Speakers

CEO, Applied Computing

Callum Adamson is a serial founder with a track record of building and exiting high-impact technology ventures. He began his career by leaving an Aeronautics degree to join 4M, an early e-commerce platform, where he helped scale the company through to acquisition. He went on to develop and commercialise advanced ML systems as an independent technologist before founding distributed.com, a venture-backed AI infrastructure company acquired by ILX group in 2021. Since 2019, he has served as AI Expert-in-Residence at Imperial College London, advising on applied AI strategy and research translation. He co-founded Kashmir Intelligence following years of collaboration with researcher and engineer Dr. Sam, focused on deploying AI into civilisation-critical sectors like
energy and heavy industry.

Founder & CEO, Made For A Woman

Eileen Akbaraly is an Italian-Indian entrepreneur at the forefront of responsible fashion, transforming the global industry scenario through the Made For A Woman project.
Founded in 2019, Made For A Woman is Madagascar’s first social entrepreneurship project led by women, for women: at the intersection of savoir-faire, sustainable sourcing, and empowerment through conscious leadership, the brand blends contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship to deliver exquisite handcrafted products using eco-friendly materials.
The soul of the project lies in its powerful mission: to create lasting and impact through an innovative, human-centered business model, paving the way for a more equitable future.
Eileen’s dedication has earned widespread recognition, leading to high-profile collaborations with fashion houses like Fendi and Chloé, as well as awards for sustainability and innovation, including a Fast Company World Changing Ideas award, 2 top-three finishes at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards for Human Rights and Best Emerging Designer, a Prix de la
Francophonie Économique, and a Visionary CEO of the Year award.

Special Advisor for European Market, BYD

He is the Executive Chairman of ITA Airways and Chairman of Recordati. He also sits on the boards of Enerpac Tool, MSX, Ares Invest, Oltre Consulting, Proma, and Ambienta SGR. Over the years, he has held board positions at major companies in both Italy and the United States, including TIM, Ferrari, Chrysler LLC, Magneti Marelli, and Maserati.
Previously, he served as COO of FCA for the EMEA region, and as President and CEO of Iveco, FPT, and Tofas. As Global Head of Business Development at Fiat Group, he played a key role in major transactions such as the Fiat–Chrysler merger, the Fiat–GM alliance, and the spin-off and IPO of Fiat Industrial.
He holds a degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Milan and brings with him extensive leadership and business development experience. He is also Managing Director of AMRE Srl, a family office investing in multiple club deals across Europe and the United States, and a member of the Investment Committee of Vasuki, a venture capital fund sponsored by Rothschild.
As of September, he has been appointed Special Advisor for the European market for BYD, reinforcing the company’s strategic commitment to expanding its presence in one of the world’s most critical markets.

CEO & co-founder, Arke

Michela is the CEO and co-founder of Arke, a platform that acts as the brain of manufacturing companies by streamlining operational processes, connecting workflows, and optimizing efficiency through automation and data insights. With a background in industrial engineering, Michela began her career at Amazon, followed by roles at SAP and Kry in Berlin and Google in Dublin before founding Arke.

Under her leadership, Arke raised an international pre-seed round backed by experienced investors with a strong track record in scaling global companies. Michela's vision is to create a new category of business software that combines elements of ERP, knowledge management, collaborative workflows, and productivity — giving manufacturers the software they deserve to compete in a modern economy.
She is passionate about building an emotionally intelligent company culture and proving that it's possible to drive innovation in traditional industries while creating generational wealth for those often left out of the tech bubble. By starting in Italy, one of the world’s manufacturing hubs, Michela aims to prove that Italy has the potential to leverage its deep-rooted industrial expertise to spark a global revolution in manufacturing technology.

President, Confindustria Young Entrepreneurs

Born in Lecco in 1987, Maria Anghileri is the COO of the Eusider Group, a leading player in the Italian steel industry. A Law graduate from Bocconi University, she furthered her education at Harvard Business School.
Following an early career in the legal field, she joined Eusider in 2016, where she has played a pivotal role in the company’s strategic development and operational growth. Active in Confindustria since 2015, she has held prominent leadership positions, including serving as National Vice President of the Young Entrepreneurs group from 2020 to 2024.
In this role, she championed initiatives focused on generational transition in family-owned businesses. Since November 2024, she has been serving as President of the Young Entrepreneurs and Vice President of Confindustria.

Actress

Moran Atias is a globally recognized Israeli actress, creator, host, and humanitarian whose career bridges continents, cultures, and causes. She first rose to fame in Italy, co-hosting the hit prime-time show I Raccomandati alongside Carlo Conti, before transitioning into critically acclaimed Italian cinema, working with revered directors such as Mario Monicelli, Luca Lucini, and Dario Argento.
span>After becoming a prominent name in Israeli television and film, Moran launched her Hollywood career with commanding performances in Crash (Starz), Tyrant (FX), 24: Legacy (FOX), The Village (NBC), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), and Animal Kingdom (TNT). Her breakout film role in Paul Haggis’ Third Person, opposite Adrien Brody and Liam Neeson, earned her critical acclaim and a star on the Belgian Walk of Fame.
Moran is also a proud member of the Actors Studio, where she continues to deepen her craft alongside the industry’s most respected performers. She has also hosted major international events, bringing her natural presence and eloquence to global stages.
Parallel to her artistic path, Moran has built a distinguished legacy as a humanitarian. She led an emergency evacuation mission following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, helping spinal injury patients reach life-saving surgeries. She then raised millions of dollars to build the country’s first all-girls high school, which continues to offer free education from elementary through graduation—a classroom in the school bears her name. For this work, she has received multiple awards and international recognition.

In 2022, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moran volunteered over 150 hours in the ER at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, one of Israel’s largest medical centers—bringing compassion, presence, and hands-on care in a time of deep crisis.
Moran’s commitment to women’s rights, healing, and justice has made her an unshakable advocate for survivors of sexual violence—especially those affected by the October 7th attacks in Israel. She continues to challenge global silence from organizations such as UN Women and MeToo, and uses her voice, platform, and art to call for accountability, support, and lasting change.
As a mother by choice, Moran gave birth to her daughter in 2022—becoming an inspiration to countless women who are redefining motherhood on their own terms. Her personal journey—steeped in courage, contradiction, heritage, and radical love—is the heartbeat of her newest television work. Today, Moran is developing a powerful slate of scripted content for film and television as a writer and producer, telling stories rooted in emotional truth, cultural identity, and spiritual inquiry. She continues to create content that bridges divides, fosters inclusiveness, and amplifies compassion—with the belief that storytelling can be a force for peace.
Through every role she takes—on screen, behind the camera, and in the world—Moran remains committed to using her platform to advocate for women, uplift the unheard, and move the world closer to healing.

Group Chief Information Officer, Fincantieri

Azzalini brings extensive experience in the technology sector and currently serves as Group CIO at Fincantieri, where he leads the development and execution of the company’s IT and digital strategy.

He holds a degree in electronics engineering and began his career at IBM, where he gained strong technical and managerial expertise. He went on to hold senior positions in the banking and insurance industries, further broadening his leadership experience across both technology and business domains.

Since joining Fincantieri in 2018, Azzalini has played a key role in driving the company’s digital transformation. Under his leadership, Fincantieri has launched innovative initiatives that have significantly enhanced operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Widely recognized for his ability to blend deep technical knowledge with strategic vision, Azzalini is considered a leading figure in the technology sector.

Head of Europe Investments, Prosus Ventures

Sandeep Bakshi is the Head of European Investments for Prosus Ventures, responsible for sourcing and executing transactions and building out the Prosus Ventures portfolio in the region. He has led investments in companies like Bilt, WayFlyer, Corti, Luzia, and more. Sandeep also sits on the Prosus Ventures investment committee. He is a Kauffman Fellow and began his career in M&A at Citigroup.

Chief Investment Officer - Funds of Funds, CDP Venture Capital

In CDP Venture Capital SGR SpA since 2020, Cristina serves as Chief Investment Officer overseeing investment activities and monitoring of the funds of funds (AUM: circa €2bn in total).
She has over 25 years of experience in the Venture Capital sector in Italy dealing either with investments in several startups/scaleups and as Limited Partner of VC funds.
She started her career in 1999 with Pino Venture Partners, advisor of the Kiwi I (€100 million) and Kiwi II (€500 million) closed-end VC funds, both focused on the ICT and new media sectors.
She then joined the team of Finlombarda Gestioni Sgr SpA., an asset manager focused on regional investments. where she handled Next, a public/private VC fund dedicated to direct and indirect investments as a fund of funds, in tech startups.
In 2014 she joined Fondo Italiano d'Investimento SGR SpA, where she became Partner in the fund of funds area with a focus on venture capital. As part her responsibilities, she oversaw two VC funds of funds.
Degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University.

Managing Partner, Imaginary

Nick Brown is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Imaginary Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on the consumer, product, and retail enablement sectors. Founded in partnership with Natalie Massenet, founder and former CEO of Net-A-Porter. Imaginary invests in best-in-class brands, platforms, and entrepreneurs that are changing how a new generation of consumers live, eat, and shop. Stage and geography agnostic, key consumer investments include SKIMS, FarFetch (IPO), Reformation (Permira), Glossier, Westman Atelier, Point of View, Kosas, Sundays Pet, The Feed, Mila, and others. Their enablement portfolio includes NuOrder (Lightspeed), Gloss Genius, Pepper, Builder, and others. He is a member of the Business of Fashion 500 and is a frequent contributor to various publications on the topics of retail and the consumer.
Imaginary was launched in 2018 in New York and currently has assets under management of nearly $2 Billion.
Prior to starting Imaginary Ventures, Nick was a Partner at 14W Venture Partners, where he led the firm’s investments in the initial financing rounds for some of today’s most exciting brands including Warby Parker and The Real Real. Previously, he was an Analyst at JPMorgan on their Consumer and Retail team.
Nick received his BA from Harvard University in 2008. He was born in, and still resides in, New York City with his twin children and Partner.

Executive Coach and Author

René Carayol is a leading keynote speaker on leadership and executive coach, working with some of the Fortune 500s top CEOs and their teams and has also been Chair and CEO of blue-chip businesses. René energises leaders to see the art of the possible and has built his reputation on getting to know the culture of businesses better than they do themselves and providing answers and solutions no matter how big or small the problems.
As a former executive René draws on his own experiences of working at blue-chip companies such as Marks & Spencer, PepsiCo and IPC Media.
René has had the privilege of working closely with some of the world’s best leaders; from former US President Bill Clinton to CEOs including Jim Yong Kim at The World Bank, Ralph Hamers at ING Bank and Maria Ramos at Barclays Africa. His messages are practical, real-life experiences delivered with effect.He inspires his audiences by showing them not only what lies within their grasp, but how true collaboration makes everyone stronger.

Founder & Chairman, CC & Soci

Born in Milan, Claudio Costamagna attended the Ecole Européenne in Brussels before returning to Italy and enrolling at Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi. In 1981 he was awarded a degree in business economics. He then began his career in the Financial Control Area of Citibank, before moving in 1985 to Montedison, where he was Head of Corporate Finance for the holding company. In 1988 Mr. Costamagna joined Goldman Sachs, initially as Head of Investment Banking Italy, then becoming Country Head for Italy and Chairman of Goldman Sachs SIM. In 1999, he was appointed Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and he became a member of the European Management Committee and the Global Partnership Committee. Between 2004 and 2006, year in which he left the group, Mr. Costamagna was Chairman of the Investment Banking Division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He was Chairman of AAA-Advanced Accelerator Applications, a European pharmaceuticals group, from 2012 to January 2018. He was also Chairman of Salini-Impregilo, Italy’s leading infrastructure construction group from 2012 to July 2015 and Chairman of Cassa depositi e prestiti from July 2015 to July 2018.
Mr. Costamagna is now Chairman of CC & Soci, a financial advisory boutique he founded, and he sits on the Board of FTI Consulting, a business advisory group listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Moreover, Mr. Costamagna is Chairman of Unopiù SpA and Board Member of Ferragamo Finanziaria SpA, Salini Costruttori SpA, Finarvedi SpA and Italiana Petroli SpA.
Over the years, he also served as a director of Luxottica, Bulgari, Il Sole 24 Ore Group, Autogrill and DeA Capital, all companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. Moreover, he served as a board member of Virgin Group Holdings and Reuters Breakingviews.

Journalist, Corriere della Sera

CEO & co-founder, Satispay

Alberto is CEO and co-founder of Satispay, together with Dario Brignone and Samuele Pinta.
Born in 1984, passionate about design and outdoor sports, Alberto Dalmasso graduated in economics from the University of Turin. In 2008 he began his career working in the retail and import-export sector, working between Italy, the United States and Australia. After three years of experience in the marketing and business development division of Ersel (Private Banking and Asset Management) he founded Satispay in 2013.
Author of the book “Vivi Smart” (Live Smart), edited by Il Saggiatore and Active Angel investor alongside his co-founders and some colleagues, Alberto is married and father of two little kids, (4 and 2 years old).

Founder & Managing Partner, The Techshop SGR

Gianluca D'Agostino is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Techshop SGR, a Milan-based asset management company and venture capital fund distinguished by its forward-looking vision and data-driven approach. His career spans over 25 years, marked by significant achievements as a manager, founder, and investor.
His passion for entrepreneurship is evident in his ability to scale companies across various growth dimensions, including strategic partnerships, talent scouting, corporate organisation, global expansion, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Prior to founding The Techshop, D'Agostino served as an angel investor, supporting numerous European start-ups and collaborating with prominent angel investor networks and venture capital firms. He has also contributed as a board member in public and private companies in the United Kingdom, India, the Netherlands, and Italy.
One of his major successes was co-founding Neomobile Spa in Rome in 2007. Under his leadership as CEO, Neomobile experienced exponential growth, transforming into a global mobile monetisation platform for digital content. D'Agostino guided the company through organic growth and several M&A operations, leading Neomobile to generate a turnover of one billion euros. This achievement positioned Neomobile as one of Italy's most successful digital companies.
Before Neomobile, D'Agostino amassed extensive experience in executive roles at leading companies such as TIM and KPMG. These experiences enriched his skill set, enabling him to develop a unique strategic vision.
D'Agostino's international experience is extensive: he has lived and managed companies in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Latin America. After spending 10 years in London, he returned to Italy, where he continues to positively influence the innovation ecosystem with his leadership and commitment.
In 2020, together with Mattia Mor, Karin Fischer, Alec Ross, Claude Finckenberg, Massimo Redaelli, and Thomas Schneider, D'Agostino founded Emotion Network, the Italian edtech and media company with the vision of placing the human being and their emotions at the centre of development. Believing in the power of storytelling to enhance human potential, they produce "Great stories to inspire, educate, entertain." TechEmotion.com is a project of Emotion Network.

Tv Host and Journalist

EVP - Sky TG24 editor-in-chief

He is the Executive Chairman of ITA Airways and Chairman of Recordati. He also sits on the boards of Enerpac Tool, MSX, Ares Invest, Oltre Consulting, Proma, and Ambienta SGR. Over the years, he has held board positions at major companies in both Italy and the United States, including TIM, Ferrari, Chrysler LLC, Magneti Marelli, and Maserati.
span style="font-weight: 400;">Previously, he served as COO of FCA for the EMEA region, and as President and CEO of Iveco, FPT, and Tofas. As Global Head of Business Development at Fiat Group, he played a key role in major transactions such as the Fiat–Chrysler merger, the Fiat–GM alliance, and the spin-off and IPO of Fiat Industrial.
He holds a degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Milan and brings with him extensive leadership and business development experience. He is also Managing Director of AMRE Srl, a family office investing in multiple club deals across Europe and the United States, and a member of the Investment Committee of Vasuki, a venture capital fund sponsored by Rothschild.
As of September, he has been appointed Special Advisor for the European market for BYD, reinforcing the company’s strategic commitment to expanding its presence in one of the world’s most critical markets.

CEO, Rai Cinema

Paolo Del Brocco is CEO of Rai Cinema since 2010. From 2007 to 2010 he was COO of Rai Cinema. Manager, producer, journalist and adjunct professor in several universities, he is currently board member of “The National Cinema Museum of Turin” and of the Football Club ‘’U.S. Lecce’’.
He’s been board member of Accademia Belle Arti Urbino. He is also board member of ANICA (National Association of Film Industry) and member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Membership as part of the Executives branch and of EFA (European Film Awards).
In recent years, he has been invited as a member of the Jury of several international Film Festivals.
Paolo Del Brocco has been included in VARIETY500 since 2017, the 500 most influential business leaders ranking in the global media industry.
During the last 15 years of his management as CEO, Rai Cinema has co-produced 903 Italian movies and 584 Italian documentaries, becoming the most important production company in Italy. With 01 Distribution, we released in Italy many US films by some greatest directors, such as Scorsese, Chazelle, Spielberg, Malick, Tarantino, and a slew of Italian hits, becoming the top Italian distributor.
During the last 15 year, 01 Distribution has distributed in Italy 394 movies.
Among the most important awards obtained by Rai Cinema, in addition to the numerous David di Donatello, the most important Movie Award (Best Film, Best Director, Best Producer are included): most memorable awards in the main categories at the Venice Festival, at the Berlinale and at the Cannes Film Festival.

President & CEO, Formula 1

Stefano Domenicali began his role as President & Chief Executive Officer at Formula 1 in January 2021, following his departure as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. Mr. Domenicali joins Formula 1 on the back of an illustrious career within the motoring industry, where he has had success within both motorsport and commercial roles.
After studying business administration at the University of Bologna he began his professional career in 1991 with Ferrari. At Ferrari he held various positions, including heading up the Direzione Sportiva F1 from 2004, before becoming Team Principal for the Formula 1 team in 2008, where he won a total of 14 titles in the F1 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
From 2009 to 2014, Domenicali represented Ferrari in the FIA World Motor Sport Council and recently stepped down as the president of the FIA. Single Seater Commission, before joining Formula 1. He was Vice President of New Business Initiatives at AUDI AG from November 2014 before taking over his most recent role as Chief Executive Officer in March 2016 at Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese.

Artist, Photographer and Bouncer

Mischa Fanghaenel is a Berlin-based artist, photographer, and bouncer known for his immersive exploration of the city’s vibrant nightlife. With over 20 years of self-taught photography experience and fifteen years working as a bouncer, he reveals a unique view point through his lens. Mischa’s striking monochrome imagery, printed on aluminum, is a contemporary document of Berl in’s techno culture, capturing the evocative human stories that unfold within it. His acclaimed series, NACHTS and Nightwatch, are rich nocturnal tapestries capturing the pulsating energy and diverse human stories of club life, revealing a unifying harmony that transcends cultural boundaries. Utilizing masterful chiaroscuro techniques, Mischa crafts evocative narratives that challenge stereotypes and ignite meaningful conversations about identity and community dynamics in contemporary society. NACHTS serves as a poignant tribute to the beauty of life, celebrating the individuality of each participant while embracing the community forged in the captivating embrace of music.

Co-founder & Board member, Emotion Network

With over 15 years of experience in consulting for top-level executives, Karin Fischer has worked for public, private, and third-sector companies, helping them refine their strategic communication, engage stakeholders on key issues, develop organizational strategies in international contexts, and digitize their processes. She collaborates with various partners on end-to-end projects, always maintaining her professional independence.
Innovation drives her to explore every area. Notably, she has been a pioneer in the field of sustainable mobility, leading a global multi-stakeholder platform and contributing to shaping the future of electric mobility through the founding of a startup dedicated to developing cutting-edge charging infrastructure.
But her experiences are not limited to the business world. Karin Fischer has also leveraged her expertise in political and civic communication, served as a consultant in universities, and managed sponsorships in the equestrian sports sector, her great passion.
In 2018, she launched the brand "Connecting Stories," a name that embodies her personal mission: to connect stories and ideas, create bridges between different sectors, and combine concepts in innovative ways.
Living in the hills above Lake Garda, Karin has embraced remote working from its inception, allowing her to share her everyday life with her children, her beloved pets, and, of course, her cherished horses.

President & MD, Philip Morris Italy

Pasquale Frega boasts extensive international experience, gained in leading pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, Celgene Corporation, InterMune, and Ipsen in Europe (France, London, Nordic countries) and the Americas.
In his most recent role, Frega served as President for Canada and Latin America at Novartis, leading the region to significant business achievements in terms of both economic growth and operational excellence. Previously, he was the Country President of the company’s Italian division, distinguishing himself by leading the company to become a leader in the country's pharmaceutical sector.

Since February 2025, he has held the role of President and Managing Director at Philip Morris Italia, bringing his strategic vision to guide the company through its transformation towards a smoke-free future.

Rector, IULM University

Full Professor of Theatre in the Faculty of Communication and former Vice-Rectorand Pro-Rector with responsibility for Teaching, is the new Rector of IULM University from 1st November 2024, for the six-year period 2024-2030.
Born in Milan in 1974, she graduated in Modern Humanities from the University of Milan.
She joined IULM in 2010 and since then has continued to carry out studies and research on the history of theatre and the role of performing arts as a tool for education, growth and expression of the individual, with particular attention to the development of theatre in prisons.
Alongside her academic work, Valentina Garavaglia has been intensely active in the world of theatre where she has been responsible for the artistic coordination of festivals and projects in prestigious Italian and international theatres.
She is a member of the Consulta Universitaria del Teatro, sits on the scientific committee of the Fondazione Istituto di Alta Cultura ‘Orestiadi’ and is part of the national coordination group for theatre in prisons. She is the editor of two series of works for the publisher Bulzoni: Le fonti dello spettacolo teatrale and I Quaderni di Gargnano.
In 2015 she won the 20th edition of the Luigi Pirandello National Theatre Prize with the work L'effimero e l'eterno: l'esperienza teatrale di Gibellina (Bulzoni).

