Synopses & Reviews
Innovation Leaders Praise Breaking Away
Finally, innovation in a framework that is clear, insightful and easy to put into practice. This is a must read.
--Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive Officer, Burberry
Breaking Away has a clear and important message: that innovation--the dogged pursuit of new solutions to old problems--is often the defining feature of a successful endeavor, be it a research project, a corporation or a society.
--Dean Kamen, CEO, DEKA, inventor of the heart stent, the Segway, and many other transformational innovations
Using case studies and real examples, Jane Stevenson and Bilal Kaafarani uncover the missing ingredient in innovation--getting the most from your people. This book shows you how companies can excel.
--Joel Kurtzman, Milken Institute and Wharton's SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management
Innovation requires top leadership with courage and passion to win. With its four levels of innovation. Breaking Away provides a great road map for success. A must read for any executive.
--Denise Morrison, Board Member, COO and CEO Elect, The Campbell Soup Company
A fabulous read Breaking Away artfully defines innovation and clarifies the critical role leadership plays in nurturing the right culture for innovation and growth.
--Marco Jesi, Chairman of the Board, Limoni Profumerie S.P.A.
At last, a book that captures the critical role leadership plays in enabling a culture where innovation is stimulated, valued, supported and celebrated. The authors have gone deep to understand what the best CEO's do to develop continuous innovation as a competitive edge. Breaking Away gives us a clear framework to make that happen in every organization.
--Cynthia McCague, Board of Directors, Monster.com and former SVP Human Resources, The Coca-Cola Company
Stevenson and Kaafarani 'break away' from traditional thinking to converge on a powerful thesis that will forever change how we view innovation.
--Judith Glaser, CEO Benchmark Communications, Inc, and the bestselling author of Creating We and DNA of Leadership
A how-to guide on inspiring a culture of innovation in your workplace.
--CIO Insight's Best Business Books for 2011
About the Book
The key to generating growth and shareholder value today is the ability to develop and embed innovation into every facet of business. But how do you do that?
Leadership. It takes a business leader with vision and a sense of accountability to merge corporate culture and innovation processes into a powerful, self-sustaining engine that dominates markets. Without that kind of leadership, a company is just spinning its wheels.
Breaking Away provides the framework to be that leader--and to create other leaders who will drive your company into a future of profits and growth.
Pioneers in the field of innovation leadership, Jane Stevenson and Bilal Kaafarani provide a simple but powerful model for breaking away from your industry pack by fully utilizing your employees, technology, and resources. You'll learn how: Ford beat Toyota in the race to create the first hybrid (and why everyone thinks it was vice versa) GE's development of a locomotive battery makes planet earth more sustainable Skype landed 480 million registered users in its first four years of business Emirates airline has grown from a small, regional carrier to one of the world's top three airlines
Different organizations, different industries . . . one thing in common: a cadre of leaders who understand the nature of innovation, develop well-defined priorities, and maintain a powerful sense of accountability.
Breaking Away will change the way you approach leadership and innovation--and put you on the road to market domination.
Synopsis
Innovation Leaders Praise Breaking Away
"Finally, innovation in a framework that is clear, insightful and easy to put into practice. This is a must read."
--Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive Officer, Burberry
"Breaking Away has a clear and important message: that innovation--the dogged pursuit of new solutions to old problems--is often the defining feature of a successful endeavor, be it a research project, a corporation or a society."
--Dean Kamen, CEO, DEKA, inventor of the heart stent, the Segway, and many other transformational innovations
"Using case studies and real examples, Jane Stevenson and Bilal Kaafarani uncover the missing ingredient in innovation--getting the most from your people. This book shows you how companies can excel."
--Joel Kurtzman, Milken Institute and Wharton's SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management
"Innovation requires top leadership with courage and passion to win. With its four levels of innovation. Breaking Away provides a great road map for success. A must read for any executive."
--Denise Morrison, Board Member, COO and CEO Elect, The Campbell Soup Company
"A fabulous read Breaking Away artfully defines innovation and clarifies the critical role leadership plays in nurturing the right culture for innovation and growth."
--Marco Jesi, Chairman of the Board, Limoni Profumerie S.P.A.
"At last, a book that captures the critical role leadership plays in enabling a culture where innovation is stimulated, valued, supported and celebrated. The authors have gone deep to understand what the best CEO's do to develop continuous innovation as a competitive edge. Breaking Away gives us a clear framework to make that happen in every organization."
--Cynthia McCague, Board of Directors, Monster.com and former SVP Human Resources, The Coca-Cola Company
"Stevenson and Kaafarani 'break away' from traditional thinking to converge on a powerful thesis that will forever change how we view innovation."
--Judith Glaser, CEO Benchmark Communications, Inc, and the bestselling author of Creating We and DNA of Leadership
"A how-to guide on inspiring a culture of innovation in your workplace."
--CIO Insight's Best Business Books for 2011
About the Book
The key to generating growth and shareholder value today is the ability to develop and embed innovation into every facet of business. But how do you do that?
Leadership. It takes a business leader with vision and a sense of accountability to merge corporate culture and innovation processes into a powerful, self-sustaining engine that dominates markets. Without that kind of leadership, a company is just spinning its wheels.
Breaking Away provides the framework to be that leader--and to create other leaders who will drive your company into a future of profits and growth.
Pioneers in the field of innovation leadership, Jane Stevenson and Bilal Kaafarani provide a simple but powerful model for breaking away from your industry pack by fully utilizing your employees, technology, and resources. You'll learn how:
- Ford beat Toyota in the race to create the first hybrid (and why everyone thinks it was vice versa)
- GE's development of a locomotive battery makes planet earth more sustainable
- Skype landed 480 million registered users in its first four years of business
- Emirates airline has grown from a small, regional carrier to one of the world's top three airlines
Different organizations, different industries . . . one thing in common: a cadre of leaders who understand the nature of innovation, develop well-defined priorities, and maintain a powerful sense of accountability.
Breaking Away will change the way you approach leadership and innovation--and put you on the road to market domination.
Synopsis
The first major book to explore how innovation processes and the role of effective leadership combine to yield breakthrough innovations
Synopsis
The blueprint for achieving growth and driving shareholder value by embedding support for innovation into every facet of your business
Breaking Away is one of the first books to bridge the gap between leadership and innovation by revealing what it takes to create both breakthrough ideas and the leaders who make them happen.
Written by the chief innovation officer for Coca-Cola and a leading recruiter of innovation leaders, Breaking Away provides a framework that executives, managers, and entrepreneurs can use to create an environment that drives REAL innovation, the breakthrough products or services that are: efficient to produce or deliver; in demand; and profitable.
Interviews and case studies of global giants like Burberry, Mastercard, Nestle, GE, HP, Nintendo, and others, show you how leaders put these principles into action: How Ford beat Toyota to the hybrid (and why everyone thinks the Japanese company got there first); how GE is changing the face of cancer treatment; how a self-confessed “snackaholic” drove Lesser Evil Snacks to 120% Y-o-Y growth-and a place among the INC. 500 “fastest growing companies” index.
About the Author
Jane Edison Stevenson, is a Vice Chairman, Board & CEO Services in Korn/Ferry Internationals Atlanta office. She is an industry expert on recruiting leaders of growth and innovation. A pioneer in the field, Jane was responsible for bringing in many of the first Chief Innovation Officers and CEOs who focused on growth through innovation. Evangelical in her belief that sustainable growth is this generations business imperative, Jane is a marquee brand in her industry and was acknowledged by Business Weeks' “100 Most Influential Search Consultants in the World” for the past two years. Jane is known for her strong global relationships in Fortune 500 C-suites and among board of directors. She is an accomplished public speaker and is frequently consulted by Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal to discuss trends and issues relating to innovation and general management. As an innovative leader in her own right, Jane is the architect of a number of ground breaking product offerings for boards and top executives, including Korn/Ferrys C-Suite Succession offering. Jane joined Korn/Ferry from Heidrick & Struggles, here she served on the management committee for many years and founded and led the firms venture capital and global marketing, sales and strategy officers practices. She was a founding member and is currently on the board of the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation.
Bilal Kaafarani has held positions as global innovation executive from P&G, Kraft, and FritoLay, and is currently an officer of The Coca-Cola Company. Bilal has experienced what is written about in Breaking Away first hand. After his arrival, Coca-Cola was listed in BusinessWeeks 2009 Top 25 Companies for Innovation for the first time in its history. Bilal was also honored by BusinessWeek as one of the worlds Top 25 Masters of Innovation. He has had the unique opportunity to work with some of the best brands in the world, and to experience the benefits and liabilities of many leadership styles and environments. Innovation platforms developed under Bilals leadership include: Coca-Colas groundbreaking Freestyle fountain drink equipment, Glaceaus international expansion of Vitamin Water, Minute Maid Supermilky Pulpy, Simply Oranges new range of juice product offerings, Frito Lays transition from highly saturated fats (palmoline) to high oleic oils (sunflower) for Lays, Cheetos, Doritos, and Ruffles; the development of Sensations, Artesana and Sun Chips, as well as Marketplace Innovations on brands such as Kraft Natural Cheese, Jell-O, TANG, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Toblerone, Milka and Altoids, and the acclaimed Category Innovation platform that resulted in a wide range of highly successful fat free products under the label of “Kraft Free”. Bilal was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” for Wayne State Universitys College of Engineering in 2008. In addition to his academic achievements, he holds patents for a number of breakthrough food sector technologies.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: THE INNOVATION EQUATION;
Chapter 1. A Rose by Any Other Name: This is Innovation;
Chapter 2. Let There Be Light: Finding Inspiration;
Chapter 3. The Sweet Spota: Innovation that Performs;
PART TWO: THE LEADERSHIP EQUATION;
Chapter 4. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Role of Leadership in Innovation;
Chapter 5. The Right Stuff: Leadership Personalities;
Chapter 6. One for All and All for One: Creating an Innovation Culture;
Chapter 7. The Buck Stops Here: The CEO Factor;
PART THREE: THE PAYOFF;
Chapter 8. It's a Jungle in Here: Creating an Innovation Environment;
Chapter 9. A Company of Ones: The People Component;
Chapter 10. Here's the Beef: Engaging the Market;
Chapter 11. Are You Ready?: Taking up the Gauntlet