School for Startups Radio

Rohit Arora – CEO/Founder of Biz2Credit and Biz2X
So while you can delegate, you cannot abdicate.You know, that’s very important.
Rohit Arora is the CEO and Co-Founder of Biz2Credit and Biz2X and a recognized expert in small business finance, fintech, and digital lending. Since co-founding Biz2Credit in 2007, he has helped build the company into a major online financing platform for small and midsized businesses. Biz2Credit has arranged more than $8 billion in small business financing and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs access capital. Rohit was named Crain’s New York Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011 for his work in expanding access to small business financing. As CEO of Biz2Credit and Biz2X, Rohit has been at the forefront of applying technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and automated decision making to business lending. Biz2X provides digital lending technology and SaaS solutions to banks and financial institutions, helping lenders modernize loan origination, underwriting, risk assessment, and portfolio management. His work has given him a close view of how small business financing is shifting from traditional bank lending toward faster, technology-driven models, including embedded finance and lending based on real-time business data. Rohit has advised and worked with policymakers and economic leaders on issues involving small business credit and financial technology. He has briefed economists with the President’s Council of Economic Advisors at the White House and has engaged with leaders from organizations including the Federal Reserve, U.S. Small Business Administration, and U.S. Treasury. He also oversees the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index and other research examining credit conditions, lending trends, and the financial health of small businesses. A frequent commentator on entrepreneurship, banking, and small business finance, Rohit has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, American Banker, Entrepreneur, Inc., CNNMoney, MSNBC, and The Washington Post. He has also contributed commentary to Forbes and other business publications and is a member of The Wall Street Journal CEO Council. Rohit regularly speaks at financial technology and banking conferences around the world and works with business and financial organizations in the United States, India, and the Middle East. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Columbia University. The $8 billion figure, 2007 founding date, CEO and co-founder titles, Columbia degree, and Crain’s award are supported by Biz2Credit, Biz2X, and independent professional sources. I also kept the embedded finance angle from Annie’s pitch because it gives the bio a natural connection to what you will actually discuss with him rather than simply listing accomplishments.
Lane Kawaoka – Accredited Investor, Podcaster, Developer & Syndicator of The Wealth Elevator and Author of The Wealth Elevator: Real Estate Syndications, Accredited Investor Banking, and Tax Strategies for First-Gen Millionaires
Ultimately, at the end of the day, you’re trying to find people that you cantrust and build long-term relationships with and that’s why we, you know,we try to educate our investors, we do events.We get to know them personally.
Lane Kawaoka is a real estate investor, developer, syndicator, podcaster, author, and founder of The Wealth Elevator, an education platform and investor community focused on helping accredited and sophisticated investors build wealth through private real estate, alternative investments, and advanced tax strategies. A former engineer, Lane began investing in real estate in 2009 with a rental property in Seattle and gradually built a portfolio of remote rentals before moving into larger commercial real estate syndications. He left his engineering career in 2019 to focus on real estate full time. Since then, Lane has raised more than $230 million from investors and has been involved in the acquisition and control of more than $2.1 billion in real estate assets representing over 10,000 units, including apartment communities, mobile home parks, self storage facilities, hotels, and other commercial properties. He reports that more than $45 million has been distributed back to passive investors. Lane’s approach is shaped by his own experience as a first generation wealth builder who moved from a traditional salaried career into financial independence through real estate and alternative assets. Through The Wealth Elevator podcast, which has produced more than 400 episodes, as well as mastermind groups, investor retreats, educational programs, and his writing, he teaches professionals how to evaluate private investments, conduct better due diligence, use tax strategies more effectively, and create diversified sources of passive income. His emphasis is on helping investors move beyond traditional saving and retirement strategies by understanding the investment approaches commonly used by high net worth individuals and family offices. Lane is the author of The Wealth Elevator: Real Estate Syndications, Accredited Investor Banking, and Tax Strategies for First-Gen Millionaires and The Journey to Simple Passive Cashflow. Before becoming a full time real estate investor, he worked in engineering and project management roles involving construction, infrastructure, public works, aviation facilities, and capital improvement projects. Today, through The Wealth Elevator, Lane combines his engineering background, investment experience, and extensive network of investors to help first generation millionaires pursue financial independence and build long term generational wealth.

