Building Breakthroughs Through Open Innovation and Holistic Thinking

Join the thousands of people here and subscribe to the Breakthrough Innovation Newsletter to receive strategies and insights into making innovation part of your organizations DNA

Brad Carlson , thanks for contributing this article! Learn more about who Brad is and what he does at the end of this article.

If you'd like to contribute an article or collaborate on an article, let us know, we'd love to connect!

Innovation isn’t a single eureka moment—it’s a continuous process of solving problems, creating value, and bringing people and ideas together. Over my career in academia, industrial innovation, and leadership at companies like Danaher and Intelligent Product Solutions, I’ve seen how innovation thrives when it’s woven into daily operations and driven by a holistic approach.

For senior leaders, the challenge is creating an environment where ideas can emerge, evolve, and deliver real impact. Here’s how to foster innovation through collaboration, open systems, and customer-centric thinking.

1. Define Innovation as Problem-Solving That Creates Value

Innovation is often perceived as groundbreaking or revolutionary. However, I believe it’s more universal. Innovation is simply creativity that creates value. Whether solving a small operational issue or developing a transformative product, the focus should always be on creating meaningful value for the user.

For leaders, this means looking beyond the technology itself to understand the customer’s needs. Value is determined by the end-user, not the inventor. By engaging customers directly and understanding their challenges, leaders can align their teams to solve the right problems.

2. Embrace Open Innovation

Open innovation is the practice of collaborating with external partners—universities, startups, consulting firms, or other companies—to accelerate problem-solving and broaden perspectives. At Danaher, this approach was critical, especially during acquisitions where we integrated external innovations into our product portfolio.

At Intelligent Product Solutions, open innovation drives everything we do. By embedding ourselves into clients’ product development teams, we ensure a seamless feedback loop, enabling rapid iteration and co-creation. For senior leaders, this means being open to collaboration and recognizing that external expertise can unlock solutions your team may not have considered.

3. Create a Culture of Experimentation

Innovation isn’t without risk, but the key is to minimize it through small, smart failures. Instead of trying to fail fast, aim to fail small and fail smart. This means starting with controlled experiments that allow teams to test hypotheses, gather feedback, and iterate quickly without overcommitting resources.

For example, during the development of the VNS connected platform at LivaNova, our team worked closely with customers to refine the design based on real-world use cases. By involving stakeholders early and maintaining a tight feedback loop, we were able to reduce risk and deliver a solution that met their needs.

4. Focus on Customer-Centric Design

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of listening to customers. Understanding how your product fits into their daily workflows and challenges is critical. When we developed the vagus nerve stimulator at LivaNova, spending time in operating rooms and talking directly with surgeons gave us insights that shaped the product’s functionality and usability.

For leaders, the takeaway is clear: customer-centric design isn’t optional. It’s essential. Building relationships with end-users and incorporating their feedback ensures your innovations create the value they expect.

5. Balance Technology and Business Innovation

Innovation isn’t just about new technology—it’s about creating business models that support growth and scalability. While technology might get the headlines, it’s the business innovation—how you deliver, scale, and market the technology—that determines success.

At Danaher, lean thinking helped us integrate customer insights into every aspect of our business, from R&D to marketing. This holistic approach ensured our innovations aligned with both market demands and operational goals.

6. Build Strong Partnerships Across Teams

Great innovation happens when diverse teams collaborate. Leaders must break down silos and encourage cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that engineering, marketing, operations, and other departments align around shared objectives.

Collaboration isn’t just about internal teams—it extends to customers, consultants, and external partners. By fostering these connections, leaders create a culture where innovation thrives.

7. Drive Continuous Learning and Adaptation

Innovation is an ongoing journey, not a one-time event. Leaders must foster a mindset of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to adapt to changing circumstances and embrace new opportunities. By staying curious and maintaining an open mind, organizations can remain agile and competitive in dynamic markets.

Final Thoughts: Leadership for Holistic Innovation

Innovation is most impactful when it’s integrated into every part of an organization. By embracing open collaboration, focusing on customer value, and creating a culture of experimentation and learning, senior leaders can drive meaningful change that benefits both their teams and their customers.

The future of innovation lies in breaking down walls—between teams, industries, and perspectives—and building systems that prioritize value and collaboration. Let’s work together to make that future a reality.

To connect or collaborate, find me on LinkedIn at https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/drbradleyscarlson/or email me at [email protected].

If you're interested in learning more download our book and register to receive our new book "Breakthrough Innovation" when it releases!

If you’re considering running a design sprint for your organization or team, grab a copy of our Design Sprint Starter Guide.

If you're ready to chat, grab some time on our calendar!

Dr. Brad Carlson is a seasoned innovator, R&D executive, and strategist with over 30 years of experience in the medical device, imaging, and industrial markets. As the VP of Technology and Business Development at Intelligent Product Solutions , Brad has built a career around transforming innovation into purposeful results, helping organizations launch differentiated products that drive market growth.

With a track record of delivering breakthroughs like the first VNS (vagus nerve stimulation) connected platform and pioneering imaging products, Brad has led cross-functional teams through complex challenges to achieve record-setting milestones. A holder of 52 U.S. patents and author of 41 refereed articles, Brad is deeply committed to fostering personal growth and empowering others to succeed in innovation.