"Innovation is about trying to create value as quickly as you can—and just like in a triathlon, your start position starts way before the race begins."
In this episode, we sit down with David Kaufman, six-time All-American triathlete and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Resideo, to explore what endurance sports can teach us about innovation strategy, risk management, and long-term momentum.
Drawing on four decades of experience in innovation leadership, David reveals why starting smart beats starting fast, how AI is reshaping early-stage validation, and why killing ideas early can be a win - not a failure. We also dive into how Resideo built a recognition culture that actually works and why the best innovation portfolios include bold bets and quick wins.
Whether you're training for your next triathlon or scaling corporate innovation, this episode connects mindset, mechanics, and motivation in unexpected ways.
Chapter 1: From Triathlete to Innovator – A Mindset for Endurance
- David Kaufman shares his background in triathlons, having competed in over 100 races and aiming to qualify for Team USA in 2026.
- He recalls a key moment of mental resilience during a tough qualifying race and how breaking big goals into small steps helped him push through.
- The conversation introduces the metaphor of triathlon as a parallel to innovation, emphasizing grit, competitive drive, and incremental progress.
Chapter 2: Swim. Bike. Run. Ideate. Incubate. Scale.
- David draws a compelling analogy between the stages of triathlon and the innovation process at Resideo.
- He explains the importance of “falling in love with the problem” before jumping into solutions—a mistake many innovators still make.
- The "start position" in both sports and innovation is about managing risk to set yourself up for fast, effective execution.
- Innovation should be de-risked before the ideation phase by aligning with leadership, validating feasibility, and building cross-functional teams early on.
Chapter 3: De-risking, Portfolio Thinking, and the Power of AI
- At Resideo, innovation is treated as a portfolio—balancing low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk projects to build credibility and momentum.
- Transformational bets are defended by embedding them into a broader framework that demonstrates ROI through smaller, faster wins.
- AI is actively used in early-stage validation—David describes using AI engines for deep market and feasibility assessments before moving ideas forward.
- "Sunsetting" ideas is part of the culture—and even celebrated—because it saves resources and keeps teams focused on what works.
Chapter 4: Recognition That Actually Works
- David criticizes ineffective rewards like socks in triathlons—and draws a parallel to performative or irrelevant recognition in corporate innovation.
- Resideo built a custom physical award that evolves over time—earning innovation “cubes” for patents, campaign wins, and contributions.
- This tangible, gamified recognition has boosted engagement and created visible momentum across teams.
- David emphasizes that celebrating both wins and smart failures helps cultivate a sustainable culture of innovation.
About the authors
Dr. Christian Mühlroth is the host of the Innovation Rockstars podcast and also serves as the CEO of ITONICS. David Kaufman is a six-time USA Triathlon All-American and the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Resideo. With over 40 years of experience in corporate innovation and board roles at CSA and HCA, he drives strategic innovation programs across air, energy, water, and security. At Resideo, he’s led a 33% year-over-year increase in employee innovation engagement and is known for building high-impact, risk-managed innovation portfolios.
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!
