Mali Phonpadith’s father escaped a re-education camp, and her family fled war-torn Laos. Arriving in the U.S. at age five, she learned English from watching the TV show Sesame Street. Later, her teacher said Mali’s journal showed she was a poet–even though she didn’t know what poetry was. Mali Phonpadith is the founder and CEO of the SOAR Community Network, as well as an author, speaker and podcaster. SOAR stands for See, Own, Articulate and Release and is based uncovering your greatest gifts and talents.
Stephanie Weeks was so dead-set on a career in law, she had no Plan B. Everything she had done in college and work had pointed her toward that goal. Then, after graduation, she received the news that totally changed her path. It turned out, there was a better option. As a mortgage lender, she has closed thousands of loans totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in volume, but the real joy in her career comes from the smile that she sees from buyers and sellers during a smooth and on time closing.
Dr. Carolyn Jerdan has served in education for 20+ years as a teacher, counselor and school administrator, both in private and public schools, with students ranging from preschool to adult. She earned an MBA at Northwestern University, and Ph.D. in school psychology at the University of Maryland. At Johnson Ferry Christian Academy she guides students through their college search process. Her passion is to help students realize their uniqueness and God-given talents so they can better plan for their future.
Erica is a former environmental science professor using her expertise in sustainability and green living to transform spaces and the interior design field using her cleaner, greener Method. Four years ago she started Eco Method Interiors to help people feel happier, healthier, less stressed and more confident at home or work. When she is not working she is planning her next trip down under with her Australian husband, or is at the dog park with Hank, her mutt.
Sayan Sarkar is an entrepreneur and founder of InvigorateNOW Health Sciences, an innovative health supplement brand. He is also the creator of Sark Media Direct, a direct marketing consultancy in the health and e-commerce industries. He’s worked with Martha Stewart, Organifi, Zenith Labs, and more. Through his consulting, he has helped entrepreneurs scale from zero to six and seven figures. Also an investor, Sayan has stakes in three health supplement brands in addition to businesses he started from nothing.
Simon Crowe is a master in the field of personal growth, who specializes in connecting the successful with their deepest purpose. As a qualified coach for over 12 years, he has guided hundreds of courageous individuals in achieving greater self-expression and fulfillment and experiencing deeper meaning in their lives. He works exclusively with high-performing, self-starters who have mastered conventional success and who are hungry to reappraise their life in honor of their unique gifts.
Devarajan Venkat is the CEO of Archis Management Advisors, LLP, a private equity and strategic advisory firm headquartered in Mumbai, India. He is also the author of the fast-selling corporate thriller, “Entruppted.” He's a mentor to many entrepreneurs around the globe and investor in select companies. His past experience includes being CFO at two of the leading media companies of India, Reliance Group and Balaji Telefilm.
Kendra Dahlstrom is a Christian business strategy and life coach, trainer, and speaker who helps women of faith live fully into their God-given calling, transforming it into a profitable legacy. She started her faith-based business to transition from the corporate world toward a life she loves, sharing her passion for Jesus Christ by helping others find and fulfill their callings. Using life coaching techniques through a Biblical lens, she helps clients live their calling to Him the way He envisioned.
Jon DeWaal is the executive director and learning facilitator at Liminal Space, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping others find the courage to navigate major life transitions. He spends his days guiding one-on-one transition sessions, leading transition groups, and facilitating learning workshops that teach transition skills at The PIER Learning Center at Liminal Space. Jon is the host of a podcast called, Life Through Transitions, which aims to help listeners navigate life’s biggest changes.
Erik Seversen has forged a path filled with extreme adventure and success, ranging from hitchhiking from London to central Africa, living with a remote Amazon tribe, to building and selling businesses. His new book, “Ordinary to Extraordinary,” reveals his personal search for meaning, highlighting how anyone can create a life of purpose and success. Erik’s focus is on business development and English language training. He believes helping others is the best way to create success and fulfillment in life.
Monika Jansen is head copywriter and strategist at Jansen Communications, a boutique marketing agency specializing in copywriting and social media marketing. Most clients are small to midsize companies you have never heard of, but past clients have included Groupon and web.com. Named marketing influencer on Twitter by Libris, she is an Amazon bestseller for a book she coauthored with a client. When she is not working, she hangs out with her husband and kids, travels, snowboards and laughs as much as possible.
Cynthia Trevino works with purpose-driven entrepreneurs who urgently want to speak their ideal clients’ language, earn more income, and have more impact. She created the Client Clarity to Cash Flow Signature Program and is the author of the #1 bestselling book, "She Markets, A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs: 5 Simple Steps to Attract More Clients, Make More Money and Have More Impact." Cynthia has helped companies big and small reach clients, fulfill visions, and make income goals for over 30 years.
Tommy Baker helps dreamers, visionaries, and entrepreneurs bring those dreams to life and create a life they can't wait to wake up for. He’s the author of “UnResolution: How to Ditch Resolutions Forever, Live Life by Design, and Achieve Your Dreams,” “The One Percent Rule,” and “The Leap of Your Life: How to Redefine Risk, Quit Waiting For 'Someday,' and Live Boldly.” Tommy believes living up to your potential is what we're here for. His podcast spreads the message of his Resist Average Academy.
Cayla Craft is an emergency room nurse turned network marketing millionaire. After building multiple businesses, including the Mommy Millionaire brand, she is passionate about seeing women be ambitious about pursuing their dreams. She serves entrepreneurs with the Mommy Millionaire podcast three times a week, coaches women to build sustainable businesses and teaches brand growth within her online community. She recently released her best-selling book, “The Habit of Leading Yourself.”
Dev Aujla is the CEO of Catalog, a recruiting firm that has provided talent and strategy to some of the world's most innovative companies including BMW, GOOD Magazine, Change.org, and Planned Parenthood. His writing and work have been featured in dozens of media outlets including the New York Times, Glamour, MSNBC, CBC and The Globe and Mail. He is the author of “50 Ways to Get a Job: An Unconventional Guide to Finding Work on Your Terms.”
Kirk Deis has been featured on Forbes and podcasts and radio shows throughout the United States. He is CEO and founder of two companies, Treehouse 51, a digital agency based in Newport Beach, California, and The Bug Squasher, a universal web app that helps you diagnose site issues. Driven by an early passion to write screenplays, he found his own creative niche and brought together creative people he met along the way.
Erin Wathen is a holistic health coach, food abuse counselor and author of “Why Can't I Stick To My Diet? How To End The Food Drama.” A graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she understands the science behind health. As a certified spinning instructor, Vinyasa Yoga instructor, and classical Pilates instructor, she understands how to explain the mechanics of health in everyday talk. Her philosophy: health is not a number on a scale or how often we exercise, but our lives as a whole.
Kelly Resendez is a mom, business executive, bestselling author and influencer. She loves helping others with strategies to overcome self-sabotage and find more joy. Author of the book “Big Voices,” she is also founder of the movement the book is named for, Big Voices, a women empowered network. Kelly is passionate about helping people increase joy, reduce suffering, and learn to think differently. Her own journey has helped her create the strategies and tools that she shares throughout her books.
Samuel P. N. Cook is the founder and creative director of James Cook media, a documentary film making marketing agency. He's also the creator of the story funnel software, which helps business owners tell their story online. A graduate of West Point, he served two tours of duty in Iraq and has taught history at West Point and New York University.
Silja Litvin was born in Germany, but moved to California as a child. Exposed to many diverse cultures, she developed an insatiable curiosity for psychology. In 17 years of international modeling, she also pursued a master's and PhD in clinical psychology. Now she’s venturing into artificial intelligence, gamification, and chatbots to find ways to help people help themselves, including launching EQ: The Emotional Fitness Game.
Kim Ades is the President and Founder of Frame of Mind Coaching™ and JournalEngine™ Software. Author, speaker, entrepreneur, coach, and mother of five, Kim is recognized as one of North America's foremost experts on performance through thought mastery. Using her unique philosophy and quirky coaching style, she helps her clients shift their thinking in order to yield extraordinary results and personal transformation.
Donny Hamilton is a husband, father and former army captain who was deployed to the Middle East and later as a deputy sheriff. His rollercoaster life included growing up in a broken home and joining the Army at age 19 in search of a better life. Perseverance to conquer childhood fears led him to become a better man, successful entrepreneur and COO of Vigilant Tiger Security, a veteran-founded security business. He wrote the bestselling book, “A Tiger's Fury: How to Start Overcoming Your Fears Right Now!”
Natasha McCreesh is a joy bringer, cultural explorer, and humanitarian. She walked away from a 20-year corporate career with no plan other than to only do work that brings her joy. Four years later, her life is more satisfying than she imagined. Collaborating with people of passion and purpose, she coaches and mentors leaders and teams to get the most out of their life and work. She takes groups to Liberia, west Africa, to demonstrate the connection between powerful service and transformational leaders.
Bernie Taylor is an independent naturalist and author whose research explores the mythological connections and biological knowledge among prehistoric, indigenous and ancient peoples. His works in these areas include "Biological Time" (2004) and "Before Orion: Finding the Face of the Hero" (2017). Taylor proposes that select cave paintings are fundamental pieces in the human journey to self-realization, the foundation of written language, and a record of biological knowledge that irrevocably impacted some of the artistic styles, religious practices, and stories that are still with us.
Will Little grew up in the inner city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a broken home. Growing up poor and fatherless he ventured out onto the streets as a teenager—robbing, stealing, selling drugs and carrying guns until he killed a young man in a shootout. Now 19, Will was charged and sentenced to 20 years in prison. During his incarceration, he made a conscious choice to change his life around. After 10 years, he was released to the same Philly community where he became a community activist and mentor.