Embedded 509: Swarmed by Engineers
Sep 5, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Steve Hinch, a former executive from Hewlett-Packard and Agilent and author of "Winning through Innovation", shares his extensive experience. He dives into the quirks of project management paired with AI's transformative role in engineering. Steve reflects on the early days at HP, contrasting the founder's values with modern corporate culture. The conversation offers insights on fostering innovation in established labs and managing the complexities of leadership in engineering. Plus, some fun hiking recommendations add a lively twist!
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Define Winning Innovation By Profit
- Define innovation as finding opportunity others miss and turning it into profitable reality.
- Measure ideas by their ability to become profitable, not by novelty alone.
Carve Two Hours Weekly For Innovation
- Give engineers roughly two hours per week dedicated to innovation, away from daily interruptions.
- Authorize that time explicitly so managers won't block exploratory work.
Align Innovation With Company Priorities
- Explain company priorities clearly so employee innovation aligns with strategic objectives.
- Teach staff what matters so their ideas support the company's goals rather than rely on blind luck.
