Betelhem Dessie is a 25 years, Ethiopian women, renowned youth technology education entrepreneur, that has captured international attention in the country’s emerging tech scene. Recognized by CNN and BBC as a young pioneer, and featured on Quartz’s list of African innovators to watch, Betelhem’s journey showcases her curiosity of technology and its transformative power. Born and raised in Harar, Ethiopia, Betelhem’s fascination with computers ignited at the tender age of 8. By 10, she embarked on her coding journey, continuing to learn multiple facets of computer science and robotics by her mid-teens. Partnering with iCog Labs, Ethiopia’s first AI and robotics lab, she spearheaded the iCog Anyone Can Code (iCog-ACC) initiative, driven by her vision to provide children in the developing world with equal opportunities she had as a youngster

Currently serving as the Chief Advisor at iCog Labs and CEO of iCog Anyone Can Code, a subsidiary of iCog Labs, Betelhem channels her efforts into community outreach and research, placing a strong emphasis on access to tech and tech education. Her projects aim to decentralize access to technology and empower children and youth with the essential skills needed to innovate and create using emerging technologies. Under Betelhem’s leadership, iCog-ACC has empowered over 30,000 students to take their first strides in coding, unlocking a boundless realm of possibilities. Along with that she works on research projects that tackle pressing challenges in Agriculture, Healthcare, and Education such as leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence to provide farmers with optimized fertilizer suggestions based on satellite data, , as well as analyzing social media data to enhance communication on sexual reproductive health among the youth.

Leading a team of 60 talented individuals, Betelhem’s company lays a strong foundation for young children and adults, enabling them to thrive in the 21st century, fostering local capacity, and inspiring homegrown solutions. Programs like ‘for (her),’ a girls-onlycoding initiative in public high schools, exemplify her resolute commitment to narrowing the gender gap in STEM fields. The Digiturck (a moving training center) a mobile off the grid classroom, reaching remote areas and projects like ‘leyu’ working on crowdsourcing data for low resource languages powering AI tools while also creating job opportunities for marginalized communities. Betelhem Dessie’s achievements have earned her widespread recognition. Her story was part of the ‘Rebel Girls 100 Change Makers’ Children’s’ book. She has been given the “Young Technologist Award” by Booking.com’s Tech Playmakers Awards.Her remarkable contributions not only ignite the aspirations of Ethiopia’s youth but also eventually position the country at the forefront of the global tech landscape.

Andrew L. Cohen is the Executive Chairman of the Global Private Bank and a Global Chair of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. He oversees 23 Wall, J.P. Morgan’s Institutional Wealth Management practice, and leads the partnership between the firm’s Corporate & Investment Bank and Private Bank. In this role, Mr. Cohen focuses on servicing the Private Bank’s largest and most sophisticated clients globally. He is a member of the Asset & Wealth Management Operating Committee, Global Private Bank Operating Committee, and Global Investment Banking Management Team.

Prior to this role, Mr. Cohen was Chief Executive Officer of J.P. Morgan’s International Private Bank, which operates in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Before relocating to Hong Kong in 2010 as the Asia Private Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, he was Head of the Southern California region, based in Los Angeles. Previously, he worked with ultra-high-net-worth families in Northern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Mr. Cohen holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and attended the Executive Program of Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He sits on the Board of Directors of the Serpentine Galleries, the Board of Governors of Tel Aviv University, the Board of Directors of the American Turkish Society, and the Board of Directors of the Young Global Leadership Foundation. He is an alumnus of the Young Global Leaders Forum (World Economic Forum) and a member of the Hong Kong Forum. Mr. Cohen is also the Executive Sponsor of the BOLD (Black Organization for Leadership Development) initiative in EMEA. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, sailing, philanthropy and traveling.

Lionel Barber is an author, broadcaster and former editor of The Financial Times (2005-2020).  During his editorship, Lionel led the digital transformation of the FT, winning multiple prizes for its journalism. including three Newspaper of the Year awards. 

Lionel lectures widely on business, finance and international affairs. At the FT, he interviewed many world leaders including Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Narendra Modi.

He is the recipient of the Legion d’Honneur and the Stella d’Italia and the St George’s Medal for services to journalism and the transatlantic community, and until recently served as a trustee of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.  He is chairman of the Wincott Foundation.

Lionel is the co-presenter of Media Confidential, along with former editor of the Guardian Alan Rusbridger, now editor of Prospect magazine. Lionel is currently working on a biography of Masayoshi Son, CEO and founder of SoftBank to be published by Penguin Random House.

Jens Grede is the co-founder of Skims, and FRAME along with other brands under his Popular Culture umbrella. He is an active angel investor in the consumer and media industry.

Professor Anders Ynnerman holds the chair in scientific visualization at Linköping University and is the director of the Norrköping Visualization Center C, and head of the research division in media and information technology (MIT). His research focuses on fundamental aspects of visualization with applications in a wide range of topics including astrophysics, biology, and artificial intelligence. He is the program director of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), which is the largest research program in the history of Sweden. He is also the initiator and leader of the WISDOME project, which is operating immersive science communication domes in five locations in Sweden, including Visualization Center C and the Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm. The WISDOME productions include fascinating interactive journeys to the end of the universe, exploration of the microcosmos and the chemistry of life as well as explanations of how computer games and visual effects are made. He is currently working on an immersive dome production which will explain how AI actually works.

Ynnerman is a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 2007 Ynnerman was awarded the Akzo Nobel Science award and in 2010 he received the Swedish Knowledge Award for dissemination of scientific knowledge to the public. In 2017 he was honored with the King’s medal for his contributions to science and in 2018 he received the IEEE VGTC technical achievement award.

Eric Schmidt is an accomplished technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He joined Google in 2001 and helped grow the company from a Silicon Valley startup to a global leader in technology alongside founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Eric served as Google’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman from 2001-2011, as well as Executive Chairman and Technical Advisor. Under his leadership, Google dramatically scaled its infrastructure and diversified its product offerings while maintaining a strong culture of innovation.

Eric founded the Special Competitive Studies Project in 2021, a non-profit initiative focused on strengthening America’s long-term AI and technological competitiveness in national security, the economy, and society.  Most recently in 2024, Eric and his wife Wendy co-founded Schmidt Sciences, a philanthropic venture to fund unconventional areas of exploration in science and tech.

Li Karlsén is a former Army Captain that turned civil rights defender and now athlete and entrepreneur.

Born in Sweden and now living in Mauritius where she dives with whales and dolphins on a daily basis, a journey that sounds like paradise but took her through hell to get to. After being grounded from becoming a pilot by a car accident that almost killed her and took her best friend, she joined the Swedish Armed Forces and participated in several international missions as a soldier and officer. Realizing that most of her battles were internal and not only external in different warzones – she started a search for peace within via Freediving.

Li is today one of the world’s best freedivers and instructors, reaching depths below 70 meters, distances longer than 200 m, a breath hold of more than 6 minutes and just recently did the longest dive ever done under the ice bergs and pack ice in Greenland. 

Her next mission is not about depth, distance or dopamine – but about sharing. Sharing knowledge, adventures and experiences that will help others reaching their full potential – no matter if you are an athlete, author or artist. Li wants to help and coach others into going beyond your deepest of fears to reach your highest level of freedom, no matter if you’re starting running or from a wheelchair.

Halle Berry is an acclaimed actress, director, producer, advocate and founder known for her groundbreaking achievements in the entertainment industry and her dedication to women’s health advocacy. Berry’s illustrious acting career includes her historic win as the first African American woman to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor for her role in “Monster’s Ball” in 2002. She has also starred in numerous successful films such as “X-Men,” “Die Another Day,” and “Gothika.” Berry continues to break down barriers acting in a multitude of critically acclaimed, diverse roles and most recently added the title of “director” to her already impressive filmography with the release of Netflix’s BRUISED, which she also produced and starred in. 

In recent years, Halle has focused significantly on health and wellness, particularly women’s health issues. Halle’s latest venture, rē•spin, is a female longevity brand which sits at the intersection of science, technology, and community in building solutions that not only support women through menopause but also enhance their quality of life, paving the way for a future where midlife health is not just managed but celebrated.

She has been actively involved in advocating for better menopause care, recently joining forces with U.S. senators to support legislation aimed at increasing funding and research for menopause. This legislation, known as the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act, seeks to allocate $275 million towards improving menopause-related healthcare, education, and public awareness. Halle has been vocal about her own experiences with menopause, aiming to destigmatize the condition and promote better understanding and treatment options for women.

Through her work, both in entertainment and advocacy, Halle continues to make significant contributions to society, championing causes that impact women’s lives profoundly.

Henrik Lundqvist retired as one of the top goaltenders in NHL history. He played his entire 15 season NHL career for the New York Rangers, and is the team’s all-time leader in wins (459) and shutouts (64). Prior to winning Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2012, he was nominated in each of his first three seasons. A dominating rookie season in 2005 earned him the nickname “King Henrik.” Just one year later, during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, he led the Swedish men’s team to their second Olympic gold medal. Henrik is the only goaltender in NHL history to record 30 wins in each of his first seven seasons (and 11 of his first 12), and was named Rangers MVP 8 times.

Before joining the Rangers as the 205th overall pick of the 2000 NHL Draft, Lundqvist played for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elitserien. During his years in Sweden, he developed into the league’s finest goaltender, winning the Honken Trophy three consecutive seasons; 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2005 he also won two of the most prestigious awards in Swedish ice hockey, the Golden Puck and the Golden Helmet.

In 2014, Henrik and his wife Therese founded the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation, a non-profit organization with a focus on health and education for children and families. The HLF Young Ambassadors program selects children from New York metro area schools to perform service projects in their communities each year.

In 2015, Henrik starred in the Emmy award-winning MSG Network series The Mask. The show featured interviews with luminaries from sports and entertainment, including Jeff Gordon, John McEnroe, and Tiësto. Each episode culminated in the creation of a custom goalie mask, which Henrik wore during the Rangers’ season. The masks were auctioned with proceeds benefitting Henrik’s foundation.

After his stellar on-ice career came to a close, Henrik joined MSG Network for in-studio coverage of Rangers games beginning with the 2021-22 NHL season.