How Innovators at Thales Alenia Space, Société Générale and Osram Measure Progress
Just like the age of exploration from the early 15th century, we need to develop accurate tools to help us navigate our way - understanding where we are, what that means, and how we course correct to…
On The Authenticity (And Legitimacy) of Innovators
The biggest attitude problem we can have as innovators is to believe that we have an automatic license to be listened to; that we have legitimacy simply because companies are being disrupted. "This…
Balancing The Three Horizons: Stories of GE, EnBW and AirFrance KLM
Despite our love for embracing the new, there’s nothing quite like an enduring innovation framework. McKinsey’s ‘Three Horizons’ is one such useful and time-honored taxonomy: a way of helping various…
Why Culture/Market Fit Matters (More Than Anything Else)
When it comes to the future of work, you’d be forgiven for thinking we should all religiously follow the example of a handful of currently-successful organizations - a cookie cutter recipe for…
When Fosbury Flopped: Three Lessons for Disruptors
In 1968, Olympic fans and athletes watched in bemusement as a college sophomore jumped over the high bar backward. Until that day, every gold medal winner, indeed every Olympic athlete, who had…
Intrapreneurship: People or Process?
Is innovation more about people or process? It has been one of the fundamental questions in our field- and the answer is probably both, as outlined in this HBR article. "People matter; process…
Stop Leading, Start Unlearning And Relearning
There is a vast disconnect between leaders and the organizations they lead - a disconnect which is only getting wider as the pace of change increases. How can leaders help drive a different route…
Confronting Innovation Challenges: Behind AllianceBernstein’s Transformation Journey
Despite calls for customer-first organizations, it’s clear that very few companies actually put the customer first — and risk alienating them with bad customer experiences or product/market fit that…
Social Movements Can Teach Us A Lot About What It Takes To Innovate
When Occupy Wall Street took over Zuccotti Park, in the heart of the financial district in Lower Manhattan, they inspired the nation and the world. Soon, similar protests soon began popping up in…
Pioneering With Purpose at Innov8rs Vancouver
On the surface, there is a huge gap between innovation ambitions and actual impact in most if not all organizations. In his research as shared on stage at Innov8rs Paris earlier this year and…
Why It’s Important to Help Leaders Learn Fast From Failure
From a young age, we are programmed to avoid failure. Or we’re taught that it’s OK to fail as long as we don’t make the same mistake twice. But as we grow up and enter the working world, failure has…
How to Be (Or Manage) The Diplomatic Rebel
Managing change in big corporates means you have to be ambidextrous. With disruptive curiosity in one hand and humble empathy in the other, David Gram, Venture Partner at LEGO and Co-Founder of…
Why Do So Many Innovation Programs Fail?
Whenever we talk to executives and ask how their past innovation efforts have succeeded, we usually get quite a muted response. Most have tried at least some innovation initiatives or programs, and…