Meet Our Thought Leaders*
Co-founder, New Line Ventures & Ratio Academy. Former Principal at Mayfield Fund, managing $3.5B in assets. Expert in entrepreneurship & tech innovation.
Mastering innovation strategy and management
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Pedram Mokrian
CEO, Innovera.ai; Adjunct Professor, Stanford University
Co-founder, New Line Ventures & Ratio Academy. Former Principal at Mayfield Fund, managing $3.5B in assets. Expert in entrepreneurship & tech innovation.
Mastering innovation strategy and management
SUPERPOWER
Leads innovation strategy; experienced at JAFCO Ventures, JPMorgan, eBay & venture investing. Expert in driving growth through technology.
Scaling innovation globally
SUPERPOWER
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Jeffrey Wong
Change Agent; Innovation Strategist; Former Global Chief Innovation Officer, EY
Leads innovation strategy; experienced at JAFCO Ventures, JPMorgan, eBay & venture investing. Expert in driving growth through technology.
Scaling innovation globally
SUPERPOWER
Workforce innovator, founder of Hitch Works and co-authored The Inside Gig. Guides talent mobility and serves as board chair for the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.
Workforce Transformation
SUPERPOWER
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Kelley Steven-Waiss
Chief Transformation Officer, ServiceNow
Workforce innovator, founder of Hitch Works and co-authored The Inside Gig. Guides talent mobility and serves as board chair for the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.
Workforce Transformation
SUPERPOWER
Engineering expert, ex-VP at Exponent. Founder, Geothermal Solutions. Drives renewable energy & high-tech investments in Poland.
Bridging academia and industry excellence and execution
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Piotr Moncarz, Ph.D.
Consulting Professor, Stanford University School of Engineering
Engineering expert, ex-VP at Exponent. Founder, Geothermal Solutions. Drives renewable energy & high-tech investments in Poland.
Bridging academia and industry excellence and execution
SUPERPOWER
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Expert in launching market-ready products. Former Eightfold president, pioneered AI solutions. Specializes in software commercialization, competing with Salesforce, SAP, Workday, and Oracle.
Building high-growth global businesses
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Kamal Ahluwalia
CEO of Resilinc. Board member of the USIBC (US India business council)
Expert in launching market-ready products. Former Eightfold president, pioneered AI solutions. Specializes in software commercialization, competing with Salesforce, SAP, Workday, and Oracle.
Building high-growth global businesses
SUPERPOWER
SVP Marketing/CMO; Strategic Advisor for Developer Advocacy; Stanford University Lecturer
SVP Marketing/CMO; Strategic Advisor for Developer Advocacy; Stanford University Lecturer
Marketing leader with 25+ years in tech, adjunct lecturer at Stanford. Led strategies for Genesys and Jive Software across the US, Europe, and Asia, focusing on digital media impact.
Revolutionizing marketing strategies
SUPERPOWER
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Lynda Kate Smith
SVP Marketing/CMO; Strategic Advisor for Developer Advocacy; Stanford University Lecturer
Marketing leader with 25+ years in tech, adjunct lecturer at Stanford. Led strategies for Genesys and Jive Software across the US, Europe, and Asia, focusing on digital media impact.
Revolutionizing marketing strategies
SUPERPOWER
Stanford Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Senior Fellow at Woods Institute. Leads Sustainable Development & Incheon Global Campus, focusing on AI & materials science.
Designing sustainable and IMPACT-oriented systems
SUPERPOWER
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Michael Lepech, Ph.D.
Professor & Associate Chair, Professional Programs, Stanford University
Stanford Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Senior Fellow at Woods Institute. Leads Sustainable Development & Incheon Global Campus, focusing on AI & materials science.
Designing sustainable and IMPACT-oriented systems
SUPERPOWER
Kamran advises governments on transitioning to sustainable innovation economies. A serial entrepreneur, he co-founded ten companies, including 4 Unicorn IPOs with a total market cap over $12B.
Scaling innovation globally
SUPERPOWER
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Kamran Elahian
Chairman & Co-Founder, Innovera.ai
Kamran advises governments on transitioning to sustainable innovation economies. A serial entrepreneur, he co-founded ten companies, including 4 Unicorn IPOs with a total market cap over $12B.
Scaling innovation globally
SUPERPOWER
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Harvard instructor, and founder of Cactus International. Specializes in leadership, strategy, and training women entrepreneurs to scale businesses globally.
Entrepreneurship and leadership training
SUPERPOWER
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Areen Shahbari
CEO, Shahbari Consultancy
Harvard instructor, and founder of Cactus International. Specializes in leadership, strategy, and training women entrepreneurs to scale businesses globally.
Entrepreneurship and leadership training
SUPERPOWER
A leading researcher in technology entrepreneurship, focused on how university and institutional environments shape high-growth ventures globally, with work recognized by Schulze, Kauffman, and TUM Foundations.
Scaling innovation globally
SUPERPOWER
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Chuck Eesley
Associate Professor, Stanford University
A leading researcher in technology entrepreneurship, focused on how university and institutional environments shape high-growth ventures globally, with work recognized by Schulze, Kauffman, and TUM Foundations.
Scaling innovation globally
SUPERPOWER
Iconic VC and founder of Draper Associates, investing in Tesla, SpaceX, and Coinbase. Creator of Draper University, inspiring entrepreneurs and launching 350+ companies worldwide.
Empowering startup heroes
SUPERPOWER
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Tim Draper
Founder, Draper Associates
Iconic VC and founder of Draper Associates, investing in Tesla, SpaceX, and Coinbase. Creator of Draper University, inspiring entrepreneurs and launching 350+ companies worldwide.
Empowering startup heroes
SUPERPOWER
Draper Dragon Fund MD, connecting US and China innovation. Over 15 years of high-tech investment experience with a portfolio including Ledger, VeChain, and Telegram. Wharton MBA
Mastering early-stage tech growth
SUPERPOWER
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Andy Tang
Managing Director, Draper Dragon Fund; Partner, Draper Associates
Draper Dragon Fund MD, connecting US and China innovation. Over 15 years of high-tech investment experience with a portfolio including Ledger, VeChain, and Telegram. Wharton MBA
Mastering early-stage tech growth
SUPERPOWER
Stanford professor specializing in organizational behavior. Co-author of Scaling Up Excellence, helping leaders build customer-centric cultures and drive large-scale transformation.
Building customer-focused cultures
SUPERPOWER
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Hayagreeva (Huggy) Rao
Professor, Stanford University; Bestselling Author
Stanford professor specializing in organizational behavior. Co-author of Scaling Up Excellence, helping leaders build customer-centric cultures and drive large-scale transformation.
Building customer-focused cultures
SUPERPOWER
Adjunct Professor, Stanford University; Entrepreneur, Product Designer and Founding Member of Stanford's d.school
Adjunct Professor, Stanford University; Entrepreneur, Product Designer and Founding Member of Stanford's d.school
Innovation leader with 20+ years in startups and corporations. Founded Atlas Snowshoe, led Timbuk2 as CEO, and headed sales at Patagonia. Expert in brand turnarounds and design strategy.
Brand turnaround and innovation leadership
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Perry Klebahn
Adjunct Professor, Stanford University; Entrepreneur, Product Designer and Founding Member of Stanford's d.school
Innovation leader with 20+ years in startups and corporations. Founded Atlas Snowshoe, led Timbuk2 as CEO, and headed sales at Patagonia. Expert in brand turnarounds and design strategy.
Brand turnaround and innovation leadership
SUPERPOWER
AI researcher at Stockholm School of Economics and Stanford, studying its impact on strategy and work. Explores AI-driven digital transformation with a human-centered lens.
Making AI work for people
SUPERPOWER
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Sebastian Krakowski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Stockholm School of Economics
AI researcher at Stockholm School of Economics and Stanford, studying its impact on strategy and work. Explores AI-driven digital transformation with a human-centered lens.
Making AI work for people
SUPERPOWER
Adjunct Professor & Executive Director, Stanford Design Program; Co-Founder, Evans-Burnett LLC
Adjunct Professor & Executive Director, Stanford Design Program; Co-Founder, Evans-Burnett LLC
Expert in human-centered design & systems thinking, blending engineering with creative empathy. Advisor to startups, combining innovation, engineering, and strategic creativity.
Human-centered product and design leader
SUPERPOWER
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William Burnett
Adjunct Professor & Executive Director, Stanford Design Program; Co-Founder, Evans-Burnett LLC
Expert in human-centered design & systems thinking, blending engineering with creative empathy. Advisor to startups, combining innovation, engineering, and strategic creativity.
Human-centered product and design leader
SUPERPOWER
Co-Director at Luminarian Fellowship; Strategist & Advisor Parallax Global Advisors, LLC Former Stanford University Associate Vice Provost
Co-Director at Luminarian Fellowship; Strategist & Advisor Parallax Global Advisors, LLC Former Stanford University Associate Vice Provost
Business leader with 30+ years in global education & innovation. Startup advisor aligning strategy, innovation & education to drive growth and impactful solutions.
