What is Innovation?

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 racing, and Master Distiller to help people manage fast-paced change effectively and achieve their goals. Chris's expertise in economics, history, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, and trend research offers practical strategies and tools that enhance resilience, creativity, innovation, and adaptability. He is an excellent guest for podcasts that focus on personal development, innovation, and managing change effectively.

Know more about her and his affiliations here: 

• Chris Marshall 

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Episode Guide:

1:14 - What is Innovation?  

3:08 - Scale of innovation: not a reflection

5:23 - The world in layers and varying speeds

8:07 - Limits to innovation and business pivots

10:14 - Three layers beyond infrastructure

13:30 - The age of awareness and the Gutenberg Press

17:08 - Chronic stress and it's relation to changes

22:28 - Stress and it's influence on the brain

27:58 - Risk management as a behavioral scientist

32:48 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 the future.”. His research interests are focused on innovation management, especially digital two-sided platforms and digital services. He co-founded Symplatform in 2018, the international conference on digital platforms that aims to match scholars and practitioners in the field. He co-founded and is scientific director of Platform Thinking HUB, the community of innovation leaders that aims to foster innovation through platform thinking, which is part of the Digital Innovation Observatories of Politecnico di Milano. He is also scientific director of IDeaLs, the global research platform founded by Politecnico di Milano aiming to develop innovative ways to engage people in transformation processes. 

He is a member of the International Product Development Management Conference EIASM-IPDMC scientific committee. He has authored more than 70 scientific articles, including peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters. Apart from academic research, he teaches innovation and project management at various levels, from bachelor’s to master’s, MBAs, executive MBAs, and corporate classes, being also Director of the International Part Time MBA of the POLIMI Graduate School of Management. Moreover, he is often involved in advisory projects with small and multinational organizations in innovation and transformation management.

Know more about her and his affiliations here: 

• Daniel Trabucchi
• Politecnico di Milano
• Symplatform

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Episode Guide:

1:35 - What is Innovation? 

3:06 - book: Trap of thinking 

5:29 - Innovation advancement and regulation 

8:09 - Innovation as a new thing vs a new purpose 

10:07 - AI as a platform 

15:12 - Efficiency and the unintended consequences of such

19:46 - What isn't innovation: it's not innovation if it's not creating value 

23:38 - Agile project management 

25:03 - Business vs Technology platforms: technical and regulatory perspective 

29:49 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 the future.”. His research interests are focused on innovation management, especially digital two-sided platforms and digital services. He co-founded Symplatform in 2018, the international conference on digital platforms that aims to match scholars and practitioners in the field. He co-founded and is scientific director of Platform Thinking HUB, the community of innovation leaders that aims to foster innovation through platform thinking, which is part of the Digital Innovation Observatories of Politecnico di Milano. He is also scientific director of IDeaLs, the global research platform founded by Politecnico di Milano aiming to develop innovative ways to engage people in transformation processes. 

He is a member of the International Product Development Management Conference EIASM-IPDMC scientific committee. He has authored more than 70 scientific articles, including peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters. Apart from academic research, he teaches innovation and project management at various levels, from bachelor’s to master’s, MBAs, executive MBAs, and corporate classes, being also Director of the International Part Time MBA of the POLIMI Graduate School of Management. Moreover, he is often involved in advisory projects with small and multinational organizations in innovation and transformation management.

Know more about her and his affiliations here: 

• Daniel Trabucchi
• Politecnico di Milano
• Symplatform

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Episode Guide:

1:35 - What is Innovation? 

3:06 - book: Trap of thinking 

5:29 - Innovation advancement and regulation 

8:09 - Innovation as a new thing vs a new purpose 

10:07 - AI as a platform 

15:12 - Efficiency and the unintended consequences of such

19:46 - What isn't innovation: it's not innovation if it's not creating value 

23:38 - Agile project management 

25:03 - Business vs Technology platforms: technical and regulatory perspective 

29:49 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 initiatives and partnerships through a global open innovation process, ensuring that Twisthink remains at the forefront of value creation for our clients. With an impressive background in innovation and design, Rob is an expert in generating exceptional long-term value and designing award-winning advanced concepts. Rob’s philosophy centers around building a culture of trust and accountability and fostering an environment where teams can thrive and generate meaningful results. His ability to inspire and motivate those around him has made him a respected and valued leader. Rob earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial design from the University of Cincinnati.

Know more about her and his company here: 

• Robert Huber
• Twisthink

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Episode Guide:

1:23 - What is innovation? 

1:55 - Stakeholder purpose driven 

4:35 - Innovation and user experience 

8:08 - Career in innovation 

9:44 - Innovation process 

12:51 - IP application in the modern world 

14:13 - code development opportunity: corporations and start-ups 

17:21 - What isn't innovation?

21:56 - Refining the process 

26:49 - Hobbies beyond work

27:39 - Advice for innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 technology. Peter's unparalleled expertise in developing cutting-edge technology and innovative products has revolutionized the way people work and communicate, streamlining and simplifying even the most repetitive tasks. Peter has collaborated with companies like Facebook, Samsung, and Airbnb. His remarkable career also includes earning over 20 platinum records, 40 gold records, and a triple nomination for the Danish DJ awards. Despite facing challenges such as surviving a plane crash and becoming a father of twins, Peter continues to inspire others with his passion and unwavering drive towards innovation.

Know more about her and his company here: 

• Peter Schroeder
• Telzio

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Episode Guide:

1:32 - What is Innovation?

3:47 - Innovation vs Invention

5:04 - Translating music into business and innovation

7:17 - Leveraging technical and creative advantages from a music upbringing

9:55 - Creative mindsets of coders and developers

12:12 - Navigating an AI project under time constraints

13:05 - Reconciling demand and technology

14:30 - Significance of practicing humility and self-awareness

18:00 - What isn't Innovation?

19:27 - Advice for innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 selected to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2017 for the Energy category.Ravi attended the University of California, Riverside where he graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical engineering. He earned his MBA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a Certificate in Sustainable Energy Conversion and Storage from Stanford University.Early in his career, Ravi interned at Under The Mango Tree, was a Frontier Market Scout at Village Capital, an Analyst at Hub Ventures, and a Project Coordinator at Building Wise. He was a Social Entrepreneurship Advisor at CORO Northern California and an Advisor to SAHGHATA GLOBAL.In 2011, he founded ImpactSpace, an open impact data initiative, is the open and free global database of companies, entrepreneurs and investors delivering social and environmental impact along with financial returns. In 2013, Ravi founded the water testing and data analytics company, Sutro. The company's main product has built a sensor-connected app that monitors the health of your swimming pool, notifies you if maintenance is required and orders pool supplies.

Know more about her and his company here: 

• Ravi Kurani
• Sutro

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Episode Guide:

1:15 - What is Innovation?  

1:44 - Solving a problem vs building a solution

2:43 - Importance of distinction: solution  

5:33 - Company: Sutro

10:05 - "It's my baby" founder's mentality

12:24 - The value of 'listening" and 'pivot'

13:59 - What isn't innovation?

17:55 - Balancing and Managing one's energy

23:25 - Risk Predictability

26:24 - Risk acceptance and attachment philosophy

29:20 - Advice for innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 that works with leaders of medium and large businesses to navigate the uncertainty of innovation's "fuzzy front end" to confidently grow their businesses.  Prior to founding MileZero, Robyn was a Partner at Innosight, the innovation and strategy firm founded by Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen, a Manager at the Boston Consulting Group, and a Brand Manager at P&G where she was on the team that developed and launched Swiffer and Swiffer Wetjet.  She has a BS in Marketing cum laude with University Honors from Miami University (OH) and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Know more about her and his company here: 

• Robyn Bolton
• MileZero

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Episode Guide:

1:24 - What is innovation?

5:29 - Implicit and explicit company cultures

9:50 - Difference from other consultants

11:50 - Cynicism in innovation

14:45 - Action speaks louder than words

17:13 - Leadership and Legacy

22:12 - Advice to innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 and how they reshored their business back to the United States. 

More about our guest:

Peter is  also is the Chair of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers’ Air Cleaner Council. In 2021, Oransi merged with Aviemore Technologies and is now a motor technology company with a clean energy mission. Oransi’s new manufacturing facility in Radford, Virginia is making products in the USA with advanced motor technologies and is actively hiring more than a 100+ local workers to reshore the company’s entire manufacturing. Previously, Peter was the Founder & CEO of the Austin, Texas-based Alen Corp., an air purification company he built, and after 7 years had a successful exit. He went to college on a Navy ROTC scholarship and then served 4 years, including a tour in the Red Sea during the First Gulf War. He was a communications officer and then gunnery officer on the USS McCandless. Peter is late diagnosed autistic and now advocates for autism awareness in the workplace

Know more about him and his company here: 

• Peter Mann
• Oransi 

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Episode Guide:

1:36 - What is Innovation? 

4:19 - Communicating with ChatGPT

6:45 - Internet: democratizing work environment

9:19 - Innovation in Reshoring

11:55 - Innovation in the air purifier space

15:23 - What isn't Innovation?

17:42 - Innovating a copy

19:14 - Leveraging brand name

20:15 - Mindset, Drive, and Ideas
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

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 helping them anticipate the future, accelerate their performance, and reinvent themselves when necessary. He enables organizations to "see around the corner" through two proprietary frameworks that he has developed - the FuturePROOF Scorecard and Playbook. His book 'The Magnificent Mistake' talks on how to learn from your mistakes, he has also given a TEDx Talk on the changing nature of leadership in the 21st century, and hosted a bi-weekly podcast on how to apply the management consultant’s toolkit to everyday problems. Ion plans to launch an online course called "Reinvention Boot Camp" that will empower thousands of people with the tools, skillset, and mindset to reinvent themselves regularly.

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Episode Guide:

2:32 - What is Innovation?  

4:35 - Breaking down Inspiration and Intention

6:48 - Circumstantial inspiration: humanistic  

9:40 - Lag-time of elements

10:33 - Default mode network  

14:52 - Revenge Procrastination

17:06 - Gradual erosion vs falling off a cliff analogy

17:46 - Moore's law

21:50 - Stagnating human innovation  

24:02 - Surveillance capitalism

28:03 - Dopamine Capitalism

33:04 - Mind and body connection

35:37 - Best way to be creative

42:27 - Advice for the public

52:30 - The next revolution

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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.

Amanda Utz is a Partner at Avant Strategy. Dean and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Hult International Business School, and a recognized top learning and HR influencer for leadership development. In this episode, we explore the significance of innovation to idea-oriented creative folks, and the importance of an innovative approach to thinking beyond product or service innovation.

More about our guest:

Amanda Utz has twenty years of experience driving change for senior executives at start-ups, private equity-owned businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. she has successfully managed transformational projects across strategy, marketing, sales, and operations for leaders across multiple organizations including The Home Depot, Mannington Mills, and Veritiv. 

She has held multiple interim Head of Marketing roles for PE backed businesses (brought in by the PE firms) to hep the businesses quickly set up foundational marketing elements, strategic company and product positioning messaging, lead generation strategies, etc., while also helping with the execution of these tactics. Amanda enjoys partnering with executives to deliver solutions that meet their needs across various functional areas and industries.

You can learn more about her on her LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaswartzutz/

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Episode Guide:

1:25 - What is Innovation?

4:06 - Creative Marketer vs Process-driven Marketer

6:10 - Innovation to idea-oriented creative folks

7:30 - innovative approach to thinking

9:55 - Changes in the corporate marketing world

10:45 - What isn't innovation? A baker-cake analogy

12:52 - Hobbies beyond baking

14:10 - Innovation, travel, and Airbnb

17:04 - Innovating, launching, and promoting

17:44 - The B2B work

22:00 - Innovation in processes

23:32 - Advice to innovators 

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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management.