Trails Less Travelled: Innovation Lessons from former CEO and Chairman of Pitney Bowes, Michael Critelli Part 1

In this episode of ‘The Innovation Show,’ host Aidan McCullen sits down with the former chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes, Michael Critelli.

Through a deep dive into Critelli’s career, we explore his penchant for the road less traveled, his transformative leadership at Pitney Bowes, and his insights on innovation, strategy, and foresight. From humble beginnings to leading a staple communications company through times of intense change, including the internet era, 9/11, and the recession, Critelli shares lessons on valuing potential over qualifications, listening to dissent, and the importance of constant adaptation in business and life.

00:00 Early Career and Joining Pitney Bowes

01:40 Climbing the Ladder: From Legal to Leadership

04:28 Reinventing Pitney Bowes: A Tale of Transformative Change

07:09 Embracing Agile Strategy: Lessons from the Front Lines

13:51 The Power of Listening and Adapting in Leadership

42:39 The Importance of Vision and Courage in Decision-Making 

44:47 Fostering a Culture of Continuous Learning and Innovation

Challenge-Driven Innovation with Bea Schofield

This episode of the Corporate Explorer series features a discussion with Bea Schofield, a specialist in Challenge-Driven Innovation (CDI), and various co-authors of the ‘Corporate Explorer Field Book’.

The podcast, supported by Wazoku, delves into how large organisations can foster innovation through a sustainable ecosystem using ‘Connected Collective Intelligence’. The conversation focuses on the principles of CDI, detailing a framework dubbed ‘LASSO’ for crafting effective challenges that stimulate creative solutions. It underscores the importance of setting clear boundaries to fuel creativity, ensuring challenges are actionable and specific, and aligning them with strategic goals to facilitate ownership and support within the organisation. The episode also covers strategic challenge framing, stakeholder engagement, solution evaluation, and prioritisation, offering insights into blending creativity with systematic processes for corporate innovation. Bea Schofield shares her perspective on the role of corporate innovators and the necessity of balancing ideation with execution to drive meaningful organisational change. 

00:00 Welcome to the Corporate Explorer Series: Launching the Field Book

00:15 Introducing Wazoku: Powering Sustainable Innovation

01:07 Diving Into the World of CDI with Bea Schofield

03:59 Exploring the LASSO Framework for Effective Challenges

07:44 The Importance of Support and Ownership in Innovation

17:19 Navigating Corporate Innovation: Strategies and Tools

20:41 Selecting the Right Channels for Innovation Challenges

21:58 Wrapping Up and Where to Find Bea Schofield

Corporate Explorer Series, Innovation Ecosystems, CDI (Challenge Driven Innovation), Connected Collective Intelligence, Ideation Process, Challenge Design, LASSO Framework, Problem Solving,  Collaboration,  Corporate Innovation

Ian Morrison Part 2 of The Second Curve

Ian and the host, Aidan McCullen, explore how companies past and present have navigated the transition from the ‘first curve’ – a state of established practices and security – to the ‘second curve’ of innovation and adaptation in the face of new technologies and markets. They discuss examples of organisations like HR Block, SGI (Silicon Graphics), and Volvo, and how they’ve managed to pivot or struggled with these shifts.

Ian offers profound insights into the societal move towards a knowledge economy, the importance of venture capital in disruptive innovation, consumer empowerment, and the geographical shift in economic power towards the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, they discuss the importance of organisational culture in adapting to change, the challenges of measuring success on the second curve, and the personal and societal impacts of these transitions.

The conversation concludes by emphasising the need for individuals and organisations to embrace uncertainty, leverage existing competencies, and prepare for a future that prioritises hyper-effectiveness and adaptive skills. 

 

00:00 Introduction to the Second Curve

00:31 Understanding the Shift from First to Second Curve

00:56 The Impact of the Second Curve on Organizations

01:44 The Second Curve and the Post-Industrial Economy

02:10 The Role of Knowledge in the Second Curve

02:48 The Power of Disruptive Innovation

03:03 The Shift in Consumer Power

03:34 The Geographic Transformation of the Second Curve

04:36 The Importance of People in the Second Curve

05:31 The Second Curve Mindset

06:25 The Dilemma of the Second Curve

09:02 The Role of Technology in the Second Curve

15:06 The Impact of the Second Curve on Individuals

18:24 The Future of the Second Curve

48:19 Conclusion: Embracing the Second Curve

 

Find ian here: http://ianmorrison.com

 

Ian Morrison – The Second Curve: Bracing for Changes in Technology, Consumers, and Markets

Explore an engaging conversation with futurist and author Ian Morrison, as he discusses traditional organization structures and the transformation required for businesses to adapt to the ‘second curve’. He shares valuable insights on the impacts of technological advancements and changing consumer preferences on organizations, individuals, and the global marketplace. Morrison shares personal anecdotes and professional case studies to illustrate the complex yet essential process of navigating from the old curve to the new one. Tune into this insightful conversation to prepare for an exciting future.

Tony Ulwick and The Jobs To Be Done Canvas

Discover the key to successful innovation. Join Tony Ulwick, author of the Jobs To Be Done Canvas, as he shares how to define markets, uncover customer needs, and develop winning products. Learn the power of focusing on job execution and get inspired to create impactful solutions.

Michael Beer

Fit To Compete Part 2 with Michael Beer

Join us in ‘Fit to Compete, Part 2’ where Michael Beer, the renowned expert in corporate strategy, delves into the crucial elements of business innovation and transformation. This episode offers insightful discussions on strategic fitness, the power of honest conversations, and the roles of leadership and culture in driving organizational change. Featuring a case study on Becton Dickinson, Mike highlights the essentiality of aligning strategy with internal communication for corporate success. Perfect for professionals and leaders seeking guidance in the dynamic world of business.”

Main topics with timestamps:

  1. Strategic Fitness Process – [00:00:00]
  2. Long-Term Investment Challenges – [00:13:00]
  3. Impact of Company Culture and Leadership – [00:30:00]
  4. Role of Succession Planning – [00:43:00]
  5. Becton Dickinson Case Study – [00:51:00]
  6. Transformative Leadership and Values – [00:57:00]
  7. Innovation in Corporate Strategy – [01:03:00]
  8. Conclusion and Key Takeaways – [01:10:00]

Articles mentioned in the episode: The Great Training Robbery https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/16-121_bc0f03ce-27de-4479-a90e-9d78b8da7b67.pdf

Find Mike Beer: https://www.beermichael.com

 

Fit To Compete Part 1 – Mike Beer

Fit to Compete – Why Honest Conversations about Your Company’s Capabilities Are the Key to a Winning Strategy

In part 1, we set the context for the book and discuss:

  • Mike’s background and inspiration for the book.
  • The problem of organisational silence and how it hinders strategic execution and transformation
  • The concept of strategic fitness and how it helps organizations align their strategy and culture
  • The process and benefits of holding honest conversations with everyone in the organization
  • The challenges and barriers of overcoming the silent killers, such as fear, hierarchy, and complacency
  • The vision and courage to create a culture of corporate stewardship and continuous learning.

Find Mike here:

https://www.beermichael.com

 

Paolo Gallo Interview

Paolo Gallo The Seven Games of Leadership

Join us as Paolo Gallo introduces “The Seven Games of Leadership,” a groundbreaking guide that invites listeners to reassess their priorities both professionally and personally. This episode is not about climbing the corporate ladder; it’s about finding genuine satisfaction in what you do and making a positive impact on the world.

Dancing with Monsters with Todd Dewett

Join us for “Dancing with Monsters,” an episode that explores the fears and monsters that inhabit our personal and professional lives with Todd Dewett, author of the insightful book with the same title. This podcast delves into the transformative journey of overcoming fears, embracing imperfections, and building the confidence needed for success.

In this episode, Todd unfolds the captivating tale of Joe, the protagonist on a mission to confront his fears. 

Listeners will discover how wearing masks and hiding behind excuses can be exhausting, and how authenticity and vulnerability are essential for personal and professional growth. Todd shares lessons from Joe’s youth, highlighting the impact of failed leadership missions and the importance of sincerity over insincerity.

The podcast explores the concept of fear and addresses the questions: What do you fear, and why do you fear it? Todd shares practical advice for overcoming fears, including identifying false constraints, building a support team, choosing perspective, and asking for help.

Empathy emerges as a central theme, as Joe develops empathy for his team, and they reciprocate. The podcast culminates in discussing desirable behaviours, including open-mindedness, proactivity, and authenticity, which are intricately linked to creativity and innovation.

As Todd concludes, he shares insights on the concept of “fit” in your career—how well who you are meshes with what you do. This podcast is an engaging exploration of the beauty in imperfections and the capability within each of us to create amazing work.

Join Todd Dewett to embrace authenticity, kindness, vulnerability, humility, and the power of being the change in your own life.

Connect with Todd Dewett: www.drdewett.com

Episode Highlights:

  • Unravelling the opening tale of Maria, Noah, and the toxic team, along with the intriguing character, Miles.
  • Exploring Joe’s journey, drawing on communication lessons from his grandfather’s vampire training academy.
  • Analyzing the impact of fear and failed leadership missions on personal and professional development.
  • Discussing the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy in overcoming fears and achieving success.
  • Addressing thought-provoking questions: What do you fear? Why do you fear?
  • Sharing practical advice for overcoming fears, including identifying false constraints, building a support team, and choosing perspective.
  • Reflecting on desirable behaviors for personal and professional growth.
  • Delving into the concept of “fit” in your career—aligning your personality, skills, and interests with job demands.

Join the conversation and let’s go dancing with monsters!

Andrew Binns

"Strategy Manifestos" with Andrew Binns

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Welcome to part 2 of the Corporate Explorer series.

In this episode, titled “Strategy Manifestos,” join Andrew Binns as he delves into corporate exploration, sharing insights from the Corporate Explorer Fieldbook.

Brought to you by Wazoku, the Corporate Explorer series is designed to uncover the depth of insight and experience within corporations, beyond the realm of management gurus and academics. In May 2022, Andy attended a conference at Bosch that sparked the inspiration for this episode, revealing the wealth of knowledge within corporations about corporate exploration.

The episode kicks off with a discussion on turning high-level corporate statements into empowering Strategy Manifestos. Co-authored by long-time client Andreas Brandstetter, Chapter 1 explores the crucial role of manifestos in aligning senior leaders on strategic ambitions and communicating these ambitions effectively.

Andy shares personal experiences as a corporate explorer, emphasizing the importance of a clear strategy. The Strategy Manifesto, while not a replacement for detailed strategy plans, makes explicit the company’s strategic choices and provides the rationale for those decisions.

Discover the key element of the manifesto – portfolio allocation. Learn how companies can change their approach to R&D investment to focus on cross-business priorities, including areas of withdrawal or deliberate non-entry.

Moving on to the execution of the manifesto, Andy outlines five steps: developing a point of view, assembling facts and perspectives, drafting and iterating, addressing disagreements, and adapting for different audiences.

The episode concludes with five powerful approaches for corporate explorers to trigger change within their organizations. From outside-in exploration to cultivating sponsors, each approach requires time and commitment but holds the potential to create bottom-up pressure that shifts action at the top.

Tune in to “Strategy Manifestos” by Andrew Binns, part of the Corporate Explorer series sponsored by Wazoku, and gain actionable insights into driving innovation and strategy within your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the uncharted territories of corporate excellence!

For those interested in Wazoku, find Wazoku at www.wazoku.com

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