Paul Merage, cofounder of Chef America Inc., built one of the most iconic consumer food brands in the U.S. by transforming a simple frozen snack into a mass-market staple. Alongside his brother David, Merage created Hot Pockets in the 1980s, pioneering the handheld frozen-meal category and scaling distribution nationwide through grocery and convenience channels. The success of Chef America culminated in its multibillion-dollar sale to Nestlé, marking one of the most successful exits in packaged foods. Since then, Merage has focused on private investing, real estate, and philanthropy, particularly in education and community development.

Neil Kadisha, cofounder of Omninet and a pioneering telecommunications entrepreneur, played a central role in building the early global internet backbone during the 1990s. Through Omninet, he helped deploy one of the world’s first international fiber-optic networks, enabling high-capacity data transmission across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East at a critical moment in internet expansion. After exiting the business, Kadisha shifted his focus to philanthropy and impact investing, supporting initiatives in health, education, conflict resolution, and peace-building through the Kadisha Family Foundation. His career bridges foundational internet infrastructure and long-term global social impact.

Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, built one of the world’s largest privately held toy companies, best known for creating the global hit Bratz dolls and, more recently, the L.O.L. Surprise! franchise. An Iranian-born immigrant, Larian started with a small import business before transforming it into a multibillion-dollar toy empire that competes with industry giants like Mattel and Hasbro. Known for his bold marketing strategies and willingness to take creative risks, he has made MGA a dominant force in the global toy market while also engaging in philanthropy and outspoken advocacy on industry issues.

Behdad Eghbali is an Iranian–American billionaire and co‑founder & managing partner of Clearlake Capital, the fast‑growing private equity firm with over $90 billion in assets under management. A UC Berkeley Haas alumnus and former TPG and Morgan Stanley banker, he has steered high-profile investments in technology, industrials, and more. In May 2022, he became co-owner of Chelsea Football Club, reflecting his expanding global influence in sports ownership.

Adam Foroughi is the co-founder and CEO of AppLovin, a global leader in mobile app marketing and monetization. A former derivatives trader turned tech entrepreneur, Foroughi built AppLovin into a multi-billion-dollar platform powering growth for app developers worldwide.