Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

RYAN PERNIA

RYAN PERNIA

PRESIDENT, ENTAX

Everyday I’m inspired by the innovators and their dreams to change the world. Our clients are building everything; from next-generation AI models, advanced robotics, creative and award-winning games, lifesaving medical devices, end-to-end software platforms, to environment saving industrial processes. As the founder of ENTAX, one of Canada’s preeminent Government Funding...

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® Nashville

DAVID OWENS

DAVID OWENS

EVANS FAMILY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WOND’RY, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR INNOVATION

Nashville has always been a great place for members of the creative class. It has more than its fair share of the spirit of innovation and, as I was told when I moved here, more recording studios than bars and more microphones than people. And while the artistic creativity is...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

ARLEIGH VASCONCELLOS

MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE AGENCY

“When I started The Agency in 2009 as a boutique firm servicing the tech sector in Calgary, I heard the same thing over and over: What tech sector?” Arleigh Vasconcellos, CEO/Founder, The Agency Communications Inc. And they had a point – the tech sector here was small. But the city...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

PROF. MART USTAV

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ICOSAGEN GROUP

I studied molecular science because I wanted to understand how things work. I built a strong knowledge of molecular processes, but the turning point came when my mother was diagnosed with melanoma. I could explain the disease in detail, but I couldn’t change its course. That loss shifted my focus...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

PETER DEMPSEY

FOUNDER,OWN THE POWER

DISABILITY DRIVES INNOVATIONI want to see this world thriving with innovation, creativity for good. I say Be the change you want to see in the world. When the brain doesn’t work the way it used to, the effects are profound and long lasting. You see, it’s not just about the...

VOICES of the Future

HASNAE TALEB

REDEFINING SUCCESS IN A CHANGING WORLD

It’s a rare privilege to connect – and connect so deeply – with someone like Hasnae Taleb, a remarkable embodiment of success and inspiration. As I sit down with her, I find myself in awe of her journey, achievements, and vision for the future. “At a young age, we all...

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® Washington DMV Edition

JEAN C. ACCIUS

PHD, PRESIDENT & CEO, CHC: CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

Time is our most valuable asset. Once you lose it, you never get it back. Yet, millions of people across our country are robbed of priceless time. A Tale of Two CitiesIn the United States, there’s a strong likelihood that a person in one city might live 20 years longer...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

DR. SARAH LUBIK

CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP @ SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Innovation policy around the world puts massive emphasis on the importance of increasing entrepreneurship for economic, and more recently, social impact. In many cases, there is a fairly narrow focus on digital tech-based startups, “tech”- style entrepreneurs, and programming to increase the number of people who act like them. This...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Judy Genshaft

Judy Genshaft - All Great Cities Have Great Research Universities

President, USF System

As the state’s first public research university to be located in a metropolitan region, the University of South Florida System has always been proud of its relationship with the Tampa Bay community we serve.We live in an era when the public increasingly depends on research universities to be a key...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

REIN LEMBERPUU

.CONTRIBER

Having a background in physics and engineering, I have approached leadership challenges for many years from the angle of building the best possible team and environment where people can bring out their best talent. Like in engineering where every next iteration is slightly improved and closer to perfection. Today, 20...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director

San Diego Association Of Governments (Sandag)

We are living in the midst of a transportation revolution. When we look around, we can see fundamental changes in how people move around cities and towns across the world. In the San Diego region you can feel it every day. Everywhere you look people are driving electric cars, reducing...

INNOVATE® Nashville

RUSS BLATTNER

CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT SUPERWISE®

“Innovation in AI is not just about technology—it’s about trust. Without transparency, there is no adoption. Forrester, Gartner, and IDC emphasize that AI governance and accountability are now enterprise imperatives. Companies that ignore explainability will face declining adoption and increased regulatory scrutiny.” Innovation in AI is happening at a breakneck...

INNOVATE® Georgia

MURLI REDDY

CHARTER GLOBAL - FOUNDER AND CEO

As the CEO of Charter Global, I’ve often found myself at the intersection of leadership and thought leadership. While these roles are often conflated, they hold distinct yet complementary purposes. A leader is a visionary—a person who can see the invisible and inspires others to turn those visions into reality....

