The Uncommonly
Pragmatic Blog
Leadership
Four Lessons Startups Can Find In Big Companies
It is not hard to beat up on big companies when it comes to innovation — and I’ve got plenty of proof, after two decades as one of those people delivering change from the inside of tough, conservative, regulated businesses. Big companies are bureaucratic. They are slow and complex. They get bogged down in how-things-have-always-been-…
How Corporate Managers Smother New Tech Adoption
One of the most fun and inspiring endeavors I’ve undertaken in my post-corporate life has been to advise select early-stage companies, portfolio managers and accelerators. Startups need lots of marketing advice, especially early on when there may not be a CMO on board. As a result, my work often involves defining audience targeting strategy and…
Is Your Next Innovation Underfunded?
One afternoon on the eve of the Great Recession, I was a panelist at an innovation and design event in New York City. The timing was ironic, to say the least. I can still remember the climate of doom that day and throughout Fall 2007. There was lots of whispering in the hallways of Corporate…
Purpose Is Your Innovation Catapult
Innovators who embrace the role of purpose in their work stand a greater shot at success. Having a belief stemming from a real problem that you passionately want to solve says, “I see something that needs to change, and I am going to change it.” Aligning your core belief to a real problem sets the…
11 Resolutions for Women Entrepreneurs
Since publishing The Change Maker’s Playbook: How to Seek, Seed and Scale Innovation In Any Company, I have had the opportunity to speak about my passion — moving ideas to execution — with many incredible women who are making their mark on the world. I am more inspired than ever to help as a guide, advisor…
Use Your Superpower
Before the holiday champagne starts to flow, the calendar fills with festivities, and you pack up and head off to rest and reenergize before the start of the new year, I want to leave you with a powerful piece of advice from all of the change makers I know, those featured in The Change Maker’s…
Anticipate, Adapt, Listen
The week’s big NYC headline was Amazon’s decision to establish a Queens headquarters. What a difference a decade makes. During my days as a Long Island City-based Citibanker, friends saw being based there as a form of exile, even though the views were (and still are) are far superior to those of anyone working in…
Tips on Influence for Change Makers
I recently taped this Facebook Live interview on the Human Intelligence channel to talk about influence, and how the ability to win people over or just get them to consider a viewpoint you feel matters makes a difference. For change makers, who are trying to influence a diverse peer group to invest personal or hard-dollar…
From the Human Intelligence Series: Seeking Innovation
Click the link below to access my recent podcast interview with Jennifer Gardner at AICPA. Our conversation centered on seeking innovation. We talked about Seeking, the first phase of the Seek, Seed, Scale methodology presented in my upcoming book. Discovery is at the heart of innovation, and leaders can start by listening and observing clients…
Reframing Metrics to Enable Innovation
According to the Gartner 2018 CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey, respondents who believe their company is an “innovation pioneer” reached a high last year of 41 percent, up from 27 percent in 2013. Responders are taking some measure of credit for moving their organizations ahead of competitors in the race for growth and relevance….
Amy is a leader who is demanding and relentless in the pursuit of the great.
In The Change Maker’s Playbook she shares her philosophy and methods to transform ‘out-there’ ideas into new real world business models that can change businesses’ growth trajectories and how brands engage with their customers.
Kahina Van Dyke
Global Head, Digital Channels & Client Data Analytics; Standard Chartered Bank Board Member, Progressive Insurance