Thought Leaders

INNOVATE™ Montréal

Catherine Mounier

Catherine Mounier

Vice-Rectrice à la Recherche, à la Création et à la Diffusion | Vice-President Research - UNIVERSITÉ

English: UQAM joined the university landscape in 1969 and quickly distinguished itself through its commitment to serving society. Fostering entrepreneurship and social impact innovation, the University believes in the concerted ability of social actors to bring about change in response to issues as they arise. Building knowledge together Like many...

INNOVATION Quebec

GILLES DÉRY

PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL, CQRDA

L’idée de contribuer à l’épanouissement du Québec est la raison pour laquelle je m’implique dans le monde passionnant de l’innovation. Cette implication est, selon moi, la voie pour assurer une approche incontournable et essentielle à nos ambitions collectives, afin de devenir une plaque tournante dans plusieurs secteurs de pointe de...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Gillan Taddune

Gillan Taddune

Banyan Water, President & CEO

Gillan Taddune is the Chief Executive Officer of Banyan Water. She believes that technology solutions are the most effective way to address critical natural resource issues and has dedicated her career to realizing that vision. Gillan came to Banyan with the belief that water scarcity is a growing global concern...

INNOVATE® San Diego Vol.1

Fred H. Gage

What Is the Next Game-Changing Scientific Idea? That’s the Salk Ethos, and It’s Why We Say That Salk Is Where Cures Begin. San Diego’s scientific leaders include at least a half-dozen world-renowned research institutes (J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Scripps Research and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical...

INNOVATE® Miami

Mitchell Kaplan

Mitchell Kaplan

Founder - BOOKS & BOOKS

“What I do isn’t just about selling books—it’s about creating spaces and events that bring authors and audiences together.” I was in college when I first imagined opening a bookstore. I had discovered that at the center of most literary movements of the twentieth century, a bookstore was involved. In...

INNOVATE® South Carolina

JONATHAN DAWLEY

PRESIDENT & CEO OF KION NORTH AMERICA

Innovation Muscle: Barrierless Thinking and Unconstrained Vision Several years ago, I traveled across the world working with divisions of my then-employer to evaluate market strategies and redefine our approach to unlock new levels of performance and customer value. In each region, we explored what could be achieved if we set...

VOICES of the Future

FADI GHANDOUR

THE POWER VISION

In the grand tapestry of influential leaders who have shaped our world, few threads are as vibrant and enduring as the story of Fadi Ghandour. As I sit down with Fadi for our conversation, I’m reminded of his monumental contributions to entrepreneurship and social empowerment. His journey encapsulates the spirit...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

Kookai Chaimahawong

Associate

Kookai Chaimahawong Associate “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BUILD GREAT COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY IN HARD TECH. VANCOUVER IS THE VILLAGE WITH A WORLD-CLASS PARTNER ECOSYSTEM THAT ARE HUNGRY TO SEE FOUNDERS AND STARTUP COMPANIES SUCCEED”. – KOOKAI CHAIMAHAWONG, ASSOCIATE I moved to Vancouver in 2017 to pursue my Master of Business...

INNOVATE® Nashville

David Vulcano

Angel Investor

People are often surprised when they find out “Music City” is not just mega-music companies. In fact, the business ecosystem is very diversified in national and global business, and the greater Nashville area has many home-grown companies as well. The city is fertile soil for startup companies; many of our...

INNOVATION Quebec

RÉMI QUIRION

SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC

RÉMI QUIRION, SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, LUC SIROIS, INNOVATEUR EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, SYLVIE PINSONNAULT, PREMIÈRE VICE-PRÉSIDENTE, STRATÉGIES, INNOVATION ET DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE. At the opening of the Sommet des accélérateurs, organized by the Mouvement des accélérateurs d’innovation du Québec, Rémi Quirion, Quebec’s Chief Scientist, Luc Sirois, Quebec’s Chief Innovator,...

