Ben Chestnut Speaking Fee: $50,000 to $75,000

Ben Chestnut, co-founder and former CEO of Mailchimp, has made a significant impact on the digital marketing landscape. Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, he attended high school in Hephzibah before pursuing higher education. Chestnut studied physics at the University of Georgia and later industrial design at the Georgia Institute of Technology, equipping him with a diverse skill set that would prove invaluable in his entrepreneurial journey. In 2001, Chestnut co-founded Mailchimp alongside Dan Kurzius as a side project to their web design agency, the Rocket Science Group. Initially conceived as a tool to help small businesses with email marketing, Mailchimp's user-friendly interface and innovative features quickly gained traction. By 2007, the co-founders decided to focus on Mailchimp full-time, a decision that propelled the company to become a global leader in email marketing. Under Chestnut's leadership, Mailchimp adopted a freemium model, offering free services with optional paid features. This approach democratized access to sophisticated marketing tools for small businesses and fueled rapid growth. By 2021, Mailchimp boasted over 13 million global users and more than 1,500 employees. That same year, the company was acquired by Intuit for $12 billion, marking one of the largest acquisitions of a bootstrapped company. Chestnut's leadership style emphasized creativity, autonomy, and a strong focus on customer needs. He fostered a workplace culture that encouraged innovation and placed a high value on employee well-being. This philosophy not only contributed to Mailchimp's success but also set a benchmark for company culture in the tech industry. Beyond his professional achievements, Chestnut's story is one of perseverance and vision. From humble beginnings in Georgia to building a billion-dollar enterprise without external funding, his journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.