Miguel R. Forbes is President of New Business Development at Forbes Inc., the publisher of Forbes and Forbes Global magazines, and the parent company of Forbes.com, the company?s leading business website. One of his responsibilities is the management of the Forbes International Licensing Division, which currently publishes Forbes Russia, Forbes China, Forbes Korea, Forbes Arabia, Forbes Israel and Forbes Japan. Before taking over the new business unit, Miguel Forbes founded the Forbes Index Inc. in 1998 and served as its General Manager. He joined Forbes in 1996 as a sales representative for Forbes.com. Miguel Forbes has a BA in English and a Master?s in Publishing from New York University. Outside of professional commitments, Miguel Forbes has charitable associations including the Community Coalition, which assists disabled individuals in securing care and employment, and Prep for Prep, which provides scholarships to gifted inner-city students to attend private schools.

Laure is a Managing Director at Swiss Re and leader of the single risk business in EMEA. Leading a team of nearly 100 colleagues and managing premium income of USD1bn, she is the youngest Managing Director of this leading Global Risk carrier. Together with her team, she is fully engaged to deliver on Swiss Re's purpose to make the world more resilient. Beyond work, Laure is committed to empowering the disadvantaged. She is involved in initiatives to promote diversity, including being a champion for women in STEM, supporting entrepreneurship in Africa and Chair of philanthropy committee of the Swiss Re Foundation in Switzerland. She is the happy mother of three young children and lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

Camille François is an authority on digital safety and security, specializing in cyber conflict, online harms and artificial intelligence. For the past decade she has advised governments and parliamentary committees on both sides of the Atlantic – from investigating Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election on behalf of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, to leading the French government’s 2022 inquiry into the economic opportunities and social challenges presented by the metaverse. In 2023, President Emmanuel Macron of France appointed François to steer a national consultative assembly (États Généraux) on information and society. She is Senior Director for Trust & Safety at Niantic, an augmented reality company, where she built and now leads the trust and safety function.

François was previously Chief Innovation Officer at Graphika, overseeing investigations, analysis and research in cybersecurity and disinformation networks. As a leading figure in trust and safety, she has pioneered methodological advances. She is a faculty member at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she teaches trust and safety, and heads a programme on artificial intelligence and democracy. François has been recognized as a TIME 100 NEXT and MIT Tech Review 35 Under 35 honouree in 2019 for her contributions to making digital technologies safer and more trustworthy.

Andy Freire is an entrepreneur both in the social and business sectors. He is Director of Trocafone a company that recycles used phones in Brazil and resells it to the uprising middle-low class. He served as elected congressman of Buenos Aires and Minister of Modernisation, Innovation and Technology and President of the Tourism Agency of Buenos Aires and as Managing Partner and Director of South Cone of Softbank Group International.

As an entrepreneur Andy co-founded and led Officenet (acquired by Staples in 2004), a company that revolutionized the industry of distribution (retail) of office supplies in Latin America and Restorando (acquired by Trip Advisor in 2018), the leading restaurant online booking platform in Latin America, Sirena (acquired by Zeenvia) and most recently Trocafone, the leading used cell phone reselling platform in Brazil.

Recognized as "Global Leader for Tomorrow" in 2002 by the World Economic Forum World, and "Latin American Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2001 by the Endeavor Foundation, Andy was also awarded as one of the two finalists in the “World Young Business Achiever Award" held in the Philippines in 2002. He was also distinguished in 2008 as "Young Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Andy holds a degree in Economics from the University of San Andrés and has a OPM from Harvard Business School.

He is the author of the books “Pasión por emprender” (Aguilar, 2004), “50 claves para emprendedores” (Aguilar, 2006), “5%” (Aguilar, 2013), “Libre, la filosofía de vida emprendedora” (Aguilar 2014) and “Argentina Emprendedora” (Aguilar, 2015).

Philipp Freise is Co-Head of European Private Equity and serves as a member of KKR's European Private Equity and Growth Equity Investment Committees, as well as its European Portfolio Management Committee. Mr. Freise led KKR's investments in FGS Global, Axel Springer SE, BMG Rights Management, Fotolia, GetYourGuide, GfK SE, Leonine, Mediawan SAS, Scout24 Switzerland and Trainline and played a significant role in various other KKR TMT (Exact, ProSiebenSat.1, SBS Broadcasting) and German transactions (Demag, Duales System Deutschland, MTU Aero Engines, Zumtobel). Mr. Freise currently serves on the board of directors of FGS Global, Axel Springer SE, Leonine and Mediawan SAS. He was a scholar of the German National Scholarship foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes) and graduated top of his class at WHU Koblenz, EDHEC Lille and University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business. He later worked at McKinsey & Company in Vienna, Frankfurt and New York, and subsequently co-founded Berlin-based venture investment firm Venturepark, Europe's first pan-European incubator. In 2009, Mr. Freise was named a Young Global Leader and in 2014 a member of the Agenda Council on the Future of Financing and Capital of the World Economic Forum. Mr. Freise is a member of the Kuratorium of the Bayreuth Opera Festival (Gesellschaft der Freunde von Bayreuth) and serves on the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, London as Vice Chairman.

Vidhya Ganesan is Managing Partner of McKinsey and Company’s Malaysia office and was previously Co-Founder and Co-Leader of McKinsey's Sri Lanka office. Ganesan has steered several transformative government programmes in the social, economic and financial sectors with a special focus on digital government and digital economy. Her focus on leveraging technology in low and middle-income nations has enhanced education and healthcare outcomes while fostering transparency and efficiency. As a McKinsey Center for Government fellow, she contributed to global research and innovation in government digitization and performance. Her expertise extends to advising apparel manufacturers, particularly in sustainable practices and digital manufacturing. Notably, Ganesan collaborates with a leading apparel manufacturer on their ambitious goal to become the world's first traditional apparel manufacturer World Economic Forum lighthouse. She also provides strategic counsel to high-tech and telecommunications clients on digital business development and impact investing. Ganesan was also Co-Founder of McKinsey’s All In, Diversity and Inclusion initiative in South-East Asia and she is passionate about advancing women in the workforce at McKinsey and beyond. Ganesan regularly conducts training sessions for women entrepreneurs; she is a mentor and coach for women and publishes and gives talks on the topic.

Passionate about the confluence of technology and biology, I'm the Founder of Terraflos, a venture dedicated to enhancing people's health and wellbeing through innovative products rooted in natural substances, science, and technology, all while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
With a track record of entrepreneurship and investment across various sectors, I have contributed to the success of numerous companies in the region. As a Board Member of organizations such as Caliz.bio, Pachama.com, Nutripharma, Blueberries Medical, INI, Spinoza.co, etc. I advocate for solutions that marry progress with ecological responsibility.
My commitment extends beyond business, as evidenced by my involvement in socially impactful initiatives. From founding companies like InvertirOnline.com or founding ASEA, to serving as Director of Sistema B and playing pivotal roles in organizations like SociaLab.com and Endeavor NOA, I strive to drive positive change in both business and society.
Having served as a Member of Congress, I'm dedicated to creating an environment conducive to innovation and sustainability.
Recognized globally for my leadership, I have been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and selected as a Yale World Fellow. Moreover, my contributions have been acknowledged by institutions like the United Nations.
Complementing my entrepreneurial journey, I have pursued education and personal development rigorously. From earning a postgraduate degree in Business Administration at UC Berkeley to completing programs at Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford universities, I continuously seek to broaden my horizons and deepen my impact.
As a former selector for the MIT Technology Review and a member of the Political Action Network (RAP), I am deeply engaged in shaping the future of technology and policy. Moreover, my involvement in initiatives like ASEA and EO Argentina highlights my commitment to fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems.
With a foundation in Systems Analysis from the University of Tucumán and specialized training in Investment Management, I bring a multidisciplinary approach to my endeavors. My journey has been enriched by experiences at institutions like Singularity University and Chicago Booth, where I honed my leadership skills and strategic vision.
In essence, my mission is to leverage technology, entrepreneurship, and policy to create a sustainable and equitable future for all. Whether through business ventures, legislative advocacy, or social initiatives, I am dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the world.

BA (Hons), History, Durham University. Chief Executive Officer, GIB Asset Management. Operating between London and New York, the business was established in 1975 and focuses on client-related activities in asset management and treasury. GIB UK's asset management strategy is focused on scaling and mobilizing capital in support of sustainable investment strategies, across equities and fixed income. Formerly Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer, Alliance Trust PLC, one of Europe’s largest providers of sustainable and responsible investment funds. Chair, Clean Air Fund; Chair, CDP Worldwide Board; Chair, Gousto. Former Member: Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bank AG (2011-2020); UK Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group; Scottish Business Board; Commission for the Green Investment Bank; Steering Group, Capital Markets Climate Initiative; Executive Committee, World Business Council for Sustainable Development; Founder Member, Advisory Council of The CityUK. Former British Business Ambassador for Financial Services. Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum (2006). Member of the Foundation Board of Young Global Leaders until December 2019 and former Member of the Board of Trustees, Chair, Global Agenda Council on Values (2012-14), World Economic Forum. Patron, City Week UK. Recipient of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), New Year's Honours 2014.

Agon is born and lives in Pristina, Kosovo. Agon graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Bard College in New York and he also completed a leadership program at IMD in Switzerland a few years later. In 2023, Agon was recognized as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Agon joined his family business in June 2010, and in two years, he co-founded Meridian Express, a chain of neighborhood stores, now one of the leading retail companies in the country. In 2020, Agon managed to acquire 100% of SPAR Kosovo, an international chain of supermarkets.

Agon is a very active member of society and positively transforms Kosovo's business environment by showing that we can all do well by doing good. He is Vice-Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, founder and board member of Kosovo CSR Network, founder and board member of the Kosovo Retail Association, and a signatory of WEPs (Women's Empowerment Principles).

In 2018, Agon led Meridian to become a New Champion at the World Economic Forum. Agon is currently the CEO of two retail companies in Kosovo (Meridian Express and SPAR) with more than 1000 employees and concrete plans to further expansion locally and regionally.

Maëlle Gavet is CEO of Techstars, the largest pre-seed investor in the world (4,000+ portfolio companies in 60+ companies). She has been named one of Fortune's 40 under 40, a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and was on Time Magazine's list of the 25 Top "Female Techpreuners."

An entrepreneur at heart, Maëlle founded her first business at sixteen and went on to start two other companies. She has been a senior executive at numerous large tech companies around the world, including Ozon, the Priceline Group (OpenTable, Kayak, Booking.com) and Compass. She was also a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group for 6 years.

Author of the widely-acclaimed book Trampled by Unicorns: Big Tech's Empathy Problem and How to Fix It (Wiley, 2020), she is currently based in New York City.

Degrees in Graphic Design and Industrial Design, Rhode Island School of Design. Formerly: Designer, Chronicle Books; Previously developed web and consumer product startups. Currently, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Airbnb. He plays a leading role in shaping Airbnb’s future innovation, distinctive culture, and design aesthetic, and through his work, seeks to expand the richness of human connection in the world.

Alex is Chief Executive Officer of FGS Global. He joined the firm in 1998 and advises clients on communicating M&A transactions, on CEO transitions, as well as Corporate Strategy launches. Alex has advised on more than 100 M&A transactions and leadership changes.

With his international background, Alex is ideally placed to advise clients on the development and implementation of cross-border strategies. Throughout his career Alex has worked in New York, London, Düsseldorf, and now calls Frankfurt his home office.

Alex studied Politics and Economics at Western University in Canada. He completed post-graduate studies at INSEAD and Harvard University. In 2014, he was named “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum (Geneva). He is happily married to the love of his life, with whom he has three wonderful children. His passion for hiking adventures has seen him explore the most remote regions of places like the Andes, Iceland, Tibet, and Yukon.