
A political science student once stared down a blank marketing plan at the Houston Symphony. Two decades later, Tessa Barron is still asking the same useful question: what does the business actually need?

Dux Raymond Sy is a technology executive at AvePoint, a Microsoft Regional Director, and a long-time Microsoft MVP who has spent more than two decades helping commercial, education, and public sector organizations navigate digital transformation. He is the author of 'SharePoint for Project Management,' the creator of the LinkedIn Learning course 'How to Build Your Personal Brand,' and host of the #ShiftHappens podcast. A sought-after keynote speaker, he has presented to more than 25,000 people at events worldwide including Microsoft Ignite and the Gartner Digital Workplace Summit.
Alfonso Villanueva is the EVP, Chief Transformation Officer and Interim CEO of Verizon Consumer Group - the largest consumer wireless carrier in the United States. A former McKinsey Senior Partner and PayPal EVP, he joined Verizon in November 2025 at the invitation of new CEO Dan Schulman, his former PayPal colleague, to lead a sweeping $5B+ operational transformation. With roots in strategy consulting across Asia-Pacific and two decades of experience in telecom, media, and technology, Villanueva brings a rare blend of corporate venture expertise, AI-driven data strategy, and global transformation leadership to one of America's biggest companies.