2025 Speakers

CREATER AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF
THE HERO EFFECT®

Kevin Brown’s unconventional journey to success proves that winning in business and life demands thinking outside the box. Growing up in Muskegon, Michigan, his blue-collar roots instilled the value of hard work and determination. With a street-smart mindset and relentless drive, he rose from the front lines to the executive boardroom.

With over 30 years in franchise development, Kevin helped grow a family business into an industry leader with $2 billion in annual revenue. Since 2016, he has traveled the world sharing The HERO Effect®—a philosophy that sets world-class organizations and high performers apart.

As the father of a child with autism, Kevin knows success extends beyond business to real-life challenges. His bestselling books, The Hero Effect® and Unleashing Your Hero, inspire people to serve others and unleash their potential.

A sought-after speaker, Kevin has worked with top organizations like American Express, Delta Airlines, and PayPal. Recognized as one of the best motivational speakers, Kevin inspires audiences to show up and make a positive difference every day.

LIFE STRATEGIST AND INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER, CEO OF THE COACHING AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (CAPP)

Valorie Burton, life strategist and international speaker, is CEO of the Coaching and Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute. Her message emphasizes applied positive psychology—the study of what happens when things go right.

Her company provides coaching, coach training, and resilience programs, serving clients in all 50 states and 37 countries. Since 1999, she has authored 14 books, including Let Go of the Guilt, It’s About Time, and Successful Women Think Differently. She has appeared on the TODAY Show, CNN, Dr. Oz, and Essence, and spoken for organizations worldwide. Named a top motivational speaker and thought leader, her work inspires personal and professional growth.

For over 15 years, Valorie’s programs have helped people:

• Make exciting life changes.
• Find happiness and fun in routine life.
• Build leadership skills and achieve professional goals.
• Overcome setbacks and disappointments.
• Speak up with confidence.
• Sleep peacefully with better decisions.
• Tackle procrastination, emotional spending, and self-sabotage.

She and her husband Jeff live on a ranch south of Atlanta with their children.

DEPUTY EDITOR OF THE ECONOMIST

Robert Guest is Deputy Editor of The Economist, arguably the most influential news magazine in the world. He travels constantly around the world and speaks regularly to CEOs and entrepreneurs in all industries. He is a witty and entertaining speaker, who simplifies complex subjects and spices up his presentations with jokes and first-hand anecdotes.

He is regularly asked to chair conferences or give keynote speeches. Few other speakers can give such a vivid, up-to-date or global perspective on business and politics. Mr Guest has reported from more than 90 countries and lived in six. He has won numerous awards.

As The Economist's Deputy Editor, Robert helps oversee all the magazine's coverage of current affairs, from geopolitics to global economics. His previous roles include Foreign Editor, United States Editor and Business Editor.