Innovation isn't just about having ideas—it's about getting them done. As Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, says: "I define creativity as the ability to have an idea. We can all do that. But I genuinely believe everybody is creative, and I define innovation as the ability to get it done." In his new book, "The Imagi…

Innovation is evolving - are you? In a recent conversation with Pam Buchanan, founder of Quantum Sense, we explored the deeper dimensions of innovation. Pam challenges us to think beyond products and technologies, emphasizing that true innovation starts at the soul level. "Innovation is about evolving yourself, evolving your environment, and evolvi…

Innovation: Driving Better Outcomes or Reinforcing the Status Quo? In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, true innovation is more crucial than ever. But what separates genuine innovation from mere change? David Sinkinson, co-founder of AppArmor and author of "Startup Different," offers a thought-provoking perspective: "Innovation is not ch…

Join us in a profound discussion with Rani Al Hajji, a trailblazer in the FMCG sector with over 25 years of experience at leading companies like L'Oréal and Colgate. Rani shares his unique insights on turning complex technologies into consumer-friendly solutions that not only innovate but resonate widely. "Innovation has 4 criteria: it has to be ne…

Purandar Das, a two-time CTO and the current CEO of a leading data protection company, shares his insights on redefining innovation in the tech world: "Innovation is creating a new process, a new product, or a new approach to doing something better—solving a problem that's not been solved before." - Purandar Das ------------------------------------…

In a world where the term 'innovation' risks becoming a buzzword, understanding its true essence is crucial. Joia Spooner-Fleming, a seasoned innovation executive with a decades-long track record of developing people and products at Procter & Gamble, joins the show to discuss what innovation looks like in practice. Throughout the process of transfo…

Join us this week for a conversation with Shanil Ebrahim, Partner and National Life Sciences & Healthcare Consulting Leader at Deloitte Canada! We challenge the common misconception that innovation requires constant efficiency. Shanil shares why some "wasted work" is inevitable, and even essential, for groundbreaking ideas. ------------------------…

This conversation with Collin Graves, CEO of North Labs, revolves around simplifying complex processes, removing technical debt, and streamlining workflows to increase efficiency and productivity. Jared and Collin also discuss the challenges of managing technical debt in complex systems and the importance of a slow and steady approach to AI adoptio…

Host Jared Simmons talks with Tatsuya Nakagawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Castagra Products. Tatsuya offers a unique take: "For me, innovation is value creation towards some sort of goal or aim." This reflection springs from the story of his junior high school decision about whether to alter his name to overcome social barriers, highlighting how innova…

Join us on "What is Innovation?" where Jared Simmons discusses what it takes to generate game-changing ideas with Dr. Craig Detweiler, President of Wedgwood Circle and Dean of the College of Arts and Media at Grand Canyon University. Dr. Detweiler shares his insights on innovation: "Innovation is all about changing the game. It shifts the paradigm …

In this episode, Jared chats with Louis Gump, author of "The Inside Innovator: A Practical Guide to Intrapreneurship." In addition to intrapreneurship, they discuss the evolution of innovation, emphasizing the importance of recognizing past achievements and learning from them to inform modern technologies like AI, LLM, and GPTs. -------------------…

Nick Jain, CEO of IdeaScale, joins Jared this week to discuss innovation as a process, including how to cultivate a dynamic culture that fosters continuous improvement and the development of new methodologies. ------------------------------------------------------------ Episode Guide: 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - What is Innovation? 1:34 - Generative AI and…

Innovations that deliver true value to customers are novel and sustainable. This week, Jared is joined by Hunter Hastings, a thought leader blending economics, marketing, and innovation. Hunter defines innovation as "the creation of new economic value for an end user with a viable business proposition." They discuss the subjective nature of value, …

🎙️ Join "What is Innovation?" this week with Anton Skornyakov, a Certified Scrum Trainer and Managing Director of Agile.Coach. Explore how innovation can serve as a systemic solution to complex problems across industries. Anton delves into the layers of innovation, problem-solving, and how 'Agile' methodologies can transform government and business…

Dive into the world of innovation with Kevin Bailey, a celebrated product designer and expert in hardware market launches. With over three decades of industry leadership, Kevin has empowered over 1,000 entrepreneurs and global firms to transform ideas into tangible, successful products. His approach? Fusing individual talents in a dynamic team to c…

In this episode of the "What is Innovation?" podcast, host Jared Simmons speaks with marketing expert Reggie James, founder of Digital Clarity. Reggie discusses how AI, analytics, and innovative branding redefine digital marketing. This episode is a great introduction to why innovation strategy is essential for thriving in today's market. ---------…

Niara Nicholas has led marketing and technical teams across globally recognized consumer product giants, including P&G, Johnson & Johnson, and Estee Lauder. Her leadership has been pivotal in pioneering novel commercial and product frameworks, strategically amplifying product reach and identifying lucrative growth avenues—both adjacent and forward-…

🎙️ Dive into the realm of innovation with Helene Cahen, founder of Fire Up Innovation Consulting, on this week's episode of "What is Innovation?" Discover how innovation intertwines with creativity, navigating the evolving landscape of the modern world. Seeking inspiration for your innovation journey? Tune in for Helene's invaluable advice and insi…

🎙️ Join us for this week's episode with Katrin Zimmerman, CEO of TLGG USA, on "What is Innovation?" Katrin shares her perspective on innovation types—evolutionary vs. revolutionary—and dives into innovation portfolios, values, and the delicate balance between investment and ROI. She also offers advice on navigating innovation cycles, confronting AI…

This week, delve into the world of innovation with us on “What is Innovation?” together with Janice Fraser, an innovation expert and author. Explore the challenges of intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship, including imposter syndrome, and uncover the pivotal roles of courage and confidence in venture funding. More about our guest: Janice Fraser bui…

More about our guest: Peter Compo is the author of “The Emergent Approach to Strategy: Adaptive Design & Execution.” Unlike many strategy authors from universities and consulting firms, Compo’s professional experience was spent working in the “corporate trenches” at E. I. DuPont. Hired as a research scientist, he held leadership positions in produc…

Frederick Cary, a powerhouse entrepreneur and CEO of IdeaPros, a company that guides qualified entrepreneurs through the complexities and pitfalls of the startup world. With his entrepreneurial spirit, Fred started many businesses in different industries, created many successes, and acquired thousands of lessons along the way. His desire to give ba…

More about our guest: Merrick Furst, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor and the Director of the Center for Deliberate Innovation (CDI) at Georgia Tech. In 2011, he founded Flashpoint, a first-of-its-kind deliberate innovation studio, to develop formative leaders and exceptional technology startups. Flashpoint was the thirty-sixth startup accelerat…

🎙️ This week on "What is Innovation?" podcast, we're joined by Ajay Malik, CEO of Secomind.ai and AI thought leader Ajay defines innovation as figuring out how and what to do better. Hear how he connects this definition to his deep knowledge of applying AI to businesses, seeing it as an enabler to that process. Let us know what you think! 🎧✨ More a…

🎙️ We are so grateful to have Joris Hensen, Co-Lead of the Deutsche Bank API Program, on the “What is Innovation?” podcast this week! Joris shares his perspective on innovation as evolution. His insights into how banking is evolving to meet customer needs are sure to spark ideas for how you can use innovation principles to delight stakeholders in y…

🎙️ This week’s “What is Innovation?” episode brings us an engaging conversation with Doug Patton, renowned inventor and author. Listen in as Doug expands on his simple definition of innovation—revolutionary change—and its connection with an inspiring environment. He highlights passion as the essential spark of innovation and discusses how cultivati…

🎙️ Our innovation journey brings us perspective from Africa this week, as we talk with Tiisetso Maloma, a renowned South African entrepreneur and author, on the "What is Innovation?" podcast. Tiisetso shares his view of innovation as the process of making one or more things into something profoundly useful, enhancing efficiency in our daily lives. …

Nik Froehlich, the Founder and CEO of Saritasa, leverages two decades of experience in construction-related services to drive the innovative software solutions that empower businesses for exponential growth. He defines innovation as using technology to enhance businesses. More about our guest: With a strategic blend of business expertise, technical…

Paul V. McEnroe, the engineer behind the ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode. Paul’s definition centers around an open mind, technical capability, and teamwork. Hear the fascinating story of how the barcode transformed the retail category from the man who was there from the beginning and his advice on the value of patience, returning fa…

Gideon Kedem, Head of Valen Semiconductor's Automotive Business unit, discusses innovation's deep roots in our DNA and the need for effective management to ensure its impact. He also shares his view on the different types of innovation beyond technology. Finally, Gideon offers his thoughts on technology's direction and emphasizes the importance of …

Chris Kocek, Founder and CEO of Gallant Branding defines innovation as a fresh perspective on the world and a novel way to frame questions. This conversation explores how perceptions shape innovation and delves into the synergy between qualitative and quantitative approaches in the insight-driven innovation space. More about our guest: His company,…

Discover the essence of innovation in a podcast with Natalie Born, an innovation facilitator, consultant, author, and keynote speaker. She discusses the importance of pattern recognition, balancing authenticity and perfectionism, and the importance of differentiating innovation from creativity. More about our guest: Natalie Born is from Atlanta, Ga…

Our special guest, Tommaso Buganza, Professor of Leadership & Innovation at Politecnico di Milano, discusses the realm of science fiction and its practical implications on society. Jared and Tommaso also explore ethics, user responsibility, and education's role in nurturing holistic innovators. Tommaso's insights on AI's transformative power and th…

