Innovation Nation

It sounds like the start of a joke: What do corporations and Kilimanjaro have in common?

Quite a lot, actually, when it comes to mental toughness, agility, and a growth mindset.

In this episode, I interview Liz Fendt, Global CMO and Cofounder of Women’s Network at TUV SUD, about innovation, climbing, and advocacy.

We had an amazing conversation about:

• Undertaking preparation for mountaineering… and not making the summit
• 2 reasons women don’t step up to opportunity
• Developing a fixed vs. a growth mindset
• Co-founding the Women’s Network and the importance of people

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Functional Safety is paramount in any industry with machines — therefore, every industry. But why is it so often last place in adoption when it should be first place in innovation?

In this episode, I interview three experts about how Functional Safety drives innovation: Sven Nowak, Regional Program Director and Global Head of Functional Safety; Kevin Connelly, Functional Safety Business Development; and Justin Heyl, NA Program Manager, Cybersecurity, Digital, and AI — all at TÜV SÜD.

What we talked about:

To stay connected with Innovation Nation, subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or our website.
 

• How Functional Safety is rising in importance across industries
• When manufacturers should incorporate Functional Safety into design
• Functional Safety is a cross disciplinary responsibility
• Innovating with Functional Safety

When today’s guest realized she was poisoning herself with toxic thinking and an addiction to junk food, she started imitating the Navy SEALS — and earned an Olympic gold medal in her 60s. She learned mental toughness.

Mental toughness starts with deleting your toxic thoughts by creating an exciting why and personal vision for yourself.

In this episode, I interview Laura Eiman, Gold Medal Olympic Weightlifter and Mental Toughness Leadership Coach, about techniques for becoming like a corporate Navy SEAL.

She and I discuss:

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What’s the optimal environment for innovation? 

In this episode, I interview Alisa Coffey, Head of Marketing at Abaco, about how she creates a culture of change and why she loves failure. 

What we talked about:  

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Innovators don’t just wake up and decide to innovate. They work towards objectives — and those become the moments when innovation happens. 

In this episode, I interview Ben Branham, Director of Global Quality at Abaco, about innovation en route toward objectives. 

What we talked about:  

To stay connected with Innovation Nation, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

The velocity of innovation has ramped up in the manufacturing space. Today’s guest explains why. 

In this episode, I interview Jeff Wurzbach, Founder and Engineer at Wurzbach Electronics, about 3 spaces for innovation in manufacturing. 

What we talked about:  

To stay connected with Innovation Nation, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

Boxes are awfully cramped, especially when we put ourselves in them. It’s hard to do very much growth in a box. 

Innovators need to ask this question: How can I change the box that’s holding me back? 

In this episode, I interview Runa Magnusdottir, CEO & Creator at The Change Makers, about her #NoMoreBoxes movement: 

What we talked about:  

 Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:  

To stay connected with Innovation Nation, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

The concept of synthesis doesn’t come up a lot at work. But it should. 

We innovate by synthesizing knowledge we already have with what we’ve recently learned. This is why education is the heart of innovation. 

In this episode, I interview Rodger LeGrand, Academy Manager at TÜV SÜD, about how and why to build a learning organization. 

What we talked about:  

To stay connected with Innovation Nation, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.

Trust is the foundation for a shared mission among team members and for relationships with customers. 

We actually don’t think it’s possible to innovate without trust. 

In this episode, I interview John Tesoro, President & CEO at TÜV SÜD, about how trust and innovation influence our industry. 

What we talked about:  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: