Region: North America

Moderator:
Eliza Pollack, Director of Innovation, City of Philadelphia

Session Abstract:
Innovation has been a buzzword (maybe even the buzzword) for years, but what does it really mean? In this session, we’ll discuss what is – and isn’t – innovation; how employees at all levels can leverage innovative thinking to improve their work; and easy things companies can do to build and sustain a culture of innovation, even in these times of shifting budgets, priorities and resources.

Key Take-Aways:

• Actionable design thinking activities you can use to generate new ideas and encourage participation and engagement in meetings
• Skill building to help you support and communicate with employees as we continue to adjust to a virtual working environment
• An understanding of the roles that leadership, middle management and front line workers play in building an innovation ecosystem

Moderator:
Ralph Morales III, Associate Director, SmartOrg

Abstract:
Innovation involves a high degree of uncertainty & speculation. Business units want executable growth opportunities. Innovation & Growth leaders manage the precarious gap. We’ll use an interactive case study to experience the discovery of a novel approach for prioritizing innovation priorities, communicating readiness, and managing the transfer of innovation to core business units to skillfully manage the innovation growth gap.

KeyTake-Aways:

•  A credible approach for enterprise innovation risk prioritization.
• An integrated approach to communicating innovation opportunity readiness.
• Why fast learnings from lean start-up methods are ill suited for enterprise innovation.

Speaker:
Rich Wilson, Director of Customer Experience & Design Thinking, Kimberly-Clark Professional

Abstract:
The days of “fluffy” CX are over. New tools and new ways of thinking allow fully resourced CX teams to not only identify moments that matter, but also the cost to the organization.

Key Take-Aways:

• Insight on which tools, skills and disciplines you’ll need to prioritize and quantify your next CX strategy.
• An understanding of how combining survey results with business data can quantify specific experiences.

The connections you make today can become lasting relationships. Join us for a unique virtual experience and connect with fellow members in a series of brief 1:1 conversations. You’ll never know who you will meet! It’s a great way to build your network, highlight your professional focus of activities and find fellow members who have thought leadership you can benefit from. And, of course, make new friends!

How it Works:
Prepare your Meet ‘n’ Greet introduction – it’s a speed date! Briefly introduce your company and what it does; explain your role; highlight any challenges you are struggling with; new initiatives underway; and one thing you are an expert in. You may also wish to indicate how you would most like to engage, discuss, or collaborate with other Council members on any particular issues or ideas. These conversations are timed – we are challenging your skill at succinctness!

After Coaching…

• 77% of Executives have an improved working relationship with direct reports
• 71% of Executives have an improved working relationship with immediate supervisors

Coaching is about gaining clarity, creating change and making progress on your goals, outcomes or strategies. This is a chance to bring your most challenging opportunities and blocks to a call, get coaching or learn from your peers’ examples. This will be a live coaching call and you will have opportunities to be coached, ask questions after your peers have been coached or just listen in and learn vicariously. If you’d like to be coached, be sure to bring an actual problem that you really want to change and want help on. Your problem may be someone else’s so do not hesitate to share. We will get to as many as people as possible time permitting.

Your Executive Coach:
Michael O. “Coop” Cooper, Founder of Innovators + Influencers, will be your Virtual Executive Coach. Coop is an internationally recognized executive coach, advisor, facilitator and trainer who specializes in working with executive teams to develop the leadership skills, alignment and strategies to grow and thrive in a constantly changing environment. Coop has 23 years of experience as a coach, management consultant, strategist and project leader with Fortune 1000 companies and small businesses in over 20 countries. He has worked with leaders at Accuray, eBay, Genentech, Google, Novell, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Southwest Airlines, TeleNav, Wells Fargo, Yahoo, Yammer and hundreds of other organizations large and small. He co-led the teams to develop the world’s first wireless web platform for Vodafone and Verizon deployed in 27 countries and developed the specifications for the first custom internet car-ordering system for Honda. He has also been selected to coach the prestigious TED Fellows. Coop is a contributor to Fast Company. Learn more about Coop and his Executive Coaching at www.innovatorsandinfluencers.com.