Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show.

In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.

Les Brown is one of the most influential motivational speakers in the world, known for his electrifying stage presence and ability to inspire lasting transformation. Through powerful storytelling and an undeniable passion for personal growth, he has helped millions break through self-imposed limitations and take control of their destiny. His signature phrase, “You gotta be hungry!” has become a rallying cry for those striving to achieve greatness.

Born into adversity, Brown defied expectations and turned his struggles into stepping stones for success. His journey from poverty to global recognition is a testament to the power of perseverance, belief, and resilience. His message resonates across cultures, proving that success is within reach for anyone willing to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

As a sought-after keynote speaker, Brown has captivated audiences from Denmark to Dubai, delivering life-changing insights to corporations, educational institutions, and organizations worldwide. His impact extends beyond the stage through best-selling books like Live Your Dreams and It’s Not Over Until You Win!, equipping readers with the tools to conquer fear, embrace change, and unlock their full potential.

Brown’s legacy is built on empowering others. A mentor to aspiring speakers, a recipient of prestigious accolades like the Golden Gavel Award, and a firm believer in the power of words, he continues to inspire generations. His unwavering faith in human potential reminds us that success isn’t reserved for the privileged—it belongs to those who dare to claim it.

Samuel Esson Jonah is a Ghanaian businessman and the current chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. He is the executive chairman of Jonah Capital, an equity fund based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jonah was previously president of AngloGold Ashanti and shared the strategic leadership of the company with its CEO, Bobby Godsell.

Henry Kaestner co-founded the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor ministries, and has been a catalyst behind both movements. He and his team seek to serve faith driven entrepreneurs, investors, funds, partners, and advisors through content, community, and connections.

Henry is also a Co-Founder and Partner at Sovereign’s Capital, a private equity and venture capital management company that invests in faith driven entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia and the US from its offices in Silicon Valley, Durham, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior to co-founding Sovereign’s Capital, Henry was Co-founder and previous CEO, and then Chairman, of Bandwidth (NASDAQ:BAND) and its sister company, Republic Wireless (which spun out of Bandwidth in 2016). Together the companies have grown from $0 to more than $1 Billion in revenue. The founding values of Bandwidth are: Faith, Family, Work and Fitness (in that order).

He co-founded DurhamCares and Generosity Bay Area, was a founding Board Member of Praxis, and sits on a variety of business and ministry boards.

James (Jim) W. Keyes is a global business leader, best selling author, philanthropist, artist, musician, commercial pilot, and modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two internally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries from retail, consumer products, technology, healthcare, cyber security, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies.

Keyes’ philanthropic initiatives have an equally broad focus, including serving a three-term seat on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, acting as the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, Cooper Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU CoxSchool of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross. He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education Is Freedom Foundation. He is the author of Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands which provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. It outlines the importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while reserving our democracy.

Keyes is a personification of the American Dream, as he comes from humble beginnings. He was inducted in 2005 as a Member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024, he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is a South African politician who is the former African Union (AU) Commission Chair.

Formerly and anti-apartheid activist, Nkosazana has held a number of influential government positions in South Africa including Minister of Health (1994 to 1999) under President Nelson Mandela and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1999 to 2009) under Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe.

She was moved to the position of Minister of Home Affairs in the Cabinet of President Jacob Zuma, her ex-husband, in May 2009.

Nkosazana is a member of the African National Congress National Executive Committee and National Working Committee. She is also a member of African National Congress Women’s League National Executive Committee and is or has been involved in numerous other groups and organisations.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Zululand, a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Bristol University, a Diploma in Tropical Child Health from the University of Liverpool, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from both the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Bristol University.

In her spare time Nkosazana enjoys reading, interacting with people and debate.

Dr. Hill Harper is a multi-faceted humanitarian, award-winning actor, best-selling author, and social justice advocate. He is widely recognized for his roles in television and film, including The Good Doctor, CSI: NY, and He Got Game. Beyond entertainment, Dr. Harper has championed civil rights through leadership roles with organizations like The Innocence Project and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and has served on the President’s Cancer Panel under President Obama. A Harvard-trained attorney and Kennedy School graduate, he is also a celebrated author of several New York Times bestsellers, including The Wealth Cure, which addresses the racial wealth gap. His work has earned him seven NAACP Image Awards and numerous honorary doctorates.

An accomplished entrepreneur, Dr. Harper owns The Roasting Plant coffee franchise, co-founded A-Frame Brands, and co-owns the award-winning International House Hotel in New Orleans. He sits on multiple boards including the National Black Bank Fund and LOVED01, a skincare brand co-founded with John Legend. Through his real estate investments and nonprofit initiatives like the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, he actively promotes financial literacy, youth empowerment, and economic justice. Dr. Harper’s dedication to social change, business leadership, and education continues to position him as a respected voice on national and international platforms.

STEDMAN GRAHAM is a business advisor, chairman and CEO of S. Graham and Associates, a management and marketing consulting firm. He is the author of 12 books, including two New York Times best sellers and one Wall Street Journal bestseller.

