Thought Leaders

INNOVATE® South Carolina

GSP International Airport

Dave Edwards, President/CEO at GSP Airport District

As a leader, I’ve always believed that success isn’t measured solely by the milestones we achieve but by the way we inspire others to grow and excel alongside us. When I joined the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District, my vision was clear: to create an organization that not only excels operationally but...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

JOSE ESPINOZA

FOUNDER OF MOVE THE NEEDLE, LLC

Daysi Gardenia Bernita, migrated to the USA in the pursuit of the American Dream with her six month old son in tote. Though a successful engineer in her native country of Ecuador, the language barrier and need to provide for her son and family back home, relegated her to being...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

MICHELLE SHOGREN

CEO, INNOVATE IN WHAT YOU DO! LLC

With 25+ years in clinical research, Michelle Shogren, CEO of Innovate In What You Do! LLC, started as a patient participant, then journeyed through nursing, clinical trial monitoring, and a significant role at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Her innovation-focused path culminated in founding her own company in 2022. Michelle is dedicated to...

Sven Boermeester

Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher

At Global Village Publishing, we do more than publish books – we build brands, amplify communities, and energize ecosystems. The books? They’re the final cherry on top of a dynamic, city-wide marketing movement driven by visionary entrepreneurs and local champions. We dig deep – interviewing hundreds of organizations, refining messaging,...

VOICES of the Future

CHANDRAN NAIR

THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Chandran Nair has devoted his life to challenging conventional wisdom and advocating for a future that balances economic progress with social and environmental responsibility. As the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), a pan-Asian think tank, he is a guiding light of intellectual honesty and a...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

ERIC R. POLINS

ERIC R. POLINS

MANAGING PARTNER

Businesses have focused on traditional methods of communications and marketing to spread their message to their customers. But those models have shifted and the pace at which communications is now delivered has accelerated to break-neck speeds. It’s easy for a company’s message to get lost amid all the chatter that...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

FERNANDA TORRE

NEXT AGENTS - CEO & FOUNDING PARTNER

In my journey as a sustainability expert and innovation leader, I’ve come to see a powerful synergy between these two fields. Working across both sustainability and innovation allows us to turn today’s challenges into opportunities, creating solutions that benefit people, communities, and ecosystems alike. Above all, innovation and sustainability must...

INNOVATION Quebec

MARIE CLAUDE LAGACÉ

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™ South Africa

TAURIQ KERAAN

TAURIQ KERAAN

CEO, TYMEBANK

One of the questions I’m often asked as TymeBank CEO is “How can digital banks enable people to improve their financial wellbeing?” In other words, how can we remake the banking system, so it works for the people we serve, and not just for banks? In my experience there are...

INNOVATE® Gainesville

Lauren Poe

Lauren Poe

Mayor - City of Gainesville

The City of Gainesville is a unique and opportune place, characterized by its commitment to lively civic spaces, a strong offering of vital public services and opportunities for economic and social resilience for all of our neighbors. Over its rich history this city has grown from a small rural farming...

AI Québec

MME DESMARAIS

MME DESMARAIS

COPRSSIDENTE DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION

Dans les années à venir, l’industrie de l’intelligence artificielle connaîtra une croissance exponentielle au Canada, comparable à celle du multimédia dans les années 2010. Grâce à son immense bassin de talents et à des leviers qui soutiennent le développement de son écosystème, comme Scale AI, le Canada se distingue comme...

INNOVATION Quebec

FRANTZ SAINTELLEMY

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CHANCELLOR AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD, UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

Quebec is a fertile ground for deep tech entrepreneurship, which relies on knowledge and cutting-edge research, opening up new perspectives in several high-tech fields. These companies push the boundaries of innovation and create innovative solutions that have a profound impact on our society. Quebec’s universities and public research centers play...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Angelos Angelou

Angelos Angelou

Founder & CEO - International Accelerator (IA)

Everything is bigger and better in Texas (smile) and the same now holds true for the technology hub of Austin. It’s growing, expanding, and changing the landscape of innovation, serving as a catalyst of increasing value. According to the U.S. News & World Report, Austin is the number 1 place...

AI Québec

PROF. ANDREA LODI

PROF. ANDREA LODI

EST PROFESSEUR TITULAIRE EN OPTIMISATION MATHÉMATIQUE À POLYTECHNIQUE MONTRÉAL

À mon arrivée à Montréal en 2015, j’ai trouvé au Québec un environnement des plus stimulants, où la collaboration entre les grands établissements universitaires est non seulement encouragée, mais aussi reconnue comme un moyen de parvenir à une carrière fructueuse. Cela a sans aucun doute été un facteur déterminant dans...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Ryne Cooper

Director of Growth at Data Holdings

Innovation is not the work of one person. It happens when people come together, share ideas, and support each other. Milwaukee is full of individuals and organizations pushing boundaries, taking risks, and making an impact. The real strength of this city lies in its people, their resilience, creativity, and willingness...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

DR. RAMESH VENKAT

DIRECTOR, DAVID SOBEY RETAILING CENTRE

INNOVATION IN THE RETAIL SECTOR The retail sector has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade, especially in the post-pandemic era. The major drivers of change have been new technologies, such as AI, changing consumer behaviour, and external shocks such as supply chain disruptions and inflation. The retail sector...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

CRAIG CHASON

LEADER & PARTNER, PILLSBURY’S NORTHERN VIRGINIA CORPORATE GROUP

When people talk about innovation, they often focus on the breakthrough idea or the individual who disrupted an industry. While those moments capture headlines, I believe innovation truly begins with cultivating a dynamic business community – one that brings together curious minds who might not otherwise cross paths. You want...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Howard Lubert

Area President, Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic

Area President, Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic How many times do you need to repeat an exercise before you truly become an expert?  According to Malcolm Gladwell in “Outliers: The Story of Success” it takes 10,000 hours and he points to many successful examples of how “The 10,000 Hour Rule” has paid...

INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

JOÃO ALMEIDA LOPES

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® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Jim Barnish

Jim Barnish

Jr. Thought Leader Of Morgan Hill Partners

Jim Barnish is a strategic change leader with over 15 years of leadership experience in global and integrated operations, M&A, and strategic go-to-market planning. Over the course of his career, Jim has successfully worked with companies undergoing roll-up mergers and acquisitions, accelerated business development, process improvement, change management, and operational...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

STEPHEN OEHLEY

STEPHEN OEHLEY

FOUNDER, XTENDEVENT.COM

I’m just a boy from Benoni inspired by a loving family and good friends that put values first. My proudest contribution to this world will always be my son Nicholas, who inspires everyone around him. My career has primarily been B2B focused and spanned trade publishing, trade exhibitions, running a...

INNOVATION Quebec

LE RÉSEAU DES CCTT

MOT DE MICHEL LESAGE, PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DU RÉSEAU DES CCTT

Innover, c’est se donner la capacité, en tant qu’organisation, d’être au-devant du peloton. Cette position privilégiée nous permet d’exercer une force de traction positive dans notre milieu. Il s’agit d’une force rassemblant les acteurs d’une industrie vers un but commun. Une force de collaboratio indispensable au déploiement et au rayonnement...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

CARINE CHISU

According to the World Economic Forum 70% of people will have to reskill and upskill to maintain or develop their employability in future years. In my opinion ‘employability’ is the translation of the concept of innovation on an individual level, that will lead to innovation with a capital I, on...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

OLIVER VÄÄRTNÕU

CYBERNETICA AS - CEO

At Cybernetica AS, we believe that technology is not just a tool; it is a force that shapes the future. We don’t simply build systems—we pioneer a philosophy rooted in cybernetics, the art of guiding and adapting systems. Inspired by the Greek word kybernētēs, meaning “steersman” or “governor,” we actively...

GSP International Airport

Dave Edwards, President/CEO at GSP Airport District

As a leader, I’ve always believed that success isn’t measured solely by the milestones we achieve but by the way we inspire others to grow and excel alongside us. When I joined the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District, my vision was clear: to create an organization that not only excels operationally but...

JOSE ESPINOZA

FOUNDER OF MOVE THE NEEDLE, LLC

Daysi Gardenia Bernita, migrated to the USA in the pursuit of the American Dream with her six month old son in tote. Though a successful engineer in her native country of Ecuador, the language barrier and need to provide for her son and family back home, relegated her to being...

MICHELLE SHOGREN

CEO, INNOVATE IN WHAT YOU DO! LLC

With 25+ years in clinical research, Michelle Shogren, CEO of Innovate In What You Do! LLC, started as a patient participant, then journeyed through nursing, clinical trial monitoring, and a significant role at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Her innovation-focused path culminated in founding her own company in 2022. Michelle is dedicated to...

Sven Boermeester

Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher

At Global Village Publishing, we do more than publish books – we build brands, amplify communities, and energize ecosystems. The books? They’re the final cherry on top of a dynamic, city-wide marketing movement driven by visionary entrepreneurs and local champions. We dig deep – interviewing hundreds of organizations, refining messaging,...

CHANDRAN NAIR

THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Chandran Nair has devoted his life to challenging conventional wisdom and advocating for a future that balances economic progress with social and environmental responsibility. As the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), a pan-Asian think tank, he is a guiding light of intellectual honesty and a...

ERIC R. POLINS

ERIC R. POLINS

MANAGING PARTNER

Businesses have focused on traditional methods of communications and marketing to spread their message to their customers. But those models have shifted and the pace at which communications is now delivered has accelerated to break-neck speeds. It’s easy for a company’s message to get lost amid all the chatter that...

FERNANDA TORRE

NEXT AGENTS - CEO & FOUNDING PARTNER

In my journey as a sustainability expert and innovation leader, I’ve come to see a powerful synergy between these two fields. Working across both sustainability and innovation allows us to turn today’s challenges into opportunities, creating solutions that benefit people, communities, and ecosystems alike. Above all, innovation and sustainability must...

MARIE CLAUDE LAGACÉ

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,...

TAURIQ KERAAN

TAURIQ KERAAN

CEO, TYMEBANK

One of the questions I’m often asked as TymeBank CEO is “How can digital banks enable people to improve their financial wellbeing?” In other words, how can we remake the banking system, so it works for the people we serve, and not just for banks? In my experience there are...

Lauren Poe

Lauren Poe

Mayor - City of Gainesville

The City of Gainesville is a unique and opportune place, characterized by its commitment to lively civic spaces, a strong offering of vital public services and opportunities for economic and social resilience for all of our neighbors. Over its rich history this city has grown from a small rural farming...

MME DESMARAIS

MME DESMARAIS

COPRSSIDENTE DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION

Dans les années à venir, l’industrie de l’intelligence artificielle connaîtra une croissance exponentielle au Canada, comparable à celle du multimédia dans les années 2010. Grâce à son immense bassin de talents et à des leviers qui soutiennent le développement de son écosystème, comme Scale AI, le Canada se distingue comme...

FRANTZ SAINTELLEMY

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CHANCELLOR AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD, UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

Quebec is a fertile ground for deep tech entrepreneurship, which relies on knowledge and cutting-edge research, opening up new perspectives in several high-tech fields. These companies push the boundaries of innovation and create innovative solutions that have a profound impact on our society. Quebec’s universities and public research centers play...

Angelos Angelou

Angelos Angelou

Founder & CEO - International Accelerator (IA)

Everything is bigger and better in Texas (smile) and the same now holds true for the technology hub of Austin. It’s growing, expanding, and changing the landscape of innovation, serving as a catalyst of increasing value. According to the U.S. News & World Report, Austin is the number 1 place...

PROF. ANDREA LODI

PROF. ANDREA LODI

EST PROFESSEUR TITULAIRE EN OPTIMISATION MATHÉMATIQUE À POLYTECHNIQUE MONTRÉAL

À mon arrivée à Montréal en 2015, j’ai trouvé au Québec un environnement des plus stimulants, où la collaboration entre les grands établissements universitaires est non seulement encouragée, mais aussi reconnue comme un moyen de parvenir à une carrière fructueuse. Cela a sans aucun doute été un facteur déterminant dans...

Ryne Cooper

Director of Growth at Data Holdings

Innovation is not the work of one person. It happens when people come together, share ideas, and support each other. Milwaukee is full of individuals and organizations pushing boundaries, taking risks, and making an impact. The real strength of this city lies in its people, their resilience, creativity, and willingness...

DR. RAMESH VENKAT

DIRECTOR, DAVID SOBEY RETAILING CENTRE

INNOVATION IN THE RETAIL SECTOR The retail sector has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade, especially in the post-pandemic era. The major drivers of change have been new technologies, such as AI, changing consumer behaviour, and external shocks such as supply chain disruptions and inflation. The retail sector...

CRAIG CHASON

LEADER & PARTNER, PILLSBURY’S NORTHERN VIRGINIA CORPORATE GROUP

When people talk about innovation, they often focus on the breakthrough idea or the individual who disrupted an industry. While those moments capture headlines, I believe innovation truly begins with cultivating a dynamic business community – one that brings together curious minds who might not otherwise cross paths. You want...

Howard Lubert

Area President, Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic

Area President, Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic How many times do you need to repeat an exercise before you truly become an expert?  According to Malcolm Gladwell in “Outliers: The Story of Success” it takes 10,000 hours and he points to many successful examples of how “The 10,000 Hour Rule” has paid...

JOÃO ALMEIDA LOPES

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...

Jim Barnish

Jim Barnish

Jr. Thought Leader Of Morgan Hill Partners

Jim Barnish is a strategic change leader with over 15 years of leadership experience in global and integrated operations, M&A, and strategic go-to-market planning. Over the course of his career, Jim has successfully worked with companies undergoing roll-up mergers and acquisitions, accelerated business development, process improvement, change management, and operational...

STEPHEN OEHLEY

STEPHEN OEHLEY

FOUNDER, XTENDEVENT.COM

I’m just a boy from Benoni inspired by a loving family and good friends that put values first. My proudest contribution to this world will always be my son Nicholas, who inspires everyone around him. My career has primarily been B2B focused and spanned trade publishing, trade exhibitions, running a...

LE RÉSEAU DES CCTT

MOT DE MICHEL LESAGE, PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DU RÉSEAU DES CCTT

Innover, c’est se donner la capacité, en tant qu’organisation, d’être au-devant du peloton. Cette position privilégiée nous permet d’exercer une force de traction positive dans notre milieu. Il s’agit d’une force rassemblant les acteurs d’une industrie vers un but commun. Une force de collaboratio indispensable au déploiement et au rayonnement...

CARINE CHISU

According to the World Economic Forum 70% of people will have to reskill and upskill to maintain or develop their employability in future years. In my opinion ‘employability’ is the translation of the concept of innovation on an individual level, that will lead to innovation with a capital I, on...

OLIVER VÄÄRTNÕU

CYBERNETICA AS - CEO

At Cybernetica AS, we believe that technology is not just a tool; it is a force that shapes the future. We don’t simply build systems—we pioneer a philosophy rooted in cybernetics, the art of guiding and adapting systems. Inspired by the Greek word kybernētēs, meaning “steersman” or “governor,” we actively...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems