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On Demand - De-Risking and Accelerating Innovation Inside Regulated Utilities [an Energy Central PowerSession™]

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The greatest weapon we possess to combat climate change is innovation. But innovating inside regulated utilities can be challenging. Utilities are highly complex organizations which exist within equally complicated regulated landscapes with a goal to deliver safe, affordable, and reliable power. How can innovation fit within this context? This panel discussion brings together a mix of innovation leaders spearheading change within their utilities alongside world renowned innovation expert Dr. Linda Hill, HBS professor and author of Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation.

In this “round robin” style discussion, we dive into the following questions that are top of mind with today’s leaders of utility innovation programs:

  • What is innovation? Is “innovation” getting a “bad rap” inside utilities? How can I position transformation effectively to get backing and engagement?
  • How do we create a bridge the future by working closely with the following groups:
         Customers
         Employees
         Operations
         Finance
         IT
         Regulators (how to involve, what is their role in innovation?)
  • Innovation is a human-based team sport. How can we build innovation cultures of high-performing teams? 
  • What role can non-engineers, our customers and employees play in the innovation discussion?
  • How can we scale innovation it to reach everyone – to promote the most diversity thought, establish a marketplace of ideas and reach all employees and partners?
  • Digital transformation is a key component of our innovation program, how do we get the data, digital teams on board?
  • We have project management teams and trackers inside our organization, why is innovation management different? How can I move our organization beyond the spreadsheet?
  • What KPIs or metrics should we track in our innovation program?

     

PANEL:

Allegra Hodges

Head of Strategic Innovation

Portland General Electric

 

Linda Hill

Co-Founder of
Paradox Strategies

Harvard Business
School Professor

 

Robin Lanier
Managing Director,
New Ventures
Southern Company

 

 

Chris Hilborn

Vice President,
Customer Insights and Solutions

Liberty Utilities

Morgan Steacy

Vice President,
Account Management, MA

National Grid

Heather Rock

Senior Director Strategy
Pacific Gas and Electric 

 
  

Kim Getgen
(Moderator)

Founder and CEO

InnovationForce