Tamara Laine – Founder of MPWR & MPWR Money

Our financial system was created mainly back in the 50s, when work was a W-2 and women didn’t have bank accounts, and we’ve really evolved way past that, but our system for tracking credit worthiness has not.

Tamara Laine is an Emmy Award winning journalist, fintech founder, and business growth strategist focused on expanding access to credit and capital. She is the founder and CEO of MPWR and MPWR Money, where she leads the development of AI driven financial tools that use alternative data to serve gig workers, women, and historically underserved communities. Drawing on her own experience as a former gig worker, Tamara built MPWR to address the real world gaps she saw in traditional financial systems and to create more inclusive pathways to financial stability and growth. Before launching MPWR, Tamara built a successful career in media and technology, combining storytelling, data, and strategy to drive impact. She has helped launch and scale multiple technology ventures and is widely recognized for her work at the intersection of financial inclusion, ethical AI, and economic innovation. In addition to her work as a founder, Tamara co hosts the podcast What the Frac?, where she explores startup growth, innovation, and the realities of building modern businesses. Frank Olis – Executive Producer of School for Start-ups Radio & Operations Manager of Maximize VA

For the VA, the important thing is the fulfillment that the VA needed working for a client is not just about pay, but for the trust that you are giving to the VA.

Frank Olis is an experienced media and operations professional with a strong background in radio production, business systems, and virtual support management. He serves as Executive Producer of School for Start-ups Radio, where he oversees the development and execution of show content, production workflows, guest coordination, and the overall listener experience from planning through broadcast. In addition to his work in radio, Frank is the Operations Manager of Maximize VA, where he leads operational strategy and supports the delivery of virtual assistant services and business support solutions. His work at Maximize VA includes optimizing internal processes, managing client engagements, and ensuring high standards of execution for teams supporting growing businesses. Frank combines his skills in production, strategy, and operations to help organizations run efficiently and create high-quality content that serves their audiences.

Kevin Rice – Angel Investor & Founder of Theorem One Capital

Complexity is the enemy of scale, and so once we got really simple about like, focus on who we were and the industry we wanted to serve and the market opportunity we wanted to go after, everything started to operate more efficiently.

Kevin Rice is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor and founder of Theorem One Capital, a firm that invests in and advises early-stage, AI-first companies with the potential to reshape business across operations, go-to-market, finance and customer experience. Before launching Theorem One Capital, he co-founded Hathway, a digital consultancy that grew from a garage startup into a leading partner for restaurant and convenience brands, eventually joining forces with Bounteous in 2021 where he served as a leader helping guide digital strategy and transformation for major clients. Throughout his career he has built and scaled businesses, led teams and worked closely with founders to drive growth and innovation. In addition to his work as an investor and operator, Kevin hosts the “CEOs & ABCs” podcast where he explores leadership, identity and the real challenges of navigating ambitious careers while showing up for family. His professional journey reflects a commitment to building meaningful ventures, mentoring founders and fostering leadership that balances success at work with presence at home. Cornelia Gamlem – Co-Author of The Big Book of HR

Probably one of the most important things about employee engagement is making sure that people have the opportunity for input and that that input is really being heard. It’s not just doing surveys and then putting the surveys away in the proverbial file cabinet. It’s really listening and acting on their input.

Cornelia Gamlem is an award-winning author, consultant and thought leader in human resources best known as co-author of The Big Book of HR, a comprehensive resource she wrote with Barbara Mitchell to help HR professionals managers and business leaders get the most from their people and talent. She draws on decades of real-world experience in HR leadership including roles with major employers and extensive involvement with national workplace equality and diversity initiatives. Cornelia left a senior HR leadership position with a Fortune 500 IT services company to start her own consulting practice, The Gems Group, Ltd, where she helps organizations develop and maintain respectful inclusive workplace cultures. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Marymount University and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from California State University Sacramento and has achieved Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute. In addition to writing multiple books and contributing to industry publications she regularly speaks to business groups contributes to online HR platforms and serves on the board of SouthWest Writers in Albuquerque New Mexico where she lives and writes.

Darius A. Ross – Author of Success DNA: Mastering Persistence in Leadership and Life

There was no such thing as being half-assed at anything. Everything was, you gotta be the best, you gotta excel, you gotta exceed.

Darius A. Ross is a serial entrepreneur who has faced some of life’s toughest challenges, from homelessness to urban warfare. These experiences have shaped his tactical and strategic skills, enabling him to succeed in both small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations. Ross has built and scaled multiple businesses, some thriving, others failing—each providing invaluable lessons. Drawing on these experiences, he now runs a consulting practice focused on high-net-worth individuals, families, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Ross offers three core programs: Urban No BS, Grind, Refine, and Lootnomics, and HGDR (Hustle, Grind, Define, Refine). These programs are not for everyone; they’re designed for individuals who are determined to achieve greatness, massive profits, and sustainable success. Whether as a coach, consultant, author, or speaker, Ross provides the tools, mindset, and strategies to help clients reach their full potential and excel in both business and life. Mike Matalone – Author of Hire • Train • Retain 2nd Edition: The art—and science—of building high-performing teams that drive success

The number one reason employees aren’t more successful than they should be is managers are typically bad at defining what success looks like for them. People should always know what’s next for them and how to get there.

An award-winning speaker and nationally recognized talent authority, Mike Matalone is the Founder and Chief Talent Officer of the XP3 Talent System and Leadership Academy. A highly-sought-after trainer, workshop leader, and keynote speaker, he’s published 100’s of articles on the importance of having the right people in the right roles. Mike’s engaging personality and uncanny ability to translate tricky concepts into easy-to-grasp “nuggets” of information have made him a prized addition to any talent initiative; in the past 17-plus years, he’s delivered more than 500 workshops and keynote presentations to business groups throughout the United States, Canada, and the U.K.