On this episode of The Innovation Engine, we dig into the recent past and upcoming future of innovation in the Financial Services industry. Rob Murray, 3Pillar’s Financial Services Industry Leader, moderates a conversation with Jennifer Mun and Albert Thibault, two integral members of our Financial Services industry team.  

The trio discusses some of the key trends they saw shaping the FinServ space in 2023, including the evolution of consumer behavior toward a cashless (and sometimes even cardless) society, and examining how data and personalization are revolutionizing customer experiences.

Looking ahead to 2024, we predict further enhancements in customer and employee experiences, driven by evolving AI applications and data analytics. We stress the importance of ethical AI deployment and data use in a globalized landscape and the strategic decisions between buying or building solutions.

Tune in to this robust conversation as we navigate through these exciting developments and lay out a roadmap for the future of financial services.

Episode Highlights:

• The transition to a cashless economy and its impact on financial services.
• Data-driven personalization as a key to enhancing customer experiences.
• The crucial role of talent in driving innovation in financial services.
• Prospects for AI and data analytics in shaping the future of the industry.
• The balance between innovation, security, and trust in financial services.

Resources:

• Connect with Rob Murray on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jennifer Mun on LinkedIn
• Connect with Albert Thibault on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA Media

In this episode of The Innovation Engine, we're thrilled to welcome Arjun Pillai, the visionary co-founder and CEO of the emerging company, Docket. Arjun, a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich history of successful ventures, delves into the critical concept of Go-To-Market First Product Management (GTM First Product Management). This episode is a deep dive into why it's essential to consider market strategy, distribution, and user acquisition right from the inception of a product.

Arjun brings to light the importance of aligning product features with market needs and ensuring these are effectively communicated to customer-facing teams. He shares valuable insights from his experiences at ZoomInfo, emphasizing the evolution of product management and the pivotal role of product demos. Listeners will gain an understanding of how to empower teams for effective product demonstrations and the significance of setting clear goals for feature adoption.

Join us as we explore Arjun's unique approach to product management at his new venture, Docket, where customer discovery and collaboration are key. His perspective on media consumption and engaging with industry experts offers a glimpse into the mind of a true innovator.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Arjun's expertise and understand the nuances of bringing a product to market successfully. Tune in for a masterclass in product management strategy and execution.

Episode Highlights:

• Exploring the concept of Go-To-Market First Product Management (GTM First Product Management) and its importance 
• Arjun's experience at ZoomInfo and how it highlights the alignment of product features with market needs
• The evolving role of product management, shifting from holistic approaches to more specific tasks
• Importance and strategies for effective product demos, including the use of synthetic data and maintaining separate demo environments
• Setting and managing goals for feature adoption, with different expectations for different company sizes and markets

Resources:

• Sign up to learn more about docketai.com
• Connect with Arjun on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA Media

On this episode of The Innovation Engine Podcast, we dive deep into the realm of innovation, change, and the human resistance to new ideas with David Schonthal, an award-winning professor at the Kellogg School of Management. David, co-originator of the revolutionary "friction theory," sheds light on why promising innovations often stumble before reaching their full potential.

David and host Scott Varho explore the profound influence of human psychology on the acceptance and adoption of change. Why do people love the idea of innovation but dread the concept of change? David presents insightful real-world examples, highlighting the necessity of understanding the human element for successful innovation.

As the discussion unfolds, listeners will be intrigued by the power of subtle shifts in approach, like shifting change management or marketing strategies to foster self-persuasion. It's an enlightening conversation that delves into the intricacies of introducing change, managing resistance, and ensuring that innovations don't just shine but also find their rightful place in the market.

Tune in to discover the hidden challenges that await new ideas and how to navigate them successfully.

Episode Highlights:

• The challenges faced by promising innovations and the nuances of "friction theory," including the four types of friction
• The significance of empathy in product development and the limitations of traditional marketing personas
• Real-world examples of subtle marketing techniques that can influence consumer perception

Resources:

• Learn more at davidschonthal.com
• Read: The Human Element by Loran Nordgren and David Schonthal
• Connect with David on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA Media

3Pillar’s Financial Services Industry Lead, Rob Murray, joins us on the latest Innovation Engine to share some of the latest insights he’s gleaned from serving 3Pillar clients across the Financial Services space.

Rob and Scott Varho dive deep into what it takes to successfully drive innovation in a tightly regulated industry like Financial Services, where many organizations feel handcuffed by the legacy software and systems that power their customer experiences. In this episode, we explore the myriad of opportunities and challenges that the rapidly evolving banking, insurance and broader Financial Services sector presents, and how institutions are navigating this ever-changing landscape.

Throughout the conversation, Rob sheds light on the pivotal role of innovation in shaping the future of banking. From the adoption of groundbreaking technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to strategic partnerships between traditional banks and FinTech startups, Rob provides a comprehensive overview of the forces driving change in the industry. He emphasizes the significance of customer-centricity and how banks are leveraging data, analytics, and technology to enhance user experience and meet the rising expectations of consumers in the digital age.

In addition to his work at 3Pillar, Rob has extensive experience in leading digital transformation for renowned banks such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America, and he recently co-hosted our episode on Innovation by Design, which featured a conversation with JPMorgan Chase’s Chief Design Officer, Sam Yen. 

Tune in to this episode for a deep dive into the state of innovation in Financial Services, where Rob offers valuable insights, discusses future trends, and shares his vision for a more connected and customer-focused banking experience.

Episode Highlights:

• Rob delves into the significance of innovation in the financial sector, discussing how it shapes competitiveness and meets the ever-evolving expectations of customers in the digital age.
• The potential and challenges of blockchain technology, highlighting their impact on trust distribution and the financial industry’s future.
• The shift towards a customer-centric approach in banking.
• The hurdles of digital transformation, including regulatory compliance, cybersecurity threats, and the integration of emerging technologies into legacy systems.
• Future trends and developments in banking, focusing on the integration of new technologies and the emergence of customer-focused business models.

Resources:

• Connect with Rob Murray on LinkedIn
• Read: "The Product Mindset" by David H. DeWolf and Jessica S. Hall
• Read: "Amp It Up" by Frank Slootman

Produced by NOVA Media

In today's transformative digital landscape, what truly defines a tech company? Matt Brandon, the Industry Leader for the 3Pillar Technology Vertical, joins us for a deep dive into the multifaceted world of technology. From the evolution of technology sectors to the omnipresence of data, Matt shares insights on navigating opportunities and threats in this high-paced arena.

Matt's rich background showcases a blend of partnerships with leading tech entities, his impactful journeys at Colego and Gartner, and a pivotal role in Gartner's acquisition of CEB. At Three Pillars, the term "tech company" goes beyond the traditional. Whether it's cybersecurity or even a home relocation firm, if there's a significant digital or electronics-based product or service, you're in the tech space.

This episode provides a holistic view of the opportunities driven by data and AI, the challenges of security, and the ever-present need to innovate. Dive into Matt's perspective on the importance of talent, the essence of agility, and the dual power of quantitative and qualitative data. Matt also highlights the intriguing world of water technology and shares book recommendations that have influenced his career.

Tune in to understand the nuances of today's tech world, where the lines are blurred, the stakes are high, and innovation is at the heart of success.

Resources:

• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA Media

Digital transformation is a term often tossed around in boardrooms but rarely understood in its full depth and breadth. David Rogers joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine podcast to discuss his latest book, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, and his vast experience advising a bevy of top-tier corporate clients including Google, Microsoft, Citigroup, and Toyota.

A renowned faculty member at Columbia Business School, expert in digital transformation, and the brain behind several groundbreaking books on the subject, David is the perfect voice of reason to bring a logical understanding to this vital concept.

David underscores the significant differences between a digital-first startup and a legacy enterprise attempting to make its products and services viable in the digital realm. He emphasizes that digital transformation is not a short-term project, but a continuous journey intertwined with both digital strategy and sweeping organizational change.

In David's latest book, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, he outlines the Five Steps for Digital Transformation:

1. Define a Shared Vision: This involves crafting a vision unique to the organization. It should be more specific than just wanting to "go digital" and should be commonly understood by everyone in the company.

2. Pick the Problems that Matter Most: Prioritize key issues and be willing to say no to less important opportunities.

3. Validating New Ventures: Shift from traditional planning-focused models to iterative processes that allow for continuous learning and adaptation.

4. Managing Growth at Scale: Adopt different management or governance models that can work across multiple teams and cater to different strategic opportunities.

5. Growing Technology, Talent, and Culture: Identify gaps in technology infrastructure, talent, and company culture, and address these.

The process is cyclical, not linear, and the steps should be revisited regularly for continuous adaptation and improvement.

Tune in for an insightful journey into the heart of digital transformation with one of the foremost thought leaders in the field. Don't miss David's deep insights, actionable strategies, and a fresh perspective on a topic that's reshaping the global business landscape.

Resources:

• Learn more at davidrogers.digital

• Read "The Digital Transformation Roadmap" by David Rogers

• Connect with David Rogers on LinkedIn

• Read "Marketing Myopia" by Theodore Levitt

Produced by NOVA Media

Bernie Doone joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine to delve deep into the intricate world of Information Services. Bernie is no stranger to our listeners, having previously co-hosted episodes featuring insightful dialogues with experts like Marianne Johnson of Cox Automotive and Josh Eastright from Bloomberg Industry Group.

At its core, Information Services revolves around B2B companies whose assets lie predominantly in insights and value-added services. These entities play the crucial role of transforming data into insights and content, combining proprietary, third-party, and publicly available data. Companies like Bloomberg Industry Group and Cox Automotive are stellar examples of Information Services companies that have evolved into digital powerhouses, now offering tools and insights right when their customers need them most.

Throughout the conversation, we uncover key developments and trends in the Information Services sector. From building a common data platform to leveraging metadata for intuitive search, and from creating exceptional user experiences to the importance of research insights — we touch on a number of facets that are reshaping the industry.

Bernie brings a fresh perspective to product development that is sure to broaden your own understanding of what it means to innovate. Join us for this in-depth exploration and garner insights into the ever-evolving world of Information Services, the fascinating intersections with technology and AI, and why this industry can serve as an inspiration for sectors far and wide.

Resources:

• Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn

• Read The Product Mindset by David H. DeWolf and Jessica S. Hall

• Read The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

• Read Enduring Ideas: The three horizons of growth from McKinsey & Company

Produced by NOVA Media

Productizing a services business is no small feat, but the benefits of doing so are vast: improved margins, increased productivity, higher company valuations, and less reliance on increasingly in-demand tech talent. Eisha Armstrong joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine to share more about how to turn a services company into a productized business.

Eisha has established herself as an authoritative voice in this space, having authored two compelling books: Fearless: How to Transform a Services Culture and Successfully Productize and Productize: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Professional Services into Scalable Products. With her deep understanding of the challenges faced by B2B services companies competing against digital-first companies and scaling efficiently, Eisha offers some insightful strategies and tips.

In this conversation, Eisha highlights the importance of setting clear goals to inform your productization approach, treating productization as a portfolio, and overcoming the fear of productization.

Listen in as Eisha and host Scott Varho unpack the essentials of a product-friendly culture, highlighting five levers: vision, organizational structure, governance, talent, and people-related practices. Finally, Eisha introduces us to the 'four horsemen of productization': Knowing, Perfectionism, Scarcity thinking, and Individual heroics. She breaks down this daunting task into something surmountable that anyone in a services organization can’t afford to miss.

Resources

• Learn more about Vecteris at vecteris.com
• Connect with Eisha on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eishaarmstrong
• Read Eisha's books: "Fearless: How to Transform a Services Culture and Successfully Productize" and  "Productize: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Professional Services into Scalable Products"

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Produced by Nova Media

Sam Yen, the Chief Innovation Officer for Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase, joins us for this episode of The Innovation Engine to discuss Innovation by Design and Scaling Innovation. Sam is responsible for JPMorgan Chase’s digital products, platforms, innovation, and product strategy, so there is a massive amount of responsibility that falls under his purview.

We kick off the episode by diving into Sam's guiding principles for leading teams and prioritizing work in a financial institution of JPMorgan Chase's scale. He stresses the importance of being customer or client-centered, maintaining effective communication, ensuring a deep understanding of end-to-end experiences in product delivery, and keeping the bigger picture in mind while fostering a culture of quick learning and iteration.

Sam shares his insights on the power of design in crafting user experiences that are intuitive, delightful, and even "forgettable" in terms of ease of use. We discuss the challenges and constraints of fostering innovation in a large financial institution and how the constraints by which financial services companies are bound can, perhaps counterintuitively, lead to more focused solutions. We also cover Sam's previous work at SAP and the four phases of scaling innovation in large organizations he uncovered with Janaki Kumar and Baba Shiv. The four phases Sam details on the innovation journey run from the "lonely soldier phase" all the way through to a fully scaled culture of innovation.

Episode Highlights

• Why the role of design includes but also extends well beyond delivering a delightful and intuitive user experience
• The concept of thinking of risk as a line of boxes that gets increasingly larger over time, and the process of de-risking ideas incrementally as they scale
• Why innovation requires excelling at both creativity AND execution; you don’t get to pick just one
• Sam shares why the emphasis that’s often placed on creative problem solving would be even more productive if it were instead placed on creative problem finding
• The value of diverse teams in delivering innovative solutions and the difference between constructive tension and destructive tension

About Sam Yen

Sam Yen is an acclaimed design leader who has had an exceptional career trajectory. Prior to his role as Chief Innovation Officer for Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase, he served as Managing Director for SAP Silicon Valley and was SAP's first Chief Design Officer. At SAP, Sam led their Design Thinking practice both internally and for customers. Sam offers a valuable perspective on integrating design principles at the highest levels of corporate decision-making and scaling innovation throughout large organizations.

Resources

• Connect with Sam Yen on LinkedIn
• Read one of Sam’s recent interviews for more on the 4 phases of innovation
• Learn more about how JPMorgan Chase Commercial Bank is banking the innovation economy
• Read volume 1 of “Payments Unbound,” a partnership between JPMorgan and Wired on the future of digital cash and more
• Read volume 2 of “Payments Unbound,” which focuses on the future of commerce  

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Produced by Nova Media

Ready to be inspired by a transformation story that propelled a bank to new heights? In this discussion with Paul Cobban, we dig deep into the remarkable business transformation of DBS Bank under his leadership. 

DBS' incredible journey saw the company go from having the reputation of being known as "D#mn Bloody Slow," as Paul tells it, to becoming a digital powerhouse that regularly earns accolades for its digital experience and transformation. DBS was named "World's Best Bank” by Global Finance 5 times, and it was hailed as one of Harvard Business Review's top 10 business transformations of the last decade, alongside innovation stalwarts Netflix, Amazon, and Adobe. 

Paul also shares insights from the book he co-authored with Scott Anthony, Eat, Sleep, Innovate which serves as a roadmap for companies and leaders looking to excel with the right mindset, tools, and habits.

Join us for this engaging conversation as we uncover the magic behind DBS' transformation journey and gain valuable insights from Paul Cobban's wealth of knowledge and experience.

Resources:

• Learn more about Paul and his work at PaulCobban.com
• Connect with Paul on LinkedIn
• Read:  Eat, Sleep, Innovate by Scott Anthony, Paul Cobban, Natalie Painchaud, and Andy Parker
• View the full webinar here: 3pillarglobal.com/insights/learn-from-paul-cobban
• Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Produced by Nova Media

On this episode, we're diving into the world of Agile Thinking with our guest, Kevin Philpott, Director of Product Design at Pie Insurance.

Pie Insurance is a venture-backed insurtech startup, having raised over $600 million in funding since its inception in 2017. Kevin, who has been with Pie Insurance from the very start, is now responsible for all B2B, B2C, and enterprise digital interfaces. Prior to Pie, Kevin held senior product design roles at companies such as RapidFinance, part of the Quicken Loans Family of Companies, and GEICO. His experience across small, medium, and enterprise-sized companies gives him a unique perspective on the Agile Thinking challenges that occur in different business environments.

In this episode, Kevin shares his insights on building a culture of Agile Thinking. He emphasizes the "think big, start small, learn fast" mentality and the importance of focusing on outcomes over outputs. He stresses that the role UX can play in developing an Agile Thinking culture extends far beyond wireframes and pixels and reaches into areas like user research and deeply understanding quantitative metrics. Kevin also discusses the value of failure and learning, the power of trust in product development, and the need for a user-centric approach in product design.

Whether you're a product leader looking to shift your team's focus towards Agile Thinking or a UX designer eager to make a bigger impact, this episode is packed with practical insights and actionable advice.

Resources:

• Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Pie Insurance at pieinsurance.com

• Read "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Produced by Nova Media

On this episode of The Innovation Engine, we explore the fascinating world of applied innovation and the critical process of testing the commercial viability of ideas. Join us as we speak with Michael Rabjohns, Global Head of User Experience Research and Design at 3Pillar, and Steven Cooper, a Lead UX Designer in Michael's group. Both bring extensive experience in the digital product space. Between them, they have worked with household names like Marriott, Calvin Klein, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google. Alongside host Scott Varho, they share their unique insights and valuable advice on navigating the complex landscape of innovation and product development.

Listen to the full conversation to hear about the importance of understanding users and their needs, the role of execution and the necessity of pivoting or persevering based on user feedback, and various tools and techniques for user research and testing. We also discuss the challenges of communicating with stakeholders, creating safe spaces for unbiased research, and the benefits of using low-fidelity prototypes in the early stages of development. Don't miss this engaging discussion packed with practical knowledge and valuable insights for product developers at any stage of their innovation journey.

Resources:

• View the webinar slides and resources: On-Demand Webinar
• Key takeaways from the webinar: How to Test the Commercial Viability of an Idea
• Connect with Michael Rabjohns on LinkedIn
• Connect with Steven Cooper on LinkedIn
• Connect with Scott Varho on LinkedIn

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Produced by Nova Media

Do you know the difference between focusing on outcomes versus outputs in product development — and why the difference can make or break a product? In this episode, we explore how shifting the focus from churning out features to driving business outcomes can help product teams deliver far greater value to users and organizations.

Our guest, Josh Seiden, is a designer, strategy consultant, and author of the book Outcomes Over Output: Why customer behavior is the key metric for business success. He spent two years working on a stock trading app that never shipped, which taught him the importance of putting products in users’ hands  “unreasonably early.” 

Josh presents three “magic questions” to help product teams focus on outcomes and introduces a new behavioral model that suggests teams should focus on changes in user behavior that create business value. He explains the importance of telling a specific story about the user journey, highlighting key moments that make a difference, and building a shared perspective and understanding to make collaborative prioritization decisions.

Finally, Josh discusses the benefits of outcomes-based roadmaps, providing context for why the team is doing something and outlining traditional roadmap content, questions, and risks.

Resources:

• Learn more at JoshuaSeiden.com
• Connect with Josh on LinkedIn
• Follow Josh on Twitter: @jseiden
• Read: Outcomes Over Output by Joshua Seiden
• Read Josh’s recommended business book: Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
• Read Josh’s recommended book on writing, which he cites as an inherently creative process akin to product development: Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Produced by Nova Media

In this episode, we're joined by Teresa Torres, an internationally recognized author, speaker, and coach. With a focus on continuous discovery, Teresa has coached hundreds of product teams of all sizes and industries in a structured approach to infusing customer input into their daily product decisions. Her expertise has helped product teams move away from simply focusing on Agile execution and how they build products towards a more holistic approach to development that places an equal focus on making sure what they build delivers value to the customer and the business.

Teresa’s expertise has helped product teams move away from simply focusing on Agile execution and how they build products towards a more holistic approach to product development where teams place an equal focus on making sure what they build delivers value to the customer and the business. 

We dive deep into the key concepts of Teresa's book, Continuous Discovery Habits, in which she introduces a framework for product teams to think about customer discovery. We explore the importance of an outcome mindset, getting good at interviewing to discover unmet customer needs, pain points, and desires, and assumption testing to help evaluate solutions.

Episode Highlights:

• How product teams can learn to focus on executing on the right things, not just executing in the right way

• The most vital habits that teams should employ for continuous discovery

• Why following Teresa’s collaborative “product trio” model, where a Product Manager, Design Lead, and Tech Lead all work closely together from the start, leads to far less waste than the traditional product development model and process  

• How embracing the creative tension of bringing multiple disciplines together yields better results than the top-down style of decision-making prevalent in many organizations

• The 2 different kinds of product instrumentation — optimization and value creation — and examples of both

• Which companies are positive examples of continuous discovery in action (hint: not many!)

Resources:

• Learn more at ProductTalk.org

• Follow Teresa on Twitter: @ttorres

• Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/teresatorres

• Read: Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

In part two of our interview with Marty Cagan, the celebrated product expert and bestselling author of Empowered and Inspired, we discuss the foundational elements needed for product teams to be successful and how to identify mission-driven teams. 

We also discuss how to structure product teams to maximize effectiveness, how to hold product teams accountable, and the altitude you need to speak at to handle executive and investor expectations. The key point is that product teams provide the most value when they’re solving complex problems and figuring out how to drive outcomes, not merely following orders. We also discuss how to identify missionaries versus mercenaries, with the key difference being that missionaries identify with the project and take ownership of the outcome. 

Tune in to the full conversation to hear how teams can balance the immediate needs of the business with the long-term product vision, the importance of taking ownership of things outside of your control, and why empowered product teams are passionate about solving problems.

This is a follow-on to the first half of our conversation, in which Marty and Scott Varho discussed why a roadmap focused on outcomes yields far better results than one based on solutions, the importance of clearly communicating and exhibiting an appealing product vision, and the critical inquiry that a strong product vision must address directly.

Resources

• Listen to part 1 of our discussion with Marty Cagan
• Learn more at svpg.com
• Read Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products
• Read Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love
• Connect with Marty on LinkedIn
• Follow Marty on Twitter 

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

What separates the most successful product companies in the world — Apple, Amazon, Google —from everyone else? It’s a question Marty Cagan has spent the better part of his career exploring, writing about, and seeking to answer. At least part of the answer lies in the fact that many of these highly successful companies follow a model where product teams are empowered to solve problems and deliver outcomes rather than accept requirements and deliver outputs. 

Marty Cagan joins us to discuss the many ways empowered product teams can drive value and growth for companies if only they're allowed to. Marty is a renowned product leader, founder, and partner at the Silicon Valley Product Group. He's the author of two influential books, Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products and Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love.

Marty has been a prominent figure in Silicon Valley for years, having previously worked at eBay, Netscape, and Hewlett-Packard. Over the past two decades as the founder of Silicon Valley Product Group, Marty has provided consultancy for several significant technology products and established himself as a leading advocate for building customer-centric, product-focused organizations.

Resources:

• Learn more at svpg.com

• See examples of product visions for companies like Airbnb, Apple, Asana, Dropbox, Hubspot, and SpaceX on the SVPG site

• Read Empowered

• Read Inspired

• Connect with Marty Cagan on LinkedIn

• Follow Marty Cagan on Twitter

Learn more and get the full show notes on the 3Pillar website

How can you predict opportunities for massive innovation before they happen? By identifying inflection points before they happen. 

Inflection points are moments of significant change for a business, industry, or market. They feature prominently in Dr. Rita Gunther McGrath's latest book, Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen. 

Dr. McGrath discusses how to identify and navigate these inflection points in business — so you can position yourself and your organization for success in the age of disruption.

Tune in to the full conversation to hear how to spot inflection points before they happen, how to keep innovating without putting yourself or your business at catastrophic risk, and find out what happens when we let AI take over the interview and ask some questions.

Dr. Rita Gunther McGrath is a leading authority on strategic innovation and growth. She is a professor at Columbia Business School, a globally recognized thought leader, and the author of several best-selling books.

Resources:

• Learn more at ritamcgrath.com
• Read Seeing Around Corners
• Connect with Dr. McGrath on LinkedIn

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

When it comes to innovation, the education industry typically isn’t the first that comes to mind — but Ron Reed is trying to change that. He’s the Founder and Executive Producer of SXSW EDU, an annual event that fosters innovation and learning within the education industry. SXSW is well-known for its tech conference, music festival, and independent film festival, but it covers a wider range of topics, including the education event that’s held in the days before the tech conference. Ron talks about the role of technology in education, the conversations that are being had ahead of SXSW EDU 2023, and what the future is going to bring to both education and SXSW EDU specifically.

Episode Highlights:

• What SXSW EDU is and what it strives to achieve
• The origin story of How SXSW EDU began and how it is continuing to grow and evolve
• How Ron and his partners decided to make alterations and improvements to the event as it grows
• The rise of education technology and how it has continued to evolve since Ron’s days selling educational material on laser video discs 
• What’s is coming up in SXSW EDU 2023
• Opening up the discussion around mental health in education

Resources:

• Learn more at sxswedu.com
• Connect with Ronald Reed on LinkedIn
• Follow SXSW EDU on Twitter

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Marianne Johnson is the Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Cox Automotive, where she oversees a team of roughly 5000 people across 700 Scrum teams. She’s responsible for an $8 billion dollar portfolio that includes a number of products that are household names, including Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.

On this episode, Scott Varho and Bernie Doone talk with Mariannne about building a culture where rapid innovation and living on the cutting-edge of technology are the norm.

Episode Highlights:

• What Marianne’s role at Cox as Chief Product Officer entails (01:13)
• What makes up Cox’s $8 billion dollar product portfolio (9:20)
• Running an Agile culture across 700 Scrum teams (13:20)
• Insights from running the five patterns of Agile (18:47)
• How composability informs what products to launch (24:00)
• Leveraging data to drive value (28:03)
• How Cox Automotive uses AI for growth (32:31)
• Speed round, which covers Marianne’s boat, what to look for in new hires, and the most impactful business or tech book she’s ever read (33:31)

Resources:

• Learn more at coxautoinc.com
• Follow Marianne Johnson on LinkedIn

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com

Sejal Amin is the newly-named Chief Technology Officer at Shutterstock where she has a broad mandate to drive Shutterstock’s digital transformation into a full-service creative platform for hundreds of thousands of creative professionals around the world. She talks with 3Pillar’s Scott Varho and Elisabeth Beller about moving from software project to product on this episode of The Innovation Engine.

Tune in to the full conversation to hear how Shutterstock is making the leap from project to product, what a value stream is and how to manage it within a company, and why using a body of metrics is vital to drive decision-making during digital transformation.

Resources:

• Connect with Sejal on LinkedIn
• Read: Accelerate: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations by Nicole Forsgren, PhD, Jez Humble, and Gene Kim
• Read: Project to Product: How to Survive and Thrive in the Age of Digital Disruption with the Flow Framework by Mik Kersten
• Read: Sooner Safer Happier: Antipatterns and Patterns for Business Agility by Jonathan Smart
• If you have any feedback about the podcast or guests you’d like to hear interviewed, send your suggestions to info@3pillarglobal.com.

Learn more and get the full show notes at: 3PillarGlobal.com