"Innovation is really just finding meaningful problems to solve—usually ones customers don’t even know they have—and solving them in the best way possible. It doesn’t have to be 'innovative.' It just has to work."
In this episode, Dr. Chris Mühlroth sits down Ben Hafele, CEO of Lean Startup Co., to explore what corporate innovation really looks like when it's done right - and where so many teams still go wrong.
From his early days at Caterpillar to leading Lean Startup Co., Ben shares the six essential (but often overlooked) elements that make innovation efforts succeed: strategy, teams, milestones, governance, culture, and the right experiments. Together, they break down the myths around “disruptive” innovation, the hidden value of core innovation, and how to avoid falling into the trap of innovation theater.
Ben also unpacks why governance often fails, what makes an experiment truly strong, and how AI is reshaping how we build, measure, and learn. Whether you're building the next big thing - or just trying to move the needle - this episode is packed with real-world insights you won’t want to miss.
Chapter 1: Rethinking Innovation
- Why core innovation isn’t boring - it’s business-critical
- The problem with chasing only moonshots
- How Lean Startup helps reduce uncertainty, not just build MVPs
Chapter 2: The Six Essentials for Innovation That Works
- Strategy, milestones, teams, governance, culture, and experiments
- Measuring progress without sales: Innovation accounting & KPIs
- Why governance and leadership buy-in make or break your process
Chapter 3: Culture, Crickets & Corporate Reality
- When no one owns the work: The silence after the strategy
- Culture fails and governance gaps: Real stories from the field
- Innovation theater vs. real progress (and how to tell the difference)
Chapter 4: Faster, Smarter Experiments—Powered by AI
- The anatomy of a strong experiment: Instrument, channel, call to action
- Why does evidence matter more than experiment type
- How AI is accelerating Lean Startup - without replacing human creativity
About the authors
Dr. Christian Mühlroth is the host of the Innovation Rockstars podcast and also serves as the CEO of ITONICS. Ben is the Managing Director of Lean Startup Co. Like many members of the organization, he has lived and worked around the globe including in Guinea, West Africa, with the Peace Corps, in West Africa, and as an analyst and consultant in China, and as a consultant in the United Kingdom.
The Innovation Rockstars podcast is a production of ITONICS, provider of the world’s leading Operating System for Innovation. Do you also have an inspiring story to tell about innovation, foresight, strategy, or growth? Then shoot us a note!
