Adam von Gootkin is a globally recognized innovator and risk-taker who has revolutionized the spirits industry with his unique approach to traditional business principles. Carrying on his family’s entrepreneurial legacy in the spirits industry, which began in the 1800s and continued through the prohibition era and into the present day, von Gootkin is the co-founder and CEO of Highclere Castle Spirits and the co-founder of Highclere Castle Cigar Co. A visionary in every sense of the word, von Gootkin has built an empire on foundations of authenticity and has re-written the rules for how organizations can spark innovation on the path to radical success.

Paco Underhill is one of the era’s leading shopping anthropologists and the founding president of Envirosell, a behavioral research and consultancy firm focused on commercial environments. A pioneer and expert in global consumer behavior and trends, Underhill has spent decades researching shopping patterns. His first book, Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, was an internationally-recognized best-seller and has been published in 28 languages. The success of his three best-selling books and his retail insight makes him a highly sought-after resource, and his columns and editorials have appeared in The New York Times, Money Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. A highly-regarded speaker, Paco has delivered keynote speeches at conferences, universities, and corporations spanning the globe for over a decade. From buying behavior to consumerism in the modern world, his insightful and entertaining presentations have been lauded worldwide.

Barry Nalebuff is the co-founder of Honest Tea and an expert on using game theory to improve business strategy. In fascinating and engaging presentations, he helps audiences use these concepts to create new, effective solutions for their organizations. The author of six books, including best-selling Thinking Strategically and Co-opetition, he uses a diverse array of case studies about game theory to lead audiences to surprising revelations. With his sharp wit and warm sense of humor, he goes beyond the old rules of competition and cooperation to combine the advantages of both.

Stephanie is Owner & CEO of Asutra, where we're passionate about helping people take care of themselves on purpose so they can get the most out of life – what we call active self-care. Asutra offers magnesium-powered remedies for pain relief, sleep and mood, so you can care for yourself well. At Asutra, we’re proud to provide good jobs with career pathways at a living wage with benefits. Asutra is women-owned and women-led; 60% of our team are people of color; and 100% of our staff would recommend Asutra as a great place to work. Stephanie is an enthusiastic board member of Hope Chicago, which sends students and their parents to college debt-free; Very Asian Foundation, which amplifies AANHPI stories; and Naturally Chicago, which creates an ecosystem for natural products companies to thrive. Stephanie was honored to be named to Inc.’s Female Founders 200 list in 2023 and Beacon Award Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021. In her spare time, she’s an avid urban gardener who grows everything from tomatoes to lilacs.

Born and raised in Monterey, California, it was only natural that Alpana Singh would develop a deep-rooted interest in wine. At 26, she passed the final level of the Master Sommelier exam—a feat achieved by only 269 people in the world. She's the first Indian woman and the youngest female ever to do so. She went on to serve as a Sommelier for highly-acclaimed restaurants in Chicago before opening three of her own. In lively, fun, and informative talks, Alpana shares her inspiring story of rising from the daughter of Fijian immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur and TV personality all while navigating a male-dominated profession. She give audiences a glimpse into the life as a Sommelier as she teaches them how to taste wines “blind,” purchase bottles like a professional, and pair with meals for any occasion.