Unlocking Innovation

GE – An inventor, philanthropist, and curious problem-solver Nick Allen is now the Global Director of Design and User Experience for GE’s $19 billion healthcare division. In this episode, we had a fascinating conversation about Nick’s innovation philosophy, how he used virtual reality to create a fun experience for children receiving needle injections and his excitement about machine learning in the healthcare space.

Lifeway – In 2002, Julie Smolyansky took over her Lifeway Foods, becoming the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm at just 27. Since then, she’s grown the company from $12 MIllion to over $120 Million. On this week’s episode she shares the fascinating story behind Lifeway’s foundation, the revelation she had while running the London Marathon that disrupted the baby food space, and how she managed to market a 2,000 year old Russian staple to the US market.

World Book- What’s the greatest challenge facing innovation in education? Learning to embrace a changing culture, according to VP of Technology at World Book, Jason Dole. An expert in programming and software development, Jason is helping his organization use technology to move towards a future that includes more personalized, adaptive learning methods. Tune in for a  fascinating discussion about shifting the paradigm of innovation, redesigning education with future generations in mind, and the potential of immersive technology.

#UnlockingInnovation is a podcast by EX3 Labs, produced in partnership with 1871 Chicago. Liked today’s episode? Be sure to rate & review.

Conagra – How does someone with an “analog childhood and digital adulthood” adapt to today’s world? If you’re Thatcher Schulte, with an insatiable curiosity and a methodical approach to problem solving. On this week’s episode, we talk with Thatcher about his early roots in entrepreneurship, how Conagra is both a CPG and technology company, why artificial intelligence is “completely underused,” and much more.

#UnlockingInnovation is a podcast by EX3 Labs, produced in partnership with 1871 Chicago.

Liked today’s episode? Remember to rate & review.

Alight Solutions – On this week’s episode, we have VP of Innovation at Alight Solutions, David Westfall. We talked with him about his career journey, what his organization is thinking about as they move into the future and Alight’s revolutionary lab in 1871 and how it’s set up to constantly provide value to their clients.

Leo Burnett – According to Leo Burnett CEO, Andrew Swinand, “a lot of change management is being relentless and repetitive in terms of establishing expectations and changing behavior”. Today’s episode features a fascinating conversation about how the world’s 3rd largest advertising agency continues to out-innovate itself by keeping human problems at the center of their business and why training, incentives and accountability are key in driving innovation.

#UnlockingInnovation is a podcast by EX3 Labs, produced in partnership with 1871 Chicago.

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