Thought Leaders

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

MICHAEL ROSE

FOUNDER OF VIGNETIC, PERMEVO AND TKTKONNECT

The global talent market is a pressing concern that affects organizations and economies worldwide. According to a survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, 69% of employers reported difficulty in finding skilled workers in 2022. This shortage has been attributed to various factors, including demographic shifts, skills gaps, and the rapid pace of...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

BOB QUINN

PRESIDENT & CEO AT SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH AUTHORITY (SCRA)

South Carolina is small, but mighty. It is a relatively small state, but it has a mighty innovation ecosystem. I encourage any entrepreneur, researcher, or investor to choose South Carolina as a place to develop and grow innovation. I’m incredibly proud of what’s being created and nurtured in this state,...

INNOVATE® Nashville

ANTON BUSUTTIL

PLANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

If there’s one leadership skill that’s quietly shaped every success I’ve had, it’s flexibility. Not intelligence. Not experience. The ability to adapt and lead change is what matters most. That mindset has carried me from blue-collar beginnings in Michigan to manufacturing plants in Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and now Tennessee. I’m...

VOICES of the Future

DORIE CLARK

PURPOSE IN THE TUNNEL

In the heart of America’s corporate hustle, where ambition beats faster than a Wall Street trader’s pulse, Dorie Clark is a beacon of foresight and inspiration. This moment isn’t just a conversation; it is a masterclass in future-flung vision, delivered by a woman who’s cracked the code on thriving in...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

IGNACIO ALVAREZ

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF POPULAR INC.

Technological advances, changing customer expectations and a rapidly evolving competitive landscape have made innovation not a choice, but a requirement to remain competitive at every level. Countries, companies and individuals must constantly question the present and aspire to make the future better. Because innovation is not an end in itself;...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

WYGROUP

WYGROUP - Shaped by curiosity

SHAPED BY CURIOSITY

For the last 20 years, WYgroup has been one of the top leading players in digital marketing, technology, and creativity services in Portugal. We are currently the largest independent group for Marketing and Customer Experience Services in Portugal, with a collaborative framework of 7 companies that – together – can...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

JOHN STOJKA

JOHN STOJKA

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, SERTIFI INC

As entrepreneurs we are risk takers by nature, we shoot for the moon, and swing for the fences. But this attribute can also become our biggest weakness as it leads many entrepreneurs towards the path of frustration and eventual failure. We are all looking for the 10x technology advancement, but...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

CAROLINA LAHDO & FARIDEH WALLQVIST

CO-FOUNDERS, WIB CAPITAL

WiB Capital is a Stockholm-based ecosystem and platform designed to strengthen how early-stage founders and investors meet—through community, visibility, and clearer decision-making. It began with a small observation in a coworking office: people shared space, but rarely spoke. So we made a rule, say hi to everyone new who walks...

INNOVATE® Miami

Kate Black

Kate Black

Shareholder - Greenberg Traurig, P. A.

“Miami is Becoming A HealthTech Innovation Hub.” Kate Black, Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig, P. A. Miami has a singularly scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit, making it well situated to become a regional technology hub that plays a vital role in connecting the global economy – especially in healthcare, life sciences, and consumer...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

DEAN DEBIASE

DEAN DEBIASE- REBOOT PARTNERS

REBOOT PARTNERS

CEOs constantly hear noise about competitive “disruption” in their sectors, fueling concerns about their organization’s ability to innovate in an increasingly competitive and agile global market. This creates natural pressure to grow and meet earnings targets—but growth can be slow and expensive. With Open-Innovation and Co-Creation platforms, it doesn’t have...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

DEEPAK MEHTA

ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPER, MCA – MARITIME CAMPUS ANTWERP

Deepak Mehta is the Ecosystem Developer for MCA, believing that we are solving the easily solvable problems and are left with the wicked problems that have no single solution and require cooperation to solve. Building an ecosystem helps strengthen the maritime sector by increasing its innovation readiness, but also attracts...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

AMIR ELION

THINK BIG LEADERS - CEO, INNOVATION AND AI ADVISOR, SPEAKER

Many years ago, when I was facilitating internal innovation workshops at Motorola, word got out, and executives would ask me to run “The Innovation Workshop” for their teams. I told them that I don’t have an innovation workshop, and that they should tell me what they aiming to achieve, and...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation

TOM SELLIG

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

After decades of leadership, I’ve learned that most of what matters fits into a single sentence: get one percent better every day. It sounds simple, and it is simple…but simple and easy aren’t the same thing. Every day I challenge myself and my team to improve by just one percent....

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

JASON VANDEBOOM

JASON VANDEBOOM

FOUNDER AND CEO, ACTIVECAMPAIGN

Building and investing in a differentiated customer experience used to be thought of as a nice to have but not a critical item. When it made it into the business plan or the balance sheet it did so as a necessary cost of sale – a cost you’d look to...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

SHADMAN HOSSAIN

MANAGER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES PRACTICE, CGI FEDERAL

At its core, blockchain technology is about giving people control over their own data and assets, and enabling them to transact with one another in a transparent and secure way. By giving people control over their own data, we can create a more fair and just society where individuals have...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

BIG LEADERSHIP TEAM

BIG LEADERSHIP TEAM -BRISTOL INNOVATORS GROUP

BRISTOL INNOVATORS GROUP

In Spring 2019, two of our team – Charlie Widdows and Rob Sheffield – discussed how to create a network that would focus on innovation across Bristol. They had an intuitive sense that this was needed, but lacked the time and resource to turn the idea into reality. Then in...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Chris Sugden

Chris Sugden

Managing Partner - Edison Partners

At Edison Partners, we believe that there’s no stronger relationship than the one an investor has with an entrepreneur and the management team. Trust and empathy are the foundations to a successful partnership. There’s a reason for that. Mutual understanding is the prerequisite for a great outcome. You each must...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

STUART COOK

CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, VALLEY NATIONAL BANK

LEVERAGING OUR DIFFERENTIATOR IN THE AGE OF AI – PEOPLEWe are entering a new age of innovation where artificial intelligence will revolutionize the way we work, interact with our customers, and drive business outcomes. It’s going to impact all industries, including banking and financial services. Yet, while everyone rushes up...

INNOVATE™ Montréal

Carl Baillargeon

Carl Baillargeon

Communications and Marketing Director - Technoparc Montréal

  English: It’s a park. It’s techno. The Technoparc is relaxed and peaceful. The site is also green. Very green. With a huge proportion of green space and protected zones, located between areas of concrete omnipresence, the feel of nature is flagrant and fragrant. A perfect setting for companies and...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

JEFF DESJARDINS

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VISUAL CAPITALIST

In the media landscape, technology has been the ultimate disruptor—creating several inflection points that have changed the scope of reach for content and business models. To put the evolution of our industry and its future roadmap into perspective, we can take a closer look at the three waves of media....

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Rick Diana - Trinitas Talent Management

The Digital World is a contemporary expression to communicate the importance of digital technology, services and tools to communicate on the Internet, smart devices, the Internet of Things and other digital sources. We are barely entering the early stages of the so-called Digital Revolution and its impact on business is...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DR. RAMNATH K. CHELLAPPA

PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

DR. RAMNATH K. CHELLAPPA,PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS &OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT;ASSOCIATE DEAN & ACADEMIC DIRECTOR,MS IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS. AI, BUSINESS & EMORYAmidst all the technological advances, businesses have been struggling to keep up. From Machine Learning to AI to now Large Language Models, the readiness of organizations to adopt these new techniques...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

Fred Niemans

FRED NIEMANS

PRESIDENT, WORLD TRADE CENTER ANTWERP

 It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor is it the most intelligent one. It’s the species that has the ability to cope with drastic changes. That’s Darwinism in a nutshell. His ‘survival of the fittest’… also applies to the corporate ecosystem. Agility reduces fragility: the companies and organisations that...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

MICHAEL WESTAFER

MICHAEL WESTAFER

FOUNDER & CEO OF ROGER WEST CREATIVE& CODE

I like to think of ourselves as the creative catalysts of innovation. Our own pathway to innovation lies in how we view market disruption through our clients’ eyes. Don’t get me wrong. We do awesome work. Our people are among the best at what they do. We’re regulars on the...

MICHAEL ROSE

FOUNDER OF VIGNETIC, PERMEVO AND TKTKONNECT

The global talent market is a pressing concern that affects organizations and economies worldwide. According to a survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, 69% of employers reported difficulty in finding skilled workers in 2022. This shortage has been attributed to various factors, including demographic shifts, skills gaps, and the rapid pace of...

BOB QUINN

PRESIDENT & CEO AT SOUTH CAROLINA RESEARCH AUTHORITY (SCRA)

South Carolina is small, but mighty. It is a relatively small state, but it has a mighty innovation ecosystem. I encourage any entrepreneur, researcher, or investor to choose South Carolina as a place to develop and grow innovation. I’m incredibly proud of what’s being created and nurtured in this state,...

ANTON BUSUTTIL

PLANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

If there’s one leadership skill that’s quietly shaped every success I’ve had, it’s flexibility. Not intelligence. Not experience. The ability to adapt and lead change is what matters most. That mindset has carried me from blue-collar beginnings in Michigan to manufacturing plants in Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and now Tennessee. I’m...

DORIE CLARK

PURPOSE IN THE TUNNEL

In the heart of America’s corporate hustle, where ambition beats faster than a Wall Street trader’s pulse, Dorie Clark is a beacon of foresight and inspiration. This moment isn’t just a conversation; it is a masterclass in future-flung vision, delivered by a woman who’s cracked the code on thriving in...

IGNACIO ALVAREZ

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF POPULAR INC.

Technological advances, changing customer expectations and a rapidly evolving competitive landscape have made innovation not a choice, but a requirement to remain competitive at every level. Countries, companies and individuals must constantly question the present and aspire to make the future better. Because innovation is not an end in itself;...

WYGROUP

WYGROUP - Shaped by curiosity

SHAPED BY CURIOSITY

For the last 20 years, WYgroup has been one of the top leading players in digital marketing, technology, and creativity services in Portugal. We are currently the largest independent group for Marketing and Customer Experience Services in Portugal, with a collaborative framework of 7 companies that – together – can...

JOHN STOJKA

JOHN STOJKA

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, SERTIFI INC

As entrepreneurs we are risk takers by nature, we shoot for the moon, and swing for the fences. But this attribute can also become our biggest weakness as it leads many entrepreneurs towards the path of frustration and eventual failure. We are all looking for the 10x technology advancement, but...

CAROLINA LAHDO & FARIDEH WALLQVIST

CO-FOUNDERS, WIB CAPITAL

WiB Capital is a Stockholm-based ecosystem and platform designed to strengthen how early-stage founders and investors meet—through community, visibility, and clearer decision-making. It began with a small observation in a coworking office: people shared space, but rarely spoke. So we made a rule, say hi to everyone new who walks...

Kate Black

Kate Black

Shareholder - Greenberg Traurig, P. A.

“Miami is Becoming A HealthTech Innovation Hub.” Kate Black, Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig, P. A. Miami has a singularly scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit, making it well situated to become a regional technology hub that plays a vital role in connecting the global economy – especially in healthcare, life sciences, and consumer...

DEAN DEBIASE

DEAN DEBIASE- REBOOT PARTNERS

REBOOT PARTNERS

CEOs constantly hear noise about competitive “disruption” in their sectors, fueling concerns about their organization’s ability to innovate in an increasingly competitive and agile global market. This creates natural pressure to grow and meet earnings targets—but growth can be slow and expensive. With Open-Innovation and Co-Creation platforms, it doesn’t have...

DEEPAK MEHTA

ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPER, MCA – MARITIME CAMPUS ANTWERP

Deepak Mehta is the Ecosystem Developer for MCA, believing that we are solving the easily solvable problems and are left with the wicked problems that have no single solution and require cooperation to solve. Building an ecosystem helps strengthen the maritime sector by increasing its innovation readiness, but also attracts...

AMIR ELION

THINK BIG LEADERS - CEO, INNOVATION AND AI ADVISOR, SPEAKER

Many years ago, when I was facilitating internal innovation workshops at Motorola, word got out, and executives would ask me to run “The Innovation Workshop” for their teams. I told them that I don’t have an innovation workshop, and that they should tell me what they aiming to achieve, and...

TOM SELLIG

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

After decades of leadership, I’ve learned that most of what matters fits into a single sentence: get one percent better every day. It sounds simple, and it is simple…but simple and easy aren’t the same thing. Every day I challenge myself and my team to improve by just one percent....

JASON VANDEBOOM

JASON VANDEBOOM

FOUNDER AND CEO, ACTIVECAMPAIGN

Building and investing in a differentiated customer experience used to be thought of as a nice to have but not a critical item. When it made it into the business plan or the balance sheet it did so as a necessary cost of sale – a cost you’d look to...

SHADMAN HOSSAIN

MANAGER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES PRACTICE, CGI FEDERAL

At its core, blockchain technology is about giving people control over their own data and assets, and enabling them to transact with one another in a transparent and secure way. By giving people control over their own data, we can create a more fair and just society where individuals have...

BIG LEADERSHIP TEAM

BIG LEADERSHIP TEAM -BRISTOL INNOVATORS GROUP

BRISTOL INNOVATORS GROUP

In Spring 2019, two of our team – Charlie Widdows and Rob Sheffield – discussed how to create a network that would focus on innovation across Bristol. They had an intuitive sense that this was needed, but lacked the time and resource to turn the idea into reality. Then in...

Chris Sugden

Chris Sugden

Managing Partner - Edison Partners

At Edison Partners, we believe that there’s no stronger relationship than the one an investor has with an entrepreneur and the management team. Trust and empathy are the foundations to a successful partnership. There’s a reason for that. Mutual understanding is the prerequisite for a great outcome. You each must...

STUART COOK

CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, VALLEY NATIONAL BANK

LEVERAGING OUR DIFFERENTIATOR IN THE AGE OF AI – PEOPLEWe are entering a new age of innovation where artificial intelligence will revolutionize the way we work, interact with our customers, and drive business outcomes. It’s going to impact all industries, including banking and financial services. Yet, while everyone rushes up...

Carl Baillargeon

Carl Baillargeon

Communications and Marketing Director - Technoparc Montréal

  English: It’s a park. It’s techno. The Technoparc is relaxed and peaceful. The site is also green. Very green. With a huge proportion of green space and protected zones, located between areas of concrete omnipresence, the feel of nature is flagrant and fragrant. A perfect setting for companies and...

JEFF DESJARDINS

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VISUAL CAPITALIST

In the media landscape, technology has been the ultimate disruptor—creating several inflection points that have changed the scope of reach for content and business models. To put the evolution of our industry and its future roadmap into perspective, we can take a closer look at the three waves of media....

Rick Diana - Trinitas Talent Management

The Digital World is a contemporary expression to communicate the importance of digital technology, services and tools to communicate on the Internet, smart devices, the Internet of Things and other digital sources. We are barely entering the early stages of the so-called Digital Revolution and its impact on business is...

DR. RAMNATH K. CHELLAPPA

PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

DR. RAMNATH K. CHELLAPPA,PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS &OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT;ASSOCIATE DEAN & ACADEMIC DIRECTOR,MS IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS. AI, BUSINESS & EMORYAmidst all the technological advances, businesses have been struggling to keep up. From Machine Learning to AI to now Large Language Models, the readiness of organizations to adopt these new techniques...

Fred Niemans

FRED NIEMANS

PRESIDENT, WORLD TRADE CENTER ANTWERP

 It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor is it the most intelligent one. It’s the species that has the ability to cope with drastic changes. That’s Darwinism in a nutshell. His ‘survival of the fittest’… also applies to the corporate ecosystem. Agility reduces fragility: the companies and organisations that...

MICHAEL WESTAFER

MICHAEL WESTAFER

FOUNDER & CEO OF ROGER WEST CREATIVE& CODE

I like to think of ourselves as the creative catalysts of innovation. Our own pathway to innovation lies in how we view market disruption through our clients’ eyes. Don’t get me wrong. We do awesome work. Our people are among the best at what they do. We’re regulars on the...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems