The Growth Fire

Alane Boyd is the Founder of Workday Ninja, which helps companies implement software to manage their operations effectively. A serial entrepreneur with a knack for operational excellence, Alane grew her social media marketing agency to 600 active clients and sold it in 2018. With expertise in operations, sales, marketing, and tech, she has exited two SaaS companies, designating herself as an impact-driven leader. She is also the CE...

Lisa Shim is the Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Technology and Innovation at BankUnited, a national bank headquartered in Miami Lakes, Florida. Lisa ‘s role encompasses technology, treasury solutions, marketing, operations, and corporate strategy. With an impressive career since joining BankUnited in 2009, she has played a crucial role in the bank's digital transformation journey and M&A strategies. Her background incl...

Ishan Patel is the CEO and Co-Founder of Audien Hearing, the leading brand for over-the-counter hearing aids. Born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, Ishan dropped out of college to pursue his entrepreneurial passion in the health and product service sectors. Through dedication and innovative sales strategies, he turned Audien Hearing into the highest-volume-selling OTC hearing aid brand in the world. With a commitment to affordabi...

Greg Selkoe is the Co-founder and CEO of XSET, an esports lifestyle gaming brand. Renowned for his pioneering contributions to e-commerce, entertainment, and esports, he previously founded the Boston streetwear company Karmaloop, driving it to over a billion in lifetime revenue. He also served as the President of FaZe Clan, boosting its revenue to $400 million before exiting. 

An alumnus of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government an...

Rick Torrison is a transformational leader and growth catalyst with over 25 years of experience in personal growth and team building. As a certified Executive Director of The John Maxwell Team, he is qualified to facilitate, speak, train, and coach individuals and groups in leadership development, professional skills, and personal growth. Additionally, Rick specializes in communication and conflict resolution training as a DISC fac...

Sharon Toerek is the Owner and Founder of Toerek Law, where she dedicates her practice to advising independent marketing and creative services agencies on protecting and monetizing their intellectual capital. A marketing law attorney with extensive experience in copyright, trademark, and content protection, Sharon offers strategic counsel on licensing, brand protection, social media, and advertising compliance. 

She is a sought-aft...

Julia Fitzgerald is a seasoned marketing executive, board advisor, and author with over 20 years of experience in branding, digital transformation, and marketing strategies. Her expertise has consistently driven growth across various sectors, having served as the CMO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, the American Lung Association, and The AZEK Company, and as the Chief Digital Engagement Officer at Sears Holdings. A renowned public speaker...

Scott Maroney is the President and Co-owner of Crazy Shirts, a t-shirt and clothing brand founded in Hawaii. In his role, Scott drives retail sales and profitability across the United States through creativity, exceptional customer service, and innovation. His 25-year journey in the retail industry includes experience at outlet shopping malls with Phillips-Van Heusen and operating 14 Champs Sports stores owned by Foot Locker. 

Scot...

Laura Walmsley is the Chief Commercial Officer of Personify Health, the industry’s first personalized health platform delivering health plan administration, wellbeing solutions, and comprehensive health navigation. In this position, Laura spearheads the company’s commercial go-to-market strategy, with responsibility for all client-facing teams. With 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and account management, Laura has held ...

Lisa Martin is the Chief Revenue Officer at 8x8, a company that unifies customer engagement and communications across organizations with a single, all-in-one platform. In this role, Lisa drives and maximizes revenue growth, oversees sales strategies, and manages a global team. With a robust sales background in the technology and communication sectors, she has consistently delivered double-digit year-over-year growth by leading glob...

Jason Mandel is the Founder and CEO of Mandel Family Office, a firm dedicated to providing comprehensive financial services to high-net-worth individuals and families. As a Wall Street insider and private financial advisor, he has held senior positions at the LeFrak Organization, D.E. Shaw, and Cantor Fitzgerald. Jason has over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in financial services and risk management. Additionally, he is the...

Dean Mavrikos is the Channel Growth Manager at Kentico, a fully integrated digital experience platform (DXP). He started at the company as a Business Development Representative before becoming the Director of Business Development for North America, where he led hiring and training initiatives for a team of business development representatives. In 2023, Dean assumed the role of Channel Growth Manager, where he supports a diverse ran...

Sofyan Almoayed is the CEO of Almoayed Investments, a versatile family business focused on real estate, travel technology, contracting, transportation, and F&B sectors. Additionally, he will assume the role of Global Chairman for 2024 and 2025. Almoayed Investments has been a beacon of success, consistently delivering value through its commitment to growth and diversification. Sofyan's leadership has propelled the company to thrive...

Christine Guilfoyle is the President of SEEHER, a platform committed to enhancing the representation of women and girls in the global marketing and media ecosystem. With a focus on achieving gender equality and fostering business growth, Christine leads initiatives to ensure accurate portrayals of women in media, promoting diversity and inclusion. With experience in leadership roles at prominent media brands, Christine has been rec...

Ann Hand is the Chairman and CEO of Super League Gaming, a NASDAQ publicly traded company and global leader in the gaming metaverse on platforms like Roblox and Minecraft. Before joining Super League, Ann was the CEO of Project Frog, a company specializing in wholesale building materials to streamline design and construction processes. Ann has garnered many accolades, including the Forbes 50 Over 50 Award and being named Ad Age Lea...

Raymond Watt is the Global Chairman of YPO, an American-based global leadership community, and the Chairman at RIMAR Capital, a tech-driven investment firm. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of Omnislash, a platform that helps gamers capture media and stats while playing their favorite games. With 25 years of experience in software development and enterprise systems, Raymond was a three-time CEO for various companies in South Afric...

Dana Karzan is the Chief Marketing Officer at VyStar Credit Union, a member-owned cooperative providing financial products and services such as investments, insurance, retirement planning, and financial counseling. At VyStar, Dana leads branding, marketing, advertising, social media, and community engagement. She has 20-plus years of experience in banking and fintech, with rich expertise in marketing, product management, and brand ...

Joel Swanson is the VP of Marketing at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, a Minnesota-based financial cooperative offering full-service personal and business banking products. At Affinity Plus, Joel leads all marketing, public relations, and community initiatives. During his five-year tenure, he and his team have implemented a brand refresh responsible for the credit union’s record growth. Before joining Affinity Plus, Joel offere...

Scott K. Edinger is the Founder of Edinger Consulting, where he helps worldwide Fortune 50 CEOs and executive leaders develop leadership strategies to drive top and bottom-line results. Scott is also a published author, having penned over 100 articles for prominent publications like Forbes and the Harvard Business Review. He’s written three books, including The Growth Leader: Strategies to Drive the Top and Bottom Lines, set to be ...