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2025 Keynotes
Discover the industry leaders and experts who shared their insights and expertise at the Think Bold Festival
Nat Ford Sr.
CEO Jacksonville Transportation Authority
From Bold Vision to Bold Reality: Transforming Jacksonville’s Urban Core
Focuses on infrastructure, transit innovation, and urban development to empower Jacksonville’s growth.
Lil Duval
Entertainer | Entrepreneur
Disrupting Culture, Defining Legacy
Emphasizes cultural impact, entrepreneurial spirit, and breaking boundaries.
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Pinky Cole Hayes
CEO Slutty Vegan | Bar Vegan
Eats, Beats, and Business:
Building Billion -Dollar Brands
Explore the intersection of creativity, grit, and wealth-building in entrepreneurship.
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Mark Lamping
President of Jacksonville Jaguars
Bold Moves in the Next-Gen Workforce: Empowering the Future Sports & Entertainment “Out East” Jacksonville
Address strategies to develop and retain a dynamic, skilled workforce in Jacksonville.
Brett R. Berish
CEO of Sovereign Brands
Icons of Boldness:
How Disruption Fuels Innovation
A look at brand-building, breaking industry norms, and defining modern success.
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Sessions and Panels
Breakout Session Topics
Breaking Barriers: Next-Gen Workforce Strategies for the Urban Core
Focus on talent pipelines and innovative workforce solutions in urban areas.
Breakout Session Topics
Innovation Meets Infrastructure: Reimagining Jacksonville’s Future
Interactive discussions on transformative urban planning and public-private partnerships.
Breakout Session Topics
From Passion to Profit: Unlocking Startup Success in Jacksonville
A practical roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs to thrive in the local ecosystem.
Breakout Session Topics
Wealth Redefined: Generational Prosperity Through Business Innovation
Insight into financial literacy, investment opportunities, and sustainable growth.
Breakout Session Topics
Cultural Disruption: How to Be Unapologetically Bold in Business
Highlighting authenticity as a competitive advantage.
Breakout Session Topics
The Art of the Network: Building Bridges That Last
Expert strategies for making meaningful connections and collaborations.
Breakout Session Topics
Beyond Boundaries: Leading with Innovation and Impact
A visionary look at leadership that drives change.
Panel Discussions
Bold Jacksonville: Why Our City is the Next Startup Hub
Local entrepreneurs and investors share their journey and insights into Jacksonville’s evolving ecosystem.
Panel Discussions
Innovators & Influencers: The New Rules of Cultural Leadership
Panel of leaders redefining business and creative industries.
Panel Discussions
The Workforce of Tomorrow: Adapting to Change Today
Examines emerging skills and industries shaping the job market.
Panel Discussions
Urban Renewal, Community Revival
Focuses on equity, inclusion, and innovation in urban development projects.
Workshops & Interactive Sessions
Bold Ideas Bootcamp: From Concept to Launch
A hands-on session for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Workshops & Interactive Sessions
Leveraging Jacksonville: Local Opportunities with Global Potential
Explores industries like logistics, entertainment, and tech in Jacksonville.
Workshops & Interactive Sessions
Personal Brand Mastery: Becoming a Thought Leader in Your Field
Taught by industry experts, including conference speakers.
Workshops & Interactive Sessions
Placemaking: Building Bold Communities with Purpose
A deep dive into how placemaking transforms urban spaces into vibrant, inclusive destinations, fostering community engagement and economic growth.
Workshops & Interactive Sessions
Arts & Culture as Economic Drivers
An exploration of how the arts and cultural sectors fuel local economies, enhance quality of life, and create opportunities for bold innovation.
Workshops & Interactive Sessions
Think Bold All Access Teen Hub: Unlocking the Next Generation of Talent
An interactive space for teens to engage in hands-on workshops, mentorship programs, and career exploration in music, sports, and entertainment. This session is designed to inspire young attendees to think big and be bold about their futures.
Signature Activities
Think Bold Live Social Shopping
A dynamic live shopping experience where local and regional brands showcase their products to an engaged audience. Featuring exclusive deals, live entertainment, and influencer-driven promotions, this activity blends commerce and culture to highlight Jacksonville’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Signature Activities
The Bold Startup Boost Pitch Competition
Entrepreneurs pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of investors and industry leaders for funding and mentorship opportunities.
Signature Activities
Think Bold Next-Gen Showcase
Spotlighting youth-driven startups and innovations, this showcase celebrates the bold ideas of Jacksonville’s next generation.
Signature Activities
Bold Connections Networking Lab
Facilitated speed-networking sessions connecting entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders.
Deep Dive Sessions
Hustle Harder : Turning Ambition into Action
Success isn’t given it's earned through grit, resilience, and relentless effort. This high-energy panel brings together trailblazers from various industries who’ve achieved extraordinary success by embracing the hustle and making bold moves. They’ll share their stories of overcoming obstacles, seizing opportunities, and staying motivated in the face of challenges. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative professional, or corporate leader, this session will equip you with actionable strategies, inspiration, and the mindset needed to level up and achieve your goals. Get ready to transform your hustle into meaningful progress and sustainable success.
Topics
1. The Hustler’s s Mindset: Building Resilience and Confidence
How to stay driven and push through challenges in pursuit of your goals.
2. Maximizing Time and Energy: Work Smarter, Not Just Harder
Productivity tips and strategies to get the most out of every day.
3. Turning Setbacks into Setups: Thriving Through Challenges
Stories of failure, lessons learned, and turning adversity into opportunity.
4. Strategic Networking: Building Relationships That Propel You Forward
The art of connecting with the right people to open doors and accelerate your success.
5. The Hustle Economy: Side Gigs, Passive Income, and Financial Growth
Monetizing your passions and creating multiple income streams.
6. The Bold Leap: Knowing When and How to Bet on Yourself
Taking calculated risks to achieve life-changing rewards.
7. Sustaining the Hustle: Avoiding Burnout While Staying Motivated
Strategies for balancing ambition with mental health and self-care.
8. Execution Over Excuses: Turning Ideas into Reality
Practical advice on moving from vision to action, even with limited resources.
Bold Moves: Redefining Health and Wellness for a Thriving Future
In a world that demands more from us than ever before, prioritizing health and wellness is not just a choice it’s a necessity. This empowering panel brings together thought leaders, wellness advocates, and health professionals to discuss innovative approaches to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From breaking down barriers to holistic care, to exploring cutting-edge solutions for managing stress and achieving balance, this session is designed to inspire bold strategies for living healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives. Whether you’re re an individual seeking better wellness practices or a professional aiming to create healthier communities, this panel offers practical insights and transformative ideas to elevate your approach to health and wellness.
Topics
1. Breaking the Burnout Cycle: Strategies for Mental Resilience
Tools and techniques to manage stress, avoid burnout, and foster emotional wellness.
2. Holistic Healing: Connecting the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Exploring the benefits of integrative wellness approaches and alternative therapies.
3. The Future of Fitness: Technology and Trends in Physical Wellness
Leveraging wearable tech, apps, and innovative workout strategies to stay active and healthy.
4. Nourishing the Bold: Nutrition for a High-Performance Life
Insights into meal planning, dietary trends, and the science of food for optimal health.
5. Wellness in the Workplace: Building Healthier Teams and Cultures
Creating supportive environments that prioritize employee well-being and productivity.
6. Health Equity: Making Wellness Accessible to All
Addressing disparities in healthcare and wellness resources across diverse communities.
7. Living with Purpose: How Well-Being Fuels Personal and Professional Success
The connection between self-care, mindfulness, and achieving goals.
8. Breaking the Stigma: Tackling Mental Health Head-On
Advocating for awareness and support to combat the stigma around mental health issues.
Revamping Diabetes: Breakthrough Innovations and Solutions
This panel brings together leading experts, innovators, and advocates at the forefront of revolutionizing diabetes care and prevention. With diabetes affecting millions globally, this conversation will explore groundbreaking technologies, medical advancements, and holistic approaches aimed at improving lives and redefining how we manage this chronic condition. From wearable tech to personalized treatment plans, panelists will share insights into the latest breakthroughs, community-driven initiatives, and the role of innovation in shaping a healthier future. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, advocate, or someone impacted by diabetes, this session will inspire bold solutions for tackling this global health challenge.
Topics
1. The Future of Diabetes Management: Emerging Technologies
Innovations in wearable devices, glucose monitoring, and AI-driven health solutions.
2. Personalized Care: A New Approach to Treatment
Tailoring solutions to individuals through genetic testing, precision medicine, and lifestyle changes.
3. The Role of Nutrition and Lifestyle in Prevention and Control
Exploring the latest research on diet, exercise, and behavioral changes to reverse trends.
4. Community Impact: Access, Education, and Equity
Addressing disparities in diabetes care and empowering underserved communities.
5. Breaking Barriers: The Role of Advocacy in Driving Change
How patient voices and advocacy groups are influencing policy and innovation.
6. Biotech Breakthroughs: New Therapies and Clinical Trials
Cutting-edge research and treatments that could redefine the future of diabetes care.
7. Prevention is Key: Tackling Diabetes in Younger Generations
Strategies for reducing risk and raising awareness among children and young adults.
8. Global Solutions for a Global Challenge
Lessons from international programs and collaborations that are making a difference worldwide.
Next Billion-Dollar Startups: Visionaries Shaping the Future
Discover the stories, strategies, and innovations driving the creation of tomorrow’s billion-dollar companies. This panel features trailblazing entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are at the forefront of the startup revolution. From disruptive technology to game-changing ideas, these visionaries are redefining industries, solving global challenges, and scaling businesses to monumental success. Attendees will gain exclusive insights into the mindset, strategies, and trends that fuel unicorn startups, leaving them inspired to take their own ventures to the next level.
Topics
1. The Unicorn Blueprint: Building Companies That Scale
Key factors behind building startups valued at a billion dollars and beyond.
2. Innovating at the Edge: Disruption and Market Creation
How startups are transforming industries and capitalizing on unmet market needs.
3. Funding to Fortune: Navigating Investment and Growth
Insights into attracting investors, securing funding, and managing rapid growth.
4. The Power of People: Building High-Performance Teams
Strategies for attracting top talent and creating a winning culture.
5. Global Impact: Solving Big Problems with Bold Ideas
Stories of startups addressing critical global issues and creating lasting change.
6. Tech-Driven Growth: Leveraging AI, Blockchain, and Emerging Technologies
Exploring how technology is accelerating innovation and business expansion.
7. The Founder’s Mindset: Resilience, Risk, and Reward
Lessons in leadership, perseverance, and navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
8. Scaling Smarter: When, Why, and How to Expand
Advice on international markets, partnerships, and scaling while maintaining brand integrity.
The Self-Made Women: Redefining Success on Their Own Terms
This dynamic panel brings together a powerhouse group of women who have defied the odds and created their own paths to success. From breaking glass ceilings to building empires, these self-made leaders will share their journeys of resilience, creativity, and bold decision-making. Explore how they navigated industries dominated by challenges, carved out their unique spaces, and transformed their visions into realities. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative professional, or a leader seeking inspiration, this session will leave you empowered and equipped with actionable insights for your own bold journey.
Topics
Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Challenges as a Self-Made Woman Insights into resilience, adaptability, and perseverance in male-dominated industries.
The Power of Purpose: Aligning Passion with Profit How purpose-driven goals can lead to sustainable success.
Building Your Brand: Standing Out in a Competitive Market Lessons in authenticity, innovation, and connecting with your audience.
Wealth Building & Financial Independence Strategies for creating generational wealth, managing finances, and understanding investments.
Work-Life Harmony: Balancing Ambition with Wellness Personal stories and strategies for achieving fulfillment in both personal and professional lives.
The Importance of Mentorship and Community How supporting and uplifting others is key to lasting success.
Navigating the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for Growth Tools, platforms, and strategies for scaling businesses and building influence.