CEO Unscripted

Damola Adamolekun is the President & CEO of Red Lobster, where he’s leading a $60 million revitalization of the iconic seafood brand. From reintroducing customer favorites to launching new affordable dining options, Damola is focused on restoring Red Lobster’s position in the casual dining space.

A former private equity partner and Harvard MBA, Damola previously served as CEO of P.F. Chang’s, where he helped drive a digital and operational turnaround. He began his career at Goldman Sachs and has since been recognized as a bold, strategic leader with a track record of navigating high-stakes transitions.

Alan McLaren is the Co-Founder of STRATA Originals, where he helps leaders step into their story, share their gifts, and serve with intention. With 30+ years at the intersection of tech innovation, brand building, and storytelling, Alan brings a rare mix of strategic insight and creative heart. From leading multimillion-dollar campaigns to advising founders and Fortune 500 execs, his mission is consistent: help people lead with authenticity and leave a legacy that matters.

George Saad is a multidisciplinary executive, entrepreneur, and attorney whose career spans leadership in finance, education, and law. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of PLATZ Capital, a lending brokerage focused on growth-stage and middle-market companies, and recently launched PLATZ JURIS, a full-service law firm with specialties in intellectual property, corporate law, compliance, and trusts.

Prior to founding his own firms, George served as Head of US/Latin America/Europe operations for SABIS Educational Systems, Inc., a family business founded by his great-grandfather in 1886. His background also includes founding ventures in real estate and tech, as well as years of consulting on family business, DEI, and organizational strategy.

George holds a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law, an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Northeastern University, and an MA in Economics from McGill University.

Molly North is the CEO of Merus, an employee-owned commercial real estate developer and design-builder based in Cincinnati, with offices across the Southeast, Midwest, and MidAtlantic. Since becoming CEO in 2015, she has led the company’s strategic growth and its transition to full employee ownership, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Prior to her current role, she served as CFO and real estate development director. Molly also sits on the board of INDUS Realty Trust and previously held finance roles at Fifth Third Bank and Ernst & Young.

A dedicated civic leader, Molly serves as President of the Cincinnati Park Board and on the University of Cincinnati’s Lindner Executive Cabinet. She has held leadership positions with organizations including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Findlay Market, and ArtWorks, and is an active member of YPO and the Cincinnati Women’s Executive Forum.

Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2021 Cincinnati Enquirer Top Workplace Leader, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and induction into the Midwest Real Estate Hall of Fame.

Karim Abouelnaga is the Founder and CEO of PRACTICE, an education company dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for low-income students through high-dosage tutoring, culturally responsive curricula, and technology solutions. He founded the organization in his Cornell University dorm room at age 18 and has since led it to support nearly 200,000 students nationwide.

A first-generation American raised in Queens, NY, Karim earned a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and a Master’s in Education Policy from Columbia University. He is a TED Fellow, Echoing Green Fellow, and was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in Education.

Pedro Barboglio is the founder and CEO of Remote Team Solutions, a leading nearshore staffing firm that helps U.S. and Canadian companies build high-performing remote teams out of Mexico. With a background spanning staffing, IT, and food manufacturing, Pedro also serves as a board member of Comal Foods and an advisor to NAFINSA.

He’s an active member of the Forbes Business Council and a contributor to the Entrepreneur Leadership Network, regularly sharing insights on leadership, talent strategy, and business growth.

Trey Vick is the Chief Executive Officer of V 3 Capital Group, Classic Home Health Services, and Strive Senior Living. In these positions, he oversees operations while leading the efforts on new asset acquisition and expansion of the brands’ services. His industry background stems from commercial real estate banking and years working in the private sector acquiring assets and forming real estate investment funds. Trey is a native Floridian and veteran of the United States Air Force. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and is a graduate from the Florida School of Banking at the University of Florida.

Trey also serves the community as a member of the Howard Phillips Center and Vice Chair of the Arnold Palmer Hospital Community Leadership Council. Trey is the recipient of three Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, a Veterans of Influence Award, and named as one of their CEOs of the Year. He also holds a title to 2019’s Argentum Senior Living Leaders Under 40 Award. In addition, his companies have been awarded multiple Best Places to Work awards, named as one of the Fast 50 Orlando growing companies, and honored as one of the Golden 100 Top Privately Held Companies in Central Florida.

Daniel Koffler is the President of New Frontiers, an executive function coaching organization that empowers individuals to build the skills necessary for success—academically, socially, and professionally. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from George Washington University and is a proud member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).Through personalized coaching, New Frontiers supports clients with diverse abilities and goals, helping them grow into confident, independent self-advocates.

Daniel’s passion for this work began early, rooted in his experience within his family’s special education business. There, he observed a consistent gap: many young people were entering adulthood without the executive function tools they needed to thrive. In response, he founded New Frontiers to close that gap—offering support to everyone from elementary students to working professionals navigating life’s transitions and striving to reach their full potential.

Trey also serves the community as a member of the Howard Phillips Center and Vice Chair of the Arnold Palmer Hospital Community Leadership Council. Trey is the recipient of three Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, a Veterans of Influence Award, and named as one of their CEOs of the Year. He also holds a title to 2019’s Argentum Senior Living Leaders Under 40 Award. In addition, his companies have been awarded multiple Best Places to Work awards, named as one of the Fast 50 Orlando growing companies, and honored as one of the Golden 100 Top Privately Held Companies in Central Florida.

Lauren Imparato is an entrepreneur, author, and advisor with a diverse background spanning finance, sports, wellness, and leadership development. After graduating from Princeton University, she began her career at Morgan Stanley, where she served as Vice President in Fixed Income, contributing to the establishment of $500 million+ businesses across Emerging Markets. In 2009, she founded I.AM.YOU., a pioneering health and wellness company, which she led for a decade before exiting in 2019.

Currently, Lauren is the Founder and CEO of Halsey Neck, an early-stage growth advisory firm focused on sports, human performance, and health, and Managing Partner at Willow Sports Intelligence, an AI private coaching platform. She also holds board roles with organizations such as Lynk Capital Markets, Lada Health, Women in Innovation, and The Sunny Center Foundation. Lauren is the author of the bestselling book Retox, a keynote speaker, and has been featured in over 500 publications including GQ, Entrepreneur, and Vogue.

Shawn Seipler is the Founder and CEO of Clean the World, a global leader in hygiene and sustainability. Since 2009, the organization has distributed over 88 million bars of recycled soap to underserved communities in 127 countries and diverted more than 25 million pounds of waste from landfills. Under Shawn’s leadership, Clean the World has partnered with over 8,000 hotels and resorts to turn discarded hygiene products into life-saving resources. He has been featured on CNN, the Freakonomics podcast, and numerous sustainability forums for his work in social impact and public health innovation.

Bryan Brenner is a seasoned entrepreneur and business advisor with over 25 years of experience helping organizations grow through strategic planning, total rewards and workforce innovation. He is the Founder of FirstPerson, a consulting firm focused on employee benefits and organizational strategy, which was acquired by NFP in 2021. Bryan now serves as Managing Director at NFP, where he supports businesses nationwide.

In addition to his leadership in the private sector, Bryan serves on several nonprofit and education boards, including Butler University, the Indy Chamber, and Progress House.