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Three ways to start collaborating in the pursuit of innovation

Last week, I was on the phone with one of my clients who works in the not-for-profit industry. Some of her biggest challenges are working with a restricted budget, communicating to a diverse and geographically dispersed employee base and involving employees in the organisation’s innovation strategy. After sharing her challenges…

Charlotte Rush • 5 April 2018

Why you shouldn’t innovate like Google

(Originally published in the Australian Financial Review, March 13, 2018) I spoke at an innovation conference recently that had some big name speakers and companies. A leader from Airbnb talked about how his team had applied design principles to improve the inclusiveness of their innovations. An ex-Apple executive discussed the…

Dr. Amantha Imber • 16 March 2018

Dare to think like a kid so your problems disappear

If you have ever learnt to ski, surf or swim as an adult you will know the frustration of watching kids effortlessly shred the slopes, hang ten or dive in the pool. If you’re anything like me, you might be thinking to yourself: “Surely I can do better than…

Nick Johnston • 2 March 2018

The numbers you need to convince your boss that innovation is worth it

I’m a big fan of innovation. This seems fitting given my job title has the word ‘innovation’ in it. If you are reading this, then chances are that you are a fan of innovation too! However, chances are also quite high that you know at least one person within your organisation…

Charlotte Rush • 9 February 2018

How to create your most productive workday

Andy Grove, Former President of Intel, used to arrive at work at 8am and left by 6pm every day. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, leaves the office by 5.30pm everyday so she can have dinner with her kids at 6pm. If you are struggling to fit in a…

Dr. Amantha Imber • 4 February 2018

Want to be more creative? Go on holidays!

How good is an overseas holiday?! Personally, I find there’s something so completely life-affirming and enlivening about immersing myself in a new culture; exploring new architecture, food and landscapes and seeing first-hand how other people live in different parts of the world. Maybe I’m just nosey, but I’m always fascinated…

Zoe Aitken • 25 January 2018

What we learned when we ‘fired’ all our managers

Eighteen months ago, I made the decision to fire all of my company’s managers. By “fire,” I mean remove their management responsibilities and instead, have them focus their efforts on actually doing the work they were originally hired to do (which in Inventium‘s case,…

Dr. Amantha Imber • 19 January 2018

How to avoid being a turkey this year

With Christmas done and dusted for another year, I want to share a suitably festive story (that has an important lesson) with you. I’ve paraphrased a story from Nassim Taleb’s book Antifragile – a book I have been recommending to anyone who will listen for the…

Nick Johnston • 19 January 2018

Seven books that have changed my life

I read a LOT of books. I am also known to frequently give people book recommendations (whether they want them or not). In my opinion, books are the most cost-effective way to get a significant improvement in anything, really. Sadly, reading tends to fall way down on people’s priority lists…

Dr. Amantha Imber • 22 December 2017