Want to Sound Smart? Stop Saying ‘Innovation.’

Posted by Robyn Bolton
On 17/08/2026

“Innovation” has become one of the most overused words in business. We say innovation is a priority, that it drives growth, that we need a culture of innovation—but rarely explain what we actually mean. The better approach is to replace vague language with concrete outcomes: new revenue streams, new products, new customers, higher margins, new business models. The point isn’t to stop using the word innovation altogether. It’s to stop using it as a substitute for saying what we actually want to achieve.

AI Is Putting a Price Tag on Bureaucracy

Posted by Dan Toma
On 13/08/2026

AI is changing how companies measure innovation, growth, strategy and governance. As AI reduces the cost of building, Cost of Failure becomes a more powerful Innovation Accounting KPI for measuring how efficiently organizations learn, make decisions and allocate resources. The article explores how Cost of Failure can help leaders put a financial value on slow decision-making and inefficient governance—and rethink how they measure innovation and growth in the AI age.

We’ve Seen This Movie Before

Posted by Sara Husk
On 16/07/2026

The Chief AI Officer is about to relive the Chief Innovation Officer’s hardest decade, in fast-forward. If you lived the first one, you can already see the second one coming. Someone decided the innovation team, or you specifically, should own or maybe even co-own the AI agenda, and the pilots, the pressure, and the board’s […]

Why You Shouldn’t Have An Innovation Portfolio (according to HBR)

Posted by Robyn Bolton
On 10/07/2026

You are a savvy manager, so you know that you need an innovation portfolio because (1) a single innovation isn’t enough to generate the magnitude of growth your company needs, and (2) it is the best way to manage inherently risky endeavors and achieve desired returns. Too bad you’re wrong. According to an article in […]

The Evolution of Go-to-Market: Building a Commercial Learning System

Posted by Dan Toma
On 18/06/2026

Over the last two decades, companies have become better at managing technical uncertainty. Across industries, product development has shifted toward iterative methodologies like Lean Startup, agile development, and design thinking. Companies are no longer strangers to prototypes, MVPs, and pilots. The underlying logic is simple: if something is uncertain, test it early and continuously before […]

Severance Packages & Education in the Age of AI

Posted by Dan Toma
On 09/12/2025

AI is automating jobs faster than we can replace them. Entrepreneurship is the only safety-net. The AI era will divide economies into two types of workers: those waiting for jobs to be created for them, and those capable of creating value on their own. Entrepreneurial education determines which side we end up on.

Making Metered Funding Work in a World of Annual Budgets

Posted by Dan Toma
On 22/08/2025

Startups thrive on metered funding—capital released in stages, tied to evidence, not the calendar. Corporations, by contrast, remain bound to annual budgeting cycles that can stall even the most promising ideas. Unless companies reimagine how funding and innovation intersect, they risk losing not just speed, but the very market opportunities innovation is meant to capture.

Why Disruptive Innovation Is A Bad Business Idea. And What Can You Do Instead

Posted by Dan Toma
On 28/03/2025

Selling a company on the need for disruptive or transformative innovation has always been a challenge. Some businesses simply don’t need it, others can’t afford it, and most struggle to justify investing in something inherently high-risk. The instinct to protect the core business—its efficiencies, margins, and financial predictability—often overrides the desire to explore bold new […]

Building the Right Innovation Portfolio

Posted by Dan Toma
On 19/11/2024

The 70-20-10 portfolio distribution rule isn’t universal. While popularized by companies like Google, the 70-20-10 innovation model is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Companies need to customize their innovation portfolios based on unique factors like market conditions, financial health, competitive landscape and strategic goals rather than adopting this model outright.

What It Takes to Make ESG Happen in Your Company

Posted by Dan Toma
On 06/11/2024

Organizations committed to serious ESG investments and profitability should focus on fostering innovation capabilities rather than establishing a distinct ESG function.

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