1151: How to Harness the Surprising Power of Ignorance with Alan Gregerman episode artwork

EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 44 MIN

1151: How to Harness the Surprising Power of Ignorance with Alan Gregerman

from How to Be Awesome at Your Job

Alan Gregerman shares why the right kind of ignorance is the secret to driving innovation.— YOU’LL LEARN — 1) How to challenge assumptions that are keeping you stuck2) Why not knowing can often lead to better solutions3) Six ways to unlock ignorance as a superpowerSubscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1151 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT ALAN — Alan Gregerman is an internationally renowned authority on business strategy, innovation, and hidden potential who has been called “one of the most original thinkers in business today” and “the Robin Williams of business consulting.”As the president and chief innovation officer of Washington, D.C.-based consultancy VENTURE WORKS, a bestselling author, and a sought-after keynote speaker, he focuses on helping companies and organizations unlock the genius in all of their people in order to deliver the most compelling value to their customers. He is also the founder of Passion for Learning, an award-winning nonprofit that teaches girls technology skills as a key to life and career success.His three previous books—The Necessity of Strangers, Surrounded by Geniuses, and Lessons from the Sandbox—challenge conventional thinking about people, the world around us, what it means to be remarkable, and where brilliant ideas actually come from. He’s also the author of the critically acclaimed blog Surrounded by Geniuses.• Book: The Wisdom of Ignorance: Why Not Knowing Can Be the Key to Innovation in an Uncertain World• LinkedIn: Alan Gregerman• Website: AlanGregerman.com— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: Around the World in Eighty Days (Macmillan Collector's Library) by Jules Verne• Book: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes• TED Talk: Why I train grandmothers to treat depression | Dixon Chibanda• Book: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Scribe. Book a personalized enterprise demo with scribe.how/awesome• Narwhal. Treat your home to spotless, fresh floors with us.narwhal.com/pete.• Monarch.com. Get 50% off your first year on with the code AWESOME.• Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/awesomepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alan Gregerman shares why the right kind of ignorance is the secret to driving innovation. — YOU’LL LEARN —  1) How to challenge assumptions that are keeping you stuck 2) Why not knowing can often lead to better solutions 3) Six ways to unlock ignorance as a superpower Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1151 for clickable versions of the links below.  — ABOUT ALAN —  Alan Gregerman is an internationally renowned authority on business strategy, innovation, and hidden potential who has been called “one of the most original thinkers in business today” and “the Robin Williams of business consulting.” As the president and chief innovation officer of Washington, D.C.-based consultancy VENTURE WORKS, a bestselling author, and a sought-after keynote speaker, he focuses on helping companies and organizations unlock the genius in all of their people in order to deliver the most compelling value to their customers. He is also the founder of Passion for Learning, an award-winning nonprofit that teaches girls technology skills as a key to life and career success. His three previous books—The Necessity of Strangers, Surrounded by Geniuses, and Lessons from the Sandbox—challenge conventional thinking about people, the world around us, what it means to be remarkable, and where brilliant ideas actually come from. He’s also the author of the critically acclaimed blog Surrounded by Geniuses. • Book: The Wisdom of Ignorance: Why Not Knowing Can Be the Key to Innovation in an Uncertain World • LinkedIn: Alan Gregerman • Website: AlanGregerman.com — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW —  • Book: Around the World in Eighty Days (Macmillan Collector's Library) by Jules Verne • Book: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes • TED Talk: Why I train grandmothers to treat depression | Dixon Chibanda • Book: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne — THANK YOU SPONSORS! —  • Scribe. Book a personalized enterprise demo with scribe.how/awesome • Narwhal. Treat your home to spotless, fresh floors with us.narwhal.com/pete. • Monarch.com. Get 50% off your first year on with the code AWESOME. • Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/awesomepod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NOW PLAYING

1151: How to Harness the Surprising Power of Ignorance with Alan Gregerman

0:00 44:55

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. Breaking News Show | eTurboNews Juergen Thomas Steinmetz News is relevant to the global travel and tourism industry, human rights and global issues.Breaking news when it happens and only from the source. Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of How to Be Awesome at Your Job?

This episode is 44 minutes long.

When was this How to Be Awesome at Your Job episode published?

This episode was published on May 11, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Alan Gregerman shares why the right kind of ignorance is the secret to driving innovation.— YOU’LL LEARN — 1) How to challenge assumptions that are keeping you stuck2) Why not knowing can often lead to better solutions3) Six ways to unlock ignorance...

Can I download this How to Be Awesome at Your Job episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!