Stanford Thompson is Executive Director of Equity Arc and a principal of Goldsmith Strategies where he is a leading national voice in arts education and leadership, specializing in promoting cultural equity and driving transformative change within underrepresented cultural communities. As the founder and former leader of Play On Philly, Stanford guided the organization for thirteen years, gaining international recognition for its use of music as a tool for social change. He also served as the Founding Board Chairman of El Sistema USA and Equity Arc, where he led complex strategic planning and organizational design initiatives that impact the lives of over 35,000 students across the country.
Stanford's leadership has been instrumental in shaping the national conversation around equity in the arts, advocating for systemic change that creates more inclusive and accessible opportunities for cultural communities of all types. His expertise is sought by organizations ranging from small grassroots initiatives to major cultural institutions, where he helps leaders navigate the complexities of program development, audience engagement, and financial sustainability. A frequent keynote speaker and panelist, Stanford shares his insights on topics such as nonprofit leadership, arts education, and the role of the arts in personal development.
Stanford teaches on the faculty of the Global Leaders Institute, guiding leaders in not only developing their craft but also understanding the broader societal impact of their work. His extensive experience working with arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, funders, and national service organizations aligns with his personal commitment to fostering sustainable growth and equity in the arts.
A graduate of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program, Stanford holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and New England Conservatory.

Cornelia C. Walther is an associate professor at the Sunway Institute for Global Strategy and Competitiveness and a senior fellow at the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Malaysia. She is visiting scholar at the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and the McNulty Leadership Program, as well as the Harvard Learning Innovations Laboratory. She is the director of POZE, a global alliance for systemic change that benefits people and planet, and is the author of six books on influence, impact, and potential to leverage aspirational algorithms for prosocial change at scale. She is an external advisor to UNFPA Morocco on hybrid intelligence. Previously, Walther spent more than two decades working for the United Nations in large scale emergency situations in West Africa, Asia, and Latin America, focusing on advocacy and social and behavioral change. Walther presently focuses on prosocial AI, with a particular interest in AI4IA (Artificial Intelligence for Inspired Action). The related book was published in June 2026. Her adjacent interest in hybrid intelligence is covered in a new book scheduled to publish in Fall 2026.

James Root is a senior partner at Bain & Company and author of The Archetype Effect, offering readers a new way to understand what motivates them at work every day and why they feel how they feel about their job.

During his more than 30 years at Bain, living and working across Europe, North America and Asia, James has served as Managing Partner of our New York office; as the leader of our Asia-Pacific Organization practice; and as Chairman of our Global Nominating Committee.

He's a member of our Consumer Products and Organization practices, and his work focuses on full-potential corporate transformations involving strategy, cost management, operational improvement and organizational effectiveness.

James has been published extensively in the business press, from Harvard Business Review to the Wall Street Journal, on international expansion, China, growth strategy, the firm of the future and the future of work. He has also been featured on international media platforms, including CNN, CNBC, and Bloomberg.

He is a recipient of our firm's Bright-Dix Award, which annually recognizes an individual's outstanding contribution to the professional development of others.

During a leave of absence from our firm, James was the co-founder, board director and president of a business process outsourcing firm based in Malaysia, serving multinationals across APAC, where he was responsible for the company's business operations.

He is a Fellow of Hughes Hall College, Cambridge; an Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology; and a Guest Lecturer at the Institute of Business and Finance at Waseda University in Tokyo.

A graduate of Cambridge University and London Business School, James lives in Hong Kong.

Claire Mahier is a researcher and consultant dedicated to understanding how technology influences the most human of assets: creativity. Currently a Doctoral Candidate at École des Ponts Business School, her research examines the evolving relationship between humans and technology in the business world, with a specific focus on human-machine symbiosis. Claire's academic rigour is backed by 20+ years of "in-the-trenches" experience as a digital project and account director and operations manager for international and national firms in France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. She focuses on building structures that allow both people and technology to thrive.

Michael is a master storyteller and has demonstrated this as journalist, essayist, playwright and author who held editorial positions at Forbes for 10 years and has also written for The New York Times, Esquire, Rolling Stone, McSweeney's, Reuters, The Daily Beast, Weekly Humorist, Splitsider, The Awl and more. Read his great blog, "Middlebrown Musings", on Substack.

Erin Thorkilsen is an educator of children and adults, presenter, and founder of Heart in Education. She is an adjunct professor of education at the University of Rhode Island and a recognized leader and teacher in the well-being and mindfulness fields. Her foundation is 20 years as a classroom teacher and teacher and parent educator, including being awarded the "Goldenheim Award for Excellence in Teaching." Erin ran the Associate Teacher Program at Greens Farms Academy for 8 years; currently, she mentors student teachers in their placements throughout the state of Rhode Island. She is a former 20 year yoga and mindfulness instructor, leading yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and international retreats for adults.

Genein Letford is a national thought leader and award-winning educator dedicated to advancing brain health, brain skills, and creative leadership. Recognized as the 2019 LA Lakers Business Woman of the Year, Genein is the creator of Intercultural Creativity®, Brain Capital Arts, and NeuroSomatic Creativity®. She is currently the Founder & Co-Director of Lyrics 'N Leadership Institute for Brain Health. Under her leadership, Genein recently helped the State of Arizona (where she and her family reside in Phoenix) become the first US state to designate the month of July as Brain Capital Awareness Month.

Her acclaimed framework, The 7 Pillars for Building Brain Capital, equips corporations and organizations to enhance brain health while strengthening the essential cognitive tools that fuel creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. Letford holds degrees in Psychology and Educational Development from UCLA and CSUN, and she is certified in Brain-Centric Design.

With her 8 year old son Shawn, she writes intergenerational books on Brain Capital and they both speak on these topics around the nation.

Stephanie Wagner is currently is Director of Learning and Development at Humin, (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations), a global non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Founded by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richie Davidson, it translates breakthrough neuroscience and contemplative research from the Center for Healthy Minds into actionable, science-based wellbeing tools, workplace programs, and the Healthy Minds Program app.