Thought Leaders

Global Innovation Spotlight

DR. JOE PEREZ

SENIOR SYSTEMS ANALYST, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER

BALANCING ART AND SCIENCE: THE POWER OF DATA STORYTELLING IN BUSINESS INTELLIGENCEAs a seasoned thought leader in the realm of data analytics and business intelligence, I am passionate about communicating the innovative role of data storytelling in effectively communicating data-driven insights. While different perspectives exist on its nature, some viewing...

INNOVATE™ Flanders

KRIS NEYENS

MANAGER INTERNATIONALIZATION AT VIL FLANDERS INNOVATION CLUSTER FOR LOGISTICS

Global logistics is facing strong growth, even in uncertain times, and an ever-increasing demand for quality and speed of service, all while ensuring that our overall quality of life is not strained. The focus here must be on sustainability. The aim is to make the best possible use of integrated...

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™ Kitchener Waterloo

RUTH CASSELMAN

CEO, ACCELERATOR CENTRE

Before I became the CEO of the Accelerator Centre, before I joined the board of the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN), I was a founder. I co-founded Alert Labs with a simple but ambitious goal: to help buildings save water, operate more efficiently, and reduce risk through smart technology. Like...

INNOVATE® Seattle

KIRBY WINFIELD

ASCEND VC - GENERAL PARTNER

Much like the adoption of electricity, however, the integration of AI into the core of the world’s companies will occur in phases. Initially, vertical (or “applied”) AI point solutions will arise and plug into existing workflows and frameworks. “Copilots” are one great example here; natural language programming and custom LLMs...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

HENRIK JÄRLESKOG

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR EUROPE, LEAD WITH AI AND FOUNDER OF NORTH FOX VENTURES, CREATOR OF THE HENRIK.

Most executives approaching AI are solving the wrong problem. They want to know which tools to buy, which pilots to run, which consultants to hire. They are asking optimization questions when they face an architecture problem. I know because 18 months ago, I was asking the same questions. Over 21...

INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®

DR. GER BROPHY

DR. GER BROPHY

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTOF BIOPHARMA PRODUCTION, AVANTOR

Bioproduction has taken a remarkable journey over the last several decades. In recent years, the demand for specific and powerful biologic therapies has continued to increase, underpinned by the ongoing development of monoclonal antibodies therapies (mAbs) and augmented by new platforms such as Cell and Gene Therapy and also nucleic...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

DIRAJ PERKASH GOEL

FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, GETFRESH VENTURES

“To create a successful business, it’s crucial to understand the human condition in the buying process.” As an investor and operator, I’ve discovered a pivotal truth: any business holds the potential to generate $10M in revenue. Yet, a significant portion of enterprises stumble before reaching this milestone. The common pitfall?...

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® Nashville

GILL WAGNER

Serial Entrepreneur

Over a period of 40 years as an entrepreneur, while building six professional service firms and three nonprofits, I used to network like a madman. As you might imagine, with my hands in several things at once, it was sometimes difficult to answer the question: “So, Gill, what do you...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

PROFESSOR TOMMY WHITE

DIRECTOR, VELORIC CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP; SENIOR PROFESSORIAL LECTURER

PROFESSOR TOMMY WHITE, DIRECTOR, VELORIC CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP; SENIOR PROFESSORIAL LECTURER, KOGOD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS; AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (AU)AU/KSB MBA ’95, BA HISTORY & ECONOMICS, UNC-CH ‘86 I often encounter bright minds shackled by a crippling anxiety: the fear of failure. It’s a common thread woven through the fabric of the...

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™ Stockholm

ÅSA ZETTERBERG

CEO, TECHSVERIGE

Sweden has long been a pioneer in technology and innovation. From Ericsson to Spotify, Klarna and Recorded Future, Swedish companies have helped put us on the global tech map. Today, tech is more than a growth sector—it’s a foundation for our economy and society. The numbers speak for themselves. Sweden’s...

INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada

FLORIAN VILLAUMÉ

CEO, TECHNL

Innovation in technology often conjures images of sprawling metropolises like Silicon Valley—a beacon of transformation where ideas scale into industry-defining movements. But technology thrives where it’s least expected, and I am proud to say Newfoundland and Labrador has earned its place in that conversation. With a population of just 545,000,...

INNOVATE® Philadelphia

KEVIN B. MAHONEY

CEO, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM

Philadelphia is a city that understands beginnings. As one of the oldest in the nation and the birthplace of independence, it is a place of ideas and possibilities. Just blocks from the Pennsylvania State House, where the founders gathered to imagine a new republic, another American institution was already taking...

VOICES of the Future

DAVID SHRIER

THE HARMONY OF HUMAN INGENUITY AND AI

David Shrier, a notable professor at Imperial College London and co-director of the Trusted AI Institute, stands at the intersection of technology and humanity. His work, transcending academia, delves into the commercialization of AI and digital assets, influencing top tier corporations and governments alike. Through our conversation, it is clear...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

MICHAEL WESTAFER

MICHAEL WESTAFER

FOUNDER & CEO OF ROGER WEST CREATIVE& CODE

I like to think of ourselves as the creative catalysts of innovation. Our own pathway to innovation lies in how we view market disruption through our clients’ eyes. Don’t get me wrong. We do awesome work. Our people are among the best at what they do. We’re regulars on the...

INNOVATE® Georgia

DR. FORREST SHRIVER

SENTINEL DEVICES - CEO & FOUNDER

We are on the precipice of major change – change that will define both America and the world for generations to come. Economically, politically, and technologically, the next ten years will be a trend-setter for the next hundred years. Wars and rumors of wars, worries over the future of work...

VOICES of the Future

CAPITAL CLUB DUBAI

BRIDGING THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR

Capital Club Dubai is a hub of innovation and a crucible for visionary minds shaping the future. As I sit across from Hussain Sultan al Junaidy, the Chairman of this illustrious club, his eyes reflect profound optimism and a relentless drive to propel a business club and a global community...

INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition

MARGOT MACHOL BISNOW

AUTHOR, RAISING AN ENTREPRENEUR

As parents, we want what is best for our children. Or, at least, what we think is best for them. And what we almost always want for them is success. But wanting success for our children, even when our desire for their success comes from love and our concern for...

INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath

JOEL GIBBARD AND SAMANTHA PAYNE

JOEL GIBBARD MBE CEO AND SAMANTHA PAYNE MBE COO

MBE CEO & MBE COO, OPEN BIONICS

Here at Open Bionics we build medical devices that enhance the human body. Our goal is to democratise the prosthetics industry and make it accessible so that every individual can feel empowered to reach their goals. It’s critical that the future of robotics evolves with purpose. I believe companies who...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Shamit Patel

Shamit Patel - Alpha Nodus; Gravity Healthcare System

CEO of Alpha Nodus

Shamit Patel is the CEO of Alpha Nodus, developer of the Gravity Healthcare system, a revolutionary tracking system that reduces patient wait times, improves physician practice workflow and productivity, and protects revenue. He has 15 years of wireless startup experience, exits with acquisitions by Intel, Qualcomm & Alereon, and was...

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...

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...

DR. JOE PEREZ

SENIOR SYSTEMS ANALYST, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER

BALANCING ART AND SCIENCE: THE POWER OF DATA STORYTELLING IN BUSINESS INTELLIGENCEAs a seasoned thought leader in the realm of data analytics and business intelligence, I am passionate about communicating the innovative role of data storytelling in effectively communicating data-driven insights. While different perspectives exist on its nature, some viewing...

KRIS NEYENS

MANAGER INTERNATIONALIZATION AT VIL FLANDERS INNOVATION CLUSTER FOR LOGISTICS

Global logistics is facing strong growth, even in uncertain times, and an ever-increasing demand for quality and speed of service, all while ensuring that our overall quality of life is not strained. The focus here must be on sustainability. The aim is to make the best possible use of integrated...

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...

RUTH CASSELMAN

CEO, ACCELERATOR CENTRE

Before I became the CEO of the Accelerator Centre, before I joined the board of the Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN), I was a founder. I co-founded Alert Labs with a simple but ambitious goal: to help buildings save water, operate more efficiently, and reduce risk through smart technology. Like...

KIRBY WINFIELD

ASCEND VC - GENERAL PARTNER

Much like the adoption of electricity, however, the integration of AI into the core of the world’s companies will occur in phases. Initially, vertical (or “applied”) AI point solutions will arise and plug into existing workflows and frameworks. “Copilots” are one great example here; natural language programming and custom LLMs...

HENRIK JÄRLESKOG

CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR EUROPE, LEAD WITH AI AND FOUNDER OF NORTH FOX VENTURES, CREATOR OF THE HENRIK.

Most executives approaching AI are solving the wrong problem. They want to know which tools to buy, which pilots to run, which consultants to hire. They are asking optimization questions when they face an architecture problem. I know because 18 months ago, I was asking the same questions. Over 21...

DR. GER BROPHY

DR. GER BROPHY

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTOF BIOPHARMA PRODUCTION, AVANTOR

Bioproduction has taken a remarkable journey over the last several decades. In recent years, the demand for specific and powerful biologic therapies has continued to increase, underpinned by the ongoing development of monoclonal antibodies therapies (mAbs) and augmented by new platforms such as Cell and Gene Therapy and also nucleic...

DIRAJ PERKASH GOEL

FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, GETFRESH VENTURES

“To create a successful business, it’s crucial to understand the human condition in the buying process.” As an investor and operator, I’ve discovered a pivotal truth: any business holds the potential to generate $10M in revenue. Yet, a significant portion of enterprises stumble before reaching this milestone. The common pitfall?...

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...

GILL WAGNER

Serial Entrepreneur

Over a period of 40 years as an entrepreneur, while building six professional service firms and three nonprofits, I used to network like a madman. As you might imagine, with my hands in several things at once, it was sometimes difficult to answer the question: “So, Gill, what do you...

PROFESSOR TOMMY WHITE

DIRECTOR, VELORIC CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP; SENIOR PROFESSORIAL LECTURER

PROFESSOR TOMMY WHITE, DIRECTOR, VELORIC CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP; SENIOR PROFESSORIAL LECTURER, KOGOD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS; AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (AU)AU/KSB MBA ’95, BA HISTORY & ECONOMICS, UNC-CH ‘86 I often encounter bright minds shackled by a crippling anxiety: the fear of failure. It’s a common thread woven through the fabric of the...

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...

ÅSA ZETTERBERG

CEO, TECHSVERIGE

Sweden has long been a pioneer in technology and innovation. From Ericsson to Spotify, Klarna and Recorded Future, Swedish companies have helped put us on the global tech map. Today, tech is more than a growth sector—it’s a foundation for our economy and society. The numbers speak for themselves. Sweden’s...

FLORIAN VILLAUMÉ

CEO, TECHNL

Innovation in technology often conjures images of sprawling metropolises like Silicon Valley—a beacon of transformation where ideas scale into industry-defining movements. But technology thrives where it’s least expected, and I am proud to say Newfoundland and Labrador has earned its place in that conversation. With a population of just 545,000,...

KEVIN B. MAHONEY

CEO, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM

Philadelphia is a city that understands beginnings. As one of the oldest in the nation and the birthplace of independence, it is a place of ideas and possibilities. Just blocks from the Pennsylvania State House, where the founders gathered to imagine a new republic, another American institution was already taking...

DAVID SHRIER

THE HARMONY OF HUMAN INGENUITY AND AI

David Shrier, a notable professor at Imperial College London and co-director of the Trusted AI Institute, stands at the intersection of technology and humanity. His work, transcending academia, delves into the commercialization of AI and digital assets, influencing top tier corporations and governments alike. Through our conversation, it is clear...

MICHAEL WESTAFER

MICHAEL WESTAFER

FOUNDER & CEO OF ROGER WEST CREATIVE& CODE

I like to think of ourselves as the creative catalysts of innovation. Our own pathway to innovation lies in how we view market disruption through our clients’ eyes. Don’t get me wrong. We do awesome work. Our people are among the best at what they do. We’re regulars on the...

DR. FORREST SHRIVER

SENTINEL DEVICES - CEO & FOUNDER

We are on the precipice of major change – change that will define both America and the world for generations to come. Economically, politically, and technologically, the next ten years will be a trend-setter for the next hundred years. Wars and rumors of wars, worries over the future of work...

CAPITAL CLUB DUBAI

BRIDGING THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR

Capital Club Dubai is a hub of innovation and a crucible for visionary minds shaping the future. As I sit across from Hussain Sultan al Junaidy, the Chairman of this illustrious club, his eyes reflect profound optimism and a relentless drive to propel a business club and a global community...

MARGOT MACHOL BISNOW

AUTHOR, RAISING AN ENTREPRENEUR

As parents, we want what is best for our children. Or, at least, what we think is best for them. And what we almost always want for them is success. But wanting success for our children, even when our desire for their success comes from love and our concern for...

JOEL GIBBARD AND SAMANTHA PAYNE

JOEL GIBBARD MBE CEO AND SAMANTHA PAYNE MBE COO

MBE CEO & MBE COO, OPEN BIONICS

Here at Open Bionics we build medical devices that enhance the human body. Our goal is to democratise the prosthetics industry and make it accessible so that every individual can feel empowered to reach their goals. It’s critical that the future of robotics evolves with purpose. I believe companies who...

Shamit Patel

Shamit Patel - Alpha Nodus; Gravity Healthcare System

CEO of Alpha Nodus

Shamit Patel is the CEO of Alpha Nodus, developer of the Gravity Healthcare system, a revolutionary tracking system that reduces patient wait times, improves physician practice workflow and productivity, and protects revenue. He has 15 years of wireless startup experience, exits with acquisitions by Intel, Qualcomm & Alereon, and was...

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...

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® Ecosystems