Shows
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Pulling into Port: Lessons Learned and Looking ForwardPanel discussion with Portia Yarborough, Chief Science and Sustainability Officer, Michelman, Nici Bush, Chief Innovation, Science, and Technology Officer, Mars, and Robert Fast, CEO, Fast Technology Advisors
Moderator: Lee Green, Executive Director, IRI
Leading IRI members look back on the day and highlight some of the key takeaways from the sessions and discussions, across key themes:
– Impact of AI
– Finding transformational opportunities
– Building resilience in the face of uncertainty
They’ll reflect and discuss some of the key next steps to put into action back at home to place you in the best position...
2025-12-1723 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Preparing Your New Value ChainFacilitator: Jared Forman, Principal, Forvis Mazars, Rahim Rahim, Director, Forvis Mazars, and Hasan Agha, Managing Director and Chief Architect, ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
Discuss the steps you have taken to cultivate new value chain partners — and those you believe you’ll need to take in the future — as well as how to develop the capabilities and technologies that your organization will need in order to work with them effectively.
2025-12-1727 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Exploring New Lands: Breaking Down Industry Boundaries and Building New Value ChainsPanel discussion with Steven Montgomery, R&D Vice President, Bioindustrials, Cargill and Zara Summers, Chief Strategy Officer, LanzaTech
Moderator: Sean Ammirati, CEO and Co-Founder, Growth Signals
Many industries are going through transitions that mean the customers, partners, and suppliers of tomorrow may not be the same as those of today: Auto OEMs are working with electric utilities, polymer makers with waste management firms, and CPGs with biotechs. This session looks at how to identify and engage the new value chain partners you will need in the future.
2025-12-1739 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Strategic Approaches to Resiliency in Uncertain TimesFacilitator: Lou Gritzo, Chief Science Officer, FM
We are navigating a complex landscape where growth, sustainability, and supply chain resilience must coexist. This session invites you to share how you’re adapting your strategies and guiding your teams through uncertainty, regulatory shifts, and stakeholder demands. Together, we’ll explore emerging gaps and practical tools to strengthen decision-making and future-proof operations.
2025-12-1727 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Keeping the Ship in Order: Sustainability and Supply Chains TodayPanel discussion with Jose Miguel Bejarano, Innovation Development Lead, Siemens Energy, and Judodine Nichols, Chief Technology Officer, Principal Mineral
Moderator: Amy Thorn, CEO, Supply Chain Leaders in Action
Innovation teams have been challenged to not only deliver on growth drivers, but also to support sustainability efforts. On top of this, global trade disruptions have given them another urgent reason to further rethink how their firms source materials, components, and energy — a trend that’s now shifted into overdrive this year. This session explores how leaders can incorporate sustainability and supply chain into their processes and frameworks in this...
2025-12-1750 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: How to Build the Workforce of the FutureFacilitator: Seif Hagag, Enterprise Account Manager, Uncountable
Discuss your team-building strategies and brainstorm on how to develop the skills, attributes, and experiences that your teams will need to flourish in the future.
2025-12-1729 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Preparing the Crew: Planning Your Future Workforce in the Age of AIFireside chat with Jeff Goldman, Vice President, Enterprise Data Science, Procter & Gamble and Katie Trauth Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder, Narratize
AI and other disruptive trends are challenging leaders to re-think the way they staff, build, and train their teams. Still, the robots aren’t ready to replace us all just yet, which means for the foreseeable future our teams will be made up of humans working with AI. Jeff Goldman will discuss the joint study between Harvard and Procter & Gamble, looking at the impacts of AI on collaboration, outlined in The Cybernetic Teammate: A Field Experiment on Generative AI...
2025-12-1740 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Spotting Rough Seas – and How You’ll Get Through ThemFacilitator: Mike Holman, Senior Content Director, IRI
This working session will help attendees to explore learnings from Andrea Kates’ keynote and begin to think through how to apply them in their organization. In light of the insights and 5-step model from the keynote, where do you see the biggest challenges for your organization right now — and where do you believe you need to go next?
2025-12-1711 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIITF 25 Session: Taking the Helm: From Stuck to Scale: The New Playbook for Corporate InnovationOpening Keynote with Andrea Kates, Corporate Growth Strategist & Former Tech CEO
In an era of unprecedented uncertainty, the greatest risk isn’t failing to innovate—it’s failing to scale innovation. Too many high-potential ventures die on the vine. We’re overwhelmed by the opportunities to innovate, and challenged by the pressure to get ahead of risks we can’t control. We need to be resilient. We need to navigate the chaos and uncertainty. We need to lead with a completely different mindset. We need to get talent on board. We need to collaborate in ways we’ve never done bef...
2025-12-1728 min
Innovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Beyond the AI Pilot: Three Trends R&D Leaders Must Know to Prepare for 2026In this episode, host Lee Green talks with Sean Amirati of Growth Signals about three trends R&D leaders should prepare for in 2026: proof-of-work artifacts that both humans and agents can use, the AI collaboration stack, and agentic workflows (including co-scientist systems). They discuss moving beyond pilots to deliver real value, strategies for workforce adoption and culture change, and practical ways to evaluate and scale AI-driven innovation within R&D.
2025-11-2054 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Breaking Through the Valley of Death: A Practical Guide for R&D Leaders on Turning Technical Success into Commercial RealityThis IRI podcast episode features Colin Scott of Innventure discussing how R&D leaders can reduce risk, be highly selective, and decide when to stop projects before committing major resources.
Colin explains the needs‑led approach, critical factor assessment, and prioritization techniques, and shares the PureCycle case as an example of successful external commercialization. He closes with a mindset shift: let the market problem, not the technology, drive your decisions.
2025-11-1925 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Managing Substances of Concern: A Smarter Approach to Sustainable InnovationIn this episode Lee Green interviews Lori Austino, DuPont’s global technology leader, about how the company defines and manages substances of concern. Lori explains the shift from acute to chronic toxicants, the development of internal standards and substance lists, and the principles that guide existing products versus new innovations.
She reviews practical tools, alternatives assessment methods, and a workbook to support R&D decisions, and discusses challenges around supplier disclosure, waste streams, circularity, and avoiding regrettable substitutions. The episode closes with next steps for integrating sustainability into strategic value and ongoing cross-functional collaboration.
Link to...
2025-09-2549 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Accelerating Product Development: The Industrial Shift to AI/ML-Driven FormulationIn this discussion, we explore the fast-changing role of modeling and machine learning in formulation design, shifting from a supportive tool to a driving force of innovation. Once a “nice to have,” computational modeling is now reducing reliance on costly, time-intensive experiments and accelerating product development across industries, from consumer goods to aerospace and semiconductors. We’ll highlight how advances in AI/ML and physics-based simulations are helping researchers manage the growing complexity of real-world formulations, bridging the gap between theory and commercial products. Whether you’re a formulation scientist, data enthusiast, or R&D leader, this session sheds light on...
2025-09-1852 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Co-Innovation at the Edge: Powering AI-Driven Data Centers Through Trust and PartnershipJoin us for an insightful conversation with Thomas Steen, CTO of Nortek Data Center Cooling, as he shares his journey from aerospace engineering to the world of data centers. Discover the challenges and innovations in cooling technologies that are essential for operating today’s massive data centers, vital for AI advancements. Learn about Nortek's pioneering approach to efficiently managing power and water resources, essential to the future of sustainable and scalable data centers. Whether you're a scientist, engineer, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of data center infrastructure and what lies ahead.
2025-07-2434 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Reinventing R&D Knowledge Access & Management with AIIn this episode, Meetal Desai is joined by Steve Hafif, the CEO of Cypris, to explore the challenges and solutions in knowledge management for R&D teams.
Steve shares his expertise on the integration of AI into research and development workflows, emphasizing the importance of clean data systems and centralized information storage for improved decision-making. He outlines the evolution of AI tools in breaking down data silos, creating efficiencies, and fostering collaboration within organizations.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how Cypris leverages cutting-edge technologies to enhance research capabilities, offering valuable strategies for companies...
2025-06-2644 min2025-05-2844 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2025 Session: Transforming Waste into WealthThe Innovation Research Interchange podcast delves into the forefront of the innovation ecosystem, focusing on water technology and sustainability. Industry leaders discuss exciting advancements in research and development, including efforts to pilot groundbreaking technologies for extracting and managing critical minerals, and eliminating PFAS from water.
This episode also highlights the importance of workforce development, showcasing various programs designed to create seamless career pathways in the water sector. Collaboration across industries, research institutions, and community partners is emphasized as integral to driving innovation forward, especially in regions rich in natural water resources like the Great Lakes.
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2025-05-2830 minInnovation Ahead by IRI2024 Maurice Holland Award Winner Address: Rhetorical or Genuine Slack Time? Temporal Attributes, Barriers, and Outcomes of Slack Time
2025-05-2844 min2025-05-2837 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2025 Session: Facilitated Session: Anticipating Innovation Challenges for the Future
2025-05-2828 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2025 Session: The Regulatory Landscape: Current State and Potential Challenges
2025-05-2839 min2025-05-2845 min2025-05-2849 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Launch It Forward: An Entrepreneurial Path for Corporate Leaders to Commercialize TechnologiesIn this episode, we engage with Colin Scott, Nicole Mignacca, and Ellie Kim from Innventure, a leading firm renowned for transforming cutting-edge technology into successful market solutions. Join us as we explore Innventure's unique approach to reducing risks and accelerating commercial success through strategic collaborations and a systematic evaluation process.
Colin, Nicole, and Ellie share valuable insights into identifying high-potential technology opportunities, the critical role of strategic partnerships, and how they engage with multinational corporations to catalyze innovation. Learn about the challenges and metrics involved in the journey from concept to commercialization, and how Inventure’s model ai...
2025-04-2449 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Navigating Extended Producer Responsibility: What’s Changing and What You Need to KnowThe latest episode of the IRI podcast dives deep into the pressing issues surrounding innovation, sustainability, and legal compliance in the manufacturing sector. Join Lee Green as she hosts an insightful session with Lindsay Brown and Brad Molotsky, partners at Duane Morris and experts in environmental law and transactional real estate, respectively. Lindsay and Brad explore the intricacies of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations across various US states, discussing their impact on manufacturers, the complexities of compliance, and the importance of tracking and reporting.
They also address the growing significance of PFAS regulations and how they intersect...
2025-04-1053 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Transforming R&D: How Generative AI is Reshaping InnovationJoin us for an engaging interview with Sean Ammirati, CEO of Growth Signals and Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, as he explores how generative AI enhancing speed and productivity in R&D. Sean will share how genAI is transforming ideation, literature discovery, and management practices like StageGate, while dispelling common misconceptions about its impact. Gain valuable insights into how this groundbreaking technology is reshaping the way innovation happens today—and where it’s headed.
2025-03-2856 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Navigating AI Risks: Tackling Nefarious Uses and Emerging ThreatsJoin us in this eye-opening episode as we sit down with Daniel Shin, a prominent cybersecurity researcher and COVA CCI research scientist, to delve into the growing concerns surrounding the nefarious use of large language models. Discover how these powerful AI tools are being exploited in unexpected ways, from generating fictitious travel books to creating synthetic video content for quick monetization.
Daniel shares valuable insights on the emerging risks posed by AI, including the surge in spam generation and the potential consequences for companies deploying AI technologies. He emphasizes the importance of proactive AI governance and cybersecurity...
2025-02-2047 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Driving Circularity: A Thought Leader Interview with Brent Bell on the Future of RecyclingThis episode features a compelling conversation with Brent Bell, VP of Recycling and President of Waste Management Recycle America, as he shares his insights on the evolution of the recycling landscape. Learn about WM's transformative $1.5 billion investment in recycling infrastructure, the shift from dual stream to single stream recycling, and the impact of lightweight packaging on recycling operations.
Explore the challenges and solutions surrounding demand for recycled materials, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and how companies are shifting towards designing for circularity. Brent discusses collaborations with brands to enhance product recyclability and the importance of consumer education in...
2025-01-1643 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Unlocking Innovation: How Milliken’s R&D Digitized Lab Notebooks for Improved Knowledge AccessIn this webinar, we’ll dive into how Milliken’s R&D team enhanced their research processes by digitizing handwritten lab notebooks. Learn how this shift has streamlined access to decades of internal knowledge, enhanced collaboration, and driven innovation across teams. Join us for a conversation about the journey, challenges, and the cutting-edge tools that made this transition possible.
2024-11-2150 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Balancing Profitability and Sustainability: Insights from PPG’s Ed RakiewiczIn this webinar, Dr. Ed Rakiewicz, a recipient of the IRI Leadership Award, will discuss how PPG has successfully driven commercial growth while advancing its sustainability agenda. He will share the key enablers, challenges, and lessons learned in balancing profitability and sustainability, offering practical insights for businesses aiming to achieve both. Ed will also provide advice for early career professionals looking to make an impact in this space.
2024-11-1432 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Mastering AI in R&D: Setting Expectations and Achieving MilestonesJoin Lee Green from IRI as she engages in an insightful conversation with Noel Hollingsworth, the co-founder and CEO of Uncountable. Together, they delve into the transformative potential of AI in the realm of Research and Development (R&D) and explore the practical challenges organizations face in adopting AI technologies.
Noel shares his diverse background in machine learning, from optimizing hybrid engines at Ford to enhancing sports analytics for NBA and NFL teams, leading to the founding of Uncountable. The discussion highlights the gap in AI application across industries, emphasizing the need for better data readiness and...
2024-11-1416 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Greenwashing: Navigating Corporate SustainabilityIn this episode, we dive into the complexities of greenwashing with legal experts Laura Hammargren and Chris Bell. Laura, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, specializes in toxic and mass tort litigation, while Chris focuses on civil and criminal enforcement and environmental regulatory matters. Hosted by Lee Green of IRI's research and strategic initiatives, this conversation sheds light on how companies can navigate the murky waters of environmental claims.
Laura and Chris explore the definition of greenwashing, discussing its implications for companies and the various legal claims that can arise from misleading environmental statements. They provide practical insights...
2024-10-2455 minInnovation Ahead by IRIReport: Driving Innovation through Customer Insights: The Novonesis Approach to Collaborative Product Development
This report highlights the evolving role of customer insights in driving innovation, moving from simple data collection to a key component of the innovation process where customers actively co-create with companies. Businesses now leverage real-time interactions and advanced methodologies such as the Repertory Grid Technique, ethnographic research, and AI tools to gather deeper, more actionable insights. A case study of Novonesis demonstrates how integrating customer feedback, commercial feasibility, and technical viability leads to successful innovation across diverse industries.
2024-10-1022 minInnovation Ahead by IRIBite-Sized Insights: Generative AI Update from Iria GiuffridaThis is a shorten version of the "Legal Implications of Generative AI Update with Iria Giuffrida" episode hosted by Leigh Green, who oversees IRI's Research and Strategic Initiatives, this episode dives deep into the intersection of artificial intelligence and the legal system.
Iria discusses her latest research, including a groundbreaking chapter on how the White House's executive order on AI may impact civil litigation in the United States. She also provides updates on significant cases involving copyright and patent issues with large language models, highlighting the challenges and complexities businesses face in this rapidly evolving field.
2024-09-1722 minInnovation Ahead by IRIReport: Innovative Upskilling: How Eastman and A. O. Smith Are Shaping Workforce DevelopmentEmployee upskilling is essential for organizations to stay competitive and foster innovation. This episode explores how Eastman Chemical Company and A. O. Smith Corporation are leading the way in workforce development with their comprehensive upskilling programs.
Eastman Chemical Company has introduced a cutting-edge initiative focusing on generative AI, empowering employees to explore new technologies through structured classes and practical applications. Their proactive approach ensures that employees are equipped to leverage AI for business value and competitive advantage.
A. O. Smith Corporation integrates upskilling with knowledge management by systematically training its workforce on established engineering techniques...
2024-09-1618 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Legal Implications of Generative AI Update with Iria GiuffridaJoin us for an enlightening conversation with Iria Giuffrida, Professor of Practice of Law and Assistant Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at William & Mary Law School, as she shares her expertise on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the legal system. Hosted by Lee Green, the discussion delves into the latest updates on significant AI-related legal cases, the implications of the EU AI Act, and practical recommendations for businesses navigating the complex landscape of AI governance.
Discover how AI is reshaping industries, the potential risks, and how businesses can mitigate these challenges. Whether you're concerned about...
2024-07-1945 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Lora Cecere, founder, Supply Chain InsightsIn this insightful episode, Lee Green interviews Lora Cerere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, as they delve into the evolving landscape of supply chain management.
Lora discusses the critical assumptions that have changed in global supply chains and the importance of aligning R&D with supply chain strategies. She emphasizes the need for better network management, understanding demand latency, and using AI and machine learning to drive value.
The conversation also explores sustainability challenges, the importance of being a good trading partner, and practical steps companies can take to improve their supply chain operations. Lora's i...
2024-06-2744 minInnovation Ahead by IRIReport: Innovative Roadmapping: Strategic Planning Insights Featuring Campbell Soup CompanyExplore the critical role of strategic roadmapping and foresighting in organizational planning through the lens of Campbell's Soup Company. This episode delves into how these intertwined processes enable effective goal alignment, resource allocation, and uncertainty navigation.
Learn about the importance of agility and stakeholder engagement in fostering collaboration and informed decision-making. Discover how generative AI enhances these processes by rapidly analyzing datasets, aiding in analysis, pattern recognition, and trend identification.
Featuring Campbell's Soup Company, this episode showcases best practices in strategic roadmapping and foresighting, highlighting how a legacy company has successfully prioritized new product initiatives...
2024-06-1717 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2024 Session: How will regulations around PFAS and other ESG issues impact you?Facilitator: Laura Buen Abad, Sonoco
Speakers: Michael Davin, National Association of Manufacturers
In this insightful episode, Laura Buen Abad, the technology and marketing lead at Sonoco, engages in a compelling discussion with Mike Davin from the National Association of Manufacturers. They delve into the intricate landscape of PFAS regulations, recent developments, and their implications for various industries.
Mike Davin provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new rules, including the drinking water standards and Superfund designations for PFAS chemicals. He highlights the extensive impact these regulations could have on...
2024-05-3125 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2024 Session: Sustainability and the Innovation Pipeline at HoneywellFacilitator: Portia Yarborough, Michelman
Speaker: Gavin Towler, Honeywell
Join Gavin Towler, Corporate Chief Scientist, Sustainability Technology and Chief Sustainability Officer at Honeywell, and Portia Yarborough, Chief Science and Sustainability Officer at Michelman, for an insightful discussion on the intersection of science, sustainability, and innovation. In this keynote session, they explore the challenges and opportunities in advancing sustainability in the corporate world.
Portia shares her experiences at Michelman, a company specializing in water-based coatings, emphasizing the importance of peer-to-peer interactions and thought-sharing within the sustainability community. Gavin delves into Honeywell's ambitious goals, including achieving...
2024-05-3144 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2024 Session: Increasing Speed and Agility through Digitalization and AIFacilitator: Jerry Grunewald, INVISTA
Panelists: Alyssa Mueller, Hess, and Alberto Ferrari, RTX
Jerry Grunewald from INVISTA kicks off the conference by discussing the importance of knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer interaction at IRI events. He introduces his colleagues Alyssa and Alberto, who delve into the transformative power of digitization and AI in their respective industries.
Alyssa from Hess talks about her role in digital enablement and architecture, focusing on modernizing IT and fostering an innovation culture. She shares insights on how Hess leverages AI for reservoir characterization, significantly reducing simulation times from 11 hours to 40 s...
2024-05-3144 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2024 Session: Quantifying and Generating Value through R&D and Innovation at LubrizolFacilitator: Lee Green, IRI
Panelist: Julie Edgar, The Lubrizol Corporation
In this episode, we welcome Julie Edgar, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Lubrizol, and Lee Green, Assistant Vice President of Research and Strategy at IRI, to the stage. Julie shares her journey from a coal-mining town in Wales to leading technological innovations at Lubrizol. She discusses the company's rich history, starting from a garage in Cleveland to becoming a global leader in chemical solutions.
Julie delves into the organizational changes at Lubrizol, emphasizing the creation of a dedicated corporate technology...
2024-05-3146 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2024 Session: Integrating Sustainability Goals into Innovation with Henkel and AZEKFacilitator: Nancy Mancilla, Environ
Panelists: Joel Schall, Henkel, and Dan Boss, The AZEK Company
The panel will explore the intersection of sustainability and innovation processes, shedding light on how organizations integrate sustainability goals into their product development strategies. Panelists will delve into the intricacies of incorporating sustainability criteria into StageGate and other innovation processes, ensuring that organizational sustainability goals are woven into the fabric of innovation. The discussion will highlight the pivotal role of customer insights derived from sustainable preferences, emphasizing the importance of aligning products with the evolving market landscape.
2024-05-3136 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Sustainability Regulations: EU Deep DiveIn this enlightening episode, we delve into a deep-dive conversation with Aaron Szabo, Senior Director at Faegre Drinker. Harnessing his over a decade experience dealing with environmental, energy, and manufacturing issues, this podcast episode gives us illuminating insights into environmental and energy regulations and their impact. Zabo masterfully delves into the challenges of compliance and risk management strategies, offering invaluable guidance for businesses facing these issues.
Progressing further, the episode explores EU regulations, focusing on the intricacies of the Chemicals Agency and Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH). This episode further discusses the workings of the...
2024-04-2552 minInnovation Ahead by IRIReport: How Caterpillar's Trailblazing Approach Revolutionized Knowledge Management and TransferThis report sheds light on the significance of knowledge management and transfer in innovation and research development, focusing on Caterpillar Inc.'s exceptional practice of these critical business functions. Modern enterprises grapple with the challenge of retaining valuable knowledge in the face of increasing staff turnover and retirement – this is where effective knowledge management and transfer come in.
The best practices discussed in this report illustrate how to capture, manage, and transfer knowledge efficiently across different industries. Caterpillar's knowledge management and transfer processes, considered best-in-class, showcase comprehensive strategies, well-organized infrastructure, and the use of advanced technology. This ap...
2024-04-2513 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Enabling Data-driven Decision-makingListen as Thomas Thurston, chief technologist at Ducera Partners, and Greg Hannon, former chief technology officer at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., delve into the development of a tool that brings increased clarity to innovation portfolio decisions. They cover industry applications, the process of creating such a tool, and the transformative role of AI in shaping the future of innovation. Gain valuable perspectives on leveraging data for informed decision-making in your organization.
2024-03-2159 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: How Milliken eliminated PFAS from its operations with Jeff Strahan, Director of Research Compliance and SustainabilityIn the latest installment of IRI's Sustainability Thought Leader series, we chat with Jeff Strahan, the Director of Research Compliance and Sustainability at Milliken and Company. Strahan provides an intriguing insight into his personal journey in sustainability, the difficulties and opportunities in dealing with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and Milliken's assertive approach to sustainable development.
Strahan shares his experience of discovering potential challenges PFAS could pose for Milliken in 2019 and the steps he took to understand the problem at its core. He tackles the regulatory obstacles posed by PFAS and how Milliken responded by integrating customer...
2024-02-1244 minInnovation Ahead by IRIReport: The Challenge of Horizon 2: Implications for effective opportunity developmentDiscover the intricacies of Horizon 2 (H2) opportunity management and learn how to effectively build an organizational culture that embraces innovation. This white paper, "The Challenge of Horizon 2, Implications for Effective Opportunity Development," by Scott Matthews and Stephanie Hartwig, provides insights into the successful implementation of a governance framework for H2.
Exploring the complexity of H2 opportunity development, the paper presents best practices on fostering an entrepreneurial culture that embraces risk-taking and encourages cross-divisional collaboration. The importance of leadership buy-in and continuous improvement are underscored, demonstrating their vital role in H2 execution.
Dive into the research-backed...
2024-02-1223 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: AI in Science with Rebecca Willett, Professor of Statistics and Computer Science, University of ChicagoExplore the immediate impact of AI on scientific processes, from foundational tasks to failure mode identification, and gain perspectives on its future trajectory in scientific applications, alongside insights into student engagement with this transformative technology.
2024-01-1955 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Telling BASF’s Sustainability Story with Luiziana Ribeiro, Director of Sustainability, BASFThought Leader Interview with Luiziana Ribeiro, Director of Sustainability, BASF
Setting your organization’s sustainability strategy and goals is one step in the sustainability journey. The next is to be able to tell a compelling story to bring along staff, shareholders, customers, and other key stakeholders. Luiziana Ribeiro, director of sustainability, BASF, shares how she is working to tell BASF’s story in ways that will help the organization to progress its goals and strategy in an inclusive, customer focused way.
2023-12-1541 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: AI Use Cases at INVISTA with Chitra Kumar Sai, Data Scientist, INVISTATalk of AI is everywhere now, but are companies actually using new tools in a systematic way? If so, how? Chitra Kumar Sai, data scientist at INVISTA, shares examples of how they are using AI tools, including natural language processing, large language models, computer vision, and machine learning for root cause analysis. Learn how their data governance has enabled them to move quickly on these new technologies and how they are rolling tools out in the organization.
2023-12-0849 minInnovation Ahead by IRIIS 2023 Session: Finding the right innovation and R&D structure to meet strategic needsLearn from experienced innovation leaders how they have organized their R&D and innovation functions to adapt to changing priorities and environments while also capitalizing on internal expertise and resources.
Panelists: Darin Latimer, Vice President, Strategic Innovation, Danaher Corporation; Srinivas Veeramasuneni, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, USG Corporation; Moderator: Carlton Gibbs, Senior Manager, Packaging Development, Global R&D, Mars-Wrigley Snacking
2023-11-1342 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Raising Sustainability to New Heights at Boeing with Sheila Remes, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, at The Boeing CompanyThought Leader Interview with Sheila Remes, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, at The Boeing Company
With an organization of over 145,000 people and a product with over a 20 year lifespan, Boeing should not be able to change quickly. However, the drive for sustainability has brought the organization together to work toward industry-wide change. Learn from Sheila Remes, vice president, environmental sustainability, how Boeing has been able to bring together the many efforts on sustainability around the organization to drive toward cohesive goals. Sheila will also speak to how they’ve engaged customers and other stakeholders in their processes and how they ap...
2023-11-0945 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: How Milliken removed PFAS from its operations with Jeff Strahan, Director of Research, Compliance, and Sustainability at Milliken & Company
Sustainability Thought Leader Interview with Jeff Strahan, Director of Research, Compliance, and Sustainability at Milliken & Company
In this podcast, we explore Milliken's proactive response to the challenges posed by PFAS, from initial realization to strategic shifts in R&D and analytics. We delve into leadership alignment, communication with customers, and SAP-related challenges, concluding with an evaluation of the PFAS supply chain's reaction and Milliken's current status post-PFAS removal.
2023-09-2948 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Staying at the bleeding edge of digital innovation with Brian Standen, Global Head of Digital Innovation at BASFLearn how BASF stays at the forefront of digital innovation. Brian Standen gives highlights of their process, from identifying potential trends to placing bets on which technologies will have the most impact to incubating then rolling those technologies out more widely in the organization. He shares techniques for managing a portfolio of new technologies (Spoiler: Don’t be afraid to be bold.) and ways to get buy in from relevant parts of the organization.
2023-09-2152 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Smart Glasses: Balancing expectations and reality with Dan Abramowicz, CTO, and Alberto Rodriguez, Digital Optimization Team Leader at Crown Holdings, Inc.Thought Leader Interview with Dan Abramowicz, CTO, and Alberto Rodriguez, Digital Optimization Team Leader at Crown Holdings, Inc.
