It’s January 2017, and I’m excited about the future.
My immersion in the world of innovative start-up technology continues to inspire me.
As a mentor on UCL’s Technology Entrepreneur Program, an active member of the “IOD 99” and working with a variety of early stage businesses through both TKM Consultants and Permission Ventures, I’m lucky enough to meet some of the leading lights driving change in industries as varied as retail, health, advertising, finance, high tech and government.
The number of entrepreneurs embarking on social initiatives is also staggering and a real testament to the many millennials looking to make a positive impact on society.
Having been involved in incubators and pre-revenue start-ups since my early 20s, the biggest change that I’ve see happen in the last 5 years is the start-ups of today collaborate and share ideas, advice and resource in a way that Corporate employees are rarely able, despite their best intentions.
There’s a real sense of support and solidarity within these complex start-up networks, with many entrepreneur’s cheer leading from the side-lines and sharing in each other’s success. I see this and I’m energised to do the same.
Fostering and ultimately adopting this type of culture should be a priority for large brands and agencies across the globe. The question is, how can this be done quickly and effectively?
I firmly believe that developing an innovation strategy that focuses on both strategic and cultural repositioning of a business should be high on the agenda for all CEOs. By introducing start-up programs that sit alongside your employees, will both invigorate existing teams, but start to nurture a more open, inclusive, productive, driven and ultimately fun environment, as well as providing the latest innovation to support your business and retain future relevance.
By developing fit for purpose partnerships with existing start-up networks, whilst also bringing start-up teams in house through a new breed of “Hybrid Accelerator” (more on this in a future TKM blog) will not only tick your boxes around Innovation Strategy, it will start to drive the cultural change so necessary in many Global Brands today.
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If you’re thinking about your Innovation Strategy or looking at addressing your Cultural Challenges, we’d love to provide some initial thoughts and ideas to get the ball rolling.
Wishing you all an inspiring 2017.
Anil Noorani
Managing Partner, TKM Consultants