The Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast

Natalie Born

We exist to empower your innovation and leadership transformation journey. Collaboration, innovation, and transformation are not just concepts they are how business gets done.

  1. Aug 15

    35. Innovation Funding and Frameworks with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It On Fire: The Art of Innovation series with Chapter 9: Funding Innovation. Joined by Moriah Hidden, Natalie explores why smart investment matters more than simply spending more, how clear constraints can fuel creativity, and how leaders can determine whether an idea should move forward, pivot, or stop. From balancing transformative, breakthrough, and disruptive innovation to using stage gates and studying the larger ecosystem, this episode offers practical guidance for funding ideas wisely and building for the future. [00:00 - 04:13] Funding Innovation: Lessons from Nokia and Apple Why greater R&D spending does not automatically lead to better innovation How Nokia spent significantly more while Apple created the stronger outcome The danger of funding a slow-moving train wreck of projects Why investment must be connected to strategy, focus, and customer value [04:14 - 11:28] Freedom Within a Framework How organizational capabilities create useful boundaries for innovation Why limited resources and beautiful constraints can spark creativity Understanding transformative, breakthrough, and disruptive innovation Recognizing when changing customer preferences require a new category [11:29 - 16:31] Stage Gates, ROI, and the Innovation Ecosystem Using customer feedback to decide whether to invest, pivot, or stop Building a little, learning a little, and testing demand before scaling Knowing when a promising idea has become something customers do not want Looking beyond a single product to create value across the entire ecosystem [16:32 - 19:35] Look Back, Look Out, and Look Up Looking back to learn from mistakes and failures without repeating them Looking out to understand competitors, market signals, and the wider landscape Looking up to plan for the future through three-, five-, and ten-year strategy Helping visionary leaders see around corners before change arrives [19:36 - End] Turning Innovation into Action Bringing intentionality to the teams, funding, and insight behind an idea Connecting stage gates and investment decisions to meaningful execution Choosing who an innovation is for before bringing it to life Using practical frameworks to move ideas from concept to funded reality Key Quotes “Funding alone doesn’t determine your success.” — Natalie Born “Oftentimes, it’s through the constraints that we get creative and through that creativity, we’re able to build the future.” — Natalie Born "If you don't disrupt yourself, you'll be disrupted by somebody who's thinking about that." - Natalie Born Resources & Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn Website: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com Book & Resources: https://setitonfire.co If this episode encouraged you, share it with a leader who wants to invest in innovation wisely, evaluate ideas with clarity, and build for the future. Be sure to subscribe to Innovation Meets Leadership for more conversations on leadership, innovation, culture, and growth.

  2. Jul 12

    34.Human-Centered Design and Visual Agreement with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It On Fire: The Art of Innovation series with Chapter 8: Human-Centered Design & Visual Agreement. Joined by Moriah Hidden, Natalie explores how meeting culture shapes innovation, why visual collaboration leads to better decisions, and practical frameworks leaders can use to create more engaging, productive, and innovative teams. From designing meetings with intention to building a culture where everyone contributes ideas, this episode equips leaders with simple tools that can dramatically improve collaboration and execution. [00:00 – 07:10] Meeting Culture Is Innovation CultureWhy the way your team meets reflects your innovation cultureCommon reasons meetings become unproductiveDefining clear roles, agendas, and objectives before every meetingThe cost of disengaged meetings on organizations[07:11 – 10:44] Creating Better Meetings Through Visual AgreementWhy ideas should move from conversations to visible collaborationHow whiteboards, sticky notes, and digital tools improve alignmentHelping participants stay engaged and catch up quicklyWhy visual thinking creates shared understanding faster[10:45 – 15:48] Open, Explore, Close: A Better Meeting FrameworkEncouraging idea generation without immediate criticismExploring and expanding ideas before evaluating themGrouping similar concepts to create clarityClosing meetings with clear decisions and next steps[15:49 – 18:23] When a Meeting Should Really Be an EmailKnowing when collaboration is necessary—and when it isn'tIdentifying situations that require discussion versus communicationReducing meeting overload while protecting collaboration timeCreating intentional meetings that move work forward[18:24 – End] Building a Team of InnovatorsDeveloping innovation skills across the entire teamGiving people opportunities to lead discussions and contribute ideasEstablishing meeting guardrails that encourage participationCreating a culture where innovation becomes everyone's responsibilityKey Quotes"Meeting culture is your innovation culture." – Natalie Born"Innovation isn't just about having ideas; it's about creating environments where ideas can be shared, refined, and acted upon." – Natalie Born"We want people to show up like owners, not renters." – Natalie BornResources & LinksNatalie BornLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliebornWebsite: https://innovationmeetsleadership.comBook: Set It on Fire: The Art of InnovationBook & Resources: https://setitonfire.coIf this episode encouraged you, share it with a leader who wants to transform meetings into opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and better decision-making.Be sure to subscribe to Innovation Meets Leadership for more conversations on leadership, innovation, culture, and growth.

  3. Jun 25

    33. Failure: Innovation’s Training Ground with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It On Fire: The Art of Innovation series by diving into Chapter 7: Failure: Innovation's Training Ground. Joined by Moriah Hidden, Natalie explores why failure is not the opposite of innovation, but a necessary part of the process.Together, they unpack the difference between failures and mistakes, the role of psychological safety in innovative cultures, how leaders can create environments where experimentation thrives, and why learning faster is often more valuable than being perfect. This conversation offers practical insights for leaders looking to build resilient teams that embrace risk, learn quickly, and continue moving innovation forward. [00:00 – 04:12] Why Failure Is Essential to InnovationWhy innovation naturally involves risk and uncertaintyHow failure provides valuable data, insights, and learningShifting the focus from perfection to learning velocityWhy organizations must stop treating failure as a personal flaw [04:13 – 08:59] Psychological Safety & Learning from SetbacksThe connection between psychological safety and innovationHow fear-based cultures prevent honest conversationsSigns your team may be afraid to speak up or take initiativeWhy leaders must create environments where mistakes can be discussed openly [09:00 – 15:08] Failures vs. Mistakes: Understanding the DifferenceDefining the difference between a failure and a mistakeWhy leaders should respond differently to eachThe role of accountability, coaching, and learningHow SOPs and clear expectations reduce preventable mistakes [15:09 – 17:21] Fail Fast, Fail Cheap, Fail OftenWhat “fail fast, fail cheap, fail often” really meansCreating guardrails that encourage experimentationUsing scorecards, decision frameworks, and spending limitsAvoiding costly innovation projects that lack validation [17:22 – 20:51] Staying Connected to CustomersWhy organizations build products customers don't actually wantThe importance of validating ideas early and oftenListening for customer signals and feedbackRemoving internal bias during the innovation process [20:52 – 26:20] Building Resilient Teams That Keep InnovatingWhy leaders should model vulnerability and share their own failuresCelebrating learning—not just successful outcomesConducting lessons-learned reviews and after-action discussionsCreating a culture that rewards thoughtful risk-taking and growth Key Quotes “Failure is only a waste if we don't learn from it.” – Natalie Born “If a leader treats a failure as a mistake, innovation will disappear in the organization.” – Natalie Born “Failure is not the opposite of innovation; it's part of the process that makes innovation possible.” – Natalie Born Resources & LinksInnovation Meets Leadership Website: iml.howSet It On Fire Frameworks & Resources: setitonfire.co Natalie Born LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn/ If this episode encouraged you, share it with a leader, entrepreneur, or innovator who wants to build a culture where learning, experimentation, and resilience drive long-term success.Be sure to subscribe to Innovation Meets Leadership for more conversations on leadership, innovation, culture, and growth.

  4. Jun 14

    32. The Product Development Framework with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It On Fire: The Art of Innovation series by diving into Chapter 6: The Product Development Framework. Joined by Moriah Hidden, Natalie explores practical ways organizations can intentionally surface innovation, move ideas from concept to execution, and create systems that help innovation thrive long-term.This conversation unpacks business plan competitions, hackathons, customer incubation sessions, funding innovation, overcoming organizational barriers, and creating cultures where experimentation and execution become part of everyday work.[00:00 – 03:10] Introduction to The Product Development Framework & Creating Space for InnovationIntroduction to the Product Development FrameworkLeaders must intentionally create opportunities for innovationDifferent organizations require different innovation approaches[03:11 – 07:40] Business Plan Competitions & Learning Through FailureEncouraging employees to bring forward new ideasLessons learned through personal experiences and failureThe value of psychological safety during innovation efforts[07:41 – 11:05] Funding Innovation EffectivelyWhy funding strategy matters as much as the idea itselfAligning financial resources with long-term innovation goalsHow leaders evaluate which ideas receive investment[11:06 – 14:30] Customer Incubation & Innovation ProgramsGathering real-world feedback before launching solutionsBuilding products that solve meaningful problemsBenefits of collaborative innovation environments[14:31 – 19:22] Why Innovation Efforts FailLack of ownership, accountability, and psychological safetyFailure to move from testing to executionLeadership misalignment and competing priorities[19:23 – 22:45] Building a Sustainable Innovation CultureAligning teams around problems worth solvingCreating repeatable systems for testing and learning and establishing accountabilityRemoving fear of failure from organizational culture[22:46 – 23:20] Final Thoughts & ClosingKey takeaways from the Product Development FrameworkResources for learning more about Set It On FireFinal encouragement for leaders pursuing innovationKey Quotes“The urgent work on our plate often suffocates our ability to think about the future.” – Natalie Born“Funding innovation is just as important as generating the ideas themselves.” – Natalie Born“People have good ideas all day long. The challenge is actually executing them.” – Natalie BornResources & LinksInnovation Meets Leadership Website: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/Set It On Fire Frameworks & Resources: https://setitonfire.co/Natalie Born LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn/If this episode encouraged you, share it with a leader, entrepreneur, or innovator looking to build stronger systems for bringing ideas to life.Be sure to subscribe to Innovation Meets Leadership for more conversations on leadership, innovation, culture, and growth.

  5. May 31

    31. Pace, Process, and Empowerment with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation series by diving into Chapter 5: Pace, Process & Empowerment. Joined again by Moriah Hidden, Natalie explores how organizations often struggle to innovate because teams are either moving too slowly, operating in chaos, or lacking the empowerment needed to make decisions confidently.This conversation unpacks how leaders can create healthier systems, protect creativity, and build environments where innovation can thrive sustainably. [00:00 – 02:04] Introduction to Chapter 5 Introduction to pace, process, and empowermentWhy innovation often feels difficult inside organizationsThe importance of healthy systems behind innovation [02:05 – 05:30] Understanding Pace Constant urgency eventually creates burnoutInnovation suffers when people operate at full capacity all the timeLeaders need to create margin for creativity and strategic thinking [05:31 – 08:45] Burnout vs. Sustainable Innovation Innovation rarely happens in nonstop chaosHealthy organizations allow people room to think“Burn on, not burn out” leadership mindset [08:46 – 12:10] The Role of Process Processes should create clarity, not bureaucracyTeams need consistency to move ideas forward effectivelyLeaders should regularly evaluate whether processes are helping or hurting innovation [12:11 – 15:40] Empowerment & Decision Making Innovation slows down when every decision requires approvalEmpowered employees move faster and with more ownershipTrust and accountability work together [15:41 – 19:20] Team Dynamics & CollaborationBurnout impacts communication and collaborationHealthy cultures produce healthier innovationPsychological safety affects creativity [19:21 – 23:30] Leadership Maturity Growth requires honest self-assessmentThe maturity index helps organizations evaluate progressInnovation requires intentional leadership development [23:31 – 28:34] Creating Healthy Systems & Cultures That Innovate Strong systems support people while creating clear communication and sustainable growthInnovation grows in environments built on trust, adaptability, and experimentationTeams perform best when they have room to learn, adjust, and improve together [28:35 – 31:23] Final Thoughts & ClosingInnovation requires healthy pace, strong systems, and empowered peopleSustainable innovation is built intentionally Leaders must create space for creativity and growth Key Quotes “When people are operating at 120% capacity, there’s no room left for creativity.” – Natalie Born“Innovation doesn’t thrive in constant chaos.” – Natalie Born“We need leaders that burn on, not burn out.” – Natalie Born“Empowered people move innovation forward faster.” – Natalie Born Resources & Links Innovation Meets Leadership: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com/ Set It On Fire Frameworks & Resources: https://setitonfire.co/ Natalie Born LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn/

  6. May 3

    29. Culture Killers for Innovation with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation series by diving into Chapter 3: Culture Killers for Innovation. Joined again by Moriah Hidden as guest-host, Natalie explores the internal cultural dynamics that either fuel or shut down innovation inside organizations.This conversation unpacks the importance of alignment, team health, and empathy — highlighting how misalignment, unhealthy behaviors, and lack of customer understanding can quietly destroy innovation efforts. Natalie shares practical frameworks and real-world examples to help leaders build stronger teams, foster collaboration, and create environments where innovation can actually thrive. [00:00 – 02:30] Continuing the Series: Culture & Innovation- Introduction to Chapter 3: Culture Killers for Innovation- Focus shifts to internal team dynamics and alignment- The “rule of seven” and repetition in communication [02:31 – 05:40] The Power of Alignment- Focusing on 3–4 core priorities instead of 20- The role of incentives and milestones in team motivation- Quarterly checkpoints and celebration culture [05:41 – 8:00] What Defines a Healthy Team- Signs of healthy vs. unhealthy team dynamics- The danger of surface-level agreement (“smiling but resisting”)- Why unaddressed behaviors become culture killers [8:01 – 9:45] Self-Awareness & Leadership Growth- Recognizing when you might be the “lid” on growth- Skill vs. will: what’s really holding teams back- Knowing when to grow vs. when to step aside [9:46 – 12:07] Teamwork & Shared Vision- The Gladiator example: moving as one- The power of a shared goal or “common enemy”- Why teams fail when they turn against each other internally [12:07 – 14:00] Empathy & Customer-Centered Innovation- Why organizations often build for themselves, not customers- Introduction to the empathy map framework- How understanding customer needs improves products and services [14:01 – 16:37] Listening to the Customer- Practical ways to gather customer insights- Why direct interaction is more valuable than assumptions [16:37 – 20:51] From Empathy Maps to Personas- Turning insights into actionable customer personas- Keeping the customer at the center of innovation- Using frameworks to guide product and service development Key Quotes “The moment you’re tired of repeating yourself is usually the moment your team is finally starting to understand.” – Natalie Born “If you can’t get along, you’re not ready to grow—and if you can’t grow, you can’t innovate.” – Natalie Born “We build better when we actually understand the people we’re building for.” – Natalie Born Resources & Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliebornWebsite: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com Frameworks & Resources: https://setitonfire.coIf this episode challenged your perspective, share it with a leader or team working to build a healthier, more innovative culture. Don’t forget to explore Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation — your guide to building aligned teams and turning ideas into action.

  7. Apr 19

    28. Teaming and Innovation with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born continues the Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation series by diving into Chapter 2: Get Out of My Sandbox. Joined again by Moriah Hidden as the co-host, Natalie unpacks one of the biggest hidden barriers to innovation inside organization, ownership silos.While many organizations believe innovation belongs to a specific department or select group of “creative thinkers,” Natalie challenges this mindset by introducing the concept of the “sandbox.” When innovation is confined to a single team, it limits collaboration, creates resistance, and prevents organizations from reaching their full potential.This conversation explores how leaders can break down silos, invite cross-functional collaboration, and shift organizations from isolated idea ownership to shared responsibility. For organizations ready to move beyond resistance and into action, this episode offers a practical look at how to create a culture where everyone sees themselves as an innovator. [00:00 – 02:30] Continuing the Set It on Fire Series· Natalie introduces Chapter 2 and the concept behind “Get Out of My Sandbox”· Moriah returns as interviewer to guide the conversation· The focus shifts from foundation (Chapter 1) to organizational barriers [02:31 – 06:30] What Is the “Sandbox”?· How organizations unintentionally assign innovation to specific people or departments· Examples: innovation living with leadership, tech teams, or “creative” groups· Why this creates exclusivity around idea generation [06:31 – 10:30] The Problem with Silos· How “ownership” of ideas leads to resistance from other teams· Why employees hesitate to contribute outside their role or department· The connection between silos and stalled innovation [10:31 – 14:30] Moving from Resistance to Action· Why Chapter 2 is the “resistance chapter” in the innovation journey· How leaders can identify where resistance is showing up internally· Shifting mindset from protection to participation [14:31 – 18:30] Innovation as a Team Sport· Why innovation should not be independent—but interdependent· The importance of cross-functional collaboration· How diverse perspectives strengthen ideas and execution [18:31 – 22:30] Creating Shared Ownership· Encouraging every team member to see themselves as an innovator· Breaking the belief that only certain roles are “idea people”· How leaders can invite contribution across all levels [22:31 – 25:30] Leadership’s Role in Breaking Silos· Modeling openness to ideas from any department· Removing barriers that limit collaboration· Building systems and culture that support shared innovation [25:31 – 27:30] First Steps for Organizations· Identify where innovation is currently “owned”· Create opportunities for cross-team idea sharing· Reinforce that innovation is everyone’s responsibility Quotes “Innovation doesn’t belong to a department—it belongs to the organization.” – Natalie Born “When we protect our sandbox, we limit what’s possible.” – Natalie Born“The best ideas don’t come from one team—they come from collaboration.” – Natalie Born Connect with Natalie Born: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn Website: https://innovationmeetsleadership.com Book: Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation Book & Resources: https://setitonfire.co If this conversation challenged your perspective, share it with a leader or team that’s ready to break down silos and rethink how innovation really happens. 🎙️ Don’t forget to check out Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation—a guide for leaders ready to move from isolated ideas to organization-wide impact.Visit innovationmeetsleadership.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. 🔥 Don’t just get out of the box—break the box and set it on fire.

  8. Apr 5

    27. Vision, Mission, and Values with Natalie Born

    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, Natalie Born launches a special series exploring her book "Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation", starting with the foundational elements every innovative organization must build. Joined by Moriah as interviewer, Natalie explains why many companies struggle with innovation, not because they lack ideas, but because they lack clarity.Drawing from Chapter 1, Natalie outlines how vision, mission, and values create the structure that enables innovation to thrive. Without a clear vision to guide decisions, an evolving mission, and values that shape behavior, teams often operate in silos or hesitate to contribute ideas.The conversation highlights how leaders can empower teams by sharing the big picture, fostering psychological safety, and creating cultures where people feel confident offering ideas and learning from mistakes. For leaders who want consistent innovation, this episode provides a practical roadmap to strengthen the foundation first.[00:00 – 02:20] Launching the SeriesNatalie introduces the series and its goal of turning innovation into a practical field guide. Moriah joins to interview Natalie on the ideas behind the book.[02:21 – 06:00] The Foundation of InnovationWhy vision, mission, and values must come before innovation. Unclear foundations lead to hesitation and poor decision-making.[06:01 – 09:20] The Power of VisionA strong vision expands what employees believe is possible. When leaders withhold the big picture, teams act like renters instead of owners.[09:21 – 12:05] Mission That EvolvesVision is future-focused, mission reflects current work. Organizations should revisit their mission regularly to support growth and innovation.[12:06 – 15:40] Values as GuardrailsValues shape culture, hiring, and behavior. Natalie emphasizes hiring and firing by values and using them to guide decisions without limiting innovation.[15:41 – 19:23] Psychological SafetyInnovation requires environments where people feel safe sharing ideas. Fear and blame can cost organizations significant opportunities.[19:24 – 23:00] Building the Right CultureTeams hold back ideas when they sense risk. Leaders must model openness and encourage healthy discussion.[23:01 – 25:10] Advice to LeadersDon’t start with ideas. Start with the environment. Most organizations already have the talent—they need the conditions for ideas to surface.[25:11 – 26:30] First StepsAssess whether employees understand the vision, mission, and values. Create simple tools, like a one-page guide, to reinforce clarity.Quotes“Innovation doesn’t happen because leadership declares it, it happens when the environment allows ideas to surface.”“When leaders keep the big picture to themselves, people show up as renters instead of owners.”“Don’t start with ideas. Start with the environment that allows innovation to happen.”Guest LinksNatalie BornLinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieborn)Website: [https://innovationmeetsleadership.com](https://innovationmeetsleadership.com)Book: "Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation"Resources: [https://setitonfire.co](https://setitonfire.co)Call to ActionIf this resonated, leave a review and share with a leader ready to rethink innovation. Explore "Set It on Fire" at setitonfire.co and connect at innovationmeetsleadership.com.Don’t just get out of the box, break it and set it on fire.

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We exist to empower your innovation and leadership transformation journey. Collaboration, innovation, and transformation are not just concepts they are how business gets done.

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