Peter G. Balbus Principal HighPoint Associates

Peter is a recognized futurist and innovative technology commercialization expert with over 25 years of experience in helping clients establish new businesses and launch and expand profitable new products and services into emerging global markets. He coaches business and technology managers and executives on business innovation and commercialization processes, and has also served in the roles of interim CEO, CTO, general manager and chief strategist for a variety of clients. He is a Master Certified Business Innovator.

Prior to joining HighPoint Associates, Peter was the Founder and Managing Director of Pragmaxis LLC, an independent consulting practice that specialized in corporate growth, strategic innovation and technology commercialization consulting service. Before that, Peter held regional practice management and senior practitioner positions with leading global consulting firms including Booz Allen & Hamilton, CSC Index and KPMG Strategic Services. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from M.I.T. and has completed the executive program in corporate strategy and finance at the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business.

Peter serves clients across a broad and diverse range of industries including manufacturing, semiconductors & electronic components, LED lighting, clean tech, intelligent energy systems, consumer electronics, specialty chemicals, polymers and plastics, consumer packaged goods, aerospace and advanced materials.

Peter was president of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Chicago for several years and was also a featured guest interviewed on the in-flight “America’s Top Innovators” audio program offered on domestic and international routes of American, Northwest and Delta Airlines. He was also the on-air host and executive producer of “The Information Age”, a cable television program that explored the business opportunities arising from emerging information technologies broadcast by Financial News Network (FNN) in New York. He is currently authoring a book titled “The Seven Pillars of Innovation” due to be published in 2012.

Abstract: Senior management in businesses of all sizes and across all industries around the world are increasingly focusing on innovation as a primary catalyst and driver of corporate growth. Continual innovation has become paramount for any company to succeed in increasingly competitive local and global markets. Detailed analyses of industries confirm that industries must incessantly revolutionize their economic structure from within by innovating better and more effective processes and products. Businesses of all sizes must continuously look for innovative new ways to satisfy their consumer base with improved quality, durability, service and price – all outcomes that come to fruition through innovation in advanced technologies, business models and organizational strategies.

Fast-paced, fun and interactive, this workshop will highlight the principles of defining and managing business innovation initiatives in a manner that unlocks its power to create sustained new sources of revenues and profit pools for your company. And you’ll walk away with new tools and approaches that can be applied to your own business challenges starting “next Monday”.

• Learn what the different types of business innovation are – and which type(s) are most appropriate for addressing specific sets of business challenges and constraints.
• Compare and contrast actual business innovation approaches used by real companies – some successfully, some not so much.
• Gain insights into why these different approaches either succeeded or failed, and what the key learnings are from their efforts.
• Learn methods to positively influence the thinking of senior management – or if you are senior management, how to motivate your team to provide you with compelling business innovation ideas.
• Learn about programs offered by various educational institutions that lead to master business innovator training and certification for you and your team.
• Leave the workshop with the beginnings of their own business innovation plan and execution roadmap.