Cory Lommel

Director - Consumer Insights at Cargill

Speaker

I am an innovation catalyst that has experience launching breakthrough new products with expertise across all facets of the innovation process including strategy development, insight identification and product optimization. A highlight of my career is the development and implementation of a new approach to innovation at General Mills called Consumer First Design. This entrepreneurial approach blends the best of design thinking and lean-start-up and is utilized globally. Another highlight of my career has been the successful development and seeding of several new approaches to consumer learning including transactional testing, mobile research, co-creation and in-market experimentation.

I am recognized as a passionate leader who cares about people. Recently nominated for a Great Manager Award in 2016, I have received consistent feedback over the years that people feel empowered and valued when working for me, as reflected in this quote: “...as far as managers go, you have been one of the best. Your support and positive feedback is so appreciated (and even recognizing very small things that may not seem important). I love that nothing goes unnoticed with you.”

What I love about innovation is that I'm always learning. I've appreciated the big, successful launches I've helped create but I've learned and grown even more from the failed launches I've been a part of. Through it all my passion remains the same - identifying a consumer insight that leads to the next new product that will make a difference in someone's life.