Carol Bartz Speaking Fee: $100,000 to $125,000

Carol Bartz is a seasoned business executive with a distinguished career in technology and entrepreneurship. Born in Winona, Minnesota, in 1948, she faced early challenges, including the loss of her mother at a young age. Raised by her grandparents on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, Bartz developed resilience and a strong work ethic. She earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1971, supporting herself through college as a cocktail waitress. Bartz began her professional journey at 3M, where she was one of the few women in a predominantly male division. After leaving 3M, she joined Sun Microsystems and later became CEO of Autodesk in 1992. Under her leadership, Autodesk transformed from a modest PC software company into a global leader in computer-aided design software, with annual revenues increasing from $285 million to over $1.5 billion. She is credited with introducing the "fail fast-forward" philosophy, encouraging innovation and resilience within the company. In 2009, Bartz was appointed CEO of Yahoo!, aiming to revitalize the company amid challenges. She implemented significant organizational changes, including restructuring and cost-cutting measures. Despite her efforts, she was removed from her position in 2011. Throughout her career, Bartz has served on several corporate boards, including those of Intel, Cisco Systems, and Autodesk. Beyond her corporate roles, Bartz is an investor in the cannabis industry, notably with Caliva, a California-based cannabis company. She joined Caliva's board in 2019, bringing her extensive business acumen to the emerging sector. A breast cancer survivor, Bartz is also recognized for her contributions to technology and leadership, having received honorary doctorates and being named to Forbes' list of the world's 100 most powerful women.