2010: Celebrating the Year of the Tiger

It’s been a long and rough ride through the past year’s economic upheavals and business challenges around the world. Although spending and investments are still on a conservative path, the Year 2010 brings a new decade, new hope, new aspirations, and new promises. With the Chinese New Year upon us, we can also look forward to the Year of the Tiger and its fearsome energy. Innovation initiatives embrace the traits of the Tiger in showing courage, energy, and engagement across cultures. In addition to great perseverance, the luck of the Tiger may help accelerate new opportunities for managers, teams, and organizations in 2010.

Fall 2009: Creating Vital Voices Around the World

In late October, the US NGO Vital Voices sponsored a Corporate Ambassador Program to Algeria where two American businesswomen and I were invited to serve in a mission for the North Africa/Middle East (MENA) region. The Association des Algeriennes Managers et Entrepreneurs (AME) organized the event in partnership with the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Vital Voices Partnership. It was a great honor to join this initiative and to be offered this opportunity. Our mission focused on inspiring and developing local women entrepreneurs and managers to ‘go global’ in launching their products and services to international markets.

Summer 2009: Inspiring Innovation San Francisco Style

Spending the summer in the San Francisco Bay Area, California provided a welcome burst of sunshine, energy, and inspiration. The entrepreneurial spirit and creative energy is very much alive in Northern California with much activity from small and large companies with domestic and international aspirations. Moving from concept to execution, these players are making new paths within product design, social media, and green technologies.

Creativity and Innovation Euro Style

Sitting through a debate session at the European Commission’s conference on creativity and innovation, I wondered how this very conservative and structured assembly room would harness creative ideas. Glancing at the serious faces surrounding me, I wondered if I had arrived at the right event. One of the panel speakers must have read my mind as he addressed the question on bringing creativity into our workshop sessions: “Let’s tell a story, paint a picture, or sing a song when we report our results at the end of the day”. The facilitator, a European Commission Director, dropped his jaw and with a bewildered expression he looked at the audience and said “ohhhhkay, we promised you an entertaining day”.

Jan 09: Happy New Year et Bonne Année

It’s time to celebrate the New Year and the new Global Launch 2.0 blog. With a new base in Paris, this year will be devoted to exploring and uncovering innovative programs and processes across Europe and around the world. Since global innovation is only achieved through effective cross-cultural collaboration, it’s important to leverage knowledge and talent throughout the organization. This blog is therefore intended to bring new inspirations, ideas, and actions for your global initiatives in 2009. You will find a re-cap of events from fall 2008, followed by regular updates and commentary in the coming months. Please feel free to provide feedback on current and future content. Wishing you a year filled with much happiness, creativity, and success!

Dec 08: Year of Intercultural Dialogue

Ready to visit one of the most cross-culturally diverse regions in the world? As the European Union celebrated the ‘Year of Intercultural Dialogue’ throughout 2008, there were many conferences and events devoted to promoting cultural diversity and knowledge among its 27 member countries. In order to recap some of the cross-cultural insights of the year, a special seminar was offered in December to explore knowledge, mobility, dialogue, and exchange within the region. The ‘Crossing Cultures’ one day seminar included a special study to explore Europe’s cultural differences and perspectives featuring three representative countries – France, Germany, and Italy.

Nov 08: I’s to the Future

The ICT Europe Conference 2008 rolled out with much fanfare and excitement highlighting Information Communication Technologies and their role in creating new opportunities for ‘invention, innovation, and impact’. As many as 4500 attendees visited Lyon, France in November to attend this bi-annual event which brings together researchers and innovators, policy and business decision-makers across Europe. Organized by the European Commission’s Directorate General for the Information Society and Media, the ICT event presents Europe’s future priorities for research funding and evaluates key public policy issues for stimulating innovation in the ICT area.

Oct 08: Europe Innova Initiative

The Europe Innova initiative acts as a focal point for innovation networking in Europe where it aspires to inform, assist, and mobilize key stakeholders in the area of entrepreneurial innovation. It is dedicated to collaboration on innovative issues involving 50 different projects across the region. Celebrating the role of innovation in boosting competitiveness and business opportunities, the Europe Innova Conference 2008 took place in Lyon from October 22-24 with creative initiatives from Amsterdam to Paris.

Sep 08: SF Bay Innovation Tour

How would you translate the innovation culture in the SF Bay Area to a group of international engineering students? When invited to organize a road trip to study the SF Bay Area’s role in innovation and technology, I immediately googled the Silicon Valley map. The consulting assignment involved taking a group of French students and professors on a 10 day Innovation Tour in the SF Bay Area in mid-September 2008. Since the Bay Area has long been considered a great source for entrepreneurship and innovation, I was excited about the prospect of showing off the best and brightest minds that could inspire.