Brett Crozier, a former Navy combat fighter pilot and current top corporate and nonprofit leader, has extensive knowledge of operational risk management, military culture, and how to lead large, diverse, and high-risk companies. When COVID-19 spread like wildfire throughout the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the most prestigious nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the US fleet, Crozier was also its commanding officer. As a... read full bio
A visionary leader committed to promoting financial opportunity for everyone is Thasunda Brown Duckett. She serves as the president and CEO of TIAA, a prominent provider of outcome-focused investing solutions and safe retirement plans to thousands of institutions and millions of individuals. Duckett's illustrious career is defined by her unwavering dedication to empowering communities and increasing access to financial resources.... read full bio
Kate Bowler, PhD, is a professor of American Religious History at Duke University, the host of the acclaimed Everything Happens podcast, and a four-time New York Times bestselling author. She is also the epitome of humanity. After several years of being told her disease was incurable, she was certified cancer-free. However, Kate's life cannot be returned to its previous state.... read full bio
Dr. Luana has become a formidable presence on the international speaking circuit thanks to her dynamic combination of scholarly depth and personal charm. She is renowned for her enthralling presence and compelling storytelling, which skillfully combines the elements of her professional experience and personal journey to motivate her listeners to change. Dr. Luana's message gains authenticity and depth from her personal... read full bio
Well-established in his post-playing career, Allan Houston is in his tenth season in the Knicks front office. He has been the general manager of the Westchester Knicks from the team's founding and is currently in charge of all operations for the G League franchise in New York. After serving as the president's assistant and later as assistant general manager, he... read full bio
Jordan Zimmerman founded and serves as chairman of Zimmerman Advertising, one of the biggest advertising firms globally, with over $4 billion in annual revenue. His modest beginnings began with a small office in a strip mall with a few staff members. Today, he has thousands of people working at his iconic 135,000-square-foot headquarters in South Florida and regional offices across... read full bio
As the President and Founder of Utility Strategic Advisors, Johnny DeStefano guides a wide range of customers through Washington's growing complexity. Over the past 20 years, DeStefano has been at the forefront of every major change in Washington, and he is respected for his ability to "gravitate towards the unmanageable and unwinnable – and managing to win." As one of President Trump's... read full bio
William Kamkwamba's journey goes well beyond his incredible windmill and is a monument to human potential. In addition to being an entrepreneur and TED Fellow, this self-taught inventor and Dartmouth College alumnus has worked with the WiderNet Project and design powerhouse IDEO.org. As a seasoned farmer and fervent supporter of human-centered design, William has provided consulting services for projects involving... read full bio
In England, Ruzwana Bashir was raised in a tight-knit, traditional Pakistani immigrant community. She didn't know any ladies who went on to further their education or get employment, and her father worked as a fruit vendor. Bashir, however, continued to win. She was accepted to Oxford University, where she was elected president of the esteemed debating society. A Fulbright scholar,... read full bio
Many people consider Edwin van der Sar, a former Dutch professional football player, to be among the best goalkeepers of his generation. Van der Sar started his professional career with Ajax Amsterdam, where he became one of the Eredivisie's best goalkeepers very fast. With Ajax, he won multiple KNVB Cups and Eredivisie crowns, among other domestic honors. Van der Sar... read full bio
Susie Wolff, a former professional racer, is a businesswoman with more than 20 years of experience pushing for female diversity and representation throughout the world. She created history at the British Grand Prix when, while driving for 16-time World Champions Williams Racing, she became the first woman to compete in a Formula One race weekend in 22 years. Susie continued... read full bio
At university, MJ Petroni, a Cyborg Anthropologist, studied television series like Star Trek, but not (only) for fun. Their research focuses on the intricate interactions between people and technologies, examining how we influence technology and how it changes us. In order to prepare for emerging technologies, they assist organizations in becoming more digitally literate by addressing not only the tools... read full bio
Kay is a former judge with expertise in human rights law and a British barrister by training. She is the 2024 recipient of the TIME 100 Impact Award. She has written works about modern slavery, AI, and human rights. She became interested in the effects that technology will have on people worldwide. Kay has been researching and concentrating on the... read full bio
Alondra Nelson, the Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, an independent research institute in Princeton, New Jersey, is an expert on the nexus of science, technology, policy, and society. She also holds a renowned position at the Center for American Progress as a senior fellow. Dr. Nelson formerly served as acting head of the White House Office... read full bio
General Timothy D. Haugh is the 19th Director of the National Security Agency and the Chief of the Central Security Service at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He is also the 4th Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command. General Haugh, a native of Hughesville, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in 1991 after graduating with honors from Lehigh University's ROTC program. At the squadron, group,... read full bio
Charles Frank Bolden Jr. is a former NASA administrator, retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, and a former astronaut who has flown on four Space Shuttle missions. Bolden was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and he earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and went on to earn his M.S. degree in Systems Management from... read full bio
Robert Safian is editor and managing director of the award-winning monthly business magazine Fast Company. He oversees all editorial operations, in print and online, and plays a key role in guiding the magazine's advertising, marketing, and circulation efforts. Safian was honored by Crain's New York Business as one of the “40 Under 40” top young business executives in New York... read full bio
Brent Gleeson is a complex person with a unique trajectory that spans many industries, from journalism and writing to entrepreneurship and military service. He has demonstrated bravery, tenacity, and leadership in the face of adversity as a highly decorated Navy SEAL Combat Veteran. Brent Gleeson transitioned into a new phase of his life after serving in the elite Navy SEALs, using... read full bio
When Swan was just six years old, she and her family moved from Hong Kong to Boston. Swan enjoyed science and spent a lot of time discussing topics like space and the universe at a time when it wasn't "cool" to be intelligent. Swan, who was a bit of an outcast as a child, grew up with a strong sense of... read full bio
Linda Ellerbee is an outspoken journalist, award-winning television producer, best-selling author, one of the most sought-after speakers in America, a breast cancer survivor and a mom. In March 2000, the first three books of Ellerbees series for middle-school children, entitled Get Real, hit the bookshelves. The first, And So It Goes, a humorous look at television news, is still... read full bio
