Featured Guests
BDIS 2026 brings together a room you won't find anywhere else. These are the operators, thinkers, creatives, and leaders shaping what comes next.
More Guests added daily – check back soon!
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Governor Abigail Spanberger
The Commonwealth of Virginia -

Issa Rae
CEO of HOORAE, Producer, Actress, and Writer -

Dan Orlovsky
NFL Analyst, ESPN -

Everette Taylor
CEO, Kickstarter -

Erin Harkless Moore
Managing Director, Investments, Pivotal Ventures -

Suzanne Malveaux
CEO and President of Malveaux Global Media -

Dhani Jones
Chairman, Qey Capital Partners -

Kevin Roose
Technology Columnist, The New York Times -

Thomas “Tom” Gayner
Chief Executive Officer, Markel Group -

Sunayna Tuteja
Chief Innovation Officer, Federal Reserve System -

Darrell Norton
Partner, CapTech Consulting -

Scott C. Beardsley, Ed.D.
President, University of Virginia -

Michael Rao, Ph.D.
President,
Virginia Commonwealth University -

Timothy D. Sands, Ph.D.
President, Virginia Tech -

Gregory Washington, Ph.D.
President, George Mason University -

Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.
President, Virginia State University -

Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.
President, Norfolk State University -

Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D
President & CEO, Virginia Union University -

Darrell K. Williams
President, Hampton University -

Brian P. Brown Ph.D.
Dean, VCU School of Business -

Mark Hourigan
Founder and CEO, Hourigan -

Wallo267
New York Times Bestselling Author, Cultural Advisor at YouTube -

Taylor K. Shaw-Omachonu
Head of Film, Kickstarter -

Edward H. Baine
Executive Vice President–Utility Operations, President–Dominion Energy Virginia -

Jennifer Hunter
Senior Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria -

Jair Lynch
President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners -

Garret Westlake, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Innovation & Strategic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University -

Joe Benevento
President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation -

Lois Schonberger
Partner, Quantum Black, McKinsey & Company -

Melissa Pegus
Partner, UpVentures Capital -

Sonali Shetty
Chief Technology Officer, Tactiq -

Tamika Tyson
Founder, SCALE -

Ashley Williams Hillman
Founder & CEO, The Well Collective -

Richard Wintsch
Executive Director, Startup Virginia -

Kristin Richardson
Founder and CEO, Sherah -

Cathie J. Vick
Market Development & Policy Global Infrastructure and Energy, Google -

Rodney Williams
Co-Founder, Chairman & President, SoLo Funds -

Travis Holoway
Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds -

Noelle James
Managing Director, Startup Virginia -

Kelli Saulny
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures -

Dr. Jennifer Chung, MD.
Functional + Lifestyle Medicine -

Liz McBride
AI Change Acceleration Leader, CapTech Consulting -

Thomasine Isler
Innovation and Industry Engagement Manager, VCU’s Technology Transfer and Ventures -

Thomas M. Dunlap
Founding Partner, Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig -

William D. Lehner
Chief Strategy Officer, Independence Hydrogen -

Molly A. Parker
Vice President–Corporate Communications, Dominion Energy -

Dr. Matthew Chung, MD
Interventional Cardiologist -

Tracy Deforge
Founder, The Players Impact (TPI) -

Kelli E. Palmer, Ph.D.
Global Vice President of Employee Experience, TELUS Digital Solutions -

Katie Beck Sutler
CEO, Julie -

Jamie Christensen
Founder, Civic Vanguard -

Nick Mottas
Co-Founder and CEO, HopDrive -

John Russell
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Dominion Energy -

Brian D. Anderson
President and CEO, ChamberRVA -

Eric Robison
President, Capital Markets, Thalhimer -

Gerald Eldering
CEO, Perfusion Medical -

Steen Nissen
CEO, Conarium Bioworks -

Noopur Garg
Director –Governance, Assistant Corporate Secretary and Managing Counsel, Dominion Energy -

Adam Sledd
Executive Director, Dominion Energy Innovation Center -

Miles Braxton
CEO and Co-Founder, Okovate Sustainable Energy -

Monica Rao, MSA
Founder, Graphoria -

Dr. Liz Sonntag, MD.
Critical Care Physician; Founder, Say More Coaching -

Georgette Pierre
Emmy Award–winning Creative Producer, Storyteller, and Voice Actor -

Rae Stott
Co-Founder and CEO, Refraction