VOICES of the Future

ERIK ANDERSON

BLUEPRINT FOR A COMPASSIONATE FUTURE

Innovation, purpose, and sustainability intertwine to sketch the silhouette of tomorrow. Erik Anderson – a distinguished entrepreneur and executive renowned for his leadership across various sectors – stands at the vanguard, a guiding light illuminating the path to a future replete with promise and potential. His story of purpose-driven leadership...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

KADI OJA

HEAD OF FLAGSHIP EVENTS, MINDVALLEY

We live in a paradox. Billions of us are more connected than ever through apps, platforms, and now AI – yet loneliness is at an all-time high. Nearly half of adults worldwide report feeling disconnected from others. If technology connects us, why do so many of us feel so alone?...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

JENNIFER TAYLOR

NORTHERN VIRGINIA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL - PRESIDENT AND CEO

As I look to the future of Northern Virginia, I’m filled with excitement and optimism about our region’s immense potential. Our area has long been known as a powerhouse for government contracting and cloud computing. Still, we are now on the brink of a new era driven by cybersecurity, artificial...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

SEEMA ALEXANDER

PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER, VIRGENT AI

We are amid society’s most unprecedented era of technological innovation – the next industrial revolution driven by the mainstream adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). For CEOs, founders, and organization leaders, this period surpasses the advent and rise of the internet. New business categories will emerge, while many companies that resist...

INNOVATE® Nashville

DR. DAN BOONE

DR. DAN BOONE

PRESIDENT, TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

Composure. It’s a quality we look for in any leader, from political candidates to CEOs to college presidents. To assess a person’s leadership ability, composure is one of the main things we try to measure – how rattle-able they are under pressure and in crisis. Composure is about an inner...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Kristin Gaspar

San Diego County Supervisor

The government is famous for operating under the philosophy – “If it ain’t broke, fix it till it is”. That may be why we throw millions, even billions of dollars at the same problem every year and get the same results. After being elected to the San Diego County Board...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

RocketMakers - Richard Godfrey

It seems only yesterday that I was sitting in an empty office at the Bath Innovation Centre having just left an amazing role, a talented team and great stock options and benefits at Microsoft to satisfy my burning desire to create a startup. I felt that if I didn’t do...

Angela Renick

Angela Renick

Owner - A`Vie Events

Angela Renick Owner – A`Vie Events Angela Renick has been planning events in Gainesville for 30 years. She began in 1996 with a part-time wedding coordination business, which has continued to expand over the years. She has planned many events along the way during these years. In 2005, she opened...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

MARILIIS PIKKAR

FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARIMO

When I founded Marimo, I wasn’t just building a fashion brand—I was creating a different kind of experience for women. One that respects their time, individuality, and values. To me, true luxury is about knowing who you are and choosing pieces that reflect that. What I’m most proud of is...

RYAN PERNIA

RYAN PERNIA

PRESIDENT, ENTAX

Everyday I’m inspired by the innovators and their dreams to change the world. Our clients are building everything; from next-generation AI models, advanced robotics, creative and award-winning games, lifesaving medical devices, end-to-end software platforms, to environment saving industrial processes. As the founder of ENTAX, one of Canada’s preeminent Government Funding...

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...

DAVID OWENS

DAVID OWENS

EVANS FAMILY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WOND’RY, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR INNOVATION

Nashville has always been a great place for members of the creative class. It has more than its fair share of the spirit of innovation and, as I was told when I moved here, more recording studios than bars and more microphones than people. And while the artistic creativity is...

ARLEIGH VASCONCELLOS

MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE AGENCY

“When I started The Agency in 2009 as a boutique firm servicing the tech sector in Calgary, I heard the same thing over and over: What tech sector?” Arleigh Vasconcellos, CEO/Founder, The Agency Communications Inc. And they had a point – the tech sector here was small. But the city...

PROF. MART USTAV

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ICOSAGEN GROUP

I studied molecular science because I wanted to understand how things work. I built a strong knowledge of molecular processes, but the turning point came when my mother was diagnosed with melanoma. I could explain the disease in detail, but I couldn’t change its course. That loss shifted my focus...

PETER DEMPSEY

FOUNDER,OWN THE POWER

DISABILITY DRIVES INNOVATIONI want to see this world thriving with innovation, creativity for good. I say Be the change you want to see in the world. When the brain doesn’t work the way it used to, the effects are profound and long lasting. You see, it’s not just about the...

HASNAE TALEB

REDEFINING SUCCESS IN A CHANGING WORLD

It’s a rare privilege to connect – and connect so deeply – with someone like Hasnae Taleb, a remarkable embodiment of success and inspiration. As I sit down with her, I find myself in awe of her journey, achievements, and vision for the future. “At a young age, we all...

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...

JEAN C. ACCIUS

PHD, PRESIDENT & CEO, CHC: CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

Time is our most valuable asset. Once you lose it, you never get it back. Yet, millions of people across our country are robbed of priceless time. A Tale of Two CitiesIn the United States, there’s a strong likelihood that a person in one city might live 20 years longer...

DR. SARAH LUBIK

CHARLES CHANG INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP @ SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Innovation policy around the world puts massive emphasis on the importance of increasing entrepreneurship for economic, and more recently, social impact. In many cases, there is a fairly narrow focus on digital tech-based startups, “tech”- style entrepreneurs, and programming to increase the number of people who act like them. This...

Judy Genshaft

Judy Genshaft - All Great Cities Have Great Research Universities

President, USF System

As the state’s first public research university to be located in a metropolitan region, the University of South Florida System has always been proud of its relationship with the Tampa Bay community we serve.We live in an era when the public increasingly depends on research universities to be a key...

REIN LEMBERPUU

.CONTRIBER

Having a background in physics and engineering, I have approached leadership challenges for many years from the angle of building the best possible team and environment where people can bring out their best talent. Like in engineering where every next iteration is slightly improved and closer to perfection. Today, 20...

Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director

San Diego Association Of Governments (Sandag)

We are living in the midst of a transportation revolution. When we look around, we can see fundamental changes in how people move around cities and towns across the world. In the San Diego region you can feel it every day. Everywhere you look people are driving electric cars, reducing...

RUSS BLATTNER

CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT SUPERWISE®

“Innovation in AI is not just about technology—it’s about trust. Without transparency, there is no adoption. Forrester, Gartner, and IDC emphasize that AI governance and accountability are now enterprise imperatives. Companies that ignore explainability will face declining adoption and increased regulatory scrutiny.” Innovation in AI is happening at a breakneck...

MURLI REDDY

CHARTER GLOBAL - FOUNDER AND CEO

As the CEO of Charter Global, I’ve often found myself at the intersection of leadership and thought leadership. While these roles are often conflated, they hold distinct yet complementary purposes. A leader is a visionary—a person who can see the invisible and inspires others to turn those visions into reality....

ERIK ANDERSON

BLUEPRINT FOR A COMPASSIONATE FUTURE

Innovation, purpose, and sustainability intertwine to sketch the silhouette of tomorrow. Erik Anderson – a distinguished entrepreneur and executive renowned for his leadership across various sectors – stands at the vanguard, a guiding light illuminating the path to a future replete with promise and potential. His story of purpose-driven leadership...

KADI OJA

HEAD OF FLAGSHIP EVENTS, MINDVALLEY

We live in a paradox. Billions of us are more connected than ever through apps, platforms, and now AI – yet loneliness is at an all-time high. Nearly half of adults worldwide report feeling disconnected from others. If technology connects us, why do so many of us feel so alone?...

JENNIFER TAYLOR

NORTHERN VIRGINIA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL - PRESIDENT AND CEO

As I look to the future of Northern Virginia, I’m filled with excitement and optimism about our region’s immense potential. Our area has long been known as a powerhouse for government contracting and cloud computing. Still, we are now on the brink of a new era driven by cybersecurity, artificial...

SEEMA ALEXANDER

PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER, VIRGENT AI

We are amid society’s most unprecedented era of technological innovation – the next industrial revolution driven by the mainstream adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). For CEOs, founders, and organization leaders, this period surpasses the advent and rise of the internet. New business categories will emerge, while many companies that resist...

DR. DAN BOONE

DR. DAN BOONE

PRESIDENT, TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

Composure. It’s a quality we look for in any leader, from political candidates to CEOs to college presidents. To assess a person’s leadership ability, composure is one of the main things we try to measure – how rattle-able they are under pressure and in crisis. Composure is about an inner...

Kristin Gaspar

San Diego County Supervisor

The government is famous for operating under the philosophy – “If it ain’t broke, fix it till it is”. That may be why we throw millions, even billions of dollars at the same problem every year and get the same results. After being elected to the San Diego County Board...

RocketMakers - Richard Godfrey

It seems only yesterday that I was sitting in an empty office at the Bath Innovation Centre having just left an amazing role, a talented team and great stock options and benefits at Microsoft to satisfy my burning desire to create a startup. I felt that if I didn’t do...

Angela Renick

Angela Renick

Owner - A`Vie Events

Angela Renick Owner – A`Vie Events Angela Renick has been planning events in Gainesville for 30 years. She began in 1996 with a part-time wedding coordination business, which has continued to expand over the years. She has planned many events along the way during these years. In 2005, she opened...

MARILIIS PIKKAR

FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARIMO

When I founded Marimo, I wasn’t just building a fashion brand—I was creating a different kind of experience for women. One that respects their time, individuality, and values. To me, true luxury is about knowing who you are and choosing pieces that reflect that. What I’m most proud of is...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems