As we count down to the inaugural 2026 Mattering Summit taking place May 12–14, we’re excited to introduce a few of the remarkable voices who will be part of this global conversation. Each week leading up to the summit, we’ll highlight a few speakers in this incredible community of experts, advocates, and storytellers who will be leading our sessions so you can learn about their unique perspectives to the practice of human significance.
Each speaker brings research, lived experience, and deep commitment to one essential idea: Helping people feel seen, valued, and connected matters.
Meet a Few of Our Speakers
The founder of the I Believe In You (IBIY) movement, Braxton Kilgo is an entrepreneur and speaker dedicated to turning small acts of kindness into measurable global impact. With over a decade of experience consulting for 1,000+ clients, he now focuses on scaling IBIY’s tech-enabled platform to build cultures of encouragement across 20+ countries. His work combines strategic partnerships with a core mission: that belief changes people, and people change the world.
CEO of The Flourishing Center and a Master Certified Coach, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya is a leading “pra-cademic-preneur” dedicated to global well-being. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s MAPP program and current Ph.D. candidate, she has trained thousands through her acclaimed certifications in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) and Resilience (B³). By integrating her background in professional entertainment with mind-body medicine, she empowers individuals and organizations to flourish through her unique PERMA-V and 5i Change Agent models.
Host of the top-ranked Good Life Project® podcast and CEO of Spark Endeavors, Jonathan Fields is an award-winning author and entrepreneur dedicated to human potential. He is the creator of the Sparketype® Assessment, a groundbreaking tool used by over one million individuals to discover work that makes them come alive. A regular contributor to major outlets like The New York Times and Harvard Business Review, Jonathan’s latest book, SPARKED, serves as a definitive guide for reclaiming work as a source of meaning, joy, and possibility.
A MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient and National Humanities Medalist, Dr. Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a philosopher and novelist whose work explores the profound intersections of intellect and emotion. She is the pioneer of The Mattering Map, a concept adopted across fields from behavioral economics to feminist theory. In her latest book, The Mattering Instinct, Dr. Goldstein examines how our universal longing to be significant drives human behavior, shapes our most deep-seated divisions, and defines the ways we seek to find meaning in our lives.
A retired Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over four decades of experience, Vicki O’Grady is the founder of the You Matter Compassion Project. Since 2014, her movement has distributed thousands of “You Matter” cards monthly to foster global connection and encouragement. Trained in Imago Relationship Therapy, EMDR, and hypnotherapy, Vicki has led personal growth workshops across the U.S. and Israel, dedicating her career to helping individuals navigate mental health, addictions, and the fundamental need to feel significant.
Author, researcher, and leadership development facilitator Dr. Zach Mercurio is a leading expert on the science of mattering and purposeful leadership. He is the author of The Power of Mattering and The Invisible Leader, and serves as a senior fellow at Colorado State University’s Center for Meaning and Purpose. A Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and a top-rated instructor for Simon Sinek’s Optimist team, Zach has spent over a decade advising global organizations on building cultures of significance. His award-winning research is frequently featured in outlets such as The Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Psychology Today.
The wisdom and heart these speakers bring to the stage are exactly what the world needs right now, but the conversation is even more powerful when our community grows. You already know how vital this mission is.
Help us spark a global awakening by inviting others to join you in the virtual front row. Whether it’s a colleague who leads with heart or a friend who could use a reminder of their own worth, please share the Mattering Summit with them today.
To make it a bit easier to spread the word, we’ve put together this promotional toolkit with words and graphics you can use to ensure that every person has the chance to hear these life-changing messages.
Summit Details
- When: May 12-14, 2026
- Where: Online! You can join us from your computer or phone, no matter where you are in the world.
- Cost: 100% Free. This event is our gift to the community.
The 2026 Mattering Summit is hosted collaboratively by You Matter Marathon and The Flourishing Center.
