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Business comes to life through the people doing it. Meet the industry professionals leading DBI’s after-school conversations, workshops and sessions.
2026–27 · Our speakers
Founders, executives and specialists bring real decisions into the room. Students ask questions, try the ideas and learn directly from industry professionals.
Returning every year
Dean · USD Knauss School of Business
Dean Tietje returns to DBI each year to share his perspective on business and leadership. He also serves on DBI’s advisory board, strengthening the program’s connection to the University of San Diego.
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CEO · RF Industries
Leads RF Industries, a communications connectivity company. His career spans business leadership, sales, marketing and technology entrepreneurship, including co-founding a technology consulting firm.
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Founder & Managing Partner · 2468 Ventures
Invests in and advises emerging AI companies after a career in technology leadership at Intel and Qualcomm. He also teaches MBA students at the University of San Diego.
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CRM & Lifecycle Marketing · Intuit
Works at the intersection of customer relationships and marketing at Intuit. Her experience includes leading CRM and lifecycle marketing for TurboTax, connecting customer needs with business growth.
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CEO · Preston Capital
Leads Preston Capital following senior investing roles at Blackstone and Credit Suisse. His experience brings together investment strategy, company analysis and leadership in financial services.
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Vice President, Global Service, Advanced Diagnostics · Waters Corporation
Leads global service for Waters Corporation’s Advanced Diagnostics business. Previously, he held leadership roles at BD and Thermo Fisher Scientific, spanning customer service, product management and life sciences business units.
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People Operations · Anduril Industries
Builds the people systems and processes that help growing businesses scale. Her work spans human resources operations, workplace technology and the infrastructure behind effective teams.
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Squarena · Case Competition sponsor
Founder & Managing Partner · Gravity Advisors
Advises technology founders on mergers, acquisitions and strategic transactions. He also owns Squarena California, the interactive light-up floor game business sponsoring this year’s DBI Case Competition.
Professional profile ↗2026–27 Case Competition sponsor
Squarena California is this year’s Case Competition sponsor. Owner and DBI speaker Eddie Le brings students a connection to an interactive entertainment business built around light-up floor games.
2025–26 · Past speakers
From strategy and operations to finance, marketing and people, these guests helped connect business fundamentals to the work of running a company.
Strategy
Principal, Strategy & Operations · Deloitte
Advises aerospace, defense and industrial businesses on growth, strategy and operating models. He joined DBI to connect strategic choices with the practical decisions that shape a business.
Professional profile ↗Operations
Operations · Genentech
Brings experience in bioprocess operations and manufacturing at Genentech. His DBI session explored operations—the work of turning a business plan into a process that delivers.
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Finance
Chief of Business Development · Red Door Escape Room
Helps grow Red Door Escape Room’s in-person entertainment business. He joined Nick Madden for DBI’s finance session, bringing the perspective of a business built around memorable customer experiences.
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Finance
CEO · Red Door Escape Room
Leads the team behind Red Door Escape Room. Alongside Kyle Maloy, he joined DBI’s finance session to bring a company leader’s perspective to the numbers behind a growing business.
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Human resources
Human Resources · Intuit
An experienced HR business partner whose career includes Intuit, Kantar and MTV Networks. She brought the people side of business to DBI, introducing students to human resources.
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Marketing
Marketing · Soapy Joe’s
Brought her experience in brand and customer marketing at Soapy Joe’s to DBI. Her work spans community campaigns, events and customer loyalty, connecting marketing strategy with the experiences that keep customers coming back.
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CEO · Surfline
Leads Surfline, connecting surfers with forecasts, cameras and surf information. His career spans consumer brands, media and entrepreneurship, bringing a broad operating perspective to DBI.
Professional profile ↗Share what you know
Interested in speaking, mentoring or supporting a future DBI session?
Contact our team