How to be an innovator? Being different to do different things.

I think that people who love technology and projects, the dreamiest job is being an Innovation Director, the person who is always thinking about improving, developing and setting up new different projects or strategies, to ensure the future and the progress of the company.

Maybe, our company is very successful, but are we completely sure our business model is going to work in 5 years? Have we got some risks? I worked in a tourism company which was very successful for 10 years but they didn’t pay attention to the Tourist Internet Boom and afterwards, they tried to react but it was too late, they finally closed their business. So we can’t remain calm, we always need to study the environment, the market, the client and to invent new strategies and services.

So, an Innovation Director must be curious (go to salons, events, read articles...), always looking for improvement, analytical (don’t forget that without data, we are just a person with an opinion), creative and, it’s mandatory to have a long term vision. Currently, this position is really linked to technology (Internet of Things, Big Data, Digital Transformation…), so this person must move in these environments too.

But the most important thing is to be different. It’s impossible to be innovator if you haven’t set up a lot of projects, if you haven’t had the experience of failing and recovering and if you haven’t done different things, working in different companies and positions. Sometimes, recruiters are looking for a candidate who has already worked in the same sector or in the same position, and I really think this is less important. Several times when we are doing something and we are blocked, we need someone different to see what we haven’t seen.

And everybody can innovate in their role: sales, marketing, finance… Everybody can find a place to innovate and to improve their works. And companies need people like that, special now, when the competition is very hard and the client is very demanding.

I saw a video of Thomas Edison’s story. He was expelled from school, because he was different but her mother didn’t give up, she taught him for years and everyone knows the story that came after, he became a genius. So, please, if you see a different CV but with the knowledge, don’t put it in a side, maybe he / she can invent the light bulb in your company.