Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

RAQUEL FORTUNATO

RAQUEL FORTUNATO

GENIBET, CEO

I joined GenIbet Biopharmaceuticals in 2006, as a Project Manager, shortly after its creation as a spin-off company from iBET, a private nonprofit research organization in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. We were going, as I remember being told by iBET founder and then CEO Prof. Manuel Carrondo, to leverage iBET...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

STEVEN COLLENS

STEVEN COLLENS

CEO, MATTER

I’ve been the chief executive officer at MATTER — the global healthcare innovation hub headquartered in Chicago — since it was founded in 2015. Over the last five years, one of the most interesting dynamics we’ve observed — coming both from entrepreneurs developing novel technologies, as well as from large...

INNOVATE™ Stockholm

STINA WALLMARK

INVESTMENT DIRECTOR LIFE SCIENCES, VOIMA VENTURES

Early-stage life sciences and healthtech are not just about innovation – they are about belief. Belief that something complex, expensive and uncertain can one day change how we prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. In the earliest stages, focus is survival. Startups do not lose momentum because competitors move faster –...

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® Blockchain

NICOLAS GILOT

NICOLAS GILOT

FOUNDER & CEO, ULTRA

Taking gaming and flipping it on its head with the use of blockchain technology was no small feat. Luckily, Nicolas Gilot and David Hanson, CO-CEOs of Ultra, have a strong background in the games industry and the innovative spark that made dreams come true for gamers and game developers around...

INNOVATE™ Oeiras

Eduardo Baptista Correia

CEO, Taguspark

Development and innovation are close concepts that are at the basis of the evolution of mankind. If we look at this evolution we see that development is essentially felt in a stable set of elements: the ways in which we communicate, how we obtain information and learn, how we move...

VOICES of the Future

KIARA KAUR

A YOUNG VISIONARY’S MESSAGE FOR TOMORROW

As I engage in conversation with Kiara Kaur, the air fills with an electrifying sense of the future. At just seven years old, Kiara, a prodigious talent and a beacon of hope, articulates her vision with the clarity and passion of a seasoned leader. Her achievements are staggering: the world’s...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

Lakshmi Shenoy

Embarc Collective-Lakshmi Shenoy

Embarc Collective

As a newcomer to the Tampa Bay region, I’ve had the opportunity to spend the past year immersing myself in the entrepreneurial community that has been growing here. Locals understand that Tampa Bay is a great place to live and get to experience that life each day. However, beyond the...

AI Québec

GILLES SAVARD

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...

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...

INNOVATE® St. Louis

Marie Carlie

Marie Carlie

Tax Partner - BDO USA, Llp

In the world of business, the words “disrupt, innovate, and transform” have become the new normal. For companies looking to make their mark, digital transformation is now the pathway to create revenue and new value, increase profitability, and improve employee and customer retention. It can also help remove IT complexities,...

Virginia Grant

Virginia Grant

Executive Director - Gainesville Black Professionals

INNOVATE is a verb and it means to make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. It is often thought of as it relates to technology, inventions, manufacturing, and business development. It is less often thought of as it relates to culture, social development, diversity,...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

Sandra Watson

Sandra Watson: President & CEO

President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority

My career in economic development has spanned more than 20 years, and I’ve been honored to serve under five different governors. While they varied in political parties, all shared a common goal: advancing Arizona. Today, under Governor Ducey’s leadership, our state is recognized as a global leader in innovation and...

INNOVATE® Blockchain

TRINIDAD HERMIDA, FOUNDER

TRINIDAD HERMIDA

THE HERMIDA COMPANY

Parents and guardians, hear me! You play an essential role in developing and guiding our youth/young adults of this generation and the generations to come. I know this is not rocket science or new information, but I wanted to be as blatant as possible with my intentions for the next...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

RICK CHRISTIAANSE

CEO, INVEST ALBERTA

Known for a relentless ‘make it happen’ attitude, Alberta is gaining remarkable momentum with investors across the world by proving ourselves right here at home. Tech and finance are flourishing, energy and cleantech are diversifying, agriculture is innovating, and aviation and logistics are reaching new heights. With a track record...

INNOVATE® Seattle

DAN LEVITAN

MAVERON - CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL PARTNER

The potential of capitalism lies in its ability to empower consumers and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. At Maveron, we advocate for a different kind of capitalism—one in which economic profit isn’t the only goal. Instead, we ascribe to a capitalism of compassion, where our values are intertwined...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

STIJN COENEN

STIJN COENEN

CEO, THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

“The sky is not the limit anymore.” Quite a bold statement, likely to provoke more than a few raised eyebrows or some smug laughter. It is, however, the proud motto and goal of the students that enroll annually in Thomas More’s ICE honours programme, tailored for those students who want...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Nathan Fletcher

Nathan Fletcher

County Supervisor - County Of San Diego, 4th District

Not many people understand the role of County government, let alone a County Supervisor, in delivering vital services to our communities and region. Yet, the San Diego County government is responsible for more than six billion dollars in annual revenue and expenditures. Things like behavioral health services, child welfare services,...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

FOUNDER & GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, BT INDUSTRIAL GROUP

We have to rethink our national strategy for growth, meaningful economic participation of blacks and job creation; it’s not just about funding and quality of education. I argue that South Africa is a sleeping giant ready to take on the world; we may just be waiting for the right moment...

INNOVATE® Northern Virginia

MILE CORRIGAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NOBLIS

MILE CORRIGAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NOBLIS I’ve always been drawn to science and technology – not for what it is, but to solve complex problems that matter. Science and technology both serve as pathways to uncover what’s possible and bring it into reality. Two decades later, those possibilities,...

INNOVATE® Detroit

BONNIE FAHOOME

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DESIGN CORE DETROIT

Detroit has been an epicenter of innovation for well over a century, leading the world in mass manufacturing, music and industrial design. In 1920, for example, Detroit police officer William Potts was credited with inventing the four-way and three-colored traffic light, a standard still used today for regulating traffic flow...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Tommy Hodinh

Tommy Hodinh

Chairman & CEO MagRabbit, Inc.

On March 8th, 1965 I watched the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade land on the beach of DaNang, Vietnam. As a 14-year-old Vietnamese teenager, I had lived my entire life under the threat of war. With the arrival of 2000 U.S. Marines that day, I had my first taste of hope....

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

MR. OSCAR FIORINOTTO

FOUNDER & CEO, SUPASHOCK ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

FOSTERING A CULTURE OF LEADERS AND INNOVATIONI was fortunate to have an ambitious father who embedded leadership heavily into my life. I feel it is important for any leader to have a mentor, and this is the reason we focus so heavily on mentorship at Supashock. A mentor is someone...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Dan Atkins

Dan Atkins

President - MinneAnalytics - Chief Community Entanglement Particle, Optum

Dan Atkins President, MinneAnalytics – Chief Community Entanglement Particle, Optum I can’t explain the principle of quantum entanglement as well as a physicist could, but I believe in its application to the concept of community engagement nevertheless. There’s a way that two particles, separated by immense distance, can become entangled...

RAQUEL FORTUNATO

RAQUEL FORTUNATO

GENIBET, CEO

I joined GenIbet Biopharmaceuticals in 2006, as a Project Manager, shortly after its creation as a spin-off company from iBET, a private nonprofit research organization in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. We were going, as I remember being told by iBET founder and then CEO Prof. Manuel Carrondo, to leverage iBET...

STEVEN COLLENS

STEVEN COLLENS

CEO, MATTER

I’ve been the chief executive officer at MATTER — the global healthcare innovation hub headquartered in Chicago — since it was founded in 2015. Over the last five years, one of the most interesting dynamics we’ve observed — coming both from entrepreneurs developing novel technologies, as well as from large...

STINA WALLMARK

INVESTMENT DIRECTOR LIFE SCIENCES, VOIMA VENTURES

Early-stage life sciences and healthtech are not just about innovation – they are about belief. Belief that something complex, expensive and uncertain can one day change how we prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. In the earliest stages, focus is survival. Startups do not lose momentum because competitors move faster –...

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?...

NICOLAS GILOT

NICOLAS GILOT

FOUNDER & CEO, ULTRA

Taking gaming and flipping it on its head with the use of blockchain technology was no small feat. Luckily, Nicolas Gilot and David Hanson, CO-CEOs of Ultra, have a strong background in the games industry and the innovative spark that made dreams come true for gamers and game developers around...

Eduardo Baptista Correia

CEO, Taguspark

Development and innovation are close concepts that are at the basis of the evolution of mankind. If we look at this evolution we see that development is essentially felt in a stable set of elements: the ways in which we communicate, how we obtain information and learn, how we move...

KIARA KAUR

A YOUNG VISIONARY’S MESSAGE FOR TOMORROW

As I engage in conversation with Kiara Kaur, the air fills with an electrifying sense of the future. At just seven years old, Kiara, a prodigious talent and a beacon of hope, articulates her vision with the clarity and passion of a seasoned leader. Her achievements are staggering: the world’s...

Lakshmi Shenoy

Embarc Collective-Lakshmi Shenoy

Embarc Collective

As a newcomer to the Tampa Bay region, I’ve had the opportunity to spend the past year immersing myself in the entrepreneurial community that has been growing here. Locals understand that Tampa Bay is a great place to live and get to experience that life each day. However, beyond the...

GILLES SAVARD

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...

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...

Marie Carlie

Marie Carlie

Tax Partner - BDO USA, Llp

In the world of business, the words “disrupt, innovate, and transform” have become the new normal. For companies looking to make their mark, digital transformation is now the pathway to create revenue and new value, increase profitability, and improve employee and customer retention. It can also help remove IT complexities,...

Virginia Grant

Virginia Grant

Executive Director - Gainesville Black Professionals

INNOVATE is a verb and it means to make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. It is often thought of as it relates to technology, inventions, manufacturing, and business development. It is less often thought of as it relates to culture, social development, diversity,...

Sandra Watson

Sandra Watson: President & CEO

President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority

My career in economic development has spanned more than 20 years, and I’ve been honored to serve under five different governors. While they varied in political parties, all shared a common goal: advancing Arizona. Today, under Governor Ducey’s leadership, our state is recognized as a global leader in innovation and...

TRINIDAD HERMIDA, FOUNDER

TRINIDAD HERMIDA

THE HERMIDA COMPANY

Parents and guardians, hear me! You play an essential role in developing and guiding our youth/young adults of this generation and the generations to come. I know this is not rocket science or new information, but I wanted to be as blatant as possible with my intentions for the next...

RICK CHRISTIAANSE

CEO, INVEST ALBERTA

Known for a relentless ‘make it happen’ attitude, Alberta is gaining remarkable momentum with investors across the world by proving ourselves right here at home. Tech and finance are flourishing, energy and cleantech are diversifying, agriculture is innovating, and aviation and logistics are reaching new heights. With a track record...

DAN LEVITAN

MAVERON - CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL PARTNER

The potential of capitalism lies in its ability to empower consumers and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. At Maveron, we advocate for a different kind of capitalism—one in which economic profit isn’t the only goal. Instead, we ascribe to a capitalism of compassion, where our values are intertwined...

STIJN COENEN

STIJN COENEN

CEO, THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

“The sky is not the limit anymore.” Quite a bold statement, likely to provoke more than a few raised eyebrows or some smug laughter. It is, however, the proud motto and goal of the students that enroll annually in Thomas More’s ICE honours programme, tailored for those students who want...

Nathan Fletcher

Nathan Fletcher

County Supervisor - County Of San Diego, 4th District

Not many people understand the role of County government, let alone a County Supervisor, in delivering vital services to our communities and region. Yet, the San Diego County government is responsible for more than six billion dollars in annual revenue and expenditures. Things like behavioral health services, child welfare services,...

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

KGOMOTSO LEKOLA

FOUNDER & GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, BT INDUSTRIAL GROUP

We have to rethink our national strategy for growth, meaningful economic participation of blacks and job creation; it’s not just about funding and quality of education. I argue that South Africa is a sleeping giant ready to take on the world; we may just be waiting for the right moment...

MILE CORRIGAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NOBLIS

MILE CORRIGAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NOBLIS I’ve always been drawn to science and technology – not for what it is, but to solve complex problems that matter. Science and technology both serve as pathways to uncover what’s possible and bring it into reality. Two decades later, those possibilities,...

BONNIE FAHOOME

CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DESIGN CORE DETROIT

Detroit has been an epicenter of innovation for well over a century, leading the world in mass manufacturing, music and industrial design. In 1920, for example, Detroit police officer William Potts was credited with inventing the four-way and three-colored traffic light, a standard still used today for regulating traffic flow...

Tommy Hodinh

Tommy Hodinh

Chairman & CEO MagRabbit, Inc.

On March 8th, 1965 I watched the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade land on the beach of DaNang, Vietnam. As a 14-year-old Vietnamese teenager, I had lived my entire life under the threat of war. With the arrival of 2000 U.S. Marines that day, I had my first taste of hope....

MR. OSCAR FIORINOTTO

FOUNDER & CEO, SUPASHOCK ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

FOSTERING A CULTURE OF LEADERS AND INNOVATIONI was fortunate to have an ambitious father who embedded leadership heavily into my life. I feel it is important for any leader to have a mentor, and this is the reason we focus so heavily on mentorship at Supashock. A mentor is someone...

Dan Atkins

Dan Atkins

President - MinneAnalytics - Chief Community Entanglement Particle, Optum

Dan Atkins President, MinneAnalytics – Chief Community Entanglement Particle, Optum I can’t explain the principle of quantum entanglement as well as a physicist could, but I believe in its application to the concept of community engagement nevertheless. There’s a way that two particles, separated by immense distance, can become entangled...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems