Thought Leaders

We have 16 world-class universities and outstanding community colleges here in Atlantic Canada. Our quality of life is second to none. This region is home to hundreds of welcoming communities, abundant natural resources, an exceptionally strong entrepreneurial spirit –and governments that recognize these innate strengths and invest strategically to support...

The most consequential economic development decisions a city makes are not about what gets built, but about the ecosystems those choices set in motion. When success isn’t defined by buildings alone, it is measured by whether developments create places where people can build skills, sustain meaningful careers, and put down...

The Future of HR: Embracing Technology Without Losing the Human Touch In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, HR stands at a crossroads. The integration of advanced technologies into our processes is no longer optional—it’s essential for attracting, retaining, and nurturing top talent. As leaders, we have an opportunity to shape...

NFTS AND GAMING: THE PERFECT MATCH?Hello, I’m Claire Cawthorn, Chief Marketing Officer of HeliconNFT, a play-to-earn NFT ecosystem that gives gamers the power to monetize their in-game assets by tokenizing them into NFTs and allowing them to play with these NFTs in amazing blockchain games on our platform. Throughout my...

I grew up as a military kid and was taught the value of discipline and structure really early on in life. I went to the University of Florida on a scholarship from the Navy ROTC program (#gogators) and went on to earn my Master’s in Public Health and a Ph.D....

THE LIFESTYLE OF NOT GIVING UP Entrepreneurship isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. A way of living built on persistence, humility, and the willingness to reinvent yourself again and again. When you decide to follow an idea, you don’t just commit to a vision. You commit to setbacks, uncertainty, and...

The technology industry is so broad-reaching and established that “innovation” has become the status quo. The problem that comes along with this entrenched approach to technological development is that we’ve also codified what the people who innovate look like; where they went to school, who they know, and what kind...

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...

In 2018, I founded one of Australia’s first space-related incubator programs, (Venture Catalyst Space) with the state’s huge focus on the growing space sector. With the Australian Space Agency HQ in Adelaide, a growing number of new space companies, and the proposed new Space Park, Adelaide is fast becoming Australia’s...

Dr. Rod Berger is the consummate storyteller. As a narrative mad scientist myself, I am but an amateur in the presence of Dr. Berger’s awe-inspiring talent. His views illuminate the corridors of tomorrow through the prism of today’s stories with foresight and wisdom. “My passion for storytelling began many years...

If the latest slew of cryptocurrency commercials at the Superbowl is any indicator, crypto is officially mainstream. Advertisements featuring stars like LeBron James and comedians like Larry David show that everyone is getting in on crypto. But most of this excitement isn’t focused on bitcoin. Last year, over $33 billion...

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...

In a future where tradition weaves seamlessly with innovation, my dialogue with Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri unfolds, rich in insight and vision. This isn’t just an exchange of ideas; it’s a deep dive into the life of a visionary committed to guiding us through the complexities of tomorrow. As the...

From the moment I sat down with Dr. V. Francis John, my neighbor and the luminary behind Ztartup.com and Kube VC, it was clear that I was in the presence of a true visionary. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of technology and innovation. Chief Enablement Officer...

In the riveting expanse of technological advancements, few minds have pierced the veil of the future as incisively as Dr. Usama Fayyad. My conversation with him was nothing short of a voyage into the realms of possibility, a journey through the labyrinth of artificial intelligence (AI) and its seismic impact...

Many of us spend our lives identifying ourselves in what I call the 3 P’s… Partner, Parent, and Profession. There’s no question that these three identifiers take up a lot of our lives. There’s only one challenge with letting these roles dominate life however, especially as we live longer, healthier...

Botswana Oil, the state-owned oil utility responsible for the country’s fuel security, is leveraging on research, innovation and partnerships to contribute more towards Botswana’s drive to reduce its carbon emissions. Botswana is a minimal contributor to carbon emissions at global scale, with the last update showing that Africa as a...

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...

Over the course of my career, I have been a teacher, a farmer, a business analyst, an investor, and an applied research and academic leader. I’ve come to understand that the problems and opportunities in our world are highly complex; they are multi-faceted and require multi-disciplinary responses. No single expert,...

Frank DiBello, Space Florida President and CEO, was selected in May 2009 to lead Space Florida, which is the principal state agency for aerospace-related economic development, and the Space Authority for the State of Florida. In his position, he develops and executes programs designed to attract, retain and grow aerospace...

I have spent most of my career in health sciences and innovation in both Canada and the United States. As we grapple with the challenges in our health systems across Canada, it is clear to me that while there are several areas that need attention (including policy and new funding...

The statistics are startling. Georgia routinely ranks in the top 10 states in the country in terms of population size and growth, yet we continue to rank near the bottom in the number of physicians per capita, at a dismal 41st. Recent data show that roughly 185 Georgians die from...

Something I’ve found to be increasingly true in the communications profession is that there’s a wealth of untapped potential sitting under the surface. It’s why we’re seeing more and more chief communications officers join the ranks of executives at big tech organizations — and why progressive CEOs are investing more...

I’ve spent years at the intersection of technology and human experience—building festivals that draw tens of thousands into shared, electric moments under the stars, while simultaneously harnessing AI and automation to make those moments possible. Through it all, I’ve come to believe that the defining skill of our era isn’t...