Chad Seiler

Partner, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, KPMG

With more than 25 years of experience and leadership across KPMG, Chad has advised on over 500 M&A transactions, led the firm’s U.S. TMT Deal Advisory & Strategy practice, and co-led the U.S. Financial Due Diligence practice—shaping major industry shifts and fueling long-term enterprise value for both corporate and private equity clients.

In his current role, Chad spearheads KPMG’s go-to-market strategy for the TMT sector, focusing on digital transformation, generative AI, analytics, cyber and privacy, and sustainability. He is known for building high-performing cross-functional teams, nurturing innovation, and architecting future-ready solutions in partnership with senior TMT leaders and global alliance partners.

Co-host - Cathy Hackl

CEO, Future Dynamics

Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming exec, futurist, & speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, & gaming platforms strategy. She's the co-CEO of Future Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company & a top tech voice on LinkedIn.

Co-emcee Rahsaan Shears

aIQ Program Lead, KPMG

Rahsaan Shears is the Head of aIQ at KPMG, where she leads the firm’s enterprise AI strategy, innovation initiatives, and client delivery across industries. Rahsaan works with global organizations to translate AI ambition into scalable, governed solutions—aligning technology, data, and operating models to drive measurable business impact. She is a trusted advisor to senior executives navigating AI adoption in complex, regulated environments.

H.B. Siegel

CEO & Founder, HBS Strategy

Pixar & Wavefront
H.B. began his career at Pixar as a graphics software developer and manager for a novel version of RenderMan. He later joined Wavefront, where he helped create the foundational technologies that became Maya, the industry-standard animation system.

SGI & Lucasfilm
After Wavefront was acquired by SGI, he served as Director of Rendering, contributing to the high-speed graphics system OpenGL. He then became CTO at Lucasfilm’s ILM and Skywalker Sound, overseeing cutting-edge visual effects technologies used in Star Wars, Star Trek, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, and many other iconic films.

Amazon & IMDb
At Amazon, H.B. helped launch key digital initiatives like Search Inside the Book, Kindle Books, and Digital Music. He later served as CTO of IMDb, one of the world’s most-visited sources for movie and TV content. Most recently, he joined Amazon’s Grand Challenge Team as the “Prime Minister of Ideas,” developing and evaluating transformative concepts for the company.

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💡 Innovation & Hacking

H.B. holds 94 issued patents, with several more pending. Beyond his professional achievements, he is a passionate maker and technologist. He has built multiple self-replicating 3D printers, and designed numerous custom LED lighting installations.

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🤖 Interests in AI

H.B.’s current focus is on artificial intelligence, where he explores:

• Code generation using LLMs (“Vibe” coding)
• Chess analysis and gameplay
• AI-powered storytelling and character development
• Image generation and visual creativity

His work combines LLMs and generative tools to build resilient, interactive systems for creative expression.

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🎯 Mission

Across every chapter of his career, H.B. Siegel has remained dedicated to the pursuit of innovation, creativity, and technological progress.

Co-host - Sandy Carter

COO, Author, Founder, Unstoppable / Women of AI and Web3

Sandy Carter has had a distinguished career, holding leadership positions as Chief Operations Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Sales Officer, Channel Chief, and Chief Product Officer, working for two Fortune 100 companies – AWS and IBM. Her background is unique, as very few executives have experience working in such diverse C-level roles. At IBM, she was a pioneer in AI innovation, contributing to the development of the Watson ecosystem, including Cloud, AI, and IoT, and playing a pivotal role in introducing the industry's first business model for the AI ecosystem.

Sandy's passion for collaborating with partners and delivering value to customers was further demonstrated during her tenure as a top executive at AWS, where she worked closely with C-level customers and partners to address their Cloud, AI, and tech challenges. She credits her teams for their success, acknowledging that while she provides the direction and strategy, they drive the innovations and breakthroughs in AI and emerging technologies. She has also held Board of Director positions, currently serving on the Altair Board, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including AI Executive Champion of the Year, Business Transformational Leader of the Year, and CNN's Top 10 Women in Tech.

Joel Hron

CTO, Thompson Reuters

Noelle Russell

Founder, AI Leadership Institute

Noelle Russell is one of the most recognized voices on the future of artificial intelligence and responsible innovation. A multi-award-winning TEDx presenter and best-selling author, she has become a go-to resource for organizations seeking to harness AI’s power to drive growth while managing risk. Named the #1 Agentic AI Leader in 2025, she has taught more than 3.4 million learners through LinkedIn, equipping leaders and teams with practical tools to thrive in an AI-powered economy. With her blend of technical expertise and business acumen, she helps organizations unlock AI’s full potential to achieve scalable, measurable outcomes. 

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Russell’s presentations deliver both inspiration and practical takeaways. She shows audiences how to seize opportunities with AI while safeguarding against unintended risks. By sharing real-world lessons from her work with top enterprises and her experience shaping emerging AI ecosystems, she helps leaders confidently navigate an AI-first future. Her keynotes empower decision-makers to identify immediate wins, build responsible strategies, and create lasting competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving landscape. 

Across her career, Russell has led at some of the world’s most influential organizations, including NPR, Microsoft, IBM, AWS, and Amazon Alexa. She is a five-time Microsoft AI MVP and a respected authority on data and AI literacy. As the founder of the AI Leadership Institute, Russell works with leaders to design AI roadmaps that scale responsibly and sustainably. She is also the visionary behind the “I ❤️ AI” community, a global initiative focused on making responsible AI accessible for everyone. Her influence has been widely recognized with accolades including the AI and Cyber Leadership Award from DCALive, Trailblazer of the Year by Women in AI, a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in Generative AI by Thinkers360, and the #1 Thought Leader in Agentic AI. 

Noah Zamansky

VP of Product, Tech & Design, Client Experience, StitchFix

Noah Zamansky is VP of Product, Client Experience at Stitch Fix He was previously with eBay where he was the Senior Director of Product Management for Fashion & Vertical Experiences. Noah is a seasoned leader who has shaped product vision, strategy and experience as well as helped launch new lines of business. He is a strong collaborator with an ability to bring stakeholders and perspectives together to create the best result. 

Shaina Green

VP of Digital , Constellation Energy

Shaina Green is a transformation catalyst who has spent more than 15 years leading organizations through bold shifts in technology, strategy, and operations. Known for turning complexity into clarity, she guides executive teams from “what if” to measurable impact—aligning leaders, inspiring teams, and keeping both people and customers at the center of every decision.

Shaina blends visionary strategy with relentless execution. She builds high-performance teams that don’t just meet goals—they redefine them. Her leadership is rooted in agility, human-centered change, and innovation that fuels sustainable growth and customer loyalty.

Recognized for her ability to lead large-scale transformation while strengthening culture, Shaina brings deep expertise across leadership, digital transformation, business strategy, technology, agile operations, and change management.

JP Poulter

Chief AI Officer, House 337

James 'J.P.' Poulter is the founder of Vixen Labs, acquired by House 337, and a pioneer in voice and conversational AI. He advises Fortune 500 companies on multi-platform AI strategies and is a sought-after speaker on the future of digital interaction. 

Eric Pace

Head of AI, Cox Communications

Eric is a senior executive with 20+ years of experience leading digital organizations.  His current role is leading Artificial Intelligence at Cox - from governance to implementation.  Previous roles span digital marketing, sales, and service leadership where he delivered against both revenue targets and bottom-line efficiency goals.  Key to success in Eric’s career has been bringing technology and intelligence to the forefront of the customer experience. His background in management consulting, with specialization in Communications and Sports Media industries, fuels the balance delivered between disruption and stability.

Stephen Adams

Director of IT, Constellation Energy

Steve Adams is a visionary leader at Constellation Energy, recognized for pioneering digital and AI initiatives that drive transformative change across the organization. He has built a reputation for driving growth-based transformational change through the strategic alignment of cutting-edge technology and business product development.

As Director of Digital, he is instrumental in reimagining core business processes/functions and developing foundational data and AI technologies that underpin the company's growth strategy.

Since joining Constellation in 2008, Steve has held a diverse set of IT leadership roles spanning software/data/AI development, project/program management, co-development/partnership management and solution architecture. He has extensive experience in US and European commodity markets, power/nuclear generation and energy customer/retail spanning power, gas, and solutions.

His strategic approach and deep industry expertise continue to shape Constellation’s digital future, positioning the company at the forefront of energy sector advancement.

Uvika Sharma

Founder, INTLDA

Uvika Sharma is the founder of INTLDA and an internationally respected expert on AI policy, risk, and governance. She consults with governments and global enterprises on balancing innovation with ethical and operational guardrails. 

Morgan Reed

President, ACT The App Association

As president of ACT | The App Association, Morgan specializes in issues involving application development relating to privacy, intellectual property, competition, and small business innovation. Morgan has been sought by the House and Senate in multiple hearings while his commentary and insight are a major draw for news networks including Fox Business News, MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, ABC, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. Morgan has authored and contributed to several white papers and is a part of the developer team for the Linux Router Project (LEAF) and remains an active Apple and iOS licensed developer. Prior to joining ACT, Morgan was a trusted advisor at Venable LLP serving businesses and organizations in many aspects of their operations.

Padmini Soni

Founder, Rezonance AI

Padmini Soni is a Senior Technology Strategist and the founder of Rezonance AI, an AI consulting firm specializing in AI Strategy Development, Custom AI Solutions, and Ethical AI Governance for small and medium sized businesses.

Co-emcee - Mellini Monique

Voice Futurist & Voice AI Ethicist, Voxversa

Mellini Monique is a Voice Futurist and the founder of the Vocal Intelligence Atelier, Voxversa, a burgeoning global ecosystem exploring how human and artificial voices shape the future of communication, culture, and consciousness.

Her work is rooted in the ethos that Human Voice Is The Original Technology™—the sound that creates connection, carries cultures, and grafts genius into the physical world. In this age of human-machine interaction, she firmly believes that the human voice is the signal that teaches machines to serve us ethically and empathetically. 

Through Mellin Monique’s work, she amplifies intentional vocal expression as a catalyst for wellness, innovation, and conscious leadership, tuning the world to the frequency of YOU.

 

Jonathan Aberman

Co-founder , Hupside

Jyoti Vaidee

VP of Ads Products, Reddit

Jyoti Vaidee is a seasoned product management executive with more than 15 years of experience leading both Product and Engineering organizations across some of the world’s most influential technology platforms. An entrepreneurial and versatile product leader, Jyoti has built products from concept to global scale across Google Ads, Google Shopping, YouTube, and Microsoft, shaping the consumer, streaming, monetization, and advertising ecosystems that billions interact with every day.

Throughout her career, Jyoti has repeatedly taken products from zero to massive, sustained growth, driving end-to-end vision, execution, and cross-functional alignment. She is known for her ability to identify high-impact opportunities, translate complexity into clear product strategy, and lead teams that deliver measurable, market-changing results.

Jyoti has managed and mentored high-performance product and engineering teams, cultivating cultures grounded in collaboration, ownership, and innovation. Her leadership style blends strategic clarity with a deep understanding of customer behavior, data, and platform dynamics—making her a trusted voice for companies navigating the next wave of product transformation in the age of AI.

At CES AI House 2026, Jyoti brings her perspective on building AI-powered products at global scale, the future of monetization and consumer experiences, and what it means to lead high-performing product organizations in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

Executive Producer - Pete Erickson

CEO, Modev

Pete Erickson is a technology ecosystem builder, founder, and executive producer focused on how AI is reshaping enterprise decision-making, markets, and society. He is the Founder and CEO of Ecosystem Partners, Inc. and the creator of Trust Driven Growth, a framework used to design high-trust, high-impact business ecosystems across AI, enterprise technology, and public-sector innovation.

With more than two decades of experience building ecosystems, convening senior leaders, buyers, builders, and policymakers, Pete has built and produced influential platforms including CES AI House, AGENTIC AI Davos, and GovAI Summit—bringing together global enterprises, venture-backed innovators, and government leaders to move beyond AI hype toward real-world execution.

Pete’s work sits at the intersection of AI strategy, ecosystem economics, and trust, helping organizations understand not just how to deploy AI—but how to do so responsibly, competitively, and at scale. He is known for translating complex technological shifts into clear, actionable insights for executive audiences.

At CES AI House 2026, Pete frames the week’s core thesis: AI is no longer a tool—it is an operating model, and the organizations that win will be those that build trusted ecosystems around it.

Jay Jacobs

U.S. Head of Equity ETFs, BlackRock

Jay Jacobs is the U.S. Head of Equity ETFs at BlackRock. In this role, Jay oversees the overall product strategy, thought leadership, and client engagement for the firm's index and active equity ETF business.

Previously, Jay founded and led Global X ETF's Research and Strategy team. Prior to joining Global X, Jay was a business analyst at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) where he helped launch hundreds of ETFs on the NYSE Arca trading platform.

Jay is frequently cited as an expert in the media across print, online and broadcast media including CNBC, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. He holds a BA from Emory University in International Studies and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a CFA charter holder.

Jay resides in the New York area and is an avid explorer, spending his spare time in the outdoors hiking, skiing, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Per Edin

Global AI Sales Acceleration Leader, KPMG

Per Edin holds dual global and U.S. leadership roles for AI at KPMG. He is responsible for aligning AI client offerings, messaging, and go-to-market strategy across KPMG’s global advisory network, while driving AI-related growth in the U.S. Technology, Media & Telecom sector. His work includes leading the firm’s efforts to help clients navigate GenAI market disruption, developing a portfolio of new AI services, producing AI thought leadership, and creating key accelerators such as the KPMG GenAI Value Assessment.

Matthew Duncan

Head of Future of Work & AI, Microsoft

Matthew Duncan is the Head of Thought Leadership on the Future of Work at Microsoft, where he leads the market narrative on how digital transformation, AI, and human-centered design are reshaping the modern workplace. His work sits at the intersection of human performance, advanced technology, and employee experience, guiding organizations toward a more connected, resilient, and human-first future of work.

With more than 25 years in the technology sector, Matthew has built a career defined by innovation and impact. His market strategies have contributed to two IPOs, four acquisitions, and the founding and successful exit of his customer experience company, Resolute. He began his career at Oracle before moving into mission-driven work with the Grameen Foundation, where he helped deploy technology-enabled microfinance solutions to lift communities out of poverty.

A respected voice on the future of work, culture, and organizational well-being, Matthew speaks at industry conferences and university programs on topics including workforce transformation, category creation, mental health, and the connection between well-being and productivity. He also serves as a strategic advisor to Culturati and TEDxSeattle, helping advance the movement around purpose-driven corporate culture.

Matthew is the father of three sons and is deeply committed to breaking mental health stigma and supporting a more resilient Generation Z.

Chad Smykay

AI CTO & Distinguished Technologist, HPE

Chad Smykay has had a distinguished career in operations, notably transforming Rackspace into a premier service organization and implementing big data solutions across industries. He pioneered machine learning technologies and advanced Kubernetes applications, integrating them with data analytics to meet diverse needs. Outside of his professional achievements, Chad is an avid swimmer training for a national meet and enjoys building projects like an automated garden system and a tree house for his kids.

Co-emcee Sam Cummings

Director of Education, GenAI.Works

Sam Cummings is the Director of Education at GenAI Works, where he helps learners and organizations turn AI knowledge into better decisions, stronger careers, and real-world impact.

Previously, Sam served as Head of Data Science at Gainsight, leading a global team responsible for implementing predictive analytics use cases for Customer Success Management across enterprise customers. His work focused on translating complex data into practical insights that drove growth, retention, and operational excellence.

With more than a decade of enterprise experience, Sam has consulted, built, and managed CRM and ERP systems for 150+ organizations, led teams building technology businesses from zero to multi-million-dollar operations, and designed products and services from use-case definition through market deployment. He brings a practitioner’s mindset to education—bridging data science, enterprise software, and entrepreneurship to help others build what matters.

Niv Sundaram

CSO/CTO, Machani Robotics

Niv Sundaram is the Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Machani Robotics, where she leads the development of emotionally intelligent humanoid companions designed to transform human wellness. Her work bridges advanced robotics, AI cognition, and human-centered design to create systems that can sense and respond to emotion with authenticity.

Before joining Machani Robotics, Niv spent 15 years at Intel, rising to Vice President & General Manager across AI Customer Engineering, Cloud Engineering, and Systems Workload Optimization. She built and led global engineering teams supporting the world’s largest cloud and enterprise customers, influenced more than $15B in annual revenue, and delivered key advances in AI workloads, cloud infrastructure, and next-generation Intel platforms.

Niv pioneered foundational AI acceleration work at Intel—including INT8, INT16, and BFLOAT instruction sets—and upstreamed major capabilities into TensorFlow, PyTorch, and MXNet. As VP of Cloud Engineering, she transformed Intel’s relationships with hyperscalers and launched a new fleet services business projected to generate over $250M annually.

A recognized technical leader, keynote speaker, and inventor with multiple U.S. patents, Niv holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She brings a rare blend of deep engineering expertise, applied innovation, and human-centered vision to the future of empathetic AI and robotics.

Dr. Karen Panetta

IEEE Fellow & Dean of Graduate Engineering Education, IEEE, Tufts University

Dr. Karen Panetta is the Chief Executive Officer of Tessera Intelligence, where she leads the development of advanced AI-driven vision systems for detection, recognition, search and rescue, and firefighting. Her work integrates sensing, artificial intelligence, and real-time edge processing to power mission-critical decision-making in high-risk environments.

A distinguished technologist and researcher, Dr. Panetta also serves as the Chief Research Officer and Co-Founder of SeaDeep, advancing breakthrough underwater sensing and analytics. As a member of the MIT NSF I-Corps program, she helps translate deep-tech innovation into scalable commercial solutions.

Dr. Panetta is the President of IEEE-HKN and has spent more than 30 years at Tufts University, where she is Dean of Graduate Engineering Education and a Professor of Engineering. Her leadership has shaped generations of engineers across AI, robotics, sensing technologies, and applied research.

At CES AI House 2026, Dr. Panetta brings a unique perspective spanning AI innovation, advanced perception systems, and the development of the engineering talent that will shape the future of intelligent, autonomous technologies.

John Hampton

Corporate Vice President, AMD

John Hampton is the CVP of AMD Worldwide Enterprise Technical Sales. In this role, John is the lead technical interface for AMD with the world’s largest commercial enterprise organizations. Hampton helps bring AMD’s innovation to enterprises for their AI use cases, HPC and datacenter workloads, and commercial client solutions. Prior to this role, John built and led AMD’s Global Pre-Sales organization. John has extensive background in driving bleeding edge enterprise AI solutions, and has been
involved in many of AMD’s largest commercial wins. John has spent over 24 years at the company, with extensive experience partnering with HPE around the world. John and is passionate about collaborating to solve the world’s biggest technology challenges.

 

Kay Firth-Butterfield

CEO , Good Tech Advisory

Kay Firth-Butterfield is the CEO of Good Tech Advisory and one of TIME’s 2024 Impact Awardees. As the inaugural Head of AI at the World Economic Forum, she is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on AI governance. A barrister, former judge, professor, technologist, and entrepreneur, Kay has spent her career shaping global policy to ensure AI benefits humanity equitably.

Kay was the world’s first Chief AI Ethics Officer (2014) and has advised governments and institutions including the GAO Polaris Council, UNESCO, and the UK judiciary. She serves on multiple AI advisory boards, sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on AI, and writes a monthly AI column for The Innovator.

Recognized since 2018 as one of the most influential women in AI—and featured by The New York Times as a leader redefining the future—Kay is a globally sought-after speaker on the technical, social, and ethical dimensions of AI.

Dr. Martin Clancy

Founder, AI:OK

Dr. Martin Clancy is a musician, academic, and global thought leader in AI ethics. He is a Senior AI Research Fellow at DCU/Insight, funded by Enterprise Ireland to lead the AI:OK initiative, and a Policy Fellow at Trinity College Dublin’s Long Room Hub. Martin previously served as the founding Chair of the IEEE Global AI Ethics Arts Committee, whose landmark paper The Voice of the Artist in the Age of the Algorithm was published by IEEE in 2022.

Martin is the editor of Artificial Intelligence and the Music Ecosystem (Routledge, 2023), a leading transdisciplinary work exploring AI, creativity, and ethics, featuring contributions from globally recognized voices in technology and the arts. His research spans AI’s financial, philosophical, and cultural implications.

A certified Ableton Live trainer and veteran performer, Martin has charted on the U.S. Billboard Dance Charts, founded the Irish rock group In Tua Nua, and contributed music to major documentaries including Nothing Compares. He continues to produce and manage Irish artist Jack L., with whom he has collaborated for decades.

Courtney Hawkins

Senior Vice President Global Retail, Mejuri

Courtney Hawkins is a retail transformation leader redefining how human-centered store operations scale in an AI-enabled world. With more than 15 years of global experience, she has led over $1.2B in P&L responsibility and built, scaled, and transformed international retail organizations of 12,000+ employees across North America, Europe, and APAC for iconic brands including Mejuri, The RealReal, Gap, Old Navy, and Bath & Body Works.

Known for bridging frontline execution with enterprise strategy, Courtney designs operating models where AI, predictive analytics, and workforce enablement unlock measurable performance gains at scale. Her work focuses on integrating digital and physical retail systems across regions to create more efficient global operations, smarter retail models, and more personalized customer experiences—proving that the future of retail is not automation instead of people, but technology that amplifies human impact worldwide.

Aadeel Akhtar

CEO and Founder, Psyonic

When Dr. Aadeel Akhtar was 7 years old, he met someone with a limb difference for the first time. She was his age, living in poverty in Pakistan, missing her right leg. At the time, he wondered how they could share the same ethnic heritage but have such vastly different qualities of life. As he grew older, he realized that this was due to a lack of resources. For that reason, he founded and serves as the CEO of PSYONIC, a company whose mission is to develop advanced prostheses that are affordable for everyone. PSYONIC's first product is the Ability Hand--a prosthetic hand that moves all five fingers, is the fastest available, is impact resistant, and gives users a feeling of touch.

 

Dr. Akhtar received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. He received a B.S. in Biology in 2007 and M.S. in Computer Science in 2008 at Loyola University Chicago. His research is on motor control and sensory feedback for upper limb prostheses, and he has collaborations with the Bretl Research Group at Illinois, the Center for Bionic Medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the John Rogers Research Group at Northwestern University, and the Range of Motion Project in Guatemala and Ecuador. In 2021, he was named as one of MIT Technology Review’s top 35 Innovators Under 35 and America’s Top 50 Disruptors in Newsweek.

Max Lu

AI Innovator, Harvard University

 

Max Lu is a Ph.D. student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he studies how AI is reshaping learning, critical thinking, and media literacy. As Harvard’s inaugural AI Teaching Fellow, he co-develops and teaches courses that help educators and leaders understand and responsibly integrate AI into learning environments. Max’s work blends media studies, engineering, and learning science, informed by prior roles at Bloomberg Media and the Los Angeles Times.

Bret Kinsella

GM & SVP, Fuel iX

Bret Kinsella is SVP and GM of Fuel iX. Mr. Kinsella is also the CEO and founder of Voicebot.ai, the leading source of research, data, analysis, and news related to the voice and AI industries. Bret was named Commentator of the Year by the Alexa Conference in 2019 and both Voice AI journalist of the Year and Commentator of the Year by Project Voice 2020 and 2021. He frequently keynotes at technology conferences in the U.S. and Europe.

Gwen Hammes

Co-CEO, Co Metrics

Gwen Hammes is co-CEO of Cro Metrics, where she leads the company in empowering global brands like Google, Bombas, Mattel, Hyatt, Starz, Talkspace, and Tory Burch to unlock growth through strategic experimentation and innovation. Under Gwen’s leadership, Cro Metrics designs strategic digital solutions that drive measurable impact having generated over $1 billion in client revenue impact with an average client ROI of 10x. Gwen’s strategic vision continues to position Cro Metrics as a trusted growth advisory partner, transforming digital consumer experiences and delivering tangible, meaningful results for industry-leading brands.

Prior to Cro Metrics, Gwen built her career at global agencies including Ogilvy, FCB, and DDB, where she led cross-functional teams and delivered standout work for brands like Mars, Kimberly-Clark, Stellantis, and Levi Strauss. She’s known for her collaborative style, strategic thinking, and passion for helping CMOs tackle complex challenges.

Based in Chicago with her husband and two sons, Gwen is a global citizen at heart. She’s lived and worked in Argentina and Mexico, and brings a culturally fluent perspective to everything she does. Outside of work, Gwen is a stand-up comedian, farmhouse renovator, and devoted Formula 1 follower—with a glass-half-full outlook on business and life.

Rick Gilchrist

CEO, Vannadium

Rick Gilchrist is the Founder and CEO of Vannadium. He has previously founded/co-founded/managed 17 startups, with 5 successful exits. Rick’s knowledge of and belief in blockchain, distributed ledger technology, and enterprise solutions drive his ability to lead Vannadium towards our ultimate vision of data sovereignty for all.

Susan Sly

Founder & CEO, ThePause.ai

Susan Sly has been voted as one of the top female entrepreneurs in Artificial Intelligence in 2023. She is the CEO and founder of ThePause.AI, former Co-CEO and Co-Founder of an AI-driven retail and healthcare computer vision company, a tech investor, and podcast host of the highly acclaimed show - Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and has been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She is a graduate of MIT Sloan.

As a highly acclaimed keynote speaker, Susan has spoken for MIT, NVIDIA, HPE, Intel, Lenovo, and shared the stage with Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Robert Kiosaki, and more. Susan has served as a distinguished guest speaker at prominent events such as the National Restaurant Association, MIT Sloan, Executive Next Practices Institute, Forbes Roundtable, Corenet Global, The Big Data and AI Summit, HPE Discover, The Edge AI Summit, and various others.

In 2022, Susan was honored to receive the Rosalind Franklin Society Award in Science and a nomination for the Rising Star in AI from Venture Beat.

Mark Madrid

CEO and Founder, Breakthrough Mavens

The Honorable Mark L. Madrid lives life with immense gratitude to God, his family, partner, pet,
and inner circle of trust. Renowned for his signature energy, discipline, and grit, Mark’s journey
is a testament to overcoming adversity, winning with integrity, and paying it forward.
Mark is a national economic strategist, AI futurist, bestselling author, and the Founder and CEO
of Breakthrough Mavens, LLC, Fueling Excellence and Longevity with White-Collar Experience
and Blue-Collar DNA. Breakthrough Mavens is a pioneering fractional C-Suite firm powered by
AI and grounded in human intelligence, delivering a white-glove, results-driven customer
experience.
Mark is the author of his first book, Energy, 21 Uncomplicated & Easy Tips to Start Your Day
Energized (Fig Factor Media), the first in a book series, Self-Fueling Excellence. Energy is an
Amazon.com best seller in three categories: Motivational Growth & Spirituality, Personal
Success & Spirituality, and Health & Spirituality. He is co-author of the Hero Club curated book
titled, The Leader’s Playbook: CEOs Transforming Vision into Action (C-Suite Publishing).
A former Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Mark and his team
supported millions of U.S. small businesses with services from capital eligibility and education
to cybersecurity and procurement.
His expertise has become a trusted compass for small businesses, tech startups, corporate
America, public-private partnerships, academia, nonprofits, and C-Suite executives across
America.
Currently, Mark serves in distinguished fractional executive roles: Visiting Scholar at the Clinton
School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas and Entrepreneur-In-Residence at
NMSDC. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas State University McCoy College of
Business Foundation and the Board of Advisors at Trez.co, Qoollege, and Deizero. Mark sits on
the Advisory Council of the Hispanic Wealth Project and the Executive Board of Directors of
FRIENDS, Friends of the American Latino Museum, a national advocacy campaign to create a
Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.
Mark is an esteemed member of the C-Suite Network Hero Club, an exclusive community of
Founders, CEOs, and Investors driven by distinguished integrity, transparency, and decisive
action.

Mark’s past accolades include being honored as the 2019 Silicon Valley Nonprofit CEO of the
Year by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, a reflection of his relentless commitment to
purpose-driven impact. His career launched on Wall Street with J.P. Morgan in 1995, following
his graduation with honors from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of
Business. Also, he holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration, cum laude, from the University
of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business.
As a sought-after keynote speaker and host of the Small Business is Big Business with Mark L.
Madrid podcast (powered by C-Suite Media), Mark is an inspiring global voice on economic
opportunity, financial literacy, and AI-powered transformation. Mark’s platforms in AI and AGI
include a groundbreaking AI Guidebook series collaboration with international award-winning
economic developer Kevin Johns and his custom curated AI small business educational forums.
In partnership with Conectado and its CEO Guillermo Diaz, Jr., Mark is deploying game-
changing fractional C-Suite industry standards, along with his digital twin Markitos.
His national honors include the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the American Airlines Extra
Mile Award, and an appointment as an Honorary Colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve. Mark’s
unwavering integrity and commitment to excellence and authentic, results-driven innovation
position him as a respected national media commentator and an elite leader in every room.
Mark has been featured in Forbes, Inc., United Nations Media, the New York Stock Exchange,
the Aspen Institute, American City Business Journals, The Hill, The University of Texas at
Austin, the University of Notre Dame, Texas State University, Stanford University, the Silicon
Valley Business Journal Leadership Trust, the C-Suite Network, the U.S. Conference of Mayors,
the National League of Cities, and iHeart Radio, among other leading platforms.
The Honorable Mark L. Madrid embodies a philosophy of scaling with heart and velocity,
proving that no matter how noisy the world becomes, the strongest currency is clarity, and the
most powerful leaders are those who lead with unshakable integrity, fanatic discipline, a mighty
heart, the will to win, and contagious energy.