175: Creating a Halo Effect Around Innovation That Drives Real Value

In this episode of the Innovation Storyteller Show, I sit down with Alex Trotta, Product Owner at Moody’s, who brings over 14 years of experience working at some of the most influential financial institutions in the world, including Citibank, MasterCard, and Goldman Sachs. Our conversation dives deep into how organizations, both large and small, can introduce innovation in a way that creates real impact and lasting value.

One of the most important takeaways from Alex’s journey is the need to focus innovation efforts. Too often, businesses launch multiple initiatives at once—corporate ventures, accelerators, hackathons—and fail to give any one of them the attention, funding, or time they need to grow. According to Alex, innovation needs to be strategically aligned with company-wide goals, rather than being siloed off in a separate department.

A key theme in our discussion is the concept of creating a "halo effect" around innovation. Alex explains how aligning innovation with influential figures or well-known brands can generate excitement and support within the organization. By building this halo effect, internal teams are more likely to rally behind innovative projects, elevating their own profiles within the company while driving real results.

One of the most powerful insights Alex shares is the importance of data-driven decision-making in innovation. It’s not enough to simply have a good idea. You need the data to back it up. Alex emphasizes that using tools already in place—such as Salesforce, Jira, or ServiceNow—can accelerate the feedback loop and ensure that the decisions being made align with customer needs. Without this data, even the best ideas can fall flat when presented to leadership.

Another crucial point Alex makes is the need for metrics. Whether you are pursuing a new product, process improvement, or business model innovation, having clear metrics allows you to assess whether to continue on your current path or pivot in a new direction. He advises innovators to not only measure success but also to be prepared to present the value of failure to leadership. Failure isn’t the end; it’s often where the most valuable lessons are learned.

Throughout our conversation, Alex touches on the challenges of innovation within large organizations, particularly when it comes to securing ongoing funding and support. He argues that when innovation is viewed as a company-wide focus, rather than just the responsibility of a specific team, it has a better chance of surviving budget cuts during tough times.

Ultimately, this episode is filled with practical advice for anyone working in corporate innovation. Whether you are at the beginning stages of an innovation initiative or trying to scale it within a large organization, Alex’s insights provide a roadmap for creating a more focused, data-driven approach that drives real value.