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- 2024 Agenda
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CTF 2024
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2025 SPEAKERS

Visionary Voices

Our speakers are the trailblazers shaping tomorrow. At Create the Future Summit 2025, you’ll hear from influential business leaders, cutting-edge tech experts, forward-thinking government officials, and boundary-pushing artists—all sharing their insights on the future of industries, policy, and innovation.

Through engaging panel discussions and exclusive fireside chats, these thought leaders will provide actionable strategies, bold predictions, and fresh perspectives. Whether you’re looking to navigate emerging trends or forge game-changing collaborations, our speakers will inspire and challenge you to think bigger.

Get ready for a day of powerful ideas and transformative dialogue.

Meet the 2025 Visionaries

Step into the future with global leaders, bold thinkers, and changemakers driving innovation across tech, investment, policy, and culture. These are the voices shaping tomorrow.

Mark McClain

CEO & Founder, SailPoint (Nasdaq: SAIL)

Mark McClain

CEO & Founder, SailPoint (Nasdaq: SAIL)

Mark McClain is the CEO and Founder of SailPoint, bringing nearly 35 years of experience in technology and over two decades as a leader in identity security. Under his leadership, SailPoint has grown into a global leader, serving nearly 50% of the Fortune 500 and 25% of the Forbes Global 2000. The company operates in over 60 countries with nearly 3,000 employees. After its $6.9 billion acquisition by Thoma Bravo in 2022, Mark successfully led SailPoint back to the public markets in February 2025 (Nasdaq: SAIL).

Tim Koller

Partner, McKinsey & Company

Tim Koller

Partner, McKinsey & Company

Tim Koller is a Partner at McKinsey & Company based in New York and a core leader of the firm’s Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice. With over 38 years of experience, Tim advises global clients on value creation, corporate strategy, M&A, capital markets, and investor relations. He has played a leading role in shaping McKinsey’s thinking on long-term value and financial strategy. Tim is the lead author of the landmark book Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, used in top business schools worldwide, and Value: The Four Cornerstones of Corporate Finance, a practical guide for senior executives. He also founded McKinsey’s Strategy & Trend Analysis Center and the firm’s publication McKinsey on Finance. A frequent lecturer at institutions such as Chicago Booth, INSEAD, Columbia, and Northwestern, Tim is widely recognized for helping business leaders connect strategy to sustainable value creation. He also serves as chairman of Pathways to College and a trustee of Hampshire College.

Marsha Wulff

Co-Founder, LoftyInc Capital

Marsha Wulff

Co-Founder, LoftyInc Capital

Marsha is a trailblazer in impact investing with over 40 years of combined experience in entrepreneurship, management, and venture capital. As a co-founder of LoftyInc Capital, she has helped shape one of Africa’s most active VC firms, investing over $25 million in more than 150 high-growth startups, including three unicorns, and attracting approximately $1.5 billion in follow-on funding. A key figure in building four multi-billion-dollar companies, Marsha continues to drive long-term, community-centered growth through her investments and ecosystem-building initiatives across Africa by supporting Afropreneurs.

Micheál Smith

Consulate General of Ireland, Western USA

Micheál Smith

Consulate General of Ireland, Western USA

Micheál Smith serves as the Consul General of Ireland in the Western United States, where he leads efforts to promote Ireland’s interests through diplomacy, trade, investment, and cultural engagement. With deep experience in international policy and economic development, he has held leadership roles including Head of the Global Ireland Unit and VP of USA at IDA Ireland. His expertise spans strategy, international relations, and business development, with a focus on strengthening Ireland’s global presence and partnerships.

Jack Cassel

Head of Listings, Nasdaq

Jack Cassel

Head of Listings, Nasdaq

Jack Cassel is Nasdaq’s Head of New Listings, overseeing Nasdaq’s IPO business for North America and EMEA. Nasdaq has won an average of 83% of the IPOs over the last 5 years. Prior to joining Nasdaq, Jack worked as a Vice President at GrowthPoint Partners in the Technology M&A group and at Morgan Stanley’s Private Bank. Preceding his entry into the business world, Jack played Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros. While playing baseball, Jack also co-founded Players for the Planet – a non-profit organization that utilizes professional athletes to promote environmental awareness. He currently serves as a board member. Jack holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and studied Communications at Loyola Marymount University.