Driving commercial innovation within business environments
SUPERPOWER
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Paul Marca
Co-Director at Luminarian Fellowship; Strategist & Advisor Parallax Global Advisors, LLC Former Stanford University Associate Vice Provost
Business leader with 30+ years in global education & innovation. Startup advisor aligning strategy, innovation & education to drive growth and impactful solutions.
Driving commercial innovation within business environments
SUPERPOWER
Founder & pioneer in AI, robotics & education. Created startups like KittyHawk; led innovation at Google (X). Lecturer at Stanford, former founder of Udacity & Google’s self-driving car project.
Innovating the future of AI, robotics, and education
SUPERPOWER
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Sebastian Thrun
Founder, KittyHawk & Udacity; Adjunct Professor, Stanford University
Founder & pioneer in AI, robotics & education. Created startups like KittyHawk; led innovation at Google (X). Lecturer at Stanford, former founder of Udacity & Google’s self-driving car project.
Innovating the future of AI, robotics, and education
SUPERPOWER
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Strategy consultant with 20+ years in education, foundations, and startups. Co-founder and investor in ed-tech and fintech, advising innovation in Europe and the Middle East.
Shaping next-gen startups
SUPERPOWER
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Christiane Mueck, Ph.D.
Strategy Consultant, Advisor & Angel Investor in Edtech/Fintech
Strategy consultant with 20+ years in education, foundations, and startups. Co-founder and investor in ed-tech and fintech, advising innovation in Europe and the Middle East.
Shaping next-gen startups
SUPERPOWER
Expert in business psychology, innovation & leadership. Co-founder of the Stanford Center for Work, STVP & d.school. 35+ years in organizational dynamics & tech-driven change.
Making businesses more productive and human-centered
SUPERPOWER
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Robert Sutton
Professor Emeritus, Stanford University
Expert in business psychology, innovation & leadership. Co-founder of the Stanford Center for Work, STVP & d.school. 35+ years in organizational dynamics & tech-driven change.
Making businesses more productive and human-centered
SUPERPOWER
Professor and leadership expert, author of 16 books on power and management. Advises organizations on navigating career challenges and achieving success.
Career advancement guru
SUPERPOWER
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Jeffrey Pfeffer, Ph.D.
Professor of Organizational Behavior, Stanford University
Professor and leadership expert, author of 16 books on power and management. Advises organizations on navigating career challenges and achieving success.
Career advancement guru
SUPERPOWER
Expert in executive learning & org design. Specializes in strategic leadership programs and organizational innovation. Led initiatives for top firms like Apple, IDEO, Boeing, and Visa.
Strategic learning and organizational design
SUPERPOWER
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Tim Wasserman
CLO, Wasserman Learning Alliance; Board Member & Advisor, Tataj Innovation.
Expert in executive learning & org design. Specializes in strategic leadership programs and organizational innovation. Led initiatives for top firms like Apple, IDEO, Boeing, and Visa.
Strategic learning and organizational design
SUPERPOWER
Visionary founder of Khwarizmi Ventures. Former SIDF CEO and WEF Young Global Leader, holding leadership roles in Saudi Aramco and pioneering innovation initiatives globally.
Strategic visionary in venture and finance
SUPERPOWER
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Ibrahim Almojel
Founding Partner, Khwarizmi Ventures
Visionary founder of Khwarizmi Ventures. Former SIDF CEO and WEF Young Global Leader, holding leadership roles in Saudi Aramco and pioneering innovation initiatives globally.
Strategic visionary in venture and finance
SUPERPOWER
17+ yrs in innovation & digital HR. Leads HCM Cloud at Deloitte, optimizing strategy & systems for top clients.
Human capital management, HR Transformation, Cloud Technology
SUPERPOWER
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Sergey Shchemelev
Managing Director, Deloitte
17+ yrs in innovation & digital HR. Leads HCM Cloud at Deloitte, optimizing strategy & systems for top clients.
Human capital management, HR Transformation, Cloud Technology
SUPERPOWER
Thai business leader, Chairman at B.Grimm, 30+ yrs driving industrial growth & innovation.
Management; Industrial Electrical Engineering
SUPERPOWER
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Harald Link
Chairman, B.Grimm
Thai business leader, Chairman at B.Grimm, 30+ yrs driving industrial growth & innovation.
Management; Industrial Electrical Engineering
SUPERPOWER
President, Royal Academy of Management, Oman. 30+ yrs expert in public sector transformation & leadership policy.
Public sector transformation; strategic visionary; national innovation policy
SUPERPOWER
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Ali Qassim Jawad
President of the Royal Academy of Management
President, Royal Academy of Management, Oman. 30+ yrs expert in public sector transformation & leadership policy.
Public sector transformation; strategic visionary; national innovation policy
SUPERPOWER
Google VP Engineering, leading Gemini AI. Formerly at Meta. PhD from USC, MS from NUS, dual BS from Shanghai Jiao Tong.
ML/AI Engineering; Infrastructure Capacity Planning
SUPERPOWER
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Bill Jia
VP Engineering, Google - Core ML/AI
Google VP Engineering, leading Gemini AI. Formerly at Meta. PhD from USC, MS from NUS, dual BS from Shanghai Jiao Tong.
ML/AI Engineering; Infrastructure Capacity Planning
SUPERPOWER
Founder of Aramex; President, Wamda Group. Serial entrepreneur driving innovation in logistics & regional startup ecosystems across MENA.
Entrepreneurship; Logistics; Venture investments
SUPERPOWER
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Fadi Ghandour
Founder and CEO at Wamda Capital
Founder of Aramex; President, Wamda Group. Serial entrepreneur driving innovation in logistics & regional startup ecosystems across MENA.
Entrepreneurship; Logistics; Venture investments
SUPERPOWER
Professor of Private Equity & Finance, Stanford GSB. Expert in VC, private equity & finance. Leads Venture Capital research & education.
Innovation, Corporate finance, Venture Capital & Private Equity
SUPERPOWER
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Ilya Strebulaev
Professor, Stanford University; Bestselling Author
Professor of Private Equity & Finance, Stanford GSB. Expert in VC, private equity & finance. Leads Venture Capital research & education.
Innovation, Corporate finance, Venture Capital & Private Equity
SUPERPOWER
Co-founder & Managing Principal, GCP Japan. 30+ yrs in cross-border VC, bridging Silicon Valley & Asia. Expert in early-stage tech, BD, and scaling startups.
Early-stage startup investment and growth
SUPERPOWER
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Dr. Koji Osawa
Co-Founder & Managing Principal, GCP Japan; Venture Investor
Co-founder & Managing Principal, GCP Japan. 30+ yrs in cross-border VC, bridging Silicon Valley & Asia. Expert in early-stage tech, BD, and scaling startups.
Early-stage startup investment and growth
SUPERPOWER
Egyptian entrepreneur & VC. As founder of Flat6Labs, transformed Greek Campus into a tech hub. Co-founder, Sawari Ventures. Drives startup growth & innovation across MENA.
Innovation Hub builder
SUPERPOWER
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Ahmed El Alfi
Founder, Flat6Labs
Egyptian entrepreneur & VC. As founder of Flat6Labs, transformed Greek Campus into a tech hub. Co-founder, Sawari Ventures. Drives startup growth & innovation across MENA.
Innovation Hub builder
SUPERPOWER
Founder of Seminis, the largest fruit & vegetable seed company (sold to Monsanto). Led ventures in finance, real estate & tech. Former Chief of Staff to Mexico’s President, key in business & policy.
Innovation in Agriculture
SUPERPOWER
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Alfonso Romo, Sr.
Founder of Seminis; Former Chief of Staff to President of Mexico
Founder of Seminis, the largest fruit & vegetable seed company (sold to Monsanto). Led ventures in finance, real estate & tech. Former Chief of Staff to Mexico’s President, key in business & policy.
Innovation in Agriculture
SUPERPOWER
CEO, Tasukiduna Co., Ltd. ; Former Director, Corporate Vice President, FUJIFILM Corporation
CEO, Tasukiduna Co., Ltd. ; Former Director, Corporate Vice President, FUJIFILM Corporation
Expert in materials science, R&D management, and new business creation, with a vast network of CTOs across Japan to drive innovation and technology commercialization.
Combining wet and dry to create innovation
SUPERPOWER
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Naoto Yanagihara
CEO, Tasukiduna Co., Ltd. ; Former Director, Corporate Vice President, FUJIFILM Corporation
Expert in materials science, R&D management, and new business creation, with a vast network of CTOs across Japan to drive innovation and technology commercialization.
Combining wet and dry to create innovation
SUPERPOWER
*Preliminary list