Thought Leaders
INNOVATE® Maryland
TROY LEMAILE-STOVALL
CEO OF TEDCO
In my experience, most entrepreneurs develop their ideas from personal experiences and observations. Here in the DMV, we’re observing major shifts in federal spending. These changes are having a noticeable impact on both our personal and professional lives. My journey has led me to earn two STEM degrees, so having...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
PETER KRUSE
ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR
Most people know the statistics: most new businesses can’t pay a market salary and stay profitable within five years. Funding dries up. The idea wasn’t strong enough. There was no real product–market fit. On paper, the odds look discouraging. So why would anyone step into that arena? For me, the...
INNOVATE® Philadelphia
Fran Griesing
Managing Member - Griesing Law
As data has shown, disadvantaged groups are notably underrepresented and underpaid across all industries. The educational and professional opportunities for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities, are still not where they need to be in order to even the playing field. Further, those...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
GAIL POWLEY
PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA
That is what Technology Alberta does, and by saving their valuable time, we help Tech Entrepreneurs do more – faster, better and have more fun than when they go it alone. We know that tech entrepreneurs are on a race against time: as an innovator they need their product to...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
OLIVER VÄÄRTNÕU
CYBERNETICA AS - CEO
At Cybernetica AS, we believe that technology is not just a tool; it is a force that shapes the future. We don’t simply build systems—we pioneer a philosophy rooted in cybernetics, the art of guiding and adapting systems. Inspired by the Greek word kybernētēs, meaning “steersman” or “governor,” we actively...
INNOVATE® Miami
Mayor Francis X. Suarez
Mayor of Miami
Innovation and a knowledge-based economy have to be at the forefront of industry in every city in the world. In Miami, we’re doing as much as possible to foster innovation, starting with the government itself. In the U.S., we’re number one for job creation, for startups, and for small-business growth....
INNOVATE™ Ottawa
Gérard Métrailler
Executive Vice President Of Global Products - Corel Corporation
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF USER-FOCUSED SOFTWARE Gérard Métrailler has made Ottawa his home since moving from Europe in 2006. Today he is Corel Corporation’s Executive Vice President of Global Products, where he is responsible for developing and maintaining worldwide product strategy, management, and marketing across major software brands such...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB-ROCKIES
PERSPECTIVES FROM CDL-ROCKIES’ MENTORS
Providing a growing global population with abundant, safe, affordable and sustainable food and energy are among the defining challenges of this decade. The Global population is expected to grow from just under 8 billion in 2022 to over 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. Given the scale...
INNOVATE® Minnesota
Shaye Mandle
President & CEO - The Medical Alley Association
You might say modern healthcare was invented in Medical Alley more than 150 years ago when the Mayo Clinic set the standard for care delivery. The medical device industry was born here with Medtronic’s founding in 1949. When the relationship between payers and providers needed to change, HMOs were invented...
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...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
ALINA HUANG, CEO, ILLUMINATE UNIVERSE
ALINA HUANG, CEO, ILLUMINATE UNIVERSE
Innovation is the backbone of progress and growth. It is a commitment to continuous learning, a willingness to challenge the status quo, and explore untapped opportunities for development. As the founder of Illuminate Universe, a Canadian organization dedicated to providing top tier business and leadership education, I have dedicated my...
INNOVATION Quebec
JESSE VINCENT HERSCOVICI
PDG, AXELYS
No matter how big or small, they face strong competition in an unstable environment. In this context, the development of an IP strategy is essential to establish a path to the market. Although IP is a current topic in the business world, it is still too often misunderstood. According to...
INNOVATE™ Atlantic Canada
DORIS GRANT
CEO, LIFE SCIENCES NOVA SCOTIA
As the CEO of Life Sciences Nova Scotia, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the creativity, resilience, and vision of the people and companies driving change in the life sciences sector. From pioneering healthcare solutions to cutting-edge biotechnology developments, the Atlantic region is making a profound impact both locally...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
DR. RYAN COMEAU
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, KINETISENSE.
ALBERTA – A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITYAPEX Alberta has had the opportunity to meet with stakeholders from across the province and ask them about their perspectives on the RPAS industry and the potential for the technology to change how we think and work. Here’s a cross-section of their thoughts on the...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
TRINIDAD HERMIDA, FOUNDER
THE HERMIDA COMPANY
Parents and guardians, hear me! You play an essential role in developing and guiding our youth/young adults of this generation and the generations to come. I know this is not rocket science or new information, but I wanted to be as blatant as possible with my intentions for the next...