Executive President, Zest S.p.A & President, Unione Industriali Torino

Marco Gay is the Executive President and Partner of ZEST S.p.A., established in 2024 through the merger of Digital Magics and LVenture Group, and listed on Euronext Milan.
ZEST is Italy’s leading innovation group, headquartered in Milan, Turin, and Rome, with a European footprint. The company is a market leader in early-stage and seed venture capital investments, startup acceleration, Open Innovation, and Corporate Venturing, supporting the growth of startups and innovative SMEs.
Born in Turin in 1976, Marco is married with three children and has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in the digital and innovation sectors. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, he was shaped by strong values and ethics that have influenced his leadership style and vision.
He served as President of Confindustria Piemonte for the past four years and was President of Anitec-Assinform from 2018 to May 2024. Since July 2024, he has been President of the Unione Industriali Torino.
Throughout his career, Marco has specialized in corporate management and business strategy, holding CEO roles in companies operating in Digital Health, advertising, and Healthtech. In 2016, he joined the board of Talent Garden. He has also served as President of Confindustria Giovani, Vice President of Confindustria Digitale, and board member of Il Sole 24 Ore S.p.A. and LUISS Guido Carli University. He currently serves on the board of Online Sim and, as of June 2024, is also a board member of the Polytechnic University of Turin.

SEA BEYOND Ambassador, Prada Group and Unesco IOC

Valentina Gottlieb has been working in the event management industry for over 15 years and in parallel works as a Creative Director and actress for TV projects. Valentina uses her visibility as a public figure to spread the values of Sustainability and love of nature, such as the protection of our planet and the ocean.
As Goodwill Ambassador for SEA BEYOND - the Prada Group's educational programme in partnership with UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission - her role extends to participating in initiatives related to ocean protection and Sustainability, contributing to the dissemination of the project's values and activities. She participated as a protagonist in the campaign, diving into the seabed of Sardinia to document the replanting activity of Posidonia and in Norwegian waters, to witness the impact of human activity on the Arctic ecosystem.

Founding Partner, Muse Capital & Muse Sport & Board Director and co-owner, SailGP Italy

Assia Grazioli-Venier is a founding partner at Muse Capital and its sports advisory arm Muse Sport. She is a global leader in venture capital, strategic partnerships, and consumer innovation. A visionary in the commercialization of emerging sports and a leading force in women's healthcare innovation, she is an early backer of today's most sought-after entertainment properties and pioneering medical solutions for underserved needs.
One of Assia's core investment theses is that women's healthcare and women's sports fuel each other's growth. In sports, while on the Board of iconic soccer club Juventus she helped launch Juventus Women and a suite of Juventus-operated properties; she then played a key investor role in Michele Kang acquiring the NWSL's Washington Spirit, and recently became Chair of the upcoming Women's Pro Baseball League. Muse Sport now touts early investments and advisory positions in SailGP, Washington Spirit, Miami Pickleball, Just Women's Sports, Therabody, and Sports Innovation Lab.  With Muse Capital’s remit of investing in the future of how consumers “care, play and live," Assia is a first-mover who backed fast-growing women’s healthcare technologies like Midi Health, Conceivable Life Sciences, CoFertility, Sequel, and Eli Health - companies that proved the women's health market is one of the most compelling commercial opportunities of our time. Assia previously was at the forefront of technological disruption in digital media and played a key role in Spotify’s global expansion from 2010 to IPO.

Founder & CEO, Plastic Bank

David Katz is a visionary entrepreneur, humanitarian, and global thought leader redefining prosperity through Plastic Bank, a social fintech that transforms plastic waste into wealth. Driven by the belief that revealing value in waste can end human suffering and environmental degradation, he pioneered a solution that addresses two of the world’s most pressing challenges—poverty and plastic pollution.
Under his leadership, Plastic Bank has empowered over 50,000 families across the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, and Cameroon, enabling them to exchange plastic for income and life-improving benefits. The initiative has facilitated the collection of over 150 million kilos of plastic, preventing it from polluting the environment while fostering economic opportunity. Through this model, individuals and businesses alike are empowered to participate in a circular economy that promotes both sustainability and social impact.
David’s humanitarian work has earned international recognition, including the United Nations Lighthouse Award for Planetary Health, the Paris Climate Conference Sustainia Community Award, the Ernst & Young Lifetime Achievement Award, The Globe and Mail’s Changemakers Award, and the Entrepreneur Organization’s Global Citizen Award. His insights on environmental and social innovation have been featured on BBC, CNN, Time Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Week, and National Geographic.
Frequently referred to as a steward of the earth and a champion for the underserved, he continues to inspire businesses, governments, and individuals to rethink waste, embrace circularity, and create scalable solutions for a more prosperous world.

Executive Chair, Think Beyond and Founder, Beyond Sport

Nick recognised the power of sport to have a societal impact in the late 90s and has since dedicated his working life to it. Today, Nick is seen as a leader in the field: inspiring and delivering positive change while delivering social and commercial value.

Having founded the world’s largest sports business awards, Nick set out to leverage this network to tackle some of the most complex issues faced by the world through a global foundation, Beyond Sport. Delivering initiatives that focus on sport’s role in racial justice, mental wellbeing, crisis response, access to movement, and gender equality, Beyond Sport’s work has provided support to 384 non-profit organisations operating in 75 countries, providing a range of capacity building support and over $9.5 million in cash funding. Beyond Sport is very fortunate to have the support of partners that include Unilever, NBA, Under Armour, New Balance, Z Zurich Foundation, ESPN, TeamSnap, NFL, and Sun Life.
Think Beyond was founded in 2014 and has since grown into one of the world’s leading impact consultancies, helping brands and rightsholders to find their purpose and deliver on it. From supporting Disney, Zurich, and Subway deliver positive social impact through sport, to advising a huge portfolio of rightsholders such as Liverpool FC, NASCAR and the IOC, all with a lens of delivering social and commercial value.

CEO, Brunello Cucinelli

Born in Treia on 16 November 1978, he graduated in Economics and Social Sciences at Bocconi University in Milan after classical studies. He began his career at L'Oréal Paris Italy as Product Manager. In 2005, he joined Luxottica as Key Account Manager, taking on increasing responsibilities within the Wholesale Division.
In 2011, he became General Manager of Luxottica Brazil, driving vertical integration and sustained growth, making the branch key to the Group. In April 2016 he joined Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A., he served as Chief Commercial Officer and Co-CEO, overseeing global mono- and multi-brand networks. Since May 2020, he has been CEO, responsible for Market areas. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the ICCF Italy China Council Foundation.

Journalist and Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Corriere della Sera

Daniele Manca graduated from the DAMS (Disciplines of Art, Music, and Entertainment) at the University of Bologna and was an Inaugural Fellow of the prestigious Sulzberger program at Columbia University School of Journalism, a course that has trained and continues to train leaders of the world’s most respected journalistic organizations.
He has worked at major Italian newspapers and magazines, from Mondo Economico to Panorama, from Italia Oggi to Il Giorno. Since 1994, he has been at Corriere della Sera, where he started as an editor and now holds the position of deputy director, as well as columnist and head of the economics and innovation section.
Over the years, Manca has covered the crucial moments of Italian economics and politics—from the stock market boom in 1986 to the Mani Pulite affairs, from the introduction of the euro to the rescue of Fiat. He has closely followed treaties and crises, from Maastricht to Lisbon, from the financial storm of 2008 to the emergence of the governments led by Monti, Letta, Renzi, Gentiloni, Conte I, Conte II, Draghi, and finally Meloni.
He was among the promoters of the digital transformation of Corriere della Sera. As a professor at the Walter Tobagi School of Journalism at the University of Milan, he shared his experience with students in the "Journalism in the Digital Age" course.
Daniele Manca is also the strategic director and a member of the Scientific Committee of the School of Journalism at IULM University. Furthermore, he is part of the Scientific Committee of Fuori Quota and the Scientific Committee of 100Esperte in the Economics and Finance area. His commitment has made him a Media Ambassador for ENWE (European Network for Women Excellence) and a member of the Steering Committee of the Osservatorio Banca e Impresa 2030.

J Co-Founder, FJ Labs

Jose Marin is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and co-founder of FJ Labs, an early-stage venture firm focused on online marketplaces and network effects businesses. FJ Labs has backed over 1,100 companies globally including Alibaba, Betterment, Coupang, Delivery Hero, Fanduel and Flexport, and has been directly engaged in building companies such as AdoreMe, Letgo, Properly and Rebag. Prior to FJ Labs, Jose was the co-founder of DeRemate.com, a leading online auction platform in Latin America (acq. Mercado Libre). Jose holds an MA in International Economics and an MBA from Stanford University, where he teaches a bi-annual marketplace entrepreneurship class. He is based between London and NYC, loves flying and extreme sports, plays the piano, and speaks five languages.

Co-Founder & CTO, You.com

Bryan McCann is the co-founder and CTO of You.com. Previously, he was a Lead Research Scientist at Salesforce Research working on Deep Learning and its applications to Natural Language Processing (NLP) and presented his work directly to customers on the keynote stage at Dreamforce, on behalf of collaboration between Salesforce, Google, and Meta at the Pytorch Developers Conference (and a second time), as well as at broad, business-facing venues like VentureBeat Transform. He authored the first paper and holds the patent on contextualized word vectors, which eventually led to the transfer learning revolution in NLP with BERT and other transformer-based architectures for contextualized word vectors. Other notable work includes early unified models for multi-tasking in NLP, training the largest public and open source language model in the world in 2019, and applying language models to biology in which his team generated proteins that were synthesized by a lab and shown to be as or more effective than those in nature. His work has been cited thousands of times and he has spoken about the cutting edge of NLP and AI at research labs around the world. Bryan’s work comes out of a deep philosophical interest in meaning and the desire to use AI to complement human creativity, inspire new thoughts, and ultimately develop tools for more fulfilling lives. He was the recipient of the 1st ever eVe award at SXSW 2021 for his collaboration with award-winning (and Netflix show writing) author Daniel Kehlmann. He is a regular speaker on topics of literature and AI, poetry and AI, and other crossovers between AI and the arts.

Founder & President, Neosperience

Dario Melpignano is the Founder and Chairman of Neosperience (NSP:XMIL), a leading technology company listed on the Euronext Growth Milan market. Since founding the company (initially as Neos in 2003, evolving into Neosperience), Dario has been at the forefront of leveraging Artificial Intelligence combined with behavioral psychology to create empathetic digital customer experiences through the proprietary Neosperience Cloud platform.
A pioneer in the Italian digital landscape, Dario began his journey in the tech industry early on. From 1988 to 2002, he served as Managing Director at Datanord Multimedia, where he played a key role in developing strategies to support the evolution of marketing and commercial processes within the burgeoning digital world. He then transitioned to lead Neos from 2003 to 2007, laying the groundwork for the company's initial offering in the Digital Customer Experience sector before establishing Neosperience in its current form in 2007.
In his current role at Neosperience, Dario drives the company's strategic vision, focusing on using AI to transform clients' business processes and enhance customer interactions. He is responsible for high-level relationships with management, clients, strategic partners, and the investment community. He actively represents Neosperience at industry events and identifies opportunities for expansion into new markets and sectors.
Dario possesses empathetic leadership skills, honed through guiding diverse teams on innovative projects. His strategic thinking is complemented by effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities. He has significant expertise in managing complex IT projects, focusing on AI-driven solutions, and a deep understanding of digital technologies, including SaaS platforms, cloud architectures, CRM systems, and mobile application development. An effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills, Dario excels at articulating complex technological concepts. His extensive experience has fostered empathy and active listening, enabling him to build solid, lasting relationships. He maintains a broad network within the technology and entrepreneurial sectors.
Dario's educational background includes studies at the Politecnico di Milano (1988-1993) and Liceo Scientifico Donatelli (1982-1987). He is fluent in Italian (native) and English (C2—Advanced) and has basic knowledge of Spanish (A1—Elementary). He is passionate about driving innovation and excellence through technology.

Founder & CEO, Emotion Network

After graduating with honors in Business Economics from Bocconi University, Mattia Mor began his career in strategic consulting, working with top-tier firms like Value Partners and Bain & Company, specializing in the fashion industry.
Mor founded his first company in 2004 while still at university. Named Blomor, it was a streetwear brand that many will remember for its T-shirts printed with the names and recipes of cocktails. The idea for Blomor actually originated earlier, when he was still in high school.
In 2007, Mor decided to leave his job as an employee to dedicate himself entirely to Blomor, eventually selling his designs in over 30 countries and in more than 900 stores.
In 2015, he moved to Singapore to work as Senior Vice President for Lazada, a Southeast Asian e-commerce company, which was later acquired by Alibaba Group in 2016. Returning to Italy at the end of 2016, Mor became the Executive Director for Europe of Mei.com, Alibaba's luxury online flash sales platform, specializing in high-level products in fashion, design, and cosmetics.
In 2017, he launched the social communication project “HoSceltoMilano / HoSceltoItalia” with the aim of reawakening civic passion and patriotic sentiment towards Italy, and particularly towards the city of Milan. The following year, he was elected to the Italian Parliament as a Deputy.
During his parliamentary tenure from 2018 to 2022, he authored a bill named 'StartAct', designed to allow Italy to close the gap in private investments in startups and Venture Capital, thereby enhancing companies' ability to innovate, create jobs, and grow, as well as encouraging Italians to return to their homeland.
In 2020, together with Karin Fischer, Massimo Redaelli, Alec Ross, Claude Finckenberg, Thomas Schneider, and Gianluca D'Agostino, Mattia Mor founded Emotion Network, an Italian edtech & media company that aims to put human beings and their emotions at the center of development, believing in the power of storytelling to strengthen human potential and produce "Great stories to inspire, educate, and entertain." TechEmotion.com is a project by Emotion Network.

