Thought Leaders

Chicago’s rich history of financial innovation is world-famous for a reason. In 1848, the Chicago Board of Trade launched to promote commerce—most notably around agricultural commodities. Today people recognize Chicago for its role in revolutionizing global finance. It’s here where financial futures, options, and derivatives trading began. This vibrant and...

After making the plunge into the ecosystem myself, in 2017, I found myself telling people this everywhere I went. Whether it was at an industry breakout conference at DreamHack, as a panelist on a YouTuber Zoom discussion, on a college campus speaking to Sports Management students or just in daily...

Sir W. Arthur Lewis once wrote, “The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge.” Few ideas better capture the spirit behind the creation and growth of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. For 35-years, NVTC has embodied the belief that knowledge is shared through science, innovation, and collaboration, and...

I am a civil engineer electronic by training. In 1997 I joined AGC Mol (then still Glaverbel) a glass manufacturer at walking distance from my home. At first I managed the general services such as plan maintenance, purchasing, miscellaneous projects and evolved to site manager of the Mol plant in...

‘THOUSANDS HAVE LIVED WITHOUT LOVE, NOT ONE WITHOUT WATER.’ (W.H. Auden, First Things First) As someone whose life has been spent on the innovative interface between education and the creative industries, I have always been fascinated by the relationships between what we need and what we want – ‘love’ or...

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...

As the executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission—an organization that attracts and retains amateur and professional sporting events across the state — sports tourism has never been just about events. It’s about people, communities, and the shared experiences that bring Marylanders together. Over the years, I’ve come to believe...

Governments worldwide are stepping up and playing a crucial role in enabling innovation in their parts of the world. Our leaders can and should do as much as possible to help small businesses, start ups and innovators succeed. These entrepreneurs are the life blood of our future economy. South Africa...

To me, innovation is more than process and action – it’s a mindset. Innovation exists to break limits and barriers and turn new ideas and concepts into everyday activities. It’s the engine that will address the needs and gaps in our city to drive economic diversification and growth. Innovation is...

DR. AJIT SHETTY FORMER CHAIRMAN, JANSSEN BEERSE My name is Dr. Ajit Shetty and I served as Chairman of Janssen Beerse from 2002 to 2012. I was very fortunate to have been part of Janssen under the leadership of Dr. Paul Janssen. We were the most productive pharmaceutical research lab...

Many people think that the healthcare system is broken because hospitals & insurance companies charge too much. The fact is, the market has seen a massive shift in financial responsibility for healthcare costs to the consumer. Combined with increased compliance burdens, the result is a massive spike in consumer out-of-pocket...

Regardless of how technology manifests and grows, the cornerstone of any company and its ability to succeed depends on its strong leadership and culture. The people in the company are the most important. Finding key people to fill those opportunities is important, and technology assessment tools can help with that...

Government is probably not something that comes to mind when you think of innovation, but at the local level, you will find cities and counties that recognize that the solutions to today’s challenges and the path to tomorrow’s opportunities cannot be found in yesterday’s ideas. The City of Alpharetta, Georgia...

Innovation means different things to different people. For me it’s not about petri dishes and lab coats, it’s about the process through which great ideas are turned into tangible, measurable value. It’s an iterative process. It’s not just about having the idea, but about taking the necessary practical steps to...

I started in the technology field back in 1996 doing computer and network setups for regional city governments who could not afford or did not know what to ask for when needing help. I ended up riding the “Internet Revolution” shortly after and found myself in Silicon Valley in 2005...

This headline accompanied Washington Post nationally-syndicated columnist Neal Peirce’s column on St. Louis, following the completion of our BioBelt Strategy in 2000. Then in 2019, economists from the  Brookings Institution noted that “To succeed in the global economy, cities must invest in what makes them unique.” My now 40+ year...

  People will be studying the global pandemic’s effects on the workplace for decades to come. The trends it accelerated. The inequality it exposed. The countless challenges and opportunities it created. However, there is one thing that is already perfectly clear, and business leaders in every industry across the country...

As we look to the skies, we’re witnessing a revolution in mobility that will transform our communities for the better. Drones are no longer just cool gadgets or military tools – they’re becoming powerful forces for good that can make our lives safer, easier, and more eco-friendly. At Airspace Link,...

Career Centers: The New Workforce Suppliers I want you to imagine standing at the edge of a river. On one side are thousands of students—bright-eyed, full of energy, buzzing with ideas and untapped skills. On the other side are industries—manufacturing, healthcare, transportation—calling out for skilled workers, desperate for fresh talent...

Evans was founded on the mindset that execution of complex design-build projects is achieved through team synergy, a focus on client needs, and innovative problem solving. While design-build is an essential part of our business, Evans’ approach to all projects, regardless of the delivery method, is created with the same...

“OUR PASSION IS TO HELP COMPANIES GROW. OUR HIGHEST INTENT IS TO FOSTER A STRONG SERVICE PHILOSOPHY THAT ENSURES OUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS THEY SEEK AND DESERVE. WE WANT THEM TO DO WELL BECAUSE WE WANT OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY TO DO WELL. IT’S A WIN-WIN.”– CARLOS COBIAN, FOUNDER AND...

Just over two decades ago I sat in a university lecture hall while pursuing an E Commerce course and we were introduced to our guest speaker for the day, she worked at a large bank, just like me, but her title fascinated me, she was called a “futurist”. Her main...

I have been involved in the 3D computer graphics field for over 25 years and have helped build tools that simplify workflows for creators. Early on in my career, I came to understand that in any industry, creators are the key players driving progress and different perspectives forward. Creators have...

Douglas is an entrepreneur and human-centered technologist with over 20 years of experience. He is president of Voltage Control, an Austin-based workshop agency that specializes in Design Sprints and innovation workshops. Less talk, more prototypingThe thought of prototyping might be intimidating. The word can conjure something daunting, technical, or elaborate....