As a businessman, educator and speaker, Graham lectures and conducts training programs for corporations and educational organizations worldwide on the topic of Identity Leadership, based on the philosophy that one cannot lead anyone else until you first lead yourself. He has delivered Identity Leadership programs in The Netherlands, Germany, China, Canada, the UK, Bermuda and South Africa.

His proven Nine Step Success Process® drives his powerful message.

This success process is based on the principle that it doesn’t matter how the world defines you, it only matters how you define yourself. Graham is honored as a distinguished visiting professor at colleges and universities throughout the country. He is a former adjunct professor at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Business where he taught the course, “The Dynamics of Leadership.”

Graham’s clients include Gulfstream, Aerospace, Microsoft, Deloitte, Wells Fargo, Lenovo, General Dynamics and the US Department of Labor and Education.

As a proud native of Whitesboro, New Jersey, Graham has demonstrated an enduring dedication to youth and community. His New York Times best seller, Teens Can Make it Happen has become a program utilized in numerous middle and high schools in the US and abroad.

With dedication to community development, Graham is the founder of the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro and the Concerned Citizens of Lake Wacamaw, North Carolina. He is also the Co-founder of the Community Alliance for Youth Success (CAYS) and a member of Horatio Alger.

Pratik Gauri is the founder & CEO of 5ire.org, one of the world’s fastest growing unicorns that achieved the coveted billion dollar valuation less than one year from the day it was founded. He conceptualized the term 5th industrial revolution as a founding principle for shaping a for-purpose world that combines sustainability, innovation and business viability. According to him Most of the world’s complex problems can be solved if we create traffic on the bridge between key performance indicators and social impact.

Ahmed Ben Chaibah is not just an entrepreneur-he is a visionary and a pioneer in the global entertainment industry. As the founder of AQUAFUN in 2013, Ahmed has redefined entertainment experiences, pushing the boundaries of innovation and setting new global standards in fun and recreation.

With over 19 years of expertise, Ahmed has shaped the entertainment landscape in the UAE and beyond, positioning himself as a thought leader and trailblazer in the industry. His ability to foresee trends and bring imaginative ideas to life has earned him numerous groundbreaking partnerships with governments, private organizations, and cultural institutions, cementing his reputation as a relationship builder and innovator.

Driven by his belief that work should be fun, Ahmed has led AQUAFUN to achieve global recognition, including multiple world records. His leadership has not only transformed the entertainment sector but has also showcased the UAE as a top tourist destination.

Awards and Recognition: Winner of Best Entrepreneur of the Year – Gulf Capital SME Awards 2021 Tycoon Global 2024 – Recognized as a leader in innovation and business excellence. Indo-Arab International Award – Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 Indo-Arab International Award – Influencer of the Year 2024 Entrepreneurial 100 – Recognized as one of the most aspiring business leaders in 2024 Business Excellence Award – GMBF Global, 2024 Ahmed Ben Chaibah is truly the gold standard in the entertainment industry-a visionary whose impact will continue to shape the future of recreation for years to come. Under his guidance, AQUAFUN has become a symbol of innovation

Mr George Uriesi’s 34-year career includes more than 31 years in aviation, covering airline operations, airport operations, as well as both the safety and economic regulation of the industry.

Starting as a Flight Dispatcher with ADC Airlines in Nigeria, the highlights of his career include stints as a Products Supply Manager at Procter & Gamble South Africa, General Manager, Aviation Safety Promotion at the South African Civil Aviation Authority, General Manager of Cape Town International Airport, South Africa and Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

He has also played active roles in the industry as a member of the International Air Services Council of South Africa and a member of the Economic Regulating Committee for Airports and Air Traffic Control of South Africa. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Cape Town’s destination marketing company, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, and a member of the Board of the Cape Chamber of Commerce, South Africa.

A recipient of Nigeria’s National Productivity Order of Merit award (NPOM), George holds a BA (Hons) degree from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma as well as several professional and executive certificates and qualifications from institutions such as the University of Southern California, USA, Concordia University, Canada, Canfield University, UK, University of Cape Town’s Business School and the Singapore Aviation Academy.

He was a member of the consulting team that put together the business plan for Ibom Air and helped establish and build the airline. Prior to his appointment as Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, he was the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the airline.

Akash Mehta is a British Entrepreneur. He previously worked at Burberry, Estée Lauder Companies, and Dior as their Global Digital Manager. Currently, Akash is the co-founder and CEO of Fable & Mane, an Ayurvedic-inspired hair wellness brand and host of the ‘Founded Beauty’ podcast. Akash was placed on the Forbes ’30 under 30′ list and is a board member of LVMH as well as a Global Guardian for UNICEF.

Fadl Al Tarzi is the founder and CEO of Nexford University, a next-generation online university. He started as an entrepreneur at 18 and has built startups across media, SaaS, and digital industries. His mission with Nexford is to provide affordable, high-quality education to learners worldwide, especially in emerging markets. He is also leading efforts to integrate AI into the university’s curriculum, with nearly 40% of graduates already studying AI.