In this episode of our CVC series, Andreas Munk Holm and our CVC in-house expert, Jeppe Høier, talk with Gitte Aabo to explore the world of corporate venture. With a remarkable background that spans 27 years at Leo Pharma, including 12 years as CEO and further experience at GN Hearing, Gitte shares her journey in building innovation initiatives like Leo iLab.

She explains how she helped develop digital tools to improve treatment outcomes and diagnostics, drawing on her extensive experience in both board leadership and hands-on management to drive change.

During the conversation, Gitte dives into aligning corporate culture with innovative practices. She emphasizes that success in corporate venturing doesn’t come from following a one-size-fits-all formula but from ongoing, one-on-one discussions with board members and key executives. By integrating strategic insights with practical initiatives, she shares how innovation teams must work closely with the core business to ensure long-term impact, even if the financial returns take time to materialize.

Chapters:

03:55 Establishing Leo Innovation Lab

04:15 Digital Tools for Skin Disease Treatment

05:01 Improving Diagnosis with Mobile Tools
05:16 Philosophy of Patient Focus

06:20 Structure and Funding of Leo iLab

08:10 Challenges and Learnings from Leo iLab

08:28 Collaboration with US and External Investments

09:31 Balancing Innovation and Core Business

11:24 Reflections on Corporate Innovation

14:43 Transition to GN Hearing

15:50 Integrating Innovation in GN Hearing

17:00 Strategic Partnerships and External Innovation

19:52 Challenges in Corporate and Startup Collaboration

E443 | Gitte Aabo, Leo Pharma and GN Hearing: How to Use Corporate Collaboration to Identify Emerging Trends