Greg Topalian and the Long Game of Instinct

From New York Comic Con to a new role spotting and backing the next generation of builders, Greg Topalian’s career tracks the rise of live events as one of the most powerful assets in modern business.

Editor’s Note:This story isn’t just about a career. It’s about a moment. Greg Topalian’s path—from building New York Comic Con inside one of the world’s largest exhibition companies, to stepping away from day-to-day leadership and quietly backing the next generation of builders—mirrors a deeper shift in the gathering economy itself. As live events becam…