Industry Insights

Steven Bartlett, Creator of The Diary of a CEO, to Headline Thrive

By Rebecca Muhlenkort / July 21, 2026

Steven Bartlett will headline Thrive 2026

We're thrilled to announce that Steven Bartlett will headline the Thrive 2026 stage in Los Angeles.

Steven is one of the most influential entrepreneurs and media voices of his generation. He's the creator of The Diary of a CEO. Steven has built The Diary of a CEO into one of the world’s most popular podcasts, with over 13 million YouTube subscribers, 70 million monthly views, and more than one billion streams across platforms.

His guest list reads like a who's who of global influence: Michelle Obama, MrBeast, Simon Cowell, Matthew McConaughey, and Jürgen Klopp, among many others.

Check out his podcast The Diary of a CEO on YouTube

But Steven isn't just a media powerhouse. He dropped out of university at 21 to build Social Chain into a global company, became the youngest-ever Dragon on BBC's Dragons' Den, and has invested in over 40 companies including SpaceX, Whoop, Groq, and Lovable.

His holding company, Steven.com, recently closed a major eight-figure investment round at a $425 million valuation, believed to be Europe's biggest-ever creator holding company fundraise. He has ambitions to build "the Disney of the creator economy,” making him a perfect addition to the Thrive keynote lineup.

Steven will share the frameworks and lessons behind his success.

Building with relentless conviction—what it takes to go from zero to a global brand, and the mindset required to keep scaling

Where distribution, community, and trust converge—why the infrastructure powering the creator economy is a blueprint for how B2B businesses should think about growth

Navigating risk and reinvention—how to make bold bets, recover from setbacks, and build for long-term compounding value

Also taking the stage: Zack Kass, former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI

We're equally excited to welcome Zack Kass to Thrive 2026. At OpenAI, Zack led sales, partnerships, and customer success, where he turned AI research into real-world business solutions. Today, he advises Fortune 1,000 leadership teams at companies like Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Amgen on deploying AI at scale and navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Zack will share where AI is actually creating measurable value today, the strategic playbook for enterprise adoption, and a candid look at what's coming next for B2B leaders.

What is Thrive?

Thrive is the only event of its kind for organizations selling and buying third-party technology services. It's where B2B technology advisors, energy brokers, marketplace operators, technology providers, and forward-thinking customers come together with the influencers and innovators making decisions today that will shape commerce for years to come.

This year, Thrive lands at the JW Marriott L.A. Live on September 29 – October 1 for three days of keynotes, hands-on workshops, deep-dive sessions, and the kind of face-to-face conversations that spark new ideas, build strategic partnerships, and open doors to real opportunities.

Expect to connect with Fortune 500 executives, top innovators, advisors, brokers, and organizations across industries who are shaping the future of commerce, energy, and technology, as well as 1,200+ attendees, 35+ hours of learning, and a 4.68 CSAT score that reflects an exceptional event experience.

Why you can't miss Thrive 2026

Get inspired

Learn from world-class speakers, practitioners, and innovators who are reshaping B2B commerce. From main stage keynotes to intimate workshops and fireside chats, every session is built to challenge your thinking and spark new ideas.

Get ahead

Discover emerging technologies, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies. Learn how teams have scaled from 300 to 2,500 employees without growing their IT department. Explore new approaches for managing distributed workforces globally. See how unified technology management and modern marketplace models are transforming how organizations source, manage, and optimize services.

Get connected

Meet leaders leveraging marketplaces and advisory models to fuel B2B sales growth, alongside energy brokers, enterprise customers, and channel experts from around the world. Engage in meaningful conversations that strengthen relationships and uncover new opportunities to grow your business.

Relive the Thrive 2025 highlights

Last year's Thrive in Austin brought together over 1,000 B2B commerce leaders for three transformative days. AppDirect CEO Nicolas Desmarais delivered a keynote on the seismic shifts reshaping distribution. Laurence Tosi, Managing Partner and Founder of WestCap, shared his perspective on building enduring companies in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Watch the highlights:

Explore our Thrive library for past sessions, recaps, and insights from previous events.

Make your business case to attend

For technology advisors, MSPs, and other partners: Thrive connects you with the suppliers, strategies, and platforms you need to stay competitive. Expand your portfolio with new services and bundled solutions, including AI, cybersecurity, SaaS, hardware, and communications. Strengthen supplier relationships and unlock new revenue streams.

For business customers: Discover smarter ways to source, manage, and optimize your technology and other business services. Reduce costs and complexity, gain clearer visibility into contracts and performance, and explore innovative providers and strategies to support long-term growth.

For software companies and other technology providers: AppDirect offers technology product and service providers (an opportunity to expand the distribution of both their first- and third-party offerings, helping you meet customers wherever they are and however they prefer to buy.

Attend Thrive to explore our distribution capabilities enable providers to integrate once and distribute everywhere, supporting every go-to-market strategy and company maturity stage by providing:

Learn how we help you with direct distribution through your own white-label marketplace
Indirect distribution via:
- Build your reseller network
- Access our network of advisors
- Access a broad network of third-party marketplaces operating on AppDirect
- Access hyperscaler marketplaces such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft

For marketplace operators: Engage directly with others who've built thriving marketplaces and discover their pathways to success. Whether you're scaling your marketplace catalog, streamlining reseller channels, or looking to maximize ROI on technology investments, you’ll gain frameworks you can implement immediately.

For companies looking to reach new audiences, expand opportunities, sponsor Thrive: Shine a spotlight on your brand in front of 1,200+ technology advisors, energy brokers, and end customers.

With our Provider Growth Program (PGP) you can tap into sponsorship opportunities, from keynotes and breakout sessions to multi-sponsor panels, designed to expand your reach and deepen connections with your target audience.

[Contact our PGP team →]