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.

Jeff Wong, EY’s Global Chief Innovation Officer and technology enthusiast joins Better Innovation host Jeff Saviano for a fascinating and fluid conversation about the Metaverse.    Some predict the Metaverse could soon become a $1 trillion+ industry. Jeff Wong explains the importance of distinguishing between hype and value curves when assessing emerging technology trends. The pair of Jeffs explore helpful definitions of the Metaverse and discuss the current limitations of VR/AR, the alignment to De-Fi (decentralized finance) and digital currencies, and the likely increased regulation for related Web3.0 tech solutions. Listen-in as Jeff Wong shares his belief in the Metaverse’s incredible potential for good, ultimately transcending commercial applications to help solve humanity’s biggest challenges – from climate change to social justice.

How will innovative technologies influence the Citizen - State relationship? In this episode, Jeff is joined by Nick Davies, an innovation and technology leader within Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the UK tax authority. Jeff and Nick discuss the role of innovation and advanced tech in the changing economy, perhaps manifested in a new (digital) social contract. Technologies such as AI and blockchain are supercharging the State’s participation in the digital economy. Governments are playing an increasing role in the development and regulation of new tech, along with new incentive mechanisms to foster fresh growth opportunities.

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Jeremy Allaire - technologist, internet pioneer, and serial entrepreneur. Jeremy is the founder of Circle, a global financial technology firm enabling a multitude of organizations to harness the power of digital currencies for payments, e-commerce and a wide variety of financial applications. Jeff and Jeremy talk about the fast-moving digital currency revolution, the evolution of money itself, and Web 3.0 ideals to create an open internet of value. Jeremy and Circle itself are changing the relationship between commerce and currencies. The conversation concludes with the exciting opportunities afforded by the programmability of money through smart contracts. If you're interested in the future of finance, this episode is a must-listen!

This episode is about the friction we face as innovators. Jeff is joined by David Schonthal, Clinical Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and co-author of The Human Element: Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas. Jeff and David discuss the headwinds that stand in the way of innovation; the four frictions that, unless overcome, will prevent new ideas from succeeding. We’re hard-wired as humans to focus on new product features and functions. While important, Jeff and David had a rich conversation about the inevitable friction and resistance that innovators inevitably face when designing and bringing new ideas to market. We all face friction; David offers a creative roadmap to get past it.

As we kick off a new season, Jeff speaks with Rita McGrath, Professor of Management at the Columbia Business School and author of Seeing Around Corners, How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen. Rita has received the #1 achievement award for strategy from the prestigious Thinkers50, and has been consistently named one of the world’s Top 10 management thinkers. Rita shares her unique perspective on how to spot leading trends, what to do about them, and practical tips to align your organization to important change events. Rita credits a line in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises for inspiring her book. A character in Hemingway’s novel answers a question about how he went bankrupt by saying, ‘two ways, gradually, then suddenly.’ What a perfect metaphor for explaining how important change events impact organizations.  

Marcello Estevão, Global Director of Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment at The World Bank knows the importance and impact of public debt management. In this episode, Marcello takes Jeff through the process of debt intervention for national economies, the role of debt in tax policy making, and how emerging technology can materially enhance public finance (including tax) systems. Marcello also offers some insights on economic development as the pandemic recovery continues.

Susan Garfield, Chief Public Health Officer at EY, believes we’re at the precipice of a transformational moment in health equity, leveraging innovative technology to make a difference in the lives of millions. Jeff and Susan chat about the cascading effect of technology in healthcare, its impact on the democratization of high-quality care, and how the public sector can learn from the pandemic to improve resiliency and the overall quality of healthcare. 

One episode was not enough, so we broke it in two. Here's the second part of Jeff's interview with Dave Duncan. Dave is the author of The Secret Lives of Customers: A Detective Story About Solving the Mystery of Customer Behavior. Through a very engaging parable, Dave dives into what motivates customers across the functional, social, and emotional spectrum, with an emphasis on the important questions you're asking about your customers. Whether your customer is a coffee shop or large enterprise, Dave’s principles will help you better align your product or service to what matters most to your customers. In this fascinating two-part discussion, Jeff and Dave dive into the key messages from The Secret Lives of Customers to help you discover new ways to meet rapidly changing customer needs.

Dave Duncan, author of The Secret Lives of Customers: A Detective Story About Solving the Mystery of Customer Behavior, investigates what customers truly care about most. Through a very engaging parable, Dave dives into what motivates customers across the functional, social, and emotional spectrum, with an emphasis on the important questions you're asking about your customers. Whether your customer is a coffee shop or large enterprise, Dave’s principles will help you better align your product or service to what matters most to your customers. In this fascinating two-part discussion, Jeff and Dave dive into the key messages from The Secret Lives of Customers to help you discover new ways to meet rapidly changing customer needs.

Are you incorporating “digital trust” into your digital transformation efforts? Hank Prybylski breaks down what it means to incorporate mission-critical trust elements into a successful digital transformation endeavor. In his role as Global Vice Chair of Transformation at EY, Hank helps business leaders approach innovation through an emphasis on courage and curiosity, with insights they need to build resiliency – especially important as we emerge from the global pandemic. Jeff and Hank cover a wide range of transformation and innovation topics, from digital governance and maximizing AI effectiveness, to mitigating biases within data. Take a listen, we think you’ll really enjoy their free-flowing innovation conversation!