Innovation Talks Paul Heller

Hugh Blethyn is a Senior Managing Consultant at Sopheon, responsible for all aspects of our implementation teams, including our overall client success, engagement performance, and the teams’ well-being. Hugh offers a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insight into digital transformation, business sustainability, and innovation. He holds a Bachelor's with Honors degree in Exploration Geology, Mineral Exploration Geology, and Management from Cardiff University, a Master's in Information Systems and Geospatial Information Systems, and a certificate in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership.


 


Hugh joins me today to discuss how the concept of sustainable innovation has evolved over the last five years and the rising interest in businesses becoming more mindful of how they package their products. We discuss Hugh’s predictions for future trends in business sustainability and how government regulations lag behind what consumers demand and what many businesses are already doing. We share an inside glimpse into our sustainability webinar series and why more people within the workforce consider sustainability as a top priority in their job search. We also discuss what ‘natural capital’ is and how it impacts the supply chain industry.


 


“People are starting to realize that they need to be in control of their actions, in control of their sustainable decision-making.” - Hugh Blethyn


 


This week on Innovation Talks:


 


●     What inspired Hugh to explore the world of business innovation and sustainability


●     How the concept of sustainability and innovation has evolved in recent years


●     Why more businesses are interested in ‘greener packages.’


●     What Hugh believes the future holds for sustainability and innovation in business


●     How government regulation is lagging behind consumer demands in sustainability


●     Understanding the three scopes of CO2 submissions


●     What to expect from our sustainability webinar series


●     Why sustainability is important to the workforce and labor market


●     Understanding what ‘natural capital’ is and how the supply chain industry impacts it


●     What Hugh believes our next steps should be in achieving sustainable innovation


 


Resources Mentioned:


 


●     Thriving Sustainably Webinar 1: How to Approach Sustainability on a Corporate Level (https://www.sopheon.com/webinars/sustainability-on-a-corporate-level)


●     Thriving Sustainably Webinar 2: What Does a Sustainable Supply Chain Look Like (https://www.sopheon.com/webinars/what-does-a-sustainable-supply-chain-look-like)


●     Thriving Sustainably Webinar 3: Sustainable Innovation in Practice: A Conversation with Sappi (https://www.sopheon.com/webinars/sustainable-innovation-in-practice-a-conversation-with-sappi-sopheon-webinar)


 


Connect with Hugh Blethyn:


 


●     Hugh Blethyn on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughblethyn/?originalSubdomain=nl)


 


This Podcast is brought to you by Sopheon


 


Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.


 


Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovation-talks/id1555857396) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Innovation-Talks-p1412337/) | GooglePlay (https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbm5vdmF0aW9udGFsa3MubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M%3D) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=614195) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1dX5b8tWI29YbgeMwZF5Uh) | iHeart (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-innovation-talks-82985745/)


 


Be sure to connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SopheonCorp/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/sopheon) , and LinkedIn (

Huub J.M. Rutten is the VP of Research and co-founder of Sopheon. Throughout his 20 years of experience in linguistics, communication, and innovation management, he has helped manufacturing, insurance, banking, aerospace, chemical, and healthcare businesses modernize their innovation management methodologies and software. Before joining Sopheon, Huub spent 15 years teaching linguistic disciplines and communication skills at various Institutions of higher education and universities in the Netherlands. In addition to his work at Sopheon, he currently serves as an adjunct professor at the European Institute for Public Administration (EIPA), where he teaches European IT politics and strategies.


 


Today, Huub is back on the podcast to discuss portfolios and how companies can operate in an uncertain business climate and still see success. Huub shares how he was inspired by a quote from the leader of the German Chemical Association about sprint portfolios and marathon portfolios. He offers his thoughts on how leaders can balance the needs of the company in both the short term and the long term. We deliberate on how global events like war affect the supply chain and recommend steps businesses can take to be prepared for those dramatic moments. Huub also explains how data can help you and your team speak the same language.


 


“The infrastructure that you need as a company should be based on being prepared for the dramatic moment.” - Huub Rutten


 


This week on Innovation Talks:


 


●     How to create a balanced portfolio even in difficult financial times


●     How to plan for both short-term and long-term success


●     Why it’s necessary to have both a sprint and marathon portfolio


●     Possible disruptions in the chemical industry


●     The factors that affect supply chain issues


●     The importance of good governance


●     How data organization helps with long-term success


 


Resources Mentioned:


 


●     Ansoff Matrixes (https://www.sopheon.com/products/acclaimideas/insights/innovation-management)


 


Connect with Huub Rutten:


 


●     Huub Rutten Website (https://www.huubrutten.com/)


●     Huub Rutten on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/huub-rutten-9958136/?originalSubdomain=nl)


 


This Podcast is brought to you by Sopheon


 


Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.


 


Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovation-talks/id1555857396) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Innovation-Talks-p1412337/) | GooglePlay (https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbm5vdmF0aW9udGFsa3MubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M%3D) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=614195) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1dX5b8tWI29YbgeMwZF5Uh) | iHeart (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-innovation-talks-82985745/)


 


Be sure to connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SopheonCorp/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/sopheon) , and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sopheon/) , and share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners like you.


 


For additional information about new product development or corporate innovation, sign up for Sopheon’s newsletter, where we share news and industry best practices monthly! The fastest way to do this is to go to sopheon.com (https://www.sopheon.com/) and click here (https://info.sopheon.com/subscribe) .

Ulrike Laubner-Kelleher is a product management consultant and published author with over 20 years of experience advising companies of all sizes on how to successfully and efficiently bring their products to market. She empowers product managers and their teams with cutting-edge knowledge through training, masterclasses, and one-on-one mentoring. She has worked with over 100 companies, including UBS, ABL, RRC-Power Solutions, Elementar, Bystronic, Milwaukee Tools, JP3, and Scotiabank. Her mission is to bring better products to market more quickly by enabling product managers to impact their industry through customer-centered product creation. Ulrike's proprietary Red String Method helps companies become industry leaders by empowering teams through advanced product management know-how, creating skilled product managers, and fostering great inter-departmental team collaboration. The Red String Method has helped Ulrike's clients speed up time-to-market, make market-based decisions, and improve profitability by 30% or more. Her latest book is Powerful Communication for Product Managers.


 


Today, Ulrike joins me to discuss how she started her career 20 years ago and became a product manager before the profession had a label. She shares the most significant challenges product managers face and how she has helped companies refine innovation to be more successful. We discuss how business leaders can support product managers and outline the education, mentorship, and other resources product managers need to do their jobs properly. She emphasizes how marketing is often forgotten in the product development process, why the process is expected to be completed in just four weeks, and how product managers can ensure that everyone is on the same page with her Red String Method. Ulrike also breaks down how data should flow to support the product launch, prevent tasks and information from falling through the cracks, and ultimately achieve balance in the company.


 


"You cannot have a process without people and cannot have a product without people." - Ulrike Laubner-Kelleher


 


This week on Innovation Talks:


 


●     How Ulrike became a product manager before the profession even existed


●     The main challenges in product management


●     How Ulrike’s Red String Method connects products, people, and process


●     How the Red String Method can help make your company more profitable


●     How Ulrike streamlines the product management methodology


●     The role product managers play in a businesses success


●     The main differences between software and physical product management


●     How product management can be more sustainable


 


Connect with Ulrike Laubner-Kelleher:


 


●     Ulrike Laubner-Kelleher Website (http://www.redstringmethods.com)


●     Book: Powerful Communication for Product Managers (https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Communication-Product-Manager-Laubner/dp/3752855053/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1659641252&refinements=p_27%3AUlrike+Laubner&s=books&sr=1-2)


●     Book: A Product Manager’s Cookbook (https://www.amazon.com/Product-Managers-Cookbook-Ulrike-Laubner/dp/3744802094/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CQZN3ZCE34AJ&keywords=ulrike+laubner&qid=1659641307&s=books&sprefix=ulrike+laubner%2Cstripbooks%2C52&sr=1-1)


●     Ulrike Laubner-Kelleher on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrike-laubner-kelleher-26456028/)


●     Email: ulrike@redstringmethods.com


 


This Podcast is brought to you by Sopheon


 


Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.


 


Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovation-talks/id1555857396) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Innovation-Talks-p1412337/) | GooglePlay (https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbm

Charlie Widdows is a thought leader and the Acclaim Ideas Product Specialist at Sopheon. Charlie joined the team after Sopehon acquired Solverboard, an innovative idea management tool that he co-founded. With a passion for ideation that spans over a decade, Charlie empowers customers to harness the full potential of their ideas. He believes that impactful ideas can change the world and is committed to helping businesses transform their ideas into better, more profitable products. Charlie is not content with merely achieving professional success. He gives back to his community as a business mentor at Black Valley, where he helps to increase equity in tech and foster Black entrepreneurship.


 


Charlie is back on the podcast to discuss the difficulties of creating an innovation-ready culture in a risk-averse world. He offers suggestions on how companies can become ready for innovation through culture shifts and uncover insights about innovation processes. We discuss how new ways of working can facilitate innovation and how most companies still use outdated technology. We deliberate on who innovation ideas should come from within the company and the qualities and skills an innovation manager needs. We also debate whether it’s better to experiment with innovation behind closed doors or make it a transparent and educational process.


 


“The world will always want innovators working for them. If you feel like you're an innovative person and the business is just not listening to you, go somewhere else.” - Charlie Widdows


 


This week on Innovation Talks:


 


●     How to know if your company is ready for innovation


●     The effect the pandemic has had on attitudes toward innovation


●     How digital tools have transformed the process of innovation


●     How to actualize ideas quickly


●     The 4 Vs of innovation culture


●     The value of openness and inclusivity for innovation


●     The qualities and skills innovation managers need to drive long-term success


 


Connect with Charlie Widdows:


 


●     Charlie Widdows on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliewiddows/)


●     Charlie Widdows on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charliewid)


 


This Podcast is brought to you by Sopheon


 


Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.


 


Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovation-talks/id1555857396) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Innovation-Talks-p1412337/) | GooglePlay (https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbm5vdmF0aW9udGFsa3MubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M%3D) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=614195) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1dX5b8tWI29YbgeMwZF5Uh) | iHeart (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-innovation-talks-82985745/)


 


Be sure to connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SopheonCorp/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/sopheon) , and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sopheon/) , and share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like you.


 


For additional information around new product development or corporate innovation, sign up for Sopheon’s newsletter where we share news and industry best practices monthly! The fastest way to do this is to go to sopheon.com (https://www.sopheon.com/) and click here (https://info.sopheon.com/subscribe) .

Randy Eager is the co-founder and CEO of SilisiumTech, where he helped innovate new processes to make solar electricity more affordable and accessible. SilisiumTech is the latest in a long string of companies Randy has founded, including Chement, ESTAT Actuation, and Aqualibrium. He has dedicated his life to launching new companies and helping early-stage entrepreneurs realize their innovative ideas.


 


David Cerniglia is a full-stack software developer passionate about building new software products. He studied 18th-century British literature and culture as a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon but later found himself drawn toward the path of entrepreneurship. Randy and David met at the Founder Institute, which Randy founded in 2017. The Founder Institute helps accelerate the journey of new entrepreneurs through mentorship and education.  


 


Today, Randy and David discuss the Founder Institute. David explains how he went from studying humanities to becoming a software developer and how his time at the Founder Institute helped him find his true passion. Randy describes the Founder Institute experience and how the 14-week program helps students take an idea and turn it into a solid investor pitch. We also discuss the sense of community the Founder Institute fosters, how to find a chapter anywhere in the world, and how to apply.


 


 “When you're an entrepreneur, you start something by yourself. It's a pretty lonely place to be. Many of the alums said that the reason to do the Founder Institute was to find your patch.” - Randy Eager


 


This week on Innovation Talks:


 


●     How David and Randy met


●     The mission of the Founder Institute


●     How the Founder Institute program helps new entrepreneurs test their ideas for market


●     How David discovered the Founder Institute


●     How Founder Institute students form a community


●     The benefits of taking the Founder Institute worldwide


●     What David learned from his time at the Founder Institute


●     Why product managers are the best startup CEOs


●     How to apply to the Founder Institute


 


Resources Mentioned:


 


●     Apply To Founder Institute  (https://fi.co/join/home)


 


Connect with Randy Eager and David Cerniglia:


 


●     Founder Institute Website (https://fi.co/)


●     Randy Eager on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyeager/)


●     David Cerniglia on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cerniglia/)


●     Founder Institute on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/founder-institute-pittsburgh/)


 


This Podcast is brought to you by Sopheon


 


Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.


 


Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovation-talks/id1555857396) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Innovation-Talks-p1412337/) | GooglePlay (https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbm5vdmF0aW9udGFsa3MubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M%3D) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=614195) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1dX5b8tWI29YbgeMwZF5Uh) | iHeart (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-innovation-talks-82985745/)


 


Be sure to connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SopheonCorp/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/sopheon) , and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sopheon/) , and share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners like you.


 


For additional information about new product development or corporate innovation, sign up for Sopheon’s monthly newsletter, where we share news and industry best practices! The fastest way to do this is to go to sopheon.com (https://www.sopheon.com/) and click here (https://info.sopheon.com/subscribe)

Kevin Brady is a corporate and product sustainability expert specializing in improving organizations’ environmental, social, and financial performance. As the founder of Sustainable Enterprise Consulting, he has helped Fortune and Global 500 companies in diverse industries such as mining, energy, consumer goods, transportation, and retail. In 2012, he was recognized as a member of Canada’s Clean 16 for his achievements in clean capitalism. Kevin has written a number of books and reports, including Mapping the Journey: Strategies and Action toward Sustainable Development, Eco-efficiency: Global Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century, and Corporate Social Responsibility: Lessons Learned. He is also an adjunct professor at Carleton University School of Industrial Design.








Today, Kevin shares the story of how he started his career and the challenges of getting companies to look more favorably at sustainability. He provides insight into the four main types of companies focusing on sustainability and what they get right and wrong about their environmental footprint. We discuss greenwashing and how companies try to make themselves look more sustainable than they actually are. Kevin explains why sustainability goes beyond a company’s environmental impact and what it means for workers' rights. He also offers a glimpse into how he works with new companies and highlights what he focuses on.


 


“You have to have the tools and the right people to ask the right questions with the right data to make good decisions.” - Kevin Brady


 


This week on Innovation Talks:


 


●     How Kevin got his start in sustainability


●     The four main types of companies that focus on sustainability


●     How investors have influenced sustainability


●     The negative effects of greenwashing


●     The source of 85% of a company’s sustainability impact


●     Why sustainability goes beyond environmental impact


●     How externalities affect greenhouse gas emissions


●     The first aspect of sustainability Kevin looks at when working with a new company


●     How Kevin became an adjunct professor


 


Resources Mentioned:


 


●     Novelis Case Study (https://www.novelis.com/resources/case-studies/)


●     Book: The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability (https://www.amazon.com/Ecology-Commerce-Revised-Declaration-Sustainability/dp/0061252794) by Paul Hawken


 


 


Connect with Kevin Brady:


 


●     Ausenco (https://ausenco.com/)


●     Ausenco on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Ausenco/)


●     Ausenco on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausenco/)


●     Ausenco on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Ausenco)


●     Ausenco on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ausenco/)


●     Kevin Brady on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-brady-a47a2a/?originalSubdomain=ca)


 


This Podcast is brought to you by Sopheon


 


Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.


 


Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/innovation-talks/id1555857396) | TuneIn (https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Innovation-Talks-p1412337/) | GooglePlay (https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbm5vdmF0aW9udGFsa3MubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M%3D) | Stitcher (https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=614195) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1dX5b8tWI29YbgeMwZF5Uh) | iHeart (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-innovation-talks-82985745/)


 


Be sure to connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SopheonCorp/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/sopheon) , and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sopheon/) , and share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners, like yo