Smart glasses enabled Crown Holdings to continue to carry out plant trials even in the face of a pandemic. However, as travel restrictions and social distancing measures have been dropped, so have the use cases for smart glasses. Learn about the areas in which Crown finds value in using smart glasses and how they plan to use them as the technology matures.
Get the full story of Crown’s use of smart glasses during the pandemic here.
2023-08-1737 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Sustainability and Regulations: What innovators need to know with Brandon Farris, Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy, National Association of ManufacturersThought Leader Interview with Brandon Farris, Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy, National Association of Manufacturers
The global regulatory environment has become increasingly difficult for companies to track and understand. Listen to the NAM’s VP of energy and resources policy, Brandon Farris for a download on:
PFAS;
the power plants rule;
the plastics draft strategy; and
particulate matter.
2023-07-2840 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Legal implications of AI: What innovators need to know with Iria Giuffrida, William & Mary Law SchoolThought Leader Interview with Iria Giuffrida, William & Mary Law School
Gain an understanding of the key legal implications that innovators need to know as you integrate AI tools into your organization. Iria Giuffrida, Professor of the Practice of Law and Assistant Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at William & Mary Law School, dives into key legal issues around AI, including:
Copyright;
Trade secrets;
Patents;
Privacy; and
Regulations.
In this informative interview, she will also address the ethical issues around AI from both the macro (global) and micro (individual companies) perspective.
2023-07-2057 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Building muscle memory with a year dedicated to sustainability with Anantha Desikan, ICLIntegrating sustainability into all aspects of an organization is no small task. ICL galvanized their efforts by declaring 2022 to be the year of sustainability: holding activities, educating staff, and thinking about goals, both big and small and long and short term. Learn from Anantha Desikan, Executive Vice President and Chief Research, Development & Innovation Officer, how this helped ICL to integrate sustainability into their strategy and across their very diversified businesses.
2023-06-2244 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Moving beyond water cooler conversations with Pete Weddington, Owens CorningWater cooler conversations have been virtually impossible (pun intended) for over three years now. But were they even an effective way to get your teams collaborating in the first place? Owens Corning looked at their successful ERP model and wondered how they could parlay that effective collaboration into other parts of the business, including new product development. Collaboration hubs are their answer. They are working to bring everyone and every project into a transparent system to enhance knowledge and collaboration. Pete Weddington, IT Director at Owens Corning, shares their work on this as well as other innovative approaches they...
2023-05-1955 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Consumer-driven Sustainability with Jerry Porter, Procter & GambleLearn about Procter & Gamble’s focus on ensuring there is no trade off between value, quality, and sustainability. Jerry Porter, Senior Vice President, R&D Global Fabric Care, Flavors & Fragrance Discipline Capability and Fabric & Home Care Sector, at Procter & Gamble shares how innovation can rise to meet this challenge, working across the organization and with a broad range of partners.
2023-05-1248 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: A Top Down and Bottom Up Approach to Sustainability with Jami Haaning and Wojtek Osowiecki, Lam ResearchLearn how Lam Research has harnessed their staff's enthusiasm for sustainability and enabled great strides toward their environment, social, and governance (ESG) goals through the creation of a Sustainability Employee Resource Group (ERG). Jami Haaning, Director of ESG, and Wojtek Osowiecki, Product Marketing Engineer and founder and chair of Lam Employee Sustainability Community (LESC), discuss Lam's unique top down and bottom up approach to sustainability and share lessons learned that can be applied to all organizations looking to meet and exceed their sustainability goals.
2023-04-2855 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Digitalization from manufacturing to customer experience with Sam Immordino and Lou Stocco, USGGain insights into two key aspects of the digital transformation journey: manufacturing and the customer experience. Lou Stocco, Director, Manufacturing Advanced Analytics at USG, will share how they are leveraging roadmaps and data and connecting their workforce as they work toward automated action. Sam Immordino, Director, Construction Software and Services, will discuss their digital center of excellence, how they are creating virtual spaces and experiences for their customers, and the ways they are developing institutional knowledge.
2023-04-2059 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Value Creation and Risk Management with Rebecca Ott, J.M. SmuckerLearn how The J.M. Smucker Company calculates the return on investment for their sustainability initiatives, balancing value creation and risk management. Rebecca Ott, Director, Sustainability, shares their approach to sustainability metrics, navigating the regulatory environment, and mitigating risk in the supply chain.
2023-03-2350 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Packaging Sustainability and Technology with Laura Buen Abad, SonocoLaura Buen Abad, Senior Director of Technology and Marketing, Flexible Packaging, Sonoco shares how they are integrating sustainability into their strategy and technology roadmaps, how it drives innovation priorities, and their approach to life cycle analysis.
2023-02-2441 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Cybersecurity with Rod Masney, O-I GlassHear the Chief Information Officer’s perspective on cybersecurity in this thought leader interview. Rod Masney, CIO for O-I Glass, the world’s largest producer of glass containers, shares his thoughts on the current threat landscape, working with external partners, and how best to work with IT on your digitalization efforts.
2023-02-1658 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Sustainability and Innovation with Rick Michelman, MichelmanHow does a global chemical manufacturer integrate sustainability into new product development? How do they assess the ROI on investments in sustainability and capitalize on regulatory changes? Listen as IRI’s Lee Green interviews Rick Michelman, President & CEO of Michelman.
2023-01-2749 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: AR and Innovation with Terri Griffith, Simon Fraser University and Dave Alpert, GeoPogo AR+How can augmented reality improve communication and bridge the gap between experts and non-experts on projects? How can it enable faster prototyping and improve sustainability efforts? Scroll to the bottom for the recording of Lee Green’s interview with Terri Griffith, Keith Beedie Chair in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University and Dave Alpert of Geopogo AR+.
2023-01-2050 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: ADHD and Entrepreneurship with Johan Wiklund, Syracuse UniversityJoin IRI’s Lee Green as she interviews Johan Wiklund, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Business. Learn about the links between ADHD and entrepreneurship, the ways that individuals with ADHD can be a great addition to teams, and the accommodations that can be made to get the best out of these individuals. Also discover why recruiting the next generation of innovation professionals requires an understanding of those with ADHD.
2022-12-0939 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Digital Twins and Their Capabilites with Don Kinard, Lockheed MartinJoin IRI’s Lee Green as she interviews Dr. Don Kinard, Senior Fellow, Production Operations, at Lockheed Martin. The focus of their discussion will be on digital twins: Defining digital twins; Use cases at Lockheed Martin; Building trust in digital twins and their capabilities; Creating and maintaining the infrastructure needed for effective digital twins, especially in legacy companies; and Maintaining cybersecurity while using digital twins.
2022-11-1848 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: How Veterans’ Experience Can Best Serve in Industry Roles with with Sean Bruce (Hess) and Perezam Takouda (Cargill)IRI honors Veterans Day with this fantastic panel of veterans brought together to discuss: Barriers that impede a smooth transition from military to civilian employment; Key skills that are developed in the military; Ways that veterans’ experience can help them in industry roles; and Steps that organizations can take to make themselves more attractive to veterans.
2022-11-1045 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: How to Increase Diversity in Industry and Academic with Brennon Marcano, GEM Fellows ProgramIRI’s Lee Green interviews Brennon Marcano, CEO of the National GEM Consortium. The GEM Fellows program aims to increase the participation of underrepresented groups at the master’s and doctoral levels in engineering and science. Learn about how the GEM Consortium is increasing diversity in industry and academia and the ways that they match fellows with the right organizations to maximize success.
2022-10-2041 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Innovative Thinker and Disrupter Identification with William Green, University of Birmingham, UKIRI’s Lee Green and Randall Wright, Program Director, MIT discuss how companies need to practice reconnaissance to identify innovative thinkers and the next disrupters, how sensors will be game changers, and hidden factories.
2022-09-1626 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Neurodiversity and Innovation with Dave Caudel, Frist Center for Autism and InnovationIRI’s Lee Green interviews David Caudel, Associate Director, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University. They discuss the abilities that neurodiverse individuals bring to the workplace, and innovation in particular, and the (surprisingly simple and straightforward) accommodations that can be made to the workplace to bring in these individuals. They also cover how to train managers of neurodiverse individuals to ensure a good relationship (and how the Frist Center can help).
2022-09-081h 00Innovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Cultivating Innovation Ecosystems with Randall Wright, MIT
2022-07-2153 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Diversity, Culture, and Inequality Research with Nancy DiTomaso, RutgersIRI’s Ed Bernstein and Nancy discuss her work in covering her research into diversity, culture, and inequality, as well as the management of knowledge-based organizations, and the management of scientists and engineers.
2022-07-1449 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Augmented Reality Thought Leader Interview with John Simmins, Alfred UniversityIRI’s Lee Green and John Simmins discuss augmented reality, covering the technology itself, ways to ease adoption, and future uses in industry and education.
2022-06-1650 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: LGTBQ+ Employee Resource Group Creation with Carolyn McMullen, JM SmuckerIRI’s Lee Green and Carolyn discuss Carolyn’s work in establishing an LGBTQ+ employee resource group in the organization, including the impact the group is having on culture, establishing leadership buy-in, and bringing along allies.
2022-06-1442 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Interdisciplinary Creation, Generative Design, and Effective Human/Machine Teams with Mickey McManus, BCG GroupIRI’s Lee Green and Mickey McManus, Senior Advisor, BCG discuss Mickey's time at Carnegie Mellon University, MAYA (Most Advanced, Yet Acceptable), Autodesk, and BCG including topics such as interdisciplinary creation, generative design, building effective human/machine teams, and the marriage of sustainability and synthetic biology.
2022-05-1957 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: The Tools Diverse R&D Teams need to Innovate Effectively with Corinne Post, Villanova School of BusinessIRI’s Lee Green and Corinne discuss the impact of belonging to a specific group (women, racial minority) on R&D scientists and engineers’ career trajectories and how having women in leadership impacts organizations’ long-term innovation strategies as well as the tools that diverse R&D teams need to be able to innovate effectively.
2022-05-1245 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Data, Innovation, and R&D with Sharon Feng, PPGIRI’s Lee Green and Sharon Feng, Director of Science and Technology and Global Analytical Science at PPG discuss PPG’s digitalization efforts, including their Fast Forward initiative, the ways that R&D can benefit from digitalization, the value of legacy data, and creating citizen data scientists.
2022-04-2152 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Students, Teachers, Industry, and Diversity with Elaine Franklin and Mark Townley, Kenan Fellows ProgramIRI’s Lee Green and Elaine Franklin and Mark Townley of the Kenan Fellows Program discuss their program that brings together teachers and industry to teach skills to students that can be used in local industry. Through their initiatives, they strive to make sure that the Kenan Fellows look like the students in their communities and use project-based learning to bring inclusion to teaching processes.
2022-04-1430 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Homegrown Virtual Testing and Data Analytics with Bob Wilkinson and Allison Rajakumar, LubrizolIRI’s Lee Green interviews Robert Wilkinson, Senior Director of Data Science & Analytics, and Allison Rajakumar, Senior Manager, Data Science & Analytics, Lubrizol Corporation. They discuss Lubrizol’s homegrown virtual testing and data analytics system for product development and deployment, Q.life. They discuss how they overcame data and resourcing issues to create the system and how they have gotten staff to successfully integrate it into work practices.
2022-03-1743 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Inclusion, Innovation and One Young World with Bernardita Chirino Chace, NovartisIRI’s Lee Green and Bernardita discuss the ways that Novartis has integrated inclusion into their innovation program, including bringing together people from across the organization – functionally and geographically – and fostering a sense of psychological safety to ensure staff are bringing their whole self to work and to the work of innovation. Learn also about Bernardita’s work with the One Young World community and how Novartis has used ‘meeting observers’ to improve inclusion in their meetings.
2022-03-1033 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Digitalization and R&D in Petcare with Mark Donavon, Nestle Purina PetcareIRI's Lee Green and Mark discuss the challenges and opportunities that Purina has experienced as they work to bring digital into both their products and R&D. They cover a wide range of issues from creating products that will appeal to both pets and their owners to making those tough calls on resource allocation to invest in digital.
2022-02-1756 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Diversity and Innovation with Janeen Uzzell, National Society of Black EngineersIRI’s Lee Green and Janeen Uzzell discuss the value of diversity in R&D organizations and the importance of diversity in innovation.
2022-02-1030 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: nnovation Purpose and Focus with Moises Norena, MiTek ModularIRI’s Lee Green and Moises discuss how having a purpose and focus for innovation plays into digitalization efforts and the ways that digital can improve the user experience in surprising and unexpected ways.
2022-01-2032 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Digital Transformation Efforts with Lauren Beckstedt and Mike Adams, BrunswickJoin IRI’s Lee Green as she interviews Lauren Beckstedt and Michael Adams of Brunswick. They will take a deep dive into their digital transformation efforts, expanding on their case study.
2021-11-1856 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Digital Transformation Strategy, Managing Change, and Data Governance with Jeff Cope, RTIJoin IRI’s Lee Green as she interviews Jeff Cope, Director, Strategy and Innovation, RTI Innovation Advisors. She and Jeff will discuss the key learnings so far from IRI and RTI’s five case studies on digital transformation, including strategy, managing change, training and data governance.
2021-10-2147 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Building Trust and Digital Leadership: Interview with Paul Mugge, NC State University and Haroon Abbu, Bell & HowellIRI’s Lee Green interviews Mr. Mugge and Dr. Abbu on their recent book titled, Trust: The Winning Formula for Digital Leaders, a Practical Guide for Digital Transformation. They, along with Gerhard Gudergan of RWTH Aachen University, Germany, explore how “building trust”—and NOT their technological competence —sets the leaders of this phenomenon apart.
2021-09-2216 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: The Partnership Between R&D and IT with Craig Slavtcheff and Francisco Fraga, Campbell Soup CompanySeptember 2021 Listen as IRI’s Lee Green and Campbell Soup Company’s Craig Slavtcheff and Francisco Fraga discuss Campbell’s close R&D and IT partnership in their digital transformation efforts. They cover lessons learned, challenges overcome, and the three keys to the success for the digital transformation of one of the world’s most recognized brands.
2021-09-1656 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Humanity-Centric Innovation and Digital Transformation with Pete Dulcamara, Kimberly-ClarkPete brings a macro viewpoint on the changes that digital transformation can bring to an organization, to what is traditionally thought of as innovation, and to society as a whole. Learn about humanity-centric innovation, Kimberly-Clark’s goal to improve the lives of a billion people, and the new ways that companies will survive and thrive in the 21st century.
2021-07-1548 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Digitalization, Enterprise Architecture, and Lean with Alyssa Mueller and Sean Bruce, HessIRI’s Lee Green and Alyssa and Sean cover Hess’s structured approach to digital, including their approach to enterprise architecture and emphasis on Lean.
2021-06-1850 minInnovation Ahead by IRIWebinar: Covid19 and Hospitals: How Digital Tools Expanded the Reach of Healthcare with Serban Cantacuzene & Athanasios Kontopoulos, Air LiquideIRI’s Lee Green and Serban and Thanos discuss spreading digitalization efforts across a complex global network, using digital tools to meet the needs of a hospitals in a pandemic, and upskilling staff in this wide-ranging interview.
2021-04-1551 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Spark Digital Strategy and Digital Teams with Bernardo Tiburcio, DuPontMarch 2021 In this interview, IRI’s Lee Green and Bernardo discuss DuPont’s Spark Digital strategy, their centralized Digital Team, and their work to collaborate across the organization. Bernardo Tiburcio is an Information Technology professional with over 20 years of experience developing and implementing technology solutions for international companies.
2021-03-1847 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Cyber Security Digitalization with Jaap deVries, FM GlobalIn this interview, IRI’s Lee Green and Jaap discuss building resiliency, cyber security, and data governance.
2021-02-1849 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: ROI of Digitalization with Bryan Merckling and Cliff Tironi, ThinaerIn this interview, Lee Green, Bryan, and Cliff discuss measuring ROI of digitalization efforts, building better partnerships, managing data, and knowledge transfer.
2021-01-2137 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Digital Alchemy to Create Value and Reduce Risk with Shah Karim, CEO SafeRockNovember 2020 Digital Alchemy to Create Value and Reduce Risk
2020-11-1952 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: Disruptive Innovation and Digital Transformation with Marguerite Johnson, Leggett & PlattIRI’s Lee Green and Marguerite discuss the link between disruptive innovation and digital transformation, the importance of innovation ecosystems, and effective ways of using foresight.
2020-09-1738 minInnovation Ahead by IRIThought Leader Interview: COVID19 & Digitalization with Jerry Grunewald, INVISTAIRI’s Lee Green and Jerry discuss the impact of covid-19 on their digitalization efforts, INVISTA’s focus on the people, processes, and technology elements of digital transformation, and how being a part of Koch Industries impacts their partnerships.
2020-08-2058 min