Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

PEDRO JANELA

CEO, Founder and Co-owner of WYgroup

Creating a services group from the ground up, focused on relentless innovation on Customer Experience, on understanding people, the consumer, the clients. This is the lifelong journey of WYgroup. And it continues to be. Since the first offer, web and digital communication back in 2001, going to the first expert...

INNOVATE® Gainesville

Collin Austin

Collin Austin

Founder - New Scooters 4 Less

Collin Austin Founder – New Scooters 4 Less Collin Austin founded New Scooters 4 Less at the age of 21, which has gone on to become one of the top scooter dealerships in the country. In the last two years he’s also founded Repaint The Wall, a digital media “un-agency,”...

INNOVATE® Gainesville

Juan Segarra

Innovation Starts with Culture-BuildingThe greater Gainesville area is abuzz with growth, development and activity. From the expansion of major entertainment, restaurant and retail hubs, to the launch of technology start-ups, to the relocation of major biotechnology and life science firms to our area, it’s an exciting time. Innovation is at...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

JENNY RINGSÖ

FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, I AM YOUR SISTER (IAYS)

THE LIFESTYLE OF NOT GIVING UP Entrepreneurship isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. A way of living built on persistence, humility, and the willingness to reinvent yourself again and again. When you decide to follow an idea, you don’t just commit to a vision. You commit to setbacks, uncertainty, and...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Wout de Backer

Assistant Professor at University of South Carolina

From South Carolina’s thriving aerospace and automotive hubs to its vibrant academic institutions, I see the ingredients of South Carolina’s transformative growth. We are establishing ourselves as leaders in composites,robotics, manufacturing, batteries, electric power, and autonomous systems. To realize this potential, we must prepare our workforce for a future as...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

JOAN M. STELTMANN

JOAN M. STELTMANN

FOUNDER AND CEO, BOUNCE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

FOUNDER AND CEO, BOUNCE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION CHANGING OUR MINDSET WILL MOVE THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL SECTORS CLOSER TOGETHER – ENHANCING BOTH. If you still say “Non-Profit”, it’s time to upgrade your thinking to “Not for-Profit”. Why? It conveys purpose and intention, without placing limitations on outcomes. For social service organizations,...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

MIK ALLA

MIKE ALLAN

PRESIDENT & CEO, ROUTEIQUE™

Fostering a Culture of Innovation at Routeique™The core of our approach to innovation at Routeique™ is that we see ourselves as problem-solvers rather than service or technology providers. Whether it’s warehouse layouts or inefficiencies in last-mile delivery, our philosophy is that it’s essential to look at issues from new perspectives,...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

INDREK TULP

BOARD MEMBER AND HEAD OF THE COMPANY’S APPLIED RESEARCH CENTER, METROSERT.

If I had to distil my years in science, innovation and entrepreneurship into a single lesson, it would be this: real progress happens at the intersection of curiosity and practical need. My journey — from analysing heavy metals in water samples as a young chemist to establishing Estonia’s Applied Research...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

JADE ALBERTS

JADE ALBERTS

FOUNDER, PEER GUIDANCE

Being an entrepreneur can be very lonely at times, that is why I am such an advocate for mental wellness. I have talked to many entrepreneurs that had no one to turn to, and if they did, it would have made a difference. I am no expert in this mental...

INNOVATE® Nashville

CHIP CRUNK

CEO OF RJ YOUNG

My journey with RJ Young began while I was still a student at Ole Miss, working alongside my father and learning the business from the ground up. Back then, Nashville was a very different city – still rooted in tradition, but the seeds of change were beginning to sprout. Today,...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Sheryl Hunter

Sheryl Hunter

Esquire ,Founder & President

Curiosity, Authenticity & Abundance: Characteristics for a successful life and a thriving community. Sheryl Hunter is the President of Hunter Business Law – The Entrepreneur’s Law Firm – which serves growth-focused entrepreneurs and their business enterprises, from newbie founders to serial entrepreneurs and angel investors. In addition to managing her...

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™ Vancouver Vol.2

NJERI WATKINS

BUSINESS LEADER, DATA ANALYST & EDUCATOR

As a Vancouver based Business Leader, Data Analyst and Educator, I am an active contributor in the digital technology ecosystem cultivated by our beautiful global metropolis. In this community rooted in collaborative cross pollination between industry, academia, the public sector and entrepreneurs, the galvanizing force is the desire to build,...

INNOVATE® Seattle

LAURA RUDERMAN

CEO, TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE

One of the most pressing challenges is the need for an educated workforce, particularly amid a changing understanding of what that means. Over the last 20 years, creating that workforce centered on STEM fields and getting a bachelor’s degree. It is time to move beyond the “hard hats vs. high...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

John Oberg

DR. JOHN OBERG

DSW, is a Founder, CEO, Board Director, Advisor, and Investor

John Oberg, DSW, is a Founder, CEO, Board Director, Advisor, and Investor who is trusted by organizations to navigate growth, conflict, and change. He founded two Austin-based healthcare innovators, Sedera, a community-based medical cost-sharing organization, and Precina, a chronic care virtual medical practice. John serves on the board of directors...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

MIKE JOUBERT

MIKE JOUBERT

FOUNDER, BILLYBO GROUP

As a changemaker with over 35 years’ experience, I believe innovation is a critical tool to address a deeper human need to be better for a greater good. The culmination of a rewarding career has led me to creating the Billybo Group, a human-centred solutions collective. To help make a...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB-ROCKIES

PERSPECTIVES FROM CDL-ROCKIES’ MENTORS

Providing a growing global population with abundant, safe, affordable and sustainable food and energy are among the defining challenges of this decade. The Global population is expected to grow from just under 8 billion in 2022 to over 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. Given the scale...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

TRICIA RICHARDSON

CEO AT SC THRIVE

As I reflect on the past 15 years of SC Thrive’s journey, I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. The success of SC Thrive is not only the result of the organization’s hard work, but also the unwavering dedication of our incredible partners, our outstanding team, and our amazing...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

SEAN FAHEY

CEO AT VIDCRUITER

The Future of HR: Embracing Technology Without Losing the Human Touch In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, HR stands at a crossroads. The integration of advanced technologies into our processes is no longer optional—it’s essential for attracting, retaining, and nurturing top talent. As leaders, we have an opportunity to shape...

INNOVATE™ Bengaluru

Mohandas Pai

Investing in India-centric opportunities - Innovation Hub India

Founder and Chairman of Aarin Capital

There is no question that Mohandas Pai holds strong opinions on an impressive variety of subjects. He walks the talk too, playing key roles in financial governance,  democratic processes, civic issues, education, philanthropy and important in the context of this article, as an angel investor and a mentor. “What guides...

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...

INNOVATE® Maryland

SETH GOLDMAN

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, JUST ICE TEA

My journey as a mission-driven entrepreneur began right here in Maryland where I led a youth service demonstration program in Baltimore. After graduating from the Yale School of Management, I returned to the state determined to build businesses that aligned profit with purpose. From launching Honest Tea out of my...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

ALI SARRAFI

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, 4THBRAIN

We are on the threshold of a creative renaissance powered by GenerativeAI—technology that frees us from specialized skills and speeds up the path from idea to execution. In mere hours, what once took months can be accomplished, fueling rapid experimentation and bold innovation. By automating tasks like image generation, software...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

TAMMY BARTON

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, MYBUDGET

It’s about solving real world problems. It’s about inventing, reinventing and trying new things. Having a solid business plan is one thing, but you won’t necessarily know what people want until you start getting out there and testing the market. To me, innovation is really about coming up with a...

PEDRO JANELA

CEO, Founder and Co-owner of WYgroup

Creating a services group from the ground up, focused on relentless innovation on Customer Experience, on understanding people, the consumer, the clients. This is the lifelong journey of WYgroup. And it continues to be. Since the first offer, web and digital communication back in 2001, going to the first expert...

Collin Austin

Collin Austin

Founder - New Scooters 4 Less

Collin Austin Founder – New Scooters 4 Less Collin Austin founded New Scooters 4 Less at the age of 21, which has gone on to become one of the top scooter dealerships in the country. In the last two years he’s also founded Repaint The Wall, a digital media “un-agency,”...

Juan Segarra

Innovation Starts with Culture-BuildingThe greater Gainesville area is abuzz with growth, development and activity. From the expansion of major entertainment, restaurant and retail hubs, to the launch of technology start-ups, to the relocation of major biotechnology and life science firms to our area, it’s an exciting time. Innovation is at...

JENNY RINGSÖ

FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, I AM YOUR SISTER (IAYS)

THE LIFESTYLE OF NOT GIVING UP Entrepreneurship isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. A way of living built on persistence, humility, and the willingness to reinvent yourself again and again. When you decide to follow an idea, you don’t just commit to a vision. You commit to setbacks, uncertainty, and...

Wout de Backer

Assistant Professor at University of South Carolina

From South Carolina’s thriving aerospace and automotive hubs to its vibrant academic institutions, I see the ingredients of South Carolina’s transformative growth. We are establishing ourselves as leaders in composites,robotics, manufacturing, batteries, electric power, and autonomous systems. To realize this potential, we must prepare our workforce for a future as...

JOAN M. STELTMANN

JOAN M. STELTMANN

FOUNDER AND CEO, BOUNCE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

FOUNDER AND CEO, BOUNCE CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION CHANGING OUR MINDSET WILL MOVE THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL SECTORS CLOSER TOGETHER – ENHANCING BOTH. If you still say “Non-Profit”, it’s time to upgrade your thinking to “Not for-Profit”. Why? It conveys purpose and intention, without placing limitations on outcomes. For social service organizations,...

MIK ALLA

MIKE ALLAN

PRESIDENT & CEO, ROUTEIQUE™

Fostering a Culture of Innovation at Routeique™The core of our approach to innovation at Routeique™ is that we see ourselves as problem-solvers rather than service or technology providers. Whether it’s warehouse layouts or inefficiencies in last-mile delivery, our philosophy is that it’s essential to look at issues from new perspectives,...

INDREK TULP

BOARD MEMBER AND HEAD OF THE COMPANY’S APPLIED RESEARCH CENTER, METROSERT.

If I had to distil my years in science, innovation and entrepreneurship into a single lesson, it would be this: real progress happens at the intersection of curiosity and practical need. My journey — from analysing heavy metals in water samples as a young chemist to establishing Estonia’s Applied Research...

JADE ALBERTS

JADE ALBERTS

FOUNDER, PEER GUIDANCE

Being an entrepreneur can be very lonely at times, that is why I am such an advocate for mental wellness. I have talked to many entrepreneurs that had no one to turn to, and if they did, it would have made a difference. I am no expert in this mental...

CHIP CRUNK

CEO OF RJ YOUNG

My journey with RJ Young began while I was still a student at Ole Miss, working alongside my father and learning the business from the ground up. Back then, Nashville was a very different city – still rooted in tradition, but the seeds of change were beginning to sprout. Today,...

Sheryl Hunter

Sheryl Hunter

Esquire ,Founder & President

Curiosity, Authenticity & Abundance: Characteristics for a successful life and a thriving community. Sheryl Hunter is the President of Hunter Business Law – The Entrepreneur’s Law Firm – which serves growth-focused entrepreneurs and their business enterprises, from newbie founders to serial entrepreneurs and angel investors. In addition to managing her...

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...

NJERI WATKINS

BUSINESS LEADER, DATA ANALYST & EDUCATOR

As a Vancouver based Business Leader, Data Analyst and Educator, I am an active contributor in the digital technology ecosystem cultivated by our beautiful global metropolis. In this community rooted in collaborative cross pollination between industry, academia, the public sector and entrepreneurs, the galvanizing force is the desire to build,...

LAURA RUDERMAN

CEO, TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE

One of the most pressing challenges is the need for an educated workforce, particularly amid a changing understanding of what that means. Over the last 20 years, creating that workforce centered on STEM fields and getting a bachelor’s degree. It is time to move beyond the “hard hats vs. high...

John Oberg

DR. JOHN OBERG

DSW, is a Founder, CEO, Board Director, Advisor, and Investor

John Oberg, DSW, is a Founder, CEO, Board Director, Advisor, and Investor who is trusted by organizations to navigate growth, conflict, and change. He founded two Austin-based healthcare innovators, Sedera, a community-based medical cost-sharing organization, and Precina, a chronic care virtual medical practice. John serves on the board of directors...

MIKE JOUBERT

MIKE JOUBERT

FOUNDER, BILLYBO GROUP

As a changemaker with over 35 years’ experience, I believe innovation is a critical tool to address a deeper human need to be better for a greater good. The culmination of a rewarding career has led me to creating the Billybo Group, a human-centred solutions collective. To help make a...

CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB-ROCKIES

PERSPECTIVES FROM CDL-ROCKIES’ MENTORS

Providing a growing global population with abundant, safe, affordable and sustainable food and energy are among the defining challenges of this decade. The Global population is expected to grow from just under 8 billion in 2022 to over 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. Given the scale...

TRICIA RICHARDSON

CEO AT SC THRIVE

As I reflect on the past 15 years of SC Thrive’s journey, I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. The success of SC Thrive is not only the result of the organization’s hard work, but also the unwavering dedication of our incredible partners, our outstanding team, and our amazing...

SEAN FAHEY

CEO AT VIDCRUITER

The Future of HR: Embracing Technology Without Losing the Human Touch In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, HR stands at a crossroads. The integration of advanced technologies into our processes is no longer optional—it’s essential for attracting, retaining, and nurturing top talent. As leaders, we have an opportunity to shape...

Mohandas Pai

Investing in India-centric opportunities - Innovation Hub India

Founder and Chairman of Aarin Capital

There is no question that Mohandas Pai holds strong opinions on an impressive variety of subjects. He walks the talk too, playing key roles in financial governance,  democratic processes, civic issues, education, philanthropy and important in the context of this article, as an angel investor and a mentor. “What guides...

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...

SETH GOLDMAN

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, JUST ICE TEA

My journey as a mission-driven entrepreneur began right here in Maryland where I led a youth service demonstration program in Baltimore. After graduating from the Yale School of Management, I returned to the state determined to build businesses that aligned profit with purpose. From launching Honest Tea out of my...

ALI SARRAFI

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, 4THBRAIN

We are on the threshold of a creative renaissance powered by GenerativeAI—technology that frees us from specialized skills and speeds up the path from idea to execution. In mere hours, what once took months can be accomplished, fueling rapid experimentation and bold innovation. By automating tasks like image generation, software...

TAMMY BARTON

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, MYBUDGET

It’s about solving real world problems. It’s about inventing, reinventing and trying new things. Having a solid business plan is one thing, but you won’t necessarily know what people want until you start getting out there and testing the market. To me, innovation is really about coming up with a...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems