Representing the Gold100 Sports & Gaming category, Jen Lee and Brett Bolton (U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Gold Medalists, Gold100 Sports and Gaming) will each deliver a forward-looking address sharing their singular visions for the future of their industries, inspiring the next generation of Asian Pacific pioneers to lead with bold ideas and unapologetic ambition.

EJAE (born Eun Jae Kim) is a GRAMMY, Golden Globe and Academy Award winning recording artist & songwriter. As the singing voice of Rumi from the global phenomena KPop Demon Hunters, EJAE played a crucial role in the original soundtrack, writing and performing it’s record-breaking single “Golden,” which surpassed 1billion streams on Spotify, garnered a Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award for “Best Original Song”, topped the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and Billboard Global 200 Chart. “Golden” made history as the first Kpop son to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the film won the Academy Award for Best Animated feature. 

EJAE wrote several other chart-topping songs from the soundtrack, including “How It’s Done”, “Your Idol” for the rival boy group Saja Boys, and the score’s “Hunters Mantra” which is an integral part of the movie’s musical through line. The soundtrack became the first ever in Billboard history to have four songs simultaneously chart on the Billboard Top 10, three of which EJAE was the primary songwriter on.

Before KPop Demon Hunters shined a spotlight on EJAE, she already had a rich history of writing, vocal-directing, and singing background vocals for several world-renowned artists and groups. Her credits include major hits like AESPA’s “Drama” and “Armageddon,” Red Velvet’s iconic track “Psycho,” and songs with artists such as Le Sserafim, TWICE, Taeyeon, NMIXX, and FiftyFifty, amongst others. 

EJAE draws songwriting inspiration from her multi-cultural upbringing, having been raised in both Seoul and the United States. Her unique ability to create melodies and concepts that resonate across global markets without losing authenticity has made her a go-to name in music.

Rei Matsunuma, Representative Director, CEO & COO

Rehito Hatoyama, Director and CSO

Authentic culture is organic. It can’t be created from scratch. It only sprouts when people come together and connect.

At HUMAN MADE Inc, we support that growth by sowing the seeds and cultivating the ground.

Because culture matters. From what we wear to what we eat, creativity adds value to our lives. We want to enable creators to bring new possibilities into the world.

We nurture culture sparked by human inspiration and craft, aiming to grow it into Japan’s next iconic creative industry—following manga, anime, and games.

That’s why we believe cultivating culture into an industry is our way of helping to brighten the world.

Tejasvi Manoj is a high school senior from Texas whose pioneering work is transforming digital safety for older adults. Inspired by a personal experience when her grandfather nearly fell victim to a cyber scam, she founded Shield Seniors, an AI-powered platform dedicated to empowering seniors with digital independence, security, and dignity.

Theresia Gouw is the co-founder of Acrew Capital, a leading venture firm. Previously, she served as Managing Partner at Accel and Aspect. Acrew’s Long Term View (LTV) fund invests in early stage startups while Acrew’s Diversify Capital Fund (DCF) helps diversify the cap tables and introduces diverse talent to leading growth stage companies through value added capital. Theresia has worked with many companies through IPOs or acquisitions including Forescout (FSCT), Imperva (IMPV), Trulia (TRLA), Hotel Tonight (ABNB), Astro (WORK), and LearnVest (Northwestern Mutual). Some of the investments she’s led include Cato Networks, HYCU, Ketch, and Solv.

In addition to her venture work, Theresia is an active sports investor. She is the lead investor in Major League Volleyball’s NorCal franchise, holds a majority investment in p1440, is a minority owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors Group, and is an LP in Bay FC, the Bay Area’s National Women’s Soccer League team.

Theresia is a first-generation immigrant and a passionate supporter of educational causes, serving on the board of DonorsChoose.org & Brown University, and increasing diversity in the tech industry. Her work and impact have been widely recognized as she has been named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50 list, 100 Most Powerful Women list, and Midas List (9x), Time’s 40 Most Influential Minds in Tech, and Carnegie’s annual Distinguished Immigrants List.

BOWEN YANG is an Emmy®-nominated comedian, actor and writer. Bowen stars in Universal Pictures’ WICKED as “Pfannee” alongside Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey. Bowen can be seen on his 6th season of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE as a repertory player on the show. Joining the show as a writer in 2018 and becoming an on-air cast member in 2019, Bowen has achieved critical acclaim and has gone on to receive three Emmy® Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Bowen stars in Andrew Ahn’s remake of the 1993 romantic comedy, THE WEDDING BANQUET opposite Lily Gladstone, which had its premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January and release in April. Additionally, Bowen currently hosts the acclaimed iHeartRadio podcast, LAS CULTURISTAS, alongside fellow comedian Matt Rogers, where they take listeners on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of culture. Garnering rapid success, the podcast was named Podcast of the Year at the 2023 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. Additional film and television credits include Searchlight Pictures’ FIRE ISLAND, Universal Pictures’ BROS starring opposite Billy Eichner and Luke MacFarlane, A24’s DICKS: THE MUSICAL, Comedy Central’s AWKWAFINA IS NORA FROM QUEENS, where he played Nora’s cousin “Edmund”. Bowen was also featured in 2021’s TIME 100Artists. Bowen currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Justin Pichetrungsi, chef and owner of Anajak Thai restaurant in Los Angeles, recently received the James Beard Award for Best Chef California 2023 and was named a Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2022. After growing up in Anajak, the restaurant that his parents opened in 1981, Justin spent more than a decade in entertainment at Disney and as an professor at the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design. In 2019, Justin returned to helm the Anajak kitchen, carrying on the legacy of the chef, his father Ricky, cooking the dishes that the neighborhood family restaurant was known for. Along the way he added his own ideas– the popular Thai Taco Tuesday, developing an extensive wine program, and the Omakase tasting menu experience to showcase the flavors of Thailand interpreted for the modern Los Angeles culinary landscape. Anajak Thai has also been named LA Times Restaurant of the Year, was included in the New York Times America’s Best Restaurants list, and received a Michelin Plate Honor three years in a row. Currently Justin can also be seen judging on Top Chef and braving some heat on First We Feast’s Heat Eaters and F*ck That’s Delicious with Action Bronson.

Chrissy Teigen is a New York Times #1 bestselling cookbook author, TV personality and the founder of food and lifestyle brand Cravings. In 2016, Teigen released “Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat” which debuted #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list and marked the first time a cookbook debuted #1 on USA Today’s best-seller list. In 2018 she released her highly anticipated second cookbook, “Cravings: Hungry for More” followed by her third cookbook, “Cravings: All Together” in October 2021 which debuted at #2 on The New York Times Best Seller List. Cravings was founded in 2019 and consists of easy-to-follow recipe content along with everything people need to bring those recipes to life — from kitchenware and tabletop collections – to food products. In 2022, Cravings launched its first-ever line of baking mixes, which became instant bestsellers. Teigen is the founder of film and television company Huntley Productions. Most recently, she cohosted and executive produced “Chrissy & Dave Dine Out” with David Chang. Teigen also executive produced and starred in “Chrissy’s Court”, executive produced the HBO Max documentary series “The Way Down”, and starred opposite Tina Fey and Nat Faxon in the Netflix animated comedy series “Mulligan”. Up next, she will executive produce Bravo’s “On Safari” which is currently in development. Teigen was recognized on the 2020 Variety500 list as an influential business leader for her work with Cravings and Huntley Productions. She has been a voice for social justice and women’s rights and is actively involved in several charities. In 2018, Teigen was awarded the “Heart of the City” award by City Harvest, a non-profit food rescue organization, for her fundraising efforts. In 2018, Teigen also helped raise $1 million for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in just two days.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, an Academy Award-winning actress and Tony Award nominee, captured audiences with her breakout role opposite Eddie Murphy in “Dolemite Is My Name.” Currently, she stars on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.”

Up next, Randolph can be seen in MRC’s film THE GALLERIST directed by Cathy Yan and co-written by Yan and James Pedersen. She will star alongside Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Sterling K. Brown, Zach Galifianakis, Daniel Bruhl, Charli XCX, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. She also recently appeared in A24’s “Eternity.”

Randolph also starred in the acclaimed film “The Holdovers,” earning prestigious accolades, including an Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG Award, Critics Choice Award, Independent Spirit Award, and a BAFTA. Her diverse career spans roles in Netflix’s “Rustin,” HBO’s “The Idol,” and Paramount Players’ “On the Come Up.” A graduate of Yale School of Drama, Randolph continues to shine on stage and screen, showcasing her talents across dramas, comedies, and musicals.

Debby Soo is the CEO of OpenTable, bringing expertise in product-first commercialization, strategic partnerships and international growth. She is also a founding member and co-head of Booking Holdings’ Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee. Prior to OpenTable, she spent 10+ years building KAYAK’s travel commercial team, establishing the APAC business, and then overseeing global business development for both KAYAK and OpenTable. She started her career at Citi as an investment banking analyst for the technology sector before joining Google’s Strategic Partnership Group where she focused on global content acquisition and partnerships for Google Maps. Debby is a graduate of Stanford University and has an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. She currently holds a board member role with EverCommerce.

Destin Daniel Cretton is an acclaimed filmmaker known for blending deeply emotional, human-centric storytelling with large-scale cinematic spectacles. Born and raised in Haiku, Maui, he often explores themes of family, identity, and resilience throughout his work. He first gained significant critical attention with his 2013 breakout feature, Short Term 12, which won the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW. Based on his own experiences working in a group home for at-risk teenagers, the film was praised for its raw honesty and is often credited with helping launch the careers of several major stars.

Following the success of Short Term 12, Cretton continued to tackle complex narratives with The Glass Castle, an adaptation of Jeannette Walls’ best-selling memoir, and Just Mercy, a powerful legal drama focusing on the work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson. In 2021, he made a massive leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the director and co-writer of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The film was a global success, lauded for its intricate action choreography and its groundbreaking representation of Asian heritage.

Over the last year, Cretton’s influence on major franchises has reached new heights. He recently completed principal photography on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, slated for a July 2026 release, which he has described as a grounded exploration of Peter Parker relearning how to connect with people. Additionally, he is also a co-creator and director for the Disney+ series Wonder Man. His career continues to be defined by a unique sensitivity that bridges the gap between intimate indie dramas and massive global blockbusters.

Eric Feng currently is the SVP and head of Yahoo Research Group, which includes Yahoo Search and Yahoo Scout. He joined Yahoo after co-founding Cymbal (a web3 startup backed by investors including Patron, GV, First Round Capital and Coinbase Ventures that Yahoo acquired), and co-founding Gold House Ventures (a multi-stage investment fund that supports Asian and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs). Previously, Eric held technology leadership positions at Meta and Microsoft, was a General Partner at the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and was the founding CTO and head of product at Hulu. Eric’s most important roles are videographer for his sons’ AAU basketball teams and obsessive Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake concertgoer.

Three-time Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner, Lee Sung Jin is the creator, executive producer, writer and director of the highly acclaimed, multi-award winning Netflix series, BEEF, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in Emmy-winning performances. He again returns as creator, executive producer, writer and director for BEEF’s upcoming second season, featuring a stellar new cast including Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny, Charles Melton, Youn Yuh-Jung, and Song Kang Ho. Past credits include SILICON VALLEY, DAVE and Marvel’s THUNDERBOLTS*.

Liza Soberano is a Filipino and American actress. Known for playing supporting characters in dramas and comedies as a teenager, she has since expanded her repertoire to leading roles in television and film. She has received several major accolades, including a FAMAS Award, a PMPC Star Award, and six Box Office Entertainment Awards. Tatler Asia named her one of the most influential people in Asia in 2022 and 2023.

Maggie Kang is best known as the visionary force behind KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, the bold and kinetic musical fantasy she conceived and co-directed with Chris Appelhans. The film became the most-streamed title in Netflix history, shattering records on the platform, at the box office, and across music charts. With a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS earned widespread acclaim for Kang’s original concept, cultural authenticity, and imaginative world-building.

The global phenomenon received two Academy Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for global hit, “Golden.” It won Best Motion Picture – Animated and Best Original Song at the Golden Globes, as well as Best Animated Feature at the Critics Choice Awards, and swept the animation field at the Annie Awards with 10 wins.

A seasoned talent in animation, Kang began her career at DreamWorks Animation as a story artist, contributing to beloved titles including the Puss in Boots franchise, The Croods: A New Age, Rise of the Guardians, Kung Fu Panda 3, Trolls, Shrek Forever After, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and Over the Hedge. She has also brought her storytelling expertise to Illumination Entertainment on Minions: The Rise of Gru, and to the Warner Animation Group, where she served as Head of Story on The LEGO Ninjago Movie. She currently is a director at Sony Pictures Animation.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Kang studied classical animation at Sheridan College. Her groundbreaking creative work and visionary leadership earned her a place on the prestigious TIME100 Next list in addition to honors such as the Animation Award from the Celebration of Asian Pacific Cinema & Television, the FIPRESCI Award from the Korean Association of Film Critics, Marie Claire’s Director of the Year award, and IndieWire’s Spark Award.

Maia Kealoha, a 9-year-old actress from Hawaii, gained international recognition for her breakout role as Lilo in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch. The film became a global box office phenomenon, surpassing one billion dollars worldwide, and introduced Maia to audiences around the world with her heartfelt, spirited portrayal of the beloved character.

Grounded in her Hawaiian heritage, Maia draws on her love of hula and cultural upbringing to bring genuine warmth and authenticity to her performances, capturing the aloha spirit at the heart of Lilo & Stitch.

She recently appeared in Amazon MGM’s film The Wrecking Crew and guest-starred on Disney’s newest TV series Electric Bloom. Maia will next be seen in the holiday film Nutmeg & Mistletoe, continuing to build an exciting and diverse young career.

Known for her infectious personality and unforgettable viral interview moments, Maia captivates everyone she meets with her charisma and magnetic energy. Off-screen, she pours her creativity into singing, dancing, reading, writing short stories and poems, and drawing—passions that reflect her love of storytelling and imagination, bringing the same energy and joy to her personal pursuits as she does to her work on screen.

Maneet Ahuja is an award-winning journalist, author and Editor-at-Large at Forbes, where she covers the intersection of Wall Street, billionaires & entrepreneurial capitalism. She is also the Founder of ICONOCLAST, Forbes’ premier global investor summit convening the world’s most iconic titans, visionaries, philanthropists, and changemakers. She holds the unique distinction of being the only journalist at Forbes to also be an alumnus of the celebrated Forbes Under 30 list for media and began her career on Wall Street at the age of seventeen working at Citigroup—which is where she earned the nickname “Wall Street Maneet.

Peggy Roe is Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for Marriott International, Inc., where she oversees development and execution of all aspects of Marriott’s global consumer strategy. In this role, she is focused on maximizing customer engagement with Marriott’s 30 leading brands spanning 138 countries and territories and award-winning Marriott Bonvoy® loyalty program, bringing together the global brand, marketing, and design strategies, along with data, insights, and personalization to enhance the customer experience.

Since joining Marriott in 2003, Peggy has held various leadership roles focused on growth and innovation. In her prior role as Global Officer, Customer Experience, Loyalty, and New Ventures, she was focused on increasing member enrollment and engagement with the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of travel offerings, including new businesses such as Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and Marriott Boutiques.

Peggy previously spent six years as the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer in Asia Pacific, where she was responsible for adapting Marriott brands and growing the Marriott Bonvoy member base. She managed $100 million in sales, digital and marketing spend, led a workforce of over 5,000 associates, and drove the company’s distribution and pricing strategy across 21 countries.

Prior to joining Marriott, she worked for GE Capital, Amazon.com, and Homestead.com in Silicon Valley. Peggy is passionate about education and supporting the development of women. She co-founded the Marriott Women in Leadership initiative in Asia Pacific in 2014 and is a board member of the Hong Kong chapter of the Asian University for Women. She currently leads the Women’s Associate Resource Group at Marriott International.

She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She sits on the Board of Directors for Simon Property Group. She resides in Bethesda, Maryland with her family.

Shannon Lee is the CEO and Owner of Bruce Lee Enterprises (BLE) a global licensing company, the Founder and President of the Bruce Lee Foundation (BLF) a 501c3 public charity, an Author, Producer, Podcaster, and Speaker, and the daughter of martial artist and cultural icon Bruce Lee. Her first book, Be Water, My Friend, offers insight into how to use her father’s philosophies and has been an editor’s pick and popular choice for teaching curriculums in schools and universities. The second installment of her co-authored YA fantasy novel Mark of the Warrior is due out in October 2026. Shannon is the host of the Bruce Lee Podcast and A Little Leeway podcast and Executive Produced the series Warrior, 3 seasons now streaming on HBOMax.  To connect more with Shannon, follow her on IG and FB @therealshannonlee, on www.brucelee.com and @brucelee (on most social platforms) as well as www.bruceleefoundation.org and @bruceleefoundation to support her youth mental health initiatives!