INNOVATE® St. Louis
Dr. Benjamin Akande
Assistant Vice Chancellor, International Affairs-Africa; Associate Director, Gl
Innovation is best achieved when you align it with your competitive advantage—what you do that nobody else could do better. When you focus on your competitive advantage and open yourself to think creatively about trying to best yourself. If copying others is best practice, then besting yourself is next practice—creating...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
CLEMENT TSANG
MANAGING DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIA
As of the writing of this article in October 2021, the Twitch Influencer payment hack was making its way through the metaverse, enabling a comparison between the compensation that influencers and broadcast anchors enjoy, and the relative engagement they have with theiraudiences and the business models that underpin their ecosystems...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
BRONWYN RUTH WILLIAMS
TREND TRANSLATOR: FUTURE FINANCE SPECIALIST, FLUX TRENDS
From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa is a double-edged sword: our ability to cope, even in the midst of crisis and chaos. South Africans are good at dealing with crises. We’ve had practice. For as long as anyone alive can remember, South Africa has leapt...
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
Lakshmi Shenoy
Embarc Collective
As a newcomer to the Tampa Bay region, I’ve had the opportunity to spend the past year immersing myself in the entrepreneurial community that has been growing here. Locals understand that Tampa Bay is a great place to live and get to experience that life each day. However, beyond the...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
Kris Bogaerts
Co-Founder & Engineer, Cellows
As long as I can remember, I have always wondered how things work and how I could improve them. At ten years old, I came up with an electrical motor with magnets, only to discover a few years later that the damn thing already existed! This made me realize that...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
ROBERT MACKIE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BIOLYTICAL
The Changing Diagnostics LandscapeWith almost twenty years in the medical diagnostics industry, undoubtedly, one of the biggest impacts we’ve experienced has been COVID-19. From upending business models and shutting down the globe to forcing the world to rethink how we conduct business and even what products we make and how,...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
Fred Niemans
PRESIDENT, WORLD TRADE CENTER ANTWERP
It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor is it the most intelligent one. It’s the species that has the ability to cope with drastic changes. That’s Darwinism in a nutshell. His ‘survival of the fittest’… also applies to the corporate ecosystem. Agility reduces fragility: the companies and organisations that...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
ROB NEWPORT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WEBURBAN
Over two and half decades ago, I remember first picking up a mouse and keyboard to play Quake on a University lab computer for over eight hours straight. Fast forward to today, and that 3dfx Voodoo graphics card has been replaced with racks of memory laden GPU cards chained to...
INNOVATION Quebec
FRANÇOIS GAGNON
DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL ET CHEF DE LA DIRECTION, ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE (ÉTS)
J’ai fait mes débuts comme professeur à l’École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) en 1991. Au cours de mon parcours en enseignement, en bâtissant ma carrière en recherche et, depuis 2019, en tant que directeur général de l’ÉTS, j’ai pu apprécier à quel point notre établissement a su s’imposer comme un...
TROY LEMAILE-STOVALL
CEO OF TEDCO
In my experience, most entrepreneurs develop their ideas from personal experiences and observations. Here in the DMV, we’re observing major shifts in federal spending. These changes are having a noticeable impact on both our personal and professional lives. My journey has led me to earn two STEM degrees, so having...
PETER KRUSE
ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR
Most people know the statistics: most new businesses can’t pay a market salary and stay profitable within five years. Funding dries up. The idea wasn’t strong enough. There was no real product–market fit. On paper, the odds look discouraging. So why would anyone step into that arena? For me, the...
Fran Griesing
Managing Member - Griesing Law
As data has shown, disadvantaged groups are notably underrepresented and underpaid across all industries. The educational and professional opportunities for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities, are still not where they need to be in order to even the playing field. Further, those...
GAIL POWLEY
PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA
That is what Technology Alberta does, and by saving their valuable time, we help Tech Entrepreneurs do more – faster, better and have more fun than when they go it alone. We know that tech entrepreneurs are on a race against time: as an innovator they need their product to...
OLIVER VÄÄRTNÕU
CYBERNETICA AS - CEO
At Cybernetica AS, we believe that technology is not just a tool; it is a force that shapes the future. We don’t simply build systems—we pioneer a philosophy rooted in cybernetics, the art of guiding and adapting systems. Inspired by the Greek word kybernētēs, meaning “steersman” or “governor,” we actively...
Mayor Francis X. Suarez
Mayor of Miami
Innovation and a knowledge-based economy have to be at the forefront of industry in every city in the world. In Miami, we’re doing as much as possible to foster innovation, starting with the government itself. In the U.S., we’re number one for job creation, for startups, and for small-business growth....
Gérard Métrailler
Executive Vice President Of Global Products - Corel Corporation
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF USER-FOCUSED SOFTWARE Gérard Métrailler has made Ottawa his home since moving from Europe in 2006. Today he is Corel Corporation’s Executive Vice President of Global Products, where he is responsible for developing and maintaining worldwide product strategy, management, and marketing across major software brands such...
CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB-ROCKIES
PERSPECTIVES FROM CDL-ROCKIES’ MENTORS
Providing a growing global population with abundant, safe, affordable and sustainable food and energy are among the defining challenges of this decade. The Global population is expected to grow from just under 8 billion in 2022 to over 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. Given the scale...
Shaye Mandle
President & CEO - The Medical Alley Association
You might say modern healthcare was invented in Medical Alley more than 150 years ago when the Mayo Clinic set the standard for care delivery. The medical device industry was born here with Medtronic’s founding in 1949. When the relationship between payers and providers needed to change, HMOs were invented...
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...
ALINA HUANG, CEO, ILLUMINATE UNIVERSE
ALINA HUANG, CEO, ILLUMINATE UNIVERSE
Innovation is the backbone of progress and growth. It is a commitment to continuous learning, a willingness to challenge the status quo, and explore untapped opportunities for development. As the founder of Illuminate Universe, a Canadian organization dedicated to providing top tier business and leadership education, I have dedicated my...
JESSE VINCENT HERSCOVICI
PDG, AXELYS
No matter how big or small, they face strong competition in an unstable environment. In this context, the development of an IP strategy is essential to establish a path to the market. Although IP is a current topic in the business world, it is still too often misunderstood. According to...
DORIS GRANT
CEO, LIFE SCIENCES NOVA SCOTIA
As the CEO of Life Sciences Nova Scotia, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the creativity, resilience, and vision of the people and companies driving change in the life sciences sector. From pioneering healthcare solutions to cutting-edge biotechnology developments, the Atlantic region is making a profound impact both locally...
DR. RYAN COMEAU
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, KINETISENSE.
ALBERTA – A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITYAPEX Alberta has had the opportunity to meet with stakeholders from across the province and ask them about their perspectives on the RPAS industry and the potential for the technology to change how we think and work. Here’s a cross-section of their thoughts on the...
TRINIDAD HERMIDA, FOUNDER
THE HERMIDA COMPANY
Parents and guardians, hear me! You play an essential role in developing and guiding our youth/young adults of this generation and the generations to come. I know this is not rocket science or new information, but I wanted to be as blatant as possible with my intentions for the next...
Dr. Benjamin Akande
Assistant Vice Chancellor, International Affairs-Africa; Associate Director, Gl
Innovation is best achieved when you align it with your competitive advantage—what you do that nobody else could do better. When you focus on your competitive advantage and open yourself to think creatively about trying to best yourself. If copying others is best practice, then besting yourself is next practice—creating...
CLEMENT TSANG
MANAGING DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIA
As of the writing of this article in October 2021, the Twitch Influencer payment hack was making its way through the metaverse, enabling a comparison between the compensation that influencers and broadcast anchors enjoy, and the relative engagement they have with theiraudiences and the business models that underpin their ecosystems...
BRONWYN RUTH WILLIAMS
TREND TRANSLATOR: FUTURE FINANCE SPECIALIST, FLUX TRENDS
From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa is a double-edged sword: our ability to cope, even in the midst of crisis and chaos. South Africans are good at dealing with crises. We’ve had practice. For as long as anyone alive can remember, South Africa has leapt...
Lakshmi Shenoy
Embarc Collective
As a newcomer to the Tampa Bay region, I’ve had the opportunity to spend the past year immersing myself in the entrepreneurial community that has been growing here. Locals understand that Tampa Bay is a great place to live and get to experience that life each day. However, beyond the...
Kris Bogaerts
Co-Founder & Engineer, Cellows
As long as I can remember, I have always wondered how things work and how I could improve them. At ten years old, I came up with an electrical motor with magnets, only to discover a few years later that the damn thing already existed! This made me realize that...
ROBERT MACKIE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BIOLYTICAL
The Changing Diagnostics LandscapeWith almost twenty years in the medical diagnostics industry, undoubtedly, one of the biggest impacts we’ve experienced has been COVID-19. From upending business models and shutting down the globe to forcing the world to rethink how we conduct business and even what products we make and how,...
Fred Niemans
PRESIDENT, WORLD TRADE CENTER ANTWERP
It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor is it the most intelligent one. It’s the species that has the ability to cope with drastic changes. That’s Darwinism in a nutshell. His ‘survival of the fittest’… also applies to the corporate ecosystem. Agility reduces fragility: the companies and organisations that...
ROB NEWPORT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WEBURBAN
Over two and half decades ago, I remember first picking up a mouse and keyboard to play Quake on a University lab computer for over eight hours straight. Fast forward to today, and that 3dfx Voodoo graphics card has been replaced with racks of memory laden GPU cards chained to...
FRANÇOIS GAGNON
DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL ET CHEF DE LA DIRECTION, ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPÉRIEURE (ÉTS)
J’ai fait mes débuts comme professeur à l’École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) en 1991. Au cours de mon parcours en enseignement, en bâtissant ma carrière en recherche et, depuis 2019, en tant que directeur général de l’ÉTS, j’ai pu apprécier à quel point notre établissement a su s’imposer comme un...