The Innovation Mindset

THE INNOVATION MINDSET is written by Lorraine H. Marchand, general manager of life sciences at IBM Watson Health, with John Hanc. Marchand draws on her long experience in new product management and her work as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School to develop and describe “Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry.” These “laws” are explained in individual chapters filled with illustrative anecdotes, questions to consider and some summary takeaways. The many examples add a practical, realistic note and help make the ideas more memorable. Although THE INNOVATION MINDSET is slightly repetitive in places, it could provide an excellent outline and discussion prompt for Business classes as well as for individual entrepreneurs and corporate employees. Marchand acknowledges that she has written this text for readers “interested in fomenting change or who want to better understand the process of innovation.” And she is an superb guide, helpfully including a chapter devoted to the “unique challenges women innovators face and why” plus an appendix which lists resources for women innovators. That is only one of seven appendices; others include information about and examples of a business plan, funding application, and a pitch deck. Be curious and have a look at THE INNOVATION MINDSET – as Marchand writes, “whether you are sixteen or sixty, your whole life is ahead of you. You can choose your area of focus and start generating new ideas today. Your time is now.”