Innovation

Where do you stand on the business ethics of digital technology?

We read a compelling article on protecting privacy in the digital age which appeared as the August 19, 2018 cover story of the New York Times Magazine. The huge bold red headline screamed “Big Tech’s War on Privacy.” While this article profiles privacy activists and their push for new legislation to protect Americans, we believe that considering ethics related to digital technology and business models must go beyond which legislation will or won’t be enacted.

The fact is that every business leader needs to take responsibility and accountability for looking at the issue of how what you do in the digital realm affects the trust of your employees, customers, users, partners and other stakeholders. What specifically should you do? Read More

The Key to Finding New Opportunities in the Face of Ambiguity

We were on our way to a meeting when an unusual sign caught our eyes (see photo). If you were the driver of a bus, would you turn left or drive straight ahead? Or would you respond in some other way?

This is a great message for every leader about the need to think flexibly when the signs aren’t clear.

The fact is, no matter where you are located and whether or not you believe the economy is going well, the signs are… ambiguous. We all need to deal with uncertainty from changing global agreements, tariffs, trade wars, and more.

At the same time, we need to take into account how these issues may differently impact our markets, customers, employees, strategic partners, vendors, and other stakeholders. Under these circumstances, what does it take to make smarter decisions and be ready to take detours into uncharted territory? Read More

Attend a TEDx event: an idea worth spreading

As subscribers of TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) we’ve seen many videos filled with ideas worth spreading. But after attending TEDxAsburyPark 2018, we came away with another idea worth spreading: being there in person and engaging with the other attendees can bring a whole new level of excitement and value.

Appropriately enough, “Passion,” was this year’s theme. There were speakers of all ages representing business leaders, community leaders, celebrities, students, dancers, musicians, poets, and artists. Throughout the day we were moved from laughter and tears to inspiration Read More

Could AI be in Your Company’s Future? Ready Or Not, It’s Here

As you’re planning for 2018, one question to discuss with your team is how Artificial Intelligence could impact your business. Will you be the disruptor or the disrupted?

As you’re considering this, here’s some food for thought: The most recent Wall Street Journal supplement of The Future of Everything features stories on a range of innovations powered by AI that could impact every industry and business – and some that are already in use. For instance, some companies are already using AI to make hiring decisions. (Note: WSJ Subscription required to read full articles)

Like many technologies, AI offers a powerful upside. There’s great potential for sifting through vast arrays of complex information at quantum speed and making recommendations on a heartbeat.

However, as with all technology, AI is only as effective and as the humans who work with it.

Listen to Pam Harper’s Interview on Staying Ahead of The Competitive Pack

Listen to Pam Harper’s interview on The Small Business Advocate Radio Show with host Jim Blasingame. In this tenth-year anniversary of Pam’s membership in Jim’s “Brain Trust,” Pam and Jim talk about what it takes to stay ahead of the curve in today’s hypercompetitive environment.

Check out the conversation by clicking on the “Listen Now” Buttons below. Each segment is between 5 to 10 minutes long.
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Lessons from Launching a New Entrepreneurial Venture

Pam Harper spoke with Jim Blasingame about the lessons we’ve learned in launching our new venture of Growth Igniters Radio^SM in a recent interview on Jim’s Small Business Advocate Radio Show.
Listen to their 3-part conversation by clicking the links below.Read More

[video] What Does It Take to Increase the Success of New Technologies for Reinvention?

Pam Harper Leads CEO panel — Click to play clip

One of our core beliefs is that businesses and organizations of all types and every size must continuously reinvent themselves in order to stay relevant and competitive as the world changes. While there’s no shortage of technology to support this effort, the challenge is to embrace technology so that it’s used to it’s full potential. This is not always as straightforward as it would seem to be.Read More

What Business Are You REALLY In? – A Thought from Richie Havens

What Business are your in April 2013 has been a rough month for celebrities. Icons who’ve passed away over the last few weeks include Roger Ebert, Margaret Thatcher, Annette Funicello, Jonathan Winters, and Richie Havens – may they all rest in peace. These losses make us stop a moment and consider the passing of time and how we can make each day the best it can be, creating value that really matters in the world.

The foundation for truly creating value is to be clear about what your business really provides to your customers.Read More

Insights from the Third Annual “Reinventing Your Business Through Innovation” Conference

It’s been just three short years since the “Reinventing Your Business Through Innovation” conference series began, and it’s clear that amidst shifting demographics, markets, and technology every company must recognize that they need to be in evolution if not full blown revolution to stay relevant and responsive to their customers. This theme was reiterated throughout the 3rd annual half-day conference on January 30, 2013. The event was organized by the Association for Corporate Growth NJ (Pam was ACG NJ Chair) in partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship. Click here to view the entire program and full speaker bios.

In her keynote presentation, Denise Morrison, President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company highlighted the importance that Campbell Soup places on a consumer-centric approach to new product development to catch and adapt to shifts in market needs and evolving tastes. She also emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to evolving culture to foster and enable innovationRead More

Innovation Leadership in Unexpected Places

By Pamela S. Harper and D. Scott Harper.

Do you tune out when the air safety video is launched at the beginning of a flight? Be honest… Now imagine an air safety video themed with a highly anticipated film that is so entertaining that passengers actually look forward to watching the video. In addition, imagine that people who aren’t even flying seek the video out on YouTube and spread it – for free – so that it has become a highly successful, cost effective part of the airline’s marketing campaign, the marketing campaign for the film, and the marketing campaign promoting their country’s tourism industry.

This is exactly the story at Air New Zealand. Read More