Noam Gottesman, cofounder and managing partner of GLG Partners, built one of Europe’s most successful hedge funds by combining global macro insight with disciplined risk management. After cofounding GLG in 1995, he helped grow the firm into a multibillion-dollar asset manager before selling it to Man Group in a landmark deal. Beyond finance, Gottesman has become a prominent investor and philanthropist, with significant interests in art, media, and education, reflecting a career that spans markets, culture, and long-term capital stewardship.

Marc Rowan, cofounder and CEO of Apollo Global Management, is one of the most influential figures in alternative investing, helping build Apollo into a global powerhouse across private equity, credit, and real assets. After beginning his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Rowan co-launched Apollo in 1990, developing its reputation for contrarian investing, distressed opportunities, and disciplined capital allocation. As CEO, he has overseen Apollo’s evolution into a diversified asset manager with a strong emphasis on credit, insurance partnerships, and long-term yield strategies. Known for his analytical rigor and understated leadership, Rowan stands at the center of modern private markets.

Jimmy John Liautaud, founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich empire, turned a small college-town deli he opened in 1983 with borrowed money into one of America’s largest and most recognizable fast-casual chains. Known for its simple menu, freaky-fast delivery model, and intense franchise discipline, Jimmy John’s expanded to thousands of locations nationwide before selling a majority stake to private equity giant Roark Capital. Liautaud, who stepped down as chairman after the sale, is also an active philanthropist and investor, channeling his entrepreneurial drive into charitable initiatives and new business ventures.

Andrew Cherng is the Chinese–Taiwanese–American restaurateur and analytics-driven CEO behind Panda Restaurant Group—the force behind Panda Inn and the fast‑food giant Panda Express. With degrees in mathematics, he launched Panda Inn with his father in 1973, scaled Panda Express from a mall food-court concept in 1983 to over 2,000 locations, and maintains private, family-led leadership focused on innovation, philanthropy, and operational excellence.