Ted Schlein is a partner at Kleiner Perkins, and executive chairman and founding partner at Ballistic Ventures. He has spent the last 35 years helping create transformative companies. A Midas list regular and the former chairman of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), Ted has funded, supported, and guided more than 30 founders to successful company exits including Mandiant, ArcSight, Chegg, Fortify Software, IronNet Cybersecurity, Jive, LifeLock and Segment. 

Ted is regularly called on to advise government leaders as they navigate society’s digital infrastructure. He is an active member of the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, National Security Institute Advisory Board, and also the Council on Foreign Relations, Independent Task Force on Cybersecurity.

Chip is the Founder and CEO of Braddock Cove Ventures, a strategic advisory and boutique investment company. Prior to founding Braddock Cove Ventures, Smith was the EVP Global Public Affairs and Policy at 21st Century Fox and the co-founder and the CEO of The Glover Park Group (now FGS) one of the nation’s most respected strategic communication companies. Chip has more than 20 years experience growing companies and highly effective teams in the media, strategic communications, government relations and corporate affairs sectors.

Karim is a General Partner at GV and has been with the firm since its inception. He leads the firm’s investments in enterprise software and analytics as the IT stack reorganizes and learning algorithms extend our ability to gain insight from large amounts of data. Karim and GV focus on investing in companies with disruptive technologies and transformative ideas that have the potential to revolutionize industries and improve people’s lives.

Kevin is the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Mandiant, a global cyber security company founded in 2004 that protects organizations from cyberattacks. Acquired by Google in 2022, Mandiant customers include over 200 of the Fortune 500 and major government organizations around the world. He is one of the world’s most recognized experts in cybersecurity and a relentless warrior deeply engaged in fighting cyber threats for more than 30 years. As Co-founder and General Partner of Ballistic Ventures, he mentors entrepreneurs on their journey, leveraging his extensive knowledge of the threat landscape and strengths as a successful founder and CEO.

Amb. (ret.) Robert S. Gelbard is an international business consultant. His 35-year Foreign Service career included numerous senior policy positions, including Ambassador to Indonesia and East Timor, Ambassador to Bolivia, President Clinton’s Special Representative to the Balkans, and Assistant Secretary of State of Counter Terrorism. Robert has served on many corporate Boards, including, L-1 Identity Solutions, Novetta Solutions and Guggenheim International, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council and Foreign Policy for America.

Sasha Cohen O’Connell, PhD is the Senior Director for Cybersecurity Programs at Aspen Digital. Prior to Aspen, Sasha was an Executive in Residence and Senior Professorial Lecturer teaching U.S. cyber policy at American University. Sasha began her career at the FBI where she served most recently as the organization’s Chief Policy Advisory, Science and Technology and as the Section Chief of Office of National Policy for the FBI’s Deputy Director where she led policy engagement with the National Security Council. During her time at the FBI, Sasha focused on enhancing strategic, risk-based decision making; building partnerships across government and private sector; and driving strategic communications and outreach.

Pam Wickham has 30+ years in communications and has been widely recognized as an expert in identifying and deploying new technologies to advance brand and reputation management. More recently, Pam has been a pioneer in the development of data analytics tools and analysis to shape messaging and strategic communications deployment methodologies. Pam has served on the boards for the JFK Library Foundation and the Mass Conference for Women, is a member of the Arthur Page Society, and has held senior communications roles at Fortune 500 companies, including HP and GE, and Raytheon.

John Saad is a Partner and Defense and National Security Segment leader, working in the areas of organizational transformation and operations redesign for the National Security Sector, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Department of State and the Intelligence Community.

​Prior to joining Guidehouse, John was with PwC for 22 years where he supported both private and public sector clients on a range of matters in both PwC’s Forensics Practice and its Public Sector Practice.

Kiran Raj is the Founding Partner at Raj Ferber PLLC, a boutique law firm specializing in cybersecurity and risk management. Before private practice, Kiran served as Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, working directly with leaders of corporate America on the intersection of cybersecurity and privacy with law, policy, and technology. He held a similar role at the U.S. Department of Justice as Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General.