The Innovation Show

"AI doesn't have judgment in it — it produces judgment-shaped artifacts." Usman Sheikh, founder of High Output Ventures and author of the Framebreak newsletter, has spent years writing about how AI will reshape professional services — and the world has now caught up with the puck. In this conversation with Aidan McCullen, he explains why the consulting pyramid — the structure behind every major firm — is coming apart, and what replaces it. In this conversation, Usman reveals: Why firms became pyramids: leverage, margin, and a talent academy paid for by the client's billable hours How AI pulls all three apart at once What "judgment-shaped artifacts" are — and why AI is fundamentally different from offshoring and RPA "Fluent but substitutable": why leaning on an LLM turns your career into a slot machine The digital twin trap — why a frozen snapshot of a senior partner decays fast The Concentrix vs Sierra story: AI voice agents in regulated industries growing from $100M to $200M in revenue in four months The "AI discount": why KPMG asked its own auditor for a price cut — and how the surplus drains to clients and platforms Why Palantir and Microsoft are suddenly preaching sovereignty over your data and models The intelligence core: the feedback loop that turns pyramids into rings How firms build tomorrow's bench — simulators, shadowing, apprenticeships — and why partners near retirement have no incentive to bother Chapters: 00:00 Sponsor Message 00:31 Guest Introduction 03:10 Why Firms Became Pyramids 05:13 AI Breaks The Model 05:53 Digital Twins And Hiring 07:38 Training Juniors With AI 11:50 Fluent But Substitutable 15:19 Offshoring To AI Shift 20:18 Macro Jobs And Demand 23:14 Who Captures The Gains 28:04 Learning In The AI Era 34:33 Intelligence Core And Rings 40:49 AI Discount And Value Drain 45:21 Building The Future Bench 50:11 Wrap Up And Where To Find 51:16 Final Thanks And Outro About Usman Sheikh Usman Sheikh is the founder and managing director of High Output Ventures, a venture studio building and backing technology-augmented service firms, and the author of Framebreak, a weekly newsletter on strategy, consulting and the knowledge-work economy. Read his work at https://framebreak.com and connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/usmans About the Host Aidan McCullen is the 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, a keynote speaker on AI, disruption, innovation and change, host of The Innovation Show, and author of Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention (Wiley). Learn more: https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen This series is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. With a unique blend of AI-powered consulting built on unmatched managed-service capability, Kyndryl helps leaders harness technology for smarter decisions, faster innovation, and lasting competitive edge. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com About The Innovation Show: the Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, author of Undisruptable, it brings you conversations with world-class authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, change, transformation and leadership. Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

"Innovation isn't a gift. It's a simple, repeatable five-step process that anyone, at any level, can learn — with nothing more than a stack of Post-it notes." Carla Johnson, author of RE:Think Innovation, is on a mission to teach one million people to consistently come up with new, great and reliable ideas. In this anniversary-edition conversation, she takes Aidan McCullen through her updated Wheel of Innovation — observe, distill, relate, generate, pitch — and the cautionary tales that show why so many good ideas die in the boardroom. In this conversation, Carla reveals: Why a pet-flavoured water startup failed — and the warning signs it ignored The "CF-uh-O" who killed a Disney-inspired pitch, and what it teaches about how ideas are packaged What brand detachment disorder is — and why "that would never work here" is your most expensive excuse How Big Ass Fans transplanted the customer experience of Zingerman's Deli into an industrial fan company How the CDC's zombie apocalypse campaign got 60,000 hits in an hour and put Dr. Ali Khan on stage at Comic-Con Why Great Ormond Street Hospital brought in Ferrari's Formula 1 pit crew to cut surgical handover errors How Tim Washer turned the Cisco ASR 9000 router launch into a Valentine's Day love story Why real creativity only starts after your first 200 ideas The "how might we" language shift that stops your brain killing ideas before they're born How to give feedback that builds perpetual innovators instead of silencing them Chapters:  00:00 Innovation Is A Process 00:49 Why RE Think Matters 02:10 Thirsty Pet Cautionary Tale 05:01 Defining Innovation Clearly 07:29 New Great Reliable Ideas 09:54 Perpetual Innovators Explained 11:03 Mentorina Pitch Gone Wrong 15:10 Brand Detachment Disorder 18:29 Complexity Bias In Innovation 22:07 Brand Transplant Big Ass Fans 25:38 Constraints And If Onlys 28:23 CDC Zombie Preparedness Win 33:18 Wheel Of Innovation Update 33:53 Constraints Spark Creativity 34:27 Cisco Router Love Story 39:32 Observation Drives Innovation 45:01 Distill Dots Into Patterns 48:05 Relate Ideas To Brand 53:00 Generate 200 Ideas 55:50 Pitch The Idea Journey 59:32 Feedback That Builds 01:04:19 Where To Find Carla Find Carla Johnson at https://carlajohnson.co — take the innovation archetype assessment and sign up for her fortnightly newsletter. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack  https://thethursdaythought.substack.com About The Innovation Show: the Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, author of Undisruptable, it brings you conversations with world-class authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, change, transformation and leadership. Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

"The act of modularizing your product is the very act of inviting your future competitors into existence." Carliss Baldwin and Kim Clark, authors of the landmark Design Rules: The Power of Modularity, join Aidan McCullen for an Innovation Show exclusive. Their book is the Rosetta Stone of platform strategy — the mechanic underneath the Innovator's Dilemma — and it has never been more relevant than in this age of AI. In this conversation, Carliss and Kim reveal: Why the power of modularity underpins Moore's Law — and everything digital around us How IBM engineers, locked in a Connecticut motel before Christmas, invented the first conscious modular platform strategy How the System/360 turned IBM from a competitor into "the environment" Why the engineers who walked out of IBM's San Jose plant spawned the entire disk-drive industry How IBM owned 30% of Intel and contracted Microsoft — yet failed to own the only two sources of profit in the PC ecosystem Why "the game is never incontestably won" Why Sears couldn't become Walmart, and Walmart couldn't become Amazon The Chevy Vega that shook itself apart on the test track — and the cost of losing tacit knowledge Why AI agents are forcing companies to map their workflows for the first time How Haier replaced twelve layers of management with 4,000 entrepreneurial teams Why leadership is the operating system of the organisation 00:00 Why This Book Matters 00:33 Modularity For Founders Investors 01:39 Meet The Authors 02:25 What Are Design Rules 03:43 Design Rules Everywhere 06:50 Digital Tech Meets Software 10:52 IBM System 360 Breakthrough 14:22 Artifacts And Interfaces 20:55 Ecosystem Value Migration 26:10 Capturing Value In Platforms 30:23 AI And Measuring Modularity 34:08 Architectural Change And Retail 37:37 Why Incumbents Survive Or Die 43:28 Modularity Creates Options 44:48 Incumbents Miss Nuances 47:09 AI Needs Workflow Maps 52:18 Tacit Knowledge Lost 54:13 Small Car Hood Failures 59:00 Why Ideas Bomb 01:01:28 History Constrains Firms 01:05:52 Modular Organisations Rise 01:08:58 Haier Team Ecosystems 01:17:41 Leadership As Operating System 01:21:55 Spandrels And Tech Reality 01:27:53 Closing Reflections About the Guests Carliss Y. Baldwin is the William L. White Professor of Business Administration, Emerita, at Harvard Business School and author of Design Rules, Volume 2: How Technology Shapes Organizations (MIT Press). Kim B. Clark is a former Dean of Harvard Business School, NAC Distinguished Professor of Management at BYU Marriott School of Business, co-author of Leading Through, and co-founder of the Leading Through Institute. Together they wrote Design Rules, Volume 1: The Power of Modularity (MIT Press). Design Rules, Volume 2: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049337/design-rules-volume-2/ Leading Through Institute: https://leadingthrough.co About the Host Aidan McCullen is a 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, keynote speaker on AI, disruption, innovation and change, host of The Innovation Show, and author of Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention (Wiley). More at https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen About The Innovation Show The Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Connect: https://theinnovationshow.io https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

"Narcissists do draw people in. They start with really appealing visions — and then the wheels come off." About 2% of people are narcissists. Among CEOs, it's roughly 16%. Jennifer Chatman — Dean of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and one of the world's leading scholars of organisational culture — joins Aidan McCullen to explain why narcissistic leadership is so often mistaken for visionary leadership, and how to tell the two apart before one wrecks your company. Drawing on her widely cited article with Stanford's Charles O'Reilly, "Transformational Leader or Narcissist?", and her new book Making Organizational Culture Great, Jennifer separates the grandiose vision we admire from the exploitation that comes attached to it. This episode follows directly on from the two-part Geoffrey Cain series on Steve Jobs in exile — because Jobs is one of the case studies. In this conversation, Jennifer reveals: Why a narcissistic CEO's pay quietly pulls away from their team's over time — and what that gap really measures The single interview question that exposes a narcissist: "Who did you bring along with you?" Why Steve Jobs ended his career with 13 senior leaders who'd stayed 13 years — and what that says about him How "grandiose vision" and "narcissism" overlap on a Venn diagram — and where they split The "dark triad" that turns confidence into damage: narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism Why narcissistic CEOs file far more lawsuits — yet win no more of them The counter-intuitive team move: group your narcissists together Why narcissism's damage to a culture is "sticky" — it lingers long after the leader leaves How to shield yourself when you can't leave — and when to look for the exit Why chaos and uncertainty are a narcissist's favourite weather Chapters 00:00 Cold open: how narcissist CEOs pull away from their teams 02:00 Welcome Jennifer Chatman, and the Steve Jobs connection 04:00 Kalanick, Holmes, Trump: the quotes that give a narcissist away 05:00 Why 16% of CEOs are narcissists — and how they draw you in 07:00 The delayed damage: pay, credit, and the dark triad 16:00 The one question that exposes a narcissist 19:00 Risk, lawsuits, and the denial of failure 24:00 Ethics, collaboration, and the sticky cost to culture 27:00 How to protect yourself, and Making Organizational Culture Great (Timestamps follow the transcript markers — shift after the final edit.) About the Host Aidan McCullen, 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, keynote speaker on AI/disruption/innovation/change, host of The Innovation Show, author of Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention (Wiley). Links: https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen  About the Guest Jennifer A. Chatman is the Bank of America Dean of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and a leading scholar of organisational culture and narcissistic leadership. She co-created the Organizational Culture Profile and co-hosts the podcast The Culture Kit with Jenny & Sameer. With Stanford's Charles O'Reilly she wrote the widely cited article "Transformational Leader or Narcissist? How Grandiose Narcissists Can Create and Destroy Organizations and Institutions," and with Glenn Carroll she is the author of Making Organizational Culture Great: Moving Beyond Popular Beliefs (Columbia Business School Publishing, 2026). Link: https://www.jenniferachatman.com About The Innovation Show The Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Host Aidan McCullen sits down with world-class authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, transformation, leadership, AI and the ideas shaping tomorrow. This series is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. With a unique blend of AI-powered consulting built on unmatched managed-service capability, Kyndryl helps leaders harness technology for smarter decisions, faster innovation, and lasting competitive edge. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Making Organizational Culture Great, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Connect: Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Substack (Thursday Thought): https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

Steve Jobs sold barely 100 computers a month at NeXT — and told his team they'd sell 100,000. This is the decade everyone skips. Author Geoffrey Cain joins Aidan McCullen for part two on Steve Jobs in Exile, the story of the wilderness years between Jobs' 1985 ousting from Apple and his return. Cain reframes the NeXT era not as a triumphant hero's journey but as a cascade of failure, ego and self-sabotage that quietly forged the leader Jobs became. In this conversation, Geoffrey reveals: Why the "reality distortion field" stopped working the moment the $6,500 NeXTcube shipped How Jobs sabotaged an IBM deal that could have made NeXTSTEP, not Windows, the world's operating system The airport moment he abandoned his own salesman in front of 800 IBM engineers Why he killed Ross Perot's pipeline to the CIA, NSA and Pentagon with five words: "I don't like the feds" How a Daffy Duck demo blew up a Disney deal worth thousands of computers Why Tim Berners-Lee built the entire World Wide Web on a single NeXTcube in 1990 How the creators of Doom were turned away because Jobs "didn't like games" The advisor's warning Jobs ignored for a decade: "your assets have feet" Why putting on a grey suit to sell enterprise software was the moment he finally grew up The random mid-level phone call — not Jobs' idea — that put him back on the road to Apple Chapters: 00:00 Think beyond use cases 00:38 Sponsor message 01:03 Part two begins 01:54 NeXT revenge era 03:48 Reality distorts back 04:56 Cube launch hype 05:59 Sales reality check 06:48 Founder market lesson 08:04 The hero–shithead rollercoaster 12:09 Carrot and stick leadership 13:25 Assets have feet 14:57 Co-founders depart 17:50 Buggy cube problems 18:53 Writing the donut hole 19:57 Canon investment drama 21:33 IBM deal sabotage 25:40 Ross Perot fallout 28:13 No feds market 28:48 Disney deal blow-up 31:03 NeXT powers the web 32:32 Doom and missed gaming 33:28 Lesson for AI builders 35:32 Motorola dumps NeXT 38:40 Rock bottom pivot 40:07 Enterprise sales Jobs 43:34 WebObjects breakthrough 48:06 Pixar vindication 51:05 Phone call to Apple 54:47 Wrap up and sponsor About Geoffrey Cain: Geoffrey Cain is an author and investigative journalist. His book Steve Jobs in Exile chronicles the NeXT and Pixar years, and he also wrote Samsung Rising. Website: https://geoffreycain.net Substack (The Burner Files): https://geoffreycain.substack.com X: https://x.com/Geoffrey_Cain About The Innovation Show: The Innovation Show is the Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Host Aidan McCullen sits down with world-class authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, change, leadership, AI and the ideas shaping tomorrow. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for extra content and webinars. Connect: Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Substack: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen About the Author Geoffrey Cain is an author and investigative journalist, and the author of Steve Jobs in Exile and Samsung Rising. https://geoffreycain.net — https://geoffreycain.substack.com About the Host Aidan McCullen is the 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, keynote speaker on AI, disruption, innovation, and change, host of The Innovation Show, and author of Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention (Wiley). https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen  

Steve Jobs was nearly bankrupt — down to his last $150 million, burning $50 million a year, with every product failing and every investor gone. Award-winning journalist Geoffrey Cain, author of Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of a Technology Visionary, joins Aidan McCullen to tell the story the official Jobs narrative leaves out: the dozen years between his firing from Apple in 1985 and his triumphant return. Drawing on unbroadcast NeXT footage, new interviews and internal documents, Cain reveals the failures, the revenge and the near-misses that forged the leader who saved Apple. In this conversation, Geoffrey reveals: Why Steve Jobs was three years from bankruptcy in the early 1990s The "low-level employees" lie that made Apple sue its own co-founder Why the lawsuit backfired and handed Jobs exactly what he wanted How a Bill Gates talk about CD-ROMs accidentally named NeXT Why revenge on John Sculley — not changing the world — drove the founding of NeXT The "hero–shithead rollercoaster" every NeXT executive insisted Cain had to understand The "deep shit list" Jobs ran the company on — and the mindset shift that replaced it How George Lucas's divorce handed Jobs Pixar at a fire-sale price Why Ross Perot bet $20 million on a company with no product "Steve on a Stick" — the celebrity sales act that kept NeXT alive Chapters:  00:00 Failures Before Fame 01:03 Sponsor Message 01:36 NeXT Years Overview 02:50 Meet Geoffrey Cain 06:46 Survivorship Bias Lens 08:59 Near Bankruptcy Stakes 11:50 Fired From Apple 1985 14:37 Summer In Exile 19:11 Rival Jean-Louis Gassée 22:22 Dan'l Lewin And Education 27:32 Revenge Fuels NeXT 30:52 Apple Sues Steve Jobs 34:37 Lawsuit Backfires 36:23 Naming NeXT 39:02 Betting Careers On Steve 42:08 Pixar Fire Sale Bet 45:28 Working With Steve 46:31 Hero Shithead Rollercoaster 49:11 NeXT Talent Hierarchy 53:14 Luxury Spending Spree 58:32 Ross Perot Big Check 01:02:04 Deep Shit List Management 01:08:28 Canon Optical Disk Gamble 01:13:38 Businessland Sales Fallout 01:17:22 Wrap Up And Sponsor Find Geoffrey Cain at https://geoffreycain.net, on X at @Geoffrey_Cain and on LinkedIn (GCain). This series is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Steve Jobs in Exile, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com About The Innovation Show: The Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Aidan McCullen hosts world-class authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, change, transformation, leadership, AI and the ideas shaping tomorrow. About the Host: Aidan McCullen is the 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, keynote speaker on AI, disruption, innovation, and change, host of The Innovation Show, and author of Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention (Wiley). Learn more at https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen  Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

One developer. Six months. An $80 million sale to Wix. That's not the future of work — it's already here. In this special panel from the Kyndryl Institute and The Innovation Show, host Aidan McCullen brings together four of the world's sharpest minds on strategy, innovation and disruption to explain why most leaders are using AI completely wrong — and what to do instead. Rita McGrath (Columbia, author of The Entrepreneurial Mindset and originator of "transient advantage"), Alexander Osterwalder (creator of the Business Model Canvas, CEO of Strategyzer), Ismail Amla (SVP at Kyndryl, author of From Incremental to Exponential) and Usman Sheikh (author of Frame Break, MD of High Output Ventures) map how work, value and power are being redrawn. In this conversation, the panel reveals: Why painting over a rusty gate explains how most companies are misusing AI How a single developer sold an $80 million company to Wix after six months of solo work What Jensen Huang does every Sunday night to stay connected to NVIDIA's front line Why Bayer put its whole workforce on 90-day cycles — and how it kills office politics The "verification bottleneck" that quietly cancels out every speed gain from AI Why one firm tracking staff AI logins for promotions missed the point entirely How the billable hour is dying — and what replaces it Why labour arbitrage flipped from advantage to liability in just twelve months What a Korean fintech founded by a dentist (Toss) teaches us about permissionless teams Where incumbents still hold a moat that AI-native startups can't touch Chapters: 00:00 AI Moment Opens 00:35 Meet The Panel 02:20 Rewiring Organisations  03:36 Rusty Gate Lesson 04:25 Entrepreneurial CEO Return  06:28 Permissionless Transition 08:39 One-Person Unicorns 10:13 Power Redefined 13:17 Verification Bottleneck  15:46 Agents In The Enterprise  20:22 Gaming AI Metrics 22:54 Death Of The Billable Hour  24:23 Electricity Era Analogy 26:18 Business Model Fundamentals  28:04 Rethinking Business Models 29:04 AI Native vs Legacy 29:49 Services Industry Upended 33:40 First Steps For Incumbents 37:51 Toss And Team Autonomy 41:17 Incentives And Accountability 45:42 Incumbent Data Moats 47:50 Elevator Pitches And Wrap-Up The panel: Rita McGrath — https://www.ritamcgrath.com Alexander Osterwalder / Strategyzer — https://www.strategyzer.com Ismail Amla, From Incremental to Exponential — https://www.kyndryl.com Usman Sheikh, Frame Break — https://highoutputventures.com This series is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. With a unique blend of AI-powered consulting built on unmatched managed-service capability, Kyndryl helps leaders harness technology for smarter decisions, faster innovation, and lasting competitive edge. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack : https://thethursdaythought.substack.com About The Innovation Show: The Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Each week, Aidan McCullen sits down with world-class authors, scientists and practitioners to explore disruption, innovation, change, leadership, AI and the ideas shaping tomorrow. About the host: Aidan McCullen — 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, keynote speaker on AI, disruption, innovation and change, host of The Innovation Show, and author of Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention (Wiley). https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen  Follow and subscribe: Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen  

What if the best practices taught in every business school are quietly destroying the organisations that follow them? Eric Ries — author of Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great and founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange — joins Aidan McCullen to expose the hidden forces that corrupt mission-driven organisations, and to reveal the structural defences that keep outliers like Costco immune. About Eric Ries Eric Ries is an entrepreneur and the bestselling author of The Lean Startup. His new book, Incorruptible, maps the structural forces that destroy company missions and lays out a blueprint for building organisations that resist them. He is also the founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE). About Aidan McCullen Aidan McCullen is a Thinkers50-recognised host, keynote speaker, author of Undisruptable, and former professional athlete. He is the founder and host of The Innovation Show — the podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. In this conversation, Eric reveals: Why mission drift and bureaucracy are really corruption — and why naming them that changes everything How financial gravity silently pulls every organisation toward value extraction unless actively resisted The professor story that launched the book — and the question that haunts every founder: is it even possible to build an incorruptible organisation? The LTSE ambush: how Eric's team chose potential bankruptcy over compromising their principles — and why that decision ultimately saved the company Why the founder hero story and the market story are the same story told backwards — and how that confusion destroys organisations from the inside The golden goose paradox: why Sol Price and Robert Owen kept losing control of the very organisations they built The Costco governance fortress — how Jim Sinegal created a structure that protects the fiduciary-to-the-customer ethos no matter how hard Wall Street pushes back 00:00 Sponsor Message 00:26 Naming Corruption 02:32 Why Best Practices Fail 05:08 Professor Story Wake Up Call 09:57 Financial Gravity And Strength 12:26 LTSE Ambush And Principles 19:14 Founder Hero Vs Market Story 23:56 Golden Goose And Case Studies 25:19 Sol Price And Robert Owen 30:46 Costco Governance Fortress 33:15 Wrap Up And Resources 34:26 Sponsor Outro Guest links: Book: https://amzn.to/4e89kOx More resources: https://www.incorruptible.co/resources/more-failures Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Incorruptible, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Subscribe and follow: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen  

"I don't like J work." That was Andy — a top serial innovator at SAIC — telling his manager Dennis what he needed to be protected from. J work, in Andy's field of computational electromagnetics, is the imaginary part of a number. To Andy, it meant the imaginary work: staff meetings, budget reviews, formal reporting. Dennis's job was to keep him in real work. Most managers do the opposite. In part three of our Serial Innovators series, Bruce Vojak closes the loop. After two episodes on who serial innovators are and how they navigate the politics, this one is about how organisations find them, develop them — and how managers can stop accidentally driving them out the door. Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms (with Ray Price and Abby Griffin), founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and former Associate Dean for Administration at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. In this conversation, Bruce reveals: • Why mechanistic, CV-screening HR processes — and now AI-powered hiring filters — systematically screen out your future innovators • The four engagement filters that actually identify a serial innovator: how they engage with problems, projects, business, and people • The five core traits — systems thinking, above-average (but not extreme) creativity, innate curiosity, deep-expertise intuition, and the intrinsic drive to make things better • Why π-shaped (pi-shaped) workers — broad across domains AND deep in multiple specialisms — beat T-shaped specialists • Why innovators spot innovators — and why your best HR move is letting your existing serial innovators sit in on hires • The career-phase development model: hard problems early, breadth via exposure, apprenticeship over mentorship, and burnout as a real risk if you don't choose your battles • Golden handcuffs — and the "fur-lined mousetrap" most serial innovators eventually walk into • The Dennis-and-Andy story at DEMACO/SAIC — and what Dennis did right that almost every other manager gets wrong • The pheasant hunting in Iowa metaphor — why over-managed budgets leave no nesting ground for the future of your business • The five things a manager has to do — air cover, patience, running interference, no bureaucratic J work, no daily progress reports • Why phase-gate control is the slow death of breakthrough innovation • Where Bruce respectfully diverges from Clay Christensen on whether innovation can survive inside the organisation — or has to be spun out • The incentive traps that quietly destroy serial innovators — and why "I'm doing what's best for the company and you're giving me crap for it" is the line every serial innovator says to themselves at least once Chapters: 00:00 Executive Innovator Balance 00:37 Sponsor Message 01:03 Serial Innovators Intro 01:08 HR Screening Problem 03:02 Four Engagement Filters 04:46 Engaging With Problems 05:28 Projects Tenacity 06:29 Business Mindset 07:16 People And Customers 08:33 Research Method War Room 10:46 Five Core Traits 12:12 Innovators Spot Innovators 14:05 Career Phases 0 To 10 17:06 Hard Problems Early 17:58 Apprenticeship Model 18:52 Burnout And Choosing Battles 22:33 Innovator Versus Inventor 24:24 Nurturing Through Exposure 27:05 Budget Barriers Story 29:59 AI Hiring And Hidden Signals 31:44 HR Triads And Policy Limits 33:04 Golden Handcuffs Risk 34:34 Managing For Impact Setup 35:52 Relational Management Style 37:41 Innovation As Dance 38:09 Incentives And Motivation 40:51 Demco SAIC Case Study 44:08 Pheasant Metaphor Budgets 47:12 Avoiding J Work 49:55 Manager Air Cover Tips 52:03 Phase Gates And Control 55:53 Ego And Incentive Traps 59:54 Christensen Inside Vs Spinout 01:03:58 Pi Shaped Innovators 01:08:16 No Excuses Innovation Preview 01:11:33 Wrap Up And Where To Find About Bruce Vojak Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators and Innovation Code, founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and former Associate Dean for Administration at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. He advises executive teams and boards on how to find, support and unleash serial innovators inside mature firms. Website: https://breakthrough-innovation-advisors.com Book: Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms About The Innovation Show The Thinkers50-recognised podcast hosted by Aidan McCullen — 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, keynote speaker, author of Undisruptable — where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Conversations with the world's leading authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, transformation, leadership, AI, creativity and the ideas shaping tomorrow. About the host Aidan McCullen is the 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, host of The Innovation Show, and author of Undisruptable (Wiley). Learn more or enquire about booking him for a keynote: https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen/ Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Serial Innovators, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Follow and listen: Website: https://theinnovationshow.io About the host: https://theinnovationshow.io/about-aidan-mccullen/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

"I see dead people." That was Nancy Dawes' answer when Bruce Vojak asked her how she did it. The chemical engineer who took Olay from a dying brand to a billion-dollar product line wasn't being mysterious — she was telling him she saw patterns no-one else did. And the real burden, she realised, wasn't seeing them. It was getting an entire organisation to see them too. In part two of our Serial Innovators series, Bruce Vojak returns to unpack the chapter most innovators learn the hard way: the politics. In over 90% of a mature firm, resources, people and management attention are locked onto today's products. Breakthrough innovation has to fight all of it — for capital, for headcount, for strategic oxygen — and that fight is political by design. Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms (with Ray Price and Abby Griffin), founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and former Associate Dean for Administration at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. In this conversation, Bruce reveals: The Galileo scenario — why a serial innovator looks at the same data as everyone else and sees a completely different solution Why politics loses its negative meaning the moment you realise it is the only way to actually serve the customer Strategic coherence vs tactical coherence — and the one question to ask before you push any breakthrough idea into your firm "Crossing the bridge" from the naïve view (invention is sufficient, the manager will recognise it) to political pragmatism The four elements of trust — competence, reliability, openness, concern — that buy a serial innovator the right to be heard Why every breakthrough story Bruce found came from an emergent team, not a pre-formed innovation team The "Stone Soup" model of recruiting allies one favour at a time The Disneyland queue problem of selling internally — you think you've got buy-in, and then there are ten more people behind the next corner Soft influence (planting seeds, telling stories, "people tolerate my conclusions but act on their own conclusions") and hard influence (data, prototypes, signed purchase orders, customer pull-through) "The best marketing research is a signed purchase order" — the line Bruce still uses as a filter today Buckminster Fuller's outlaw quote, and his trim tab metaphor — how one person, properly placed, can move the whole ship Chuck House's HP defiance and the line that captures every serial innovator who ever risked their job for the work: "I wasn't trying to be defiant. I just wanted a success for HP. It never occurred to me it might cost me my job." 00:00 Sponsor Message 00:25 Why Breakthroughs Stall 01:15 Meet Bruce Vojak 02:36 Seeing Hidden Patterns 06:14 Innovation Lenses 09:28 Strategic vs Tactical Coherence 10:37 Reframing Politics 11:57 QWERTY Switching Costs 14:27 Owning the Political Work 18:00 Trust and Early Wins 21:14 Crossing the Bridge 30:04 Convincing Many Stakeholders 31:40 Engaging Allies Slowly 33:01 Emergent Teams Not Assigned 38:21 Innovation as Team Sport 39:10 Positioning for Strategy Fit 43:26 Too Many Innovators 44:38 Proof via Purchase Orders 46:25 Outlaw Area and Trim Tab 50:17 Politics Navigation Diagram 53:15 Manager Perspective Teaser 55:46 Wrap Up and Sponsor About Bruce Vojak Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators and Innovation Code, founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and former Associate Dean for Administration at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. He advises executive teams and boards on how to find, support and unleash serial innovators inside mature firms. Website: https://breakthrough-innovation-advisors.com Book: Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms About The Innovation Show The Thinkers50-recognised podcast hosted by Aidan McCullen — author of Undisruptable, keynote speaker and former pro athlete — where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Conversations with the world's leading authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, transformation, leadership, AI, creativity and the ideas shaping tomorrow. This series is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. Kyndryl helps leaders harness AI-powered consulting and managed-service capability for smarter decisions, faster innovation and lasting competitive edge. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Serial Innovators, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Follow and listen: Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

Most companies think innovation is a straight line. Bruce Vojak spent years studying the people who prove otherwise. Bruce Vojak is co-author of Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms (Oxford University Press). In this bonus episode of The Innovation Show, he joins Aidan McCullen for a focused look at the Hourglass Innovation Model — the descriptive framework that maps how serial innovators actually move from an interesting problem to a flawless product launch. In this conversation, Bruce reveals: Why the Hourglass Model is descriptive, not prescriptive — and why that matters How serial innovators often redefine the problem before they solve it The Tom Osborne story — how reframing a feminine hygiene brief from diaper to garment changed everything Why serial innovators can appear completely unproductive for months — and why that is actually the work How they were practising customer empathy and design thinking before those ideas had names Why Execute — the stage most firms obsess over — is just one of five tasks How to use the model as an honest self-diagnostic: am I doing these things, or is it really the organisation? Chapter topics  00:00 Hourglass Model Intro 00:31 Stage Gate vs Hourglass 01:15 Redefining the Problem 04:16 Pragmatism and Empathy 06:27 Deep Dive Understanding 07:49 Experiment and Iterate 08:39 Nonlinear Flow Explained 10:02 Org Maturity and Politics 11:47 Normalize and Self Assess 12:53 Wrap Up and Sponsor About The Innovation Show The Innovation Show with Aidan McCullen is the Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Conversations with world-class authors, scientists, and practitioners on disruption, innovation, leadership, and the ideas shaping tomorrow. About Bruce Vojak Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators and Innovation Code, founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and former Associate Dean for Administration at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. He advises executive teams and boards on how to find, support and unleash serial innovators inside mature firms. Website: https://breakthrough-innovation-advisors.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvojak/ Book: Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms https://amzn.to/4f7Y85q This episode is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. Learn more at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Serial Innovators, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Listen and follow: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

"These are the most important people you've never heard of." After interviewing more than 50 serial innovators inside the world's largest mature companies, Bruce Vojak knows something most boards don't: a tiny minority of people — roughly 1 in 500 inside a large firm — quietly create the breakthrough products that fund everything else. They have no formal mandate. They are often almost fired. And without them, the S-curve flatlines. Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms (with Ray Price and Abby Griffin), founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and a former engineering executive who has spent over a decade studying how breakthrough innovation actually happens inside big organisations. This is part one of a multi-part series with host Aidan McCullen on Bruce's life's work. In this conversation, Bruce reveals: Why the humble carrot peeler is the clearest example of how innovation redefines the basis of competition How Tom Osborne at Procter & Gamble almost lost his job twice — before launching the billion-dollar Always Ultra brand The Tom Osborne quote every product team should hang on the wall: his products were "love letters to his customers" Why it is not marketing, it is "customering" — and why customer-driven beats market-driven every time The three roles inside the stage-gate process — inventor, champion, implementer — and why serial innovators play across all three Why stage-gate is brilliant for incremental innovation and lethal for breakthrough work The MP5 model: motivation, personality, perspectives, preparation, process and politics — what serial innovators bring vs. what they develop Why the politics is the work — and why pushing the boulder up the hill is Sisyphean by design The hiring insight that changes everything: "I want people who want to do the work innovators do, not people who want to be an innovator" How Iain McGilchrist's master and emissary, Charles Handy's S-curves and Thomas Kuhn's paradigms all converge inside one good innovator Why early success is a curse — and what to do when your organisation has forgotten how it found its first product Chapters: 00:00 Why Serial Innovators Matter 00:31 Sponsor and Series Setup 01:11 Meet Bruce Vojak 02:45 Defining Innovation 04:08 Carrot Peeler Breakthroughs 05:54 Market Expansion Examples 07:56 What Is a Serial Innovator 08:44 Hiring and Spotting Innovators 10:32 Curse of Early Success 15:19 Punished for Innovating 17:34 Tom Osborne at P&G 19:53 Digging Deep for Insight 22:18 Bootlegging to Launch Ultra 27:25 When Innovators Check Out 33:17 Incremental vs Breakthrough 36:04 S Curves and Culture Tension 42:03 Stage Gate vs Iteration 43:24 Switch to Video and Diagrams 44:30 Stage Gate Overview 45:09 Stage Gate Basics 46:58 Innovation Roles Explained 48:21 Serial Innovators Across Roles 50:34 Customer Driven Discovery Loop 53:37 Seeing Patterns Metaphors 55:13 Motivation And Role Friction 01:02:50 MP5 Model Origins 01:04:33 Traits Motivation Politics 01:16:07 Innovation Process Diagram 1.7 01:21:57 Wrap Up Sponsor Outro About Bruce Vojak Bruce is co-author of Serial Innovators and Innovation Code, founder of Breakthrough Innovation Advisors, and former Associate Dean for Administration at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. He advises executive teams and boards on how to find, support and unleash serial innovators inside mature firms. Website: https://breakthrough-innovation-advisors.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvojak/ Book: Serial Innovators: How Individuals Create and Deliver Breakthrough Innovations in Mature Firms https://amzn.to/4f7Y85q About The Innovation Show The Thinkers50-recognised podcast hosted by Aidan McCullen — author of Undisruptable, keynote speaker and former pro athlete — where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Conversations with the world's leading authors, scientists and practitioners on disruption, innovation, transformation, leadership, AI, creativity and the ideas shaping tomorrow. This series is brought to you by Kyndryl, who run and reimagine the technology systems that drive advantage for the world's leading businesses. With a unique blend of AI-powered consulting built on unmatched managed-service capability, Kyndryl helps leaders harness technology for smarter decisions, faster innovation and lasting competitive edge. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. Subscribe to the Thursday Thought on Substack for a chance to win a copy of Serial Innovators, with thanks to Kyndryl: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com Follow and listen: Website: https://theinnovationshow.io Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theinnovationshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen

"Organisations love innovation, but they hate their innovators." Jeff and Staney DeGraff return to The Innovation Show to close out Aidan McCullen's DeGraff trilogy with their book The Art of Change. Their argument is direct: change rarely fails because of bad strategy or weak execution. It fails because leaders bring the wrong mindset — treating change like a linear project when change is actually a paradox to be held. In this conversation, Jeff and Staney reveal: Why the man who saved Operation Warp Speed got passed over for promotion — and what his story tells every innovator about the cost of being right The Jonas Salk warning every change-maker should hear: they won't notice, then they'll say you're doing it wrong, then they'll call you unprofessional, then they'll take credit for your work Why apathy and alignment are the deadliest signs in any organisation The seven core paradoxes of change — and the four-step paradox mindset cycle that breaks the deadlock Why facts don't change minds (the Harriet Beecher Stowe story Lincoln told to prove it) How Sears actually invented the digital economy and how mindset cost them the future Why "deviance first, alignment later" is the funnel every leader gets backwards The CIO joke that isn't funny: Career Is Over as soon as you take the job Why the first pancake is never a good pancake — and what FAIL really stands for Chapters: 00:00 Innovation in the AI era 01:03 Sponsor and book intro 01:40 Why change fails 02:36 Trilogy origins 06:12 Paradox and mindset 07:58 Why organisations punish their innovators 10:28 Luis, Rapid X, and Operation Warp Speed 16:52 Meaning over happiness 18:06 Time, not targets 19:45 The paradox mindset cycle 24:34 Marriage and money paradox 28:15 Conflict fuels change 32:27 Missed futures examples 36:44 Practice beats theatre 38:04 Builders versus bureaucrats 41:05 Skin in the game 42:35 Blocked by superiors 43:45 Leaders spot talent 44:49 Disruptors and failure 48:05 Boundaries create freedom 51:43 Innovation needs hideouts 53:59 Stories build culture 59:45 The seven paradoxes explained 01:07:38 Deviance, then alignment 01:13:10 The paradox mindset cycle 01:18:26 Final takeaways and wrap About Jeff and Staney DeGraff Jeff DeGraff is the "Dean of Innovation" — Clinical Professor of Management at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, founder of the Innovatrium, and author of multiple bestselling books on creative leadership. Staney DeGraff is co-founder of the Innovatrium and Jeff's longtime collaborator. Together they've worked with half the Fortune 500 on what it actually takes to make change stick. 📘 The Art of Change — https://amzn.to/48mhX54 🌐 https://jeffdegraff.com About The Innovation Show The Innovation Show with Aidan McCullen is the Thinkers50-recognised podcast where square pegs find their place in a world of round holes. Each week, Aidan sits down with world-class authors, scientists, and practitioners to call out the "Emperor is naked" moments and explore disruption, transformation, leadership, and the ideas shaping tomorrow. Connect 🌐 https://theinnovationshow.io 📨 Substack (and a chance to win a copy of The Creative Mindset): https://thethursdaythought.substack.com 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-innovation-show/id1148455669 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63nFKf4bsSWo3W72gWtOsK?si=b62d9614237c4450 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen Sponsor This series is brought to you by Kyndryl. Learn more about Kyndryl and the Kyndryl Institute at https://www.kyndryl.com. #ParadoxMindset #JeffDeGraff #TheArtOfChange #Innovation #ChangeManagement #Leadership #TheInnovationShow #AidanMcCullen #Thinkers50 #InnovationPodcast #LeadershipPodcast #DisruptionTheory

Description: Creativity isn't reserved for geniuses—it's a skill you can learn, practice, and compound over time. In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen sits down with Jeff and Staney DeGraff to explore their practical framework for everyday creativity: the C.R.E.A.T.E. method. Based on decades of research and real-world application, they break down how innovation actually happens—not through lightning bolts, but through small, iterative wins. From clarifying the real problem to evaluating ideas effectively, this conversation reframes creativity as a disciplined, learnable process. Sponsored by Kyndryl, this episode also includes a giveaway for subscribers. What You'll Learn: Why creativity is a learnable skill (not a talent) The power of small wins and iterative thinking How to identify the real problem before solving it Techniques like SCAMPER, analogies, and storyboarding Why evaluation—not ideation—often determines success How constraints and failure fuel innovation The C.R.E.A.T.E. Framework: Clarify – Define the real problem through iteration Replicate – Reapply ideas across domains Elaborate – Generate ideas using creative techniques Associate – Connect ideas through analogy and systems thinking Translate – Turn ideas into compelling stories Evaluate – Select the best ideas using structured methods Timestamps: 00:00 Sponsor and Giveaway 00:45 Creativity as Learnable Skill 04:59 Find Your Creative Rhythm 11:11 Constraints and Small Wins 20:57 Clarify the Real Problem 25:25 Replicate and Reapply Ideas 29:01 Elaborate With Wordplay 36:43 Associate Through Analogies 40:43 Translate Into Story 46:09 Evaluate Ideas Wisely Featured Book: The Creative Mindset by Jeff & Staney DeGraff Find the DeGraffs: https://jeffdegraff.com Aidan McCullen is a Thinkers50 Innovation Award winner, keynote speaker Ireland, and host of The Innovation Show—the only podcast ever to receive a Thinkers50 award.  

What if the real driver of innovation isn't alignment—but conflict? In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen is joined by Jeff and Staney DeGraff, co-authors of The Innovation Code, to explore a powerful idea: innovation emerges from the tension between opposing perspectives—not from consensus. Drawing on decades of research and real-world application, they introduce four archetypes that shape how individuals and organisations innovate: The Artist (creation & ideas) The Engineer (process & execution) The Athlete (performance & results) The Sage (values & culture) Each brings strengths—and blind spots. The key? Not eliminating conflict—but orchestrating it.  In this episode: Why alignment can actually kill innovation The role of constructive conflict in high-performing teams How different mindsets clash—and why that's essential The lifecycle of innovation and who leads at each stage Why organisations fail when they can't change their worldview How to build cultures of adaptability and reinvention Featured Book: The Innovation Code by Jeff & Staney DeGraff Find the DeGraffs: https://jeffdegraff.com Aidan McCullen is a Thinkers50 Innovation Award winner, keynote speaker Ireland, and host of The Innovation Show—the only podcast ever to receive a Thinkers50 award.

AI is triggering a "big bang" in how organizations operate—and those that adapt fastest will win. In this episode, Stephen Wunker and Jonathan Brill explore the concept of the Octopus Organization, where intelligence is distributed, decisions happen at the edge, and workflows—not jobs—are automated. Drawing on biology, they explain how autonomy, governance, and visibility can coexist to unlock speed, resilience, and innovation. The discussion dives into overcoming organizational debt, avoiding groupthink and analysis paralysis, and shifting from rigid hierarchies to adaptive "kill web" structures. Real-world examples—from L'Oréal's rapid product cycles to AI-powered patent creation at Deep Invent—highlight how companies are already transforming. This episode is essential listening for leaders looking to redesign their organizations for the AI era.

How do you negotiate firmly, fairly, and effectively — without becoming a jerk?   In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen speaks with Barry Nalebuff — Yale professor, entrepreneur, and author of Split the Pie — about a principled approach to negotiation built around one simple idea: identify the pie, the extra value created only when both sides reach agreement, and split it equally.   Rather than relying on pressure, posturing, or arbitrary bargaining, Barry shows how negotiation can become a logical, ethical, and data-driven process. Drawing on cooperative game theory and real-world business experience, he explains why most people misunderstand what is actually being negotiated — and how that confusion leads to bad deals and bad relationships.   The conversation includes examples from: Barry's mother buying her rented home, Coca-Cola's acquisition of Honest Tea, a negotiation with a domain-name squatter, grant funding and workload-sharing examples, lease-breaking, tax-loss mergers, and everyday fairness disputes.   This is a practical episode for founders, executives, investors, academics, negotiators, and anyone who wants to create better outcomes through principle instead of power plays.   What you'll learn in this episode:   What Barry Nalebuff means by "the pie" Why fairness starts with understanding the real source of value How to negotiate without aggression or manipulation Why principles beat arbitrary numbers How game theory can improve business and life decisions How to avoid accepting less than your fair share     Timestamps 00:00 Sponsor Message 00:28 Negotiation Without Jerk 01:50 Split The Pie Idea 03:29 Dollar Bill Example 05:15 Mom House Deal 11:49 Talmud Cloth Principle 14:22 Honest Tea Coke Bottles 17:16 Coke Buyout Terms 22:02 Domain Troll Negotiation 27:33 Holding Firm on Fairness 28:36 Principles Over Arbitrary Numbers 31:17 Anju and Bharat Interest Puzzle 35:35 Power and Hidden Pie Ethics 37:23 Game Theory and Spock Logic 42:09 Sisyphus Grant Split Example 48:46 Breaking the Lease Loss Pie 52:01 Mergers Tax Losses and Equality 53:12 Fairness Equity and Negotiation Ethics 56:28 Where to Find Barry 57:29 Sponsor and Sign Off

What if Nokia saw the iPhone coming and still couldn't stop it? In this episode, strategy professor Timo Partanen, former Nokia market intelligence leader (2001–2009), reveals what was really inside Nokia's internal iPhone threat briefing presented to senior leadership. Nokia had tracked Apple for years. They saw the signals like touchscreen innovation, strategic hires, and shifting user expectations. The iPhone's hardware wasn't the surprise. The real shock was Apple's ecosystem. From its exclusive partnership with Cingular (AT&T) to alliances with Google and Yahoo, Apple didn't just launch a product, it launched a new business model. One that exposed Nokia's blind spot: a hardware-first culture in a platform-driven world. We explore why clear warnings didn't lead to action, how strategy broke down between leadership and execution, and what today's companies can learn about disruption, partnerships, and transformation. This is a story about missed shifts, internal friction, and the difficulty of turning insight into impact.

How did Nokia survive one of the most dramatic collapses in business history? In this episode, we explore the hidden driver of strategy under pressure: emotion. Drawing on research based on 100+ interviews inside Nokia between 2007 and 2013 , INSEAD's Quy Huy and Aalto University's Timo Vuori join Aidan McCullen to explain how large organizations can execute radical pivots—not just through analysis, but through structured emotion regulation. We unpack how Nokia moved from denial, fear, and rigid thinking to a disciplined, data-driven, and emotionally aware strategy process that enabled it to exit mobile phones and rebuild around networks and 5G. You'll learn: Why strategy fails when emotions go unmanaged How boards can shape better decisions by regulating—not suppressing—emotion The role of consultants, teams, and partners in expanding strategic thinking Why discussing failure systematically leads to better outcomes How to design strategy processes that work under uncertainty This is not just a story about Nokia—it's a blueprint for any organization navigating disruption, uncertainty, and high-stakes decisions. Sponsored by Kyndryl – helping the world's leading organizations modernize and run mission-critical systems for smarter decisions and lasting competitive advantage.

Most people believe the iPhone killed Nokia. But the real story behind Nokia's collapse is far more complex — and much more human. At its peak Nokia controlled nearly 50% of the global mobile phone market and had over one billion customers. Yet within a few years the company lost the smartphone war as Apple and Google reshaped the industry. In this episode we continue our deep dive into the research of Quy Huy and Timo Vuori, whose study reveals how fear inside Nokia distorted communication and decision-making. Senior leaders felt intense pressure from competitors and investors, while middle managers feared delivering bad news. The result was silence, denial, and what the researchers call "collective lies." We explore how Nokia became trapped by its Symbian platform, how short-term financial pressures undermined long-term innovation, and why leadership dynamics and organizational culture can determine the fate of even the most dominant companies. The lesson: strategy often fails not because of technology — but because leaders stop hearing the truth.

Nokia didn't lose the smartphone battle because it lacked smart people or a strategy deck. It lost because fear and shared emotions quietly reshaped attention, filtered information, and weakened truth-telling. Quy Huy (INSEAD) and Timo Vuori (Aalto University)—authors of the 2016 research on Nokia's collapse—explain how leaders hid emotions behind "technology and finance talk," how dissent was punished, and how misaligned fearformed: executives feared competitors and shareholders while middle managers feared their bosses. We connect the dots to psychological safety, power traps, poker-face leadership, burnout, and what this teaches leaders facing AI disruption today. Find Quy https://www.insead.edu/faculty-personal-site/quy-huy https://knowledge.insead.edu/strategy/nokias-reinvention-was-emotionally-driven Find Timo https://research.aalto.fi/en/persons/timo-vuori/ https://adaptivevolcano.com/about  

BlackBerry once ruled the business world. Presidents, CEOs, and Wall Street relied on its encrypted devices. Then the iPhone arrived — and everything changed. In this episode, Jacquie McNish, co-author of Losing the Signal, unpacks the untold story behind: • The improbable rise of Research In Motion • The 2011 global outage crisis • The NTP patent war • 9/11 and encrypted messaging dominance • The internal fracture between Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie • The Storm failure • The QNX pivot and BlackBerry's second act A fascinating case study in leadership psychology, technological disruption, and strategic inflection points.   This is a masterclass in: Innovation Leadership Disruption Scaling culture Strategic blindness Corporate inflection points 📘 Book: Losing the Signal by Jacquie McNish & Sean Silcoff https://amzn.to/4tVBHWk 🎙 Hosted by Aidan McCullen Aidan McCullen is a Thinkers50 Innovation Award winner, recognised for his contribution to global innovation practice through The Innovation Show. Aidan is a Global and Irish Keynote speaker recognized for his engaging storytelling style and his bestselling book Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention. The Innovation Show remains the only podcast ever to receive a Thinkers50 award, and Aidan is only the second Irish person—after Charles Handy—to be honoured.  #BlackBerry #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #TechHistory #Leadership #StartupLessons #iPhone #Apple #Entrepreneurship #Disruption

Why does corporate innovation fail so often — even with talented teams and strong ideas? In this episode of The Innovation Show with Aidan McCullen, intrapreneur and innovation veteran Chuck House returns to explain why innovation dies when projects, programs, and strategy aren't clearly connected — and why executives often misjudge innovation timelines because they're optimizing established businesses. Chuck breaks down the 4 intrapreneur traits (curiosity, perspective, resilience, and comfort with data) and the overlooked career skill that makes or breaks intrapreneurs: managing down AND managing up. Learn how to build team trust, navigate organizational politics, make "invisible work" visible, and persuade decision-makers to keep the right bets alive. He also challenges traditional project review approaches (IRR, cost/schedule targets, early sales projections) and introduces his practical alignment tool: the Return Map — a living, cross-functional view that integrates investment, revenue, and profit over time, assigns accountability across functions, and forces iterative re-forecasting as reality changes (slips, market windows, manufacturing costs, and sales forecasts). In this episode Why innovation feels like "snakes and ladders" inside large organisations Steve Jobs as a blueprint: iPod → iTunes → iPhone as a strategic cycle Managing up: credibility, trust, and navigating corporate politics Why HQ metrics can kill risky projects too early Brunnergrams vs strategy: what engineering tracking misses How Return Maps improve alignment, accountability, and forecasting Teaser: a future conversation with Kodak digital camera inventor Steve Sasson Sponsor: Kyndryl

This week's guest is David Rogers, Columbia Business School professor and author of Digital Transformation Playbook. We discuss digital transformation strategy, AI in business, disruptive innovation, platform business models, network effects, and leadership in the age of AI. If you're navigating digital transformation or AI strategy, this episode is essential listening. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:35 Meet the Digital Transformation Expert 01:38 Impact of the Digital Transformation Playbook 05:40 Evolution of Digital Transformation 07:24 The Role of AI in Digital Transformation 09:21 Frameworks and Theories of Disruption 09:38 The Story of Encyclopedia Britannica 16:59 Understanding Business Disruption 24:44 Disruptive Business Model Map 33:12 Understanding Network Effects 34:41 Same Side vs. Cross Side Network Effects 38:01 The Challenge of Competition in Platform Businesses 42:21 The Importance of Platform Business Models 46:13 Four Types of Platform Businesses 49:19 Platform Business Model Map 54:28 Value Train Analysis 01:02:22 The Evolution of Digital Transformation   Find David: https://davidrogers.digital/about/  

In this episode, we explore the strategic brilliance of Taylor Swift with Kevin Evers, author of There's Nothing Like This. From genre-shifting reinventions to billion-dollar tours, Taylor's evolution isn't just musical—it's a masterclass in brand, resilience, and audience engagement. 🎯 We cover: The pivot from country to global pop dominance How Taylor handled public backlash & the Kanye/Kardashian controversy Her savvy response to the streaming revolution Ownership battles over her masters and how it reshaped the industry Building the Eras Tour as a pinnacle of fan-first strategy What businesses can learn from Taylor's "anti-fragile" mindset Whether you're a fan, a founder, or fascinated by the music business, this is a powerful look at how strategy meets stardom. 🔗 Learn more about Kevin's book: nothinglikethisbook.com 🎧 Subscribe and leave a review to support the show! https://thethursdaythought.substack.com  

In this episode, Aidan McCullen welcomes Kevin Evers, editor at Harvard Business Review Press and author of There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift. Together, they explore how Taylor Swift built not just a music career—but a global business empire. From fearless reinvention and blue ocean strategy to her mastery of fan engagement and brand evolution, Taylor Swift's rise is a masterclass in innovation, leadership, and vision. Learn how her career mirrors the strategic moves of top businesses, and what leaders, entrepreneurs, and creators can take away from her story. Tune in for: The psychology and strategy behind Swift's career decisions How she shaped fan culture and digital engagement Lessons in brand authenticity, creative growth, and leadership What businesses can learn from Swift's reinvention and market disruption Whether you're a Swiftie, strategist, or business leader, this episode offers sharp insights into how to turn art into lasting impact. Find Kevin: https://www.nothinglikethisbook.com  

📘 Guest: Joel Schwartzberg, author of Get to the Point & The Language of Leadership In this episode, we cut through the noise and get straight to the point—literally. Communication expert and author Joel Schwartzberg returns to discuss the art and science of clarity in communication. Whether you're a leader, innovator, speaker, or simply want to stop rambling and start resonating, this episode is packed with practical, game-changing advice. We explore: Why having a clear point is the cornerstone of influence How to sharpen your message with Joel's "I believe" and "XY" tests The power of pausing, volume, and emotional contagion in speech How to handle interruptions with grace and still deliver your message Real-life analysis of effective speeches (including a powerful moment from Demi Moore) The role of AI in crafting and questioning your communication Sticking the landing: how to end your message with lasting impact 💡 If you've ever struggled to communicate a big idea or felt your message wasn't landing—this episode is your ultimate toolkit. 🔗 Show Notes & Resources: Joel's website: joelschwartzberg.net Book: Get to the Point (Updated 10-Year Anniversary Edition) Sponsored by: Kyndryl.com Innovation Show https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

In this episode, we sit down with Gary Klein, author of Seeing What Others Don't, to explore the fascinating science behind insights and how organizations can foster smarter thinking and innovation. Klein dives deep into over 120 real-world stories he's collected—ranging from Daniel Boone to Napoleon—and explains the two powerful triggers behind most breakthroughs: connections and anomalies. Discover how organizations often suppress insights, and why a focus on predictability and perfection can kill innovation. Learn about his new concept of Insight Audits and how leaders can shift their environments to better capture the power of spontaneous insight. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:27 Guest Introduction: Gary Klein 00:59 Collecting Stories of Success 02:19 The Down Arrow vs. The Up Arrow 04:43 Investigating Insights 05:38 Themes of Insight: Connections and Discrepancies 07:10 Historical Models of Insight 09:16 Organizational Barriers to Insight 11:17 The Perfection and Predictability Traps 15:06 Case Studies: Missed Discoveries 25:14 The Garden Path Phenomenon 32:30 Insight Audits in Organizations 36:48 Ideas That Escape: Case Studies and Suppression 37:27 The Battle of Midway: Intelligence and Strategy 41:38 The 1973 Yom Kippur War: Ignored Warnings 47:23 Napoleon's Tactical Genius at Toulon 50:58 Creative Desperation: The Mann Gulch Fire 58:42 Yellow Fever: The Mosquito Hypothesis 01:06:46 Daniel Boone: Abandoning the Project Plan 01:10:47 Conclusion and Resources   Find Gary here: https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/our-team/people/gklein/   Find Seeing What Others Don't: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights here: https://amzn.to/4qNlekq   Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you enjoy these deep dives into cognitive science, decision-making, and innovation.   More at theinnovationshow.io   Gary Klein, insight generation, organizational innovation, decision making, cognitive psychology, seeing what others don't, leadership, business strategy, Aidan McCullen, the innovation show

In this timeless episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen sits down with Scott Galloway, Clinical Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern, for a prescient conversation that remains highly relevant today. Recorded nearly a decade ago, this episode dives deep into: The rise of the algorithm-driven economy How tech giants like Amazon and Facebook dominate using data and intelligence The decline of traditional media and the shift to subscription-based models The retail apocalypse and how Amazon continues to reshape consumer behavior The emerging power of voice technology and screenless interaction   Scott also offers strategic insights into the future of media, marketing, and retail, with takeaways that still resonate in today's digital landscape. This episode is brought to you with thanks to our sponsor, Kyndryl, helping global enterprises harness the power of AI and digital infrastructure for competitive advantage. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Algorithm-Driven Economy 08:46 Subscription Models 12:48 Traditional Media Challenges 24:40 Retail Apocalypse & Amazon 29:02 Rise of Voice Technology 33:01 Conclusion and Sponsor Message   Learn more at: https://www.kyndryl.com Subscribe to The Innovation Show for weekly insights into innovation, transformation, and leadership.

🔮 Navigating the Accelerated S-Curve with Paul Nunes | Big Bang Disruption & Shark Fin Strategy Welcome to episode 2 of our exclusive Harvard Business School series! 🎓 Join host Aidan McCullen as he interviews Paul Nunes, renowned as the King of the S-Curve, in a masterclass on navigating today's fast-evolving business cycles. 📈 Discover how exponential technology change is collapsing traditional life cycles and creating "Shark Fin" business models—where sudden success can be catastrophic and strategic timing is everything. Paul explains how companies like Netflix, Apple, Peloton, and Intel navigated (or missed) these cycles and what it means for your business. 🔥 Learn about Big Bang Disruption, the death of early adopters, managing multiple S-curves, the rise of orchestrator firms, and how strategy must evolve for verticalized industries, fleeting advantage, and supply chain complexity.   ⏰ Timestamps for Key Topics: 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:26 - The Evolution of S-Curves 01:43 - What is the Shark Fin Strategy? 03:52 - Managing Multiple S-Curves 05:29 - Rapid Market Change & Business Lifecycle 07:42 - Case Studies: American Giant & Peloton 10:30 - The New Supply Chain Realities 18:01 - Is Vertical Integration Still Viable? 24:13 - Strategy in the Age of Compression 24:34 - Industry Diversification & Component Thinking 25:17 - Nvidia, Intel, and Strategic Orchestration 27:02 - Innovation vs. Manufacturing Models 33:15 - Capital Investment, Risk & Timing 39:06 - Why the Chief Strategy Officer Role is More Crucial Than Ever 47:55 - Final Reflections & Thank Yous 💡 Whether you're a strategist, innovator, entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode is a must-watch to future-proof your thinking and strategy. 📚 Based on Paul's seminal works: Jumping the S-Curve, Big Bang Disruption, and Pivot to the Future 🔗 Watch, learn, and subscribe for more expert-led strategy content! #SCurve #BigBangDisruption #PaulNunes #SharkFinStrategy #BusinessStrategy #Innovation #ChiefStrategyOfficer #AidanMcCullen #HBS #Nvidia #Intel #Netflix #Apple #Peloton #ExponentialChange #FutureOfBusiness

Based on a ten-year study, Teresa Amabile reveals why retirement—and any major life transition—requires far more psychological work than we expect. In this special episode of The Innovation Show, recorded at Klarman Hall at Harvard Business School, Aidan McCullen sits down with renowned psychologist and researcher Teresa Amabile to explore one of the most underestimated transitions we face: the move out of a long-held role and into what comes next. Drawing on a ten-year study of 120 professionals—many healthy, financially secure, and highly accomplished—Amabile reveals a striking insight: when people hear the word retirement, their dominant associations are fear, uncertainty, and loss of identity. And that fear has little to do with money or health. This conversation reframes retirement as a broader human challenge: how we navigate endings, detach from identities that once defined us, and rebuild a life structure that still allows for progress, meaning, and contribution. Amabile outlines the four core tasks people must work through when leaving a career, why these tasks rarely happen in a neat sequence, and why "it takes work to stop working." The discussion also examines the role organisations play—often poorly—in this transition. From sidelining experienced contributors to missing opportunities for knowledge transfer, Aidan and Teresa explore how meaningful final assignments, creative work, rituals, and continued post-retirement connection can dramatically improve outcomes for both individuals and institutions. Along the way, Amabile introduces the Four A's framework—Alignment, Awareness, Agency, and Adaptability—as a practical lens for navigating not only retirement, but any major life or career transition. The episode closes with a nuanced exploration of purpose, showing how meaning in later life often shifts away from grand missions toward day-to-day quality, relationships, and contribution. This is not an episode about "retiring early" or financial planning. It's about renewal, identity, and preparing—psychologically, relationally, and structurally—for the transitions we all know are coming, but rarely prepare for. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Welcome 00:13 The Concept of Preparing for the Future 00:37 Introducing Theresa Am Abate 00:43 Gifts and Gratitude 01:47 Sponsor Acknowledgment 02:04 The Word 'Retirement' and Initial Reactions 02:39 Research Findings on Retirement Perceptions 05:21 The Four Tasks of Retirement 07:01 Framework for Renewal and Organizational Change 13:16 The Role of Organizations in Supporting Retirees 18:50 The Importance of Rituals and Celebrations 24:37 Life Structure and Retirement 31:24 Practical Actions and The Four A's Framework 37:17 Finding Purpose in Retirement 40:45 Final Thoughts and Messages Recorded live at Harvard Business School with thanks to the production team Dave, Ellie and Simona and sponsor Kyndryl.

Join us for a special edition of The Innovation Show, recorded at Harvard Business School, featuring Scott D. Anthony, Clinical Professor at the Tuck School of Business and co-author of Seeing What's Next with the late Clay Christensen. Scott joins us to discuss his latest book, "Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World." In this episode, Scott shares insights from his groundbreaking book, Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World. Through compelling historical parallels and modern business cases, he uncovers the hidden patterns that define true disruptive innovation and how leaders can respond with resilience and creativity. From Henry Ford and the Model T to the fall of Constantinople, from Netflix vs. Blockbuster to the scientific revolution, Scott connects past transformations to today's urgent innovation challenges. He unpacks powerful concepts like emergent strategy, value networks, and the critical role of business models in enabling — or blocking — change. Whether you're a startup founder, corporate leader, or curious learner, this episode delivers practical, thought-provoking guidance on navigating disruption in real time. Special thanks to the Harvard Business School Publishing team for hosting us, and to our sponsor Kyndryl for their continued support of forward-thinking conversations on The Innovation Show. What You'll Learn: The difference between sustaining vs. disruptive innovation Why innovation diffusion is often slower than we think Lessons from the Honda Super Cub and Kodak's collapse How McDonald's, the printing press, and scientific revolutions disrupted systems — not just products Actionable frameworks like the ABCs of Dual Transformation Episode Chapters & Highlights 00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements 00:22 Introducing Today's Guest: Scott D. Anthony 01:38 Defining Innovation and Disruption 04:10 Sustaining vs. Disruptive Innovation 07:03 Netflix vs. Blockbuster: A Case Study 07:47 The Value Network and Market Dynamics 16:50 Emergent Strategy and the Honda Super Cub 18:37 Gunpowder and the Innovator's Dilemma 23:03 The Fall of Constantinople: A Lesson in Disruption 32:42 The Printing Press: Collaboration and Consequences 35:50 The Slow Diffusion of Innovations 38:24 The Kodak Story: A Tale of Missed Opportunities 44:17 The ABCs of Dual Transformation 50:10 The Historical Impact of the Scientific Revolution 56:04 McDonald's: Revolutionizing the Fast Food Industry 01:05:07 The Persistence of Henry Ford and the Model T 01:09:25 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections   Quotes from the Episode: "Innovation is something different that creates value... Disruption takes things that were complicated and expensive, makes them simple and affordable, and changes market dynamics." — Scott D. Anthony  "History doesn't repeat, but it often rhymes... The walls that stood for a thousand years collapsed in 47 days. What is your equivalent to the Theodosian Walls?" — Scott D. Anthony  Links & Resources: Book: Epic Disruptions by Scott D. Anthony Website: EpicDisruptions.com Connect with Scott: LinkedIn Connect with The Innovation Sho Connect with Aidan:  LinkedIn Tags/Keywords: Disruptive Innovation, Scott D. Anthony, Clayton Christensen, Business Strategy, Corporate Transformation, History of Innovation, Dual Transformation, McDonald's Case Study, Kodak, Artificial Intelligence, The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen.  

The Innovation Show with Aidan McCullen | Guest: Chuck House How do you drive real innovation inside a large organisation—without getting shut down by hierarchy, process, or short-term thinking? In this episode of The Innovation Show, host Aidan McCullen is joined by legendary Hewlett-Packard intrapreneur Chuck House, author of Permission Denied, for a deep dive into intrapreneurship, corporate innovation, and innovation leadership. Drawing on decades of experience building breakthrough technologies at HP, Chuck shares the 7 rules of intrapreneurship, explains why most organisations unintentionally kill innovation, and reveals what both intrapreneurs and leaders must do differently to succeed. In this episode, you'll learn: The key differences between entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs Why intrapreneurs need air cover, not permission The 7 rules every intrapreneur must follow Why doing your own market research is non-negotiable How asking "why" relentlessly leads to breakthrough innovation Why great intrapreneurs often look like troublemakers How leaders can identify, fund, and empower intrapreneurs Why traditional KPIs and program reviews fail exploratory innovation Lessons from Hewlett-Packard, Apple, and major corporate innovation efforts The conversation also explores the rarely discussed discipline of managing intrapreneurs, including how executives can create the conditions for innovation without smothering it with metrics, timelines, or control systems designed for incremental work. This episode is essential listening for: Innovation leaders and executives Transformation and strategy teams Corporate intrapreneurs Product leaders and change agents Anyone trying to innovate inside a complex organisation About the Host Aidan McCullen is a Thinkers50 Global Innovation Award winner (2025), founder of the Reinvention Summit, and host of the globally acclaimed Innovation Show. A bestselling author and former international rugby player, Aidan advises global organisations on innovation, transformation, and leadership. About the Guest Chuck House is a pioneering intrapreneur whose work at Hewlett-Packard helped shape modern computing and systems innovation. His book Permission Denied is widely regarded as essential reading for corporate innovators. 🔔 Subscribe to The Innovation Show for conversations with the world's leading thinkers on innovation, transformation, leadership, and the future of work.

  In this episode of The Innovation Show, Chuck House—legendary HP intrapreneur and author of Permission Denied—joins Aidan McCullen, host of The Innovation Show and a Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, to explore the real dynamics behind innovation inside large organizations. House shares how he repeatedly challenged assumptions, defied orders, built high-performing teams, and navigated the "corporate immune system" to create breakthrough technologies such as the logic analyzer and Pisces system. Together, Chuck and Aidan unpack why innovation is resisted, how success blinds leaders to the next paradigm shift, and what intrapreneurs must do to survive and thrive. Brought to you by Kyndryl, this conversation blends deep corporate experience with modern innovation thinking—from one of HP's most impactful engineers and one of the world's leading thinkers on transformation and change. Episode Highlights Why organizations punish failure while preaching innovation The paradox of permission: what leaders say vs. what innovators hear How established success blinds teams to new paradigms Emotional and psychological realities of intrapreneurs How to unlearn, relearn, and escape old mental models Why existing sales forces resist innovative products Hard-earned lessons from HP's logic analyzers & the Pisces project What leaders must do to build systems—not heroes—that drive innovation   Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro & Sponsor 00:30 Chuck House returns 00:57 Defiant innovation at HP 01:44 Permission paradox 03:07 Amazon's failure philosophy 03:47 Radical transparency 05:16 Future architecture & vision 06:00 Chuck reflects on his journey 07:47 AMD recruitment story 17:02 Paradigm shifts 19:34 Organizational resistance 22:42 Innovation cycles 32:26 Unlearning & relearning 40:16 The irony of pointing fingers 40:45 Navigating new paradigms 44:18 Challenges of intrapreneurship 44:33 Winning the sales channel 45:09 Sales force resistance 51:44 Understanding real customers 53:08 Innovation vs incrementalism 01:03:03 Rise & fall of logic analyzers 01:08:00 Managing intrapreneurial projects 01:13:06 Quality, collaboration & culture 01:20:34 Closing reflections About the Guest Chuck House is an award-winning engineer, HP Fellow, and author of Permission Denied. His innovations shaped decades of computing and instrumentation, and his perspective on intrapreneurship remains profoundly relevant. About the Host Aidan McCullen is an author, global keynote speaker, innovation consultant, and host of The Innovation Show. A former international rugby player for Ireland, he later moved into transformation roles across media and technology. Aidan is the author of Undisruptable, lectures on emerging technology at Trinity College Dublin, and is recognised by Thinkers50 for his global contribution to innovation and reinvention. https://aidanmccullen.com

In this special Thinkers50 edition of Innovation Show X, sponsored by Kyndryl, host Aidan McCullen brings together three of the world's most influential management thinkers—Alex Osterwalder, Howard Yu, and Sangeet Paul Choudary—to explore how AI is transforming the architecture of business. What makes this conversation extraordinary is that, unknown to everyone at the time of recording, each participant would receive a major Thinkers50 recognition just hours later: Sangeet Paul Choudary — Thinkers50 Strategy Award Howard Yu — reaffirmed in the Thinkers50 global ranking Alex Osterwalder — reaffirmed in the Thinkers50 global ranking Aidan McCullen — Thinkers50 Innovation Award This episode captures four award-winning perspectives before the accolades were announced—an unfiltered, spontaneous exchange on the real work of reinvention. 🎙️ Episode Overview AI is reshaping the business landscape, but most organisations focus on tools rather than the deeper question: How must business models, organisational structures, and leadership mindsets evolve in an AI-driven world? Together, Alex, Howard, Sangeet, and Aidan unpack: Why 95% of GenAI projects fail and what organisations miss How AI reshuffles entire industries, not just processes The hidden role of corporate antibodies in killing new ideas Why visionary leadership matters more than ever How modular, fluid organisations create a real edge What learning engines look like in practice Why the real value moves from "answers" to sensemaking How leaders can place better bets in uncertainty Why it's not an "AI strategy" you need, but a strategy for the world AI creates This is a masterclass in strategic reinvention from four globally recognised thinkers. ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Sponsor Message (Kyndryl) 00:41 The Confusing Landscape of AI in Business 01:20 Amara's Law & Business Impact 01:43 Panel Introduction at Thinkers50 02:25 Sangeet on Containerisation & Second-Order Effects 06:59 Osterwalder on Business Model Innovation 09:34 Yu on Capabilities & Industry Shifts 12:51 FOTO, Metaverse Missteps & Strategic Priority 15:21 Leadership Vision & the Capability Gap 21:32 Modularity & Learning Engines 37:00 Codifying an Innovation Culture 38:20 Vision Cascading Through Organisations 40:01 Why Good Ideas Fail to Scale 41:41 Leadership's Role in Innovation 43:13 From Sensing to Sensemaking 44:31 Exploration, Exploitation & Fluid Organisations 46:37 Continuous Change & Industry Reshuffling 49:04 The Future of AI in Business 50:33 Killing Projects & Resource Allocation 01:02:27 Closing Thoughts — Business Basics in an AI World 🌍 About the Guests Alex Osterwalder – Prolific Author, Creator of the Business Model Canvas and co-founder of Strategyzer; Thinkers50 global thought leader. Howard Yu – Author of Leap, LEGO Professor of Management & Innovation (IMD); Thinkers50 global thought leader. Sangeet Paul Choudary – Author of Platform Revolution and Reshuffle; Thinkers50 Strategy Award winner. Aidan McCullen – Author of Undisruptable, Host of The Innovation Show and Innovation Show, keynote speaker, and Thinkers50 Innovation Award winner.   📚 Resources & Links • Strategyzer → https://www.strategyzer.com • Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Reshapes the Knowledge Economy → https://amzn.to/3HWwj1I • Platform Revolution → https://amzn.to/4mBq2aQ • Sangeet's Substack → https://substack.com/@platforms/posts • Howard's Substack → https://howardyu.substack.com • Aidan's show notes → https://thethursdaythought.substack.com • Undisruptable → https://amzn.to/4pCEhgH   💡 About Our Sponsor: Kyndryl Kyndryl designs, runs, and reimagines the mission-critical technology systems that power the world's largest organisations. Their AI-powered consulting and unmatched managed services help leaders make smarter decisions, accelerate innovation, and build enduring competitive advantage. Learn more at Kyndryl.com. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with world-leading thinkers on AI, strategy, reinvention, and organisational transformation.

Mastering Chaos: Navigating the BANI Future with Bob Johansen & Jamais Cascio   🎙️ Episode Title: Mastering Chaos: Navigating the BANI Future 👥 Guests: Bob Johansen & Jamais Cascio 💡 Sponsored by: Kyndryl | Reimagining the tech systems powering global enterprise innovation. In this episode, Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio return to explore their book Navigating the Age of Chaos: A Sensemaking Guide to a BANI World.  They dive into the evolution from VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) to BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) and its impact on leadership, strategy, and personal resilience. 🔍 Topics Include: The origins and future of VUCA and BANI VUCA+ and BANI+ frameworks Real-world examples: LEGO, Netflix, Special Olympics, Airbnb Leadership agility & "Flexive Command"  Future-back thinking and anticipatory history AI, ethics, empathy & strategic foresight Purpose, interconnectedness & sensemaking This episode is essential for leaders, innovators, and future-thinkers navigating today's complex and chaotic world. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:24 Opening Quote and Guest Introduction 00:59 Understanding VUCA and VUCA Plus 04:36 Exploring BANI and BANI Plus 06:37 Future Back Thinking and Historical Patterns 09:33 The Concept of Flexive Command 11:01 Resilience and Bendability in Organizations 25:59 Empathy and Anxiety in Leadership 39:52 Debating AI and Guardrails 40:47 Ethics and Metaphors in AI 41:57 Kate Darling's Perspective on AI 43:31 The Language of AI 43:59 Robotics and Empathy 45:51 Mindfulness and Anxiety 47:18 Nonlinearity in BANI 48:04 Neuro Flexibility and Improv 50:40 Orthogonal Thinking and T-shaped People 53:17 Distant Early Warnings 59:50 Gaming and Nonlinear Thinking 01:09:30 Incomprehensibility and Interconnectedness 01:16:45 Faith and Purpose in a BANI World 01:20:45 Final Thoughts and Conclusion   🔗 Useful links: • Navigating the Age of Chaos – ageofbani.com • Bob Johansen – IFTF.org • Jamais Cascio – openthefuture.com • Kyndryl Institute – kyndryl.com/institute • Aidan McCullen – aidanmccullen.com   #TheInnovationShow #BANI #VUCA #Leadership #FutureThinking #Chaos #Resilience #Innovation #Kyndryl #Thinkers50

Episode Summary: In Part 1 of this two-episode series, Aidan McCullen is joined by futurists Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio, co-authors of Navigating the Age of Chaos: A Sensemaking Guide to a BANI World That Doesn't Make Sense. The trio unpacks the BANI Framework — Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible — and explores how it helps us make sense of a world where traditional models like VUCA no longer apply.   Discover how anxiety, complexity, systemic fragility, and incomprehensible change are reshaping our lives and futures — and what we can do to adapt and thrive in the face of it all.   Key Discussion Points: From VUCA to BANI: Why old models fail System fragility and the myth of stability Psychological burnout in the age of anxiety Non-linear risk and delayed cause-effect dynamics Incomprehensibility and the collapse of trust in truth   Links & Resources: 🌐 Book: Navigating the Age of Chaos – https://ageofbani.com 📘 Bob Johansen – https://www.iftf.org 🧠 Jamais Cascio – https://www.openthefuture.com 🎙️ Sponsored by Kyndryl – https://kyndryl.com 🎓 Host and Irish Keynote Speaker Aidan McCullen and The Innovation Show is the first podcast to be recognised by Thinkers50, the global ranking body for management thinkers. https://aidanmccullen.com For those wondering what the anime mentioned by Jamais is: One Piece, in particular the group in the series called the "Straw Hat Pirates." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece_(1999_TV_series) https://www.npr.org/2025/10/05/nx-s1-5560980/gen-z-protesters-one-piece-pirate-flag 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:21 Reflecting on the Decade: 2015-2025 01:41 Introducing the B.A.N.I. Framework 02:24 Meet the Authors: Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio 04:29 The Evolution from VUCA to BANI 16:18 Understanding Brittle in BANI 30:14 Exploring Anxious in BANI 37:03 Alan Watts and the Timeless Nature of Anxiety 38:18 Resilience in the Face of Extinction 39:30 The Persistent Relevance of VUCA 39:52 The Unique Challenges of BANI 41:13 Interconnected Crises and Their Compounding Effects 44:30 The Participatory Panopticon and Surveillance 49:28 Non-Linearity and Climate Hysteresis 01:00:23 Stochastic Terrorism and Its Implications 01:02:44 Incomprehensibility in a BANI World 01:10:37 Conclusion and Further Resources Coming Soon: 👉 Part 2: BANI Plus – Flipping the Framework Positive

On this episode of The Innovation Show, we welcome Chuck House, serial intrapreneur, author of Permission Denied, and former executive at Hewlett-Packard. Chuck shares hard-won lessons from inside one of the world's most influential tech companies—revealing what it really takes to innovate from within. From helping pioneer the first commercial computer graphics display to earning HP's only-ever Medal of Defiance, Chuck's story is both a cautionary tale and a masterclass in intrapreneurial resilience. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, Thinkers50 Award recipient for Innovation and keynote speaker based in Ireland. 🎧 Highlights include: Surviving and thriving as an intrapreneur Navigating organisational resistance Why engineers must meet customers Leadership in uncertain times Insights for today's innovation leaders   📖 Get Chuck's book: Permission Denied: Odyssey of an Intrapreneur: https://amzn.to/3Xq2LxC 🌐 More on Aidan: www.aidanmccullen.com

In this thought-provoking episode, Aidan McCullen — Thinkers50 Innovation Award Winner, author of Undisruptable, and host of The Innovation Show — welcomes Samuel Arbesman, scientist, author, and polymath, for the grand finale of their trilogy. Together, they explore The Magic of Code: How Digital Language Created and Connects Our World, diving deep into how code shapes our understanding of reality — from biology and evolution to artificial intelligence and the simulation hypothesis.  Discover how code is the new DNA, the universal language linking art, philosophy, and technology, and why rekindling curiosity, humility, and wonder is essential in our age of machines. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:18 The Power and Mystery of Code 01:33 Guest Introduction: Samuel Arbesman 02:26 The Magic of Code: Themes and Inspirations 03:53 Rekindling Wonder in Computing 11:01 Biology and Computation: A Deep Dive 14:43 Artificial Life and Evolution in Computing 24:17 Emergent Behavior and Evolutionary Contingency 28:28 Simulation Hypothesis: Reality as a Program 29:30 The Complexity of Digital Simulations 30:35 Weather Prediction and Simplified Models 32:00 The Physicality of Computing 33:17 The Simulation Hypothesis 39:05 The Role of Language in AI 44:09 Humanity and Technology 47:39 The Future of Technology and Society 57:00 Final Thoughts on Humility and Curiosity In This Episode The connection between code, language, and human creativity How biology and computation mirror one another Artificial life, evolution, and digital ecosystems The simulation hypothesis: Are we living in code? The importance of humility, restraint, and curiosity in an AI-driven world Guest: Samuel Arbesman — Author of The Magic of Code, The Half-Life of Facts, and Overcomplicated 🔗 Find Sam: https://arbesman.net Host: Aidan McCullen — Thinkers50 Innovation Award Winner, international thought leader on change and reinvention, author of Undisruptable, and host of The Innovation Show, a globally acclaimed and Thinkers50-recognised podcast inspiring leaders to thrive through change. A former international rugby player, Aidan now helps organisations and leaders adapt and evolve in an age of exponential transformation.   Get Sam's Book: https://amzn.to/3Xb8abN Find the Innovation show: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

In this episode, we explore the intricate world of modern technology with Samuel Arbesman, author of Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension. Why did the New York Stock Exchange shut down in 2015? What caused Toyota vehicles to accelerate without warning? Samuel reveals how technological "accretion" and interconnected systems create outcomes that even developers, engineers, and executives can't predict. We discuss: Why technology often evolves beyond human comprehension How "spaghetti code" and legacy systems create systemic risk The biological limits of human understanding Generalists vs. specialists in innovation The balance between intellectual humility and progress How we can better live with—and design—overcomplicated systems   This is a must-listen for leaders, technologists, and innovators navigating today's complex digital ecosystem. 🎙 Hosted by Aidan McCullen, keynote speaker on change and innovation. 💡 Sponsored by Kyndryl Episode Notes / Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:19 Unsolved Mysteries in Technology 01:18 Guest Introduction: Samuel Arbesman 01:57 Overview of 'Overcomplicated' 03:25 Case Studies: Stock Exchange and Toyota 07:53 The Concept of Accretion 15:48 Complexity vs. Complication 26:49 Interoperability and Trade-offs 29:29 Systemic Failures and Interoperability 29:53 Open Source Software and Maintenance Challenges 32:00 Biological Limits of Human Comprehension 34:51 The Role of Technology in Understanding Complex Systems 40:52 The Burden of Knowledge and the Need for Generalists 50:53 Physics vs. Biological Thinking in Innovation 55:49 Final Thoughts on Humility and Understanding   Find Samuel Arbesman: https://arbesman.net   [Aidan McCullen is a internationally Thinkers50 recognised thought leader on change and innovation. He is the author of Undisruptable and host of the globally acclaimed Innovation Show. A former international rugby player, Aidan now helps leaders and organisations thrive in an age of constant reinvention.]

Facts change — and that's a good thing. In this episode, Samuel Arbesman, complexity scientist and author of The Half-Life of Facts, joins Aidan McCullen to explore how what we know — and believe to be true — constantly evolves. Together, they unpack how facts have a "half-life," why collaboration matters in a changing world, and how exponential knowledge growth reshapes science, strategy, and society. In this episode:   Why facts and truths decay over time How science self-corrects — from the Brontosaurus myth to the spinach iron story The concept of "meso-facts" — slowly changing knowledge How exponential growth drives innovation and discovery Why curiosity, humility, and adaptability are essential for leaders   📚 Guest: Samuel Arbesman — author of The Half-Life of Facts, Overcomplicated, and The Magic of Code. 🌐 https://arbesman.net | https://arbesman.substack.com   🎙️ Hosted by Aidan McCullen — international keynote speaker on change, transformation, and innovation, author of Undisruptable, and host of The Innovation Show.     💼 Brought to you by Kyndryl – helping leaders harness the power of technology for smarter decisions and faster innovation. 👉 https://www.kyndryl.com/ie/en/institute   📘 Connect with Aidan McCullen: 🌐 https://theinnovationshow.io 📰 Substack: https://thethursdaythought.substack.com 📕 Book: Undisruptable 🎤 Speaking: https://aidanmccullen.com

Why couldn't Adobe—with all its resources—stop Figma? In this power-packed episode of The Innovation Show X, Aidan McCullen dives deep into disruption, transformation, and the future of work with Howard Yu (Leap) and Sangeet Paul Choudary (Reshuffle, Platform Revolution).   You'll learn why Adobe's shift to the cloud was just Act 2, and why surviving in the new economy requires mastering Act 3—orchestration, data flows, and multiplayer collaboration.   💡 Topics include:   Why collaboration isn't just a feature—it's a business model How AI is reshaping the architecture of value creation What John Deere, Shein, and Tesla can teach legacy companies The hidden difference between execution and orchestration How to make your business future-ready     📚 Books discussed: Leap by Howard Yu and Reshuffle by Sangeet Paul Choudary 🔗 Follow the guests: Howard Yu – Substack: One Inch Ahead https://howardyu.substack.com Sangeet Paul Choudary – Substack: Platforms https://platforms.substack.com Aidan McCullen https://thethursdaythought.substack.com 🎙 Hosted by Aidan McCullen | Sponsored by Kyndryl   #InnovationShow #AdobeVsFigma #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #AI #PlatformEconomy

In this final part of our compelling trilogy, Manu Kapur, author of Productive Failure, returns to uncover the psychology behind effective learning. Discover why failing first can drive deeper understanding, greater retention, and lasting mastery. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, this episode explores real-world strategies rooted in research—from the Zeigarnik Effect to motivational boosts like loss aversion, endowed progress, and goal gradients. Whether you're an educator, leader, or lifelong learner, this episode offers tools to rethink failure as a powerful ally in personal growth and innovation. What You'll Learn: Why failure can enhance memory and understanding The science of loss aversion and how to hack it for learning Endowed progress and goal gradient theory in practice How to spark curiosity and mastery in children and adults Building learning resilience and overcoming imposter syndrome A practical model for designing learning for yourself and others Resources & Links: 🧠 Manu Kapur's Book: Productive Failure – https://amzn.to/3WzFuZD 🌐 Manu Kapur's Website: www.manukapur.com 🔗 Kyndryl Institute: www.kyndryl.com/institute 🎙️ Host: Aidan McCullen – www.TheInnovationshow.io Timestamps (Chapters): 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:38 Welcoming the Guest: Manu Kaur 01:15 Understanding the Zeigarnik Effect 04:00 Affective Boost Levels: Loss Aversion and Endowed Progress 08:16 Goal Gradient and Personal Motivation 12:44 Growth Mindset and Effort 16:46 Children, Uncertainty, and Learning 21:51 Achievement Goals vs. Mastery Goals 26:27 Phenomenological Primitives and Learning 29:01 Understanding the Role of Context in Learning 31:49 The Power of Comparison and Contrast 34:34 Learning Through Metaphors and Case Studies 38:58 Addressing Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Challenges 41:14 Productive Failure in Learning and Growth 45:17 Designing Effective Learning Tasks 49:44 The Importance of Affective Draw in Mastery 56:13 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Simon Hill, author of Expected Value (xV), reveals how to measure and prove the real value of innovation—avoiding theatre, zombie projects, and wasted budgets with his groundbreaking xV framework. Simon introduces his Expected Value (xV) framework, a new system that combines confidence, predicted value, time sensitivity, and strategic fit to prove innovation's worth in terms business leaders and CFOs understand. From case studies to the role of AI, Simon shows how xV helps organizations escape wasted budgets, align innovation with strategy, and create lasting competitive advantage. We discuss: Why most companies fail at measuring innovation The pitfalls of innovation theatre and zombie projects How the xV formula works in real-world organizations Kill credits, project evaluation, and stopping bad investments early The role of AI and data science in innovation decisions Case studies including Nvidia and the S-Curve of technology adoption   👉 Get Simon's Book: https://xvbook.com 👉 Learn more about Wazoku: https://wazoku.com 👉 About our sponsor Kyndryl: https://kyndryl.com/institute This episode is essential listening for innovation leaders, CFOs, strategists, and business executives who want to move beyond activity metrics and finally prove the real value of innovation.  

In this episode, Michael Raynor — author of The Strategy Paradox and co-author with Clayton Christensen of The Innovator's Solution — joins Aidan McCullen to explore why most strategies fail and how leaders can fix them. From the RAP (Resource Allocation Process) model to the real-world case of BCE's diversification journey, Raynor unpacks how strategy is shaped by resource allocation, risk, and CEO intervention. Learn how top leaders can navigate uncertainty, overcome divisional barriers, and unlock strategic synergies. 🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode Why strategies often fail — and the CEO's role in fixing them How the RAP model explains real-world decision-making Lessons from BCE's diversification journey The tension between divisional goals and corporate strategy Practical tools for managing risk and strategic integration ⏱️ Episode Guide 00:00 Intro & Kyndryl Overview 00:28 Historical Perspectives on Strategy 00:57 Approaches to Resource Allocation 02:36 Guest Introduction: Michael Raynor 03:13 Academic Journey & Mentors 07:35 The RAP Model Explained 11:32 Challenges in Strategic Decision Making 22:51 BCE's Diversification Story 31:46 Entering Mobile Telephony 32:28 Strategic Synergies & Capital Constraints 33:48 Independent Operations & Market Dynamics 35:19 Challenges of Strategic Integration 36:11 Retail Distribution & Evolutionary Lessons 38:36 Governance Rights & Incentive Structures 48:31 Historical Lessons & Modern Applications 58:20 Concluding Thoughts & Future Directions 🚀 Topics Covered: strategy, resource allocation, RAP model, diversification, BCE, corporate governance, disruptive innovation, CEO decision-making, real options, strategic integration. 👉 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, share, and explore more insights at https://thethursdaythought.substack.com

In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen welcomes back Manu Kapur, author of Productive Failure, to explore the science of learning through failure. We uncover the Basic Knowledge Fallacy, debate Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning, and introduce the Four A's of Learning (Activation, Awareness, Affect, Assembly). Manu also explains why variability, struggle, and pretesting drive deeper learning, adaptability, and long-term success. Whether you're an educator, business leader, coach, or lifelong learner, this conversation will transform the way you think about learning and growth.   ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:33 – Welcoming the Guest: Manu Kapur 01:01 – Understanding the Basic Knowledge Fallacy 05:07 – Direct Instruction vs. Discovery Learning 08:08 – The Science Behind Productive Failure 14:01 – The Importance of Variability in Learning 21:14 – Pretesting and the Role of Struggle in Learning 26:43 – Final Thoughts and Cognitive Reflection Test   🔑 Key Takeaways: Why the path to learning is as important as the knowledge itself The strengths and limits of direct instruction and discovery learning How the Four A's of Productive Failure create lasting understanding Why variability and desirable difficulties improve adaptability How struggle, pretesting, and impasses unlock deeper insights 📘 Resources: 📺 Watch more episodes of The Innovation Show: The Innovation Show on YouTube 🌐 Learn more about Manu Kapur: www.manukapur.com 📘 Get Manu's book Productive Failure: https://amzn.to/3KrdV1Q  

What if failure wasn't the end, but the beginning of real growth? In this episode, Aidan McCullen sits down with Manu Kapur, author of Productive Failure, to explore how struggle, setbacks, and mistakes can actually unlock deep learning, creativity, and adaptability. 🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why productive failure is the secret to lifelong learning How to turn mistakes into powerful growth mindset strategies Why even "good lectures" don't always create deep understanding How leaders and innovators can use failure to adapt in a changing world The psychology of resilience, success, and transformation   Find Manu Kapur: https://www.manukapur.com From a soccer career cut short by injury to becoming a global thought leader in education innovation, Manu shares stories and research that challenge how we think about failure. Whether you're a teacher, leader, parent, or entrepreneur, this conversation will help you embrace failure as a pathway to success.

What can bees teach us about leadership, teamwork, and innovation? 🐝 In this episode, Philip Atkinson — organizational coach, beekeeper, and author of Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Beehive — shares powerful insights from the hive that apply directly to modern workplaces. We explore: Why the queen bee is not really the leader of the hive How the waggle dance is a perfect metaphor for communication Why bees switch jobs throughout their lives and what that means for career growth How swarms make better decisions by consensus The importance of diversity, innovation, and collaboration in thriving organizations 📖 Learn more about Philip's work and book: beewisebook.com 🌐 Company site: hive-logic.com 📲 Socials: Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn → @BeeWiseBook 👤 Connect with Philip on LinkedIn: PhilipAtkinsonHiveLogic ✨ All proceeds from Bee Wise support Bees for Development, a charity helping families worldwide build sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping.

What happens when startups like Figma outpace industry giants like Adobe? In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen sits down with bestselling author Sangeet Paul Choudary (Platform Revolution, Reshuffle) to explore how AI, cloud technology, and mindset shifts are reshaping the future of work, design, and competition. Discover why incumbents often fail—not from lack of innovation, but from failing to unlearn old architectures. Using the case of Figma vs. Adobe, we unpack how element-based design, governance-led workflows, and AI-first thinkingare redefining industries from design to law to construction. Key takeaways: Why adapting mindsets matters more than adopting tools How AI is unbundling knowledge work and rewriting career paths The importance of governance in enterprise-wide collaboration Why the forgetting curve is as critical as the learning curve   Perfect for innovators, leaders, and professionals navigating the knowledge economy, this episode is a roadmap for thriving in a world of structural uncertainty where AI and cloud-native startups are rewriting the rules. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:17 The Hammer and the Nail: Misreading New Technology 00:28 Adobe vs. Figma: A Case Study in Innovation 01:03 The Importance of Mindset in Technological Shifts 01:20 Guest Introduction: Sanjeet Paul Choudary 01:49 Figma vs. Adobe: A Deep Dive 04:07 Technological Shifts and Organizational Change 05:57 The Impact of AI on Work and Careers 17:00 Governance vs. Execution in Modern Enterprises 18:22 The Future of Competition and Industry Structure 21:40 The Need for Unlearning in the Age of AI 24:34 Preparing for the Future: Skills and Careers 36:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 38:05 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Message   📚 Resources & Links • Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Reshapes the Knowledge Economy → https://amzn.to/3HWwj1I • Platform Revolution → https://amzn.to/4mBq2aQ • Sangeet's Substack → https://substack.com/@platforms/posts • Aidan's show notes → https://thethursdaythought.substack.com 🎙️ Listen now to learn how to reshuffle your thinking, your organization, and your career for the AI-driven future.    

What if everything you knew about strategy was wrong? In this profound and candid episode, legendary Harvard Business School professors Joseph Bower and Clark Gilbertdismantle the myths of top-down strategy and reveal what actually drives innovation inside organizations — resource allocation. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, this conversation connects over 50 years of organizational research with real-world disruption—from Clay Christensen's disruptive innovation, to Intel's strategic shifts, to why academic institutions resist change. 🔥 You'll learn: Why strategy emerges from internal decisions—not just executive planning The role of middle management and customer capture in strategic failure How organizations can manage dual transformation The secret behind Harvard's innovation blind spots Advice for innovators, executives, and scholars navigating complex systems This is not your typical leadership podcast. It's a masterclass in innovation thinking, organizational change, and deep system insights — directly from the architects of the field. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:21 Introducing the Guests: Clark Gilbert and Joe Bower 01:02 Clark Takes Over as Host 01:33 The Connection Between Resource Allocation and Strategy 05:26 Challenges in Strategy Implementation 09:03 Case Studies and Real-World Examples 11:11 Issues in Academic Research 19:48 The Harvard Business School Case 28:10 The Teradyne Case Study 32:41 Elon Musk's Unique Management Style 35:21 The Power of Structural Context in Education 37:50 The Concept of Undermining in Business 39:23 Managing Cognitive Framing in a Changing World 44:06 The Importance of Deep Industry Knowledge 49:16 Advice for Future Scholars 55:56 Final Reflections and Gratitude   📚 Resources and People Mentioned: Book: From Resource Allocation to Strategy – by Bower, Gilbert & others Dual Transformation – by Clark Gilbert & Scott D. Anthony The Innovator's Dilemma – by Clayton Christensen Case Studies: Intel, Teradyne, Kodak, Harvard Business School 💡 Featured Thinkers Mentioned: Clayton Christensen – Disruptive innovation pioneer, HBS Tom Eisenmann – Strategy & entrepreneurship expert, HBS Donald Sull – Former HBS faculty, expert on execution and volatility Yves Doz – INSEAD professor, known for multinational innovation research Howard Yu – IMD professor; explored tech disruption in Asia Tomo Noda – Japanese academic and innovator in business education reform Robert Burgelman - MIT professor and prolific author