Innovating, Medici style with Frans Johansson

OutsideVoices with Mark Bidwell

In this episode, we are joined by author, speaker, and entrepreneur, Frans Johansson. Frans is the author of the bestselling book, The Medici Effect, from which the now popular term was coined, and more recently, The Click Moment. Frans is the Founder and CEO of The Medici Group, a consultancy firm which promotes innovation through diversity.

What Was Covered

• The Medici Effect, the name given to what happened in a period in Florence history where creative individuals from myriad disciplines, sculptors, architects, painters, philosophers, etc., were able to break down the boundaries between the different disciplines and cultures and ignite what became one of the most creative eras in Europe's history and the lessons it has for today’s world of business
• How the instinct to surround yourself with people like yourself creates barriers to innovation
• How organizations typically do not properly capitalize on the valuable resource that new hires bring – a critical period where new concepts and ideas can be introduced
• How to introduce diversity at executive level by overcoming the fear of the unpredictability of innovation

Key Takeaways and Learning

• How diversity drives innovation through different perspectives that build upon each other to break new ground
• The concept of “Intersectional hunting” - to actively look for a field or a discipline or a person or a culture that doesn't necessarily make immediate sense and then through that make a connection, then using this to tackle the issue, opportunity, challenge that you have at hand in a new way

Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Get in touch with Frans Johansson via Twitter or LinkedIn
• Frans Johansson's website
• The Medici Group, website
• The Medici Effect, a book by Frans Johansson
• The Click Moment, a book by Frans Johansson
• Lucky or Smart, a book by Bo Peabody