All Experts

Tierra is an apparel industry veteran with a passion for sustainability. In 2006 she launched one of the first organic denim brands, Del Forte Denim, which was carried in over 200 specialty stores across the US and Europe. Later Tierra joined Pact Apparel where she led the product department and helped transform the business from a niche underwear company into an eco-lifestyle brand. In addition to building ethical supply chains for brands, Tierra has worked to create change throughout the industry. She was a leading member of the team that developed and launched the Fair Trade Apparel and Home Goods Standard, which has been adopted by industry influencers like Patagonia, West Elm, Athleta, Madewell, PrAna and Outerknown.

Ted is an industrial designer with a wide range of experience from creating hand-crafted guitars to designing for overseas textile manufacture. Driven largely by an insatiable curiosity around materials and process, Ted strives to design objects that solve tangible problems and bring beauty to people’s homes. He shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for design and entrepreneurship with dozens of students every year as a professor at The University of Illinois at Chicago. When Ted isn't teaching or designing you’ll probably find him cooking over a fire, baking bread, or catching waves in Lake Michigan.

Taylor Patton is the Founder & CEO of Shorebird and a Southern California native. Prior to starting Shorebird, Taylor was a luxury Hotelier, working for some of the most prestigious Hotels & Resorts in the world.The idea for Shorebird started in 2020 when the world slowed down and travel came to a halt. Spending time outside became the norm, and a beach chair became an integral part of every day life. He became frustrated with the quality, functionality, and material choice of existing beach and outdoor products on the market and when he realized a better alternative didn't exist, he set out to create one.

Tasuku Murakami helms the kitchen at Umi, Atlanta’s destination for modern Japanese cuisine. The Michelin-starred chef oversees the menu that unites classic and modern Japanese flavors and has earned Umi accolades from media outlets including The New York Times, Time Out and USA Today. Murakami’s career spans more than 20 years and includes stints in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe, Japan, as well as Turin, Italy. Murakami came to Umi from New York’s The Lobster Club, a Japanese-style brasserie where he served as executive sushi chef. While in New York, he also was executive sushi chef at the Michelin-starred Tribeca hot spot Sushi Azabu. In Japan, Murakami served as sushi chef at Sushi Kobe in Kobe and Ginza Sushi in Tokyo. In Osaka, he was executive sushi chef and managed nine restaurants for E-ownersfood Inc. and was proprietor for the sushi and Japanese restaurant Dateya, responsible for all areas of the restaurant. Murakami also served as executive chef for Ristorante Tobiko and was sushi chef for Ristorante Arcadia and Tsukiji Sushi Iwa in Turin.

Tara Cappel is an entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of successful travel brand FTLO Travel.When Cappel launched FTLO Travel in 2016, it quickly became one of the fastest growing travel companies in the United States. The brand makes international travel more approachable for solo travelers in their 20s and 30s through connective and curated group trips. In just four years, it expanded to 100 departures, in 20+ countries and generated millions in annual revenue. FTLO Travel is rooted in slow, purposeful travel.Cappel saw there was a gap in the group travel market for young people who want to see the world, but don't know where to start or don’t have friends to join them. Her goal of providing a fun, supportive, seamless way to travel abroad has positioned FTLO Travel as the go-to resource for those looking to connect with new people while exploring destinations around the world.Cappel grew up in a small town in Idaho, but her parents brought her on many trips overseas, instilling a love for travel from a young age. She went on to study abroad for a year in high school, start Idaho’s first High School Model UN club, and even wrote her college admissions essay on why she loves airports.After studying international relations at Tufts University and graduating with a degree in business economics from the University of Denver, Cappel moved to Texas to work for Neiman Marcus’ corporate offices. There she oversaw the shapewear category and credits famed Spanx Founder Sara Blakely for inspiring her to take risks.After two years, Cappel was asked to join the founding team at textile brand Metawear Organic, and she jumped into the world of startups. Her time at Metawear gave her the tools and confidence to build her own company. She knew her true north was the transformative power of travel and furthering diplomacy, so after a year and a half, she set out on her own to create a way for young people to get out of their bubble and experience the world.Cappel believes her calling in life is connecting people across cultures and continents, which has driven her to become a travel entrepreneur. She believes travel is the best education and we would have a happier, more harmonious country if people traveled more.Some might say travel is in her DNA, as Cappel is related to the ultimate female travel trailblazer, Amelia Earhart.

Tammy Trenta, MBA, CFP, CTC, CEXP, is the Founder & CEO of Family Financial, an asset management firm based in Los Angeles, CA. Trenta opened her firm with 25 years of industry experience. Trenta believes in a holistic, 360 degree approach to wealth and financial management, integrating financial, tax, and legal guidance to deliver optimal outcomes on behalf of her clients' financial goals. Trenta is a media veteran, first appearing on Season 5 of The Apprentice, where she made it to the final five.

As the CEO of Xena Therapies, Tammy leads a med tech company that develops, manufactures, and licenses new medical technology products for various health and wellness needs. Tammy's mission is to bring innovative and effective solutions to the market that address unmet or underserved medical needs, such as menopause, MS, orthopedics, post-op, sports injuries, and heat stress. Tammy's portfolio brands include Opal Cool, Onyx Cool, and WARRMS infrared heat therapy, which offer wearable therapies that leverage cooling and heating technologies to provide relief and comfort.

Susan is a motivated and experienced marketing professional with a history of working with B2B and B2C companies in the fashion, software and beauty industries. Her expertise is in digital marketing, with five years of experience creating exciting and effective omni-channel marketing campaigns. She thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys wearing many hats.Susan's skillset includes branding, messaging, email marketing, social media strategy, partnerships, community management, copywriting and paid media.

Surbhee has over 20 years of experience working in retail, consumer, and luxury companies across Asia, Europe, and the US. She started her career in personal care in India with industry leaders such as L’Oreal and Marico Industries before moving to New York to work with the global consulting firm Booz Allen, Hamilton - where she advised leading luxury and consumer companies on growth and innovation – all of which played a tremendous part in her entrepreneurial journey. Being an avid traveler, explorer, and rainbow chaser, Surbhee enjoys capturing moments and crafting stories. Love, Indus helps celebrates Surbhee's two homes – India and New York. The brand evokes a journey fueled by nostalgia, culture, energy, and innovation that manifests itself in all that we do.

IT professional and Tech Blogger founder of Smartwatchinsight.com

Sung is an entrepreneur, inventor/engineer, and former patent attorney with a rich background in diverse technologies including consumer electronics and medical devices. Sung couples best practices from his extensive experience as an engineer and patent attorney to invent and engineer products that are more innovative and cheaper than what is currently offered, and then builds and develops an impenetrable IP portfolio that protects the core technologies of his inventions. Sung has co-founded several consumer tech startup companies, including but not limited to DivergentIP LLC d/b/a BruviTM and Touch Coffee LLC. Sung maintains a strong network of R&D and engineering relationships in Asia to expeditiously and cost effectively develop a new product from concept to mass production launch.