Innovation is not a side project

NRF’s Artemis Berry talks with theBoardlist’s Sukhinder Singh Cassidy on the people, culture and decisions that drive true innovation.

NRF
NRF
Jul 21, 2017 · 4 min read

Driving innovation isn’t exactly one of those things you can check off a to-do list on any given day. Again and again, we hear that companies have to prioritize innovation, infuse it into their culture and bring in diverse perspectives. For retailers facing an increasingly demanding consumer and an industry undergoing transformation, the question isn’t just how to innovate in one area, but how to drive it across the organization. It’s the central theme of the upcoming NRFtech in San Diego, where retail technology, marketing and digital executives will gather July 23–25.

Prior to her appearance at NRFtech, we spoke with Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, founder and chairman of video shopping site Joyus and founder of theBoardlist, an organization that aims to put more women on boards, about how to be innovative as an organization, close the gender gap and realize your vision.

Retailers are talking a lot about creating a culture of innovation. What can you share with them about creating the right culture based on your own experience in the organizations you’ve been a part of?

Innovation is a mandate in most retail companies today, but being truly innovative can mean taking big risks. From a leadership perspective, how do you approach risky decisions?

This is the ideal, although sometimes companies wait too long to take action, or the market changes more rapidly and they are forced to consume the biggest risk in one fell swoop, which obviously is inherently “more risky” itself.

What’s the best way to sell someone on a big idea? What do you do, or how does your team sell a big idea to you?

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy will join a panel of executives at NRFtech 2017 to talk about navigating the hype of new technology while avoiding the pitfalls of inaction.

Your work on theBoardlist highlights the importance of getting more women on the boards of tech companies. What are some things leaders of any company can do today to help close the gender gap within their own organizations or industries?

Losing women mid-cycle in their careers diminishes the value of building diversity in entry-level roles if there is not a clear path for women to scale to leadership positions that accommodates their concerns/issues/barriers mid-career.

What people, companies or brands inspire you? What makes them inspiring?

You’ve made some big moves in your career. How do you know when it’s time to move on to something new?


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The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, representing all retail formats and channels of distribution. https://nrf.com

NRF Events

Unparalleled education and game-changing ideas from retail’s visionary leaders.

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