

Getting2Alpha
Amy Jo Kim
Wanna innovate faster and smarter? Getting2Alpha pulls back the curtain on how breakthrough innovators bring their ideas to life - and delivers actionable tips to help you bring innovative ideas to life. You’ll meet luminaries who've created genre-defining hits - and rising stars who are shaping the future. Listen in and get inspired to innovate smarter and increase your odds of success.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 12, 2022 • 54min
Barry O’Reilly: The Power of Incentives
Barry O'Reilly is a business strategist and author of Unlearn and Lean Enterprise. He’s worked with top executives at Wells Fargo, American Airlines and Walmart to cut through complexity and make smart decisions in a changing world. In doing this work, Barry has learned that most executives resist unlearning what they already know.Listen as Barry talks about the importance of questioning assumptions, and the power of incentive systems to shape human behavior.

Aug 12, 2022 • 59min
Chris Heatherly: Innovation in Game Design
Chris Heatherly, Head of Games & Engagement at Recur, discusses transitioning from web design to industrial design, Disney's transformation and the streaming wars, understanding failure in innovation, challenges of being a consultant and the future of gaming.

Dec 13, 2018 • 40min
John Hagel: The Future of Work
John Hagel, a leading business strategist and head of Deloitte's Center for the Edge, shares profound insights on the future of work. He discusses the critical role of trust in community and marketplace dynamics. Hagel explores innovative models like Li and Fung's network-driven approach in the clothing industry, highlighting the significance of long-term relationships. The conversation also touches on the transformative potential of AI and blockchain, advocating for collaboration and new questions that can spark creativity and innovation.

Dec 6, 2018 • 41min
Schwark Satyavolu: The Future of Fintech
Schwark Satyavolu is a serial entrepreneur and early-stage investor at Trinity Ventures. After founding and growing several innovative startups in the fintech space - a journey that included a stint as an executive at Mastercard - Schwark is now building up the fintech practice at Trinity. His background as an entrepreneur makes him empathetic to the realities of what startup life is life -- a great quality for an investor to have. I also loved hearing Schwark’s perspective on the future of crypto - because it comes from such a deeply informed perspective. Listen in and find out how this successful entrepreneur-turned-investor is shaping the next generation of fintech innovators.

Nov 21, 2018 • 37min
Siqi Chen: How to find vision/market fit
Siqi Chen, President and Chief Product Officer of Sandbox VR, dives into his entrepreneurial journey from Zynga to the forefront of virtual reality. He discusses the delicate balance between holding a strong product vision and adapting to market feedback. Siqi shares insights from his experiences in both the West and China, reflecting on the rapid technological advancements in entertainment. He also highlights emerging VR trends and the potential of innovation to reshape consumer experiences, making the future of virtual reality an exciting frontier.

Nov 21, 2018 • 48min
BJ Fogg: Tiny Habits and the search for truth
BJ Fogg, a behavioral scientist at Stanford and author of "Tiny Habits," dives into the world of behavior design and its impact on technology. He shares his journey from the Facebook Platform explosion to developing the Tiny Habits program, emphasizing simplicity in fostering behavior change. The conversation highlights the delicate balance between creativity and productivity, discussing his upcoming projects and the importance of nurturing self-efficacy. Fogg also reflects on how a near-miss plane crash ignited his drive for truth and creativity.

Nov 21, 2018 • 53min
Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom: Playtesting and customer empathy
Tracy Rosenthal Newsom is an award-winning game producer and product leader who brought you hits like Rock Band and Dance Central. I worked with Tracy in the early days of bringing Rock Band to life - and learned so much from her. In many ways, we've traveled parallel paths - moving through the worlds of gaming, digital healthcare and humanistic product design. The common thread is a deep, abiding interest in creating experiences that connect with people in a deep and positive way. And I'll tell you - Tracy knows how to do that. Join us and discover the key practices that led this innovative creative powerhouse towards success.Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/PbTCRDxUZT4

Nov 20, 2018 • 52min
Jeri Ellsworth: Invention as a way of life
Jeri Ellsworth is a tinkerer, inventor, and entrepreneur who grew up fixing toasters and building race cars - then moved on to inventing the future of AR at Valve, CastAR and now Tilt Five. Jeri’s got a unique take on bringing innovation to market - and a healthy appreciation for the human side of technology development. Listen in and discover how a quirky kid from rural Oregon transformed herself into a Silicon Valley powerhouse.Check out the episode here: https://youtu.be/a6NRfwmSoFE

Oct 18, 2018 • 43min
David Vogler: Making media on the cutting edge
I first met David Vogler during the early, heady days of the Web, when we worked together to craft Nickelodeon’s first online presence. David went on to lead creative teams at Disney, Hearst, NBC Universal, and other leading brands. He’s now the Head of Design for Complex Networks, a joint venture between Hearst and Verizon. David has a knack for creating innovative media experiences that still manage to connect with basic user needs. Listen in and discover how this long-time insider navigates the dynamic landscape of online video and big media brand-building.

Oct 3, 2018 • 33min
Bob Moesta: Innovation Rules
Bob Moesta is the CEO and President of the Re-Wired group, a consultancy specializing in demand-side innovation. Bob and his team help large companies innovate with demand-side techniques and learn methods - meaning that he helps them validate market demand before building something. Bob and I share a mutual love of using #jobs-to-be-done to innovate smarter and help people ask better questions. I love Bob’s down-to-earth perspective and deep insights into the systemic nature of innovation - derived from being on the front lines of innovation in Japan. Listen in and learn about the key qualities and habits that lead to successful innovations.