Thought Leaders
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
SIMONE DOUGLAS
CEO, DIGITAL MARKETING AOK
We are seeing a surge in creativity as businesses look for new and innovative ways to stay afloat and emerge from this crisis successfully. Now more than ever your social capital counts. Today’s social climate encourages people to support local small businesses, creating a sense of community among us all....
INNOVATE™ Alberta
MICHAEL MCKERRACHER,
REGIONAL MANAGING PARTNER, KPMG IN CANADA’S CALGARY OFFICE
Having served as KPMG in Canada’s National Energy leader for 12 years and working in the Calgary marketplace for the past 30 years. I see Alberta uniquely positioned to foster and lead innovation at the intersection of sustainability, energy, and technology. Businesses are presented with opportunities for growth as the...
INNOVATE® Minnesota
Geoff Martha
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® Orlando
Rob Panepinto, Founder and CEO, Rally and EIA Social Enterprise Fund; President
Florentine Strategies
Rob Panepinto is an innovator who has always challenged the status quo of “good enough.” He is President of Florentine Strategies, CEO of Entrepreneurs in Action, and he recently joined UCF’s Partnership and Innovation team, serving as a Senior Strategic Advisor and Director of the Downtown Innovation District. Rob is...
AI Québec
GILLES SAVARD
DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL -IVADO
Moteur d’innovation, les données sont au cœur de la transformation numérique qui s’impose partout. Liées à plusieurs technologies numériques habilitantes arrivant à maturité dont, l’infonuagique, l’internet des objets, le 5G, le 3D, la réalité augmentée, la robotique, etc., ces données et leur valorisation par l’analytique sont les véritables activateurs de...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
Dr. Wayne Tamarelli, President - AWT Private Investments
President - AWT Private Investments
As a CEO, entrepreneur, private company owner, and public company officer, Dr. Wayne Tamarelli’s 40+ years of experience have encompassed general management, entrepreneurship, new ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and many more. He also has investments in several wine industry businesses. His primary business activity is as a professional venture capital...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
IGNACIO ALVAREZ
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF POPULAR INC.
Technological advances, changing customer expectations and a rapidly evolving competitive landscape have made innovation not a choice, but a requirement to remain competitive at every level. Countries, companies and individuals must constantly question the present and aspire to make the future better. Because innovation is not an end in itself;...
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™ South Africa
WRENELLE STANDER
CEO, WESGRO
As Wesgro CEO (Wesgro is the official Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape), I am committed to doing my part in making the Western Cape one of the world’s leading regional economies. We recognise that to succeed in a changing world, we will be...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
Joel B. Bruckman
Attorney - Freeborn & Peters LLP
I support innovators by providing them with a comprehensive approach to data privacy and cybersecurity to both protect them and free them to function at full capacity. This includes providing clients with: i) a clear understanding of the data privacy laws and regulations applicable to their businesses; ii) guidance in...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
The Digital World is a contemporary expression to communicate the importance of digital technology, services and tools to communicate on the Internet, smart devices, the Internet of Things and other digital sources. We are barely entering the early stages of the so-called Digital Revolution and its impact on business is...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
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...
VOICES of the Future
KUSHAL SHAH
ETHICS, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT
When talking with Kushal Shah, the Managing Director of e& capital, I am struck by the depth and range of his experiences. Kushal, a man whose life journey began in the serenity of Nairobi, Kenya, opened our conversation with a profound reflection on his roots. “I was born and brought...
Jeff Citty
ED.D. - UF Innovation Academy Director
Jeff Citty ED.D. UF Innovation Academy Director One of the strongest competitive qualities we possess as Americans is our ability to innovate and develop creative solutions to complex problems. The University of Florida’s (UF) Innovation Academy (IA) facilitates innovative student thinking, creativity, and the creation of student partnerships with start...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
MESHACK TSHEKEDI
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOTSWANA OIL
Botswana Oil, the state-owned oil utility responsible for the country’s fuel security, is leveraging on research, innovation and partnerships to contribute more towards Botswana’s drive to reduce its carbon emissions. Botswana is a minimal contributor to carbon emissions at global scale, with the last update showing that Africa as a...
VOICES of the Future
CHEF SATISH ARORA
FLAVORS OF PERSEVERANCE
Chef Satish Arora’s five decades at the Taj Group bring not just a legacy of culinary excellence but a treasure trove of wisdom, encapsulating the essence of a life devoted to passion, perseverance, and innovation. During our conversation, it becomes evident that his words serve as a compass for younger...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Douglas Ferguson
President
Douglas is an entrepreneur and human-centered technologist with over 20 years of experience. He is president of Voltage Control, an Austin-based workshop agency that specializes in Design Sprints and innovation workshops. Less talk, more prototypingThe thought of prototyping might be intimidating. The word can conjure something daunting, technical, or elaborate....
Dr Harry Destecroix
CEO, Unit DX
When Novo Nordisk acquired our company, Ziylo, in a deal potentially worth $800 million, it exceeded our wildest expectations. Four years earlier, in 2014, I was finishing my Ph.D. in Professor Davis’ lab at the University of Bristol. We’d designed a set of molecular ‘sugar switches’ that sense how much...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Akshay Sabhikhi, CEO and Matt Sanchez, Founder & CTO
CognitiveScale
CognitiveScale The next frontier: Building AI systems you can trust Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grabbed a foothold in the enterprise and is poised to become as ubiquitous as the internet – touching every aspect of our lives. From detecting and impacting climate change to advancements in disease diagnosis to aiding...
INNOVATE® Milwaukee
BEN KERFORD
STRATEGIC EXECUTIVE AT 7RIVERS
Innovation is often misunderstood as a pursuit of the latest technology, but in reality, it’s about solving meaningful problems in new ways. It’s about leveraging data, AI, and strategic thinking to drive real business value. Throughout my career, from consulting to leading 7Rivers, I’ve focused on not just embracing change...
INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1
John Osborne
Director Of External Affairs - AT&T
As an economist, telecommunications professional, and business leader, I have witnessed a tremendous amount of innovation in the telecommunications space in a very short period of time. We’re on the verge of having networks so intelligent that they can guide cars through city traffic without drivers, communicate one’s heart rate...
INNOVATE® Detroit
TINA KOZAK
FRANCO - CEO
It’s an amazing time to be a Detroiter. Yes, the city has its fair share of challenges, but its reputation is on the rise. As noted in a recent PR News article about Detroit’s renaissance, “Behind every rehabbed reputation lies really hard work, dedicated individuals and, of course, some strategic...
INNOVATE® Nashville
HARRY ALLEN
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, STUDIO BANK
A NATIVE’S PERSPECTIVEI love Nashville. As a fifth-generation native, Nashville is the only place I’ve ever called home. And while it’s not the town I grew up in, today’s Nashville has certainly kept me engaged and excited. So I’ve continued to choose Nashville as the place to build my family,...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
NICOLAS GILOT
FOUNDER & CEO, ULTRA
Taking gaming and flipping it on its head with the use of blockchain technology was no small feat. Luckily, Nicolas Gilot and David Hanson, CO-CEOs of Ultra, have a strong background in the games industry and the innovative spark that made dreams come true for gamers and game developers around...
SIMONE DOUGLAS
CEO, DIGITAL MARKETING AOK
We are seeing a surge in creativity as businesses look for new and innovative ways to stay afloat and emerge from this crisis successfully. Now more than ever your social capital counts. Today’s social climate encourages people to support local small businesses, creating a sense of community among us all....
MICHAEL MCKERRACHER,
REGIONAL MANAGING PARTNER, KPMG IN CANADA’S CALGARY OFFICE
Having served as KPMG in Canada’s National Energy leader for 12 years and working in the Calgary marketplace for the past 30 years. I see Alberta uniquely positioned to foster and lead innovation at the intersection of sustainability, energy, and technology. Businesses are presented with opportunities for growth as the...
Geoff Martha
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...
Rob Panepinto, Founder and CEO, Rally and EIA Social Enterprise Fund; President
Florentine Strategies
Rob Panepinto is an innovator who has always challenged the status quo of “good enough.” He is President of Florentine Strategies, CEO of Entrepreneurs in Action, and he recently joined UCF’s Partnership and Innovation team, serving as a Senior Strategic Advisor and Director of the Downtown Innovation District. Rob is...
GILLES SAVARD
DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL -IVADO
Moteur d’innovation, les données sont au cœur de la transformation numérique qui s’impose partout. Liées à plusieurs technologies numériques habilitantes arrivant à maturité dont, l’infonuagique, l’internet des objets, le 5G, le 3D, la réalité augmentée, la robotique, etc., ces données et leur valorisation par l’analytique sont les véritables activateurs de...
Dr. Wayne Tamarelli, President - AWT Private Investments
President - AWT Private Investments
As a CEO, entrepreneur, private company owner, and public company officer, Dr. Wayne Tamarelli’s 40+ years of experience have encompassed general management, entrepreneurship, new ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and many more. He also has investments in several wine industry businesses. His primary business activity is as a professional venture capital...
IGNACIO ALVAREZ
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF POPULAR INC.
Technological advances, changing customer expectations and a rapidly evolving competitive landscape have made innovation not a choice, but a requirement to remain competitive at every level. Countries, companies and individuals must constantly question the present and aspire to make the future better. Because innovation is not an end in itself;...
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...
WRENELLE STANDER
CEO, WESGRO
As Wesgro CEO (Wesgro is the official Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape), I am committed to doing my part in making the Western Cape one of the world’s leading regional economies. We recognise that to succeed in a changing world, we will be...
Joel B. Bruckman
Attorney - Freeborn & Peters LLP
I support innovators by providing them with a comprehensive approach to data privacy and cybersecurity to both protect them and free them to function at full capacity. This includes providing clients with: i) a clear understanding of the data privacy laws and regulations applicable to their businesses; ii) guidance in...
The Digital World is a contemporary expression to communicate the importance of digital technology, services and tools to communicate on the Internet, smart devices, the Internet of Things and other digital sources. We are barely entering the early stages of the so-called Digital Revolution and its impact on business is...
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...
KUSHAL SHAH
ETHICS, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT
When talking with Kushal Shah, the Managing Director of e& capital, I am struck by the depth and range of his experiences. Kushal, a man whose life journey began in the serenity of Nairobi, Kenya, opened our conversation with a profound reflection on his roots. “I was born and brought...
Jeff Citty
ED.D. - UF Innovation Academy Director
Jeff Citty ED.D. UF Innovation Academy Director One of the strongest competitive qualities we possess as Americans is our ability to innovate and develop creative solutions to complex problems. The University of Florida’s (UF) Innovation Academy (IA) facilitates innovative student thinking, creativity, and the creation of student partnerships with start...
MESHACK TSHEKEDI
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOTSWANA OIL
Botswana Oil, the state-owned oil utility responsible for the country’s fuel security, is leveraging on research, innovation and partnerships to contribute more towards Botswana’s drive to reduce its carbon emissions. Botswana is a minimal contributor to carbon emissions at global scale, with the last update showing that Africa as a...
CHEF SATISH ARORA
FLAVORS OF PERSEVERANCE
Chef Satish Arora’s five decades at the Taj Group bring not just a legacy of culinary excellence but a treasure trove of wisdom, encapsulating the essence of a life devoted to passion, perseverance, and innovation. During our conversation, it becomes evident that his words serve as a compass for younger...
Douglas Ferguson
President
Douglas is an entrepreneur and human-centered technologist with over 20 years of experience. He is president of Voltage Control, an Austin-based workshop agency that specializes in Design Sprints and innovation workshops. Less talk, more prototypingThe thought of prototyping might be intimidating. The word can conjure something daunting, technical, or elaborate....
Dr Harry Destecroix
CEO, Unit DX
When Novo Nordisk acquired our company, Ziylo, in a deal potentially worth $800 million, it exceeded our wildest expectations. Four years earlier, in 2014, I was finishing my Ph.D. in Professor Davis’ lab at the University of Bristol. We’d designed a set of molecular ‘sugar switches’ that sense how much...
Akshay Sabhikhi, CEO and Matt Sanchez, Founder & CTO
CognitiveScale
CognitiveScale The next frontier: Building AI systems you can trust Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grabbed a foothold in the enterprise and is poised to become as ubiquitous as the internet – touching every aspect of our lives. From detecting and impacting climate change to advancements in disease diagnosis to aiding...
BEN KERFORD
STRATEGIC EXECUTIVE AT 7RIVERS
Innovation is often misunderstood as a pursuit of the latest technology, but in reality, it’s about solving meaningful problems in new ways. It’s about leveraging data, AI, and strategic thinking to drive real business value. Throughout my career, from consulting to leading 7Rivers, I’ve focused on not just embracing change...
John Osborne
Director Of External Affairs - AT&T
As an economist, telecommunications professional, and business leader, I have witnessed a tremendous amount of innovation in the telecommunications space in a very short period of time. We’re on the verge of having networks so intelligent that they can guide cars through city traffic without drivers, communicate one’s heart rate...
TINA KOZAK
FRANCO - CEO
It’s an amazing time to be a Detroiter. Yes, the city has its fair share of challenges, but its reputation is on the rise. As noted in a recent PR News article about Detroit’s renaissance, “Behind every rehabbed reputation lies really hard work, dedicated individuals and, of course, some strategic...
HARRY ALLEN
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, STUDIO BANK
A NATIVE’S PERSPECTIVEI love Nashville. As a fifth-generation native, Nashville is the only place I’ve ever called home. And while it’s not the town I grew up in, today’s Nashville has certainly kept me engaged and excited. So I’ve continued to choose Nashville as the place to build my family,...
NICOLAS GILOT
FOUNDER & CEO, ULTRA
Taking gaming and flipping it on its head with the use of blockchain technology was no small feat. Luckily, Nicolas Gilot and David Hanson, CO-CEOs of Ultra, have a strong background in the games industry and the innovative spark that made dreams come true for gamers and game developers around...