Thought Leaders

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director

San Diego Association Of Governments (Sandag)

We are living in the midst of a transportation revolution. When we look around, we can see fundamental changes in how people move around cities and towns across the world. In the San Diego region you can feel it every day. Everywhere you look people are driving electric cars, reducing...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

DR. SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE

CMO-SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE

I think it was the mighty Einstein who said ‘imagination is more important than knowledge’. Whilst he was not deriding education per se – I think he was advocating for an explosion of ideas – which (in my view) is the fuel that drives innovation. The ubiquity of the term...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Sandeep Roy

Sandeep Roy

Advisor & Mentor - Innovate2Grow

The current pace of new technology-led change has left classic economy companies vulnerable, but disruption is also a huge borderless opportunity in a world where ultrafast digital connectivity and the information superhighway has democratized innovation. We have a choice. We can view Airbnb as strangling the hotel industry or see...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

LESLIE J. ANDERSON

LESLIE J. ANDERSON

GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE AND U.S. CHIEF TECHNOLOGY RESILIENCY AND EXPERIENCE OPERATIONS OFFICER

Leslie J. Anderson is BMO’s Global Technology Experience and U.S. Chief Technology Resiliency and Experience Operations Officer. She is at the center of BMO’s Digital First strategy where she innovates and finds new ways to strengthen the employee experience. Like it or not, one can’t simply dissociate my experience in...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

David Neff

David Neff - Thought Leader

Founder: Neff Associates

In 1987, David Neff founded Neff Associates, an award-winning, full-service marketing agency. Specializing in branding, advertising, media buying and planning, public relations and social media, Neff Associates services clients across a diverse group of industries including real estate, hospitality, tourism, technology, entertainment, retail, B2B, banking and education. As a results-driven...

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™ 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...

INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®

Bob Kain

Bob Kain

Co-Founder and CEO - LunaPBC

Bob Kain Co-Founder And CEO – LunaPBC 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...

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® Miami

Mayor Francis X. Suarez

Mayor Francis X. Suarez - If we want to create a Miami that’s here forever

Mayor of Miami

Innovation and a knowledge-based economy have to be at the forefront of industry in every city in the world. In Miami, we’re doing as much as possible to foster innovation, starting with the government itself. In the U.S., we’re number one for job creation, for startups, and for small-business growth....

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

ALEX KROOGMAN

ALEX KROOGMAN

CEO | PRESSREADER GROUP OF COMPANIES

ALEX KROOGMAN CEO | PRESSREADER GROUP OF COMPANIES To this day, I look forward to each Monday when Spotify releases my new Discover Weekly playlist. Why, because it’s built entirely for me. It’s personalized with the music I know, plus lots of music I haven’t even heard of before but...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

Mark Blumenthal

Marc Blumenthal

Synapse VIP Thought Leader

It is hard to believe that it’s been two years since the launch of Synapse. Every day since then has been a validation of our mission: to connect Florida’s innovation communities in a meaningful, purposeful way. As I’ve traveled the state I’ve seen first hand the passion and creativity that...

INNOVATE® Georgia

JIM GILVIN

MAYOR, CITY OF ALPHARETTA

Government is probably not something that comes to mind when you think of innovation, but at the local level, you will find cities and counties that recognize that the solutions to today’s challenges and the path to tomorrow’s opportunities cannot be found in yesterday’s ideas. The City of Alpharetta, Georgia...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

PATRIK STRÖMBERG

PHD MBA, CEO AT ANACARDIO

I have spent my entire career in Stockholm’s vibrant Life Science innovation space, with renowned universities, great scientists, and companies. After attaining a PhD in Biochemistry from Karolinska Institutet, I have held various positions within R&D and corporate development at Astra Zeneca and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), such as Vice...

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...

VOICES of the Future

DR. RISA RYGER

EMBRACING CHANGE FOR A VIBRANT FUTURE

In an era where change is our only constant, one woman has taken it upon herself to guide us through the shifting sands of time: Dr. Risa Ryger, a distinguished clinical psychologist, international speaker, and entrepreneur. She has dedicated her life to helping individuals and organizations navigate the often turbulent...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CARLOS MELÉNDEZ

CARLOS MELÉNDEZ COO AND CO-FOUNDER WOVENWARE

COO AND CO-FOUNDER WOVENWARE

AI has the power to change people’s lives, so it must be trained to be unbiased and ethical. At Wovenware and across the island we have always embraced diversity. We belong to a country that is a patchwork of different cultures, yet we also hold fast to our Latin American...

INNOVATE™ Ottawa

Lise Bourgeois

Dès mon arrivée à La Cité en 2010, j’ai constaté l’engagement et la passion de la communauté collégiale, la vitalité et la joie de vivre francophones, la culture de l’excellence dans un environnement des plus stimulants et fertiles, le désir profond de voir nos étudiants réussir, et des projets plus...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Jim Filanc

Jim Filanc - Intelligent Cities Associates

Intelligent Cities Associates, LLC

Jim Filanc Intelligent Cities Associates, LLC Back in 2012, I wrote a White Paper entitled EnLighten San Diego when I had an insight into the strategic value of “power and perch,” two unique characteristics of streetlights. Streetlights are everywhere in most cities, but in San Diego, we envisioned attaching Small...

INNOVATE® Miami

Jaret L. Davis

What has made Miami such a great environment for growing a startup culture is its strong entrepreneurial ethos and the lack of restrictions. It’s the kind of place where if you have an idea, no one is going to tell you it can’t be done. Over the last 20 years,...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MARGOT MACHOL BISNOW

AUTHOR, RAISING AN ENTREPRENEUR

As parents, we want what is best for our children. Or, at least, what we think is best for them. And what we almost always want for them is success. But wanting success for our children, even when our desire for their success comes from love and our concern for...

VOICES of the Future

GIL PETERSIL

AUTHENTIC NETWORKING WILL TAKE US BEYOND OUR WORLD

Gil Petersil is a man who understands science and the essence of human networking as intimately as only a handful of other people in the world do. His mission? It is one grounded in its simplicity: to serve people and add value through authentic human-to-human relationships. He shares: “I’m really...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

We are passionate about innovation in our community

Fernando Dutra & Camille A. Wilson - Wilson Dutra Innovation Law

Fernando Dutra, Attorney & Camille A. Wilson, Patent Attorney

We are passionate about innovation in our community and take any opportunity to bring light to its rich tapestry of stories. So, for us, it was a no-brainer to bring the Innovate series to Jacksonville. We were incredibly excited to discover and collect the success stories in the community and...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

MARC CORTHOUT

OPEN MANUFACTURING CAMPUS

The evolution of digital technology and the resulting exponential complexity increase in the products that we use all the time, also affects production technologies deeply and requires close cooperation between many companies, each delivering their unique process technology and modules. At the same time Industry 4.0 and the innovation towards...

Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director

San Diego Association Of Governments (Sandag)

We are living in the midst of a transportation revolution. When we look around, we can see fundamental changes in how people move around cities and towns across the world. In the San Diego region you can feel it every day. Everywhere you look people are driving electric cars, reducing...

DR. SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE

CMO-SIZAKELE MARUTLULLE

I think it was the mighty Einstein who said ‘imagination is more important than knowledge’. Whilst he was not deriding education per se – I think he was advocating for an explosion of ideas – which (in my view) is the fuel that drives innovation. The ubiquity of the term...

Sandeep Roy

Sandeep Roy

Advisor & Mentor - Innovate2Grow

The current pace of new technology-led change has left classic economy companies vulnerable, but disruption is also a huge borderless opportunity in a world where ultrafast digital connectivity and the information superhighway has democratized innovation. We have a choice. We can view Airbnb as strangling the hotel industry or see...

LESLIE J. ANDERSON

LESLIE J. ANDERSON

GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE AND U.S. CHIEF TECHNOLOGY RESILIENCY AND EXPERIENCE OPERATIONS OFFICER

Leslie J. Anderson is BMO’s Global Technology Experience and U.S. Chief Technology Resiliency and Experience Operations Officer. She is at the center of BMO’s Digital First strategy where she innovates and finds new ways to strengthen the employee experience. Like it or not, one can’t simply dissociate my experience in...

David Neff

David Neff - Thought Leader

Founder: Neff Associates

In 1987, David Neff founded Neff Associates, an award-winning, full-service marketing agency. Specializing in branding, advertising, media buying and planning, public relations and social media, Neff Associates services clients across a diverse group of industries including real estate, hospitality, tourism, technology, entertainment, retail, B2B, banking and education. As a results-driven...

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...

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...

Bob Kain

Bob Kain

Co-Founder and CEO - LunaPBC

Bob Kain Co-Founder And CEO – LunaPBC 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...

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...

Mayor Francis X. Suarez

Mayor Francis X. Suarez - If we want to create a Miami that’s here forever

Mayor of Miami

Innovation and a knowledge-based economy have to be at the forefront of industry in every city in the world. In Miami, we’re doing as much as possible to foster innovation, starting with the government itself. In the U.S., we’re number one for job creation, for startups, and for small-business growth....

ALEX KROOGMAN

ALEX KROOGMAN

CEO | PRESSREADER GROUP OF COMPANIES

ALEX KROOGMAN CEO | PRESSREADER GROUP OF COMPANIES To this day, I look forward to each Monday when Spotify releases my new Discover Weekly playlist. Why, because it’s built entirely for me. It’s personalized with the music I know, plus lots of music I haven’t even heard of before but...

Mark Blumenthal

Marc Blumenthal

Synapse VIP Thought Leader

It is hard to believe that it’s been two years since the launch of Synapse. Every day since then has been a validation of our mission: to connect Florida’s innovation communities in a meaningful, purposeful way. As I’ve traveled the state I’ve seen first hand the passion and creativity that...

JIM GILVIN

MAYOR, CITY OF ALPHARETTA

Government is probably not something that comes to mind when you think of innovation, but at the local level, you will find cities and counties that recognize that the solutions to today’s challenges and the path to tomorrow’s opportunities cannot be found in yesterday’s ideas. The City of Alpharetta, Georgia...

PATRIK STRÖMBERG

PHD MBA, CEO AT ANACARDIO

I have spent my entire career in Stockholm’s vibrant Life Science innovation space, with renowned universities, great scientists, and companies. After attaining a PhD in Biochemistry from Karolinska Institutet, I have held various positions within R&D and corporate development at Astra Zeneca and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), such as Vice...

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...

DR. RISA RYGER

EMBRACING CHANGE FOR A VIBRANT FUTURE

In an era where change is our only constant, one woman has taken it upon herself to guide us through the shifting sands of time: Dr. Risa Ryger, a distinguished clinical psychologist, international speaker, and entrepreneur. She has dedicated her life to helping individuals and organizations navigate the often turbulent...

CARLOS MELÉNDEZ

CARLOS MELÉNDEZ COO AND CO-FOUNDER WOVENWARE

COO AND CO-FOUNDER WOVENWARE

AI has the power to change people’s lives, so it must be trained to be unbiased and ethical. At Wovenware and across the island we have always embraced diversity. We belong to a country that is a patchwork of different cultures, yet we also hold fast to our Latin American...

Lise Bourgeois

Dès mon arrivée à La Cité en 2010, j’ai constaté l’engagement et la passion de la communauté collégiale, la vitalité et la joie de vivre francophones, la culture de l’excellence dans un environnement des plus stimulants et fertiles, le désir profond de voir nos étudiants réussir, et des projets plus...

Jim Filanc

Jim Filanc - Intelligent Cities Associates

Intelligent Cities Associates, LLC

Jim Filanc Intelligent Cities Associates, LLC Back in 2012, I wrote a White Paper entitled EnLighten San Diego when I had an insight into the strategic value of “power and perch,” two unique characteristics of streetlights. Streetlights are everywhere in most cities, but in San Diego, we envisioned attaching Small...

Jaret L. Davis

What has made Miami such a great environment for growing a startup culture is its strong entrepreneurial ethos and the lack of restrictions. It’s the kind of place where if you have an idea, no one is going to tell you it can’t be done. Over the last 20 years,...

MARGOT MACHOL BISNOW

AUTHOR, RAISING AN ENTREPRENEUR

As parents, we want what is best for our children. Or, at least, what we think is best for them. And what we almost always want for them is success. But wanting success for our children, even when our desire for their success comes from love and our concern for...

GIL PETERSIL

AUTHENTIC NETWORKING WILL TAKE US BEYOND OUR WORLD

Gil Petersil is a man who understands science and the essence of human networking as intimately as only a handful of other people in the world do. His mission? It is one grounded in its simplicity: to serve people and add value through authentic human-to-human relationships. He shares: “I’m really...

We are passionate about innovation in our community

Fernando Dutra & Camille A. Wilson - Wilson Dutra Innovation Law

Fernando Dutra, Attorney & Camille A. Wilson, Patent Attorney

We are passionate about innovation in our community and take any opportunity to bring light to its rich tapestry of stories. So, for us, it was a no-brainer to bring the Innovate series to Jacksonville. We were incredibly excited to discover and collect the success stories in the community and...

MARC CORTHOUT

OPEN MANUFACTURING CAMPUS

The evolution of digital technology and the resulting exponential complexity increase in the products that we use all the time, also affects production technologies deeply and requires close cooperation between many companies, each delivering their unique process technology and modules. At the same time Industry 4.0 and the innovation towards...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems