Innovation Storytellers

Susan Lindner
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Did you ever wonder how an innovation got to its finish line? How innovators saw the future, made a product, and created change – in our world and in their companies? I did. Innovation Storytellers invites changemakers to describe how they created their innovation and just as important – THE STORIES – that made us fall in love with them. Come learn how great innovations need great stories to make them move around the world and how to become a better storyteller in the process. I'm Susan Lindner, the Innovation Storyteller. But I wasn't always. I've been a wannabe revolutionary, an epidemiologist at the CDC and an AIDS educator in the brothels of Thailand helping to turn former sex workers into entrepreneurs. Trained as an anthropologist and the Founder of Emerging Media, I've spent the last twenty years working with innovators from 60+ countries. Ranging from cutting edge startups to Fortune 100 companies like GE, Corning, Citi, Olayan, and nine foreign governments, helping their leaders to tell their stories and teaching them how to become incredible advocates for their innovations. Great innovation stories make change possible. They let us step into a future we can't see yet. I started this podcast to shine a light on our generation of great innovators, to learn how they brought their innovation to life and the stories they told to bring them to the world.

  1. 6D AGO

    How Are You Answering the Big 4 Questions, BEFORE You Tell Your Story?

    In this solo episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I wanted to pause the constant conversation around AI capability and talk about something far more human. I'm talking about empathy.  Everywhere I look, organizations are racing to deploy AI faster, automate more workflows, and chase productivity gains before competitors pull ahead. But behind every rollout, every implementation plan, and every AI strategy deck are real people trying to process what all of this change means for them. I share why I believe empathy has quietly become one of the most valuable strategic skills in business today. From employees being asked to trust systems they barely understand, to customers interacting with experiences that feel increasingly transactional and hollow, we may be reaching a point where the human side of innovation matters more than ever.  I also reflect on why companies like Anthropic are actively hiring storytellers at premium salaries, despite building some of the most advanced AI systems in the world. Even the companies creating the technology understand that human connection still cannot be automated. Throughout this episode, I unpack the emotional reality of AI adoption inside organizations. Because when leaders ask teams to adopt new tools, they are often asking people to surrender something deeply personal, their mastery. For employees who built careers around expertise, predictable systems, and trusted workflows, AI can create anxiety, uncertainty, and even a sense of professional disorientation. That resistance to adoption is rarely laziness or stubbornness. More often, it is self-preservation. I also explore why so many AI initiatives stall despite strong ROI projections and technically successful deployments. The missing ingredient is often emotional buy-in. If people do not understand the why behind the transformation, they disengage. Quietly. Subtly. They retreat to old systems, familiar habits, and predictable routines. And that is where empathy becomes the bridge between innovation and actual adoption. This conversation is ultimately about humanizing AI strategy before organizations accidentally create workplaces that feel colder, faster, and more disconnected. Because while AI may transform workflows, data analysis, and decision-making, trust is still built person to person. I also share practical reflections on how leaders can make AI rollouts feel less intimidating, how to communicate change without alienating teams, and why slowing down long enough to support people emotionally may actually accelerate long-term innovation success. If your organization is currently rolling out AI tools, navigating change management, or struggling with adoption fatigue, this episode will probably feel very familiar. I would love to hear your perspective too. Are you seeing AI bring people together inside your organization, or quietly pushing them further apart?

    9 min

  2. MAY 12

    How Discomfort Is the Human Factor Driving Innovation

    How do great companies stay distinctive when everything around them is pushing them toward sameness? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Anthony Reeves, speaker, consultant, and author of Eat the Donkey: Why Great Companies Embrace Discomfort, for a conversation about creativity, brand identity, AI, and why discomfort may be one of the most valuable forces in innovation. Anthony shares how growing up in the Australian outback shaped his understanding of progress, boredom, resilience, and the creative power of empty space. From LVMH and Amazon to WPP, Nike, Jaguar, Kohler, and Southwest Airlines, he explains why the strongest brands know when to evolve and when to protect what made them matter in the first place. The conversation also moves to the tension leaders face in the age of AI. As companies chase efficiency, optimization, and automation, Anthony warns that many risk becoming average by design. We discuss why human creativity, curiosity, and distinctiveness matter even more as technology pulls everyone toward the same answers. This is a conversation about brand courage, creative restlessness, and the difference between useful discomfort and unsafe pressure. How can companies use AI without losing the very human qualities that make them worth choosing? Listen in, and share your thoughts.

    44 min

  3. MAY 5

    256: How R&D Leaders Source Trends to Power Innovation

    What does it really take to turn a great idea into something that works in the real world? In this episode, I sit down with Kofi Gyasi, Founder and CEO of NotedSource, and Joia Spooner-Fleming, an innovation consultant with deep experience at companies like P&G and SharkNinja, to unpack what lies behind successful innovation.  We explore why research and validation are often the difference between ideas that scale and those that quietly disappear. From rooftop laundry lessons in Mexico City to product design decisions shaped by culture and human behavior, this conversation brings innovation back to something many teams overlook: understanding the people you are building for. We also get into the mechanics of how innovation actually happens inside large organizations today. Kofi shares how NotedSource is helping companies connect with external experts and accelerate decision-making using AI. At the same time, Joia reflects on the reality of working at speed in environments where every decision carries commercial risk. Together, they highlight a tension many leaders will recognize: the need to move fast while still making informed, evidence-based choices.  What stood out for me was the shift in mindset that both guests emphasized. Open innovation is not about tools alone. It starts with a willingness to look beyond your own organization, challenge assumptions, and invite new perspectives into the process. Whether you are building new products, entering new markets, or simply trying to avoid costly mistakes, the ability to combine human insight with emerging technologies is becoming a defining advantage. So, as innovation becomes faster, more complex, and increasingly driven by AI, are we asking the right questions and listening closely enough to the answers?

    48 min

  4. APR 28

    Are You Crushing Open Innovation?

    What does it really take for large organizations to keep innovating when speed, disruption, and AI are changing the rules faster than ever before? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I'm joined by two returning guests whose work has shaped how many leaders think about innovation inside large organizations: Dr. Diana Joseph, CEO of the Corporate Accelerator Forum, and Dan Toma, co-author of The Corporate Startup and Innovation Accounting. Together, they return to discuss their new book, Open Innovation Works, and why open innovation has become a business necessity rather than a nice idea for the future. We unpack why so many organizations struggle to innovate once they grow beyond their original breakthrough, and why the answer often lies outside the four walls of the business. From startup accelerators and incubators to university partnerships and corporate venture capital, Diana and Dan explain how companies can choose the right innovation vehicle rather than simply copying competitors. They also explain why alignment within the organization is often harder than working with startups. The conversation also takes a timely turn toward AI, where both guests challenge the growing trend of creating isolated "AI departments." Instead, they argue that AI should be treated like any other business tool, embedded across every function rather than locked inside another silo. It is a practical, honest discussion about why so many AI projects fail, what leaders are getting wrong, and how innovation teams can stay relevant by tying their work directly to business growth and measurable outcomes. We also explore real-world examples from companies like Illumina and the lessons learned from cautionary tales like Borders and Amazon. At the center of it all is one simple question: if your organization cannot see the future clearly, who can help you borrow that vision? If you're leading innovation, navigating AI adoption, or trying to prove the ROI of transformation inside your business, this episode offers frameworks, perspective, and practical advice you can start using tomorrow. How is your organization making sure it doesn't lose sight of what comes next?

    42 min

  5. APR 21

    Innovation or Elimination — the new book by Itai Green

    What happens when innovation shifts from a strategic advantage to a matter of survival? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Itai Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Innovation & Strategy and author of Innovation or Elimination. With more than two decades of experience connecting global corporations with startups, Itai brings a direct and unfiltered perspective on why so many organizations struggle to stay relevant and what it actually takes to change that trajectory. Our conversation moves beyond theory and into the real mechanics of innovation. Itai challenges the long-standing belief that companies can rely solely on internal R&D, arguing that speed, collaboration, and openness now define success. He explains why open innovation is no longer optional, how corporate mindset often becomes the biggest barrier, and why leaders must rethink everything from decision-making speed to how they measure return on investment.  Along the way, he shares candid insights on the cultural tension between startups and enterprises, the risks of ego-driven leadership, and why many innovation efforts fail before they even begin. We also explore the practical side of making innovation work at scale. From running effective pilots and selecting the right startup partners to understanding when to build internally versus collaborate externally, Itai offers a clear view into what separates companies that evolve from those that quietly fade away. His perspective on timing, trust, and execution highlights a deeper truth: that innovation is less about ideas and more about how organizations choose to act on them. So where does this leave today's leaders, especially in a world shaped by rapid advances in AI and constant disruption? And as Itai suggests, if innovation is now the price of survival, how prepared are most organizations to pay it?

    43 min

  6. APR 14

    How Buffalo Construction and O3XO Are Building Better with AI

    What does real AI implementation actually look like when the hype fades, and the hard work begins? In this episode of Innovation Storytellers, I sit down with Brett Norton, President of Buffalo Construction, and Mike Gadsby, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at O3XO, for a candid conversation about what it takes to move AI from curiosity to business impact. This is not a discussion about vague transformation promises or shiny tools looking for a problem. It is a practical story about how one construction company partnered with an AI-focused innovation team to rethink workflows, identify friction points, and build a smarter path forward. Mike shares how O3XO approaches AI through a human-centered lens, starting with business goals, operational pain points, and the people closest to the work. Brett brings that thinking into the real world of construction, where teams are busy, systems are fragmented, and change only sticks when it clearly makes people better at what they already do. Together, they unpack how workshops, use case prioritization, and an internal AI council helped Buffalo move beyond surface-level experimentation and start applying AI in ways that improved estimating, accelerated learning, and opened new capacity across the business. What makes this conversation stand out is its honesty. Brett and Mike talk openly about skepticism, messy data, cultural resistance, and the challenge of making time for innovation when everyone is already stretched. But they also show what happens when leaders focus on small wins, practical outcomes, and involving the right people early. The result was not just faster processes, but stronger engagement, better knowledge sharing, and a clearer story for clients about how technology can strengthen execution. We also step back and look at the bigger picture, from the democratization of knowledge to the future of work, leadership, and community in an AI-powered world. If you are tired of hearing abstract claims about AI and want to hear how real companies are actually making it work, this episode will give you a much more useful place to start.

    50 min

  7. APR 7

    How Authenticity Elevates Leadership Storytelling

    How do you tell a story that people actually believe, trust, and remember long after the meeting ends? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Neal Foard, Founder of Storyfire, to explore what separates a good idea from one that truly lands. Neal brings decades of experience from the world of advertising, where he created campaigns for brands like Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony, and shares how storytelling is never just about the words you say. It is about the experience you create, the signals you send, and the way you make people feel before, during, and after every interaction. Our conversation moves beyond the traditional storytelling frameworks and into something far more human. Neal challenges the idea that leaders need to position themselves as heroes, arguing instead that credibility is built through humility, generosity, and the ability to elevate others. We also unpack the role of authenticity in leadership, especially at a time when executives are being asked to communicate complex, often uncomfortable narratives about AI, change, and the future of work. What stood out most is Neal's belief that storytelling is not a moment; it is a continuous presence. From the way you prepare a room to the follow-up message you send afterward, every detail contributes to the story people tell themselves about you. And in a world shaped by automation and digital interactions, that human layer has never been more valuable. So as you think about your next presentation, your next pitch, or even your next internal conversation, ask yourself this: What story are you really telling when no one is listening to your words?

    39 min

  8. MAR 31

    How to Scale Innovation Using a Repeatable Growth Playbook CFOs Love

    What does it take to turn innovation from a string of promising pilots into a repeatable growth engine that finance leaders can actually believe in? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Alice Ponti, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Strategy at VentureFuel, to talk about why so many innovation teams are being restructured, absorbed into the business, or quietly shut down altogether. Drawing on leadership roles at L'Oréal, Diageo, AB InBev, and now at VentureFuel, Alice shares what she has learned about building systems that connect strategy, governance, execution, and adoption to deliver measurable business value. Our conversation examines the growing pressure on innovators to speak the CFO's language and prove their relevance through repeatable, sustainable growth. Alice explains why great ideas alone are never enough, why innovation fails when teams keep reinventing the wheel, and how the strongest organizations build playbooks that can scale across markets, functions, and product categories. She also reflects on the importance of bringing R&D and marketing together early, so technical brilliance can be translated into products people actually want. We discuss AI, and why so many organizations are now repeating the same failure patterns that have haunted corporate innovation for years. Alice offers a sharp view on why most AI pilots stall, what leaders should actually be measuring, and how companies can move faster from experimentation to enterprise adoption. This is a conversation about discipline, storytelling, execution, and the very real opportunity for innovators to reclaim their place by showing how their work drives growth in terms that the wider business can respect. If you care about the future of innovation, the role of AI in scaling ideas, and what it really takes to earn support from the people holding the budget, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

    44 min
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5
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About

Did you ever wonder how an innovation got to its finish line? How innovators saw the future, made a product, and created change – in our world and in their companies? I did. Innovation Storytellers invites changemakers to describe how they created their innovation and just as important – THE STORIES – that made us fall in love with them. Come learn how great innovations need great stories to make them move around the world and how to become a better storyteller in the process. I'm Susan Lindner, the Innovation Storyteller. But I wasn't always. I've been a wannabe revolutionary, an epidemiologist at the CDC and an AIDS educator in the brothels of Thailand helping to turn former sex workers into entrepreneurs. Trained as an anthropologist and the Founder of Emerging Media, I've spent the last twenty years working with innovators from 60+ countries. Ranging from cutting edge startups to Fortune 100 companies like GE, Corning, Citi, Olayan, and nine foreign governments, helping their leaders to tell their stories and teaching them how to become incredible advocates for their innovations. Great innovation stories make change possible. They let us step into a future we can't see yet. I started this podcast to shine a light on our generation of great innovators, to learn how they brought their innovation to life and the stories they told to bring them to the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Lindner
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Susan Lindner 2021
  • Show Website
    Innovation Storytellers

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