Christina Tosi
Christina Tosi the two-time James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of Milk Bar, with bakery locations across the country, an online care package business, and products in the aisles of the grocery store. She served as a judge on Fox’s Masterchef Junior, host of Netflix’s Bake Squad, and was featured in the hit Netflix docu-series Chef’s Table: Pastry. She is author of the New York Times Best Seller, All About Cookies as well as All About Cake, Momofuku Milk Bar, Milk Bar Life, Milk Bar: Kids Only, Dessert Can Save the World, and for children, Every Cake Has a Story and Just the Right Cake.
Will Guidara
Will Guidara is the author of the NY Times Bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality, which chronicles the lessons in service and leadership he has learned over the course of his career in restaurants. He is the former co-owner Eleven Madison Park, which under his leadership received four stars from the New York Times, three Michelin stars, and in 2017 was named #1 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. He is the host of the Welcome Conference, an annual hospitality symposium that brings together like minded people to share ideas, inspire one another, and connect to form community. A graduate of the hospitality school at Cornell University, he has coauthored four cookbooks, was named one of Crain’s New York Business’s 40 Under 40, and is the recipient of WSJ Magazine’s Innovator Award.
Laura Gassner Otting
Author, Catalyst, and Executive Coach Laura Gassner Otting inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo by helping audiences think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their current, limited scope of belief. She delivers strategic thinking, well-honed wisdom, and perspective generated by decades of navigating change across the start-up, corporate, nonprofit, political, as well as philanthropic landscapes. Laura dares audiences to find their voice and generate the confidence needed to tackle larger-than-life challenges by helping them to seek new ways of leading, managing, and mentoring others. Laura’s rebellious and entrepreneurial edge has been well-honed over a 25-year career that started when she dropped out of law school to join an unknown southern governor’s presidential campaign and ended up as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton’s White House, where she helped shape AmeriCorps. She left a leadership role as the youngest Vice President at a nationally respected search firm when she realized that her boss’s definition of success didn’t align with hers and, instead, founded and ran one of the fastest-growing search firms in the country, partnering with the full gamut of mission-driven executives, from start-up dreamers to scaling social entrepreneurs to global philanthropists. In 2015, Laura sold that firm to the team who helped her build it, both because she was hungry for the next chapter and because she held an audacious dream of electing our nation’s first female president. (Whomp whomp.) Since that time, Laura has appeared regularly on Good Morning America and the TODAY Show, and her writing has been seen in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, HR Magazine. She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of three books, including Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn’t Feel Like It Should… and What to Do About It, Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life, and Mission-Drive: Moving from Profit to Purpose. Her books have been translated into five languages. Through her own commitment to give back, Laura has helped build a local Montessori school, co-founded a women’s philanthropic initiative, advised a start-up national women’s PAC, grew a citizen-leadership development program, and completed five charity-inspired marathons, projects emblematic of her passions and values. She’s turned on by the audacity of The Big Idea and that larger-than-life goal you just can’t seem to shake. She’s an instigator, a motivator, and a provocateur, and she’s never met a revolution she didn’t like, just ask her enduringly patient husband, two almost-grown sons, and troublesome puppy with whom she lives outside of Boston, MA.
Scott Stratten
Scott Stratten is the President of UnMarketing. He has Co-Authored 6 best-selling business books with his business partner and wife Alison and was formerly a music industry marketer, National Sales Training Manager, and a College Professor. He ran one of the most successful viral video agencies in the world for nearly a decade before solely focusing on speaking at events for companies like Walmart, Pepsi, Adobe, IBM, Microsoft, Cirque du Soleil and Saks Fifth Avenue when they need help navigating their way through the landscape of business disruption.
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.
Robert Greene
Robert Greene is the author of six New York Times bestselling books—The 48 Laws of Power (over 2 million copies sold in the US), The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law (co-written with 50Cent), Mastery, and The Laws of Human Nature. His books teach readers how to navigate stressful power situations, how to understand the people they deal with on a much higher level, how to maximize their skillsets and creativity, and how to become superior strategists in life. Since the publication of his first book, Greene has also worked as a consultant to individuals and companies in need of strategic advice. The list of global clients includes musicians, professional athletes and coaches, actors, film directors and agents, entrepreneurs, and business and political leaders. Greene has also served on the Board of directors of a publicly traded company, American Apparel. Greene has a BA in Classics (ancient Greek and Latin) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He speaks several foreign languages, and has given talks in French and Spanish. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Ryan Holiday
Few writers have done more to bring ancient, timeless wisdom and cutting-edge marketing strategies together than Ryan Holiday. His philosophically driven bestselling books have sold over 10 million copies and spent more than 200 weeks on bestseller lists. His books are taught in colleges and marketing programs around the world, including Trust Me I’m Lying, which revealed the massive vulnerabilities (and opportunities) in the global media system in 2012. He has directly influenced Super Bowl-winning teams like the New England Patriots, NBA Champions like the San Antonio Spurs, and Olympic Gold Medalists, as well as sitting Senators, military leaders and some of the biggest and most important companies in the world like Google, Twitter and Microsoft. At the core of Ryan’s teachings is Stoicism, popularized through his NY Times Bestselling books including Obstacle is the Way, Stillness is the Key, Ego is the Enemy, and his latest, book Right thing, Right Now. What is Stoicism? The idea that while we don’t always control what happens to us in life, we always control how we respond. Illustrated vividly with stories from the greats (and not-so-greats) of history, Ryan provides a framework for overcoming obstacles, scaling new challenges and battling both the ups and downs and life. Profiled by the New York Times, Sports Illustrated and ESPN, Ryan counts among his clients and followers some of the biggest names in business, tech, culture and professional athletics. Ryan lives in Austin, TX where he does his writing in between raising cattle, donkeys and goats.
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.
Jesse Itzler
A successful serial entrepreneur, Jesse’s mission is to continually raise the bar and build his LIFE RESUME. And with a passion for endurance challenges, he completed Ultraman in 2022 at the age of 53, which entails a 6.2 mile open water swim, 261.4 mile bike, and 52.4 mile run, the same year he sold his endurance hiking company, 29029 Everesting, to iFit. These things are not uncommon for Jesse, who also completed a 100 mile running race, sold Marquis Jet to Warren Buffett in 2010, and partnered with Zico Coconut Water which sold to Coca-Cola in 2013. Jesse’s career is unlike anyone else. He started as a rapper on MTV in 1991, became the Manager of the greatest hip hop band ever, Run-DMC, and wrote the anthem for the NY Knicks. He always says, “you don’t have to be the smartest in the room, but you have to be the most passionate.” He teaches his principles and best practices through his online course and coaching program—where thousands of people have learned from his lifestyle approach and applied it to their own. When he’s not training with Navy Seals (check out his book, Living with A Seal) or learning from monks (check out his other book, Living with Monks), you can find him plunging in cold water and sweating in hot saunas as part of his latest venture, All Day Running Co., a brand built on the foundation of combining race-like challenges (half-marathons, marathons, etc.) with retreat-like experiences (cold and heat exposure). At the end of the day, his proudest accomplishment is his family—with 3 sons and a daughter, he and his wife, Sara Blakely (founder of SPANX), definitely have their hands full!
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.