Thought Leaders

VOICES of the Future

FABIOLA EYHOLZER

HUMANIZING WORK

In my conversation with Fabiola Eyholzer, co-founder and CEO of Just Leading Solutions, I was struck by her remarkable insights and profound understanding of human resources in today’s fastevolving corporate landscape. Fabiola, who hails from a picturesque Swiss mountain town, brings a unique blend of analytical acumen and deep empathy...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

GUSTAV BUDER

FINTECH FOUNDER, BOARD-LEVEL ADVISOR AND ACTIVE INVESTOR - REGION PARTNER, BYBIT NORDIC

Most people don’t reject new ideas because they’re irrational. They reject them because they’re using the wrong frame. I learned this the hard way. Coming from the payment’s world, I initially looked at Bitcoin like a payment network and asked, “Why is it so slow?” That’s the classic mistake: judging...

INNOVATE® Georgia

AMY BARBIERI

FOUNDING PARTNER, PRESIDENT, AND CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER, VITAL4

To all my fellow dreamers and doers, let me take you on a journey—a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and the relentless pursuit of innovation. My name is Amy, and I am not just a female entrepreneur and tech founder, but a student of life and an example of resilience...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

TIGE SAVAGE

MANAGING PARTNER OF REVOLUTION VENTURES AND CO-FOUNDER OF REVOLUTION

I’ve been fortunate to partner with brilliant startup leaders during my career, and it’s often the companies that require the most grit that are the most rewarding experiences. The pursuit of great challenges is also something I look for in my personal life. I recently sailed – backwards – around...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

YIN OEI

LIVING TOMORROW GROUP - CEO

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, our greatest responsibility as leaders is to ensure that the advancements we champion do more than just enhance efficiency—they must also contribute to a sustainable and equitable world. My vision for the industry is centered around the seamless integration of technology into...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

Carole Lamarque

CEO, Founding Partner Of Duval Union Innovative Marketing

Strategic Marketing, launching innovations and new technologies are my passions. I worked as a marketing leader for various companies in competitive markets. It was a privilege to work in these sectors. I look back on my very pleasant and extremely smart colleagues. Many of them supported me and made me...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Dr. Michael Avaltroni

Dean of the Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy & Health Scien

A recent published study described how in 1950, medical knowledge was on pace to double every 50 years. In 2020, this rate is projected to be 73 days. Healthcare providers, then, have at once a huge set of challenges—and an even larger set of opportunities. Adapting to this new healthcare...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Eric Simone

Eric Simone

CEO and CO-FOUNDER

EARLY INTERNET – SAN FRANCISCO, CA (1994 – 2003)As a kid in the early 80’s when I was obsessed with my Apple computer, my eyes were opened to the power of software. After an early start at IBM, I became an entrepreneur and moved to San Francisco. While my first...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Kevin L. Faulconer

Kevin L. Faulconer

Mayor - City Of San Diego

The region’s world-class universities, research institutions, and life sciences industry have a long history of groundbreaking discoveries that have saved lives across the globe, including several companies working around the clock right now in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.As Mayor, I have pushed to make the City of San...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia: 250 Years of Innovation

JOE VOLPE

CO-FOUNDER, CESCAPHE

As the co-founder of Cescaphe, I never set out to disrupt the hospitality and events industry, I set out to create an experience I couldn’t find elsewhere. When we launched Cescaphe, the traditional wedding and event model was fragmented, making for an unpleasant client experience, when it should be a...

INNOVATE® Jacksonville

Carlton Robinson

Carlton Robinson

Vice President - Jax Chamber Entrepreneurial Growth Division

After working in financial services for 10 years, I decided to leave and start my own business. I built on my strength of providing quality training and focused the business on building learning-management systems. I spent seven years building systems for small and large companies. An opportunity at the JAX...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

MOHAMAD TAKWA

CEO & CO-FOUNDER, EPIGENICA

When I was a young researcher, I believed invention was the pinnacle of achievement. To discover something new and build something no one had built before – that felt like enough. But after launching several deep tech startups, I’ve learned a powerful lesson. Invention is just the beginning. Innovation is...

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™ Bristol & Bath

CHARLES RADCLYFFE

PARTNER, ETHICS GRADE

“WE ARE CONCERNED FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE JOBS AS A RESULT OF AUTOMATION”.– CHARLES RADCLYFFE, PARTNER We are worried. Some of the things we worry about are the same as everyone else who is trying to imagine the impact of technology on our lives. We worry about how...

INNOVATE® Miami

Alberto Carvalho

Alberto Carvalho

Superintendent - Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Innovation in education takes the form of rich, powerful, explosive choice. Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools class=”img-responsive”> In education, innovation is about ensuring that today’s students emerge from the educational process with a critical skill set that empowers them to work in diverse teams, enables them to reason...

INNOVATE® Maryland

JARED SMITH, PRESIDENT & CEO, MONTGOMERY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The world’s most competitive economies do not happen by accident. They are built through collaboration and the shared commitment of strategic partners to create the conditions for growth and opportunity. That is what we are doing in Montgomery County, Maryland. As President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

JEFF CRANE

CEO AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, NFT THE MOVIE, LLC

One HeartCreating an NFT movie masterpiece to document inspiring stories made through NFT technology requires a shared vision, goal, and a dedicated team. Blockchain technology may be new to the world, but proven leadership and purpose-driven teams remain the driving heart of success in this novel industry and space. As...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Jim Barnish

Jim Barnish

Jr. Thought Leader Of Morgan Hill Partners

Jim Barnish is a strategic change leader with over 15 years of leadership experience in global and integrated operations, M&A, and strategic go-to-market planning. Over the course of his career, Jim has successfully worked with companies undergoing roll-up mergers and acquisitions, accelerated business development, process improvement, change management, and operational...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

ALI A. HOUSHMAND

ALI A. HOUSHMAND

PRESIDENT, ROWAN UNIVERSITY

WORDS OF WISDOMI’m a dreamer. I dream big. The ability to imagine a better reality helped transform my own life and, later, an entire institution. Yet, it requires a willingness to do something different, perhaps even radical. From my own experience, I can say that everything starts with education, whether...

INNOVATE® Georgia

BRIAN ALBERTSON, PRESIDENT AND PHILLIP LEE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

ISACA ATLANTA CHAPTER

Developing innovation is a dynamic and ongoing process essential for advancing human knowledge, solving critical problems, and driving progress across domains. It requires creativity, strategic thinking, and effective execution to transform new ideas into tangible benefits. Innovation creates opportunities, fuels growth, and drives development across diverse fields, passing the torch...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

JOHN WASSON

CHAIR AND CEO, ICF

When I joined ICF in 1987, I believed deeply in the power of data to help organizations make better decisions. I’ve held onto that belief as I’ve watched wave after wave of technological change reshape how institutions operate. Today, advances in AI and analytics are accelerating the pace of change...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

The Hon Peter Malinauskas

Premier of South Australia

They’re all inventions which changed the face of the world. They’re all examples of original and innovative thinking. And they all began as sparks of brilliance in the minds of South Australians. From Sir Howard Florey’s insights into the properties of penicillin and Lancelot de Mole’s development of caterpillar tracks,...

INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®

Bob Kain

Bob Kain

Co-Founder and CEO - LunaPBC

Bob Kain Co-Founder And CEO – LunaPBC I’ve been fortunate enough to live a life distinguished by constant progression, from understanding to impacting, particularly in my career. Trained as a physicist, I was fueled by a deep drive to understand some of the most complex “whys” of our world. Quickly...

AI Québec

STEVEN WEST

STEVEN WEST

PROFESSOR, CBE, DL.

On the 27th March I attended a meeting on campus with colleagues from the NHS, army logistics, architects, designers and building contractors. Over the next two hours we agreed the site was viable and the preferred option to support the region. I made the decision there and then to handover...

FABIOLA EYHOLZER

HUMANIZING WORK

In my conversation with Fabiola Eyholzer, co-founder and CEO of Just Leading Solutions, I was struck by her remarkable insights and profound understanding of human resources in today’s fastevolving corporate landscape. Fabiola, who hails from a picturesque Swiss mountain town, brings a unique blend of analytical acumen and deep empathy...

GUSTAV BUDER

FINTECH FOUNDER, BOARD-LEVEL ADVISOR AND ACTIVE INVESTOR - REGION PARTNER, BYBIT NORDIC

Most people don’t reject new ideas because they’re irrational. They reject them because they’re using the wrong frame. I learned this the hard way. Coming from the payment’s world, I initially looked at Bitcoin like a payment network and asked, “Why is it so slow?” That’s the classic mistake: judging...

AMY BARBIERI

FOUNDING PARTNER, PRESIDENT, AND CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER, VITAL4

To all my fellow dreamers and doers, let me take you on a journey—a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and the relentless pursuit of innovation. My name is Amy, and I am not just a female entrepreneur and tech founder, but a student of life and an example of resilience...

TIGE SAVAGE

MANAGING PARTNER OF REVOLUTION VENTURES AND CO-FOUNDER OF REVOLUTION

I’ve been fortunate to partner with brilliant startup leaders during my career, and it’s often the companies that require the most grit that are the most rewarding experiences. The pursuit of great challenges is also something I look for in my personal life. I recently sailed – backwards – around...

YIN OEI

LIVING TOMORROW GROUP - CEO

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, our greatest responsibility as leaders is to ensure that the advancements we champion do more than just enhance efficiency—they must also contribute to a sustainable and equitable world. My vision for the industry is centered around the seamless integration of technology into...

Carole Lamarque

CEO, Founding Partner Of Duval Union Innovative Marketing

Strategic Marketing, launching innovations and new technologies are my passions. I worked as a marketing leader for various companies in competitive markets. It was a privilege to work in these sectors. I look back on my very pleasant and extremely smart colleagues. Many of them supported me and made me...

Dr. Michael Avaltroni

Dean of the Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy & Health Scien

A recent published study described how in 1950, medical knowledge was on pace to double every 50 years. In 2020, this rate is projected to be 73 days. Healthcare providers, then, have at once a huge set of challenges—and an even larger set of opportunities. Adapting to this new healthcare...

Eric Simone

Eric Simone

CEO and CO-FOUNDER

EARLY INTERNET – SAN FRANCISCO, CA (1994 – 2003)As a kid in the early 80’s when I was obsessed with my Apple computer, my eyes were opened to the power of software. After an early start at IBM, I became an entrepreneur and moved to San Francisco. While my first...

Kevin L. Faulconer

Kevin L. Faulconer

Mayor - City Of San Diego

The region’s world-class universities, research institutions, and life sciences industry have a long history of groundbreaking discoveries that have saved lives across the globe, including several companies working around the clock right now in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.As Mayor, I have pushed to make the City of San...

JOE VOLPE

CO-FOUNDER, CESCAPHE

As the co-founder of Cescaphe, I never set out to disrupt the hospitality and events industry, I set out to create an experience I couldn’t find elsewhere. When we launched Cescaphe, the traditional wedding and event model was fragmented, making for an unpleasant client experience, when it should be a...

Carlton Robinson

Carlton Robinson

Vice President - Jax Chamber Entrepreneurial Growth Division

After working in financial services for 10 years, I decided to leave and start my own business. I built on my strength of providing quality training and focused the business on building learning-management systems. I spent seven years building systems for small and large companies. An opportunity at the JAX...

MOHAMAD TAKWA

CEO & CO-FOUNDER, EPIGENICA

When I was a young researcher, I believed invention was the pinnacle of achievement. To discover something new and build something no one had built before – that felt like enough. But after launching several deep tech startups, I’ve learned a powerful lesson. Invention is just the beginning. Innovation is...

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...

CHARLES RADCLYFFE

PARTNER, ETHICS GRADE

“WE ARE CONCERNED FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE JOBS AS A RESULT OF AUTOMATION”.– CHARLES RADCLYFFE, PARTNER We are worried. Some of the things we worry about are the same as everyone else who is trying to imagine the impact of technology on our lives. We worry about how...

Alberto Carvalho

Alberto Carvalho

Superintendent - Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Innovation in education takes the form of rich, powerful, explosive choice. Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools class=”img-responsive”> In education, innovation is about ensuring that today’s students emerge from the educational process with a critical skill set that empowers them to work in diverse teams, enables them to reason...

JARED SMITH, PRESIDENT & CEO, MONTGOMERY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The world’s most competitive economies do not happen by accident. They are built through collaboration and the shared commitment of strategic partners to create the conditions for growth and opportunity. That is what we are doing in Montgomery County, Maryland. As President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development...

JEFF CRANE

CEO AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, NFT THE MOVIE, LLC

One HeartCreating an NFT movie masterpiece to document inspiring stories made through NFT technology requires a shared vision, goal, and a dedicated team. Blockchain technology may be new to the world, but proven leadership and purpose-driven teams remain the driving heart of success in this novel industry and space. As...

Jim Barnish

Jim Barnish

Jr. Thought Leader Of Morgan Hill Partners

Jim Barnish is a strategic change leader with over 15 years of leadership experience in global and integrated operations, M&A, and strategic go-to-market planning. Over the course of his career, Jim has successfully worked with companies undergoing roll-up mergers and acquisitions, accelerated business development, process improvement, change management, and operational...

ALI A. HOUSHMAND

ALI A. HOUSHMAND

PRESIDENT, ROWAN UNIVERSITY

WORDS OF WISDOMI’m a dreamer. I dream big. The ability to imagine a better reality helped transform my own life and, later, an entire institution. Yet, it requires a willingness to do something different, perhaps even radical. From my own experience, I can say that everything starts with education, whether...

BRIAN ALBERTSON, PRESIDENT AND PHILLIP LEE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

ISACA ATLANTA CHAPTER

Developing innovation is a dynamic and ongoing process essential for advancing human knowledge, solving critical problems, and driving progress across domains. It requires creativity, strategic thinking, and effective execution to transform new ideas into tangible benefits. Innovation creates opportunities, fuels growth, and drives development across diverse fields, passing the torch...

JOHN WASSON

CHAIR AND CEO, ICF

When I joined ICF in 1987, I believed deeply in the power of data to help organizations make better decisions. I’ve held onto that belief as I’ve watched wave after wave of technological change reshape how institutions operate. Today, advances in AI and analytics are accelerating the pace of change...

The Hon Peter Malinauskas

Premier of South Australia

They’re all inventions which changed the face of the world. They’re all examples of original and innovative thinking. And they all began as sparks of brilliance in the minds of South Australians. From Sir Howard Florey’s insights into the properties of penicillin and Lancelot de Mole’s development of caterpillar tracks,...

Bob Kain

Bob Kain

Co-Founder and CEO - LunaPBC

Bob Kain Co-Founder And CEO – LunaPBC I’ve been fortunate enough to live a life distinguished by constant progression, from understanding to impacting, particularly in my career. Trained as a physicist, I was fueled by a deep drive to understand some of the most complex “whys” of our world. Quickly...

STEVEN WEST

STEVEN WEST

PROFESSOR, CBE, DL.

On the 27th March I attended a meeting on campus with colleagues from the NHS, army logistics, architects, designers and building contractors. Over the next two hours we agreed the site was viable and the preferred option to support the region. I made the decision there and then to handover...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems