Thought Leaders
INNOVATE® Tampa Bay Vol.3
DR. RICHARD M. SMITH
FOUNDER & CHAIR, STOCKSAVVY
One of the greatest wealth-building tools available, the stock market has long been out of reach for most people. I believe that no one benefits in the long run when we have to depend on other people to invest our money and wealth is increasingly concentrated into fewer and fewer...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
PRÉFACE DE MURIELLE LABERGE
RECTRICE DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS
L’innovation est intrinsèquement liée à la recherche constante d’amélioration. Elle requiert un esprit créatif et agile pour se concrétiser. C’est cet état d’esprit qui pousse les individus en quête de l’amélioration du bien-être et de la création d’un monde meilleur à se consacrer aux innovations sociales fondées sur des valeurs...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
JAANUS TAMM
CEO AND FOUNDER DEFSECINTEL SOLUTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE ESTONIAN DEFENCE AND AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL MEMBER OF DEFENCE ESTONIA CLUSTER
When people ask me why I do what I do, my answer is simple: I build solutions that help our clients and partners win, protect, and increase security. My journey as an entrepreneur has always been shaped by real-world conflicts and the urgent need to innovate faster than the threats...
INNOVATE® Georgia
CHRIS DOWNIE
FLEXENTIAL, CEO
Building a Sustainable Future: The Legacy We Leave In my role as CEO of Flexential, I have the privilege and the duty to steer our company towards not just innovation but sustainable innovation. Our industry is at the crossroads of technological advancement and environmental stewardship. We have the unique opportunity...
INNOVATE™ Adelaide
MAYOR MOIRA WERE AM
MAYOR, CITY OF ONKAPARINGA
In fact, one former recipient of our Young Citizen of the Year Award – in which we recognise young people who have made exceptional contributions by leading through generosity and enterprise – has just been elected to Council. We recognise and acclaim community-led events – festivals; sporting, arts and cultural...
AI Québec
MADELEINE JEAN
DIRECTRICE GÉNÉRALE PAR INTÉRIM,PROMPT
En matière d’intelligence artificielle, le monde de la recherche académique continue d’exceller au Québec. Il nous a donné des figures de renom en recherche opérationnelle, et plus récemment, en apprentissage profond. Nous avons ici des chercheurs qui se distinguent à l’échelle internationale. Des étudiants gradués de partout au monde souhaitent...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
JENNIFER TWINER MCCARRON
THUNDERBIRD CEO
As a leader, people and culture need to be a priority. You need to tangibly demonstrate what a culture of excellence looks like. I believe that attitude and outlook are everything. What you bring to the table (or zoom meeting) directly impacts those around you — personally and professionally. True...
INNOVATE® Orlando
MEGHAN WOLFGRAM
CEO OF SWIFTPAWS
Any founder can recall times when they’ve been faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, and know the experience of truly questioning themselves and their idea. In these moments, I’ve found two things in my personal startup journey that keeps me pushing forward. The first is an unwavering belief in my business....
INNOVATE™ Bristol & Bath
Natasha Swinscoe
Chief Executive, West Of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN)
With over 20 years’ experience in the NHS, Natasha Swinscoe joined the West of England AHSN in 2015 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Under her leadership, the AHSN has earned a reputation for its ambitious, system-wide vision for healthcare innovation and transformation, improving patient care and driving economic...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
JANA KRIMPE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CO-FOUNDER, B.EST SOLUTIONS
Digital transformation is often viewed in terms of platforms, applications, or the latest disruptive technology. But these are only surface layers. The true foundation of a digital society is trust and trust begins with secure digital identity. Without it, governments cannot serve effectively, businesses cannot scale confidently, and citizens are...
AI Québec
NARJES BOUFADEN
FOUNDER AND CEO, KEATEXT
For decades, in-store customer experience has been a cornerstone of the competitive battlefield for brands. Creating a successful customer experience instore relies on tangible assets like product displays and brand representatives to ensure that customers are well served with a personalized shopping experience. Now, the disruption of the global pandemic...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
NAMIR ANANI
PRESIDENT & CEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
We live in an era of rapid disruption where global forces are now demanding our full attention. Emerging economies, geopolitical inflections, health risks, cyber threats, and changing employment prospects are now top of mind. Against this backdrop are digital technologies that are accelerating innovations and transforming industries faster than economies...
VOICES of the Future
DR. MARK ESPOSITO
BEYOND THE HORIZON
Dr. Mark Esposito is a luminary at the intersection of economics, strategy, and the future. In our conversation, he unfolds our future, offering an insightful exploration into the themes of technological transformation, human-centric systems, and the architecture of tomorrow’s global systems. As a distinguished figure in the discourse of the...
INNOVATE® Orlando
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...
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...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
Dr. Gregory Olsen
GHO Ventures
In order to understand what GHO Ventures is, we need to talk about Dr. Gregory Olsen. Greg started the company EPITAXX, a fiber-optic detector manufacturer in 1984 together with Vladimir Ban. It was sold in 1990 for $12 million. He then founded Sensors Unlimited, a near-infrared camera manufacturer in 1992...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
KÄDI RISTKOK
CEO, ESTONIAN CLEANTECH ASSOCIATION
The past decade has seen a lot of shifts in the world and this is also inherent in the cleantech sector. Cleantech is no longer defined solely by its sustainability goals; it is positioning itself as a foundational driver of resilience, autonomy, and transformation across industries. Clean technologies emerging in...
INNOVATE™ Flanders
PROF. DR. STEVEN VAN PASSEL
VICE-RECTOR VALORISATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP.
At the University of Antwerp, we are committed to being a dynamic, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking institution that actively helps shape the future. We conduct excellent, fundamental research, and are internationally recognised in several key domains. But I believe our responsibility goes beyond academic excellence. It is crucial that the knowledge...
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® Georgia
RT EVANS
PRESIDENT & CEO, EVANS GENERAL CONTRACTORS
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...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
MIK ALLA
PRESIDENT & CEO, ROUTEIQUE™
Fostering a Culture of Innovation at Routeique™The core of our approach to innovation at Routeique™ is that we see ourselves as problem-solvers rather than service or technology providers. Whether it’s warehouse layouts or inefficiencies in last-mile delivery, our philosophy is that it’s essential to look at issues from new perspectives,...
INNOVATE® Minnesota
Adam Coyle
CEO - Digital River
Growth leaders like to talk about the concept of “hockey-sticking” – when a company’s product really catches fire in the market, and its revenue growth chart suddenly shoots upward, resembling a hockey stick. It’s a great analogy for a company from Minnesota, and it’s something Digital River knows well. From...
INNOVATE® Nashville
HARRY ALLEN
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, STUDIO BANK
A NATIVE’S PERSPECTIVEI love Nashville. As a fifth-generation native, Nashville is the only place I’ve ever called home. And while it’s not the town I grew up in, today’s Nashville has certainly kept me engaged and excited. So I’ve continued to choose Nashville as the place to build my family,...
DR. RICHARD M. SMITH
FOUNDER & CHAIR, STOCKSAVVY
One of the greatest wealth-building tools available, the stock market has long been out of reach for most people. I believe that no one benefits in the long run when we have to depend on other people to invest our money and wealth is increasingly concentrated into fewer and fewer...
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...
PRÉFACE DE MURIELLE LABERGE
RECTRICE DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC EN OUTAOUAIS
L’innovation est intrinsèquement liée à la recherche constante d’amélioration. Elle requiert un esprit créatif et agile pour se concrétiser. C’est cet état d’esprit qui pousse les individus en quête de l’amélioration du bien-être et de la création d’un monde meilleur à se consacrer aux innovations sociales fondées sur des valeurs...
JAANUS TAMM
CEO AND FOUNDER DEFSECINTEL SOLUTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE ESTONIAN DEFENCE AND AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL MEMBER OF DEFENCE ESTONIA CLUSTER
When people ask me why I do what I do, my answer is simple: I build solutions that help our clients and partners win, protect, and increase security. My journey as an entrepreneur has always been shaped by real-world conflicts and the urgent need to innovate faster than the threats...
CHRIS DOWNIE
FLEXENTIAL, CEO
Building a Sustainable Future: The Legacy We Leave In my role as CEO of Flexential, I have the privilege and the duty to steer our company towards not just innovation but sustainable innovation. Our industry is at the crossroads of technological advancement and environmental stewardship. We have the unique opportunity...
MAYOR MOIRA WERE AM
MAYOR, CITY OF ONKAPARINGA
In fact, one former recipient of our Young Citizen of the Year Award – in which we recognise young people who have made exceptional contributions by leading through generosity and enterprise – has just been elected to Council. We recognise and acclaim community-led events – festivals; sporting, arts and cultural...
MADELEINE JEAN
DIRECTRICE GÉNÉRALE PAR INTÉRIM,PROMPT
En matière d’intelligence artificielle, le monde de la recherche académique continue d’exceller au Québec. Il nous a donné des figures de renom en recherche opérationnelle, et plus récemment, en apprentissage profond. Nous avons ici des chercheurs qui se distinguent à l’échelle internationale. Des étudiants gradués de partout au monde souhaitent...
JENNIFER TWINER MCCARRON
THUNDERBIRD CEO
As a leader, people and culture need to be a priority. You need to tangibly demonstrate what a culture of excellence looks like. I believe that attitude and outlook are everything. What you bring to the table (or zoom meeting) directly impacts those around you — personally and professionally. True...
MEGHAN WOLFGRAM
CEO OF SWIFTPAWS
Any founder can recall times when they’ve been faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, and know the experience of truly questioning themselves and their idea. In these moments, I’ve found two things in my personal startup journey that keeps me pushing forward. The first is an unwavering belief in my business....
Natasha Swinscoe
Chief Executive, West Of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN)
With over 20 years’ experience in the NHS, Natasha Swinscoe joined the West of England AHSN in 2015 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Under her leadership, the AHSN has earned a reputation for its ambitious, system-wide vision for healthcare innovation and transformation, improving patient care and driving economic...
JANA KRIMPE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CO-FOUNDER, B.EST SOLUTIONS
Digital transformation is often viewed in terms of platforms, applications, or the latest disruptive technology. But these are only surface layers. The true foundation of a digital society is trust and trust begins with secure digital identity. Without it, governments cannot serve effectively, businesses cannot scale confidently, and citizens are...
NARJES BOUFADEN
FOUNDER AND CEO, KEATEXT
For decades, in-store customer experience has been a cornerstone of the competitive battlefield for brands. Creating a successful customer experience instore relies on tangible assets like product displays and brand representatives to ensure that customers are well served with a personalized shopping experience. Now, the disruption of the global pandemic...
NAMIR ANANI
PRESIDENT & CEO, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
We live in an era of rapid disruption where global forces are now demanding our full attention. Emerging economies, geopolitical inflections, health risks, cyber threats, and changing employment prospects are now top of mind. Against this backdrop are digital technologies that are accelerating innovations and transforming industries faster than economies...
DR. MARK ESPOSITO
BEYOND THE HORIZON
Dr. Mark Esposito is a luminary at the intersection of economics, strategy, and the future. In our conversation, he unfolds our future, offering an insightful exploration into the themes of technological transformation, human-centric systems, and the architecture of tomorrow’s global systems. As a distinguished figure in the discourse of the...
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...
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...
Dr. Gregory Olsen
GHO Ventures
In order to understand what GHO Ventures is, we need to talk about Dr. Gregory Olsen. Greg started the company EPITAXX, a fiber-optic detector manufacturer in 1984 together with Vladimir Ban. It was sold in 1990 for $12 million. He then founded Sensors Unlimited, a near-infrared camera manufacturer in 1992...
KÄDI RISTKOK
CEO, ESTONIAN CLEANTECH ASSOCIATION
The past decade has seen a lot of shifts in the world and this is also inherent in the cleantech sector. Cleantech is no longer defined solely by its sustainability goals; it is positioning itself as a foundational driver of resilience, autonomy, and transformation across industries. Clean technologies emerging in...
PROF. DR. STEVEN VAN PASSEL
VICE-RECTOR VALORISATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP.
At the University of Antwerp, we are committed to being a dynamic, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking institution that actively helps shape the future. We conduct excellent, fundamental research, and are internationally recognised in several key domains. But I believe our responsibility goes beyond academic excellence. It is crucial that the knowledge...
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...
RT EVANS
PRESIDENT & CEO, EVANS GENERAL CONTRACTORS
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...
MIK ALLA
PRESIDENT & CEO, ROUTEIQUE™
Fostering a Culture of Innovation at Routeique™The core of our approach to innovation at Routeique™ is that we see ourselves as problem-solvers rather than service or technology providers. Whether it’s warehouse layouts or inefficiencies in last-mile delivery, our philosophy is that it’s essential to look at issues from new perspectives,...
Adam Coyle
CEO - Digital River
Growth leaders like to talk about the concept of “hockey-sticking” – when a company’s product really catches fire in the market, and its revenue growth chart suddenly shoots upward, resembling a hockey stick. It’s a great analogy for a company from Minnesota, and it’s something Digital River knows well. From...
HARRY ALLEN
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, STUDIO BANK
A NATIVE’S PERSPECTIVEI love Nashville. As a fifth-generation native, Nashville is the only place I’ve ever called home. And while it’s not the town I grew up in, today’s Nashville has certainly kept me engaged and excited. So I’ve continued to choose Nashville as the place to build my family,...