Innovating to Scale a $1 Billion Business – Lessons from Unicorn CEOs
Innovating to Scale a $1 Billion Business – Lessons from Unicorn CEOs
Learn about the challenges and rewards of building successful companies with billion-dollar valuations.
Several entrepreneurs, from diverse industries, will share lessons learned: some of the wisdom, knowledge and insights gained by overcoming a myriad of obstacles, trials and tribulations to achieve tremendous success.
They will cover highlights about growing their businesses through various stages.
These range from concept development, business planning, funding, team-building, and launching, to marketing, scaling, and going public, and in some cases doing it all over again with another business.
KEYNOTE MODERATOR:
John Gustavo Blair
Vice President, FCEDA
John Gustavo Blair is the Vice President, Business Investment at Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). He previously served as the Director of National Business Investment at the FCEDA. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Mr. Blair has been at the FCEDA since 2017 and handles the relationship with emerging tech companies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain to drones and autonomous vehicles. John serves as the President of the Volunteer Fairfax Board of Director and represents the FCEDA in its memberships at the international organizations, Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain association and at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). John has completed the Leadership Fairfax program. Read full profile…
KEYNOTE PANELIST:
Caren Merrick
Entrepreneur, Investor, Board Director, Author
Caren Merrick is an entrepreneur, investor, board director, author, and former Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade with more than three decades of experience building businesses and advancing innovation. She co-founded webMethods, helping build the enterprise software company from startup through IPO and global scale; its technology continues today as IBM webMethods. As Secretary, Caren led 13 agencies spanning economic development, innovation, energy, workforce, and small-business finance, helping secure more than $140 billion in capital investment. Read full profile…