Founder and Executive Chairman, Angel Capital Management

Since 1996, Angelo Moratti has been involved in venture capital investments. It was in this year that he entered the startup world by founding ePlanet, a telecommunications company. The rapid growth of the company led to its IPO in 2000, making ePlanet the first New Economy company in Italy to have a 'fully funded project.'
Moratti continued his entrepreneurial journey by founding Sarlux, a company that built and managed a power plant, thus demonstrating his capability to tackle even the most complex challenges in the energy sector.
The following years were entirely devoted to the financial sector, with the creation of ACM (Angel Capital Management), a private investment company and family office. ACM is also the majority shareholder of Milano Investment Partners SGR, a company that manages Alternative Investment Funds. This initiative stands out for its goal of providing not only capital to visionary young entrepreneurs but also support through every phase of their project development.
Angelo Moratti is also known for his activities in philanthropy and patronage. His role as vice president and member of the executive committee of Special Olympics International showcases his spirit and commitment to paving the way for those who are often left behind. He has also led the Associazione Amici del Centro Dino Ferrari, focused on scientific research towards finding a cure for problems arising from neurological diseases.

Head of Sustainability Planning Stakeholders & Human Rights, Enel Group

Since October 2024, Maria Cristina Papetti has been nominated Head of Planning, Stakeholders and Human Rights within Enel Group. Previously, in 2020, she became Head of Sustainability at Global Infrastructure and Networks at Enel. Since 2014, she has been the Head of the Sustainability Projects and Practice Sharing Unit for Enel Holding, where she led the CSV deployment throughout the business value chain of the entire Group: a sustainability model that matches business opportunities while tackling social needs. In 2012 she was appointed Head of External Relation of Enel Green Power. Before joining Enel in September 2007 as Head of Executive Education and Cross Cultural Center, she worked for Edison, Ferrovie dello Stato and Trenitalia. She studied Foreign Languages and Literature, first at Silvio Pellico School for Interpreters and then at IULM University in Milan.

Founding Partner, Festina Lente Capital & Chairman of the board and co-owner, SailGP Italy

Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and advisor born in 1982. He began his career in public relations in Milan at Giorgio Armani, where from 2004 to 2012 he worked alongside Roberta Armani in the Global PR & Entertainment office, managing the brand’s collaborations with international celebrities and talents. In 2012, he joined Moncler - a company he still advises - where he served as Director of Events and Entertainment. In 2011, he founded FIOL, a multi-award-winning DOC prosecco label that, from his hometown of Treviso, has gained international recognition, especially in the UK and Canada.
In 2015, Passi moved to New York, where he began exploring the venture capital world, investing in tech companies and innovative start-ups across different sectors, while expanding his network within the financial industry. In 2022, he launched Festina Lente Partners SCSp, a fund managed by the Azimut Group, focused on private companies in fintech, food tech, marketplaces, digital transformation, and smart environment. His portfolio includes start-ups and unicorns such as Bilt Rewards, Skims, Oura Ring, Olipop, Public.com, and Mill Industries. From a young age, he cultivated a lifelong passion for sport and high-level competition through rugby, playing for Benetton Rugby Treviso and the Italian national youth team. He was also drawn to sailing by following in the footsteps of his father, Alberto Passi de Preposulo, a former sailor with experience in both Atlantic and Mediterranean regattas.

Deputy Economy editor and L'Innovazione editor, Corriere della Sera

CEO & co-founder, Sibylla Biotech

Lidia Pieri, Ph.D., MBA is a physicist, entrepreneur, and leader in the biotech industry. She earned a Master’s degree with honors in Physics and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Università di Roma Tre. She later completed an Executive MBA in Business Innovation with honors at MIB School of Management and pursued an executive program in Artificial Intelligence in Pharma and Biotech at MIT Sloan School of Management.
Lidia is the Co-founder and CEO of Sibylla Biotech SpA, a pioneering biotech company she helped establish in 2017. Under her leadership, the company has raised €25.4M across Seed and Series A funding rounds and built strategic partnerships with global pharmaceutical leaders like Takeda and Ono Pharmaceutical. She has grown Sibylla into a thriving organization of 30 employees, driving innovation in drug discovery and strategic business development.
Previously, Lidia had a decade-long research career as a post-doctoral researcher at prestigious institutions across Europe. She also holds teaching experience at various universities and has been recognized for her contributions to science and innovation, including being named an "Unstoppable Woman 2024."
Lidia combines her scientific expertise with a passion for leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create meaningful impact, while fostering an ethical, inclusive, and inspiring work environment. She is also an accomplished public speaker and advocate for women in STEM.

Co-Founder & General Partner, Exceptional Ventures

Silicon Valley Software Engineer turned Technology Executive turned Venture Capitalist, Paolo Pio has invested in 60+ early-stage startups. He is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Exceptional Ventures, a London-based early-stage VC backing businesses that help people live longer, healthier, and happier lives—maximizing the Joyspan®. Since launch, EV has invested in 34 visionary companies across the UK, Europe, and the US and is now launching Fund 2. Previously, Paolo was Managing Director for Europe at Joyance Partners, investing in 25 startups across nine countries and building a network of 1,000+ founders and investors. He began his career as a Software Engineer at Cisco in Silicon Valley, later leading the EMEAR & Asia Pacific launch of its xSDN product line. Beyond VC, Paolo is an angel investor, startup advisor, and fitness entrepreneur. He co-founded UrbanTribe, a fitness bootcamp in London and Dubai, and is passionate about meditation, nutrition, and exercise. He holds an Executive MBA from London Business School and a Cum Laude MS in Engineering from Politecnico di Torino.

Founder & Managing Partner, Hyle Consulting

Riccardo Pozzoli is an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor specialized in strategic branding, digital communication, and venture growth. He is the founder of Hyle Consulting, a firm that supports companies in navigating transformation and unlocking their full potential. Throughout his career, Riccardo has advised leading international brands and has been a driving force behind multiple successful entrepreneurial ventures. He has shared his expertise through lectures at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, Columbia University, and Bocconi University. As a published author, he recently co-wrote a book with marketing guru Philip Kotler, further establishing his thought leadership in brand and marketing strategy. Passionate about storytelling, innovation, and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, Riccardo continues to bridge creativity and business with a unique global perspective.

Co-founder, Emotion Network

Massimo Redaelli is an out-of-the-box thinking person with a keen interest in social, cultural, technological and ecological trends/changes. Massimo helps design engaging storytelling and story-living experiences at the intersection of “Art, Emotion & Science”.
His experience in the creative fields and his curiosity in Science, Innovation Technology and Social good led him to develop a new type of ‘conscious’ communication at PRIMA. This creative agency designs authentic cultural reference experiences, which positively touch users for clients such as Apple, Google, Starbucks, H&M, BMW, Bulgari, Liveperson, etc.
Massimo co-founded the Arts & Technology Council at the Vatican and collaborates with MIT Media Lab, Arts+ Mind Lab at the John Hopkins University and the IUAV University in Venice for his mission to emphasize Emotions and foster a more humanistic (and harmonious) relationship with Technology.
Massimo also collaborates with various platforms: DLD, Brilliant Mind, Humanise, Google Camp, Founders Forum and AccelerateHer, where he curates & moderates eclectic panels with leaders from diverse backgrounds.

