All articles by Hadley Thompson

Podcast Steve Blank on Why ‘Innovation Heroes’ are a Bad Sign
July 1, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson
In this episode, we talk with Steve Blank about why celebrating innovation heroes is symptomatic of a problem in large organizations. Blank also talks about the significance of AI: "I think this is as important as anything we've seen in tech in probably the last 50 years."
Podcast GenAI Hits the Road with Mercedes-Benz
June 10, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson
In this episode, we connect with James Liu, the Head of MB.OS Customer Experience at Mercedes-Benz. Liu oversees a team responsible for human-machine Interface concepts, UX design, front-end engineering, speech, and AI platforms. That includes prototypes that leverage generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion.
Podcast ‘AI Springs,’ Automotive Futures, and Silicon Valley Innovation Labs
May 6, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson
Evangelos Simoudis, author and investor, delves into the future of cars, what has happened to Silicon Valley innovation labs, and the latest "AI spring."
Podcast Innovating Coffee, with Starbucks Veteran Mesh Gelman
April 15, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson
In this podcast episode, we talk with Starbucks veteran Mesh Gelman about coffee trends; developing a new product from scratch; the difference between big organizations and start-ups; and his past work as an innovation consultant.
Article How Piaggio’s Fast Forward Lab Has Evolved Its Approach
April 17, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson, Meghan Hall
In an exclusive conversation, we talked with Greg Lynn, co-founder & CEO Piaggio Fast Forward. He unveiled the inner workings of Piaggio's Fast Forward (PFF) and what their plans are for the eclectic company.
Video How CEOs and Board Members Think About Innovation Investment and Competitive Advantage
February 13, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson
Featuring Rich Gotham, Team President of the Boston Celtics; John Murray, President & CEO of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation; and Shira Goodman, a Board Member at CarMax, CBRE, Henry Schein.
Article How Nestlé Thinks About New Ventures, from Pizza Vending Machines to Probiotic Bars
April 1, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson, Meghan Hall
We talked with Doug Munk, the Senior Director of New Business Ventures for Nestlé USA, about his insights about his time navigating the complexities of building and sustaining new ventures within large organizations.
Video Amazon Robotics Chief Technologist on the Future of AI and Automation
February 13, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson
Tye Brady, the Chief Technologist at Amazon Robotics, joined us at Impact 2023 to share his take on the future of robotics, AI, and automation.
Article Chew Innovation CEO on the Future of Food
August 9, 2023 | By Hadley Thompson
Adam Melonas, CEO and Founder of Chew Innovation in Boston, shares his insights on communication around innovation; working with large CPG companies; scalability of products for the largest total addressable market; and more.
Article How BMW Put Its Corporate Venture Capital Team on the Road to Success
January 22, 2024 | By Evan Schwartz, Hadley Thompson
How do you set up a corporate venture capital initiative to be successful — both financially and strategically? BMW i Ventures, based in Silicon Valley, is one role model. We talk with one of the group's managing partners.