Corporate Innovation in the AI Era - Amer Iqbal on the Cafe Insights Podcast
New Podcast Episode: Amer Iqbal on Innovation Strategy and the AI Era
We are pleased to share the latest episode of Café Insights, featuring innovation strategist and keynote speaker Amer Iqbal, founder of 5 Ways to Innovate. In conversation with host Andrew Vine, Amer draws on his experience leading innovation at global firms such as Meta and Deloitte to explore how companies can adapt to the demands of a rapidly evolving business landscape.
In this episode, Amer discusses:
Why innovation often fails inside companies despite being a strategic priority — and how organizations can close the gap between ambition and execution.
The AI transformation cycle, where we are on the Gartner Hype Curve, and why now is the time for serious investment in long-term transformation rather than short-term experimentation.
The “Ferrari in the driveway” problem, where companies invest in top-tier technology but underinvest in talent, data, and process — rendering the tech ineffective.
How to future-proof your business by redesigning systems from the ground up, drawing on historical lessons like the slow uptake of electricity in the industrial revolution.
Managing dual transformation: the challenge of running today’s core business while simultaneously building tomorrow’s — and why people and HR strategy are central to that transition.
The conversation emphasizes practical strategy over hype, highlighting that innovation must be intentional, systemic, and grounded in long-term thinking.
🎧 Watch the full episode here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4CWEMu3SJA
