204: Understanding True Innovation in Practice
Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture
Moving Innovation From Projects to Organizational Practice
Evelyn and Dr. Simone discuss why firms must define innovation, avoid innovation theater, and apply it beyond design work.
What happens when innovation isn’t just a lofty ideal, but an everyday discipline accessible to everyone in an organization?
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Dr. Simone Ahuja, keynote speaker, innovation strategist, bestselling author, and founder of Blood Orange. Simone’s path from dentistry to advising Fortune 500 companies on frugal innovation is anything but ordinary. Drawing on her research into jugaad innovation - a mindset of resourcefulness rooted in doing more with what you have - she helps leaders cut through “innovation theater” and focus on creating real, tangible value.
Together, they explore how constraints can actually spark creativity, why the democratization of innovation matters, and how leaders can foster cultures of problem solving that scale from the grassroots up. Simone shares practical frameworks for managing up, influencing decision-makers, and breaking big challenges into small, testable experiments, whether you’re in a small firm or a multinational corporation.
The conversation connects back to architecture, where creative thinking often thrives in design work but lags in business operations. Simone challenges firms to think beyond client deliverables and embrace strategic abandonment, distributed innovation, and leadership practices that create space for both reflection and experimentation.
Her message is clear: innovation is not reserved for R&D teams. It’s a discipline, a mindset, and a shared responsibility across every level of an organization.
“Innovation is some of the best training out there for leaders for navigating uncertainty, because you’re thinking about what problems exist, how to rigorously prioritize, how to move forward and learn from that, and how to influence others along the way." - Dr. Simone Ahuja
This episode closes with a reminder that disruption brings opportunity to those willing to reframe problems, leverage existing assets, and learn from other industries. Innovation doesn’t have to be big, or expensive, it just has to add new value.
Guest:
Dr. Simone Ahuja is the founder of Blood Orange, a Minneapolis-based innovation strategy firm, and the author of Disrupt-It-Yourself and co-author of Jugaad Innovation. She works with organizations like Target, 3M, and Stanley Black & Decker to help leaders and teams innovate smarter without overcomplicating the process. Drawing on her background in dentistry, improv comedy, and grassroots entrepreneurship research, Simone champions resourceful problem solving and the democratization of innovation.
Is This Episode for You?
This episode is for you if:
✅ You want to move beyond “innovation theater” into real, measurable change
✅ You’re looking for practical tools to foster innovation in your team or firm
✅ You believe constraints can be a catalyst for creativity
✅ You want to make problem solving a shared discipline across your organization
What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
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