Thought Leaders
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
DAVID FREDMAN
CO-FOUNDER, HEARTRUNNER
With my background as a cardiology nurse, I have been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) regularly since the mid 90’s. Still, I never got to use my lifesaving skills outside work until I was alerted through the platform I had been involved in creating. This is likely the case for...
INNOVATE® Minnesota
Dr. Bhabani Misra
Associate Dean - University of St. Thomas School of Engineering
Dr. Bhabani Misra Associate Dean – University of St. Thomas School of Engineering Not long ago, students could simply complete a college degree and find work for the rest of their lives. But today, industry is evolving rapidly—especially engineering and technology. Today, every one of us needs to retool and...
INNOVATE® Miami
Dr. Susan Amat
CEO & Founder - VentureHive
To a lot of people, innovation is a very fuzzy word. Sometimes it’s used to describe any kind of change, and I think it’s dangerous when we don’t take the time to define and put metrics to it to have clarity. You have to know when you’ve achieved the intended...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
TONY WEEKS
PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE BRENDA STRAFFORD FOUNDATION
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging tool that is rapidly changing how we live our lives and evolving at a very fast pace. Beyond the convenience benefits, AI offers significant potential in support of healthy aging, including predicting health risks and adverse events. By 2040, projections suggest that 10.8 million...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MOHAMAD TAKWA
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, EPIGENICA
When I was a young researcher, I believed invention was the pinnacle of achievement. To discover something new and build something no one had built before – that felt like enough. But after launching several deep tech startups, I’ve learned a powerful lesson. Invention is just the beginning. Innovation is...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
PADDY UPTON
LEADERSHIP COACH
Paddy brings over 25-years of experience working with high-performing teams in business and sport, across multiple industries and on five continents. Imagine you’re a team leader and you overhear one of your team speaking to their friends at a party. They’re saying something like, ‘‘I love the place I work....
INNOVATE® Georgia
AARON HARRIS
GLOBAL CTO AT SAGE
In countless ways, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the often-unsung heroes on the frontlines of the U.S. economy by providing jobs, uplifting communities, and facing the future with optimism and resilience. That’s why I’m so proud that Sage has made such strong commitments on behalf of SMBs to deliver...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
SHAMSH HADI
CEO, ZORROSIGN, INC
Data democratization is an approach to information technology (IT) whereby everyone has access to data, and data systems have few—or no—gatekeepers to that data. Such aspiration goes beyond breaking data free from IT departments, organizational silos, and institutional borders, to even across governments and states. The origins of Bitcoin, for...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
SEAN MENDEZ CATLIN
MANAGING PARTNER, MC & J LAW
Sean Méndez-Catlin is the 1Up Lawyer, giving you a 1Up on the competition and an extra life. He has been playing games since he was a Kid. He started with the N64 and has continued to play as he went through school and now as an attorney. Listening to his...
INNOVATE™ Logistics
KRIS NEYENS
MANAGER INTERNATIONALIZATION AT VIL FLANDERS INNOVATION CLUSTER FOR LOGISTICS
Global logistics is facing strong growth, even in uncertain times, and an ever-increasing demand for quality and speed of service, and to do so in a way that does not strain our overall quality of life. The focus here must be on sustainability. The aim is to make the best...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
DR. LASZLO RADVANYI
PRESIDENT AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR, ONTARIO INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
The most powerful way to stop people from dying of cancer is to stop cancer from taking hold in the first place. That’s why researchers across Ontario are studying why and how cancer develops, looking back to the days before the first cancer cell divides to drive life-saving advancements in...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
Robert H. Bishop
Dean Of The College Of Engineering At USF
The College of Engineering at the University of South Florida is at the forefront of engineering research and education, cultivating knowledgeable, passionate engineers who are dedicated to needs-based, solutions-oriented engineering. We are innovators. We are explorers. For us, it’s all about helping people. After more than fifty years of pursuing...
AI Québec
ALEXANDRE LE BOUTHILLIER
CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF CORPORATE OFFICER, IMAGIA
We sometimes forget the purpose of our work. In healthcare, the goal to make a positive impact on patients is present every day. This was the goal of the introduction of the first AI system in breast cancer screening… in 1998. Over the past 20 years, and especially with the...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
KADI PÄRNITS
CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, MAINOR AS, ÜLEMISTE CITY.
When I joined Ülemiste City the vision of a smart city for smart people was already in place. Today, the vision has grown into a future-focused urban environment with 18 000 talents from more than 73 countries and 400 companies. Based on the labor tax from business ventures, the contribution...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
Ron Gaboury
CEO - Yorktel and Caregility
As the CEO of two technology companies, I have the distinct honor of leading a group of highly talented and passionate individuals across both organizations. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that building the right team can be a force multiplier when it comes to...
INNOVATION Quebec
VINCENT ROUSSON
RECTEUR, UQAT
Cependant, pour une université en région comme l’AbitibiTémiscamingue, l’innovation peut jouer un rôle encore plus important dans son développement et dans celui de ses territoires d’attaches. Tout d’abord, l’innovation peut aider à attirer et à retenir les étudiants et les professeurs. En développant des programmes innovants et en offrant des...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
NIGEL C. THIJS, SES
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, PHILADELPHIA DIVISION
When I think about the future of innovation, I do not think about a single invention or a single breakthrough. I think about speed, collaboration, and adaptability. Innovation will belong to organizations that can learn quickly, test ideas early, and deliver real results without losing focus on mission impact. Philadelphia...
Phoebe Cade Miles
Co-Founder - The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
Phoebe Cade Miles Co-Founder – The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention In 2004, I helped my father, Dr. James Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, to establish the Cade Museum. Sixteen years later, it is inspiring the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. The Gatorade story had...
INNOVATE® Utah
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Akshay Sabhikhi, CEO and Matt Sanchez, Founder & CTO
CognitiveScale
CognitiveScale The next frontier: Building AI systems you can trust Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grabbed a foothold in the enterprise and is poised to become as ubiquitous as the internet – touching every aspect of our lives. From detecting and impacting climate change to advancements in disease diagnosis to aiding...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
DANIEL X JOHANSSON
CSO & CO-FOUNDER, AAX BIOTECH
Some of the most meaningful innovations don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin when you hit a wall. A few years ago, we were developing a new therapeutic antibody. To really understand it, we had to figure out where it grabbed onto its target molecule—and what happened to that...
INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
JOÃO ALMEIDA LOPES
PRESIDENTE DA DIRECÇÃO DA APIFARMA
Past conquests bear witness to the value and significance of scientific knowledge and leave no doubt than an innovative spirit is still the best answer to major challenges faced by humankind. In fact, innovation-friendly policies foster models of development based on people and are a recipe for prosperity. This is...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
NICOLE PARMAR
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, GUNKII
Innovation is often viewed as the development of groundbreaking ideas, but it is also about making incremental changes that can significantly impact an industry, business, or community. I firmly believe that entrepreneurship and innovation go hand-in-hand. These provide the means to grow businesses, create products that solve problems, and improve...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
MICHAEL SANDERSON
DIRECTOR - ARTHUR L. IRVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE, SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
When talking about innovation and entrepreneurship, we conjure images of revolutionary products and world-changing ideas. What is often missed in the discussion is the impact that these concepts have on the student. To help illustrate and understand this, I think it is important that I share a little bit of...
DAVID FREDMAN
CO-FOUNDER, HEARTRUNNER
With my background as a cardiology nurse, I have been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) regularly since the mid 90’s. Still, I never got to use my lifesaving skills outside work until I was alerted through the platform I had been involved in creating. This is likely the case for...
Dr. Bhabani Misra
Associate Dean - University of St. Thomas School of Engineering
Dr. Bhabani Misra Associate Dean – University of St. Thomas School of Engineering Not long ago, students could simply complete a college degree and find work for the rest of their lives. But today, industry is evolving rapidly—especially engineering and technology. Today, every one of us needs to retool and...
Dr. Susan Amat
CEO & Founder - VentureHive
To a lot of people, innovation is a very fuzzy word. Sometimes it’s used to describe any kind of change, and I think it’s dangerous when we don’t take the time to define and put metrics to it to have clarity. You have to know when you’ve achieved the intended...
TONY WEEKS
PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE BRENDA STRAFFORD FOUNDATION
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging tool that is rapidly changing how we live our lives and evolving at a very fast pace. Beyond the convenience benefits, AI offers significant potential in support of healthy aging, including predicting health risks and adverse events. By 2040, projections suggest that 10.8 million...
MOHAMAD TAKWA
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, EPIGENICA
When I was a young researcher, I believed invention was the pinnacle of achievement. To discover something new and build something no one had built before – that felt like enough. But after launching several deep tech startups, I’ve learned a powerful lesson. Invention is just the beginning. Innovation is...
PADDY UPTON
LEADERSHIP COACH
Paddy brings over 25-years of experience working with high-performing teams in business and sport, across multiple industries and on five continents. Imagine you’re a team leader and you overhear one of your team speaking to their friends at a party. They’re saying something like, ‘‘I love the place I work....
AARON HARRIS
GLOBAL CTO AT SAGE
In countless ways, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the often-unsung heroes on the frontlines of the U.S. economy by providing jobs, uplifting communities, and facing the future with optimism and resilience. That’s why I’m so proud that Sage has made such strong commitments on behalf of SMBs to deliver...
SHAMSH HADI
CEO, ZORROSIGN, INC
Data democratization is an approach to information technology (IT) whereby everyone has access to data, and data systems have few—or no—gatekeepers to that data. Such aspiration goes beyond breaking data free from IT departments, organizational silos, and institutional borders, to even across governments and states. The origins of Bitcoin, for...
SEAN MENDEZ CATLIN
MANAGING PARTNER, MC & J LAW
Sean Méndez-Catlin is the 1Up Lawyer, giving you a 1Up on the competition and an extra life. He has been playing games since he was a Kid. He started with the N64 and has continued to play as he went through school and now as an attorney. Listening to his...
KRIS NEYENS
MANAGER INTERNATIONALIZATION AT VIL FLANDERS INNOVATION CLUSTER FOR LOGISTICS
Global logistics is facing strong growth, even in uncertain times, and an ever-increasing demand for quality and speed of service, and to do so in a way that does not strain our overall quality of life. The focus here must be on sustainability. The aim is to make the best...
DR. LASZLO RADVANYI
PRESIDENT AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR, ONTARIO INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
The most powerful way to stop people from dying of cancer is to stop cancer from taking hold in the first place. That’s why researchers across Ontario are studying why and how cancer develops, looking back to the days before the first cancer cell divides to drive life-saving advancements in...
Robert H. Bishop
Dean Of The College Of Engineering At USF
The College of Engineering at the University of South Florida is at the forefront of engineering research and education, cultivating knowledgeable, passionate engineers who are dedicated to needs-based, solutions-oriented engineering. We are innovators. We are explorers. For us, it’s all about helping people. After more than fifty years of pursuing...
ALEXANDRE LE BOUTHILLIER
CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF CORPORATE OFFICER, IMAGIA
We sometimes forget the purpose of our work. In healthcare, the goal to make a positive impact on patients is present every day. This was the goal of the introduction of the first AI system in breast cancer screening… in 1998. Over the past 20 years, and especially with the...
KADI PÄRNITS
CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, MAINOR AS, ÜLEMISTE CITY.
When I joined Ülemiste City the vision of a smart city for smart people was already in place. Today, the vision has grown into a future-focused urban environment with 18 000 talents from more than 73 countries and 400 companies. Based on the labor tax from business ventures, the contribution...
Ron Gaboury
CEO - Yorktel and Caregility
As the CEO of two technology companies, I have the distinct honor of leading a group of highly talented and passionate individuals across both organizations. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that building the right team can be a force multiplier when it comes to...
VINCENT ROUSSON
RECTEUR, UQAT
Cependant, pour une université en région comme l’AbitibiTémiscamingue, l’innovation peut jouer un rôle encore plus important dans son développement et dans celui de ses territoires d’attaches. Tout d’abord, l’innovation peut aider à attirer et à retenir les étudiants et les professeurs. En développant des programmes innovants et en offrant des...
NIGEL C. THIJS, SES
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, PHILADELPHIA DIVISION
When I think about the future of innovation, I do not think about a single invention or a single breakthrough. I think about speed, collaboration, and adaptability. Innovation will belong to organizations that can learn quickly, test ideas early, and deliver real results without losing focus on mission impact. Philadelphia...
Phoebe Cade Miles
Co-Founder - The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
Phoebe Cade Miles Co-Founder – The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention In 2004, I helped my father, Dr. James Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, to establish the Cade Museum. Sixteen years later, it is inspiring the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. The Gatorade story had...
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
Akshay Sabhikhi, CEO and Matt Sanchez, Founder & CTO
CognitiveScale
CognitiveScale The next frontier: Building AI systems you can trust Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grabbed a foothold in the enterprise and is poised to become as ubiquitous as the internet – touching every aspect of our lives. From detecting and impacting climate change to advancements in disease diagnosis to aiding...
DANIEL X JOHANSSON
CSO & CO-FOUNDER, AAX BIOTECH
Some of the most meaningful innovations don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin when you hit a wall. A few years ago, we were developing a new therapeutic antibody. To really understand it, we had to figure out where it grabbed onto its target molecule—and what happened to that...
JOÃO ALMEIDA LOPES
PRESIDENTE DA DIRECÇÃO DA APIFARMA
Past conquests bear witness to the value and significance of scientific knowledge and leave no doubt than an innovative spirit is still the best answer to major challenges faced by humankind. In fact, innovation-friendly policies foster models of development based on people and are a recipe for prosperity. This is...
NICOLE PARMAR
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, GUNKII
Innovation is often viewed as the development of groundbreaking ideas, but it is also about making incremental changes that can significantly impact an industry, business, or community. I firmly believe that entrepreneurship and innovation go hand-in-hand. These provide the means to grow businesses, create products that solve problems, and improve...
MICHAEL SANDERSON
DIRECTOR - ARTHUR L. IRVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE, SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
When talking about innovation and entrepreneurship, we conjure images of revolutionary products and world-changing ideas. What is often missed in the discussion is the impact that these concepts have on the student. To help illustrate and understand this, I think it is important that I share a little bit of...