Jean-Philippe Courtois is a truly remarkable global leader whose career has shaped business, technology, entrepreneurship and positive impact on an international scale.

After joining Microsoft in 1984, our guest went on to serve for four decades at the heart of the company’s global growth, most recently as President and Executive Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing and Operations, working alongside CEO Satya Nadella and helping lead Microsoft’s transformation into a cloud and AI powerhouse.

But his story goes far beyond corporate leadership. He has dedicated much of his work to using technology, entrepreneurship and leadership as forces for good. Through initiatives supporting more than 2,500 environmental and social impact start ups across over 100 countries, he has championed the belief that business can be a powerful engine for positive change.

He is also the President and co-founder of Live for Good, a foundation focused on unlocking the potential of young people from diverse backgrounds through impact entrepreneurship. As Chairman of SKEMA Business School, a board member of ManpowerGroup, Chairman of the Mission Committee at OpenClassrooms, and host of the Positive Leadership podcast, he continues to inspire leaders to align personal purpose with organisational mission.

At the centre of his work is a simple but powerful belief: mission led leadership can unlock human potential, build cultures of wellbeing and success, and create meaningful societal impact.

After more than 15 years in investment banking and consulting, Preeti made a bold shift into entrepreneurship. What sparked it wasn’t a business plan… it was transformation. Following postpartum recovery, she turned to the outdoors, and within a year, summited Mount Rainier. That journey didn’t just change her physically, it reshaped her purpose.

She saw firsthand how powerful the outdoors can be, and more importantly, how inaccessible it still is for so many people.

So she built AdventureTripr, a marketplace connecting people to curated, multi-day adventure experiences with vetted local guides. But this isn’t just about travel. It’s about breaking barriers. Social, cultural, economic. Opening the outdoors to everyone.

Along the way, she’s bootstrapped a business through a global pandemic, navigated the realities of being a female founder, and stepped into investing in women-led ventures focused on health, community, and innovation.

She’s also building real communities through her “Adventures For Everyone” initiative, helping beginners step into new experiences and connect with others on the same journey.

This is a conversation about transformation, resilience, and what happens when you stop waiting and start building something that matters.

Michelle Desmond is a leading voice at the intersection of grief science and innovation.

As a trained thanatologist, consultant, and former executive at Starbucks, Michelle is pioneering modern, science-backed approaches to how we understand, teach, and respond to grief, both personally and in the workplace.

From universities and wellness retreats to global organisations and emerging “grief tech” innovators, her work bridges the gap between human experience and forward-thinking solutions in one of the most universal, yet least understood areas of life.

This is a powerful conversation about loss, leadership, and what it really means to be prepared for the moments that shape us most.

Brian Baird is a former Member of Congress, a clinical psychologist, and a university president who has advised governments, organisations, and leaders on communication, science, and policy at the highest level.

He is now the Chair and Founder of the National Museum and Center for Service, an ambitious initiative being built near the National Mall in Washington DC, dedicated to celebrating and inspiring the spirit of service across America and beyond.

Brian has built a reputation for bringing people together to solve complex challenges with integrity, clarity, and purpose. His work spans education, environmental policy, communication strategy, and leadership development, always grounded in a deep commitment to making a meaningful difference.

This is a conversation about service, leadership, and what it really means to live with purpose.

Gabriele is a physician, author, and international academic leader dedicated to advancing ethical innovation and global cooperation. He serves as President of the Institute for Advanced Studies and Cooperation, where he brings together governments, universities, and institutions to shape the future of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and sustainable development.

He is also the Founder of the World Changers Summit, a platform uniting global leaders to drive dialogue around human dignity, peace, and responsible technological progress. His work extends to the Vatican as a representative to the Pontifical Academy of Theology, and he plays a key role in shaping ethical AI through his leadership with the Italian League of Human Rights.

Most recently, he launched the Quantum Balkan Initiative, focused on strengthening regional collaboration in quantum technology and security, and was appointed Vice Chair of Governance, Ethics and Membership at the Global Esports Federation — helping define the standards of integrity in a rapidly evolving digital world.

At his core, Gabriele is asking one of the most important questions of our time: how do we ensure that as technology accelerates, humanity evolves with it?

This is a conversation about purpose at the highest level — where science meets consciousness, and innovation meets responsibility.

Mahnaz Javid is the President of the Mona Foundation, an organisation that, since 1999, has been on a mission to alleviate poverty and inequality through education. Their work goes far beyond the classroom, empowering women and girls, supporting grassroots organisations globally, and developing individuals into agents of change within their own communities.

What stands out about Mahnaz’s work is the belief that education is not just a right, but a force that can transform families, communities, and entire generations. Under her leadership, the Mona Foundation has built a global network committed to ethical leadership, service, and opportunity for all.

In this conversation, we explore what it really means to live with purpose, how education can become a catalyst for global impact, and the role each of us can play in shaping a more equitable world.

Amanda Schneider is the founder of ThinkLab, the research division of SANDOW Design Group, where she sits right at the intersection of business strategy, research, and the future of work.

She’s not just observing change, she’s decoding it.

From how work is evolving, to what customers actually value today, to how B2B relationships are shifting, Amanda brings clarity to the questions most leaders are quietly struggling with.

She’s also the author of Work for What’s Next, where she challenges the idea that today’s tension at work is generational, and instead shows us it’s structural, and what we need to do about it.

As a TED speaker and host of the Design Nerds Anonymous podcast, Amanda has built a reputation for turning complex shifts into practical, usable insight.

Rajeev Agarwal has built his life’s work around helping organisations make better decisions, create stronger systems, and unlock greater impact through data.

Rajeev is the founder of MAQ Software, a globally respected technology company that has spent more than two decades helping leading organisations accelerate their business intelligence and analytics capabilities. Under his leadership, MAQ Software has become known for its depth of expertise, consistency of delivery, and commitment to helping clients improve productivity, reduce costs, increase sales, and build stronger customer relationships.

As Microsoft Power BI Partner of the Year, and with a track record that includes 43 certified visuals and repeated recognition on the Inc. 5000 list, Rajeev has built far more than a successful company. He has built a culture rooted in excellence, trust, and long-term value.