Welcome to the Corporate Explorer Series, your gateway to the dynamic world of corporate exploration! 

Michael Tushman - The Corporate Explorer Series Introduction

A Global weekly show interviewing authors to inspire, educate and inform the business world and the curious. Presented by the author of "Undisruptable", this Global show speaks of something greater beyond innovation, disruption and technology. It speaks to the human need to learn: how to adapt to and love a changing world. It embraces the spirit of constant change, of staying receptive, of always learning.

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In this episode of the Corporate Explorer series by Wazoku, we delve into the concept of customer-first practices and their impact on bridging the maturity gap in corporate innovation. Michael Nichols, coauthor of the Corporate Explorer Field Book and Director of Corporate Ventures for MANN + HUMMEL, shares insights on the challenges of inside-out innovation within corporations, emphasizing the importance of validating business models beyond core business practices. He discusses the common pitfalls of corporates mistaking invention for innovation, the crucial role of customer problem identification, and the necessity of developing a repeatable business model. Nichols also outlines the steps towards achieving business model maturity, highlighting the importance of problem-solving, scalability, and customer need. This episode sheds light on the systemic issues facing corporate innovation and offers guidelines for successfully navigating and leveraging customer-first methodologies to ensure sustainable growth and innovation within large organizations.   00:00 Unpacking the Essence of Customer-First in Corporate Innovation 01:11 Introducing Michael Nichols: A Deep Dive into Corporate Ventures 02:04 The Intricacies of Inside-Out Innovation Explained 03:59 The Challenges of Corporate Innovation and the Funding Dilemma 07:11 Navigating the Innovation Cycle: From Ideation to Market Validation 11:36 Addressing the Corporate Innovation Gap: Strategies and Solutions 25:56 Exploring Business Model Maturity: Key Indicators for Success 35:55 Final Thoughts and Where to Connect    Find Michael here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-guy-nichols/

Venture Building from Idea to Scale with Michael Nichols

An Interview with Ellen Langer: The Power of Mindfulness in Health and Life   The script features an interview with Ellen Langer, the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard. Known worldwide as the mother of mindfulness and the mother of Positive Psychology, she shares insights from her esteemed career and her latest book, 'The Mindful Body Thinking, our Way to Lasting Health'. Langer discusses her role in pioneering research in Mind Body Unity and emphasizes the importance of mindfulness as a way of enhancing health. She explains how attitudes and personal perspectives can often influence our physical and mental well-being, including how we perceive and treat stress, illnesses like cancer, chronic diseases and even factors like age and physical appearance. She emphasizes the power of perception, contextual considerations, and the important role that language plays in mediating our experiences.   00:00 Introduction to the Guest and Her Work 00:48 Understanding Mindfulness and Its Impact 01:34 Exploring the Concept of Mindfulness 02:25 The Power of Being Mindful 03:27 The Prevalence of Mindlessness 04:10 The Benefits of Noticing Change 05:24 The Journey to Mindfulness 05:47 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Research 06:40 Exploring the Mind-Body Unity Concept 08:25 The Power of Mindset in Physical Health 10:54 The Influence of Perception on Healing 11:32 The Role of Mind-Body Unity in Chronic Illness 19:05 The Power of Attention to Symptom Variability 23:40 Understanding and Addressing Addictions 28:50 The Impact of Perception on Sleep 28:57 The Power of Perception in Sleep and Attitude 29:37 The Impact of Clothing on Perception and Age 30:33 The Influence of Uniforms and Balding on Age Perception 31:41 The Mind-Body Connection and Personal Experiences 33:57 The Power of Placebos and the Challenge of Social Conditioning 39:27 The Role of Stress in Health and Disease 43:23 Challenging the Rules and Embracing Innovation 46:30 The Power of Language in Shaping Our Reality 52:16 The Illusion of Control and the Role of Risk in Decision Making   Ellen Langer, Social Psychology, Stress Management, Health Awareness, Thinking habits, Motivational Interview, Personal Development, Positive Psychology, Mind-Behaviour Connection, Chronic Health, Lifestyle, Habitual Behaviour, Carrying out tasks, Confidence Building, Empowerment   Find Ellen here:  https://www.ellenlanger.me

Ellen Langer - The Mindful Body Part 1

In this final of a 4-part episode, Rita McGrath discusses her upcoming book focused on how organisations can design structures that empower decision-making at all levels, embracing a 'permissionless' approach to innovation. She elaborates on the importance of engaging disengaged workforces and optimising for transient competitive advantages. Rita provides insightful tactics for assessing competitive landscapes, using various strategies like onslaughts, guerrilla campaigns, feints, and gambits. She also touches on leadership practices for fostering innovation, including managing personal agendas, devoting time to new ventures, and employing a range of leadership practices to navigate uncertainty and encourage a culture of opportunity-seeking within organisations. Rita advocates for 'intelligent failure' and explores how technology can redefine management to promote human flourishing at work. The episode concludes with an insight into her new book's core thesis, aiming for a release in 2024 or 2025.   00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Rita McGrath's Insights 00:16 Sneak Peek: Rita McGrath's Upcoming Book on Organisational Design 00:57 Decoding Competitive Strategies and Responses 03:53 Exploring Competitive Moves: Onslaughts to Guerrilla Campaigns 09:35 The Art of Feints and Gambits in Business Strategy 14:32 Entrepreneurial Leadership: Driving Innovation from the Top 22:05 Orchestrating Practices for Entrepreneurial Success 28:04 Path Clearing and Handling Failure in Entrepreneurial Ventures 40:40 Anticipating Rita McGrath's New Book & Final Thoughts   Find Rita: www.RitaMcGrath.com Find Valize: www.Valize.com   Find Aidan McCullen for Keynote talks on Innovation, Transformation and Change: www.AidanMcCullen.Com   More on the Innovation Show: www.TheInnovationShow.IO

Rita McGrath: Designing Organisations for Innovation and Growth

The Power of Collective Intelligence with Simon Hill Harnessing Global Creativity for Innovation: A Wazoku Story   This episode examines the power of collective intelligence and open innovation, focusing on Wazoku, a company that facilitates innovation through technology. The discussion highlights a story where an individual from India solved a carbonated drink company's bubble manipulation challenge, exemplifying global problem-solving capabilities. Simon Hill, Wazoku's CEO, elaborates on the importance of embracing external ideas, utilising software for innovation efficiency, and fostering a culture that supports innovation. Emphasising the potential of AI and crowdsourcing, the narrative showcases examples where unexpected solutions emerged from non-obvious sources, including a violinist providing a solution for a potato chip company. The episode underscores the significance of asking the right questions, timing for ideas, and structuring organisations to tap into external creativity effectively.   00:00 The Spark of Innovation: A Global Call for Ideas 00:56 The Power of Crowdsourcing in Innovation 01:30 Introducing Simon Hill: Innovator and Corporate Explorer 02:09 Exploring the Nuts and Bolts of Challenge-Driven Innovation 02:56 The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping Innovation 08:19 The Human Element: Culture, Mindset, and Organisational Change 12:57 Harnessing External Ideas: The Case of Manish and Beyond 16:19 The Future of Work and Innovation: A Circular Ecosystem 23:56 Real-World Success Stories: From Violinists to Potato Chips 26:45 Wazoku: Envisioning a World of Collective Intelligence   Find Wazoku at www.Wazoku.com

The Power of Collective Intelligence with Simon Hill

In this extensive session with Rita McGrath, Aiden explores the timeless insights of McGrath's book on embodying an entrepreneurial mindset in businesses. McGrath emphasises the importance of continuous innovation, exploiting new opportunities, and building new competencies to stay competitive. The conversation covers key concepts like the significance of key ratios, creating new competence, understanding consumption chains, and the necessity of political savvy within corporate innovation. McGrath also introduces practical tools and frameworks for evaluating opportunities, managing resources, and adapting execution strategies. The dialogue includes examples like Amazon's innovation in delivery systems and Procter & Gamble's ventures, illustrating the application of these concepts in real-world scenarios. McGrath provides advice on overcoming common challenges in innovation, such as attracting the first few customers and navigating corporate politics effectively.   00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Timeless Business Frameworks 00:36 Exploring the Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation 02:03 Key Ratios: The Secret to Competitive Advantage 06:15 Stratification Mapping: Unveiling Business Asymmetries 08:39 The Art of Championing Innovation Within Corporations 15:16 Navigating Corporate Politics for Innovation Success 23:13 Asset Parsimony: Thriving with Limited Resources 25:40 Real Options Reasoning vs. Net Present Value 31:24 Exploring the Ecosystem of Options 31:56 The Future of Remote Work Technologies 32:31 Investing in Positioning Options 33:51 Scouting and Stepping Stones: Navigating Uncertainty 35:09 Leveraging RFID Technology: A Case Study 38:05 Resource Allocation and Organisational Structures 42:17 Competitive Insulation and the Direct-to-Consumer Boom 46:22 Adaptive Execution and Discovery Driven Growth 54:22 Understanding Customer Consumption Chains 58:20 Concluding Remarks and Additional Resources   Find Rita: www.RitaMcGrath.com

Michael Tushman - The Corporate Explorer Series Introduction

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