Organizations that effectively embrace innovation are known to perform better over time. Companies around the world cannot expect to maintain a competitive edge if innovation is not part of the overall business strategy. At Gravity Speakers, we work with founders, CEOs, strategists, and futurists who are at the intersection of business and innovation. Our speakers are well-versed in the latest trends and will teach you how to foster a culture of innovation while staying ahead of the curve in your industry.
Ayinde Alakoye is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of nēdl, his third live broadcast radio streaming venture. Ayinde was also the creator of the original iheartradio app served as a Speechwriter, Staffer, and Senior Message Advisor for Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, during both elections.
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.
Sekou Andrews is a dynamic spoken word poet and CEO of SekouWorld, Inc. His innovative "poetic voice" seamlessly melds inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry, making him a sought-after speaker for Fortune 500 companies and global brands like Google, Nike, and Paypal. With two National Poetry Slam championships and a GRAMMY nomination, Sekou is a fearless disruptor of the speaking industry and a coach to leaders seeking to become more dynamic communicators.
Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour is America's first Black female combat pilot, a diversity liaison officer, entrepreneur, and author. As a top keynote speaker and consultant, she helps individuals and organizations achieve breakthrough results using her "Zero to Breakthrough" success model. Vernice is also a member of the Forbes School of Business & Technology Board of Advisors and COMCAST/ NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council. Her story has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, and Oprah Winfrey.
Jay Baer is a business growth strategist, a customer experience and digital marketing pioneer, advisor, analyst, a popular emcee and host of large events, a New York Times bestselling author of six books, and a hall of fame for professional speaking and word-of-mouth marketing. He founded the strategy and analysis firm Convince & Convert. Jay’s entertaining and engaging programs teach companies how to turn customer experience, customer service, and marketing into their biggest business growth advantage.
Larry Bailin is a renowned marketing expert, accomplished speaker, and bestselling author. With over two decades of experience, he is known for delivering engaging and valuable presentations customized to meet the unique needs of his audience. Leveraging his expertise in digital and traditional marketing, sales, customer behavior, and future trends, Larry inspires positive change in businesses and lives. His dynamic and relatable approach has made him a sought-after speaker for global audiences across diverse industries.
Alex Banayan, the youngest bestselling business author in American history, specializes in perseverance and exponential growth. He introduced the Third Door™ framework to global business conferences and corporate leadership teams, including Apple, Google, and Nike. His #1 international bestseller, "The Third Door," decodes the mindset of success. Named in Forbes' "30 Under 30" and Business Insider's "Most Powerful People Under 30," Banayan's keynotes redefine possibilities, aiding individuals and Fortune 500 companies in innovative growth strategies worldwide
Chris Barton is the Founder and Creator of Shazam. Chris’s creation of Shazam was nothing short of pure magic as it was far ahead of its time. Chris seeks to delight people by using technology to make seemingly impossible ideas come to life. In his speeches, Chris’s story and storytelling completely captivate audiences. He inspires people to make big things happen in their organizations – to create magic in defiance of the obstacles.
Chris is a master of transformation. His unique energetic approach challenges businesses to embed a dynamic creative culture within their company ethos. Brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Unilever, Sony, and WPP come back time and again as his results produce tangible returns on investment.
Emily Best is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark. An advocate for equity inclusion in the entertainment industry (and the entire working world), Best regularly speaks at conferences and events about leveraging entertainment to build equity and sustainability for everyone, crowdfunding, and pitching, building equitable startups, and serves as an advisor and mentor to dozens of early-stage companies.
Jason was responsible for the creative development process at Warner Bros. Studios, marketing legendary movies in EMEA from the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts Films, Joker, Aquaman, The Batman/Dark Knight films, through to Oscar winners like A Star Is Born, iconic comedies and even chilling horror franchises with the IT films. He has worked directly with some of the world’s most legendary film-makers, storytellers, cast and film studios for 20 years and distills a number of their insider techniques into easy to use, yet powerful tips we can all employ immediately to improve our innovation, creativity and storytelling. All told with behind the scenes stories and iconic film content. Jason continues to work with the big Hollywood studios and on a wide variety of major movie releases with his production company.
Tiffani Bova is a renowned keynote speaker and advisor specializing in growth, innovation, and sales transformation. As the former Chief Growth Evangelist at Salesforce and a Research Fellow at Gartner, she has earned recognition as a top business thinker. Tiffani's expertise in customer and employee experience, sales, and go-to-market strategies has empowered numerous global companies. She is also a 2x WSJ Bestselling Author and influential advisor to tech leaders.
What Tucker Bryant learned during a decade spent between Stanford and Google surprised him: even people on the cutting edge of innovation often struggle to take risks. The truth is that we all want to step out of our comfort zones, but we also have comforts so deep-seated that we aren’t aware they even exist. And our instinct to protect that unconscious comfort suffocates our creativity, disengages us from our work, and stunts our ability to lead.
Daniel Burrus is considered one of the world’s leading technology forecasters and innovation experts helping clients profit from technological, social and business forces that are converging to create enormous, untapped opportunities. The New York Times has referred to him as one of the top three business gurus in the highest demand as a speaker.
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.
Kim Carson, the dynamic force behind Parallax Futures, is a catalyst for change in the tech landscape. With a diverse background encompassing political science and tech leadership, she sparks dialogue on the need for diverse perspectives in AI, evolving workforce landscapes, launching new businesses, post-disciplinary ethos, and authentic self-expression. Kim's journey resonates with resilience and purpose, inviting others to embrace innovation and inclusion for a better tomorrow.
Vish Chatterji is an accomplished business leader turned executive coach with a twenty-year business track record spanning multiple industries. In parallel, he has studied and practiced yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda (mind-body medicine). Vish coaches business leaders enabling more of their greatness to show up at work.
Adam Cheyer is a top technology speaker, AI expert, and entrepreneur. He co-founded Siri, which was acquired by Apple, and later co-founded Viv, which became the basis of the voice assistant Bixby on Samsung phones, TVs, watches, and more. He is also a founding member and first developer at Change.org, the world’s largest petition platform, with more than 300M members.
Dr. Chiao began his professional career as a chemical engineer, and his passion for space exploration led him to NASA. Following a stellar 15-year astronaut career, he moved on to leadership positions in entrepreneurial startups, applying his space experience to the business world.
James Clear, author of the #1 bestseller Atomic Habits, is a sought-after keynote speaker on habits, decision-making, and improvement. His book has sold 15+ million copies in 60+ languages. Featured in Time, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, he also teaches a MasterClass and writes a weekly newsletter for 3+ million subscribers, blending storytelling, research, and personal insights.
Anne Cocquyt, CEO and Founder of the GUILD, is an inspirational speaker on entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. She speaks on how to start businesses, prototyping, building successful partnerships, and how to attract and retain winning diverse teams. She moderates and joins panels on gender bias in AI, product management and technology trends, and teaches design-thinking workshops on building innovation ecosystems.
Dr. Magie specializes in sharing the power of mindfulness in the workplace. She uses research-backed strategies to optimize performance & improve employee happiness and transform workplace cultures into more equitable, creative environments for leaders to grow. She delivers high-energy keynotes that integrate data and inspirational storytelling, offering a pragmatic approach to tackle work and life challenges. Her charismatic humor, vulnerability, and practical mindset shift inspire audiences to realize their potential for success.
Mark Coopersmith is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, Fortune 500 executive, and educator. Mark has mentored hundreds of startup teams which have launched groundbreaking new ventures in sectors as varied as web services, consumer electronics, medical devices, internet-of-things, education, cleantech, fintech, and fashion.
Heather J Crider is a certified neuroperformance coach and leading expert in high-performance growth and thought transformation. She empowers overwhelmed professionals to beat burnout, unleash brain-powered breakthroughs, and unlock unstoppable performance and boundless energy. Heather combines deep financial expertise with neuroscience insights to drive transformative results. She also hosts the Go Reflect Yourself Podcast and has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Brainz Magazine, and Thrive Global.
Three-time Top 25 Speaker Award recipient, change-consultant for the NASA Space Shuttle Program and transition-advisor for a $42 billion merger, Mark DeVolder distinguishes himself as a change management specialist and is one of today’s original thinkers on transitions.
Tania Desa, CEO of Desa Global Leadership Inc., is a renowned keynote speaker specializing in workplace inclusion and leadership empowerment. With experience in over 87 countries and collaborations with global brands like Google and American Express, she empowers leaders to build diverse, high-performing teams and foster cultures of belonging. Tania's mission is to inspire inclusive leadership that transforms workplaces worldwide.
Erica Dhawan is the world’s leading authority on 21st-century Collaboration and Connectional Intelligence. She challenges audiences and organizations to innovate faster and further, together. Her newest book – Digital Bod Language – decodes the new signals and cues of effective collaboration and teamwork in a digital-first human workplace.
Dawn Dickson is a serial entrepreneur and inventor with over 20 years of experience in technology, marketing, and business development. Her most recent ventures are Flat Out of Heels and PopCom. Dawn is a seasoned professional speaker, business advisor, and angel investor. She continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s top retail tech entrepreneurs.
Acclaimed global futurist, trendcaster, and best-selling author Dr. Shawn DuBravac sits at the nexus between innovation and disruption. DuBravac delivers pragmatic and provocative insights into the trends, technologies, and paradigms transforming business and society along with actionable strategies organizations in every industry can apply.
Mike has developed a unique perspective from 20+ years working alongside world-renowned thought leaders. He is a leading authority on unleashing personal and organizational accountability. Clients rely upon Mike’s solutions to accelerate change, shape their optimal culture, flawlessly execute key strategies, ignite leadership capacity at all Levels, amplify employee engagement, and cultivate peak performance.
Michael “Manny Faces” Conforti is an award-winning journalist, podcast professional, public speaker and independent scholar. Much of his work focuses on advocating for the use of Hip Hop music and culture as a tool to improve lives, livelihoods and communities throughout the nation and the world, in areas including education, science and technology, health and wellness, politics and social justice, business and entrepreneurialism, the fine arts, spirituality and self-help, and more.
Mitchella Gilbert is a visionary startup founder, innovator, and the CEO and Founder of Oya Femtech Apparel, a groundbreaking brand that addresses feminine health issues. She is one of the first 200 black women to secure over $1,000,000 in venture capital, and has received prestigious accolades such as the John Wooden International Leadership Award. She also served as a 2024 diplomatic delegate to Japan on behalf of the City of Los Angeles.
Trent Gillespie is a tech innovation expert with over 25 years of experience, including nearly a decade leading global growth and AI initiatives at Amazon. Now the CEO of Stellis AI, Trent serves as a guide to AI-powered business growth to businesses of all sizes. Through his transformative keynotes, he empowers business leaders to harness AI, driving innovation and unlocking new avenues for sustainable success.
Teresa Goines is a visionary entrepreneur and social activist who founded Old Skool Cafe, a 1940s-style supper club in San Francisco that empowers at-risk youth through employment. Inspired by her work as a corrections officer, Teresa launched the cafe in 2004 to help young people break the cycle of poverty and violence. Her innovative efforts have earned her recognition as a CNN Hero and features in outlets like Forbes and The Huffington Post. As a speaker, Teresa shares her story and offers practical insights on social justice and community change, making her a powerful voice on youth empowerment and restorative justice.
Workplace Culture Expert, acclaimed speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur Danny Goldberg helps organizations tackle today’s most urgent workplace challenges. Specializing in building engaged, committed, and burnout-free teams, Danny empowers leaders to foster cultures of connection, belonging, and care.
David is the author of Paid to THINK: A Leader’s Toolkit for Redefining Your Future, a work for which he has earned comparisons to Peter Drucker, the father of modern-day management. Considered by some to be the “Thought Leaders’ Thought Leader”, he is known for replacing common leadership thinking with bold, proven, and sometimes counter-intuitive approaches to address leadership challenges and opportunities.
Kurdt Greenwood is a young, dynamic naturalist and animal communicator whose passion for wildlife knows no bounds. From the tender age of four, Kurdt has been captivated by the world of deadly creatures, nurturing an enthusiasm that is both infectious and awe-inspiring. His early fascination with these formidable animals has blossomed into a lifelong commitment to understanding and protecting the natural world, positioning him as a unique and compelling voice in the field of wildlife conservation.
