Outthinkers

Amy C. Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, delves into creating psychological safety for risk-taking and innovation. She discusses the importance of allowing space for experimentation and failure, distinguishing between different types of failure. Learn how to assess risks and avoid hindering your team's pursuit of new ideas by asking specific questions.

John Winsor is a prominent figure in strategic marketing and product innovation, known for his deep understanding of future work trends and open talent strategies. Hisexpertise in collaboration, co-creation, and open innovation has made him a keyinfluencer in innovation, disruption, and storytelling. He founded and chairs OpenAssembly, an organization pioneering the adoption of open talent and freelancing.At Harvard Business School's Laboratory for Innovation Science (LISH), as anexecutive-in-residence, Winsor significantly promotes innovation. He co-authored thenational best-selling book Open Talent: Leveraging a Global Workforce to Solve YourBiggest Challenges with Laboratory for Innovation Sciences at Harvard co-founders Jin Paik, published by Harvard Business Press in January 2024. Additionally, Winsor leads the Open Assembly Community, a global network of 4000 members focused ontransforming workplaces worldwide.In this conversation, we dive deep into concepts from Open Talent: Leveraging a Global Workforce to Solve Your Biggest Challenges, John’s most recent co-authored and national best-selling book with Jin Paik, published by Harvard Business Press in January 2024.  We discuss the intricate layers of the modern workforce, including:The rapid shift of the workforce culture, with the rise of micro-entrepreneurs and freelancers at the core, transforming industries The democratization of talent through digital platforms that provides companies a more varied, diverse workforce while providing individuals more opportunities for work A growing shift away from traditional roles and jobs, towards a focus on tasks and skills to achieve desired outcomes, with an emphasis on speed and momentum given today’s fast-paced momentum How to break through the mental and organizational barriers that impede them from embracing new workforce paradigms to fully take advantage of the modern workforce reality ___________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode1:04—Introducing John Winsor + the topic of today’s episode3:18—If you really know me, you know that...4:24—What's your definition of strategy?6:56—Using strategy to move things in your favor?11:35—How Open Talent differs from gig work15:44—Is the talent power shift permanent?18:24— How is technology transforming talent acquisition?21:52—Overcoming mental barriers to embrace Open Talent26:14—The economic benefits of variable workforce costs28:01—Why innovation is vital for survival30:08—How can people follow you and continue learning from you?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources:Personal site: https://johnwinsor.comBook site: Open Talent: Leveraging a Global Workforce to Solve YourBiggest ChallengesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johntwinsor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jtwinsorThank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

Jeanne Liedtka, a business professor, discusses the importance of design thinking in unleashing creativity in business. She shares insights on strategic experimentation versus strategic design, the concept of design thinking, and how it complements strategic thinking. The conversation explores balancing risk aversion and innovation in organizations like UTC and the significance of data-driven experimentation methodologies for scalability.

Exploring the evolution of human intelligence alongside communication technologies, the potential for human intelligence to merge with machine intelligence for future advancements, the intersection of human and machine intelligence, the evolution of language, settlements, and technology over the past 400,000 years, the progression of human-machine communication, and the future of foundational AI models and algorithms.

Tobias Dengel is President of WillowTree, a TELUS International Company. WillowTree designs and builds digital experiences for the world’s largest brands, and they sit at the forefront of this breakthrough. Tobias understands voice technology's profound, wide-ranging implications for every industry, including marketing, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, media, and more. He counsels leaders in all these fields about how their companies must adapt to the coming age of voice. He is the recent author, with co-author Karl Weber, of THE SOUND OF THE FUTURE : The Coming Age of Voice Technology,  a dive deep into the sweeping changes we can expect as voice technology gains traction. Tobias’ insights will really open up your imagination around the future of human-machine communication, particularly around how voice technology, accelerated by recent developments in AI, have the potential to radically alter the way we live and how companies do business.In this podcast, he shares:How voice technology offers a significant advantage in communication efficiency, and will drastically improve productivity across our lives and many sectors  Why this efficiency applies more to humans communicating to machines and not the other way around How our interactions with machines will transition from being uni-modal to multi-modal with machines reacting in real-time to our requests in multiple formats. What individuals can expect will change with everyday tasks and jobs, and for business leaders—where to anticipate opportunities for adoption of voice technology in their company. How this next technological revolution will mirror the smartphone one in many ways—and how it’ll differ __________________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode1:19—Introducing Tobias + the topic of today’s episode3:09—If you really know me, you know that...4:19—What's your definition of strategy?5:21—Why is voice an advantage over other forms of communication?9:25—What has changed about voice recognition software over time, and how does that lead us to today with Gen AI?13:14—Could you talk to us about the various modes of communication, particularly humans vs. technology?15:47—Who do you think will winning or losing across industries as voice tech takes over?15:18—What are the first steps someone should take in pursuing new ideas?18:04—Where should people start to identify where a business might implement voice technology?27:55—How can people follow you and continue learning from you?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources:Personal site: https://www.tobiasdengel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiasdengelTwitter: twitter.com/tobiasdengelAll content © 2024 Outthinkers.Thank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Thank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

Sukhinder Sing Cassidy is the leader of the growth and performance of Xero globally. With more than 25 years’ experience in Silicon Valley as a CEO, digital leader and board member, she has experienced building and scaling global companies including Google, Amazon, Yodlee, Joyus and StubHub. She currently serves on the board of publicly traded fintech, Upstart with previous experience serving on the boards of Ericsson, Trip Advisor, Urban Outfitters, Stitchfix and J.Crew. Working across such a diverse, prominent portfolio of companies has given Sukhinder a unique counter-perspective on how leaders and business owners look at risk and reward. Her book, Choose Possibility: Take Risks and Thrive (Even When You Fail) sheds light and dives deep into what she’s learned in her extensive career as a leader in tech, where risk-taking and volatility is the norm.  In this discussion, we journey through the art of risk-taking and decision-making, with its intricate interplay of creating a portfolio of bets, understanding variability, and fostering an environment that embraces ambiguity and iteration.In this episode, she shares:The interrelation between possibility and decision-making, and how it’s too-often wrapped up in the “myth of the single choice,” as she calls it How taking a big risk often starts with building and evaluating a portfolio of small possibilities—and how you build this How, as a leader, you shouldn't force people to give you false precision—which often results in failures, plus three more mistakes leaders make that inhibit risk-taking and the exploring of possibilities How the best risk-takers aren’t successful from an absence of fear, but rather, by learning to master what Sukhinder calls “the universal risk equation.” __________________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode1:14—Introducing Sukhinder + the topic of today’s episode3:06—If you really know me, you know that...4:10—What's your definition of strategy?5:26—Why did you name your book, Choose Possibility?6:53—What is the "risk of the single myth"?10:18—What advice do you have for someone that realizes they're falling into the trap of narrowing on too few ideas?12:00—How do you know if you have too few or too many ideas?15:18—What are the first steps someone should take in pursuing new ideas?16:48—How should leaders create a risk-taking environment?19:36—Could you talk to us about the psychological impact of taking small bets?21:59—What is "the universal risk equation"?25:09—What can a company do at zero to maintain agility as they grow?27:55—How can people follow you and continue learning from you?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources:choosepossibility.com bookLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhindersTwitter: https://twitter.com/sukhindersinghAll content © 2024 Outthinkers.Thank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M who currently holds 80 patents for a variety of innovations, with several additional pending. Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018 and as is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science and communicate the benefits of science and the importance of diversity in STEM fields to drive innovation. She has a MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York and bachelors of tech in chemical engineering form the prestigious NIIT Trichy in India.  In this discussion, we dive deep into the topic of some of books, especially her latest, The Heart of Science, with material from her upcoming book, Engineering Blueprint  and a fascinating Fast Company article she co-wrote with our good friend Rita McGrath titles, A guide for managing innovation: 4 big mistakes technologists wish their business leaders would stop making.  She has a lifetime of experiencing building bridges between science and business, something 3M is uniquely good at.  _________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode, she shares:How the scientific and technical community embraces ambiguity and failure--and what business leaders can learn from them Tips on how to foster effective, collaborative communication with your technical employees on the frontline, that are in line with both strategic goals with realistic expectations. How to foster and optimize the opportunity for "uncommon connections” —or or fortuitous collision of ideas—to happen. A sneak peek into the culture of empowerment at 3M that makes them a powerhouse of innovation _________________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode1:46—Introducing Jayshree + The topic of today’s episode4:13—If you really know me, you know that...5:30—What's your definition of strategy?6:36—Do you believe that the field of management is scientific?10:59—Can you lay out the four mistakes leadership make when working with techical people on a high level?11:50—The first mistake: Misdefining ambition14:53—The second mistake: Limiting collaboration19:20—Can you lay out the idea of leveraging vs. learning, and how leadership plays a role in this?25:02—The third mistake: Dismissing technical process23:58—What are your thoughts around the rise in dynamic pricing?27:37—Could you describe some attributes unique to 3M that activate innovation32:19—What are some last thoughts you'd like to share with us?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources:Fas Company Article: A guide for managing innovation: 4 big mistakes technologists wish their business leaders would stop making.BooksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayshree-seth-6287b45All content © 2024 Outthinkers.Thank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

Jean-Manuel Izaret, or, JMI as he often prefers to go by, is a BCG managing director and senior partner and the global leader of the Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice based in San Francisco. His work as a BCG Fellow focuses on the topic of pricing model transformation. JMI has worked on pricing issues across industries, including consumer goods, retail, high tech, financial services, and industrial goods. JMI has a talent for condensing the intricate and vast topic of pricing into clear, simple concepts that any business person can apply. His book, Game Changer: How Strategic Pricing Shapes Businesses, Markets, and Society, released just this October 2023, and co-written with Arnab Sinha, was written with the mission to flip the flawed and clichéd conversations surrounding pricing to an approach that promises winning strategies for greater and fairer value to the buyer and seller and to society at large._________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode, he shares:His concept of the Strategic Pricing Hexagon—a framework that enables decision makers to formulate a clear pricing strategy and shape their business and markets with authority using seven logical and distinct pricing games The top decisions people often get wrong about pricing—and how to avoid them How to choose what unit to charge by, and how this has the power to changes your entire business model—Illustrated nicely through the simple case of the way in which we buy, lease, or hire cars. Three trends that have changed pricing models—and how you can use these to your advantage And a bonus interesting historical take on tipping—and how this originated and evolved in various parts of the world. _________________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode00:56—Introducing JMI + The topic of today’s episode3:32—If you really know me, you know that...5:36—What do people most get wrong when approaching pricing?7:43—How Netflix's change in their pricing model evolved over time, radically changing the business model itself8:48—How does a business decide on what unit to use to when establishing price?12:17—How do you decide what part of the market or customer segment is going to dictate and most influence the decisions you make when shaping your business model and product?16:57—What has changed over time about pricing?20:12—Could you walk us through your Hexagon pricing model?23:58—What are your thoughts around the rise in dynamic pricing?26:37—As an interesting side tangent—why do you think Europeans have such a different relationship with tipping than Americans?29:24—How can people follow you and connect with you to continue learning from you?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources: Author Website:https://www.izaret.net/bioBook website: httpsThank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

Sheena Iyengar is the S.T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, where she has taught since 1998. A graduate of both Wharton and Stanford, she is one of the world's experts on choice and innovation. Famously known for her “Jam Study,” which transformed the way we think about products offered in the marketplace and how we curate them for customers, you may recognize her from one of her Ted Talks, which have collectively been viewed nearly seven million times. Sheena is a masterful speaker and thinker on innovation. She opens our conversation with a fascinating take on how the Statue of Liberty was created to illustrate how though seemingly a quality of “geniuses” actually creativity and innovation are attainable by everyone. Sheena has published two books, The Art of Choosing, and her recent 2023, Think Bigger: How to Innovate, which has been hailed by The New York Times and The Financial Times, among others, as a must read for business leaders._________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode, she shares:The relationship between creativity and innovation, and how one is the output of the other The six steps to “think bigger,” and unlock innovation, which are—while incredibly powerful—also surprisingly practical and attainable. A few fascinating exercises you can employ with individuals to master the final sixth step “the third eye,” in which you make sure that your idea translates to others How AI will enhance our innovation capabilities as humans—not compete with them _________________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode1:25—Introducing Sheena + The topic of today’s episode3:32—If you really know me, you know that...4:59—What is your definition of strategy?5:20—Could you tell us about the design of the Statue of Liberty, and what it teaches us?9:13—How do you define innovation vs. creativity?9:47—Could you walk us through the steps in the "Think Bigger" process?17:33—Tell us about the last step (step 6) and this concept of the "third eye"19:15—Could you share your exercise for "developing" this third eye?23:42—How do you see AI interacting with human creativity?26:52—How can people follow you and connect with you to continue learning from you?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources: Website: https://sheenaiyengar.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-iyengar-1592b310/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sheena_IyengarThank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

David Lancefield is a catalyst, strategist and coach to senior executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. Over the last 25 years, David has worked with organizations on strategy, innovation, culture from start-ups to blue chips, while building and leading successful businesses and client accounts within PwC. He also speaks, facilitates and hosts the Lancefield on the Line podcast, and writes for Harvard Business Review and is a contributing editor for Strategy+Business, as well as being published by Forbes and Financial Times, among others. David sits in the intersection of how strategy, leadership and culture all come together. In this thought-provoking conversation, we discuss two topics that are prevalent in the business world—strategy and culture. But where they are often treated as one dependent on the other, David brings to us the perspective that the two directly support and inform one another—and that building them in tandem is a competitive advantage is too often overlooked._________________________________________________________________________________________In this episode, he shares:His definition of culture, and not just a set of beliefs, as most assume. How heads of Culture and HR are often kept out of strategy conversations and treated separately--but should actually work hand in hand, with culture informing strategy. You know how every strategy efforts ends with “communication and alignment?” He explains why we should be thinking about this differently. How to identify your “culture catalysts”—people who naturally exhibit the desired behaviours—and enlist them to enact change, as well as where to start in shaping your culture. _________________________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode1:14—Introducing David + The topic of today’s episode3:02—If you really know me, you know that...4:02—What is your definition of strategy?5:18—How do you align strategy and culture, and which one would you say comes first?7:22—What is the relationship between behaviors and their relation to culture?8:59—what happens when strategy and culture are not well aligned?12:13—How do you measure culture? 13:59—Is there a set of steps you find most effective when enacting a culture change?15:55—How do you identify your cultural advocates that can help promote your culture?19:49—What are your thoughts on intrapreneurship?21:50—How can people follow you and connect with you to continue learning from you?__________________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources: Author Website: https://davidlancefield.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidclancefield/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DlancefieldThank you to our guests, thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast