Get ready for an unparalleled discovery session at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

This isn't just a tour; it's an immersive, behind-the-scenes experience designed to put you right in the heart of racing. You'll explore iconic areas of this historic venue, gaining an insider's perspective on what makes IMS so special worldwide. But the real thrill? You'll get hands-on with an Arrow McLaren INDYCAR, and team principal Tony Kanaan, in a high-octane 7-seconds pit stop challenge, pushing the limits of teamwork and getting a true feel for the speed and precision involved.

Forget your heels and your nicest polo – this is a dynamic, get-a-little-dirty kind of day where you'll be part of the action, not just watching it!

Angelo Pizzo is the screenwriter who turned underdogs into icons - and made believing the biggest win of all.

Best known for penning some of the most beloved sports films in cinematic history - including Hoosiers, Rudy, and The Game of Their Lives, Pizzo has spent a lifetime turning real-life longshots into unforgettable big-screen triumphs.

Born in Illinois and raised in the heart of Indiana basketball country, Pizzo’s own story is pure Hoosier magic. After graduating from Indiana University and skipping law school to chase a Hollywood dream, he honed his craft at USC before rising through the ranks at Warner Brothers and TimeLife Films. But it was his return to his Bloomington roots that sparked the creation of Hoosiers, a film now enshrined in the Library of Congress and consistently ranked as the greatest sports movie of all time.

From the grit of Rudy Ruettiger's fight to play one snap at Notre Dame, to the improbable World Cup win in The Game of Their Lives, and most recently The Hill and Someone Saved My Life, Pizzo’s stories remind us that the scoreboard never tells the full story and that the heart of sport lies in its humanity.

With a career that has earned him induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and honors like the Sagamore of the Wabash, Pizzo has proven that the right story, told at the right time, can lift communities, fuel dreams, and leave a legacy far beyond the final whistle.

Angelo Pizzo doesn’t just write about game-winning moments - he creates them. And for every underdog with a dream, his stories whisper the same message: you were meant to play.

Oliver Steinglass is the Chief Operating Officer at Design FC, where he oversees operations, programs, and strategy. A designer, artist, and educator, Oliver builds accessible and scalable systems designed to empower youth and give them the tools and opportunities to turn their creative ideas into reality.

Since 2020, Oliver has helped grow Design FC from an after school program serving 20 students into a creative movement. He has launched global design initiatives in partnership with professional sports teams and community-based nonprofits, built a creative ecosystem in Chester, PA, and is currently leading the national expansion of Design FC’s school-based programming.

Oliver graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in Art and Psychology. During college, he traveled the world studying social innovation and entrepreneurship, worked as a technician in the campus makerspace, and was the captain of the Swarthmore soccer team. With years of experience teaching design in classrooms, studios, and stadiums across the country and world, he is committed to revolutionizing creative education through sport and design.

Omri is the Founder and Executive Director of Design FC, a nonprofit building a creative movement for impact in the sport and design world. What started as Omri and 11 students in a small classroom in 2018 has turned into something bigger than he ever imagined. Since then, Omri has grown Design FC into an international nonprofit, bringing programs and projects to life across 16 cities in the US and UK alongside some of the biggest names in sports.

Beyond Design FC, Omri was previously a lecturer at the Stanford Institute of Design (d.school), where he specialized in design thinking facilitation and working with teams to build their creativity and problem solving abilities. He continues to facilitate workshops at several universities and consults for organizations in the public sector.

Omri also owns a Vietnamese-French restaurant in the heart of Brooklyn with his family, which he has been operating since 2020.

Saraya Bevis, born in Norwich, England, has been a trailblazer in professional wrestling since redefining the industry as Paige, the youngest-ever WWE Divas Champion. Known for her fearless personality and groundbreaking performances, she became one of the most recognizable women in WWE history, the first to simultaneously hold two championships, and a catalyst for a new era of women’s wrestling worldwide.

After a career-threatening neck injury forced her early retirement, Saraya’s remarkable journey inspired the critically acclaimed film Fighting With My Family, produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and starring Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, and Vince Vaughn. In 2022, she made a triumphant in-ring return with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), debuting to a sold-out crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium and later winning the AEW Women’s World Championship in front of a record-setting audience in the UK.

In 2025, Saraya announced a new chapter, departing AEW on good terms to focus on building her brand beyond the ring. She released her highly anticipated memoir HELL IN BOOTS: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives, which quickly became a National Best Seller, and launched her podcast Rulebreakers with Saraya in partnership with Audacy, where she shares unfiltered conversations with influential voices across entertainment, sports, and culture.

With a dedicated global fanbase and an ever-expanding career in acting, hosting, podcasting, and live television, Saraya continues to defy expectations and inspire millions with her resilience, authenticity, and unapologetic approach to life and success.

Katie Ray-Jones is the chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), where she provides strategic vision and leadership for the only 24/7 hotline in the nation serving those affected by relationship abuse. For two decades, Katie has been a leader in the domestic violence movement, and has extensive experience working with victims and survivors.

The Hotline provides validation, support, safety planning and referrals for victims and survivors to nearly 5,000 shelters and domestic violence programs across the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Hotline has answered more than 7.5 million calls since it's inception in 1996.

Katie has worked at the local, state and national level providing multidisciplinary services that address domestic violence. Currently, Katie is a member of the National Task Force to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. She is well known on Capitol Hill for her work in domestic violence prevention and was chosen by Congress to deliver testimony to the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee. She has a bachelor’s degree in child and family development from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from the University of San Diego. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychology from University of San Diego. Katie is married and has three wonderful children: George, Maximillian and Cooper."

Katie Ray-Jones is the chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), where she provides strategic vision and leadership for the only 24/7 hotline in the nation serving those affected by relationship abuse. For two decades, Katie has been a leader in the domestic violence movement, and has extensive experience working with victims and survivors.

The Hotline provides validation, support, safety planning and referrals for victims and survivors to nearly 5,000 shelters and domestic violence programs across the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Hotline has answered more than 7.5 million calls since it's inception in 1996.

Katie has worked at the local, state and national level providing multidisciplinary services that address domestic violence. Currently, Katie is a member of the National Task Force to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. She is well known on Capitol Hill for her work in domestic violence prevention and was chosen by Congress to deliver testimony to the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee. She has a bachelor’s degree in child and family development from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from the University of San Diego. She also holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychology from University of San Diego. Katie is married and has three wonderful children: George, Maximillian and Cooper."

Vincent is also the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vincent Country®, a lifestyle brand that celebrates the strength of the family and promotes the values of “Faith, Family, and Food.” Through this platform, she offers transformative life coaching, including an annual Women’s Retreat, where attendees receive practical tools and mind, body, and soul nourishment over shared meals.

Tommi A. Vincent is a thought leader and passionate advocate for women, dedicated to empowering individuals and driving the movement to end domestic violence. As a sought-after public speaker, she brings a wealth of experience to diverse topics, including women’s empowerment, flexible goal setting, effective leadership, parenting and marriage, and the art of choosing impact over being right. She also shares strategies for navigating life transitions with minimal disruption. In addition to her public speaking, Vincent coaches women on cultivating emboldening lifestyle habits, helping them unlock their potential and live with greater confidence, purpose, and resilience.

As the past Chairwoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline Board of Directors, Vincent has been recognized for her advocacy for lifesaving funding, crisis counseling, safety planning, and other supportive services to help survivors of domestic violence.

Vincent is on the board of directors for Survivor Justice Action and YOUNITY (Mercer County, New Jersey) and has served as a keynote speaker for fortune 100 companies and domestic violence awareness events across the nation. Her work has been featured in leading print and broadcast media including the New York Times, WayMaker Journal, Hallmark Home & Family, Savoy Magazine, The Undefeated, NewsOne, CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, and WGN.

In 2023, Vincent and her husband, Troy, Executive Vice President of the National Football League, established The Vincent Commission in partnership with Niagara University. The commission includes research and education efforts centered on the perceptions, experiences, knowledge, perpetration, and victimization of gender- based violence among college students.

Vincent is also the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vincent Country®, a lifestyle brand that celebrates the strength of the family and promotes the values of “Faith, Family, and Food.” Through this platform, she offers transformative life coaching, including an annual Women’s Retreat, where attendees receive practical tools and mind, body, and soul nourishment over shared meals.

Raymell (Ray) Rice was born and raised in New Rochelle NY. He is a graduate of New Rochelle High School and attended Rutgers university for 3 years before deciding to enter the NFL draft. Rice led New Rochelle to a State Championship in 2003 and was New York State player of the Year. At Rutgers he is the all time leading rusher and was listed as one of the greatest players in the schools history.

With the Ravens, Rice appeared in 3 Pro Bowls, 2 time All-Pro selection and won the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII when the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers. In 2011, Rice led the AFC with rushing touchdowns and the NFL with scrimmage yards. He is ranked as the Ravens’ second all-time leading rusher, rushing attempts and touchdowns and third in combined touchdowns.

He currently spends time in New Rochelle & Baltimore speaking to youth groups, mentoring teens and young adults. Rice is also very involved in youth football. He is the commissioner of the Metro North NY Football & Cheer. In the New York tri-state area and in Baltimore, Rice hosts and supports events such as community BBQ’s, camps, clinics, and fundraisers. He’s taken the adversity the he had in his own life and making a difference in the lives of others especially the youth.

Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt is a Psychologist and a Professor at Indiana University. In this professional duality, he maintains a private practice where he provides Sport and Performance Psychology services to athletes in the community, while also teaching classes and running the IU Sport and Performance component of the PhD program. In this capacity, Dr. Steinfeldt provides training and clinical supervision for doctoral students to learn how to become Sport Psychologists who can help athletes be the best versions of themselves on and off the court.

Dr. Steinfeldt’s research covers several different areas, with a primary focus on mental health stigma among athletes. He has published widely on racial and gender role socialization dynamics, particularly the impact of masculinity norms on football players’ racial identity, athletic identity, and help-seeking behaviors, among a host of other psychosocial outcomes. Dr. Steinfeldt is currently working on a longitudinal neuropsych study investigating subconcussive hits among high school football players. The $3 million grant from the NIH is helping the research team examine if there are any changes in brain structure or brain functioning over time as a result of the cumulative head impacts that are embedded within the beautiful but violent game of football.

As a former three sport collegiate athlete at Yale University and a professional athlete before retiring to pursue his graduate training, Jesse has received numerous personal and professional benefits from sport. His sons are currently Division 1 college football players, and Jesse has coached football, basketball, and baseball across all levels of high school and youth sport, in addition to his many professional engagements with sport. Jesse and his wonderful wife Erica have three darling cherubs (Aaron—22, Addison—21, Aidan—20) and they live in Bloomington, IN, where they are managing their very recently emptied nest.

Hope Solo is a legendary American soccer player and one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in the history of the sport. As a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, Solo was instrumental in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s rise to global dominance, earning numerous honors, including two FIFA World Cup Golden Glove awards. With more than 100 career shutouts, she set records that redefined excellence in goalkeeping. Off the field, Solo has been a tireless advocate for gender equality and equal pay, using her platform to inspire young athletes and drive meaningful social change. Her resilience, determination, and leadership both on and off the pitch continue to empower and influence future generations.

Larra Overton appears across Colts platforms as host and reporter, while also serving as executive producer. She has appeared on NFL Network, ESPN, SEC Network, Big Ten Network and Fox Sports.

Larra has been recognized with six Emmy Awards for her work as both a reporter and producer.

While receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University, Larra was a captain of the Hoosiers’ track & field and cross country teams, competing in four NCAA Championships.

Kalen Jackson will enter her first season as Colts Owner & Chief Brand Officer in 2025, following 13 seasons as vice chair/owner. She also serves as president of the Indianapolis Colts Foundation. Jackson joined the team in 2010 and, along with sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt, represents a new generation of Colts ownership. Like her sisters, Jackson grew up with the Colts organization as a significant part of her life since birth. She oversees various functions of the organization, including coordinating the Irsay family’s community and philanthropic efforts. Jackson currently leads Kicking The Stigma, the family’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and end the stigma often associated with these illnesses. Since launching in 2020, Kicking The Stigma has committed more than $31 million to nonprofits and organizations expanding treatment and research and raising awareness in Indiana and beyond. Jackson serves on the national board of Project Healthy Minds and locally on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana. She also is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. In addition, to representing the Colts at NFL Owners’ Meetings, Jackson chairs the league’s Employee Benefits Committee, where she is responsible for administering club and league benefit plans, including plan design and amendment, benefit and administrative expense payments and employee eligibility issues. She graduated with honors in 2010 from Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education & Recreation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and marketing. Jackson was born and resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Boyd Jackson, and their two daughters.

Jeremiah Gutjahr is a former professional soccer player and current athletics administrator at Indiana University, where he serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Revenue Share. In this role, he plays a key part in guiding IU’s strategic response to the evolving NCAA landscape, particularly in implementing student-athlete revenue sharing models. His responsibilities include aligning budgets, building operational frameworks, and helping ensure IU Athletics is well-positioned to support its student-athletes both competitively and financially.

A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Gutjahr’s roots run deep at IU. He was a midfielder for the Indiana University men’s soccer team from 2015 to 2018, where he helped lead the Hoosiers to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2018 College Cup.

Following his collegiate career, he went on to play professionally with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire and later with Indy Eleven in the USL Championship. After retiring from professional soccer, Gutjahr returned to IU Athletics in 2022 as the Director of Soccer Operations before transitioning into his current administrative role.

His unique combination of on-field experience and strategic leadership off the field makes him a valuable asset to Indiana University Athletics. Passionate about student-athlete development and the future of collegiate sports, Gutjahr continues to make a lasting impact in his hometown and alma mater."

IU alumnus Scott Dolson is in his sixth year as IU’s Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. He spent the previous 11 years as the department’s Deputy Director of Athletics and chief operating officer.

Dolson has navigated enormous challenges during his first five years, including COVID, NIL, Transfer Portal, and Revenue Sharing. Despite that, Dolson has overseen an era of remarkable athletic and academic accomplishments for the department.

Headlining the list of team achievements is the growth of the IU Football program, which went 11-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten during the regular season last season to earn IU’s first-ever berth in the College Football Playoff. First-year Coach Curt Cignetti was the architect of IU Football’s resurgence and unprecedented success, and he was named Big Ten and National Coach of the Year in 2024.

In addition to the team accomplishments during Dolson’s tenure, IU student-athletes also enjoyed great individual successes. Six different Hoosier student-athletes captured individual NCAA championships in 2024-25, the most individual titlists in a single-season in school history.

Dolson has been involved in a leadership role on the Big Ten and NCAA levels. He recently completed a two-year stint as the Chairperson of the Big Ten Athletic Directors Group, and he also was named to the NCAA Division I Baseball Selection Committee in January of 2024.

The Michigan City, Indiana, native graduated from IU with a bachelor's degree in management from the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. While doing his undergraduate work, Dolson was a student manager for the IU men's basketball team for four seasons, serving as the program's head manager in 1988.

Dolson and his wife, Heidi, have five children: Luke, Sam and Zach Wisen, and Kristen and Nick Dolson.

In 2006 Trey Mock created Blue, the official mascot of the Indianapolis Colts. Mock has captured the hearts of fans with his performances and commitment to positivity. Through his motivational speaking career, Mock empowers individuals to embrace their true selves and foster meaningful connections with those around them, leaving a legacy of inspiration that will endure for years to come. He was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2020 and is currently entering his 20th season with the Indianapolis Colts.

Dr. Liz Wanless is an associate professor of sport management, adjunct associate professor of human centered computing, and director of the Sports Innovation Institute (SII) at IU Indianapolis. A nationally recognized thought leader in sport analytics, she leads research teams focused on sport software, data pipelines, and analytic insight development, with a core emphasis on artificial intelligence in sport.

A former professional shot putter and world ranked athlete, Dr. Wanless brings a performance driven mindset to academic and industry collaboration. Her teaching and leadership have fueled AI integrated curricula, industry sponsored projects, and scalable innovations in sport technology.

Her technical skill set includes Azure, R, Python, Tableau, statistics, data integration, and dashboard development, which she leverages to translate complex sport data into strategic insights. She regularly presents at national and international conferences, driving innovation at the intersection of data science and sport.

As a serial tech entrepreneur, Rhys is passionate about creating and delivering innovative solutions that leverage AI/ML, big data, and cloud technologies. With over 30 years of experience, he has a proven track record of identifying, building, and deploying enabling technologies, especially in the entertainment and sports markets.

After his early years working for Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, HP, and AT&T, Rhys caught the startup bug as CTO. His first successful startup was AudioBase, during the dot-com era, which advanced the use of audio on the Internet. After moving to LA, Rhys created Scenechronize, the entertainment industry’s premier production management and document security software. After nearly 18 years, it is still used by nearly every studio and network. Next, Rhys worked with Gregg Fienberg, a top HBO Executive Producer on CallPlease. Taking a quick break from startups, he worked at NOAA and Google while earning his Harvard advanced degrees.

All his experience and education culminated in Ekkobar, his latest venture. Ekkobar’s Social Decision Intelligence platform provides answers from social media to help entertainment and sports brands mitigate risk and increase revenue. Internet Magazine called Rhys “the geek that can speak,” and he has proven it through this career as a published author and international speaker.

Rhys has a background in mathematics, computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, and business analytics, giving him a unique perspective and a powerful blend of technical and business skills. Aside from business, Rhys is a foster parent, an avid dog lover, and a volunteer for various non-profits.

Coming Soon

Andrea is a physical therapist specializing in dance medicine and the owner of Art of Movement Physical Therapy. She is the company physical therapist for Dance Kaleidoscope and the Indianapolis Ballet as well as many local dance schools. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, Andrea was a professional ballet dancer. She obtained her undergraduate degree in dance from Butler University and her master’s in ballet from Indiana University. Andrea is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, a certified Pilates instructor, and a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.

Joshua Blake Carter is the Christel DeHaan Artistic Director of Dance Kaleidoscope in Indianapolis, IN. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Joshua began his dance training at the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts, and he continued at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he received his BFA in Dance.

In 2009, Joshua joined Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) performing in Austria, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Latvia, and Turkey, as well as theaters in communities across the United States. In 2013, Joshua was appointed Director of Giordano II (GII), and upon retirement from the stage, he was named GDC’s first ever Operations Manager, becoming an integral part of the administration team.

As a freelance choreographer Joshua won Wonderbound’s choreography competition ""dancemakers2.0,"" was named a winner of the DanceWorks Chicago ""DanceMoves"" choreography competition, and later he was awarded the Producers’ Panel Prize from the Ruth Page Foundation. Joshua choreographed the closing number for the private event Sing! featuring Elton John, and he was a finalist in the Capezio A.C.E. Awards in NYC. He choreographed an Equity production of ""Newsies"" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL, receiving a Jeff Award nomination and a Regional Broadway World nomination for Best Choreography, and he was named an inaugural recipient of the Trillium Arts ACE Fellowship in North Carolina. Additionally, he has choreographed works for Aerial Dance Chicago, Artifact Dance Project, Dance in the Parks (Chicago), Mareck Dance Company, Nomi Dance Company, South Chicago Dance Theatre, Visceral Dance Chicago, as well as a project for Embarq with the Joffrey Ballet.

As an educator, Joshua served on the faculty of several Chicagoland dance institutions, including Visceral Dance Center. He has been part of many regional conventions, including Chicago National Association of Dance Masters and Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, and he has been in residence or guest faculty at Brenau University, Illinois State University, Salve Regina University, Southeast Missouri State University, and University of Chicago.

Dr. Yan Gu received her B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University (China) in June 2011 and her Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in August 2017. She was the recipient of the Chu Kochen Scholarship at Zhejiang University, and the Frederick N. Andrews Fellowship and the Estus H. and Vashti L. Magoon Award for Excellence in Teaching at Purdue University. Dr. Gu joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell as an Assistant Professor in September 2017. In July 2022, she joined the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University as an Associate Professor. She received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2021 and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program Award in 2024. Dr. Gu is an Associate Editor for the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics and IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, as well as a Guest Associate Editor for the Special Issue "Impact-Aware Robotics" of IEEE Transactions on Robotics.

Karthik Ramani is the Donald W. Feddersen Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, with additional appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the College of Education. He is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-centered artificial intelligence, spatial computing, design, and embodied intelligence. His mission is to bring AI into the physical world—especially to support how we design, make, and learn—by developing immersive, real-time systems that blend perception, reasoning, and interaction.

Ramani leads the Convergence Design Labs, where his team builds tools and systems that bridge digital and physical environments, from intelligent virtual training environments to AI-powered authoring platforms for extended reality (XR). His research spans skill learning, design and manufacturing, robotic systems, and AI-based sports coaching. Notably, he developed Purdue’s most popular engineering course—Toy Design and Product-Process-Business Model Design—which enrolls over 320 students annually and uses more than 100 3D printers for hands-on learning.

He has published over 40 papers in top venues such as ACM CHI, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, ICLR, and NeurIPS, and holds over 40 patents. He is also the only faculty member at Purdue to receive both the Research Excellence and Commercialization Awards. A serial innovator, he co-founded VizSeek—the first shape-based search engine for manufacturing—and ZeroUI, a CES finalist. He previously served as a board member of the NSF SBIR/STTR program and has mentored over 40 Ph.D. students.

Ramani is currently a Visiting Professor at MIT Mechanical Engineering. He is also the founder and coach of Purdue’s nationally ranked table tennis team, where his academic research on embodied AI intersects with high-performance sports training. His early work on robotic digital twins prefigured many of today’s human-computer interaction and XR systems.

Hannah Storm is an award-winning journalist, producer and director, a pioneer in the field of sports broadcasting for women, an advocate for children suffering vascular anomalies, and a published author. She joined ESPN in 2008 and serves as an anchor for Sports Center, NFL Live, the Rose Parade, and the New York and Boston Marathons. She is host of the award-winning iHeart podcast “NBA DNA with Hannah Storm” and director of the award-winning docuseries “Grails: When Sneakers Change the Game” on HULU.  Storm became the first woman ever to do play-by- play for the NFL for an entire season, which she did for four years on Amazon Prime. In addition, Storm was the first play-by-play voice for the WNBA, on NBC. Storm has also worked for ABC News and co-hosted The Early Show on CBS, covering major news events and conducting interviews with top newsmakers and entertainers. 

Prior to that, at NBC Sports, Storm became the first woman in American TV history to act as the main network host of a major league sport, when she hosted NBC’s Major League Baseball coverage, the NBA on NBC and the Olympic Games. Before that, Storm was the first female host of CNN Sports Tonight.

In 2008 Storm created Brainstormin’ Productions. She has produced, executive produced and directed award- winning films, series and branded content for ESPN, the SEC Network, ABC Network, HULU, Epix and iHeart Radio.

Born with a port wine stain underneath her left eye, Storm created the Hannah Storm Foundation to raise awareness, and fund surgeries for children suffering from vascular anomalies. In addition, she is a staunch supporter of breast cancer research since being diagnosed with DCIS in January 2024. As of now, following two procedures, she is in good health and managing her condition through Tamoxifen.

Storm is a mother of three daughters with her husband, Dan Hicks of NBC Sports.

Stephen Hauschka is a world-class keynote speaker, performance coach, and culture consultant dedicated to helping individuals and teams thrive in high-pressure environments. Over 13 seasons in the NFL, Stephen earned All-Pro honors, led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory, and set league records for consecutive 50-yard field goals—all while maintaining a 96% playoff field goal percentage. As a team captain and proven clutch performer, he knows firsthand what it takes to deliver when everything is on the line.

With a Master’s in Health & Human Performance and a B.A. in Neuroscience from Middlebury College, Stephen bridges elite athletic achievement with deep scientific insight. He works alongside renowned performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais as a Mindset Coach and Culture Consultant at Finding Mastery, partnering with top organizations like the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills to elevate culture, sharpen focus, and drive innovation.

Stephen is the creator of The RISE Mindset, a neuroscience-based transformational process that helps people transmute fear into love, self-doubt into belief, and pressure into flow. His work has impacted athletes, executives, sales professionals, and leaders in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.

His insights have been featured in The Athletic, ESPN, and top podcasts. He has delivered talks to Fortune 500 organizations like Citi, and has participated in brand and leadership events with companies such as Microsoft and Boeing during his playing career. He’s spoken to thousands on topics like self-belief, focus, leadership, and flow.

Through his grounded presence, elite experience, and deep understanding of human potential, Stephen is on a mission to help high performers lead with clarity, perform with freedom, and live with purpose.

Kerri Walsh Jennings is a 5 time Olympian, 3 time Olympic gold medalist, 1 time bronze medalist in beach volleyball. She was a 4 time 1st Team All-American at Stanford University where her teams won 2 National Championships (‘96, ‘97) and finished runner-up in ‘99. Kerri transitioned to beach volleyball after the 2000 Olympic Games where her indoor USA Volleyball team finished 4th.

Jennings partnered up with Misty May-Treanor in 2001 and started the greatest run of excellence for any beach volleyball duo in history. Together, Jennings and May-Treanor won 3 consecutive World Championships and 3 Olympic Gold medals over an 11 year period. They accrued a truly incredible 112 match win streak which broke their own record of an 89 match win streak. They were excellent at raising the bar and embodied sustained excellence at the highest level. They transformed the game here in America and globally.

Kerri is a very proud mother of 3 beautiful babies and proud wife of Casey Jennings. Together, Kerri and Casey co-founded Platform 1440 & p1440 Foundation, which is dedicated to inspiring, empowering and supporting our nations youth through the transformational power of sport - specifically volleyball.

Kerri is part of the ownership of soon to launch MAJOR LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL and is constantly working toward bettering the opportunities within and around her sport for all stakeholders.

Kerri Walsh Jennings officially retired from the Olympic pursuit in 2023 and looks forward to creating and living a beautiful life with her family and to creating a new and golden trajectory for herself, her global community, and for her sport as a whole.

Lauren Campbell is the Chief Marketing Officer at Firefly Recovery, a leading provider of innovative athletic recovery technology used by over 1,000 professional and collegiate teams. In her role, she oversees brand strategy, marketing, and growth initiatives, helping position Firefly at the forefront of recovery solutions for athletes at every level.

Since joining Firefly over five years ago, Lauren has been instrumental in launching and scaling the company’s direct-to-consumer business and building its expansive multi-sport NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) program. She works closely with Olympians, professional athletes, and elite collegiate and high school athletes to drive brand awareness and foster authentic partnerships rooted in performance and recovery.

Lauren also drove Firefly’s international expansion into Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, broadening the brand’s global reach. Beyond athletics, Firefly has become a trusted solution for travel recovery, helping frequent travelers reduce fatigue and improve circulation during long-haul flights and demanding schedules.

In 2025, Lauren appeared on Shark Tank alongside Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings to present Firefly Recovery to a national audience, highlighting the product’s impact on performance and wellness.

Prior to joining Firefly, Lauren spent over two decades as a marketing and brand development consultant for Nestlé. During that time, she led strategic initiatives across multiple global product lines, gaining deep experience in consumer behavior, brand storytelling, and market expansion.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Amanda Vandervort is the President of the Gainbridge Super League, a USL Property, leading the fastest growing connected women’s soccer network in the world including the professional Super League, pre-professional USL W League, and USL Academy for girls. Through engaging with communities, brands and partners, Amanda is driving the Super League’s strategic growth, building a people-centric pathway from youth to pro and creating a long-term sustainable business for the future of women’s soccer.

Vandervort joined the USL after serving as Chief Women’s Football Officer of FIFPRO, the global player’s association based in Amsterdam, where she directed strategy, policy, and stakeholder relations. She published Raising Our Game, a women’s football report detailing global industry standards and a player-centric approach to improving the game. Prior, she spent nearly a decade at Major League Soccer as Vice President of Social Media and CRM, then as Vice President of Fan Engagement. She was recognized as a Sports Business Journal Game Changer in 2016.

Vandervort was a member of the United Soccer Coaches Board of Directors for 10 years and in 2016 became the fifth female President in the Association’s 75-year history. She was the Head Women's Soccer Coach at New York University for four years and holds her United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and a B Coaching License from the U.S. Soccer Federation.

She spent four years as an instructor in FIFA Women’s Football Development, leading marketing and communications workshops in South Asia, the Caribbean and Africa. Vandervort was a FIFA Women’s Leadership Development Program mentor. She currently serves on the boards of several global non-profit organizations dedicated to transforming community through soccer.

Briana Scurry is widely recognized as one of the world’s most talented and influential goalkeepers. Scurry’s 173 international appearances as one of the first African American and openly gay professional athletes championed equality and diversified the sport. In 2017, Scurry was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Named starting goalkeeper for the United States Women’s National Team in 1994, Scurry led the team on an illustrious run that included two Olympic gold medals. In the 1999 FIFA World Cup Championship - which represented one of the most seminal events in American athletic history - Briana made the iconic penalty kick save that carried the United States to victory.

Scurry pioneered the first paid professional women’s soccer league as a founding player in 2001. A debilitating concussion led to her retirement in 2010. Since then, Scurry has repurposed her visibility to become one of the nation’s foremost advocates for increased awareness for traumatic brain injuries.

Through her impact on the landscape of women’s soccer and American sports culture, Briana was selected to the United States Women’s National Team’s All-Time Best XI and was selected as the permanent Title IX Exhibit in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

In 2022, Scurry released her best-selling memoir, My Greatest Save, and was also the subject of The Only, a CBS feature-length documentary chronicling her life. In 2023, Scurry served as the commencement speaker and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from her alma mater, The University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Scurry became a Gainbridge ambassador in early 2025.

President of Andretti Global and Chief Operating Officer of TWG Motorsports, Jill Gregory is an acclaimed sports marketer and motorsports executive who previously served as executive vice president and general manager at Sonoma Raceway and executive vice president and chief marketing and content officer at NASCAR. She has also held pivotal roles leading sports investment efforts for brands like Bank of America, Sprint and VISA.

During her tenure at NASCAR, Gregory revamped the organization’s marketing, content and fan development strategies to elevate strategic planning and enhance collaboration across the industry. She was twice named by Adweek one of “The Most Powerful Women in Sports’’ and is part of the FIA Women in Motorsports Commission.

Mel Raines is in her 12th season with Pacers Sports & Entertainment currently serving as CEO of the company overseeing all business operations for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA, Indiana Fever of the WNBA, Noblesville Boom of the G League as well as Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Raines has more than 30 years of operations, legislative, political, corporate, and public affairs experience. Prior to joining PS&E, she was chief of staff to Indiana Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks overseeing three offices as well as all legislative, constituent services and communications staff.

From 2009 to 2012, Raines was one of the principal architects of Indianapolis’ highly acclaimed 2012 Super Bowl. She was the vice president of government relations and event operations for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee overseeing 14 planning committees.

Raines has worked in various roles on six Republican National Conventions including serving as the COO for the 2008 Republican National Convention and as a senior advisor for the 2012 and 2016 conventions.

Earlier in her career, Raines served as Assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney for Political Affairs, directing all the Vice President’s political and domestic outreach activities. She also held several leadership positions at Altria Corporate Services, at the Republican National Committee, and began her career on Capitol Hill with U.S. Sen. Daniel Coats of Indiana.

Raines, a South Bend, Ind. native and graduate of Indiana University – Bloomington, is on the board of directors of the Pacers Foundation, Indy Chamber, Visit Indy, CICP, First Internet Bank, the Indianapolis Zoo and the Economic Club of Indiana. She currently resides in Indianapolis.

When elite athletes push their limits, Dr. Ravi Gill is the calm behind the chaos—the trusted performance doctor keeping champions in the game and at their peak. From Premier League stars to world heavyweight boxers, Dr. Gill has spent the past decade in the high-stakes world of elite sport, specializing in recovery, injury prevention, and the science of longevity.

Fresh off a UEFA Europa League victory with Tottenham Hotspur, Dr. Gill brings his playbook to TEDSports — sharing the secrets of recovery, resilience, and what it takes to stay at the top when the stakes are highest.

When greatness is on the line, every bit counts—and he’s the one who helps deliver it.

Few have run a race quite like Sam Ramsamy. From fighting apartheid with a whistle and a mission to leading South Africa’s historic return to the Olympic Games, Ramsamy has spent a lifetime proving that sport isn’t just about medals—it’s about meaning.

As the founding President of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa, he led the nation’s first post-apartheid team to Barcelona 1992, helping write a new chapter for sport and society. A former teacher, anti-apartheid activist, and author of Apartheid: The Real Hurdle, he’s dedicated his life to removing barriers—on and off the field. He was a member of the committee responsible for the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s First Democratically Elected President.

Ramsamy has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from universities in Canada and the United Kingdom. He is presently an Honorary Fellow of Roehampton College of the University of Surrey. He is the recipient of the national Order of Ikamanga and is South Africa’s Ambassador for Tourism.

Now an Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee, 1st Vice President of World Aquatics, Ramsamy continues to advocate for fairness, dignity, and unity in global sport. His journey is a masterclass in perseverance—and proof that some of the strongest athletes may exist off the field.

At TEDSports, he shares the torch of truth, legacy, and transformation—because real winning is in how sport moves humanity forward.

Tom Farrey is founder of Project Play, the award-winning initiative of the Aspen Institute's Sports & Society Program which builds healthy communities through sports. He works with many of the leading organizations in sports to get and keep more children playing. He authored the seminal book on youth sports in the U.S., "Game On: The All-American to Make Champions of Our Children," and won many of the highest honors in journalism at ESPN. Raised in South Florida, Tom joined The Seattle Times after college where he covered the NBA and NFL and became the first paper's first sports investigative reporter. In the 1990s, he joined the internet startup that would help create what became ESPN.com. He then helped build the reputation of ESPN's long-form journalism show Outside the Lines, winning Emmys and an Alfred I. duPont/Columbia University Award -- ESPN's first. In 2011, Tom joined the Aspen Institute to launch the Sports & Society Program, the mission of which is to convene leaders, facilitate dialogue and help sport serve the public interest. Project Play focuses on the base of our ecosystem and is a response to Game On, which then-New York Times columnist Robert Lipsyte called the “Silent Spring of sports: the book that launches a movement to protect a natural resource. In this case, our children.” That movement became Project Play, now a community of 20,000+ leaders and the backbone for 63X30, an industry-led call to action to help the U.S. achieve the public health goal of 63% youth playing sports by 2030. Foundations, corporations, and governments working with Project Play have unlocked $115M+ in grants, and 500+ organizations and cities have endorsed its Children's Bill of Rights in Sports, a set of human rights principles.

Kate Johnson knows how to pull in perfect rhythm, whether rowing for an Olympic medal, leading global marketing strategy at Google, or navigating life’s toughest currents with courage.

An Olympic medalist and World Champion rower, Kate helped end a 20-year drought for Team USA’s Women’s 8+ in Athens 2004, launching an era of dominance that reshaped the sport. But her greatest victories have come off the water as a cancer survivor, executive leader, and fierce advocate for women in sport and society.

Now Google’s Global Marketing Director, Sports & Entertainment, Kate steers how one of the world’s biggest brands connects with people and culture through sport. She’s been named Adweek’s Most Powerful Women in Sports and WISE’s Woman of the Year and her leadership has been spotlighted in Forbes, ESPN, The Athletic, and beyond.

At TEDSports, Kate shares a bold vision to influence search engines and AI models to design technology that opens doors for the next generation of women and girls. Because when the playing field is truly level, the whole world wins.

Troy Vincent, Sr. serves as Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL, bringing 30+ years of leadership from the locker room to league headquarters. A five-time Pro Bowler and College Football Hall of Famer, Troy has always played the long game—rooted in integrity, service, and excellence.

Today, he’s not just moving the chains he’s moving the sport forward. As co-chair of Vision28 group spearheading efforts to establish flag football as an Olympic sport, he is instrumental in global growth of American football.

Within the NFL, he drives initiatives that protect players, raise the bar for excellence, and harnesses the power of football to create meaningful, lasting change.

Off the field, Troy and his wife, Tommi, are tackling one of society’s toughest opponents - domestic and gender-based violence. Through the Vincent Commission and their Love Thy Neighbor Foundation, they’re rewriting the playbook for prevention, healing, and policy reform. Their rallying cry: Leadership Over Violence is being heard in locker rooms, boardrooms, and classrooms across the country.

The only NFL player to receive both the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Byron Whizzer White awards, Troy’s legacy is about more than stats, it’s about impact. He’s been honored by the Sports Business Journal, Savoy Magazine, and the National Jefferson Awards (considered the Nobel Prize for extraordinary public service) for public service, proving that true greatness isn’t just measured in yards gained but in lives changed.

At TEDSports, Troy brings the courage to speak truth, the vision to spark change, and the heart of a true MVP: Most Valuable Purpose.

As Chief Operating Officer and Director of Sport Science at ai.io, Richard ("Rich") Felton-Thomas is on a mission to make elite sport smarter, fairer, and more accessible. With over 15 years of experience in sports biomechanics, performance analytics, and technology strategy, he's the architect behind AI-powered platforms that are leveling the playing field, literally and digitally.

At ai.io, Rich leads the development of two game-changing platforms:

• aiScout – a revolutionary mobile app that allows athletes anywhere to showcase their skills, complete standardized assessments, and get scouted all through their smartphone.
• aiLab – a high-performance ecosystem blending biomechanics, physiology, cognition, and machine learning into advanced athlete testing used by top-tier teams.

Rich's playbook combines computer vision, human movement science, and AI to transform how talent is discovered and developed. His work supports major players across the sports world, including Chelsea FC, Major League Soccer, and the International Olympic Committee and extends into performance innovation for military, healthcare, and national health systems.

At TEDSports, Rich brings a bold vision: a world where potential isn't defined by postcode, and where data-driven equity gives every athlete their shot at greatness.

Born in Cameroon and now based in Bolton, UK, this trailblazing boxer’s journey began in 2017 and has since transformed into a global symbol of strength, identity, and purpose. In 2024, she made history at the Paris Olympic Games as the first-ever refugee to win an Olympic medal - claiming bronze in the 75kg category and etching her name into the record books.

But her fight has never been confined to the ring. A fierce advocate for refugees, the LGBTQIA+ community, and the Black community, she uses her platform to champion representation and resilience. Her story is one of grit, pride, and unstoppable courage - and it continues to inspire young people across the UK and beyond.

Honored with accolades such as Sporting Equals Sportswoman of the Year, Metro Pride Sports Hero of the Year, and the British Diversity Award for Athlete Powering Positive Change, she brings both muscle and mission to everything she does.

Now stepping into the professional boxing arena, she continues to swing for something greater - proving that no matter your starting point, you can rise, fight, and spark change for a better, more inclusive world.

Soh Rui Yong (Soh) doesn’t just run races - he runs the show when it comes to performance, passion, and pushing limits. A Human Performance Coach, elite marathoner, and Guinness World Record Holder (yes, he ran a 2:39:57 marathon in a full business suit), Rui is on a mission to spread the joy of running and unlock the untapped potential in others - from start to finish line.

A 2x SEA Games Marathon Gold Medalist, 5x Singapore National Marathon Champion, and current holder of five Singapore national records (5000m, 5km road, 10,000m, Half Marathon, and Marathon), Soh brings elite experience to every stride. But he’s not just running laps - he’s making them count. Rui has coached over 100 athletes to new personal bests, proving that greatness isn’t reserved for podiums - it's paced with purpose and grit.

With a high-performance engine and an even bigger heart, Soh helps runners of all levels lace up with confidence, resilience, and joy through his initiative RunSohFast. His journey is a marathon, not a sprint - and every step inspires others to chase their own finish lines.

Catch Soh as he races forward, fuels dreams, and proves that in sport - and in life - records are meant to be broken.

Alvina Chen isn’t just changing the game, she’s rewriting the track. As the founder and CEO of Feldspar, a UK-based sports tech startup, Alvina is pioneering the world’s first sensor-enabled high-performance running track, poised to revolutionize how we experience live athletics.

Before launching into the startup world, Alvina, who grew up in Hong Kong, spent nearly a decade on the track as a professional athlete, competing internationally across the UK, USA, and Hong Kong. But it was her toughest race, a personal battle with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune condition, that gave her a new lane to run in. Though the illness forced her to step off the competitive track, it fueled her drive to engineer a smarter, more inclusive future for the sport she loves.

With entrepreneurial grit in her DNA, Alvina now leads a global relay between innovation and tradition. She’s building not just a product, but a movement, where data meets determination, and every stride tells a story.

From sprinter to startup CEO, Alvina is proof that when life moves the finish line, you lace up and run a new race: this time, to transform the future of an entire sport.

Emmy Award-winner and Evansville native Anthony Calhoun leads the most dynamic TV sports team in Indiana as Sports Director and main anchor at WISH-TV.

In addition to his daily reporting and anchoring, A.C. hosts several highly rated shows including, SportsLocker, seen every Sunday at 10:15pm on WISH-TV. During football season, you can also catch A.C. on the Emmy-award-winning Countdown to Kickoff Colts pre-game show on Sunday mornings.

Calhoun, one of the most trusted journalists in the state is also one of the most versatile sportscasters in Indy. A.C. has also served as a play-by-play announcer for NCAA Basketball on ESPN, as well as the voice of Butler Basketball on WNDY-TV.

Prior to joining WISH-TV in 1998, A.C. began his professional career as weekend sports anchor/reporter at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York.

A.C. is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism. During his time at Syracuse University, A.C. was named a Remembrance Scholar, which is the highest award given by the university. A.C. has also been recognized as one of the most influential people in Indianapolis. He was honored to be named Central Indiana’s “Favorite Sportscaster” by two popular publications, Indianapolis Woman magazine and NUVO.

When he’s not on the air, A.C. spends his free time helping others, whether as serving as emcee for charitable organizations, or fundraising to help children in need. The AC Golf Classic has raised over $3 million to promote excellence in inner-city youth education. Each year, A.C. brings together local athletes, celebrities, business and community leaders in what has now become one of the most successful and popular golf fundraisers in Indiana.

Recently, A.C. received the Indiana High School Athletic Association Distinguished Media Service Award for his positive contributions and dedicated service to high sports programs in Indiana for 25 years.

In recognizing his longtime commitment to serving others, the Indiana Sports Corp. presented A.C. with their prestigious Pathfinder Award. Prior recipients of this distinguished achievement include Peyton Manning, Condoleezza Rice, Jim Nantz, Jeff Gordon, Oscar Robertson, Dick Vitale, Larry Bird, and Tony Dungy.

Dr. Flores is a global force at the intersection of climate, innovation, and sport. A trailblazer in sustainable sports, she led environmental and legacy efforts as Head of Sustainability for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, shaping the Games’ pioneering Sustainability Indicators and redefining how mega-events can leave a lasting impact.

At the Brazilian Football Confederation, she turned disruption into opportunity - bridging continents and cultures by launching digital education for global football communities during the pandemic. Her leadership continued on the world stage when she was invited by the president of the International Volleyball Federation to co-author The Set Point, a landmark exploration of sports investment and innovation that quickly became a top-ranked Amazon Kindle title.

With a PhD from Università degli Studi di Siena and a master’s from Bard College, Dr. Flores has taken her expertise from the beaches of Rio to innovation hubs across Israel, Italy, and Asia. Her research zeroes in on ocean-based sports - surfing, sailing, beach sprint rowing, and open-water swimming - where rising tides are both literal and symbolic. Her upcoming book, Flipping the Script challenges the world to reimagine how climate change is transforming the future of ocean sports.

An open water swimmer, Dr. Flores champions the idea that sport can - and must - be a vessel for environmental resilience. She believes ocean sports are the hidden pearls of our global ecosystem: fragile, beautiful, and powerful storytellers for a planet in flux.

In the water or on the world stage, Dr. Maureen Flores is flipping the script - one wave, one word, one innovation at a time.

When it comes to impact on and off the court Tamika Catchings doesn’t just play the game, she redefines it.

A WNBA Hall of Famer, four-time Olympic gold medalist, NCAA champion, and 10-time WNBA All-Star, Tamika’s stats are staggering but it’s her heart, hustle, and humility that have made her a legend. Known for her relentless defense and unmatched leadership, she’s one of the few athletes to ever earn a WNBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in her career. Simply put: she’s a triple-double of greatness.

But Tamika’s real victory is what she’s done after the buzzer. As the founder of the Catch the Stars Foundation, she’s been coaching up the next generation through literacy, fitness, and mentoring helping underserved youth chase their dreams with the same determination she brought to the hardwood.

She also broke new ground serving as General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Fever, and her entrepreneurial ventures including Tea’s Me Bottled Tea continue to expand her impact. This Hall of Famer isn’t just a gamechanger. She’s a lifechanger.

At TEDSports, she along with Dr. Allison Barber will share the vision behind the largest sports and leadership campus designed specifically to uplift and equip girls and young women for athletic, academic, and leadership success.

Dr. Allison Barber is a visionary at the intersection of sport, leadership, and purpose. As Chair of the Marvella Foundation, she is leading the development of a groundbreaking youth sports complex in northwest Indiana designed specifically to reimagine the future of women in sports.

A former President and COO of the Indiana Fever, Dr. Barber guided a high profile WNBA team through a period of explosive growth while drafting Caitlin Clark.

Before that, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communications at The Pentagon, earning the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Dr. Barber’s leadership roots also extend into higher education as the inaugural Chancellor of Western Governors University Indiana where her contributions were honored with Sagamore of the Wabash and the Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year Award.

At TEDSports, she along with Tamika Catchings will share the vision behind the largest sports and leadership campus designed specifically to uplift and equip girls and young women for athletic, academic, and leadership success.

Linda Rheinstein is a creative force and boundary-breaker who's redefining the rules of the game - literally. As the visionary Founder & CEO of Space Games Federation®, Linda is launching the world’s first competitive sports offerings designed specifically for zero gravity, where athletes: known as Astroletes® compete in a whole new dimension.

A five-time Emmy Award winner and inductee into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Linda’s career has always been about firsts: from pioneering cutting-edge sports tech at the dawn of digital media to now pioneering play in the cosmos. Her initiative Equal Space™ is more than a tagline - it’s a revolution, crafting a truly level playing field where physics changes, but fairness remains.

With a deep background in television, virtual production, and innovation with NASA and the U.S. Space Force, Linda brings together sport, science, and storytelling to ask a bold question: What does it mean to play when the rules - and the gravity - are gone?

At TEDSports, Linda will take us on an exhilarating journey to the next frontier of competition - where science fiction meets the next generation of sport, and where every leap is a giant one.

As President of Publishing & Esports at Riot Games, John leads the global charge in blending competition, creativity, and community. From the League of Legends World Championship to the VALORANT Champions Tour, he’s architected some of the most electrifying experiences in modern esports unifying millions of fans from Seoul to São Paulo, and creating moments that transcend the game.

But his impact doesn’t stop there. Whether you're watching Arcane, vibing to a K/DA anthem, or cheering on your favorite squad, John is shaping a cohesive, immersive ecosystem where every fan touchpoint is connected turning Riot’s game worlds into full-blown cultural movements.

Since joining Riot in 2017, John has spearheaded the evolution of the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), led the expansion of new titles like Teamfight Tactics and 2XKO, and overseen Riot’s foray into long-term global partnerships with brands like Kia, Red Bull, and Logitech. Prior to Riot, he held leadership roles at Microsoft, Sony Pictures, and Telemundo - blending entertainment, innovation, and storytelling on a global scale.

At TEDSports, John will explore what it takes to lead in the next era of fandom - where esports becomes culture, games become lifestyle, and the future of sport is reimagined, remixed, and Riot-led.

Angelo Pizzo is the screenwriter who turned underdogs into icons - and made believing the biggest win of all.

Best known for penning some of the most beloved sports films in cinematic history - including Hoosiers, Rudy, and The Game of Their Lives, Pizzo has spent a lifetime turning real-life longshots into unforgettable big-screen triumphs.

Born in Illinois and raised in the heart of Indiana basketball country, Pizzo’s own story is pure Hoosier magic. After graduating from Indiana University and skipping law school to chase a Hollywood dream, he honed his craft at USC before rising through the ranks at Warner Brothers and TimeLife Films. But it was his return to his Bloomington roots that sparked the creation of Hoosiers, a film now enshrined in the Library of Congress and consistently ranked as the greatest sports movie of all time.

From the grit of Rudy Ruettiger's fight to play one snap at Notre Dame, to the improbable World Cup win in The Game of Their Lives, and most recently The Hill and Someone Saved My Life, Pizzo’s stories remind us that the scoreboard never tells the full story and that the heart of sport lies in its humanity.

With a career that has earned him induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and honors like the Sagamore of the Wabash, Pizzo has proven that the right story, told at the right time, can lift communities, fuel dreams, and leave a legacy far beyond the final whistle.

Angelo Pizzo doesn’t just write about game-winning moments - he creates them. And for every underdog with a dream, his stories whisper the same message: you were meant to play.

As Executive Director of the International Golf Federation (IGF), he’s the driving force behind golf’s historic return to the Olympic stage after a 96-year hiatus. From Rio 2016 to Paris 2024 and now looking ahead to LA28 - with a brand-new mixed team event in the lineup - Antony has helped reshape the future of the sport one stroke at a time.

Headquartered on the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland, the IGF stands as golf’s official representative in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Since stepping into the role in 2010, Antony has led global efforts to promote golf as an Olympic sport, expand its international footprint, and ensure it’s no longer just a game of tradition - but of transformation.

Before teeing off at the IGF, Antony served as Head of Olympic Games Coordination, Operations & Services for the International Olympic Committee, where he kept the Games on course across multiple continents. His Olympic journey began in Atlanta 1996, grew in Sydney 2000, and hasn’t slowed since.

A master of navigating fairways, frameworks, and federations, Antony blends a deep respect for tradition, a keen eye for innovation, and a steady hand through disruption. He’s not just keeping golf in the Games - he’s helping it evolve with every round.

Whether he’s crafting Olympic formats or shaping the future of international sport, Antony Scanlon reminds us: if you want to move the game forward, you’ve got to think beyond the clubhouse.

Jennifer Crank’s journey in dog agility began with a leash, a Sheltie, and a dream. She earned her first agility title at age seven, and by 17, she was already competing on the world stage. With her Sheltie Guess, Jennifer represented Team USA at the FCI Agility World Championship three times, bringing home a silver and bronze individual medal, setting the tone for a career defined by both precision and passion.

Since then, Jennifer has become one of the most decorated competitors in U.S. agility history. From Westminster to World Championships, she’s won nearly every major title across organizations including multiple overall medals on the international stage, a feat no other American has accomplished across three different dogs. Her Sheltie Bee and Border Collie P!nk have become household names in agility, breaking records and redefining what’s possible in the ring.

But Jennifer’s influence goes far beyond the podium.

In 2010, she launched IncrediPAWS Dog Agility in Ohio, building not just a business, but a community. As a world-class instructor, she’s helped handlers and dogs of all levels find their rhythm, overcome challenges, and experience those unforgettable “lightbulb moments” of connection.

She’s coached Team USA, competed while pregnant at international events, and inspired thousands through her fierce competitiveness, fearless teaching, and full-hearted commitment to the sport.

At TEDSports, Jennifer brings the ultimate lesson from the agility course: that the real win isn’t just in running fast, it’s in building trust, mastering teamwork, and celebrating every joyful jump along the way.

Warren Keller is calling the plays - and changing the game - for Deaf and hard of hearing athletes across the nation.

As Athletic Director at Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to Deaf and hard of hearing students, Warren is leading the charge to ensure sports are heard, felt, and experienced on every level. A proud Bison and two-sport athlete himself, Keller knows the power of sport to build confidence, break barriers, and bring communities together, on and off the field.

From launching school sports in Arizona to leading a nationally celebrated football team at California School for the Deaf – Fremont, Keller has built a career rooted in equity, access, and bold leadership.

Now at Gallaudet, he’s raising the bar - and the scoreboard - by expanding varsity and club sports, championing DeafSpace design in athletics, and embracing innovation like 5G helmet technology to improve on-field communication. His forward-thinking vision has earned national headlines and put Gallaudet at the forefront of adaptive sports innovation.

But Keller’s greatest win? Creating a culture where Deaf student-athletes don’t just participate: they compete, connect, and lead.

At TEDSports, Warren will share how building inclusive systems, elevating Deaf voices, and investing in creative tech solutions can help every athlete feel seen, supported, and ready to make some noise, in their own way.

From moguls to marketing and touchdowns to tech boards, Jeremy Bloom has never stayed in just one lane: he’s carved new ones.

The only athlete ever to ski in the Winter Olympics while being drafted into the NFL, Jeremy has made a career of going full speed ahead, no matter the arena. At just 15, he qualified for the U.S. Ski Team, becoming the youngest male freestyle skier to do so. He went on to become a 3x World Champion, 2x Olympian, and 11x World Cup Gold Medalist, and the youngest freestyle skier to be inducted in the U.S. Skiing Hall of Fame.

Then he swapped skis for cleats earning All-American honors at the University of Colorado and getting drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles before finishing his football career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has since been a College Football and Olympic Sports Television Analyst and has worked for ESPN, Fox, NBC and The Pac-12 Network. Whether charging down a mountain or a sideline, Jeremy always played to win.

But his most meaningful victories? They came off the field. Inspired by his grandmother, he founded and chairs Wish of a Lifetime, a nonprofit that has granted thousands of wishes to adults 80+, 90+ 100+ across all 50 states.

Jeremy co-founded Integrate, a marketing tech company that reached a nine-figure acquisition and helped redefine the digital playbook for enterprise marketers.

Now, as CEO of X Games, Jeremy is once again changing the game, introducing new sports disciplines, expanding global reach, and launching innovations like AI-powered judging and the XGL (X Games League), a team-based format set to debut in 2026.

At TEDSports, Jeremy will share more about his innovations and using AI to remove subjectivity in sports...and how you don’t have to pick just one mountain to climb.

Sarah Styles is one of the most powerful voices in the global movement for gender equality in sport, a leader whose work is reshaping not just how women and girls play, lead, and thrive in sport, but how entire systems evolve.

From the playing fields of rural Australia to the boardrooms of major sporting bodies, Sarah brings a rare blend of financial expertise, policy insight, and lived experience to the table. Recruited from investment banking in 2014, she became Cricket Australia’s first-ever Head of Female Engagement, a landmark role that broke barriers and opened doors for women across every level of the game.

In 2021, she was appointed Director of Victoria’s Office for Women in Sport and Recreation - the only government office of its kind in Australia. Under her leadership, the Office became a national model for bold, evidence-based strategies that drive equity from grassroots clubs to the largest stadiums, and from change rooms to boardrooms.

But Sarah’s impact extends beyond titles and policy. She is a mentor, advocate, and change agent, empowering future leaders while challenging the status quo with conviction and compassion.

At TEDSports, Sarah will share why true progress means creating a world where roles like hers are no longer needed and how sport can be the most powerful catalyst we have for building a fairer, more inclusive future.

Born and raised in Herat, Afghanistan, Firooza Afghan defied cultural and political barriers to pursue her love of cricket. In 2021, at just 20 years old, she earned a place on the Afghanistan National Women’s Cricket Team—a groundbreaking achievement in a country where women’s participation in sports faced immense challenges.

Her journey took a dramatic turn following the Taliban takeover, which stripped away opportunities for women in sports and beyond. Forced to leave her homeland, Firooza relocated to Australia, where she continues to develop her cricket career and advocate for the empowerment of women and girls through sport.

For Firooza, cricket is far more than a game—it is a symbol of resilience, freedom, and hope. As she says, “Sport gave me a voice when I wasn’t allowed to speak, and a path when every door was closed.”

At TEDSports, Firooza shares her powerful story of perseverance, proving that sport can break barriers, unite communities, and inspire a brighter future—even in the face of profound adversity.

Proudly Filipino and based in Guam, STRAIGHTUPJED is a multi-talented artist whose journey bridges sport, culture, and music. A songwriter, producer, singer, radio host, emcee, and DJ, JED has spent over a decade shaping soundscapes that connect communities and tell authentic stories from the islands to the world.

His music has reached global audiences, with songwriting credits on TWICE’s acclaimed Formula of Love: O+T=<3 and a featured role on Maoli’s Music Overload album, including the standout track Lemon With My Tito. On stage, he’s shared the spotlight with industry heavyweights like E-40, Jhené Aiko, Fat Joe, and Tinashe—yet remains deeply rooted in his Pacific Island identity.

Beyond the studio, JED’s passion for performance started on the court as captain of Guam’s Junior National Basketball Team, where teamwork, rhythm, and discipline laid the foundation for his artistic career.

At TEDSports, STRAIGHTUPJED will share sets created specifically for the event that represent the island culture and voices and share how sports and music intertwine to shape identity, inspire resilience, and create soundtracks that carry cultures forward.

From a small town in Minas Gerais to the pinnacle of world football, Gilberto Silva has built a legacy defined by quiet strength, resilience, and purpose. As the anchor of Brazil’s midfield during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he played every minute of the tournament, helping deliver his nation’s fifth title and etching his name into football history.

Gilberto went on to become a cornerstone of Arsenal’s legendary “Invincibles,” guiding the club through its historic unbeaten 2003–2004 Premier League season. Revered as “The Invisible Wall,” he earned 89 international caps, captained Brazil to Copa América glory, and inspired teammates with his tactical intelligence and unshakable leadership.

Today, Gilberto’s mission transcends the pitch. As co-founder of Striver, an innovative platform combatting online abuse and bullying, he’s working to reshape the relationship between fans and athletes, fostering respect and accountability. A passionate advocate for athlete mental health, he draws on his own journey to address the pressures of performance, identity, and belonging—helping athletes and young people find strength in vulnerability.

At TEDSports, Gilberto shares how sport can be a force for dignity and change, and why protecting those who inspire us is the ultimate victory.

Xavier A. Gutierrez is a visionary leader reshaping the business of sport. As Chairman and CEO of ImpactX Sports Group, he’s leading a bold new venture focused on acquiring, operating, and elevating world-class sports assets through strategic partnerships with private equity firms, leagues, and teams across North America.

A seasoned investor and operator with more than 30 years of experience in finance, strategy, and sports management, Xavier made history as the first Latino CEO in NHL history during his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes. His appointment marked a breakthrough not only in representation, but in redefining what leadership in professional sports can look like - grounded in innovation, inclusion, and business excellence.

He is also the co-founder of SUMA Wealth, a fintech company closing the Latino wealth gap, and founder of LiS: Latinos in Sports, a platform that amplifies Latino influence in the global sports industry through content, convenings, and career development.

A graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School, Xavier brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, cultural impact, and entrepreneurial spirit to every arena he enters.

At TEDSports, Xavier will share how ownership, equity, and representation aren’t just buzzwords - they’re the foundation for building a more dynamic, diverse, and inclusive future for global sport.

Charlie Baker is helping rewrite the future of college sports.

As the current President of the NCAA and a former two-term Governor of Massachusetts, Baker brings a rare combination of public leadership, fiscal expertise, and firsthand athletic experience to the helm of college athletics. While governing one of the nation’s most complex states with a $50 billion budget, he earned bipartisan respect and the highest approval ratings in the country - thanks to his pragmatic, collaborative approach.

Now, he's applying that same steady hand to the NCAA at a moment of historic transformation. From the House v. NCAA settlement to the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), Baker is guiding the association through a new era - one that puts student-athletes at the center, prioritizing opportunity, education, equity, and long-term sustainability.

A former Harvard varsity basketball player, Baker understands the student-athlete experience from the inside out. At TEDSports, he’ll share how the future of college sports will be shaped not just by policy - but by purpose, people, and a renewed promise to the next generation.

David Kwong is a world-renowned magician, New York Times crossword constructor, and master of mental misdirection. A Harvard-trained historian of magic, Kwong has captivated global audiences by blending sleight of hand with storytelling, puzzles with performance, and illusion with insight.

Through his acclaimed shows The Enigmatist and Inside the Box, David pulls back the curtain on how our brains are fooled and why the principles of illusion mirror the strategies used in elite performance and sport. From the fake-out move on the field to the mental edge in the final seconds, deception in sports is no illusion - it’s mastery.

At TEDSports, David will explore how understanding the science of perception, distraction, and surprise can transform the way we think, compete, and lead.

Get ready to rethink reality, one step ahead at a time.

It’s time to “Play The Game!” For the first time ever, Paul “Triple H” Levesque steps into the TEDSports arena to pull back the curtain on one of the most powerful storytelling machines in the world. As WWE’s Chief Content Officer, he oversees Creative Writing, Talent Relations, Live Events, Talent Development, and Creative Services - driving the company’s weekly programming to over one billion fans across 150+ countries in 20 languages, and spearheading landmark initiatives like WWE’s recent Netflix launch.

A 14-time World Champion and two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee (2019 with D-Generation X; 2025 as a singles competitor), Triple H rose from electrifying entrances in the ring to become the architect of WWE’s global recruiting strategy. He founded the WWE Performance Center in Orlando - an elite training ground that blends athletic conditioning, character development, life skills, and wellness programs - and pioneered the company’s NIL recruitment program to secure tomorrow’s superstars.

At TEDSports, Triple H will unlock the championship playbook behind WWE’s epic success: the psychology of peak performance, the art of crafting rivalries that captivate millions, and the universal power of hero-villain-redemption arcs. Whether you’re on the field, the stage, or the boardroom, you’ll leave with winning strategies to sustain fandom, fuel narrative impact, and lead like a legend.

Beyond the ring, Paul and his wife, Stephanie McMahon, co-founded Connor’s Cure to advance pediatric cancer research. A Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame inductee and Concussion Legacy Foundation board member, he’s a proud father of three daughters - each proof that the greatest legacies are built with heart, purpose, and teamwork.