Thought Leaders

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Neal Bloom

Neal Bloom

Founder - Fresh Brewed Tech

Neal Bloom Founder – Fresh Brewed Tech In San Diego many different industry clusters are contributing to and benefiting from force multiplying through collaboration. That is one of San Diego’s great strengths – collaboration. In a community that is commonly described as having a ‘give before you get’ mentality, we...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

PIETER DE VILLIERS

PIETER DE VILLIERS

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, CLICKATELL AND CHAIRMAN OF SIMODISA

Whilst the majority of public sector efforts and incentives are aimed at job creation within South Africa, high growth technology entrepreneurs will be quick to point out that the skills gap is a bigger issue than the jobs gap. As a result, several high growth entrepreneurs and technology leaders across...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

RICHARD BUTLER

RICHARD BUTLER

FOUNDER, RAGE WORKS

There is truly no one size fits all approach when it comes to podcasting and running a business, especially in New York City. However, this flexibility has allowed me to remain passionate about podcasting and do what I can to help the space grow and thrive, either by adding my...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Bob Kain

I’ve been fortunate enough to live a life distinguished by constant progression, from understanding to impacting, particularly in my career. Trained as a physicist, I was fueled by a deep drive to understand some of the most complex “whys” of our world. Quickly I learned that understanding is more satisfying...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

MAYOR MOIRA WERE AM

MAYOR, CITY OF ONKAPARINGA

In fact, one former recipient of our Young Citizen of the Year Award – in which we recognise young people who have made exceptional contributions by leading through generosity and enterprise – has just been elected to Council. We recognise and acclaim community-led events – festivals; sporting, arts and cultural...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

RENÉ LASSERON

CEO, FIENTA

I still remember the scrappy early days of Fienta. There was no office to unlock in the morning, there weren’t even salaries to draw. There were just two of us, an idea, and all the determination we could muster. Those lean beginnings taught me a lesson I still live by:...

Pierre Larouche

Pierre Larouche - Penser l’innovation | Innovation In Context

Penser l’innovation | Innovation In Context

  French: On entend souvent dire que nous vivons dans une époque sans précédent, ce qui justifierait de ne pas se préoccuper de l’histoire. L’innovation, dit-on, a atteint un rythme tel qu’elle propulse nos sociétés vers l’inconnu, vers un monde qui ne ressemble en rien à celui où les générations...

AI Québec

ALEXANDRE LE BOUTHILLIER

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® Orlando

Frank DiBello

Frank DiBello

President & Chief Executive Officer - Space Florida

Frank DiBello, Space Florida President and CEO, was selected in May 2009 to lead Space Florida, which is the principal state agency for aerospace-related economic development, and the Space Authority for the State of Florida. In his position, he develops and executes programs designed to attract, retain and grow aerospace...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Kevin L. Faulconer

Kevin L. Faulconer

Mayor - City Of San Diego

The region’s world-class universities, research institutions, and life sciences industry have a long history of groundbreaking discoveries that have saved lives across the globe, including several companies working around the clock right now in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.As Mayor, I have pushed to make the City of San...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

JEAN C. ACCIUS

PHD, PRESIDENT & CEO, CHC: CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

Time is our most valuable asset. Once you lose it, you never get it back. Yet, millions of people across our country are robbed of priceless time. A Tale of Two CitiesIn the United States, there’s a strong likelihood that a person in one city might live 20 years longer...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

WRENELLE STANDER

WRENELLE STANDER

CEO, WESGRO

As Wesgro CEO (Wesgro is the official Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape), I am committed to doing my part in making the Western Cape one of the world’s leading regional economies. We recognise that to succeed in a changing world, we will be...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

Jose Rui Marcelino

CEO - Almadesign

From an early age, I was fascinated with the possibility of materializing, through images or objects, what is created by our imagination and which, without the proper communication tools, exists only in our heads: whether to satisfy a need, solve a problem or just because its beauty inspires us. It...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Angie Conley

Angie Conley

CEO - Abilitech

In my days at Medtronic, I remember Bill George used to say (as a lighthearted dig at General Mills), “We’re not selling Cheerios; we’ve got soul.” We all laughed, but even today I find it relevant in thinking about the importance of a mission. A mission-centered culture gives employees purpose,...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

GIOVANNI MENDEZ

GIOVANNI MENDEZ

CEO, GEO

“PUERTO RICO IS BLOOMING AS A GLOBAL HUB FOR INNOVATION WITH COMPETITIVE TAX INCENTIVES, AND A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE… THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.”– GIOVANNI MENDEZ, CEO, GEO Giovanni Méndez Feliciano has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Juris Doctor. Upon completion of the law degree, Giovanni took the Puerto Rico...

INNOVATE™ Toronto

YUNG WU

CEO, MaRS

It’s invaluable to work at a place that never stops innovating — especially in the face of a generational pandemic. From the outset of the emergency, MaRS has remained open at reduced capacity to help in the fight. Public health workers testing COVID-19 cases day and night; hospitals using our...

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...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

NERISSA ALLEN B.SC.

PRESIDENT & CEO, BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF BC (BBABC)

I think we over analyze the meaning of “ Innovation “. Innovation is simply thinking beyond the now. Innovation thrives from adversity and challenge, so, you will find most successful entrepreneurs are innovators. Through our work at the BBABC, we must find practical methods to help businesses create sustainable growth...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

BARBARA VERANNEMAN

Never before in history, have our economy and society had to transform so radically so quickly. The industrial and societal transition we are experiencing is definitely about bits and bytes, but mostly about molecules: such as CO2 and H2 carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Therefore, chemistry, as a science and as...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

MIEKE VERSTRAETEN

MANAGING DIRECTOR, INDUVER

Mieke Verstraeten is a Managing Director at induver, the sixth-largest independent broker on the Belgian insurance market. She, along with her husband Sjarel De Bondt, is also a second-generation shareholder in the company. induver’s vision for insurance is straightforward: individuals or companies should only take insurance for risks they are...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Joshua Baer

Joshua Baer

Founder - Capital Factory

Joshua Baer is the founder of Capital Factory, a coworking community and mentorship-based accelerator designed to help startups find their first investors, customers, and employees. Joshua founded his first startup in 1996 in his college dormitory at Carnegie Mellon University and now teaches a class at the University of Texas...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Nathan Fletcher

Nathan Fletcher

County Supervisor - County Of San Diego, 4th District

Not many people understand the role of County government, let alone a County Supervisor, in delivering vital services to our communities and region. Yet, the San Diego County government is responsible for more than six billion dollars in annual revenue and expenditures. Things like behavioral health services, child welfare services,...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NICK ADDISON

CEO, ADELAIDE OVAL STADIUM MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Whether in technology, the cost of goods and wages, contracts, regulatory variations, social and environmental change – the list is endless. However, in my opinion, changes in expectations is the most important dynamic. A business staying abreast of things on paper but deaf to a shift in mood from its...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RICK CHRISTIAANSE

CEO, INVEST ALBERTA

Known for a relentless ‘make it happen’ attitude, Alberta is gaining remarkable momentum with investors across the world by proving ourselves right here at home. Tech and finance are flourishing, energy and cleantech are diversifying, agriculture is innovating, and aviation and logistics are reaching new heights. With a track record...

Neal Bloom

Neal Bloom

Founder - Fresh Brewed Tech

Neal Bloom Founder – Fresh Brewed Tech In San Diego many different industry clusters are contributing to and benefiting from force multiplying through collaboration. That is one of San Diego’s great strengths – collaboration. In a community that is commonly described as having a ‘give before you get’ mentality, we...

PIETER DE VILLIERS

PIETER DE VILLIERS

CO-FOUNDER & CEO, CLICKATELL AND CHAIRMAN OF SIMODISA

Whilst the majority of public sector efforts and incentives are aimed at job creation within South Africa, high growth technology entrepreneurs will be quick to point out that the skills gap is a bigger issue than the jobs gap. As a result, several high growth entrepreneurs and technology leaders across...

RICHARD BUTLER

RICHARD BUTLER

FOUNDER, RAGE WORKS

There is truly no one size fits all approach when it comes to podcasting and running a business, especially in New York City. However, this flexibility has allowed me to remain passionate about podcasting and do what I can to help the space grow and thrive, either by adding my...

Bob Kain

I’ve been fortunate enough to live a life distinguished by constant progression, from understanding to impacting, particularly in my career. Trained as a physicist, I was fueled by a deep drive to understand some of the most complex “whys” of our world. Quickly I learned that understanding is more satisfying...

MAYOR MOIRA WERE AM

MAYOR, CITY OF ONKAPARINGA

In fact, one former recipient of our Young Citizen of the Year Award – in which we recognise young people who have made exceptional contributions by leading through generosity and enterprise – has just been elected to Council. We recognise and acclaim community-led events – festivals; sporting, arts and cultural...

RENÉ LASSERON

CEO, FIENTA

I still remember the scrappy early days of Fienta. There was no office to unlock in the morning, there weren’t even salaries to draw. There were just two of us, an idea, and all the determination we could muster. Those lean beginnings taught me a lesson I still live by:...

Pierre Larouche

Pierre Larouche - Penser l’innovation | Innovation In Context

Penser l’innovation | Innovation In Context

  French: On entend souvent dire que nous vivons dans une époque sans précédent, ce qui justifierait de ne pas se préoccuper de l’histoire. L’innovation, dit-on, a atteint un rythme tel qu’elle propulse nos sociétés vers l’inconnu, vers un monde qui ne ressemble en rien à celui où les générations...

ALEXANDRE LE BOUTHILLIER

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...

Frank DiBello

Frank DiBello

President & Chief Executive Officer - Space Florida

Frank DiBello, Space Florida President and CEO, was selected in May 2009 to lead Space Florida, which is the principal state agency for aerospace-related economic development, and the Space Authority for the State of Florida. In his position, he develops and executes programs designed to attract, retain and grow aerospace...

Kevin L. Faulconer

Kevin L. Faulconer

Mayor - City Of San Diego

The region’s world-class universities, research institutions, and life sciences industry have a long history of groundbreaking discoveries that have saved lives across the globe, including several companies working around the clock right now in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.As Mayor, I have pushed to make the City of San...

JEAN C. ACCIUS

PHD, PRESIDENT & CEO, CHC: CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

Time is our most valuable asset. Once you lose it, you never get it back. Yet, millions of people across our country are robbed of priceless time. A Tale of Two CitiesIn the United States, there’s a strong likelihood that a person in one city might live 20 years longer...

WRENELLE STANDER

WRENELLE STANDER

CEO, WESGRO

As Wesgro CEO (Wesgro is the official Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape), I am committed to doing my part in making the Western Cape one of the world’s leading regional economies. We recognise that to succeed in a changing world, we will be...

Jose Rui Marcelino

CEO - Almadesign

From an early age, I was fascinated with the possibility of materializing, through images or objects, what is created by our imagination and which, without the proper communication tools, exists only in our heads: whether to satisfy a need, solve a problem or just because its beauty inspires us. It...

Angie Conley

Angie Conley

CEO - Abilitech

In my days at Medtronic, I remember Bill George used to say (as a lighthearted dig at General Mills), “We’re not selling Cheerios; we’ve got soul.” We all laughed, but even today I find it relevant in thinking about the importance of a mission. A mission-centered culture gives employees purpose,...

GIOVANNI MENDEZ

GIOVANNI MENDEZ

CEO, GEO

“PUERTO RICO IS BLOOMING AS A GLOBAL HUB FOR INNOVATION WITH COMPETITIVE TAX INCENTIVES, AND A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE… THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.”– GIOVANNI MENDEZ, CEO, GEO Giovanni Méndez Feliciano has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Juris Doctor. Upon completion of the law degree, Giovanni took the Puerto Rico...

YUNG WU

CEO, MaRS

It’s invaluable to work at a place that never stops innovating — especially in the face of a generational pandemic. From the outset of the emergency, MaRS has remained open at reduced capacity to help in the fight. Public health workers testing COVID-19 cases day and night; hospitals using our...

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...

NERISSA ALLEN B.SC.

PRESIDENT & CEO, BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF BC (BBABC)

I think we over analyze the meaning of “ Innovation “. Innovation is simply thinking beyond the now. Innovation thrives from adversity and challenge, so, you will find most successful entrepreneurs are innovators. Through our work at the BBABC, we must find practical methods to help businesses create sustainable growth...

BARBARA VERANNEMAN

Never before in history, have our economy and society had to transform so radically so quickly. The industrial and societal transition we are experiencing is definitely about bits and bytes, but mostly about molecules: such as CO2 and H2 carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Therefore, chemistry, as a science and as...

MIEKE VERSTRAETEN

MANAGING DIRECTOR, INDUVER

Mieke Verstraeten is a Managing Director at induver, the sixth-largest independent broker on the Belgian insurance market. She, along with her husband Sjarel De Bondt, is also a second-generation shareholder in the company. induver’s vision for insurance is straightforward: individuals or companies should only take insurance for risks they are...

Joshua Baer

Joshua Baer

Founder - Capital Factory

Joshua Baer is the founder of Capital Factory, a coworking community and mentorship-based accelerator designed to help startups find their first investors, customers, and employees. Joshua founded his first startup in 1996 in his college dormitory at Carnegie Mellon University and now teaches a class at the University of Texas...

Nathan Fletcher

Nathan Fletcher

County Supervisor - County Of San Diego, 4th District

Not many people understand the role of County government, let alone a County Supervisor, in delivering vital services to our communities and region. Yet, the San Diego County government is responsible for more than six billion dollars in annual revenue and expenditures. Things like behavioral health services, child welfare services,...

NICK ADDISON

CEO, ADELAIDE OVAL STADIUM MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Whether in technology, the cost of goods and wages, contracts, regulatory variations, social and environmental change – the list is endless. However, in my opinion, changes in expectations is the most important dynamic. A business staying abreast of things on paper but deaf to a shift in mood from its...

RICK CHRISTIAANSE

CEO, INVEST ALBERTA

Known for a relentless ‘make it happen’ attitude, Alberta is gaining remarkable momentum with investors across the world by proving ourselves right here at home. Tech and finance are flourishing, energy and cleantech are diversifying, agriculture is innovating, and aviation and logistics are reaching new heights. With a track record...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems