Navi Radjou, an innovation and leadership strategist based in Silicon Valley is the co-author of the bestselling book, “Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth”. His book was touted by the Economist as “the most comprehensive book yet to appear on the subject”. Let’s hear from Navi at EMC’s GRIP event.
“Innovation is a major directive at corporations worldwide. But how do you drive innovation and growth as the global business landscape becomes increasingly unpredictable and diverse? The answer: jugaad. Jugaad is a Hindi word meaning an improvised solution born from ingenuity and cleverness (think of it as the “MacGyver” spirit). Jugaad is the secret formula of successful grassroots entrepreneurs in emerging markets such as India, Africa, China, and Brazil who are able to innovate faster, better, and cheaper in the midst of high complexity. For the first time in the U.S., you will learn how to apply the frugal and flexible principles of jugaad in your own organization to accelerate growth and outperform competition.
The GrassRoots Innovation Program (GRIP) is a Bay-area series of seminars, lectures and panel discussions featuring well-respected leaders & innovators from a diverse set of industries and careers. Speakers discuss their leadership styles, personal visions, and strategies for success while reflecting on their views around leadership and innovation. GRIP is sponsored by EMC, but attendance at GRIP events is open to anyone regardless of employment status or company affiliation.
Women’s leadership is at an exciting turning point in history. Around the world, women are stepping into positions of growing power and influence in business, politics and society. As they grow in stature many become women of influence committed to supporting the next wave of leaders.
One such woman is Linda Alepin, a successful corporate executive with over 30 years experience in high tech. She epitomizes a woman of influence having served in senior positions as an officer of a Fortune 200 IT company, CEO and Founder of an early Internet start-up, and now as Founding Director Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN). Linda formed the network in 2004 which has trained 160 women leaders from more than 40 countries and various sectors of society and encouraged them to transform their work into breakthrough global projects.
So what is Global Women’s Leadership Network ? First I have to admit I am a graduate and while I was clearly going down the leadership path, this community was transformational, providing new tools allowing me to rise to new heights and levels of influence. They taught me three basics: 1) to raise my vision make it bigger; 2) imagine the journey from the top of the mountain not from the bottom, and most importantly and; 3) we are a global community and through our network collectively we have more power and influence than any of us have alone. While it sounds simple, it isn’t. Learning new skills is like building muscles, developing them and keeping them strong through exercise and diet.
GWLN is dedicated to igniting a new future for humanity by liberating women leaders around the world. They do this through capacity building activities, such as education, and also building a network of support among leaders from many countries. Their projects cover wide areas of involvement including, but not limited to, environmental sustainability, health care, economic development, food security, gender equality and human rights. Simply stated, Global Women’s Leadership Network GWLN exists to help women step out of survival and dependence into their inherent power, enabling the transformation of world conditions – woman by woman. Their policy is to work for women, in partnership with individuals, NGOs and corporations, to create an environment conducive to broad participation for major social change around the world.
GWLN Graduation
Join me as I catch up with Linda by viewing this video I recorded at EMC’s Leadership & Innovation event on Jan 24th.
Keep the door open to new possibilities, and let the light of innovation shine through. That’s what I did last week, the first full week of 2013. Recharged after time off, I was joined by friends and colleagues as we started the New Year ready for action. Arriving in Boston on Sunday evening, I interspersed corporate meetings with connections to innovators. Some of the most interesting interactions I enjoyed are illustrated by the following three examples.
First, in November I partnered with MassChallange to showcase Boston startups at EMC’s first corporate Innovation Market. Johnny Monsarrat, Founder and CEO Hard Data Factory, was representing his startup. Johnny, a serial innovator turned entrepreneur caught up with me at the Prudential Center in Boston on 1/8/2013 to demo the world’s largest business high tech calendar while selling me on his branding ideas. You never know where the next big idea will come from. Check out Johnny’s vision at EMC’s Innovation Market.
Second, Tom Ward and Jay Mixter, co-founders Twyxter. They met me for breakfast in Framingham to demo their new social media platform. Their passion for innovation is equal to their vision to foster collaboration, productivity and loyalty among employees. The Twyxter community enables corporate employees to make new connections, lead more sustainable lives, and encourages charitable donations. Essentially employees sell, rent, or share “stuff” like books, bikes, couches and music instruments on their platform. Through this community they create social interactions among people who work together which fosters new and stronger personal and working relationships across the corporation. One of the things I liked most was the ability to donate the proceeds from these trades to charity. What a great way to clean out your closet while giving back.
Tom Ward, Twyxter CEO
Jay Mixter, Twyxter COO
My last stop before my 7:00 AM flight home was the MassChallange New Year’s party. Yes, you can celebrate the New Year on Jan 10th, and Chinese New Year in Feb (if you plan ahead). A little about Masschallange whose mission is to catalyze a startup renaissance. They do this by connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch and succeed immediately. Their primary activities include running an annual global accelerator program and startup competition, documenting and organizing key resources, and organizing training and networking events.
WIth the week ending on a high note I am looking forward to next week when I head back to Boston where I will meet with Robert Buderi, Founder and Editor in Chief of Xconomy, and also lecture at WPI’s School of Business class titled Global Entrepreneurship: The Israeli Phenomenon.
Innovation Station 