S.02: The Connected Consumer: E.08

Season 2: Wrapped

April 25, 2018 • 6:08 min


  | Season 2: Wrapped )


It's that time again, as we wrap up Season 2, to think about our lessons learned. This season, we ventured into the world of the connected consumer -- how do we reach them? What should we be paying attention to? A big thanks to our guests - we had such fun chatting with you! Thank you to our listeners. Please reach out and tell us what you think. And to our amazing team that makes this happen week after week: cheers!


This season, we wanted to dig into the concept of the connected consumer: that ubiquitous, smartphone-carrying user that weaves in and out of digital and connected physical spaces all day long. We don't often consciously consider the way in which technology keeps us on 24/7; but beyond that, we're now more connected to each other to new opportunities, to information, and new possibilities for innovation. What once was kept behind locked doors is now free and accessible through a simple search, and we're challenged to keep up with the shifting landscape, both as consumers and as companies. We wanted to take a moment to revisit some of the key takeaways from every episode this season, and highlight some of the best actionable advice from these industry innovators.

In Episode 1, Luke Chatelain, VP of innovation at West Elm, outlined his philosophy for helping a traditional consumer brand innovate like a digital startup. His maverick personality is supported by his clarity of focus. Innovation needs to create meaningful, valuable products for consumers. Don't just build something just to build it; but when you build something good, by all means, just ship it.



In Episode 2, Whurley spoke on his two passions - quantum computing, and sustainable innovation - reminding us that innovation is not necessarily invention. He stressed the importance of having a company culture that supports the process of innovation. The outcome isn't the only goal: establishing a process for innovation is valuable all by itself.

Episode 3 brought us lessons from the world of app dating via Sarah Jones Simmer, COO at Bumble. She emphasized the importance of trust with your users, and trying to build a platform that handles some of their most intimate relationships. Trust is the predecessor to engagement and loyalty, and trust can only be created by being authentic. So living your values as an organization is non-negotiable.



In Episode 4, Jason brought us insight about applying behavioral sciences to our business practices. But by considering natural human behaviors when creating experiences and products, we can deliver more value to our consumers and gain a stronger competitive edge.



Episode 5 was Tim Lyons helping us define the human side of data, and the massive amounts of data that we create and collect. Qualitative data is valuable in business strategy, and shouldn't be ignored. Give your consumers the ability to communicate with your brand using the channels they are most comfortable with, and have a clear data strategy that takes those channels into account.



In Episode 6, Christina Janzer talked about how Slack is moving to integrate research holistically, and empowers researchers to be both explorers and innovators. Building an intellectually curious research team means bringing in people with diverse experiences and skillsets, and amplifying those for the consumer's benefit. Leveraging an integrated research team is a company-wide objective. Researchers must be storytellers, crafting narrative in a way that's easy for the organization and team to understand and apply.



Our final episode was Kate Heddleston, founder and CEO of Obsolutely and vanguarded that data-driven revolution for equality. She spoke about processes that add rigor to your good intentions for building egalitarian teams. Process ensures your organization makes progress that can be measured, and that you can be held accountable for.



And of course, what's a wrap-up episode without sharing some of the moments of levity that got us through the season? So enjoy the best of our outtakes, which are pretty much inevitable when you're bootstrapping a podcast.



Can we please just talk about your Pomeranian named Jim Morrison at some point during this?



Oh, we absolutely can. He's a character... he's quite a character. I'll tell you all about him. Fantastic.



Yeah, just to kind of circle back around to the cultural aspect of it, it sounds like you then also set an example for the rest of the organization of... (coughs) kind of how... (coughs again) I know, God Almighty. Okay.



So Tim, uh, this is the dumbest question ever, but you guys have Christmas in the summer.



Yes, we do. It isn't a dumb question.



Well I should know that, because it's a different hemisphere, but I think the thing that always makes me... that I always wondered is, like... This is a "no dumb questions" thing, but like for all of your Christmas stuff, is it snowy scenes?



Yeah, it's completely ridiculous. And then we get into the kitchen and we cook a soup, a hot meal in the middle of the day, when it's like 90 degrees. And we've got Christmas trees with snow on it, and we've got snowman lit up outside.



That is really insane because it's such a, um, well, I don't even know where this whole like image of Christmas comes from.



Moderately cloudy is my favorite.



I like it. It's good for photography, if you're into photography. It's really good all year round. Where are you guys from again?



Kate? Oh, you're muted. There you go.



I muted myself. Sorry. I totally forgot I was muted, but that sounds great.



Okay. Awesome.



Um, um, okay. I think that's my spiel. Okay. I'm excited. I'm excited.



Me too.



I'm sitting in my closet. The dog is at daycare, so he's not going to be in the background to make any noise, potentially. Just me. No cat.



Thanks for joining us for today's conversation. To see more content from the Accomplice team or leave us feedback, visit us at iwdr.wpengine.com, or drop us an email at podcast@itsworthdoingright.com. And remember: if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.