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Masterclasses

To complement our main events, Masterclasses address both the cognitive and soft skills needed by technologists and scientists operating at strategic level in high-tech B2B manufacturing or professional services firms.

If you fit our profile you are welcome whether your organisation is a member of the Innovation network or not.

Our profile?  Mid-senior level technologists, leaders, and fast-track talent in high-tech innovation.

Delegates from member organisations benefit from a healthy discounted place at each Masterclass, per subscription.

A list of the Masterclasses on offer, tutors, and descriptions are to be found below.  Please contact us to let us know the topics that interest you.

The Innovation Network Logo Masterclasses Essential knowledge and skills for Building an Innovative Organisation Ideal for Facilitator
Building an Innovative Team Healthy teams innovate naturally. Building them requires a healthy balance between cohesion and dissent. A strong culture can inhibit originality, but so can an absence of security and social connectedness. We’ll look at requirements for group safety and group creativity in the wider context of organisational culture. Team leaders at any level Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Construct your own Innovation Mgt System Assessment Learn about the key components of an Innovation Management System and build a bespoke and comprehensive framework for your organisation’s needs that incorporates and optimises what you already have. Senior technologists and innovation leaders Professor Philip Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight
Collaborating with confidence Tools for working with stakeholders and/or external peers. Learn about what erodes and what builds trust. Gain confidence in dealing with sensitive subjects to avoid misunderstandings and their possible consequences. Mid career-senior technologists Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Commercial Communications for Scientists Approaches to communicating effectively when dealing directly with customers. Learn how to view things from their perspective and how to use their language to help win sales and greater engagement. Mid career-senior Technologists Sue Cresswell Marketing Comms Expert, Active Insight
Dealing with Difficult People Encountering people (external or internal) who we find difficult is part of life. Yet each has something valuable to teach us about being better colleagues and leaders. Illuminating for those keen to harvest the value from these uncomfortable experiences. All Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Listening to “Voice of Customer” Learn approaches to gathering “voice of customer” (VOC) to gain insights into customer needs, improve our own VOC approach, and become a better procurer of external researchers. A vital component of any innovation strategy Mid career-senior Technologists Professor Philip Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight
Managing change Frequent change is the hallmark of contemporary enterprises and even established institutions. If you manage teams or systems and processes, learn how to overcome resistance and inspire and encourage and others through it. Mid-senior level managers and technologists Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Optimising the “Idea Factory” A vital capability for any innovative company is to be able to source a healthy flow of new ideas from a wide variety of both internal an external sources, then turn those ideas into value for your organisation. This course masterclass will cover multiple potential idea sources and discuss the enabling organisational structures needed to take advantage of them. Mid career-senior Technologists Professor Phillip Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight
Positive Politics at Work Politics is part of everyday organisational life and at senior levels the complexity increases. Those who engage constructively can be smart about their collaborations and alliances. For those keen to become more savvy while being a constructive player. All Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Principles of Strategy and Marketing Learn about the factors underpinning the analyses made in a business to support strategic decisions, including characterising markets and customers. Learn about your own thinking strengths and contribution to this process. Junior-Mid career technologists Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Prioritising Innovations Acquire a range of powerful tools for assessing value and impact of a range of possible innovation projects to develop. Gain confidence in focusing in on those innovations most likely to maximise investment and benefit business strategy. Mid career-senior technologists Professor Phil Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight
Portfolio & lifecycle management An organisation’s product portfolio is not static, and influenced by drivers such as existing customer needs, market trends and an organsation’s core competence. Learn tools to ensure you can make informed decisions to maintain a strategic balance. Innovation Leaders Professor Philip Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight
Storytelling for Leaders Learn how to inspire and motivate with narrative. Discover the value of clarity about the “whys” behind your messages. Learn about and experience the importance of eliciting emotion and using stories to build personal credibility. Mid career-senior Technologists Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Strategic Thinking for Senior Technologists Distinguish between vision, mission, goals, strategy and tactics; Position yourself in the three tiers of strategy. Acquire valuable tools for interpreting data and resources. Learn how personality types contribute differently. Senior technologists Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
Structure & Systems for
Innovation Culture
Essential for long term success of your company is a healthy innovation culture. This Masterclass will cover organisational elements and approaches that will help develop your innovation culture. Innovation Leaders Professor Phillip Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight
The Circular Economy – Getting Started The Circular Economy principles can bring about a much-needed shift in mindset. This Masterclass reinforces that and supports participants in considering pragmatic steps to move positivly in the right direction. All Keith Freegard MBA, Co-founder of Axion Recycling
Thinking skills and Systems Insight Become aware of typical thought traps and patterns that can limit us, and explore how systems thinking can improve shared understanding of complex issues and enhance strategic decision-making in groups. Mid career-senior Technologists Siobhan Soraghan BSc MBA, Director of Active Insight
“Voice of Customer” Understanding customer needs is a vital component of any innovation strategy. Learn approaches to gathering “voice of customer” (VOC) to gain insights into customer needs, improve our own VOC approach, and become a better procurer of external researchers Mid career-senior technologists Professor Philip Kennedy Product Innovation Expert, Active Insight

To Book

Simply email us with your details and the name of the Masterclass(es) you wish to attend.

We will send you an Outlook meeting invite.  Please accept to confirm your booking and we will invoice you when a quorum is reached.

Go to our full calendar