Dr. Temple Grandin

The world knows Temple Grandin as the face of autism. Her accomplishments as a speaker, author and advocate earned her a place among TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2010. Her life story was detailed in the acclaimed HBO biopic, Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin continues to speak and write about autism, most recently in her book Different…Not Less. Dr. Grandin has been professor of animal science at Colorado State for over 20 years and has made enormous contributions to the livestock industry. Her insights into animal behavior shaped innovative approaches to livestock handling that have become the industry standard.

Liane Holliday Willey

Liane Holliday Willey is a Doctor of Education with a specialty in psycholinguistics and learning style differences. She is the author of several books on Asperger syndrome including Pretending to be Normal and Safety Skills for Asperger Women. Liane shares her experiences of living with Asperger syndrome with audiences worldwide, bringing positive insight along with the real and not so happy realities she has gathered over the years during her stints as a French fry maker, university professor, writer, community volunteer, academic researcher, equestrian director, wife and mother. Whether she is talking to large groups, leading a small group seminar, writing a book or blog, helping people enjoy equine education, or serving on a board, Liane’s goal is to help others understand the importance of accepting differences and individuality.

Alix Generous

Alix Generous is a mental health activist, speaker, and writer. Her TED talk “My Inner Life with Aspergers” has received over 1.6 million views. Her works have been featured on NPR, Bloomberg Businessweek, TEDx, and the Sydney Opera House. Through high impact media, comedy, and clinical expertise, she advocates on a wide range of issues concerning mental and developmental disabilities. She grew up in Washington DC.

In 2016, Alix graduated from the College of Charleston & The University of Vermont where she studied Psychology, Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience. As a mental health advocate, she has successfully consulted families, companies, and academic institutions and points them towards resources and values that improve the status of disabled individuals. She has spoken all over the world, from the Sydney Opera House to Budapest, Hungary stressing the importance of mental diversity. As a writer, she works with several companies writing guest blogs and articles that increase awareness on issues concerning disability rights. She lives in Los Angeles.

Jane Miller

From guiding global businesses to prominence to mentoring young business students, CEO Jane Miller has had a profound influence in the workplace and beyond. Jane Miller is a 30-year food industry executive with experience working with start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. She is also the founder of Janeknows.com, a career advice website geared towards young leaders starting their careers. She is the author of Sleep your Way to the Top (and Other Myths About Business Success), a sassy business book targeted at Millennials.

Jane has held several CEO roles in the natural and organic industry, including Rudi’s Bakery, ProYo High Protein Ice Cream and HannahMax Cookie Chips. Over the course of her career, Jane was part of an executive team that brought Hostess out of bankruptcy, worked for HJHeinz as the Chief Growth Officer and then the President of the UK & Ireland Division, and she ran the Western division of Bestfoods Baking. The first fourteen years of her career were at PepsiCo, where she rose to be the President of the Central division of Frito-Lay.

Jane currently serves as a board member at the University of Colorado Leeds Business School, Eldorado Springs Artesian Water and Madhava Sweeteners. Her involvement as a mentor for young professionals and start-ups resulted in her being named the “Lifetime Achievement Award Winner” for the Denver Business Journal in 2013, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce’s “Women Who Light the Community” in 2015 and the “Naturally Boulder Industry Leader Award” in 2016. In 2015, Jane established the Jane Knows Scholarship Fund at Leeds supporting students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Jane has a Russian Studies degree from Knox College in Galesburg, IL, where she received a 2017 Alumni Achievement Award, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.