NetElixir: Hi Robin! Welcome back! Can you share a bit about yourself?

Hey there! My name is Robin Dreeke, retired Chief of the FBI, Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, spy recruiter, and bestselling author, including author of my upcoming book, Unstoppable Alliances.

NX: So, what does Rethinking Innovation mean to you?

It’s all about the fuel that drives innovation, alliances of trust and safety. In my talk, I’ll be sharing some of the key principles from my book, like focus, the Keys to Communication and Mastery. 

NX: How have you been inspired to change or innovate during the past two years?

Over the past few years, I’ve been inspired to change and innovate by paying attention to world around me and embracing advancements in technology and self-awareness. It’s about staying ahead of the wave and not letting it pass us by.

NX: What are your views about AI and how should brands leverage AI?

When it comes to AI, it’s important for brands to leverage it as a collaborative partner. Like any new resource, it’s crucial to understand its benefits, limitations, and how to use it as a collaboration rather than relying on it completely. 

NX: Final question. What is one key takeaway you want attendees to use from your presentation?

In my presentation, I want attendees to take away the importance of allies in both personal and professional endeavors. This includes forming alliances with AI as the world moves forward. The key lies in our ability to focus and to be present, communicate effectively, use and afford golden keys, and strive for mastery rather than just relying on our natural talent. And in the new world of AI and deep fakes, we must remember the principles of trust but verify. By holding on to this principle, we can navigate the challenges and risks that come with these advancements.

Join NetElixir’s X=Experience

We still have a few spots left for our exclusive X=Experience: Rethinking Innovation conference, held in Princeton at the end of September. Join Robin’s presentation on Unstoppable Alliances to dive into the world of unstoppable alliances and how they apply in the exciting realm of AI and deepfakes. It’s going to be an unforgettable experience!

Our 10th annual X=Experience also boasts keynote speakers Sheena Iyengar and Adam Alter.

Further Reading

• What Makes NetElixir’s X=Experience A World-Class Event?
• X=Experience: Celebrating 5 Years
• ABC’s of NetElixir

The post Meet The Speaker: Robin Dreeke at NetElixir’s 10th Annual X=Experience appeared first on NetElixir.

We aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, in a space where everyone is a student again. We are here to rethink innovation in order to create a brighter future. 

At the end of September, we held our 9th annual event. While the cadence of our event remained similar to years prior, our speakers and guests made this year truly magical. 

Day One of The X=Experience

Day One of our X=Experience event is structured around Albert Einstein. As NetElixir’s icon of inspiration, we seek to emulate Einstein’s endless curiosity. 

We host a cocktail hour and welcome dinner at the historic Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ. Day One is an opportunity to network with fellow attendees and learn about Princeton’s history and Einstein’s local legacy.

Following our cocktail hour and full course dinner, we are joined by the Princeton Tour Company’s energetic and knowledgeable guide for a walking tour that literally retraces Einstein’s steps around the university and surrounding town. We pass by Einstein’s house, a memorial bust, and more in our efforts to preserve his memory and influence.

We take a retrospective look at the past to understand its implications in the present moment before looking towards the future during our main conference day.

Day Two: Main Conference Day

NetElixir’s 9th Annual X=Experience: Rethinking Innovation kicked off on the early morning of  Friday, September 30th at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. Grounds for Sculpture is a breathtaking and interactive art museum that brings new and classic artworks to life in unexpected ways. This gorgeous venue is the perfect background to gather today’s thought leaders and feel inspired to build a better tomorrow.

I must also note that the warm and positive energy that your group as a whole brought to experience was very impressive. As one who works with a lot of organizational teams, it is very rare and inspiring.” – Callie Lasch, Grounds for Sculpture

NetElixir’s Founder, CEO, and resident Einstein, Udayan Bose kicked off the event with a welcome note that dived more into the why behind the X=Experience and the behind-the-scenes efforts from all our team members that brought us to this moment. 

“I found that there was a bit of a gap in terms of what is happening in the industry and what is being taught and researched in academia as well. So the aspiration really was to build an un-conference which tries to bridge the gap between industry leadership and academia,” Udayan summarizes. 

The success of X=Experience relies on its pillars of fostering ideation by encouraging participants to ask questions and have discussions, initiating inspiration to help leaders think of something new, and cultivating lasting friendships.

One such friendship brought us to where we are today: that of Udayan Bose and our first keynote speaker, Jay Steinfeld. He was NetElixir’s first customer back in 2005 when he was the CEO of Blinds.com and we are honored he could join us this year.

How To Disrupt Others Before They Disrupt You By Jay Steinfeld

During his presentation, Jay told the story of how he built Blinds.com from the ground up, starting in his home in Texas, and culminating in Home Depot acquiring it in 2014 for millions. But Jay’s story is not one of strictly good business acumen; it’s a personal story of endurance, spirit, and hard work. Jay’s message is one of continual learning: “You can learn from every person, every company, every interaction you ever had.”

To grow, Jay projected his brand as big as he could envision. He relied on a foundation of strong leadership that he championed every day. Blinds.com cultivated an environment of collaboration, generosity, and open communication that allowed everyone to freely share their thoughts, learnings, and questions.

Jay’s four principles of business are:

• Evolve continuously
• Experiment without fear of failure
• Express yourself
• Enjoy the ride!

Jay taught us that we can rethink innovation by working to bring out the best in each other.

How To Change: Adapting for a Post-Pandemic World by Katy Milkman

Katy Milkman is a James G. Dinan professor at The Wharton School, best-selling author, and expert on the science of behavior change. Her book, How To Change: The Science of Getting From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be, delves into strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change; during our X=Experience event, Katy explored three of these barriers: impulsivity, getting started, and confidence.

In order to make progress, first identify the obstacle that is in your way. Then, tailor your solution to overcoming that obstacle rather than strictly focusing on the goal. Changing the nature of your daily objectives is important to achieving long-term success. If you enjoy what you are doing, you’re more likely to follow through with it. People are more open to change with the sense of a clean slate and an opportunity to do better than we did in the past. 

Three key lessons Katy shared on how to change are:

• Efficiency is not the precursor to driving change; fun is!
• We mentally align with fresh starts, like the start of a new year, quarter, or week.
• Giving advice, rather than asking for help or receiving advice, changes our perspective around challenges and makes it easier to for to see solutions to similar problems.

Katy helped us rethink innovation by welcoming change.

Our Future Forward Segments

We introduced a new presentation topic this year in the format of our Future Of segments. First, Parag Shah, the VP of Omnichannel Merchandising for The GIANT Company, spoke on the Future of Grocery. 

Insights into the future of grocery include:

• Omnichannel shopping is increasingly becoming the norm, as consumers adopt physical and digital channels to complete their trips
• Retailers are embracing AI and rethinking robotics to elevate the in-store experience and increase efficiency
• People’s relationship with food has evolved significantly throughout the pandemic, as more opt to eat meals at home
• Because people shop for groceries on a regular basis, they can get quickly acclimated to new technology and retail initiatives launched by the grocery industry

Should we even call engines like Google a search page anymore? NetElixir’s Udayan Bose and Google’s Agency Development Manager Billy McLellan spoke on the Future of Search, highlighting that:

• Search is evolving beyond a simple word to an entire experience that encompasses a visual and video showcase, omni-buyers and hundreds of digital touchpoints, and highly personalized feeds.
• Advancements in AI are changing how brands interact with customers in every context.
• The modern customer is highly empowered and their path-to-purchase is more complicated than ever before.

Parag, Udayan, and Billy helped us rethink innovation by leading us into the future.

Innovation in the Small: Learnings from Consumer and Retail by David Bell

David brings his history as a Wharton professor, as a researcher into new consumer and retail company operations, and as an investor, both on a personal level and on a professional level through Idea Farm Ventures that he founded. The ‘small’ from David’s presentation means attention to detail. Everyday consumption is something that fuels the world, so finding a balance between online and offline ensures success in an omnichannel world.

The retail experience is rapidly changing to encompass new consumer expectations. Throughout his experience, David has seen the following:

• The physical aspect of shopping cannot be understated, but it needs to evolve alongside other digital initiatives.
• Information and fulfillment will start to happen in native environments to be more accessible to the everyday shopper.
• The internet is the world of the extreme, so attention to detail and curating experiences for your customers will help you provide a cohesive brand identity.

David helped us rethink innovation by challenging us to hone in on the small details.

Udaan Trust – Flight Foundation

The X=Experience event is more than just a meeting of great minds; all proceeds from the X=Experience go to support our non-profit, the Udaan Trust. Udaan’s mission is to create a world where no young girl is afraid to dream big. 

Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $4,000 and can extend our scholarship to eight girls in 2023!

NetElixir’s 10th Annual X=Experience

Save the Date! We will host our 10th Annual X=Experience on September 28-29, 2023. Stay tuned for further announcements as we expand our community and aim to make this the biggest event yet.

Once you are inside this [conference], you are in a classroom. Whatever your titles, your company, you leave them outside. But here you are a student.” – Udayan Bose

The post What Makes NetElixir’s X=Experience A World-Class Event? appeared first on NetElixir.

“There was no hierarchy — there was no client, there was no CEO. Everyone was a student,” NetElixir’s Founder and CEO, Udayan Bose, says in describing the creation of the first X=Experience in 2013.

Who better to help us become a student again and spark free-flowing conversations than leading professors sharing their latest research? NetElixir prides ourselves on the quality of our speakers and their presentations and we’re happy to invite Professor Michele Gelfand of Stanford University, to our 8th Annual X=Experience: Rethinking Innovation. Because we believe that when great minds meet, magic happens.

Professor Gelfand will be presenting The Secret Life of Social Norms. She will discuss:

• How the strength of social norms reflects cultural differences
• The distinction between tight and loose cultures and how they influence our own behavior
• Why moderation is key to forging deeper connections with one another

Rethink Innovation with Michele Gelfand at NetElixir’s X=Experience.

Interview with Michele Gelfand

NetElixir sat down with Professor Gelfand for a teaser of what we can expect from her presentation at our live event. She shared:

Hi, I’m Michele Gelfand, a professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and I’m really excited to be speaking at the upcoming NetElixir event on October 1st! My talk is going to be about how to understand the deeper cultural codes that are driving our behavior that’s based on my book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers. 

A key difference that differentiates people around the world and across history is whether we are tight or loose. Tight groups notice rules, they try to avoid mistakes, and they like a lot of structure and order. Loose groups don’t notice rules a lot, are more risk-taking, and don’t mind ambiguity. Neither is worse or better, but both have important strengths and liabilities and it turns out that this distinction is affecting everything from our nations to our neurons. And you’ll find out why and, most importantly, how to harness the power of these codes to be more effective at work and at home. See you soon!

Read More

• Meet Jonah Berger: Keynote Speaker at X=Experience
• NetElixir’s 8th Annual X=Experience Event
• X=Experience: 5 Years

The post Meet the Speaker: Michele Gelfand at X=Experience appeared first on NetElixir.

Since 2013, NetElixir has created an event that curates thought-provoking presentations, sparks stimulating conversations, and forms wonderful friendships. With the goal to bridge the gap between academia and industry, the X=Experience was born. 

Because we could not host this event in person in 2020, attendees have highly anticipated the return of this event. As always, NetElixir prides ourselves on the quality of our speakers and their presentations, so to kick off the X=Experience comeback, we’re excited to announce that Professor Jonah Berger, of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, NYTimes and WSJ best-selling author, and 2021 Wobi Keynote Speaker, will be joining our 8th Annual X=Experience: Rethinking Innovation.

Professor Berger will be presenting Contagious: Why Things Catch On. He will discuss:

• The secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission
• Six basic principles that can affect what makes something popular or viral
• How to leverage the power of influence to craft contagious content

Rethink Innovation with Jonah Berger, exclusively at NetElixir’s X=Experience.

Interview with Jonah Berger

NetElixir sat down with Professor Berger to discuss some of his thoughts on innovation prior to our live event. 

NetElixir: Welcome, Professor Berger! We’re excited to have you join our 8th Annual X=Experience event!

Professor Berger: Hi, I’m Jonah Berger! I’m a Marketing Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and I’m excited to speak at the upcoming NetElixir event on October 1st. 

NetElixir: What is one key takeaway you want attendees to use from your presentation?

Professor Berger: I’m going to talk about a problem that all of us have, whether we’re in marketing or sales, whether we’re internal within an organization trying to create innovations — we all have something that we want to change. Marketing and sales want to change their customer’s or consumer’s mind, leaders want to transform organizations, employees want to change their boss’s mind, start-ups want to change industries, non-profits want to change the world. But change is really hard. Often we push, we pressure and cajole, and nothing happens. So the question is could there be a better way? 

So at my talk, I’m going to talk about a new method for creating change from my recent bestseller, The Catalyst: How To Change Anyone’s Mind, and how we can apply that to become better change agents in all aspects of our lives.

NetElixir: What is a key driver of innovation that companies tend to overlook? 

Professor Berger: In terms of a key driver of innovation that companies tend to overlook, I would say something called the status quo bias. Companies tend to be really focused on what they’re good at, and what they’ve already achieved, and what they’re good at doing, but that makes them risk-aversed, makes them wary of trying new things. And so by understanding the status-quo bias, we can overcome its barriers and make change more likely. Sometimes we have to cannibalize ourselves rather than allowing other start-ups to come in and sort of eat our lunch. We have to be smarter and create innovation from within.

NetElixir: What does Rethinking Innovation mean to you?

Professor Berger: In terms of the importance of rethinking innovation, for me, well innovation is an age-old idea, right? Almost all companies want to be more innovative, almost all companies want to be more change-oriented, but it’s really tough to do. As part of my session, I’ll talk about why innovation happens and why it doesn’t and how we can all make innovation more likely by understanding why it does and doesn’t work.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Read More

• NetElixir’s 8th Annual X=Experience Event
• X=Experience: 5 Years
• X=Experience Welcomes Christain Rudder

The post Meet Jonah Berger: Keynote Speaker at X=Experience appeared first on NetElixir.

The X=Experience event was inspired by the TED conference. We wanted to host our own forum that connected academics and industry leaders through a communal networking and brainstorming session unlike any other. Every X=Experience is uniquely curated with a distinct purpose, which allows attendees to be fully immersed in the knowledge collaboration. Hosted in Princeton, NJ, the home of the world-renowned physicist Albert Einstein, we are able to continue Einstein’s legacy of curiosity and learning. All details, from the attendees to the venue to the cuisine to the caliber of speakers is what makes this event so unique.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our speakers and their inspiring and thought-provoking presentations that challenge us to think differently about what we have always done. In the past, we have heard from leading thinkers from the fields of strategic management, consumer behavior, innovation, and digital media to inspire new thoughts, introduce new perspectives, and, of course, kindle new innovations that fuel our growth strategies for the future.

The X=Experience event brings together the best in academia and industry leadership to inspire exceptional ideation and conversation in an intimate setting. We held the first X=Experience in 2013 and are proud to keep the tradition going for our 8th annual event, X=Experience: Rethinking Innovation, live September 30th to October 1st, 2021.

Introducing the First X=Experience

During our first X=Experience in 2013, the goal was to create a Collaborative Learning Environment through exclusive invites to over thirty retail executives for nearly five hours of insightful presentations, networking, and knowledge-sharing. The idea was to create an intimate, elite event where ideas and insights could be freely shared and openly discussed. Since NetElixir’s founding in 2005, the team has had ample opportunities to meet with retail executives and gain deeper insights into their e-commerce business and growth strategy. We’ve overcome challenges, helped create phenomenal successes, and learned so much to better support our customers — but there is more to learn beyond the agency setting.

The X=Experience became a chance for leaders and academics of various backgrounds to learn directly from each other and share their experiences to create a brighter future.

In reflecting upon the first event, Udayan says, “We thought, why not create an event that facilitated peer-to-peer knowledge and insight sharing. An event where the CEO of one company could share what had worked for her with the CMO of the second company and vice versa — and both benefited from this knowledge-exchange process. Our annual seminar has been created with the sole purpose of fostering a collaborative learning experience. We really want this to be an event where retailers learn from each other and have a good time, a great experience – the X=Experience.”

We wanted to create an event that was different because we truly believe that as a company, we are different. We wanted the event to convey our unique NetElixir spirit. Our passion. Our core values. Our style of doing things.” – Udayan Bose, Founder and CEO of NetEliir 

After being unable to hold the X=Experience in person last year, we are excited for the chance to host our highly-anticipated event once more.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Throughout the years, we have had the privilege of hearing from some of the greatest minds of marketing, strategy, business, retail, and more, as well as spending time in Albert Einstein’s hometown of Princeton to retrace his footsteps. It is truly an unforgettable experience and a chance to learn the latest in online shopping trends, economic predictions, and marketing strategies and catch up with clients and old friends in an intimate, collaborative setting.

Leslie Lenhart, the Vice President of Marketing at Ulla Popken, speaks about the X=Experience

In 2015, we delved inside the mind of the online customer with Professors David Bell, Adam Alter, and Vishal Gaur, and had a think session with Thomas Harman, CEO, and Caroline Tuan, COO, of Balsam Brands.

We continued exploring what makes the online customer click with the founder of OkCupid, Christian Rudder, the Vice President of Marketing for UPS, Bala Ganesh, and the CEO and Chairmen of Ashley Stewart, James Rhee

The 2017 X=Experience conference marked the 5th anniversary of hosting this event. We had the pleasure of learning about our authentic selves with Professor Sheena Iyengar, diving deeper into data with Jeff Booth of Build Direct, and understanding how to manage growth and profitability in retail with Professor Vishal Gaur during our 2017 event.

We examined how to facilitate innovation with Professors Jerry Wind and Anindya Ghose, as well as discovered the vision behind Grounds for Sculpture with Gary Garrido Schneider, the Executive Director of the Grounds.

In 2019, during our last in-person event for a time, we heard from Professor Jerry Wind on how to rethink innovation, Professor Anindya Ghose on using AI and blockchain to monetize in the digital economy, and Jim Stengel, president of the Jim Stengel group and former Global Marketing Officer of P&G about his experiences and learnings. 

The X=Experience has always been a place where ideas meet the imagination. Surrounded by thought-leaders and innovators against the backdrop of the breath-taking Grounds For Sculpture, it’s almost impossible not to think of revolutionary ideas.

Held at the Awe-Inspiring Grounds For Sculpture

Beyond the caliber of speakers and attendees, what makes the X=Experience stand out is the venue. Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ is arguably one of New Jersey’s best-kept secrets. 

Here, art comes to life for us to interact with and see the world from their perspective. The collection at Grounds for Sculpture is an eclectic mix of educational and engaging pieces that fit into the natural landscape of the grounds. By bringing famous artworks to life in a different medium, such as Forever Marilyn Monroe and American Gothic, we get a chance to see classic icons from a new perspective. And that is the goal of the X=Experience: to see old things anew in order to create something innovative that will inspire our future.

NetElixir’s 8th Annual X=Experience

We cordially invite you to join us for our 8th annual X=Experience: Rethinking Innovation. For the first time in our history, we are hosting a hybrid event and live-streaming the main conference day on Friday, October 1st. Join us as we rethink innovation with:

• Jonah Berger, Professor at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, presenting Contagious: Why Things Catch On
• Chieh Huang, CEO of Boxed.com, presenting The World Changed While I Was Getting Toilet Paper
• Michele Gelfand, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University, presenting The Secret Life of Social Norms

Listen to our keynote presenters as they discuss the essentials for innovation in today’s business landscape, the secret of word-of-mouth marketing, and how to leverage social norms to create an innovative environment. We look forward to rethinking innovation with you!

The post NetElixir’s 8th Annual X=Experience Event appeared first on NetElixir.