255: Are You Crushing Open Innovation?

What does it really take for large organizations to keep innovating when speed, disruption, and AI are changing the rules faster than ever before?

In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I'm joined by two returning guests whose work has shaped how many leaders think about innovation inside large organizations: Dr. Diana Joseph, CEO of the Corporate Accelerator Forum, and Dan Toma, co-author of The Corporate Startup and Innovation Accounting. Together, they return to discuss their new book, Open Innovation Works, and why open innovation has become a business necessity rather than a nice idea for the future.

We unpack why so many organizations struggle to innovate once they grow beyond their original breakthrough, and why the answer often lies outside the four walls of the business. From startup accelerators and incubators to university partnerships and corporate venture capital, Diana and Dan explain how companies can choose the right innovation vehicle rather than simply copying competitors. They also explain why alignment within the organization is often harder than working with startups.

The conversation also takes a timely turn toward AI, where both guests challenge the growing trend of creating isolated "AI departments." Instead, they argue that AI should be treated like any other business tool, embedded across every function rather than locked inside another silo. It is a practical, honest discussion about why so many AI projects fail, what leaders are getting wrong, and how innovation teams can stay relevant by tying their work directly to business growth and measurable outcomes.

We also explore real-world examples from companies like Illumina and the lessons learned from cautionary tales like Borders and Amazon. At the center of it all is one simple question: if your organization cannot see the future clearly, who can help you borrow that vision?

If you're leading innovation, navigating AI adoption, or trying to prove the ROI of transformation inside your business, this episode offers frameworks, perspective, and practical advice you can start using tomorrow. How is your organization making sure it doesn't lose sight of what comes next?