What is Innovation?

Nik Forelich, 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 aptitude, and forward-thinking vision, Nik transitioned to establish Saritasa, embodying his dedication to a technology-driven future. Accompanied by a supportive partner and accomplished children, his journey exemplifies entrepreneurial excellence.

Know more about her and her company here:

• Nik Froehlich
• Company: Saritasa

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Episode Guide:

0:50 - What is Innovation?

2:43 - Using technology to innovate

6:34 - Technology to create a business-innovative tool

7:46 - 2 Kinds of Business Owners

9:19 - Rundown on Categories for Business Innovation

11:48 - Case example on Business Innovation

13:56 - Customizing Solutions

15:18 - Solving Problems with Nik: Closed and Open Systems

18:10 - Impact of APIs

19:47 - APIs and real-world application

21:37 - Sara Tasa at work, relationships, and facing the challenges

28:30 - What is not innovation?

31:03 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 favors, and how we all can leave a lasting impact in the world of innovation.

More about our guest:

Paul McEnroe is best known for his primary role in developing the Universal Product Code (UPC), the barcode used on every product in supermarkets and the retail industry, and the scanners that read them. In 1974 he received the IBM SCD President’s Award for the development of the Supermarket System including the Barcode “. . . from inception through shipment.” He was co-inventor of the handheld “pistol-grip” scanner that reads barcodes from a distance, developed the magnetic code for stock keeping unit (SKU) marking, and later managed the development of the Token Ring Local Area Network (LAN). In 1984 McEnroe became president of Trilogy Systems Corporation and developed other multi-chip technologies.

Know more about her and her company here:

• Paul V. McEnroe (CalState)
• Book: The Barcode: How a Team Created One of the World's Most Ubiquitous Technologies

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Episode Guide:

0:48 - What is Innovation?

2:07 - Importance of bridging an open mind and the elements of science and technology

3:20 - Modern education and innovation

4:44 - Importance of teamwork

5:39 - What we now know as "barcode": the Universal Product Code (UPC)

7:50 - IBM's role in the creation of UPC and NCRs

11:13 - Working on Magnetic Strips for transit systems

12:34 - The Store Loop and Token Ring

14:52 - IBM, funding, problem-solving, and barcode scanning

20:42 - Gene Amdahl and IBM System 360

22:26 - Winchester Technology: The floppy disk

23:44 - Patience and returning favors

25:39 - Advice for Innovators and leaving impact
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 taking risks and managing the process.

More about our guest:

Gideon Kedem has led Valen Semiconductor's Automotive Business unit since 2020. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the semiconductor and EDA industries, with various roles at leading companies like Cadence, Intel, and Xilinx. Prior to joining Valens in 2020, Gideon managed sales and business development at Xilinx activities across EMEA, Israel and India, with revenue responsibilities exceeding $200M. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, both from Tel Aviv University.

Know more about her and her company here:

• Gideon Kedem

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Episode Guide:

1:16 - What is Innovation?

6:19 - Innovation perspectives

7:28 - Innovation in Valens company

11:53 - What isn't Innovation?

15:08 - Intersection of innovation, technology, and art: MoMA

17:46 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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, Gallant Branding, a creative branding firm in Austin, Texas focused on building brands for a better world. Over the past 10 years, Gallant has helped dozens of companies with brand overhauls, new product launches, and data-driven campaigns, resulting in triple digit growth and national recognition.Prior to starting Gallant, Chris worked as a strategic planner at BBDO New York and GSD&M, developing nationally recognized campaigns for iconic brands and highly respected nonprofits, including AARP, Monster.com, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Hyatt Hotels, Ace Hardware, John Deere, and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. While he currently spends most of his time working closely with clients to help them tackle their biggest branding challenges, he is also a public speaker and frequent guest lecturer on strategy and insights at colleges around the country. His talks on creativity and innovation have been featured at strategic marketing symposiums as well asTEDxYouth@Austin.

Know more about her and her company here:

• Chris Kocek
• Gallant Branding
• Chris' Personal Blog
• Chris' X (formerly Twitter)

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Episode Guide:

1:28 - What is Innovation?

1:55 - Breaking down patterns

5:19 - The problem of falling inlove with solutions

7:41 - Authenticity vs Perfectionism

10:14 - Missing the moment

12:21 - The value chain

15:13 - The napkin sketch commitment

16:33 - What isn't innovation: innovation isn't creativity

17:40 - Separating innovation and creativity

21:29 - What keeps you busy?

22:34 - Experiences that shaped the innovation approach

26:12 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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. She is an Innovation Facilitator, Consultant, Author, Keynote Speaker and the Host of Innovation Meets Leadership podcast. Prior to Founding Innovation Meets Leadership, Natalie held roles as a VP of Innovation, Territory Global, and Senior Vice President of Business Development at a mar-tech firm. Natalie has collaborated on two approved US patents and has over 20 years of experience leading product development, UI/UX, web development, and strategy and marketing teams. Natalie has worked with organizations such as CareerBuilder, First Data, IHG, and ADP, leading major initiatives in over 18 countries. Natalie is married to Aaron and they have two daughters.

Know more about her and her company here:

• Natalie Born
• Innovation Meets Leadership
• Book: Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation

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Episode Guide:

1:28 - What is Innovation?

1:55 - Breaking down patterns

5:19 - The problem of falling inlove with solutions

7:41 - Authenticity vs Perfectionism

10:14 - Missing the moment

12:21 - The value chain

15:13 - The napkin sketch commitment

16:33 - What isn't innovation: innovation isn't creativity

17:40 - Separating innovation and creativity

21:29 - What keeps you busy?

22:34 - Experiences that shaped the innovation approach

26:12 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and di

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 the importance of a critical mindset offer a compass for budding innovators.

More about our guest:

Tommaso Buganza is Professor of Leadership & Innovation at Politecnico di Milano. His research activities are at the crossroad of Technology, Innovation, and Leadership. Platforms are the missing link among them; he teaches Platform Thinking to executives and consults international companies in search for a Platform-based transformations. He is also the Co-founder and Scientific Director of the Laboratory for Leadership, Design and Innovation of SOM-School of Management of Politecnico di Milano. The Lab leverages 30+ internal and external resources for research, teaching and services to companies. Additionally, he is the Co-Founder of Symplatform: a symposium on digital platforms. A new conference aimed at researchers and practitioners in the world of platforms, and the Chairman of the Board of the Innovation and Product Development Management Conference organized by EIASM (European for Advanced Studies in Management). Lastly, he is the Co-founder and Scientific Director of IDeaLs, the research Platform for Innovation and Design as Leadership of SOM-School of Management of Politecnico di Milano.

Know more about him, the univesrity, and his book here:

• Tommaso Buganza
• Politecnico di Milano
• Laboratory for Leadership, Design and Innovation of SOM-School of Management of Politecnico di Milano
•  Symplatform
• IDeaLs
• Book: Platform Thinking: Read the past. Write the future.

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Episode Guide:

1:04 - What is Innovation?

3:03 - Forecasting vs Designing

4:04 - Star Trek: Fiction vs Reality

7:16 - Responsibility in the innovation space

11:53 - Artificial intelligence and technological substitution

15:12 - Regulation in Europe and user responsibility

18:44 - Education structure: humanistic responsibility  

20:11 - Importance of critical mindset

22:50 - Advice for innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 entrepreneur. He is Founder and Executive Chairman of Digital Diagnostics, the first company ever to receive FDA clearance for an autonomous AI diagnostic system. To transform the quality, accessibility, and affordability of global healthcare through the automation of medical diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Abramoff (gold Fellow ARVO, Fellow IEEE) is the Robert C. Watzke, MD Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa, with a joint appointment in the College of Engineering.

Dr. Abramoff is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Digital Diagnostics, the Autonomous AI diagnostics company that was the first in any field of medicine to get FDA clearance for an autonomous AI. In primary care, the AI system can instantaneously diagnose diabetic retinopathy (including macular edema) at the point-of-care. Dr. Abramoff developed an ethical foundation for autonomous AI that was used during the design and validation, and regulatory and payment pathways for autonomous AI. As the author of over 350 peer-reviewed publications in this field, he has been cited over 42,000 times, and is the inventor on 20 issued patents and many patent applications. Dr. Abramoff has mentored dozens of engineering graduate students, ophthalmology residents, and retina fellows. His passion is to use AI to improve the affordability, accessibility and quality of care.

Know more about her and their company here: 

• Dr. Michael D. Abramoff
• Digital Diagnostics
• Article highlight: 1 in 4 People With Diabetes Have This Sight-Threatening Condition, Study Finds

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Episode Guide:

1:30 - What is Innovation?

2:40 - Breaking down the "steps"

6:11 - Ensuring progress in every step

10:15 - Diabetes Care in the US

12:57 - Diabetic Retinopathy

14:25 - Benefits of getting more people screened

15:57 - Bringing together different domains

17:22 - What is a bio-ethicist?

20:38 - What isn't innovation?

28:59 - What's next for the company?
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 movie. He started as a child actor in Bangladesh before becoming a Milken scholar at Cornell University; then working as an engineer at NASA. But his true calling was entrepreneurship, founding successful businesses before creating Yobi, a company that simplifies customer relationship management for businesses. He's also known as the intelligent man's Forrest Gump, forming close relationships with Michael Milken and Dr. Edward Zuckerberg, among others. Ahmed's journey is a testament to the power of hard work and determination, making him an inspiring guest for any podcast.

Know more about her and their company here: 

• Ahmed Reza
• Yobi

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Episode Guide:

0:29 - What is Innovation?

2:58 - Education in Bangladesh and America

7:22 - Rebelling from the system

9:54 - Hacker mindset

12:35 - Ethics, Philosophy, and Innovation

17:51 - What the heck is success?

19:55 - Technical education and importance of humanities

24:13 - Pitfalls of over-specialization

29:05 - Reforming education

37:06 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 with Reactive Surfaces since 2006, both as a director/advisor and officer of the company. Beth has 25 years of business experience and 17 years of legal experience with an emphasis on contracts, licensing and business operations. Mrs. McDaniel serves as President and Chief of Administration for Reactive Surfaces, an innovation company in the paint and coatings industry.

Know more about her and their company here: 

• Beth McDaniel 
• Reactive Surfaces

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Episode Guide:

1:17 - What is innovation?

1:43 - Innovation shaped by career

3:27 - Breaking down creativity

6:35 - Bringing Innovation to the market: B2B and B2B2C

7:56 - Innovating for demand and urgency: Carbon Capture Coatings

11:40 - Reaching for ROI

14:37 - Protecting patents and trade secrets

18:40 - Working on reactive surfaces

22:50 - What is carbon capture coatings?

30:01 - Advice for innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 transplant, his journey led him to uncover the concept of Hypernomics—a field that explores uncharted dimensions in market analysis. Driven by newfound clarity, Doug founded Hypernomics Inc. and collaborated with industry giants like NASA and Lockheed Martin, developing innovative software capable of analyzing markets in four or more dimensions. His upcoming book, "Hypernomics: Using Hidden Dimensions to Solve Unseen Problems," will revolutionize conventional thinking. Doug's story inspires us to embrace unconventional thinking and unleash extraordinary breakthroughs.

Know more about her and his affiliations here: 

• Doug Howarth

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Episode Guide:

1:30 - What is Innovation?

2:30 - What is "society's next step?"

7:35 - Manifesting over different domains

9:57 - Importance of understanding capacity and price

12:03 - Personal opinions, biases, and hypothesis

15:52 - Space tourism industry

19:16 - What isn't innovation?

23:24 - Increasing value by cost reduction

26:32 - Advice for innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.