Dr. Gentzy Franz is an educator, tech executive, and innovative leadership coach. He has a PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Illinois (where he remains a member of the Graduate Adjunct Faculty). Through the coaching and consulting practice he founded, Lightly, he works with leaders and teams in finance, tech, private equity, and manufacturing to instill behaviors that lead to high performance and personal well-being. He firmly believes work can AND should be an additive component of life, and is committed to practices that support that belief.

Jack Ablin

Jack is the Chief Investment Officer at Cresset, leading investment strategy and philosophy for the firm. With over 40 years of  experience, Jack is a thought leader, author and frequent contributor to CNBC, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. 

Wen Nottebohm

Mohsen Ghazi

Noel Campbell

Hear from leading venture capitalist, Matt McCall, about what makes a business attractive to investors and how to create the perfect pitch. Matt will work with each team to help them solidify their business idea.

Matthew McCall is a Partner at Pritzker Group Venture Capital and was formerly a founding partner with DFJ Portage and author of the popular blog, SomethingVentured.com. Over his 25+ years in the business, he has backed over 70 companies, completed more than 400 financings and evaluation over 20,000 business plans. He has had over $50B in enterprise exit value. He also has a strong interest studying the drivers & derailers to high performing cultures and sustainable entrepreneurial success. He is certified in an array of leadership and coaching programs

Building Your Brand

Hear from an expert who has mastered the art of branding and learn tips to help you distinguish your company from competitors. 

Team Time - Branding & Marketing Strategy

Work with your team, a dedicated business mentor, and visiting experts to create your branding and marketing strategy. 

Maryam Banikarim

Maryam Banikarim captured national attention with her viral New York Times essay on taking a “pause” at the height of her highly successful career. As a chief marketing officer who led four major businesses through sweeping transformations and topline growth, Maryam has made a name for herself as a purpose-driven change agent who embraces diversity and inclusion and builds brands that are respected and loved. 

Maryam’s passion for community drew her to Nextdoor, the neighborhood network where neighbors go to connect to the neighborhoods that matter to them so they can belong. At Nextdoor, Maryam oversees marketing, community and global. 

Natasha Lerner

Natasha Lerner is a social media manager at New York Magazine. She also manages the social media accounts of Tom Kitt, an award winning Broadaway composer and orchestrator. Previously Natasha helped launch the social media account for NYCNext, a volunteer movement aimed at supporting New York’s artist community and revitalizing the city. She also was an assistant producer on NYCNext’s award-winning, star-studded rendition of Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind that garnered over 2.5B earned media impressions. Natasha is a recent graduate of Barnard College where she majored in film studies. She is a long-time resident of New York City.

Dr. Carrie Singer

Dr. Carrie Singer is a Licensed Psychologist and group mental health practice owner employing over 40 therapists in the DC suburbs. Her clinic grew to $5M in 5 years and made the Inc 5000 list for fastest-growing businesses in the U.S. multiple times. Dr. Singer is currently developing a mental health technology platform that will improve mental healthcare access and coordination for patients, physicians, and employers. Dr. Singer coaches other small business owners and serves on advisory boards for numerous digital health companies. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, real estate investing, and spending time with her two young children. 

Cooper is a mission driven startup founder. Previously he founded Bluecrew, a Y Combinator startup, helping hundreds of thousands of blue collar employees find work (with benefits) in light industrial jobs across the country. Currently he is building Classet, a startup closing the skills gap by helping career seekers explore paid apprenticeships in the skilled trades. He is a mechanical engineer, coder, and holds a Stanford graduate degree in music and acoustics.

Finalize your business pitch and begin planning and preparing for your final presentation.

Melody A Betts from the National Tour of The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess) was last seen in the world premiere of Secret of My Success as Rose Lockhart. She was recently Becky/Nurse Norma on Broadway & the first National Tour of Waitress the Musical directed by Tony Award Winner, Diane Paulus. 

Amy Cosper

Amy Cosper is the editor in chief for Family Business magazine and MLR Media. She is the former vice president and editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine. Previously, she served as WiesnerMedia's entrepreneur in residence, where she sought out and evaluated new business plans, ventures and partnerships. Cosper first entered the entrepreneurial trenches with her own media consulting business. Her journalism roots, however, began in the tech world, as a reporter on assignment in several countries across the globe, from Israel to France to Brazil. Cosper speaks around the globe on the topic of storytelling and the creative industries.