HBS Business Leader of the Year Dinner Honoring Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple
The Harvard Business School Association of Northern California is proud to honor Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, as our 2026 Business Leader of the Year.
The evening will feature a fireside conversation with Brad; networking with leaders from technology, finance, venture capital, and entrepreneurship; recognition of innovation and leadership in the Bay Area business community.
Date:
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time:
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM PT
Event Schedule:
- 5:30 PM – Registration opens
- 6:00 PM – Welcome reception
- 7:00 PM – Dinner and speaker event
- 9:00 PM – VIP after party
Venue:
The Julia Morgan Ballroom
465 California St
San Francisco, CA 94104
Early Bird Pricing through March 31, 2026
Tickets *(non-refundable):
Harvard Club SF Members*: $249 (2 tickets)
General Public: $500
Click Here To Register
About Brad Garlinghouse
Driving Innovation in Global Payments
As CEO of Ripple since 2016, Brad has led the company’s mission to modernize the global financial system. Ripple’s technology platform helps financial institutions and corporates move, store, exchange and manage value across borders in seconds rather than days—reducing cost, improving transparency, and expanding economic access worldwide. Ripple’s network now spans hundreds of financial institutions across more than 50 countries, positioning the company at the center of the next generation of digital financial infrastructure.
Leadership through Regulatory Transformation
Brad has also been a central voice in the global conversation around digital asset regulation and financial innovation. Through a landmark legal victory against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Ripple helped establish key legal clarity around how digital assets are treated in the United States, an outcome widely seen as shaping the future regulatory framework for the crypto and blockchain industries. Brad's leadership during this period demonstrated resilience, steadfast conviction, and a commitment to advancing responsible innovation.
Enabling the Internet of Value
Brad has been a champion of the idea – originally coined by Chris Larsen, Co-Founder of Ripple - that value should move as easily as information does today. At Ripple, he’s helped turn that vision into reality—building the infrastructure to enable faster, more efficient global money movement.
Business Leader of the Year Honoree:
More about Brad Garlinghouse | CEO, Ripple
Prior to Ripple, Brad built a distinguished technology career across Silicon Valley. He served in the following leadership roles:
- Senior Vice President at Yahoo
- Led flagship products including Yahoo Mail and Messenger
- President of Consumer Applications at AOL
- CEO of Hightail
Earlier in his career, his widely circulated internal strategy memo — known as the “Peanut Butter Manifesto” — became famous in Silicon Valley as a call for strategic focus and product discipline.
Event Chair:
Ben Dubin | Founding Partner at Health Gap Ventures
Ben is the Founding Partner of Health Gap Ventures, which backs innovative health technologies that bridge the gap between cutting-edge care and universal access, making quality healthcare affordable for everyone. He is also the founder of VC Expert Services, providing legal opinions for the startup ecosystem. He has been serving on the HBSANC Board of Directors for over 9 years.
Ben holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was the recipient of the Dean's Award.
Event Co-Chairs:
Rajiv Parikh | Growth Marketing CEO | GTM Community Builder
Rajiv is the CEO and Founder of Position², where he drives AI-powered growth marketing solutions for technology and healthcare companies. He serves as Chair of the HBS Alumni Association of Northern California Board, strengthening connections across one of HBS's most active alumni communities. Rajiv is also the host of The Spark of Ages podcast, engaging innovators and industry leaders in conversations about innovation, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Rajiv holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Vince Lane | HBSANC Board Member and Chair of Entrepreneurship, HBS OPM 37
Vince Lane is an accomplished investor and strategist with more than three decades of experience in global finance, innovation, and business development. His professional interests span frontier technologies, AI and Blockchain.
In parallel with his investment work, Mr. Lane remains engaged in education and mentorship. He serves as Chair of MIT’s Ignitor Group, Chair of Entrepreneurship within Harvard Business School’s alumni network, and a board member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at UC Davis.