Sanjay Baskaran
Sanjay has 25+ years of experience in fintechs, payments, and e-commerce working for Amazon, Visa, and HSBC. He is now a tech & info services advisor/OP to one of the leading private equity companies Advent working on deal flow, diligence, and value creation plans. His focus is on innovative & transformative business models to drive exponential growth using strategy & tech such as AI, ML, blockchain & others. Prior to PE, Sanjay was CEO & turned around One Technologies where he grew the business and orchestrated digital transformation. As President of TaxAct and officer of publicly traded Blucora, he grew annualized revenues 34% over two years by deploying a customer-centric, digitally transformative strategy. As GM of a multi billion dollar P&L Amazon Cards he led the launch of the Amazon Prime Card & initiated the Amazon Business card. These programs were industry leading in the deal economics and use of ML & AI to drive new customer & portfolio growth 5x peers. His other roles include head of analytics at Visa N. America and leadership positions in marketing at HSBC. Sanjay sits on the Board of the Broad College of Business Michigan State University. He has been a mentor at Harvard Innovation Labs for 3 years to multiple student founders. Sanjay and his wife Linda together support philanthropic efforts in education & homelessness. They love travel, collecting art and supporting emerging artists.
Gary Lovelace
Gary is a seasoned entrepreneur with an MBA and over 40 years of business ownership experience across a diverse range of industries, including high-tech construction site surveillance, clean-burn fuel additives, and a chain of fitness and wellness centers that have served more than 30,000 individuals and employed over 340 people. With a prolific history in real estate, he has developed shopping centres and apartments, land development projects, and condominium conversions, totalling over 750 units. Additionally, his business endeavors have taken him offshore to operate an international investment company as part of a conglomerate of global investors.
Now, he leverages this expertise to advise and consult with aspiring and successful business owners. Gary also founded a nonprofit foundation 30 years ago, focusing on addressing humanitarian, social, and spiritual needs around the globe. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, family, and friends, golfing, cycling, and enjoying Arizona’s year-round outdoor lifestyle.
Will Meier
Will is an accomplished leader, strategist, and mentor with over four decades of experience in driving innovation and managing complex engineering projects. With a Mechanical Engineering degree and a Master’s in Leadership Coaching, he combines technical expertise with visionary leadership. As Project Discipline Manager at Pratt & Whitney, he develops teams and leads aerospace initiatives while fostering operational excellence. Through Awakening Destiny Global, Will coaches CEOs, entrepreneurs, and change-makers, helping them unlock their potential and create transformative impact. Will is also the author of Leaders for Life, offering practical leadership principles to inspire success. Known for his intuitive insights and effective communication, he advises leaders across industries and develops businesses, creating breakthrough results in team-building and sustainable innovation. Passionate about collaboration, he champions solutions that empower leaders to shape organizations and communities. Outside of work, he values time with his wife, Donna, and their family, sharing a commitment to faith, creativity, and integrity and leaving a legacy in a changing world.
Lee Sanders
Lee Sanders owns Firethorn Financial Group, LLC, specializing in business planning and consulting for businesses of all sizes. He began his career at Merrill Lynch in Little Rock, managing $258 million in client assets. After the Great Recession, he founded a financial planning practice focusing on small to mid-sized businesses, addressing challenges like valuation, exit planning, and growth strategies while also offering Fractional CFO services. Lee earned an MBA in Corporate Finance from Auburn University and later founded Firethorn Financial Group, which became a General Agency for Guardian Life Insurance. He then transitioned to an independent practice to better serve clients. Lee holds several professional designations, including FINRA Series 7, 63, 65, 66, 24, SEC registration as an IAR, and Chartered Financial Consultant. He also serves on the Board of the March of Dimes Arkansas Chapter. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Central Arkansas.