Title: Innovation is delivering something exceptional (with Jeremy Kourdi)
Description:
What separates innovation from imitation? In this episode, Jared Simmons talks with business author, coach, and entrepreneur Jeremy Kourdi about how innovation creates both impact and long-term value, and why originality and authenticity matter more than ever.
Jeremy shares lessons from NASA, Amazon, and even sport, while unpacking his view that innovation requires both visionary thinking and the discipline to follow through.
About Jeremy Kourdi:
Jeremy Kourdi is an executive coach, business writer, and co-founder of Expert Leader, an AI-powered leadership development platform. A former SVP at The Economist and Managing Director with Duke Corporate Education, Jeremy has written or co-authored 29 books translated into 17 languages. His latest title, 50 Ideas That Changed the World of Work, is out now from Pegasus Books.
About Jared Simmons
Jared Simmons is the Founder and Principal of OUTLAST Consulting, a boutique firm helping organizations unlock innovation through intentional action. With leadership experience at Procter & Gamble, McKinsey & Company, and Coca-Cola, Jared blends corporate strategy with entrepreneurial thinking to help clients innovate on their own terms.
Chapters:
00:00 — Introduction to Jeremy Kourdi
01:26 — What is innovation? Jeremy’s definition
04:35 — The difference between value and impact
07:35 — Innovation in sport: originality vs. reapplication
09:59 — Authenticity and creativity in innovation
12:00 — Innovation as a moment of achievement
15:07 — Innovation requires vision and execution
18:45 — Bezos, long-term thinking, and value
19:56 — How innovation shaped Jeremy’s career
23:15 — The Gary Flandro/NASA story
25:00 — Predicting vs. creating the future
28:29 — Advice for innovators: vision, priorities, ethnography
32:55 — Innovation starts with asking the right questions