Roberto Verganti

We tend to think that innovation comes either from a lonely genius or from a community. Yet, if we look at many stories of breakthrough ventures, we discover that at the core there often is a pair: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; Larry Page and Sergey Brin; Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The magic number in innovation is 2.

Innovation of course requires people and resources. The more we are, the better it is. But there are key moments, in any innovation journey, where things move forward only through the close collaboration between two persons. The trusted protected environment of a pair enable us to dare sharing half backed and unorthodox ideas, before exposing them to a larger audience. It also creates frank dynamics of mutual challenges and growth, just like sparring partners in boxing: I challenge you because I want you to win. Finally, when we are committed to another specific person, we feel personally accountable to her: when the journey will be at risk, I will hardly step back. The intimate space between two people is therefore a source of protection, reflection, resilience, which is essential to create breakthroughs. How do you find your sparring partner for your innovation journey? How do you create and nurture the intimate space that enables the two of you to go where you would never go alone? How do you move between collaboration in a large community, and pair collaboration?

This speech will tell you the unveiled secrets of many innovation leaders: the capability to pick and work with an inspiring sparring partner.