Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes, Founder and CEO, Institute For Science, Entrepreneurship and Investments
Dr Ingrid is a healthcare executive, futurist and globalist who is highly dedicated to digital and ethics advocacy. She is a Forbes Business Council member, digital strategist, passionate educator and entrepreneurship ecosystem builder, known as an expert speaker, board advisor and consultant.
Throughout her career, she has received several awards for excellence in research, teaching and leadership. She is the recipient of numerous awards, most notably:
Most Influential CEOs 2022
Most Powerful Business Woman iTo Watch in 2022
Top 100 Investors in 2022
World Iconic Business Woman 2022
Most Impressive Woman Leader 2022
Top 100 Global Privacy Leaders
150 Women B2B Leaders
Top 50 AI Business Influencers
WBAF World Excellence Award-Social Entrepreneurship 2021
Top 5 Global Leaders in Health Tech
Top 2 Global Leaders in Digital Twins Technologies
Top 25 Global Leaders in Quantum Technologies
Top 50 Global Ecosystem Leaders
Top 100 Visionary In Education Award 2021
Top 150 Women In Business for Privacy, Digital Transformation and Business Strategy
Top 100 Global Women in Leadership Award 2021
Top 100 World Women Vision Award 2021-Innovation & Tech
Top 100 Healthcare Leader 2020 Award
Top 100 Finance Leader 2020 Award
Top 100 Women in Crypto 2020
Excellence In Education Award 2020
Women Leader Award 2016
Teaching Award 2010
Excellence in Research Award 2001
Additionally, she serves as an Expert Advisor to the EU Blockchain Observatory Forum and was appointed to the Board of Advisors for several organizations. During her academic tenure, she taught several courses within the Medical School, as well as the combined MD/PhD and MD/MPH programs.
Throughout her career, Dr Vasiliu-Feltes held several leadership positions and is a member of numerous prestigious professional organizations. In addition, she has several certifications, such as Bioethics from Harvard, Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy from MIT Sloan, Blockchain Technology and Business Innovation from MIT Sloan, Finance from Harvard Business School, Negotiation from Harvard Law School, Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford Graduate School of Business, Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management, Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Patient Safety Officer by the International Board Federation of Safety Managers, Master Black Belt in Lean and Six Sigma Management, Professional in Healthcare Quality by the National Association of Healthcare Quality, Manager for Quality and Organizational Excellence, by the American Society for Quality, and Certified Risk Management Professional by the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management.
Dr Vasiliu-Feltes is CEO of Softhread Inc., the Founder and CEO of The Science, Entrepreneurship and Investments Institute, Founder and CEO of Revexpo Consulting and currently serving as a Country Director for WBAF USA, Senator of WBAF, Faculty Member of the WBAF Business School- Division of Entrepreneurship, and teaching the Executive MBA Business Technology Course at the UM Business School.
She is also acting as the Chief Innovation Officer for Government Blockchain Association. Most recently, she served as President of Detect Genomix, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Chief and Innovation Officer for Mednax, Chief Quality and Safety Officer and Chief of Compliance for the University of Miami UHealth System.
Additionally, Dr Vasiliu-Feltes is an Honorary Advisory Board Member of several companies, entrepreneurship incubators or accelerators, as well as an Editorial Board Member for several international publications, an author, keynote speaker and TV/Media partner.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
LinkedIn due to the networking opportunities.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am passionate about deep tech and digital ethics advocacy as a globalist, futurist and ecosystem builder. The digital era will require a rethinking, recalibrating and reshaping of the global ecosystem in order to dynamically adapt to the rapid pace of scientific discoveries and technological advances.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
Precision Health is one of the deep tech domains that I believe will have a profound transformative impact on future generations.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The groundbreaking advice for me was to "not listen to anyone that was trying to discourage me from having bold goals and aiming to solve complex problems".
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
A natural curiosity for learning has been one of the strongest drivers of my career. In addition, being highly resilient and passionate about my goals has helped me overcome numerous challenges.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My determination, passion for innovation and fearlessness to not settle for the status quo and embark on novel career journeys.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Virtual networking is definitely the primary way at this point. It then can be followed by an in-person meeting if strong business synergies are identified during that initial introduction.
This was certainly not the case prior to the pandemic. However, it seems to have now become my predominant post-pandemic socializing method.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Integrity, aiming for excellence, ongoing desire to learn new skills, cross-disciplinary interests, and an abundance mindset have definitely been instrumental to my success.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
The value of powerful mentors and networking. I understood it very late in life and missed a lot of opportunities.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Christine Laguarde, The President of the EU Central Bank, has been one of my main idols as she embodies the trifecta of business acumen, academic achievement and strong leadership skills.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Sports and reading are essential to my well-being. I enjoy playing tennis, cycling, watersports and skiing.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
It had a complex impact on my professional and personal life. It has highlighted the power of global connectivity and how much impact we can have when we collaborate with colleagues around the world globally for causes we identify as meaningful.
Furthermore, it has changed the paradigm and accelerated deep tech adoption globally and amplified my pre-pandemic initiatives.
Finally, on a personal level, it has taught m to be grateful for being alive and reorganize my life priorities.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have been fortunate to have several wonderful mentors during my career and life, and I am deeply grateful to them. I have always enjoyed mentoring young aspiring leaders and hope to continue to share some of my insights and lessons learned.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
The digital era requires continuous re-skilling and upskilling to remain competitive. So, never stop learning and improving your knowledge repertoire while you aim for excellence and keep the highest level of integrity.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Insecurity, becoming influenced by others' opinions instead of pursuing their plans or beliefs, and focusing on the barriers instead of ways to solve the problem are a few I have encountered frequently.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can fly" - Napoleon Bonaparte.
"It always seems impossible until it's done" - Nelson Mandella.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Purpose-driven and inclusive companies are those that will be successful long term.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Everyone must define their success as it is multi-faceted. Furthermore, the definition of success changes many times throughout our life. Therefore, it is wise to allow ourselves to reflect and adapt to the novel ecosystem we face when defining our success metrics- for business and our personal lives.