Thought Leaders

VOICES of the Future

CAPITAL CLUB DUBAI

BRIDGING THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR

Capital Club Dubai is a hub of innovation and a crucible for visionary minds shaping the future. As I sit across from Hussain Sultan al Junaidy, the Chairman of this illustrious club, his eyes reflect profound optimism and a relentless drive to propel a business club and a global community...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

CAROL ANNE HILTON

CAROL ANNE HILTON

MBA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, INDIGENOMICS INSTITUTE

I am the CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Center of Indigenomics. I am of Nuu chah nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island. In leading the establishment of a line of thought called #indigenomics- growing from a single word to an entire movement...

Global Innovation Spotlight

VERI OSVALD

VERI OSVALD

CEO OF SMARTHEAD

As CEO of SmartHead, Veri is responsible for fulfilling the vision, strategy, leadership, and sustainable business growth. She has represented SmartHead at the Chivas Venture Competition in Los Angeles and has also attended Accelerator at the University of Oxford. In 2018, Veri was part of the Forbes Top 10 Women...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

DR. TIM HARDEE

PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

When I reflect on what truly drives me—and what has guided my career in education and leadership—it always comes back to this: helping people discover their purpose and realize their potential. That’s what education is really about. Not just degrees, or job titles, or even economic development. At its core,...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

MARC CORTHOUT

OPEN MANUFACTURING CAMPUS

The evolution of digital technology and the resulting exponential complexity increase in the products that we use all the time, also affects production technologies deeply and requires close cooperation between many companies, each delivering their unique process technology and modules. At the same time Industry 4.0 and the innovation towards...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Angelina Lawton

Founder - Sportsdigita

Experience Selling Is Here To StayWith the creativity of design professionals combined with the power of web-based analytics, we’ve been able to give leaders in organizations across the spectrum unparalleled opportunities to make presentations come alive. How? By transforming information and design into experiences that viewers can hear, see, and...

INNOVATE® Georgia

MICHAEL SHANNON

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA - PRESIDENT

REIMAGINING HIGHER EDUCATION: UNG’s Bold Vision for the Future In an era of unprecedented change, higher education stands at a pivotal crossroads. As thought leaders in this space, we at the University of North Georgia (UNG) are not just adapting to this new landscape—we’re actively shaping it. Our vision is...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

AMINAH ROBINSON FAYEK

PHD, PENG VICE-PRESIDENT(RESEARCH AND INNOVATION), UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Universities are distinct environments, ideally suited to fostering innovation and creativity. At a research-intensive university like the University of Alberta, individuals are provided with the tools to identify problems, understand them deeply and work with others to explore new answers and new directions. But breakthroughs don’t happen in a silo....

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Mouli Venkatesan

Mouli Venkatesan

Senior Vice President & CIO - Optumhealth & Enterprise Clinical Technology

Innovation means constantly learning from experiences of the past and using those as guideposts and insights to invent a better future—in this case, to make the health care system serve everyone better. Innovation can mean many things. I look at Innovation using a lens of small “i” and BIG “I”...

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™ Bengaluru

Sunil Padmanabh

Sunil Padmanabh; Sunil Padmanabh-Imitation Is Not Innovation - Innovations Of The World

Enterprise applications consulting, digital transformation, cloud adoption strategies and innovation

How can startups scale up? What are the key drivers of innovation? On the flip side, what are the pitfalls? For answers to these questions, we spoke to an expert in the vibrant ecosystem. Sunil Padmanabh works with startups in Bengaluru and Indian cities at various stages of growth, from founders...

INNOVATE® Detroit

CHUCK MARSHALL

PRESIDENT, ITC MICHIGAN

The National Academy of Engineering considers electrification among the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century, and I have to agree– thanks to our electric grid, we effortlessly flip a light switch, and power goes on in less than a second. This speed is faster than any delivery service could...

AI Québec

YOSHUA BENGIO

YOSHUA BENGIO

FULL PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITÉ

My first passion will always remain understanding intelligence. This includes the artificial intelligences we are currently developing, but the natural ones as well. In recent years, my thinking about artificial and human intelligence has hinged on AI for social good. How can we ensure that what we do will benefit...

INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3

MICHAEL WESTAFER

MICHAEL WESTAFER

FOUNDER & CEO OF ROGER WEST CREATIVE& CODE

I like to think of ourselves as the creative catalysts of innovation. Our own pathway to innovation lies in how we view market disruption through our clients’ eyes. Don’t get me wrong. We do awesome work. Our people are among the best at what they do. We’re regulars on the...

INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports

BRETT A MCCALL

BRETT A MCCALL

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA, PLANET EARTH

My passion for the virtual world began when I was just a boy. I grew up in the ‘80s when classics such as Namco’s Pac-Man and Activision’s Pitfall! were just beginning to inch their way into the public sphere. These video games enraptured the young me. I was diagnosed with...

WA’IL ASHSHOWWAF

UNSTUCK LABS - CEO AND COFOUNDER

Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s cube? I have, and let me tell you, it’s not as easy as my then 9-year-old son made it look. There I was, twisting and turning that colorful puzzle, getting nowhere fast, while my kid solved it in under a minute. When...

INNOVATE® South Florida

MELISSA MEDINA

CEO & PRESIDENT, eMERGE AMERICAS

Innovation has been a foundational principle I’ve seen throughout my life. As the first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from Cuba, I learned early on from my parents and grandparents how creative, innovative thinking can help me navigate everyday obstacles and unpredictable circumstances. This drive to continuously innovate and think bigger...

INNOVATE® Orlando

David Brim

David Brim

Marketing Strategist, Entrepreneur, Investor & Founder - Orlando Entrepreneurs

David Brim is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur and investor living in Orlando, Florida. He is a founding partner of Orlando Opportunity Fund (OrlandoOpportunityFund.com), and the founder of Orlando Entrepreneurs (OrlandoEntrepreneurs.org), a network, podcast, and resource center created to connect, cultivate & celebrate Central Florida entrepreneurs. His primary professional focus areas...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

MARCO SALINAS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER, HUBBLE

I envision a world where “energy efficiency” is a familiar concept to every single mum and dad. I want transparency in every stage of the construction process, and energy efficiency used as a feature in every property transaction. We want a world where everyone knows the benefits of better energy...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Ashland Viscosi

Founder - Creatives Meet Business (CMB)

Austin has long been known as a hub of and for creativity. Monikers like the “Live Music Capital of the  World” and “Keep Austin Weird” are known by those far outside of Austin’s City Limits. While it might have been music that initially landed Austin on the map, it’s our...

INNOVATE™ Alberta

DEREK ARMSTRONG

MANAGER OF INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS, PRAIRIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CANADA (PRAIRIESCAN)

I obviously knew of the proximity to the Rocky Mountains, but I didn’t know about all the wonders such as the Drumheller Valley, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and Jasper National Park. I also didn’t know that Calgary is the third most diverse major city in Canada. Or that in 2022 it...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Dr. Bhabani Misra

Dr. Bhabani Misra

Associate Dean - University of St. Thomas School of Engineering

Dr. Bhabani Misra Associate Dean – University of St. Thomas School of Engineering Not long ago, students could simply complete a college degree and find work for the rest of their lives. But today, industry is evolving rapidly—especially engineering and technology. Today, every one of us needs to retool and...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

JO CLOSE

DIRECTOR OF THE ADELAIDE INTERMEDIARY PROGRAM, MTPCONNECT

Innovation – turning a great idea into a new, accessible product or service – never occurs in isolation. It needs collaboration which is sparked by connection. In health and medical innovation, we talk about the globally connected ecosystem because ours is a global endeavour that requires collegial bright minds, significant...

INNOVATE™ Adelaide

NOEL J. LINDSAY

NOEL J. LINDSAY, PROFESSOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMMERCIALISATION, DEAN OF BUSINESS

THE PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IS UNDERPINNED BY INNOVATIONInnovation is a term frequently used but often not fully understood. Innovation occurs when something new is created that creates value. It is a key contributor toward improving productivity and quality of life. “Innovation” and “invention” are sometimes used...

CAPITAL CLUB DUBAI

BRIDGING THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR

Capital Club Dubai is a hub of innovation and a crucible for visionary minds shaping the future. As I sit across from Hussain Sultan al Junaidy, the Chairman of this illustrious club, his eyes reflect profound optimism and a relentless drive to propel a business club and a global community...

CAROL ANNE HILTON

CAROL ANNE HILTON

MBA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, INDIGENOMICS INSTITUTE

I am the CEO and Founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Center of Indigenomics. I am of Nuu chah nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island. In leading the establishment of a line of thought called #indigenomics- growing from a single word to an entire movement...

VERI OSVALD

VERI OSVALD

CEO OF SMARTHEAD

As CEO of SmartHead, Veri is responsible for fulfilling the vision, strategy, leadership, and sustainable business growth. She has represented SmartHead at the Chivas Venture Competition in Los Angeles and has also attended Accelerator at the University of Oxford. In 2018, Veri was part of the Forbes Top 10 Women...

DR. TIM HARDEE

PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

When I reflect on what truly drives me—and what has guided my career in education and leadership—it always comes back to this: helping people discover their purpose and realize their potential. That’s what education is really about. Not just degrees, or job titles, or even economic development. At its core,...

MARC CORTHOUT

OPEN MANUFACTURING CAMPUS

The evolution of digital technology and the resulting exponential complexity increase in the products that we use all the time, also affects production technologies deeply and requires close cooperation between many companies, each delivering their unique process technology and modules. At the same time Industry 4.0 and the innovation towards...

Angelina Lawton

Founder - Sportsdigita

Experience Selling Is Here To StayWith the creativity of design professionals combined with the power of web-based analytics, we’ve been able to give leaders in organizations across the spectrum unparalleled opportunities to make presentations come alive. How? By transforming information and design into experiences that viewers can hear, see, and...

MICHAEL SHANNON

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA - PRESIDENT

REIMAGINING HIGHER EDUCATION: UNG’s Bold Vision for the Future In an era of unprecedented change, higher education stands at a pivotal crossroads. As thought leaders in this space, we at the University of North Georgia (UNG) are not just adapting to this new landscape—we’re actively shaping it. Our vision is...

AMINAH ROBINSON FAYEK

PHD, PENG VICE-PRESIDENT(RESEARCH AND INNOVATION), UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Universities are distinct environments, ideally suited to fostering innovation and creativity. At a research-intensive university like the University of Alberta, individuals are provided with the tools to identify problems, understand them deeply and work with others to explore new answers and new directions. But breakthroughs don’t happen in a silo....

Mouli Venkatesan

Mouli Venkatesan

Senior Vice President & CIO - Optumhealth & Enterprise Clinical Technology

Innovation means constantly learning from experiences of the past and using those as guideposts and insights to invent a better future—in this case, to make the health care system serve everyone better. Innovation can mean many things. I look at Innovation using a lens of small “i” and BIG “I”...

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...

Sunil Padmanabh

Sunil Padmanabh; Sunil Padmanabh-Imitation Is Not Innovation - Innovations Of The World

Enterprise applications consulting, digital transformation, cloud adoption strategies and innovation

How can startups scale up? What are the key drivers of innovation? On the flip side, what are the pitfalls? For answers to these questions, we spoke to an expert in the vibrant ecosystem. Sunil Padmanabh works with startups in Bengaluru and Indian cities at various stages of growth, from founders...

CHUCK MARSHALL

PRESIDENT, ITC MICHIGAN

The National Academy of Engineering considers electrification among the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century, and I have to agree– thanks to our electric grid, we effortlessly flip a light switch, and power goes on in less than a second. This speed is faster than any delivery service could...

YOSHUA BENGIO

YOSHUA BENGIO

FULL PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITÉ

My first passion will always remain understanding intelligence. This includes the artificial intelligences we are currently developing, but the natural ones as well. In recent years, my thinking about artificial and human intelligence has hinged on AI for social good. How can we ensure that what we do will benefit...

