Intrapreneurship, Innovation & Advice for Female Executives with Judy Toran Cousin

Judy Toran Cousin is a business builder and strategist with over 20 years of experience in business development, marketing and management of large corporations, start-ups and non-profits, including Salick Health Care, Health Management Advisors, Reebok International and Procter and Gamble. Judy has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Judy and I worked together at Circle Graphics, which is the world's foremost producer of grand and large-format digital graphics. The company also produces business and transit signs and has developed disruptive and very innovative wall décor products.

Judy joined Circle Graphics in August 2012 as Chief Strategy Officer and General Manager of the Consumer Digital Printing division. From 2016 to 2020, she was the Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, acting as the primary steward of the Circle Graphics brand across the company's multiple business units, with an emphasis on innovation and differentiation.

Judy and I take a deep dive into Intrapreneurship, acting like an entrepreneur while working within a large organization. She excels at building successful business units within a company, scaling them into sustainable and profitable divisions. She shares her insights and processes for growth and getting companies to adopt a culture of innovation, something that is particularly important for businesses having to adjust to COVID-19. Judy also shares some great insight for female executives and recent MBA grads.

Discussion Topics:
(2:57) Intrapreneurship & innovation.

(4:35) Overcoming resistance to change in an organization.

(5:20) Building a culture of innovation.

(10:07) Identifying industry trends for new product launches.

(13:02) Judy’s favorite product she has worked on.

(15:01) Motivating young employees with intrapreneurship opportunities.

(20:07) Using intrapreneurship to adjust during COVID-19.

(27:36) The Harvard MBA experience.

(29:02) Advice for female executives and recent MBA grads.