The Innovation Brief

In this episode of the Innovation Brief, co-hosts Gabriela Matic and Gabriella G. Hernandez sit down with Pina Schlombs, Sustainability Lead & Senior Thought Leader on Industrial AI at Siemens Digital Industries Software, to explore what it really takes to transform heavy industry in a world of tightening regulations, ambitious climate targets, and rapidly evolving AI. 

Drawing on her experience across Siemens and Volkswagen, Pina explains why what most people consider “innovation” is actually optimisation - and why true transformation starts with rethinking operating models, not just adding new tools.

This episode unpacks how digital backbones, data-driven decision-making, and AI-powered design are enabling Siemens and its customers to cut emissions, meet regulatory demands, and create new commercial opportunities. Pina shares concrete examples, from eco-design guidelines embedded directly into R&D workflows to AI systems that propose product design changes while balancing cost, manufacturability, and environmental impact.

Throughout the conversation, we dig into the human side of change: culture, talent, and leadership. Pina contrasts organisations that “play not to lose” with those that “play to win,” and reflects on the role of networks like the Sustainability Circle in helping leaders navigate complex decisions, build new capabilities, and move faster - without losing sight of responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why digitalisation has become a critical lever for sustainability in heavy, high-impact industries
• How to think about footprint vs. handprint when assessing the true impact of AI and digital infrastructure
• What differentiates genuine innovation from incremental optimisation, and why that distinction matters now
• How culture, talent, and cross-functional collaboration enable (or block) large-scale sustainability transformation

Connect with Pina via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinaschlombs/

Follow Siemens Digital Industries Software: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siemenssoftware/

Learn more about the Sustainability Circle: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sustainability-circle/

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Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

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The fashion industry looks fast and innovative from the outside, but behind the surface, it’s one of the most conservative, fragmented, and unregulated systems we have developed. Producing 10% of global emissions and accounting for roughly 40% of waste, it is also one of the most unsustainable industries in the world. 

In this episode of Innovation Brief, Fredrik Timour - an entrepreneur, lecturer, founder of the Fashion Innovation Center, the Open Connector Alliance, and Neue Labs AB, head of fashion innovation at the Swedish Fashion Council, and co-chair of the Culture and Creative Industries Taskforce at the United Nations Global Innovation Hub - pulls back the curtain on how fashion really works as an industrial system, not just a cultural one.

We explore why most brands don’t have real R&D budgets, how opaque supply chains block change, and why new regulations are about to force a reckoning across the sector. Fredrik argues that focusing on new materials and recycling first is the wrong order of priorities - and that tackling overproduction, product lifetime, and the back-end systems could produce far greater impact.

From digital product passports and data-driven supply chains to nearshoring, and localised production, this conversation offers a realistic but hopeful roadmap for transforming one of the world’s most polluting industries.

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

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The future of UK aerospace is being shaped right now - in strategy documents, funding decisions, and collaborations that most people never see.

In this episode of the Innovation Brief, Wil Benton and Matt Briggs speak with Nour Eid, Head of Strategy at the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and former Airbus engineer, about how the UK is building its next generation of aerospace capability – from ultra‑efficient aircraft to hydrogen, SAF, and startup collaboration.

Nour shares candid insights from almost a decade at ATI on what it really takes to design a national technology roadmap, keep a 10% share of the global aerospace market, and still make meaningful progress on sustainability in a long‑cycle, highly regulated industry.

In this episode:

• How the ATI actually works – and how it turns public funding into real technology and industrial capability
• What “credible” sustainable aviation looks like beyond the buzzwords (SAF, hydrogen, ultra‑efficient aircraft, operations)
• The role of startups and SMEs in a sector dominated by OEMs and Tier 1s – and what ATI has learned from backing 300+ SMEs
• How the UK is thinking about industrial competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and talent
• Why inspiration from AI, digital, and quantum is already changing thinking inside aerospace
• How Noor balances aerospace strategy with a parallel career as a DJ and producer – and why creative outlets matter for leaders

🔗 Connect with Nour on LinkedIn | Instagram | Spotify

Learn more about the ATI

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

The next generation of innovation leaders is already here- and they are building solutions to the world´s biggest challenges. In this episode of The Innovation Brief, Wil Benton and Gabriella G. Hernandez speak with Aneta Londa, founder of Moonshot Pirates, one of the world's most accessible impact accelerators, now empowering nearly 20,000 young innovators across 160 countries.

Aneta shares candid insights on scaling a purpose-driven organisation from a 3-day bootcamp in rural Austria to a global movement - and what innovation leaders can learn from Gen Z, digital natives who are already living in the future.

In this episode:

• Why cross-generational mentorship is critical to the future of innovation
• Balancing bold vision with financial sustainability in a nonprofit model
• What corporate partners and innovation ecosystems gain from working with young builders
• Moonshot Pirates' upcoming AI x Sustainability Challenge - 2,500 young builders tackling climate, food, energy, water and health

🔗 Connect with Aneta on LinkedIn | moonshotpirates.com | Support Moonshot Pirates via 1% for the Planet

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

In this episode of Innovation Brief, hosts Gabriella Hernandez and Gabriela Matic sit down with Sanjay Nand, Head of Innovation & Ventures at Capgemini’s Applied Innovation Exchange, to explore what applied innovation really looks like when you combine design futures, artificial intelligence (AI), emerging technologies and deeply human, relationship‑driven work.

Sanjay explains why his team is “problem‑obsessed, not technology‑obsessed” and why real impact starts with ethnographic research, spending time on shop floors, in call centres and with frontline teams, rather than chasing the latest AI trend. He highlights that while technology is an enabler, the real breakthroughs come from understanding culture, context and the lived experience of people inside organisations.

Together, they explore:

Design futures, made real

• Moving from strategy decks to functional artefacts and vibe‑coded prototypes
• Using “day in the life” stories and tangible demos so clients say, “Don’t tell me, show me”
• How roles like design engineers are emerging as designers gain the ability to ship working code

Emerging technologies and AI, beyond the hype

• Why AI often produces average ideas in ideation tools, and why outlier, breakthrough ideas still need human curiosity and taste
• Where AI really shines: speed, synthesis, first drafts, and structuring semi‑structured, messy data
• The hard lessons of scaling AI from pilot to production in heavy, safety‑critical and highly regulated industries

Human‑centred innovation, identity and culture

• How AI can challenge the identity of seasoned experts, and how leaders might support them
• Why people are quietly asking fewer questions of colleagues and going straight to AI, and what that means for relationships, curiosity, learning and trust
• The emotional and organisational shifts many companies haven’t fully thought through: hype‑driven expectations, operational savings vs true value creation, and the risk of building tools nobody actually wants

Sanjay also shares how he leads his own team through rapid change by “learning by doing” and insisting that every engagement includes a deliberate experiment, a new tool, method or way of working tested against a real client problem. He talks openly about where he draws the line on experimentation in sensitive environments, how he chooses where to place bets in the AI and tooling stack, and why he believes the real vacuum right now is in human conversations and relationships, not in technology. Along the way, he returns to a simple idea: innovation leaders and teams need to keep “getting more dots”, new experiences, perspectives and conversations, to fuel truly original thinking.

If you’re an innovation leader trying to connect design futures, emerging technologies and human‑centred innovation, without losing sight of people, culture and reality, this episode offers candid, field‑tested guidance on what to do next.

Connect with our guest, Sanjay Nand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaynand1/

Learn more about Capgemini´s Applied Innovation Exchange: https://blog.appliedinnovationexchange.com/

Connect with our host, Gabriela Matic: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielamatic/

Connect with our host, Gabriella Hernandez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriella-g-hernandez/

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

In this episode of the Innovation Brief, our host Gabriella Hernandez speaks with James Ellsmoor, CEO of Island Innovation and a sustainable development advocate for islands. 

James and Gaby explore how island communities worldwide are driving climate action, pioneering renewable energy solutions, and building resilient, innovative ecosystems, despite the complex challenges they currently face. They also dive into collaborative strategies, the role of government and regional organisations, and lessons from Island Innovation´s events like the Virtual Island Summit and the Global Sustainable Island Summit. 

Whether you're interested in climate finance, adaptation and mitigation, local leadership, or creative solutions for sustainable island futures, this episode highlights real-world expertise and actionable insights for policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. 

Learn more about Island Innovation: https://www.islandinnovation.co

Connect with James Ellsmoor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jellsmoor/

RSVP for the Global Islands Summit 2026: https://gsis.islandinnovation.co/

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

In this episode of the Innovation Brief, hosts Gabriela Matic and Gabriella Hernandez sit down with Priscila Chaves, Innovation and Ecosystem Lead at Cargill, whose global career spans corporate, startup, and public sectors. 

Priscilla shares her insights on building resilient innovation systems, the importance of context and collaboration, and how organisations can balance short-term wins with long-term impact. The conversation examines the evolving role of leadership in promoting collective intelligence, the challenges and opportunities associated with AI adoption, and the crucial role of trust and ethics in technology. 

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, policymaker, or innovation enthusiast, this episode offers a fresh perspective on scaling technology responsibly while strengthening human connection. Tune in for actionable strategies and thought-provoking ideas on the future of innovation leadership.

Connect with our guest Priscila Chaves Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscilachaves/

Learn more about Cargill: https://www.cargill.com/page/worldwide

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

In this episode of Innovation Brief, we sit down with Léonie Weerakoon, human ecologist, designer, conservationist, investor, and Managing Director of Kinetik Ventures, to explore how nature-centric innovation is reshaping the future of business, policy, and community.

Léonie shares her journey across cultures and industries, revealing how treating nature as a collaborator (not just a resource) can open up new opportunities, drive regenerative economies, and build resilience in the face of climate change. We discuss the vital role of indigenous knowledge, the unique strengths of island and biocritical regions, and why authentic, systems-based approaches are key to global impact.

Discover how Léonie and Kinetik are bridging science, culture, and economics to create ventures that thrive alongside ecosystems—and why the next wave of innovation will be rooted in both ecological wisdom and bold, inclusive thinking.

Learn more about Kinetik Ventures: https://www.kinetikvc.com/ 

Connect with Léonie Weerakoon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonieweerakoon/

 
Join the Future of Living Systems Summit at NY Climate Week (September 24, 2025): https://www.futureoflivingsystems.org/

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

In our third episode of the Innovation Brief, Matt Briggs sits down with Gordon Hamilton, Digital Innovation Lead at Heineken UK, for an inside look at how a 150-year-old brewing giant is embracing digital transformation. 

Discover how Heineken is reimagining the pub experience for younger generations, addressing sustainability, and driving experimentation through initiatives such as Heineken Studio and the Innovators Brew House. 

Gordon shares candid insights on the challenges of innovating within a heritage brand, adapting to changing consumer trends, and the lessons learned from both successful and not-so-successful projects. 

Whether you’re an innovation enthusiast or a fan of the brewing industry, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it takes to keep a legacy brand at the forefront of change.

Connect with our Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-hamilton-759a6785/

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...

In this episode of the Innovation Brief, hosts Will Benton and Gabriella G. Hernandez sit down with Jonatan Pinkse, Professor of Sustainable Business and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Business at King's Business School, King's College London. Jonatan shares his journey from economics to pioneering research on business responses to climate change, and unpacks what truly defines sustainable innovation in today’s complex world.

Together, they explore the paradoxes and trade-offs that organisations face, the evolving role of AI in sustainability, and the importance of cross-sector partnerships and social entrepreneurship. Jonatan offers candid insights on the challenges of driving real change, the pitfalls of relying solely on behavioural shifts, and why structural solutions and resilience are key for the future.

Whether you’re an innovation leader, entrepreneur, or simply passionate about building a better future, this conversation is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking ideas to help you navigate the path to meaningful, sustainable impact.

Connect with Jonatan Pinkse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonatanpinkse/

Contact Us

Thanks for tuning in to the Innovation Brief, the podcast by Metta for the people building, funding, and governing innovation - inside corporates, governments, and ecosystems across the globe. Bi-weekly conversations with the leaders shaping the future.

Find out more:
Website: https://www.innovationbrief.co

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on social media:
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-brief/

Subscribe on Substack: https://innovationbrief.substack.com/

The Innovation Brief is produced by Metta. Metta focuses on research into innovation & entrepreneurship, programme design and delivery, and ecosystem building for more sustainable and resilient futures.

Learn more about Metta: https://www.metta.partners

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mettatalks/ 

Follow us on Instagram: ht...