Disrupt Disruption
By Pascal Finette
Disrupt DisruptionFeb 16, 2022
The Future of Spatial Computing (or: Whatever happened to AR and VR?)
Join Pascal Finette in our dynamic bimonthly live event series to dive into the heart of innovation. Pascal engages in candid conversations with eminent experts who demonstrate progress in practice.
In our first session of 2024, we feature Aaron Frank, a longtime expert in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Spatial Computing. Together, we will explore the future of this field.
With the recent release of Apple's Vision Pro headset, Meta's ongoing efforts, the continuous updates to the Quest Pro hardware, and the entry of new companies into the market, this could be the moment when headset-based computing takes off – or not?!
A Conversation with Kacee Johnson (VP Strategy & Innovation at CPA.com)
Kacee Johnson, as the Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at CPA.com, stands out in the realm of accounting technology. Grounded in global FinTech, she pinpoints pivotal trends and forges collaborations in the sector. Celebrated by Accounting Today and CPA Practice Advisor, Kacee also ranks among the Most Powerful Women in Accounting.
In our conversation, Kacee explores the complex issues of AI integration in the accounting realm. She emphasizes the need for robust infrastructure, the recruitment of talent knowledgeable in both AI and accounting intricacies, the critical role of upholding data quality for precise financial forecasts, and the essential harmonization of AI-based strategies with overarching accounting goals and benchmarks.
A Conversation with David Beatty (Chair: The Sharon & David Johnston Centre for Governance Innovation, Professor of Strategy Rotman School of Management)
In our discussion, David shares insights from years on the boards of major corporations. He urges CEOs to engage board members for strategic guidance, not just oversight. David sees board meetings as chances to focus on the future, offering strategies like independent incubators and migrating innovations from edge to core. He emphasizes selecting directors individually and fostering a strong chair-CEO relationship. For startups, he advises gradually building an advisory board of experts and wisely anticipating disruption.
With four decades of leadership experience spanning multiple industries and roles, David Beatty is a highly accomplished strategist and governance expert. He led a major North American food manufacturer, served as CEO of a closed-end investment trust, and taught strategy at Rotman School of Management. Beatty has served on 39 boards, chairing 9 public companies, and created director education programs. He focuses on helping boards and CEOs collaborate to anticipate disruption and invest time wisely. Beatty has been recognized with the Order of Canada and a lifetime achievement award from the International Corporate Governance Network.
A Conversation with Brant Cooper (Author of “Disruption Proof”)
Brant Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of “The Lean Entrepreneur” and “Disruption Proof,” and the innovative mind behind Moves the Needle. With a rich history of transforming industrial age dynamics into digital age opportunities, Brant brings unique insights on agility, digital transformation, and how to create real value for customers amidst today’s complex and disruptive business landscape.
What happened to the glory days when scrappy startups could disrupt entire industries? Brant Cooper says those days are over – but large companies shouldn’t retreat into their innovation labs hoping for breakthroughs. Instead, they must empower diverse teams and partner with the startup community. Cooper provides a dynamic playbook to make companies “disruption proof” in this rapidly changing world. Learn how to balance exploration and execution, drive real impact, and create resilient yet adaptable organizations. A must-listen for any innovator dealing with today’s challenges!
A Conversation with Dr. Frederik Pferdt (Adjunct Professor @ Stanford University and Google's First and Former Chief Innovation Evangelist)
Frederik is a renowned global thought leader and former Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google, where he led the growth of the company's innovation culture and mentored a diverse global community of over 600 Innovation Evangelists. He is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University's d.school and teaches graduate classes on navigating ambiguity at the intersection of innovation, creativity, and design.
In our conversation Frederik and I talk about developing a future mindstate, why the future belongs to all of us and not just a few “innovators”, and his upcoming book on the topic.
A Conversation with Christina Nesheva (CEO @ Officinae Bio)
Christina is the CEO of biotech startup Officinae Bio, and the former cofounder of the Innovation Lab of ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture between GSK, Pfizer, and Shionogi. Previously she held leadership positions at GSK and has spent her career at the forefront of healthcare innovation."
Repeat guest Christina, and I discuss all things leadership, how to manage successful innovation initiatives and their teams, and the pitfalls which can present themselves along the way.
A Conversation with Mary Grove (Managing Partner @ Bread and Butter Ventures)
Mary is Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures. She began her career working on the Google IPO, and went on to lead new business development partnerships, negotiating early-stage product and technology deals worldwide. Mary served as the founding director of Google for Startups, leading the company’s global efforts to support entrepreneurs in over 100 countries. After her 15-year career at Google, Mary worked as an investment partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, where she led dozens of investments in a range of sectors, including healthcare, enterprise software, and fintech.
In our conversation, we dig deep into the learnings from thousands of startups, explore how corporates can better partner and work with entrepreneurs and their companies, and discuss common pitfalls to avoid.
A Conversation with Josep Castellet (Group Head of Innovation @ Oberalp Group and General Manager @ POMOCA)
Josep heads up Innovation at Swiss-based Oberalp Group, a world leader in mountain sports equipment. Further, he is General Manager at POMOCA, the market leader ski touring skin manufacturer.
In our conversation, we explore the many lessons which can be learned from the timeless classic Swiss army knife, why sustaining innovation oftentimes trumps the perceived need for disruption, and what might be next for the outdoor sports industry.
A Conversation with Raphael Gielgen (Trendscout Future of Work Life & Learn @ Vitra)
A Conversation with Barak Berkowitz (Former Director Operations and Strategy Director @ MIT Media Lab)
In our conversation, Barak explores the leadership traits of successful disruptors, how organizations look like supporting those leaders, and the common pitfalls firms encounter along the way. We end our inspiring discussion with an outlook on the possible impact of (technological) change on humanity.
A Conversation with Natasha Gedge (COO @ Signol / Former MOD Innovation Leader)
In our conversation, Natasha and I explore her approach to innovation in a highly complex and interdependent environment, why and how organizations fail and what to do about it.
A Conversation with Marques Anderson (Cyborg Anthropologist)
In our conversation, we explore the fascinating work of a cyborg anthropologist, ancestral wisdom, and how to integrate this into one’s work.
A Conversation with Hemali Vyas (Project Development Leadership @ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
In our conversation we explore (no pun!) the future of space exploration, and what companies and leaders can learn from NASA.
A Conversation with Grant Wood (Founder @ Knotion Labs)
In our conversation we talk a about innovation best practices, the common pitfalls, and Grant’s anti-patterns of innovation and disruptive.
A Conversation with David Bell (Founder @ Ideafarm Ventures)
In our conversation we dig into the wonderous world of direct-to-consumer businesses, what’s next for B2C companies, and the inner workings of disruptive innovation in the space.
A Conversation with David Siegel (CEO @ Meetup)
In our conversation we talk about David’s approach to failing, learning, and the art of the pivot, how to stand the inevitable tensions with doing things on the edge, and how to create a winning culture.
A Conversation with Bruce Smith (Founder & CEO @ Hydrow)
In our conversation we explore the many disruptions and state changes happening in the fitness industry at large, how community becomes the cornerstone of personal transformation, the approach the hydrow team took to creating their revolutionary product in a category which hasn’t seen much change over the last couple of decades, and how this all translates into the world of business and leadership.
A Conversation with Riaz Shah (Global Learning Leader @ EY)
In our conversation we dig deep into the future of learning and work, how to prepare yourself and your team for the future and which skills are most needed today and tomorrow. It is a fascinating, deep dive into the ways one of the largest consulting firms in the world prepares itself and its workforce for the future — and what you can learn from it.
A Conversation with Cecilia Tham (Cofounder @ Futurity Systems)
In our conversation, we look at the world of innovation and disruption through the lens of a futurist, and explore the models and frameworks Cecilia and her team bring to her work in anticipating and creating the future.
A Conversation with Samantha Snabes (Cofounder @ re:3D)
Together, we explore the future of manufacturing, how to build a manufacturing company from the ground up, and the disruptive nature of 3D printing ten years after the initial hype.
A Conversation with Dave Friedman (CEO @ AutonomyWorks)
In our conversation we explore the disruptive opportunity of expanding your teams neuro-diversity, and the ways you can engage with a neuro-diverse workforce. We also tap into Dave’s extensive knowledge of the retail industry and discuss opportunities and disruptions within the sector.
A Conversation with Dr. David Bray (Principal @ LeadDoAdapt Ventures, Distinguished Fellow @ Atlantic Council and Stimson Center)
A Conversation with Hannah Tucker (Founder @ Balance Point Ventures and Disruption Dinner)
Digging into Hannah’s latest research, we explore disruption from a sustainability perspective, what it takes for companies and their people to change, and how to best drive disruptive change in your organization.
A Conversation with Philipp Pieper (Cofounder & CEO @ Swarm Network)
A Conversation with Bill Pasmore (Professor of Practice of Social Organizational Psychology @ Teachers College, Columbia University)
Dig deep into the organizational and leadership aspects of disruptive change, what is required of the leader of the future, and how to be successful in navigating the increasing levels of change we experience today.
A Conversation with Rob Evans (Managing Partner @ Imaginal Labs)
Dig deep into a riveting conversation about the origins of disruption, how organizations and their leaders best embrace today’s rapidly changing landscape, and how to unleash collaboration at scale.
A Conversation with Chris Clearfield (Author and Consultant)
Explore disruption from the perspective of a risk analyst, learn how black and grey swans play into the innovation/disruption field, and how leaders best prepare for an uncertain future.
A Conversation with Dave Goldblatt (General Partner @ Vibe Capital)
Join us for an exploration of the deeply disruptive nature of blockchain-based and decentralized technologies, business models, and markets.
Here is Dave’s Suggested Crypto Reading List: davegoldblatt.com/copy-of-crypto-readinglistening-list
A Conversation with Marshall Kirkpatrick (VP Marketing @ Sprinklr)
Explore what a deep dive into social media can teach us about the state of disruption today, how to best leverage these tools to stay on top of innovation and disruption, and how to fine-tune your ability to listen to “the thin wisps of tomorrow.”
A conversation with Rick Smith (Founder and CEO @ Axon Enterprise)
Learn why an enthusiastic press review of your new product or service can be the harbinger of doom, why overcoming “no” is important on multiple fronts, and why disruption requires the willingness and ability to stick it out.
A conversation with Lars Hyland (Chief Learning Officer @ Totara Learning)
A Conversation with Massimo Portincaso (Chairman @ Hello Tommorow)
Explore why Deep Tech brings a fundamentally different approach to innovation and disruption, why the next decade will be even more disruptive than you might think, and how to best prepare yourself for the Deep Tech era.
Massimo kindly shares a series of reports:
– A report on deep tech and how the whole approach to innovation is changing, with big consequences for the problems we have to address: hello-tomorrow.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BCG_Hello_Tomorrow_Great-Wave.pdf
– A report on Nature CO-Design, the concept mentioned in our conversation, about the shift from exploitative to generative: hello-tomorrow.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BCG_Hello_Tomorrow_Nature-Co-design.pdf
– A report on investing in the above (deep tech and nature co-design): hello-tomorrow.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Deep-Tech-Investment-Paradox-BCG.pdf
A Conversation with Gustav Strömfelt (Former Lead for the Blockchain Portfolio & Innovation Accelerator, World Food Program)
A Conversation with Amy Radin (Strategist, Growth Hacker and Problem Solver and Fortune 100 Executive)
Discover what innovation practitioners can learn from direct marketeers, why you have to reframe disruption away from its original definition of “to destroy what is there”, and how to get cross-functional buy-in inside a company.
A Conversation with Alice Casiraghi (Co-founder and Design Strategist, Future Urban Living | FUL)
Discover the disruptive potential of the circular economy, the business benefit of thinking about products and services holistically, and how to get started on your journey.
A Conversation with Rodolfo Rosini (Founder, Stealth Startup and Lead Tech Coach, Conception X)
Learn about the connection between the long arch of the universe and innovation/disruption, why copying Apple is different from copying Apple’s products (and why that distinction matters a lot), and why Clayton Christensen is still underrated.
A Conversation with Gianni Giacomelli (Head of Innovation Design @ MIT Collective Intelligence Design Lab)
Discover why collective intelligence will be the future of innovation and disruption, and what growing your own tomatoes can teach you about change-management.
A Conversation with Ulrich Schmitz (MD @ Axel Springer Digital Ventures and Founding Partner @ FreeTech)
A Conversation with Vanessa Liu (VP @ SAP.io Foundries North America)
Discover why occasionally you have to hang out with motorcycle fanatics to unearth consumer insights, how corporations can and should work with startups, and why disruptive innovation is best explored through the lens of consumer actions.
A Conversation with Gisbert Rühl (Former CEO, Kloeckner & Co SE)
A Conversation with Alvaro Delgado Aparicio (Co-Founder, CEO & Chief Innovation Officer at BREIN – BRECA´s Innovation Hub)
Explore in this far-reaching conversation why innovation is like love, how to get an incumbent conglomerate to embrace change, and why running an innovation lab is comparable to making a feature film.
A Conversation with Christina Nesheva (ViiV Healthcare)
Learn why it is so important to “be in the game”, how leaders today need to operate in a two-track environment, and why fear is the major inhibitor for disruptive innovation inside a corporation.
A Conversation with Kyle Nel (Singularity Labs / Lowe's)
Discover what it takes to turn an incumbent organization into one of the posterchilds of disruptive innovation, why comic books are a great tool to communicate, and why storytelling is so important.
A Conversation With Maurice Conti (Former Head of Moonshots at Telefonica Alpha)
Learn why disruptive innovation is a lot like owning a pet tiger, what cowboys with plastic guns and no horses have to do with disruption, and what companies have to do to navigate the treacherous waters of change.
A Conversation With George Constantinescu (Chief Transformation Officer at ATCO)
Learn about George’s approach to first principles thinking and how to apply it to innovation, why disruption could be considered a negative force and how to structure innovation efforts inside large incumbents operating in regulated industries.
A Conversation With Wing Pepper (Former COO Factory & Plan44 Labs)
A Conversation With Ryan Merkley (Chief of Staff at Wikimedia Foundation)
Explore why and how open innovation works, why it regularly yields surprising results, and is extremely robust — and dig into the common pitfalls which happen when organizations embrace “open”.
A Conversation With Andy Billings (Head of Profitable Creativity at Electronic Arts)
Dig deep into what makes gaming giant Electronic Arts tick, how the company managed to stay relevant longer than most of its peers, and why it might not be possible to be thoughtful or planful about disruptive change after all.
A Conversation With John O’Duinn (Distributed Work Expert, Author and Law Maker)
A Conversation With Lisa Kay Solomon (Designer In Residence at Stanford’s d. School)
Delve deep into the world of design thinking and learn how it relates to disruptive innovation, explore the power of an outside/in perspective, and why it is so important to identify the fixed elements in any situation.