Thought Leaders

VOICES of the Future

BRETT KING

THE FUTURE OF BANKING

Brett King stands as a beacon of innovation and foresight. His journey, a blend of passion for technology and a keen eye for the ever evolving financial landscape, positions him uniquely as a leading voice in the realm of digital banking and fintech. Delving into his insights, Brett’s narrative reveals...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

JEFF HARRIS

VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY PROPERTIES GROUP

To me, innovation is more than process and action – it’s a mindset. Innovation exists to break limits and barriers and turn new ideas and concepts into everyday activities. It’s the engine that will address the needs and gaps in our city to drive economic diversification and growth. Innovation is...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

SEAN MENDEZ CATLIN

SEAN MENDEZ CATLIN

MANAGING PARTNER, MC & J LAW

Sean Méndez-Catlin is the 1Up Lawyer, giving you a 1Up on the competition and an extra life. He has been playing games since he was a Kid. He started with the N64 and has continued to play as he went through school and now as an attorney. Listening to his...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

MATHIAS LOBENDAHL

FOUNDER, LIFESEEDS

AGING IS THE NEXT FRONTIER OF INNOVATION Not because it’s a poetic idea, but because aging is biology, and biology is technology. We’ve spent decades reinventing the digital world while accepting the human body as something fixed and unchangeable. That assumption is about to collapse. I’ve spent years testing treatments...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

ADRIAN TISATO

DIRECTOR, WRP LEGAL & ADVISORY

Adrian Tisato is a commercial lawyer with expertise in public administration and innovation, and decades of leadership in the arts, music, and film. When car manufacturing closed in Adelaide, he dedicated himself to working with the private sector and the State Government to open up new economic opportunities through innovation....

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

DANIEL X JOHANSSON

CSO & CO-FOUNDER, AAX BIOTECH

Some of the most meaningful innovations don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin when you hit a wall. A few years ago, we were developing a new therapeutic antibody. To really understand it, we had to figure out where it grabbed onto its target molecule—and what happened to that...

INNOVATE® Puerto Rico

ALBERTO LUGO

ALBERTO LUGO

PRESIDENT, INVID LLC

  When I first learned to code, I never imagined its profound impact on my life. I was 15 years old when I first learned to discovered software development, and I remember the awe of seeing the computer do what I instructed it to do. I still maintain that same...

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® Jacksonville

Theodore R. Willich

Theodore R. Willich

CEO - NLP Logix

NLP Logix teaches computers to do what humans can do or want to do. They automate. This means that at NLP Logix, they teach machines to do almost any repetitive business process that humans do, to help humans to do things faster and better. The company harnesses the power of...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

MAGNUS MÄHRING

PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, HOUSE OF INNOVATION, STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SSE)

For more than one and a half decade, Sweden has consecutively been ranked in the top three most innovative economies in the world (according to the United Nations’ Global Innovation Index). There is a longstanding tradition in Sweden to work collaboratively across different societal sectors — and in an interdisciplinary...

INNOVATE® Georgia

RICH STINSON

SOUTHWIRE - PRESIDENT & CEO

The promise of an all-electric future in North America is here. We’re experiencing a shift from an oil, coal, and gas-based economy to an electrified one. Electric vehicles, data centers, renewables, and other factors are accelerating demand. Society today wants and assumes that everything that can be electric probably will...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

KÄDI RISTKOK

CEO, ESTONIAN CLEANTECH ASSOCIATION

The past decade has seen a lot of shifts in the world and this is also inherent in the cleantech sector. Cleantech is no longer defined solely by its sustainability goals; it is positioning itself as a foundational driver of resilience, autonomy, and transformation across industries. Clean technologies emerging in...

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™ Oeiras

ROGÉRIO COLAÇO

ROGÉRIO COLAÇO

DEAN, INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TÉCNICO

At Instituto Superior Técnico we believe that although we cannot do more than the bigger ones, although we cannot do better than the best ones, we could be at least as big as the bigger ones and as best as the best ones. And we also believe that we can...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

Carlos Guillén Gestoso

Carlos Guillén Gestoso

President And Professor Of Atlântica - Instituto Universitário

It requires an effective link between the university and the business sector, which encourages higher education institutions to train professionals and what the labour market demands, in order to encourage companies to invest in research and development as a strategic activity to incorporate knowledge and progress. We understand that the...

AI Québec

MME DESMARAIS

MME DESMARAIS

COPRSSIDENTE DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION

Dans les années à venir, l’industrie de l’intelligence artificielle connaîtra une croissance exponentielle au Canada, comparable à celle du multimédia dans les années 2010. Grâce à son immense bassin de talents et à des leviers qui soutiennent le développement de son écosystème, comme Scale AI, le Canada se distingue comme...

INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2

Robert J. Bardusch

Robert J. Bardusch

Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer - Valley National Bank

Valley Bank is built on a foundation of more than 90 years of history, strengthened by a legacy of local relationship building, exceptional risk management and meticulous credit underwriting. This has afforded us with a reputation of trust and reliability in the communities we serve. But for an organization with...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

John Oberg

DR. 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...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Jenn Foster

Jenn Foster

CEO - Elite Online Publishing

We often hear about the groundbreaking moment that inspires people, but for me, it was a series of moments that guided me. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit; it runs in my blood. My grandfather and father were wonderful examples of leadership and the freedom that owning a company brings....

INNOVATE™ Estonia

KADI PÄRNITS

CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, MAINOR AS, ÜLEMISTE CITY.

When I joined Ülemiste City the vision of a smart city for smart people was already in place. Today, the vision has grown into a future-focused urban environment with 18 000 talents from more than 73 countries and 400 companies. Based on the labor tax from business ventures, the contribution...

INNOVATE® Miami

Dr. Susan Amat

Dr. Susan Amat

CEO & Founder - VentureHive

To a lot of people, innovation is a very fuzzy word. Sometimes it’s used to describe any kind of change, and I think it’s dangerous when we don’t take the time to define and put metrics to it to have clarity. You have to know when you’ve achieved the intended...

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® Blockchain

MORNE J VENTER

MORNE J VENTER

MANAGING DIRECTOR, RECO.

“Invention is the most important product of man’s creative brain. The ultimate purpose is the complete mastery of mind over the material world, the harnessing of human nature to human needs.”- Nikola Tesla “Our mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

CLAUDE MARINOWER

ALDERMAN FOR ECONOMY, INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION

In 1906, riots broke out in Verviers, Liège, caused by lamplighters protesting the electrification of city lighting. Today, Antwerp is experimenting with smart street lighting using software and smart sensors. This is just one example of how a twenty-first century city is in full digital transition. As alderman for the...

BRETT KING

THE FUTURE OF BANKING

Brett King stands as a beacon of innovation and foresight. His journey, a blend of passion for technology and a keen eye for the ever evolving financial landscape, positions him uniquely as a leading voice in the realm of digital banking and fintech. Delving into his insights, Brett’s narrative reveals...

JEFF HARRIS

VICE PRESIDENT, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY PROPERTIES GROUP

To me, innovation is more than process and action – it’s a mindset. Innovation exists to break limits and barriers and turn new ideas and concepts into everyday activities. It’s the engine that will address the needs and gaps in our city to drive economic diversification and growth. Innovation is...

SEAN MENDEZ CATLIN

SEAN MENDEZ CATLIN

MANAGING PARTNER, MC & J LAW

Sean Méndez-Catlin is the 1Up Lawyer, giving you a 1Up on the competition and an extra life. He has been playing games since he was a Kid. He started with the N64 and has continued to play as he went through school and now as an attorney. Listening to his...

MATHIAS LOBENDAHL

FOUNDER, LIFESEEDS

AGING IS THE NEXT FRONTIER OF INNOVATION Not because it’s a poetic idea, but because aging is biology, and biology is technology. We’ve spent decades reinventing the digital world while accepting the human body as something fixed and unchangeable. That assumption is about to collapse. I’ve spent years testing treatments...

ADRIAN TISATO

DIRECTOR, WRP LEGAL & ADVISORY

Adrian Tisato is a commercial lawyer with expertise in public administration and innovation, and decades of leadership in the arts, music, and film. When car manufacturing closed in Adelaide, he dedicated himself to working with the private sector and the State Government to open up new economic opportunities through innovation....

DANIEL X JOHANSSON

CSO & CO-FOUNDER, AAX BIOTECH

Some of the most meaningful innovations don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin when you hit a wall. A few years ago, we were developing a new therapeutic antibody. To really understand it, we had to figure out where it grabbed onto its target molecule—and what happened to that...

ALBERTO LUGO

ALBERTO LUGO

PRESIDENT, INVID LLC

  When I first learned to code, I never imagined its profound impact on my life. I was 15 years old when I first learned to discovered software development, and I remember the awe of seeing the computer do what I instructed it to do. I still maintain that same...

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...

Theodore R. Willich

Theodore R. Willich

CEO - NLP Logix

NLP Logix teaches computers to do what humans can do or want to do. They automate. This means that at NLP Logix, they teach machines to do almost any repetitive business process that humans do, to help humans to do things faster and better. The company harnesses the power of...

MAGNUS MÄHRING

PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, HOUSE OF INNOVATION, STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SSE)

For more than one and a half decade, Sweden has consecutively been ranked in the top three most innovative economies in the world (according to the United Nations’ Global Innovation Index). There is a longstanding tradition in Sweden to work collaboratively across different societal sectors — and in an interdisciplinary...

RICH STINSON

SOUTHWIRE - PRESIDENT & CEO

The promise of an all-electric future in North America is here. We’re experiencing a shift from an oil, coal, and gas-based economy to an electrified one. Electric vehicles, data centers, renewables, and other factors are accelerating demand. Society today wants and assumes that everything that can be electric probably will...

KÄDI RISTKOK

CEO, ESTONIAN CLEANTECH ASSOCIATION

The past decade has seen a lot of shifts in the world and this is also inherent in the cleantech sector. Cleantech is no longer defined solely by its sustainability goals; it is positioning itself as a foundational driver of resilience, autonomy, and transformation across industries. Clean technologies emerging in...

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...

ROGÉRIO COLAÇO

ROGÉRIO COLAÇO

DEAN, INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TÉCNICO

At Instituto Superior Técnico we believe that although we cannot do more than the bigger ones, although we cannot do better than the best ones, we could be at least as big as the bigger ones and as best as the best ones. And we also believe that we can...

Carlos Guillén Gestoso

Carlos Guillén Gestoso

President And Professor Of Atlântica - Instituto Universitário

It requires an effective link between the university and the business sector, which encourages higher education institutions to train professionals and what the labour market demands, in order to encourage companies to invest in research and development as a strategic activity to incorporate knowledge and progress. We understand that the...

MME DESMARAIS

MME DESMARAIS

COPRSSIDENTE DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION

Dans les années à venir, l’industrie de l’intelligence artificielle connaîtra une croissance exponentielle au Canada, comparable à celle du multimédia dans les années 2010. Grâce à son immense bassin de talents et à des leviers qui soutiennent le développement de son écosystème, comme Scale AI, le Canada se distingue comme...

Robert J. Bardusch

Robert J. Bardusch

Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer - Valley National Bank

Valley Bank is built on a foundation of more than 90 years of history, strengthened by a legacy of local relationship building, exceptional risk management and meticulous credit underwriting. This has afforded us with a reputation of trust and reliability in the communities we serve. But for an organization with...

John Oberg

DR. 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...

Jenn Foster

Jenn Foster

CEO - Elite Online Publishing

We often hear about the groundbreaking moment that inspires people, but for me, it was a series of moments that guided me. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit; it runs in my blood. My grandfather and father were wonderful examples of leadership and the freedom that owning a company brings....

KADI PÄRNITS

CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, MAINOR AS, ÜLEMISTE CITY.

When I joined Ülemiste City the vision of a smart city for smart people was already in place. Today, the vision has grown into a future-focused urban environment with 18 000 talents from more than 73 countries and 400 companies. Based on the labor tax from business ventures, the contribution...

Dr. Susan Amat

Dr. Susan Amat

CEO & Founder - VentureHive

To a lot of people, innovation is a very fuzzy word. Sometimes it’s used to describe any kind of change, and I think it’s dangerous when we don’t take the time to define and put metrics to it to have clarity. You have to know when you’ve achieved the intended...

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...

MORNE J VENTER

MORNE J VENTER

MANAGING DIRECTOR, RECO.

“Invention is the most important product of man’s creative brain. The ultimate purpose is the complete mastery of mind over the material world, the harnessing of human nature to human needs.”- Nikola Tesla “Our mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with...

CLAUDE MARINOWER

ALDERMAN FOR ECONOMY, INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION

In 1906, riots broke out in Verviers, Liège, caused by lamplighters protesting the electrification of city lighting. Today, Antwerp is experimenting with smart street lighting using software and smart sensors. This is just one example of how a twenty-first century city is in full digital transition. As alderman for the...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems