THE TAKEAWAY
Innovation Sustainability Roundtable Recap
No matter who you are, it seems- your definition of innovation is unique. The same is true for the definition of transformation. It seems though that patterns have emerged regarding the essence of each initiative. For innovation, the focus seems to be on revolution. Whereas the definition of transformation seems to focus on evolution. Dive in on this Roundtable discussing Product Innovation, Sustainability and Transformation. Watch the session on demand.
This Roundtable focuses on change both from an innovation perspective and transformation perspective. The session opens with FEI Chair, Mike Hatrick- also Group Director IP Strategy & Portfolio at Volvo Group Trucks Technology, Volvo outlining the theme. While transformation happens at a corporate or societal level, innovation is about specifics around going to market. And so, all organizations on the planet have the opportunity to engage product innovation to accomplish greater transformative goals like sustainability. The goal is to move past sustainability as a buzzword towards embedding it as a value proposition across the enterprise. In order to do that, innovation leaders must realize the particular sustainability elements on which to take action and make change with fellow stakeholders.
Zeinab Ali, R&D Leader, Campbell then dives in on her very personal story- From One To Humanity: The Exponential Growth Of Innovation- A Three Part Case Study. Three times, innovation occurred. The first time, lessons were learned. The second time, the total addressable market for a global enterprise brand was significantly increased. The third time, everyone is involved. Zeinab Ali’s journey has weaved through an impressive list of global name brands including Oreo, Quaker, Gatorade and Tropicana. Each time she’s delivered innovation, the aperture has widened. She’s currently working on the sustainability initiative and shares how her history is informing her present.
Federico Heine, New Solutions Manager for Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean, The AES Corporation then tackles Amplifying Innovation: Reducing Carbon Footprint By Stepping Into The Metaverse. The way we work has changed forever. That also means that the way we innovate must adapt. Being in the office or depending on being in-person in an Innovation Lab is no longer a given. The fact that ‘all in-person all the time’ doesn’t have to be the way we do it moving forward opens up all sorts of possibilities and opportunities. One major opportunity is reducing the organization’s carbon footprint. We’ll showcase The AES Corporation Innovation Lab to showcase at least one way that innovation can happen in a way that meets corporate sustainability missions.
Which brings us to the interactive group session: Unimportant? Buzzword? Necessary? An Imperative? Sustainability As A Value Proposition. Sustainability is viewed in myriad ways. One way to simultaneously impress and impact customers, the C-Suite and the bottom line is to position sustainability as a value proposition for the organization. Your like-minded change-maker peers discuss case studies of those already using sustainability as a value proposition, the actionable takeaways from them and what needs to be done now to build sustainability as a value proposition within global corporate enterprises.