Thought Leaders
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
BILL BROWN
PRESIDENT AND CEO, CITADEL CREDIT UNION
The Future of Finance Must Be More Human Innovation is often confused with technology. In financial services, we tend to measure progress by how quickly something happens: a faster transaction, a faster loan decision, a faster digital experience. Those things matter. But I believe the real measure of innovation is...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
TAAVI KOTKA
ESTONIA’S FIRST CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Before stepping into government, Taavi had already made his mark in the tech sector. He co-founded and led the software company Webmedia (later Nortal), growing it into one of the region’s largest IT firms. His background as a developer and entrepreneur gave him a rare mix of technical skill and...
WA’IL ASHSHOWWAF
UNSTUCK LABS - CEO AND COFOUNDER
Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s cube? I have, and let me tell you, it’s not as easy as my then 9-year-old son made it look. There I was, twisting and turning that colorful puzzle, getting nowhere fast, while my kid solved it in under a minute. When...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
KEVIN B. MAHONEY
CEO, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM
Philadelphia is a city that understands beginnings. As one of the oldest in the nation and the birthplace of independence, it is a place of ideas and possibilities. Just blocks from the Pennsylvania State House, where the founders gathered to imagine a new republic, another American institution was already taking...
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™ South Africa
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® Tampa Bay Vol.3
Shane Needham
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...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
SAMANTHA MATHEWS
FOUNDER @LEARNBYLOCI
The technology industry is so broad-reaching and established that “innovation” has become the status quo. The problem that comes along with this entrenched approach to technological development is that we’ve also codified what the people who innovate look like; where they went to school, who they know, and what kind...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
LAURA CANTERO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRUPO GUAYACÁN, INC
One aspect I can highlight about doing business in Puerto Rico is the vibrant and growing community of entrepreneurs committed to transforming the local economy. This community of entrepreneurs is navigating a complex scenario under the shadow of an economic crisis that forced the local government to overhaul public finances....
INNOVATION Quebec
CHRISTIAN BLANCHETTE
RECTOR AT UQTR - UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À TROIS-RIVIÈRES / PRESIDENT OF UQTR
Since its creation in 1969, the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) has been active in several cities of the surrounding regions of Mauricie, Centredu-Québec and Lanaudière. More than fifty years of regional presence have enabled the University to establish ongoing relationships with various social, economic and cultural sectors. The...
INNOVATE® Miami
Johanna Mikkola
Founder & CEO - Wyncode
Johanna Mikkola, Founder & CEO, Wyncode No product, service, or experience can be built, marketed, or executed without the use of technology. Today, every industry is a technology industry. Even Domino’s Pizza calls itself “a tech company that sells pizza.” Our opportunities for employment reflect this fact. At the...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Erin Mays & Kalyn Rozanski
CO-CEOs - Ebco
Thought leaders in the truest sense, Erin Mays and Kalyn Rozanski of Ebco are completely reenvisioning and disrupting the trend and innovation research space with unique and differentiated products and services that support global Fortune 1000 companies. Coming from design thinking and qualitative research backgrounds, Mays shares “we no longer...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
Chaya Pamula
President & Ceo - Pamten
I’ve always believed that, with anything you do in life, it’s important to find your passion. Once you find that passion and set short- and long-term goals, you can transform your dream into a reality. Today’s technology gives us the unique opportunity to find and follow our path in more...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
PIERRE LEMIRE
CEO, KENT IMAGING
Struggle and EmergeFor as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for building high-tech imaging products. This passion has been the driving force of my professional life, and while I’ve managed to parlay it into a long, varied and rewarding career, it hasn’t always been easy. My successes...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
LUIS RODRIGUEZ
MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACCENTURE STRATEGY IN AFRICA
Demystifying innovation is trying to break it into what we see are the building blocks of getting from creating ideas to realising the value of innovation. There are three parts to it, and these are not necessarily sequential – ideating and shaping, designing and killing ideas and lastly scaling. Many...
INNOVATE® Utah
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
VOICES of the Future
JOSE CORDEIRO
THE DEATH OF DEATH
José Cordeiro passionately advocates for a future where aging is not an inevitability but a curable condition. His journey, marked by a relentless pursuit of scientific understanding and technological innovation, is a beacon of inspiration in an era increasingly focused on health and longevity. Our conversation illuminatingly delves into longevity,...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
JOHN CASH, FOUNDER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR JCSU ESPORTS INITIATIVE
ServiceAt its essence is selflessly giving/providing necessities to others with no intent to benefit. Wow, this is how it resonated with me prior to my commissioning as a United States Air Force (USAF) Officer the Friday before a Mother’s Day graduation at Howard University. “I will support and defend the...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
NAVEEN VENKATAPATHI
FOUNDER, WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS
LEARNING TO LISTEN WAS KEY TO WAVICLE DATA SOLUTION’SSUCCESS AND THEIR CUSTOMERSWhat we’ve learned as consultants, entrepreneurs, and leaders, is that listening and quickly learning from mistakes are two of the most important skills you can have. As consultants in the technology space, it’s very easy for our clients and...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
COL (RET) STU BRADIN
GLOBAL SOF FOUNDATION
As I approached my retirement from U.S. Special Operations Command in 2014, I decided to keep serving my nation and the wider Special Operations community through the formation of a new professional SOF association – the Global SOF Foundation (GSF). Since 9/11 U.S. special operations forces (SOF) had over doubled...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Paul O’Collins
Head Of Innovation, Business West
Innovation means different things to different people. For me it’s not about petri dishes and lab coats, it’s about the process through which great ideas are turned into tangible, measurable value. It’s an iterative process. It’s not just about having the idea, but about taking the necessary practical steps to...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
Troy LeMaile-Stovall
CEO OF TEDCO
CEO OF TEDCO From Southeast Houston to the boardrooms of the tech world, my journey has been anything but ordinary. Guided by a principle instilled in me by my mother, I’ve always believed that our primary purpose is to make a difference. This belief has not only shaped my personal...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
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® Puerto Rico
ENG. LUCY A CRESPO
CEO, P. R. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST
Innovation is a driver of well-being and economic development. Innovation and scientific advances are essential to driving economic growth, new business creation, and improving the quality of life. At the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, we continually strengthen our innovation culture by being optimistic, passionate, and curious. During...
BILL BROWN
PRESIDENT AND CEO, CITADEL CREDIT UNION
The Future of Finance Must Be More Human Innovation is often confused with technology. In financial services, we tend to measure progress by how quickly something happens: a faster transaction, a faster loan decision, a faster digital experience. Those things matter. But I believe the real measure of innovation is...
TAAVI KOTKA
ESTONIA’S FIRST CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Before stepping into government, Taavi had already made his mark in the tech sector. He co-founded and led the software company Webmedia (later Nortal), growing it into one of the region’s largest IT firms. His background as a developer and entrepreneur gave him a rare mix of technical skill and...
WA’IL ASHSHOWWAF
UNSTUCK LABS - CEO AND COFOUNDER
Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s cube? I have, and let me tell you, it’s not as easy as my then 9-year-old son made it look. There I was, twisting and turning that colorful puzzle, getting nowhere fast, while my kid solved it in under a minute. When...
KEVIN B. MAHONEY
CEO, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM
Philadelphia is a city that understands beginnings. As one of the oldest in the nation and the birthplace of independence, it is a place of ideas and possibilities. Just blocks from the Pennsylvania State House, where the founders gathered to imagine a new republic, another American institution was already taking...
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...
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...
Shane Needham
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...
SAMANTHA MATHEWS
FOUNDER @LEARNBYLOCI
The technology industry is so broad-reaching and established that “innovation” has become the status quo. The problem that comes along with this entrenched approach to technological development is that we’ve also codified what the people who innovate look like; where they went to school, who they know, and what kind...
LAURA CANTERO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRUPO GUAYACÁN, INC
One aspect I can highlight about doing business in Puerto Rico is the vibrant and growing community of entrepreneurs committed to transforming the local economy. This community of entrepreneurs is navigating a complex scenario under the shadow of an economic crisis that forced the local government to overhaul public finances....
CHRISTIAN BLANCHETTE
RECTOR AT UQTR - UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC À TROIS-RIVIÈRES / PRESIDENT OF UQTR
Since its creation in 1969, the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) has been active in several cities of the surrounding regions of Mauricie, Centredu-Québec and Lanaudière. More than fifty years of regional presence have enabled the University to establish ongoing relationships with various social, economic and cultural sectors. The...
Johanna Mikkola
Founder & CEO - Wyncode
Johanna Mikkola, Founder & CEO, Wyncode No product, service, or experience can be built, marketed, or executed without the use of technology. Today, every industry is a technology industry. Even Domino’s Pizza calls itself “a tech company that sells pizza.” Our opportunities for employment reflect this fact. At the...
Erin Mays & Kalyn Rozanski
CO-CEOs - Ebco
Thought leaders in the truest sense, Erin Mays and Kalyn Rozanski of Ebco are completely reenvisioning and disrupting the trend and innovation research space with unique and differentiated products and services that support global Fortune 1000 companies. Coming from design thinking and qualitative research backgrounds, Mays shares “we no longer...
Chaya Pamula
President & Ceo - Pamten
I’ve always believed that, with anything you do in life, it’s important to find your passion. Once you find that passion and set short- and long-term goals, you can transform your dream into a reality. Today’s technology gives us the unique opportunity to find and follow our path in more...
PIERRE LEMIRE
CEO, KENT IMAGING
Struggle and EmergeFor as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for building high-tech imaging products. This passion has been the driving force of my professional life, and while I’ve managed to parlay it into a long, varied and rewarding career, it hasn’t always been easy. My successes...
LUIS RODRIGUEZ
MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACCENTURE STRATEGY IN AFRICA
Demystifying innovation is trying to break it into what we see are the building blocks of getting from creating ideas to realising the value of innovation. There are three parts to it, and these are not necessarily sequential – ideating and shaping, designing and killing ideas and lastly scaling. Many...
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
JOSE CORDEIRO
THE DEATH OF DEATH
José Cordeiro passionately advocates for a future where aging is not an inevitability but a curable condition. His journey, marked by a relentless pursuit of scientific understanding and technological innovation, is a beacon of inspiration in an era increasingly focused on health and longevity. Our conversation illuminatingly delves into longevity,...
JOHN CASH, FOUNDER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR JCSU ESPORTS INITIATIVE
ServiceAt its essence is selflessly giving/providing necessities to others with no intent to benefit. Wow, this is how it resonated with me prior to my commissioning as a United States Air Force (USAF) Officer the Friday before a Mother’s Day graduation at Howard University. “I will support and defend the...
NAVEEN VENKATAPATHI
FOUNDER, WAVICLE DATA SOLUTIONS
LEARNING TO LISTEN WAS KEY TO WAVICLE DATA SOLUTION’SSUCCESS AND THEIR CUSTOMERSWhat we’ve learned as consultants, entrepreneurs, and leaders, is that listening and quickly learning from mistakes are two of the most important skills you can have. As consultants in the technology space, it’s very easy for our clients and...
COL (RET) STU BRADIN
GLOBAL SOF FOUNDATION
As I approached my retirement from U.S. Special Operations Command in 2014, I decided to keep serving my nation and the wider Special Operations community through the formation of a new professional SOF association – the Global SOF Foundation (GSF). Since 9/11 U.S. special operations forces (SOF) had over doubled...
Paul O’Collins
Head Of Innovation, Business West
Innovation means different things to different people. For me it’s not about petri dishes and lab coats, it’s about the process through which great ideas are turned into tangible, measurable value. It’s an iterative process. It’s not just about having the idea, but about taking the necessary practical steps to...
Troy LeMaile-Stovall
CEO OF TEDCO
CEO OF TEDCO From Southeast Houston to the boardrooms of the tech world, my journey has been anything but ordinary. Guided by a principle instilled in me by my mother, I’ve always believed that our primary purpose is to make a difference. This belief has not only shaped my personal...
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...
ENG. LUCY A CRESPO
CEO, P. R. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH TRUST
Innovation is a driver of well-being and economic development. Innovation and scientific advances are essential to driving economic growth, new business creation, and improving the quality of life. At the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, we continually strengthen our innovation culture by being optimistic, passionate, and curious. During...