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.
Superpower
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.
Superpower
Mastering innovation strategy and management
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Expert in AI-human interaction & ubiquitous computing. Positions at Stanford, Cornell Tech & UW. Former head of Intel Labs Seattle.
Superpower
Innovating human-centered AI
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James Landay
Stanford Professor & Executive Co-Director, AI & Human-Centered Computing
Expert in AI-human interaction & ubiquitous computing. Positions at Stanford, Cornell Tech & UW. Former head of Intel Labs Seattle.
Superpower
Innovating human-centered AI
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Leads innovation strategy; experienced at JAFCO Ventures, JPMorgan, eBay & venture investing. Expert in driving growth through technology.
Superpower
Scaling innovation globally
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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.
Superpower
Scaling innovation globally
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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.
Superpower
Workforce Transformation
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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.
Superpower
Workforce Transformation
Engineering expert, ex-VP at Exponent. Founder, Geothermal Solutions. Drives renewable energy & high-tech investments in Poland.
Superpower
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.
Superpower
Bridging academia and industry excellence and execution
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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.
Superpower
Building high-growth global businesses
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Kamal Ahluwalia
President, Ikigai Labs; Board Member, USIBC
Expert in launching market-ready products. Former Eightfold president, pioneered AI solutions. Specializes in software commercialization, competing with Salesforce, SAP, Workday, and Oracle.
Superpower
Building high-growth global businesses
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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.
Superpower
Revolutionizing marketing strategies
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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.
Superpower
Revolutionizing marketing strategies
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Stanford Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Senior Fellow at Woods Institute. Leads Sustainable Development & Incheon Global Campus, focusing on AI & materials science.
Superpower
Designing sustainable and IMPACT-oriented systems
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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.
Superpower
Designing sustainable and IMPACT-oriented systems
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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.
Superpower
Scaling innovation globally
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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.
Superpower
Scaling innovation globally
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AI visionary, co-founder of Google Brain and Baidu AI leader. Democratized education via online platforms, making high-quality learning accessible to millions globally.
Superpower
Making AI accessible and applicable to all
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Andrew Ng
Founder, DeepLearning.AI; CEO, Landing AI; Adjunct Professor, Stanford University
AI visionary, co-founder of Google Brain and Baidu AI leader. Democratized education via online platforms, making high-quality learning accessible to millions globally.
Superpower
Making AI accessible and applicable to all
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Harvard instructor, and founder of Cactus International. Specializes in leadership, strategy, and training women entrepreneurs to scale businesses globally.
Superpower
Entrepreneurship and leadership training
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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.
Superpower
Entrepreneurship and leadership training
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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.
Superpower
Scaling innovation globally
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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.
Superpower
Scaling innovation globally
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Iconic VC and founder of Draper Associates, investing in Tesla, SpaceX, and Coinbase. Creator of Draper University, inspiring entrepreneurs and launching 350+ companies worldwide.
Superpower
Empowering startup heroes
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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.
Superpower
Empowering startup heroes
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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
Superpower
Mastering early-stage tech growth
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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
Superpower
Mastering early-stage tech growth
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Stanford professor specializing in organizational behavior. Co-author of Scaling Up Excellence, helping leaders build customer-centric cultures and drive large-scale transformation.
Superpower
Building customer-focused cultures
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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.
Superpower
Building customer-focused cultures
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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.
Superpower
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.
Superpower
Brand turnaround and innovation leadership
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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.
Superpower
Making AI work for people
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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.
Superpower
Making AI work for people
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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.
Superpower
Human-centered product and design leader
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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.
Superpower
Human-centered product and design leader
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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.
Superpower
Driving commercial innovation within business environments
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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.
Superpower
Driving commercial innovation within business environments
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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.
Superpower
Innovating the future of AI, robotics, and education
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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.
Superpower
Innovating the future of AI, robotics, and education
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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.
Superpower
Shaping next-gen startups
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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.
Superpower
Shaping next-gen startups
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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.
Superpower
Making businesses more productive and human-centered
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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.
Superpower
Making businesses more productive and human-centered
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Professor and leadership expert, author of 16 books on power and management. Advises organizations on navigating career challenges and achieving success.
Superpower
Career advancement guru
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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.
Superpower
Career advancement guru
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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.
Superpower
Strategic learning and organizational design
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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.
Superpower
Strategic learning and organizational design
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Visionary founder of Khwarizmi Ventures. Former SIDF CEO and WEF Young Global Leader, holding leadership roles in Saudi Aramco and pioneering innovation initiatives globally.
Superpower
Strategic visionary in venture and finance
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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.
Superpower
Strategic visionary in venture and finance
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MIT Professor, Director of the Statistics and Data Science Center. Co-founder of Celect, a predictive analytics startup acquired by Nike.
Superpower
Innovating data-driven solutions
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Devavrat Shah
CEO, Ikigai Labs; Professor at MIT
MIT Professor, Director of the Statistics and Data Science Center. Co-founder of Celect, a predictive analytics startup acquired by Nike.
Superpower
Innovating data-driven solutions
17+ yrs in innovation & digital HR. Leads HCM Cloud at Deloitte, optimizing strategy & systems for top clients.
Superpower
Human capital management, HR Transformation, Cloud Technology
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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.
Superpower
Human capital management, HR Transformation, Cloud Technology
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Thai business leader, Chairman at B.Grimm, 30+ yrs driving industrial growth & innovation.
Superpower
Management; Industrial Electrical Engineering
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Harald Link
Chairman, B.Grimm
Thai business leader, Chairman at B.Grimm, 30+ yrs driving industrial growth & innovation.
Superpower
Management; Industrial Electrical Engineering
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President, Royal Academy of Management, Oman. 30+ yrs expert in public sector transformation & leadership policy.
Superpower
Public sector transformation; strategic visionary; national innovation policy
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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.
Superpower
Public sector transformation; strategic visionary; national innovation policy
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Google VP Engineering, leading Gemini AI. Formerly at Meta. PhD from USC, MS from NUS, dual BS from Shanghai Jiao Tong.
Superpower
ML/AI Engineering; Infrastructure Capacity Planning
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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.
Superpower
ML/AI Engineering; Infrastructure Capacity Planning
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Founder of Aramex; President, Wamda Group. Serial entrepreneur driving innovation in logistics & regional startup ecosystems across MENA.
Superpower
Entrepreneurship; Logistics; Venture investments
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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.
Superpower
Entrepreneurship; Logistics; Venture investments
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Professor of Private Equity & Finance, Stanford GSB. Expert in VC, private equity & finance. Leads Venture Capital research & education.
Superpower
Innovation, Corporate finance, Venture Capital & Private Equity
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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.
Superpower
Innovation, Corporate finance, Venture Capital & Private Equity
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.
Superpower
Early-stage startup investment and growth
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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.
Superpower
Early-stage startup investment and growth
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Egyptian entrepreneur & VC. As founder of Flat6Labs, transformed Greek Campus into a tech hub. Co-founder, Sawari Ventures. Drives startup growth & innovation across MENA.
Superpower
Innovation Hub builder
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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.
Superpower
Innovation Hub builder
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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.
Superpower
Innovation in Agriculture
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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.
Superpower
Innovation in Agriculture
*Preliminary list
