Innovation Capital

The Association was delighted to have Curtis Lefrandt visit from London to speak on Innovation Capital. Published by Harvard Business Review, Lefrandt’s book Innovation Capital: How to Compete and Win Like the World’s Most Innovative Leaders features case studies with the superstars who made the list of the top 25 people in the world with the most innovation capital – including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Indra Nooyi.

Great leaders of innovation know that creativity is not enough. They succeed not only on the basis of their ideas, but because they have the vision, reputation, and networks to win the backing needed to commercialize them. It turns out that this quality–called “innovation capital”- is measurably more important for innovation than just being creative. Lefrandt will present the results of research and interviews showing the exceptional way in which the best intra- and entrepreneurs are able to gain buy-in for their ideas, and how this skill can be learned.

Lefrandt is the CEO and cofounder of the Innovator’s DNA, a consultancy that enables organizations to build a culture of innovation. He works with a range of clients on innovation strategy, capability and training, including AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, United Technologies, Coca-Cola and Caterpillar.