Corporate Explorer

2Corporate Explorers in Action

This is not a recipe book. There is no formula for immunity to disruption. Invincibility is an illusion. However, one factor stands out to explain why some succeed at corporate venture building. Our experience working with midsize and large legacy firms have shown us that innovation is as much about leadership as it is about method, strategy, organization, and culture. Leaders that ignite and sustain a spirit of exploration are more likely to succeed than those that rely on past strengths or success formulas to carry them through. At the center of every story of all corporate innovations are Corporate Explorers whose intense curiosity makes them dare to go where others do not. These are leaders capable of closing the gap between knowing what needs to be done to grow new businesses and doing so.

The story of Krisztian Kurtisz at UNIQA Insurance illustrates the way a Corporate Explorer operates in action. Kurtisz had an explorer's insight about something that could change in his company and in his industry overall. He took a purpose-driven approach to building a business around his insight, which helped him be successful at winning investor support from senior managers to pursue the idea. Even so, he risked being perceived as a wild explorer, advocating ideas best left to startups. He needed to manage uncertainty and help UNIQA make decisions about the future of the venture based on evidence.

Explorer's Insight

After two decades in the insurance ...