Ideas & Innovations
Exploring the intersection of technology, leadership, and digital transformation. Published weekly by Kevin Novak.
Explore 2040’s weekly Ideas and Innovations Newsletter Articles below.
Welcome to 2040’s Ideas and Innovations – where organizational transformation meets human psychology.
Every Thursday for 4+ years, I’ve been sharing insights with 5000+ leaders about why change initiatives succeed or fail. Spoiler alert: it’s rarely about the technology.
I’m Kevin Novak, CEO of 2040 Digital and author of the books “The Truth About Transformation” and “The Truth About Transformation: Leading in the Age of AI, Uncertainty and Human Complexity”. I have spent decades helping organizations navigate change by focusing on the most critical factor: the humans involved.
What you’ll get:
- Weekly deep dives into transformation topics, including strategy and psychology
- Real case studies from 100+ organizational transformations
- Frameworks that actually work in practice
- Leadership counsel and tips
- The human stories behind digital evolution
No buzzwords. No surface-level advice. Just practical insights from the front lines of organizational change.
Subscribe for free and join leaders from Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits who rely on these insights to drive successful transformation.
Also explore our latest research, Measuring What Matters, which examines why organizations struggle to connect measurement to meaningful decisions and what separates effective measurement from data collection.
Join me here on our website and subscribe using the form provided on this page or find me on Substack (20Forty’s Newsletter).
Kevin Novak, CEO, 2040 Digital and author of “The Truth About Transformation” and “The Truth About Transformation: Leading in the Age of AI, Uncertainty and Human Complexity”.
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2040’s
Ideas and Innovations Newsletter
Power Plays
Power Plays Issue 135, November 16, 2023 As mindful observers of today’s national and global discourse, we would be among the first to remind you that we are all both a witness and a victim to power positioning among politicians, world leaders, global business moguls, and everyday bullies. And as is often the case, when bad behavior is prevalent on the world stage, it tends to trickle down to the local level in organizations, relationships, families, and institutions. It is…
Why Women at Work Remains an Issue
Why Women at Work Remains an Issue Issue 134, November 9, 2023 We’re going to tackle an issue that, in our opinion, should no longer be an issue: gender parity in the workplace. McKinsey in its latest Women in the Workplace study reports, “Over the past nine years, women—and especially women of color—remain underrepresented across the corporate pipeline. However, we see a growing bright spot in senior leadership. Since 2015, the number of women in the C-suite has increased from…
Are You Sure You Matter?
Are You Sure You Matter? Issue 133, November 2, 2023 Holding onto next-gen workers and customers (born between 1997 and 2012) requires more than a trick up your sleeve. They are actively changing up the rules of engagement in, and for, organizations of all sizes — whether they are employees or customers. Call them naïve or a brutal force of nature with critical mass, they are redefining the workplace culture and the brand/customer value proposition. Here’s the key thought: You…
The Value of Intangibles
The Value of Intangibles Issue 132, October 26, 2023 We continue to be fascinated by the value proposition of intangibles. This isn’t some weird magical idea. We’re talking about assets that have no physical form but are nonetheless valuable. Considering that we are living in a digital marketplace, intangibility has a profound relevance despite our inherent and deeply programmed need to see, feel, and touch something tangible. If it can be seen, felt, and touched we believe it is real…
Misinformation, AI, Cyber Troops, and Our Need for Guardrails
Misinformation, AI, Cyber Troops, and Our Need for Guardrails Issue 131, October 19, 2023 We’re taking a moment (again) to consider the implications of the speed of technological change confronting us daily. What was charmingly referred to as the information superhighway by Al Gore back in 1993 has morphed into a bullet train … run by AI. What’s more, we face those with malicious intent to manipulate our opinions, bend our minds into believing fiction and influence us in what…
The Present
The Present Issue 130, October 12, 2023 We’re picking up on a theme we’ve been hearing recently. It’s not exactly a new idea, but it resonates as we are challenged by living in an increasingly disruptive and disturbing world. It is, quite simply, living in the present. Professor Scott Galloway (love him or not) has increasingly peppered his critical commentaries with the realization that his career has been defined by planning for the future informed by the past. His existential…
The Motivation of Manipulating Data and Information to a Desired Outcome
The Motivation of Manipulating Data and Information to a Desired Outcome Issue 129, October 5, 2023 Some recent headlines have reported disturbing news about respected and respectable scholars falsifying or just ignoring data conclusions in scholarly papers. This is another example of the skepticism many of us have with the shifts in misinformation flooding our inboxes and newsfeeds, compelling each of us to exercise our critical thinking skills. And the examples we’re referring to aren’t even results of AI. It…
What Would You Do?
What Would You Do? Issue 128, September 28, 2023 We’ve all been in business situations that are uncomfortable, confrontational, and dysfunctional. Even after spending decades building a career, we can get a curveball that puts us in an untenable position. In our newsletters we seek to surface new ideas and realities of the workplace, always recognizing that the human factor is always of paramount importance and influence. It is our intention to help you and your organization manage change, successfully…
Preventive and Supportive Questions
Preventive and Supportive Questions Issue 127, September 21, 2023 Chances are when things go wrong it’s because of poor communication. You’d think that we would have figured out by now how to communicate with each other effectively. All the strategy in the world goes down the tubes if you can’t speak it. And managing a team starts and stops with listening and communicating clearly and empathetically. The biggest landmine? Asking questions. Do it wrong and the conversation comes to a…
How the European Union Is Ahead on Privacy
How the European Union Is Ahead on Privacy Issue 126, September 14, 2023 It has been over a year since we summarized privacy policy actions (or inactions) that will impact you as well as your organization. Why haven’t we written more on the topic? To be honest, there has been little if any action here in the US at the Federal level despite continued news about incidents that result in negative consequences across our society. While inaction continues at the…
The Value of Observation Through the Lens of Complexity Theory
The Value of Observation Through the Lens of Complexity Theory Issue 125, September 7, 2023 One of anyone’s life goals is to be a good observer. It’s fruitful to watch how things unfold around us as we try to make sense of the patterns and connections. Almost everything around us is connected, has interdependence, and influences all the parts that comprise the whole of a system. And that includes the systems of society and, of course, our organizations. In that…
Defining Innovation
Defining Innovation Issue 124, August 31, 2023 Innovation is one of the most hackneyed, misinterpreted, and overused buzzwords in today’s business vocabulary. Ask anyone – including yourself – to define innovation in context of the strategy and operations of doing business in the ever-changing digital economy. You may struggle to define it and asking others will often result in wildly different responses. We did a straw poll to see what the general consensus was on what innovation means. Here are…
Planning Ahead
Planning Ahead Issue 123, August 24, 2023 With all the data at our disposal, why aren’t we connecting the dots to ensure better outcomes? To be more specific, let’s look at our healthcare system – and you can use it as a metaphor for your own strategic planning. Next Gen Career Shifts Take two trends: the US population is aging and so many next gens are more interested in entrepreneurship and tech startups than medicine as a career. What are…
Why We Overcommit
Why We Overcommit Issue 122, August 17, 2023 Nike may disagree, but just say no! Let’s take a pause to consider how we make decisions and why we often over-commit. We wrote an entire book, The Truth About Transformation, about the misconceptions surrounding change and transformation. Many think the greatest obstacle to a significant change is the lack of resources or technological finesse. Those are contributing factors for sure, but the single barrier to change is: Us. Individuals. Our leadership,…
Anti-Perfectionism Is on the Rise
Anti-Perfectionism Is on the Rise Issue 121, August 10, 2023 Recently it has come to our attention, and no doubt yours as well, that some organizations are having a rough go at it stabilizing new workplace models. Hell, society itself seems to be generally on edge finding some new stabilizing normal way to make sense of our ongoing disruptive quality of life. On the one hand in organizations, hybrid models have settled into a norm. On the other hand, many…
Mid-Summer Checkpoints
Mid-Summer Checkpoints Issue 120, August 3, 2023 It’s been a hot summer for most of us. The political conversation continues to escalate. The war drags on. Inequity and inequality divide us. Next gens still raise their voices with demands and pleas for the planet. But not all news is divisive and frustrating. One fact in the ongoing swirl is that only change endures. It would appear that our marketplaces and societies are settling into new models and realities as we…
The Case for AI Guardrails
The Case for AI Guardrails Issue 119, July 27, 2023 Whatever you think about the U.S. government or our elected officials, it does have guardrails in place to protect its citizens. For pharma and food products, it’s the FDA. For workplace safety there’s OSHA. For mobility safety, it’s the Department of Transportation. For safe investments, there’s the SEC. For consumer protection, there’s the Federal Trade Commission. For AI and emerging tech, there’s nothing. Setting Boundaries By human nature, we set…
Change Is a Team Sport: We All Play a Role 2040’s Ideas + Innovations
Change Is a Team Sport: We All Play a Role Issue 118, July 20, 2023 Last week we gave you a case study to demonstrate how critical the human factor (and personalities and our own blind spots) becomes in seeking to innovate, make change and transform. Change is ever-present in daily life. It is also a constant in response to an organization’s market, system, and the needs and wants of customers and workforce. Resistance to innovation, change, and transformation is…
Case Study: A Tale of Two Cities – Ideas + Innovations from 2040
Case Study: A Tale of Two Cities Issue 117: July 13, 2023 We now present a true story, a tale as old as time, of what happens when you unknowingly create resistance to change. We’ll share the saga and let you draw your own conclusions about the outcome. Succession The founder of a digital media platform specializing in the strategy and operations of the design industry for a C-level audience needs a succession plan. She is in her early eighties…
Leadership in Contentious Times: How to Navigate with Courage
Leadership in Contentious Times: How to Navigate with Courage Issue 115, July 6, 2023 If you’re a leader of a public (or private) organization today, you may feel you wake up to a firing squad every morning. Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock has abandoned references to ESG because he feels that it was becoming politicized. Brian Cornell, CEO of Target made no public statements in response to several of his stores attacked by protesters during Gay Pride Month. And we…
Hubris – Ideas and Innovations from 2040
Hubris Issue 115, June 29, 2023 Every day we assess the potential rewards along with the real and perceived risks of the situations, desires, tasks, and ideas we confront. We may not be consciously aware of these assessments, but they are happening all the time. Our ever-expanding technical prowess has resulted in new tools, more efficient production, opportunities to transform ideas into reality, and new platforms to engage and connect. We also have access to expanding our knowledge and deferring…
Social Proof – Ideas and Innovations from 2040
Social Proof Issue 114, June 22, 2023 How often when you are choosing a new restaurant do you refer to Yelp or your local food critic’s review? Or when deciding on a weekend movie, you check out the film reviews, leaning toward the ones with star rankings. How do you find a hotel in another city? And when you are buying apparel online, do you go for the recommendations for how to accessorize it, or in Amazon’s case, “We think…
As the World Turns – Ideas and Innovations from 2040
As the World Turns Issue 113, June 15, 2023 We’re taking a pause to share several trends that we believe are bellwethers for a sustainable future. And we’re not including climate change, although it clearly ranks high on anyone’s list as a cause for concern. We’re talking about two trends that don’t get much attention: population shifts and life expectancy. Here’s the big picture from the UN: The world’s population is expected to increase by two billion people, from 7.7…
Are You Ready? – Ideas and Innovations from 2040
Are You Ready? Issue 112, June 8, 2023 Wrong question. Are your customers ready? Is the market ready? Actually, the real question is a fusion of both. Is the customer base in your market ready to adopt what you have considered building and offering as you seek to stabilize, grow, and expand your organization? Put another way, is what you are contemplating developing something nice to have or necessary? Then add a layer of complexity to that: if the customer…
The Case for Slow Work – Ideas and Innovations from 2040
The Case for Slow Work Issue 111, May 31, 2023 How do we anticipate what’s next before the breakthroughs are even made that will ultimately shape the future? History is written in the eye of the beholder. False assumptions are the roots of history, only to be reversed/updated/revised when new information is revealed to correct the false narrative. One way to look at it is how Piet Hut, astrophysicist at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, describes scientific…
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