Grace Reyes

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, The Investment Diversity Exchange

As featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, Grace Reyes is one of the most prominent voices in finance when it comes to promoting diversity & gender balance in the investment management industry. Ms. Reyes is the CEO of The Investment Diversity Exchange (TIDE) which connects and engages movers and shakers to promote diversity & inclusion within the investment industry. With a background in fundraising, Grace has built relationships with the largest investors in the US and has formed close rapport with an array of industry leaders & prominent investors globally - relationships that have helped her bring awareness to the causes and firms that Grace represents. She is also an Independent Board Director and part of the Audit Committee of Professional Diversity Network (NASDAQ: IPDN).

Rebecca Rettig

General Counsel, The Aave Companies

Rebecca Rettig is the General Counsel of the Aave Companies, a group of software development companies that build open source, blockchain-based software.  Rebecca began her legal career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York, litigating complex commercial disputes; prior to joining the Aave Companies, Rebecca was a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in the financial services group, representing blockchain and crypto clients. With unique and deep-rooted expertise representing companies at the forefront of the financial services industry’s digital transformation, Rebecca spent the past five years advising blockchain and cryptocurrency clients on legal and regulatory matters—with a particular focus advising DeFi projects; she also represented clients in all aspects of litigation and regulatory enforcement proceedings as well as in licensing matters. In 2019, Rebecca was recognized as one of the top 100 women lawyers in New York City by Crain’s New York Business.

Leslie Picker

Finance & Investing Reporter, CNBC

Leslie Picker joined CNBC in February 2017 as a reporter, based at the network’s Global Headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Picker covers banking, financial institutions, hedge funds, private equity and asset management, and her reporting appears on CNBC’s Business Day programming and the network’s digital platforms.

Picker helped launch CNBC’s Delivering Alpha Newsletter in 2021, where she interviews prominent investors and covers key themes in finance on a bi-monthly basis. Her investigation into Puerto Rico’s debt crisis won a Society for Advanced Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) award and was a finalist for a Gerald Loeb Award in 2018.

Previously, Picker was a reporter at The New York Times where she covered deals. Her beat encompassed mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, venture capital, private equity, restructuring and shareholder activism. Prior to The New York Times, Picker was a reporter at Bloomberg News where she reported on initial public offerings. There, she also contributed to Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. Prior to becoming a reporter, Picker was a segment producer for Bloomberg Television.

Picker graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. She also earned a master’s in journalism from Columbia University, graduating with honors, and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business, with a concentration in finance.

Akash Pasricha

Crypto & Technology Reporter, The Information

Akash Pasricha is a crypto and technology reporter at The Information. He co-authors The Information’s flagship Briefing newsletter, and the publication’s weekly Crypto Global newsletter. Akash previously worked at The Seattle Times as a business reporter covering venture capital and startups, and his work has appeared in The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Houston Chronicle, Miami Herald, and The Chicago Tribune. Akash started his career in strategy consulting at Deloitte. He is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School, having previously earned degrees in business and life sciences.

Dave Olsen

President & Chief Investment Officer, Jump Trading

Dave Olsen is the President and Chief Investment Officer of Jump Trading, where he is involved in all aspects of the firm’s activities with particular focus on building strategic partnerships, investing in new markets, and developing solutions to complex post-trade needs. Prior to joining Jump, Dave led J.P. Morgan’s futures, options, and OTC derivative clearing businesses. Dave also had various roles in trading fixed income and derivative instruments, investment grade debt underwriting, mergers and acquisitions, and fintech venture capital investing. Dave is a graduate of Kenyon College and is based in New York City.ss

Sandeep Nailwal

Co-Founder, Polygon

Meet Sandeep Nailwal. Also known as the co-founder of Polygon, a global and sustainable Web3 infrastructure built on Ethereum. After studying computer science, Sandeep received his MBA from the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (Nitie), one of the top schools in India, where he specialized in information technology. Sandeep went on to lead the technology department at Welspun, the largest textile company in Asia, and worked as a consultant at Deloitte.

