By Influential People Magazine International Journalist, Jules Lavallee
Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes
Speaker, MD, MBA, the Co-Founder, Chairwoman and VP of Innovation for Trade Pharma Network
Jules: You are the Co-Founder, Chairwoman, and VP of Innovation for Trade Pharma Network, which is the fast-growing network entirely dedicated to the life sciences & healthcare industry. Tell us about the importance of emerging technologies in reshaping life sciences and the healthcare industry.
Ingrid: We are witnessing an unprecedented time in history with the rapid pace of emerging technologies adoption and the exponential rate of scientific discoveries that have the potential to reshape life sciences and the healthcare industry. Examples include artificial intelligence, blockchain, nanotechnology, 3D printing which can all change the paradigm in the way we recognize, diagnose, treat and prevent disease. Furthermore, these technologies can greatly contribute to the design of a new era in medicine focused on ultra-personalized care with a focus on wellness, longevity and preventing disease. Solutions like bio-implants, bionic eyes or limbs, exoskeletons, wearables, brain-computer interfaces that were once considered futuristic are now making the transition from the research lab to clinical deployments and will soon become standard of care.
Jules: What are your initiatives for the next 6-months?
Ingrid: I am looking forward to leading and participating in several initiatives over the next few months. They all revolve around adoption of emerging technologies, digital ethics, digital identity, digital economy, and social entrepreneurship. A few are particularly noteworthy due to their large-scale and global impact: a convener focused on the impact sciences can have on global entrepreneurship ecosystems, another one that is aiming to highlight the importance of impact investing and a major effort to launch a world smart city’s economic development commission. I am also looking forward to speaking at a few events that are centered on digital and business strategy, telehealth adoption, digital innovation, precision medicine, hybrid intelligence in education, and investments. Additionally, I have been invited to be a contributor to the Rick Amato National Talk Show and to participate in Season 2 of The Social Movement reality TV show created by executive producer Christopher Lavoie. The show will air in 31 countries and audiences will have the opportunity to witness how we aim to save the world in 4 days by addressing major social issues.
Jules: Tell us about your work with the UN Legal and Economic Empowerment Network.
Ingrid: I have the privilege to be part of an amazing network of professionals and academics who are highly dedicated to foster legal innovation and empowerment of the disadvantaged populations. We have several initiatives planned for the year that all aim to tighten awareness and urge call to action for key stakeholders globally.
Jules: What are the achievements of the organization in the post-pandemic era to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals and the role digital identity can play to facilitate all of the SDG 17?
Ingrid: The pandemic crisis has caused major setbacks in the progress we had achieved in many areas of the world. We now aim to increase awareness, accelerate the pace of recovery, infuse a sense of renewed urgency, and offer solutions to key decision-makers that can facilitate attainment of all SDGs. Digital identity is considered one of the solutions that can address numerous global challenges.
Jules: Tell us about the World Business Angels Investment Forum and why this organization is the key to building partnerships and investment globally?
Ingrid: The World Business Angel Investment Forum is a global organization that aims to bring together key players of the equity markets and focuses on developing innovative financial instruments for entrepreneurs and SMEs. We believe that by sharing a common vision and working together across borders, we can promote positive change in the global economy. I have the opportunity to serve in multiple roles such as Country Director for WBAF USA, Secretary-General for the Global Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, the WBAF Research Institute, and am the Co-founder of the WBAF World Smart Cities Economic Development Commission. These roles are allowing me to contribute to empowering the global entrepreneurial ecosystem and accelerate the post-pandemic economic recovery process. As an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Platform for Financial Inclusion the WBAF is committed to ease access to finance, promote financial inclusion, create more jobs and advocate for social justice.
Jules: You recently won the World Excellence Award for Social Entrepreneurship. What did this mean to you?
Ingrid: I was genuinely surprised, honored, and humbled by this special award. Social entrepreneurship is near and dear to my heart as it aligns with my personal ethos and all my not-for-profit initiatives. Social innovation will play an increasing role in our society and social corporate responsibility, impact investing and focus on democratizing entrepreneurship are identified as key digital era trends.
Jules: You have been the Chief Ethics Officer since 2020 for the Government Blockchain Association recently appointed as Ethics &Innovation Officer. What is your vision for 2021?
Ingrid: Blockchain is one of the emerging technologies that have the potential to be one of the most profound transformative powers in our society and one of the key drivers for empowering a global digital economy. My vision is to encourage mindful and ethical adoption of blockchain solutions, as well as to deploy innovative blockchain powered solutions at a larger scale.
Jules: Tell us about your new books, “Applied Ethics in A Digital World” and Digital Identity in the Era of Personalized Medicine.
Ingrid: I am fortunate to work with an excellent international academic publisher IGI Global and to have two outstanding co-editors. The books will be released later this year and available both as hardcovers and e-books. The impetus for both books was a realization that the advances in disruptive technologies are often not complemented by mindful ethical deployment and that ethical leadership in this era will be crucial to protect human rights. We are observing an even larger divide between the pace of technological adoption and the much slower effort to revise policies, frameworks, education, life sciences and healthcare delivery systems globally. One book aims to explore how establishing a global ethical governance system can address some of these challenges and the other one how digital identity can be a conduit for the new era of personalized medicine.
Jules: Share your recent experience in the global initiatives supporting women in business & trade: Womenomics and WECombinator.
Ingrid: The Global Council For the Promotion of International Trade has numerous initiatives that revolve around enabling collaboration, mentorship, peer-based learning, and sharing innovative ideas with entrepreneurs across the globe. I was invited to participate and have been an avid supporter of Womenomics in Action which aimed to create a Global Taskforce supporting women in business, as well as their WeCombinator efforts honoring women entrepreneurs.
Jules: How important is philanthropy to you?
Ingrid: Philanthropy has always played a vital role in my life and remains a major contributor to my Ikigai. Over the past 30 years I have continuously volunteered for numerous not for profit organizations most notably The Swiss Red Cross, NPH USA, Big Brothers Big Sister, Boys and Girls Club, Women in AI, Inspired Minds, Blockchain in Healthcare Today, Telehealth and Medicine Today, Government blockchain Association and the World Business Angel Investment Forum.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to showcase the important philanthropic work we are doing in these organizations and have been humbled to receive several awards:
· WBAF World Excellence Award-Social Entrepreneurship 2021
· Thinkers 360 Top 50 Global Leaders in Health Tech
· Top 100 Visionary In Education Award 2021
· Top 100 Global Women in Leadership Award 2021
· Top 100 World Women Vision Award 2021 – Winner Innovation &Tech
· Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise 2021 (nominee)
· Nations of Women Change Makers Award (finalist)
· Top 100 Healthcare Leader 2020 Award
· Top 100 Finance Leader 2020 Award
· Top 100 Women in Crypto 2020
· Excellence In Education Award 2020
Jules: As a leader and influential woman globally, what is your vision for the future?
Ingrid: As a few of my recent published articles indicate, I do believe we are at the cusp of entering the 5th industrial revolution which will deeply transform the way we live and work, as well as create a new digitally driven culture. The same way we witnessed the internet reshape our society and economy, we will now have the opportunity to observe how 5G, IoT, next generation computing, web 3.0, and the metaverse become key players in this new digital era. It is a moral imperative to ensure that we uphold ethical values, respect human rights and apply design thinking for a human-centered approach. I also hope that we can continue increasing awareness and engagement to accelerate attainment of the UN SDG 2030 goals.
· www.ingridvasiliufeltesmdmba.me/
About The Author
