Thomas Duff is the co-founder of Duff Capital Investors and the co-owner of Southern Tire Mart, the nation’s largest truck tire dealer. As the wealthiest individual in Mississippi, alongside his brother James, he manages a multi-billion dollar empire spanning trucking, construction, and energy. In early 2026, his influence has expanded into the political arena following the launch of his "Duff PAC" and growing speculation regarding a 2027 gubernatorial run. A prominent philanthropist, he has donated tens of millions to Mississippi’s public universities. His leadership is defined by an "outsider" business perspective and a commitment to regional economic development.

Ryan Smith, cofounder and executive chairman of Qualtrics, built one of the most influential enterprise software companies of the cloud era by turning experience data into a core business discipline. Starting Qualtrics in his parents’ basement in Utah, Smith scaled it into a global platform used by corporations and governments to measure customer, employee, and brand experience. After selling Qualtrics to SAP in a blockbuster deal, he later guided its public market return and continued expanding the product vision around analytics and decision intelligence. Smith is also a high-profile sports owner, leading the ownership group of the Utah Jazz and investing heavily in community and innovation initiatives.