Innovation Mindset Development

I remember when “challenger brand” meant scrappy, niche, and slightly dangerous to the big players. Now? It’s the R&D department everyone is quietly watching. In the last 18 months, I’ve seen a major shift across global FMCG. Big players aren’t fighting challengers anymore, they’re studying them. Sometimes acquiring them. Sometimes copying them. Sometimes building their own version in-house with a faster, cleaner P&L. The line has officially blurred. Because the real advantage isn’t packaging or positioning, it’s speed. Challenger brands get from signal to shelf in months. They don’t spend six months aligning on “brand essence.” They listen, test, and move. That’s why they’re teaching heritage companies what modern consumer intimacy actually looks like. The smartest leaders I know aren’t dismissing them. They’re asking: “How can we bring that energy inside our business without breaking what works?” It’s not easy. You can’t graft startup behavior onto a 40-year-old structure without intention. But the ones getting it right are doing three things: 1️⃣ Protecting small-team autonomy. Give an empowered team ownership of one bet. Don’t drown it in governance. 2️⃣ Letting data talk sooner. Weekly readouts, not quarterly post-mortems. 3️⃣ Hiring differently. Bringing in people who’ve built things, not just scaled them. Whether you’re in marketing, RGM, supply, or HR, this shift affects you. It’s changing how brands are built, how decisions are made, and what “consumer-first” actually means in 2025. So maybe the better question isn’t: “How do we compete with challengers?” It’s: “Can we think, move, and connect like one, before someone else does?” #FMCG #CPG #BrandLeadership #GrowthStrategy #Innovation #ConsumerTrends #ChallengerBrands #MarketingStrategy

Watching young talent take bold risks made me think about the importance of nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset internally. Many organizations speak about innovation, yet their structures unintentionally restrict it. True entrepreneurship does not come from slogans or training sessions. It emerges when people are trusted to make decisions, take ownership, and challenge long-standing assumptions. When individuals feel responsible for outcomes rather than simply completing tasks, their entire perspective shifts. They begin to move with more confidence, think with greater ambition, and pursue ideas with the same determination you would expect from a founder. The biggest obstacle to internal entrepreneurship is unnecessary friction. Too many layers, slow approvals, and an environment that treats mistakes as failures quietly discourage initiative. In contrast, companies that allow space for calculated risk, value learning as much as results, and give teams visibility into the broader business naturally develop people who operate with a sense of ownership. The future belongs to organizations that enable this mindset. Leadership can emerge from any corner of a company when people are encouraged to question, explore, and build. Innovation becomes sustainable only when it is embedded in the culture, not imposed from above. Remember, real momentum begins when people shift from acting as employees to thinking as founders!

Before every talk, I try to find an idea that cuts through the noise. I’ve been chasing the single insight marketers—across every category—can take from the challengers rewriting the rules. And I think I’ve found it (or at least one truth). 💡 Always-on brand tracking is their unfair advantage. #Challengerbrands are everywhere right now—and they’re winning. A fragmented media landscape, lower barriers to entry, and accessible creative tools have created the perfect storm for challengers to rise. But taking on legacy players in crowded markets is never easy. The smartest challengers don’t win by outspending. They win by out-choosing. They make deliberate calls about who to reach, where to show up, and what to measure. 📈WHAT Challengers move faster than legacy brands, and their brand data keeps pace. While many established brands still rely on quarterly or annual studies, challengers use always-on tracking to spot shifts in real time. They have dashboards that make brand health—awareness, preference, sentiment—visible every day. They know what messages are sticking and where their positioning is slipping. 📈WHY Challengers stay in constant dialogue with consumers. They turn millions of daily DMs, comments, and micro-interactions into marketing and innovation insights. That’s how they uncover pain points, gaps, and opportunities before others even see them coming. 📈WHO Challengers treat their audience as collaborators, not customers. They invest in community moderation and two-way engagement, creating a brand people build with, not just buy from. 📈WHERE They know exactly where their audience lives online and which platforms they're spending most time on. They don’t rely on intuition alone. They use tools to track where conversations are happening and whether perception matches intention. 📈WHEN While legacy brands often tire of their own campaigns long before consumers do, challengers understand that repetition builds memory. They know that creative consistency, not constant reinvention, is what drives recall and trust. You can see this play out in brands like REFY and BYOMA, both redefining what it means to grow fast, stay close to their communities, and make data beautiful. (Link in comments to a recent Tracksuit webinar with loads of examples of HOW they’re doing it.) 💬 Now it is your turn: Feel free to challenge me, please. What’s one lesson all marketers can learn from challenger brands? I'd love to hear from you in one or two sentences in the comments. ⬇️  #BrandStrategy #marketing #data #partnership

I tell my founder clients to leave critical problems unsolved. Deliberately. Here's why: Your brain has two distinct problem-solving modes. Focused mode: where you actively tackle issues head-on. Diffuse mode: where connections form in the background while you're doing something else. Most founders live exclusively in focused mode. Always completing. Always closing loops. Always exhausting their cognitive resources. The neuroscience is clear: Research shows our most valuable insights happen during diffuse mode thinking. But here's what no one tells you about founder psychology: The more critical the problem, the harder it is to step away. The more urgent the timeline, the more you need to. What I teach instead is strategic incompleteness: 1. Start important work ↳ Gather information ↳ Define the problem clearly ↳ Identify key constraints 2. Then deliberately walk away ↳ Before reaching resolution ↳ When you feel momentum ↳ Right at the edge of breakthrough 3. Engage in something completely different ↳ Physical activity (I use running) ↳ Creative tasks (sketching works well) ↳ Mundane activities (driving, showering) 4. Return with fresh perspective ↳ Solutions appear seemingly from nowhere ↳ Connections form between disparate ideas ↳ Breakthrough thinking emerges naturally A Series B founder I worked with was stuck on a critical pricing strategy for weeks. His team was frustrated. Their runway was shortening. The pressure was suffocating. After implementing strategic incompleteness, the solution came to him while walking his dog. Not random luck. Cognitive science. Strategic pause. The freedom you're searching for isn't in working harder. It's in trusting your brain's natural problem-solving architecture. Your team doesn't need you to have all the answers immediately. They need you to have the right answers eventually. What critical problem could you deliberately leave unfinished today, allowing your brain to work its background magic?

What if your talent doesn't fix your potential, but is multiplied by your perspective? In a world where professionals view abilities as static, neuroplasticity offers a revolutionary approach to personal development. Here are three ways to leverage your brain's growth potential for extraordinary results: 👉 Create a "𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻" inventory. Self-awareness of your neural adaptability enables strategic development of mental capabilities. Identify the thinking patterns where you consistently create unique insights and produce breakthrough results that others struggle to imagine. 👉 Implement "𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴." Combine complementary learning strategies to create compound cognitive capabilities beyond individual approaches. This neural pairing creates exponential rather than incremental growth in your mental performance and adaptability. 👉 Practice "𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴," not elimination. Building adaptive mental frameworks is more efficient than attempting to change fixed beliefs forcibly. Develop learning processes, seek diverse perspectives, or use cognitive tools to compensate for areas where your current thinking feels constrained. 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: focusing on neural plasticity activates different brain pathways than traditional fixed-mindset thinking, creating a more efficient and motivationally powerful route to personal growth. ✅ According to Stanford University's latest research, leaders with strong growth mindsets are 31% more likely to create high-performing teams and drive innovation. Your exceptional potential isn't predetermined—it's continuously created by your willingness to expand your perspective. Coaching can help; let's chat. Follow Joshua Miller Ready to discover your potential? 🚀 Download Your Free E-Book:  “𝟮𝟬 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀” ↳ https://rb.gy/37y9vi #executivecoaching #careeradvice #growthmindset

