BigHeads Network

We've all heard the stories about how Steve Jobs found inspiration for Apple products by learning about the Bauhaus, calligraphy and by practicing Buddhism. He once said, "I have always found Buddhism—Japanese Zen Buddhism in particular—to be aesthetically sublime. The most sublime thing I’ve ever seen are the gardens around Kyoto.” 

And then there's Nike's CEO, Mark Parker (pictured above). He spends time with musicians, graffiti artists and other diverse talent. He once told the Wall Street Journal, “I meet regularly with our biggest retail customers, but I also go off the beaten path where I can stimulate the right side of my brain - and discover new tastes in music, fashion, cuisine.” 

Here's what we take from these examples: 

1. EVERY corporate executive (especially those at the most senior levels) need to make DESIGN a PERSONAL priority.

2. These executives should take a cue from Mr. Jobs and Mr. Parker and go spend time with ALL TYPES of design-minded individuals - from tattoo artists...to architects...to fashion designers - to learn about various aesthetics and trends. 

We genuinely believe that every corporation needs a CHIEF 'CROSS POLLINATION' OFFICER who is responsible for things such as:

1. Helping cross-functional teams (from product development...to marketing...to manufacturing...to HR) explore approaches, tools, business models, technologies, strategies, etc. from OUTSIDE (including unexpected) industries and areas that can be used to solve their nagging problems. People like to say, "no idea is a new idea"...here at BigHeads, we believe "no problem is a new problem."

2. Creating a truly efficient system that facilitates INTERNAL knowledge sharing among teams and departments to help find solutions. Sometimes the answer resides in a completely different group within the organization, but there's no easy way to collect that information or expertise.

3. Identifying NEW ways/places to leverage and apply the company's EXISTING technologies, tools, systems and even expertise. Can our proprietary tech be licensed to a completely different industry? Can our expertise be applied to help a non-profit partner? These are questions that need a champion.

Point is - it's time companies make "LOOKING OUTSIDE" an ongoing practice...not a one-off initiative. 

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If you're interested in Cross Pollination, here are a couple additional links about the topic to check out:

The importance of REFRAMING problem statements.

Looking Outside to Innovate Within (video)

Let’s celebrate the CORPORATE “Crazy Ones”

HERE is an example where tech from a DATING platform is being used in HEALTHCARE to match liver donors and recipients. 

Just another example of CROSS POLLINATION (and this one is especially powerful because we can't even begin to tell you how many times people in the healthcare industry tell us that Cross Pollination and Open Innovation CAN'T be used in their field). 

How the old adage “Bullshit In...Bullshit Out” applies to artificial intelligence. 

If you want to be featured in one of John Palumbo’s “Cross Pollination” articles...get in touch - [email protected].

Here are some examples of past articles:

What an AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER can teach your small business about JUGGLING MULTIPLE PROJECTS

What a BOUNTY HUNTER can teach your small business about FINDING THE BEST HIRES

What a TOP DATING COACH can teach you about BUSINESS NETWORKING

What REALITY TV PERSONALITIES can teach you about ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2017 will be the "Year of Reframing" for corporate Open Innovation teams. 

To help cross-functional corporate teams GET SMART on the EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES that are primed to disrupt their category or business, we’ll bring them together with 10 experts (BigHeads) who are developing the tech they NEED to know about.

The session will begin with a SHOW-AND-TELL where participating corporate team will learn about each technology directly from the developers. 

Then comes the fun part. The BigHeads management team will work together with the corporate team to CONNECT-THE-DOTS between the tech innovations presented and their specific business challenges to develop UNIQUE, RELEVANT and TIMELY technology CONCEPTS and SOLUTIONS. 

It’s our version of a HACKATHON -- it’s FUN...it’s FAST...and it’s designed with the FLEXIBILITY to impact any category (from CPG to hospitality to financial services).

UNUSUAL SUSPECTS - Brand Storytelling

Here are three “UNUSUAL SUSPECTS” marketers SHOULD BE (but aren’t) enlisting when developing their Brand’s story:

1. Author/Novelist: let’s face it, no one can teach you how to craft the arc of a story better.

2. Reality TV Producer: whether you like reality TV or not, they know how to “grab” an audience and keep them coming back...and can surely teach you some tricks-of-the-trade. 

3. Comedian: does everything always have to be so damn serious? Bringing in a comedian will help you lighten the mood and humanize your brand.