Business Innovation

The title, Evolve or Die, is somewhat blunt, and it is an exaggeration. But my belief is that it’s closer to the truth than many people realize. And it’s my genuine hope that this book and the stories within on innovating and creating are of real interest and benefit to you. It might seem trite to write this, but (in reference to Henry David Thoreau) you weren’t meant to settle for a life of quiet desperation. You’ll need to innovate and create.

This is a history of the transformation of Verizon and the telecommunications industry told through the eyes of founding CEO Ivan Seidenberg and his leadership team, with highlights and commentary from best-selling global leadership guru Ram Charan.

Based on 10 years of research and interviews with 80 top executives, the award-winning The Samsung Way is the first definitive guide to the groundbreaking management principles that transformed a lagging electronics company into one of the most successful brands in the world.

Why do some programs deliver their product under cost, while others bust their budget? Why do some deliver ahead of schedule, while others experience endless delays? And most importantly, which products work better - the quick and thrifty or the slow and expensive? Which situation leads to superior equipment? In this story-filled blend of quirky pop culture and practical engineering insight, Dan Ward presents an entertaining and useful framework for pursuing rapid, frugal innovation.

Everyone has the right to be well managed. And it is possible to be “just” at work - to treat others as you would be treated. These are radical propositions. When you live by them, the people you lead through your management hierarchy understand the context of the work they’re doing. They feel connected to the overall purpose of the enterprise and are aligned to its vision and values.

Today’s board rooms, think tanks, and staff lounges are more diverse than ever before. These cultural differences can either lead to gridlock among stubborn, single-minded thinkers or they can catalyze innovation and growth among an expansive team of creative, distinctive individuals. Diverse teams are far more creative than homogenous teams—but only when they are managed effectively. Driven by Difference identifies the management practices necessary to minimize conflict while maximizing the informational diversity found in varied values and experiences.

Part philosophy, part business, and part history, this book is a kaleidoscopic view of the way humans have been able to achieve greatness for themselves, their organizations, and the world at large. You'll learn from the wisdom of Eastern philosophies that are over 2,500 years old and the interconnected insights of Leonardo da Vinci. Couple that with Fortune 100 corporate cross pollination for creativity and startup thinking for how to adapt with ease, and you have Everything Connects. This isn't just a quick fix for your next quarter; this is how you succeed in the long run.

Venus Genius: The Female Prescription for Innovation explores innovation from different perspectives: historical, scientific, sociological, cultural, and practical—all through the feminine lens. It addresses the shortage of women in innovation and how important it is to address this as a first step to inclusion. This book reveals that any innovator can acquire the necessary skills to create meaningful innovation.

Every city in America wants to become a tech hub, yet so few succeed—and that’s the problem. Tech jobs, venture capital, and R&D are concentrated in a handful of big coastal cities, while the broad middle of the country is left out. But to thrive in the twenty-first century, cities must create innovation economies of their own and grow in more inclusive ways. In January 2020, Nicholas Lalla founded Tulsa Innovation Labs to help Tulsa, Oklahoma transition from its oil and gas legacy to tech. Lalla’s organization would go on to build the first tech-led economic development strategy.

Authentic Inclusion™, an idea originated by Frances West, former IBM chief accessibility officer, is defined as the institutional insight that human diversity is at the core of disruptive innovation. It calls for holistic actions across an institution to respect an individual's ability to make a difference despite being different. Frances describes how her personal and professional journey led her to this thinking and work. The book addresses the diversity issues and proposes new ways that business leaders can think about inclusion as human first.

In the ground-breaking Innovation Thinking Methods, entrepreneur and tech CEO Osama A. Hashmi introduces the discipline of "innovation-thinking," based on the methods and techniques he's applied over the past 15 years to build strong innovation cultures in his award-winning tech companies, and to help entrepreneurs and enterprise companies refocus their thinking back towards ambitious goals and more meaningful pursuits.

In today's fast-changing, hyper-competitive market, developing your ability to creatively solve problems is mission critical. Creativity fuels growth, serves clients, and contributes to mission-based pursuits. Across every industry, organizations have an insatiable appetite to find creative problem-solvers, who can crack the code to unlock innovative outcomes and drive measurable results.

Directing Creativity: The Art of Innovation is a practical guide to unlock creativity and drive innovation. Award-winning Hollywood film composer Alan Williams demystifies the creative process in practical, accessible terms that are applicable to every innovative passion.

You always knew digital was going to change things, but you didn’t realize how close to home it would hit. In every industry, digital competitors are taking advantage of new platforms, tools, and relationships to undercut rivals, get closer to customers, and disrupt the usual ways of doing business. The only way to compete is to evolve. James McQuivey of Forrester Research has been teaching people how to do this for more than a decade. He’s gone into the biggest companies, even in traditional industries like insurance and consumer packaged goods, and changed the way they think about innovation.

Is your company prepared for the Gen D future, or is it heading toward life support? A lot of companies across the globe are going to die over the next few years not because of macroeconomic stress but because there is an emerging generation that is radically changing the rules of customer engagement.

The American dream continues to resonate with immigrants from around the world. Millions of people hope to come to the United States to build a better life for themselves and their families, often by creating and growing new ventures and companies. While not everyone succeeds, many do. Mei Xu is one of those successes. In Burn, entrepreneur and international business­woman Mei Xu tells her story of ingenuity, determination, and luck.

Flat, Fluid, and Fast delivers the tactics and strategies you need to create a disruption-proof company during the talent mobility revolution. It walks you through the entire process, providing expert advice on new ways to draw top talent to your company, implement new training programs, create employee mobility plans, design innovative career paths for staff, leverage contractors and other contingent workers, and operate an adaptable organization for long-term success.

Through the lens of Rayburn Electric Cooperative's incredible journey, *Status Quo is Not Company Policy* offers a roadmap for leaders seeking to build resilient, adaptive organizations. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an aspiring entrepreneur, this book will inspire you to embrace change, empower your people, and lead with fearlessness.

A Bridge Not Too Far: Where Creativity Meets Innovation by Deepak Ohri is a must-listen and inspirational book for anyone seeking to harness the power of innovation and creativity to succeed in the business world. Ohri, founder and CEO of lebua Hotels and Resorts, shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a renowned award-winning entrepreneur in the luxury hospitality industry with a focus on management and leadership.

Change the Box: A Guide to Dream, Incubate, and Scale Your Innovations by John Spencer-Taylor reveals powerful strategies to transform bold ideas into thriving businesses. Drawing from his experience with BrainGu, Spencer-Taylor shares practical advice on balancing creativity with commercial viability. The book also introduces the "Change the Box" mantra, emphasizing small, impactful changes that drive significant results.