Innovating for Impact : A Conversation with Ryan Russell

About the episode: As part of our Innovation series, Ryan Russell, Vice President of Innovation and New Products at Compassion International, joins us in unraveling the intricacies of service-oriented innovation. Together, we discuss how innovation doesn't have to be huge to make an impact. Each step forward is rich with opportunities to learn. Ryan talks about the passion and humility we need towards our customers, employees, and/or clients. We also explore the intersection of creativity and connection in non-profit innovation, delving into Compassion International's multifaceted crusade against child poverty and how innovation forges new (and unconventional) pathways for connection and support. Ryan's wealth of diverse career experiences underscores the transformative influence of a dedicated innovation team. This episode is an invitation to embrace the spirit of innovation in our everyday actions and in companies and organizations. Bio: Ryan Russell is Vice President of Innovation at Compassion International. He joined Compassion in July 2023 to lead the Compassion of Tomorrow team and grow Compassion's innovation function. Before Compassion, Ryan served as the Senior Vice President of Design and User Experience (UX) at Hinge Health and spent nine years at Amazon as the Director of Design & UX for Amazon Glow. Under his leadership, the team grew from two people to over 135 across five studios in the U.S. Before Amazon, he led McAfee's Design Studio, launched Cohdoo Highlight, an award-winning audio recording app, and designed novel consumer computing experiences at Intel. Resources: Compassion International https://www.designkit.org/index.html - This is a site full of content to help anyone innovate and work backwards from the neighbors they are serving. The Field Guide to Human-Centered Design (https://www.designkit.org/resources/1.html) available on the site offers is a great step-by-step resource to design thinking and innovation. Get our new FREE 56-page e-book, Called to Serve: How to Navigate a Christian Vocation in Humanitarian, Disaster, and Development Work. Spiritual First Aid ------------ This episode was produced by WildfireCreative Theme Song: "Turning Over Tables" by The Brilliance Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | Stitcher | RSS Follow us on Twitter: @drjamieaten | @kentannan Follow on Instagram: @wildfirecreativeco @wheaton_hdi (Note to the listener: In this podcast, sometimes we'll host Evangelicals, and sometimes we won't. Learning how to "do good, better" involves listening to many perspectives with different insights and understanding. Sometimes, it will make us uncomfortable; sometimes, we'll agree, and sometimes, we won't. We think that's good. We want to listen for correction–especially in our blind spots.) The Better Samaritan podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers an M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website. Jamie Aten, Ph.D., and Kent Annan, M.Div., co-direct the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College and are the Co-Founders of Spiritual First Aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices