Episode 3: Innovation
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In Episode 3 of Looking Outside we’re joined by the very pragmatic and undoubtedly original Costas Papaikonomou, Co-Founder of Happen Group, a global innovation agency, and author of the Grumpy Innovator book series. Today we’re looking outside Innovation.
Together Jo and Costas explore the pitfalls of innovating in a silo, the risk of disrupting your own brands through transformation and the benefits of gaining insight from other categories.
With a significantly higher chance of failure than success, and most growth and hope placed on innovation inside a consumer packaged goods company, it’s a challenge from the start that’s often approached with fleeting optimism. Costas discusses his pragmatic, if skeptical (definitely grumpy), approach to creating innovation that lasts, that meet true consumer needs, and that leverage idea generation from across functions, categories and industries.
To look outside, Costas recommends you literally go outside! Immerse yourself in the world your consumers are in, and clear your mind of cobwebs by stepping into a place of nature.
Costas Papaikonomou is Co-Founder of Happen Group, one of the leading creative innovation agencies of the 21st century. A career in innovation – studying, dreaming, creating, researching and realizing new products. He is author of the Grumpy Innovator book series which feature musings, aphorisms & polemics about the ugly reality of consumer product innovation, in particular in large corporations. An attempt at understanding why so many innovations fail, why that is often wholly unnecessary and what may help tilt the balance more favorably. Costas built a life – and co-founded a thriving business – in innovation by combining market insight, manufacturing and commercial rigors into one creative offer. He advises how to win by honoring all three, and avoiding a perpetuating challenge for many people and businesses where functions exist in siloes that hamper cross fertilization as well as multi-disciplinary careers.
Grab a copy of Costas’ Grumpy Innovator books on Amazon.
You can also download the full series as PDF - use "outside" discount code for 20% off.
Looking Outside was created by Joanna Lepore. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2022.
OBOY & Bellodrone music features in Episode 3.
