The need for corporate entrepreneurship has become more and more important in order to stay in the game. In reality, corporate organizations are dealing with problems that arise from controlling processes, corporate culture and in-the-box-thinking. How can they overcome these hurdles? How to find a different approach, what’s the secret ingredient of startups? Corporate Startup Summit tries to find these answers. Therefore we are introducing particular speakers to give you deep insights about what they do and what they will teach.
Greg, thanks for this interview! You have a lot of experience in businesses. What is in your opinion the key successful indicator of Corporate Entrepreneurship?
Value, which is produced and acknowledged inside and outside the corporation, because it further attracts partnerships, talents and customers. So the indicator is what enables you to do – it’s not an ideology. Successful Corporate Entrepreneurship should enable you to go further or transform how people behave. Another indicator is the ability of a corporate to bring valuable and sustainable solutions to the society.
As you live in Paris, what do you think are the biggest differences in terms of Corporate Entrepreneurship between countries like France and Germany or Switzerland?
I wouldn’t say that I’m an expert in country-based innovation and I wonder if it’s still possible to be, because at the moment regional silos break down more and more. Organizations are becoming increasingly multinational. The sake of Internet, social networks and so on contributes to that development. For example if an idea pops up somewhere it immediately finds an echo in other places. Ideas slip away from their origin and can return even stronger. Many different things inspire businesses; we don’t even know where these ideas come from very often. There are indeed poles of innovation in technology or academics, but innovation is fluent and pervasive and you shouldn’t care too much about borders. Of course you have some countries where it is easier to do a part of it but maybe another part is more difficult. This could be the clue: If you want to innovate, think global and use the best of every place. That’s the way you get the best out of every country.
Why are you participating as a speaker at the International Corporate Startup Summit in Zurich and what do you want to give people on their way?
I want people to understand the imperative of autonomy. The time of command and control is over. Creating the appropriate conditions for autonomy and distributed leadership. It’s true not only in terms of management but for many things like finance, communication, information and knowledge-transfer. For those little zones where it’s not true yet it’s an invitation to innovate. That’s one thing to keep in mind: Autonomy.
You want to know more about the Corporate Startup Summit? Find out HERE