Thought Leaders

INNOVATE® Blockchain

MAJA VUJINOVIC

MAJA VUJINOVIC

FOUNDER, OGROUP LLC

I am moved by technology’s capability to impact people’s lives. I saw this power first-hand in Africa and Latin America after recognizing the potential of mobile money systems in the early 2000’s and moving to Africa to help develop these technologies. Mobile payments and mobile money systems changed people’s lives....

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...

VOICES of the Future

ALEXANDER ALEGRIA-SEIF

THE INTENTIONAL INVESTOR

Alexander Alegria-Seif stands at the crossroads of passion, purpose, and impact, embodying what it means to dream and act with intention. “I’m an impact investor and passionate about creating impact in the world,” he states, heralding a dialogue transcending the mundane. As friends and Harvard Business School alums, our connection...

INNOVATION Quebec

RICHARD CHÉNIER

CENTECH CEO

The next decade will offer several strategic opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly technological. Several scientific advances, once considered fundamental, are now transiting at lightning speed to real applications. These new applications must act as a catalyst for concrete solutions to meet our climate challenges and improve the quality of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ISABEL KEULEN

CEO, SSE VENTURES & SSE BUSINESS LAB

THE NORDIC’S LEADING STARTUP HUB! I believe that SSE Business Lab’s success in fostering unicorns and groundbreaking companies isn’t coincidental. It’s the result of a carefully designed ecosystem where ambition meets mentorship and capital is intertwined with experience. At the core is a powerful alumni network. Unlike many ecosystems where...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

BIJU KULATHAKAL AND JASON BARSEMA

BIJU KULATHAKAL AND JASON BARSEMA

CO-FOUNDERS, HALO INVESTING

Chicago’s rich history of financial innovation is world-famous for a reason. In 1848, the Chicago Board of Trade launched to promote commerce—most notably around agricultural commodities. Today people recognize Chicago for its role in revolutionizing global finance. It’s here where financial futures, options, and derivatives trading began. This vibrant and...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Dr. Markas Gilmartin

I started as a scientist, moving through the ranks: BSc, Ph.D., postdoc, and writing peer-reviewed papers. Commerce called, and I began writing patent, grant, and funding propositions for a biotech firm before moving into personal financial planning in 1997. Science and finance are the same thing to me—both aiming to...

INNOVATION Quebec

MARIE CLAUDE LAGACÉ

SENIOR DIRECTOR, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE, CONSEIL DE I’NNOVATION DU QUEBEC

Growing up, I used to play a lot, from hockey with my brother to chess with my dad. The only game that truly bored me to death was Monopoly, which inevitably ended with one of us (usually my sister) bankrupting others. No uncovering of a killer, no epic naval battle,...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

MICHAEL J. AVALTRONI

PH.D. PRESIDENT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY

COMBATING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISISIn my two decades in higher education, I have witnessed seismic political, social and economic shifts that have had major effects on college communities throughout the nation. But today we are facing our greatest crisis because I see a generation of students crying out for mental...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

EVA-CARIN BANKA JOHNSON

EXPLORATION LEADER FOR IKEA INSIGHT AS EXTERNAL CONSULTANT

By studying the environment and seeing the full context—what people do, how they do it, and why – it creates a solid foundation for new ideas. But facts and research alone are not enough. True innovation also requires empathy for the user—the drive that keeps you going until you find...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

ANNA HINTS

FILM DIRECTOR & SCRIPTWRITER

After winning the Directing Award at Sundance 2023 and touring the world with my debut feature documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, the question I heard most was: “Anna, what are you doing next?” It was the first thing asked even after winning the European Film Award for Best European Documentary. I...

VOICES of the Future

AYŞE ÖZTUNA BOZOKLAR

RESILIENT SPIRITS: A TALE OF TRUST, TALENT, AND TRANSFORMATION

Amidst the vibrant thrum of Turkey’s cultural and economic heartbeat, Ayşe Öztuna Bozoklar’s name is synonymous with transformative leadership and a visionary in the realm of executive search and talent management. As the founding partner of Odgers Berndtson Turkey, Ayşe has been an instrumental figure in shaping not just careers...

AI Québec

STEVEN WEST

STEVEN WEST

PROFESSOR, CBE, DL.

On the 27th March I attended a meeting on campus with colleagues from the NHS, army logistics, architects, designers and building contractors. Over the next two hours we agreed the site was viable and the preferred option to support the region. I made the decision there and then to handover...

INNOVATE® Phoenix

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson

Founder & CEO - Redirect Health

Imagine this… In 2010, 1.8 billion people were connected. Today, 3 billion, and by 2022 – 2025, that number will expand to include every human on the planet, approaching 8 billion humans. Today Solar and renewable energy have become cheaper than coal. 25% of the World’s Power Comes From Renewables....

INNOVATE® South Carolina

HAROLD SINGLETARY

CEO & FOUNDER, BRIGHTMA FARMS INC.

I often tell people that BrightMa didn’t start as a company — it started as a calling. My ancestors were enslaved farmers who worked the same South Carolina soil I walk today. Their sacrifice, resilience, ingenuity, and stewardship of the land are the foundation for everything I do. BrightMa Farms...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Shane Needham

Shane Needham - The Engagement Economy I'm Talking About is Where Value is Created When Value is Given

In marketing, the Engagement Economy is defined as the competition for the valuable attention and cognitive bandwidth of a target audience. It’s a very real and valuable asset that is becoming more complex and harder to attain with each passing year. But, this is not the Engagement Economy I’m talking...

INNOVATION Quebec

PRÉFACE DE MURIELLE LABERGE

RECTRICE DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS

L’innovation est intrinsèquement liée à la recherche constante d’amélioration. Elle requiert un esprit créatif et agile pour se concrétiser. C’est cet état d’esprit qui pousse les individus en quête de l’amélioration du bien-être et de la création d’un monde meilleur à se consacrer aux innovations sociales fondées sur des valeurs...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

SARAH DETOMA

AQUATIK ESPORTS - DIRECTOR OF GROWTH

Just over a year ago, I started my journey in the esports industry as an intern. Fast forward to today, and I am the director of an esports/media company while also leading our newest endeavor – Aquatik Studios. Interestingly, Aquatik is my first job post-college. I made sure to take...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ERIC VAN RYSWYK

CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, CODIUM

In the world of business, technology has long been a driving force behind innovation and progress. Advancements in frameworks, computing power, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have led to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. However, as technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly clear that the true...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

JOHAN WEIGELT

CEO, KI INNOVATIONS

At KI Innovations, we bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and tangible impact, ensuring that groundbreaking discoveries from Karolinska Institutet (KI) reach patients, healthcare systems, and society at large. With a deep-rooted foundation in one of the world’s leading medical universities, we are committed to fostering a thriving ecosystem where...

VOICES of the Future

ARUNA NARAYANAN

REDEFINING SUSTAINABILITY FOR TOMORROW

Sustainability is a loaded – and vague – term nowadays. What is sustainability, and what does its impact mean for the future? Aruna Narayanan breaks down the barriers to understanding and decodes its complexities, while her insights serve as a guiding light of hope. This podcast was not just a...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

DORIS GRANT

CEO, LIFE SCIENCES NOVA SCOTIA

As the CEO of Life Sciences Nova Scotia, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the creativity, resilience, and vision of the people and companies driving change in the life sciences sector. From pioneering healthcare solutions to cutting-edge biotechnology developments, the Atlantic region is making a profound impact both locally...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Robert J. Bardusch

Robert J. Bardusch

Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer - Valley National Bank

Valley Bank is built on a foundation of more than 90 years of history, strengthened by a legacy of local relationship building, exceptional risk management and meticulous credit underwriting. This has afforded us with a reputation of trust and reliability in the communities we serve. But for an organization with...

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...

MAJA VUJINOVIC

MAJA VUJINOVIC

FOUNDER, OGROUP LLC

I am moved by technology’s capability to impact people’s lives. I saw this power first-hand in Africa and Latin America after recognizing the potential of mobile money systems in the early 2000’s and moving to Africa to help develop these technologies. Mobile payments and mobile money systems changed people’s lives....

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...

ALEXANDER ALEGRIA-SEIF

THE INTENTIONAL INVESTOR

Alexander Alegria-Seif stands at the crossroads of passion, purpose, and impact, embodying what it means to dream and act with intention. “I’m an impact investor and passionate about creating impact in the world,” he states, heralding a dialogue transcending the mundane. As friends and Harvard Business School alums, our connection...

RICHARD CHÉNIER

CENTECH CEO

The next decade will offer several strategic opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly technological. Several scientific advances, once considered fundamental, are now transiting at lightning speed to real applications. These new applications must act as a catalyst for concrete solutions to meet our climate challenges and improve the quality of...

ISABEL KEULEN

CEO, SSE VENTURES & SSE BUSINESS LAB

THE NORDIC’S LEADING STARTUP HUB! I believe that SSE Business Lab’s success in fostering unicorns and groundbreaking companies isn’t coincidental. It’s the result of a carefully designed ecosystem where ambition meets mentorship and capital is intertwined with experience. At the core is a powerful alumni network. Unlike many ecosystems where...

BIJU KULATHAKAL AND JASON BARSEMA

BIJU KULATHAKAL AND JASON BARSEMA

CO-FOUNDERS, HALO INVESTING

Chicago’s rich history of financial innovation is world-famous for a reason. In 1848, the Chicago Board of Trade launched to promote commerce—most notably around agricultural commodities. Today people recognize Chicago for its role in revolutionizing global finance. It’s here where financial futures, options, and derivatives trading began. This vibrant and...

Dr. Markas Gilmartin

I started as a scientist, moving through the ranks: BSc, Ph.D., postdoc, and writing peer-reviewed papers. Commerce called, and I began writing patent, grant, and funding propositions for a biotech firm before moving into personal financial planning in 1997. Science and finance are the same thing to me—both aiming to...

MARIE CLAUDE LAGACÉ

SENIOR DIRECTOR, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE, CONSEIL DE I’NNOVATION DU QUEBEC

Growing up, I used to play a lot, from hockey with my brother to chess with my dad. The only game that truly bored me to death was Monopoly, which inevitably ended with one of us (usually my sister) bankrupting others. No uncovering of a killer, no epic naval battle,...

MICHAEL J. AVALTRONI

PH.D. PRESIDENT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY

COMBATING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISISIn my two decades in higher education, I have witnessed seismic political, social and economic shifts that have had major effects on college communities throughout the nation. But today we are facing our greatest crisis because I see a generation of students crying out for mental...

EVA-CARIN BANKA JOHNSON

EXPLORATION LEADER FOR IKEA INSIGHT AS EXTERNAL CONSULTANT

By studying the environment and seeing the full context—what people do, how they do it, and why – it creates a solid foundation for new ideas. But facts and research alone are not enough. True innovation also requires empathy for the user—the drive that keeps you going until you find...

ANNA HINTS

FILM DIRECTOR & SCRIPTWRITER

After winning the Directing Award at Sundance 2023 and touring the world with my debut feature documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, the question I heard most was: “Anna, what are you doing next?” It was the first thing asked even after winning the European Film Award for Best European Documentary. I...

AYŞE ÖZTUNA BOZOKLAR

RESILIENT SPIRITS: A TALE OF TRUST, TALENT, AND TRANSFORMATION

Amidst the vibrant thrum of Turkey’s cultural and economic heartbeat, Ayşe Öztuna Bozoklar’s name is synonymous with transformative leadership and a visionary in the realm of executive search and talent management. As the founding partner of Odgers Berndtson Turkey, Ayşe has been an instrumental figure in shaping not just careers...

STEVEN WEST

STEVEN WEST

PROFESSOR, CBE, DL.

On the 27th March I attended a meeting on campus with colleagues from the NHS, army logistics, architects, designers and building contractors. Over the next two hours we agreed the site was viable and the preferred option to support the region. I made the decision there and then to handover...

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson

Founder & CEO - Redirect Health

Imagine this… In 2010, 1.8 billion people were connected. Today, 3 billion, and by 2022 – 2025, that number will expand to include every human on the planet, approaching 8 billion humans. Today Solar and renewable energy have become cheaper than coal. 25% of the World’s Power Comes From Renewables....

HAROLD SINGLETARY

CEO & FOUNDER, BRIGHTMA FARMS INC.

I often tell people that BrightMa didn’t start as a company — it started as a calling. My ancestors were enslaved farmers who worked the same South Carolina soil I walk today. Their sacrifice, resilience, ingenuity, and stewardship of the land are the foundation for everything I do. BrightMa Farms...

Shane Needham

Shane Needham - The Engagement Economy I'm Talking About is Where Value is Created When Value is Given

In marketing, the Engagement Economy is defined as the competition for the valuable attention and cognitive bandwidth of a target audience. It’s a very real and valuable asset that is becoming more complex and harder to attain with each passing year. But, this is not the Engagement Economy I’m talking...

PRÉFACE DE MURIELLE LABERGE

RECTRICE DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS

L’innovation est intrinsèquement liée à la recherche constante d’amélioration. Elle requiert un esprit créatif et agile pour se concrétiser. C’est cet état d’esprit qui pousse les individus en quête de l’amélioration du bien-être et de la création d’un monde meilleur à se consacrer aux innovations sociales fondées sur des valeurs...

SARAH DETOMA

AQUATIK ESPORTS - DIRECTOR OF GROWTH

Just over a year ago, I started my journey in the esports industry as an intern. Fast forward to today, and I am the director of an esports/media company while also leading our newest endeavor – Aquatik Studios. Interestingly, Aquatik is my first job post-college. I made sure to take...

ERIC VAN RYSWYK

CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, CODIUM

In the world of business, technology has long been a driving force behind innovation and progress. Advancements in frameworks, computing power, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have led to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. However, as technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly clear that the true...

JOHAN WEIGELT

CEO, KI INNOVATIONS

At KI Innovations, we bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and tangible impact, ensuring that groundbreaking discoveries from Karolinska Institutet (KI) reach patients, healthcare systems, and society at large. With a deep-rooted foundation in one of the world’s leading medical universities, we are committed to fostering a thriving ecosystem where...

ARUNA NARAYANAN

REDEFINING SUSTAINABILITY FOR TOMORROW

Sustainability is a loaded – and vague – term nowadays. What is sustainability, and what does its impact mean for the future? Aruna Narayanan breaks down the barriers to understanding and decodes its complexities, while her insights serve as a guiding light of hope. This podcast was not just a...

DORIS GRANT

CEO, LIFE SCIENCES NOVA SCOTIA

As the CEO of Life Sciences Nova Scotia, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the creativity, resilience, and vision of the people and companies driving change in the life sciences sector. From pioneering healthcare solutions to cutting-edge biotechnology developments, the Atlantic region is making a profound impact both locally...

Robert J. Bardusch

Robert J. Bardusch

Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer - Valley National Bank

Valley Bank is built on a foundation of more than 90 years of history, strengthened by a legacy of local relationship building, exceptional risk management and meticulous credit underwriting. This has afforded us with a reputation of trust and reliability in the communities we serve. But for an organization with...

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® Ecosystems