Simon Sinek on the Alpha of an Organization

President of the European Central Bank (2011-2019) and Prime Minister of Italy (2021-2022)

A paramount figure in global finance, Draghi’s legacy is etched deeply into the annals of European and Italian economic history.

He served as the Director General of the Italian Treasury (1991-2001) and Vice Chairman at Goldman Sachs International (2002-2005). From 2006 to 2011, he led the Bank of Italy and subsequently assumed the presidency of the European Central Bank (2011-2019), demonstrating exceptional leadership in times of economic adversity. 

In 2021, Draghi became Italy’s Prime Minister. He was recognized as the eighth-most powerful person globally by Forbes in 2014, the “second greatest leader” by Fortune in 2015, and one of the 100 most influential people of 2021 by Time magazine.

Bestselling author and Publisher of Optimism Press

Simon Sinek is an unshakeable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Sinek has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are, and end the day fulfilled by the work they do. 

He continues to share inspiration through his bestselling books, including Start with WHY, Leaders Eat Last and The Infinite Game, as well as his podcast, A Bit of Optimism. In addition, Sinek is the Founder of The Optimism Company, a leadership learning and development company, and he publishes other inspiring thinkers and doers through his publishing partnership with Penguin Random House called Optimism Press.

Columbia Business School Professor and authority on organizational performance and diversity

Modupe Akinola is a leading authority on organizational performance and diversity, and an Associate Professor of Management at Columbia Business School. Her research on stress and discrimination has been published in numerous academic journals and media outlets, including The New York Times, Forbes, and The Economist. Akinola has received several awards, including the Rising Star Award from the Association for Psychological Science and the Best Paper Award from the Academy of Management Journal. 

She advises leaders on managing stress, diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives and women’s leadership. Before becoming an academic, Akinola was the head of diversity at Bain & Co., where she contributed to the organization’s recruitment and retention framework for people of color. She earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior from Harvard.

Group Chief Creative Officer at Cityneon and former Executive Creative Director of Cirque du Soleil

Visionary creative artistic producer with more than 25 years of experience, Welby Altidor is the Group Chief Creative Officer at Cityneon, global leader in creating and producing immersive experiences with partnerships such as The Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios. Altidor is the former Executive Creative Director of Creations at Cirque du Soleil, where he spearheaded the creation of well-known shows such as Luzia and Michael Jackson ONE. 

His ambition and innovative ideas have earned him and his design team at VHE a Guinness World Record for conceiving the largest interactive touchscreen display archery game for The Hunger Games: The Exhibition. His artistic contributions and creative design have led to the sale of more than 80 million tickets for interactive shows, events, and immersive exhibitions on a global scale. Altidor is also the author of Creative Courage.

Professor of Management and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Network Research Center at Warwick Business School

Professor of Management and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Network Research Center at Warwick Business School, Hila Lifshitz-Assaf’s research is centered on understanding scientific and technological innovation in the digital age. Lifshitz-Assaf has received recognition for her work in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for critical decision-making, including the ISSIP Excellence in Service Innovation award in 2023. Before her academic career, she spent seven years as a strategy consultant, specializing in growth and innovation strategies in various industries.

Professor of Psychology at University of British Columbia and leading happiness and well-being researcher

Dr. Elizabeth Dunn is a distinguished professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and a leading expert on the study of how time, money, and technology shape human happiness. Her experimental research has not only been published in top-tier journals, including three articles in Science, but also widely featured in international media like The New York Times, The Atlantic, and CNN.

Dr. Dunn’s insights extend beyond academia into practical applications for organizations. She offers expert consulting, engaging workshops, and customized keynote presentations to help implement strategies that enhance well-being in both life and work. She is also the co-author of the acclaimed book Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, which has been recognized by the Washington Post as essential reading for leaders.

Business psychologist, executive coach and global authority on resilience and power

Sharon Melnick, a distinguished business psychologist and coach, is renowned for her expertise in stress resilience and women’s leadership. With a remarkable track record of training and coaching over 40,000 individuals across more than 50 Fortune 500 Companies, Melnick is a leading authority in enhancing productivity through psychology-based techniques honed during a decade of research at Harvard Medical School.

As the CEO of Horizon Point Inc., a prominent global coaching and training firm, she continues to make a significant impact on the business world. Her outstanding contributions have earned her recognition as a Marshall Goldsmith Top 100 Coach and a place on the 2023 LeadersHum Top 200 Leadership Voice list.

In addition to her professional achievements, Sharon Melnick is a best-selling author, with her books Success under Stress and In Your Power gaining widespread acclaim for their invaluable insights and guidance.