Leonard Brody has been called “a controversial leader of the new world order” and was recently named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. He is a highly respected entrepreneur, venture capitalist, best- selling author and a 2 time Emmy nominated media visionary. He has helped in raising millions of dollars for startup companies, been through one of the largest internet IPOs in history and has been involved in the building, financing and/or sale of five companies to date. In 2004, Leonard co-founded, and was CEO of, NowPublic.com which is a pioneer in the field of citizen journalism. Leonard also acts as an advisor to venture capital funds in the US, Europe and Asia.

Angie Bastian, entrepreneur, co-founder, and namesake of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP, took a kernel of an idea and popped it into one of the fastest growing brands of natural popcorn. She and husband Dan founded their snack company in their Mankato, MN garage in 2001 as a means of creating a college fund for their children. Their gluten free, non-GMO, whole grain popcorn is proudly sold in natural food, grocery, club and mass retail outlets nationwide with a product presence in Canada, South Korea, Peru, Japan, the Caribbean and Mexico. The company is constantly innovating and is one of the fastest growing and most successful popcorn brands in the market today. Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP is loved by fans as an empowered, spirited brand that represents authentic, real food that delivers on the attributes of clean, transparent labeling and great taste experience.

Introducing the business world to the next big thing, Jack Uldrich reveals how future trends and paradigm-shifters will change business, and how “learning to unlearn” can help organizations prepare for the future and capitalize on these periods of profound change. A best-selling author, technology guru, and global futurist, Uldrich is a leading voice on nanotechnology and forward-thinking leadership. Jack knows how to read the future landscape to help audiences set goals and position themselves to take advantage of emerging trends and developments—including blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI), the impact of the rise of autonomous vehicles, and more.

Erik Peterson sits at the intersection of global economics, geopolitical changes, and future trends. His riveting presentations are eye-opening glimpses into how we can and should address some of the most challenging global issues of our time. He maps the key long-range trends transforming the opportunities and risks and traces the simultaneous and significant global shifts in the areas of population, resources, technology, economy, security, and geopolitics. He untangles these complex trends for audiences and examines the real-world implications—both present and future.

Dr. Michael S. Piwowar served as a Commissioner at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from August 15, 2013 to July 6, 2018. Previously, Dr. Piwowar was the Republican chief economist for the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where he was the lead Republican economist on the four SEC-related titles of the Dodd-Frank Act and the JOBS Act. He also worked on a number of important SEC-related oversight issues under the jurisdiction of the Committee, such as securities, over-the-counter derivatives, investor protection, market structure, and capital formation. During the financial crisis and its immediate aftermath, Dr. Piwowar served in a one-year fixed-term position at the White House as a senior economist at the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama Administrations. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Dr. Piwowar is an economic outlook and financial policy keynote speaker, addressing fiscal trends, investments, and regulation.

Ryan Estis is a well-known Business Performance Expert helping companies, leaders and sellers more effectively connect to their two most important audiences: employees and customers. He has established himself as one of the premier speakers in the business field. Mr. Estis is regarded as one of the Top 100 Keynote Speakers by Meeting & Conventions Magazine, and has offered his services to companies including AT&T, Mayo Clinic, CDW, Cabela's, Giant Eagle, Hewitt, Microsoft, Medtronic, Equifax and BlueCross BlueShield.

Peter Singer is a best-selling author and a senior fellow and the director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at the Brookings Institution. A noted expert on technology and war, he looks at cyber security issues now affect us all, whether you are in business, politics, military, or law. Filled with engaging stories and illustrative anecdotes, his work is structured around the key question areas of cyberspace and its security: how it all works, why it all matters, and what we can do.

Ken Schmidt is the legendary former director of communications strategy for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history, and his vision helped transform Harley into one of the world’s most dominant brands. He is widely known as a provocative and engaging thought leader. Funny and energetic, he shares stories of how to compete with weapons stronger than price, build a fanatically vocal customer base, create a passionately loyal corporate culture, and develop leaders who inspire and motivate.