Matt Stevens – Founder of The Franchise Guy and Author of Franchising 101, an introductory guide designed to help prospective franchise owners make informed decisions
Yeah, timely, honest communication, beats the vast majority of your competition. I mean, 95% or more.
Matt Stevens, known throughout the industry as “The Franchise Guy,” is a franchise consultant, entrepreneur, author, and trusted advisor who has helped thousands of professionals explore business ownership through franchising. With more than 38 years of experience spanning franchise ownership, franchisor operations, business development, consulting, and executive leadership, Matt is widely recognized as one of the most experienced franchise consultants in the country. Over the course of his career, Matt has owned four businesses, earned Rookie Franchisee of the Year honors, led successful business turnarounds, and served as a board member and partner within a franchise organization valued at more than $2 billion. Today, he works with executives, professionals, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to transition from earning income through a job to building wealth through business ownership. His specialty is helping clients cut through the confusion of thousands of franchise opportunities and identify the few that truly fit their goals, financial resources, skills, lifestyle preferences, and risk tolerance. Matt is an award-winning FranChoice Gold and Century Club member, a Business First Columbus Forty Under 40 honoree, and the author of Franchising 101, an introductory guide designed to help prospective franchise owners make informed decisions. Known for his practical and honest approach, he guides clients through a structured process that emphasizes due diligence, real-world validation, and long-term business fit rather than sales hype. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience as both a business owner and franchise advisor, Matt helps people avoid costly mistakes, ask the right questions, and confidently pursue franchise opportunities that can provide income, scalability, and long-term financial freedom. His mission is simple: help serious candidates make smart ownership decisions and build businesses that support the life they want to live.
Don Kurz – Executive Board Chair at Omelet and Author of Do the Hustle: Life Lessons from Studio 54, the Championship Lacrosse Field, and the Boardroom
I think, all of my breakthroughs came after substantial setbacks.
Don Kurz is an entrepreneur, investor, business leader, and bestselling author of Do the Hustle: Life Lessons from Studio 54, the Championship Lacrosse Field, and the Boardroom. He currently serves as Executive Board Chair and principal shareholder of Omelet, an award winning independent creative agency. Throughout his career, Don has held senior leadership roles across consulting, finance, media, and marketing, including serving as a senior partner at a major international consulting firm, leading a company through a successful Nasdaq public offering, launching a hedge fund, and advising organizations on strategy, mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds, and business growth. A lifelong leader on and off the field, Don was a member of Johns Hopkins University’s first NCAA championship lacrosse team in 1974 before injuries ended his playing career. He later served for 12 years on the university’s Board of Trustees and was named Trustee Emeritus for life in recognition of his exceptional service. He also received the Johns Hopkins Heritage Award and established the Kurz Family Scholarship to support students with financial need. Beyond business and higher education, Don has taught as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, mentored student athletes, and served numerous nonprofit organizations. Earlier in life, he was an Arthur Murray dance instructor and a regular at New York City’s legendary Studio 54, experiences that inspired many of the leadership lessons shared in his book. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and his MBA from Columbia University.

Tim Madden – CEO and Co-Founder of Executive Career Upgrades and Author of Start Then Optimize: Start Where You Are, Optimize What You Have, Achieve What You Dream
Tim Madden is the CEO and Co-Founder of Executive Career Upgrades, a career development and leadership organization that helps senior professionals advance their careers while helping companies strengthen hiring, onboarding, and leadership development. Under his leadership, Executive Career Upgrades has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for two consecutive years and was named the 48th fastest-growing veteran-owned business in the United States. Through his work, Tim has helped thousands of directors, vice presidents, executives, and other professionals develop stronger career strategies, secure leadership positions, and increase their impact within their organizations. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Tim spent more than two decades serving in the U.S. Army, including as an officer, where recruiting and retention became an important part of his career. He was recognized as one of the country’s top recruiters before transitioning into corporate recruiting and executive placement. His experience working with large companies gave him insight into both sides of the employment equation: how organizations identify and develop exceptional talent, and how accomplished professionals position themselves for the right opportunities. Those lessons became the foundation for his approach at Executive Career Upgrades, which emphasizes disciplined systems, strategic career planning, effective leadership, and continuous professional development. Tim is the bestselling author of Discipline Equals Dream Job and Start Then Optimize: Start Where You Are, Optimize What You Have, Achieve What You Dream. His philosophy encourages people to begin taking meaningful action with the resources and circumstances they have today, then continually improve their approach as they move toward larger goals. He is also the host of The Career Report, a leadership and career podcast with an international audience, and his insights have appeared in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Newsweek, Business Insider, and other publications. Through his writing, speaking, coaching, and work at Executive Career Upgrades, Tim focuses on helping professionals and organizations build stronger leaders, smarter talent systems, and careers that create greater income, impact, and long-term opportunity.
Dr. Lee Bowes – CEO of America Works Network of Companies
 