Head of Wealth Management, Italy, UBS Group

Giovanni Ronca’s professional experience undoubtedly focused on leading deep cultural and business transformation, with a recognized capacity to embrace the challenge of change, strategic evolution and growth in all the organizations and for all the entrepreneurs he worked for. His senior managerial experience spans from different segments (family holding, automotive, corporate and investment banking, private equity / venture capital, TMC and wealth management) as well as regions (Italy, Continental Europe and US).
Giovanni started his career in 1996 at Exor (former IFI S.p.A.) as financial analyst. From 1998 to 2007 he worked in the treasury department of the Fiat Group (now Stellantis) both in Italy and the United States. From 2004 to 2007 he was member of the team led by the CEO Sergio Marchionne that re-launched Stellantis.
In June 2007 Giovanni joined UniCredit as Senior Banker in Investment Banking division. In 2009, after the acquisition of Capitalia, he started his managerial career, becoming head of Italian North-West corporate banking region.
In 2011 he was appointed head of Corporate & Investment Banking Italy Network. He covered this role until the end of 2013 when he was named head of Corporate & Investment Banking Americas and manager of UniCredit branches in North and South America, and moved to New York. From September 1, 2016 he became Co-Head of UniCredit commercial bank network in Italy with focus on Corporate and Wealth Management businesses, including leasing and factoring products. He was vice chairman of UniCredit Leasing S.p.A. and non-executive board member of Fondo Italiano d’ Investimento SGR and Cordusio SIM (wealth management).
In May 2019, Giovanni joined Telecom Italia S.p.A. as group Chief Financial Officer. He was also appointed Chairman of Olivetti S.p.A. and of TimFin S.p.A. (consumer financing JV controlled by Santander Consumer Bank). Giovanni left Telecom Italia in mid 2022, becoming Senior Advisor of CVC Capital Partners and of Quadrivio Group.
In September 2023, Giovanni was appointed Head of Wealth Management Italy for UBS and CEO of Credit Suisse Italy S.p.A. with the responsibility of the integration of the two businesses.

Founder & CEO, Lucid

Indy Sanders is the Founder & CEO of Lucid: building AI with real-time emotional intelligence to redefine how humans connect to content. At 13, Indy left school to compete as a pro tennis player, traveling to 50+ countries before a spinal injury left them unable to walk for a year. That extreme high and low shaped a relentless drive, carving success from the global tennis tour to closing multi-million dollar tech deals, and now to founding Lucid. Lucid was born from a first-hand realization: media today isn’t designed for human connection—it’s driven by algorithms that prioritize profit over meaning. Experiencing the mind-numbing content loop firsthand, Indy saw an opportunity to build emotionally intelligent media that actually resonates. Indy has been honored as Forbes 30 Under 30, won an award at SXSW, spoken at global tech conferences, and been featured on an a16z panel shaping the future of culture & AI.

Singer & Songwriter

With a career closing in on 20 years and spanning 8 albums, millions of sales around the world, tour after tour, collaborations with some of the most legendary artists the likes of Bob Dylan, Kylie Minogue, Nile Rodgers and Paolo Conte to name a few, Jack Savoretti has reconnected with his roots and produced the simply stunning, new, first-ever-all-Italian-speaking album Miss Italia.

The album came at an important moment in Jack's life, as his Italian father had recently passed away. Jack explains; "My father was the anchor that tied me to Italy, the connection to my roots that I felt I was at risk of losing without him.

Albeit being bi-lingual from birth, writing in Italian was uncharted territory for an artist who has been making albums for over sixteen years, releasing seven over this period, two of which have reached #1 in the UK album charts - Singing To Strangers in 2019 and his most recent release, Europiana, in 2021.

For Miss Italia Jack went on a journey that saw him hone his craft even further and in a completely different language. He sourced a who's who from the contemporary songwriting scene in Italy. A group of fellow craftsmen and women who he could collaborate with and learn from. In doing so, he didn't make an album in Italian, he made the new Jack Savoretti record which happens to be in Italian, and a perfect tribute to his late father.

Chairman, Special Olympics and Founder, UNITE

Tim Shriver is husband, father, educator, best-selling author, Chairman of the Special Olympics, Chairman of UNITE, and CEO of the Bigger Picture Media. As Chairman of the Special Olympics, he has driven the largest expansion of the organization in its history—growing the movement from one million athletes to over six million athletes in 193 countries around the world. As he passed the CEO torch in the past few years, he began asking questions like, “How could the example and spirit of the athletes of Special Olympics provide a model for a divided world?” and “How could SEL skills like empathy, self-awareness, and perspective-taking help our whole nation?” Hundreds of young people, faith leaders, educators, philosophers, scientists, activists and political figures have joined the conversation. Together, they concluded that in spite of the divides, the world is hungry to be reminded of its common humanity.
That led Shriver to put his heart into launching Bigger Picture Media as its founding CEO, the Golisano- backed media platform on a mission to tell stories across podcasts, television, and film that reveal the hope in our common humanity. As Chairman of UNITE, a non-profit that also emerged from this exploration, he has helped to pioneer the Dignity Index—a new tool to help Americans disagree without demonizing each other—and catalyze dozens of moonshots that unite Americans in common purpose to tackle our country’s most intractable challenges. Shriver earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master's degree from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut. Before joining Special Olympics in 1996, Shriver co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading school reform organization in the field of social and emotional learning (SEL). Shriver also has a record of harnessing the power of Hollywood to spread hope and connection across differences as the executive producer of several films — including Amistad, The Loretta Claiborne Story, The Ringer, Front of the Class, and The Peanut Butter Falcon. He is the author of the NYT bestseller Fully Alive – Discovering What Matters Most, and co-editor of The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening.

CEO, Founder & Co-owner SailGP Italy

Jimmy Spithill is an Australian sailor and a two-time winner of the America's Cup. At 30, he made history by becoming the youngest skipper ever to win the America's Cup, aboard the trimaran Oracle Racing USA17. In 2013, in San Francisco, his team, Oracle Team USA, successfully defended the Cup.
He spent many years in the International Match Racing Tour and the One Design Fleet Racing Circuit, winning multiple World Championships and National Championships in both disciplines. He made his debut in the Sydney-Hobart in the iconic 1998 edition and went on to win the race twice with Comanche, in 2015 and 2017, setting a record that still stands unbeaten. In 2014, he was named World Sailor of the Year and won the Sailor of the Year award in Australia in both the youth and open categories. He was inducted into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame and, recently, it was announced that he will be inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in October 2025. During the 35th edition of the America's Cup, he led Oracle Team USA to victory in the Louis Vuitton Qualifiers. In the subsequent editions, the 36th and 37th, he joined Luna Rossa Challenge as helmsman.
In 2021, he became the CEO and helmsman of the U.S SailGP team. In November 2023, he left the U.S. team to found the Red Bull Italy SailGP team, where he is the CEO.

CEO, Founder & Chief Impact Officer, LionTree

Caryl M. Stern is the Chief Impact Officer at LionTree, an independent investment and merchant bank with deep roots in the media, technology, communications, consumer, and creative industries. The former Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation (2020–2023), she previously served for 14 years as President and CEO of UNICEF USA, and, before that, as Senior Associate National Director and Chief Operating Officer at the Anti-Defamation League; the founding director of its A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute; and the Dean of Students at Polytechnic University. Caryl was invited to present at the White House’s inaugural summit on The United State of Women and was named one of “25 Women Changing the World in 2017” by People Magazine. She serves on the Boards of Directors of the We Are Family Foundation and Beyond Sport, and is member of the Chime for Change and Change the World Academy Advisory Boards. The recipient of five honorary doctoral degree, Caryl earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art and a master’s degree in college student personnel administration, and completed her Ph.D. coursework in the same field.

