73. The Working Backwards Methodology for Innovation: Sustainability, AI, and Leadership with Amir Elion episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 25, 2026 · 34 MIN

73. The Working Backwards Methodology for Innovation: Sustainability, AI, and Leadership with Amir Elion

from Changemaker Q&A · host Humanitarian Changemakers Network

Innovation is a word we hear often, but what does it actually mean in practice? In this conversation with Amir Elion—innovation leader, former head of Amazon Web Services’ Digital Innovation program in the Nordics, and founder of Think Big Leaders—we explore how organisations can move beyond buzzwords to create real value. Amir shares how Amazon’s “working backwards” method can be applied anywhere, why culture matters more than size when it comes to innovation, and how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we create, test, and scale ideas. Along the way, he reflects on lessons from global corporations, startups, and NGOs, and on how his move to the Nordics reshaped his perspective on sustainability, leadership, and the future of technology.About Our Guest: Amir Elion is an experienced Business, Innovation and Transformation Leader. Amir is the founder of and senior advisor at Think Big Leaders, and co-initiator of the Global Green Action Day. He led the Digital Innovation program at Amazon Web Services in the Nordics, helping AWS customers build new products and experiences that delight customers using Amazon own Working Backwards innovation methodology. Previously, he led innovation and training activities at Motorola Solutions and Teva Pharmaceuticals, was Director of Products in two startups and served as a strategy and innovation consultant. Amir has a proven track record of leading business development, product teams and launches, as well as large learning and development projects and operations.📰 Read the accompanying article for this podcast episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Changemaker Q&A Community & ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💬 If you find this podcast valuable, it would really help us out to leave a rating & review wherever you're listening.Social Impact Foundations ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE Training Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HCN on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humanitarianchangemakers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Tiyana on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tiyanaj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The views expressed in this podcast are those of Tiyana J & guests and are not reflective of all members of the Humanitarian Changemakers Network.

Innovation is a word we hear often, but what does it actually mean in practice? In this conversation with Amir Elion—innovation leader, former head of Amazon Web Services’ Digital Innovation program in the Nordics, and founder of Think Big Leaders—we explore how organisations can move beyond buzzwords to create real value. Amir shares how Amazon’s “working backwards” method can be applied anywhere, why culture matters more than size when it comes to innovation, and how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we create, test, and scale ideas. Along the way, he reflects on lessons from global corporations, startups, and NGOs, and on how his move to the Nordics reshaped his perspective on sustainability, leadership, and the future of technology.About Our Guest: Amir Elion is an experienced Business, Innovation and Transformation Leader. Amir is the founder of and senior advisor at Think Big Leaders, and co-initiator of the Global Green Action Day. He led the Digital Innovation program at Amazon Web Services in the Nordics, helping AWS customers build new products and experiences that delight customers using Amazon own Working Backwards innovation methodology. Previously, he led innovation and training activities at Motorola Solutions and Teva Pharmaceuticals, was Director of Products in two startups and served as a strategy and innovation consultant. Amir has a proven track record of leading business development, product teams and launches, as well as large learning and development projects and operations.📰 Read the accompanying article for this podcast episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Changemaker Q&A Community & ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💬 If you find this podcast valuable, it would really help us out to leave a rating & review wherever you're listening.Social Impact Foundations ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE Training Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HCN on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humanitarianchangemakers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Tiyana on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tiyanaj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The views expressed in this podcast are those of Tiyana J & guests and are not reflective of all members of the Humanitarian Changemakers Network.

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73. The Working Backwards Methodology for Innovation: Sustainability, AI, and Leadership with Amir Elion

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This episode was published on January 25, 2026.

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Innovation is a word we hear often, but what does it actually mean in practice? In this conversation with Amir Elion—innovation leader, former head of Amazon Web Services’ Digital Innovation program in the Nordics, and founder of Think Big...

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