Shawn Walchef
Shawn Walchef is a restaurant owner turned media visionary who built a full-scale content studio inside his BBQ brand long before it became industry standard. Through his weekly podcast, he has interviewed top tech founders, hospitality leaders, and hundreds of entrepreneurs, giving him a rare cross-industry perspective on leadership, innovation, and growth. His approach transformed his slow-smoked BBQ business into a storytelling engine reaching millions. Shawn is best known for his mantra, “Be the Show, Not the Commercial,” a philosophy he applies to marketing, partnerships, and company culture. Beyond business, he openly shares his experiences with mental health, entrepreneurship, and fatherhood—using his platform to encourage resilience, honesty, and human connection in life and leadership.
Nishit Mehta
Nishit Mehta, founder of La Joya Jewelry, is a third-generation diamond industry leader with more than 30 years of experience, beginning his career in Hong Kong in 1992 as CEO of Diamart Ltd, where he grew the company into a strong seven-figure enterprise. His success led him to Gitanjali Gems Limited, where he helped drive global diamond revenue past nine figures, managed 112 U.S. jewelry stores, led the acquisition and integration of four Italian luxury brands, oversaw worldwide distribution, and launched a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Panyu, China. In 2013, he founded Azure Ltd, expanding into global direct-to-retailer supply, and later recognized the future of lab-grown diamonds, launching La Joya Jewelry to make ethical, heirloom-quality designs accessible and affordable. Today, Mehta is known as a pioneer of ethical luxury and a visionary reshaping the modern jewelry market.
Russell Rogers
Russell had authored five books and had launched them the previous year, back in June. The motive driving these literary endeavors was to inspire families to venture outdoors and engage in activities together. He firmly believed in the significance of establishing such habits early on in children's lives. Each book he wrote delved into the experiences of the first five years of a child's life. Motivated to make a great impact in society, he also launched Movetoday365. They do monthly walks and work on this to be supported in all 50 states.