We need "Entrepreneurial Leaders"; not just entrepreneurs or leaders. I meet many founders & business leaders and observe one aspect, that if changed can create huge benefits for the business world. Not all entrepreneurs are leaders. Not all leaders are entrepreneurial. Entrepreneurs are often idea machines; they dream big, move fast, break things, build things. But not all of them know how to lead people, build culture, or scale sustainably. Leaders, on the other hand, are great with people, process, and progress.They inspire, align, and are expert at driving execution. But many aren’t wired to take risks, challenge norms, or act with the urgency that innovation demands. The impact we see on both sides, Startups led by entrepreneurs grow fast but burn out even faster.They crash from chaos, teams burn out or tune out. Whereas corporates led by traditional leaders may stay stable but become irrelevant. They get stuck in comfort zones, growth slows, Innovation dies. But what if we foster mindset shift that creates "Entrepreneurial Leaders." People who can: - Think like a founder - Lead like a coach - Move like a startup - Build like a strategist One can certainly see that, it's the mindset problem, not DNA and hence can be altered. In my view here's how entrepreneurs & leaders can drive the shift; in thinking & in actions- Mindset shift for entrepreneurs: From “I’ll do whatever it takes” → to “I’ll build systems that scale without me.” From “It’s my vision” → to “It’s our shared mission.” From “Speed at any cost” → to “Sustainable, repeatable growth.” Mindset shift for leaders: From “Let’s avoid risk” → to “Let’s manage risk while trying new things.” From “Here’s the plan” → to “Let’s experiment and iterate.” From “Keep the business stable” → to “Let’s challenge the status quo.” Businesses, startups or small, medium & large corporates will see higher success & sustainable future when entrepreneurs will learn to lead & leaders will learn to think like entrepreneurs. I firmly believe that the future belongs to those who can both invent and inspire, build and lead, dream and deliver. So whether you're a founder, CXO, or functional leader, ask yourself: How can I build the muscle to be an entrepreneurial leader? #entrepreneurs #leaders #mindset #growth #success

Your best people are thinking like entrepreneurs. Here's how to unlock that everywhere. I watched a Fortune 500 team last month solve a $2M problem in 3 weeks. Not because they had more resources than usual. Because they started thinking like a startup. Here's what changed: - Instead of 6-month planning cycles, they ran 2-week experiments. - Instead of waiting for perfect data, they tested with 80% confidence. - Instead of avoiding failure, they celebrated fast learning. The entrepreneurial advantage isn't just for entrepreneurs. After 10+ years building companies, I've seen the same patterns that create billion-dollar startups work magic inside enterprise teams: 💥 Speed over perfection - Move fast, iterate faster 💥 Customer obsession - Stay connected to real market signals 💥 Calculated risk-taking - Fail small, win big 💥 Resource creativity - Do more with constraints than competitors do with budgets The problem? Most large organisations accidentally suffocate these instincts with process, hierarchy, and risk aversion. The opportunity? Unleash "founder mode" across your teams without losing the stability that makes you successful. I've helped teams move from quarterly planning to monthly pivots. From committee decisions to empowered experiments. From playing not to lose to playing to win. The results speak for themselves: - Faster time-to-market. - Higher employee engagement. - More breakthrough innovation. Ready to unlock your teams' entrepreneurial potential? I work with forward-thinking organisations who want to compete like startups while scaling like enterprises. Let's talk about what "founder mode" could look like for your teams. (Pic by the talented Michael J Boorman of Wisdom Made Easy) #corporateinnovation #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #FounderMode

4 reasons challenger brands will win in financial services (and what I got wrong) The bigs keep getting bigger The middle is getting squeezed The boutiques get overlooked It's challenger mindsets across these tiers that will win. Here’s what Challenger brands embrace: → 1. A point of view (not just a product) Challenger brands don’t say: “We do SMID growth with a disciplined process.” They say: “The market is mispricing complexity.” Or “Mass overallocation to one market segment has created opportunity for the contrarian thinkers.” They challenge an assumption. In a world dominated by firms like BlackRock and Vanguard, a challenger cannot out-scale. But we can out-think. --- → 2. A clearly defined enemy (not a competitor) A belief A behavior A blind spot Maybe it’s closet indexing. Maybe it’s career risk. Maybe it’s over-diversification that dilutes conviction. Challenger brands pour arsenic in our coffee. They pattern interrupt. They are clear and uncommon. Asset owners and allocators lean in because that type of clarity takes courage. There is room for refreshing There is room for different Bc different is better than better --- → 3. Story-led differentiation Performance is table stakes. Process is typical (funnel to show screening the universe anyone?) Philosophy is where the Challenger magic hides. Challenger brands articulate: • Why this strategy exists • Why the thinking is unique • Why we are the people to deliver it Challengers know that the biggest status quo buster is showing up with courage to own our story, show it, and claim it. The Visibility Effect shines here When a brand puts people first On podcasts On panels On LinkedIn Because visibility compounds our capital. --- → 4. Conviction that can handle pushback If everyone agrees with us, we are not a challenger. If we do what everyone else does, we are using a playbook that wasn't built for us. Not a challenger. Challenger brands are willing to: • Lose some prospects • Polarize a little • Say what others won’t And paradoxically? That’s what builds trust. Challengers challenge. (The clue is in the name.) --- 💡 Now, here’s where I was wrong: The old narrative says a Challenger is the scrappy underdog fighting the market leader. I have met boutiques who are status quo. And bigs who are challengers. AUM is not a characteristic of challenger brands The ability to act as a Challenger isn’t reserved for small boutiques. It’s a mindset. Brands of all sizes, whatever their AUM, heritage, or history, can adopt it. If we want ambitious growth If we want to make the impact we say we desire We need to challenge the norms. 👉 What's 1 thing you see from Challenger brand?

You think great ideas strike like lightning. Wrong. They rain like confetti if you know how to catch them. 93% of breakthrough innovations come from collecting small ideas over time. Not from one big "aha" moment. Here's your 5-step framework to catch more ideas: 1. The Collector's Mindset • Your brain processes 6,200 thoughts daily • Most people lose 98% of their ideas • Start capturing everything 2. The Connection Protocol • New ideas = 2 old ideas colliding • Research shows diverse inputs = better outputs • Read outside your field 3. The 3x3 Method • Write 3 ideas every morning • Review them 3 days later • Keep the ones that still excite you • Studies show delayed evaluation improves quality by 40% 4. The Idea Compound • Each captured thought builds on others • Small notes become big breakthroughs • Group brainstorming increases creativity by 71% 5. The Implementation Loop • Ideas without action die • Test one small concept daily • Build fast, learn faster • Innovation requires iteration Remember: You don't need to be a genius. You just need a bigger bowl. ♻️ Share this with someone who's sitting on brilliant ideas 🔔 Follow Kabir Sehgal for frameworks that turn inspiration into innovation

Turns out best product managers think more like founders than operators. Here’s my story. When I first worked on a project with a founder, I imagined product management meant clever features and polished roadmaps. That illusion vanished by week one. The founder tossed me a marker: “Sketch our roadmap. Tomorrow, we’ll erase half of it.” That moment was my initiation to ruthless prioritization—learning that impact matters more than busywork. Weeks in, a spike in signups revealed our onboarding flow was broken. Instead of waiting for perfect, I sketched a quick fix at 2am. The next morning, activation soared. I understood bias for action—shipping fast beats waiting for flawless. Investor calls were tough. Harsh feedback stung. But my founder ingrained in me: “Criticism is a gift. If we’re not challenged, we’re not learning.” Now, feedback isn’t failure—it’s fuel. At startups, titles vanish. When the demo wasn’t ready for a key partner, I built the missing piece myself. Real ownership means stepping up, regardless of your business card. These lessons changed how I work: - Prioritize what moves the needle - Act fast—ship, learn, iterate - Seek out feedback, always - Own results, not just tasks I don’t just “manage” products—I think like a founder. I thrive in the messy, fast-learning hustle where every win (and loss) helps shape the next product. If you’re building something bold and want a PM who brings founder energy and execution muscle—let’s connect! 👇 Drop your insights #ProductManagement #StartupLife #FounderMindset #BuildingWithFounders #YCombinator