Peter Thiel, cofounder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential and contrarian thinkers, known for backing companies that challenge consensus and reshape entire industries. As an early investor in Facebook and the first outside investor in several category-defining startups, Thiel helped popularize a philosophy centered on building monopolies through deep technology rather than incremental competition. Through Founders Fund, he has backed transformative ventures across software, defense, biotech, and space. Thiel’s impact extends beyond investing into ideas, shaping debates around technology, globalization, and the future of innovation.

Michael Krasny, founder of CDW, built one of America’s largest and most enduring technology solutions providers from a small Chicago basement startup into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Beginning in 1984 by selling IBM personal computers to local businesses, Krasny expanded CDW into a leading distributor of hardware, software, and integrated IT solutions for corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions nationwide. Under his disciplined leadership and customer-centric philosophy, CDW went public and sustained decades of growth through strategic acquisitions and deep vendor partnerships. Krasny’s journey from entrepreneur to tech industry titan exemplifies long-term execution and operational excellence in enterprise technology services.

Arthur Dantchik is the American-born co‑founder and managing director of Susquehanna International Group (SIG), one of the world’s leading quantitative trading firms. A SUNY‑Binghamton alumnus and former professional poker player, he helped build SIG into a global powerhouse and steered early investments in ByteDance—earning a seat on its board.

Beate Heister is a prominent German businesswoman and billionaire, known for her significant stake in Aldi Süd, one of the world's largest discount supermarket chains. She is the daughter of Karl Albrecht, co-founder of Aldi.

Dieter Schwarz is a German billionaire businessman, best known as the owner of the Schwarz-Gruppe, which operates Lidl and Kaufland. He is recognized for transforming the retail industry with his discount supermarket model and maintaining a low profile despite his immense wealth.

Jacqueline Mars is an American heiress, investor, and philanthropist. As a member of the Mars family, she co-owns Mars, Incorporated, the world's largest candy company known for its iconic brands such as M&M's, Snickers, and Mars bars. With an extensive involvement in philanthropy, Jacqueline Mars maintains a low public profile despite her significant wealth.

John Mars, heir to the Mars, Inc. confectionery and pet-care empire, is one of America’s wealthiest and most private billionaires, stewarding a family business that spans iconic brands like M&M’s, Snickers, Pedigree, and Royal Canin. Alongside his siblings, he helped expand Mars beyond candy into food and animal health, reinforcing the company’s reputation for secrecy, long-term ownership, and decentralized management. Despite the scale of Mars’ global operations—among the world’s largest privately held companies—John Mars has remained almost entirely out of the public eye, shaping the business through discretion, values-driven governance, and deeply held family traditions.