Entrepreneurship

<p>From modest beginnings to a renowned venture capitalist and star investor on ABC’s <i>Shark Tank</i>, 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.</p><p>In 1986, O’Leary co-founded SoftKey Software Products.

Jia Jiang shares his story and the positive lessons that rejection can teach us to help individuals and organizations use rejection as a powerful advantage.

Jia is the owner of Rejection Therapy and author of “Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible, One Rejection at a Time,” an indispensable guide to overcoming rejection and living more boldly. After he left a career in the corporate world to pursue life as an entrepreneur, he was soon confronted with everyone's biggest fear – rejection.

<p>As a busy Management Consultant and the CEO of LeaderLogic, LLC, Nick has the amazing privilege of serving some of the world’s best brands and helping them thrive in a time of Chaotic Change. Nick is a multiple number-one bestselling author; his latest book, <em>Chaotic Change</em>, is a playbook for Leaders looking to thrive in a time of hyper-complexity, emerging technologies, and a changing world.

<p>Ruth E. Carter’s unparalleled ability to develop an authentic story through costume and character has made her one of the most sought-after, renowned, and award-winning costume designers today. </p><p>A two-time Academy Award-winner for “Best Costume Design” (<em>Black Panther </em>in 2019; <em>Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</em> in 2022), Ruth E. Carter has also garnered nominations for Spike Lee’s <em>Malcolm X</em> (1993) and Steven Spielberg’s <em>Amistad</em> (1998).

<p>Named one of “The Best Speakers of Today” by Northstar Meetings Group and Orator of the Year by <i>ACHI Magazine </i>in 2018, Natalie Fikes is a force of positive change on stage.</p><p>Natalie Fikes, is a performance and development coach that helps professionals improve performance and get what they want in life and business.

Bart McDonough, a cybersecurity and managed IT strategist, speaks on protecting your organization’s most precious assets: its customer and member information. He shares his expertise on our casual approach to cybersecurity as a culture, its inherent security risks, and our instinctive belief that getting hacked could never happen to us.  

<p>Miral Kotb is one of the entertainment world’s trail-blazing entrepreneurs—a software developer, dancer, and choreographer who found a way to combine her passion for writing code with her love of dance.

<p>From DJing sets worldwide to captivating the hearts of “Thronies” across nations, Kristian Nairn has made a name for himself. Better known as ‘Hodor’ from HBO’s Game of Thrones, this multitalented self-starter is an international sensation. </p>

<p>With years of experience achieving record employee retention, creating extraordinary customer experiences, and growing revenue for his own successful business and for others, Joe DeLoss shares the foundations of his people-first, purpose-driven approach. </p><p>Joe believes in a better way of doing business for everyone involved. He spent nearly twenty years founding, growing, and selling successful businesses, all with a deep orientation to impact and sustainability.

<p>Award-winning financial journalist, behavior expert and author, Stacey Tisdale, discusses the new realities of the post Covid-19 economy helping audiences navigate the financial and psychological challenges that so many are facing, due to factors such as job and income loss, loss of healthcare coverage, financial stress, and the gender and racial inequalities the virus is amplifying. </p><p>When she was a journalist with Wall Street Journal Television, Stacey became one of the first women—and the first African American—to report from the New York Stock Exchange.