The Innovation Show

• Chuck House: Lessons on Intrapreneurship & Innovation Resistance

    In this episode of The Innovation Show, Chuck House—legendary HP intrapreneur and author of Permission Denied—joins Aidan McCullen, host of The Innovation Show and a Thinkers50 Innovation Award recipient, to explore the real dynamics behind innovation inside large organizations. House shares how he repeatedly challenged assumptions, defied orders, built high-performing teams, and navigated the "corporate immune system" to create breakthrough technologies such as the logic analyzer and Pisces system. Together, Chuck and Aidan unpack why innovation is resisted, how success blinds leaders to the next paradigm shift, and what intrapreneurs must do to survive and thrive. Brought to you by Kyndryl, this conversation blends deep corporate experience with modern innovation thinking—from one of HP's most impactful engineers and one of the world's leading thinkers on transformation and change. Episode Highlights Why organizations punish failure while preaching innovation The paradox of permission: what leaders say vs. what innovators hear How established success blinds teams to new paradigms Emotional and psychological realities of intrapreneurs How to unlearn, relearn, and escape old mental models Why existing sales forces resist innovative products Hard-earned lessons from HP's logic analyzers & the Pisces project What leaders must do to build systems—not heroes—that drive innovation   Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro & Sponsor 00:30 Chuck House returns 00:57 Defiant innovation at HP 01:44 Permission paradox 03:07 Amazon's failure philosophy 03:47 Radical transparency 05:16 Future architecture & vision 06:00 Chuck reflects on his journey 07:47 AMD recruitment story 17:02 Paradigm shifts 19:34 Organizational resistance 22:42 Innovation cycles 32:26 Unlearning & relearning 40:16 The irony of pointing fingers 40:45 Navigating new paradigms 44:18 Challenges of intrapreneurship 44:33 Winning the sales channel 45:09 Sales force resistance 51:44 Understanding real customers 53:08 Innovation vs incrementalism 01:03:03 Rise & fall of logic analyzers 01:08:00 Managing intrapreneurial projects 01:13:06 Quality, collaboration & culture 01:20:34 Closing reflections About the Guest Chuck House is an award-winning engineer, HP Fellow, and author of Permission Denied. His innovations shaped decades of computing and instrumentation, and his perspective on intrapreneurship remains profoundly relevant. About the Host Aidan McCullen is an author, global keynote speaker, innovation consultant, and host of The Innovation Show. A former international rugby player for Ireland, he later moved into transformation roles across media and technology. Aidan is the author of Undisruptable, lectures on emerging technology at Trinity College Dublin, and is recognised by Thinkers50 for his global contribution to innovation and reinvention. https://aidanmccullen.com

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• The AI Revolution & Business Model Transformation | Osterwalder, Yu & Choudary

  In this special Thinkers50 edition of Innovation Show X, sponsored by Kyndryl, host Aidan McCullen brings together three of the world's most influential management thinkers—Alex Osterwalder, Howard Yu, and Sangeet Paul Choudary—to explore how AI is transforming the architecture of business. What makes this conversation extraordinary is that, unknown to everyone at the time of recording, each participant would receive a major Thinkers50 recognition just hours later: Sangeet Paul Choudary — Thinkers50 Strategy Award Howard Yu — reaffirmed in the Thinkers50 global ranking Alex Osterwalder — reaffirmed in the Thinkers50 global ranking Aidan McCullen — Thinkers50 Innovation Award This episode captures four award-winning perspectives before the accolades were announced—an unfiltered, spontaneous exchange on the real work of reinvention. 🎙️ Episode Overview AI is reshaping the business landscape, but most organisations focus on tools rather than the deeper question: How must business models, organisational structures, and leadership mindsets evolve in an AI-driven world? Together, Alex, Howard, Sangeet, and Aidan unpack: Why 95% of GenAI projects fail and what organisations miss How AI reshuffles entire industries, not just processes The hidden role of corporate antibodies in killing new ideas Why visionary leadership matters more than ever How modular, fluid organisations create a real edge What learning engines look like in practice Why the real value moves from "answers" to sensemaking How leaders can place better bets in uncertainty Why it's not an "AI strategy" you need, but a strategy for the world AI creates This is a masterclass in strategic reinvention from four globally recognised thinkers. ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Sponsor Message (Kyndryl) 00:41 The Confusing Landscape of AI in Business 01:20 Amara's Law & Business Impact 01:43 Panel Introduction at Thinkers50 02:25 Sangeet on Containerisation & Second-Order Effects 06:59 Osterwalder on Business Model Innovation 09:34 Yu on Capabilities & Industry Shifts 12:51 FOTO, Metaverse Missteps & Strategic Priority 15:21 Leadership Vision & the Capability Gap 21:32 Modularity & Learning Engines 37:00 Codifying an Innovation Culture 38:20 Vision Cascading Through Organisations 40:01 Why Good Ideas Fail to Scale 41:41 Leadership's Role in Innovation 43:13 From Sensing to Sensemaking 44:31 Exploration, Exploitation & Fluid Organisations 46:37 Continuous Change & Industry Reshuffling 49:04 The Future of AI in Business 50:33 Killing Projects & Resource Allocation 01:02:27 Closing Thoughts — Business Basics in an AI World 🌍 About the Guests Alex Osterwalder – Prolific Author, Creator of the Business Model Canvas and co-founder of Strategyzer; Thinkers50 global thought leader. Howard Yu – Author of Leap, LEGO Professor of Management & Innovation (IMD); Thinkers50 global thought leader. Sangeet Paul Choudary – Author of Platform Revolution and Reshuffle; Thinkers50 Strategy Award winner. Aidan McCullen – Author of Undisruptable, Host of The Innovation Show and Innovation Show, keynote speaker, and Thinkers50 Innovation Award winner.   📚 Resources & Links • Strategyzer → https://www.strategyzer.com • Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Reshapes the Knowledge Economy → https://amzn.to/3HWwj1I • Platform Revolution → https://amzn.to/4mBq2aQ • Sangeet's Substack → https://substack.com/@platforms/posts • Howard's Substack → https://howardyu.substack.com • Aidan's show notes → https://thethursdaythought.substack.com • Undisruptable → https://amzn.to/4pCEhgH   💡 About Our Sponsor: Kyndryl Kyndryl designs, runs, and reimagines the mission-critical technology systems that power the world's largest organisations. Their AI-powered consulting and unmatched managed services help leaders make smarter decisions, accelerate innovation, and build enduring competitive advantage. Learn more at Kyndryl.com. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with world-leading thinkers on AI, strategy, reinvention, and organisational transformation.

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• Navigating the Age of Chaos Part 2 with Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio

  Mastering Chaos: Navigating the BANI Future with Bob Johansen & Jamais Cascio   🎙️ Episode Title: Mastering Chaos: Navigating the BANI Future 👥 Guests: Bob Johansen & Jamais Cascio 💡 Sponsored by: Kyndryl | Reimagining the tech systems powering global enterprise innovation. In this episode, Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio return to explore their book Navigating the Age of Chaos: A Sensemaking Guide to a BANI World.  They dive into the evolution from VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) to BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) and its impact on leadership, strategy, and personal resilience. 🔍 Topics Include: The origins and future of VUCA and BANI VUCA+ and BANI+ frameworks Real-world examples: LEGO, Netflix, Special Olympics, Airbnb Leadership agility & "Flexive Command"  Future-back thinking and anticipatory history AI, ethics, empathy & strategic foresight Purpose, interconnectedness & sensemaking This episode is essential for leaders, innovators, and future-thinkers navigating today's complex and chaotic world. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:24 Opening Quote and Guest Introduction 00:59 Understanding VUCA and VUCA Plus 04:36 Exploring BANI and BANI Plus 06:37 Future Back Thinking and Historical Patterns 09:33 The Concept of Flexive Command 11:01 Resilience and Bendability in Organizations 25:59 Empathy and Anxiety in Leadership 39:52 Debating AI and Guardrails 40:47 Ethics and Metaphors in AI 41:57 Kate Darling's Perspective on AI 43:31 The Language of AI 43:59 Robotics and Empathy 45:51 Mindfulness and Anxiety 47:18 Nonlinearity in BANI 48:04 Neuro Flexibility and Improv 50:40 Orthogonal Thinking and T-shaped People 53:17 Distant Early Warnings 59:50 Gaming and Nonlinear Thinking 01:09:30 Incomprehensibility and Interconnectedness 01:16:45 Faith and Purpose in a BANI World 01:20:45 Final Thoughts and Conclusion   🔗 Useful links: • Navigating the Age of Chaos – ageofbani.com • Bob Johansen – IFTF.org • Jamais Cascio – openthefuture.com • Kyndryl Institute – kyndryl.com/institute • Aidan McCullen – aidanmccullen.com   #TheInnovationShow #BANI #VUCA #Leadership #FutureThinking #Chaos #Resilience #Innovation #Kyndryl #Thinkers50

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• Navigating the Age of Chaos Part 1 with Jamais Cascio And Bob Johansen

  Episode Summary: In Part 1 of this two-episode series, Aidan McCullen is joined by futurists Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio, co-authors of Navigating the Age of Chaos: A Sensemaking Guide to a BANI World That Doesn't Make Sense. The trio unpacks the BANI Framework — Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible — and explores how it helps us make sense of a world where traditional models like VUCA no longer apply.   Discover how anxiety, complexity, systemic fragility, and incomprehensible change are reshaping our lives and futures — and what we can do to adapt and thrive in the face of it all.   Key Discussion Points: From VUCA to BANI: Why old models fail System fragility and the myth of stability Psychological burnout in the age of anxiety Non-linear risk and delayed cause-effect dynamics Incomprehensibility and the collapse of trust in truth   Links & Resources: 🌐 Book: Navigating the Age of Chaos – https://ageofbani.com 📘 Bob Johansen – https://www.iftf.org 🧠 Jamais Cascio – https://www.openthefuture.com 🎙️ Sponsored by Kyndryl – https://kyndryl.com 🎓 Host and Irish Keynote Speaker Aidan McCullen and The Innovation Show is the first podcast to be recognised by Thinkers50, the global ranking body for management thinkers. https://aidanmccullen.com For those wondering what the anime mentioned by Jamais is: One Piece, in particular the group in the series called the "Straw Hat Pirates." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece_(1999_TV_series) https://www.npr.org/2025/10/05/nx-s1-5560980/gen-z-protesters-one-piece-pirate-flag 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:21 Reflecting on the Decade: 2015-2025 01:41 Introducing the B.A.N.I. Framework 02:24 Meet the Authors: Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio 04:29 The Evolution from VUCA to BANI 16:18 Understanding Brittle in BANI 30:14 Exploring Anxious in BANI 37:03 Alan Watts and the Timeless Nature of Anxiety 38:18 Resilience in the Face of Extinction 39:30 The Persistent Relevance of VUCA 39:52 The Unique Challenges of BANI 41:13 Interconnected Crises and Their Compounding Effects 44:30 The Participatory Panopticon and Surveillance 49:28 Non-Linearity and Climate Hysteresis 01:00:23 Stochastic Terrorism and Its Implications 01:02:44 Incomprehensibility in a BANI World 01:10:37 Conclusion and Further Resources Coming Soon: 👉 Part 2: BANI Plus – Flipping the Framework Positive

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• Chuck House The Odyssey of an Intrapreneur Permission Denied

  On this episode of The Innovation Show, we welcome Chuck House, serial intrapreneur, author of Permission Denied, and former executive at Hewlett-Packard. Chuck shares hard-won lessons from inside one of the world's most influential tech companies—revealing what it really takes to innovate from within. From helping pioneer the first commercial computer graphics display to earning HP's only-ever Medal of Defiance, Chuck's story is both a cautionary tale and a masterclass in intrapreneurial resilience. Hosted by Aidan McCullen, Thinkers50 Award recipient for Innovation and keynote speaker based in Ireland. 🎧 Highlights include: Surviving and thriving as an intrapreneur Navigating organisational resistance Why engineers must meet customers Leadership in uncertain times Insights for today's innovation leaders   📖 Get Chuck's book: Permission Denied: Odyssey of an Intrapreneur: https://amzn.to/3Xq2LxC 🌐 More on Aidan: www.aidanmccullen.com

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