Gravity's Exclusive Speakers are forward-thinking CEO's, polymaths, inspiring visionaries, innovators, and entrepreneurs - all pushing the boundaries in their respective fields.
Sheena Allen is a visionary entrepreneur, sought-after keynote speaker, author, and creative architect who has transformed the intersection of technology, social impact, and innovation. As Founder of App It Out, she has expanded her expertise in the mobile app industry for non-technical entrepreneurs and SMBs, and as Founder of Capway, Sheena revolutionized inclusive banking and was the youngest female in the U.S. to own and operate a digital bank.
Ivelyse Andino is an Afro-Latina health equity innovator born and raised in The Bronx. She is the founder and CEO of Radical Health and a Commissioner on the New York City Commission on Gender Equity. In 2015 she founded the first Latina owned Public Benefit Corp in New York State.
Aubrey Blanche-Sarellano is The Mathpath (Math Nerd + Empath), VP of Equitable Operations at Culture Amp, and a startup investor, and advisor. She questions, reimagines, and redesigns the systems that surround us to ensure that all people access equitable opportunities.
Candice Matthews is a General Partner at Lightship Capital, where she finds and funds high growth, minority-led companies operating in underserved ecosystems throughout the Midwest. She also directs programming at Lightship Foundation, the inclusion-focused entrepreneur enrichment program guiding minority founders with instruction in product development, brand building, leveraging artificial intelligence for business and fundraising.
Brian Brackeen is a General Partner at Lightship Capital, the Cincinnati-based VC firm dedicated to backing underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Midwest. Brian lectures extensively around the world on entrepreneurship, code, the digital economy, AI and machine learning — and participates in mentorship programs for organizations like Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code and The School District of Miami.
Madison Butler is an unapologetic advocate for authenticity, vulnerability, and creating workplaces where people feel safe to show up as their true selves. Known for building bold, ethical and authentic brands through storytelling, tough empathy and data, Madison facilitates conversations that many shy away from—conversations about mental health, trauma, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable at work. She has been recognized by Linkedin as a top Black voice to follow and her first book, “Let Them See You: Empowering Change Through Authenticity,” will be released in Summer 2025.
Courtney Caldwell is the Cofounder & CEO of beauty-tech startup, ShearShare, the largest provider of on-demand salon and barbershop space rentals and the most affordable leases in the market. She is also an award-winning entrepreneur and tech founder and has spent two decades building winning teams in tech marketing.
Dr. Tye Caldwell is the Cofounder & Chief Strategy Officer of ShearShare. Recognized as a tech visionary and industry pioneer, Dr. Caldwell’s mission is to help beauty and barbering professionals around the world maximize their earnings potential. He has worked in beauty for 25 years as a master barber-stylist, educator, and small business coach, offering his 20+ years of industry knowledge as a proven roadmap.
Cheryl Campos is a serial maverick, aligning her passions to achieve success across multiple arenas. As the CEO of a leading financial nonprofit and a professional model and actress, Cheryl possesses a unique and powerful dual perspective that bridges the analytical and creative worlds. Her dynamic career embodies innovation, resilience, and the limitless potential of following one's diverse passions.
Kanika Chadda Gupta is a seasoned CNN television journalist turned podcaster and mother of three (including twins). As a television personality and seasoned journalist, Kanika knows how to deliver as a live speaker, moderator, and emcee. She speaks on topics including modern motherhood, women’s empowerment, DEI, guiding corporations to better serve their employees who are parents (parental leave, benefits, etc), living a life of purpose (discovering your dharma), AAPI & South Asian heritage, lifestyle and entertainment.
Ugwem Eneyo is co-founder and CEO of SHYFT Power Solutions, specializing in the use of IoT software and big data to improve access to clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions in markets that struggle with grid resiliency. Ms. Eneyo explores how we use tech to create ‘grids of the future’ but particularly in emerging markets. She’s given talks on the nexus of energy and sustainable development to global thought leaders, including the World Bank.
Britteny Floyd-Mayo, affectionately known as “Yoga Bae”, is the mastermind behind one of the most diverse and inclusive wellness spaces across the globe. In her untouchable lane, she’s curated an innovative yoga experience designed to affirm lifestyles of wellness and total self-care.
Arlan Hamilton is a remarkable entrepreneur who built a venture capital fund from the ground up, while homeless. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a VC firm dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBTQ+.
Harold Hughes is founder of NFNTE Capital, an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering startup founders through social capital. As a co-founder of Catalyst Labs, Harold leads a 12-week accelerator for emerging entrepreneurs, guiding them from ideation to scale. An advocate for accessible technology education, Harold’s commitment to education and accessibility also led him to write “A Kids Book About Blockchain”, helping audiences of all ages grasp Blockchain and Web3 concepts. He is also an angel investor focused on diverse founders, with notable investments in companies like Partake Foods, Liquid Death, and Athletic Greens, as well as Broadway productions.
Shontavia Johnson is an entrepreneurship and innovation expert who has helped hundreds of people build personal brands, businesses, and intellectual property portfolios. Founder of the Brand and Business Company. Shontavia is an entrepreneur, creator, Liberty Fellow through Aspen Institute, and a Fulbright Specialist. She shares her message to audiences globally.
Max Lenderman has a pulse on the future so that you and your business can win today. As founder and chief creative officer, he is a pioneering authority on purpose-led brand building, experiential marketing, and large-scale advertising campaigns.
Mark Levy is a seasoned globally-minded Employee Experience Leader who has chosen to work for big-hearted companies and focus on how he can unleash the talents and passions of a company’s employees. Mark was the pioneer of designing the Employee Experience at Airbnb and most recently at Allbirds, showing organizations what is possible when you empower employees and rethink HR.
Called a “master storyteller,” Anthony McLean delivers lively presentations on Mental Health, Workplace Culture, and Storytelling for Leaders. He believes the future belongs to those who tell the best stories. His first book, All Fired Up, explores how personal well-being is the foundation for energy and success. Anthony also works in the Film & TV industry. As a screenwriter, he is currently in development on two feature films. He lives with his wife, their two kids, and an impressive collection of 90s movies.
A survivor, entrepreneur, and international keynote speaker – Norliza is a force globally recognised for her achievements and accolades. She is Founder of My Mind Hub, improving mental health is a passion and commitment for Norliza and her team. She is a qualified psychotherapist, transformation executive coach, entrepreneur, storyteller, and keynote speaker, inspiring individuals to live their best possible life. Norliza presents an impassioned and compelling story of true grit and resounding resilience. A story of overcoming impossible adversities, triumphing against all odds, and becoming a self-made, highly successful entrepreneur.
Damian Pelliccione (they/them) is the CEO and Co-Founder of Revry, the world’s first LGBTQ Global Content Streaming Network. With over 15 years of experience in the digital and new media world and as an avid speaker, passionate about supporting the LGBTQ community in both authentic representation and entrepreneurship, Damian has spoken at more than over 250 conferences and film festivals around the world.
Rachel Rodgers is the CEO/Founder of Hello Seven, a company empowering women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA individuals to build seven-figure businesses. She's a bestselling author and has appeared on major media outlets. As an attorney-turned-entrepreneur, Black woman, and self-made millionaire, Rachel's mission is to help end the cycle of overworking, under-earning, and financial stress. She also runs The Hello Seven Foundation, a non-profit addressing disparities in maternal health care.
Neil Sahota (萨冠军) is an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) Advisor, Artificial Intelligence (AI) subject matter expert, Faculty at UC Irvine, and author of Own the A.I. Revolution. With 20+ years of business experience, he works with organizations to create next-generation products/solutions powered by emerging technology.
Dona Sarkar is the Chief Troublemaker of Microsoft’s AI Extensibility Program, a BIPOC woman in tech leader, Multi-published author, and Owner of the ethical luxury fashion brand Prima Dona Studios. She was recently named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Productive People and Cosmopolitan magazine's Businessperson of the Year.
Lolita Taub is a GP at Ganas Ventures where she invests in pre-seed and seed community-driven companies in the US and Latin America. She is a woman of color with 13 years in tech, micro-influencer, an international keynote speaker, 2x TEDx speaker whose work in venture capital and tech has been recognized on Forbes, Inc.com, The Huffington Post and Entrepreneur.com among other publications.
Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years and has written about California and its politics for a number of publications, including the Sacramento Bee and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Walters frequently appears on CNN, Fox, and other networks, commenting about political developments in California.
Aniyia Williams is a systempreneur, creator, inventor, tech changemaker, and investor. She is a principal on the Responsible Technology team at Omidyar Network, and works to help the tech world live up to its promise of changing lives for the better. She served as Executive Director of Black & Brown Founders, co-founder of Zebras Unite, and founded and led the fashion tech company, Tinsel.
Rodney Williams is the Co-founder of SoLo Funds, the largest community finance platform and the US’s only Black-led Certified B Corp fintech grounded in the hope and mission to build a community that enables financial autonomy for all. Prior to SoLo, Rodney founded LISNR and led the company to over $40M in funding, numerous awards, and partnerships across retail and financial services. Rodney’s career started at Procter & Gamble in brand management where he was a critical catalyst in the company’s digital strategy and started in eCommerce & social media.