These glorious powerhouses dedicate an obscene amount of free time to fantastic feats of failure —
ALL IN THE NAME OF SUICIDE PREVENTION.
P.S. From Denver to Spain (and everywhere in between), we’re scattered around the world. You can book any of our Board Members to speak about failure & mental health in your area. Just get in touch to talk details.
As the shouty mastermind behind this fancypants hootenanny, Jess is hellbent on supporting folks through these impossibly bizarre things known as Life & Business.
When she’s not running her copywriting agency by day and planning the Ball by night, you can find her being unflinchingly honest about mental health & chronic illness on the internet.
BECAUSE WHOLE HUMANS CAN RUN COMPANIES & TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS STARTS WITH CARING FOR OUR BRAINS.
JESS MANUSZAK
KELLEE TARUM
SYSTEMS & STRATEGY DIRECTOR
As entrepreneurs, we often start our businesses with a wing and a prayer. And, if we’re lucky (read: smart and hard-working), we may even be successful. But growth comes with new challenges and, for a small business, that often means building systems bit by bit — which can keep them from being as efficient as they could be.
That's why you need Kellee Tarum. She takes a strategic look at your business — then implements the systems that will make everything run as smooth as the Jamaican bobsled team. (Are y’all too young to get that reference?) Because you deserve more hours in the day to play.
Not only has Kellee been a member of the Failure Ball board of directors since Day 1, but she makes sure you’re the one running your business — and not the other way around.
MIKE GANINO.
STORYTELLING DIRECTOR & MENTOR
Mike Ganino is the name whispered backstage at the biggest events, conferences & meetings after someone asks the keynote speaker: What's your secret weapon?
He’s a celebrity brand strategist, storytelling director, and international best-selling author of Make a Scene.
He turns speakers into the hottest headliners by developing their stage presence, performance, and overall narrative.
He works with professional speakers, bestselling authors, and the titans of industry — and has been found around organizations like Adobe, Netflix, Disney, American Century Investments, Caesars Entertainment, and the American Heart Association.
NOW HE’S HERE TO MENTOR OUR SPEAKERS.
HILLARY WEISS-PRESSWOOD
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & RESIDENT EXTROVERT
As a speaking alum (turned Board Member), Hillary is the skilled force that turns small businesses around the world into huge obsessions.
Since 2011, she’s helped thousands of personality-fueled brands — a.k.a. the big idea that makes them unmissable in their market, and radically relevant to their perfect people.
To say it’s an honor to get her prowess on this is the understatement of the decade.
DUSTI ARAB
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Dusti Arab is a grower, writer, marketer, and activist, and the founder of Hearth & Hollow, a micro-nursery and plant CSA in Vancouver, WA, growing organic, Pacific Northwest-raised edible starts for local families.
Hearth & Hollow was sparked by the 2025 inauguration and built as a food access and food sovereignty project: make it easier for everyone to grow food, share it, and rely less on big-box supply chains.
Dusti is also the marketing strategist behind the reinvention co, where they create and manage book launch campaigns for nonfiction authors.
WE’D LOVE TO HUG YOU IRL.
VENTURE X | DENVER, CO
SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2026
Stroll into the chandelier-soaked charity fundraiser for an evening of slaps on the back, secret handshakes & a series of unfiltered speeches from people who are wildly successful — not despite their screw ups, but because of them.
Each ticket includes:
5 hours of Ball time for IRL mischief & connections.
7 live toasts to failure from folks you admire.
Unlimited fancy-pants snacks & sweets.
Complimentary signature cocktails, mocktails, coffee, tea, soda & bubbly water.