Pankaj Patel

CEO & Co-Founder of Nile

Pankaj Patel

CEO & Co-Founder of Nile

Pankaj Patel is the Founder and CEO of Nile, where he is transforming network connectivity by delivering a simplified, secure, and customer-obsessed networking experience. With over 25 years of leadership in technology, he has a track record of building scalable products and leading high-performance global teams. Previously, Pankaj served as EVP and Chief Development Officer at Cisco, overseeing a $38 billion portfolio. He is also Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at JC2 Ventures, Senior Advisor at March Capital, and serves on the boards of multiple tech startups and the GO2 Foundation.

Tom Kemp

Executive Director, California Privacy Protection Agency

Tom Kemp

Executive Director, California Privacy Protection Agency

Tom Kemp is the Executive Director of the California Privacy Protection Agency and a recognized leader in cybersecurity, privacy, and tech policy. He was the founder and CEO of Centrify (now Delinea), a top cybersecurity firm serving Fortune 50 companies, which he led through major growth and acquisition milestones. A seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Tom has raised over $90M in venture funding and helped take NetIQ public. In the policy arena, he was instrumental in the passage of California’s landmark privacy laws, including Prop 24 and the Delete Act, and co-authored the California AI Transparency Act. In 2023, he published Containing Big Tech, a widely praised book on regulating digital surveillance, AI, and monopolies.

Shalabh Gupta, MD

Founder & CEO, Unicycive Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UNCY)

Shalabh Gupta, MD

Founder & CEO, Unicycive Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UNCY)

Shalabh Gupta, MD is the Founder, CEO, and President of Unicycive, which he started from scratch in August 2016 and took public on Nasdaq in July 2021 (NASDAQ: UNCY). He previously founded Biocycive and held roles at Genentech, UBS, and Rodman & Renshaw. He also founded Globavir, partnering with Bio-Rad and Cepheid (Danaher). Dr. Gupta advises UCSF’s Innovation Center and Stanford’s SPARK program, and has served on the board of UC Irvine’s Beall Center. A former NYU Medical Center physician and faculty member, he holds an MD from JIPMER, India, and an MPA in Health Finance from NYU.

Adam Nash

Co-Founder & CEO, Daffy

Adam Nash

Co-Founder & CEO, Daffy

Adam Nash is the CEO and co-founder of Daffy, a fintech platform transforming charitable giving. A longtime leader in tech and finance, he has held executive roles at Dropbox, Wealthfront, LinkedIn, and eBay, and invested in 100+ startups including Figma, Gusto, and Acorns. Adam also serves as an adjunct lecturer at Stanford and co-Chairman of ICON, a nonprofit connecting Israeli innovation to the world. His work focuses on making financial tools and philanthropy more accessible through technology.

Doug Merritt

Chairman, CEO & President, Aviatrix

Doug Merritt

Chairman, CEO & President, Aviatrix

Doug Merritt is the Chairman, CEO, and President of Aviatrix, bringing decades of leadership in enterprise software and cloud transformation. He previously served as President and CEO of Splunk, where he led the company’s transition from a traditional software model to a cloud-based SaaS business, growing ARR from $220 million to over $3.1 billion. Doug has held senior roles at Cisco, SAP, Baynote, and PeopleSoft, where he led multi-billion dollar business units and launched major enterprise solutions. He also co-founded Icarian, Inc., an early cloud-based HR tech company. Doug is known for driving innovation and growth at scale across the tech industry.

Henry Lin

Founder & CEO, Linnovate Partners

Henry Lin

Founder & CEO, Linnovate Partners

Henry Lin is the Founder and CEO of Linnovate Partners and RAISE Technologies, which he established in 2016 to meet the growing demand for an integrated suite of service and technology solutions in the alternative investment industry. Henry began his career in the UK as a software engineer, specializing in advanced technologies such as AR, IoT, Product Lifecycle Management, and Computer-Aided Design for industrial companies. From 2009 to 2016, he served as Managing Director at eFront, a leading technology solutions provider for alternative investment, which was acquired by BlackRock in 2019. In his role, Henry managed projects across the Middle East, Asia, and Greater China, advising clients and engaging with key stakeholders, including sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and fund managers.

Naveen Khugputh

Co-Founder & COO at Werqwise

Naveen Khugputh

Co-Founder & COO at Werqwise

Naveen Khugputh started their career as a Management Trainee at Lloyds TSB in September 2005 and worked there until October 2006. Naveen then joined LDC as an Investment Director in October 2006 and stayed there until June 2015. In August 2015, they became the Executive Director - Global Investment at Compass Offices and worked there until December 2016. Naveen then joined Marque Makers as a Director in May 2016. In December 2014, they co-founded BILLie Group and worked as a Co-Founder & Director. In January 2014, they co-founded BSD (Build Something Different) Education and served as a Co-Founder & Director. Naveen's most recent role is as the Co-Founder & COO of Werqwise, which they started in September 2017. Naveen has also become a Co-Founder & COO at apiro since January 2024. Naveen Khugputh began their education in 2000 at The University of Sheffield, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Politics in 2003. Following this, they pursued further studies at SKEMA Business School from 2003 to 2004, graduating with a Master of Science (MSc) degree in International Business & Finance.

