Game-Changing Innovation: How to Drive Business Growth Beyond the Ordinary
Innovation isn’t just about developing new ideas – it’s about leadership, mindset, and effective execution. Our recent discussion during our first Elevate Innovate session of 2025 explored what it takes to push boundaries, foster creativity, and drive organizational change. Dave Ruane, Global Director of Client Solutions at Lion People Global sat down with Olga Blasco – M&A Principal Partner at Lion People Global and our expert guest Giulia Tarditi – Head of Language Experience at Revolut. They dove into topics around taking ownership, leading transformation and making informed decisions for long-term success.
The Importance of Pushing Boundaries
Giulia shared a powerful example of how pushing the boundaries of her role transformed her trajectory. At her previous position with Qualtrics, she was faced with a traditional, operations-focused approach to localization. Despite the initial overwhelming amount of requests, Giulia was determined not to let this limit her vision for enhancing user experience through localization.
She emphasized that one of the biggest mistakes people make when making decisions is not challenging the status quo. “One of the most common errors that we make when making a decision is to stop one minute and ask ourselves whether that is our decision or if someone else had already made it or if it’s not up to me to decide” – Giulia said. She took it upon herself to prove that hybridizing localization and CX (Customer Experience) was the key to a more effective solution. Despite initial resistance from leadership, Giulia showed measurable success in her approach, making a strong case for change. She summed this up with the phrase “Suspend the disbelief “. You have to not be limited by believing it can´t be done.
“Suspend the disbelief – because the only thing stopping you from going beyond boundaries is the belief that they exist.”
Her experience illustrates how leadership isn’t always about having the title – sometimes it’s about taking the initiative to push forward even when others aren’t fully on board. It also highlights the importance of being proactive about learning and testing new approaches in the face of established norms.
Leadership and Innovation
Olga, with three decades of experience in the field, emphasized the critical role of leadership in driving innovation. To foster a culture of innovation, leadership must not only encourage new ideas. “You need to create the space, you need to create the budget, and you need to make it part of the narrative of everyday life in the company and the business”, Olga explained. Without the proper support, innovation can easily be relegated to mere lip service.
The distinction was made between management and leadership, saying that while management drives the execution, leadership is responsible for guiding the team towards the right vision. As she noted, without strong leadership, even the best-executed plans can fail if they aren’t aligned with business goals or the current market landscape.
Have you seen this with deployments?
The Role of Execution in Innovation
Execution is where the rubber meets the road. Perfect execution can transform even incremental innovation into a significant success. Giulia broke down the key aspects of effective deployment: clear goals, alignment with company objectives, and breaking down tasks into manageable increments. The secret to great execution lies in breaking down work into smaller chunks with clear ownership and measurable results, ensuring progress is made consistently.
As Giulia put it, “Progressing something small is much easier than progress in something big,” underscoring the importance of manageable, incremental steps in the execution process.
Olga added to this by discussing the importance of a comprehensive deployment plan. “Deployment is when the rubber hits the road, so you need to make sure that the wheels are not gonna fall off the car when you’re deploying” – she said. It’s not just about getting things out the door – it’s about making sure that the process is carefully planned to ensure adoption and minimize risk. Olga pointed out that many deployment plans fail not because the technology or idea is wrong, but because there wasn’t enough focus on adoption or on addressing potential issues beforehand.
Watch a full session recording here:
Innovation and Adoption
The true value of innovation is realized through adoption. If a new process, product, or technology isn’t adopted correctly, its impact will be minimal, no matter how brilliant the idea behind it was. Olga explained that successful deployments need to focus not only on the technology itself but also on the people involved. A good deployment plan includes detailed communication strategies, user support, and feedback mechanisms to ensure successful adoption.
She referenced Geoffrey Moore’s thoughts on the speed of technology adoption, which has not kept up with the speed of technological advancements. According to Moore, ecosystems take time to form, and companies must navigate this reality carefully. If there’s a mismatch between technology and adoption, it can lead to delays and additional costs. It’s crucial to have strategic marketing or clear communication plans to make adoption easier for users.
The Future of Innovation
Looking ahead, Giulia and Olga both offered predictions for the next three years. Giulia believes creativity will become a central pillar of educational curricula, not just in higher education but from primary school onward. She envisions a future where students are taught not only technical skills but also how to think creatively in a rapidly changing world. This kind of adaptability will be key for future generations to thrive.
On the other hand, Olga predicted that the “end of writing” as we know it could be on the horizon. With advancements in AI and automation, tasks that once required hours of writing or heavy lifting may become obsolete. The shift won’t be about replacing humans but about elevating their contributions to the highest value, where the focus is on outcomes and strategic decision-making rather than the mechanics of writing or content creation.
Our contribution may become more about the decision-making and talent behind the execution, rather than the long hours spent on traditional tasks. Innovation will be driven by the value we bring, not just the tasks we perform.
Read more about Innovation here:
How Innovative Lessons From the Past Can Save Your Business Today
Unlocking Innovation in Translation: Insights from Intento’s CEO, Konstantin Savenkov
Conclusion
Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about leadership, creativity, and execution. As Giulia and Olga emphasized, the real game-changer lies in fostering a culture that encourages bold ideas and ensures their successful deployment. We already have one foot in the future – where adaptability and strategic decision-making will define success. But to truly innovate, we must first allow ourselves to believe in the possibility of change. As Giulia put it, sometimes, the key is simple: suspend the disbelief.
Join us for future Elevate sessions and stay ahead of the curve in innovation, leadership, and business growth!
