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Business Advancement

Igniting Momentum for Game-Changing Results

Leadership for Innovation & Transformation

The CEO’s Key Role in Increasing Innovation ROI

“It’s time to start a movement that transforms how innovation is managed”

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 191 Transcript

At a time when it’s more important than ever to get the greatest possible value from innovation, listen again to our Fan Favorite episode 191. Scott and I speak with Tendayi Viki, an award-winning thought leader, author and corporate innovation expert. We discuss insights from his third book, “Pirates In The Navy: How Innovators Drive Transformation,” and how they apply to increasing innovation ROI.

As Associate Partner at Strategyzer, Tendayi works with companies to develop their internal ecosystems so they can innovate for the future while managing their core business. He was shortlisted for the 2021 Thinkers50 Innovation Award and was named on the Thinkers50 2018 Radar List for emerging management thinkers to watch. He is also a regular contributor at Forbes. (read more about Tendayi Viki below)

You’ll gain insights on:

  • Why continuous innovation in an established company (beyond start-up) can be so challenging
  • The myths of leading innovation and how they can decrease value
  • Three immediately useful ideas for CEOs and top leadership to create a greater ROI for innovation

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Navigating the Challenges of Visionary Leadership in the Post-Pandemic World

In a changing world, what is critical as you respond to stakeholder pushback on your vision?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 174 TranscriptFind out by listening again to our Fan-Favorite Episode 174. If you are re-envisioning your company’s future direction to better respond to changing needs and emerging opportunities triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic volatility, this episode will provide insights about what it takes to go from big ideas to big results.

You’ll gain insights on

  • The most critical principle to remember as your leadership team re-envisions the future
  • One of the top reasons for mysterious stakeholder pushback
  • Three immediately actionable ideas to increase stakeholder commitment to a new direction

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What It Takes To Successfully Do Business In Africa

Our guest shares insights from her new book, Africa: Open for Business

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 204 TranscriptAs more CEOs, C-Suites and Corporate Directors are looking for sustainable opportunities for business growth, be sure to download and listen to episode 204. Scott and I speak with Dr. Deanne De Vries: speaker, author, and Africa Advocate, about why she believes Africa is not only desirable but essential to companies looking for growth opportunities. 

Deanne has spent much of the past thirty years living across Africa and working for startups (including her own), global non-profits, international organizations, venture capital firms as well as one of the world’s Top Ten logistics firms. Her articles and ideas have been featured in a variety of venues including: World Economic Forum Africa,  the Economist, the Financial Times, and CNBC Africa. (read more about Dr. Deanne Devries below).

You’ll gain insights on:
  • Why Deanne believes that now is the time for businesses to consider growth in Africa
  • Determining if you have what she calls the “ABCs” (Appetite, Bandwidth, and Capital) for successfully doing business in Africa
  • Immediately useful ideas for implementing the ABCs of growing business in Africa

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Get a Jump Start on Increasing C-Suite Innovation in 2022

Rapidly evolving trends in the business environment means there’s no time to waste

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 196 Transcript

Which trends are most impacting your business right now: Digitization? Sustainability? M&A?  The ‘Great Reshuffle’? Strategic Partnering? All of the above?  Something else?  The one thing these trends have in common is that they’re happening all at once, faster than ever before. Successfully accelerating business innovation in this environment starts with aligned leadership by the CEO, C-Suite and Board. That’s why Scott and I are ringing in the New Year by re-releasing one of our most popular episodes.

Listen to Fan Favorite Episode 196: “Is Your C-Suite Ready for Business Innovation?” We discuss the reason behind the increasing push for C-suites to lead  for “business innovation” and why C-Suite innovation is essential for meeting the rapidly changing needs of customers, employees, investors, suppliers and other stakeholders in the year ahead. (For your jump start, be sure to download a brief self-assessment “Five Questions To Ask When You Need to Move Even Faster”).

You’ll gain insights on:

  • How business innovation impacts every aspect of your company
  • The paradox of “readiness” for business innovation
  • Three immediately useful ideas for leading beyond the blockages and accelerating business innovation

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Leading The Decision To Bring Your Supply Chain Closer To Home

 What are the top leadership considerations for re-shoring or near-shoring?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 202 TranscriptDownload and listen to episode 202. Scott and I speak with Lisa Anderson, founder and president of LMA Consulting Group Inc. about leading the decisions to realign your supply chain to elevate the customer experience. Lisa is the author of 3 books, including Future-Proofing Manufacturing & Supply Chain Post COVID-19.

Her firm specializes in manufacturing strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation that maximizes the customer experience and enables profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth. She has been ranked Number 16 in SAP’s Supply Chain Influencers list, and is recognized as one of the top 1% of consultants worldwide. Lisa is quoted in media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, ABC News and Industry Week, and is regularly invited to speak at conferences and events. (read more about Lisa Anderson below).

You’ll gain insights on:
  • The most important strategic consideration for deciding whether to bring your supply chain closer to home
  • Key consideration for leading employees and partners as you realign your supply chain
  • Immediately useful ideas for your top leadership to find new talent, develop new partners, and manage customer expectations

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Four GIR Guests Shortlisted for the 2021 Thinkers50

Congratulations to our 4 thought-leading guests honored by Thinkers50!

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 197 Transcript

Listen to episode 197. Scott and I highlight the four thought leaders we’ve had on Growth Igniters Radio over the years who are shortlisted for the Thinkers50 2021 Distinguished Achievement Awards. Called “The Oscars of management thinking” by The Financial Times, the shortlists identify eight thinkers in each 10 categories who have made an exceptional contribution over the last two years.

We review our conversations with:

  • Todd Cherches (Leadership Shortlist) – Episode 178
  • Dorie Clark (Talent Shortlist) – Episode 133
  • Tendayi Viki (Innovation Shortlist) – Episode 191
  • Rita Gunther McGrath (Strategy Shortlist) – Episode 168

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A More Powerful Way To Shape Your Company’s Culture For Growth

How can culture remain your company’s competitive edge when you’re growing rapidly?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 124 TranscriptFind out by listening to “fan favorite” Episode 124. Even when there’s no time and you don’t have all the right people in place, there is a way to shape company culture without putting your business on hold. Scott and I share what we’ve learned from our experiences guiding leaders on this critical issue.

You’ll gain insights on

  • A practical framework for shaping company culture that enables everyone to focus on their “real work”
  • How a rapidly growing company found unexpected ways to increase the speed and quality of decisions
  • Three pieces of immediately useful advice for getting the perspectives you need to keep shaping your company’s culture as a competitive edge

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Is Your C-Suite Ready for Business Innovation?

Why are C-Suites facing increased expectations for innovation leadership?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 196 Transcript

Listen to episode 196. Scott and  I discuss what is behind the increasing push for C-suites to lead “business innovation,” and why this emphasis is only going to grow over time.

You’ll gain insights on:

  • How business innovation impacts every aspect of your company
  • The paradox of “readiness” for business innovation
  • Three immediately useful ideas for leading beyond the blockages and accelerating business innovation

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Redefining What’s Possible

What does it take to engage others as we push beyond the status quo?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 123 TranscriptAs we witness the dawning of a new age of space travel spearheaded by visionaries such as Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, we reflect on the truth that there are many more, albeit less famous, visionary leaders who are also redefining what’s possible to bring new value to the world.

Join us as we revisit our conversation from episode 123. We share what we’ve learned about how visionary leaders can approach one of the toughest challenges any visionary faces – gaining commitment from the stakeholders who are essential to bringing the vision to life.

 You’ll gain insights on

  • The most critical consideration to take into account as you’re developing a bold, audacious vision
  • The discovery one visionary CEO made so he could navigate mysterious, large-scale pushback
  • Three pieces of immediately useful advice to increase the level of commitment it takes to lead into uncharted territory

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Leading With the Magic of Ethical Influence

How can telling the “unvarnished truth” help your company dominate your market?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 194 Transcript

Find out by listening to episode 194. Scott and I speak with Mark Levy, who shares why ethical influence can set you and your company apart. He is a differentiation expert who has worked with a wide range of corporations, brands, thought leaders, political campaigns, entertainment, products, services, books, and speeches. Mark is also a speaker, podcaster, and author who has written for the NY Times and has written or co-written five books, including “Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content.”

He has worked with and spoken to leaders, strategists, and teams in large organizations, including Adobe, Amazon, American Express, Bain, BASF, Google, and many more. He’s also worked with leaders and advisors to government bodies, including the White House and the United Nations.

Along with his work as a differentiation consultant, Mark is a magician who co-created the highly rated show “Chamber Magic,” which has played in Manhattan for twenty-one years (read more about Mark Levy below).

You’ll gain insights on:
  • The critical role of top leadership in helping their company differentiate through what Mark  calls “the magic of ethical influence”
  • Leading people to break free from status-quo thinking and create authentic connections with customers and other stakeholders
  • Three immediately useful ideas for leading and differentiating with ethical influence

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