Innov8rs Connect on Culture, Talent & Teams

Are innovators of strong character the neglected stepsister of effective innovation? Great ideas, modern innovation methods and exponential technologies are necessary but insufficient for crossing the Innovation-Execution divide. Character Inc draws on scientific evidence to demonstrate the link between innovators of strong character and effective innovation outcomes. These innovators run an operating system loaded with a suite of character apps, including strengths of heart, mind and will. Many other innovator operating systems run applications based on organisational hierarchies, perverse short-term financial incentives, and increasingly irrelevant skills. The half-life of these hierarchies and skills is rapidly falling in an increasingly VUCA world, as Paul will share in this session.

Paul Steenkamp is on a mission to help innovators thrive. He is the founder and CEO of Kandoo, offering a sustainable employee innovation programme that increases revenue growth, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and organisational agility. As a Solve Next Global Partner, his team brings world-class innovation knowledge, tools, skills, and solutions to local clients, with local expertise. Since 2016 he has served as an advisor to the South African parliament. A former corporate innovator and executive, Character Inc. is his first book. He is an investor in startups helping developers, designers, dreamers, and doers - do good, better.