November 22

Born in 1808, Thomas Cook began organizing rail excursions for temperance societies in England. He introduced the first package tours, combining transportation, accommodation, and sightseeing. Cook's innovations included the traveler's cheque, hotel coupons, and world guidebooks. His company expanded globally, making travel accessible to the middle class. By his death in 1892, he had transformed travel into an industry with lasting impact. Today, his name remains synonymous with leisure and exploration.

C. J. 'Jack' De Garis was a flamboyant entrepreneur who launched bold ventures in farming, milling, and real estate. He promoted his "Bonanza Egg Farms," attracting thousands of investors with promises of high returns. De Garis also expanded into aviation and tourism before the 1920s market collapse. His overleveraged empire crumbled, leading to financial ruin and personal tragedy. Despite his downfall, his story remains a cautionary tale of ambition and the risks of speculative capitalism.

Sandy Alderson served as general manager of the Oakland Athletics from 1983 to 1997, assembling teams that consistently reached the postseason. He later became general manager and executive vice president of the New York Mets from 2010 to 2018. Alderson was an early advocate for the use of sabermetrics and data analysis in baseball operations. Under his leadership, the Mets reached the World Series in 2015 and won the National League pennant. In 2020, he joined the San Diego Padres as president of baseball operations, continuing to influence front-office strategies. He is widely respected for his innovative approach to team-building and scouting.

Donny Deutsch was born in 1957 in Queens, New York, and is the son of advertising pioneer David Deutsch. After joining his family's firm, he took over Deutsch Inc. and transformed it into a major creative agency serving clients like Volkswagen and NBC. In 2004, Deutsch launched his own talk show, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, on CNBC, where he interviewed leading entrepreneurs and business figures. A frequent commentator on business and political affairs, he appears regularly on networks such as CNN and MSNBC. He is the author of several bestselling books on marketing and entrepreneurship. Deutsch continues to consult for Fortune 500 companies and contribute to media discussions on business innovation.

Tom Elliott is an Australian investment banker known for his work in corporate finance and equity capital markets. He has advised clients on mergers, acquisitions, and strategic fundraising across diverse industries. Elliott regularly contributes commentary on economic trends to business publications and media outlets. He holds professional qualifications in finance and participates in industry associations promoting best practices. Dedicated to mentoring, he supports financial literacy programs and guides emerging professionals in the sector.

Shawn Fanning created Napster in 1999 at the age of 18, pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing technology. His platform enabled millions of users to share and download music globally, forever changing how music is distributed and consumed. Despite legal challenges and industry opposition, Napster's impact on digital culture and the music business remains profound. After Napster, Fanning continued innovating with ventures like Snocap and Rupture, focusing on social networking and gaming. He has since become a respected figure in tech entrepreneurship, known for his vision in leveraging the internet to transform traditional industries.