Episode 28: How Great Leaders Scale Innovation with Dr. Linda A. Hill

In this episode, Stuart Paap sits down with Dr. Linda A. Hill, the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and faculty chair of its Leadership Initiative, to unpack her new book, Genius at Scale. Building on her earlier work in Collective Genius, Dr. Hill explains why generating innovative ideas is only half the battle, and why the harder challenge is launching, commercializing and scaling them, especially inside large, regulated organizations like those in biotech and pharma. The conversation explores how star individual contributors learn to lead teams of stars, why every person in an organization holds a "slice of genius," and how leaders can build the three muscles of innovation: collaboration, experimentation and learning. Drawing on stories from Pixar, Pfizer, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Procter & Gamble and the Boston Celtics, Dr. Hill shows how self-awareness, co-creation and asking better questions allow organizations to keep innovating as they grow. Chapters: Introduction (00:00:00) Stuart Paap introduces Dr. Linda A. Hill, Harvard Business School professor and author of Genius at Scale. Why Genius at Scale, Why Now (00:01:50) Dr. Hill explains how her new book moves beyond generating innovation to scaling it in large, regulated organizations. From Star Contributor to Collective Genius (00:05:19) Why stars struggle to lead, and the Pixar idea that everyone has a slice of genius. Shared Purpose and Leading Through the Fog (00:09:51) How Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi made every employee an innovative problem solver during COVID-19. Self-Awareness and Role Modeling (00:13:55) How leaders like Michael Ku at Pfizer build self-awareness and model vulnerability for their teams. Everyone Is an Innovator (00:20:17) Why splitting organizations into innovators and executors stalls scaling, and how creative abrasion helps. Innovation, Finance and the Bottom Line (00:26:31) How leaders balance quarterly pressure with long-term innovation, including letting teams set their own metrics. The Three Muscles and the Complexity Index (00:33:58) Collaboration, experimentation and learning, and how a complexity index made it easier to talk about risk. Willing vs. Able to Innovate (00:38:36) The difference between wanting to innovate and having the skills to collaborate across difference. Stars Learning to Lead Stars (00:45:01) Four common pitfalls stars face when they move into leadership, and why versatility matters. Lessons from the Celtics and Formula One (00:51:04) What coaches and racing champions reveal about alignment, focus and managing fear. Scaling Without Losing Agility (01:03:08) Why growing organizations need structure, cadence and a compelling story about change. Ask, Don't Answer (01:10:10) Why leaders should ask questions instead of giving answers so their teams can scale. A Culture Where Every Voice Matters (01:15:18) From a kitchen worker's early COVID-19 warning to avatarin's ambition, how culture surfaces breakthrough ideas. Reframing the Business You're In (01:22:58) Stuart and Dr. Hill on Michelin and redefining your value proposition. Personal Reflections and Closing (01:25:12) Dr. Hill shares what a life of studying leaders has given her and her family. 👇 Catch More From Our Guest – Dr. Linda A. Hill 👨‍🏫 Dr. Linda A. Hill is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and faculty chair of the Leadership Initiative, specializing in leadership, innovation and organizational transformation. 🌐 Website: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/pro... 📚 Book: Genius at Scale (Harvard Business Review Press): https://store.hbr.org/product/genius-... 👇 Catch More From Our Host – Stuart Paap 🎙️ Host of Stand Up to Stand Out, a podcast dedicated to empowering life sciences professionals to turn ideas into reality through insightful conversations on leadership, communication, and influence. Stuart is deeply committed to helping individuals unlock their potential and make a meaningful impact in their fields. 🧳 LinkedIn: Stuart Paap 🌐 Website: dnate.com 📸 Instagram: @stuart_dnate 🐦 Twitter: @stuartpaap 📘 Facebook: Stuart Paap 📌 Disclaimer: The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the host or this channel. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. #communication #leadership #leadershipskills