Ben Nemtin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die? and a star of MTV’s highest-rated show on iTunes and Amazon, “The Buried Life.” As co-founder of The Buried Life movement, Ben’s message of radical possibility has been featured on “Today,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” CNN, FOX, and NBC News. President Obama called Ben and The Buried Life “an inspiration for a new generation,” and Oprah declared their mission “truly inspiring.”
An acclaimed keynote speaker, Ben has headlined business conferences and Fortune 100 leadership teams worldwide, earning standing ovations from organizations including AIG, Anthem, Amazon, FedEx, Harvard, Microsoft, and Verizon. He is recognized as one of the world’s top organizational culture thought leaders and was ranked the 3rd Best Motivational Speaker in the World by Global Gurus in 2022.
In his first year of university, Ben was unexpectedly hit with depression and forced to drop out. In an effort to feel more alive, he created a bucket list with his three best friends. They borrowed a rickety RV and crisscrossed North America, achieving the unthinkable—and each time they crossed off a dream, they helped a complete stranger do the same. From playing basketball with President Obama to reuniting a father and son after seventeen years, Ben’s bucket list journey has inspired millions to thrive personally and professionally.
Get ready for his speech and learn more about Ben on LinkedIn.
Will Guidara is the author of The New York Times bestselling Unreasonable Hospitality, which chronicles the lessons in service and leadership he has learned over the course of his career in restaurants. He is the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which, under his leadership, received four stars from The New York Times, three Michelin stars, and in 2017 was named #1 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
He is the host of the Welcome Conference, an annual hospitality symposium that brings together like-minded people to share ideas, inspire one another, and connect to form community. A graduate of the hospitality school at Cornell University, he has coauthored four cookbooks, was named one of Crain’s New York Business’s 40 Under 40, and is the recipient of a WSJ. Innovator Award from WSJ. Magazine.
Get to know Will better by visiting his LinkedIn page.
Deanna Marsigliese is an Italian-Canadian art director, character designer, and 2D animator based in San Francisco. She has worked at Pixar Animation Studios since 2012, contributing to films including Luca, Soul, Onward, Toy Story 4, Incredibles II, Bao, Inside Out, and The Good Dinosaur. Her creative process was also featured in the Disney+ documentary series Inside Pixar.
Most recently, Marsigliese designed the characters Anxiety and Ennui for Pixar’s record-breaking Inside Out 2 (2024) and has contributed new characters to the Toy Story franchise, with the next installment set for release in 2026. She is currently conceptualizing several new projects in development.
A two-time Annie Award nominee, Marsigliese is a member of the Academy and a passionate educator. She has written and directed Pixar’s art internship programs, piloted courses at Pixar University and The Walt Disney Family Museum, and previously served as Professor of Classical Animation at Seneca College in Toronto. She delivers keynotes and workshops worldwide and has headlined major industry events including SXSW, D23, and LightBox Expo, among others.
A vintage fashion enthusiast with a love of bold costume jewelry, Marsigliese often finds inspiration while traveling the world with a surprisingly small backpack.
Learn more about Deanna and her work on Instagram.
As a magician and The New York Times Crossword puzzle constructor, David Kwong has delighted and confounded audiences worldwide. A TED Talk favorite, Kwong regularly speaks to companies and demonstrates the principles of illusion and the science of why your brain is fooled.
Kwong was the head magic consultant for the worldwide hit Now You See Me. Kwong’s one-man show, “The Enigmatist,” has sold-out runs in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. His interactive puzzle show, “Inside the Box,” also garnered a Critic’s Pick from The New York Times.
David has spoken to and performed for hundreds of companies with his entertaining and enlightening talks on the principles of illusion, influence, command, and the science of getting a step ahead.
He also designs custom team-building puzzle events. Drawing from his book, Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion to Captivate Audiences and Unlock the Secrets of Success, David regularly speaks to companies about how to bridge the gap between perception and reality and increase your powers of persuasion and influence.
Keep up with the latest on David via his LinkedIn page.
