Better Innovation

Joining host Jeff Saviano on today’s episode is Jeremy Utley, Director of Executive Education and professor at Stanford's d.school - and a master storyteller. Jeremy has dedicated his career to helping others unleash their innovative potential, changing deeply ingrained behaviors, and discovering better innovation through improved ideaflow, the optimal KPI for innovation. In conversation with Jeff, Jeremy vividly recounts life experiences demonstrating the power of treating every problem as an idea problem. Jeremy’s leading innovation practices are brought to life in discussions around his provocative, newly released book Ideaflow, helping innovators with proven strategies to discover breakthrough ideas and unleash new creativity within their organization.

How has the role of the CFO transformed over the last decade - and where is it headed? In our second episode of Better Innovation in Season Six, Glenn Hopper, Chief Financial Officer at Sandline Global and author of Deep Finance: Corporate Finance in the Information Age, sits down with Jeff Saviano. Glen discusses his insights and lessons from financial transformations, the evolution of Web3, and how today’s leaders can optimize value from their data. He has two decades of experience leading finance operations spanning a variety of industries, including telecommunications, retail, and legal technology. Glen also shares the benefits of serving as a journalist in the U.S. Navy.    From the U.S. Navy to the C-Suite, Glenn has demonstrated the power of harnessing innovation to fuel the finance function of the future - tune in to hear valuable lessons from Glenn! 

Better Innovation is back with season 6! Our first guest of the season is Jim Euchner, author of Lean Startup in Large Organizations. With over 25 years of experience in the field of intelligent systems, Jim is a co-founder of the MIT Innovation Laboratory and was previously the Vice President of Global Innovation at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Before that, he held roles as Vice President at Pitney Bowes and Bell Atlantic (now Verizon). Jim was at the forefront of digital transformation at these large enterprises, driving innovation during periods of immense technological change, most notably in the telecommunications industry during the 80s and 90s amid the rise of the internet. In this episode, Jim discusses his new book, which explores a systematic approach for implementing Lean Startup in large organizations, and he reflects on the experiences that provided him with the courage, curiosity, and vision to drive innovation and break barriers throughout his career.

Jeff speaks to serial entrepreneur and tech legend Jim McKelvey about entrepreneurship, his founding of ‘Square,’ and his fascinating new take on innovation that emerged from that experience. Jim shares this innovation theory in his book: “Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a time.” Jeff and Jim also talked about his new start up “Invisibly,” Jim’s loyalty to St Louis, and what it’s like to work with Jack Dorsey. A long-time entrepreneur, Jim explains how he built his first software company out of the proceeds of his glass-blowing business. Jim’s Square story will have you on the edge of your seat! Square wasn’t just a single innovation, but instead a creative new ‘Innovation Stack’ comprised of 14 interlocking and interdependent breakthroughs. Jim touches on the importance of an emotional connection with a product and why it can make sense to spend $1 on the product and $2 on the box. Enjoy a discussion with one of the innovation legends of our time!

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Jeff Wray, global leader of EY-Parthenon to discuss the power of ecosystems as a new growth enabler. Which ecosystem business model is right for you? How can you build the right ecosystem relationships for a competitive advantage? What is the optimal way to leverage new ecosystem communities? Jeff Wray’s perspective on these questions is a must-listen!

Joining Jeff for the latest episode of the Better Innovation podcast is Dr. Julia Glidden, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector, for Microsoft. Julia is a renowned expert on public sector digital transformations and recognized as the pioneer of Cognitive Government.  Naturally, technology and digitalization within the public sector is at the heart of today’s discussion. Digital transformations within government have rapidly accelerated during the pandemic. Sure, the technology capabilities are critically important, but Julia also emphasizes the importance of personal skills and the human element of digital growth.  This compelling conversation with a digital government world leader explores the comparison of public vs private sector tech capabilities, public trust in government use of personal data, and the critical role of advanced tech for a sustainable future. 

In this important episode, Jeff talks to US Congressman Tom Emmer about the intersection of US policy and emerging technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Rep. Emmer is the Co-chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus, a bipartisan group who study and promotes blockchain technology. Jeff and Congressman Emmer discuss 3 bills he introduced within the past year impacting blockchain and crypto. Rep. Emmer explains the value of well-drafted legislation and how to create a regulatory framework for technology that allows US innovation to succeed. For example, Rep, Emmer shares his views about the introduction of a digital fiat currency in the US (a Central Bank Digital Currency) and how if we’re not careful it could lead to digital authoritarianism. And, there’s more! Congressman Emmer also talks about his love of hockey, what it’s like to be a father of seven, and how he ended up in politics when “a funny thing happened on the way to work.” An episode not to be missed!

Part two of Jeff’s conversation with Whitney Johnson focuses on reaching the top of the personal learning S-Curve - the mastery phase - and why it’s important to celebrate your achievements. Jeff and Whitney talk about their own career-shifting experiences, as they jumped from one S-Curve onto another. Are you contemplating a new personal S-Curve? If so, then let Whitney guide you through this period of change. If you haven’t already, make sure you listen to part one of this interview.

In part one of a two-part episode, Jeff welcomes Whitney Johnson into Better Innovation. Whitney is the CEO of Distribution Advisors, S Curve Learning coach, Disrupt Yourself podcast host, and an award-winning author. In this timely discussion, Whitney breaks down the key principles from her latest book, Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company. Whitney is THE leader in the application of S Curves to personal growth - great for you, your people, and the organization. This book comes at just the right time, as many are contemplating jumping S Curves for personal growth. Are you ready for a change in your life? Listen as Whitney guides you through the journey.

In this episode, Jeff talks with Bruno Carrasco, a Director General and Chief Compliance Officer with the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department. Bruno explains how the ABD produced an oversized pandemic response, as it strives for economic stability in the Region. Jeff and Bruno also discuss innovation across climate change and sustainability, new ways to promote public-private partnerships, and the ADB’s provision of much needed ‘knowledge embodied finance’ to countries in the Region.