In my new episode of Innovation Storytellers, I chat with Rob Majteles as we delve into the transformative potential of Impact Frameworks in Innovation. During our enlightening conversation, Rob shares an inspiring example of a global agricultural company that has radically shifted its business model to embed sustainability into its core operations. This shift involves a comprehensive reevaluation of their impact on carbon emissions and biodiversity, representing a profound change from their historical reliance on fossil fuels. The company is not only adjusting to new market realities but is also setting a benchmark in the industry for integrating climate and sustainability considerations into every facet of its business. This involves complex risk analyses and a strategic overhaul that aims to generate value-added revenue through sustainable practices. Rob emphasizes the importance of viewing impact not just as an external obligation but as a crucial component of internal corporate strategy. By meticulously defining, aligning, and executing impact through detailed strategic roadmaps, companies can navigate the complexities of modern markets and unlock substantial opportunities for growth and innovation. Our discussion delves deep into how these frameworks can be a catalyst for significant organizational change, enabling companies to thrive in an increasingly conscientious business environment. Join us as we unpack these themes and more, understanding how true innovation often begins with rethinking how we measure and implement impact at every level of business.  

What role does innovation play in the federal government, especially when it comes to healthcare? On this episode of Innovation Storytellers, we take a deep dive into the innovation happening at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with Allison Amrhein, Director of the VHA Innovators Network. Allison brings us behind the scenes, sharing how the VA empowers frontline employees and veterans to identify problems and collaborate on solutions that impact real lives. It’s not about fancy tech—it’s about solving everyday challenges. From building a sense of community among employees to fostering a culture of human-centered design, the VA is showing how innovation can happen anywhere, even in the most traditional environments. During our conversation, Allison explains how the VA focuses on identifying problems before jumping to solutions—a mindset that has transformed how healthcare providers and veterans innovate together. We also explore the VA’s Greenhouse Initiative, a program that connects industry and entrepreneurs with the VA to shape products not yet on the market.  

In this episode, David Schatsky, a retired Research & Innovation Executive from Deloitte, shares his profound insights on leveraging narrative to champion big ideas and foster widespread adoption of innovative technologies. His experience at Deloitte, designing and leading cutting-edge research programs and creating an acclaimed online course in artificial intelligence, has positioned him as a luminary in translating complex innovations into actionable strategies. David dives into the challenges that often accompany climate tech solutions—ranging from skepticism about climate change to the intricacies of corporate buy-in. He elaborates on the methodology employed by Deloitte's futurists to identify viable commercial opportunities, emphasizing the critical role of open innovation and strategic storytelling in overcoming these hurdles. During our conversation, David discusses his pivotal role in launching a climate tech advisory service at Deloitte. This initiative aimed to fill a crucial gap in professional services, extending beyond basic compliance and reporting to actively facilitate emissions reductions through advanced technologies like carbon capture, energy storage, and sustainable production methods. We explore how David and his team developed a comprehensive taxonomy of climate technologies to aid clients in understanding and navigating this complex field. This taxonomy, covering hundreds of technologies and innovators, serves as a foundational tool for technology scouting, techno-economic analysis, and facilitating partnerships that drive meaningful environmental impact. Tune in to learn how storytelling can not only convey the urgency and feasibility of embracing climate tech but also inspire corporate leaders and innovators to invest in solutions that can shape a sustainable future.  

In this episode of the Innovation Storyteller Show, I sit down with Alex Trotta, Product Owner at Moody’s, who brings over 14 years of experience working at some of the most influential financial institutions in the world, including Citibank, MasterCard, and Goldman Sachs. Our conversation dives deep into how organizations, both large and small, can introduce innovation in a way that creates real impact and lasting value. One of the most important takeaways from Alex’s journey is the need to focus innovation efforts. Too often, businesses launch multiple initiatives at once—corporate ventures, accelerators, hackathons—and fail to give any one of them the attention, funding, or time they need to grow. According to Alex, innovation needs to be strategically aligned with company-wide goals, rather than being siloed off in a separate department. A key theme in our discussion is the concept of creating a "halo effect" around innovation. Alex explains how aligning innovation with influential figures or well-known brands can generate excitement and support within the organization. By building this halo effect, internal teams are more likely to rally behind innovative projects, elevating their own profiles within the company while driving real results. One of the most powerful insights Alex shares is the importance of data-driven decision-making in innovation. It’s not enough to simply have a good idea. You need the data to back it up. Alex emphasizes that using tools already in place—such as Salesforce, Jira, or ServiceNow—can accelerate the feedback loop and ensure that the decisions being made align with customer needs. Without this data, even the best ideas can fall flat when presented to leadership. Another crucial point Alex makes is the need for metrics. Whether you are pursuing a new product, process improvement, or business model innovation, having clear metrics allows you to assess whether to continue on your current path or pivot in a new direction. He advises innovators to not only measure success but also to be prepared to present the value of failure to leadership. Failure isn’t the end; it’s often where the most valuable lessons are learned. Throughout our conversation, Alex touches on the challenges of innovation within large organizations, particularly when it comes to securing ongoing funding and support. He argues that when innovation is viewed as a company-wide focus, rather than just the responsibility of a specific team, it has a better chance of surviving budget cuts during tough times. Ultimately, this episode is filled with practical advice for anyone working in corporate innovation. Whether you are at the beginning stages of an innovation initiative or trying to scale it within a large organization, Alex’s insights provide a roadmap for creating a more focused, data-driven approach that drives real value.  

In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I explore the intricate world of healthcare innovation with Robin Goldsmith, Global Lead of Health Innovation & Strategy at Verizon Business. As the healthcare industry undergoes a seismic shift, Robin sheds light on the importance of investing in new technologies that deliver long-term benefits, especially when faced with tight margins and staff shortages. We discuss the critical role of storytelling in communicating the value of technology to healthcare providers. Robin emphasizes that solutions must resonate with their unique challenges and enhance the patient experience. It’s not just about technology for its own sake; it’s about understanding how these innovations can transform everyday operations for doctors, nurses, and patients alike. With advancements in AI, 5G, and secure networks, we examine the potential for real-time data accessibility and improved patient outcomes. Robin shares insights from his extensive experience in health data analytics and digital transformation, highlighting the importance of practical use cases that demonstrate the tangible benefits of new technologies. Additionally, we touch on the frustrations that many healthcare professionals face when integrating technology into their workflows and how understanding their needs is crucial for fostering acceptance and encouraging innovation. Join us as we explore how Verizon is helping shape a healthier innovation story for both doctors and patients, paving the way for a more connected and efficient healthcare ecosystem. Don’t miss this enlightening discussion about the future of healthcare and the exciting technologies that will drive it forward!  

How do we turn complex problems into simple, innovative solutions that drive real-world impact? In this episode of the Innovation Storyteller Show, I sit down with Joe Salesky, the Founder and CEO of Fixing.World, to explore the art of innovation and storytelling in a rapidly changing business landscape. Joe, a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and inventor, brings over 40 years of experience in leading diverse teams to create transformative solutions on a global scale. Throughout our conversation, Joe shares his insights on how technology—ranging from AI to digital books—can revolutionize industries, with a particular focus on improving early childhood education. We dive into the trillion-book challenge, discussing how digital distribution can help bridge the gap for millions of children worldwide who lack access to books, addressing both cognitive development and social inequity. Joe also talks about the importance of delivering simple solutions to hard problems, emphasizing the need for quick, effective proofs of value to overcome organizational inertia. We explore how trust, empathy, and diverse teams are crucial in driving innovation and building lasting brand engagement in today’s noisy market. Join us as we uncover how to leverage innovation and storytelling to make the impossible possible, and how these principles can be applied to your own business challenges. How do you make complex ideas simple and impactful? Let’s dive in and find out together.  

In the latest episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, Susan Lindner engages in a compelling conversation with Mike Todasco, a distinguished figure in the tech world and former member of the original PayPal team. Mike brings a wealth of experience and insight into the discussion, shedding light on how innovation has shaped his career and continues to influence the tech landscape. Their conversation traverses Mike's transformative journey from PayPal to his current role as an AI expert, highlighting the pivotal role of innovation in both personal and professional contexts. Mike elaborates on the nuances of patents and the evolution of mobile technology, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in driving innovation. One of the standout topics is the impact of artificial intelligence across various fields. Mike explores how AI is revolutionizing ideation, healthcare, and voting while stressing the need for organizations to learn from past failures and cultivate a culture of risk and creativity. He also discusses the concept of decoupling rewards from results, drawing on insights from the poker player mindset, and how this approach can reshape our understanding of success and failure in innovation.  

In this episode of Innovation Storytellers Show, I’m joined by two pioneers in telematics—Hari Balakrishnan, Co-Founder and CTO, and Bill Powers, Co-Founder and CEO of Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT). Together, they’ve built the world’s largest telematics service provider, measuring and protecting over 40 million drivers globally. Throughout our conversation, Hari and Bill take us inside the early days of CMT, where intuition and belief were at the core of their efforts, long before they had data to rely on. They describe how their approach to telematics evolved, blending visionary thinking with real-time data to enhance driver safety, lower insurance costs, and provide critical insights into driving behavior. From crash detection to influencing insurance premiums, CMT’s work is driving major transformations in how we approach road safety. We also explore the human side of building an innovative company. Bill emphasizes the importance of listening to feedback, even when it comes as a "no," and Hari reflects on how learning from negative feedback was crucial in identifying the right partners. They share how their partnership with SoftBank helped fuel CMT’s growth, with investors who believed in their long-term vision for safer roads through technology. Whether you’re fascinated by the future of telematics, or curious about the journey of a startup that achieved unicorn status, this episode offers insights into how CMT is using technology to create a safer, more connected world. Tune in to hear their inspiring story of resilience, adaptability, and groundbreaking innovation.  

In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Edwin Garcia, Partner & General Manager at RedBox Innovation US. Edwin and I explored the profound ways in which creativity and innovation can be supercharged through immersive experiences. RedBox takes a distinctive approach to fostering creativity with their "inspiration excursions." These are not just typical travel experiences; they’re carefully curated journeys to locations around the world designed to deeply engage participants with new environments and ideas. Whether it’s the bustling streets of New York or the rich coffee culture of Tokyo, Edwin explains how these excursions transform inspiration into actionable ideas by immersing individuals in sensory-rich experiences. We also tackled the complexities of innovation, particularly how to measure the outcomes of inspiration services. Edwin discussed how companies innovate for two main reasons: purpose and panic. He emphasized that during challenging times, like the current climate where traditional venues are facing reduced attendance, investing in innovation can be crucial for recovery and long-term success. Drawing on historical examples, Edwin highlighted how Howard Schultz revitalized Starbucks by returning to its core values, demonstrating the balance between exploring new ideas and honing existing strengths. Finally, Edwin shared practical strategies for enhancing creativity, including the "perspective change" exercise and empathy mapping. These tools encourage looking at problems from multiple angles and deeply understanding different perspectives, which can lead to more innovative solutions.  

In this episode, we're discussing the future of innovation management with Joanne Hyland, President of rInnovation Group. Joanne brings a wealth of experience and insight into how organizations can develop and sustain effective innovation management systems.  We discuss the evolving landscape of innovation—from incremental improvements to breakthrough advancements—and the crucial role that standards and processes play in supporting these efforts. Joanne sheds light on how important it is to build a robust innovation management system that can withstand the test of time and adapt to changing needs of ever varying innovations. We discuss how building an innovation management system that stands the test of time involves understanding your organization's context, capacity, and culture and integrating these elements into a cohesive strategy. However, it's not all about theory. Joanne also addresses a common challenge: the tendency to cling to the status quo. She shares her own experiences with change and offers valuable advice on fostering a culture that's not just accepting but enthusiastic about transformation. If you're curious about how to implement a successful innovation management strategy or if your organization struggles with change resistance, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiring perspectives from one of the field's leading experts.