Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

STEFAN MORITZ

HEAD OF INNOVATION AT MAX MATTHIESSEN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PROFESSOR

Having worked around the globe, I choose Stockholm every time. Close to nature, stunning water all around, super digital, wellbeing and family focused. Also, I believe Stockholm is best placed to lead a united Europe in human-centric innovation. In a world grappling with profound shifts — from volatile stocks, climate,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

LAURI ANTALAINEN

AI AND DIGITALIZATION EXPERT, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, DIGIWISE

The speed at which artificial intelligence is reshaping industries is breathtaking, and companies that don’t figure out their digitalization strategy — including how they will use AI — risk falling behind. But too often, organizations rush into adopting digital tools without a clear sense of what they are trying to...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

MARLENE SPALTEN

PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY

The COVID-19 pandemic affirmed what I’ve long believed: Crisis brings out the best in those who truly care about their community – and philanthropy is the place to turn both for immediate help and long-term resiliency. Philanthropy creates hope for those in need, and it creates a stronger connection between...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Geoff Martha

Geoff Martha - President & CEO - Medtronic

President & CEO - Medtronic

Geoff Martha President & CEO – Medtronic Millions of Americans are affected by pain and have been prescribed systemic opioids as part of their treatment plan. Whether for chronic or acute pain, prescribing systemic opioids continues, despite the limited evidence on the benefits of long-term systemic opioid therapy and evidence...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Neil Douglas

Neil Douglas - Director

Director, Viper Innovations

When we started our company in 2007, one of the first questions we had to ask ourselves, was where is the best place to be located? The client base for our products and services was international and so our selection did not have to be governed by the location of...

INNOVATE® St. Louis

Jennah Purk

Jennah Purk

Founder & CEO - Purk Associates

Talking about innovation in accounting is sort of like talking about water and oil. They aren’t exactly synonymous, and while it’s not like we’re using an abacus, we’re not far off. It’s also not as boring as people think it is. But the two things that obstruct the industry are...

INNOVATE® Detroit

NED STAEBLER

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY VP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TECHTOWN PRESIDENT AND CEO

It’s an exciting time to be in Detroit. In 2024 alone, we’ve seen the restoration of Michigan Central, a century-old train station turned mobility innovation hub; hosted the NFL Draft with record-breaking attendance; and attracted billions of dollars in commercial and public space development. At TechTown, we celebrate all the...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

MARIA LUISA FERRÉ RANGEL

CEO GRUPO FERRÉ RANGEL (GFR)

When you’re part of a family business with over 100 years of history, the questions often asked are: How do you stay relevant? What is the formula to successfully operate a business for that long? For us, the answer has always been about three things: resiliency, people, and leadership. Be...

INNOVATE® Utah

Carine Strom Clark

Carine Strom Clark

Saas CEO - Public Board Member, Silicon Slopes & Strategic Alliances

  Thirty years ago when I started my career at Novell, I never imagined that someday Utah would benefit from a vibrant and amazing technology community, dubbed Silicon Slopes. Back then, technology was a small ecosystem in which super-nerdy coders and geeks – like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Michael...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Ron Gaboury

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...

INNOVATE® Nashville

LAURIE OSWALD

CEO, INTERAWORKS AND CO-FOUNDER, BEST YEAR YET FOUNDATION

LEADING THE NEXT WAVE IN BUSINESSWe are in a huge change moment equal to the Renaissance and the Industrial revolution. The way we have always done business cannot continue to work in this new environment. The focus must move away from expecting employees to serve the company with no reciprocity...

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™ 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™ Bristol & Bath

Monika Radclyffe

Monika Radclyffe

Centre Director - SETSquared Bristol

MONIKA RADCLYFFE – LEADING THE CITY’S TECH CLUSTER GROWTH SETsquared Bristol is the Global No.1 University-led Business Incubator working with the University of Bristol. I have been the Centre Director since 2016, working with over 250 companies, including Bristol Pound, Interactive Scientific, Immersive Labs, YellowDog and Zeetta Networks. Bristol is...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

THERESA TAYLER

OWNER AND FOUNDER, START ME UP PR

A renowned tech magnate once said, “If I were down to my last dollar, I would spend it on public relations.” Not to talk myself out of a job, but one rarely needs to spend their LAST dollar on PR if they just “keep it real” from day one. Growing...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

FOUNDER & GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, BT INDUSTRIAL GROUP

We have to rethink our national strategy for growth, meaningful economic participation of blacks and job creation; it’s not just about funding and quality of education. I argue that South Africa is a sleeping giant ready to take on the world; we may just be waiting for the right moment...

INNOVATE® Utah

Johnny Hanna

Business consultant Peter Drucker once said “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” and I’m a believer. Culture is everything. It’s true that you can have a financially successful company leading by fear and threatening to fire people if they don’t follow your lead. But fear-based leadership styles and cultures pit people...

INNOVATE® Orlando

Clayton Louis Ferrara

Clayton Louis Ferrara

Biologist and Executive Director of IDEAS For Us

The 21st Century is destined to be a watershed moment in human history. Our lack of timely action to thwart Global Warming will push us to the paramount of our human ingenuity. Will we rise to the challenge and preserve our institutions, global markets, and industries as we know them?...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Sue Daugherty

Sue Daugherty - CEO Of Manna

CEO Of Manna

But often overlooked is the talent drawn to the region’s well-established and innovative nonprofit sector, which continually adapts to meet the growing needs of a city that sadly tops the charts in rates of chronic disease and poverty. As the CEO of MANNA, a community-based organization delivering medically tailored meals...

INNOVATE® Maryland

DR. ELIZABETH CLAYBORNE

CEO & CO-FOUNDER AT NASACLIP

I am an ER doctor, a mom, a Black woman, and the CEO of a medical device company. These roles are not separate – they intertwine and fuel my vision for impact. My journey into entrepreneurship started in the chaos of the emergency room, where I treated countless patients for...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

ERYKA GEMMA

ERYKA GEMMA

FOUNDER OF MIAMI BLOCKCHAIN CENTER AND TIMELOCK VENTURES

As the world moves in cycles, we see that change is constant. The pendulum swings and with global lockdowns, continuous quantitative easing, and privacy breaches – we are approaching a point of conflicting overreach and control. However, there is hope! History shows that human ingenuity will always find a way....

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

CARLOS COBIAN

CARLOS COBIAN

FOUNDER AND CEO, GRAVITAL AGENCY

“OUR PASSION IS TO HELP COMPANIES GROW. OUR HIGHEST INTENT IS TO FOSTER A STRONG SERVICE PHILOSOPHY THAT ENSURES OUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS THEY SEEK AND DESERVE. WE WANT THEM TO DO WELL BECAUSE WE WANT OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY TO DO WELL. IT’S A WIN-WIN.”– CARLOS COBIAN, FOUNDER AND...

INNOVATION Quebec

LAYLA NASR

CEO, MAKILA AI

In both North America and Europe, collaboration between the communities of scientific research and professional practice plays a pivotal role in the advancement of knowledge that benefits society at large. When it comes to technologies, especially artificial intelligence, the diversity of skills and the wealth of knowledge from research communities...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ÅSA ZETTERBERG

CEO, TECHSVERIGE

Sweden has long been a pioneer in technology and innovation. From Ericsson to Spotify, Klarna and Recorded Future, Swedish companies have helped put us on the global tech map. Today, tech is more than a growth sector—it’s a foundation for our economy and society. The numbers speak for themselves. Sweden’s...

STEFAN MORITZ

HEAD OF INNOVATION AT MAX MATTHIESSEN, KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PROFESSOR

Having worked around the globe, I choose Stockholm every time. Close to nature, stunning water all around, super digital, wellbeing and family focused. Also, I believe Stockholm is best placed to lead a united Europe in human-centric innovation. In a world grappling with profound shifts — from volatile stocks, climate,...

LAURI ANTALAINEN

AI AND DIGITALIZATION EXPERT, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, DIGIWISE

The speed at which artificial intelligence is reshaping industries is breathtaking, and companies that don’t figure out their digitalization strategy — including how they will use AI — risk falling behind. But too often, organizations rush into adopting digital tools without a clear sense of what they are trying to...

MARLENE SPALTEN

PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY

The COVID-19 pandemic affirmed what I’ve long believed: Crisis brings out the best in those who truly care about their community – and philanthropy is the place to turn both for immediate help and long-term resiliency. Philanthropy creates hope for those in need, and it creates a stronger connection between...

Geoff Martha

Geoff Martha - President & CEO - Medtronic

President & CEO - Medtronic

Geoff Martha President & CEO – Medtronic Millions of Americans are affected by pain and have been prescribed systemic opioids as part of their treatment plan. Whether for chronic or acute pain, prescribing systemic opioids continues, despite the limited evidence on the benefits of long-term systemic opioid therapy and evidence...

Neil Douglas

Neil Douglas - Director

Director, Viper Innovations

When we started our company in 2007, one of the first questions we had to ask ourselves, was where is the best place to be located? The client base for our products and services was international and so our selection did not have to be governed by the location of...

Jennah Purk

Jennah Purk

Founder & CEO - Purk Associates

Talking about innovation in accounting is sort of like talking about water and oil. They aren’t exactly synonymous, and while it’s not like we’re using an abacus, we’re not far off. It’s also not as boring as people think it is. But the two things that obstruct the industry are...

NED STAEBLER

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY VP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TECHTOWN PRESIDENT AND CEO

It’s an exciting time to be in Detroit. In 2024 alone, we’ve seen the restoration of Michigan Central, a century-old train station turned mobility innovation hub; hosted the NFL Draft with record-breaking attendance; and attracted billions of dollars in commercial and public space development. At TechTown, we celebrate all the...

MARIA LUISA FERRÉ RANGEL

CEO GRUPO FERRÉ RANGEL (GFR)

When you’re part of a family business with over 100 years of history, the questions often asked are: How do you stay relevant? What is the formula to successfully operate a business for that long? For us, the answer has always been about three things: resiliency, people, and leadership. Be...

Carine Strom Clark

Carine Strom Clark

Saas CEO - Public Board Member, Silicon Slopes & Strategic Alliances

  Thirty years ago when I started my career at Novell, I never imagined that someday Utah would benefit from a vibrant and amazing technology community, dubbed Silicon Slopes. Back then, technology was a small ecosystem in which super-nerdy coders and geeks – like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Michael...

Ron Gaboury

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...

LAURIE OSWALD

CEO, INTERAWORKS AND CO-FOUNDER, BEST YEAR YET FOUNDATION

LEADING THE NEXT WAVE IN BUSINESSWe are in a huge change moment equal to the Renaissance and the Industrial revolution. The way we have always done business cannot continue to work in this new environment. The focus must move away from expecting employees to serve the company with no reciprocity...

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...

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...

Monika Radclyffe

Monika Radclyffe

Centre Director - SETSquared Bristol

MONIKA RADCLYFFE – LEADING THE CITY’S TECH CLUSTER GROWTH SETsquared Bristol is the Global No.1 University-led Business Incubator working with the University of Bristol. I have been the Centre Director since 2016, working with over 250 companies, including Bristol Pound, Interactive Scientific, Immersive Labs, YellowDog and Zeetta Networks. Bristol is...

THERESA TAYLER

OWNER AND FOUNDER, START ME UP PR

A renowned tech magnate once said, “If I were down to my last dollar, I would spend it on public relations.” Not to talk myself out of a job, but one rarely needs to spend their LAST dollar on PR if they just “keep it real” from day one. Growing...

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

FOUNDER & GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, BT INDUSTRIAL GROUP

We have to rethink our national strategy for growth, meaningful economic participation of blacks and job creation; it’s not just about funding and quality of education. I argue that South Africa is a sleeping giant ready to take on the world; we may just be waiting for the right moment...

Johnny Hanna

Business consultant Peter Drucker once said “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” and I’m a believer. Culture is everything. It’s true that you can have a financially successful company leading by fear and threatening to fire people if they don’t follow your lead. But fear-based leadership styles and cultures pit people...

Clayton Louis Ferrara

Clayton Louis Ferrara

Biologist and Executive Director of IDEAS For Us

The 21st Century is destined to be a watershed moment in human history. Our lack of timely action to thwart Global Warming will push us to the paramount of our human ingenuity. Will we rise to the challenge and preserve our institutions, global markets, and industries as we know them?...

Sue Daugherty

Sue Daugherty - CEO Of Manna

CEO Of Manna

But often overlooked is the talent drawn to the region’s well-established and innovative nonprofit sector, which continually adapts to meet the growing needs of a city that sadly tops the charts in rates of chronic disease and poverty. As the CEO of MANNA, a community-based organization delivering medically tailored meals...

DR. ELIZABETH CLAYBORNE

CEO & CO-FOUNDER AT NASACLIP

I am an ER doctor, a mom, a Black woman, and the CEO of a medical device company. These roles are not separate – they intertwine and fuel my vision for impact. My journey into entrepreneurship started in the chaos of the emergency room, where I treated countless patients for...

ERYKA GEMMA

ERYKA GEMMA

FOUNDER OF MIAMI BLOCKCHAIN CENTER AND TIMELOCK VENTURES

As the world moves in cycles, we see that change is constant. The pendulum swings and with global lockdowns, continuous quantitative easing, and privacy breaches – we are approaching a point of conflicting overreach and control. However, there is hope! History shows that human ingenuity will always find a way....

CARLOS COBIAN

CARLOS COBIAN

FOUNDER AND CEO, GRAVITAL AGENCY

“OUR PASSION IS TO HELP COMPANIES GROW. OUR HIGHEST INTENT IS TO FOSTER A STRONG SERVICE PHILOSOPHY THAT ENSURES OUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS THEY SEEK AND DESERVE. WE WANT THEM TO DO WELL BECAUSE WE WANT OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY TO DO WELL. IT’S A WIN-WIN.”– CARLOS COBIAN, FOUNDER AND...

LAYLA NASR

CEO, MAKILA AI

In both North America and Europe, collaboration between the communities of scientific research and professional practice plays a pivotal role in the advancement of knowledge that benefits society at large. When it comes to technologies, especially artificial intelligence, the diversity of skills and the wealth of knowledge from research communities...

ÅSA ZETTERBERG

CEO, TECHSVERIGE

Sweden has long been a pioneer in technology and innovation. From Ericsson to Spotify, Klarna and Recorded Future, Swedish companies have helped put us on the global tech map. Today, tech is more than a growth sector—it’s a foundation for our economy and society. The numbers speak for themselves. Sweden’s...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems