In this episode, we engage with the innovative mind of Floor Blindenbach-Driessen, a chemical engineer turned legal innovation trailblazer. We explore the junction of technology and law, the challenges and opportunities of embracing AI in legal practices, and what it means to truly innovate within the traditionally conservative legal industry. Learn about the unique challenges law firms face in adopting innovation, including the need for a clear strategy and data-driven decision-making. We also discuss why law firms might be missing out on growth and profitability by historically underinvesting in innovation projects.

In this episode, Floor shares insights on how to:

• Explore the impact of innovation management on professional services

• Solve the innovation budget conundrum

• Adapt to the transformative influence of AI on infrastructure and billing practices

• Embrace a culture of risk-taking and learning from failure

• Actively involve lawyers in the process of change

Key takeaways: 

• Effective innovation efforts in law firms involve providing structured support and tools to help professionals generate and implement ideas for improving their practice, addressing the common challenge of knowing how to progress from idea to execution.

• Law firms should embrace failure as a learning opportunity and measure the success of their innovation efforts. Involving clients and internal stakeholders is crucial for successful innovation in the legal industry.

• Active engagement from team members is identified as the primary success factor in innovation initiatives, with a clear emphasis on the need for continuous involvement and commitment to drive meaningful outcomes and avoid wasted resources.

• Measuring the return on investment in innovation activities requires a tailored approach for law firms, focusing on simpler methods of evaluating success beyond traditional ROI metrics used in other industries, emphasizing the importance of setting clear objectives and understanding the value drivers unique to legal innovation.

About the guest, Floor Blindenbach-Driessen:

Floor Blindenbach-Driessen, PhD, is a seasoned innovator and the founder of Organizing4Innovation, where she addresses the challenges faced by talented professionals in realizing their ideas. With a background in management and over 25 years of experience, Dr. Floor has published extensively on innovation process management and guided countless innovators to success. Her passion for bridging the gap between idea and implementation led her to develop the innovative Steering Wheel platform, which provides invaluable support to project teams, enabling them to track progress, learn effectively, and make data-driven decisions throughout the innovation journey.

“You cannot change how we practice law without engaging attorneys.” – Floor Blindenbach-Driessen

Connect with Floor Blindenbach-Driessen:

Website: https://www.organizing4innovation.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FloortjeBlindenbach

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floorblindenbach/

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Floortje-Blindenbach-Driessen

Connect with Ted Theodoropoulos:

Website: https://getinfodash.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtheo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinfodash/podcasts