Thought Leaders
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
Greg Ross Munro
Founder And Chief Executive Officer - Sourcetoad
Greg Ross-Munro, Founder And Chief Executive Officer – Sourcetoad That’s when one of the marketing managers from a completely different office walked over to chat with the IT director. She had an idea for integrating marketing data from the CMS into the shipboard signage system that was running on...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
HEIDI GILLMAN
CHIEF NFT OFFICER, NFT THE MOVIE, LLC
IMPOSSIBLE IS AN OPINION.Impossible is an opinion, not a fact. I teach and live my life in a way that shows my children nothing is impossible. My life’s design is to help others understand our minds and how powerful they are. We are designed to experience a creative and full...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
ALE BROWN
MBA, CIPP, CIPT, CIPM, PMP PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
ALE BROWN MBA, CIPP, CIPT, CIPM, PMP PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT Innovation to me means a lot of different things. It means courage, it means ability to adapt, it means embracing the unknown. It means a brighter and more promising future if you can see where theopportunities lie and just...
INNOVATE™ Montréal
Carl Baillargeon
Communications and Marketing Director - Technoparc Montréal
English: It’s a park. It’s techno. The Technoparc is relaxed and peaceful. The site is also green. Very green. With a huge proportion of green space and protected zones, located between areas of concrete omnipresence, the feel of nature is flagrant and fragrant. A perfect setting for companies and...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
FRANÇOIS GAGNON
GENERAL DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF DIRECTORATE, SCHOOL OF HIGHER TECHNOLOGY (ÉTS)
It was in 1991 that I joined École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) as a professor. Over the course of my teaching career, through the development of my research career and now, as CEO of ÉTS since 2019, I have been able to truly appreciate the extent to which this institution...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
TIA UPSHAW
CEO, ADVOCATE FOR BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, BWIE
The Power of Disruptive Thinking: Creating Space for Black Women Entrepreneurs. As a Black woman in business, I’ve learned that waiting for permission is a losing game. The barriers we face—from systemic inequities to limited funding opportunities—are not new. But what is new is our approach. Instead of knocking on...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Ashland Viscosi
Founder - Creatives Meet Business (CMB)
Austin has long been known as a hub of and for creativity. Monikers like the “Live Music Capital of the World” and “Keep Austin Weird” are known by those far outside of Austin’s City Limits. While it might have been music that initially landed Austin on the map, it’s our...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
NERMA ALBERTORIO BARNÉS
CO-FOUNDER CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Puerto Rico, the unincorporated US territory, has been the focus of the public eye due to a very controversial bankruptcy, escalating debt, a category 5 hurricane, and one of the lowest economies in the United States. However, Puerto Rico has a lot to offer, and much work needs to be...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
LAKSHMI SHENOY
CEO-EMBARC COLLECTIVE
REFLECTING ON THE CURVEBALLS OF 2020 For Embarc Collective, 2020 was defined as an exercise of turning obstacles into opportunity. In January we launched the final component of our value proposition, our 32,000-square-foot physical space. In doing this, we could finally bring our vision of making Embarc Collective the central...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
MAX BROWN
Vice President Horizon 3 Technology
Although the aerospace industry finds itself in unprecedented times, at GKN Aerospace we have much to be excited about. Over the past 12 months we have maintained an important balance, with a firm focus on our short-term priorities in response to the corona virus pandemic, alongside continued support for our...
INNOVATE® Georgia
JEFF UPHUES
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT DC BLOX INC.
My journey in the technology and data center industry has been shaped by a relentless commitment to tenacity, teamwork, and trust. At DC BLOX, these principles are the driving force behind our approach to the industry. Tenacity has been the cornerstone of our success at DC BLOX. We started as...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Marvin Rees
Mayor Of Bristol
Bristol is rapidly attracting a reputation as a sustainable, innovative city with a dynamic culture of talent and innovation. With our world-class universities, high-tech sector, digital expertise and infrastructure, we are well-positioned to embrace this reputation, while ensuring the benefits are shared by all. We know the pace of digitisation...
Global Innovation Spotlight
FRANK LEYHAUSEN
CEO AF1 GMBH, COLOGNE, GERMANY
In almost all countries of the developed world, the labor market is under pressure. The reason: Demographic change has shrunk the number of people of working age. Seriously? I don’t think so! In Western society, age is and always has been associated with the loss of skills and abilities. For...
INNOVATE® Gainesville
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...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
ERIC VAN RYSWYK
CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, CODIUM
In the world of business, technology has long been a driving force behind innovation and progress. Advancements in frameworks, computing power, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have led to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. However, as technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly clear that the true...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
KWAMÉ BABB
PRINCIPAL VFX ARTIST & MANAGER-Schell Games
Each morning from my desk at Schell Games (pre-pandemic, obviously), I can look through the Station Square windows at the Monongahela River and the skyline of the city of Pittsburgh, which if you’ve never visited is probably one of the most beautiful in America that not everyone knows about. On...
INNOVATE® Nashville
DJ KREAL
FOUNDER AT JAILCORE
Be Your Own Boss Growing up, my dad always told me to be an entrepreneur — to “be your own boss.” He believed in taking charge of your own destiny, and that message stuck. His belief carried me through Clemson University, where I majored in marketing and minored in entrepreneurship....
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
STUART COOK
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, VALLEY NATIONAL BANK
LEVERAGING OUR DIFFERENTIATOR IN THE AGE OF AI – PEOPLEWe are entering a new age of innovation where artificial intelligence will revolutionize the way we work, interact with our customers, and drive business outcomes. It’s going to impact all industries, including banking and financial services. Yet, while everyone rushes up...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
NICHOLAS NING
FOUNDER & CEO, FARPOINT
Entrepreneurship and innovation are two sides of the same coin. They are the lifeblood of the modern business ecosystem. Entrepreneurs are the risk-takers who dare to disrupt, and innovation is their weapon of choice. Together, they form a potent mix that drives economies forward, reshapes industries, and even improves lives....
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
ALICIA ROISMAN ISMACH
HEAD OF FINTECH, ATLANTIC FINTECH
Looking back on Atlantic Canada’s fintech sector, I remember being impressed by the stark resilience of the entrepreneurs in the region. Incredible innovation was happening across the four provinces to revolutionize and digitalize under-developed technologies, particularly in back-end solutions of all industries—from banking and aviation to communications and human resources....
INNOVATE® Jacksonville
Marc Blumenthal
Co-Founder - Synapse Florida Partner
Marc Blumenthal Co-Founder, Synapse Florida Partner, Florida Funders 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...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
OMID EKHLASI
FOUNDER & CEO, TECHARENA
The Power of Gathering Over ten years ago, Techarena began in a small movie theater in southern Sweden. A group of founders stood on stage to pitch their ideas, full of hope and determination. Only eight people came to watch. It would have been easy to feel discouraged, but something...
Greg Ross Munro
Founder And Chief Executive Officer - Sourcetoad
Greg Ross-Munro, Founder And Chief Executive Officer – Sourcetoad That’s when one of the marketing managers from a completely different office walked over to chat with the IT director. She had an idea for integrating marketing data from the CMS into the shipboard signage system that was running on...
HEIDI GILLMAN
CHIEF NFT OFFICER, NFT THE MOVIE, LLC
IMPOSSIBLE IS AN OPINION.Impossible is an opinion, not a fact. I teach and live my life in a way that shows my children nothing is impossible. My life’s design is to help others understand our minds and how powerful they are. We are designed to experience a creative and full...
ALE BROWN
MBA, CIPP, CIPT, CIPM, PMP PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
ALE BROWN MBA, CIPP, CIPT, CIPM, PMP PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT Innovation to me means a lot of different things. It means courage, it means ability to adapt, it means embracing the unknown. It means a brighter and more promising future if you can see where theopportunities lie and just...
Carl Baillargeon
Communications and Marketing Director - Technoparc Montréal
English: It’s a park. It’s techno. The Technoparc is relaxed and peaceful. The site is also green. Very green. With a huge proportion of green space and protected zones, located between areas of concrete omnipresence, the feel of nature is flagrant and fragrant. A perfect setting for companies and...
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...
FRANÇOIS GAGNON
GENERAL DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF DIRECTORATE, SCHOOL OF HIGHER TECHNOLOGY (ÉTS)
It was in 1991 that I joined École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) as a professor. Over the course of my teaching career, through the development of my research career and now, as CEO of ÉTS since 2019, I have been able to truly appreciate the extent to which this institution...
TIA UPSHAW
CEO, ADVOCATE FOR BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, BWIE
The Power of Disruptive Thinking: Creating Space for Black Women Entrepreneurs. As a Black woman in business, I’ve learned that waiting for permission is a losing game. The barriers we face—from systemic inequities to limited funding opportunities—are not new. But what is new is our approach. Instead of knocking on...
Ashland Viscosi
Founder - Creatives Meet Business (CMB)
Austin has long been known as a hub of and for creativity. Monikers like the “Live Music Capital of the World” and “Keep Austin Weird” are known by those far outside of Austin’s City Limits. While it might have been music that initially landed Austin on the map, it’s our...
NERMA ALBERTORIO BARNÉS
CO-FOUNDER CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Puerto Rico, the unincorporated US territory, has been the focus of the public eye due to a very controversial bankruptcy, escalating debt, a category 5 hurricane, and one of the lowest economies in the United States. However, Puerto Rico has a lot to offer, and much work needs to be...
LAKSHMI SHENOY
CEO-EMBARC COLLECTIVE
REFLECTING ON THE CURVEBALLS OF 2020 For Embarc Collective, 2020 was defined as an exercise of turning obstacles into opportunity. In January we launched the final component of our value proposition, our 32,000-square-foot physical space. In doing this, we could finally bring our vision of making Embarc Collective the central...
MAX BROWN
Vice President Horizon 3 Technology
Although the aerospace industry finds itself in unprecedented times, at GKN Aerospace we have much to be excited about. Over the past 12 months we have maintained an important balance, with a firm focus on our short-term priorities in response to the corona virus pandemic, alongside continued support for our...
JEFF UPHUES
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT DC BLOX INC.
My journey in the technology and data center industry has been shaped by a relentless commitment to tenacity, teamwork, and trust. At DC BLOX, these principles are the driving force behind our approach to the industry. Tenacity has been the cornerstone of our success at DC BLOX. We started as...
Marvin Rees
Mayor Of Bristol
Bristol is rapidly attracting a reputation as a sustainable, innovative city with a dynamic culture of talent and innovation. With our world-class universities, high-tech sector, digital expertise and infrastructure, we are well-positioned to embrace this reputation, while ensuring the benefits are shared by all. We know the pace of digitisation...
FRANK LEYHAUSEN
CEO AF1 GMBH, COLOGNE, GERMANY
In almost all countries of the developed world, the labor market is under pressure. The reason: Demographic change has shrunk the number of people of working age. Seriously? I don’t think so! In Western society, age is and always has been associated with the loss of skills and abilities. For...
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...
ERIC VAN RYSWYK
CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, CODIUM
In the world of business, technology has long been a driving force behind innovation and progress. Advancements in frameworks, computing power, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have led to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. However, as technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly clear that the true...
KWAMÉ BABB
PRINCIPAL VFX ARTIST & MANAGER-Schell Games
Each morning from my desk at Schell Games (pre-pandemic, obviously), I can look through the Station Square windows at the Monongahela River and the skyline of the city of Pittsburgh, which if you’ve never visited is probably one of the most beautiful in America that not everyone knows about. On...
DJ KREAL
FOUNDER AT JAILCORE
Be Your Own Boss Growing up, my dad always told me to be an entrepreneur — to “be your own boss.” He believed in taking charge of your own destiny, and that message stuck. His belief carried me through Clemson University, where I majored in marketing and minored in entrepreneurship....
STUART COOK
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, VALLEY NATIONAL BANK
LEVERAGING OUR DIFFERENTIATOR IN THE AGE OF AI – PEOPLEWe are entering a new age of innovation where artificial intelligence will revolutionize the way we work, interact with our customers, and drive business outcomes. It’s going to impact all industries, including banking and financial services. Yet, while everyone rushes up...
NICHOLAS NING
FOUNDER & CEO, FARPOINT
Entrepreneurship and innovation are two sides of the same coin. They are the lifeblood of the modern business ecosystem. Entrepreneurs are the risk-takers who dare to disrupt, and innovation is their weapon of choice. Together, they form a potent mix that drives economies forward, reshapes industries, and even improves lives....
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...
ALICIA ROISMAN ISMACH
HEAD OF FINTECH, ATLANTIC FINTECH
Looking back on Atlantic Canada’s fintech sector, I remember being impressed by the stark resilience of the entrepreneurs in the region. Incredible innovation was happening across the four provinces to revolutionize and digitalize under-developed technologies, particularly in back-end solutions of all industries—from banking and aviation to communications and human resources....
Marc Blumenthal
Co-Founder - Synapse Florida Partner
Marc Blumenthal Co-Founder, Synapse Florida Partner, Florida Funders 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...
OMID EKHLASI
FOUNDER & CEO, TECHARENA
The Power of Gathering Over ten years ago, Techarena began in a small movie theater in southern Sweden. A group of founders stood on stage to pitch their ideas, full of hope and determination. Only eight people came to watch. It would have been easy to feel discouraged, but something...