1–2-WOW is back: Building innovation heroes at DBS
Intrapreneurs. They are the inventors, creators and dreamers of a company, with infinite ideas on changing the world for good.
At DBS, intrapreneurs are the heartbeat of our innovation enterprise. Based on this premise, the organization employs Intrapreneur programmes to help build the innovation skills, experience and confidence of employees.
One example is the 1–2-WOW programme. Introduced in 2020, it was designed to motivate employees who have brilliant ideas to develop them into real solutions that make a positive change to banking.
Now back for its third run, DBS is putting the power to WOW in the hands of employees all over the world once again. Since its launch, the programme has grown significantly, with S$50,000 in experiments funding pool. This year, we’re launching three categories: Wild Card (Innovation), Sustainability, and for the first time ever — Web 3.0.
Innovators will be tasked to amplify the power of financial services in a Web 3.0 world, shape the future of the Bank and/or come up with solutions to motivate employees to make their sustainability learning journey fun and engaging.
What’s at stake for participants? S$15,000 worth of prizes and bragging rights to help innovate and transform DBS Bank to be the Best Bank for a Better World! What does it take to be a 1–2-WOW winner? We caught up with last year’s winners to uncover their secrets.
The Green Queen: Charita Bandarupali, Sustainability Winner 2021
Winning Idea: Changing email font types for greater ink savings across the organization
Congrats on winning the Sustainability Challenge! How did you come up with your winning idea?
Charita: The idea came about from my own Six Sigma experience where we believe that small changes, when repeated, can add up to a significant difference.
What’s the one thing we should know about innovating?
Charita: It is important to remember that no idea is too small. I thought my idea was too simple and easy, and I wasn’t even sure if I should’ve enrolled in 1–2 WOW. DBS has proven that it adopts all the good ideas, no matter how little they are and integrates them into its culture.
You are the winner of last year’s Sustainability category, how can we build sustainability into innovation?
Charita: Technology was developed to harness nature, but on the contrary, it has been depleting it. I believe we can’t move a step ahead without including sustainability as a part of our everyday goals. No matter what we do, we have to think about how to make this world a better place.
The Delicious Disruptor: Bharat Bhushan Bhama, Innovation Winner 2021
Winning Idea: RoboWealthy, an Investment-as-a-Service platform
How can we challenge the industry’s status quo and innovate?
Bharat: We need to be customer obsessed and address an existing pain point. The second most important factor is to not strategise within closed rooms, and to strategise by having a wider view from the window. This means going out and speaking with customers to understand their concerns.
What does it take to be a great innovator?
Bharat: I live by two principles: To be a great observer and discuss your ideas with the people around you, and to be ready to pivot. I’m a firm believer that nimble ideas win long races.
What’s one thing our aspiring 1–2-WOW participants should know about innovating?
Bharat: Innovating is not inventing something new. The majority of times, it is about improving an existing condition in a way that was not done by incumbents. If you have an idea, jot it down and visit it regularly as and when you receive any new leads or have pivoting thoughts. Over time, you will create a robust idea to implement.