INNOVATE® Milwaukee

Chris Carrillo

CEO of MetroMLS

Milwaukee is rapidly emerging as a technology hub, with real estate tech playing a key role. Leading the way is Metro Multiple Listing Service,which has transformed from a traditional listing database into a tech-driven powerhouse, reshaping how homes are bought and sold in Wisconsin. Founded in 1962 as a printed...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

ADRIAN GORE

ADRIAN GORE

FOUNDER, DISCOVERY

One of these cognitive errors is a failure to recognise the impact that outliers have in our increasingly interconnected world. Take for instance, the decision to create the Vitality programme. It is one outlier decision that had, and continues to have, an enormous impact on our entire business. A few...

INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2

Eric Simone

Eric Simone

CEO and CO-FOUNDER

EARLY INTERNET – SAN FRANCISCO, CA (1994 – 2003)As a kid in the early 80’s when I was obsessed with my Apple computer, my eyes were opened to the power of software. After an early start at IBM, I became an entrepreneur and moved to San Francisco. While my first...

INNOVATE™ South Africa

ANA CARRAPICHANO

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...

VOICES of the Future

LOUBNA IMENCHAL

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY

Loubna Imenchal’s insights are compelling and profound. As VP of Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia at Logitech, her journey is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of dreams. It extends far beyond her corporate success; it is a narrative of ambition and determination with a...

INNOVATE™ Estonia

TÕNU ESKO & MIHKEL TAMMO

VICE RECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT & HEAD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The development of research-intensive entrepreneurship in Estonia requires much more than researchers’ good ideas. How can we overcome systemic challenges and find opportunities to transfer research-based solutions from universities into business? The worlds of research and entrepreneurship do not always align. Only around 10% of the population is said to...

INNOVATE® Chicago Vol.1

Joel B. Bruckman

Joel B. Bruckman

Attorney - Freeborn & Peters LLP

I support innovators by providing them with a comprehensive approach to data privacy and cybersecurity to both protect them and free them to function at full capacity. This includes providing clients with: i) a clear understanding of the data privacy laws and regulations applicable to their businesses; ii) guidance in...

INNOVATE® Miami

Kate Black

Kate Black

Shareholder - Greenberg Traurig, P. A.

“Miami is Becoming A HealthTech Innovation Hub.” Kate Black, Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig, P. A. Miami has a singularly scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit, making it well situated to become a regional technology hub that plays a vital role in connecting the global economy – especially in healthcare, life sciences, and consumer...

INNOVATION Quebec

GILLES DÉRY

PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTOR GENERAL, CQRDA

The idea of contributing to Quebec’s development is why I’m involved in the fast-paced world of innovation. It’s also the way to ensure an essential approach to our collective ambitions, in order to become a hub in several cutting-edge innovation sectors, notably aluminum. To this end, I am a fierce...

INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2

DAN GAMBLE

FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL, DGPR

Something I’ve found to be increasingly true in the communications profession is that there’s a wealth of untapped potential sitting under the surface. It’s why we’re seeing more and more chief communications officers join the ranks of executives at big tech organizations — and why progressive CEOs are investing more...

INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2

LUC LUWEL

CEO, VOKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANTWERP-WAASLAND

To me, social impact is the reason for our organisation’s existence. A chamber of commerce is not there to serve the private interests of a few individual companies, but to help an entire region grow. I have always been a firm believer that you can only achieve prosperity through entrepreneurship,...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Reed Robinson

Reed Robinson

Founder - BETA

Nearly 150 years ago, General Cadwallader Washburn and Charles Pillsbury set up mills along the Mississippi, introducing scalable food-processing and global food distribution. A short time later, William Worrall Mayo moved to Rochester, and with the help of his two sons and the Sisters of Saint Francis, they would invent...

Dr Harry Destecroix

Dr Harry Destecroix - CEO

CEO, Unit DX

When Novo Nordisk acquired our company, Ziylo, in a deal potentially worth $800 million, it exceeded our wildest expectations. Four years earlier, in 2014, I was finishing my Ph.D. in Professor Davis’ lab at the University of Bristol. We’d designed a set of molecular ‘sugar switches’ that sense how much...

INNOVATE® Minnesota

Angie Conley

Angie Conley

CEO - Abilitech

In my days at Medtronic, I remember Bill George used to say (as a lighthearted dig at General Mills), “We’re not selling Cheerios; we’ve got soul.” We all laughed, but even today I find it relevant in thinking about the importance of a mission. A mission-centered culture gives employees purpose,...

Catherine Mounier

Catherine Mounier

Vice-Rectrice à la Recherche, à la Création et à la Diffusion | Vice-President Research - UNIVERSITÉ

English: UQAM joined the university landscape in 1969 and quickly distinguished itself through its commitment to serving society. Fostering entrepreneurship and social impact innovation, the University believes in the concerted ability of social actors to bring about change in response to issues as they arise. Building knowledge together Like many...

GILLES DÉRY

PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL, CQRDA

L’idée de contribuer à l’épanouissement du Québec est la raison pour laquelle je m’implique dans le monde passionnant de l’innovation. Cette implication est, selon moi, la voie pour assurer une approche incontournable et essentielle à nos ambitions collectives, afin de devenir une plaque tournante dans plusieurs secteurs de pointe de...

Gillan Taddune

Gillan Taddune

Banyan Water, President & CEO

Gillan Taddune is the Chief Executive Officer of Banyan Water. She believes that technology solutions are the most effective way to address critical natural resource issues and has dedicated her career to realizing that vision. Gillan came to Banyan with the belief that water scarcity is a growing global concern...

Fred H. Gage

What Is the Next Game-Changing Scientific Idea? That’s the Salk Ethos, and It’s Why We Say That Salk Is Where Cures Begin. San Diego’s scientific leaders include at least a half-dozen world-renowned research institutes (J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Scripps Research and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical...

Mitchell Kaplan

Mitchell Kaplan

Founder - BOOKS & BOOKS

“What I do isn’t just about selling books—it’s about creating spaces and events that bring authors and audiences together.” I was in college when I first imagined opening a bookstore. I had discovered that at the center of most literary movements of the twentieth century, a bookstore was involved. In...

JONATHAN DAWLEY

PRESIDENT & CEO OF KION NORTH AMERICA

Innovation Muscle: Barrierless Thinking and Unconstrained Vision Several years ago, I traveled across the world working with divisions of my then-employer to evaluate market strategies and redefine our approach to unlock new levels of performance and customer value. In each region, we explored what could be achieved if we set...

FADI GHANDOUR

THE POWER VISION

In the grand tapestry of influential leaders who have shaped our world, few threads are as vibrant and enduring as the story of Fadi Ghandour. As I sit down with Fadi for our conversation, I’m reminded of his monumental contributions to entrepreneurship and social empowerment. His journey encapsulates the spirit...

Kookai Chaimahawong

Associate

Kookai Chaimahawong Associate “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BUILD GREAT COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY IN HARD TECH. VANCOUVER IS THE VILLAGE WITH A WORLD-CLASS PARTNER ECOSYSTEM THAT ARE HUNGRY TO SEE FOUNDERS AND STARTUP COMPANIES SUCCEED”. – KOOKAI CHAIMAHAWONG, ASSOCIATE I moved to Vancouver in 2017 to pursue my Master of Business...

David Vulcano

Angel Investor

People are often surprised when they find out “Music City” is not just mega-music companies. In fact, the business ecosystem is very diversified in national and global business, and the greater Nashville area has many home-grown companies as well. The city is fertile soil for startup companies; many of our...

RÉMI QUIRION

SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC

RÉMI QUIRION, SCIENTIFIQUE EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, LUC SIROIS, INNOVATEUR EN CHEF DU QUÉBEC, SYLVIE PINSONNAULT, PREMIÈRE VICE-PRÉSIDENTE, STRATÉGIES, INNOVATION ET DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE. At the opening of the Sommet des accélérateurs, organized by the Mouvement des accélérateurs d’innovation du Québec, Rémi Quirion, Quebec’s Chief Scientist, Luc Sirois, Quebec’s Chief Innovator,...

Chris Carrillo

CEO of MetroMLS

Milwaukee is rapidly emerging as a technology hub, with real estate tech playing a key role. Leading the way is Metro Multiple Listing Service,which has transformed from a traditional listing database into a tech-driven powerhouse, reshaping how homes are bought and sold in Wisconsin. Founded in 1962 as a printed...