Richard Moran

Venture Capitalist & Author

Richard Moran

Venture Capitalist & Author

Richard Moran is a San Francisco-based speaker, investor, author, and syndicated radio host. He has written 10 bestselling business books. His latest is Never Say Whatever. He is a General Partner at QNova Capital focused on life sciences. His investment portfolio includes Wisp, Warehouse Exchange, popchips, SiSaf Ltd, and others in tech, media, and consumer goods. He serves on the board of Charli.ai and advises several startups, including Craft.co and OROS. Previously, he was CEO of Accretive Solutions, Partner at Venrock and Chairman at Portal Software. He hosts the KCBS Radio show "In the Workplace ". He holds a Ph.D. in Organization Behavior from Miami University.

Hussein Fazal

Co-Founder & CEO, Super.com

Hussein Fazal

Co-Founder & CEO, Super.com

Hussein Fazal is a repeat tech entrepreneur and the Co-founder and CEO of Super.com, where he is dedicated to building the world’s most valuable membership program for everyday Americans. The Super+ membership offers 20+ benefits across savings, earnings, credit building, and more—think of it like a modern-day Costco membership for financial wellness. Members enjoy exclusive hotel discounts, a secured charge card that builds credit, cash advances, gamified earning opportunities, and more. Under Hussein’s leadership, Super.com has raised nearly $150 million, driven over $2 billion in sales, and helped customers save more than $200 million to date. Prior to Super.com, Hussein co-founded and bootstrapped AdParlor, one of the largest Facebook advertising tech companies globally. He scaled it to $100 million in revenue before its acquisition by AdKnowledge in 2011.

Liang Chao, PhD

Mayor, City of Cupertino

Liang Chao, PhD

Mayor, City of Cupertino

Liang Chao is the Mayor of Cupertino with extensive leadership across education, civic, and nonprofit sectors. She has served 2 years on a school board overseeing 18,000 students and a $200M budget, and 3 years on the Cupertino City Council managing a $120M budget. Chao also founded and led two nonprofits, served over 6 years on the YMCA board, and contributed to the League of Women Voters and the League of California Cities’ Legislative Committee.

Shawn Flynn

Managing Director, SVH Capital

Shawn Flynn

Managing Director, SVH Capital

Shawn Flynn is a seasoned mid-market investment banker and award-winning podcast host. After founding and operating a successful business in Beijing, he returned to Silicon Valley, where he has held leadership roles including Head of Incubation at an AI-focused accelerator and President of one of the region’s oldest angel groups. Shawn is the founder of Silicon Valley Highpoint Capital (SVH Capital), a premier middle-market investment bank specializing in M&A, growth capital, and secondary transactions. He brings a global perspective—fluent in Mandarin and Spanish—shaped by nearly eight years living abroad.

Tatyana Mamut

Co-Founder & CEO, Wayfound

Tatyana Mamut

Co-Founder & CEO, Wayfound

Tatyana Mamut is Co-Founder & CEO of Wayfound, which helps enterprises supervise AI agents. She has been a transformative product & technology executive driving innovation at AWS, Salesforce, Nextdoor, Pendo, and IDEO. She sits on company Boards and advises startups as well as investment funds. Tatyana holds over a dozen technology & design patents, including several for the "AI Agent Control Layer," an idea she developed in 2023. She has a PhD in economic anthropology from UC Berkeley and a BA in economics from Amherst College. She is a refugee from Ukraine and lives with her spouse and daughters in San Francisco.

Mark S. McNally

Founder & Chief Nobody, Nobody Studios

Mark S. McNally

Founder & Chief Nobody, Nobody Studios

Mark McNally is a visionary product and marketing executive with over 25 years of experience and 14 startups under his belt. A founding leader in multiple analytics and tech ventures, he has driven companies from startup to IPO and led innovative product launches across industries from e-commerce and banking to healthcare and logistics. A U.S. veteran, pilot, world traveler, and fluent Spanish speaker, Mike combines global business acumen with a passion for using technology to create broad, meaningful impact.

Keshia Theobald-van Gent

Partner, BDev Ventures

Keshia Theobald-van Gent

Partner, BDev Ventures

Keshia is an accomplished executive with deep expertise in innovation, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. She has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and improving startup outcomes across diverse sectors and global markets. As a Partner at BDev Ventures, Keshia oversees sourcing and portfolio operations, managing both the strategic and operational dimensions of the fund. Previously, she founded and led Dialog to Learn, building technology partnerships to advance literacy initiatives. She also directed U.S. programs at German Accelerator, where she supported global startup expansion and cross-border growth strategies and served as Director of Strategic Partnerships at GSVlabs.

Daniel Idźkowski

Chief Investment Officer, I.D.I.T. Single Family Office

Daniel Idźkowski

Chief Investment Officer, I.D.I.T. Single Family Office

Daniel Idzkowski, an entrepreneur, investor, and inventor, measures success by millions positively impacted, focusing primarily on supporting deep tech companies tackling existential challenges. Sidepocket Financial, one of his largest portfolio companies, developed new foundational models for asset allocation, replacing 70-year-old antiquated models available to retail investors. His invention, SKUNKLOCK, the first bike lock that fights back, sparked a billion-dollar industry and prevented over 1 million tons of carbon emissions. As a family office investor via the IDIT Family Office, he supports dozens of innovative entrepreneurs. He lives by simple but powerful principles: lead with value, take on hard problems, and when in doubt, get more data.

Moaz Hamid

Founder Partner, MVMT ventures

Moaz Hamid

Founder Partner, MVMT ventures

Moaz is a mission-driven technologist, strategist, and philanthropist. He is the founder of mvmt ventures, an innovation partner and empathy funds at the intersection of accessibility and social determinants of health. Moaz is a former advisor to Snap Inc, and SoftBank (Robotics and Opportunity Fund). He is presently a trustee of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation (CTA, producer of CES), as well as a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Health Foundation's dream council and board of directors.

Paul Ratner

Vice President, Marble Bridge

Paul Ratner

Vice President, Marble Bridge

Paul Ratner is the Vice President of Sales at Marble Bridge Funding Group. In his role he is responsible for helping small businesses and early stage companies by offering working capital financing. Prior to working for Marble Bridge Paul spent 19 years working in various sales leadership roles in professional sports with the Golden State Warriors and PGA TOUR. Paul currently serves on three non-profit boards and has been a strategic advisor for several companies and individuals.

Richard Hua

Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership, AWS

Richard Hua

Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership, AWS

Rich Hua is a technology strategist and innovation evangelist, and he currently serves as the Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership at AWS. His mission is to upskill leaders in emotional intelligence and interpersonal dynamics, enabling them to lead with greater Empathy, Purpose, Inspiration, and Connection (EPIC). Rich has spent decades training and mentoring people in leadership and interpersonal skills—from CEOs to aspiring managers to early career professionals. He is the founder of EQ@Amazon which, at 70,000 members, composes the largest corporate-based EQ community in the world. Building on his internal success, Rich launched the EPIC program to empower AWS customers with emotional-social skills to augment their adaptability, resilience, and innovation. Rich is a global thought leader who has been featured in The Guardian, Washington Post, and AWS Executive Insights, and his keynotes and workshops consistently receive the highest ratings at large-scale events such as re:Invent, ExecLeaders, and Imagine. He and his team have reached over 1.3 million people with EPIC skills, and his training content has been integrated into onboarding, sales, and leadership development programs across multiple divisions of Amazon globally. Visit Rich's EQ website at www.richardhua.co to learn more.

Yana Yasevich

Partner, Alter Global

Yana Yasevich

Partner, Alter Global

Yana is a Partner and the Head of Platform at Alter Global, an early-stage VC investing in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and South and Southeast Asia. Based in San Francisco, Yana is passionate about bringing more global investment interest to emerging markets. Prior to joining Alter 4 years ago, Yana co-founded a consumer startup in San Francisco and worked as a Product Manager in New York.

Chris Hart

CEO, Civic

Chris Hart

CEO, Civic

Chris Hart is the CEO of Civic, a pioneer in decentralized identity and AI authorization. With over two decades of leadership across fintech, Web3, and cybersecurity, Chris brings a unique lens to the intersection of privacy, identity, and emerging technologies. At Civic, he leads strategic growth and innovation, helping to shape the future of secure, user-centric digital identity in an increasingly AI-powered world. Before Civic, Chris served as CFO at Guidebook and Nextag, where he scaled global operations and built resilient teams across finance, IT, and business strategy. He is also Vice Chair of the Board at the Pat Tillman Foundation, supporting veteran leadership and civic impact. Chris holds a BA in English and Philosophy from Emory University and an MBA in Finance from the University of San Francisco, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Lisa M Watts

CEO & Founder, CREE8

Lisa M Watts

CEO & Founder, CREE8

Lisa M Watts is the CEO and Founder of CREE8, the all-in-one cloud studio platform that transforms global media workflows by delivering enterprise-grade tools and infrastructure to creative teams, without the barriers of cost, complexity, or geography. Under her leadership, CREE8 was named NAB Product of the Year 2025 for Remote Production, recognizing its innovative approach to cloud-native collaboration in both live and post-production. With more than 30 years of experience at the forefront of emerging technologies and product innovation across leadership roles at Intel, Walmart’s Store No. 8, and Magic Leap, Lisa brings a rare combination of technical depth and market vision. At CREE8, she leads the mission to democratize access to powerful production environments and empower global creative teams to do their best work, wherever they are. Lisa is also a member of the Television Academy, the Hollywood Professional Association, and the MovieLabs Industry Forum, where she contributes to shaping the future of connected, cloud-enabled media production.

Ahmad Ejaz

Partner, RSM

Ahmad Ejaz

Partner, RSM

Ahmad has more than 28 years of experience in public and private accounting and has helped several companies with IPOs in the United States and on foreign exchanges. He has worked with companies in the development stage as well as large, multibillion-dollar international entities. He has extensive experience working with emerging-growth private and public companies in a range of industries, with a focus in the technology and life sciences sectors. Ahmad previously served as RSM’s west region technology and life science industry leader and has held other leadership roles. His areas of specialty include revenue recognition, equity-related accounting, business combinations, inventory cost accounting, and financial reporting. He also has provided capital market transaction and exit strategy consultation to clients. Ahmad stays focused on what truly matters: trusted advice, measurable outcomes, and growth that’s both smart and sustainable. He believes leadership is not about waiting for ideal conditions—it’s about setting direction, taking decisive action, and adapting quickly. Outside of work, Ahmad’s passions are acquiring knowledge, travel, family and good food.

Paul Kelley

Founder & CEO, CandaceAI

Paul Kelley

Founder & CEO, CandaceAI

Paul Kelley is a founder, advisor, and operator at the intersection of technology, small business, and generational transition. With over two decades of experience in M&A and startup growth, Paul has advised thousands of founders and family business owners on strategic exits and transformations—most recently as Head of M&A at MicroAcquire (now Acquire.com). He currently leads CandaceAI, a venture accelerating dealmaking through AI, and is building a platform to empower the next wave of Main Street buyers and sellers. A champion for overlooked markets and under-digitized industries, Paul blends blue-collar empathy with Silicon Valley execution. His current work focuses on AI-assisted decision tools, next-gen marketplaces, and demystifying entrepreneurship through acquisition. When he's not working on the future of business ownership, Paul’s usually coaching his kids’ soccer team or helping revive a 210-acre nature retreat in Northern California.

Diego Mariscal

Founder & CEO, 2Gether-International (2GI)

Diego Mariscal

Founder & CEO, 2Gether-International (2GI)

Javier Diaz, CEO of OSI Engineering, helps global technology companies scale faster through highly specialized workforce solutions that support every stage of the product lifecycle, from R&D through product delivery. With over 25 years of experience in Managed Services, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, and Flexible Workforce Solutions, OSI delivers talent strategies that fuel innovation and drive business growth.

Almaz Negash

CEO, African Diaspora Network

Almaz Negash

CEO, African Diaspora Network

Almaz Negash is a recognized trailblazer in social innovation and one of the inaugural members of President Biden’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement. Named among the 50 Leading African Corporate Women by Leading Ladies Africa and honored as one of Silicon Valley’s 100 Women of Influence, Almaz is a catalyst for global change. In 2010, she founded the African Diaspora Network (ADN) to activate and harness the intellectual, philanthropic, and entrepreneurial power of Africans in the diaspora and their allies. Under her visionary leadership, ADN has become a premier platform advancing investment, entrepreneurship, and innovation. With support from philanthropic, private, governmental, and individual partners, she launched signature programs such as the African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS), Builders of Africa’s Future (BAF), Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE), and the African Scientific Community Engagement (ASCE). Currently, Almaz is spearheading the launch of the African Diaspora Innovation Fund in partnership with Myriad USA and driving ADN’s “Beyond Remittances” campaign to transform diaspora contributions into long-term, sustainable investment. She also serves on several nonprofit and corporate boards and was a member of the UNECA High-Level Commission on Migration. As Executive in Residence at San Jose State University’s Lucas School of Business, she has shared her expertise in social innovation and global entrepreneurship.

Greg Shove

Chief Executive Officer, Section

Greg Shove

Chief Executive Officer, Section

Greg Shove is the CEO of Section, the AI education company founded by Scott Galloway. He is a 7x founder and CEO of tech-powered companies that rode 3 previous tech waves (Internet, Cloud, Mobile) with $250M in exits. He’s also a founder at Machine & Partners, an AI consultancy helping companies identify and prototype AI products, and Personal Math, a newsletter for professionals in their 30s and beyond.

Rahul Puranmalka

Founder, Legacy Pursuit

Rahul Puranmalka

Founder, Legacy Pursuit

Rahul was raised in the western suburbs of Chicago to immigrants focused on building opportunities for their son that they themselves had not experienced growing up in India. Having watched his parents sacrifice comforts for financial stability and to support family, Rahul became a scrappy kid motivated to treat every expense as an investment. Through his childhood, he developed a love for exploration and problem solving. Rahul attended Penn where he studied Chemical Engineering and chose to work in hands-on environments. He experienced many different career opportunities in oil & gas, information systems, and warehouse management, all of which included people, project, and operations management. Throughout his professional and personal experiences, Rahul worked with environments containing ambiguity and imperfect information. He appreciated working with teams that required servant leadership. Though he achieved success in these varied careers, he was still set on understanding his drive and desired impact. Owning and operating a business is the best intersection between his operations experience and entrepreneurial drive. Rahul is surrounded by family and friends who challenge, comfort, and support him, which helps him maintain a healthy balance between confidence and humility. In his spare time, you can find him playing cards or board games with his family and friends. Rahul loves hiking and backpacking and he’s a big fan of traveling both domestically and internationally so he can experience cultures that are outside his own.

Cesar D’Onofrio

CEO, Making Sense

Cesar D’Onofrio

CEO, Making Sense

Cesar D’Onofrio is CEO at Making Sense, a software development company with a passion for user experience and offices in California, Argentina and Mexico. An Argentina native, Cesar moved with his family to Texas in the early 2000s and founded Making Sense a few years later. Since then he’s been selected among the Nearshore Americas’ Power 50 Leaders and in 2016 he was chosen to take part in the Stanford Latino Entrepreneur Leaders Program. In 2017 he was awarded as the Top Midmarket IT Executive of the Year, recognized as the most influential vendor and solution provider executive because of his strong commitment to the midmarket customers.Today Cesar lives with his wife and two sons in Portola Valley, CA.

David Haubert

Alameda County Supervisor

David Haubert

Alameda County Supervisor

David’s public service began in 2000 when he volunteered for his daughter’s school as School Site Council Chairman. In 2002, he was elected to the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees, where he served for 10 years, with 4 of those years in the President and Vice President role. In 2014, David was elected Mayor of Dublin. During his tenure, David balanced the city's budget for six consecutive years and built up reserves for a rainy-day fund, all without cuts to services. David is also proud to have brought more than 750 new jobs and 150 new businesses to Dublin. Additionally, David helped add six new community parks, including a state-of-the-art Aquatics Center, build two much-needed school sites in the Dublin Unified School District, and preserve over 1,750 acres of open space. After serving as the Mayor of Dublin for 6 years, David Haubert was elected on November 3, 2020, to become the 14th Alameda County Supervisor, representing the First District. David serves on many Regional / County Boards, Committees, and Commissions. He is currently serving his second term and is the Board of Supervisors President. David and his wife, Michele, have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of three daughters, Katelyn, Karissa, and Courtney.

Randy Peers

President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

Randy Peers

President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

Randy Peers joined the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO on September 9, 2019. He brings three decades of workforce and economic development expertise, and several years of executive leadership experience growing not-for-profit organizations that serve the business community. During his tenure thus far at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, which has been heavily influenced by the COVID pandemic response, Randy has overseen the launch of five significant new initiatives focused on supporting Brooklyn small businesses while advancing the overall theme of equity -- the Small Business Resource Network, which was adopted city-wide; the Brooklyn EXCELerate social justice lending program; the neighborhood development concentrations in Canarsie, Homecrest and Bushwick; the Brooklyn Entrepreneur Academy; and the launch of the Brooklyn Made Store, which have all led to meaningful investments and support for small businesses throughout the borough. In addition, Randy significantly expanded the Brooklyn Chamber’s international work, hosting over forty foreign delegations visiting Brooklyn, developing partnerships with Seoul, Korea, Ghana, Pakistan, and Dubai, and launching an international affiliate membership program. Randy previously served as the inaugural President & CEO of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) in Berks County, PA. For over a decade he was CEO of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), a Brooklyn-headquartered workforce development organization that was the leading provider of disconnected youth job training services in NYC. From 2002-2006, Randy served as Vice President of Economic Development at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Randy also serves as a Mayoral appointee to the NYC Industrial Development Authority and the NYC Workforce Investment Board. He also serves as a Borough President appointee to the Brooklyn Public Library. Randy holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and an MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service. Randy was born, raised, and spent most of his professional career in Brooklyn, having lived in five different neighborhoods across the borough.

Alicia Partee

Founder & CEO, Authentigrate

Alicia Partee

Founder & CEO, Authentigrate

Alicia Partee is the Founder and CEO of Authentigrate, a global mobility and well-being platform transforming how organizations support and retain international talent. A licensed therapist, international bestselling author, and cross-sector leader, Alicia blends data, cultural insight, and emotional intelligence to drive belonging across borders. She empowers companies to innovate through authenticity and helps global teams thrive in today’s increasingly borderless world.

Javier Diaz

CEO & Co-Founder, OSI Engineering

Javier Diaz

CEO & Co-Founder, OSI Engineering

Mukesh Jain

Generative AI Lead, Amazon

Mukesh Jain

Generative AI Lead, Amazon

Mukesh leads Generative AI initiatives for Amazon Search, where he drives the end-to-end development of foundational large language models (LLMs) to power new conversational and product discovery experiences. He leads cross-functional teams across pre-training, post-training alignment, evaluation, and real-world application, ensuring the safe, scalable, and impactful deployment of cutting-edge AI in production. Before Amazon, Mukesh held senior product leadership roles at Walmart Global eCommerce, where he led teams across Mobile Apps, Online Grocery, and Personalization. He also founded Covantis Technologies, a marketplace that connected parents with developers of innovative educational tools. Mukesh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from NIT Calicut and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Dominique Dwyer

Digital Leader

Dominique Dwyer

Digital Leader

Dominique Dwyer is a digital leader with deep expertise in merchandising, product development, and eCommerce operations. She has driven over $3B in online growth across categories like Home, Apparel, Beauty, and CPG by blending innovation, operational rigor, and customer obsession. She has held senior roles at Williams Sonoma, Macy’s, and Walmart, where she doubled Pottery Barn’s digital business to $2B+, launched digital marketplaces, and built iconic brands like Drew Barrymore Flower Home. Honored with leadership awards at both Williams Sonoma and Walmart, Dominique is a customer-obsessed, insights-driven change agent who leads with curiosity, collaboration, and clarity of vision. She is passionate about developing talent, driving continuous improvement, and building seamless, inspiring customer experiences across every touchpoint.

Roderick Hirsch

Senior Advisor, Global Trade & Export Strategy

Roderick Hirsch

Senior Advisor, Global Trade & Export Strategy

Rod Hirsch is a seasoned global trade and business development expert, currently serving as a volunteer mentor with the East Bay chapter of SCORE, a U.S. Small Business Administration partner supporting entrepreneurs nationwide. Rod recently retired from federal service after a distinguished career with the U.S. Commercial Service, where he served as Director of the Oakland Export Assistance Center and Executive Secretary of the Northern California District Export Council. He also led the Department of Commerce’s Africa, Near East & South Asia Team, promoting U.S. exports across emerging markets, and supported numerous international trade missions and shows across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Prior to federal service, Rod worked for the City of San Antonio advancing cross-border trade with Mexico and coordinating international affairs and sister city programs. Earlier in his career, he served as a Desk Officer with the U.S. Peace Corps and as a volunteer in Togo, West Africa. Rod holds an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a NAFTA focus and a BA in Development Anthropology from Boston University. He is passionate about mentoring and empowering entrepreneurs to thrive in global markets.

Natalia Bielczyk, PhD

Founder & CEO, Ontology of Value

Natalia Bielczyk, PhD

Founder & CEO, Ontology of Value

Natalia Bielczyk, PhD is a career strategist, job market anthropologist, and computational neuroscientist exploring the Future of Work. Professional development has become "chess 5D" and she travels the world studying the rules of the game. She is building Ontology of Value®: a high-end career incubator helping professionals and teams find their competitive advantages, build value, navigate the markets, and subvert all expectations in the AI era. She also works as an academic teacher, researcher, advisor, startup mentor, speaker, author, podcaster, and blogger.

Vijay Rajendran

Venture Builder, Investor & Startup Advisor

Vijay Rajendran

Venture Builder, Investor & Startup Advisor

Vijay Rajendran is a startup venture builder and investor, UC Berkeley Certified Executive Coach, speaker and author based in Silicon Valley. After 20 years as an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor, he has supported hundreds of founders and helped them on their journey to becoming CEOs. He believes that with exceptional leadership, we can impact the world for the better by bringing more of our potential. Vijay has led portfolio value at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.7 billion under management. He led a global team helping startups in over 80 countries and their founders develop connections, raise capital, and create a thriving community. Previously, he led a venture studio for a global bank, was a startup founder in fintech and e-commerce, and was a management consultant. Vijay received a BS in Business Administration from Boston University as well as an MS in Foreign Service and an MBA from Georgetown University. He is also an alumnus of the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute. He is the author of The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding with Confidence, an indispensable guide that is packed with actionable insights and expert strategies that can transform your approach to fundraising.

George Panagiotakopoulos

Innovation Ecosystem Lead, UC Berkeley

George Panagiotakopoulos

Innovation Ecosystem Lead, UC Berkeley

George leads global expansion and innovation initiatives at the University of California, Berkeley, where he develops and operates innovation programs and ecosystem development projects across the US, Europe, and Asia. His responsibilities include sourcing global startups for growth and expansion, evaluating thousands of companies across various industries, and developing investor, advisor, mentor, and corporate networks to support in ecosystem development initiatives. He also collaborates with a wide range of companies and government organizations worldwide, helping them drive lean and impactful innovation efforts.

Andreas Ramos

Professor, California Science and Technology University

Andreas Ramos

Professor, California Science and Technology University

Andreas Ramos is the author of 22+ books on digital marketing, including "Search Engine Marketing" (McGraw-Hill) (also published by Tsinghua University in China) and technical editor of "Search Engine Marketing, Inc." by Mike Moran (IBM Press). He is a professor at California Science and Technology University (CSTU), a private technical university in Silicon Valley. His focus is on use of Applied AI for Digital Marketing. Andreas was the director of the digital marketing agency at Acxiom and manager of Global SEO at Cisco. He co-founded two digital marketing agencies. He managed global digital marketing for MIT for eleven years. His current clients include Stanford and Harvard. He has been a keynote speaker at conferences in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Beijing, Shanghai, Copenhagen, Vienna, Riyadh, Jedda, and other cities. He graduated from Universität Heidelberg, the leading German university. He and his wife live in Palo Alto.

Albena Kantardzhieva, PhD

Molecular Biologist & Preclinical Scientist

Albena Kantardzhieva, PhD

Molecular Biologist & Preclinical Scientist

Dr. Albena Kantardzhieva is a molecular biologist and preclinical scientist with two decades of experience spanning academic and biotech settings. Her work focuses on translating complex biology into innovative therapies, with a particular emphasis on retinal diseases. Dr. Kantardzhieva received her master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Sofia, her PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Amsterdam, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship through Harvard University at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Her doctoral research focused on why certain genetic changes cause blindness, leading to discoveries about how cells in our eyes maintain their health and function. Dr. Kantardzhieva has led research programs in gene therapy, gene editing, and biologics across ophthalmology, neuroscience, and hearing loss. Most recently, she served as Associate Director of Product Development at 4D Molecular Therapeutics, where she developed strategies for novel treatments targeting age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of vision loss in older adults. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, holds several patents, and enjoys bridging scientific innovation with practical solutions. She is passionate about cross-functional collaboration, mentoring teams, and aligning research with real-world clinical needs. For Dr. Kantardzhieva, the ultimate goal is simple: using our growing understanding of novel gene-modifying technologies, aging, and disease mechanisms to help people maintain their health and quality of life longer. Dr. Kantardzhieva is passionate about ingenuity, innovation, and the fast-paced energy of start-ups, and contributes her expertise through collaborative scientific engagements.

Mo Hamzian

Chief Executive Officer, VEL

Mo Hamzian

Chief Executive Officer, VEL

Mo Hamzian is rooted in a singular purpose: to liberate individuals, companies, and industries from what’s holding them back. Driven by an unshakeable belief in humanity's latent capacity to thrive, Mo envisions a world where people operate at their fullest potential—breaking free from limitations to create a future where innovation and progress are the norm, and the human spirit is the chief beneficiary. As a visionary leader, Mo's mission is to guide businesses through transformative change—driving them to innovate, lead, and thrive. His expertise spans real estate, technology, and finance, allowing him to seamlessly integrate advanced solutions while building a powerful organizational culture that champions human potential. Mo excels at connecting the dots across sectors, combining the breadth of his experience with the scope of his expertise to propel companies forward, especially during times of uncertainty.

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