Laura Keir on scaling Protein Works with culture and customer focus

Is Your Innovation Challenge a Problem or a Mess? At Reveal Growth Consultants, we often see leaders confuse problems with messes in their innovation efforts. The distinction matters: - If your team agrees on your customers’ unmet needs but disagrees on how to address them, you have a problem. That’s good news. Problems can be solved. - If your team disagrees on what those unmet needs are and on how to address them, then you have a mess. The way to clean up an innovation mess is to turn it into a problem by defining your target customers' unmet needs. That’s why we created Lean JTBD OS™: so every innovation professional, leader, and entrepreneur can solve their customers’ biggest problems instead of getting bogged down in a mess. Want more innovation revelations? Subscribe to our bi-weekly insights (link in first comment). #jobstobedone #innovationmanagement #newproductdevelopment #differentiation

Everyone thinks bigger teams move slower. Bayer just proved them spectacularly wrong. Plot twist: After radically simplifying their management structure, this 90,000-employee pharma giant brought a billion-dollar drug to market a YEAR faster than typical. Here's the nuance everyone misses: It wasn't about cutting bureaucracy or "empowering teams" (every consultant says that). The breakthrough was treating innovation like a contagion instead of a pipeline. Think of it like viral content vs. traditional advertising. You don't push ideas up through layers of approval—you create conditions where breakthrough thinking spreads sideways, fast. The companies winning aren't the ones with the flattest org charts. They're the ones who figured out that speed isn't about fewer people in the room—it's about the RIGHT people having direct lines to execution. The playbook smart teams are running: → First, they eliminated "innovation theater"—those monthly meetings where ideas go to die → Then they gave product teams CEO-level budget authority (sounds risky until you realize approval delays kill more projects than bad decisions) → Finally, they measured speed-to-market, not consensus-to-decision Miss any step and you get incremental improvement. Nail all three and billion-dollar breakthroughs happen 365 days sooner. Hot take: In 24 months, asking permission will be more career-limiting than making mistakes. Who's betting against this? #FutureOfWork #Innovation #Pharma #OrganizationalDesign #Leadership

🚀 Innovation in Food: Are We Truly Disrupting, or Just Rebranding? Every week we read about “revolutionary” launches in food and biotech. But here’s the real question: 👉 How many are genuine breakthroughs … and how many are simply clever marketing wrapped around the same old playbook? The truth is: 1.- Science-driven innovation takes years of R&D, countless failed experiments, and the courage to pivot when the data says so. 2.- Marketing-driven stories can scale fast—but risk eroding consumer trust if the product doesn’t live up to the promise. At a time when funding is tight and margins are thinner than ever, the companies that will survive are those that double down on science and execution—not just storytelling. ✨ Even that we do need storytelling and good marketing for R&D based products, consumers understand the benefits but good and impactful communication is vital. 💡 My take: the future of food biotech belongs to startups and corporates that are bold enough to prove real impact—whether it’s in nutrition, sustainability, or scalability—before making noise about it. Because in the end, consumers may buy into a brand once, but they will only stay loyal to science that delivers. 🔍 What do you think—are we in a golden era of true biotech innovation, or just a marketing bubble waiting to burst? 🙋♂️ If you like it, please share, follow for more. 🙏 #FoodTech #Biotech #Innovation #FutureOfFood #Entrepreneurship #LOECInnovations

Innovation is a key driver of long-term business growth. In this Forbes article, a seasoned CEO shares insights from decades of experience running a private-label food and nutrition company. From staying curious and asking questions to addressing real needs and taking calculated risks, the article offers practical strategies for business leaders who want to build stronger, more sustainable organizations. Check out this great read titled “How Innovation Best Drives Business Growth” at Forbes.com. https://lnkd.in/gtRv2Zwg #tabboards #businesscoaching #businessgrowth #businessinnovation

What happens when strategy meets grit and systems meet purpose? Vinod Nahar ( CEO, Plasmagen Bioscience )didn’t come from biotech. He came from finance. No formal training. No industry backing. Just a clear problem to solve — and the discipline to build brick by brick. Today, PlasmaGen BioSciences (P) Ltd is one of India’s fastest-growing players in plasma-derived therapies, serving 2,500+ hospitals and closing a life-threatening gap in healthcare access. But this story isn’t just about biotech. It’s about: Creating clarity in chaos Building repeatable systems in an uncertain industry Scaling with belief and process, not luck And how growth really happens from the inside out We spoke about mindset shifts, supply chain bottlenecks, doctor engagement, and the leadership behaviors that make growth sustainable. 🔗 Watch the full conversation – it’s packed with lessons for any founder trying to scale under pressure.https://https://lnkd.in/ggEUcriF What about you? What’s one system that changed how your business operates? Are your teams scaling with process or just more hustle? Do you track belief and mindset as seriously as you track metrics? 👇 Share your story, your struggle, or your strategy.

Excellent, George! I wholeheartedly agree. Another common symptom is when startups or smaller companies neglect or abandon their own unique scientific and engineering advantages/identity in favor of chasing transiently popular commercial (or worse - ideological) trends. If “everyone is doing it” then the competition is fierce, profit margins are low and it’s a race to the bottom. Unfortunately, that’s where so many great innovative ideas and technologies end up.

🚀 Leading Business Growth with an Entrepreneurial Mindset In today’s fast-paced healthcare and pharma markets, growth doesn’t come only from having the right products — it comes from the mindset we bring to the table. An entrepreneurial mindset means seeing opportunities where others see obstacles, being agile in decision-making, and driving innovation even in regulated environments. 🔹 Example 1 – Market Entry: When a pharma company enters a new GCC market, success often comes from thinking like a startup founder — mapping local unmet needs, building relationships with KOLs, and tailoring go-to-market strategies instead of copy-pasting global playbooks. 🔹 Example 2 – Portfolio Expansion: An entrepreneurial sales leader doesn’t just sell what’s available; they proactively identify therapy gaps. For instance, adding a niche anesthetic product to the portfolio can create a competitive edge while strengthening distributor partnerships. 🔹 Example 3 – Digital Transformation: Launching patient engagement platforms or data-driven marketing campaigns is a perfect example of combining innovation with entrepreneurship — moving from traditional detailing to omnichannel approaches that accelerate adoption. 💡 At the core: entrepreneurial leaders empower teams to act like owners, experiment responsibly, and always keep patients and partners at the heart of decisions. 👉 Growth in pharma isn’t only about larger budgets, It’s about mindset, creativity, and the courage to lead change. #EntrepreneurialMindset #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #PharmaInnovation #HealthcareLeadership #PharmaBusiness #GrowthMindset #PharmaceuticalIndustry #PharmaSales #BusinessDevelopment #GCCHealthcare #StrategicLeadership #PharmaMarketing #DigitalPharma #InnovationLeadership

𝗡𝗣𝗗 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 🔹 The Classic Confusion In FMCG, 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗡𝗣𝗗) is often mistaken for 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. A new flavor, a seasonal launch, a packaging tweak - these are labeled “innovative.” But this misunderstanding limits strategic growth. 𝗡𝗣𝗗 is execution. 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is transformation. 𝗡𝗣𝗗 delivers what's visible. 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 shapes what's possible. 🔹 Why the Confusion Persists? Three common reasons: • 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀: NPD results are tangible - sales, shelf presence, market share • 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲: Quick wins are prioritized over long-term vision • 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀: Innovation is often embedded in marketing or R&D, disconnected from strategic foresight This leads to reactive launches based on yesterday’s success - not tomorrow’s relevance. 🔹 The Strategic Cost When NPD is treated as innovation, companies risk: • 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗺: Incremental changes over breakthrough ideas • 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲: Superficial novelty • 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: No scenario planning or systemic shifts 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁. If you're only planning for next year, you're already behind. 🔹 Innovation Is a System, Not a Launch Innovation is a strategic capability, not just a department. It includes: • Foresight • Design thinking • Business model evolution • Cultural transformation 𝗡𝗣𝗗 may be the output, but 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is the engine. 🔹 Reframing Innovation in FMCG To move beyond NPD, organizations must: • Separate 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 from product pipelines • Invest in 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 • Reward 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, not just execution • Build bridges between 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 - 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿. 🔹 Final Thought 𝗡𝗣𝗗 is the visible face of 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. But real 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 happens before the product exists. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. Every now and then I come across the same confusion - NPD being equated with innovation. And every time, I return to this brilliant series by Shilpi Kumar, who explains it simply, elegantly, and strategically. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dCSDg_Py #Innovation #StrategicForesight #FMCG #BusinessTransformation

Is Your Innovation Challenge a PROBLEM or a MESS? Here’s the distinction that trips up many innovation teams: - A PROBLEM means your team agrees on your customers’ unmet needs but disagrees on how to address them. Good news. Problems can be solved. - A MESS means your team disagrees on what those unmet needs are AND on how to address them. That is chaos. The way to turn a mess into a problem you can solve is to define your customers’ unmet needs. That is why we created Lean JTBD OS™: so every innovation professional, leader, and entrepreneur can solve their customers’ biggest problems instead of getting stuck in a mess. Want more insights like this? Subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter (link in first comment). #jobstobedone #innovationmanagement #newproductdevelopment #differentiation

One thing I’m certain of when it comes to growth: things that work the most won’t always be the things you expect. And then there’s the inconvienient truth: not everything will work. Very few teams can move every metric up at once. Breakthroughs come from: -Consistency in testing -Identifying which levers move fastest - Focusing on what fits YOUR business (not some other random best-in-class brand) -Championing a portfolio of high-quality ideas It’s like planting a garden: some plants take, some don’t. That’s how you get growth.