Dr. Garret Westlake is the inaugural Vice Provost for Innovation and Strategic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University and a professor of product and healthcare innovation in the VCU School of Business. A nationally recognized leader in applied innovation, he builds strategic partnerships and delivers human-centered training in design thinking, change management, and entrepreneurship to academic institutions, health systems, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.

Dr. Westlake is the co-founder and executive leader of Shift Labs, an interdisciplinary network of innovation labs recognized twice by Fast Company, including the 2023 Innovation by Design Award for Education. Through Shift Labs, he has designed and delivered transformational programming for clients such as Allianz, Capital One, the LEGO Group, and the Medical Society of Virginia. He teaches and mentors graduate and doctoral students across business, education, engineering, and healthcare disciplines, with a focus on real-world impact and interdisciplinary problem solving.

Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Westlake served as Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Arizona State University—ranked #1 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report—and held faculty appointments in technological entrepreneurship and management. A former tech entrepreneur, he was founder and CEO of a pioneering social impact company that employed individuals with autism using biofeedback-based workforce solutions. He remains a dedicated advocate for inclusive innovation and a volunteer with organizations that serve individuals with disabilities.

A passionate evangelist for creativity and human-centered design, Dr. Westlake is a TEDx and international keynote speaker, Clinton Global Initiative mentor, and Ashoka U Change Leader Emeritus. He serves as an advisor, consultant, and board member for venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. Ventures and founders he has mentored have raised over $100 million in capital and gained entry into the world’s leading accelerators and incubators.