Meet our Keynote Speakers

When the world first met Emmy Award-winning multi-platinum artist, singer, songwriter, Rachel Platten, it came in the form of a proclamation of self. An anthem for those who needed it and those who didn’t even know they needed it alike, “Fight Song” became a global sensation, an inescapable battle cry that’s now been streamed more than a billion times and is as inextricable to modern culture as any one song could be.

But “Fight Song” was just one song, oneself, and Rachel Platten had so much more to say, and so many more selves to show. These days, if you dive headfirst into Rachel’s rich and growing catalogue, your odds are as strong to land on a thundering anthem like her biggest hit as they are to hit a soul-searching, scar-bearing, lyrically textured stunner about motherhood, guilt, mourning, expectations, rebirth, mental health, and the support systems we all need to guide us through life’s most earth-shaking curveballs.

Dana Tanamachi is a New York City-based artist and designer who enjoys living a quiet life and working with her hands. In 2009, an impromptu chalk installation for a Brooklyn housewarming party landed Dana her first commission for Google and set the popular chalk-lettering trend—and her career—in motion. After working under design icon Louise Fili, she opened Tanamachi Studio, a boutique design studio specializing in custom typography and illustration for editorial, lifestyle, food, and fashion brands. She has been commissioned globally by clients such as Target, Nike, USPS, Penguin Books, Ralph Lauren, Instagram, and West Elm. Named a Young Gun (YG9) by the Art Director’s Club in 2011 and a Young Creative to Watch by HOWMagazine, she has had the distinct honor of creating custom cover art for O, HOW, and TIME Magazines.

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Ndaba Mandela is an internationally renowned speaker, activist, and author, known for his inspiring talks and his dedication to carrying forward the legacy of his grandfather, Nelson Mandela. With a unique blend of personal experiences, storytelling, and a deep understanding of social and political issues, Ndaba captivates audiences around the world, motivating them to act, create positive change, and embrace their roles as global citizens.

Ndaba Mandela holds a BA degree from the University of Pretoria, majoring in Political Science & International Relations. He is the grandson of the late Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase. Growing up in the shadow of his iconic grandfather, Ndaba developed a strong sense of responsibility to continue the work of promoting social justice, equality, and freedom for all.

Ndaba's passion for social justice led him to become an advocate for various causes, including education, youth empowerment, and HIV/AIDS awareness. He co-founded the Africa Rising Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering African youth through education, mentorship, and leadership development. Through his foundation and speaking engagements, Ndaba strives to inspire young people to overcome challenges and become leaders in their communities.

Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall are an Olympic power couple with a remarkable love story. Their journey of determination, love, and excellence has cemented them as one of the most iconic couples in sports today.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tara made history by winning the Gold Medal in the long jump. Her celebration in the sand pit quickly became one of the null as she sprinted to the stands to leap into Hunter’s arms. Weeks later, Hunter competed in the Paralympics, winning Gold in the 400m T62 and Bronze in the 4x100m Universal Relay, null

TARA DAVIS-WOODHALL (25) is the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in the long jump and has remained undefeated for the past two years. She is a two-time Olympian, ranked #1 in the world, and has claimed the titles of 2024 World Champion, 2023 and 2024 US National Champion. Known as “null,” Tara’s iconic cowboy hats, boots, and infectious personality have made her a fan favorite both on and off the field. She is also the assistant track coach at Kansas State. As a former NCAA Division 1 athlete at the University of Texas, Tara became a four-time All-American, shattered two NCAA records, and earned the title of double-record breaker in the same week.

HUNTER WOODHALL (25) is a three-time Paralympian and null, redefining what it means to be an athlete and entrepreneur. Hunter has won 5x Paralympic Medals and holds the American record for the 100m and 400m (T62). Born with fibular hemimelia, Hunter had both legs amputated below the knees at 11 months old. Defying all odds, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, competing for the University of Arkansas and becoming a four-time All-American.

Outside of competition, Tara and Hunter enjoy life with their two dogs, Milo and Winnie, and their cat, Azula. Tara is a passionate advocate for mental health, sharing her experiences with depression and anxiety to raise awareness and support others. Hunter’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to drive him as he builds and scales businesses that reflect his values and passions, such as apparel, social media and real estate.

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Stephen T. Rockwood is the president and CEO of FamilySearch International, a global nonprofit sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to joining FamilySearch, Rockwood specialized in creating unique service offerings for worldwide customers of such brands as MasterCard International, AT&T, Disney, Office Depot, and Citibank among others. He also started two companies that were later acquired by larger companies. Most recently Steve served as director of the international division at FamilySearch.

We are Los Chicaneros, an ordinary family who wants to share, through humor, various situations that most families experience.

Today, we want to tell you a little bit about our story. We met 36 years ago, and next December, we will celebrate 32 years of marriage. Our family consists of Nelson (the father), Cristina (the mother), Nicolás (the eldest son), and María Antonia (the youngest daughter).

We met at a diving club in Cali, Colombia. We share a love for nature and sports; we fell in love there and decided to join our lives forever because we share the same ideal.

When we got married, we were fully committed to starting a family because we believe it is the place where we can raise our children in an environment of love, values, respect, and honesty, among others. Our main goal has always been our children, doing everything possible to give them everything they need in every aspect and to stay united.

It has been a difficult path, full of sacrifices, but always filled with love, hope, and joy. Although we are not perfect, we have always been clear that we are meant for each other and that, thanks to our great love, we have managed to overcome all the trials that life has thrown our way.

Our obligations as parents were to provide our children with proper education, housing, food, and health. Due to job instability, we were forced to move to many places over the last 20 years. At first, it wasn't too complicated because they were children whom we could take from one place to another, but as they grew older, it became more challenging to stay together. So, Nicolás studied in Colombia for both school and university, and Antonia studied part of her school in Colombia, part in Honduras, and completed her university studies in Honduras, while the parents lived between Nicaragua and Honduras, as we found job stability in these countries.

Marco Lui, also known by his stage name "Mr. Lui," is an Italian mime and comedian born on July 18, 1975, in Milan. With a degree in Physical Education from the University of Verona, Lui began his career as a cabaret artist and Michael Jackson imitator before making his mark in television. His unique comedy style, inspired by classic silent film humor, led to appearances on Mediaset programs like Beato fra le donne, and his signature character, Mr. Lui, became popular on Italia 1, drawing comparisons to Mr. Bean.

Beyond television, Lui has built a diverse career in film production and direction, with notable works like The Book of Life (2010) and Dr. Smith and the Fantastic Castle (2012). As a longtime collaborator with Italian entertainer Fiorello, Lui directed and edited numerous backstage pieces for Fiorello's shows, blending his comedic vision with technical skill. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a missionary in the South of Italy and has also participated in cultural projects tied to the church. Today, he continues to engage with Italian media as the presenter for the Zecchino d’Oro selections, where he also contributes his talents as a comedian and voice actor, bringing his signature humor and charisma to the show.

Philippines born singer and songwriter Ysabelle Cuevas got her start releasing covers of popular songs on YouTube. Since 2016, her work has amassed over 700 Million streams, with her biggest release “I Like You So Much, You’ll Know It” collecting over 175 Million streams on YouTube to date. In 2018, she released her first original song “Daunted” through Warner Music Philippines, which has since accumulated millions of streams in SouthEast Asia and North America.

Ysabelle’s incredibly versatile voice and innate mastery of vocal production has allowed her to bridge genres and cultures. A lover of Korean culture herself, Ysabelle has personally translated Korean songs into both Filipino and English. In July of 2020, she was the Grand Prize winner of YG Entertainment’s song cover contest where she performed an English version of “Wayo” by Bang Ye-dam of K-Pop group Treasure. That October, Ysabelle’s cover of “Boy With Luv” was featured on Glamour’s "You Sang My Song" series, featuring positive reactions from original artist and K-pop megastars BTS themselves. Ysabelle has since shifted her focus to her original music, and is currently in the studio writing and recording her next big release.