Thought Leaders
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MELODI ASKELÖF
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, SATOCCI
Next stop: Mars. That’s the mindset that drives me. I’m scaling Retail Tech from MENA to the world with Satocci and our Scan & Pay revolution. I’ve spent fifteen years moving between banking, finance, sales and telecom, and here’s what I’ve learned: money always moves faster than the systems built...
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...
INNOVATIONS in Pharmaceutical Development®
ROBERT SALCEDO
FOUNDER AND CEO, OCYONBIO GENE AND CELL THERAPY
Robert Salcedo was born in the Dominican Republic on August 26,1964. When he was ten years old, his family decided to immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities. At an early age Robert understood the need of medicine accessibility for everyone regardless of social status or race....
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
PHIL RANTA
CEO, WORMHOLE LABS
ESPORTS ISN’T A SPORT, IT’S THE IDEA OF SPORTSSince the birth of video games, we’ve played to win. It began with high scores and simple 1v1 games, progressed through games with an objective of story completion and now, finally, an online free-for-all where a kid in Japan and an adult...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
GIOVANNI MENDEZ
CEO, GEO
“PUERTO RICO IS BLOOMING AS A GLOBAL HUB FOR INNOVATION WITH COMPETITIVE TAX INCENTIVES, AND A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE… THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.”– GIOVANNI MENDEZ, CEO, GEO Giovanni Méndez Feliciano has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Juris Doctor. Upon completion of the law degree, Giovanni took the Puerto Rico...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
WESLEY MATHEWS
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - CHOOSE NEW JERSEY
I’ve been lucky to call many places around the world my home. As a career diplomat, I gained an understanding of life in other countries by experiencing it firsthand. My experiences with different cultures around the globe have afforded me the perspective that guides my professional career and allows me...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
LARS-GÖRAN FRÖJD
FOUNDER & CEO, VIRTUAL MANAGEMENT
An innovative culture is shifting but it must define areas of curiosity that mixes with experience and then you could open your eyes and find the intangible assets that all individuals and organizations have. When we established Virtual Management back in 1995 the knowledge of “virtual” was very limited and...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
DOUGLAS HOLT
MBA, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTMENTS, ALBERTA INNOVATES
Innovation. It’s the relentless pursuit of new ideas, challenging the status quo, and shaping a better future. At Alberta Innovates, we believe innovation is key to growing the economy, expanding markets and creating new and better opportunities for Albertans. We are the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency, providing...
AI Québec
GILLES SAVARD
DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL -IVADO
Moteur d’innovation, les données sont au cœur de la transformation numérique qui s’impose partout. Liées à plusieurs technologies numériques habilitantes arrivant à maturité dont, l’infonuagique, l’internet des objets, le 5G, le 3D, la réalité augmentée, la robotique, etc., ces données et leur valorisation par l’analytique sont les véritables activateurs de...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
ERIC R. POLINS
MANAGING PARTNER
Businesses have focused on traditional methods of communications and marketing to spread their message to their customers. But those models have shifted and the pace at which communications is now delivered has accelerated to break-neck speeds. It’s easy for a company’s message to get lost amid all the chatter that...
INNOVATE® Northern Virginia
CRAIG CHASON
LEADER & PARTNER, PILLSBURY’S NORTHERN VIRGINIA CORPORATE GROUP
When people talk about innovation, they often focus on the breakthrough idea or the individual who disrupted an industry. While those moments capture headlines, I believe innovation truly begins with cultivating a dynamic business community – one that brings together curious minds who might not otherwise cross paths. You want...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
DARREL FRATER
INVESTMENT ASSOCIATE, VISIBLE HANDS
The record startup fundraising and investment climate of 2021 has slowed considerably as public market valuations for late-stage tech companies have declined drastically, and concerns around rising interest rates have added to VCs’ hesitation for making new investments. Black entrepreneurs, in particular, have been hit hard by this pullback from...
INNOVATE® Seattle
MARIA COLACURCIO,
CEO, SYNDIO
Winning in the Transparency Era Workplace equity has taken on new urgency in today’s era of public salary ranges, pay gap reporting laws, voluntary disclosures by leading global companies, and investor scorecards. Every measure of how you value your people is now on display. This includes pay, performance, promotions, and...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
SANDRA SÄRAV-TAMMUS
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR ECONOMY AND INNOVATION, REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
When people around the world hear of Estonia today, they think of a nation where nearly every government service is accessible online, where starting a company can take just minutes, and where seamless digital interactions are simply the way of life. But this transformation did not happen overnight. It is...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
ANDREW BATEY
FOUNDER AND CO-CEO, BEATDAPP
Vancouver has the potential – and opportunity – to become a significant player in the global tech ecosystem. For emerging tech hubs like Vancouver, companies must prioritize collaboration and cross-functional effort to compete with established cities like Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, and Miami. Beatdapp highlights this opportunity and...
INNOVATE® St. Louis
Jennah Purk
Founder & CEO - Purk Associates
Talking about innovation in accounting is sort of like talking about water and oil. They aren’t exactly synonymous, and while it’s not like we’re using an abacus, we’re not far off. It’s also not as boring as people think it is. But the two things that obstruct the industry are...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
DR. RAMESH VENKAT
DIRECTOR, DAVID SOBEY RETAILING CENTRE
INNOVATION IN THE RETAIL SECTOR The retail sector has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade, especially in the post-pandemic era. The major drivers of change have been new technologies, such as AI, changing consumer behaviour, and external shocks such as supply chain disruptions and inflation. The retail sector...
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® Utah
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
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® Detroit
TINA KOZAK
CEO - FRANCO
It’s an amazing time to be a Detroiter. Yes, the city has its fair share of challenges, but its reputation is on the rise. As noted in a recent PR News article about Detroit’s renaissance, “Behind every rehabbed reputation lies really hard work, dedicated individuals and, of course, some strategic...
INNOVATION Quebec
MARIE CLAUDE LAGACÉ
SENIOR DIRECTOR, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE, CONSEIL DE I’NNOVATION DU QUEBEC
Growing up, I used to play a lot, from hockey with my brother to chess with my dad. The only game that truly bored me to death was Monopoly, which inevitably ended with one of us (usually my sister) bankrupting others. No uncovering of a killer, no epic naval battle,...
INNOVATE® Phoenix
Thiru Thangarthinam
CEO and Founder - MST Solutions
Introduction MST Solutions launched in October 2012. Our headquarters are in Chandler, Ariz., and we have two additional offices in India (Chennai and Trichy). We have 275 employees (75 in Chandler, and 200 in India). We’re the largest Salesforce partner in Arizona. From 2017 to 2018, we achieved 286% growth...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MATHAPELO MZIZI - DEMAND DIRECTOR (ERICSSON)
BOARD MEMBER (NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) AND INCLUSIVE INNOVATION ADVOCATE
There’s an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Another says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” And both, I believe, capture the very heartbeat of innovation. When I look at Sweden’s innovation scene, I...
MELODI ASKELÖF
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, SATOCCI
Next stop: Mars. That’s the mindset that drives me. I’m scaling Retail Tech from MENA to the world with Satocci and our Scan & Pay revolution. I’ve spent fifteen years moving between banking, finance, sales and telecom, and here’s what I’ve learned: money always moves faster than the systems built...
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...
ROBERT SALCEDO
FOUNDER AND CEO, OCYONBIO GENE AND CELL THERAPY
Robert Salcedo was born in the Dominican Republic on August 26,1964. When he was ten years old, his family decided to immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities. At an early age Robert understood the need of medicine accessibility for everyone regardless of social status or race....
PHIL RANTA
CEO, WORMHOLE LABS
ESPORTS ISN’T A SPORT, IT’S THE IDEA OF SPORTSSince the birth of video games, we’ve played to win. It began with high scores and simple 1v1 games, progressed through games with an objective of story completion and now, finally, an online free-for-all where a kid in Japan and an adult...
GIOVANNI MENDEZ
CEO, GEO
“PUERTO RICO IS BLOOMING AS A GLOBAL HUB FOR INNOVATION WITH COMPETITIVE TAX INCENTIVES, AND A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE… THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.”– GIOVANNI MENDEZ, CEO, GEO Giovanni Méndez Feliciano has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Juris Doctor. Upon completion of the law degree, Giovanni took the Puerto Rico...
WESLEY MATHEWS
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - CHOOSE NEW JERSEY
I’ve been lucky to call many places around the world my home. As a career diplomat, I gained an understanding of life in other countries by experiencing it firsthand. My experiences with different cultures around the globe have afforded me the perspective that guides my professional career and allows me...
LARS-GÖRAN FRÖJD
FOUNDER & CEO, VIRTUAL MANAGEMENT
An innovative culture is shifting but it must define areas of curiosity that mixes with experience and then you could open your eyes and find the intangible assets that all individuals and organizations have. When we established Virtual Management back in 1995 the knowledge of “virtual” was very limited and...
DOUGLAS HOLT
MBA, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTMENTS, ALBERTA INNOVATES
Innovation. It’s the relentless pursuit of new ideas, challenging the status quo, and shaping a better future. At Alberta Innovates, we believe innovation is key to growing the economy, expanding markets and creating new and better opportunities for Albertans. We are the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency, providing...
GILLES SAVARD
DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL -IVADO
Moteur d’innovation, les données sont au cœur de la transformation numérique qui s’impose partout. Liées à plusieurs technologies numériques habilitantes arrivant à maturité dont, l’infonuagique, l’internet des objets, le 5G, le 3D, la réalité augmentée, la robotique, etc., ces données et leur valorisation par l’analytique sont les véritables activateurs de...
ERIC R. POLINS
MANAGING PARTNER
Businesses have focused on traditional methods of communications and marketing to spread their message to their customers. But those models have shifted and the pace at which communications is now delivered has accelerated to break-neck speeds. It’s easy for a company’s message to get lost amid all the chatter that...
CRAIG CHASON
LEADER & PARTNER, PILLSBURY’S NORTHERN VIRGINIA CORPORATE GROUP
When people talk about innovation, they often focus on the breakthrough idea or the individual who disrupted an industry. While those moments capture headlines, I believe innovation truly begins with cultivating a dynamic business community – one that brings together curious minds who might not otherwise cross paths. You want...
DARREL FRATER
INVESTMENT ASSOCIATE, VISIBLE HANDS
The record startup fundraising and investment climate of 2021 has slowed considerably as public market valuations for late-stage tech companies have declined drastically, and concerns around rising interest rates have added to VCs’ hesitation for making new investments. Black entrepreneurs, in particular, have been hit hard by this pullback from...
MARIA COLACURCIO,
CEO, SYNDIO
Winning in the Transparency Era Workplace equity has taken on new urgency in today’s era of public salary ranges, pay gap reporting laws, voluntary disclosures by leading global companies, and investor scorecards. Every measure of how you value your people is now on display. This includes pay, performance, promotions, and...
SANDRA SÄRAV-TAMMUS
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR ECONOMY AND INNOVATION, REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
When people around the world hear of Estonia today, they think of a nation where nearly every government service is accessible online, where starting a company can take just minutes, and where seamless digital interactions are simply the way of life. But this transformation did not happen overnight. It is...
ANDREW BATEY
FOUNDER AND CO-CEO, BEATDAPP
Vancouver has the potential – and opportunity – to become a significant player in the global tech ecosystem. For emerging tech hubs like Vancouver, companies must prioritize collaboration and cross-functional effort to compete with established cities like Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, and Miami. Beatdapp highlights this opportunity and...
Jennah Purk
Founder & CEO - Purk Associates
Talking about innovation in accounting is sort of like talking about water and oil. They aren’t exactly synonymous, and while it’s not like we’re using an abacus, we’re not far off. It’s also not as boring as people think it is. But the two things that obstruct the industry are...
DR. RAMESH VENKAT
DIRECTOR, DAVID SOBEY RETAILING CENTRE
INNOVATION IN THE RETAIL SECTOR The retail sector has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade, especially in the post-pandemic era. The major drivers of change have been new technologies, such as AI, changing consumer behaviour, and external shocks such as supply chain disruptions and inflation. The retail sector...
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...
Blake Modersitzki
Managing Partner - Pelion Venture Partners
Blake Modersitzki Managing Partner – Pelion Venture Partners Nobody is born an entrepreneur. Different people take different paths to achieving their definition of success. Just know: The entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions is vast and deep. No Matter the Generation, the Lessons Ring True I’ve had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship...
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...
TINA KOZAK
CEO - FRANCO
It’s an amazing time to be a Detroiter. Yes, the city has its fair share of challenges, but its reputation is on the rise. As noted in a recent PR News article about Detroit’s renaissance, “Behind every rehabbed reputation lies really hard work, dedicated individuals and, of course, some strategic...
MARIE CLAUDE LAGACÉ
SENIOR DIRECTOR, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE, CONSEIL DE I’NNOVATION DU QUEBEC
Growing up, I used to play a lot, from hockey with my brother to chess with my dad. The only game that truly bored me to death was Monopoly, which inevitably ended with one of us (usually my sister) bankrupting others. No uncovering of a killer, no epic naval battle,...
Thiru Thangarthinam
CEO and Founder - MST Solutions
Introduction MST Solutions launched in October 2012. Our headquarters are in Chandler, Ariz., and we have two additional offices in India (Chennai and Trichy). We have 275 employees (75 in Chandler, and 200 in India). We’re the largest Salesforce partner in Arizona. From 2017 to 2018, we achieved 286% growth...
MATHAPELO MZIZI - DEMAND DIRECTOR (ERICSSON)
BOARD MEMBER (NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) AND INCLUSIVE INNOVATION ADVOCATE
There’s an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Another says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” And both, I believe, capture the very heartbeat of innovation. When I look at Sweden’s innovation scene, I...