INNOVATION STRATEGY

Developing Endurance Skincare

An Interview with Angie Buonassisi, Founder of Lontreau - Like most modern women trying to find balance in a demanding world, Angie Buonassisi doesn’t have time for a complicated skincare routine. She is the Founder of Lontreau and was inspired to...

Innovation Through an Artistic Lens

An Interview with Mikel Cirkus, Global Creative Director,, Foresight & Trenz, Firmenich - *This interview took place prior to the merger of Firmenich and with DSM, which took place in May With vast experience in concept development, creative problem solving, and branding/design in the...

Investing in Sustainable Luxury

An Interview With Dean Davidson, Canadian Jewelry Designer - Creating timeless jewelry with a global perspective, Dean Davidson is known for careful craftsmanship, hand-cut gemstones, and a signature brushed finish that has become synonymous with the brand....

Leveraging Design Thinking

An Interview with Bill Digneit, Director of SISU,, the Innovation Institute at Northern Michigan University - Believing that innovation is about the promise vs. the proven, Bill Digneit is the Director of SISU, the Innovation Institute at Northern Michigan University. Bill and his team rely heavily on...

The Future of Human Capital

An Interview with Phil Harkins, Co-Founder and Chairman, Prossimo Global Partners - A renowned expert in organization development, leadership and executive advising, Phil Harkins has worked with over 800 organizations in 25 countries. These include government agencies, healthcare...

Consumer-Centric Innovation

An Interview with Cuan Hanly, Chief Design Officer at Away - Believing that true innovation is a mindset, Cuan Hanly is the Chief Design Officer at Away, a global lifestyle brand that’s working to transform travel through products and content that inspire...

Skincare as Healthcare

An Interview with Dr. Courtney Rubin, Co-Founder, and Chief Medical Officer at Fig.1 - Believing that skincare is healthcare, Dr. Courtney Rubin is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Fig.1, a skincare brand focused on creating science-backed formulas that are sustainably...

Transparent Brand Messaging

An Interview with Sarah Wagman Ellenbogen, Co-Founder and CEO, Digiphy - Helping brands transparently communicate their product origins through elements like connected and traceable packaging, Digiphy was born out Co-Founder and CEO Sarah (Wagman) Ellenbogen’s own...

The Fintech Evolution

An Interview with Robert Madej, CEO and Founder of PureFacts - From giving financial advisors more access to data visualization tools to helping improve client retention rates, recent advancements in AI technology are transforming the fintech industry. Robert...

Music as a Centerpiece

An Interview w/ Jeff Derderian, VP, Product Program Leadership, Sonos - With vast experience as a Product Development Leader across consumer electronics, government R&D and medical industries, Jeff Derderian is one of the brains behind Sonos’ newest range of high-...

Cross-Disciplinary Innovation

An Interview with Kevin Swanson, Innovation Leader - Global Innovation, Hallmark - With past roles in both product development and loyalty marketing, Kevin Swanson has worked on innovation at Hallmark for over 15 years. Believing in the value of cross-disciplinary innovation teams,...

The Value of Collaborative Ideation

An Interview with Elizabeth McCall, Master Distiller, Woodford Reserve - Woodford Reserve’s recent Winter 2022 Master’s Collection - Historic Barrel Entry release features “newly-distilled whiskey that went into the barrel at 100 proof - how bourbon was...

The Importance of Demand Signals

An Interview with Kate Pomeroy, Head of Innovation, North America at Pernod Ricard - Demand signals are all around us and help predict consumer behavior. For Kate Pomeroy, the Head of Innovation, North America at Pernod Ricard, paying attention to demand signals is the key to truly...

Being an Advocate for Change

An Interview with Melanie Nuce-Hilton, SVP of Innovation & Partnerships, GS1 US - GS1 US®, a member of GS1 global, is a not-for-profit information standards organization that facilitates industry collaboration to help improve supply chain visibility and efficiency through the...

Nurturing Your Culture

An Interview with Lee Valley President and COO Jason Tasse - After joining Lee Valley Tools 26 years ago as a seasonal picker/packer, Jason Tasse proved that hard work, work ethic, and a good attitude are the winning pillars for long-term success. Jason is...

Choosing Sustainable Materials

An Interview with Parachute Founder and CEO Ariel Kaye - With past experience in fashion and advertising, Ariel Kaye transformed her passion for interior design into a multimillion dollar business. The CEO of Parachute has built the brand into a household...

Driving Growth in Canadian SMB

An Interview With Natasha Walji, Managing Director at Google Canada - With a mission to help small and medium businesses grow, reach new customers, and build out their online presence, Natasha Walji is the Managing Director at Google Canada. Having been raised by two...

People-Centric Innovation

Jeff Mocha, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, OEC x Keynote - Believing that the best innovation comes from collaboration across all levels of an organization, Jeff Mocha empowers his team to work together as a tight-knit community. Jeff is the Chief...

Making Magic Happen

Normand Latourelle, Creator of Illumi & Cavalia, Founder, Cirque du Soleil - Believing that pure creation tells its own organic story, Normand Latourelle is one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil and the creator of Cavalia, the world’s first artistic horse-themed show...

Committing to Sustainability

An Interview With Allbirds CEO and Co-Founder Tim Brown - Understanding that sustainability in the footwear industry is a long-term commitment and an ever-changing process, Tim Brown is the CEO and co-founder of Allbirds. The San Francisco-based brand’...