As the founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company, Suneel Gupta helped thousands of people build better habits for life and work. Now as a bestselling author, host of an American Express Docuseries & podcast, and Visiting Scholar at Harvard Medical School, Suneel has taken his mission one step further – helping organizations and teams reach peak performance by lifting their people’s emotional resilience.
Jim Harris is one of North America’s foremost thought leaders, management consultants, and authors on disruptive innovation. With 20 years experience as a professional speaker and consultant, Jim Harris speaks internationally at more than 40 conferences a year on and is ranked as one of the nation's top ten speakers by Association magazine.
Chante Harris is a climate tech strategist and Founder and Managing Partner of Eunoia Group. She is also Co-Founder of Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS), a champion of social and finance innovation, and ACEEE Champion of Energy Efficiency. Throughout her career, she has successfully scaled nationwide campaigns, technologies, and ideas for the Obama Administration, Fortune 500 companies, and startups. Chante is at the helm of driving climate innovation and advancing the energy transition across cities.
Aaron Taylor is the Creative Director at Spaces Of. Formerly Executive Creative Director of Environments at Airbnb, Aaron has a single motivation in life and at work. To bring curious humans into a physical space that opens their minds and challenges their assumptions to create fiction-free environments for communication, innovation, and whatever the 21st century has in store for "work."
Shane Michael Hatton is a 2x Author and global expert on Leadership, Communication, and Team Culture with over a decade of experience developing remarkable leaders, teams, and cultures. Blending business experience with psychology, Shane's passion lies in empowering leaders to communicate, connect, and collaborate effectively. His insights, featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The Australian, HRD, CEO World, and more, focus on strategic influence and succession planning.
Bruce Himelstein is the Ritz-Carlton executive who transformed customer service for one of the world's most recognizable luxury brands. He is credited with leading some of the travel and hospitality industry’s most prestigious domestic and global brands during a 30+ year illustrious career setting the global standards in hospitality, marketing, and C-level executive management.
Tamar Huggins, a pioneering Canadian tech entrepreneur, author, and educator based in Toronto, is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech sector. She founded DRIVEN, Canada's first tech accelerator for BIPOC leaders, raising $1.1 million for underrepresented tech startups.
Harold Hughes is the CXO and co-founder of Catalyst Labs, an entrepreneur support organization he co-founded to help provide entrepreneurs with the resources and community they need to launch, build, and scale their companies. As a web3 builder, he is the founder of Bandwagon, a South Carolina-based live experience technology company. Harold published "A Kids Book About Blockchain" to help educate people "from 6 to 60" about the revolutionary technology that Bandwagon specializes in. Harold is also an active angel investor, primarily investing in women, people of color, and Black founder-led companies.
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.
Zack Kass is an experienced AI Futurist, consultant, and Former Head of Go To Market at OpenAI. At OpenAI, Zack built sales, partnerships, and solutions teams. Today, Zack is a top booked AI keynote speaker helping leaders navigate the rapidly evolving AI environment. Zack is a thought leader in Applied AI, supporting education and research at major universities and advising Fortune 1000 boardrooms. He advocates for AI's potential to reduce suffering and revolutionize human life.
Guy Kawasaki is a bestselling author, former chief evangelist of Apple, and a former trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. Today, he is the chief evangelist of Canva (an online graphic design tool), brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, and is also an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley).
As a brand marketer, venture investor, and startup advisor, Dave Knox bridges the worlds of the Fortune 500 and entrepreneurship and is widely recognized as an industry thought leader.
Thomas Kolditz, a retired Brigadier General and renowned leadership expert with over 30 years of experience, has led organizations and directed leadership programs at prestigious institutions such as Yale School of Management and West Point. As the author of "In Extremis Leadership: Leading As If Your Life Depended On It," he is a sought-after speaker known for sharing practical insights and captivating stories from his extensive career, offering actionable takeaways for effective leadership in challenging environments.
Joseph Kopser serves as an Executive-in-Residence at the McCombs School of Business. Prior to that his company, RideScout, was acquired by Mercedes. He served in the Army for 20 years after graduating from West Point and Harvard. He was recognized as a White House Champion of Change in clean energy and won the U.S. DOT Data Innovation Award. Co-author of, Catalyst, he is an advisor for CleanTX.
Tom Koulopoulos is acknowledged as one of the industry’s leading futurists. He is the author of ten books and founder of Delphi Group, a 30-year-old Boston-based think tank, which was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US by Inc. Magazine.
Polly LaBarre arms leaders with a Maverick Manual to hack the status quo and ramp up originality, invention and game-changing disruption. Co-author of Mavericks at Work and founding team member of Fast Company magazine, Polly is co-founder of Management Lab, the think-and-do tank where she consults with top global brands.
With over 20 years in the Performing Arts - from Broadway to comedy clubs to high-profile television to commercials including a Super Bowl spot - Victoria Labalme helps people perform at their highest levels by awakening their hidden genius.
Leonard D. Lane DBA is a distinguished international senior executive, board-level advisor, and business professor, specializing in the convergence of supply chain management, sustainability, and technology within a global context. With over 50 years of management and consulting experience.
Recognized as one of the most influential women in technology, top NeuroGeneration and innovation speaker, Tan Le, is the founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based EMOTIV, the leader in EEG-Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology. Her work on non-invasive 'brainwear' offers groundbreaking potential to transform various aspects of human life, shedding light on current and future transformative technologies. Her talks provide unique insights into how these advancements will redefine our existence and work.
Michelle Lee is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert and CEO of Obsidian Strategies. With experience at MIT AI Lab, Amazon, and Google, she helps business leaders understand practical AI implementation. As a computer scientist and Silicon Valley veteran, she shares real-world examples and insights to inspire action. Her leadership in technology, law, business, and government adds critical perspectives for successful AI applications.
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.
Karl Lillrud is a best-selling author of 6 books, two times TEDx speaker. Also, He has been honored as one of the world’s Top 50 eCommerce experts, Top 30 eCommerce influencers, Top 50 speakers on online growth and eCommerce. Karl Lillrud educates and inspires his audience on subjects related to online consumer behavior, internet-based business, e-commerce, and online strategies.
Josh Linkner, who started his career as a jazz guitarist, has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He is also a deeply experienced business leader, venture capitalist, top-rated keynote speaker, and author of four books which include the New York Times bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention.
Matthew Luhn is an accomplished storyteller, instructor, motivational keynote speaker, and story consultant, with over 20 years’ experience creating stories and characters at Pixar Animation Studios. Alongside his story work in Hollywood, Matthew works with Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and other professionals how to craft and tell stories that bridge the gap between business and heart to build stronger brands and business communication.
Kaitlin Maud is a renowned researcher, strategist, and TEDx speaker, known for empowering global brands like Beats by Dre, Nike, Taco Bell, and Google to navigate complex challenges. With dynamic presentations, Kaitlin captivates audiences worldwide, discussing personal branding, digital transformation, and cultural trends. Featured in Forbes, AdAge, and podcasts, Kaitlin is helping individuals and organizations unlock creativity and thrive in today's fast-paced business landscape.
Patrick McAndrew, a global thought leader on productivity and performance, helps organizations break free from the "Productivity Paradox," where busyness equates to progress. Through his work with leading organizations, Patrick teaches professionals how to reclaim their focus, skyrocket their productivity, and achieve extraordinary results.
Future-of-work strategist Heather E. McGowan helps leaders prepare their people and organizations for the Augmented Era– where the greatest competitive advantage comes from optimizing human performance. As a keynote speaker, Heather gives lucidity to complex topics through her research rich, graphic frameworks, and powerful metaphors. LinkedIn ranked her as its #1 global voice for education and was listed as one of the Top 50 Female Futurists in Forbes. NYT columnist Thomas Friedman describes her as “the oasis” when it comes to insights into the future of work. McGowan is the coauthor of The Adaptation Advantage (April 2020) and the Empathy Advantage (March 2023).
José Morey, M.D., is a top health and technology keynote speaker, bestselling author of Latinx Business Success, and a medical consultant for NASA, IBM, Hyperloop Transportation, and Liberty Biosecurity. Morey consults with other companies and healthcare systems to help create and train their deep learning algorithms and neural networks to create intelligent systems in healthcare and aerospace.
Having spoken in over 40 countries on six continents, rock and roll roadie turned entrepreneur Rich Mulholland knows first-hand the impact that eloquent and persuasive leadership can make. That’s why he and his team work with executives and speakers around the world, helping them be more confident, more compelling, and more authoritative. He’s the founder of persuasion powerhouse Missing Link and has written three books; Legacide, Boredom Slayer, and his latest; Here Be Dragons.
Pauline Nguyen is the owner of Red Lantern, the most awarded Vietnamese restaurant in the world. Pauline has achieved outstanding success as an entrepreneur, author, businesswoman, and acclaimed speaker with the unique ability to connect with her audience in a profound way, empowering them to change their story for a better future. She speaks and teaches from direct experience with a unique, dramatic cadence that literally has the audience hanging on every word.
Dr. Natalie Nixon is a creativity strategist and the founder of Figure 8 Thinking, where she bridges creativity and business impact. She’s ranked in the 2024 Thinkers50 Radar cohort and Real Leaders named Natalie one of the top 50 keynote speakers globally. She’s been featured in Forbes, INC, and Fast Company. An award-winning author of The Creativity Leap, a lifelong dancer, swimmer, and doodler, Natalie holds a BA from Vassar College and a PhD from the University of Westminster.
From modest beginnings to a renowned venture capitalist and star investor on ABC’s "Shark Tank", Kevin O’Leary is celebrated as one of North America’s most successful business entrepreneurs. Distinguished by his frank approach and notable financial expertise, O’Leary delivers behind-the-scenes insight on his journey to success, discussing challenges faced, risks taken, lessons learned and everything there is to know about business, money and life. He currently serves as the Chairman of O’Leary Funds, as a board member of The Richard Ivey School of Business, and as a member of Boston’s Hamilton Trust.
Erica Orange is Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of The Future Hunters, one of the world’s leading futurist consulting firms. She evaluates emerging social, technological, economic, political, demographic and environmental trends – and identifies the strategic implications of those trends for several of the most influential Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and public sector clients.
Timothy Papandreou is a global thought leader on emerging technologies, smart cities, and the future of work. As the Founder and CEO of Emerging Transport Advisors, Tim provides clarity and guidance to investors, companies, and governments on navigating disruptions. With experience from Google X and San Francisco MTA, Tim is a sought-after speaker and mentor in emerging tech spaces.
Amy Peck is the Founder & CEO of EndeavorXR, a leading global XR consulting firm working with Fortune 500 companies on XR, Metaverse, and Web 3.0 strategy and deployment. Amy is a recognized thought leader in the space and speaks globally on the future of XR. She is one of the world’s foremost strategists on immersive technology, Digital Twins, the Metaverse, Web 3.0, and Blockchain.
Dr. Katie Pritchett is an educator and business leader with nearly 20 years of experience supporting businesses of all sizes. With expertise in strategic innovation, leadership coaching, and organizational agility, she has held roles at UT Austin, the U.S. Department of Education, and Slalom Consulting. As founder and CEO of KPI Coaching, LLC, she delivers tailored executive coaching, leadership workshops, and keynotes.
5x Bestselling Author, Digital Transformation & Leadership Expert, and Motivational Speaker, Erik Qualman, has performed in 55 countries and reached over 50 million people. He was voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. He is a former sitting professor at MIT and Harvard's edX labs and has received an honorary doctorate for his groundbreaking work.
Marc Randolph is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. Although best known as the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, Marc’s career as an entrepreneur spans more than four decades. He's founded or co-founded six other successful startups, mentored rising entrepreneurs, and invested in numerous successful tech ventures. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, serving variously as a board member, mentor, or executive coach.
Bill Reichert is co-founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, a well-known seed and early-stage venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. Bill travels around the world giving presentations and workshops on innovation, entrepreneurship, venture capital, and technology trends.
Ryann Richardson made history when she became the 50th Anniversary Miss Black America. The tech marketer-turned-founder and Diversity & Inclusion advocate spent 10 years building brands and culture for companies spanning early-stage startups to billion-dollar "unicorns" to the Fortune500. Her work earned her a spot as the youngest honoree on Savoy Magazine’s list of Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America, and set her on the path to discovering her unique purpose as a champion for underrepresented voices.
As chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of WD-40 Company, Garry Ridge is responsible for developing and implementing high-level strategies, all operations, and the oversight of all relationships and partnerships for the company. Garry is passionate about the learning and empowering organizational culture he has helped establish at the WD-40 Company, and his vision and leadership have positively impacted the WD-40 Company in both measurable and immeasurable ways.
Monica M. Rivera (she/her) is a captivating speaker, marketer, and coach with over two decades of experience at renowned companies like Citi, Deloitte, Verizon, and SAP. She founded YOU WANNA DO WHAT?!, a coaching consultancy, aiding business professionals in becoming thought leaders. As a sought-after speaker, Monica has spoken at TEDx, The New York Times, Podcast Movement, and various national events, inspiring personal growth, empowerment, and success in individuals and organizations.
Best-known as the turnaround leader of the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), 33-year NASA veteran Gregory Robinson is credited with transforming a program that was billions over budget and years behind schedule into one of NASA’s greatest achievements of the 21st century. Robinson’s renowned leadership skills and soft-spoken management and communication style have earned him numerous awards and honors, including being named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 (alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky) and receiving the TIME100 Impact Award, which credited Robinson’s leadership on Webb as bringing us closer to understanding the universe.
Frankie Russo is an entrepreneur with a proven track record for using innovative methods to unlock rapid growth and competitive advantage . His keynotes and masterclass experiences are full of actionable insights for fostering a culture of authenticity, imagination and generosity to unlock breakthrough innovation, extraordinary transformation and to keep growth going
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.
Dr. Astrid J. Scholz is a serial entrepreneur in social innovation and systems change. As a recovering nonprofit executive turned tech entrepreneur, Astrid is Co-Founder and CFO/COO of Armillaria, and Co-Founder of Zebras Unite. Astrid’s work focuses on democratizing innovation and capital to solve today’s wicked problems.
Mark’s journey from a classically trained cellist to the first-call drummer for the world’s top artists showcases the immense power of attitude, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. With over 32 years of experience, he brings energy to music and motivational speaking. His presentations offer valuable tips for organizations, teams, and leaders. His speaking style resonates deeply with corporate audiences, offering inspiration and practical tools for development.
Jack Shaw is a renowned global thought leader, professional speaker, futurist, and AI & emerging technology strategist with 40 years of experience. His expertise spans beyond AI to include blockchain, IoT, and more. He has delivered insightful presentations to over 300,000 global leaders from diverse industries, offering customizable and engaging sessions. With Jack Shaw, your organization gains a visionary guide to understand the transformative potential of AI and emerging technologies.
Daniela, Karen, and Stephanie Carvajalino, better known as the Carvajalino sisters, are renowned entrepreneurs, speakers, and distinguished figures in the fields of entrepreneurship and education with a community of over a million followers. They founded Biz Nation, dedicated to enhancing Latino small businesses and advancing workforce development by providing online educational programs to over 100,000 students.
Dedren Snead seamlessly blends the realms of art, technology, industry, and education in a way that very few can. Snead believes in creating inclusive, interactive storytelling that weaves together every culture and background possible. His creative endeavors encompass an amalgamation of Afrofuturistic graphic novels, animation, gaming, and augmented reality. Snead was recently chosen for a Ford Foundation Fellowship, where he will exercise his thought leadership fusing gaming, artificial intelligence, and the future of work. His work is a transformative journey, ushering executives, educators, and students into a future where creative and technical careers are not just possibilities but achievable realities, with Artificial Intelligence acting as a collaborative ally. Dedren Snead is not just an artist and developer but a pioneer in harnessing the power of gaming as a transformative educational tool.
Brett StClair is an influential leader and pioneer in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, renowned for his ability to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology with strategic business solutions. With a rich background as an ex-Googler and a transformative digital banker, Brett now serves as the CEO of Teraflow.ai. His dynamic career and insightful expertise have made him a sought-after speaker, consultant, and thought leader in the tech and business landscapes.
A strategic adviser to CEOs and four-star generals, firms like IBM, PwC, and the US Dept. of Defense regularly seek his insight. As the CEO of BIZDEV: The International Association for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, and management consulting + market research firm FutureProof Strategies, he helps partners stay one step ahead of emerging trends – and drive growth around them.
Bill Taylor shows business leaders a path to go from now to next in a world filled with nonstop disruption. As a young entrepreneur, Bill co-founded Fast Company, the bold business magazine that redefined the genre and chronicled the tech-fueled revolution that transformed business and work.
James Taylor is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and speaker on creativity, sustainability, innovation, and AI. For over 20 years, he has advised CEOs, entrepreneurs, educators, governments, leaders, writers, and rockstars on how to design innovative organizations, unlock creative potential, and build a sustainable future. He hosts The SuperCreativity Podcast and TV Show, has worked with clients like Apple, Sony, Cisco, and IBM, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
A professional trend forecaster, speaker, and author, Michael speaks and writes about cracking the code of the future applying his unique framework of Ubertrends — massive waves that are reshaping global behavior.
Robert B. Tucker is an acclaimed innovation expert and business futurist, serving as the President of The Innovation Resource. With over 30 years of experience, Tucker guides organizations in fostering innovation and adapting to future trends. He is the author of influential books such as Driving Growth Through Innovation and is a sought-after keynote speaker known for his actionable insights and strategic vision.
Pat Wadors is the Chief People Officer of UKG, overseeing HR functions for their 14,000+ workforce. With extensive experience in tech companies like Procore and ServiceNow, she's a thought leader in HR and a published author in The Harvard Business Review. An advocate for diversity and inclusion, Pat has developed frameworks and delivered inspiring speeches worldwide. She's known for her empathy and talent for storytelling, making her a standout speaker.
Rebecca Weaver, Founder and CEO at HRuprise, is an influential figure in human resources with over twenty years of experience. She is known for her strategic leadership and innovative HR solutions. Rebecca is a celebrated author, speaker, and cancer survivor. Her keynotes integrate personal resilience with professional insights, offering strategies for adaptive leadership and empathic culture. Her work has been featured in major publications and conferences.
Nick Webb is a number one best-selling author and is one of the most popular Innovation, Healthcare, Future-trends, and Customer Experience Speakers in the world. Nick is the CEO of LeaderLogic, LLC a Management Consulting Firm that provides consulting services and training to the top brands in the world. Nick works shoulder-to-shoulder with boards of directors of multibillion-dollar companies to assist them in building future-ready organizations.
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.
Dr. Brynn Winegard is a renowned business professor, professional speaker, and expert in applied neuroscience and positive psychology. She is dedicated to helping professionals achieve peak mental performance at work by understanding and utilizing their brain better. Dr. Winegard holds multiple degrees, including an MBA and PhD, and teaches graduate and executive learners at various institutions. She has conducted research through Harvard Medical School and is a fellow with Harvard-McLean Hospital IOC Research Institute.
Andrew Winston is a globally-recognized expert on megatrends and sustainable business. He was ranked #3 on the Thinkers50 list of the most influential management thinkers in the world. Andrew’s books on strategy – including Green to Gold, The Big Pivot, and Net Positive, which was co-authored with legendary CEO Paul Polman – have sold over a quarter million copies in 15 languages. The Financial Times selected Net Positive as one of the Best Business Books of the Year. Andrew is also a highly sought-after and inspirational speaker to audiences of executives around the world. He received degrees in economics, business, and environmental management from Princeton, Columbia, and Yale.
A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products the Apple I and II. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. Since then, Wozniak has received countless awards for his technological advancements and philanthropic endeavors and is also a published author and co-founded Woz U.
Denise Lee Yohn is the go-to expert on brand leadership for national media outlets, an in-demand speaker and consultant, and an influential writer, authoring the bestselling book What Great Brands Do: The Seven Brand-Building Principles that Separate the Best from the Rest.