheryl, have two adult children, Nicole and Max, both of whom live in New York City.