Digital Journal today announced it is forming an editorial advisory committee to deepen its coverage of the innovation economy by drawing on the expertise of leaders working inside companies, scaling new technologies, shaping policy, and driving transformation across markets.
Kamales Lardi, a highly respected expert in digital transformation strategy and execution, is joining as chair of the committee.
The committee will explore how transformation is reshaping business models, operating environments, and entire innovation ecosystems. It will bring visibility to the intersections where startups and corporates collaborate, where public policy meets industry leadership, and where capital, talent, and technology converge.
With a focus on leadership, policy, technology, and talent, the group will help Digital Journal identify the themes executives are navigating, the barriers they are facing, and the ideas that deserve a wider audience.
“Kamales brings the kind of clarity, conviction, and range that this moment demands,” says Chris Hogg, CEO of Digital Journal. “She has built strategy with executives, rolled up her sleeves inside organizations, and challenged the dominant narratives shaping global tech. She’s exactly who we want helping guide our lens.”
Lardi is CEO of Zurich-based Lardi & Partner Consulting, a firm she founded in 2012 that advises multinational corporations on strategy and technology adoption. With close to three decades of experience spanning Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, she brings a practitioner’s mindset and a truly global perspective.
Joining Digital Journal’s advisory committee as chair brings Lardi’s expertise to North America, where there is a growing demand for practical, human-centred transformation strategies. As she expands her practice across regions, executives across Canada and the U.S. will gain direct access to the thinking of a trusted advisor helping organizations navigate complex change.
“I’m honoured to chair Digital Journal’s new editorial advisory committee. Canada’s market is dynamic, forward-thinking, and eager to harness the power of digital transformation and exponential technologies,” Lardi says. “I look forward to bringing global insights to support innovation, unlock opportunities, and shape meaningful progress across industries and communities here.”
Lardi’s work cuts across sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom, and government, making her uniquely positioned to guide conversations that reflect the full spectrum of the innovation economy.
In addition to her consulting practice, Lardi has delivered more than 280 keynotes around the world and is consistently recognized among the top thought leaders in digital transformation.
She is a former Chair of the Forbes Business Council Women Executives, and serves on the board of the World Innovation and Change Management Institute. She is the author of the best-selling The Human Side of Digital Business Transformation and her most recent book, Artificial Intelligence for Business: Harness AI for Value, Growth and Innovation.
Lardi’s work focuses on orchestrating seamless digital transformation journeys, from strategy to execution, that emphasize the human element. Her most recent work includes a unique leadership program designed to challenge outdated assumptions, bring forward new thinking, and equip leaders to guide teams through transformation with confidence.
“What excites me most about joining the Digital Journal editorial committee is the opportunity to guide coverage that’s grounded in reality, not just rhetoric,” says Lardi. “Digital Journal isn’t chasing hype. It’s asking better questions and wants to open space for voices that often get left out. That’s what drew me in.”
She says this commitment to understanding real-world perspective is part of what makes Digital Journal stand out.
“So much of what we read today is driven by trends, not truth,” says Lardi. “This committee is a chance to bring more critical thinking and context into the conversation. It’s not just about identifying what’s new, but understanding what it means and why it matters.”
Digital Journal is Canada’s largest independent innovation publication, with a cross-sector focus that spans academia, corporates, startups, scaleups, investment, talent, and public policy. Its editorial mission is to elevate insight from across the innovation economy, connecting the dots between people, industries, and ideas. Underpinning that editorial mission is the company’s purpose of elevating voices.
“We cover ecosystems, not just sectors,” says Hogg. “That includes hearing from people on the ground and those shaping the direction of change. Kamales has that range. She understands the full landscape of transformation, and we’re proud to have her joining our editorial committee to help lead this work.”
Additional committee members from across Canada will be announced shortly. The first set of insights shaped through this committee will be released later this year.
