Adrianne C. Smith is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard, one of the world’s leading communications and marketing agencies. She helps drive the organization’s mission to become the most inclusive agency in the world. Prior to joining FleishmanHillard, Adrianne was named the first Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity at WPP. Adrianne is also the Founder and Visionary of the Can: Diversity Collective, a nonprofit organization created to provide access and exposure to young adults of color and underrepresented communities to global thought leadership conferences in communications, advertising, marketing, creativity, economics, innovation and technology.

Kweku Mandela is a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, filmmaker, and activist who exudes a belief in the concept of Ubuntu. He resides in the picturesque Garden Route in South Africa, but his constant travels keep him on the move, always seeking new opportunities.

Fuelled by his unwavering passion for storytelling from a young age, he embarked on a journey into the entertainment industry in the mid-2000s. Initially, he ventured into producing stand-up comedy for the likes of Trevor Noah and Loyiso Gola, this ambition led him to produce his first feature film, 'The Bang Bang Club,' in 2009.

Presently, Mandela's primary focus revolves around advancing the goals of his production company, Based on a True Story, based in New York. With an emphasis on real-life narratives, the company aims to develop a diverse range of content for both local and international audiences.

Ana Maria Montero is a communications professional. A career multilingual, multi-platform broadcast journalist with 15-plus years in front of the camera she now focuses on working as a moderator and host for virtual and live events as well as podcasts. She is also active in the media training field where she has worked with business leaders as well as colleagues in both a live (in-person) format as well as virtual.

A fourth-generation steward of IMC Pan Asia Alliance, a family business that has been flourishing since the Qing Dynasty, Fred is committed to reforming businesses leading to a new market economy with a sustainable social contract. With over 40 books on his thought leadership, he is the founder of Octave Institute, an organization with a mission to create a new era of well-being; No 17 Foundation, Restore Nature Foundation, and The Conscious Foundation, all of which serve as a platform for collaboration and co-creation with Indigenous wisdom, wellness traditions, and nature.

Cheyenne Cameron-Pruitt began her career with FleishmanHillard as an intern in 2017 and is now the agency's first Senior Manager of Global DE&I Programs. She uses her position to lead the DE&I Champions globally, elevate diverse voices and perspectives at every career level, create a safe and welcoming space, center learning and unlearning, and continually advocate for all companies to recognize DE&I as a moral AND business imperative. Outside of her role at FleishmanHillard she dedicates her time to programs and organizations that work to move the needle on inclusion. She is a proud Can: Diversity Ambassador and works with the team to bring inclusive conversations to key events around the globe. 

Christy Tanner is a creative technology leader who's been called a "digital changemaker" and “streaming visionary.” As a C-level executive, her results have included transformational growth, cutting edge tech products and lasting positive impact for iconic global brands, including CBS and TV Guide. As a consultant, advisor and board member, Christy partners with major US and international companies (BBC, Univision, Altice, PBS, Outside), non-profits (Reykjavik Global) and startups (Swerve, Alda) to develop growth strategies, digital transformation models, and turnaround plans to scale globally. For Oaklins DeSilva + Phillips, a middle-market investment bank specializing in Marketing, Media, and Technology, she provides guidance on strategic M&A and investment opportunities. Christy is a frequent speaker on innovation in AI, tech, media, marketing and advertising; business and culture transformation; and streaming/CTV/OTT models for entertainment, news and sports verticals.

Dinakar Mungala co-founded Blaize and serves as CEO. He brings over 23 years of experience in successfully building and leading global teams developing game-changing products rooted in silicon and software architectural innovations, with recognition for technical excellence, new initiatives, and results focus. Focused on creating a more energy-efficient computing architecture to meet the needs of a new generation of AI computing workloads, Dinakar leads the Blaize vision of delivering a transformational AI compute solution. This approach unites silicon and software, revolutionizing AI for practical application across a vast range of markets and use cases. The Blaize vision includes the democratization of AI via a combination of its novel processor architecture and easy-to-use software, empowering people and nations to tap the value of AI.

Francesca "Fran" Weems brings extensive experience working in corporate communications and is a former sports multimedia journalist. Fran works at the intersections of DE&I, multicultural communications, and media, advising clients on how to better approach and engage diverse media and communities, while working cross-functionally to provide solutions in addressing and enhancing the recruitment, retention and promotion of underrepresented minorities (URMs). When Francesca isn’t working, she spends her time volunteering as an academic advocate for foster youth and ambassador for the Can: Diversity Collective helping the organization cultivate world-class conversations centered on DE&I. 

With over 30 years of experience in technology investment spanning Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia, George Coelho is the Co-Founder of Astanor, established in 2017 alongside Eric Archambeau. George served as the Head of Venture Capital at Good Energies, overseeing clean energy initiatives, and as a board member of Aventron, a micro-hydro energy firm. His journey in venture capital includes co-founding Benchmark Capital Europe in 2000 and spending nine years at Intel Corporation, where he led a group making over 100 investments, contributing to Intel Capital's recognition as a leading corporate investor. George is an active board member of Human Rights Watch and a lifetime fellow of the RSA. His commitment to sustainability is evident in his role as Chair of the GW Sustainability Collaborative and past trusteeship at George Washington University.

Heather Landy is the executive editor of Quartz, the global business news site. She formerly served as Quartz's global news editor and managing editor and was the founding editor of its Quartz at Work edition. She joined the site in 2014 from American Banker Magazine, where she was editor in chief. She previously wrote for Bloomberg News, The Washington Post, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Heather has a BSJ and MSJ from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. While in Texas, she earned a Gerald Loeb award (the highest honor in business journalism) and was an adjunct instructor at TCU's Schieffer School of Journalism.

TV Personality, CNN, Cannes Lions, and Tribeca awarded artist and TEDx Speaker, Indrani was mentored by David Bowie, launched Beyonce and Lady Gaga, and is Princeton Visiting Lecturer on “Mobilizing Movements”, combatting HIV/AIDS in Africa, sex trafficking in India. CEO of Double Exposure, shapes the image of 300 global brands, nonprofits and leaders. Co-Convenor of the United Nations Science Summit and Global People’s Summit, United Nations Women’s Entrepreneurship Distinguished Fellow, Rotary International’s Max Mark-Cranbrook Global Peacemaker, Co-lead X-PRIZE Rainforest. Founding Member Bioplanning Institute. Founder and Chief Vision Officer, Open Origin, and Shakti Regeneration Institute, advocates for ecosystems and cultural regeneration, education, equality, and human rights. Published in 20 books and numerous publications including New York Times, Vogue, Vanity Fair and exhibitions at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Brooklyn Museum, and Lincoln Center.

In her role as Chief Legal Officer, Karen Hale leads the Novartis legal and global security functions, which support the company’s purpose of reimagining medicine while ensuring high standards of ethics and business conduct to reinforce trust with society. Karen joined Novartis in May 2021, bringing more than 20 years of experience in resolving legal and compliance issues in the global pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Novartis, she held a succession of senior roles at AbbVie including vice president, deputy general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer. She originally joined Abbott, the company that spun-off AbbVie, in 1997 with responsibility for managing commercial litigation and providing counsel on corporate issues.

As a founder, CEO, entrepreneur, and board director, Kahlil Byrd (KB) has successfully launched and scaled technology and data-enabled platforms across fintech and national politics in the US. He is the founder and CEO of Shur, a financial services company and the national authority on the complex financial lives and unique economic challenges of America's 45 million student loan borrowers. Using data insights, AI, and financial capability products, Shur partners with corporations, government, and membership and professional organizations to strengthen the wealth and fiscal independence for these Americans and their families. The company promotes generational wealth by helping student loan borrowers eliminate early financial mistakes, build financial plans, and develop a deep understanding of prime credit-building tools.

Larry is a digital marketing and media veteran with years of experience on the client and agency side. Most recently Larry served as Sr. Advisor leading content strategy, marketing automation development, data strategy and organizational design infrastructure supporting Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign. With an unprecedented 65,000+ concurrent digital campaigns.

Liz Agbor-Tabi is Vice President, Global Policy at Global Citizen. Liz is passionate about social impact, global health, international development, and philanthropy. She’s had a unique blend of experiences, from working with vulnerable populations in NYC to developing and implementing cross- sectoral programs globally. Liz has over 18 years of healthcare, public health/policy, international development, and urban resilience experience across the United States, Africa, Latin America, and Asia

Love is dedicated to disrupting the creative industry through innovation and technology as CEO and founder of THE GRADIENT GROUP, INC. Love believes that diverse teams are key to long-term brand success and created THE GRADIENT technology with that in mind.Prior to starting THE GRADIENT GROUP, Love was an award-winning advertising, marketing, and sales executive with experiences at companies including Ogilvy & Mather, BBDO Worldwide, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck. She worked with global companies in creating advertising content and brand sponsorships for companies including Merck, Pinnacle Foods, Janssen, Universal Pictures, BlackRock, iShares and Genentech.

Megan Holston-Alexander is a partner at Andreessen Horowitz where she leads the firm’s Cultural Leadership Fund (CLF). CLF connects the world’s greatest cultural leaders, including
athletes, entertainers, musicians and C-level executives, to the best new technology companies and engages and elevates Black creators in the technology industry. In turn, 100% of CLF’s management fee and carry are used to support nonprofits and initiatives that share CLF’s
mission of economic empowerment for the Black community.

Michael Treff is the CEO of Code and Theory. He’s spent the last 12 years growing the Code and Theory network into a global, 2,000-person organization, and the only network with 50% engineers and 50% creative talent. He brings 20 years of industry experience and leadership in digital transformation, design, marketing and technology. He and his teams have created breakthrough work for a wide range of big brands such as Mars, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, Bloomberg Media, CNN, Amazon, Microsoft, TikTok, Ritz Carlton, NFL, Spotify, and YETI, to name a few.

Mubashira Farooqi is an award-winning communications professional with a background in diversity, equity and inclusion and a passion for purpose-driven work. Based out of Toronto, Canada, Mubashira is currently a C:DC Ambassador, and a Senior Consultant on the Reputation team at FleishmanHillard HighRoad and a counselor on the organization’s global True MOSAIC team, where she helps drive FleishmanHillard’s diversity, equity and inclusion communications strategy across its global client roster.

Spiritual Leader of the Puyanawa tribe, President of the Association of the Community and expert in Sacred Medicines, with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, he has dedicated 30 years to rescuing and preserving the Amazon with the planting of over a million trees, with his mentor Benki Pyãnko, sharing and regenerating Indigenous cultures and spiritual traditions. Txuku, his daughter, is a 20year old Youth Climate Activist, spiritual guide and singer. Both were Semifinalists of the X-PRIZE Rainforest on biodiversity, speakers at the Science Summit at the United Nations in New York in 2023.

Spiritual Leader of the Puyanawa tribe, President of the Association of the Community and expert in Sacred Medicines, with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, he has dedicated 30 years to rescuing and preserving the Amazon with the planting of over a million trees, with his mentor Benki Pyãnko, sharing and regenerating Indigenous cultures and spiritual traditions. Txuku, his daughter, is a 20year old Youth Climate Activist, spiritual guide and singer. Both were Semifinalists of the X-PRIZE Rainforest on biodiversity, speakers at the Science Summit at the United Nations in New York in 2023.

Sheila Warren is the CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation - the premier global alliance for advancing the promise of this new technology through research, education and advocacy. In 2023, Sheila was voted one of the most influential women in DC by the Washingtonian. Prior to the Crypto Council, She founded the World Economic Forum’s blockchain and digital assets team and was a member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She oversaw tech policy strategy across 14 countries and regularly briefed ministers, CEOs of the Fortune 100 and Heads of State.