Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

DAVID FREDMAN

CO-FOUNDER, HEARTRUNNER

With my background as a cardiology nurse, I have been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) regularly since the mid 90’s. Still, I never got to use my lifesaving skills outside work until I was alerted through the platform I had been involved in creating. This is likely the case for...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Mike Carter

CEO at eGroup

Ideas matter. They spark possibility and set direction. But what transforms possibility into progress is the steady, deliberate work that follows. Over time, I’ve come to believe that the most innovative organizations are not defined by moments of brilliance, but by their commitment to doing the right things, the right...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

Sven Boermeester

Sven Boermeester

Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher - GlobalVillage.World

Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

LING Y. HUANG

PRESIDENT & CEO, TECHNOLOGY NORTH CORPORATION

Innovation is taking two things that already exist and putting them together in a new way.” — Tom Freston The term ‘innovation’ often evokes visions of rockets bound for Mars, self-driving cars, or the alluring promise of fusion energy. Yet to me, innovation is as crucial in our daily lives...

INNOVATE™ Montréal

Federico Puebla

Desjardin - Become Everyone’s #1 Choice. Be A Socio-Economic Leader. Enrich The Lives Of People And Communities

Directeur Innovation Ouverte - Open Innovation Manager - Mouvement Desjardins

French: ÊTRE PREMIER DANS LE CŒUR DES GENS. DEVENIR UN LEADER SOCIO-ÉCONOMIQUE. ENRICHIR LA VIE DES PERSONNES ET DES COMMUNAUTÉS. VOILÀ, TOUT À LA FOIS, UNE MISSION NOBLE, HUMAINE ET AMBITIEUSE. OUI, NOUS VISONS HAUT. NOUS L’AVONS TOUJOURS FAIT. ET NOUS LE FERONS TOUJOURS PUISQUE NOTRE HISTOIRE EST MARQUÉE DE...

INNOVATE® Detroit

CHUCK MARSHALL

PRESIDENT, ITC MICHIGAN

The National Academy of Engineering considers electrification among the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century, and I have to agree– thanks to our electric grid, we effortlessly flip a light switch, and power goes on in less than a second. This speed is faster than any delivery service could...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

MIEKE VERSTRAETEN

MANAGING DIRECTOR, INDUVER

Mieke Verstraeten is a Managing Director at induver, the sixth-largest independent broker on the Belgian insurance market. She, along with her husband Sjarel De Bondt, is also a second-generation shareholder in the company. induver’s vision for insurance is straightforward: individuals or companies should only take insurance for risks they are...

INNOVATE® Utah

Ken Davis

Ken Davis

Co-Founder & CEO - TaskEasy

Ken Davis is the co-founder and CEO of TaskEasy – an online platform that allows homeowners, renters, and businesses to order and manage yard maintenance online. Since TaskEasy’s launch in 2013, the company has grown to service hundreds of thousands of properties across all 50 states. TaskEasy’s business model caters...

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™ Stockholm

ROBERT FALCK

FOUNDER, EINRIDE

The road freight industry stands at a defining moment. Once constrained by the limits of diesel and incremental change, the $4.6 trillion global market is now poised for disruption at unprecedented scale. The catalyst is clear: artificial intelligence is rapidly redrawing the boundaries of what is possible in logistics, and...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

MATTHEW UNGER

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling of discovering that your identity or credit card information has been stolen? I have. As a technologist, this experience led me on a personal journey to create new standards of trust, security, accountability, and privacy for every individual, every business, every transaction. While...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

JASON CASSIDY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GAME CREDITS

Living inside of the cryptocurrency sector for eight years gives one a unique perspective on innovation. Things move so quickly with blockchain technology that innovation tends to happen right in front of our very eyes. I grew up in the Caribbean when I was younger and there was virtually no...

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® Seattle

DAN LEVITAN

MAVERON - CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL PARTNER

The potential of capitalism lies in its ability to empower consumers and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. At Maveron, we advocate for a different kind of capitalism—one in which economic profit isn’t the only goal. Instead, we ascribe to a capitalism of compassion, where our values are intertwined...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

KIRKE MAAR

HEAD OF AIRE CENTRE

Global competition is rapidly changing, requiring swift adaptation while simultaneously testing and implementing new solutions and smart cooperation models. To maintain and grow competitiveness in both European and global markets, we need a radical shift in mindset and the integration of innovation into everyday industrial operations. Innovation can no longer...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

EVA-CARIN BANKA JOHNSON

EXPLORATION LEADER FOR IKEA INSIGHT AS EXTERNAL CONSULTANT

By studying the environment and seeing the full context—what people do, how they do it, and why – it creates a solid foundation for new ideas. But facts and research alone are not enough. True innovation also requires empathy for the user—the drive that keeps you going until you find...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

MEAGAN KAY-FOWLOW

CO. INNOVATION CENTRE, PRESIDENT

LEADERS BY DESIGN: The Innovation Mindset of Newfoundland and Labrador Meagan Kay-Fowlow, President, Co. Innovation Centre As a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I’ve always believed that innovation isn’t just something we do— it’s embedded in who we are. Our history and culture have been shaped by the challenges of living...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ELOISE HALL

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, TABOO PERIOD PRODUCTS

We all enter this world the same, screaming, and naked, as human as each other and as deserving of the same freedoms and rights as the next tiny infant. Unfortunately, people’s access to human rights isn’t as simple as that. It’s dependent on the family you were born into, the...

VOICES of the Future

LOUBNA IMENCHAL

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY

Loubna Imenchal’s insights are compelling and profound. As VP of Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia at Logitech, her journey is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of dreams. It extends far beyond her corporate success; it is a narrative of ambition and determination with a...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

Sacha Mirzoeff

Head Of Channel 4 Bristol

he human instinct to tell stories can be traced back millennia. From paintings on cave walls, to families huddled around campfires, to bingeable boxsets, storytelling is a thread woven deep into the fabric of human experience and often helps set our moral boundaries. The possibility of changing the way that...

VOICES of the Future

AMNAH AJMAL

LEADING WITH HEART

Amnah Ajmal’s ascent to global corporate leadership is nothing short of riveting. She shines as Mastercard’s Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, covering 80 countries, and embodies the essence of inspiration. This conversation unveils her remarkable path through the ranks, highlighting a relentless pursuit of...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

JASON ENGLISH

JASON ENGLISH

CHIEF ECOSYSTEM OFFICER, CG TECH

Governments worldwide are stepping up and playing a crucial role in enabling innovation in their parts of the world. Our leaders can and should do as much as possible to help small businesses, start ups and innovators succeed. These entrepreneurs are the life blood of our future economy. South Africa...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

Manik Arora

Manik Arora - Arora Engineers

Arora Engineers, inc

Philadelphia is the birthplace of our country and home to an eclectic mix of historical and modern infrastructure. However, with its rapid development over the years, the number of users is quickly exceeding the original capacity of its built environment. In response to this roadblock, two of our major transportation...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

RACHEL KORETSKY

FOUNDER & CEO UPACE, CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF DC STARTUP & TECH WEEK

Embracing Community: A Founder’s Journey Through Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship often carries an aura of glamour and excitement, but beneath the surface lies a challenging journey demanding resilience, creativity, and—perhaps most importantly—a strong community of support. As the Founder & CEO of Upace and Co-Founder & Director of DC Startup Week, I’ve...

DAVID FREDMAN

CO-FOUNDER, HEARTRUNNER

With my background as a cardiology nurse, I have been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) regularly since the mid 90’s. Still, I never got to use my lifesaving skills outside work until I was alerted through the platform I had been involved in creating. This is likely the case for...

Mike Carter

CEO at eGroup

Ideas matter. They spark possibility and set direction. But what transforms possibility into progress is the steady, deliberate work that follows. Over time, I’ve come to believe that the most innovative organizations are not defined by moments of brilliance, but by their commitment to doing the right things, the right...

Sven Boermeester

Sven Boermeester

Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher - GlobalVillage.World

Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started...

LING Y. HUANG

PRESIDENT & CEO, TECHNOLOGY NORTH CORPORATION

Innovation is taking two things that already exist and putting them together in a new way.” — Tom Freston The term ‘innovation’ often evokes visions of rockets bound for Mars, self-driving cars, or the alluring promise of fusion energy. Yet to me, innovation is as crucial in our daily lives...

Federico Puebla

Desjardin - Become Everyone’s #1 Choice. Be A Socio-Economic Leader. Enrich The Lives Of People And Communities

Directeur Innovation Ouverte - Open Innovation Manager - Mouvement Desjardins

French: ÊTRE PREMIER DANS LE CŒUR DES GENS. DEVENIR UN LEADER SOCIO-ÉCONOMIQUE. ENRICHIR LA VIE DES PERSONNES ET DES COMMUNAUTÉS. VOILÀ, TOUT À LA FOIS, UNE MISSION NOBLE, HUMAINE ET AMBITIEUSE. OUI, NOUS VISONS HAUT. NOUS L’AVONS TOUJOURS FAIT. ET NOUS LE FERONS TOUJOURS PUISQUE NOTRE HISTOIRE EST MARQUÉE DE...

CHUCK MARSHALL

PRESIDENT, ITC MICHIGAN

The National Academy of Engineering considers electrification among the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century, and I have to agree– thanks to our electric grid, we effortlessly flip a light switch, and power goes on in less than a second. This speed is faster than any delivery service could...

MIEKE VERSTRAETEN

MANAGING DIRECTOR, INDUVER

Mieke Verstraeten is a Managing Director at induver, the sixth-largest independent broker on the Belgian insurance market. She, along with her husband Sjarel De Bondt, is also a second-generation shareholder in the company. induver’s vision for insurance is straightforward: individuals or companies should only take insurance for risks they are...

Ken Davis

Ken Davis

Co-Founder & CEO - TaskEasy

Ken Davis is the co-founder and CEO of TaskEasy – an online platform that allows homeowners, renters, and businesses to order and manage yard maintenance online. Since TaskEasy’s launch in 2013, the company has grown to service hundreds of thousands of properties across all 50 states. TaskEasy’s business model caters...

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...

ROBERT FALCK

FOUNDER, EINRIDE

The road freight industry stands at a defining moment. Once constrained by the limits of diesel and incremental change, the $4.6 trillion global market is now poised for disruption at unprecedented scale. The catalyst is clear: artificial intelligence is rapidly redrawing the boundaries of what is possible in logistics, and...

MATTHEW UNGER

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling of discovering that your identity or credit card information has been stolen? I have. As a technologist, this experience led me on a personal journey to create new standards of trust, security, accountability, and privacy for every individual, every business, every transaction. While...

JASON CASSIDY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GAME CREDITS

Living inside of the cryptocurrency sector for eight years gives one a unique perspective on innovation. Things move so quickly with blockchain technology that innovation tends to happen right in front of our very eyes. I grew up in the Caribbean when I was younger and there was virtually no...

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...

DAN LEVITAN

MAVERON - CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL PARTNER

The potential of capitalism lies in its ability to empower consumers and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. At Maveron, we advocate for a different kind of capitalism—one in which economic profit isn’t the only goal. Instead, we ascribe to a capitalism of compassion, where our values are intertwined...

KIRKE MAAR

HEAD OF AIRE CENTRE

Global competition is rapidly changing, requiring swift adaptation while simultaneously testing and implementing new solutions and smart cooperation models. To maintain and grow competitiveness in both European and global markets, we need a radical shift in mindset and the integration of innovation into everyday industrial operations. Innovation can no longer...

EVA-CARIN BANKA JOHNSON

EXPLORATION LEADER FOR IKEA INSIGHT AS EXTERNAL CONSULTANT

By studying the environment and seeing the full context—what people do, how they do it, and why – it creates a solid foundation for new ideas. But facts and research alone are not enough. True innovation also requires empathy for the user—the drive that keeps you going until you find...

MEAGAN KAY-FOWLOW

CO. INNOVATION CENTRE, PRESIDENT

LEADERS BY DESIGN: The Innovation Mindset of Newfoundland and Labrador Meagan Kay-Fowlow, President, Co. Innovation Centre As a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I’ve always believed that innovation isn’t just something we do— it’s embedded in who we are. Our history and culture have been shaped by the challenges of living...

ELOISE HALL

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, TABOO PERIOD PRODUCTS

We all enter this world the same, screaming, and naked, as human as each other and as deserving of the same freedoms and rights as the next tiny infant. Unfortunately, people’s access to human rights isn’t as simple as that. It’s dependent on the family you were born into, the...

LOUBNA IMENCHAL

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY

Loubna Imenchal’s insights are compelling and profound. As VP of Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia at Logitech, her journey is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of dreams. It extends far beyond her corporate success; it is a narrative of ambition and determination with a...

Sacha Mirzoeff

Head Of Channel 4 Bristol

he human instinct to tell stories can be traced back millennia. From paintings on cave walls, to families huddled around campfires, to bingeable boxsets, storytelling is a thread woven deep into the fabric of human experience and often helps set our moral boundaries. The possibility of changing the way that...

AMNAH AJMAL

LEADING WITH HEART

Amnah Ajmal’s ascent to global corporate leadership is nothing short of riveting. She shines as Mastercard’s Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, covering 80 countries, and embodies the essence of inspiration. This conversation unveils her remarkable path through the ranks, highlighting a relentless pursuit of...

JASON ENGLISH

JASON ENGLISH

CHIEF ECOSYSTEM OFFICER, CG TECH

Governments worldwide are stepping up and playing a crucial role in enabling innovation in their parts of the world. Our leaders can and should do as much as possible to help small businesses, start ups and innovators succeed. These entrepreneurs are the life blood of our future economy. South Africa...

Manik Arora

Manik Arora - Arora Engineers

Arora Engineers, inc

Philadelphia is the birthplace of our country and home to an eclectic mix of historical and modern infrastructure. However, with its rapid development over the years, the number of users is quickly exceeding the original capacity of its built environment. In response to this roadblock, two of our major transportation...

RACHEL KORETSKY

FOUNDER & CEO UPACE, CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF DC STARTUP & TECH WEEK

Embracing Community: A Founder’s Journey Through Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship often carries an aura of glamour and excitement, but beneath the surface lies a challenging journey demanding resilience, creativity, and—perhaps most importantly—a strong community of support. As the Founder & CEO of Upace and Co-Founder & Director of DC Startup Week, I’ve...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems