Thought Leaders
VOICES of the Future
BERNARD POULIN
THE HUMAN ESSENCE IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL ERA
Listening to Bernard Poulin, I’m struck by his narrative that encapsulates not just the essence of innovation and foresight but also a profound connection to the human spirit and our planet. Hailing from Canada, he shares his life’s tapestry woven with experiences from around the globe, embodying a passion for...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
JOHN MACRITCHIE
ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT, ZONE LEARNING AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
It might be odd to hear this from someone who leads incubation at a university, but not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur and not every startup will succeed. Our success has come as a result of embracing this experience, and how it develops students and innovators. Leveraging startup and...
AI Québec
MADELEINE JEAN
ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PROMPT
In the field of artificial intelligence, the world of academic research has excelled in Quebec. It has produced renowned researchers and thinkers in operational research and, more recently, in deep learning. Our researchers are amongst the most cited in these fields. Graduate students from all over the world aspire to...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
KATHRYN DAVIS
HEAD OF TOURISM - DESTINATION BRISTOL AND INTERIM CEO - VISIT BATH
Most of my career has been spent working within the visitor economy in some form or other; events, hotels, and venues but for the last 21 years, this has been within Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). There are forms of DMOs across the UK and the world, with all of us...
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® Jacksonville
Jim Stallings
CEO - PS27 Ventures
What is your vision for startup culture in Jacksonville? I believe Jax will become a first-tier city for entrepreneurs. We’re well on our way, there’s tremendous momentum and interest. We have all of the basics in place. We’ve been gifted a great natural environment that is a great place to...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
MATTHEW UNGER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling of discovering that your identity or credit card information has been stolen? I have. As a technologist, this experience led me on a personal journey to create new standards of trust, security, accountability, and privacy for every individual, every business, every transaction. While...
VOICES of the Future
KHALED AL HURAIMEL
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
My conversation with Khaled Al Huraimel encapsulates a vision that transcends the present and leaps into a realm of sustainability and innovation. The backdrop is BEEAH Group’s headquarters in Sharjah, UAE, a masterpiece designed by the late Zaha Hadid, embodying the future Khaled envisions where technology, sustainability, and culture intertwine...
INNOVATE® Georgia
RAVI VENKATESAN
CEO, CANTALOUPE, INC.
Ravi Venkatesan was appointed CEO of Cantaloupe in September 2022, previously holding roles as COO and CTO. With 20+ years in the tech world, he also led innovations at Bakkt and Bridge2 Solutions and held leadership positions at Accenture and Cbeyond. He received his B.S. in electronics from Bangalore University...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
DR. RICHARD M. SMITH
FOUNDER & CHAIR, STOCKSAVVY
One of the greatest wealth-building tools available, the stock market has long been out of reach for most people. I believe that no one benefits in the long run when we have to depend on other people to invest our money and wealth is increasingly concentrated into fewer and fewer...
INNOVATE® Detroit
PHILIP KAFKA
PRESIDENT AT PRINCE CONCEPTS
My company, Prince Concepts, is a real estate development studio, laboratory and office based in Core City, Detroit. We acquire, develop, own and manage land and building projects. The studio works to express personal experience, philosophy and belief through built work. The laboratory tinkers – seeking truth and developing precision....
INNOVATION Quebec
PREFACE BY MURIELLE LABERGE
RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS
Innovation is intrinsically linked to the constant quest for improvement. It requires a creative and agile mindset to come to fruition. It is this mindset that drives individuals seeking to improve well-being and create a better world to dedicate themselves to social innovations based on human values such as solidarity,...
INNOVATE® St. Louis
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,...
VOICES of the Future
ERIK ANDERSON
BLUEPRINT FOR A COMPASSIONATE FUTURE
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
VINCENT ROUSSON
RECTOR, UQAT
However, for a university located in a region like Abitibi Témiscamingue, innovation can play an even more critical role in its development. First and foremost, innovation can help attract and retain students and professors. By developing innovative programs and offering exciting research opportunities in partnership with the community, UQAT attracts...
INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1
John Osborne
Director Of External Affairs - AT&T
As an economist, telecommunications professional, and business leader, I have witnessed a tremendous amount of innovation in the telecommunications space in a very short period of time. We’re on the verge of having networks so intelligent that they can guide cars through city traffic without drivers, communicate one’s heart rate...
INNOVATE® Maryland
DR. ELIZABETH CLAYBORNE
CEO & CO-FOUNDER AT NASACLIP
I am an ER doctor, a mom, a Black woman, and the CEO of a medical device company. These roles are not separate – they intertwine and fuel my vision for impact. My journey into entrepreneurship started in the chaos of the emergency room, where I treated countless patients for...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
Marco Costa
Chief Operating Officer International, Talkdesk
When Talkdesk came into existence there was no contact centre entirely hosted in the cloud. We were game changers and that is what we aim to continue to be and do. We do not rest on our laurels and continue to lead, build the future of contact centres and set...
INNOVATE® South Florida
TERRY J. INGRAM
CEO - INGRAM ADVISORY GROUP
WHERE INNOVATION FEELS LIKE HOME Innovation isn’t just about creating something new, it’s about fostering an ecosystem where transformative ideas can thrive and scale. Over three decades, I’ve watched South Florida evolve into that ecosystem, where talent, capital, and global vision converge to shape the future of technology. For 30...
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...
INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1
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® South Carolina
HAROLD SINGLETARY
CEO & FOUNDER, BRIGHTMA FARMS INC.
I often tell people that BrightMa didn’t start as a company — it started as a calling. My ancestors were enslaved farmers who worked the same South Carolina soil I walk today. Their sacrifice, resilience, ingenuity, and stewardship of the land are the foundation for everything I do. BrightMa Farms...
VOICES of the Future
DR. RISA RYGER
EMBRACING CHANGE FOR A VIBRANT FUTURE
In an era where change is our only constant, one woman has taken it upon herself to guide us through the shifting sands of time: Dr. Risa Ryger, a distinguished clinical psychologist, international speaker, and entrepreneur. She has dedicated her life to helping individuals and organizations navigate the often turbulent...
INNOVATE™ Montréal
Dr. Fabrice Brunet
Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM)
Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) – Vers un système de santé innovant et apprenant / Towards an innovative learning health system Dr. Fabrice BrunetPrésident-Directeur Général du CHUM English: The health care system is facing major challenges and needs to change if it wants to provide optimal health care...
BERNARD POULIN
THE HUMAN ESSENCE IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL ERA
Listening to Bernard Poulin, I’m struck by his narrative that encapsulates not just the essence of innovation and foresight but also a profound connection to the human spirit and our planet. Hailing from Canada, he shares his life’s tapestry woven with experiences from around the globe, embodying a passion for...
JOHN MACRITCHIE
ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT, ZONE LEARNING AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
It might be odd to hear this from someone who leads incubation at a university, but not everyone needs to be an entrepreneur and not every startup will succeed. Our success has come as a result of embracing this experience, and how it develops students and innovators. Leveraging startup and...
MADELEINE JEAN
ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PROMPT
In the field of artificial intelligence, the world of academic research has excelled in Quebec. It has produced renowned researchers and thinkers in operational research and, more recently, in deep learning. Our researchers are amongst the most cited in these fields. Graduate students from all over the world aspire to...
KATHRYN DAVIS
HEAD OF TOURISM - DESTINATION BRISTOL AND INTERIM CEO - VISIT BATH
Most of my career has been spent working within the visitor economy in some form or other; events, hotels, and venues but for the last 21 years, this has been within Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). There are forms of DMOs across the UK and the world, with all of us...
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...
Jim Stallings
CEO - PS27 Ventures
What is your vision for startup culture in Jacksonville? I believe Jax will become a first-tier city for entrepreneurs. We’re well on our way, there’s tremendous momentum and interest. We have all of the basics in place. We’ve been gifted a great natural environment that is a great place to...
MATTHEW UNGER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Have you ever experienced the sinking feeling of discovering that your identity or credit card information has been stolen? I have. As a technologist, this experience led me on a personal journey to create new standards of trust, security, accountability, and privacy for every individual, every business, every transaction. While...
KHALED AL HURAIMEL
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
My conversation with Khaled Al Huraimel encapsulates a vision that transcends the present and leaps into a realm of sustainability and innovation. The backdrop is BEEAH Group’s headquarters in Sharjah, UAE, a masterpiece designed by the late Zaha Hadid, embodying the future Khaled envisions where technology, sustainability, and culture intertwine...
RAVI VENKATESAN
CEO, CANTALOUPE, INC.
Ravi Venkatesan was appointed CEO of Cantaloupe in September 2022, previously holding roles as COO and CTO. With 20+ years in the tech world, he also led innovations at Bakkt and Bridge2 Solutions and held leadership positions at Accenture and Cbeyond. He received his B.S. in electronics from Bangalore University...
DR. RICHARD M. SMITH
FOUNDER & CHAIR, STOCKSAVVY
One of the greatest wealth-building tools available, the stock market has long been out of reach for most people. I believe that no one benefits in the long run when we have to depend on other people to invest our money and wealth is increasingly concentrated into fewer and fewer...
PHILIP KAFKA
PRESIDENT AT PRINCE CONCEPTS
My company, Prince Concepts, is a real estate development studio, laboratory and office based in Core City, Detroit. We acquire, develop, own and manage land and building projects. The studio works to express personal experience, philosophy and belief through built work. The laboratory tinkers – seeking truth and developing precision....
PREFACE BY MURIELLE LABERGE
RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS
Innovation is intrinsically linked to the constant quest for improvement. It requires a creative and agile mindset to come to fruition. It is this mindset that drives individuals seeking to improve well-being and create a better world to dedicate themselves to social innovations based on human values such as solidarity,...
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,...
ERIK ANDERSON
BLUEPRINT FOR A COMPASSIONATE FUTURE
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...
VINCENT ROUSSON
RECTOR, UQAT
However, for a university located in a region like Abitibi Témiscamingue, innovation can play an even more critical role in its development. First and foremost, innovation can help attract and retain students and professors. By developing innovative programs and offering exciting research opportunities in partnership with the community, UQAT attracts...
John Osborne
Director Of External Affairs - AT&T
As an economist, telecommunications professional, and business leader, I have witnessed a tremendous amount of innovation in the telecommunications space in a very short period of time. We’re on the verge of having networks so intelligent that they can guide cars through city traffic without drivers, communicate one’s heart rate...
DR. ELIZABETH CLAYBORNE
CEO & CO-FOUNDER AT NASACLIP
I am an ER doctor, a mom, a Black woman, and the CEO of a medical device company. These roles are not separate – they intertwine and fuel my vision for impact. My journey into entrepreneurship started in the chaos of the emergency room, where I treated countless patients for...
Marco Costa
Chief Operating Officer International, Talkdesk
When Talkdesk came into existence there was no contact centre entirely hosted in the cloud. We were game changers and that is what we aim to continue to be and do. We do not rest on our laurels and continue to lead, build the future of contact centres and set...
TERRY J. INGRAM
CEO - INGRAM ADVISORY GROUP
WHERE INNOVATION FEELS LIKE HOME Innovation isn’t just about creating something new, it’s about fostering an ecosystem where transformative ideas can thrive and scale. Over three decades, I’ve watched South Florida evolve into that ecosystem, where talent, capital, and global vision converge to shape the future of technology. For 30...
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...
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...
HAROLD SINGLETARY
CEO & FOUNDER, BRIGHTMA FARMS INC.
I often tell people that BrightMa didn’t start as a company — it started as a calling. My ancestors were enslaved farmers who worked the same South Carolina soil I walk today. Their sacrifice, resilience, ingenuity, and stewardship of the land are the foundation for everything I do. BrightMa Farms...
DR. RISA RYGER
EMBRACING CHANGE FOR A VIBRANT FUTURE
In an era where change is our only constant, one woman has taken it upon herself to guide us through the shifting sands of time: Dr. Risa Ryger, a distinguished clinical psychologist, international speaker, and entrepreneur. She has dedicated her life to helping individuals and organizations navigate the often turbulent...
Dr. Fabrice Brunet
Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM)
Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) – Vers un système de santé innovant et apprenant / Towards an innovative learning health system Dr. Fabrice BrunetPrésident-Directeur Général du CHUM English: The health care system is facing major challenges and needs to change if it wants to provide optimal health care...