Gary Lauder, venture capitalist and heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics fortune, manages Lauder Partners LLC, investing in emerging technologies, communications, and media ventures. Known for his strategic, long-term approach, he has backed numerous early-stage companies while maintaining active involvement in philanthropic initiatives. As a member of the influential Lauder family, he combines the legacy of one of America’s most iconic beauty empires with a forward-looking vision for innovation and entrepreneurship.

David Golub is the business leader heading Golub Capital, a top-tier direct lender he joined in 2003, and CEO of its NASDAQ‑listed Golub Capital BDC, managing over $75 billion in capital. A Harvard and Stanford MBA alumnus, he helped build Golub into a private-credit powerhouse and serves as longtime board chair of The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

David Dolby is the San Francisco–based CEO and founder of Dolby Family Ventures, the Dolby Laboratories’ family-backed early-stage VC firm. Guided by Ray Dolby’s legacy, he invests in groundbreaking technology across biotech, digital media, aerospace, and Alzheimer’s research. He also serves on multiple boards including Dolby Labs and aligns venture capital with social impact.

Chris Larsen is the San Francisco–born entrepreneur and co‑founder of Ripple Labs, the blockchain firm transforming cross-border payments. Previously, he founded E‑Loan, one of the first online mortgage platforms, and Prosper Marketplace, the peer-to-peer lending pioneer. A radical pro-consumer advocate, Larsen introduced free FICO credit scores for borrowers and championed digital privacy reforms in California and beyond.

Charles R. Schwab is the pioneering founder, longtime CEO, and current Co‑Chairman of The Charles Schwab Corporation, which he started in 1971. Renowned for revolutionizing the discount brokerage industry—offering low-cost, tech-driven trading and eliminating commissions—he built one of the largest global investment firms managing over $10 trillion in client assets and serving more than 32 million accounts. Semi-retiring in 2008, he remains the largest individual shareholder and leads the Schwab Foundation’s education and dyslexia initiatives. 

Carl Thoma is a veteran private-equity pioneer and co-founder/managing partner of Thoma Bravo, one of the world’s largest software-focused buyout firms managing more than $130 billion in assets. A Stanford MBA and Oklahoma State alumnus, he began his career in 1980 with the predecessor firm GTCR and helped invent the “buy and build” consolidation strategy that underpins his longtime success in PE.

Aneel Bhusri is the co‑founder and executive chairman of Workday, the enterprise cloud software leader for finance and HR. A Stanford MBA and Brown‑educated engineer, he helped build Workday from a PeopleSoft spin‑out into a multibillion‑dollar public company and holds executive roles in venture through Greylock Partners.

Phil Knight, co-founder and former CEO of Nike, Inc., is an American business magnate and philanthropist. With a net worth exceeding $50 billion, Knight has significantly impacted the sportswear industry and is a prominent figure in business and philanthropy.