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One of my favorite days of the year is the opening of EXPO CHICAGO. More than an art fair, EXPO is a celebration of #creativity, #connection, and the role #culture plays in shaping vibrant communities. Founded by the visionary Tony Karman and now part of the Frieze family, it’s one of the many things that make #Chicago awesome. If you’re in town, head to the newly reimagined Navy Pier and explore 170+ global galleries in one place. It’s worth your time. The piece below is by Marcos Anziani, represented by Avant Gallery (Miami). You’ll find this and many more at booth 430. Full disclosure: the @SouderFamilyCollection proudly owns one of his works—and it’s a favorite.

Last night we gathered for one last time at 1871 in the iconic Merchandise Mart in #Chicago. In this space startups got their start, entrepreneurs found support, jobs were created and community was built. Now we move into a new, modern phase where #creativity, #agility and #success will be had not in one anchor space, but everywhere, all the time. Thanks to the wonderful Betsy Ziegler and her team for their leadership as we pivot towards the future.

This baby eland was born yesterday in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, and took its first steps shortly after, under the watchful eye of its caring mother. This short clip, captured by my wife, Lori Souder, while in #Kenya for her company, Here Today, Africa Tomorrow, is more than a beautiful moment in the wild. It’s a metaphor. The early steps of an eland - wobbly, uncertain, instinctive - look a lot like the early steps of any founder. Especially those building something that matters. Not every entrepreneur sits behind a desk made from a door and two sawhorses. Lori is a 2x founder who builds her business from the bush - surrounded by wildlife, communities, and the landscapes she’s committed to protecting. Through her conservation-focused #safari company, she introduces people to the wilds of Eastern and Southern Africa in a way that inspires action, connection, and a deeper understanding of what’s at stake. Today, on Earth Day, we’re reminded just how fragile and powerful nature is - and how vital it is to have entrepreneurs like Lori, whose work helps protect it. She’s not only building a business. She’s helping preserve a continent’s ecosystems and stories, one journey at a time. If you're curious to learn more, link is in the comments. #EarthDay #Entrepreneurship #Conservation #Africa #HereTodayAfricaTomorrow #MaasaiMara #PurposeDrivenTravel #Leadership

OMG… who’s driving the car?! AAGGGHHH!!! That was the reaction from a bunch of people after I posted this clip of me cruising through Phoenix in a fully autonomous Waymo. 🚗 No driver. No steering wheel. Just me… and the future. It wasn’t my first Waymo ride, but it was just as fun and just as inspiring. When was the last time your airport transfer made you stop and think, “This changes everything”? But here’s what really struck me: This isn’t about the car. It’s about what it signals. 🎯 When a city leans into innovation, when policymakers bet on #tech and create the conditions for new ideas to scale, it becomes a magnet. ✅ Innovation is a talent signal. High-impact people want to be where the future is being built. You can feel it in places like #Phoenix, #Austin, #Miami. The energy is different. Possibility is in the air. We’re in a global race, not just for #AI, but for the people who will build with it. And the communities, companies, and leaders that create room for bold, visible progress? They’re the ones that will THRIVE.

Flying home on a brand-new United Airlines A321neo after an exceptional few days at DentalForum2025 in #Tempe, AZ—one of the best-run events I’ve attended globally. Hats off to the amazing and talented OpenRoom team! What made it stand out? Simple: It was built for outcomes. 👉 Talks that delivered actionable insights 👉 1:1 meetings designed for real business, not just polite intros 👉 Ample time to build meaningful connections No fluff. Just results. If you’re designing events in 2025 and beyond, here’s the move: Overindex on action. People don’t need more inspiration. They need momentum. #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #EventStrategy #ModernBusiness #THRIVE Photo credit: J.W. Oliver Jr.

Just stepped off stage after delivering the keynote at DentalForum 2025 in Phoenix—an outstanding event with forward-thinking leaders across the dental industry. AI is reshaping every role in every industry globally. It’s driving efficiency, unlocking innovation, and boosting profitability. But one of its most strategic advantages often flies under the radar: its ability to attract and retain high-impact talent. The question is the same everywhere I go: How do we build ecosystems that thrive in a digital-first world? The answer—always—is talent. Without it, startups don’t scale, companies don’t relocate, and communities don’t grow. In my talk, "Tackling Recruitment & Retention Challenges in the AI Era," I made one thing clear: AI is powerful, but leadership is the multiplier. Technology alone won’t solve your talent challenges. Success comes from leaders who empower their people, create meaningful careers, and build cultures where innovation and AI work together to remove friction and accelerate growth. I also introduced the THRIVE framework—my strategic playbook for Modern Business Transformation. It helps leaders turn disruption into opportunity by aligning data, insights, and culture to drive change. THRIVE is designed to be used whenever a new challenge or opportunity arises—by accepting that change is inevitable, defining what needs to shift, building a plan, partnering smartly, cultivating a culture of innovation, and measuring what matters. Old plans won’t solve new problems. Agree? #AI #Leadership #Talent #DigitalTransformation #KeynoteSpeaker #FutureOfWork #THRIVE