🌴144. Innovate to stay alive feat. Stephen Shapiro (Weekend Rewind)
Hey! Thanks for tuning in to this weekend’s rewind. This conversation was recorded a few years ago, but wow—has it aged well. Today’s guest is the brilliant Stephen Shapiro , an innovation expert who's spent decades helping organisations grow by asking better questions and solving the right problems.
Stephen shares how he went from optimising processes (aka, shrinking companies) at Accenture to building one of their fastest-growing innovation practices—scaling from 0 to 20,000 people in nine months. 🔥
We dive into:
- Why innovation isn’t about ideas —and what it’s really about instead
- How companies misuse the word “innovation” (and what to do instead)
- The difference between differentiation and mission statements (and why it matters)
- Why mob-sourcing (hello, Boaty McBoatface) is not innovation
- The underrated power of problem formulation over problem-solving
- How your brain reacts to the word “creativity” (spoiler: it’s not all good)
- And what Stephen’s doing now to stay relevant and reimagine his next chapter
There’s so much in here—from laughter to learning to one of the best explanations I’ve heard about why asking better questions is the key to progress. Oh, and yes, he’s also playing the saxophone these days.
✨ Links:
- Stephen’s website: stephenshapiro.com
Enjoy the rewind,
—Leanne 💡🎷
*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are three ways I can help:
- Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel : Let's energise your next event.
- Get My Book : Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint .
- Red Carpet Campout : Inspire, Indulge, Invent. Let’s take your ideas outside in June 2025.
Let's connect on all the channels:
Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio .