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Did you know that according to multiple studies, over 80% of top leaders in established companies rank innovation among their top three areas of focus? Yet, around 60% of innovation efforts fall short of expectations or never launch. The good news is that around 40% of innovation efforts do succeed. What makes the biggest difference in unlocking the promise of innovation? In our experience, it’s top leadership.
In this week’s episode, we have a conversation about this challenge with our returning guest, Robyn Bolton. She’s the founder and chief navigator at Mile Zero. Her consultancy helps leaders of $100 million and larger companies use innovation to confidently and repeatedly grow revenue. Robyn is also the author of the brand-new book, “Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide for Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results,” published in January 2025.
Robyn previously worked at Innosight, Boston Consulting Group, and Procter & Gamble, where she helped develop and launch the Swiffer® product. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Marketing from Miami University. Her articles and perspectives have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review Online, The New York Times, and NPR’s Marketplace.
The leadership style and skills that work when you’re running an existing business are pretty much the opposite of the skill, behaviors and mindset you need to succeed in innovation. | Robyn Bolton
This week on Growth Igniters® Radio:
- Robyn’s perspectives on why CEOs and other top leaders need to be strongly engaged in shaping the architecture, behaviors, and culture that nurtures successful innovation
- The most important leadership factor that determines whether or not innovation initiatives achieve their full promise
- A brief story of a top leadership team that was able to unlock the full promise of an innovation by establishing “metrics that matter.”
- Immediately useful ideas for top leaders to unlock the promise of innovation
Resources for This Episode
- Read more about Robyn Bolton and MileZero and connect with her on LinkedIn
- Read about and download the first chapter of Robyn’s book, “Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide for Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results”
- Take Robyn’s complimentary self-assessment: “How Strong are Your Innovation ABCs?“
- Visit PamHarperSpeaks.com to find out more about her new keynote “Break Orbit: Leading for Long-Term Growth in a Short-Term World”
Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success
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