Young Alumni Roundtable Discusses Opportunities and Challenges of Innovation in the Workplace
On November 8, the 每日大瓜 Office of Alumni Affairs and co-hosted a Young Alumni Roundtable panel discussion on 鈥淒isruptive Innovation,鈥 hosted by Accenture. Moderated by Laizer Kornwasser 鈥92SB, four 每日大瓜 alumni took on the task of exploring career opportunities and risks in a fast-changing world: Dani Eckstein 鈥06SB (director of communications in media and technology at Accenture); Batsheva Goldstein 鈥00SB (director of client advice and management at BPN); Eli Hamburger 鈥08YC (director of the Aladdin Product Group at Blackrock); and Zvi Weiss 鈥71YC (certified IT specialist at IBM).
From left to right: Eli Hamburger, Laizer Kornwasser, Dani Eckstein, Bathsheva Goldstein and Zvi Weiss
Kornwasser kicked off the discussion by asking the panelists to define innovation. Hamburger distinguished between automation and innovation, describing the former as the attempt to make existing processes more efficient while the latter involved a 鈥渘ew vision鈥 that changed fundamentals. Weiss agreed, saying that innovation involved 鈥渂reaking out of accepted ways of doing things,鈥 and Goldstein added that innovation involved 鈥渘ew tools.鈥 Eckstein noted that within an organization, 鈥渋nnovation is everyone鈥檚 business.鈥
The discussion shifted to how to promote a culture of innovation within organizations, with the consensus being that change, if it happens, will come through a combination of pathways, including top-down mandates from the CEO, suggestions moving upward from staff, consumer responses and a relentless emphasis on re-education, behavioral flexibility and a mindset, as Weiss pointed out, of 鈥渢hinking about what people aren鈥檛 yet thinking about.鈥
Innovation, of course, has its risks, and oftentimes being innovative does not necessarily mean being the first out of the gate with an idea, product or process. Kornwasser noted several times that Apple, seen by many as an innovator, in fact often innovates later rather than first, shaping product features and the 鈥渆xperience鈥 of the product rather than manufacturing something entirely new. There are advantages and drawbacks to being on what Weiss called 鈥渢he bleeding edge,鈥 and companies need to know themselves well enough to decide whether the innovation they pursue is wholesale or incremental. But, as Kornwasser pointed out, 鈥渋nnovation in any organization is always a matter of when, not if,鈥 and all organizations need to cultivate an attitude of growth and improvement.
Each of the presenters had targeted advice for the audience. Goldstein urged them to constantly pursue their own educations, in a drive to be 鈥渇lexible and adaptable.鈥 He also pressed them to find a way to embrace failure and to prevent any fear of failure from impeding their career goals. Eckstein reminded alumni that they all 鈥渉ave a voice鈥 within the organizations where they work, and that they need to become allies of people in their networks who are taking innovative approaches.
For more information about alumni networking opportunities, go to . Alumni can also join , an alumni-centric professional networking site where members can share information and opportunities.
From left to right: Eli Hamburger, Laizer Kornwasser, Dani Eckstein, Bathsheva Goldstein and Zvi Weiss
