Innovation Storytellers

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.

Could your organization benefit from a new approach to innovation? In today's episode of Innovation Storytellers, Benjamin Atkinson, Director of Innovation at CNA Insurance, discusses transforming theoretical innovation into actionable strategies.  Benjamin shares his pivotal transition into innovation, sparked by early experiences where he managed a highly specialized R&D team without being the technical expert. This challenge led him to realize the power of enabling smart people to accomplish things beyond their imagination through well-designed processes and supportive tools. After introducing us to the Kirton Adaption-Innovation theory we also explore the concept of "death threats" from Eureka Ranch. This technique engages critical thinkers early in the innovation process to refine and validate new ideas effectively, avoiding the common pitfalls of groupthink and premature consensus. We also touch on Benjamin's insights into risk management and his application of lessons from Clayton Christensen's Innovator's Dilemma. The conversation dives into how these experiences have shaped his current role at CNA, guiding executive leadership in navigating complex problems with innovative solutions. Benjamin's stories of innovation at Toyota further illuminate the shift from technology-driven to problem-centric innovation strategies. Through this lens, he emphasizes the importance of positioning the right people in the right roles, akin to assembling a top-tier sports team where each player intuitively knows their part in a well-coordinated play. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to foster an environment where innovation thrives through structured yet flexible processes. Join us to understand how you can equip your team to turn groundbreaking ideas into practical, scalable solutions.  

In this episode, I am going to take you on a fascinating journey into the subconscious realm of our minds, exploring the science of fluid thinking and subconscious success with renowned cognitive scientist, Phillip Campbell.  Phillip is not only an expert in cognitive science and an executive brain coach but also the author of the enlightening book "Brain Habits". He is the CEO of enigmaFIT, a globally recognized brain coaching company, that aids individuals in tapping into their subconscious minds to improve their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.  We will learn more about the four pillars of Phillip's approach, notably, the Controlling Attention Pillar and the Complex Problem-Solving Pillar. Phillip shares his expertise on the intersection of cognitive science, subconscious habits, and how we can harness these facets for personal growth and success.  This conversation uncovers the intricacies of fluid thinking, a concept deeply intertwined with our capacity to adapt, innovate, and encounter novel problems. Phillip also sheds light on the neuroscience of midlife crisis and the shift in thinking patterns that can lead to transformative life decisions, explaining how such changes can literally recode our brains.  For those curious about their own ability to focus and want to explore their level of distractibility, Phillip offers a complimentary Focused Thinking assessment. This tool provides powerful insights and sets the foundation for your personal journey towards enhanced subconscious success.  Tune in and explore the science behind our subconscious success, learn about innovative thinking, and get ready to embark on a journey of personal growth. 

I sat down with Melora Zaner, the Chief Design Officer at TIAA, to discuss the often-overlooked value of incremental innovation and the transformative power of design in addressing pressing societal challenges like retirement.  Our conversation starts with an urgent issue that many are facing—the retirement crisis in America. We discuss the alarming statistics indicating that 40% of Americans are on track to run out of money in their retirement years. Melora offers an intriguing alternative by asking, "What if we shift our thinking from 'retirement planning' to 'longevity planning'?" This approach puts the focus on sustained income, healthcare provisions, and overall quality of life, rather than just a lump sum that may or may not last a lifetime. Innovation doesn't have to be grandiose to be impactful, as Melora eloquently points out. The episode delves into the concept of 'breadcrumbing,' a term Melora uses to describe the art of celebrating small, incremental changes that lead toward a significant shift. These small steps, often overlooked in the constant quest for disruptive change, can offer customers stepping stones, helping them see a future where their needs and concerns are addressed. We also discuss the importance of storytelling in the journey of innovation. How do you narrate a story that balances the celebration of small victories with the drive toward grand visions? The idea is to offer manageable steps, or breadcrumbs, to make the journey less daunting and more rewarding for both customers and organizations. These incremental changes shouldn't be underestimated; they often result in exponential gains over time, especially when they address specific customer pain points. Finally, Melora shares insights into getting internal stakeholders on board with innovation. She emphasizes that incremental wins can build confidence internally and set the stage for bigger, more disruptive changes in the long run. Tune into this episode of Innovation Storytellers Show to explore the power of incremental innovation and design-led thinking in transforming how we approach complex challenges, from the retirement crisis to customer engagement and internal alignment. Because sometimes, the biggest changes start with the smallest steps. Don't miss this enlightening discussion, full of actionable insights and thought-provoking concepts that challenge the status quo.