Innovation Talent Roundtable

Throughout the past two-and-a-half years, the approach to innovation has evolved. While common themes have emerged, different organizations have chosen distinct paths. Front End of Innovation returns October 19-21 in Boston, MA to celebrate lessons learned together in person.

But the FEI Advisory Board has tasked us with bringing the community together throughout the next few months so we can begin the conversation. And so, please join us On The Road to FEI. The road trip features interviews with Advisory Board members and speakers. The video within this piece features FEI Advisory Board Member Navin Kunde sharing a number of thoughts, including, “Innovation success is balancing short and long-term mindsets.” And we’re providing the opportunity to gather through roundtable discussions each month leading up to FEI.

Our second roundtable discussion focuses on the bright light of innovation talent. Watch the video on demand.

Igniting innovation talent is fraught with danger as- if you’re not careful, it can lead to burnout.  

Finding innovation talent that fits within a given organization is- to put it simply- difficult. Good innovation talent itself is elusive. Add to the equation that a given person not only needs to have the particular skill set being sought, but that same person must fit with corporate and innovation culture already established and the search is tantamount to finding a needle in the Grand Canyon. 

Once that talent is identified and makes it through the gauntlet of sourcing and onboarding, nurturing must occur. That nurture program must be customized and personalized to the talent and consider from where the talent arrived- either internally or externally.

And once the team has accepted that new talent, management must provide a perfect balance so as not to achieve either end of the innovation talent spectrum- burnout or boredom. 

AGENDA

Innovation Talent: From Boredom Or Burnout To Breakthrough

Navin Kunde, Head of Open Innovation- The Experience Collaborative, The Clorox Co.
Pete Dulcamara, Chief Scientist & Technical Vice President, Kimberly-Clark
Michele Sandoval, Director of Innovation, E&J Gallo Winery 
Mike Hatrick, Group Director IP Strategy & Portfolio, Volvo Group Trucks Technology, Volvo 

• Recognizing innovation talent internally throughout the organization and bringing them in to the innovation function
• Mining for innovation talent externally in new and different places
• Discovering how to nurture innovation talent holistically  
• Listening to talent to minimize boredom and burnout while enabling breakthroughs
• Creating systems/process for innovation management resilience 

Interactive Roundtable

• Discovering key innovation behaviors and the difference between Nature vs. Nurture
• Understanding what leads to innovator burnout, recognizing and mitigating those factors
• Discussing keys for success in driving an innovation culture forward 

Watch the video on demand.