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

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

 

Fit_to_Compete_Part_3_The_Silent_Killers__with_Mike_Beer_SML

The Silent Killers of Strategy Implementation and Learning – Mike Beer

Dive into the heart of innovation, strategy, and reinvention with our latest episode on Mike Beer’s ‘Fit to Compete.’ Uncover the silent killers of strategy execution and how to overcome them, featuring insights from leaders and case studies like Hewlett Packard. Perfect for leaders, innovators, and anyone looking to transform their organizational culture for strategic success. Tune in to transform challenges into victories with actionable insights

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.

Private Lawns, Planning: Protection or Growth

The ‘private lawn’ is the ability to have the time and space to plan, think and grow. For some of us, daily survival consumes all our time and energy, leaving no room for strategic thinking or planning. Few organisations carve out the time to plan, strategise and think about long-term goals and objectives.

As business leaders, creating an environment where everyone can access their ‘private lawn’ – a space for growth, planning, and forward-thinking is crucial. However, we must also plan by priority.

Mark Solms – The Hidden Spring Part 9: Making a Mind and The Hard Problem

In The Hidden Spring, our guest Mark Solms does not dive too deeply into Karl Friston’s mathematics. As you will discover, he summarises its implications, describing Friston’s free energy as a quantifiable measure of how a system models the world and how it behaves.

Mark Solms – The Hidden Spring Part 8: A Predictive Hierarchy

It is a pleasure to welcome the author of The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness, Mark Solms. In this episode, we talk about the brain’s prediction system.

 

00:00:00.000 Introduction and Overview of the Chapter
00:03:30.388 Establishment of the Meteorology Department
00:11:59.546 The Fundamental Task: Minimizing Free Energy
00:15:43.370 Feelings: Connecting Us to Our Ancestors
00:19:36.790 Neglecting the inter-receptive and extra-receptive in cognitive science
00:22:30.002 The brain’s attempt to contain environmental effects on the organism
00:31:32.675 Innate Predictions: Fear and Instinctual Behaviors
00:34:19.723 The Evolution of Responses and Predictive Model Complexification
00:42:59.118 The Brain: Ones and Zeroes, Predictions and Errors
00:54:18.834 The Brain as an Organization
00:59:57.338 Emotional Needs and Scripts

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