Video Vignette: Innovation Pivot

Featuring: Jason Rosenthal

Background on Jason Rosenthal:

Jason Rosenthal is the CEO of Lytro, where he applies more than 20 years of operations and product experience to lead day-to-day company operations and strategy.

Prior to joining Lytro, Jason was an Operating Executive at Silver Lake, a global technology investment firm. Previously, Rosenthal was CEO of Ning, which was acquired by Glam Media. At Ning, Rosenthal led the company’s successful transformation from a free, ad-supported service to a premium subscription model. Before joining Ning, Rosenthal held executive positions at HP and Opsware (formerly Loudcloud) and led product teams at AOL and Netscape. Rosenthal began his career working for Rebuild LA, the inner city economic development organization founded in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles riots by Peter Ueberroth.  Rosenthal holds a B.A. in history from Pomona College where he also serves on the board of trustees and he received his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Summary: Faced with having to choose a the optimal path ahead for the company at a critical time in the business, the CEO must align his resources to optimize the market and evolving technology.

Takeaway: Leaders must monitor the landscape and technology to strategically align the company for success.

Considerations and Questions:

1-    What is biggest challenge Jason faces with his decision?

2-    What are Jason’s options and what are the trade offs? 

3-    How can he manage the stakeholders to ensure they buy in to his vision?

4-    What is especially challenging about pivoting so quickly?  What are the opportunities?

Video Vignette: Innovation Pivot

Featuring: Jason Rosenthal

Segment 1: Background and Challenge

Summary: Given the changing landscape of technology, the marketing data showed a need for product evolution in spite of the large company’s resistance to change its processes for a new product development.

Considerations and Questions:

1-    What do you think is the best option for Jason? 

2-    If he decides to make a radical change in his strategy, what must he do to ensure the company is flexible enough to adjust?

3-    How should Jason proceed to optimize his success?

4-    What must Rob do to ensure he gets buy in from his Board?

Video Vignette: Innovation Pivot

Featuring: Jason Rosenthal

Segment 2: Decision

Summary: Jason must commit to a solution and align his resources to be as successful as possible.

Considerations and Questions:

1. What do you think about Jason’s decision?
2. How should Rob prioritize his work and efforts to be successful with the pivot?
3. Do you agree with how Rob handled his Investors and Board?
4. In your own experience, how do you best manage priorities in a radical strategic pivot?

Video Vignette: Innovation Pivot

Featuring: Jason Rosenthal

Segment 3 and 4: Results and Lessons Learned

Summary: Jason commits to a path and has great results, in spite of the work it takes to make such a big strategic change.  Jason shares his lessons learned from the experience.

Considerations and Questions:

1. What could Jason have done better or focused differently?  What worked well?
2. What surprises you about the results Jason experienced from this effort to chase a new market with this innovation?
3. What steps do you always take when driving strategic change based in your work?

Video Vignette: Innovation Pivot

Featuring: Jason Rosenthal

Segment 3 and 4: Results and Lessons Learned

Summary: Jason commits to a path and has great results, in spite of the work it takes to make such a big strategic change.  Jason shares his lessons learned from the experience.

Considerations and Questions:

1. What could Jason have done better or focused differently?  What worked well?
2. What surprises you about the results Jason experienced from this effort to chase a new market with this innovation?
3. What steps do you always take when driving strategic change based in your work?