Taking Ownership of Your Career

Ben Brooks

Ben Brooks is the founder & CEO of PILOT, an award-winning employee career development software platform. Inspired by his successful CEO & executive coaching practice, Ben saw an opportunity to democratize executive coaching and empower employees at scale. He invested his life savings into founding the company with a mission of ensuring everyone “feels powerful at work.” PILOT was named #1 HR Tech Startup to Watch in 2020 and HR Executive Magazine named him one of the Top 100 Influencers in HR & Technology in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Last fall PILOT was named a Top HR Product of 2020.

Previously, Ben held a number of leadership and management roles at Lockheed Martin, Oliver Wyman, and Marsh & McLennan Companies, where his last role was as SVP of HR, where he was named a “rising star” by HR Executive Magazine and later was featured on its cover for his innovative work in human capital. He started his career at Enterprise Rent-a-car.

In the community, Ben served on the board of directors for Out Serve-SLDN, the organization that spearheaded the successful effort to end the Department of Defense's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, and he co-founded the LGBT employee resource group at his management consulting firm (that continues to thrive a decade later). He's a proud graduate of the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business and has resided in Manhattan for a decade.

Rob Ribar

I have produced and managed promotional campaigns, including events and experiential marketing for theatrical works, rock concerts, and in support of global luxury brands, Broadway productions, and television networks. Whether meeting with top tier industry talent or pushing cargo boxes at an event activation, I bring together my passion for media and production with a skill set focused through my professionalism and conscientiousness.