Nancy Pautsch, Chairperson
President, Envision IT


Nancy Pautsch is the Chief Evangelist of Stakeholder Value (President) of Envision IT, a group of driven, curious, and compassionate people growing a soulful company. Envision’s mission is to enrich the lives of their stakeholders. Their business is technology consulting focused on optimization helping to ensure technology is an enabler to employee engagement and business success. Envision IT is the go-to technology partner for organizations across the U.S.

Nancy has been in the technology industry for 20+ years focused on business development. Keys to her leadership are a growth mindset and fostering collaborative cultures that breed a grounded sense of purpose while striving for excellence. Since heading-up Envision’s strategic transformation, the company has achieved triple-digit growth to the top and bottom line. Additionally, Envision has been lauded locally for their contributions to the community and economy; recognized globally in the technology industry as ‘best of the best’ for engineering quality, innovation, and customer experience; and highlighted by the Conscious Capitalism movement as a model for stakeholder orientation.

Although recognized for her impact to healthy business growth and Envision’s differentiation within the technology industry, Nancy is most proud of operating Envision IT as a Firm of Endearment. Envisioners live their core values and are affectionately known as ‘consultants with a conscience’ and ‘on-purpose geeks.’



Thea Polancic

Managing Partner, ClearSpace, LLC 
Founder, Conscious Capitalism Chicago Chapter

Thea Polancic is a passionate advocate for the power of business to create prosperity, fulfillment and beauty in the world.

Over the past fifteen years, Thea has helped organizations large and small to create businesses that are “great from the start”. She is a founding mentor to Chicago accelerators TechStars Chicago and The Impact Engine. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Conscious Venture Lab, a business accelerator for early stage conscious capitalist companies.



Samir Wagle 

A creative connector at heart, 11:11 Partners’ Founder and CEO, Samir has 25 years of direct experience leading teams within Fortune 100 companies and creating new teams within small businesses. In recent years he has served as the CEO of The Protein Bar & Kitchen, COO of Boudin Bakeries, and various other leadership positions at Chipotle Mexican GrillMcDonald’s and Deloitte. With Samir’s help building conscious teams, these organizations expanded into new territories, launched new brands, and delivered impressive growth.

Samir’s path to transformation started when his coach said, “You have to decide how happy you want to be.”  Ultimately the answer to that question was the idea for 11:11 Partners, and a commitment to help organizations thrive.


Teddy Heidt

Founder & CEO, The Gauge Collective

Teddy Heidt is the Founder and CEO of The Gauge Collective, a digital marketing 'anti-agency' that collaborates with emerging and established brands on strengthening and elevating their digital presence via various channels. With over twelve years of professional experience in advertising, marketing, and media, Teddy continues to find excitement and passion in creativity. Starting his career working for brands like The Walt Disney Company and Protein Bar Restaurants, he discovered and strengthened his passion for creating and managing custom and authentic marketing programs that are unique, powerful and successful.

Today, he's proud to oversee a freelance-based team of fifteen creatives and works diligently to bring the core values of Conscious Capitalism to his 100% remote workforce.


Marc Blackman

CEO, Gold Eagle Brands

Marc Blackman is CEO of Gold Eagle Co., an 86-year-old privately held Chicago-based family business that is driven to protect and preserve the things we love. Gold Eagle is an innovative provider of premium solutions that protect, preserve, and enhance the performance of consumer and durable goods which also help sustain the environment. Marc has created a ‘People First’ culture at the company that is focused on quality, ethics and integrity.

As an Advisory Board Member, Marc lives out the values of Conscious Capitalism every day and is passionate about fostering the heroic spirit of business.  Under Marc’s leadership, Gold Eagle has contributed to the Conscious Capitalism movement by serving as a Sustaining Sponsor of the Chicago Chapter.


Dan Golden

President, Be Found Online


Dan Golden is a digital marketing executive, entrepreneur, epic prankster and business innovator. As co-founder of digital ad agency Be Found Online (BFO), he has built a business model on employee empowerment and giving back to the community. Dan has been chugging the conscious capitalism kool-aid (ok…. more like some form of organic kool-aid) even before discovering the movement and is honored to have found his tribe of like-minded business leaders.


Running a conscious business with a commitment to employee engagement and a radical approach to open-book management, BFO was recently recognized as Ad Age’s #1 Best Place to Work and spent 6th straight years as one of Inc. 5,000’s Fastest Growing Companies. Dan is a frequent speaker at digital marketing conferences but has the most fun speaking about BFO’s company culture. He is a frequent contributor to Forbes and is also an adjunct lecturer at DePaul University & Northwestern University in Chicago.


Dan’s story, as told by Alexander McCobin was recently published on the Conscious Capitalism elevate blog https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/blog/firing-your-biggest-customer.   




Photo & Bio Coming Soon

Haleh Fardi

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, ProCFO Partners