Anyone Can Innovate

Simon Willis manages strategic government partnerships globally at Mastercard as well innovation projects. He also oversees climate change-related product innovation.Formerly global head of public sector innovation at Cisco for many years, Simon has also worked at Govtech start-ups and twice run UK voluntary sector organizations. The first half of his career was spent working for the UK Government on digital transformation and social security reform at DWP and at Her Majesty's Treasury as UK head of financial crime and lead delegate to the FATF.

• Clear the ground  Find purpose  Generate ideas  Secure support  Get it implemented

"I have seen Simon's strategic innovation work firsthand and can vouch for its huge impact. The reason this book is so useful is because it goes beyond the innovation practices normally discussed into the difficult but essential work of building alliances and driving implementation. It also covers both government and business in deeply insightful ways that will be helpful in navigating the years ahead." Jon Huntsman Former two times Governor of Utah, US Ambassador to China and Russia, Board member Ford Motors, Deputy Chairman, Mastercard."Anyone can innovate but few realise it. This beautiful collection of patterns and recipes from a seasoned innovation leader is an ode to "you can do it." Anne Lange, serial tech entrepreneur and investor. Currently on the Boards of Inditex, Orange, Pernod-Ricard and Peugeot Invest."This book is a direct blow to the myth of the solo entrepreneur that currently operates in most public and private institutions. It also suggests, from real experience, concrete alternatives for building a real model of disruptively inclusive innovation." Dr Gorka Espiau Idoiaga, Director of the Innovation Centre at the University of the Basque country and Columbia University and former senior advisor to the Basque President."Simon is one of those rare individuals who not only understands and drives innovation but has successfully done so across multiple organizations, creating extensive ecosystems of impact. Equally unique is his ability to reflect deeply, discerning patterns and tracing their evolution as they transform over time. This book is invaluable." Indy Johar, co-founder of Dark Matter Labs and urban practice Architecture00."A thoughtful and provocative route map to effective innovation strategies by an incredible leader and practitioner." Relina Bulchandani, Executive Vice President, Workplace, Salesforce'Anyone can innovate' is a charming guide to driving a dynamic approach to innovation at the individual level, which is a key piece of the larger puzzle of strengthening the innovation ecosystem. Simon explicitly touches on this larger framework as well, and effectively makes the case that innovation is done collectively, and is a product of ecosystems (not just individuals) in which public and private sector actors work together in a symbiotic way. " Professor Mariana Mazzucato