Innovation Storytellers

In this episode, we take an unconventional route by conversing with an architecture firm, Gensler, to delve into their unique approach to constructing an innovation culture. My guests, Amanda Ramos, the Innovation Director and Principal at Gensler, and Lis Russo, the Culture Strategy Leader, are indeed the architects of the innovation culture at their firm.

Together, we navigate the complexities of our ever-evolving work environments, from the office to the home and everything in-between. We explore how culture still significantly shapes our work, regardless of the geographical context.

Amanda, who has spent 20 years devising organizational programs, campus master plans, and innovation campaigns for a wide range of companies, takes us on a fascinating journey of creating innovation labs. She shares her experiences of working with a client for two years to architect an operational model for innovation that transcended the boundaries of physical space.

On the other hand, Lis brings to the table her focus on humanizing work and sparking innovation. Drawing from her experiences in building culture strategies and innovation capability frameworks, Lis enlightens us on the pivotal components of an innovation-friendly culture - authenticity, autonomy, curiosity, imagination, thrill, and hope.

Join us as we dissect the intriguing concept of experiential storytelling and its role in facilitating idea acceptance from the war room to the boardroom. We also touch upon the importance of maintaining the energy and collaboration throughout this journey.

We delve into Gensler's work culture indicator that outlines the different organizational components shaping one's experience of culture. This episode promises to be a rich source of knowledge, offering you a fresh perspective on constructing an innovation culture that empowers employees and drives creativity. 

In this episode, I am going to take you on a fascinating journey into the subconscious realm of our minds, exploring the science of fluid thinking and subconscious success with renowned cognitive scientist, Phillip Campbell. 

Phillip is not only an expert in cognitive science and an executive brain coach but also the author of the enlightening book "Brain Habits". He is the CEO of enigmaFIT, a globally recognized brain coaching company, that aids individuals in tapping into their subconscious minds to improve their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. 

We will learn more about the four pillars of Phillip's approach, notably, the Controlling Attention Pillar and the Complex Problem-Solving Pillar. Phillip shares his expertise on the intersection of cognitive science, subconscious habits, and how we can harness these facets for personal growth and success. 

This conversation uncovers the intricacies of fluid thinking, a concept deeply intertwined with our capacity to adapt, innovate, and encounter novel problems. Phillip also sheds light on the neuroscience of midlife crisis and the shift in thinking patterns that can lead to transformative life decisions, explaining how such changes can literally recode our brains. 

For those curious about their own ability to focus and want to explore their level of distractibility, Phillip offers a complimentary Focused Thinking assessment. This tool provides powerful insights and sets the foundation for your personal journey towards enhanced subconscious success. 

Tune in and explore the science behind our subconscious success, learn about innovative thinking, and get ready to embark on a journey of personal growth. 

In today's episode, I invite you to join me on a captivating exploration of the fascinating intersection of AI, genomics, and pharmaceuticals. Our guest today is Dr. Isaac Bentwich, a physician-turned-entrepreneur who has revolutionized various domains, including medicine, genomics, and agriculture. 

Isaac shares insights from his journey in creating this startup, Quris, that operates in the innovative hubs of Boston and Tel Aviv. We dive into his previous endeavors, including founding Rosetta Genomics, where he led the discovery of hundreds of novel genes and developed pioneering cancer diagnostics.

In this wide-ranging discussion, we explore the power of AI in life sciences and how it can revolutionize drug development. Isaac shares a tantalizing vision of a future where drugs are not only safer and more personalized, but are also developed in a fraction of the time, reducing the cost of drugs and overall healthcare.

Join us for this deep dive into the cutting-edge world of AI in genomics and medicine, where we grapple with how innovative technologies like AI are fundamentally reshaping our approach to health and life sciences.

Get ready to rev your engines for innovation as we bring you a fascinating conversation with Freddy Dasa, the Director of Innovation at Volvo Group's Innovation Lab in Silicon Valley. In this episode of Innovation Storytellers, we dive deep into Freddy's innovative world, where he leads an interdisciplinary team of innovators and entrepreneurs, co-creating and launching new services and solutions for Volvo Group.

We explore Freddy's extensive engineering background and 20+ years of experience introducing disruptive technologies to traditional industries, from construction and mining to mobility and transportation. In addition, Freddy shares his insights on how they support customers in conventional endeavors to understand and embrace new technologies. 

Listen in as he advises that the key is not just the technologies but how these can be applied to the business processes, creating value and fostering growth. We'll also delve into Volvo's vision for future vehicles and how they're pioneering digital services. Finally, Freddy sheds light on transitioning from a product-centric structure to aligning digital experiences with brand values and delighting customers at every turn.

From the birth of Volvo Innovation Lab with an idea to uncover the next horizon of revenue streams for Volvo via digital services to the challenges in shaping the culture that aligns with the corporation's values - this episode is packed with intriguing stories and insights.

Tune in to ride the wave of innovation and learn how traditional industries can leverage cutting-edge tech for growth.

In this illuminating episode of Innovation Storytellers, I sit down with the Wall Street Journal best-selling author, INK Magazine columnist, and Co-founder of Praxie.com, Soren Kaplan, Ph.D. Recognized as a top management thought leader by Thinkers 50 and Business Insider, Kaplan brings his profound expertise in new business models and disruptive innovation to the table.

Kaplan, who previously led the strategy and innovation group at HP, shares invaluable insights into the world of startups, asserting that sales are the cornerstone of innovation. With a deep connection with customers and an understanding of their needs, there's more room for innovation.

Not only does Kaplan discuss the power of sales and customer connection, but he also delves into the transformative potential of personal experiences. Drawing from his own past, he reveals how seemingly small events can significantly shape our beliefs and how these beliefs can both limit and expand us in different ways. Kaplan's journey highlights the importance of empathy in business and the value of understanding people's motivations.

Moreover, Kaplan discusses the necessity of out-of-the-box tools for innovators and leaders, sharing how his platform Praxie.com provides instant, accessible solutions for lean startup work and business case creation. Today, Praxie is home to thousands of different tools that help 60,000 monthly visitors navigate their innovation journeys.

Join us as we explore Kaplan's concept of 'experiential intelligence,' his philosophy of learning from failures and successes, and how he applies these insights to propel himself and others towards a more innovative future. Listen in as this Commodore 64 video game contest winner (at age 13!) shares his unique insights into the world of innovation. If you're an innovator at heart, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Charlie Tuxworth, Founder and Director of Celsio, joins me in exploring the fascinating world of innovation. We discuss the challenges, joys, and excitements of creating a universal standard around innovation. Is it possible? Can it be applied to everyone, both inside and outside of corporations? Tune in to learn more.

Charlie is an expert in helping companies set a clear direction for innovation and develop the capability and confidence to deliver it. He shares his journey from taking on the innovation brief in a UK financial services company in 2013 to founding Celsio and co-founding Innovate Island. 

Listen in as Charlie discusses the challenges he faced when tasked with making a company "more innovative," revealing the power of diverse perspectives and finding better ways to solve problems. Charlie shares his captivating stories, from his experiences with international innovation consultants to the inspiration he drew from Winnie the Pooh in finding creative solutions. 

This interview will leave you pondering the importance of innovation and the potential for a universal standard that could change how we approach and think about innovation across industries.

In this episode, I am joined by Paul Orlando, founder of Startups Unplugged and professor of entrepreneurship at USC. We explore the ins and outs of integrating startups, accelerators, and groundbreaking innovations into the processes of large companies. With a wealth of experience in building startup accelerators around the world and mentoring founders, Paul shares valuable insights on how to navigate the complex world of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Listen in as we discuss the role of accelerators in speeding up the process of connecting startups with potential investors and customers. Paul emphasizes the importance of accelerator management, knowing when and how to make appropriate introductions, and how this can impact a founder's success. He also shares his thoughts on the prerequisites of an excellent accelerator experience and the challenges startups may face when working with corporate accelerators.

Paul shares his knowledge and experience on how accelerators can help startups thrive in today's competitive landscape. This episode is packed with valuable insights and stories that will inspire and guide anyone looking to navigate the world of startups and accelerators.

In today's special double-header episode, I sit down with Carrie Chambliss, former VP of Innovation at Jacobs, and Valerie Van den Keybus, Managing Partner at Cosmos Collective, to explore the power of collaboration in driving innovation.

Carrie and Valerie share their experiences working together in a 14-week intensive program that combined design thinking, lean experimentation, and agile methodologies to uncover new growth opportunities. They discuss the importance of making assumptions, creating experiments, and iterating based on learnings—all while staying agile and adaptive.

Listen in as they delve into the significance of validating and invalidating ideas and how this can lead to expedited decision-making and better results. Learn how teamwork, storytelling, and a strong focus on customer feedback can shape the success of innovative projects. Take advantage of this engaging conversation about the ins and outs of corporate innovation, collaboration, and the pursuit of new opportunities.

In this episode,  I'm embarking on a fascinating journey into the dynamic realm of financial services, compliance, guidance, and governance. As we explore the intersections of Web1, Web2, and Web3, we'll dive into these evolving technologies' impact on our growth strategies and product design.

Join me in a conversation with Aviad Stein, Global Head of Innovation and Corporate Strategy at Broadridge. With an impressive background in financial services, e-commerce, and other tech-related industries, Aviad is a former Bloomberg and Dun and Bradstreet executive. His expertise in ideation, incubation, and scaling new products and business opportunities has made him a force to be reckoned with.

We discuss how Aviad's focus on understanding consumers helps drive innovation within large corporations. We'll also explore the role of innovation labs, incubators, accelerators, and other tools in meeting customers' needs. Finally, we'll delve into the power of storytelling to foster innovative ideas within organizations like yours. Take advantage of this captivating episode filled with insights and inspiration!