Sandeep’s background in tech set the foundation for the 2015 launch of his company, ScopeWeaver, India’s largest marketplace for professional services. It was here that he designed and developed blockchain-based decentralized application architecture. As with many, once Sandeep dipped his toes into the world of web3, there was no turning back. Sandeep immersed himself in literature, reading everything and anything about artificial intelligence and other new technologies, such as blockchain. Just two years later, in 2017, Sandeep, Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun united under a common vision for the future of blockchain tech, and Polygon was born.

Currently, Sandeep is based in Dubai, with the support of his 400+ people team that are distributed across India, Dubai, Asia, the USA, and Europe. Sandeep’s day to day is filled with a little bit of everything, including, branding, marketing, adoption, and operations at Polygon, as well as partnering with key stakeholders to push forward the vision of Polygon. With a strong team behind him, Sandeep is excited to continue to develop the Polygon ecosystem, with the ultimate mission of bringing crypto to the masses.

“Mass adoption of crypto is our core mission at Polygon…” - Sandeep Naiwal

Gary Mendell

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Shatterproof

Gary Mendell is the founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. After losing his son Brian to addiction in 2011, Gary founded Shatterproof to spare other families the tragedy his had suffered.

Since founding Shatterproof, Mr. Mendell has been recognized as a national leader in the addiction space, working to transform how opioid and substance use disorders are treated. His priorities include advocating for state and federal policy change, ending the harmful stigma of addiction, and supporting and educating our communities.

Mr. Mendell has testified in front of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and his opinions are frequently reflected in the media.  He is a member of the National Quality Forum's Technical Expert Panel for Opioid and Opioid Use Disorder and is an advisory member of The Opioid Policy Research Collaborative at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.  

Before Shatterproof, Mr. Mendell spent decades as an entrepreneur. He founded HEI Hotels & Resorts, a multi-billion-dollar company that oversees a portfolio of approximately 70 first class hotels.

Mr. Mendell received his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and his MBA with distinction from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mary-Catherine Lader

Chief Operating Officer, Uniswap Labs

Mary-Catherine (MC) Lader is the Chief Operating Officer of Uniswap Labs, a developer of foundational web3-based products and applications. In this role, she oversees the company’s growth efforts, strategic initiatives, and operations. Previously, she held various leadership roles at BlackRock, including as the Global Head of the firm’s digital sustainability business, Chief Operating Officer of the firm’s Digital Wealth Business, and leader of the firm’s strategic fintech investments and blockchain activities. MC began her career in Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group and worked on the staff of the World Economic Forum’s Davos gatherings. She received her J.D. and M.B.A. degrees at Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, respectively, and her B.A. at Brown University.

Vinod Khosla

Founder, Partner, Khosla Ventures

Vinod Khosla is an entrepreneur, investor, and technology fan. He is the founder of Khosla Ventures, focused on impactful technology investments in software, AI, robotics, 3D printing, healthcare and more. Mr. Khosla was a co-founder of Daisy systems and founding CEO of Sun Microsystems where he pioneered open systems and commercial RISC processors. One of Mr. Khosla’s greatest passions is being a mentor to entrepreneurs, assisting entrepreneurs and helping them build technology based businesses. Mr. Khosla is driven by the desire to make a positive impact through using technology to reinvent societal infrastructure and multiply resources. He is also passionate about Social Entrepreneurship. Vinod holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from IIT, New Delhi, a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Greg Jensen

Co-Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates

Greg Jensen is Co-Chief Investment Officer at Bridgewater Associates and is a Director on Bridgewater’s Operating Board of Directors.

He joined Bridgewater in 1996 after graduating from Dartmouth College with a degree in Economics and Applied Mathematics. As Co-CIO, Greg oversees Bridgewater’s investment strategies and research efforts with Co-CIOs Bob Prince and Ray Dalio. Greg is integrally involved in overseeing Bridgewater’s investment engine and investment talent. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, Greg was named one of business’s rising stars in Fortune Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40.”

As Co-CIO, Greg oversees the systemization of Bridgewater’s research into trading strategies, manages the development of proprietary investment management models, directs the design and implementation of client investment strategies, and publishes timely market understanding to clients and global policy makers via Bridgewater’s Daily Observations. Greg has been a key author of the Daily Observations since joining the Firm in 1996.

Greg is dedicated to building a community of market thinkers and investment managers who can develop, systemize, and compound market understanding better than anyone else in the world. Over the past fifteen years, he has designed training, developed new research methods and invested in cutting edge technology to make this vision a reality. Greg is involved in charitable missions around effective altruism and the safe development and use of AI.

Robyn Grew

President, Man Group

Robyn Grew is President of the LSE-listed global active investment management firm Man Group, which includes responsibility for ESG (comprising both Corporate Sustainability and Responsible Investing); Man Solutions and Man FRM; Central Trading, Funds Treasury and Bank relationships; Operations; Financial Crime; Corporate Real Estate; and Communications. Based in New York, Robyn is also a member of Man Group’s Senior Executive Governance Committee.

She has held a number of senior roles during her time with Man Group, including Group COO, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and Global Head of Legal and Compliance. Before joining the firm in 2010 as Chief Compliance Officer for Man GLG, Robyn held senior positions at Barclays Capital and prior to that at Lehman Brothers and LIFFE. Robyn is a qualified barrister and has worked in the investment industry since 1994.

Vanessa Grellet

Managing Partner, Aglaé Ventures

Vanessa Grellet is a Managing Partner at Aglaé Ventures. Vanessa is a Global Executive with over 20 years of expertise in the Financial Services and Tech industry. At Aglae Ventures she manages the Web 3 focused fund and investments. Prior to joining Aglae she has Head of Portfolio growth at CoinFund and Executive director at ConsenSys where she focused on driving adoption for Ethereumbased products,  Strategic initiatives, Alliances and Channels.  She was involved in setting up the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), the Accounting Blockchain Coalition (ABC) and the Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition (BSIC). Prior to ConsenSys she was a Strategy Executive at NYSE and a key member of PwC’s global wealth management team. Vanessa is a Founding Board member of AABC focused on Blockchain and Art, a member of the Advisory Council of ConsenSys, a Milken Institute Associate, a contributor to the  World Economic Forum Digital Future Council and part of Cointelegraph’s list of 100 most influential people for 2022. Mrs. Grellet graduated Cum Laude from Law School (Paris II Assas) and Business School (HEC).

Bruce Flatt

Chief Executive Officer, Brookfield Asset Management

Bruce Flatt is Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $725 billion in assets under management.

Mr. Flatt joined Brookfield in 1990 and became CEO in 2002. Under his leadership, Brookfield has developed a global operating presence in more than 30 countries.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Flatt ran Brookfield’s real estate and investment operations and has served on numerous public company boards over the past two decades.

Scott Ferguson

Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager, Sachem Head Capital Management

Scott is the managing partner and portfolio manager of Sachem Head Capital Management, a value-oriented investment management firm based in New York. Prior to starting Sachem Head in 2012, he spent nine years at Pershing Square Capital Management, which he joined at its inception in 2003. Prior to Pershing Square, Scott earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 2003 and was a vice president at American Industrial Partners, private equity firm, from 1999 to 2001. Scott was also a business analyst at McKinsey & Company from 1996 to 1999. Scott graduated from Stanford University with an A.B. in Public Policy in 1996. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Henry Street Settlement and is also a member of the Robin Hood Leadership Council. He is a current director of the US Foods Holdings, Elanco Animal Health and the Olin Corporation, and was formerly on the board of Autodesk. He lives in New York with his wife and three children.

Carleton English

Reporter, Barron’s

Carleton English is a reporter at Barron's covering financial markets and asset managers. In addition to her work for Barron's Magazine, Carleton is also a panelist on Barron's weekly show "Barron's Roundtable" on Fox Business. Before joining Barron's, Carleton was the hedge fund reporter at the New York Post and she covered energy and banks for TheStreet. Prior to moving to journalism, Carleton worked in wealth management. She is a graduate of George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. 

Jackson Cummings

Head, Wellington Access Ventures, Wellington Management

Jackson manages the firm’s private company investment activity in diverse early-stage companies and venture capital funds, working closely with portfolio managers, global industry analysts, and other global research resources within the firm to identify and pursue investments.

Prior to joining Wellington Management, Jackson was an investor at Salesforce Ventures where he worked on or led over 30 investments and led various equality initiatives, including deploying capital into black and underrepresented founders.

Jackson previously worked as a senior analyst at Top Tier Capital Partners. He also co-led the creation of the Black Venture Institute, a curriculum-based program dedicated to teaching black operators the foundational elements to become angel and venture investors.

Jackson holds a bachelor of science, technology, and society from Stanford University. He also serves on the board of non-profit, BLCK VC.

Zoe Cruz

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Menai Financial Group

Zoe Cruz is the Founder and CEO of Menai Financial Group, and a highly accomplished executive who spent decades at the forefront of the financial services industry, working in trading and capital markets. Zoe had a 25-year tenure at Morgan Stanley, where she was Co-President from 2005 to 2007; in this role, she ran major revenue-generating businesses, including the company’s securities, risk management and information technology organizations. Prior to that, Zoe was the Global Head of Fixed Income, Commodities and Foreign Exchange from 2001 until 2005. She joined Morgan Stanley in 1982 and was the third founding member of the company’s foreign exchange trading group. Zoe is also a former Senior Advisor at Promontory Financial Group, LLC, and the founder of an investment management firm, Voras Capital Management. In addition to her leadership position at Menai, Zoe serves as Founder and CEO of EOZ Global, a single-family office. She also sits on the boards of the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Business and Government Advisory Council. Zoe previously sat on the boards of Ripple, Old Mutual PLC, Morgan Stanley, Harvard Dean’s Council, MAN Group and Bowdoin College Investment Committee.

Michael Carmen

Co-Head, Private Investments, Wellington Management

As co-head of Private Investments, Michael manages our diversified late-stage growth equity business that invests across technology, consumer, health care, and financial services sectors. In addition, he leads the firm’s effort to deepen and broaden private investment capabilities to support growth and ensure strong overall investment results.

Previously, Michael managed institutional portfolios in the Multi-Cap Growth styles, drawing on research provided by Wellington’s regional and global industry analysts and other global research resources within the firm. He has spent a large part of his career investing in diversified portfolios in the small- and mid-cap equity markets, and he authors papers on topics concerning investment trends in late-stage growth and small-cap equity portfolios. He is a member of the firm’s Incentive Compensation Committee and previously served as the first male Advisory Board member of the Wellington Women’s Network.

He received his MBA from New York University and his BS in accounting from the State University of New York at Albany. Additionally, he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Todd Boehly

Co-Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Eldridge Industries

Todd L. Boehly is Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Eldridge.

Mr. Boehly is Chairman of Chelsea Football Club and an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks, Cloud9, and DraftKings.

He is Chairman of Security Benefit, and MRC, which owns dick clark productions, and has investments in A24, Fulwell 73, and Penske Media, which owns Billboard, Rolling Stone, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge has made investments in over 70 operating businesses. 

Mr. Boehly is also on the boards of the Los Angeles Lakers, Flexjet, PayActiv, CAIS, Cain International, Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW), Vivid Seats (NASDAQ: SEAT), and Horizon Acquisition Corporation II (NYSE: HZON). Mr. Boehly was formerly on the board of Truebill.

Prior to founding Eldridge, Mr. Boehly was President of Guggenheim Partners and founded the credit business at Guggenheim.  

He received his B.B.A. from The College of William & Mary, where he later founded The Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance, and studied at the London School of Economics. Mr. Boehly supports epilepsy research, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Brunswick School, and The College of William & Mary.

David Blumberg

Founder & Managing Partner, Blumberg Capital

David is the founder and managing partner of Blumberg Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with visionary entrepreneurs from Seed stage through their growth journey. The firm was among the first investors in industry leaders including Addepar, Braze, Credorax, DoubleVerify, Fundbox, HootSuite, Katapult, Nutanix, Trulioo and Yotpo. David is based in Miami with team members across San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Miami and New York.

Prior to founding Blumberg Capital in 1991, David managed international investments with the Bronfman Family Office, Adler & Co, APAX Partners and at T. Rowe Price. He also launched business development for Check Point Software Technologies.

David earned an A.B. in Government, cum laude, from Harvard College and a MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and INSEAD. He speaks French and is proficient in Hebrew and Spanish.

David serves as a member or observer on the boards of EarnUp, EasyKnock, Finaro, Jassby, Lendio, Mytaverse, Shyft, Slync.io, SupplyPike, Trulioo and Wunder.