Naz Aksu's story begins with a love for jewelry and a desire to make people's special moments truly unforgettable. She envisioned a company that would go beyond the ordinary, exceeding expectations and crafting pieces as unique as the love they represent. This dream, combined with her background in economics and marketing, and her husband's expertise in computer science, led to the creation of 25karats.com in 2008.

Diane Howard, RN, is a highly skilled and certified cosmetic nurse with advanced training from renowned physicians and industry experts. As the founder of Esthetic Finesse, she blends artistry with science to create natural, refined results, following her “less is more” philosophy. Committed to excellence, Diane continuously hones her expertise in the latest techniques and innovations, helping clients look and feel their best with confidence.

Sendy Raymond is the Owner and Managing Director of Your Bali Wedding, a premier wedding planning company specializing in luxury and bespoke destination weddings in Bali. Originally from Batam Island near Singapore, her journey into the wedding industry began with a passion for hospitality, creativity, and personal storytelling. With a background in language and tourism, Sendy found her calling in event planning when she was asked to organize a friend’s wedding, an experience that changed the course of her career.

Catarina Tucker is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of two distinct businesses—Barnastics, an experiential event agency, and Snuggle Sense, a sensory-focused sleep brand. Drawing from her extensive experience in hospitality and her personal journey as a sleep-deprived mom, Catarina has turned her passions into thriving ventures that focus on creating memorable brand experiences and promoting better sleep.

Pru Raymond is a entrepreneur who founded a business by combining her expertise as a professional educator with her passion for yarn craft. In doing so, Pru has grown a successful niche business, unrivalled in Australia. Over the last eight years, Pru has sold out knitting workshops all over Australia and USA, collaborating with other small businesses to support a sustainable yarn craft “ecosystem”.  Pru is passionate about Slow Fashion, and sees her range of indie knitting patterns as a way to empower mindful makers. A range of Pru’s books, designed to support knitters on their learning journey and their real-life travels to yarn stores are available on Amazon globally.

“Start-up life comes with turbulence, especially in the early months (even years), but learning not to get unsettled by this and leaning into this disruption and seeking opportunity, is how new ideas form and how your products and services take shape.” - Tara Jacobsen

Amanda doesn't just talk about trauma; she embodies it, having navigated a staggering array of life's most challenging experiences. But this isn't a story of victimhood. It's a story of triumph. In her keynotes and workshops she transitions from shared experience to practical solutions, offering a three-part framework “LIFE” (Living Intentionally. Fully. Empowered) because she isn't just about understanding trauma; she's about overcoming it.

Hazel Theocharous is a dynamic talent management expert, entrepreneur and learning & development consultant with over 15 years of experience. As the founder of Empowering Your Career and Empowering Your Staff, she helps professionals and businesses unlock their full potential through tailored training and coaching solutions. With a strong background in corporate training, office management and leadership development, Hazel has worked across multiple industries, including legal, financial services, recruitment and professional consultancy. She is passionate about guiding individuals through career transitions and helping businesses build high-performing teams. Her expertise in career coaching, professional skills development and workplace transformation makes her a sought-after voice in talent and career growth.

Katja Gottschalk is the founder of PC Harmony, a tech company that provides IT support, web design, and hosting services with a strong focus on accessibility, patience, and customer empowerment. A woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, she built her business from the ground up while raising two young children as a single parent. With a background in sales and training, she has a talent for breaking down complex tech concepts into easy-to-understand solutions. Her mission is to make technology more approachable for individuals, businesses, and communities—especially those often overlooked in the tech industry, such as elderly clients, people with disabilities, and small business owners. She won the UK Enterprise Award in 2024 for the “Best Computer Repair Business 2024”.

Internationally accredited and multi-award-winning with almost two decades of experience in dermatology, plastic surgery and cosmeceutical formulating, Isabella is the creator of the Ragan Skin product line, and currently operates private clinic, Isabella Loneragan Skin.