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What’s Next! with Tiffani Bova — Business
What’s Next! with Tiffani Bova

Welcome to the What’s Next! Podcast. I’ve met so many brilliant people as I traveled the globe and have had some fascinating conversations that I’ve wished had been recorded so I could share them with you – this podcast was a way for me to recreate those moments and let you in on some fantastic insights. My current conversations center around one objective: what’s next for companies and individuals as they look to innovate and grow. I hope these conversations inspire you as much as they have inspired me. Whether I am preparing for a keynote speech or writing for publications such as Harvard Business Review and Huffington Post, these are my go-to people. My goal with the What’s Next! podcast is to keep you thinking and to challenge you to think about What’s Next!

Latest Episodes:

Double-Clicking on Diversity and Inclusion with Dr. Tony Byers Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

Double-Clicking on Diversity and Inclusion

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I feature Dr. Tony Byers on the podcast. He is best known for leading Global Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) at Starbucks where was responsible for developing and leading the strategic direction for D&I to drive engagement, innovation, and business growth. He's an accomplished inclusion and change management specialist with 20 years of demonstrated experience leading change in large, multinational organizations.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… people looking for more information on the power of diversity and inclusion to drive growth in business.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

Tony begins our conversation by defining diversity simply as who you are (looks, background, etc). Inclusion, however, is a behavior driving people to be involved, respected, valued, and connected. In short, diversity is a noun and inclusion is a verb. These definitions not only encompass everything I (and my past guests have said all along) but is succinct, simple, and spot-on.

Tony's research found that leaders do not see the full spectrum of diversity, which results in a lack of innovation. There's a small chance — the innovation window — when organizations can positively affect their product growth. This window lives at the top of the S-Curve when a product has peaked. How companies uncover

WHAT I LOVE MOST… is the distinction between "D" and "d." Finding diversity goes beyond gender, race, ethnicity, age and other factors we cannot control. However, what we can control is our thinking styles and the ways in which we behave when working with people who are different in some way. I will continue to think about D&I as an all-encompassing term and will continue to talk about how D&I can help companies be better at growth, product development, and innovation.

Running time: 32:53

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What You DO NOT Know About Innovation with Dr. Linda Hill Jul 19, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

Dr. Linda Hill is my latest guest on the podcast. She is the Wallace Brett Dohm Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and the chair of the Leadership Initiative. She's is regarded as one of the top experts on leadership, is the co-author of Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation and Being the Boss. Dr. Hill is also the co-founder of Paradox Strategies and the co-creator of the Innovation Quotient. She was named by Thinkers50 as one of the top 10 management thinkers in the world in 2013 and received the Thinkers50 Innovation Award in 2015. Her TED Talk, How to Manage Our Collective Creativity, has gotten more than 2 million views.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… leaders and aspiring innovators.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

There is a misconception about leadership and leading innovation. Leadership is communicating a vision and inspiring others to fulfill that vision. Leading innovation is about creating an environment for people to be willing to go down that innovation path with you. The innovation path is paved with a greater purpose to do the hard, emotional, and intellectual work of innovating.

According to Dr. Hill, here are the 3 things we know about innovation:

1. Innovations are not the result of individuals having 'aha' moments but are a result of a diverse collaboration of people.

2. You cannot plan an innovation; it's a messy process of discovery riddled with error.

3. Innovations are a combination of ideas.

If you want to lead and inspire innovation, you must have a culture where people are willing to get their hands dirty but also feel like they are part of the process.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… This episode is a crash course in how to be a leader and leading change when you are trying to drive innovation. Yes, leading change is different from leading innovation - it's about creating an environment to let people co-create with you. Simply, let yourself breathe and give yourself and your team time to try things. Finally, I love Dr. Hill's idea that innovation is a voluntary act…a bottom-up journey and not the other way around.

Running time: 38:29

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Who's on Your Team? with Adam Grant Jul 05, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I speak with Adam Grant. Adam is the leading expert on finding motivation, meaning, living more generous and creative lives. He's been recognized as one of the world's 10 Most Influential Management Thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40. He's the author of three New York Times bestsellers: Give and Take, Originals, and Option B. Adam now hosts WorkLife, a TED original podcast after his TED talk got more than 12 million views.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… team members and team builders.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

Adam's research shows that interpersonal interactions that a difference in our success. At various points of our day humans operate in three realms: (1) a giver, or people who ask what can I do for you?, (2) a taker, someone who asks what can you do for me?, and (3) matchers, who follow the law of reciprocity. Yes, there are grey areas, but people usually fit in one of these categories.

One would think that placing a group of givers on a team would guarantee a culture of givers, but that's not the case. Yet, when you have a team of takers, more harm is done that good. Adam believes it's more important to screen out takers, leaving a good mix of givers and matchers.

Forming teams is more than finding similarities or matching "culture fit." Forming teams is an important skill that finds differences, diversity of thought, and identifies the holes in current teams.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Adam's work around being better teammates and better individuals in our home and work life is inspiring. He forces us to think if we are a giver, a taker, or a matcher. How are we adjusting each day to bring out best selves to our day? This is an important question to ponder and to try to implement in your life.

Running time: 26:27

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Leaders are Storytellers of Meaning and Purpose with Michael Chavez Jun 21, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

Michael Chavez is my latest guest on the podcast. Michael Chavez, CEO of Duke Corporate Education, part of Duke University, joined Duke in 2006 and held various leadership roles before becoming the CEO in 2016. Before Duke, Michael spent over five years as the founding member of a successful startup and was the Director and Senior Learning Consultant at Coca-Cola Company. Today, Michael's research focuses on how leaders can most effectively shape, institutionalize, and lead from a shared organizational purpose.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… leaders, especially those in the middle of an organization, who want to reconnect with their own sense of purpose so they can inspire those around them to do the same.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

Leadership and purpose are playing an even larger role than ever within a company looking to drive change. Because of this, a new kind of leader has emerged, the "center managers,' meaning they are at the center of the organization, managing up and managing down at the same time. These center managers face a tremendous amount of tension from all over the organization that they have to navigate.

Leaders are the storytellers of purpose and meaning. Purpose is what drives people to feel like they're part of something larger and more important than themselves. Michael believes, and I agree, that purpose is the stabilizing factor over initiatives or strategies which are disrupting the workforce faster than people can process the information.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…

Purpose galvanizes and motivates people to bring their best self every day. Leaders are the makers of meaning because they are the ones who inspire people to be more engaged, which leads to a much better workplace.

Running time: 37:11

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Diversity Drives Innovation with Frans Johansson Jun 07, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I speak with Frans Johannson, author, entrepreneur, and the CEO of The Medici Group. Frans has inspired readers worldwide with his ideas on leadership and success, innovation, and diversity. His debut book The Medici Effect has been called "one of the most insightful books on managing innovation."

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… Anyone looking to find ways to stimulate innovation.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

There are two main themes rising around the world today: Innovation and Diversity and Inclusion. That is not by accident. If you are able to combine concepts, perspectives, and people from different backgrounds, from different industries and fields, and from different cultures you can uncover new innovative ideas.

Don't get caught in the "we've always done it this way" trap or try to mimic another business model (the "Uber of X" or the AirBnB of Y"). Use your talents and ambition to try something new.

Keep producing. Put out another product if the first one fails. Keep going.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND INNOVATION?

Companies are starting to understand the value of diversity to their bottom line. It is no longer a 'nice to have.' Having an (internal) representation of your diverse customer base in your own organization is imperative if you want to understand the wants and needs of the customers you aspire to serve.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… In order to innovate, you need the best people – period. You will need those people to work together, collaborate regardless of race, gender, religion or

Running time: 37:22

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Personal website

The Medici Group

Rising Up Against the Diminisher with Liz Wiseman May 24, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I have Liz Wiseman on the podcast. Liz is the author of New York Times bestseller Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools, and Wall Street Journal bestseller Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work. Liz is also the CEO of The Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm and in 2017 she was #35 on the Thinkers50 list.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and build better teams.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

There are leaders who are "Diminishers," while others are "Mulitpliers". These 'Diminishers' tend to get less than half of people's intelligence or capability; whereas, these 'Multipliers' get all of it.

But that's not all, there are also "Accidental Diminishers" - these are really well-meaning people trying to be good bosses but yet having a diminishing effect on those around them.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Being aware of the kind of leader you are will help you improve the way you communicate, manage and inspire those around you to do their best work.

A PIECE OF ADVICE FOR LEADERS…

Allow diverse styles of thinking and personalities the space to thrive. Pay attention to who is quiet and who has an overpowering personality. Give those who need time to think, and process information the opportunity to speak as those who are quick on their feet. It's the multiple styles of contributing and leading that creates a great team, innovative ideas, and a healthy work environment.

Running time: 37:20

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Raising Customer Value in Your Business with Bill Macaitis May 10, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I have Bill Macaitis on the podcast. Bill served as the go-to-market executive for three of the fastest growing SaaS companies: Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce. He has achieved five exits and now he enjoys helping other companies achieve hyper-growth by leveraging his cumulative knowledge and helping build go-to-market playbooks and teams.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who is looking to turbocharge business performance.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Customer experience plays a bigger role than you think in your company's growth.

You have to start with two key things: 1) Understand the top reasons your company is recommended 2) Then….understand why it isn't.

Your brand is the sum of every customer touch point, which means everyone, whether they are a salesperson, a customer service agent, a marketer, or in an entirely different group – everyone must have a clear understanding of the value they bring to a customer's journey.

Once everyone is moving forward in the same direction, then it's a good time to discuss shared metrics and incentives.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… It's always helpful to put yourself in someone else's shoes. If you are in marketing, go on sales calls. If you are in sales, see what goes into creating the next lead generation campaign. Regardless of where you work in the company, listen in on customer service calls. When the entire company works together toward a shared goal, it will become more effective and the brand will be stronger for it.

A PIECE OF ADVICE FOR LEADERS… Raise the level of focus you have on connecting sales, marketing, and customer service. This is not a zero-sum game.

Running time: 32:45

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Growth Innovation for Existing Businesses with Alex Osterwalder Apr 26, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I speak with Alex Osterwalder. Alex is a speaker, the author of Business Model Generation, and is the co-founder of a software company. He is, according to his website, "Obsessed with making strategy innovation and entrepreneurship simple, practical, and applicable."

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who is looking to design an organization focused on innovating for growth.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

To understand the complexities of running a business, you can't view the company through the lenses of antiquated spectacles. You need more than that — you need a team who can see how all of these puzzle pieces fit together to create unity. One company. One shared vision. Once you have those glasses adjusted, you can imagine ways to reinvent the business model without creating chaos across the company.

If you do it right. Innovation goes further to improve the long-term health of a business more so than being efficient or sustaining what already works.

Growth innovation, which either will make the old business model obsolete or will be a catalyst to creating additions to your existing business model. Growth innovation goes beyond one's current industry classification.

By creating a mini-Silicon Valley within, existing businesses can grow without being distracted. They can invest in and test one hundred ideas, hoping that a handful will succeed. They can manage two separate portfolios: one for the present and one for the future. They can be both lean and agile while steady and conservative.

EXECS CAN IMPLEMENT THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS BY… using the right tools, having the willingness to question everything in your purview and look outside your industry for inspiration.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…

It is possible to take an existing business and add in a dash of the entrepreneurial spirit. It's possible to think in a new direction and to focus on growth innovation. The opportunity for success is there, and it's beyond analyzing your "vision."

Running time: 34:44

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One page website

How Big Companies Can Act Small with Tendayi Viki Apr 12, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I have Tendayi Viki on the podcast. He's an academic, the co-designer of Pearson's Product Lifecycle, which won the Best Innovation Program 2015 at the corporate Entrepreneur Awards in New York, and is on the shortlist for the Thinkers 50 Innovation Award. He's also a contributing writer for Forbes and is the author of The Corporate Startup: How Established Companies Can Create Successful Innovation Ecosystems.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… bigger companies who want to act like a startup.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… to act small, companies must first think about their innovation ambition.

The first step is to create an innovation thesis and understand your minimum viable ecosystem – maybe that means conducting a small workshop instead of jumping straight into a 2-day event. Second, become clear about key trends. Ask, who do we want to innovate for? Then, run through problems and challenges that could make life easier for your customer. Throughout the process, always measure everything against this question: Is this aligned with our innovation thesis?

As Tendayi says, "Figure out whether or not you have the right solution and then figure out whether or not you have the right business model."

WHAT I LOVE MOST… A reoccurring theme has swept over the podcast: embrace non-traditional diversity. Make sure the middle management, legal, and the MBAs are involved; build teams with diverse thinking styles; and get out of the ordinary environment to be creative.

Diverse teams create creative tension and avoid internal silos – all good things.

A PIECE OF ADVICE… create a business model canvas. This is an excellent strategy for visual learners (me!) to see what's written down and think through the idea.

What is the business model canvas? It's chart paper on the wall that walks you through customer segments and value proposition. Write one idea for each section on a post-it note and decide whether that idea is based on knowledge or an assumption.

Put a big red X through every assumption you don't have evidence for. Then, build up lean startup techniques to turn your assumptions into knowledge.

That's how you act small but still keep the customer top of mind.

Running time: 34:40

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How Habits Create Repeat Customers with Nir Eyal Mar 29, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I interview Nir Eyal, author of Hooked: How to Build Habit-forming Products. Nir is an entrepreneur and has taught at Stanford School of Business.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… companies who want to change consumer behavior.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…

Most of what you do throughout the day is because of a habit, the impulse to behave with little or no conscious thought. You choose Google as your search engine out of habit, don't you? If you are a business owner, you want to make sure that your product is what consumers use because of a habit. When you understand how to create habits, you can generate a tremendous amount of economic and customer value and keep customers coming back.

Of the four-steps that define a habit — trigger, action, reward, and investment — the investment phase is the most critical. It is in this phase where the company gets the user to do something that increases the likelihood of returning.

How do you get repeat customers?

It is no longer about traditional advertising. It is more about exposure. Exposure has to be a new and exciting user experience that understands the customers' wants and needs.

IF YOU WANT TO START UNDERSTANDING YOUR CUSTOMER'S PSYCHOLOGY… understand their emotional triggers.

Every customer has a pain point usually associated with a negative emotion, like fear, loneliness, uncertainty, or boredom. Your product has to scratch that user itch and alleviate it through every successive interaction.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…

Hooked is such a masterful concept. It is all about getting the consumer to want more about what you have, and Nir does this so well.

Running time: 29:38

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