How do you lead innovation projects as a straightforward process that anyone in your organization can implement? Or more dangerously, how do you manage a career while daring to run innovation projects?

In this presentation at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025 in Barcelona, I took the gloves off to present a simple, yet brutally honest overview of leading innovation as a continuous process – one that can be repeated, improved and managed.

(Yes, the presentation monitor was flakey. And yes, the concrete column looks just like Mr. Incredible’s office cubicle…but the content is sooo worth it…)

The original conference abstract:

This presentation explores innovation management: Bridging creative vision with analytical rigor to systematically de-risk ideas. We will discuss strategies for engaging stakeholders at the “fuzzy front end” of innovation and compare the unique challenges of leading innovation in construction projects versus manufacturing. Brad Koerner will share insights from his journey as an architect-turned-innovation leader, drawing from his experience in product development, marketing, and R&D across startups, corporations, and VC-backed ventures. He will offer an unvarnished look at both the successes and failures he encountered while leading ambitious, transformative projects and what learnings managers from a variety of professional backgrounds can implement in their organizations.