Change management— how to innovate within the construct of large institutions and corporations that are not able to be nimble and respond to the rapid changes happening in the market.
The rise of food incubators and accelerators– like Chobani, Barilla, ACCEL Foods, FOOD-X, and the proliferation of investment funds for new brands.
Building diverse networks across the supply chain–including farms, aggregators, distributors, buyers, etc.
Understanding demand and market gaps.
“Can you smell what I see?” This interactive session will reveal some of today’s most exciting macro-trends including how scent and taste experiences are reinventing future products. As Global Marketing & Branding Director for IFF Flavors group, Karen Stanton plays an instrumental role in identifying new growth opportunities, designing innovation pathways, and partnering with industry leaders in the development of future foresights.
She will then lead an interactive brainstorming activity to help you translate these trends into strategic, sustainable innovation in action for your company.
Leadership Before Innovation – Four Key Ingredients Steph Barry, Managing Director, Global Market Development, Solatube International, Inc.
Everyone agrees that successful innovation goes beyond new ideas. It is the ability to continuously generate growth in a fast-changing, dispersed, competitive, and complex global marketplace. Studies show that only 10-15% of ‘innovation’ programs are effective long term – instead we see one-hit wonders, base hits, the occasional home run. Innovation Leadership doesn’t just manage; they foster sustainable and successful innovation by creating a culture in which new ideas thrive and people deliver.
Visionary vs. Sharing A Vision: Innovation leaders create a vision with purpose where people feel secure, confident, see themselves in where you are going and their creativity comes out.
Diversity vs. Inclusion: Beyond words, the Innovation Leader creates an environment that respects and harnesses the richness of different perspectives and experiences bringing about the best possible outcome.
‘In’ vs Integrity: Innovation leadership leaves ego, arrogance and short-term results at the door favoring honor, duty and sustainable organizational objectives to yield higher returns.
Steph Barry will draw on her own experience as an impactful leader in large, complex organizations. She will share insights, case examples, and how-to’s as well as answer your questions.
Panel: Critical Enablers That Must Be Carefully Managed – Process and Culture Herman So, Vice President, Kent Corporation; Dennis Reimer, CEO, Midwest Specialty Products; and Mary Witte, Surpless Dunn & Co. Inc.
You can develop the best innovation strategy in the world, and it will fail if people aren’t on board. At the same time, buy-in takes more than just telling folks what to do. Resistance and fear must be eased, incentives and support must be offered. Dennis Reimer believes in empowering employees to be engaged so they provide highly responsive, relationship-oriented customer care. Herman So guides corporate-wide innovation efforts and resource allocation recommendations to accelerate growth across all Kent subsidiaries. Mary Witte has a broad background in manufacturing combined with exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. In this interactive Q&A session, Dennis, Herman and Mary will share what works (and what does not) to motivate and get the best from people. Bring your questions – and your headaches; Dennis, Herman and Mary will advise.
He will also discuss tools, such as data analytics, and strategies that provide greater insight into buyer needs and trends. Amazon’s impact reaches far and wide and its influence is only getting bigger. If you don’t have an Amazon strategy, you’re not only missing growth opportunities – you’re risking obsolescence.
The importance of creating insight-led business propositions (and why insight needs a seat at the table).
She will also offer advice and examples of how to bring everything together and know whether or not you’ve found the right opportunities for your business.