John W. Brown, former president, CEO, and chairman of Stryker Corporation, is widely regarded as one of the most effective long-tenured CEOs in modern medtech. Taking the helm of the family-run company in 1977, when sales were around $17–23 million, he led Stryker through a landmark IPO, a series of strategic acquisitions, and relentless product expansion, growing revenues into the multi-billion-dollar range and turning it into a global medical technology powerhouse. Under Brown’s three decades of leadership, Stryker evolved from a niche hospital-bed manufacturer into a diversified leader in orthopedics, surgical equipment, and neurotechnology, setting a benchmark for disciplined, long-horizon value creation.  

Jeffrey Sprecher, founder, chairman, and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), has built one of the most powerful and influential financial infrastructure companies in the world. Starting in 2000 with a small online energy marketplace, he transformed ICE into a global exchange and data powerhouse through bold acquisitions—including NYSE Euronext, bringing the New York Stock Exchange under his leadership. Sprecher’s disciplined approach to technology, clearing, and market structure has reshaped modern trading across commodities, equities, and fixed income. Widely regarded as a visionary architect of today’s financial markets, he continues to drive innovation at the intersection of finance and technology.

Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises, is the longtime steward of one of America’s largest and most influential privately held companies. Grandson of founder James M. Cox, he helped transform the family’s newspaper holdings into a diversified powerhouse spanning cable and broadband (Cox Communications), automotive services (Cox Automotive), and emerging clean-tech investments. Under his leadership, Cox became a multibillion-dollar enterprise known for operational discipline, innovation, and a strong commitment to sustainability and philanthropy. Kennedy remains one of the wealthiest and most prominent family-business leaders in the United States.

Donald M. “Bubba” Cathy is the younger son of Chick‑fil‑A founder S. Truett Cathy. Bubba serves as Executive Vice President of Chick‑fil‑A and leads the family’s iconic Dwarf House and Truett’s Grill concepts through STC Brands, the chain’s hospitality arm .

David Zalik is the Canadian‑American entrepreneur who co‑founded GreenSky in 2006. After founding MicroTech at age 14 and launching several tech ventures, he built GreenSky into a fintech unicorn connecting banks, contractors, and homeowners in home‑improvement and healthcare financing. He remains a billionaire with over 50% ownership of the company. 

Dan (Daniel Truett) Cathy is the American billionaire Chairman of Chick‑fil‑A—the fast-food giant founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy. He served as CEO from 2013 to 2021, scaling annual revenues from about $5 billion to over $16 billion while expanding the chain to over 3,000 U.S. and Canadian restaurants. He remains deeply involved in the family-run WinShape Foundation.

Dan Kurzius is the American co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of Mailchimp. A former web developer and Mailchimp’s first support agent, he built the company’s support organization and champions user advocacy across product and data teams. Known for his focus on customer experience and corporate citizenship, he avoids venture funding and has helped build Mailchimp into a multi-billion‑dollar SaaS success. 

Ben Chestnut is the co-founder and former long-time CEO of Mailchimp, the bootstrapped email marketing and automation platform he helped grow from a side project in 2001 to a $12 billion acquisition by Intuit in 2021. A Georgia Tech–trained industrial designer from humble roots, Chestnut built Mailchimp into a global SaaS powerhouse without venture funding—earning billionaire status and pioneering a “Dragon” exit in tech. 

Arthur Blank is the co‑founder of The Home Depot and the visionary behind the Blank family’s $10 billion enterprise, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, PGA TOUR Superstore, and Montana guest ranches. A Babson College graduate and committed philanthropist, Blank has given over $1 billion through his family foundation and led a $200 million donation to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.