Brad Garlinghouse Speaking Fee: $50,000 to $75,000

Brad Garlinghouse, born on February 6, 1971, in Topeka, Kansas, is the CEO of Ripple Labs, a prominent financial technology company specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Kansas and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. Garlinghouse's professional journey includes significant roles in major technology companies. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Senior Vice President at Yahoo!, overseeing divisions such as the homepage, Flickr, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo! Messenger. During his tenure, he authored the "Peanut Butter Manifesto," an internal memo advocating for the company's focus on core business areas. He also held positions at AOL and served as CEO of Hightail (formerly YouSendIt) before joining Ripple Labs. In April 2015, Garlinghouse joined Ripple Labs as Chief Operating Officer and became CEO in December 2016. Under his leadership, Ripple has formed partnerships with over 300 financial institutions worldwide, aiming to enhance global financial transactions through blockchain technology. The company has also expanded RippleNet, its global payment network, to facilitate more efficient and cost-effective cross-border payments. Ripple has faced regulatory challenges, notably a lawsuit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2020, alleging that Ripple's sale of XRP violated securities laws. In July 2023, a judge ruled that XRP was not a security, leading to the dismissal of all claims against Garlinghouse and Ripple Chairman Chris Larsen in November 2023. Garlinghouse has been an advocate for clearer cryptocurrency regulations and has engaged in discussions with policymakers to shape the future of digital finance. Beyond his professional endeavors, Garlinghouse has contributed to various philanthropic causes and continues to influence the evolving landscape of digital finance through his leadership at Ripple Labs.