1896: Fearless Innovation with Alex Goryachev - Inside LaunchStreet with Tamara Ghandour
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ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Everyday innovators are the ones driving the innovation we are seeing across a variety of industries, companies, and governments that are making the pivots and changes needed to address the current pandemic and adapt to the changing times. Alex Goryachev, Cisco’s Senior Director of Innovation Strategy and Programs and author of Fearless Innovation: Going Beyond the Buzzword to Continuously Drive Growth, Improve the Bottom Line, and Enact Change, is one of these innovators I’ve featured in my book. There are two parts to this extra-value episode. In the first part, Alex shares a story about how he realized he was looking for innovation in the wrong place — outside the organization. He shares more about how he reacted when this was pointed out to him, and the impact on Cisco of making the change and shifting to focus on innovation from within, both on the bottom line and employee engagement. In the second part of this episode, we dive into his book, Fearless Innovation, where he tackles themes such as why innovation waits for no one, why having teams and silos can have a negative impact on innovation, and how being pragmatic can unlock innovation. Communicating the value of innovation in a way that gets people on board with taking action is critical to driving innovation and we get into a really open conversation about quantifying the impact of “inaction” when you don’t change. If you are ready to:
- get buy-in from key decision-makers on your next big idea
- be a high-impact, high-value member that ignites change
- foster a culture of innovation where everyone on your team is bringing innovative ideas that tackle challenges and seize opportunities…
Mentioned in This Episode:Innovation is Everybody’s Business: How to Ignite, Scale, and Sustain Innovation for Competitive Edge, by Tamara Ghandour (Pre-Order)IQE AssessmentDr. Rex JungAlex GoryachevFearless Innovation: Going Beyond the Buzzword to Continuously Drive Growth, Improve the Bottom Line, and Enact Change, by Alex GoryachevCisco
This podcast originally appeared in Inside LaunchStreet with Tamara Ghandour by Inside LaunchStreet on April 28, 2020
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What Alex Can Do For You
Developed and led AI and Innovation strategy for multiple Fortune 100 companies, driving double-digit revenue growth.
Over 20 years of hands-on experience driving transformative business and technology solutions for global brands like Dell, Amgen, IBM, Pfizer, and Cisco.
Recognized by Forbes as “One of the World’s Top Experts on Innovation” and named a “Top AI Keynote Speaker to Watch.”
Frequent contributor to Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company, sharing actionable insights on AI strategy, the future of work, and innovation.
What sets Alex apart from other top AI speakers and innovation experts?
With AI and innovation elevated to buzzwords, there are plenty of speakers in this space. While many offer insightful keynotes, few can bring the depth of understanding, hands-on experience, and diverse viewpoints that Alex can. Alex doesn’t just talk about AI and innovation. He’s led it at Dell, Pfizer, and Cisco. He’s sat across from C-Suite execs to build global innovation plans. And he’s resonated with audiences at Google, AWS, Disney, Coca Cola, and dozens of other companies with keynotes tailored to their unique AI opportunities. A frequent contributor to Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Fast Company, Alex has been identified as a Top AI Voice on LinkedIn. He is also the author of a Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Fearless Innovation. Alex’s style is personable, approachable, and human. It’s never caught up in techspeak, or jargon so he resonates with any audience. Learn more about what sets Alex apart. Get in touch.
How does Alex customize keynotes and workshops?
No two organizations’ AI or innovation opportunities, or challenges, are the same. So canned keynotes or one-size-fits-all workshops just won’t do. Instead, Alex uses AI and data to tailor his engagements with available pre-event surveys. Analyzing responses, Alex customizes his content to address key needs and pain points, ensuring his message is meaningful. Speaking with leadership and other event stakeholders, Alex further customizes the content to ensure resonance and relevance, engaging audiences. Add it all up and you have keynotes and workshops that feel like they’ve been created for you—because they were. Learn more about Alex’s methodology. Get in touch.
What events and audiences are right for Alex?
With so much experience leading large-scale innovation initiatives, Alex is able to reach and resonate with any audience, no matter their knowledge level, industry, culture, or department. Captivating audiences from a live stage, or a virtual event, Alex is a fixture at C-Suite summits, innovation conferences, policy talks, offsites, and employee all hands meetings, plus governmental and academia events. An audience looking for fresh perspectives, real solutions, and custom content will find Alex’s keynotes engaging and actionable with ideas they can start applying right away. Curious about Alex’s recommendations for your event? Get in touch.
What companies and organizations have worked with Alex?
Alex’s roster of past clients, keynote engagements, and employers reads like a Wikipedia entry of the world’s most innovative, respected organizations. Disney, Coca Cola, ISO, AWS, Google, LEGO, CAT, IBM, Cisco, Dell, and dozens of other organizations have benefited from Alex’s keynotes, workshops, and strategic advisory services. As the former Managing Director of Innovation Strategy at Cisco, leader of global Innovation Centers and Smart City programs in 7 countries, and creator of innovation tracks for 3 Olympics, Alex’s real-world experience magnifies his impact upon any organization he partners with. Additionally, Alex has worked hands-on with governments, industry groups,startups and scaleups, plus large academic institutions, like the University of Delaware and The University of California, impacting 300,000+ students and thousands of faculty.
What topics does Alex Goryachev cover in keynotes and workshops?
While every keynote or workshop is customized to an event or audience, Alex is often requested by clients to bring a fresh perspective and real-world expertise on topics, including: AI’s impact on work and education Innovation in the age of AI Building buy-in and reducing hesitancy towards AI Policy and ethics related to AI C-Suite and leadership insights on AI Employee engagement in innovation The impact of AI on society Use cases, solutions, and strategies for AI and innovation Innovation culture and proven frameworks Reskilling and workforce preparedness Education and academia policy Government AI policy and legislation For additional topic ideas and recommendations for your event, get in touch.
Turn your next event into AI and innovation action.
These aren’t just better ways to use ChatGPT, or create short-term buzz. This is what the most influential organizations on earth use to shape the future.
