The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Augmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Augmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ypo-silicon-valley-immersion-2.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAugmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The group also got a taste of augmented reality during their visit to Apple HQ whilst in the Visitor\u2019s Center. For most this was something new but Tom Gessner, the chairman of Red Devil Equipment, was right at home. Much to the surprise of his YPO colleagues, he explained how the Apple experience is similar to playing Pokemon Go. He then provided a live demonstration of the game, in the process enhancing everyone\u2019s understanding of both it and augmented reality technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAugmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
AI came to the fore again at Apple Park as the YPO delegates, apart from learning about the history of Apple and its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs, also found out about the company\u2019s attempts to move users away from graphics-based computer interaction and into systems which rely on voice recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group also got a taste of augmented reality during their visit to Apple HQ whilst in the Visitor\u2019s Center. For most this was something new but Tom Gessner, the chairman of Red Devil Equipment, was right at home. Much to the surprise of his YPO colleagues, he explained how the Apple experience is similar to playing Pokemon Go. He then provided a live demonstration of the game, in the process enhancing everyone\u2019s understanding of both it and augmented reality technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAugmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
It made an appearance at Google HQ, where an engineering director spoke on the internet giant\u2019s work into developing the sensors and machine learning techniques which it hopes will go on to power autonomous cars. Apart from gaining insight into Google\u2019s plans to partner with motoring giants like GM and Ford, the YPO group also had much to discuss as their visit touched upon the ethical implications of driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AI came to the fore again at Apple Park as the YPO delegates, apart from learning about the history of Apple and its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs, also found out about the company\u2019s attempts to move users away from graphics-based computer interaction and into systems which rely on voice recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group also got a taste of augmented reality during their visit to Apple HQ whilst in the Visitor\u2019s Center. For most this was something new but Tom Gessner, the chairman of Red Devil Equipment, was right at home. Much to the surprise of his YPO colleagues, he explained how the Apple experience is similar to playing Pokemon Go. He then provided a live demonstration of the game, in the process enhancing everyone\u2019s understanding of both it and augmented reality technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAugmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Artificial intelligence, or AI, as one of today\u2019s most dynamic tech trends, featured prominently on the agenda of the three-day immersion program<\/a> organized for YPO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It made an appearance at Google HQ, where an engineering director spoke on the internet giant\u2019s work into developing the sensors and machine learning techniques which it hopes will go on to power autonomous cars. Apart from gaining insight into Google\u2019s plans to partner with motoring giants like GM and Ford, the YPO group also had much to discuss as their visit touched upon the ethical implications of driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI came to the fore again at Apple Park as the YPO delegates, apart from learning about the history of Apple and its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs, also found out about the company\u2019s attempts to move users away from graphics-based computer interaction and into systems which rely on voice recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group also got a taste of augmented reality during their visit to Apple HQ whilst in the Visitor\u2019s Center. For most this was something new but Tom Gessner, the chairman of Red Devil Equipment, was right at home. Much to the surprise of his YPO colleagues, he explained how the Apple experience is similar to playing Pokemon Go. He then provided a live demonstration of the game, in the process enhancing everyone\u2019s understanding of both it and augmented reality technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Augmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
Artificial intelligence, or AI, as one of today\u2019s most dynamic tech trends, featured prominently on the agenda of the three-day immersion program<\/a> organized for YPO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It made an appearance at Google HQ, where an engineering director spoke on the internet giant\u2019s work into developing the sensors and machine learning techniques which it hopes will go on to power autonomous cars. Apart from gaining insight into Google\u2019s plans to partner with motoring giants like GM and Ford, the YPO group also had much to discuss as their visit touched upon the ethical implications of driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI came to the fore again at Apple Park as the YPO delegates, apart from learning about the history of Apple and its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs, also found out about the company\u2019s attempts to move users away from graphics-based computer interaction and into systems which rely on voice recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group also got a taste of augmented reality during their visit to Apple HQ whilst in the Visitor\u2019s Center. For most this was something new but Tom Gessner, the chairman of Red Devil Equipment, was right at home. Much to the surprise of his YPO colleagues, he explained how the Apple experience is similar to playing Pokemon Go. He then provided a live demonstration of the game, in the process enhancing everyone\u2019s understanding of both it and augmented reality technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Augmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Artificial intelligence, or AI, as one of today\u2019s most dynamic tech trends, featured prominently on the agenda of the three-day immersion program<\/a> organized for YPO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It made an appearance at Google HQ, where an engineering director spoke on the internet giant\u2019s work into developing the sensors and machine learning techniques which it hopes will go on to power autonomous cars. Apart from gaining insight into Google\u2019s plans to partner with motoring giants like GM and Ford, the YPO group also had much to discuss as their visit touched upon the ethical implications of driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI came to the fore again at Apple Park as the YPO delegates, apart from learning about the history of Apple and its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs, also found out about the company\u2019s attempts to move users away from graphics-based computer interaction and into systems which rely on voice recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group also got a taste of augmented reality during their visit to Apple HQ whilst in the Visitor\u2019s Center. For most this was something new but Tom Gessner, the chairman of Red Devil Equipment, was right at home. Much to the surprise of his YPO colleagues, he explained how the Apple experience is similar to playing Pokemon Go. He then provided a live demonstration of the game, in the process enhancing everyone\u2019s understanding of both it and augmented reality technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Augmented reality was to come up again, this time on day three of the program as the group attended a presentation at global safety consulting and certification company Underwriters Laboratories, more commonly known today as UL. With some 120 years of history behind it, the company might not necessarily be thought of as a natural part of a tour of Silicon Valley focused on cutting-edge innovation. Yet to the surprise of the YPO members, the trip to UL turned out to be one of the most informative they took during the three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reasons for this were several. For one, the group was able to find out how the consultancy has embraced technologies like blockchain in order to remain relevant in the twenty-first century. They also gained insights into UL\u2019s plans going forward across five of today\u2019s most important tech trends, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company proved to be even more fascinating when it explained how it structures its innovation teams and encourages them to come up with plans stretching up to ten years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing that had a profound influence on the YPO delegates and left them more than a little inspired to affect change at their own companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian Lorentzen, the SVIC Innovation Evangelist accompanying the YPO tour, recalled how the participants said to him, \u201cUL is going through the same exact digital transformation that our companies have to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the YPO group\u2019s takeaways from their Silicon Valley journey, it was their arrival at an understanding of innovation as a mindset, not a technology, which perhaps left the deepest mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again and again these established business magnates found their thinking being challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, there was Google, where they were introduced to a new paradigm on employee pay. At the search engine giant, an engineer can earn as much as a senior manager if her contribution to the company is deemed significant enough. That impressed the YPO delegates, who had always assumed that those who are higher up in the hierarchy should receive bigger paychecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there was UL, a company which all the tour members thought they knew well. After all, it has been in business for over a century. And yet they saw how the organization is in no way interested in banking on its prestigious history as a guarantee of future success. In fact, the YPO members were almost shocked to find out that where their own companies are planning one, maybe two years ahead, UL is nurturing innovation teams looking decades into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At startup accelerator BootUp, meanwhile, a new mindset came to the fore according to which doing good for humanity is just as important as doing good for shareholders. That\u2019s the Silicon Valley mentality, and not something the group had previously given much thought to. But they realized that it might be time to change their thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The challenge to always look at things from a different angle came up again on day two of the program. During a discussion with SVIC President Andrey Kunov the YPO members heard how in Silicon Valley companies choose growth over profitability. Kunov told them how, if a startup could grow at a rate of 100% with zero profitability, it would. The YPO delegates could only laugh. Surely, they thought, it would be better to settle for 50% growth and some profitability?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n","post_title":"YPO Delegates Inspired on Silicon Valley Innovation Tour","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/ypo-delegates-inspired-on-silicon-valley-innovation-tour\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":11},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_5"};
The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tour member Darren Wells, the COO at Talent International, getting such behind-the-scenes insights into Airbnb was a highlight of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Airbnb, meanwhile, put a strong focus on company culture. For Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, staying true to core values is the key to an organization\u2019s longevity. In a blog post<\/a> on the subject he wrote, \u201cculture is what creates the foundation for all future innovation. If you break the culture, you break the machine that creates your products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tour member Darren Wells, the COO at Talent International, getting such behind-the-scenes insights into Airbnb was a highlight of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Uber, the Talent Unleashed competition winners learnt how the company is expanding into the healthcare sector. Through a dedicated API and dashboard, the ridesharing platform now allows healthcare professionals to order rides for patients. Uber Health, as the initiative is known, went live in the U.S. in March. It is just one of several new directions Uber is pursuing to expand on its core ridesharing business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Airbnb, meanwhile, put a strong focus on company culture. For Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, staying true to core values is the key to an organization\u2019s longevity. In a blog post<\/a> on the subject he wrote, \u201cculture is what creates the foundation for all future innovation. If you break the culture, you break the machine that creates your products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tour member Darren Wells, the COO at Talent International, getting such behind-the-scenes insights into Airbnb was a highlight of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Airbnb and Uber are among the most famous examples of this phenomenon. Yet in spite of being digital since day one, they still constantly strive to use new technologies and business models to stay ahead of competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Uber, the Talent Unleashed competition winners learnt how the company is expanding into the healthcare sector. Through a dedicated API and dashboard, the ridesharing platform now allows healthcare professionals to order rides for patients. Uber Health, as the initiative is known, went live in the U.S. in March. It is just one of several new directions Uber is pursuing to expand on its core ridesharing business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Airbnb, meanwhile, put a strong focus on company culture. For Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, staying true to core values is the key to an organization\u2019s longevity. In a blog post<\/a> on the subject he wrote, \u201cculture is what creates the foundation for all future innovation. If you break the culture, you break the machine that creates your products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tour member Darren Wells, the COO at Talent International, getting such behind-the-scenes insights into Airbnb was a highlight of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While big corporations have been trying to adapt, another type of Silicon Valley business has been on the rise. Far from being disrupted, these companies have been among the prime disruptors. Founded in the last decade or later, they are sharing economy platforms and marketplaces. In tandem with the rapid spread of smartphones, they have revolutionized entire industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Airbnb and Uber are among the most famous examples of this phenomenon. Yet in spite of being digital since day one, they still constantly strive to use new technologies and business models to stay ahead of competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Uber, the Talent Unleashed competition winners learnt how the company is expanding into the healthcare sector. Through a dedicated API and dashboard, the ridesharing platform now allows healthcare professionals to order rides for patients. Uber Health, as the initiative is known, went live in the U.S. in March. It is just one of several new directions Uber is pursuing to expand on its core ridesharing business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Airbnb, meanwhile, put a strong focus on company culture. For Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, staying true to core values is the key to an organization\u2019s longevity. In a blog post<\/a> on the subject he wrote, \u201cculture is what creates the foundation for all future innovation. If you break the culture, you break the machine that creates your products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tour member Darren Wells, the COO at Talent International, getting such behind-the-scenes insights into Airbnb was a highlight of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register now for the Leading Digital Transformation program<\/a>. Experience the technology and ideas that revolutionize businesses.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Experience the Future of Business at the Leading Digital Transformation Program","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/experience-the-future-of-business-at-the-leading-digital-transformation-program\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":739,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-14 15:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-14 22:42:00","post_content":"\n If you come to Silicon Valley for business there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t mix in a little pleasure. That was exactly the agenda for Vodafone in March, as it sent a group of its top retailers from across Europe to the world\u2019s startup capital for a look at the latest developments in retail and telecoms innovation. But the group wasn\u2019t just there to work; Vodafone also wanted them to enjoy themselves, with the trip something of a reward for a job well done. That\u2019s why they made sure to find time for a little \u201ctech tourism\u201d in the form of test drives at Tesla and virtual reality experiences with the Facebook Oculus Rift and Microsoft Hololens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the fun began the retailers took an immersive dive into the world of innovation, seeking solutions to key business challenges they face today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, they were concerned with improving the user experience in their stores. As sellers, they rely on Google, Apple and other phone and software manufacturers to satisfy customers who are becoming increasingly demanding of the features and capabilities of smartphones. They have little influence on that front but where they can add value is through building the best possible user experience of shopping for a phone in a retail environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coupled with that is the challenge of e-commerce, with many customers bypassing shops altogether and opting to buy online. For these retailers that is another pressure point, a threat to their established businesses. Could Silicon Valley provide the answers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Silicon Valley answers abound but they are rarely of the simple cut and paste variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial groundwork for solutions was laid at a presentation from Silicon Valley Innovation Centre CEO Andrey Kunov, who provided an overview of Silicon Valley and its culture. Based in Europe as they are, for many of the group members this was their first time in Silicon Valley and even in the U.S. Kunov\u2019s presentation, therefore, provided an essential grounding in the ways and why\u2019s of tech innovation in the telecoms space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group then had a chance to see that innovation in practice with a trip to Google headquarters. The Q&A session here with a Google engineering director and a member of the company\u2019s hardware partnership division provided valuable insights into the internet\u2019 giant\u2019s engagement with the telecom sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s telecoms activity is centered on its Android smartphone operating system, a system which, as mobile phone sellers, the group members know extremely well. The meeting at Google gave them a rare chance to ask those who actually represent the company all about Android, how it works and what it will look like in the future. This was valuable information for the retailers and a real takeaway they could then use at home to enhance their engagement with customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time they were introduced to Google\u2019s innovative corporate culture. As men and women themselves engaged in running companies, hearing from Google on how it handles operations stimulated new thoughts and ideas on how their own practices might be in need of change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to Apple provided a further chance to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d, as the group \u2013 many of them sellers of iPhones \u2013 were able to see where the technology is conceived and designed. A trip to the Apple visitor centre and presentation from Apple gave them a window onto the company: its products, its culture and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having heard direct from the source about where the iPhone and Android smartphones will take us in the future, the Vodafone retailers made a tech-style pivot into the world of autonomous vehicles and virtual reality. Not directly connected to their business of mobile phone retail, trips to Tesla and the Santa Clara Startup Hub nonetheless opened up new worlds to explore. Apart from being incredibly fun and novel experiences, getting behind the wheel of a Tesla or putting on the HoloLens provided a practical example of the kinds of breakthroughs which can be achieved in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was perhaps the biggest takeaway for the group: innovative thinking combined with new technologies leads to powerful outcomes, no matter what industry you work in. The members of the tour saw that mobile telecoms and retail are no exceptions. They came away not only with new insights into the present and future of the products they sell on a daily basis, but also with a deeper sense of how transformative practices and business models are not just desirable but essential, especially when it comes to keeping the competition at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did they find answers to their biggest business challenges? More than that, they discovered the \u201csecret\u201d of Silicon Valley: innovation isn\u2019t the latest smartphone in the palm of your hand; it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Innovation in Retail and Telecoms: Vodafone Visits Silicon Valley","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/innovation-in-retail-and-telecoms-vodafone-visits-silicon-valley\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":785,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-03-27 17:21:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-03-28 00:21:00","post_content":"\n Motivated in equal measure by both business and pleasure, a recent trip to Silicon Valley for eight members of the Young Presidents\u2019 Organization (YPO) was in part an annual meet-up; a chance to get together with old friends and catch up on the latest news. But it was also a fact-finding mission; an opportunity to get acquainted with the technologies and business models of today and tomorrow which are having - or will have - the biggest impact on our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The YPO group may have thought that in their decades-long careers they had seen it all but the trip to California proved otherwise. Custom-designed for them by the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, the program introduced them to new ways of thinking in everything from planning and growth to profitability and pay scales. Among the most valuable lessons they learned was perhaps that \u201ctechnology\u201d is much more than just a gadget in your hand; it is also a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While big corporations have been trying to adapt, another type of Silicon Valley business has been on the rise. Far from being disrupted, these companies have been among the prime disruptors. Founded in the last decade or later, they are sharing economy platforms and marketplaces. In tandem with the rapid spread of smartphones, they have revolutionized entire industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Airbnb and Uber are among the most famous examples of this phenomenon. Yet in spite of being digital since day one, they still constantly strive to use new technologies and business models to stay ahead of competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Uber, the Talent Unleashed competition winners learnt how the company is expanding into the healthcare sector. Through a dedicated API and dashboard, the ridesharing platform now allows healthcare professionals to order rides for patients. Uber Health, as the initiative is known, went live in the U.S. in March. It is just one of several new directions Uber is pursuing to expand on its core ridesharing business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A presentation at Airbnb, meanwhile, put a strong focus on company culture. For Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, staying true to core values is the key to an organization\u2019s longevity. In a blog post<\/a> on the subject he wrote, \u201cculture is what creates the foundation for all future innovation. If you break the culture, you break the machine that creates your products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tour member Darren Wells, the COO at Talent International, getting such behind-the-scenes insights into Airbnb was a highlight of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was really inspiring to see the way they work together as an organization on their culture and how that underpins their overall model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today Airbnb is pushing to become more than a website for booking places to stay. The platform has recently diversified into offering customers \u201cexperiences.\u201d These are activities in various locations, like photography or cooking classes, hosted by locals. Company chief Chesky describes them not just as a new line of business, but as part of Airbnb\u2019s mission to build \u201ca global travel community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of their great success, even digital-first companies like Uber and Airbnb need to stay on their guard. In Silicon Valley, new market entrants are never far away. And though they may be disruptive, startups are a vital part of the tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second day of their tour the Talent Unleashed award winners were treated to a startup showcase at Menlo Ventures. They were exposed to a range of early-stage companies. Far from needing to go through a process of digital transformation, these ventures are already at the cutting edge of technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those on show was Clarifai, which is using computer vision and machine learning to provide image recognition tools. Usernmind, meanwhile, is a software-as-a-service platform deploying marketing and sales automation to improve customer experience. The company has to date received $45.6 million in funding, more than half of which came via a Series C round last January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over their two days in Silicon Valley, the Talent Unleashed competition winners took in a huge range of new ideas. Visits to Docusign, Amazon and Stanford\u2019s Blockchain Collective added to a trip already full of thought-provoking impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group saw how enterprises at all stages of development are today grappling with disruptive technologies. As founders and executives themselves, the lessons they learned are sure to serve them well on their own entrepreneurial journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would perhaps do well to note that the average lifespan of an S&P 500 company is today about 15 years, compared to 70 years a century ago. What\u2019s more, tech observers believe the era of transformation is only just beginning, with the biggest share of disruption still to come.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Going Digital: Talent Unleashed Award Winners See Tech Disruption From All Angles","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2019-12-27 20:45:15","post_modified_gmt":"2019-12-28 04:45:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/siliconvalley.center\/blog\/going-digital-talent-unleashed-award-winners-see-tech-disruption-from-all-angles\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":729,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2018-05-31 02:42:00","post_date_gmt":"2018-05-31 09:42:00","post_content":"\n How will technology change how businesses interact with consumers and other businesses? What will the future of the workplace look like? Get an insider look at the fast approaching future of business innovation in Leading Digital Transformation executive immersion program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this 5-day immersion program, you\u2019ll visit the companies making waves, gain insights directly from innovation experts, and hear from digital native startups about new opportunities. Below you\u2019ll find a sampling of what this executive immersion program has to offer to innovation driven executives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain a competitive advantage by visiting the companies that have been through innovation and learn from their mistakes and successes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine designing a game that is no longer played. No one enjoys failure, but that\u2019s exactly where Slack sprouted from. Today, Slack has over 8 million users. How can a company turn a failure into a success? See how the innovative technologies behind Slack can help your business create a flexible and collaborative workplace - where failures become another opportunity to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From personal computers to enterprise solutions, how does a technology company move from physical product to IoT and cloud business services? Learn how HPE transitioned from traditional technology platforms to the IT systems of the future. See how technology innovation can promote business transformation and new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience a personal touch to your innovation strategy from the experts who live and breathe business transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An early-stage investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor, Mike Sigal is one of the top experts on innovation and business transformation. He\u2019ll provide you with a roadmap to navigate the ecosystem of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Mike Sigal will also provide a strategy for advancing your corporate innovation through investing in the right startup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty Director and Instructor of UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, Gregory La Blanc has the experience and knowledge about digital transformation and innovation to provide the foundation for your company\u2019s innovation strategy. Gregory La Blanc will guide you through problem definition, ideation, and the new approaches to customer-centricity in light of new mega trends and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See what the disruptive startups are doing before they disrupt your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A strong digital marketing and sales strategy is essential to drive business growth with consumers and businesses utilizing ecommerce and mobile apps. Branch helps thousands of today\u2019s top brands drive the best mobile experiences through its powerful linking infrastructure, cross-channel and cross-platform attribution and seamless integration with the entire marketing stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICIX has helped some of the largest retailers solve issues of supply chain transparency and inefficient information sharing. ICIX connects all trading partners into a single network to centralize collaboration. Learn how ICIX created a smart supply chain through blockchain and how to apply their approach of efficiency to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to upscale your innovation strategy and promote new business growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLook back but go forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mobile majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fun, yet fascinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nArtificial intelligence, real innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Latest
Digital natives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pace of change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exclusive visits to famous Silicon Valley companies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Face-to-face talks with 20+ innovation experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mike Sigal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gregory La Blanc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Presentations from 30 top-notch startups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Branch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ICIX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
