President, Alibaba.com

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson is Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), a global investment firm focused on delivering high-quality products and services to ethnically diverse and underserved communities. Transitioning from a Hall of Fame basketball career to business, Johnson has applied his leadership and competitive drive to build a successful platform spanning investments, ownership, and philanthropy. A major force in sports, Johnson became co-owner of the Washington Commanders in 2023 and is a long-time co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. His portfolio also includes the Los Angeles Sparks, Los Angeles Football Club, Washington Spirit, and Team Liquid. Johnson has expanded into infrastructure, finance, and technology through partnerships like MJE-Loop Capital. He holds controlling interests in EquiTrust and SodexoMAGIC and invests in companies like Skydio. Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025 from Joe Biden. He continues to drive business growth and community impact worldwide.

Marcus Lemonis is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, investor, and television host known for transforming businesses and building enduring brands. Widely regarded as the “Business Turnaround King,” he has spent decades investing in companies across retail, manufacturing, hospitality, and consumer services, helping leaders drive growth through his proven philosophy centered on People, Process, and Product. Marcus serves as Executive Chairman and CEO of Beyond, helping lead the reinvention and long-term strategy of iconic consumer brands including BuyBuy Baby, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Overstock. His work focuses on restoring customer trust, modernizing operations, and positioning legacy businesses for the future of commerce. Previously, he spent more than two decades leading one of North America’s largest outdoor lifestyle retailers and membership organizations, scaling operations and building one of the industry’s most recognized customer loyalty platforms. Millions first came to know Marcus through CNBC’s The Profit, where he invested his own money to help struggling entrepreneurs reinvent their companies, followed by HGTV’s The Renovator. In summer 2025, he premiered his newest FOX Business and FOX Nation series, The Fixer, offering an unfiltered look at high-stakes decision making as he helps business owners navigate pivotal turning points. A dynamic and candid keynote speaker, Marcus delivers practical, real-world insights on leadership, accountability, culture, and growth drawn from decades operating and investing in businesses across industries. Know Your Numbers. Know Your Business. Know Yourself.

Everette Taylor is the CEO of Kickstarter, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform for creative projects. Under Everette’s leadership, Kickstarter was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies for the company’s global impact in the creator economy. Most recently Everette was named Ad Age 40 under 40 for revamping Kickstarter’s brand identity and the turnaround growth of the company. He was also recognized on the Time 100 Next list as an emerging leader who’s shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership. As a founder, Everette started his first company, EZ Events, at age 19, and it was successfully acquired in 2011. In 2013 he established ET Enterprises, a diverse portfolio of companies including PopSocial, MilliSense, and ArtX. As CEO of PopSocial, he was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018 for his innovation in the social media marketing space and serving multiple Fortune 500 clients.

Melonie Carnegie is CEO of Growvana, a leading product commercialization platform helping brands break through operational ceilings and scale profitably across digital marketplaces. With more than 25 years of leadership experience across industrial distribution, MRO, and automotive sectors — including roles at Lennox International, Grainger, and Ford — Melonie brings deep operational rigor and strategic vision to ecommerce acceleration. Under her leadership, Rebelution empowers brands with capital, infrastructure, and execution support to achieve 3–5x growth through a unique partnership model aligned with client success.

Shiza Shahid is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Our Place, the design-led kitchenware brand on a mission to bring people together through the power of home cooking. Founded in 2019, Our Place creates innovative, beautiful products for the modern, global kitchen and has earned more than 250 patents. Prior to Our Place, Shiza co-founded the Malala Fund with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and served its founding CEO, championing girls’ education around the world. She later founded NOW Ventures, an angel fund investing in mission-driven startups, with a focus on female founders. Shiza has been recognized by TIME as one of its “30 Under 30 People Changing the World,” Forbes “30 Under 30,” Inc.’s Female Founders, and the World Economic Forum. She is a frequent speaker at global forums including the World Economic Forum, Milken Global Conference, Aspen Ideas Festival, Fortune Most Powerful Women, and Forbes Women.

David Rogier is the founder of MasterClass, the streaming platform that has redefined online education by bringing the world's greatest minds directly to millions of learners worldwide. With more than 200 instructors — from Bob Iger and Serena Williams to Gordon Ramsay and Martin Scorsese — MasterClass has built an unmatched library of Emmy-nominated, Oscar-nominated, and James Beard Award-winning content. Named to Fortune’s "40 Under 40" and recognized as one of Variety's Hollywood New Leaders, Rogier has raised over $500 million in venture capital to build MasterClass into a global brand. When David Rogier takes the stage, he combines his experience as a high-stakes Silicon Valley CEO with a conversational, "behind-the-scenes" style. He is a popular keynote speaker for corporate leadership teams, entrepreneurs, and university audiences seeking to navigate the seismic shift of the AI revolution. His insights are battle-tested, leading MasterClass, the education redefining company, through an AI/digital transformation that delivered productivity gains of over 20%. David bridges the gap between abstract technology, creativity, and tactical strategy, showing audiences how AI empowers generalists to perform specialist-level work while reshaping the very nature of career development and education.

Poznick brings more than 25 years of experience in the television industry to Idea Maze Entertainment. He spent the last decade as President of MGM Alternative Television, where he led the development and production of unscripted content for every major network and streaming platform. Under his leadership, MGM produced thousands of hours of popular, and award-winning series, including The Voice (NBC), Survivor (CBS), Shark Tank (ABC), and American Gladiators (Prime Video) along with The Real Housewives of Orange County, Beverly Hills, and Rhode Island (Bravo). He also oversaw several divisions within MGM, including Evolution Media, Big Fish Entertainment, the documentary division, and the global formats team. As part of MGM’s Office of the CEO, he contributed to the strategic vision and growth of the company. Poznick has been featured on numerous industry lists, starting with The Hollywood Reporter’s Reality Power List (2010), and more recently, Variety’s Reality TV Power Players (2023) and Top 45 Reality TV Producers (2024). Prior to joining MGM, Poznick founded ZOO Productionsin 1994 and built it into a prolific independent production company, which was acquired by UK’s All3Media in 2008, and he exited in 2013. He’s known for leading with laughter and has especially enjoyed producing shows with some of the greatest comedic talent of our time, including Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, Chelsea Handler, Kevin Hart, Ken Jeong, and many more. He is passionate about fostering curiosity, compassion, and courage in the industry and beyond, and supports various causes and organizations, such as Starts with Us / Builders and American Corporate Partners. In 2026, Poznick founded Idea Maze Entertainment — a production and advisory company developing original formats, counseling networks and studios on unscripted strategy, and bringing 25+ years of lessons to the keynote stage.

James Dumoulin is the founder of School of Hard Knocks, the world’s most-viewed business media brand, reaching more than 26 million followers across social platforms. By interviewing over 60 billionaires and many of the world’s top entrepreneurs, athletes, and entertainers, he has built an eight-figure media company while helping millions of young people learn the principles behind success. James speaks on entrepreneurship, personal branding, networking, and the mindset required to create opportunities in today’s world.

Thomas Unterseher co-founded One World Direct, a leading fulfillment and logistics company, when e-commerce was still in its infancy. He has spent more than 30 years pioneering innovations in order fulfillment, warehouse automation, and technology. A longtime entrepreneur, he now leads the development of next-generation fulfillment solutions, including personalized-to-consumer (P2C) fulfillment.

Rayner Turley is a seasoned business development and partnerships leader with extensive experience across the fintech, e-commerce, and technology sectors. He currently leads Tech Partnerships, working with leading brands to scale their invoicing and B2B BNPL programs through modern payment infrastructure. Prior to Balance, he drove enterprise partnerships at Yotpo and held leadership roles in GTM strategy and business development at startups including Supply NY and Glue Inc., which he co-founded. Earlier in his career, Rayner advised corporate clients at NASDAQ, building deep expertise in financial markets and technology. He holds a degree in Finance and International Business from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Sanjay Saraf is the Head of Product for Fiserv Merchant Services, where he leads global strategy and product innovation across Clover (SMB), Mid-Market solutions, ISV partnerships, and Enterprise merchant services. In this role, he oversees the end-to-end product portfolio that powers payments, commerce, and financial services for millions of businesses worldwide—from local small merchants to the largest global enterprises. With deep expertise in payments, embedded payments & finance, and digital platforms, Sanjay is responsible for shaping Fiserv’s product vision, driving market expansion, and building integrated solutions that serve diverse client segments. Prior to joining Fiserv, Sanjay held senior leadership product and technology roles at J.P. Morgan, Western Union, fintech startup Yapstone, and other leading companies, where he drove innovation across payments, compliance, and technology on a global scale. Sanjay has also served on several private and public company boards.

2x Shark Tank Founder; Co-Founder, Amplify

Christian Reed is a lifelong builder and maker. After graduating from MIT with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then serving in the US Army as an Engineer Officer, Christian led the development of new 3D printers at Formlabs. It is there he met his cofounder, Kostas, and together began REEKON Tools in 2020. Today, he serves as the CEO of REEKON Tools, based in Boston, a global leader in construction technology tools and software focused on upgraded data capture and organization for construction projects big and small. REEKON is a profitable, bootstrapped, company with 100,000s tools and software users in the field.

Kent Yoshimura is Co-Founder and CEO of Neuro, an Inc. 5000 functional gum and mints brand revolutionizing the consumable supplement space since 2015. Neuro has become a fast-growing leader in health and wellness, and Kent was recently named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year. A lifelong creative and builder, he brings a unique blend of brand, product, and storytelling expertise to building Neuro’s next chapter.

Mike McClary is the CEO of Amazing.com and a recognized expert in e-commerce and artificial intelligence. Through Amazing, he has helped more than 39,000 people build and grow their own e-commerce brands and businesses. Beyond his work as an educator, Mike is an active operator; he manages his own outdoor-products brand and applies the strategies he teaches to real-world business challenges every day. He has also developed AI tools and software used by thousands of Amazing members to research products, create marketing assets, and make smarter business decisions. Additionally, Mike co-hosts a weekly radio segment, "AI with Mike," helping people navigate and utilize AI in their personal and professional lives.

Chris Koerner is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and content creator who has built, acquired, and scaled dozens of businesses across industries including e-commerce, real estate, AI, and services. Through his newsletter, podcast, and social platforms (The Koerner Office), he shares practical, data-driven insights on entrepreneurship, business growth, and investing with millions of founders and aspiring operators.

Evan Williams is a Senior Director for Alibaba International Global Intellectual Property Enforcement, based in Washington, D.C. Evan works with public and private IPR stakeholders to eliminate online trafficking of counterfeit goods on Alibaba's e-commerce platforms and to pursue counterfeiters offline.

Xinghao joined Alibaba in January 2015, and is a Director of the Global IP Enforcement team. He works with international brands and retail partners, industry associations, government regulators, law enforcement and other organizations to advance Alibaba Group’s IP protection efforts. Before joining Alibaba, he was an IP attorney at HSML in Minneapolis and focused on helping US companies protect their IP rights in the US as well as in China.

Jasmine Xu is a Senior Manager of Alibaba International's Global IP Enforcement team, based in Hangzhou, China. In this role, Jasmine collaborates with external stakeholders, including government agencies, industry associations, enforcement bodies, and rights holders of all sizes, to promote understanding of Alibaba's IP protection policies and assist in resolving IP-related matters.

Michael Benarde is a skilled startup development executive as the Co-Founder and President of NightCap. NightCap creates innovative tools for personal protection and is home to the original drink spiking prevention scrunchie he created alongside his sister, Shirah Benarde. Michael, just 21-years-old at the time, came home from college on summer break and saw the prototype of his sister’s drink spiking prevention scrunchie sitting on a table. As someone who had been living on a college campus for four years, he understood how prevalent this problem was — and is. Knowing that there was no product on the market that had been adopted at scale, Michael saw huge potential for NightCap due to its unbeatable convenience and reusability. Together, Michael and Shirah took action and spent the next six months working to bring NightCap from concept to reality. Michael appeared on Season 12 of Shark Tank with NightCap, alongside his business partner and sister, Shirah Benarde, where they landed a deal with Lori Greiner in record-breaking time. Today, the company continues to grow beyond its $10 million in lifetime sales. He is a proud graduate of Florida State University’s MBA program and holds a bachelor’s in Political Science from FSU as well. His diverse background has enabled him to excel in the entrepreneurial world through crafting creative marketing techniques for the new era of social media and building unique strategic partnerships.

Tia Ellis is a former broker turned retail strategist who has helped brands sell over $200M worth of products into major U.S. retailers. She runs Wildflower Insight, an education and retail strategy company that teaches product founders to pitch retail buyers directly - without brokers or middlemen. She speaks on global stages including Gulfood, ECRM, and RangeMe events, and has coached hundreds of product founders, including brands that have scaled into eight figures. Today she runs her own company on AI agents, using them to do the work that used to require a team. This session will focus on showing solopreneurs how to use AI to expand beyond Amazon and Walmart.com... growing online while also attracting the retail buyers who write large in-store orders.

Stephen Cheung serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and its subsidiary, the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA). In this dual role, Stephen leads the organization’s vision to build a “Coalition of One – Economy for All,” advancing inclusive economic growth and opportunity across Los Angeles County. Since assuming leadership in 2023, Stephen has led a transformational evolution of LAEDC’s mission, structure, and regional impact. Under his direction, LAEDC has implemented a dynamic five-pillar economic development strategy focused on business assistance, workforce development, international trade, strategic engagement, and actionable research. This integrated approach is helping to strengthen and grow key industry clusters, including bioscience, aerospace and space commercialization, sports & entertainment, advanced transportation, clean technology, and trade & logistics—while supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and quality job creation throughout the region. Stephen’s leadership has positioned LAEDC as a regional convener and implementation partner focused on solving complex economic challenges through collaboration. He has helped advance major initiatives including California Jobs First, Together for LA, and a growing portfolio of affinity economic reports highlighting the contributions and opportunities within Los Angeles County’s diverse communities. Through these efforts, Stephen has championed cross-sector partnerships that connect public, private, academic, non-profit, philanthropic, labor, and community stakeholders to drive long-term economic mobility and resilience. Over more than a decade with LAEDC and WTCLA, Stephen has played a central role in expanding the organization’s regional and global reach, strengthening international partnerships, supporting small business growth, and securing resources to advance equitable economic development strategies for Los Angeles County. Stephen’s contributions to the region have earned widespread recognition. In 2024, he received the prestigious Crystal Eagle Award from Coro Southern California and was named Regional Champion of the Year by the National Small Business Advocacy Council for his advocacy on behalf of small businesses and economic mobility. Prior to joining LAEDC, Stephen served in several senior public sector leadership roles for the City of Los Angeles under Mayors Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa. As Secretary General and Managing Director of International Trade and Foreign Affairs, he oversaw policy and programs related to the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports, international affairs, global trade, and clean technology initiatives. Concurrently, he served as Director of International Trade for the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. Stephen began his career in the nonprofit sector as a Children’s Advocate at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence and later as a Community Advocate at a legal aid organization. A proud Angeleno and product of the public education system, Stephen holds a Master of Social Welfare and a Bachelor of Psychobiology from University of California, Los Angeles. His personal journey—from working as a busboy and garment worker to representing Los Angeles on the global stage—continues to shape his belief in the power of opportunity and the importance of building an inclusive and resilient economy that benefits every Angeleno.

Gracey has been a full-time content creator for over six years, with a community of 1.5 million followers and more than $20M in sales driven through influencer and affiliate marketing. She works closely with both Amazon and TikTok Shop as a consultant, helping brands of all sizes have more success working with creators. She's also an award-winning livestreamer and co-founder of SparkTok, a TikTok Shop agency, which gives her a unique perspective on both ends of the creator to commerce pipeline.

- Founder of TopTier League & TopTier Summit - 8-figure eCommerce entrepreneur - Founding member of Sapientia AI - Consultant to 10+ eight- and nine-figure eCommerce brands

Vincenzo Toscano is the Founder and CEO of Ecomcy, a UK-based Amazon Advanced Partner agency having worked with 1,000+ brands managing +500USD and having worked with global brands such as Disney, Brita, and Nickelodeon, with a team of 80+ specialists spanning Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop across the US, UK, and Europe. He is also co-founder of Acelera, a US-based AI consulting venture,. Vincenzo brings deep expertise in Amazon advertising, including AI, PPC, DSP, and AMC, and works across Italian, English, and Spanish with clients and partners globally.

For 10+ years, Corey has dedicated himself to pioneering the growth of private label brands on Amazon, employing a repertoire of strategic marketing and brand development tactics. After a successful acquisition of his founder-led agency buffaBRAND in 2025 - he moved to become the VP of Client Growth at Kwontified. Corey has been at the forefront in eCommerce, collaborating with renowned global brands to craft and implement intricate omnichannel go-to-market strategies that consistently propel eCommerce growth to new heights. Corey's expertise lies in leveraging unique and comprehensive brand strategies to cultivate enduringly successful products. Renowned for his innovative brand management techniques, Corey has garnered a reputation as both a problem-solver and a strategic visionary in the industry.

Sourcing expert behind 2,500+ products for the NBA, Olympic Games and United Nations.

Jenn Morris is the founder of Ship Happens, the supply chain media brand people actually stop scrolling for. She's spent 23+ years in trucking and freight brokerage across North America, enough to know where all the dirt, and still runs a freight brokerage of her own while building Ship Happens into a home for logistics education, unfiltered industry commentary, and her Gorgeous Girls in Supply Chain interview series. A loud advocate for women in logistics and a full-time digital nomad running the whole thing from a new time zone every few weeks, she's made a career out of taking dense, technical supply chain content and turning it into something operators actually want to read, watch and engage with.

Susie Levitt is an award-winning entrepreneur and retail growth strategist with 15+ years of experience building and scaling fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands. She co-founded CitySlips at 21, growing the company to $1 million in first-year revenue and distribution across Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, and 1,000+ retailers. Susie later led wholesale growth for Lacoste, Ted Baker London, Tretorn, and more. An Alibaba Newpreneur Finalist and Forbes Top 40 Under 40 honoree, she now helps founders turn bold ideas into profitable, scalable businesses.

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is a serial entrepreneur, investor, author, and Co-Founder of LumiNicole, a next-generation automated retail marketplace reimagining how consumers discover and access beauty, wellness, and lifestyle products in high-traffic environments. With LumiNicole, Kendra is building at the intersection of technology, physical retail, consumer behavior, and entrepreneurship, using data and intelligent retail infrastructure to create new pathways for brands to reach consumers. Kendra is also Co-Creator and Executive Producer of Test Invest Media, where she and her partners are building next-generation media properties that connect founders, brands, investors, and consumers at the intersection of storytelling, commerce, and investment. Through television, digital media, and experiential platforms, Test & Invest Media is reimagining how emerging businesses build community, drive commerce, gain visibility, and access capital. A recognized leader in entrepreneurship and innovation, Kendra has spent more than two decades building, investing in, and advising companies while championing the next generation of founders. She is the best-selling author of The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand and the creator of Diary of a Founder, where she shares candid insights on the realities of building and scaling companies. Kendra is also the host of Business of the Beat, named a Top 100 Business Podcast, featuring conversations with founders, executives, investors, and industry leaders shaping the future of business. Across her ventures and platforms, Kendra is exploring and building at the convergence of AI, entrepreneurship, media, retail innovation, consumer behavior, and the future of commerce—creating new ways for founders and brands to connect with consumers, tell their stories, build community, and access opportunities for growth and capital.

Harrison started CoolTowel at the age of 13 with a prototype he made with his grandmother after overheating during sport. It is now an established business having sold over 100,000 units in the UK. Now at 16 he is developing the business and entering new markets such as USA, Latin America and Australasia and wants CoolTowel to become a global brand helping everyone beat the heat.

Carmine Denisco is an entrepreneur, inventor, author, podcaster, investor, and product development expert who serves as President of the United Inventors Association (UIA), one of the nation's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting independent inventors and innovators. In this role, he leads the organization's mission of providing education, mentorship, industry connections, and ethical guidance to help inventors successfully bring new products to market. In addition to his leadership at the UIA, Denisco is the founder of EarMark Sourcing, a product development and global manufacturing company that assists inventors and entrepreneurs in transforming ideas into commercially viable products. Through his work with EarMark Sourcing, he has helped bring a wide variety of consumer products to market by providing expertise in design, sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and supply chain management.

John Lawson is a seasoned entrepreneur, e-commerce authority, and AI expert with over two decades of digital expertise. From high school dropout to industry leader, he's generated 8-figure sales in e-commerce and digital products. A captivating speaker who's presented in 13 countries on stages from South by Southwest to the White House, John has helped hundreds of thousands of business owners. John is Verizon's Digital Ready AI instructor, a 2-time bestselling author, and business consultant, he makes complex concepts simple and actionable.

Dionne Ellison is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VULIWEAR®, a woman-owned elevated fashion eyewear and lifestyle brand built on her signature LENS FIRST® design philosophy. Dionne designs with intention, functionality and style, driven by a mission to raise awareness around eye health and giving back to charity organizations close to her heart. Since launching on National Sunglasses Day June 27, 2017, VULI has grown into a multi-channel wholesale and DTC brand — available on Nordstrom Marketplace, Faire, and ESSENCE/WeLoveUs marketplace — with press features in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar UK, Glamour BG and fashion editorials with celebrities and professional athletes. She is also a self-published suspense thriller author of three novels, including Mind Games.

Sergio Tache is Founder & CEO of Dossier, a next-generation perfume house making French-crafted fragrance accessible without luxury markups or celebrity-driven marketing. He launched Dossier Impressions — designer-inspired scents priced 70–85% less — before expanding into Originals and Home. Under his leadership, Dossier has grown internationally across Mexico, Canada, and Australia and expanded into major retail channels including Amazon and Walmart.

Dr. Jason Xu has more than a decade of experience in the logistics industry, including 12 years specializing in the North American logistics market. Throughout his career, he has held key management positions at several well-known companies, including China Southern Airlines Group, SF Express, Bondex Logistics, and other leading logistics enterprises. His previous roles have included positions in the President’s Office, Head of Overseas Marketing, General Manager of North American Operations, Operations Director, and Chief Operating Officer (COO). He has extensive expertise in air and ocean freight, cross-border import and export express services, overseas warehousing, transshipment, and direct-to-consumer fulfillment. He also brings strong capabilities in building new businesses from the ground up, end-to-end operational management, and team leadership. He currently serves as General Manager of North America at TWTH Group.

Kat Weaver is an exited founder, angel investor, and founder of Power to Pitch. She built and scaled her first company out of a college dorm room to a successful exit. After winning 22 of 23 pitch competitions she entered, Kat realized founders weren't losing because of bad ideas, they were losing because they didn't know how to communicate their value. She founded Power to Pitch and her methods have helped founders raise over $100M in grants and venture capital by transforming how they pitch, present, and position for funding.

Head of Strategic Partnerships, Alibaba.com

Zechariah Thomas is the Founder and CEO of Swift Hockey, a Canadian hockey equipment company focused on making the game more accessible by delivering high-performance sticks at a fair and transparent price. A former competitive hockey player, Zechariah founded Swift Hockey after experiencing firsthand the financial barriers many families face in the sport. Zechariah gained national recognition following his appearance on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, where he secured an investment for Swift Hockey. His entrepreneurial journey has since been widely covered by major media outlets including NHL.com, Forbes (30 Under 30 – Sports), The Athletic, CBC Sports, CTV National News, CityNews Toronto, Global News, and the Jamaica Observer, among many others. Under his leadership, Swift Hockey has grown rapidly while remaining deeply committed to affordability, youth empowerment, representation in sport, and community impact. Zechariah is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue entrepreneurship, leadership, and opportunities beyond traditional paths.

Rob Cooper is President of Solgaard, a design-driven travel brand known for combining innovative products with sustainable impact. A veteran of the travel and consumer goods industry, Rob previously served as CEO of Travelpro and President of TUMI, and held senior leadership roles at Samsonite, where he helped lead the company’s acquisition of TUMI. With more than 30 years of experience, he brings deep expertise in brand building, omnichannel growth, operational transformation, and scaling premium consumer businesses.

Founder & CEO, Solgaard

Greg Rollett is on a mission to help new and emerging DTC and eCommerce brands go from Undiscovered To Unstoppable. He is an Emmy Award Winning Producer and Best-Selling Author who has been creating content online for more than 20 years to help entrepreneurs, makers and creators to block out distractions and be more ambitious. His shows, content and documentaries have been seen on Amazon, Entrepreneur, Inc, Forbes, Fox and countless other media outlets and channels. Greg is currently the President at Grommet, the leading product discovery platform that connects makers, inventors and small business owners with more than 3 million shoppers who are looking to discover what’s next. Greg is also a dad of 3 boys, and the co-founder of the Brolletts, a media and product company in the baseball space that he gets to build with his 13-year-old son, Colten.

GM, Alibaba.com Americas

Yiran has been with Alibaba.com for six years and currently serves as the business owner for Pay Later for Business, leading the strategy, growth, and expansion of Alibaba.com’s B2B financing solution.

Sophie leads Slope's lending partnership programs, including Alibaba Pay Later for Business. Prior to joining Slope, she served as Vice President at Guggenheim Securities, advising enterprises on financing and balance sheet strategies.

Jacob Osborne is the Founder and CEO of Global Parts Supply LLC, the company behind the Supplying Demand brand. He leads the company’s sourcing, product development, e-commerce, and international supply-chain strategy, with a focus on aftermarket appliance and HVAC replacement parts. Jacob enjoys working with new people, building strong global partnerships, and learning new ways to expand the company’s footprint and reach customers in different markets around the world. He works closely with manufacturing and business partners across China and other international markets to develop new products, improve sourcing efficiencies, and continue growing Supplying Demand across major e-commerce channels.

Steven Blustein is a serial entrepreneur and innovation leader who has built and scaled consumer brands from concept to market. He is the co-founder of Product&Brands, PrideBites Pet Products, PICKLETILE™, and Gembah Inc. With deep expertise in product development, global manufacturing, and supply-chain strategy, Steven has owned and operated businesses that have designed, manufactured, and sold millions of products worldwide, placing products in more than 3,000 retail locations. In 2016, Steven appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank and secured an investment from Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec. He is a recipient of the pet industry’s “40 Under 40” award and led both PrideBites and Gembah to earn spots on the Inc. 5000 list. PICKLETILE™ and Product&Brands are on track to become his third and fourth Inc. 5000 companies.

Brian Moran has spent two decades building companies that help business owners start, grow, and thrive. As Founder/CEO of Brian Moran & Associates and Small Business Edge, he guides entrepreneurs past obstacles toward opportunity, reaching 100,000+ business owners through workshops and a podcast heard in 100+ countries, with partners across six continents. A former Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine executive, Brian is a master storyteller, mentor, and connector who speaks every dialect of the SMB world.

Gloria Zhu is a San Francisco-based investor and founder at Bearcat, with investments including MrBeast, Nas.io, Jubilee, Goop Kitchen, DESTREE, and Anthropic. Gloria draws from her institutional investing background and firsthand experience launching products: she started her career in fintech by helping build small-business lending products at Square, managed $1B investment portfolios at BlackRock, and managed investments for the most influential entrepreneurs at ICONIQ Capital and J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Gloria is working on a consumer-facing brand, HUES (takehues.com), launching 2027.

Tim Robertson joined DHL in 2002 and has built a distinguished global career across strategy, operations, commercial leadership, and digital transformation. He began his DHL journey as Global Vice President of Strategic Development, before progressing through a series of increasingly senior leadership roles across regions and functions. These roles included District Manager for the Los Angeles station, Vice President of Business Development for the EMEA region and Vice President of Marketing & Sales for the United States. Tim subsequently held several key leadership positions within DHL Global Forwarding Americas, including Head of Air Freight, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Head of Customer Service and Business Process Organization, where he played a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, customer experience, and process standardization. He was later appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DHL Global Forwarding Americas, leading more than 7,500 employees across 16 countries. Effective December 1, 2025, Tim was appointed Executive Vice President (EVP) Accelerated Digitalization for DHL Global Forwarding. In this role, his focus is simple – to deliver customer value, faster and at scale by making “digital by default” real across our business. Tim holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Aditi is a distinguished leader known for her expertise in business turnarounds, cultural transformations, and organizational redesigns. As the Chief Executive Officer of DHL Global Forwarding in Greater China, she drives overall performance and strategic direction, overseeing operations for over 2,000 employees across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Her extensive skills in P&L management and product management empower her to optimize financial performance and implement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Aditi’s customer-centric approach ensures the needs of DHL Global Forwarding’s diverse clientele are prioritized. Having lived and worked in ten countries, she brings a unique global perspective to her leadership. Based in Shanghai, China, Aditi adeptly navigates the complexities of the Greater China market, leveraging her international experience to foster innovation and drive results, positioning DHL Global Forwarding as a leader in the logistics industry.

Director of Logistics Network Development, Alibaba.com

Julia Menez is Co-Founder of COZY, an ultra-clean snack brand built on real food comfort and known for its Butterbars, made with eight real ingredients and kept cold for freshness. COZY began in her kitchen, where she made the first bars for her husband, Russell, during his stage IV cancer treatment. Julia leads marketing and partnerships, and has put COZY on shelves across Southern California grocery and specialty retail. She brings a blend of creative direction and channel strategy to building a brand people trust before they read the label.

Russell Menez is Co-Founder of COZY, an ultra-clean snack brand built on real food comfort and known for its Butterbars, made with eight real ingredients and kept cold for freshness. He leads operations and production, overseeing sourcing, manufacturing, and the cold chain that carries every product from production to shelf. Russell co-founded COZY with his wife, Julia, after she began making bars at home during his stage IV cancer treatment, based on a simple standard: you should be able to read every ingredient on the label and know exactly what you're eating.

Tim has founded and exited multiple ecommerce brands, founded multiple boutique service companies for ecommerce sellers, and worked in multiple Executive roles in SaaS and Fintech. Tim also developed some of the most widely-recognized free education series for ecommerce sellers in the world. He has worked with brands and companies in over 75 countries, and specializes in branding, GTM, and cross-border business growth.

Founder of Nula Labs, a vertically integrated fidget and focus device brand. A former Shopify account executive, he bootstrapped Nula from prototype to a live D2C, wholesale, and promotional business - with partners including Lululemon, Pinterest, and STRONG Pilates. He builds AI-driven tooling into nearly every part of the company, from sourcing to, infrastructure development to creative production.

Marcel Macedo has been building companies for 18 years, starting at 17 with a group buying marketplace in Brazil that he later sold. He went on to found Bulldesk, a CRM and marketing automation platform he scaled for seven years before selling it. Today he leads Marcel Macedo Labs, operating DTC supplement brands in the US and Oria Meds, a telehealth company. He builds AI driven systems across acquisition, sales recovery and customer operations, running US brands from Brazil.

Crystal Peters is a beauty industry executive, brand strategist and two-time founder with 20+ years of experience building and scaling culturally relevant brands. As Head of Brand at Crowned Skin, she is helping lead the brand's next stage of growth across product innovation, retail expansion, strategic partnerships and experiential marketing, positioning Crowned Skin as an emerging leader in men's grooming and one of the breakout brands within the Alibaba.com ecosystem. Throughout her career, Crystal has helped shape and scale brands including amika, BLK/OPL, Fashion Fair, tgin and Pattern Beauty, with experience spanning emerging concepts to nine-figure beauty businesses and global retail expansion. Her work has reached consumers through major retailers including Sephora, Walmart, Amazon and CVS, as well as markets across London, Paris, Canada and the Caribbean. Crystal is a Hampton University graduate who built much of her career in Chicago and New York, Crystal brings the perspective of both a founder and seasoned beauty operator who understands what it takes to move a brand from idea to market to scale.

Head of US Marketing, Alibaba.com

Founder, Parcel Air

Lana Hout is an award-winning Business Broker, M&A Advisor, and AI strategist with over a decade of experience advising small and mid-sized businesses across diverse industries. She leverages artificial intelligence to elevate how businesses operate, integrating AI directly into strategy, marketing, and operations. With a practical focus on applied AI, Lana applies automation, custom GPTs, and prompt engineering across business initiatives to simplify complex processes and increase efficiency. She takes a results-driven approach to artificial intelligence—using AI to streamline operations and improve business performance. Her expertise in AI is grounded in applied learning and certification through Google. Earlier in her career, Lana held roles at Duff & Phelps, Deloitte, and NBCUniversal, where she gained experience in valuation, business development, and corporate strategy. She has received 16+ national awards, including Top Sales Associate and Top Sales Team Nationwide, and is a two-time Los Angeles Business Journal Woman of Influence in Finance honoree. Lana co-hosts and executive produces The AI Chicks Podcast, the first AI podcast co-hosted by women and powered by artificial intelligence, now more than 60 episodes deep. The series is a 2024 Webby honoreeand a Feedspot Top 100 AI Podcast. Through AI Ready course, Lana applies her business and AI expertise to help students build practical understanding of artificial intelligence and its real-world applications.

Aisha Corpas Wynn is an Emmy-nominated Executive Producer and one of Hollywood’s leading AI Strategists with over a decade of experience working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, media, and creative technology. Her work focuses on how AI can enhance content creation and production experiences across platforms. Certified in Artificial Intelligence and trained through programs by IBM, Google, and Harvard University, Aisha brings hands-on expertise in AI integration, prompt engineering, web design, and UX/UI. She specializes in applying AI to creative workflows and media strategy, helping translate emerging technology into practical, real-world applications. Aisha has worked with some of the biggest actors, musicians, and influencers in the world. She has also developed and produced chart-topping television shows, podcasts, and films for major platforms including HBO, Showtime, Roku, Tubi, Viacom, and iHeart, and has held senior roles at MACRO Studios, Stoked Bros Media, and celebrity Anthony Anderson’s Big Ant Productions. Aisha co-hosts and executive produces The AI Chicks Podcast, the first AI podcast co-hosted by women and powered by artificial intelligence, now more than 60 episodes deep. The series is a 2024 Webby honoree and a Feedspot Top 100 AI Podcast. Through AI Ready course, she brings her experience in creative development, production, and applied AI into an educational setting, helping students understand how artificial intelligence influences all the content they consume as well as the world around them.

Founder & CEO, Clean Saint LLC

Andrew Brindle is an e-commerce and business development leader with experience overseeing billions of dollars in revenue across major e-commerce channels. He currently serves as VP of Business Development at BellNova, leading strategic partnerships, new client acquisition, and go-to-market strategy. Previously, Andrew held senior roles at TikTok, where he launched and scaled new TikTok Shop categories and managed strategic brand partnerships. Prior to TikTok, he was a Senior Customer Success Manager at Amazon, managing high-value e-commerce businesses and helping brands drive growth at scale.

Amy Wees is the CEO of Amazing at Home E-Commerce Consulting and a successful entrepreneur who built and sold a 7-figure e-commerce brand. As an AI thought leader and patent holder, Amy has helped thousands of brands launch successful private label products using the same strategies that led to her own profitable exit. She’s the co-founder of EVOLATAM, the only multi-category tradeshow in Latin America, and leads popular sourcing events like Amazing in China and The Mexico Trip, connecting entrepreneurs with global sourcing opportunities. Amy combines 18 years of military experience in strategic planning with proven e-commerce expertise, having successfully navigated the complete journey from concept to profitable exit. She now focuses entirely on helping other entrepreneurs achieve similar success through her consulting, courses, and exclusive sourcing trips.

Molly Mahoney is a digital marketing strategist, keynote speaker, and former NYC performer who helps entrepreneurs blend AI-powered marketing with authentic human connection. With viral videos hitting over 39 million views and features in Forbes and Inc., she’s known for turning complex tech into simple, profitable strategies. She launched her business The Prepared Performer in 2013… and has since helped thousands of people to show up more powerfully, turning their message into a revenue generating movement. In 2021, Molly launched the world’s first AI-focused content membership (2 years before chatGPT hit the scene). She’s the author of Choose Confidence, Finding My Awesome, and the new Ai playbook, Ai-ify™ Your Business. She believes your “weird” is your superpower – and that the more fun you have, the more money you make!

Andrew Erickson is the co-founder of InventoryHero, an AI-native inventory and demand planning platform for Amazon sellers. He spent years building and running his own consumer product companies on Amazon before turning that operating experience into software. Today InventoryHero helps sellers answer the question that quietly decides whether a brand survives: what to order, how much, and when.

Jesse Michel is the Founder and President of North Prostock. Despite being accepted to Yale, Jesse decided to forgo a formal education to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. Today North Prostock partners directly with NHL teams to move overstocked professional equipment into the hands of players at a fraction of retail. More than 5,000,000 people view his work every month across social platforms, making him one of the most recognized and trusted voices in hockey at just 31 years old as well as a noted advocate for affordability in sports. Before entering entrepreneurship, Jesse was a professional hockey player with a career spanning across Sweden, Spain, the United States, and Canada. His first venture, an affordable-luxury apparel line, reached seven-figures in revenue in its first fiscal year before a successful exit. His next, in real-estate, grew into an eight-figure business.

Danny Doan is a Vietnamese-American multi-business entrepreneur based in Dallas, Texas, with an annual purchasing volume of over $1.3 million on Alibaba.com. He owns over ten restaurants across the U.S. and is the founder of a rapidly expanding arcade entertainment brand. Since beginning his sourcing journey on Alibaba.com in 2024, Danny has scaled his arcade business to 11 locations in under a year and a half, with a goal of reaching 20 by the end of 2026.

David Higham is an entrepreneur with experience in retail, e-commerce, wholesale, and personalized products. He opened his first retail store while still in college and today owns Hazel Grove Customs and Dirty Grove, businesses focused on sourcing, customization, and creating higher-value products. Through DaveTheProfessor.com, he also shares practical ways small businesses can use AI to grow.

LJ Merchant founded MedTech, which ships custom training kits and simulation equipment to hundreds of EMS and nursing programs nationwide, doing millions in annual revenue with a team of 30+. Because of Alibaba, he was able to source the best products at the best price, which gave him the cashflow to give back to his industry. His first project was TrainingMonitor.App, a browser-based patient monitor simulator now used by medical trainers globally— free, forever.

I’m Rodrigo Chavez, founder of Orange Claw Club, an experiential play store in Downtown Santa Ana blending collectibles, technology, and interactive play entertainment. I’ve built a bridge with Alibaba that allows us to take new concepts from idea to reality—turning original products and experiences into scalable opportunities and shaping what the future of play can look like.

Hanna Ma is Director of Key Accounts, Alibaba.com U.S. — West, where she leads strategic buyer growth and key account engagement across the region. Before joining Alibaba.com, she was the first U.S. product marketing hire for TikTok Shop, helping build and launch TikTok Shop U.S. from 0 to 1. Earlier in her career, she led marketing measurement initiatives for major enterprise brands including Nordstrom, Best Buy, Ford, and CarMax. Today, she works closely with high-growth and enterprise buyers to help them source, scale, and unlock more value from Alibaba.com, while bringing their needs and insights directly into the company’s product and business strategy.

Stella Shen is the Director of Key Accounts, Eastern U.S., Alibaba.com. This year marks her 9th year at Alibaba, having spent the first 6 years at the company's Hangzhou headquarters overseeing industry marketing and supplier management, covering over 1,000 factories. Now in her 3rd year based in New York, she focuses on helping key buyers grow smarter. With rich cross-functional experience spanning marketing, industry operations, and user growth, Stella serves as a unique bridge connecting suppliers and buyers. Prior to Alibaba, she worked at Taobao and JD.com, both industry-leading e-commerce platforms.

Ro Kumar is the founder and operator of 4 consumer brands: Hair Defense® (2023), Kayaness® (2023), CleanPlaneterra® (2011), Brush with Bamboo® (2011). Ro holds a master’s degree in economic policy from Harvard and bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.

Isaac Hetzroni is the Founder & CEO of Imprint Genius, an award-winning product sourcing and merchandising agency. Known as @thesourcingguy on social media, he has built a following of over 750,000 by sharing insights on global manufacturing and product sourcing. He also actively mentors over 400 7-9 figure brands on product sourcing. With nearly a decade of experience running his agency, Isaac divides his time between Asia and the US.

Ziwei Chen is a Product Marketing Lead at Alibaba.com, where she works on the go-to-market strategy for Accio, Alibaba.com’s flagship agentic business workspace. Her career has spanned both sides of the AI transformation — from marketing developer tools for the people building AI products to helping businesses adopt AI agents to transform how they work and grow. With a front-row seat to the evolution of AI from developer technology to everyday business infrastructure, Ziwei brings a unique perspective on what’s next for agentic commerce — and how AI agents are reshaping the way businesses operate, make decisions, and create value.

Yulia is the Founder of Zignify Global Product Sourcing and Co-founder of two successful Amazon brands. With over 20 years of expertise in global product sourcing, supply chain, logistics, import/export, and e-commerce, she has become a trusted authority in optimizing international operations. Before launching her entrepreneurial ventures, she served as Managing Director of Flixbus in Russia, applying her skills in a rapidly scaling German unicorn startup. Today, she advises leading organizations such as BCG, Alibaba, and Joop on complex sourcing and supply chain challenges. Known for her strategic insights and hands-on approach, Yulia brings both depth of knowledge and practical experience to every engagement. Beyond her professional work, she is a passionate motorcycle rider, enthusiastic traveler, and devoted partner to her husband, Sebastian Herz - personal passions that duel her dynamic perspective and inspire her global outlook.

Erik Haug is an AI strategist and innovation leader serving as AVP and Global Head of AI Partnerships at Hexaware Technologies. He leads the development and growth of Hexaware’s global ecosystem of strategic AI partners, with a focus on responsible AI, joint solution development, and go-to-market opportunities across industries.

Stephen Stokols is an entrepreneur, investor, and technology executive with experience building, scaling, and investing in innovative companies. He is CEO and Managing Partner of Tru Skye Ventures, an early-stage venture firm focused on sports technology, fan engagement, and health and wellness innovation. He previously served as CEO of Boost Mobile and founded FreedomPop.

Kristen Rodgers is the Director of Retail, Media, and Sports at Plug and Play, where she drives open innovation by connecting global corporations with high-growth startups to transform commerce, digital entertainment, and sports technology. Leveraging her deep sector expertise and global network, she fosters strategic partnerships, pilots pioneering technologies, and accelerates venture-backed solutions to commercial scale.

William Powles is Senior Director of International Trade at World Trade Center Los Angeles, where he works to attract international investment and businesses to the Los Angeles region, expand global trade, and build strategic international partnerships. Prior to joining WTCLA, William spent a decade in the British government, including serving as First Secretary for Trade Policy in the Southwestern United States and as Chief of Staff to the UK’s Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser. His work has focused on international economic relations, cross-border partnerships, and driving inclusive economic growth through global trade and investment.