According to Forbes, the publication is launching a new global investment summit called Iconoclast, founded and led by Editor-at-Large Maneet Ahuja. The event aims to gather many of the world’s greatest changemakers and billionaires, building on Ahuja’s prior experience co-founding CNBC’s Delivering Alpha summit. Ahuja, a former Forbes “30 Under 30” lister and author of “The Alpha Masters,” also hosts the “Megatrends” podcast on Spotify. Her extensive background includes a decade at CNBC as a hedge fund specialist, breaking news on activist campaigns like Herbalife, and covering the Lehman Brothers insolvency. She began her career at Citigroup at age seventeen, earning the nickname “Wall Street Maneet,” and later worked at The Wall Street Journal.
The Summit Circuit Gets Crowded
Look, another exclusive summit for the ultra-wealthy. Here’s the thing: the market for high-priced, invitation-only conferences where elites talk about the future is pretty saturated. We’ve got Delivering Alpha, Sun Valley, the various Davos offshoots, and countless private family office gatherings. So what makes Iconoclast different? Forbes is betting heavily on Maneet Ahuja’s personal brand and her deep Rolodex, which is formidable. But I have to wonder if we’re reaching peak summit. Is there a genuine need for another one, or is this just a prestige play for the Forbes brand itself?
The Maneet Ahuja Factor
Ahuja’s track record is the core asset here, and it’s a strong one. She didn’t just report on Wall Street; she was embedded in it from a shockingly young age. Breaking news on activist campaigns requires serious, trusted sources. That network doesn’t disappear. And her move from CNBC to Forbes to launch this suggests she has the autonomy to really shape it. The “Megatrends” podcast is basically a content funnel for summit topics. But this also puts immense pressure on her personally. The success or failure of Iconoclast will be directly tied to her name. That’s a lot of weight for one editor-at-large to carry, even one nicknamed after Wall Street.
Beyond the Buzzwords
“Changemakers and billionaires.” It’s a compelling pairing. The promise is presumably that capital meets innovation. But let’s be skeptical. These events often produce more headlines than actionable deals or genuine “change.” The real value is in the private meetings and side conversations, which we never see. The public-facing agenda will need to be exceptionally sharp to cut through the noise. Will it be a series of polished, predictable talks? Or will there be real debate, maybe even some controversy? Ahuja’s history covering activist investors suggests she understands conflict and drama. The summit needs to channel that energy, not just be another polite forum. If it’s just a live version of a glossy magazine spread, interest will fade fast.