AI Startup Advisor, Board Member

Wendi is the co-founder of a women's community platform, the 611 founded in Aspen Co. Previously, she served as its Chief Executive Officer of Cleverbridge, an ecommerce and payments company from December 2021 to April 2025. She has over twenty-five years of experience as a technology and marketing leader at some of the world’s largest tech companies. Prior to Cleverbridge, Ms. Sturgis was a founding executive at Yext where she worked from 2011 to 2021, serving in multiple roles, including SVP of Sales and Services, Chief Customer Officer, and most recently, CEO of Yext Europe. She has previously held executive positions at Oracle, Gartner, Right Media, and Yahoo!, where she was Vice President of Account Management for North America in charge of the North American Search business. Ms. Sturgis has served on multiple boards including Kustomer, Dailyworth.com, Student Transportation of America, Step Up Women’s Network, and Chair of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board. Ms. Sturgis currently serves as a trustee for the Georgia Tech Foundation.
She is passionate about AI and is currently studying the topic at MIT.

Exit Coach & Investor

Navin Thukkaram is an investor and entrepreneur with extensive experience in technology and finance, and over $3 billion in exits to his name. He currently serves on the board of SkyKick, a global leader in cloud automation and management solutions with 20,000 B2B customers and Morgan Stanley among its major investors. Previously, he was a partner at Vulcan Capital Private Equity, the investment firm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. He also served as board member, early investor, and COO of Qwiki, a mobile startup that won TechCrunch Disrupt and was acquired by Yahoo! for $50 million. Navin sits on the Advisory Board of CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies), the leading U.S. national security think tank based in Washington, D.C. He has also been a benefactor of the Thukkaram Fellowship at Harvard, an advisor to the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has delivered talks and workshops for organisations such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Citibank, BNP Paribas, and Harvard Business School. His philosophy is simple but powerful: mindset is the key to success. Today, Navin shares his insights and experiences through training programmes that support managers on their entrepreneurial journeys. His expertise has garnered global media attention, and he is regularly interviewed and cited by outlets such as CNBC, Fox News, Fortune, and Business Insider as an authority in investment and leadership. Navin holds a degree from Princeton University and earned a prestigious MBA from Harvard Business School. He divides his time between Park City, Utah, and Stockholm, Sweden and also a avid golfer, skier, and practises daily meditation.

Co-Founder & CEO, Translated

Marco Trombetti is a visionary computer scientist, serial entrepreneur, investor, and ocean sailor. In 1999, he co-founded Translated with Isabelle Andrieu to address one of humanity’s biggest challenges: enabling everyone to understand and be understood in their own language. Translated is a leader in AI-supported translation, with over 500,000 customers including Google, Airbnb, and Uber. The company is committed to advanced research and innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in language translation.
In 2023, Marco embraced adventure by entering the Ocean Globe Race, an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Whitbread Round the World Race. His yacht, Translated 9, represented pushing boundaries with the motto “We believe in humans.” Despite challenges like a hull breach near Cape Horn, his team’s determination highlighted the excitement of sailing. Marco’s bold approach earned him the Spirit of the OGR prize and the Fabio Gallia Trophy by Swan.
Marco is also the author of “The New Prince – Why and How to Startup,” a collection of essays that provide new insights into entrepreneurship, showing strategies leading to success without relying on half-truths. His work reflects his visionary approach, emphasizing innovation and the potential of human creativity.

Founder and CEO, FNDR

James Vincent, founder and CEO of FNDR, is renowned for his storytelling skills. His career has led him to work side by side with some of the most innovative entrepreneurs of recent decades. As CEO of FNDR, James leads a team of the world's most experienced consultants and storytellers, personally engaging in most consultations to offer his vast experience and vision to founders seeking FNDR's guidance. He helps them navigate both the broader context and the daily challenges of managing their businesses. James Vincent spent over ten years at Apple, working alongside Steve Jobs, where he crafted the narrative and communication for disruptive products like the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, App Store, and iPad. During this time, in 2006, he founded Apple's exclusive partner agency, Media Arts Lab, where he also served as CEO. Under his leadership, the agency grew to include over 500 people in 6 offices worldwide. After his tenure at Apple, James Vincent became a key advisor to Airbnb's founder and CEO, Brian Chesky, shaping the user experience globally. Specifically, Vincent provided comprehensive brand development advice for Airbnb and worked internally to develop the minimum viable product (MVP). This effort culminated in the launch of "Experiences" as a significant part of the Trips platform in November 2016. More broadly, his entrepreneurial and storytelling abilities have helped launch successful companies such as Snap, Glossier, Sonos, Farfetch, Gro Intelligence, Patreon, Sorare, and Scale.ai, to name a few. James Vincent is also a guest on Fast Company's podcast "Most Innovative Companies," where he shares his knowledge and experiences with an audience interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Founder, Palo Alto Media Arts Program; Founder, Parenting TRICK

Esther Wojcicki is famous for three things: teaching a high school class that has changed the lives of thousands of kids, inspiring Silicon Valley legends like Steve Jobs, and raising three daughters who have each become famously successful. What do these three accomplishments have in common? They are the result of TRICK, Esther’s secret to raising successful people: Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindness. Simple lessons, but the results are radical. Esther Wojcicki is a leading American educator and journalist. Mother of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Fulbright scholar Janet Wojcicki, and 23&Me founder Anne Wojcicki, as well as a teacher and mentor to hundreds. Esther is widely heralded as the most successful parent and educator in the United States. Esther offers essential lessons for raising, educating, and managing people to their highest potential. She is the author of Moonshots in Education (2014) and bestseller How to Raise Successful People (May, 2019) published in 31 languages. Esther is the Founder of WOJ.Education visit www.woj.education, co founder of University of Oregon Journalistic Learning Initiative, and the CEO of GlobalMoonshotsinEducation.org
She graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Philosophy and English Literature. She also has a Master's Degree in Journalism from the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley, another Master's Degree in Educational Technology from San Jose State University and an Advanced Degree in French History from the University of Paris. She also has a Secondary Teaching Credential from UC Berkeley and an Administration Credential from San Jose State. She also has three honorary doctorate degrees. She taught secondary English, Journalism, Social Studies and Math in her 45-year secondary school teaching career.
She served as Chair of the Board of Creative Commons.org and still serves on their Advisory Committee. She is one of the founders of the Google Teacher Academy and worked on many of the tools used in the Google Classroom. In 2002, she was named a California Teacher of the Year. She also worked with Hewlett Foundation on the Open Education Curriculum and with Carnegie Foundation as a Scholar. She is on the Board of the Exploratorium in San Francisco.
Her passion in life is empowering young people to be innovative and creative. She advises multiple startups and serves as Chief Education Advisor on several. Some of her former students include Lisa Brennan Jobs, Steve Jobs daughter, James Franco, actor; Jeremy Lin, basketball player, Alfonso de los Rios, CEO of Nowports.com, Oliver Weisberg, CEO of Blue Pool Capital in Hong Kong....and many more.