Michael D. Abramoff, MD, Ph.D., a visionary retina specialist, computer scientist, and entrepreneur. Dr. Abramoff shares his view of innovation as a series of small steps and how he works to ensure progress at every stage. More about our guest: Michael D. Abramoff, MD, PhD, is a fellowship-trained retina specialist, computer scientist and entrepren…

Ahmed Reza, Founder and CEO of Yobi, shares his perspective on innovation shaped by his uniquely American experience and the dangers of over-specialization and the importance of ethics, philosophy, and anthropology as we work to solve new problems. More about our guest: Ahmed Reza is a tech entrepreneur with a story that reads like a blockbuster mo…

Beth McDaniel, President and Chief of Administration at Reactive Surfaces, discusses the role of creativity in innovation and how to get consumers to demand innovative products. More about our guest: Beth McDaniel received her BBA in finance from the University of Texas in 1988 and JD in law from South Texas College of Law in 1996. She has been wit…

Doug Howarth—CEO of Hypernomics, Inc.- discusses the concept of innovation, why it matters in today's world, and practical ways to drive innovation in your business More about our guest: Doug Howarth's life is a story of remarkable challenges and groundbreaking discoveries. From his fascination with coordinate systems to a life-saving kidney transp…

Chris Marshall—behavioral scientist, futurist, and author—offers his thoughts on the impact of innovation on regulation, culture, and the natural environment. In this episode, we explore the essence of innovation as human nature. More about our guest: Chris uses his diverse career journey spanning behavioral science, global macro strategy, ski raci…

Daniel Trabucchi is a Senior Assistant Professor at the School of Management Politecnico di Milano. Daniel shares his definition of innovation, the role of regulatory bodies in innovation, the distinction between a new thing and a new purpose, and much more. More about our guest: Daniel has also co-authored “Platform Thinking. Read the past. Write …

Robert Huber role as Twisthink’s first Chief Strategy Officer has been critical to the company's growth and success of their strategy offerings, joins us we explore how innovation sparks creativity in business and the positive impact of a musical background. More about our guest: Robert leverages his extensive experience to establish key growth ini…

Peter Schroeder, a multi-award-winning DJ, entrepreneur, and visionary founder of Telzio, joins us we explore how innovation sparks creativity in business and the positive impact of a musical background. More about our guest: Peter Schroeder has over two decades of experience, Peter has consistently proven himself to be a pioneer in both music and …

Ravi Kurani, Co-Founder of Sutro, discusses the distinction between problem-solving and solution-building, active listening and adapting, what does not constitute innovation, and how to manage energy and create a successful innovation strategy. More about our guest: Ravi Kurani is the founder of Sutro. He is based in San Francisco. Ravi was selecte…

Robyn Bolton, Founder & Chief Navigator of MileZero, discusses the importance of leadership in driving innovation and how implicit and explicit company cultures affect it. She also shares insights on how to combat cynicism about innovation. More about our guest: Robyn M. Bolton is the Founder & Chief Navigator of MileZero, an innovation consultancy…

Peter Mann, CEO & Founder of Oransi, a leading air purification company known for its efficient, intuitive and reliable products for consumers, schools, organizations and businesses, talks on the power of innovation in democratizing the work environment through the internet and AI, along with the innovative developments in the air purifier space an…

Ion Valaskakis, President at President, Portfolio IV Media and Consulting talks on importance of these factors and their impact on our ability to innovate, including how circumstantial inspiration and the default mode network can affect our creative process. More about our guest: Ion Valis is a strategic advisor to entrepreneurs and executives by h…

Amanda Utz is a Partner at Avant Strategy. She has twenty years of experience driving change for senior executives at start-ups, private equity-owned businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, we explore the significance of innovation to idea-oriented creative folks, and the importance of an innovative approach to thinking beyond produ…

Ted Ladd, Dean and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Hult International Business School, and a recognised top learning and HR influencer for leadership development. In this episode, we explore how innovation creates value for anybody, including how we can innovate with respect, affirmation, and confidence, tapping into the minds of platform natives …

Ahmad Thomas, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the region’s most dynamic business association. In this episode, he shares his view of innovation as paradigm-breaking ideas, and he discusses the impact of innovation on personal career growth. More about our guest: Ahmad Thomas, partners with the organization’s member companies to promote …

Dr. Britt Andreatta CEO, Brain Aware Training, former CLO of Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning) , and a recognised top learning and HR influencer for leadership development. In this episode Dr. Britt delves into the different aspects that make up innovation, including the importance of psychological safety. More about our guest: Dr. Britt Andreatta is a…

Raji Rajagopalan, Author of "Daring to Be Different" and a Partner Director of Software Engineering at Microsoft. In this episode, Raji shares her unique perspective on successful innovation, emphasizing the importance of creating value for humanity. More about our guest: Raji Rajagopalan believes that your 'differentness' is your differentiator. S…