ADRIAN GORE

ADRIAN GORE

FOUNDER, DISCOVERY

One of these cognitive errors is a failure to recognise the impact that outliers have in our increasingly interconnected world. Take for instance, the decision to create the Vitality programme. It is one outlier decision that had, and continues to have, an enormous impact on our entire business. A few...

Eric Simone

Eric Simone

CEO and CO-FOUNDER

EARLY INTERNET – SAN FRANCISCO, CA (1994 – 2003)As a kid in the early 80’s when I was obsessed with my Apple computer, my eyes were opened to the power of software. After an early start at IBM, I became an entrepreneur and moved to San Francisco. While my first...

ANA CARRAPICHANO

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...

LOUBNA IMENCHAL

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY

Loubna Imenchal’s insights are compelling and profound. As VP of Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia at Logitech, her journey is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of dreams. It extends far beyond her corporate success; it is a narrative of ambition and determination with a...

TÕNU ESKO & MIHKEL TAMMO

VICE RECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT & HEAD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The development of research-intensive entrepreneurship in Estonia requires much more than researchers’ good ideas. How can we overcome systemic challenges and find opportunities to transfer research-based solutions from universities into business? The worlds of research and entrepreneurship do not always align. Only around 10% of the population is said to...

Joel B. Bruckman

Joel B. Bruckman

Attorney - Freeborn & Peters LLP

I support innovators by providing them with a comprehensive approach to data privacy and cybersecurity to both protect them and free them to function at full capacity. This includes providing clients with: i) a clear understanding of the data privacy laws and regulations applicable to their businesses; ii) guidance in...

Kate Black

Kate Black

Shareholder - Greenberg Traurig, P. A.

“Miami is Becoming A HealthTech Innovation Hub.” Kate Black, Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig, P. A. Miami has a singularly scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit, making it well situated to become a regional technology hub that plays a vital role in connecting the global economy – especially in healthcare, life sciences, and consumer...

GILLES DÉRY

PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTOR GENERAL, CQRDA

The idea of contributing to Quebec’s development is why I’m involved in the fast-paced world of innovation. It’s also the way to ensure an essential approach to our collective ambitions, in order to become a hub in several cutting-edge innovation sectors, notably aluminum. To this end, I am a fierce...

DAN GAMBLE

FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL, DGPR

Something I’ve found to be increasingly true in the communications profession is that there’s a wealth of untapped potential sitting under the surface. It’s why we’re seeing more and more chief communications officers join the ranks of executives at big tech organizations — and why progressive CEOs are investing more...

LUC LUWEL

CEO, VOKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANTWERP-WAASLAND

To me, social impact is the reason for our organisation’s existence. A chamber of commerce is not there to serve the private interests of a few individual companies, but to help an entire region grow. I have always been a firm believer that you can only achieve prosperity through entrepreneurship,...

Reed Robinson

Reed Robinson

Founder - BETA

Nearly 150 years ago, General Cadwallader Washburn and Charles Pillsbury set up mills along the Mississippi, introducing scalable food-processing and global food distribution. A short time later, William Worrall Mayo moved to Rochester, and with the help of his two sons and the Sisters of Saint Francis, they would invent...

Dr Harry Destecroix

Dr Harry Destecroix - CEO

CEO, Unit DX

When Novo Nordisk acquired our company, Ziylo, in a deal potentially worth $800 million, it exceeded our wildest expectations. Four years earlier, in 2014, I was finishing my Ph.D. in Professor Davis’ lab at the University of Bristol. We’d designed a set of molecular ‘sugar switches’ that sense how much...

Angie Conley

Angie Conley

CEO - Abilitech

In my days at Medtronic, I remember Bill George used to say (as a lighthearted dig at General Mills), “We’re not selling Cheerios; we’ve got soul.” We all laughed, but even today I find it relevant in thinking about the importance of a mission. A mission-centered culture gives employees purpose,...

INNOVATE® Ecosystems