Fifth annual CEO Summit highlights the important role of business in advancing God’s Kingdom 

Last week, hundreds of leading business and industry professionals arrived on the Liberty University campus for the 2025 CEO Summit, a chance to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who share their Christian values and biblical worldview. There were also opportunities for students to network and glean advice for their future careers. 

The fifth annual summit kicked off Wednesday morning with several panels focusing on various law issues, entrepreneurship, and the financial revolution brought about by Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Featured speakers included Global Entrepreneurship Network Chairman Jeff Hoffman, Sandbox Fund managing partner and founder Sebastian Harris, Lead Line managing member and CEO Kevin Bush, Regent Bank CEO Sean Kouplen, Fund Launch co-founder Bridger Pennington, and more. 

Later that afternoon, select Liberty students participated in the Future CEO Luncheon in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom, where they connected with various industry professionals to discuss potential internships and future full-time positions. Featured speakers included Chick-fil-A Chairman Dan T. Cathy (through a special video appearance), T’Neil Walea, director of Innovative Technology for the Federal Government at Microsoft; Greg A. Petroff (’91), Esq., Liberty alumnus and managing partner of the Princeton, New Jersey office of Reitler Kalas & Rosenblatt LLP; Mamadou Baldé (’09, ’12), Liberty alumnus and market leader and managing director for CBRE’s Pittsburgh, PA and West Virginia operations; and Evan Shock (’24), recent Liberty graduate now working as an associate account executive at Amazon Web Services. 

After the luncheon, Liberty hosted a Live Business Accelerator in the School of Business Towns Auditorium where eight entrepreneurs pitched their business plans to a panel of successful business leaders serving as judges. 

Day One of the summit concluded with a keynote dinner in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom. Living Stones Foundation founder and CEO Ken Eldred emphasized the important role the church plays in impacting American society. He encouraged Christians to use their platforms to spark positive change in world and follow the specific calling God has given them. 

Former Executive Vice President and COO of Toyota Motor North America Jack Hollis urged those in attendance to prioritize God as King over everything in their lives and to commit to serving Him wholeheartedly through everything they do. 

“Guess what? (Your) companies aren’t going to Heaven, people are,” he said. “I want to challenge you in your thinking right now, even those of you that are CEOs. (That role) means a lot, and you are there to build the Kingdom through discipleship. … We have to make principled decisions upfront. Whether you are a CEO or a student, what are you going to stand for? I’m going to continue to challenge you that it’s not about you, but the people around you.” 

Lee Zeldin, who is serving as the 17th administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, sat down for a panel discussion with Liberty Senior Vice President of Business Relations Dr. Dave Brat to highlight the extensive government deregulation accomplished by his team. While others may view economic growth and environmental protection as mutually exclusive, Zeldin argued an effective government seeks to promote both. 

Brat next met on stage with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss to discuss the current drift in the U.K. toward increasingly liberal and Marxist thought. She said everyone must be willing to stand up for their morals and push back against prevailing cultural norms. She argued the U.K. could benefit heavily from institutions like Liberty University that are unafraid to boldly proclaim truth, regardless of the consequences. 

“I have huge hope for Britain, Europe, and America because I think people are waking up,” she said. “There is a revival, not just economic but also spiritual. I can feel it happening. I can feel people are very different how they were even two, three, or four years ago. … We would love to have a Liberty University in Britain.” 

Former NFL player and current GEO Group Lead Director Jack Brewer next shared about his prison ministry, which seeks to rehabilitate criminals through sharing the love of Christ with them. 

Closing out the night, U.S. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Flynn argued American Christians must fight to save the country from moral decline and collapse. Noting the average empire in history lasted for around 250 years, he urged everyone to discover how they can best serve their country — whether through military service, participation in local government, or simply voting for candidates who uphold biblical values.  

The following morning, Flynn joined Brat and Helms School of Government Associate Professor Rear Adm. (Ret.) Tony Cothron for a panel on national defense. Other Thursday panels covered issues related to living out one’s faith in the business world, international commerce, the perceived benefits and threats from artificial intelligence, and building the service economy. 

The 2025 Women’s Leadership Forum on Thursday afternoon brought together roughly 300 guests and students to learn different generational perspectives on leadership and business. Held in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom, the event featured two panels and a message from Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin. 

“What’s happening in the Commonwealth is very bright and very beautiful, and I’m so glad you all are deeply engaged in it,” Youngkin said after giving an overview of how women are succeeding in business and in families throughout Virginia. “You are really the fruit of that, and I could not be more proud to be here.” 

Thursday’s dinner featured keynote addresses from First Trust Advisors Chief Economist Brian Wesbury, former Intel CEO and current Gloo Executive Chair Pat Gelsinger, and Amway Co-Chair Doug Devos. It also included a brief video message from United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, who commemorated the life of Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk and urged everyone to boldly live out the Gospel. 

Referencing previous American financial crises, Wesbury argued the U.S. should reduce government spending and instead promote growth through increased innovation. He credited human invention as “manna from heaven” and said Christians should follow in the footsteps of the Great Creator by continuing to push forward in technological development. 

Liberty Executive Vice President Brian Mentzer presented two Zambian students, the Kaseketis, a married couple who both share the first name of Shalom, with two $10,000 scholarships during the dinner to fund their Liberty education, noting the proceeds from the 2025 CEO Summit are packaged into financial scholarships for Liberty students. 

After a brief introduction by Liberty President Dondi Costin, Gelsinger took the stage to share about his time working for Intel before transitioning to his work with Gloo, a technology program dedicated to serving churches and other faith-based ministries. He argued the rise of AI has the potential to educate every child around the world in the next decade. 

DeVos shared his personal experience at the helm of Amway, noting the important role accountability and strong workplace culture play in keeping a company grounded. By prioritizing these elements, he said companies are better equipped to resist any forces that seek to shift core values. 

“Whatever organization you are part of, be alert to the drift,” he said. “Be alert to anything happening that starts to challenge who you are and why you do what you do.” 

DeVos also addressed the Liberty student body at Convocation on Friday morning, encouraging them to trust God’s divine control and to be Champions for Christ in whatever setting they may find themselves. 

Costin closed the evening by challenging CEOs to leave the CEO Summit ready to implement what they had learned into their own businesses and personal lives. He also invited them to return next year for another great time of fellowship and collaboration. 

“This ends Phase One of the CEO Summit … Phase Two is what happens when you leave this place and go to wherever God sent you from,” he said. “Phase Two happens when you get back and you do all the things you told God you were going to do since you were here. Phase Three happens when you return next year.”