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Leading Innovation: How to Start a Creative Revolution at Work

"We're the Speed Boat that Works with the Super Tankers" - Matt Kingdon

Matt Kingdon

As growth becomes more and more of a priority in organizations of all sizes, innovation becomes a necessity: not just a nice-to-have. Add to this sticky equation that "innovation" has become as diluted as "integrity" or "authenticity" in the world of corporate-speak, and leading innovation projects can be very risk-induced and challenging affairs. So, how do you make innovation happen naturally rather than by accident? And if you work for a large organization, how to you get these ideas implemented? It's the familiar strategy/execution conundrum, that the largest independent innovation company in the world addressed head-on at the Fortune Leadership Forum.

Using a interactive workshop format, Matt Kingdon, UK based Chairman and Chief Enthusiast of ?What If!, The Innovation Company, along with his colleagues Meldrum Duncan managing director, ?What If! New York; Jennifer Ebert, Head of New Product Development and Brand Development; Michael O'Keeffe, Head Innovation and Leadership Culture (USA) and, one of their clients, Jeff Semenchuk, EVP, Head of Growth Ventures and Innovation, Citi Global Consumer Bank; shared their international insights on staying on top of the innovation game with a group of enthusiastic attendees at the Fortune Leadership Forum. I think Matt and his team lives Peter Drucker's definition of innovation: ..."Change that creates a new dimension of performance." Matt was interviewed at the Fortune event by Peter Clayton, producer/host of Total Picture Radio. Please click on read more for resource links.

Be the first to write a comment about the interview with Matt Kingdon, and ?What If will send you a copy of Sticky Wisdom, How to Start a Creative Revolution at Work!

One Minute with Matt Kingdon:

25 Min :

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Chairman and Chief Enthusiast
Matt Kingdon graduated from Durham University (Law and Economics Honors) joining Unilever in 1985. He spent 7 years marketing household brands in the UK, Thailand and the Middle East.

Matt co-founded ?What If! in 1992. In that time he has worked with large organizations on consumer connection programs; worked at board level on the culture and structure that generates insightfulness and at a practical level facilitating literally thousands of encounters between clients and their consumers. Matt co-authored How to Start a Creative Revolution and the highly successful Sticky Wisdom (Capstone Books) in 2002.

Matt Kingdon Leads Innovation Workshop at the Fortune Leadership Forum

About ?What If?
In 1992 Matt swapped a highly paid job in Unilever for a camper van and an idea. He and co-founder Dave Allen sensed they could transform companies with innovation. They, and the camper van, proceeded to drive across the UK, delivering fresh and creative ways for businesses to grow, and leaving behind a feeling of energy and purpose. Since then, the van has gone, but ?WhatIf! has grown beyond anything he could have imagined 14 years ago. It is now the world's largest independent innovation company with offices in Shanghai, London, Manchester, New York and Sydney.

The aim is still the same: to help businesses unleash the creative potential of their brands and people. They live these principles themselves: What If! was awarded the 'Best Place to Work' award for 2 consecutive years (2004 & 2005) by the Financial Times.

Today there are three core service offers:

1. Ventures: Here the focus is on unrealized potential. Working in partnership with clients and entrepreneurs, ?What If! launch and grow ventures that re-invigorate non-core assets and create new consumer demand.

2. Innovation Capabilities: Here the focus is on an organizations most precious asset - people

?What If! create structures and mechanisms that support and sustain innovation.
?What If! develop training programmes that increase the innovative skills of talent, particularly around creativity and insight.
?What If! also organise study tours and events that create the opportunity for people to meet with and share the secrets of world class innovators.

3. Innovation Projects: Working in genuine collaboration with clients, ?What If! invent or enhance existing: products, services, brands and customer experiences.

The client list includes: Unilever, Pepsico, Cadbury Schweppes, Nestle, Shell, BT, ABN AMRO, Astra Zeneca, British Airways, Coors Brewers, Sainsbury’s, Boots and McDonalds.

Total Picture Radio's coverage of the Fortune Leadership Forum is sponsored by Deloitte & Touche USA, LLP. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 150,000 people worldwide in some 140 countries, Deloitte's member firms serve over 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500. If you crave challenge - in audit, tax, consulting or financial advisory services, visit Deloitte on the web at careers.deloitte.com.

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Kewen - to REALIZE the innovation is a

Registered | 2007-07-25 08:39:04

It is indeed a very interesting podcast. The word "innovation" has become a very hot topic, to my impression, anywhere in the world.

Hopefully to really put the word into action need much to do. My feeling is with big companies, carry out the innovation projects require tremendous efforts to communicate the idea within the organization, at the same time need full support and understanding by the top management; whereas SMEs may have much more flexiblity in innovations (by means of mindset, fast reacting, less bureaucratic, etc...) but hardly meet the time and source to do so just because they have to fight for the daily business in order to survive.

If possible, I am very interested to have the opportunity to hear the whole workshop session by Mr. Matt Kingdon at this Fortune Leadership Forum. Thank you!

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