Featured Speakers

Most managers focus on “service.” Not Will Guidara. He focuses on wonder. As the visionary mastermind behind Eleven Madison Park, named the #1 restaurant in the world, he built a culture obsessed with creating extraordinary experiences. His bestselling book, Unreasonable Hospitality, has become a global movement, inspiring companies to turn everyday transactions into unforgettable moments. With humor, heart, and powerful real-world stories, he will show you how a mindset of generosity and intentionality can transform teams, customers, and entire organizations.

What can bankers learn from the man who negotiated with terrorists, kidnappers, and criminals around the globe? As the FBI’s former lead hostage negotiator, Chris Voss mastered the science of Tactical Empathy™ — powerful negotiating techniques that diffuse tension and build trust to achieve better outcomes. At the Forum 2026, he will show banking executives how to apply these proven communication skills and strategies to influence decisions, navigate difficult situations, and achieve breakthroughs in any situation.

Let’s face it: most ads suck. But Mike Cessario was able to transform an ordinary product into a billion-dollar brand phenomenon with marketing that doesn’t feel like marketing at all. He will show you how anyone can disrupt even the most boring category (like banking!) with bold branding, humor, and a completely different way of thinking about consumer engagement. Learn how to cut through the noise and create passionate fans in a marketplace where attention is the ultimate currency.

In the heat of battle, average leaders freeze. Great ones take charge. From the cockpit of a Marine attack helicopter to the C-suite, no one knows the principles of fearless leadership better than Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour. As America’s first Black female combat pilot turned entrepreneur and bestselling author, she will show you what it takes to get gutsy, ditch excuses, and never look back, so you can inspire your team in moments of uncertainty and take bold action when the pressure is on.