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Stranova Interview Series Vol. 34, published December 11, 2008. As the business environment grows more intense internally and business expands more globally, it is getting tougher and tougher to stay in close contact with our most important business associates and employees. In our podcast interview this time, Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski, CEO of Virtual Distance International, helps us understand how this “virtual distance” between our people networks grows -- and what steps we can take to shrink that “virtual distance” down to a more manageable scale in the future. The end result of such steps can be increased company innovation, improved job performance for individuals and teams, and dramatically improved business results.

Stranova Interview Series Vol. 33, published June 9, 2008. In terms of profitable ideas generated per square mile, the country of Israel houses one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial high-tech communities in the world, rivaled perhaps only by Silicon Valley. Unfortunately, that same community has had problems leveraging its technological leadership into the ability to build large companies based on these ideas. Why that may have come to pass -- and what is already happening that may change all that -- is the topic we explore with our guest this time, serial entrepreneur Shai Schiller, CEO of Modula, Ltd.

Stranova Interview Series Vol. 32, published May 29, 2008. As in many industries, the world of software for web publishing is dominated by one major player and a scattering of smaller players scrambling for their own piece of the market. One company that has found a way to rise above it all is Softpress Systems Ltd. of England with their flagship web design product, Freeway Pro. This product, which evolved from an earlier page layout product for Apple’s Mac computer line, has grown into a strong competitor through a combination of continuous innovation, strong attention to strategic partnerships, and careful attention to the needs of the fanatical Mac user community. Learn how Softpress Systems made this happen and how their string of strategic innovation continues with their latest release, Freeway Pro 5, from Softpress’s U.S. Marketing Manager, Mr. Ian Schray.

Stranova Interview Series Vol. 31, published May 6, 2008. In our interview with entrepreneur Assaf Barnea, you will hear about a highly unusual type of business startup, an incubator specializing in projects related to all aspects of water technology, from water purification to the methodology of moving water through a system. In addition, you will learn about what is to many of us an even more innovative way of creating a business incubator: in a public/private partnership with the government of Israel itself, where the government takes on most of the risk -- and everyone reaps the benefits. It is a great story of what such collaboration can do -- and can mean in the future -- for all of us.

Stranova Interview Series Vol. 30, published January 28, 2008. Planning the future of our cities has become far more complex than ever before, involving considerations of population age distributions, the need for schools, traffic flow, tax revenue planning, pollution concerns, weather patterns, and of course the regional land features themselves. Complex computer models are often required, using tools that are well beyond what might be ordinarily available to any given region. Arizona State University’s Decision Theater innovation, a computerized immersive visualization environment with extensive modeling tools and developed only a few years ago, is now making it possible for cities around the world not only to plan far more systemically for that future, but also to visualize how their current decisions may affect many future generations to come. Joining us to help us all "envision" this strategic innovation is Dr. Deirdre Hahn, Associate Director of the Decision Theater.