Thought Leaders
VOICES of the Future
LARA TABET
THE INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITY
In the glittering world of luxury and fashion, Lara Tabet emerges as a pioneering force, seamlessly bridging her Swiss-honed hospitality expertise with the dynamic UAE high-end restaurant industry. Her transformation into a media icon, marked by her roles with ‘Societe’ and ‘City Women,’ has seen her engage with global celebrities...
INNOVATE™ Vancouver Vol.2
DR. NIMA ZIRAKNEJAD – FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NZ TECHNOLOGIES
DR. NIMA ZIRAKNEJAD – FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NZ TECHNOLOGIES
Can we convert high-touch surfaces in such public spaces into safer and more hygienic areas? Research has shown that elevator buttons have caused the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 taught us that we need to eliminate high-touch surfaces. Through the pandemic, we developed an awareness to remain as hygienic as possible...
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™ Ottawa
Why do we pursue innovation in health care? The population is aging, and patients are entering the health-care system with more complex health needs. As a leader in world-first health-care research and as a part of the Ottawa community, The Ottawa Hospital pursues health-care innovation to support healthier populations while...
INNOVATE® Austin Volume 2
Whurley
Founder and CEO
It’s exciting to see the application of technology to address global challenges. But as we advance as a species, so do the complexities of the challenges we face. Quantum computers promise to be useful in advancing solutions to challenges in diverse fields such as energy, finance, healthcare and aerospace, among...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
DOUGLAS HOLT
MBA, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTMENTS, ALBERTA INNOVATES
Innovation. It’s the relentless pursuit of new ideas, challenging the status quo, and shaping a better future. At Alberta Innovates, we believe innovation is key to growing the economy, expanding markets and creating new and better opportunities for Albertans. We are the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency, providing...
INNOVATE® Nashville
GILL WAGNER
Serial Entrepreneur
Over a period of 40 years as an entrepreneur, while building six professional service firms and three nonprofits, I used to network like a madman. As you might imagine, with my hands in several things at once, it was sometimes difficult to answer the question: “So, Gill, what do you...
INNOVATE® Orlando
Duncan J Wardle
ID8 & INNOV8
Duncan J Wardle ID8 & INNOV8 In this brave new world, four of the traits we are all born with will rise to the top if we are to compete and find solutions to challenges big and small. We are all born creative, with an amazing imagination. We were once...
Global Innovation Spotlight
MICHAEL CLINTON
CEO ROAR
Many of us spend our lives identifying ourselves in what I call the 3 P’s… Partner, Parent, and Profession. There’s no question that these three identifiers take up a lot of our lives. There’s only one challenge with letting these roles dominate life however, especially as we live longer, healthier...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
PROF. MART USTAV
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ICOSAGEN GROUP
I studied molecular science because I wanted to understand how things work. I built a strong knowledge of molecular processes, but the turning point came when my mother was diagnosed with melanoma. I could explain the disease in detail, but I couldn’t change its course. That loss shifted my focus...
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...
INNOVATION Quebec
LE RÉSEAU DES CCTT
MOT DE MICHEL LESAGE, PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DU RÉSEAU DES CCTT
Innover, c’est se donner la capacité, en tant qu’organisation, d’être au-devant du peloton. Cette position privilégiée nous permet d’exercer une force de traction positive dans notre milieu. Il s’agit d’une force rassemblant les acteurs d’une industrie vers un but commun. Une force de collaboratio indispensable au déploiement et au rayonnement...
INNOVATE® Kansas City
JESSICA POWELL
OWNER OF SOCIAL BALANCES
I’ve always believed that the most successful people—whether founders, investors, or community leaders—aren’t the ones who know the most or have the most. They’re the ones who give first. They show up, offer help, make introductions, and invest in others long before expecting anything in return. And over time, the...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
THULANI HEADMAN AKA FOSTA
FOUNDING MEMBER AND OPERATIONS MANAGER, BRIDGES FOR MUSIC
I grew up in a family of musicians and in a township like Langa that has been home to many legendary artists, but unfortunately for most of them, life was challenging and didn´t bring the rewards one would expect from a successful career. When I was in my late teens...
INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1
Thapelo Letsholo
Publishing Partner, Africa & Middle East | Bolden
Publishing Partner, Global Village Publishing Thapelo Letsholo is a Botswana entrepreneur, publisher and former legislator. He leads Global Village Publishing partnerships and initiatives across Africa and the Middle East, advancing a growing portfolio of flagship series, regional editions, bespoke publications and commissioned editorial projects. His work centres on developing publishing platforms...
INNOVATE® Gainesville
Rich Blaser
Co-Founder & CO-CEO - Infinite Energy
I can’t think of a better place to start a business than Gainesville. When my business partner and I started here more than 25 years ago, it was the location that drew us. Geographically we’re at the hub of a wheel–just two hours from Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa–so we...
INNOVATE™ Antwerp Vol.2
Sven Boermeester
Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher - GlobalVillage.World
Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started...
INNOVATE® Blockchain
WADE PEERY
CHIEF INNOVATIONS OFFICER, FIRSTBANK
INFLECTION POINTS AND NEW POSSIBILITIES As a career banker with over 30 years’ experience, I’ve seen a fair amount of change along the way. In retrospect, major inflection points, no matter how disruptive to traditional banking methods have been positive in terms of making the banking experience better for everyone....
VOICES of the Future
BEATA MOŃKA
THE POWER OF PASSION
Beata Mońka is a visionary entrepreneur whose experiences and opinions, explores the nuances life’s work has been a beacon of creativity, connectivity, and transformative leadership. Our conversation, set against the backdrop of a series celebrating the most influential minds of our time, unfolds as a symphony of ideas and insights...
INNOVATE™ Kitchener Waterloo
AMIN YAZDANI
PHD. CSP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND PERFORMANCE (CISWP)
For example, skilled trades are the backbone of our economy, yet the individuals who build our homes, roads, hospitals, and infrastructure often face preventable risks every day. How can we prolong working lives of our workforce in critical sectors? What if safety solutions were designed for everyone, not just the...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
MIKE ABEL
FOUNDING PARTNER: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, M&C SAATCHI GROUP SOUTH AFRICA
Innovation for innovation sake has absolutely no purpose. It requires direction. It needs to convey a message, inspire curiosity, drive real change, shape the future, and influence action. It must have meaning. Combine this with entrepreneurship, and suddenly the world moves forward. Innovation thrives when curious and imaginative people ask...
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...
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® 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...
LARA TABET
THE INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITY
In the glittering world of luxury and fashion, Lara Tabet emerges as a pioneering force, seamlessly bridging her Swiss-honed hospitality expertise with the dynamic UAE high-end restaurant industry. Her transformation into a media icon, marked by her roles with ‘Societe’ and ‘City Women,’ has seen her engage with global celebrities...
DR. NIMA ZIRAKNEJAD – FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NZ TECHNOLOGIES
DR. NIMA ZIRAKNEJAD – FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NZ TECHNOLOGIES
Can we convert high-touch surfaces in such public spaces into safer and more hygienic areas? Research has shown that elevator buttons have caused the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 taught us that we need to eliminate high-touch surfaces. Through the pandemic, we developed an awareness to remain as hygienic as possible...
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...
Why do we pursue innovation in health care? The population is aging, and patients are entering the health-care system with more complex health needs. As a leader in world-first health-care research and as a part of the Ottawa community, The Ottawa Hospital pursues health-care innovation to support healthier populations while...
Whurley
Founder and CEO
It’s exciting to see the application of technology to address global challenges. But as we advance as a species, so do the complexities of the challenges we face. Quantum computers promise to be useful in advancing solutions to challenges in diverse fields such as energy, finance, healthcare and aerospace, among...
DOUGLAS HOLT
MBA, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTMENTS, ALBERTA INNOVATES
Innovation. It’s the relentless pursuit of new ideas, challenging the status quo, and shaping a better future. At Alberta Innovates, we believe innovation is key to growing the economy, expanding markets and creating new and better opportunities for Albertans. We are the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency, providing...
GILL WAGNER
Serial Entrepreneur
Over a period of 40 years as an entrepreneur, while building six professional service firms and three nonprofits, I used to network like a madman. As you might imagine, with my hands in several things at once, it was sometimes difficult to answer the question: “So, Gill, what do you...
MICHAEL CLINTON
CEO ROAR
Many of us spend our lives identifying ourselves in what I call the 3 P’s… Partner, Parent, and Profession. There’s no question that these three identifiers take up a lot of our lives. There’s only one challenge with letting these roles dominate life however, especially as we live longer, healthier...
PROF. MART USTAV
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ICOSAGEN GROUP
I studied molecular science because I wanted to understand how things work. I built a strong knowledge of molecular processes, but the turning point came when my mother was diagnosed with melanoma. I could explain the disease in detail, but I couldn’t change its course. That loss shifted my focus...
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...
LE RÉSEAU DES CCTT
MOT DE MICHEL LESAGE, PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DU RÉSEAU DES CCTT
Innover, c’est se donner la capacité, en tant qu’organisation, d’être au-devant du peloton. Cette position privilégiée nous permet d’exercer une force de traction positive dans notre milieu. Il s’agit d’une force rassemblant les acteurs d’une industrie vers un but commun. Une force de collaboratio indispensable au déploiement et au rayonnement...
JESSICA POWELL
OWNER OF SOCIAL BALANCES
I’ve always believed that the most successful people—whether founders, investors, or community leaders—aren’t the ones who know the most or have the most. They’re the ones who give first. They show up, offer help, make introductions, and invest in others long before expecting anything in return. And over time, the...
THULANI HEADMAN AKA FOSTA
FOUNDING MEMBER AND OPERATIONS MANAGER, BRIDGES FOR MUSIC
I grew up in a family of musicians and in a township like Langa that has been home to many legendary artists, but unfortunately for most of them, life was challenging and didn´t bring the rewards one would expect from a successful career. When I was in my late teens...
Thapelo Letsholo
Publishing Partner, Africa & Middle East | Bolden
Publishing Partner, Global Village Publishing Thapelo Letsholo is a Botswana entrepreneur, publisher and former legislator. He leads Global Village Publishing partnerships and initiatives across Africa and the Middle East, advancing a growing portfolio of flagship series, regional editions, bespoke publications and commissioned editorial projects. His work centres on developing publishing platforms...
Rich Blaser
Co-Founder & CO-CEO - Infinite Energy
I can’t think of a better place to start a business than Gainesville. When my business partner and I started here more than 25 years ago, it was the location that drew us. Geographically we’re at the hub of a wheel–just two hours from Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa–so we...
Sven Boermeester
Founder/CEO, International Group Publisher - GlobalVillage.World
Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started...
WADE PEERY
CHIEF INNOVATIONS OFFICER, FIRSTBANK
INFLECTION POINTS AND NEW POSSIBILITIES As a career banker with over 30 years’ experience, I’ve seen a fair amount of change along the way. In retrospect, major inflection points, no matter how disruptive to traditional banking methods have been positive in terms of making the banking experience better for everyone....
BEATA MOŃKA
THE POWER OF PASSION
Beata Mońka is a visionary entrepreneur whose experiences and opinions, explores the nuances life’s work has been a beacon of creativity, connectivity, and transformative leadership. Our conversation, set against the backdrop of a series celebrating the most influential minds of our time, unfolds as a symphony of ideas and insights...
AMIN YAZDANI
PHD. CSP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND PERFORMANCE (CISWP)
For example, skilled trades are the backbone of our economy, yet the individuals who build our homes, roads, hospitals, and infrastructure often face preventable risks every day. How can we prolong working lives of our workforce in critical sectors? What if safety solutions were designed for everyone, not just the...
MIKE ABEL
FOUNDING PARTNER: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, M&C SAATCHI GROUP SOUTH AFRICA
Innovation for innovation sake has absolutely no purpose. It requires direction. It needs to convey a message, inspire curiosity, drive real change, shape the future, and influence action. It must have meaning. Combine this with entrepreneurship, and suddenly the world moves forward. Innovation thrives when curious and imaginative people ask...
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...
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...
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...