Tom Bilyeu
Tom Bilyeu is a unicorn entrepreneur who co-founded and built Quest Nutrition from nothing to a billion-dollar business in just 5 years – all without outside funding. He is a filmmaker and serial entrepreneur who chased money HARD for nearly a decade and came up emotionally bankrupt. He realized that the struggle is guaranteed, but the money is not, so you’d damn well better love the struggle. To that end, he and his partners sold their technology company and founded Quest Nutrition – a company predicated not on money, but rather on creating value for people. The company’s mission was to end metabolic disease –one of two pandemics facing the planet. Despite not being focused on money Quest exploded, becoming a billion-dollar business in roughly 5 years, making it the 2nd fastest-growing company in North America according to Inc. Magazine. After exiting Quest and generating extraordinary personal wealth, Bilyeu turned his attention to the other pandemic facing society – the poverty of a poor mindset. To solve the mindset problem at scale and help hundreds of millions of people adopt an empowering mindset he has co-founded the media studio, Impact Theory with his business partner and wife, Lisa Bilyeu. Their aim is to influence the cultural subconscious by building a single-minded content creation machine that makes exactly one type of content – content that empowers people. If Disney created the most magical place on earth, Impact Theory will be creating the most empowering place on earth.
John Henry
John Henry is a Dominican-American entrepreneur and investor. Henry has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc 30 Under 30, Adweek Creative 100, The Root 100, and Ebony Power 100 lists. Born and raised in New York City, John’s path was a little different. He dropped out of college at 18, where he picked up a job as a doorman. He went on to start and sell his first business by 21. Henry later cofounded the Venture Capital firm Harlem Capital, raising $40M and making 20 investments in Women and Minority entrepreneurs before stepping down in 2020. Henry is also passionate about Media. Henry hosted the TV show ‘Hustle’ on VICELAND, Executive Produced by Alicia Keys and Marcus Samuelsson; and produced and hosted branded podcasts for brands like The Washington Post, Gimlet Media, WeWork, eBay, and Samsung. Today Henry is the Cofounder and Co-CEO of Loop, an insurance technology company that leverages AI and data to create more fairly priced auto insurance products for all.
Simone Giertz
Simone Giertz stands at the forefront of innovation and creativity, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As an inventor, creator, and all-around maker, she has made a mark in the tech world with her unique approach to engineering and design. Simone’s journey began with intentionally impractical robots, earning her the affectionate title of the “Queen of Shitty Robots.” Her commitment to embracing failure as a part of the creative process has set her apart in the world of makers and inventors. She catapulted to global fame through her YouTube channel, where she shares her adventures in building, breaking, and reimagining robots. With millions of subscribers, her channel has become a hub for those seeking a blend of humor, engineering challenges, and a refreshingly candid perspective on the creative process. Simone’s content has resonated with audiences worldwide, inspiring a new generation of makers to embrace the fun in failure. Her unique blend of humor, storytelling, and engineering expertise captivates audiences across diverse events. Whether you’re organizing a technology conference, a corporate event, or a gathering focused on design thinking, Simone brings a refreshing perspective on innovation, creativity, and the importance of embracing imperfections. Her engaging talks inspire others to think outside the box and embrace the journey of discovery. Simone continues to inspire individuals to break free from the constraints of perfection, encouraging them to experiment, learn, and find joy in the creative process. With a growing list of accomplishments, featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Wired Magazine, and her multi-million-viewed TED talk, Simone Giertz remains an influential figure, proving that innovation is not just about success but also about the adventures and lessons found in the pursuit of the unknown.
Swan Sit
Swan is a contemporary operator sitting at the intersection of corporate economics, digital transformation, and consumer attention. She equally understands the left- and right-brain skills required for a marketer that drives financial impact in the digital world. Swan has led teams focused on digital transformation in her roles as Head of Digital Marketing at Nike, Revlon, and Estée Lauder. Swan held two key roles as a VP at Nike — overseeing Global Digital Marketing during the Emmy-winning “Dream Crazy” campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick, and running Digital Operations, Product, Supply Chain and Service for a $2B NA ecommerce business. She led digital at Revlon and Elizabeth Arden, and ran online strategy for the Estée Lauder Companies, increasing its digital footprint to 400+ sites across 50 countries in 5 years. From modernizing hundred-year-old brands and partnering with unexpected influencers like Chelsea Handler, Iris Apfel and Gigi Gorgeous, to launching augmented reality makeovers and driving double-digit growth. She was selected as a Brand Innovators 40 under 40 and Marketing Woman to Watch, and took home both Best Social Campaign and Best in Show at the Glossy Awards. Currently Swan serves as Independent Board Director at publicly traded companies Edgewell (NYSE: EPC) and Novabay (NYSE: NBY) in addition to her role as Operating Partner at AF Ventures and their recently launched SPAC (NASDAQ: AFAQ). She’s the Vice President of Marketing at Ani Energy, a new energy drink company launched by TikTok stars Josh Richards and Bryce Hall. Prior to her career as a corporate executive, Swan was a management consultant at Bain, owned an ad agency focused on emotional branding, and was a product manager at Newell. Swan graduated with a BA in Economics from Harvard and an MBA from Columbia. Swan’s leveraging her breadth of professional experience to advise her +3MM followers on the Clubhouse platform and consulting the companies and leaders of tomorrow. Swan has done speaking engagements around the world. She’s advised a variety of businesses and has sat on the boards of industry and philanthropic organizations including AdWeek’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, L2 Digital Think Tank, Women in Retail, Consumer Goods Technology Council, Impact Network, Foundation Rwanda and Worldview’s space think tank. Having traveled to 87+ countries and counting, her favorites include Antarctica, North Korea, Mongolia, Rwanda, Bhutan, Myanmar and Tanzania for Kilimanjaro. She can often be found smashing a volleyball and chasing restaurant openings, or flying around on skis and horses – her two newest hobbies.
Matt Higgins
Matt Higgins is one of the preeminent investors in the consumer, sports, and entertainment space. Created alongside Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, RSE Ventures has built an expansive multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio of over 100 leading brands and unicorns across sports and entertainment, media and marketing, consumer and technology industries – including several of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Higgins became one of the first employees – and ultimately Chief Operating Officer – of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the federally funded government agency created to plan the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site. Mr. Higgins helped organize the largest international design competition in history culminating in Reflecting Absence, the September 11th National Memorial, and the development of the 1,776-feet-tall One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Northern Hemisphere. Making his mark on two NFL franchises, Mr. Higgins spent 15 years in senior leadership positions with National Football League teams, overseeing the revenue functions of the New York Jets as Executive Vice President of Business Operations, and then serving as Vice Chairman of the Miami Dolphins from 2012–2021. Higgins serves as an Executive Fellow at the Harvard Business School, co-teaching the course “Moving Beyond Direct-to-Consumer”, the leading course on direct-to-consumer brands in the United States. Making a splash on ABC’s Shark Tank, Matt joined the likes of Chris Sacca and Sara Blakely, as a Guest Shark on the Emmy award-winning TV show during seasons 10-11. In 2023, his debut book, Burn the Boats, landed on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. Pushing the boundaries of the consumer experience, Higgins expanded RSE’s focus to scale some of New York City’s most iconic brands, from Magnolia Bakery, David Chang’s Momofuku and Milk Bar to &pizza and Bluestone Lane. Higgins has overseen the expansion of these concepts into grocery stores, with the launch of CPG products all across America. From Magnolia Bakery’s soft baked cookies in concession stands at the U.S. Open, Milk Bar’s famed ice cream hitting the freezer aisle, and Momofuku’s Chili Crunch Oil becoming a household pantry staple, Higgins has taken these quintessential brands global. With investments in Magic Spoon, Gorgie, Outstanding Foods, and Banza, Higgins has become a proven backer of the next generation of new wave brands disrupting the CPG space. Additional highlights of RSE’s portfolio include Resy, an Open Table competitor acquired by American Express in 2019; MSCHF, the art collective of the zeitgeist; Beta Technologies, building a next generation electric vertical take-off and landing (evTOL) aircraft; and Relevent Sports, a media rights agency, with a joint venture with global soccer leagues Premier League and LaLiga, organizing matches around the world attended by over 365,000 fans in US and Mexico. Higgins is also co-owner of VaynerMedia, the largest social-media-first agency in the world founded by Gary Vaynerchuk. In 2019, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, joining the ranks of seven former U.S. presidents, Nobel Prize winners and other leaders for work to improve society. He is also a longstanding board member of Autism Speaks.
Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia, and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, business, and the internet. Known as “GaryVee,” he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business. He acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how shifts in consumer attention impact the realities of the business world today. Gary’s approach sits at the intersection of business and pop culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase, and Uber. This year, Gary will unveil two new books: his seventh book “Day-Trading Attention” (published on May 21, 2024). In this latest work, he provides fresh insights into navigating the modern social media landscape. Gary’s expertise guides readers on harnessing underpriced attention channels in the digital age. He emphasizes mastering storytelling in these arenas and highlights the “TikTokification of Social Media,” where content relevance surpasses follower counts. Businesses can leverage this shift to enhance their brand and boost sales. Gary’s book equips readers with essential skills to succeed in today’s dynamic digital world. Gary also announced his first children’s picture book based on Vaynerchuk’s VeeFriends characters, the debut picture book titled “Meet Me in the Middle” is set to be published on July 16, 2024. The book will prominently feature two VeeFriends characters, Eager Eagle and Patient Pig – this picture book delves into the emotional elements essential for nurturing children’s empathy, a crucial skill for their future success. Gary is an entrepreneur at heart — he builds businesses. Today, he helps Fortune 1000 brands leverage consumer attention through his full-service advertising agency, VaynerMedia, which has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Amsterdam, Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. VaynerMedia is part of the VaynerX holding company, including Eva Nosidam Productions, Gallery Media Group, The Sasha Group, VaynerSpeakers, VaynerCommerce, and Tingley Lane Trading. Gary is also the Co-Founder of VaynerSports, Resy, and Empathy Wines. Gary guided Resy and Empathy to successful exits — which he later sold to American Express and Constellation Brands. Gary is the Co-Founder of VCR Group, Co-Founder of VaynerWatt, and Co-Founder of ArtOfficial. He also owns a Major League Pickleball team called the 5s. He is part owner of a Big3 basketball team and an investor in the revival of the SlamBall League. Gary is also the founder and creator of VeeCon – a contemporary super-conference that converges business and pop culture with innovation and technology. In addition to running multiple businesses, Gary documents his daily life as a CEO through his social media channels, which have more than 44 million followers and garner over 300 million monthly impressions/views across all platforms. His podcast, ‘The GaryVee Audio Experience, ‘ ranks among the top podcasts globally. Gary serves on the board of MikMak, Bojangles Restaurants, Global Citizen Forum, and Pencils of Promise. He is also a longtime Well Member of Charity: Water. Gary’s life ambition is to buy the New York Jets.
Avery Akkineni
A pioneer in digital marketing and innovation, Avery Akkineni spearheads brand strategy, content, events, and communications as Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX. In six years at VaynerX, Avery has catalyzed exponential growth by launching new companies and leading international expansion. She built VaynerMedia APAC from the ground up to over 150 employees in two years, opened key Asia Pacific markets like Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, and Tokyo. During her tenure, VaynerMedia APAC was awarded Marketing Interactive’s Agency of the Year. In 2021, Avery founded Vayner3, an innovation consultancy focused on emerging technologies like AI and Web3. Under her leadership, Vayner3 achieved significant industry acclaim, and she was named an Ad Age Web3 Trailblazer, and an AI Thought Leader by Business Insider. Her proven ability to identify and leverage leading-edge channels to drive growth for Vayner and her brand partners has landed Avery recognition on advisory boards of top platforms including Salesforce’s AI Council, Meta’s Creative Council, and Tracer. Based in Miami, FL overseeing VaynerX’s regional presence, Avery continues to push boundaries in marketing. She is a sought-after speaker on modern marketing and digital innovation, who empowers teams and companies to embrace new opportunities.
Brian Solis
Futurist: Forbes heralded Brian Solis as “one of the more creative and brilliant business minds of our time.” He was recently named a “top futurist speaker,” by ReadWrite. ZDNet called him “one of the 21st century business world’s leading thinkers.” Brian helps audiences understand the evolving, complex landscape of digital trends and how they impact our work, markets, and business over time. Whether it’s generative AI, AR/VR or and spatial computing, web3, the metaverse, IoT, digital twins, or quantum computing, Brian humanizes each wave of emergent disruption to help audiences understand trends and see themselves productively shaping the future. He helps shift people’s mindsets from being overwhelmed, confused, or intimidated to moving forward with curiosity, excitement, and imagination. Digital Anthropologist: Brian is one of the industry’s first digital anthropologists who helped define the practice and humanized the trends. He observes how technology changes people’s behavior as leaders, employees, or customers and understand their aspirations, their values, how they make decisions, and how they want to work. Through this research, Brian helps audiences empathize with different generations (Gen-Y, Z, Alpha) and understand how technology creates a cross-generational superset of people with similar behaviors, interests, and aspirations. Brian coined these important groups as Generation-Connected and Generation-Novel. ServiceNow: Currently, Brian serves as the Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow. In his role, he sets the strategic direction and programming for ServiceNow’s Innovation and Executive Briefing Centers in Silicon Valley, New York, London, Paris, Sydney, and Singapore. Additionally, Brian designs and delivers engagements with customers to advise on digital and business innovation strategies. He writes for leading publications to help executives and customers understand technology and market trends and inspire business model innovation. United Nations: Brian serves as a special adviser to the UN global innovation team. He develops workshops and keynotes that explore emergent trends and future scenarios, scenario strategies, skills development, and culture and leadership. Salesforce: As the leader of Global Innovation at Salesforce, Brian gained a reputation as the “CxO Whisperer” because of his ability to translate shifting technology and market trends into actionable strategies. He also has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing companies and helps leaders think differently about current priorities and investments to future proof their organizations. Brian also partnered with leading brands to develop innovation pilots in service, L&D, and commerce, including applications that featured digital humans, 3D/immersive shopping and e-commerce powered by augmented reality. Brian is personable approachable and engaging. And as one event organizer recently put it, “Brian has a special gift to engage people and help everyone believe they can be part of change.” The Conference Board said it this way, “Brian is the futurist we all need now.” He’s an eight-time, best-selling, and award-winning author and has published more than 60 research reports on the future of business, work, digital transformation and innovation across industries such as retail, healthcare, financial services, insurance, and public sector. He’s currently working on his ninth book due out later in 2023. His blog, BrianSolis.com, is among the world’s leading business online resources to his 800,000 followers. Brian also contributes to FastCompany, ZDNet, Forbes, Techonomy, CIO, and Singularity University.