MICHAEL WESTAFER

MICHAEL WESTAFER

FOUNDER & CEO OF ROGER WEST CREATIVE& CODE

I like to think of ourselves as the creative catalysts of innovation. Our own pathway to innovation lies in how we view market disruption through our clients’ eyes. Don’t get me wrong. We do awesome work. Our people are among the best at what they do. We’re regulars on the...

BRETT A MCCALL

BRETT A MCCALL

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA, PLANET EARTH

My passion for the virtual world began when I was just a boy. I grew up in the ‘80s when classics such as Namco’s Pac-Man and Activision’s Pitfall! were just beginning to inch their way into the public sphere. These video games enraptured the young me. I was diagnosed with...

WA’IL ASHSHOWWAF

UNSTUCK LABS - CEO AND COFOUNDER

Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s cube? I have, and let me tell you, it’s not as easy as my then 9-year-old son made it look. There I was, twisting and turning that colorful puzzle, getting nowhere fast, while my kid solved it in under a minute. When...

MELISSA MEDINA

CEO & PRESIDENT, eMERGE AMERICAS

Innovation has been a foundational principle I’ve seen throughout my life. As the first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from Cuba, I learned early on from my parents and grandparents how creative, innovative thinking can help me navigate everyday obstacles and unpredictable circumstances. This drive to continuously innovate and think bigger...

David Brim

David Brim

Marketing Strategist, Entrepreneur, Investor & Founder - Orlando Entrepreneurs

David Brim is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur and investor living in Orlando, Florida. He is a founding partner of Orlando Opportunity Fund (OrlandoOpportunityFund.com), and the founder of Orlando Entrepreneurs (OrlandoEntrepreneurs.org), a network, podcast, and resource center created to connect, cultivate & celebrate Central Florida entrepreneurs. His primary professional focus areas...

MARCO SALINAS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER, HUBBLE

I envision a world where “energy efficiency” is a familiar concept to every single mum and dad. I want transparency in every stage of the construction process, and energy efficiency used as a feature in every property transaction. We want a world where everyone knows the benefits of better energy...

Ashland Viscosi

Founder - Creatives Meet Business (CMB)

Austin has long been known as a hub of and for creativity. Monikers like the “Live Music Capital of the  World” and “Keep Austin Weird” are known by those far outside of Austin’s City Limits. While it might have been music that initially landed Austin on the map, it’s our...

DEREK ARMSTRONG

MANAGER OF INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS, PRAIRIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CANADA (PRAIRIESCAN)

I obviously knew of the proximity to the Rocky Mountains, but I didn’t know about all the wonders such as the Drumheller Valley, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and Jasper National Park. I also didn’t know that Calgary is the third most diverse major city in Canada. Or that in 2022 it...

Dr. Bhabani Misra

Dr. Bhabani Misra

Associate Dean - University of St. Thomas School of Engineering

Dr. Bhabani Misra Associate Dean – University of St. Thomas School of Engineering Not long ago, students could simply complete a college degree and find work for the rest of their lives. But today, industry is evolving rapidly—especially engineering and technology. Today, every one of us needs to retool and...

JO CLOSE

DIRECTOR OF THE ADELAIDE INTERMEDIARY PROGRAM, MTPCONNECT

Innovation – turning a great idea into a new, accessible product or service – never occurs in isolation. It needs collaboration which is sparked by connection. In health and medical innovation, we talk about the globally connected ecosystem because ours is a global endeavour that requires collegial bright minds, significant...

NOEL J. LINDSAY

NOEL J. LINDSAY, PROFESSOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMMERCIALISATION, DEAN OF BUSINESS

THE PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IS UNDERPINNED BY INNOVATIONInnovation is a term frequently used but often not fully understood. Innovation occurs when something new is created that creates value. It is a key contributor toward improving productivity and quality of life. “Innovation” and “invention” are sometimes used...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems