Annual Conference

Lado Gurgenidze
Former Prime Minister of Georgia
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Lado Gurgenidze is a career banker who, after a decade spent at several investment banks in Warsaw, Moscow and London, returned to his native Georgia in 2004 and spearheaded, as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the turnaround of Bank of Georgia. During Lado’s three-year tenure, the bank’s total assets and net income grew by 855% and 1,775%, respectively, achieving ROAE of 16.2% and ROAA of 3.6% in 2007. As its market share grew from 18% to 34%, Bank of Georgia became the leading universal bank in Georgia and the region.In 2007-2008, Lado served as Prime Minister of Georgia, leading the Georgian economy through the final stage of free-market reforms, including tax cuts and the financial services sector reform as well as privatisation and liberalisation policies. In January 2014, Lado joined the Board of Directors of Bayport Management Limited, a consumer lender in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, and was appointed Chairman in May 2015.

José Cisneros is the elected Treasurer for the City and County of San Francisco. As Treasurer, he serves as the City’s banker and Chief Investment Officer, managing all tax and revenue collection for San Francisco. Appointed in 2004, and first elected in 2005, Cisneros has used his experience in the tech and banking industries to enhance and modernize taxpayer systems and successfully manage the City’s portfolio through a major recession.

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David Abney, who began his career as a part-time package loader while in college, serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of UPS. David was appointed CEO in 2014 and as Chairman in 2016. David previously served as Chief Operating Officer since 2007, overseeing logistics, sustainability, engineering and all facets of the UPS transportation network. Before serving as COO, David was President of UPS International, leading the Company's strategic initiative to increase its global logistics capabilities. During his career, David was also involved in a number of global acquisitions that included the Fritz Companies, Stolica, Lynx Express, and Sino-Trans in China. Earlier in his career, he served as President of SonicAir, a same-day delivery service that signaled UPS's move into the service parts logistics sector. David began his UPS career in 1974 in a small facility in Greenwood, Mississippi, while attending Delta State University.

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Betty Liu is an anchor for Bloomberg Television in New York. Everyday on her morning program, she counts viewers down to the opening bell. Since joining Bloomberg, Betty has secured some of the biggest interviews for the network including lengthy sit-downs with CEOs and newsmakers such as Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Fred Smith, and many others. Betty was formerly an anchor and correspondent for CNBC Asia, based in Hong Kong. She covered the daily market action in the Greater China region for all of CNBC's morning shows including the signature program, Squawk Box. She anchored the coverage of the China market meltdown in February 2007 and also anchored CNBC's newest show, Capital Connection, which launched in March 2007.

Books

• Work Smarts: What CEOs Say You Need To Know to Get Ahead
• Age Smart: Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond

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Frank Blake served as Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot from 2007-2014. As of November 1, 2014, Frank is now Chairman and Craig Menear is President and CEO. Prior to his appointment in 2007, Frank served as vice chairman of the board of directors and executive vice president. He joined The Home Depot in 2002 as executive vice president, business development and corporate operations. Frank led The Home Depot through the deepest recession since The Great Depression. During his tenure, the company refocused its attention to the core retail business, driving improvements across customer service, supply chain, IT and merchandising, while also dramatically expanding the online business as part of our interconnected retail strategy. Frank previously served as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to that, he served in a variety of executive roles at General Electric, including senior vice president, Corporate Business Development. Frank’s public sector experience also includes having served as general counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, deputy counsel to Vice President George Bush and law clerk to Justice Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court. Frank serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Aquarium. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a jurisprudence degree from Columbia University School of Law.

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Adam Ghetti
Founder and CTO of IONIC Security
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Adam Ghetti, technologist and entrepreneur, founded Ionic Security in 2011 to address the problem of trust in a cloud and mobile enabled world. He has over 15 years of experience building large-scale systems in multiple Internet-related markets. He is an expert in complex systems and task automation and has in depth applied knowledge of application security, network security, data security, and artificial neural networks.Most recently, he was recognized by Forbes as a 30 under 30-thought leader in technology and by the World Economic Forum as a 2015 technology pioneer.
 

Admiral James Stavridis is an Operating Executive with The Carlyle Group focused on advising Carlyle’s executive team and investment professionals regarding geopolitical and national security matters. A retired 4-star officer with the U.S. Navy, served as the Supreme Allied Commander of the NATO Alliance from 2009-2013 with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, piracy, and cyber-security. He also led the U.S. Southern Command and held responsibility for all military operations in Latin America from 2006-2009. Admiral Stavridis earned his PhD in International Relations and his MA in Law and Diplomacy both from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Admiral Stavridis is the Chair of the Board of the U.S. Naval Institute, the Chair of the Board of Counselors at McLarty Associates, a monthly columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.

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General Burke Whitman is a distinguished retired U.S. Marine Corps General with a remarkable career in both military and corporate leadership. During his military service, he commanded at multiple levels, and he was deployed in numerous combat operations, earning several awards for his leadership and valor. After retiring from active duty, General Whitman transitioned to the corporate world, where he held senior executive roles in Fortune 500 companies, leveraging his strategic and operational expertise. His unique blend of military and business acumen has established him as a respected leader in both sectors.

Gail Devers is a celebrated American sprinter and hurdler, known for her remarkable achievements in track and field. She won gold medals in the 100 meters at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, and she is a three-time World Champion in the 100 meters hurdles. Despite being diagnosed with Graves' disease early in her career, Devers overcame significant health challenges to become one of the fastest women in history. Her perseverance and exceptional talent have earned her a place in the Track and Field Hall of Fame, and she continues to inspire athletes around the world with her story of resilience and success.

Mary Robinson served as the first female President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, transforming the role and bringing a progressive voice to Irish politics. Following her presidency, she became the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002, where she championed global human rights issues and advocated for the protection of vulnerable populations. Robinson has continued her work as a leading advocate for climate justice and human rights through her foundation, the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice. Her dedication to public service and human rights has earned her numerous international accolades and solidified her legacy as a prominent global leader.

Jane Goodall is a British ethologist, known for her exceptionally detailed and long-term research on the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Goodall, who was interested in animal behavior from an early age, left school at age 18.