AlchemistX: Innovators Inside

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Natalie Neelan, Director of Innovation at Boston Mutual Life Insurance and author of Rebel at Work: How to Innovate and Drive Results When You Aren't the Boss. Natalie shares her remarkable journey from sales to shaping corporate innovation, offering a wealth of insights for anyone looking to drive change from within an organization. Throughout the conversation, Natalie discusses how she leveraged her startup experience to build an effective innovation council, align diverse stakeholders, and break through the notorious "Wall of No" that many innovators face. She emphasizes the importance of understanding corporate strategy, fostering a culture of collaboration, and focusing on behavior change to drive real results. You will learn practical strategies for: Forming and empowering an innovation council to navigate corporate bureaucracy. Aligning innovation efforts with top-level strategic goals to secure buy-in. Identifying and tackling the right problems by embracing ambiguity and chaos. Using landscape research to anticipate market trends and customer needs. Choosing your battles and celebrating small wins to maintain momentum. Natalie’s candid storytelling and actionable advice provide invaluable lessons on overcoming internal resistance, driving stakeholder engagement, and creating an environment where innovative ideas can thrive. This episode is a must-listen for corporate innovators seeking guidance on how to effectively champion change, navigate organizational politics, and deliver impactful results. Tune in to gain insights on breaking through barriers, fostering a culture of innovation, and driving sustainable growth within large organizations. For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Moisés Noreña, a seasoned innovation leader with an extraordinary career spanning Whirlpool, Allstate, Moen, and now MiTek. Moisés shares his unconventional journey—from architecture and computer science to leading transformative corporate innovation—and the principles that have shaped his success.  Throughout the conversation, Moisés breaks down his "Ten Commandments of Innovation," a framework for aligning purpose, strategy, and innovation execution within any organization. He reveals how to tie innovation to the enterprise agenda, navigate the challenges of driving change, and unlock meaningful growth. Drawing on examples like Whirlpool's surprising pivot to the Gladiator brand and MiTek’s mission to transform the construction industry, Moisés emphasizes the power of observation, experimentation, and collaboration to fuel sustainable innovation. This episode delivers insights into balancing purpose-led strategy with pragmatic execution, proving that innovation thrives when anchored in solving real human needs. Whether you're an aspiring innovator, a corporate change agent, or simply fascinated by stories of transformation, Moisés' lessons on humility, collaboration, and trust will inspire you to rethink how you approach innovation in your organization. Tune in and learn how to align purpose, process, and persistence to build a sustainable innovation culture. Moisés’ book: Arquitectura de la Innovación: Un enfoque universal (Spanish Edition) For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman welcomes Sam Vise, the co-founder and CEO of Optimum Retailing, to discuss the transformative power of technology in the retail sector. Sam shares his journey from in-store signage to developing a cutting-edge retail intelligence platform that utilizes RFID and AI to enhance the shopping experience. Throughout their conversation, Sam highlights the challenges retailers face in implementing new technologies and how Optimum Retailing addresses these issues by providing real-time inventory tracking and personalized marketing solutions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse market needs and leveraging data to create tailored retail environments that engage customers effectively. Sam also explores the balance between technology and human interaction in brick-and-mortar stores, showcasing how his platform not only improves operational efficiency but also enriches the customer journey. By sharing success stories from clients like Mac Cosmetics and Best Buy, Sam illustrates how strategic innovation can drive sustainable growth and elevate the retail experience. Tune in to gain valuable insights on integrating technology into retail, overcoming resistance to change, and fostering a culture of innovation that meets evolving consumer demands. For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman welcomes Joseph Banh, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Avida, to discuss the art and science of creating meaningful experiences through innovation. With a background that spans from artist to museum planner to corporate strategist, Joseph shares how his journey has shaped his unique perspective on blending storytelling, sensory design, and technology to connect with people on a deeper level. The conversation explores how organizations can redefine innovation by focusing on human-centered design, ethical collaboration, and the emotional impact of their work. Joseph highlights the power of balancing bold leadership with community-driven insights and offers a glimpse into his groundbreaking project, "Portal to the Arctic," an immersive installation that brought the story of climate change to life through stunning visuals and evocative soundscapes. This episode is a masterclass in bridging creativity, strategy, and empathy to craft experiences that resonate and inspire. Whether you're an innovator, designer, or leader, Joseph’s insights will leave you rethinking what’s possible in the spaces where humans and technology meet. For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman interviews Myrna Bittner, CEO and founder of RUNWITHIT Synthetics. Myrna discusses her company's innovative approach to synthetic environments, which extends beyond traditional digital twins by simulating complex systems and future scenarios. Her team creates dynamic models that integrate diverse data sources to help organizations plan and make informed decisions with enhanced foresight. Myrna highlights a significant project where their models simulated the economic impact of reopening international flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing the real-world applications of their technology. She also emphasizes the importance of transforming complex data into actionable insights through their "holodeck" technology. The episode covers the impact of synthetic data on decision-making, the evolution of planning tools, and the future directions of this technology.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman speaks with Eren Hukumdar, co-founder and CEO of Entrapeer, about transforming corporate innovation through strategic partnerships with startups. Eren shares his journey from developer to innovator, revealing the importance of addressing genuine business challenges over chasing technology trends. They explore how AI-driven platforms like Entrapeer can bridge the gap between startups and large corporations, helping enterprises uncover tailored solutions and optimize workflows for significant impact. From finding the right startup partners to measuring innovation ROI, Eren’s insights offer valuable lessons for both corporate leaders and startup founders aiming to navigate the complex world of corporate innovation. Tune in to learn how focusing on real problems, balancing risk, and embracing a collaborative mindset can unlock breakthrough innovation and lasting business value.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman and Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, explore the critical issues of communication security and the innovative strategies YouMail employs to tackle spam calls and fraud. Alex shares the evolution of YouMail from a voicemail service to a robust platform leveraging vast data analytics to protect users from unwanted communications. He outlines the importance of adaptive business strategies in response to technological advancements and consumer feedback.  The discussion also touches on broader implications of rapid tech evolution on security and privacy, offering insights into effective partnership building with carriers and law enforcement to enhance network integrity. Join us for a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of fighting telecommunication fraud in the digital age.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, host Ian Bergman welcomes Gigi Wang, an entrepreneur, corporate innovation expert, and industry fellow at UC Berkeley. Gigi shares her incredible journey from Taiwan to Silicon Valley, discussing her engineering career, entrepreneurship lessons, and the cross-cultural leadership insights she’s gained. Drawing from her experience working across the U.S., Asia, and beyond, Gigi explores the universal challenges and opportunities in corporate innovation, particularly when merging corporate structures with the agility of startups. Tune in to learn how innovation is not just about new technologies but about addressing future needs, how companies can foster a culture that supports risk-taking, and how leaders can assess whether they’re truly embracing innovation. Gigi also highlights the importance of personalized healthcare the unintended consequences of technology and offers actionable advice for building trust and collaboration between corporates and startups. Whether you're an executive or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical takeaways on growth mindset, leadership, and driving real change in today’s complex world.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, host Ian Bergman sits down with Lisa Bodell, futurist, founder of FutureThink, and champion of simplicity and innovation. Lisa shares her journey from advertising to leading FutureThink and discusses how companies often overcomplicate innovation efforts while missing the key to success: simplifying processes to make room for creativity. Together, Ian and Lisa explore the critical role of subtraction in driving innovation, how AI reshapes problem-solving while leaving space for human ingenuity, and the importance of fostering curiosity in a fast-paced world. Lisa offers actionable strategies for challenging the status quo, eliminating unnecessary rules, and focusing on meaningful work. Whether you’re a leader aiming to spark innovation or an employee seeking more time for creative thinking, this episode delivers powerful insights that can transform how you work.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Denis Kalyshkin, principal at I2BF Global Ventures and Co-Founder and CBDO at YouStar, to explore the exciting world of corporate innovation and deep tech. Denis shares his inspiring journey from aerospace engineering to venture capital, discussing how his mission to support humanity’s long-term impact drives his work in transforming legacy industries like construction, logistics, and manufacturing. Together, they dive into topics such as the potential of space technologies, deep tech’s role in reshaping industries, and the challenges of implementing innovation in "unsexy" sectors. Denis also highlights the power of space observation, robotics, and quantum computing in creating lasting change. Tune in to hear Denis’ thoughts on fostering innovation in traditionally slow-moving industries and how startups can disrupt the status quo to craft the future.