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About the event
thinkBIG! Summit
The thinkBIG! Summit, presented by the Veale Foundation, is an annual gathering that celebrates and cultivates the entrepreneurial spirit of Northeast Ohio’s high school students. Designed as the capstone experience for schools participating in the Veale Youth Entrepreneurship Forum, the summit brings together hundreds of young innovators, educators, and business leaders for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and forward-thinking exploration.
Held in Cleveland, Ohio, this high-energy, future-focused event features dynamic keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and interactive breakout sessions designed to empower the next generation of changemakers. With a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and purpose-driven action, the thinkBIG! Summit challenges students to think critically, dream boldly, and build confidently.
https://www.vealeentrepreneurs.org/thinkbig-summit-24-25/
Event Date: March 2026
Speaker: Female Entrepreneur Speaker, preferably younger. Someone engaging
Entrepreneur | Innovation Strategist | New York Times Bestselling Author
Diana Kander is a New York Times bestselling author, innovation strategist, and serial entrepreneur who has transformed the way leading organizations and individuals think about curiosity, growth, and change. A dynamic speaker and trusted advisor, Diana helps audiences unlock their creative potential and build the confidence to experiment, fail smarter, and solve meaningful problems.
As an immigrant to the United States, Diana grew up with a deep appreciation for opportunity and a relentless drive to succeed. By the time she graduated law school, she had already launched and sold her first business. Since then, she’s built a career helping companies—from startups to Fortune 100s—adopt a mindset of continuous innovation and reinvention.
Diana is the author of All In Startup, a New York Times bestseller that’s been adopted in over 100 university entrepreneurship courses around the world, and The Curiosity Muscle, a guide to developing high-performing, curiosity-driven teams. Her work has been featured in outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, and Inc., and she’s been a keynote speaker for top organizations including Google, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Cisco, and H&R Block.
Whether she’s speaking to students, executives, or emerging leaders, Diana brings a compelling blend of storytelling, humor, and research-backed strategies. She is passionate about demystifying entrepreneurship and helping others lead with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
In addition to her work as a speaker and consultant, Diana is the host of the Professional AF podcast and a dedicated advocate for personal reinvention, lifelong learning, and empowering the next generation of changemakers.
Speaking Fee: $30,000, plus a $2500 flat travel fee which includes airfare, ground & all meals. PLUS Customer provides (1) King Room for up to 2 nights hotel in host city on Master Account, with late arrival guaranteed
Speaker travels from Kansas City, MO
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfIUlBMAo5o
Why Diana for thinkBIG! Summit 2026
Diana Kander has built her career helping people see the world differently—and act on their ideas with confidence and creativity. As a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and innovation strategist, Diana knows firsthand what it takes to turn curiosity into action. Her superpower is making business principles fun, accessible, and energizing—especially for young people ready to make a difference. Diana’s story as a first-generation immigrant who built multiple companies and reinvented what entrepreneurship can look like is the kind of real-world inspiration that students at the thinkBIG! Summit will carry with them long after the event.
Speaking Topic for Consideration
"The Curiosity Advantage: How Entrepreneurs Think Differently and Change the World"
In this powerful and engaging talk, Diana unpacks the mindset that drives successful entrepreneurs: curiosity. Drawing on her experiences launching startups, advising Fortune 100 companies, and raising a son who asks over 300 questions a day, Diana teaches students how to turn curiosity into their greatest advantage. She shares simple tools to identify problems worth solving, build confidence in their ideas, and take action—even when things feel uncertain. Equal parts motivational and practical, this talk equips young changemakers to innovate with purpose and lead with courage.
Highlights
- Author of All In Startup, a New York Times bestseller used in entrepreneurship programs across the country
- Innovation strategist to major companies including Fortune 100 organizations
- Host of Professional AF and creator of innovation education experiences for youth and executives
- Built and exited multiple startups and now teaches others how to unlock their own entrepreneurial instincts
- First-generation immigrant who discovered the power of asking questions and embracing challenges early in life
Key Takeaways for Students
- Learn how curiosity can be the foundation of innovation and entrepreneurship
- Gain confidence in asking better questions and identifying opportunities around them
- Understand how to take smart risks, even without all the answers
- Be inspired to think creatively, act boldly, and challenge the status quo
Diana does a superior job of speaking to a wide variety of audiences. She engaged students, faculty and business owners all with ease. And, Diana’s message isn’t all roses – she challenges her audiences to think differently, act strategically, and create critical conversations among founders, businesses and collaborators. The dialog she spurred continues to shape our thinking today. - Millikin University – Tabor School of Business
I just finished reading “All in Startup.” What a remarkable book. Over the past many years, I have found that publishers have flooded instructors and by extension classrooms with linear text material that treat entrepreneurship as if it were a cake recipe; and the education establishment has followed by expecting entrepreneurship curriculum to meet the expectations of accreditation agencies at the expense of student learning. Your book provides entrepreneurial insight within page-turning story telling. - Texas A&M University
Bestselling Author, Entrepeneur, Keynote Speaker, Performance Expert, Athlete, Business Builder
After building and scaling one of the world’s most effective behavior change apps, Hooked on Healthy Habits, Mandy Gill has one of the world’s largest datasets focused on goal-setting, resilience, and maximizing positive results. As a highly sought-after keynote speaker, and published author, she helps leaders, and their teams thrive in the face of uncertainty by equipping them with strategies to navigate those inevitable challenges and detours that can often feel like failure.
Mandy has shared conversations with Lady Gaga and Rihanna while her career took shape in the broadcast world first, before branching off as a resiliency and workplace wellness expert. When coaching clients, she draws on professional and personal experiences, which include running 10,000 km and climbing nearly one million feet of elevation over the past three years. Her clients to date include: the US Navy, Adidas, Docusign, TD Bank and Manulife.
In addition to being a highly successful female entrepreneur and CEO, Mandy is a Harvard Leadership Program graduate, and an author, who is passionate about leveling the playing field and opening doors for women across the globe, which has twice earned her Women of Distinction Awards. Mandy's newest book, RESET with RESILIENCE: A Guide to Greatness When Your Goals Go Sideways, is out now.
Speaker Fee: $15,000 + plus a $2000 flat travel fee for RT Airfare, RT Ground Transfers, plus Hotel for up to 2 nights
*Speaker is based in Vancouver, BC
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Reel - https://youtu.be/VUhVBvSnfcw
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/mandy-gill
Why Mandy for thinkBIG! Summit 2026
Mandy Gill is the embodiment of bold thinking, relentless perseverance, and purpose-driven action—making her an ideal speaker for the thinkBIG! Summit. As a celebrated endurance athlete, founder of a thriving plant-based company, and advocate for pushing limits both mentally and physically, Mandy brings a unique and authentic voice to youth entrepreneurship. Her story of overcoming personal challenges, building a brand from scratch, and daring to take on some of the world’s most extreme environments resonates deeply with students navigating their own paths. Mandy doesn’t just speak about big goals—she lives them, and she inspires young people to do the same.
Suggested Topics:
Transform Uncertainty into Opportunity
Harvard Leadership graduate and tech founder Mandy Gill is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, CEO, and behavior change expert specializing in resilience and peak performance. Through her groundbreaking app Hooked on Healthy Habits, she has built one of the world's leading behavior change platforms, leveraging data-driven strategies to help organizations like the US Navy and adidas thrive by maintaining focus during times of uncertainty.
Her dynamic keynote, "RESET with RESILIENCE: Turning Setbacks into Success," delivers a powerful message on how to:
- Navigate challenges with confidence and clarity
- Transform setbacks into catalysts for innovation
- Maintain momentum when circumstances shift unexpectedly
- Build teams that thrive under pressure
Backed by Data, Proven by Experience
What sets Mandy apart is her unique combination of empirical research and extraordinary personal achievement. Her insights come from:
- One of the world's largest datasets on behavior change and resilience
- Elite athletic experience (running 10,000 km and climbing one million feet)
- Harvard Leadership Program training
- Transformative work with global organizations facing significant challenges
Her proven frameworks and data-backed strategies provide the tools needed to not only endure tough times but to emerge stronger. Attendees will walk away with the confidence and resilience needed to lead their teams, drive growth, and create lasting success, no matter what comes their way.
Reset with Resilience: A Guide to Greatness when your Goals go Sideways
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, setbacks are inevitable. Whether it’s dealing with unexpected delays, navigating shifting priorities, or managing the complexities of team dynamics, challenges can feel like insurmountable roadblocks. But what if these obstacles weren’t the end of the road? What if they were the beginning of innovation and growth? In this empowering keynote, Mandy Gill shows you how to reframe challenges, and leverage resilience to achieve greatness when your goals go sideways.
Mandy Gill brings unique insights on resilience and sustainable growth, grounded in both her personal achievements and professional expertise. As the creator of one of the world’s most effective behavior change apps and a Harvard Leadership Program graduate, Mandy has collected one of the largest global datasets on goal-setting and resilience. Her work with organizations like the US Navy, adidas, and TD Bank demonstrates her ability to equip leaders and teams with the tools to thrive in adversity. Having climbed nearly a million feet of elevation and run 6,500 miles in three years, Mandy’s perspective on pushing limits and sustaining peak performance is unparalleled.
Attendees will leave equipped with a transformational toolkit to thrive in the face of uncertainty. You’ll learn:
- Frameworks for turning setbacks into opportunities for innovation and advancement, based on Mandy’s new book, Reset with Resilience.
- Data-backed strategies for maintaining peak performance during challenging markets and high-pressure situations.
- How to build sustainable habits that drive long-term business growth and create a foundation for enduring success.
This isn’t just a keynote—it’s a roadmap for turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s triumphs, helping you unlock your potential and achieve sustainable greatness in your career and beyond.
Highlights
- Founder of Mandy Gill Health, a plant-based nutrition brand and fitness platform
- Completed ultramarathons, Ironman competitions, and extreme expeditions, including a Mount Everest base camp journey
- Recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 and award-winning entrepreneur in Canada
- TEDx speaker and featured on major media outlets like CTV and Global News
- Advocate for mental wellness, performance mindset, and daring leadership
Key Takeaways for Students
- Discover how to transform challenges into confidence through mental grit
- Learn how entrepreneurship starts with passion, action, and personal purpose
- Understand the value of discomfort, risk-taking, and continuous learning
- Be inspired to set bold goals and take ownership of their unique path
“Unwavering support is what employee engagement and retention requires. When it comes to educating, Mandy's got the perfect mix of knowledge, strength, and compassion. Don’t let her sweet demeanour fool you, she’s tough and will make you work!" - SENIOR JOURNALIST Bell Media
"Mandy has redefined the leadership keynote speaker space. She has a heart of gold, lifts up her audience, and is making a positive impact in this world". - PRESIDENT / CEO Dominion Lending
"Mandy has redefined the leadership keynote speaker space. She has a heart of gold, lifts up her audience, and is making a positive impact in this world". - Senior Global Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Adidas
Leadership Communications Coach | Author | Founder of Project: Ask Like an Auctioneer
Dia Bondi is a globally recognized leadership communications coach, author, and speaker who helps high-impact leaders unlock their voice and lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. With over two decades of experience coaching world-class executives, founders, and rising changemakers, Dia has become a sought-after partner for those ready to amplify their message and accelerate their mission.
Her work spans industries and continents—from helping Rio de Janeiro secure the 2016 Olympic Games, to coaching C-suite leaders at companies like Intel, Mozilla, Dropbox, Salesforce, and Google, and guiding social innovators behind the scenes at the Clinton Global Initiative. Through her strategic guidance, leaders have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in resources and decisions, shaping the future of their organizations and communities.
As the founder of Project: Ask Like an Auctioneer, Dia merges the boldness of the auctioneering world with real-world negotiation strategy. After training as a fundraising auctioneer, she developed a revolutionary six-step framework to help professionals—especially women—ask for more and get it. Her book, Ask Like an Auctioneer: How to Ask for More and Get It, is both a tactical guide and rallying cry for ambitious individuals to own their value and make bold, transformative asks.
Dia’s high-energy, deeply practical keynotes and workshops have inspired audiences at Alphabet’s X Team, Meta, DataDog, Salesforce, and many more. Whether on a main stage or in an executive offsite, her work centers on one goal: to elevate the impact of every leader she works with.
Devoted to helping people shine when the stakes are high, Dia blends storytelling, strategy, and sharp humor to help others speak powerfully, lead authentically, and pursue their goals with unshakable courage—on their own terms.
Speaking Fee: $20,000, plus a Flat Travel Fee of $2000 to cover RT Air, Ground, Meals and Incidentals. Organizer books and pays for Hotel for up to 2 nights.
Speaker Highlights
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/dia-bondi
Why Dia for thinkBIG! Summit 2026
Dia Bondi helps people speak powerfully and ask boldly—two essential skills for any young entrepreneur. As a coach to some of the world’s top CEOs and rising changemakers, Dia has built a career around helping others find their voice and step into leadership with confidence. For students at the thinkBIG! Summit, Dia offers the tools to dream bigger and ask for what they truly want—whether it's launching a new idea, asking for funding, or simply raising their hand in class. With humor, energy, and actionable insight, Dia will show students how to overcome fear, claim their value, and speak up like their future depends on it—because it does.
Speaking Topic for Consideration
“Ask Big: How to Speak Up and Go After What You Really Want”
In this fun, fast-paced, and deeply empowering session, Dia teaches students how to harness the power of asking as a foundational skill in entrepreneurship and leadership. Drawing from her own journey as a founder, auctioneer, and communications expert, Dia shares how bold asking can open doors, build momentum, and accelerate dreams. Students will leave with a toolkit for making confident asks, communicating with clarity, and believing in their right to be heard—even when the stakes feel high.
Highlights
- Founder of Project: Ask Like an Auctioneer, helping leaders and entrepreneurs ask for more and get it
- Author of Ask Like an Auctioneer: How to Ask for More and Get It
- Trusted coach to executives at companies like Intel, Salesforce, Google, and Mozilla
- Former on-air talent at CNBC and host of the Lead With Who You Are podcast
- Has taught thousands how to elevate their public speaking, negotiation, and personal leadership
Key Takeaways for Students
- Learn the power of making bold asks in school, life, and business
- Gain tools to speak up clearly and with confidence in any room
- Shift mindset from fear to action when pursuing big goals
- Be inspired to believe in their voice, their value, and their vision
"Do you want a speaker to take the room to the next level with her energy, insights, and influence? Dia transforms her audiences and her clients careers by teaching world class techniques for communicating for influence. Don't hesitate to book Dia now for a 10 return on a keynote speaking "experience!" -Jim Cook, BenchBoard Coaching & Exec. Advising. Founding Team: Netflix & Intuit.