Dr. Lee Bowes is the CEO of the America Works Network of Companies, one of the nation’s leading workforce development organizations dedicated to helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and achieve long term economic independence. Since becoming CEO in 1987, she has helped expand America Works into a nationally recognized organization that has served millions of job seekers through innovative, performance based employment programs focused on welfare recipients, individuals with disabilities, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Under her leadership, the organization has partnered with government agencies and employers across the country to deliver measurable employment outcomes and lasting workforce success. A nationally recognized expert on workforce development, welfare to work, and reentry employment policy, Dr. Bowes has spent decades advocating for practical solutions that connect underserved populations with meaningful careers. Alongside her husband, Peter Cove, she played an influential role in advancing the national Work First movement during the 1990s, helping shape workforce policies embraced across the political spectrum. She has served as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she taught human resource management, social policy, and innovative management techniques. Dr. Bowes is also the author of No One Need Apply: Getting and Keeping the Best Workers and has written extensively on employment, workforce policy, and economic opportunity.

Lisa Somers – CEO of Marketplace SuperHeroes
Thinking you’re making progress, but you’re actually just busy.
Lisa Somers is the CEO of Marketplace SuperHeroes, an online education and training company that helps entrepreneurs build and grow businesses selling physical products through Amazon and international marketplaces. Lisa joined Marketplace SuperHeroes in 2016 and developed her understanding of the company from the ground up, working across its departments and gaining firsthand experience in the systems, marketing, customer experience, partnerships, and operations required to scale an online education business. That broad operational background ultimately led her into the CEO role, where she now oversees the company’s strategy, growth, and international team. Under Lisa’s leadership, Marketplace SuperHeroes has grown into a fully remote global business that has generated more than $35 million in revenue. Her particular areas of expertise include affiliate marketing, joint venture partnerships, developing high converting offers, team leadership, and creating the operational structure needed to support sustainable growth. Rather than viewing scaling simply as increasing sales, Lisa focuses on building the partnerships, processes, offers, and people that allow a company to grow without losing control of its operations or customer experience. As the sister and business partner of Marketplace SuperHeroes co-founder Stephen Somers, Lisa brings a different perspective to the entrepreneurial story behind the company. While Marketplace SuperHeroes is best known for teaching people how to build Amazon based businesses, Lisa’s work provides an inside look at the business behind the education, including how to manage a distributed international team, create offers that convert, develop mutually beneficial partnerships, and evolve as a leader as a company becomes larger and more complex. Her experience offers entrepreneurs practical lessons about moving from working inside every part of a business to leading the people and systems responsible for its continued growth.Lawrence Dunning – Broker at the Dunning Team – Fulton Grace Realty
I live my life for myself. I live vicariously through myself. I don’t careabout trying to impress people that don’t matter in the end.I just care about my inner circle.
Lawrence Dunning is a real estate broker with the Dunning Team at Fulton Grace Realty, a real estate investor, entrepreneur, author, and former financial markets professional. Born and raised in London, England, he earned both an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of Exeter. Before entering real estate full time, Lawrence built a career as a fixed income derivatives trader, working in London, Amsterdam, Wall Street, and eventually at the Chicago Board of Trade. He later founded his own trading company, giving him extensive experience analyzing markets, managing risk, and evaluating investment opportunities. Lawrence began investing in multi-unit real estate in 2009 and became a full-time broker in 2014. Since then, he has sold more than a quarter of a billion dollars in real estate investment properties and built his own diversified portfolio of commercial and residential real estate. He has consistently ranked among the top 1 percent of real estate agents in Chicago and specializes in helping investors identify turnkey, cash flow positive properties, particularly multi-unit buildings. His investment philosophy emphasizes cash flow, disciplined analysis, leverage, appreciation, tax advantages, and using real estate as a long-term vehicle for building wealth. He is also the author of The Forgotten Asset Class: Low Risk, High Reward, Real Estate Investing, which shares his approach to property backed investing. Outside real estate, Lawrence has pursued an equally ambitious athletic career. He is a former professional MMA fighter and Chicago Golden Gloves boxing champion, as well as a third degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who continues to train and teach. He has also completed marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Lawrence created Enter the Lionheart, a platform exploring the intersection of excellence, athletics, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Whether working with investors, competing in athletics, or discussing entrepreneurship, his approach is grounded in discipline, calculated risk, continuous improvement, and building sustainable long-term results.
 

Jaclyn Zukerman Delory – CEO of NEXTonSCENE MEDIA
Sometimes talking about uncomfortable conversations is what’sreally going to make you skyrocket in terms of visibility.
Jaclyn Zukerman Delory is the Founder and CEO of Next On Scene Media, a full-service public relations and media company that helps entrepreneurs, executives, experts, and brands become seen, heard, understood, and remembered. A publicist, media producer, visibility strategist, speaker, and host, Jaclyn has more than a decade of experience helping accomplished people turn complex ideas and multidimensional careers into clear, memorable messages that attract media attention, clients, partnerships, speaking opportunities, and other forms of meaningful visibility. Her approach combines public relations, social media, storytelling, brand strategy, media production, and audience engagement to help clients build recognition that lasts. Jaclyn launched the Next On Scene platform in 2014 with the Next On Scene Podcast, followed by Next On Scene Magazine in 2015. The company has since evolved into a full-service media organization offering PR strategy, media placements, production, amplification, and its own podcast and magazine platforms. Today, Jaclyn leads the company’s 360° Visibility approach, bringing strategy, storytelling, and amplification together to help clients bridge the gap between simply receiving exposure and creating genuine business opportunities. Her work has helped hundreds of business owners secure media coverage, grow their platforms, and establish themselves as thought leaders. An award-winning publicist and visibility expert, Jaclyn has been featured by outlets including CBS, NBC, FOX, and USA Today and has interviewed celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs, and recognized experts through her media platforms. At the center of her work is the belief that even extraordinary work can be overlooked when people do not clearly understand why it matters. Through Next On Scene Media, Jaclyn helps clients identify what they want to be known for, sharpen their public message, strengthen their credibility, and turn visibility into relationships and opportunities that support long-term growth.
Rahim Hirji – Founder & Managing Director of SuperSkills and Author of SuperSkills: The Seven Human Skills for the Age of AI
If you become more human in a very AI or robotic or machine driven world,you will stand out because the people who don’t will become like robots
Rahim Hirji is the Founder and Managing Director of SuperSkills and the author of SuperSkills: The Seven Human Skills for the Age of AI. His work focuses on how individuals and organizations can remain effective and distinctly human as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes work, leadership, and decision making. Drawing on seven years of research involving more than 200 organizations across more than 30 countries, Rahim identifies seven critical human capabilities for the AI era: curiosity, change readiness, big picture thinking, empathy, global adaptability, principled innovation, and an augmented mindset. Central to his work is the distinction between “drift,” where people gradually surrender judgment and decision making to technology, and “design,” where leaders make deliberate choices about how AI is used while keeping human judgment firmly in control. Rahim brings approximately 25 years of experience spanning education technology, publishing, international growth, strategy, and AI enabled learning. He co-founded EtonX, an online skills education venture that was acquired by Eton College, and later led international growth at Quizlet, helping expand the learning platform globally. Earlier in his career, he worked in corporate development at HarperCollins during the publishing industry’s transition from print to digital, and he later served as Executive Vice President at Avallain, where his responsibilities included strategy, growth, mergers and acquisitions, and AI enabled learning. These experiences have given him a firsthand perspective on how organizations and careers must adapt during periods of technological disruption. Today, through SuperSkills, Rahim works with boards, executives, investors, and leadership teams on AI strategy, human capability, organizational design, growth, and transformation. He is also the creator of Box of Amazing, a weekly briefing on AI, innovation, technology, and human capability that has been published for a decade and reaches more than 25,000 readers. Through his research, writing, speaking, and advisory work, Rahim argues that succeeding in the age of AI will require more than mastering new technology. It will depend on strengthening the judgment, adaptability, curiosity, empathy, and other human capabilities that allow people to use increasingly powerful technology with intention and purpose.

Ryan Gibson – Co-Founder and President of Spartan Investment Group
 
Ryan Gibson is the Co-Founder and President of Spartan Investment Group, a commercial real estate investment firm with a significant focus on self-storage. As President and Chief Investment Officer, Ryan helps lead the firm’s investment strategy, capital formation, investor relations, acquisitions, and portfolio growth. He has organized hundreds of millions of dollars in private equity and capital for Spartan’s projects, helping the company expand its self-storage portfolio across markets throughout the United States. His real estate experience includes self-storage, residential development, infill development, finance, sales, marketing, investor relations, real estate syndication, and navigating complex property transactions. Before building his career in real estate, Ryan became a commercial airline pilot, an experience that continues to influence the way he approaches investing and leadership. He applies aviation principles such as disciplined checklists, risk assessment, redundancy, go or no-go decision making, and preparation for adverse scenarios to evaluating investments, markets, and business decisions. This risk focused philosophy has become an important part of his approach to protecting investor capital while pursuing long-term growth opportunities. Ryan is also the co-host of the Passive Income Pilots podcast, where he helps pilots and other busy professionals understand private real estate investing and strategies for building passive income. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, with concentrations in Marketing, Management, and Advertising. Through Spartan Investment Group and his educational work, Ryan focuses on connecting individual investors with commercial real estate opportunities while emphasizing disciplined underwriting, thoughtful risk management, and sustainable wealth creation. 
August Biniaz – Co-Founder & CEO of CPI Capital
 
August Biniaz is the Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital, where he leads the firm’s investment strategy, acquisitions, and asset management activities. With more than 15 years of real estate experience, he has played a key role in acquiring and managing more than $225 million in multifamily and build-to-rent assets, helping investors access institutional-quality real estate opportunities throughout the United States. August began his real estate career as an agent before founding White Rhino Developments, a company that specialized in building custom and speculative homes throughout British Columbia. His experience as both a developer and investor has given him a practical understanding of every stage of the real estate investment process, from acquisition and development to operations and asset management. At CPI Capital, August works closely with family offices, institutional investors, and private capital partners to expand the firm’s investment platform and deliver strong long-term results. In 2025, he completed the Private Equity and Venture Capital Executive Program at Harvard Business School, further strengthening his expertise in capital formation, investment strategy, and deal structuring. August is also the host of the Real Estate Investing Demystified podcast, where he educates investors on commercial real estate, market trends, and wealth-building strategies. As a speaker, educator, and industry thought leader, he is committed to helping both new and experienced investors better understand the opportunities and challenges within the multifamily real estate market.

Dr. Mik Kersten – Founder of Lymyt.ai and Author of Output to Outcome: An Operating Model for the Age of AI
This is around us managing AI, not AI managing us, right?
Dr. Mik Kersten is a technology strategist, researcher, entrepreneur, and founder of Lymyt.ai whose work focuses on helping organizations move from measuring activity and output to delivering meaningful business outcomes. He is the creator of the Flow Framework and author of the bestselling Project to Product and Output to Outcome: An Operating Model for the Age of AI. His latest work examines the AI productivity paradox and argues that organizations must rethink traditional management structures, organizational design, and measures of productivity to realize the full value of artificial intelligence. Rather than simply using AI to generate more work faster, Mik helps leaders design outcome driven operating models that connect technology, human judgment, and accountability to measurable business results. Mik began his career as a research scientist at Xerox PARC, where he was part of the team that developed the first aspect oriented programming language. He later earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia, where his research pioneered the integration of software development and collaboration tools. That work became the foundation for Tasktop, the technology company he founded and led as CEO until its acquisition by Planview in 2022. He subsequently served as Planview’s Chief Technology Officer and has continued his work as an independent technology strategist and researcher. Mik’s research and leadership helped shape the field of Value Stream Management, and before turning his attention to organizational flow and operating models, he wrote more than one million lines of open source code that remain in use today. Through Lymyt.ai and his research, writing, and advisory work, Mik now focuses on how businesses can reorganize around outcomes, adapt their leadership models for the age of AI, and use rapidly advancing technology in a way that amplifies rather than replaces human judgment.
Brad Poulos – Board Member at Bros Before Lows, Founder of Confident Operator, and Author of Most Problems Solve Themselves: And 51 Other Ideas Worth Stealing From The Small Business Professor
Not every decision has to be perfect. And that, you know, if you want toperfect, if you want to perfect every decision, there’s a downside to that.It means you have to touch every decision.
Brad Poulos is an entrepreneur, educator, author, and business advisor with more than 40 years of experience building, leading, and advising companies across the telecommunications, software, manufacturing, and cannabis industries. He is the founder of Confident Operator, where he helps small and midsized business owners replace chaos with practical operating systems that improve decision making, profitability, and long term growth. Drawing on decades of real world experience, Brad specializes in business strategy, customer development, organizational design, and helping entrepreneurs build companies that are focused, scalable, and built to last. Brad teaches entrepreneurship, strategy, and small business management at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he also launched Canada’s first Cannabis Essentials course series. Earlier in his career, he spent 15 years in corporate leadership before co founding mmWave Technologies, helping grow the company into one of Canada’s fastest growing businesses and leading it through a public listing. He has also served as an investor, board member, and mentor to numerous startups and growth companies. Brad is the author of The Small Business Operator’s Manual and Most Problems Solve Themselves, and co author of From Pitch to Payoff. Through his teaching, writing, consulting, and speaking, he continues to help entrepreneurs make better decisions, build stronger businesses, and create sustainable success.

Matt Diamante – Founder of HeyTony and Author of Get Found: The No-Fluff Guide to Ranking Higher and Becoming Your Customers’ First Choice
So a lot of people think of SEO as gaming an algorithm or showing upin the blue links or whatever that might be, but I want people to startreframing how they think about SEO where they’re not gaming thealgorithm. They’re trying to be genuinely helpful to people.
Matt Diamante is an SEO strategist, entrepreneur, educator, and the founder of HeyTony, a digital marketing agency that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs become more visible online. With nearly 15 years of experience in search engine optimization and content strategy, Matt has built HeyTony from the ground up into a successful agency serving clients across a wide range of industries. His approach focuses on creating useful content, earning customer trust, and generating sustainable organic growth without depending entirely on paid advertising. Matt is known for simplifying complex marketing concepts and turning them into practical strategies that business owners can understand and apply. He has taught SEO and digital marketing to more than 30,000 students and built an online audience of hundreds of thousands by consistently sharing straightforward tutorials and actionable advice. His work helps entrepreneurs understand how customers search, create content that answers real questions, and position their businesses as the clear choice within their markets. Matt is the bestselling author of Get Found: The No-Fluff Guide to Ranking Higher and Becoming Your Customers’ First Choice. The book offers business owners a practical roadmap for using SEO to attract customers, establish authority, and create predictable demand. Through HeyTony, his educational programs, and his online content, Matt continues to help businesses adapt to changes in Google, artificial intelligence, and the evolving world of online search.
Ken Polk – CEO of Arlington Family Offices and Author of Built on Purpose: Applying the 3 Laws of Purpose to Business, Living, and Giving
Your footprint is your blueprint for your legacy. And everybody talksabout legacy. I want to leave a legacy. And I say, sir, ma’am, that soundsgreat, but your character, your footprint, is your blueprint for that.Make no mistake.
Ken Polk is the founder and CEO of Arlington Family Offices, one of the nation’s leading multi family wealth management firms, serving fewer than 100 families with more than $17 billion in assets under stewardship. He founded Arlington at just 25 years old and has grown the firm through organic growth and a purpose driven approach to wealth management, without outside capital. A Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, Ken has dedicated his career to helping business owners and multigenerational families build lasting legacies by aligning financial success with purpose, stewardship, and long term impact. Ken is the author of Built on Purpose: Applying the 3 Laws of Purpose to Business, Living, and Giving and The Spirit of Wealth Preservation: Leverage Your Finite Life for the Infinite Good. Through his writing and advisory work, he encourages entrepreneurs and family business leaders to build organizations that can thrive beyond their founders by transferring purpose, values, and leadership to future generations. Before founding Arlington Family Offices in 1998, Ken worked as a tax consultant for Deloitte. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Lipscomb University and lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Ashley, and their four children.

Kevin Trudeau – Founder of Global Information Network and Author of “Your Wish is Your Command; How to Manifest Your Desires – The Missing Secrets”, Host Of The Kevin Trudeau Show: Limitless on YouTube
Kevin Trudeau is a multi billion dollar businessman, #1 New York Times best selling author, marketing genius, health expert, former insider, and master of “energy” and spiritual enlightenment. He has been called the greatest success coach in the world and the world‘s best mentor. Kevin Trudeau’s books have sold an estimated 100 million copies worldwide. Kevin is an entrepreneur, marketer, speaker, and the author of numerous bestselling books, including Your Wish is Your Command: How to Manifest Your Desires. Over the course of his career, he has built businesses spanning direct marketing, publishing, media, education, and consumer products, with his books reaching millions of readers around the world. Best known for his work on personal development, wealth creation, and the principles of manifestation, Kevin has spent decades teaching strategies for achieving success, financial independence, and personal growth. Throughout his career, Kevin has been both widely recognized and highly controversial. He has been a prominent advocate for alternative health, consumer rights, and free speech, while also facing significant legal challenges related to the marketing of some of his products and business practices. Drawing on his experiences as an entrepreneur, author, and public speaker, he continues to share his perspectives on mindset, business, marketing, leadership, and the power of belief. Through his books, courses, and speaking engagements, Kevin encourages audiences to challenge conventional thinking, pursue their goals with confidence, and take ownership of creating the life they want.Juan Munoz – Team Leader of eXp Realty Luxury
Juan Munoz is a former NASA engineer, licensed lender, and Team Leader of The Apollo Group at eXp Realty Luxury, one of the top performing real estate teams in Colorado. After earning a master’s degree while working full time and building a successful engineering career with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program, NASA’s International Space Station program, and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser project, Juan made the bold decision to leave aerospace and pursue entrepreneurship through real estate. His transition was driven by a desire to build a business centered on trust, meaningful relationships, and creating a lasting impact in the lives of his clients. Today, Juan is recognized as one of Colorado’s top producing Realtors, leading a team ranked number one at eXp Realty in Colorado and among the top five nationally. Known for his systems driven approach, exceptional communication, and service first mindset, he has earned more than 130 five star client reviews by treating every transaction with integrity and personal attention. His engineering background, combined with his passion for helping people achieve financial freedom through homeownership and real estate investing, has made him a sought after speaker on entrepreneurship, career reinvention, leadership, and relationship driven business. Whether working with first time buyers, seasoned investors, or luxury clients, Juan believes success comes from doing the right thing, building lasting trust, and delivering value that extends well beyond the closing table.

Ron Schneidermann – CEO of Acely
You know, the single biggest trap in front of all of us is lack of focus.
Ron Schneidermann is the CEO of Acely, an AI powered education technology company transforming SAT and ACT preparation through personalized learning. A seasoned entrepreneur, startup executive, and advisor, he has built a career scaling venture backed and private equity backed technology companies into market leaders by combining product innovation, data driven growth, and operational excellence. Before joining Acely, Ron served as CEO of AllTrails, where he led the company from a small startup into the world’s leading outdoor exploration platform. Under his leadership, AllTrails achieved rapid global growth, reached profitability, secured major growth investments, and earned Apple’s 2023 App of the Year recognition. Earlier in his career, he co founded Liftopia, the first digital marketplace and software platform for ski lift ticket bookings, growing the business from a startup concept into a $60 million company. He also led growth initiatives at Yelp Reservations, further expanding his expertise in digital marketplaces and consumer technology. Ron is recognized for his leadership in go to market strategy, product led growth, brand development, international expansion, and building high performing teams. A strong advocate for sustainable leadership, he encourages workplace cultures that balance innovation, creativity, and employee well being. At Acely, he is leading the company’s mission to help students unlock their academic potential through AI driven learning while preparing the next generation for success.Jay Godfrey – Co-Founder of Nushama
The joy that I was after, the freedom that I was after wasn’t somethingthat I could get from the outside through a celebrity wearing one ofmy dresses or a retailer buying my collection.
Jay Godfrey is the co founder of Nushama, a wellness company advancing physician guided psychedelic therapy to help individuals address stress, trauma, anxiety, and personal growth through innovative mental health treatments. Inspired by his own journey after discovering that traditional talk therapy did not fully address the root causes of his stress, Jay immersed himself in the study of psychedelic medicine, working with physicians, researchers, and thought leaders to better understand its potential. That experience led him to help build Nushama with the goal of expanding safe, evidence informed treatment options while supporting the future of psychedelic care. Before entering the wellness industry, Jay spent 15 years as founder and CEO of the internationally recognized Jay Godfrey fashion brand. His designs were sold through leading retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale’s, and were worn by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Viola Davis, Ashley Graham, and Laverne Cox. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking at Citigroup. Jay is a graduate of McGill University and Parsons School of Design and brings together experience in entrepreneurship, fashion, finance, and wellness to help shape the future of mental health innovation.