Thought Leaders
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
DUSTIN CANTER A.K.A ‘MAYOR OF THE MIC’
A.K.A ‘MAYOR OF THE MIC’
The world is changing rapidly, as are the skills needed to succeed. With the rise of cryptocurrencies, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals in these areas. However, traditional education systems are not equipped to provide the necessary training for these emerging fields. With...
INNOVATE® Minnesota
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™ Ottawa
Jim Stackhouse
Founder & CEO - Neolore Networks Inc.
AN EXERCISE IN INNOVATION AND DEMONSTRATING VALUE. The digital landscape of IT Support is forever changing. Just five years ago, the ways IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) supported their clients is totally different than today. As more companies turn to MSPs for outsourced IT Support and Cloud services, the value...
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Sandeep Roy
Advisor & Mentor - Innovate2Grow
The current pace of new technology-led change has left classic economy companies vulnerable, but disruption is also a huge borderless opportunity in a world where ultrafast digital connectivity and the information superhighway has democratized innovation. We have a choice. We can view Airbnb as strangling the hotel industry or see...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
C. PARKHILL MAYS III
CEO, STOPIT SOLUTIONS
I was born and raised in Central Florida and grew up with loving and caring parents to whom I attribute much of my success in life. After a good education at a small liberal arts university in western Virginia, I spent my first few years of adulthood working as an...
VOICES of the Future
MARIA DA CONCEICAO
CLIMBING NEW HEIGHTS FOR HUMANITY
Maria Da Conceicao’s eyes sparkle with an intensity that reflects a life of profound challenges and extraordinary achievements. Born in Portugal, Maria’s story began with adversity. At just two years old, her mother fell ill, and an African immigrant cleaner, Maria Cristina Matos, took her under her wing. This new...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
MARK MCCLAIN
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, SAILPOINT TECHNOLOGIES
A Perspective on InnovationInnovation can take many forms. For the tech industry, innovation is abusiness tool. This entails engineering new solutions to old problems,designing different approaches and different processes, and creating newstrategies and products to keep the company competitive. Austin hasnurtured a culture of innovation and groomed its tech industry...
VOICES of the Future
CHANDRAN NAIR
THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Chandran Nair has devoted his life to challenging conventional wisdom and advocating for a future that balances economic progress with social and environmental responsibility. As the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), a pan-Asian think tank, he is a guiding light of intellectual honesty and a...
Phoebe Cade Miles
Co-Founder - The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
Phoebe Cade Miles Co-Founder – The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention In 2004, I helped my father, Dr. James Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, to establish the Cade Museum. Sixteen years later, it is inspiring the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. The Gatorade story had...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
SOFIA STOLBERG
CEO PILOTO 151
THE GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF PUERTO RICO’S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM AND WHAT’S NEEDED TO CHARGE AHEADFew people know that in 2010 Puerto Rico pioneered the first multistakeholder entrepreneurship ecosystem project in the world. Led by the Island’s most successful entrepreneurs in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, the Puerto Rico...
INNOVATE® Utah
Ken Davis
Co-Founder & CEO - TaskEasy
Ken Davis is the co-founder and CEO of TaskEasy – an online platform that allows homeowners, renters, and businesses to order and manage yard maintenance online. Since TaskEasy’s launch in 2013, the company has grown to service hundreds of thousands of properties across all 50 states. TaskEasy’s business model caters...
INNOVATE™ Bengaluru
Prof. Vijay Chandru
Mentor and Investor
Mentor and Investor “True tech innovation in India is happening in life sciences, nanoscience, chemistry, mechanical engineering and the like”, says Prof. Vijay Chandru, one of the earliest academics in India to move from an impressive career in academics to highly successful deep science entrepreneurship. “If you look at creativity...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
ERIC VAN RYSWYK
CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, CODIUM
In the world of business, technology has long been a driving force behind innovation and progress. Advancements in frameworks, computing power, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have led to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. However, as technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly clear that the true...
INNOVATE™ Montréal
Federico Puebla
Directeur Innovation Ouverte - Open Innovation Manager - Mouvement Desjardins
French: ÊTRE PREMIER DANS LE CŒUR DES GENS. DEVENIR UN LEADER SOCIO-ÉCONOMIQUE. ENRICHIR LA VIE DES PERSONNES ET DES COMMUNAUTÉS. VOILÀ, TOUT À LA FOIS, UNE MISSION NOBLE, HUMAINE ET AMBITIEUSE. OUI, NOUS VISONS HAUT. NOUS L’AVONS TOUJOURS FAIT. ET NOUS LE FERONS TOUJOURS PUISQUE NOTRE HISTOIRE EST MARQUÉE DE...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
MICHAEL E. ZWICK
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
Research, discoveries, innovations, and solutions define the Rutgers research enterprise. That is why my vision, and the mission of the Rutgers Office for Research, is to support the research, scholarship, and creative endeavors of all Rutgers faculty. Since joining Rutgers as the Senior Vice President for Research in 2021, I...
INNOVATE® Detroit
MICHAEL HEALANDER
AIRSPACE LINK, INC - PRESIDENT AND CEO
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,...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
Melissa Bradley
Professor of the Practice, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
Melissa Bradley is a professor of the practice at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where she teaches impact investing, social entrepreneurship, P2P economics, and innovation. Since graduating from Georgetown McDonough in 1989 with a B.S. in finance, Bradley has remained passionate about preserving the strength of the American financial...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
MEAGAN KAY-FOWLOW
CO. INNOVATION CENTRE, PRESIDENT
LEADERS BY DESIGN: The Innovation Mindset of Newfoundland and Labrador Meagan Kay-Fowlow, President, Co. Innovation Centre As a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I’ve always believed that innovation isn’t just something we do— it’s embedded in who we are. Our history and culture have been shaped by the challenges of living...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
ANA CARRAPICHANO
CEO & FOUNDER, MEDIOLOGY
MY PASSION FOR AFRICAThe streets of South Africa have something about them… a unique rhythm that is the heartbeat of our rainbow nation. With great natural beauty, cultural diversity, incredible resilience – South Africa is a land filled with vitality, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit. I work and live in...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
OMID EKHLASI
FOUNDER & CEO, TECHARENA
The Power of Gathering Over ten years ago, Techarena began in a small movie theater in southern Sweden. A group of founders stood on stage to pitch their ideas, full of hope and determination. Only eight people came to watch. It would have been easy to feel discouraged, but something...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
BRIAN HARSTINE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ACQUIRE
Nearly every socio-economic sector is asking more questions, new questions, and challenging the way they have been doing just about everything, all the way down to their own personal finances and investment decisions. I came across an observation recently; when mass groups of people increase their awareness and knowledge of...
INNOVATE® Georgia
DAVID HESS
MCG DEAN, AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
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...
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
Dès mon arrivée à La Cité en 2010, j’ai constaté l’engagement et la passion de la communauté collégiale, la vitalité et la joie de vivre francophones, la culture de l’excellence dans un environnement des plus stimulants et fertiles, le désir profond de voir nos étudiants réussir, et des projets plus...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
TOM BLOMMAERT
CEO, BLOMMAERT ALUMINIUM CONSTRUCTIONS
I was born in Antwerp, having lived my life in the northern Antwerp suburbs, and still do, now together with my wife and two teenagers. After secondary school, I wanted to pursue a career as a pilot. I therefore studied Mathematics and Science at the University of Brussels, followed by...
DUSTIN CANTER A.K.A ‘MAYOR OF THE MIC’
A.K.A ‘MAYOR OF THE MIC’
The world is changing rapidly, as are the skills needed to succeed. With the rise of cryptocurrencies, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals in these areas. However, traditional education systems are not equipped to provide the necessary training for these emerging fields. With...
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...
Jim Stackhouse
Founder & CEO - Neolore Networks Inc.
AN EXERCISE IN INNOVATION AND DEMONSTRATING VALUE. The digital landscape of IT Support is forever changing. Just five years ago, the ways IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) supported their clients is totally different than today. As more companies turn to MSPs for outsourced IT Support and Cloud services, the value...
Sandeep Roy
Advisor & Mentor - Innovate2Grow
The current pace of new technology-led change has left classic economy companies vulnerable, but disruption is also a huge borderless opportunity in a world where ultrafast digital connectivity and the information superhighway has democratized innovation. We have a choice. We can view Airbnb as strangling the hotel industry or see...
C. PARKHILL MAYS III
CEO, STOPIT SOLUTIONS
I was born and raised in Central Florida and grew up with loving and caring parents to whom I attribute much of my success in life. After a good education at a small liberal arts university in western Virginia, I spent my first few years of adulthood working as an...
MARIA DA CONCEICAO
CLIMBING NEW HEIGHTS FOR HUMANITY
Maria Da Conceicao’s eyes sparkle with an intensity that reflects a life of profound challenges and extraordinary achievements. Born in Portugal, Maria’s story began with adversity. At just two years old, her mother fell ill, and an African immigrant cleaner, Maria Cristina Matos, took her under her wing. This new...
MARK MCCLAIN
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, SAILPOINT TECHNOLOGIES
A Perspective on InnovationInnovation can take many forms. For the tech industry, innovation is abusiness tool. This entails engineering new solutions to old problems,designing different approaches and different processes, and creating newstrategies and products to keep the company competitive. Austin hasnurtured a culture of innovation and groomed its tech industry...
CHANDRAN NAIR
THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Chandran Nair has devoted his life to challenging conventional wisdom and advocating for a future that balances economic progress with social and environmental responsibility. As the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), a pan-Asian think tank, he is a guiding light of intellectual honesty and a...
Phoebe Cade Miles
Co-Founder - The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
Phoebe Cade Miles Co-Founder – The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention In 2004, I helped my father, Dr. James Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, to establish the Cade Museum. Sixteen years later, it is inspiring the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. The Gatorade story had...
SOFIA STOLBERG
CEO PILOTO 151
THE GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF PUERTO RICO’S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM AND WHAT’S NEEDED TO CHARGE AHEADFew people know that in 2010 Puerto Rico pioneered the first multistakeholder entrepreneurship ecosystem project in the world. Led by the Island’s most successful entrepreneurs in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, the Puerto Rico...
Ken Davis
Co-Founder & CEO - TaskEasy
Ken Davis is the co-founder and CEO of TaskEasy – an online platform that allows homeowners, renters, and businesses to order and manage yard maintenance online. Since TaskEasy’s launch in 2013, the company has grown to service hundreds of thousands of properties across all 50 states. TaskEasy’s business model caters...
Prof. Vijay Chandru
Mentor and Investor
Mentor and Investor “True tech innovation in India is happening in life sciences, nanoscience, chemistry, mechanical engineering and the like”, says Prof. Vijay Chandru, one of the earliest academics in India to move from an impressive career in academics to highly successful deep science entrepreneurship. “If you look at creativity...
ERIC VAN RYSWYK
CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, CODIUM
In the world of business, technology has long been a driving force behind innovation and progress. Advancements in frameworks, computing power, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have led to significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. However, as technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly clear that the true...
Federico Puebla
Directeur Innovation Ouverte - Open Innovation Manager - Mouvement Desjardins
French: ÊTRE PREMIER DANS LE CŒUR DES GENS. DEVENIR UN LEADER SOCIO-ÉCONOMIQUE. ENRICHIR LA VIE DES PERSONNES ET DES COMMUNAUTÉS. VOILÀ, TOUT À LA FOIS, UNE MISSION NOBLE, HUMAINE ET AMBITIEUSE. OUI, NOUS VISONS HAUT. NOUS L’AVONS TOUJOURS FAIT. ET NOUS LE FERONS TOUJOURS PUISQUE NOTRE HISTOIRE EST MARQUÉE DE...
MICHAEL E. ZWICK
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
Research, discoveries, innovations, and solutions define the Rutgers research enterprise. That is why my vision, and the mission of the Rutgers Office for Research, is to support the research, scholarship, and creative endeavors of all Rutgers faculty. Since joining Rutgers as the Senior Vice President for Research in 2021, I...
MICHAEL HEALANDER
AIRSPACE LINK, INC - PRESIDENT AND CEO
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,...
Melissa Bradley
Professor of the Practice, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
Melissa Bradley is a professor of the practice at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where she teaches impact investing, social entrepreneurship, P2P economics, and innovation. Since graduating from Georgetown McDonough in 1989 with a B.S. in finance, Bradley has remained passionate about preserving the strength of the American financial...
MEAGAN KAY-FOWLOW
CO. INNOVATION CENTRE, PRESIDENT
LEADERS BY DESIGN: The Innovation Mindset of Newfoundland and Labrador Meagan Kay-Fowlow, President, Co. Innovation Centre As a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I’ve always believed that innovation isn’t just something we do— it’s embedded in who we are. Our history and culture have been shaped by the challenges of living...
ANA CARRAPICHANO
CEO & FOUNDER, MEDIOLOGY
MY PASSION FOR AFRICAThe streets of South Africa have something about them… a unique rhythm that is the heartbeat of our rainbow nation. With great natural beauty, cultural diversity, incredible resilience – South Africa is a land filled with vitality, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit. I work and live in...
OMID EKHLASI
FOUNDER & CEO, TECHARENA
The Power of Gathering Over ten years ago, Techarena began in a small movie theater in southern Sweden. A group of founders stood on stage to pitch their ideas, full of hope and determination. Only eight people came to watch. It would have been easy to feel discouraged, but something...
BRIAN HARSTINE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ACQUIRE
Nearly every socio-economic sector is asking more questions, new questions, and challenging the way they have been doing just about everything, all the way down to their own personal finances and investment decisions. I came across an observation recently; when mass groups of people increase their awareness and knowledge of...
DAVID HESS
MCG DEAN, AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
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...
Dès mon arrivée à La Cité en 2010, j’ai constaté l’engagement et la passion de la communauté collégiale, la vitalité et la joie de vivre francophones, la culture de l’excellence dans un environnement des plus stimulants et fertiles, le désir profond de voir nos étudiants réussir, et des projets plus...
TOM BLOMMAERT
CEO, BLOMMAERT ALUMINIUM CONSTRUCTIONS
I was born in Antwerp, having lived my life in the northern Antwerp suburbs, and still do, now together with my wife and two teenagers. After secondary school, I wanted to pursue a career as a pilot. I therefore studied Mathematics and Science at the University of Brussels, followed by...