Sowing Seeds of Insight and Innovation

The coolest job title I’ve ever had is Thinker/Analyst.

Paraphrased highlights of the associated job description include: a voracious appetite for reading, critical consideration, imagination, and a willingness to challenge people to succeed. Data enters my brain where it is digested and turned into compelling insights and crucial business implications.

Inevitably, when we discuss brand objectives and marketing tactics with our clients, their main goal is to be recognized as “leaders,” “experts,” and “innovators.” How do they hope to achieve this? Without fail, the first question is always: “Can you help us fix our website? We just need it to look sleek and modern.”

Is your company or organization slowing down? When growth becomes sluggish, it is important not to panic – know that many companies like yours go through distinct stages of fast, and then slower growth and that you can overcome the challenge. Like any doctor assessing a patient, it is critical to first accurately diagnose the problem so you can develop a strategy and plan that make sense.

Howdy folks. It’s me again, your friendly neighborhood guy that just wants to tell you about this amazing new probiotic drink called Benefizz and why carrying it in the little cafe you own is your next big move.
That’s not exactly the sales pitch I use, but it’s not so far from the truth.

When I tell people I’m an anthropologist, they are more likely to assume I dig up ancient peoples or dinosaurs than to assume I consult businesses to identify and develop transformational growth strategies. While we can all appreciate Harrison Ford donning his iconic hat to smuggle treasure out of hidden temples or that twinkle in John Hammond’s eye when he talks about fossilized dino DNA (Note: Paleontology is NOT a part of Anthropology), Anthropology and the tools it offers are capable of so much more than studying past (and dead) cultures.

The world’s most recognizable brands think about “brand” with a capital “B.” When defined and nurtured properly, brand is a guiding principle for how an organization interacts internally, with its audiences, with its products and services, and anywhere else its journey leads.

Vodafone uses innovation as a business driver. Our innovation program is largely focused on creating innovations with b-2-b customers.

We have four fulltime innovators in the enterprise business and sustain this work with a network of intrapreneurs across the globe, whom “we call innovation agents and innovation champions.”

There are many unforeseen hazards between concept and launch. Pivoting provides a unique opportunity to learn from experience and to change course at key development stages, making the difference between attaining mediocre results and achieving astounding success.

“I define innovation as being a participant in our collective evolution,” says Somik. “The method is a way to become who we aspire to be.”

This news kicks off a litany of questions: The question of strategy becomes paramount. What kind of company can you become? What value do we want to realize? What customers do we want to engage? What categories do we want to enter or disrupt? What capabilities do we need to move in these directions.