Guest book 2023

Necker Island Guest Book

Attendees

Elias Groll

Travis Pittman

Rostam Zafari

Ricardo Pires Maheen Kaleem

Josephine Saffert

Markus Fuhrmann

Sabrina Heimig-Schloemer

Udo Schloemer

Michael Kowatschew

Katarzyna Pichler

Karl Pichler

Nikolai Barnwell

Alex Christou

Johann Jenson

Julie Kahn

Max Amini

Vivian Wu

Erich Collins Carey

Carl Grant III

Nikolaus Widmann

Ken Fitzpatrick

Marcus Lannie

Jo Cooper

Brian Lim

Anita Thomas

Denis Tudor

Fiona Macintyre

fiona@formingimpact.com

Fiona founded Forming Impact in 2014. Now nearly 10 years later, we have a global community of successful entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, business leaders and executives who bring together their knowledge, capital and ideas for sustainable impact. Championing the bold, the brave and the changemakers, giving a voice and telling the stories of those who have all of the ideas to make the world a better place.

I build enjoy creating platforms, communities and opportunities for people to realise their full potential; and achieve the pioneering change they are striving for.

Setting up the Forming Sustainable Development Foundation as a 501c3 in 2020 has allowed us to ignite more impact within the community.Aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goals, we focus primarily on partnerships for the goals, in 4 key areas: education, climate change, wellbeing and peace.

I believe in humans, heart and hard work. I love to have fun while also leading with purpose. What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

My passion for people, connection and growth.

Elias Groll elias@codesphere.com

I studied Computer Science at 15, eventually joining Google full-time at 19. Having seen the tooling used for development, I decided to quit and build a high-quality developer experience in the cloud for anybody else.

About CODESPHERE: Spend less and ship faster. Codesphere leverages the cloud for an amazing developer experience.

-Trivial to deploy

- Efficient to collaborate

- Easy to scale and monitor

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Moving development (and ultimately everything) to the cloud, and also just building cool things with tech!

Travis Pittman

travis@touradar.com

Originally from Darwin,Australia,Travis has lived in Europe for nearly two decades, calling Vienna,Austria, home for more than 15 years. In 2010, together with his brother, Shawn,Travis foundedTourRadar to help enrich the world through organized adventures.TourRadar aims to become the leader in the $200bn OrganizedAdventure industry through itsAdventure Booking Platform, which connects travelers, operators, distribution partners (TravelAgents, OTAs, GDSs, airlines), influencers, and content providers.Travis has had a lifelong passion for adventure, stemming from his youth camping and fishing in the rich rainforests and meandering rivers ofAustralia’s NorthernTerritory and Queensland. When he’s not leading a team of more than 200 adventurers,Travis enjoys mountain biking, wakeboarding, running, soaking up the great outdoors and spending time with his two beautiful daughters Charlie (10) and Selma (7). Under his leadership,TourRadar has grown into a diverse team of more than 50 nationalities collaborating together on oneAdventure Booking Platform boasting 50,000 organized adventures in more than 160 countries.TourRadar has raised more than $60 million from world-class investors such as Cherry Ventures, Endeit Capital, Hoxton Ventures, Speedinvest, andTCV.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

1. Company Culture - bringing people together to achieve great things while still having fun

2. Leveraging tech and data to build great products that: a) solve real customer challenges b) transform an entire industry c) democratiseAdventure and make meaningful and sustainable travel accessible to as many people around the world as possible.

3. Continuously learning and upgrading myself as the company grows to new heights and scale

4. Networking and public speaking - really enjoy attending events/conferences to meet fellow industry members, like-minded people from different categories and sharing my knowledge where relevant through keynotes / panels

rostam@worldwithin.org

Growing up in Georgia, Rostam Zafari is infused with two great tea cultures--Ancient Persia and the South. He is the CIO of Sage Hill Investors. SHI is a family office driven by the desire to make a positive impact on people and the planet by partnering with visionary founders to build innovative companies across agriculture, sustainability, healthcare, food, and technology.At SHI, Rostam has led 150+ early-stage investments in purpose-driven founders and fund managers across the US, Europe, India, andAfrica. SHI’s philanthropic arm, World Within, pursues philanthropy in three ways. World Within Ventures makes impact investments in projects in emerging markets that expand access to essential services and create equitable jobs to deliver lasting economic development. World Within Corps makes grants to support global human rights, democracy, and culture — with an emphasis on the struggle of the Iranian people for a secular and democratic nation. World Within Studios funds films and other forms of media to raise awareness and support our work across impact investing, economic development, human rights, and culture. He is eager to meet and collaborate with other Forming Impact members who are serious in their pursuit of impact investing and philanthropy.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Working with amazing people! Key focuses: impact investing, philanthropy, economic development, filmmaking/storytelling. I'm really passionate about working for a secular, democratic, and prosperous Iran!

Rostam Zafari

Ricardo Pires

ricardo.pires@semapa.pt

People driven person believes that the power is in each one of us and in working as a team. Experienced Board Member with a history in investment and innovation. Has developed his professional experience in Negotiation, Business Planning, Venture Capital, M&A, BusinessAngel and Capital Markets.

Proudly married and father of 3 children. Loves Sports and Education a (where also invests as a BAto have a positive impact in the world).

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Talent and developing new products and companies.

maheen@grantmakersforgirlsofcolor.org

Maheen Kaleem, Esq. is a human rights lawyer who has dedicated her life to creating a world where girls and gender-expansive youth are safe and free. She is the Vice President of Programs and Operations at Grantmakers for Girls of Color, a philanthropic organization dedicated to amplifying and mobilizing resource to supportive transformative organizing work led by girls and gender-expansive youth of Color. In less than three years, Maheen has co-led efforts to raise and regrant $25 million to more than 370 organizations in the U.S and territories.

She over two decades of experience supporting youth and families impacted by interpersonal and state violence to lead efforts to advance racial and gender justice. She has decades of experience supporting youth and families impacted by interpersonal and state violence, and making way for those traditionally marginalized from formal sites of power to lead efforts to advance racial and gender justice. In the various roles she has held, she has always grounded her work in the wisdom of women and girls of color who have survived the carceral and criminal legal systems, sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and abuse. She served as Program Officer at the NoVo Foundation, and led a global philanthropic effort to support organizations projects that close on-ramps into the sex trade and open exit ramps for survivors. Prior to joining NoVo, Maheen advocated for the successful passage of numerous laws and policies to address conditions impacting girls of Color impacted by violence at the international, federal, state, and local levels. She has co-authored several reports includingThe SexualAbuse to Prison Pipeline:AGirls’Story, and Beyond the Walls:ALook at Girls in D.C.’s Juvenile Justice System. Maheen holds bachelor’s and law degrees from Georgetown University. Maheen is a first generation Pakistani-American who was raised mostly in the bay area of California, on Ohlone land. She was an Equal Justice Works Fellow, a Stoneleigh Emerging Leader Fellow, and National Juvenile JusticeYouth Justice Leadership Institute Fellow.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Working directly with girls and women who otherwise would never be recognized as leaders and creating opportunities for them to lead, control, and have decision-making about how resources are distributed to their communities

greg@hillentgroup.com

Growing up as anAthens, Georgia native, I have spent the last three decades calling Nashville home. I got my start in Nashville’s music industry through publishing, and after working with several successful publishing endeavors, I opened Greg Hill Management in 2001. Five years later, I was asked to merge my company and oversee Red Light management’s expanding Nashville presence. In 2011, my reputation for being a skilled leader led me to take an opportunity as President of McGhee Entertainment Nashville office. After a few years, I realized that my heart was truly in entrepreneurship, and that led me to found Hill Entertainment Group. As the current president of HEG, I spend the majority of my time focusing on building relationships and brands in the entertainment space. Some of my current and former clients include RodneyAtkins, Dylan Scott,Tiera Kennedy, Josh Kelley, Naomi Judd, Phil Vassar, Jana Kramer,Third Day, Luke Bryan, Granger Smith, and many others. I have also had the opportunity to develop Legendary Coaches, which is a collection of some of the biggest names in College Football coaching history and the honor of founding Music City Gives Back, an annual free concert benefiting W.O. Smith School.The free concert has provided an excellent platform to showcase several of Nashville’s artists while helping provide much needed music lessons to Nashville’s most underserved populations.

Throughout the course of my career, I have made significant business, cultural and philanthropic contributions to the City of Nashville. I am a past director on the Country Music Association, theAcademy of Country Music Board of Directors, currently serving on theAcademy of Country Music Lifting Lives Charitable Board, as Vice Chair of Music City Inc (Nashville Visitors Bureau Foundation board) and Vice President of the WO Smith Music School, in addition to numerous philanthropic endeavors. I have worked diligently to build relationships with executives on all levels. As the industry continues to grow and morph at an unprecedented pace, I believe it is more important now than it has ever been to learn as much about the different aspects of the music industry as possible while simultaneously strengthening relationships and opening dialogues with leaders across the board. I am a firm believer that with growth always comes opportunity, and I realize that I have been given a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference.

In my free time I enjoy flying airplanes and spending time with my wife and three children.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I enjoy exploring new models and working with creative teams.

Greg Hill

Saffert

josephine@sapphiredevelop.com

Joséphine is a German-native and came to the Nashville,TN area as a D1-Track athlete recruit in 2011. Joséphine sponsored her Green Card by providing ground-up housing opportunities in MiddleTennessee adding to theAmerican economy as a young real estate developer.As part of making her American Dream as reality, she built Sapphire Development Group, a vertically integrated real estate development and investment firm. Her team delivers a one-stop-shop experience from offering off-market deals, developing ground up multi-family to helping others build and sell real estate portfolios.

Joséphine is currently working on her first brownfield project that entails redeveloping a former metal plating facility site for 32-townhomes. She loves to travel and explore new cultures and places.As a former collegiate athlete, Joséphine stays active by hiking, jogging, and learning new sports.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Building communities that are exciting, innovative and enhance people’s lives forever.

Josephine

Markus Fuhrmann

markus@fuyomo.com

Engineering Degree in Biochemistry and Genetics - Business School (dropout before writing my thesis) - Started first company in 2000 (massive multiplayer gaming), second company in 2004 (mobile gaming) - sold in 2006 - 4 years Shanghai to help companies launch in Chinese ecommerceco-founding of a food delivery company (Delivery Hero); IPO 2017 - started two venture funds (Cavalry, BITKRAFT) - about 1 billion USD under management - 2019 founded GROPYUS - digital, affordable, sustainable and automated multi family home production - co-founded OneUkraine - NGO for supporting Ukraine especially in rebuilding the housing sector I played tennis, basketball and semi-professionallyAmerican Football and like good food.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Building cool technology that solves meaningful problems

Making a real impact on people's life's (housing, Ukraine)

Founder & Chairman at Factory Berlin, Managing Director at Viva Forever.

Udo Schloemer is the Founder and Chairman of Factory Berlin.The serial entrepreneur and angel investor began his career in the real estate industry before founding S+PReal Estate in 1998, anAsset Management company JMES Investments in 2007, and the investment holding company Viva Forever in 2015.

Via his portfolio companies JMES and Viva Forever, Udo was one of the first to invest in various Berlin start-ups which have since become internationally renowned. In 2011 he founded Factory Berlin in a historical, central location directly on the former Berlin Wall and by the end of 2017, he opened the second campus Görlitzer Park. Expansion into further locations in Germany is currently at various stages of execution, with a third campus located in Hamburg having opened in 2021.

Udo’s mission of bringing together diverse tech, creative, academic, and corporate communities has made Factory Berlin one of Europe’s strongest innovation networks and given thousands of European Startups a home to grow & thrive in.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Udo is a passionate entrepreneur who supports Founders in implementing their VISIONS. One of his greatest ambitions is to reform the education system and facilitate the necessary adaptation to our digital era.

Udo has also been a highly engaged Board Member of the World Frontiers Forum and a German Committee Member of the Human Rights Watch since June 2019.

Udo Schloemer

Sabrina Heimig-Schloemer

Founder & MD at NewSchool, Managing Director at Viva Forever, Interior Designer.

Sabrina Heimig-Schloemer is highly interested in alternative education and in this spirit, she founded NewSchool in Berlin; the first accredited high school in Germany which has a project-based curriculum. Together with her husband Udo Schloemer, she has invested in numerous startups and given young entrepreneurs a safe space to learn and grow. Their next project as a family is a massive ecosystem in Berlin which will bring art, tech, education and so much more together in one beautiful community campus.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Creating Europe’s largest ecosystem for young artists, startups and tech companies and reshaping the education system.

Michael Kowatschew

michael.kowatschew@sigma-squared.org

Michael Kowatschew is an impact-driven entrepreneur, multipleAustrian Karate champion (U21) and community leader. He is the current Global President of the Sigma Squared Society. Before that, he founded multiple startups and sold his last company in 2021. In March 2020 he founded NOVID20 and with a team of 80 people developed the first automated contact tracing app in Europe.The spirit and hard work of the team made possible that the NOVID20 contact tracing application was launched in Georgia byApril 2020 and reached over 150.000 downloads on its first day.You can find articles in 20+ languages about NOVID20 and its launch. Other than that, he is passionate about public speaking, loves going for bike tours and likes to live outside of his comfort zone. Michael also is a former 5xAustrian Karate Champion and participated in many international Karate competitions early on.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I'm grateful I get to support and collaborate with some of the world's best entrepreneurs under 26, representing 30 countries. What truly ignites my passion is the ability to build bridges—across borders and generations—between exceptional individuals. By connecting young game changers with the visionaries who have shaped our present, I firmly believe we can spark a ripple effect of innovation and create a lasting impact that will resonate for decades to come. It is an honor to play a role in fostering these connections and championing the need for more innovative solutions. Each day, I am driven by the immense potential that lies within these collaborations and the profound transformations they can bring about.

Karl Pichler

karl.pichler@innovaticgroup.com

Karl Pichler is an esteemed business leader with a diverse portfolio of professional experiences and a demonstrated history of success in the industry.Today, he is the founder and the Managing Partner at InnovaticGroup, a position he has held since July 2014. His innovative vision and strategic leadership have been the driving forces behind the company's sustained growth and success.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I'm particularly passionate about fostering innovation. I'm constantly energized by the process of conceptualizing and launching new ideas, products, or services, and then watching them grow and impact people's lives.

Katarzyna Pichler

katarzyna.pichler@innovaticgroup.com

Career Profile: Katarzyna Pichler has over 30 years of experience in General Management and strategic marketing, working across FMCG, FSI, and Private Equity sectors. Her job responsibilities have included building businesses, setting up and managing portfolios, creating strategies, and overseeing operations. She has also proven her skills in team leadership, brand building, marketing and agencies management.

Personal Profile: Katarzyna is a highly adaptable, multi-cultural C-Level executive who brings international experience and an impressive business understanding to her roles. Her seasoned judgment and high energy have driven her to achieve strong business results. Recognized for her leadership, interpersonal skills, and high-quality work standards, Katarzyna excels at managing challenging opportunities, focusing on meeting consumer needs, delivering business targets, and enhancing shareholder value. She is fluent in English, German, and Polish. She lived and worked in couple of European countries such as UK, Germany, Spain, Austria and Poland.

Interests: variety of topics including astrology, personal development, spirituality, music and sports such as jogging, diving, and skiing.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

My passion lies in Entrepreneurship, as it embodies Empowerment and Leadership. It provides us the means to bring our business ideas to fruition, achieve financial autonomy, and enhance our leadership abilities. I hold a particular interest in female entrepreneurship, as it plays an integral role in dismantling gender-specific barriers and fostering a more inclusive and diverse business landscape. I also feel passionate about social responsibility. We are so fortunate to have access to many opportunities in life, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility to share this privilege with others by supporting and advocating for those who may not have the same advantages. I am committed to creating positive change that benefits people and the planet. Motto: ''Never give up! Everything is possible if you really want it! Just go for it!''

Johann Jenson

Canadian technologist with a Master's in conflict resolution. I worked for the UN in biodiversity conservation and scaled 2 unicorns in Europe (1 FinTech and 1 EdTech). I build and invest in ambitious products that improve our lives and the planet we live on.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Connecting with people transforming industries and scaling products that people love

nikolai@pawapay.io

Works in tech inAfrica. Been an operator, investor, entrepreneur and board member over the past 15 years inAfrica. Likes sports with a board. Musician.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Africa, health, learning new things about stuff I have no clue about.

jackie.bona@valoraapp.com

Jackie Bona is the CEO of Valora, a mobile-first crypto wallet whose mission is to unlock access to financial opportunity for people around the world. Jackie spent the last 15 years of her career in leadership roles at global technology companies, such as Spotify,Twitter, and Google, in their hyper growth phase, where she was focused on launching new products to audiences globally. Jackie has lived/studied/worked in 9 countries, across 4 continents in her life-- she is a lifelong learner, ever-curious about the world, and committed to personal/professional development for herself and for the people she works with.You can connect with her onTwitter @jackie_bona.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

In her work as CEO of Valora, Jackie is passionate about financial inclusion, and believes that blockchain technology has the potential to provide new economic opportunities to those who would not typically have access. Jackie is also passionate about diversity and inclusion, specifically getting more women into emerging technology fields and into positions of influence and leadership.

Alex Christou

Professor

Alex

Christou

is

Director of

Corporate Education and Strategic Partnerships at Monash Business School, Managing Director at MonashThrive Global Asia Pacific (in partnership withArianna Huffington'sThrive Global), and is a member of faculty at Monash University.An experienced and intrapreneurial commercial leader with a 20-year career in Business School's,Alex has dedicated his career in supporting individuals and organisations to realise their full potential.

In addition to leading the Executive and Corporate Education arm for Monash he is a Program Director for our custom programs and a trainer and facilitator of our corporate wellbeing and human-centric workplace solutions that drive high performance cultures internationally.

Alex is an active supporter of diversity and inclusion. His efforts include adding his voice to supporting talented women and underprivileged international students to obtain ongoing world class education opportunities by reducing the financial barriers that prevent them from further studies.

He is a board member of the HellenicAustralian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to drive connections and to inspire the HellenicAustralian business and professional community to lead, collaborate and excel.Alex has also served on theAmerican Chamber of Commerce inAustralia – Women in Leadership Committee and has also served as a committee member for the International University Consortium for Executive Education (UNICON) – an organisation of leading business schools from around the world with a commitment to management education and development.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Using research and science as an evidence base to creating positive change for individuals that impacts the quality of their work and their personal lives so that they're happier, whilst also realising their full potential.

vivian.rigney@insideus.com

Founder of Inside Us LLC - global executive coaching and team development company - helping individuals and teams disarm their ego and release their emotional intelligence Grew up in Dublin, lived in 7 countries, and settled in NYC.Traveled to 80+ countries thus far and passionate about people, learning, and nature. Runner, mountaineer, scuba diver, skier, birder.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Getting behind the facade and helping people realize they can be vulnerable and strong, decisive and reflective, and curious and playful - at the same time.

seth@stratamericas.com

Seth is Managing Director of StratAmericas, a LosAngeles-based consultancy that provides strategic guidance and helps clients with media and technology partnerships.

StratAmericas has worked with clients in digital & social music, Web 3, live streaming, beauty subscriptions,AI and enterprise software. Seth is a business development executive who spent eleven years with Sony Music, in LatinAmerica and for Sony’s Jive Records label.

Previously, Seth held business development roles with Microsoft, Liberty Media, Viacom, and Universal Music. Seth was one ofAOL’s first business development executives, overseeing its first partnerships with theAmerican music industry.

Seth is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia Business School and is currently on theAdjunct Faculty at Georgetown University and Pepperdine. Seth is frequently called to comment on television and radio; recent appearances include Fox News, CBS News, NBC, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

The many great relationships I've developed globally, in particular LatinAmerica. I'm passionate about Digital Music and helping digital businesses grow.

Vivian Wu is the Managing Director of the U.S. branch of her family office, Shenghe Investment Group, where she plays a critical role in global investments in FinTech, real estate, innovation, hospitality, and environmental, social impact. She and her family company, Chuanshang Microcredit Ltd, has an extensive history of utilizing micro-lending to promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment by providing access to credit to low-income individuals across China.

Vivian grew up deeply immersed in the art and design fields.As an avid investor, Vivian is passionate about using her background to promote sustainable living through interior design, to represent emerging artists, and to influence environmental and social issues through art. She is the co-founder of Circa Home, an interior design company that elevates sustainable home and architectural designs in global markets.Alongside her father, she is currently designing and building one of the first zero-waste eco-hotels in the mountains of Sichuan.

Vivian also chairs Chengdu Chuanshang & Zhixing, her family foundation in Sichuan. Under her leadership, the foundation has expanded initiatives for students with disabilities within Special Education Schools,The foundation also founded 180 acres of animal rescue center, and created sister charities for animal rescue in LosAngeles (Charity in Bloom). She currently resides in-between Newport Beach CA, NewYork, and China.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Creativity manifested in finance, art, and impact.

Vivian Wu

joe.kahn@condadotacos.com

Joe Kahn is the Founder & Chief Innovation Officer at CondadoTacos, and he is the classic entrepreneurial success story. CondadoTacos started as a single restaurant in the Short North neighborhood of nearby Ohio State University, Columbus, OH back in 2014. Eight years later, there are now 41 CondadoTacos restaurants in 15 markets, with over 2,000 employees throughout the Midwest, Southeast and soon to penetrate theAtlantic corridor. Joe is incredibly savvy when it comes to customer trends and what their preferences are for tacos, dips, margaritas and more. Due in large part to Kahn’s leadership, CondadoTacos was named ‘Breakout Brand of theYear’by FSR magazine, made Fast Casual’sTop 100 Movers and Shakers, and most recently in 2023, was awarded ‘Breakout Retailer’by Chain StoreAge.

For most of his life Joe has been in the hospitality industry. His first food service job was at age 15 at Sizzler and soon after at Pizza Hut. He learned to bartend along the way and years later was given the opportunity to transition to a management level role at “The Outpost,” a local Chicago venue.

After decades of learning the ropes in all aspects of the restaurant industry, and at age 38, Joe was able to start his own restaurant business, which gained success but it didn’t last long.After a few bankruptcies and borrowing from his wife’s 401k twice, and once he determined what he believed would be a great “taco joint,” he founded CondadoTacos with several business partners. Joe focused on clean and craveable tacos with an original art theme, and just as essential, building a strong and supportive culture by investing and focusing on his people, which ultimately has fueled the core of CondadoTacos’growth and success today.

Joe has such a unique take on food service and on life, and what it takes to build a brand from the ground up. Joe’s food roots are from Chicago and he’s learned a lot along the way. He’s such an interesting character who built a concept that focuses on both great food and original graffiti style art done by local artists in each city he opens a restaurant.

Julie Walker Kahn

jumperbean@gmail.com

I enjoy exploration, movement, and impeccable ambiance.After having had several iterations of my career, from manufacturing to the hospitality industry, to commercial real estate, I am currently working on the process of my own self-discovery and desire to make a lasting impact with the opportunities I’ve been given. I also don’t like bios, because how can one person be encapsulated by their resume? Instead, I would prefer to learn about each other over a conversation or adventure on the island. I’ll supply googly eyes for strategic placement on trees, chairs, and other objects in need of vision.

Max Amini

MaxAmini is an Iranian-American director, producer, and world-touring comedian. Born inTucson,AZ and raised on the east coast, he graduated from UCLA's School ofTheater, Film andTelevision in 2004. Max's intense focus on directing and producing while at UCLAhelped him further develop the skills and real-world experiences that would allow him to continue rising throughout his career. While still at school, Max began performing stand-up comedy at the LAImprov in 2002. Max's exceptional abilities in improvised and observational comedy made him a standout performer and he quickly built a reputation as one of the fastest growing comedians in the LosAngeles comedy circuit. Impressed with Max's popular performances and steady career growth, the world-famous Laugh Factory in Hollywood made him a resident comic in 2007. Never setting aside his passion for film and television, Max continued to pursue directing and producing as his comedy career progressed. In 2010, Max established his own production company and began creatively producing and directing commercials, television series, and comedy specials. More recently, Max directed a Netflix original stand-up special, EnissaAmani: Erhenwort, a feature film, JamesThe Second, and has sold to networks like Discovery, Voice ofAmerica and more.Amini has appeared on shows such as NBC's Heroes, Netflix's Real Rob with Rob Schneider, and Comedy Central's Mind of Mencia, has garnered multiple hour-long comedy specials and continues to tour and perform regularly at the Hollywood Laugh Factory.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Performing and storytelling.

tcthomas21@gmail.com

I’ve been a lifelong entrepreneur, starting my first business selling fireplaces on eBay when I was 15. I was a trouble maker growing up so some of the ventures in my youth weren’t as “legal”. I started my most recent company fresh out of school, which grew to employ over 120 people and sold in late 2021.That experience taught me more than I was prepared for, and put me on the Forbes Under 30 list for that year.Also in that year, I married the love of my life. We now have a baby boy, Sawyer, who is coming on this trip! I’ve finally been able to take a breath and have gotten back into my hobbies - which include travel, gardening, baking, cooking, and home improvement.That said, I can’t sit still for too long and am working on a new venture that I think has enormous potential!This will be my second year doing this trip. Last year was supposed to be “it”, but it was so incredible that I had to come back.The people that this trip attracts are some of the most interesting, intelligent, generous, and yet humble people I’ve ever been around.The energy is contagious!

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Autonomy

tcthomas21@gmail.com

Lifelong entrepreneur. First “real” company was very illegal. Hobbies include gardening, baking, cooking.Anything to balance it out. My actual hobby is building things.As many impossible things as possible.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

The freedom of it. Being able to take risks. Failing fast and moving quickly.

Carl Grant

carl@connexapartners.com

Carl Grant III is CEO of Capital Raise, a software-enabled service for companies raising capital, and Connexa Partners, a consulting company that provides outsourced business development and training to professional services organizations. He is also a partner in Super Connector, LLC which sends connectors on behalf of companies to global events. Previously, Carl was global head of business development at Cooley, where led a 17-person team that contributed significantly to the firms $1.7B growth in annual revenue during his 20-year tenure.At PricewaterhouseCoopers, he was responsible for a total market share increase of 33 percent in two years for his geography. When he led the CapitalAttraction Program for the Fairfax County Economic DevelopmentAuthority, Carl doubled the number of venture funds in that market in two years. He served on the management teams of two venture-backed companies and as an airborne infantry officer in the U.S.Army National Guard and Reserve, achieving the rank of major. He is on the board of directors of Zug Investments, a $1B+ family trust, Cationic Minerals Formulations, Inc., and Lyme Revive Foundation. Carl is a founding board member of theAustin VentureAssociation. He studied Venture Capital and Private Equity at Harvard Business School, earned his MBAfrom the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and his undergraduate degree at Ohio University. Carl is married with five adult children and has his private pilot’s license.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about positively impacting the lives of others.

bwa@bradwilliamsastrology.com

First and foremost, Brad is a husband, father, and wholeness seeker through a balanced approach to spirituality and our basic human nature. His journey from serving as a network engineer at LangleyAir Force Base in the late 90’s to acting as an outsourced CEO of a yoga company in Virginia Beach, Brad’s deep and varied experience instilled in him what ultimately created North Node Consulting: a deep desire to do work that aligns with our ultimate soul purpose.

Brad innately knows how to connect with people, and he uses his intuitive gifts to guide individuals and businesses to reach their full potential.Adreamer through and through, Brad has always been fascinated by the undercurrents of life, and like any true entrepreneur who self-admittedly had no idea what they were getting themselves into, Brad decided to take the journey toward wholeness as he turned his goal of becoming an Astrological Counselor into reality.That was in the summer of 2008, and he has never looked back. Brad shares that his journey has been filled with all kinds of adventures and learning the art of wholeness through all the discussions with clients. It isn’t lost on Brad that his collaboration with his clients also helps find meaning in himself. Brad now works with individuals, groups, and business of all sizes to help open the door to whatever stagnates growth — not only within the self but also creatively. But how can we do this when we are so close to the issues — oftenTOO close to truly see them clearly? Since 1998, Brad has used astrology as the tool for this deep and often vulnerable level of self-understanding.

“Astrology helps us understand those blind spots,” says Brad. “It speaks to us personally and It encourages us to move past our self-imposed limitations by having more direct access to the source of those so-called limitations.”

Brad marries his intuition with his business experience to provide what he describes as a path home that aligns an individual’s work with their soul purpose.

“The North Node is like what the North Star was to sailors in that it leads us home,” explains Brad. “There will be choppy waters along the way.The route might seem foreign and unfamiliar, but when we follow the path of our North Node, we will always find our way back home.”

In his day to day you can find Brad seeking balance within the structures of sustainability and looking at ancient wisdom for the answers. Whether it be his daily ice plunges or his research in regenerative farming these practices align with the purpose of balancing mind, body, and spirit. It also creates an openness for incremental new ideas instead of reinventing the wheel on complicated issues that are at the forefront of our human existence.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

The deep, intimate, and vulnerable connections I make with me client and seeing how our collaborations impact their lives for the better.

CEO & Founder of REED Public Relations

Co-founder and Partner at North Node Consulting

lauren@reedpublicrelations.com

Author. Founder. Marathoner. CEO. Mom. Lauren swore she would never own a business. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, she lived the highs and lows of business ownership, and at the ripe old age of thirteen, determined it wasn’t for her.But as they say, if you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans, and at age 29, Lauren found herself as an accidental entrepreneur as she opened REED, a full-service PR and marketing agency, from her dining room table.Today, she has grown that agency to a multi-million-dollar business, and has led strategy and execution for global brands such as Ford, McDonald’s and Bank of America.

Ten years later, she finally admitted that entrepreneurship is in her blood, and it seems to agree with her. Lauren has been named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and its list of MostAdmired CEOs for five straight years (2018-2022), making her the youngest CEO to be named to the Hall of Fame. She also received a Nashville Emerging LeaderAward from the NashvilleArea Chamber of Commerce and was a recipient of the national Enterprising Woman of theYearAward in 2020. Most recently, Lauren was named to the Nashville Post’s InCharge list and has been featured in publications such as StyleBlueprint, Bizwomen andThe NewYorkTimes. In addition to her role at REED, Lauren co-founded North Node Consulting with her partner Brad Williams in 2023. Named after the nodes of the moon, in ancient astrology, the North Node represents the individual spiritual purpose you are meant to fulfill. It’s one of two points of the moon’s orbit that intersects with the orbital plane of the Earth around the Sun.North Node Consulting's mission is to help leaders find alignment between their soul's purpose and life’s work, resulting in more conscious leadership and increased productivity. Lauren truly believes that when your spiritual purpose meets your life’s work, magic happens!Acommunicator at heart, Lauren earned herAccreditation in Public Relations designation in 2010 and has been a long-standing member of the Public Relations Society ofAmerica, serving as past president of the Nashville chapter.

Lauren is the author ofThe Millennials’Guide to Marketing (launching in 2023) and co-author of Lead Like a Women (availableApril 2022). When not working or spending time with her four kids, you can find Lauren running trails or on the ski slopes, or dreaming about that one major thing left on her bucket list: go to space.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I love the psychology behind marketing. What drives people to take action?To engage with a specific company?To buy a certain product? I love to dig deep with my clients to find mutually-beneficial winning solutions for both the client and the brand. I am also extremely passionate about helping people align with their true purpose and direction, which is evidenced in the recently launched North Node Consulting. For entrepreneurs and CEOs, that means becoming what we call North Node Leaders - conscious leaders who create, engage, and retain top talent. We offer a variety of services to do this, but my absolute favorite is ourAstrology & The Workplace program.

Erich Collins Carey

erichcarey@gmail.com

Erich Collins Carey is a full-time music industry professional. By day, Erich works as an industry attorney, presently helping navigate music publishing industry licensing with leading global audio streaming service Spotify. Erich came to Spotify after time as in house counsel at Round Hill Music, where he helped publish and administer some of the world's most prized music including "WhatAWonderful World," several Beatles songs as well as the work of new and emerging artists. Prior to Round Hill, Erich worked for several years with the US National Music Publishers'Association, where he helped litigate the rates paid by digital streaming services to music publishers and songwriters and was part of the team that passed the landmark Music ModernizationAct, a generational copyright reform bill which passed the US House and Senate with unanimous support during a contentious political era. Erich also practiced for six years with Manhattan law firm Pryor Cashman after graduating from Fordham Law School andAmherst College. By night, Erich Collins Carey is a modern-day troubadour bringing live rock'n'roll and americana music to the East Coast of the United States and beyond backed by his bandThe Constituency.The Constituency’s style is grassroots with an emphasis on community and movement through great times and good songs. Erich has received radio play in and around NewYork City and currently performs as a live act 1 to 3 times a week. Erich believes deeply in giving back to the community through music. During the Covid era pandemic, Erich became a community unifier playing nightly concerts and gatherings from his rooftop on east 77th Street. Erich has continued this tradition, bringing his band to play local fundraisers in support of a range of charitable causes. When not practicing law or guitar, Erich is an avid skier, wakeboarder, sometimes runner, always traveler and proud parent ("corgdad") to his Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Hercules (the real rockstar of the family). Erich lives in NewYork City with his wife Valentine, herself a practicing attorney at global powerhouse law firm Paul, Weiss.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Music is my driving force.Though my pursuits may seem varied, I find unity in a consistent principle of making music available and accessible in all its forms and formats to audiences wherever they may be gathered. I see every moment as an opportunity for a song. I find peace in my heart through bringing the world a tune, be it with my guitar to a small crowd at my local pub or through the marvel of distribution in the modern music industry.

harry@pally.com

Hey everyone! I'm Haz, 24 from London. I can't wait to meet you all! I have a non-traditional background, having bypassed university and even a-levels, instead working since I was 14. Key moments include selling houses at 14, starting my first company at 15, qualifying as the youngest chartered management accountant in the world at 20, and becoming the CFO of a 200-person company at 22. Now I'm building Pally, a 'social operating system' that helps you get connected, stay connected, and communicate. Ultimately, we're building the tools that help you have more meaningful relationships that last longer. (I'm coming for you Zuck...) Outside of work I'm an adrenaline junkie and love to do anything fast. I also spend as much time as possible watching live music gigs (although don't have a musical bone in my body).Ask me about my time moving to SaudiArabia without ever visiting, losing my phone inThailand and chasing it down on a moped, or my love for excel spreadsheets (once an accountant, always an accountant I guess).

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I'm most passionate about human connection. I think it's the single most important thing in our lives, and I'm obsessed with how relationships can form, develop, and last.As someone who's more logical by nature, I've now learnt to put the 'hearts before the minds' and love learning about what drives us at the deepest levels. I'm also deeply obsessed with design. Perhaps contrary to my finance past (although my spreadsheets were always gorgeous), my favorite work activity is being creative, designing our product or brand. I'm slowly becoming a Figma super-user...

jo@jocooper.com.au

There are times in your life that will be significant, that will test your values, tenacity, strength of character and resilience.

Adversity certainly highlights who you are and those who will continue to stand by you. Doing What’s Right Not What’s Easy is the reference point I use when making difficult decisions. My father instilled this in me from a very young age and while it is my reference point it has certainly made my life chaotic. My love and passion for music and storytelling coupled with my desire to make a difference saw me leave the safe corporate world of Project Management to pursue dreams of being an artist. Music has been instrumental in lifting me out of some turbulent times. In 2015, upon moving into our new apartment I asked my strata scheme why we had a blanket ban on pets, when pets were residing in the building.This simple question redirected my life in ways I could not foresee.The response was an intense hate campaign that started a legal battle between myself and the owner’s corporation in my apartment building to invalidate blanket bans on pets in strata buildings across NSW.

After a five-and-a-half-year battle, the New South Wales Court ofAppeal unanimously ruled in my favour.Angus, our miniature schnauzer, and NSW pets who had for many years been “hiding” within strata apartments, were legally permitted to remain in their homes. Many families, who were previously denied their property rights, were able to welcome new pets into their homes.This was a huge win for pet owners across NSW. Many saw this as a simple pet fight, it wasn’t simple and it was about a lot more, standing up to Bullies and abuse of power and fighting for our civil liberties in our own homes.

Despite winning the legal battle, I still endure an unprecedented level of bullying and discrimination because of this experience. Coupling this with being a survivor of Domestic Violence, I have launchedThe Good Warrior initiative.The aim of the Good Warrior initiative is to support, educate and inspire people to BELIEVE INTHE POWER OFTHEIR VOICETO CREATE CHANGE against adult bullying and abuse.

This journey has cemented my desire to combine my music and storytelling to build an organisation that supports and represents those who can’t defend themselves alongside thought provoking campaigns and courses.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Inspiring people to BELIEVE INTHE POWER OFTHEIR VOICESTO CREATE CHANGE through music and storytelling. I believe music and storytelling can change the world, because it changes how people feel and what they can do.

brian@dandelions.cloud

Everyone celebrates when you build skyscrapers, they do not celebrate when you dig yourself into a hole, so you can build the foundations. Brian Lim is a self-taught, boot strap rocket scientist who has been involved in the startup ecosystem for 15+ years.

Collectively, he has founded or helped co-found 4 different ventures, ranging from aerospace concerns to volunteer organisations, and worked extensively with numerous accelerator programs reaching over 1000 startups across several industry verticals. Driven by a deep curiosity about the world, and a strong belief in the ability of technology to make a positive impact on people's lives, Brian’s experience led him to be a startup mentor at the World Food Program’s startup incubator, and an entrepreneur in residence at Singularity University. In commercial terms, Brian has raised USD5m+ for his aerospace concerns, a stint at International Space University - Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program, and is currently the CEO of Dandelions, an aerospace consulting firm developing the proprietary Gyrochute system for aerial deployment of autonomous sensor grids, and several satellite launches in the pipeline.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

The use of technology to make people's lives better.

nwi@tes-h2.com

Born in SouthTyrol, Italy, Nikolaus Widmann studied economics and management of information at the Maastricht School of Business and Economics in the NetherlandsAt the age of 17, he founded his first company and then moved to the German capital of Berlin to work for Kofler EnergiesAG where he advanced progressively through key local and international positions In 2020, Nikolaus Widmann founded inewa, the Italy-based energy service company which helps its large customer base to drive forward their individual energy transition focusing on innovation, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability In November 2021, Nikolaus Widmann was appointed Chief Innovation and Sustainability Strategy Officer of Elevion Group B.V. one of Europe’s leading solution providers for integrated energy services and highly efficient energy systems with more than 60 companies operating in 12 different countries Nikolaus has joinedTES in January 2023 as Head of Special Projects where he is responsible for commercial strategy and implementation as well as overarching strategic initiatives in conjunction withTES’CEO MarcoAlverà

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Driving a sustainable energy revolution with e-NG

Nikolaus Widmann

MLannie@berkeley.edu

Hi! I’m Marcus Lannie, co-founder of Redcoat –AI cybersecurity for the next generation ofAI cyberattacks and scams. Previously built dalz.ai which leveragedAI to slowAlzheimer’s Disease. Started after volunteering for 10 years at a memory care facility for individuals withAlzheimer’s Disease & dementia and turned this into my side hustle to continue supporting residents. My first company, MMM, grew into a public speaking business helping students find career opportunities that makes them excited to wake up every morning. I’ve spoken to thousands of students on Student Leadership, LinkedIn, Branding, Networking, and my signature “Secrets to Success: College Edition” I’ve previously worked as anAI product manager, sales engineer, management consultant, and mechanical engineer with companies of all sizes, but building startups is just too much fun. Received my Master’s inAI & MechE from UC Berkeley and Bachelor’s in MechE & Econ from Purdue. Named “#1 Global Leader” by theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Sigma Squared Fellow (most ambitious founders under 26), Fung Scholar @ UC Berkeley (top 3% of class), and Purdue Engineering Fellow (highest award). I’m also a 10x competitive ice cream eating champion, avid beach volleyball player and hiker, reader (contrarian nonfiction & sci-fi), traveler, and adrenaline junkie. Looking forward to meeting everyone and enjoying an incredible experience together!

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about enabling the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society to live more fully whether that means protection from cyberattacks, more stimulating activities within memory care facilities, or modified walkers to assist with navigation. I love painting a brighter vision for the future, building an incredibly strong team, and bringing that vision to life day by day.

Marcus Lannie

Ken Fitzpatrick

Growing up in Ohio, I loved music, specifically the piano.This led me to a small college in Nashville to pursue a Music Education degree. Upon reaching my final semester of student teaching, I realized summers off was not a good enough trade for working with students for the other NINE months.Thus, i quickly transitioned in to the Christian music business in Nashville working for Word Records. During my college years and even during my time with Word, I traveled with an international music organization leading teenagers on tours traveling the USAand surrounding countries.Touring is where I found my love of tour buses. It started simple with a regular 40' charter bus that I bought in 2000.The experience gained there opened an opportunity to begin a niche company with a brilliant visionary for whom I partnered and worked with for 12 years building from scratch a company named Premiere Transportation. Premiere specializes in luxury VIPtour buses specially designed for corporateAmerica and political campaigns. Eventually, I secured full ownership of the company and am still enjoying the ride 20 years later.Throughout the years, the piano continues to be a great source of relaxation and enjoyment for me. Humor also makes me smile :-).Alove of laughter was a gift from my mother and one I am most grateful to have. 30 years after arriving in Nashville, I still call Music City home.And wow, as an 18 year old, I never could have dreamed the life experiences that I would encounter and enjoy over those quick 30 years.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

I love providing a service that brings the wow factor to client's experience and I'm very excited for the future of our company..

mike@thomasusaf.com

MikeThomas (CPA) is the founder, Chairman and Investor in USAF I, II, III andThomas USAF Group, LLC. He founded USAF I, the original purchaser of interest only (“IOs”) portions of SBAand USDAloans, in 1986. In 2011 he founded his fifth USAF fund, McDonald USAF, LPand in 2015 he announced the formation of his sixth fund, USAF 6, LP. Mike has been in the government guaranteed loan business for over 35 years with $3 Billion in loans originated and $3 Billion in loans purchased in the secondary market. He headed the Small BusinessAdministration (SBA)Transition and Reorganization for President Jimmy Carter.As a partner at Ernst &Young, he set up the Ethanol Guarantee Loan Program for the US Department of Energy.

Mr.Thomas co-authored the SBAModel Service ProviderAgreement. He founded and managed eight lending and investment institutions specializing in SBAand USDAloans, including B&I Lending, the #1 USDARD Lender in the nation from 1997 to 2001. He also served as a founder and President of the National Rural Lenders’Roundtable in both 1999 and 2000.

Mr.Thomas is a frequent speaker at Rural Economic Development conferences. He currently functions as the Chairman ofThomas USAF Group, LLC. He is also a member of both the National Rural Lenders and Secondary Market Hall of Fame.

Apromoter of the arts,Anita MorrisonThomas graduated from the University of Georgia and was a mentee of Lamar Dodd in her education in the arts. She served as the Chairman of the Board of the Savannah College ofArt and Design (SCAD)AtlantaAdvisory Council from 2007 to 2011. Currently, she is on the SCAD Board ofTrustees.

Anita, known as “BoPeep” because of her leadership qualities, was a board member of the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, where she chaired Veneralia in 2006. She served two terms on the Georgia Council for theArts, from 1994 to 1999.

As creator and owner ofAnita’sAccents, Ltd. and designer of handcrafted jewelry in the 1980s, she was a guest designer at theAtlantaApparel Mart and honoured as one of Georgia’s five designers, featured in local and national publications. She is also a professional writer, having contributed more than 40 articles to SouthernAccents, Veranda Magazine andAtlanta Homes & Lifestyles. In 2014, she was honored as one ofAtlanta’s Women of Style and Substance.

Anita is married to MichaelThomas, the mother of four children and the grandmother of 11 grandchildren. She enjoys travel, collecting art, gardening, snow skiing, yoga, entertaining and reading.

CEO Swisspod Hyperloop, tennis, jogging, swimming

Denis Tudor

denis@swisspod.com

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Creating a new type of product for hyperloop transportation