Inspiring Minds

Ken Gray, Edison Awards Steering Committee member and former Global Director of Innovation at Caterpillar Inc., joins host Justin Starbird. Today they discuss Ken's unique and insightful perspective on the elements companies should consider while focusing on innovation.

Justin & Ken go back nearly 10 years and their friendship started at the Edison Awards in Chicago in 2012 when Ken and his team at CAT disrupted an entire industry by launch the Hybrid Excavator and won GOLD that year. Ken also explores how the size of an organization redefines the appropriate approach to innovation, informed by an extensive career working with companies from large corporations to nonprofits and startups.

Listen today as Justin talks with Edison Awards Executive Director, Frank Bonafilia about how the Edison Awards got its start, who was first recognized and what makes him so committed to innovation.

The Edison Awards is one of the few global platforms that really recognizes, honors, and fosters innovation innovators. Frank shares how, "it's really the teams that we're looking to recognize and honor. We're doing this in the name of Thomas Edison, who we see as one of the greatest innovators of all time."

Frank continues to be amazed how someone like Thomas Edison who's been passed away over 100 years ago is still revered, and is the icon of innovation around the world. The world has come a long way from the recognition of a calling card compared to putting someone in space or making people's lives secure.