Episode 6 with William Reed

Episode 6 with William Reed

In this episode of The Frontline Innovation Podcast, William Reed explores the journey of the individual problem solver—someone who notices friction, frustration, or unmet needs in the world and chooses to do something about it. The episode frames innovation not as simply building something new, but as a deeper journey from problem to fix, where the real work begins with understanding the human reality behind the problem. William emphasizes that problem solvers must resist the urge to jump straight to solutions. Instead, they need to observe the environment, understand how the problem shows up in real life, identify root causes versus symptoms, and recognize the systems, constraints, and dependencies surrounding the issue. Only then can they begin to reimagine a meaningful fix—whether that fix is a product, service, process, experience, mindset shift, or new approach. The episode then introduces the idea of problem-solving identity: the different ways people naturally show up in the innovation journey. William outlines four identity types: The Problem Analyzer (PA) Someone who goes deep into understanding the problem, identifying root causes, context, system factors, and the limitations of current approaches. The Solution Designer (SD) Someone who turns understanding into possible fixes, balancing trade-offs, constraints, functionality, cost, and the realities of what people actually need. The Value Activator (VA) Someone who helps bring the fix into the world by creating awareness, educating the market, helping people buy, adopt, use, and realize value from the solution. The System Alchemist (SA) Someone who sees the bigger system around the problem and solution, recognizing complexity, constraints, dependencies, and what is realistically possible. William explains that individuals, teams, and organizations may contain all four identities, but each person often has a dominant starting point. The power comes from understanding those strengths, identifying gaps, and making sure the full journey—from understanding the problem to delivering real-world value—is covered. The episode closes with an invitation for listeners to take the Frontline Problem Solver Identity Profiler, a short 12-question assessment designed to help people better understand how they approach problems and how they can contribute to a broader community focused on addressing unmet human needs within their teams. Resources: * William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cciewill/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cciewill/] * Willway Labs: willwaylabs.com [https://willwaylabs.com] * The Frontline Innovation Podcast: https://youtube.com/@frontlineinnovation [https://youtube.com/@frontlineinnovation] * Full Episode: https://youtu.be/DIZhGZUyhlc [https://youtu.be/DIZhGZUyhlc] * Take the Frontline Problem Solver Identity Profiler assessment: https://scorecard.willwaylabs.com/ [https://scorecard.willwaylabs.com/]

Episode 5 with Jason Scharf

What does it really take for innovation to move from a great idea to real-world impact? In this edition of The Frontline Innovation Podcast, I sat down with Jason Scharf for a powerful conversation about the hidden forces that determine whether innovation succeeds or stalls. This episode explored why innovation is not just about new technology; it is also about business models, incentives, behavior change, go-to-market strategy, and the systems that shape whether solutions actually reach the people who need them. We discussed several areas, including: -How innovation goes beyond products and technology -Why business model innovation can unlock entirely new markets -The importance of understanding the real problem before building the solution -How incentives shape behavior in healthcare, startups, and everyday life -Why great solutions still fail when they cannot cut through the noise -What problem solvers need to understand about adoption, timing, and impact For founders, leaders, builders, and anyone who sees themselves as a problem solver, this episode is a reminder that a great idea is only the beginning. The real test of innovation is whether it works for people in the real world. Watch this episode of The Frontline Innovation Podcast and join the conversation. #FrontlineInnovation #Innovation #ProblemSolving #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Startups #BusinessModelInnovation #GoToMarket #PeopleCentricInnovation Resources: - Link to full episode: https://youtu.be/ReRevWMs76k - Jason's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscharf/ - Jason's Podcast: https://www.austinnextpodcast.com/ - Jason's Ted Talk ("What Happens When Bio Innovation Out Paces Healthcare | Jason Scharf | TEDxSouth Congress") https://youtu.be/NbkW91PMGxg?si=eMKdoWTBBq8-2vJu - Link to "The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book that Will Change the Way You Do Business", https://a.co/d/0fXgmhwe - Link to "The Innovator's Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Health Care", | https://a.co/d/02OQ5cdk

Episode 4 with Kim Brushaber

In this episode of The Frontline Innovation Podcast, I welcomed Kim Brushaber to the show. We had an insightful conversation about navigating the messy middle of scale in software companies, innovation, and solving human problems. We explored the nature of innovation and how to empathetically understand customer needs. Innovation isn’t just about technology: it’s about deeply understanding customer needs with empathy, navigating the tension between business pressures and real human problems, and recognizing how UX and design shape product success. We talked about how companies could identify the source of their challenges in delivering value to the market might stem from a product, marketing, or sales problem. Our conversation also highlighted practical hurdles that can undermine these efforts, such as difficulties caused in the particular case of applicant tracking systems for job seekers in the marketplace. Discussion Areas: 🔹Navigating the Messy Middle of Scale 🔹Redefining Innovation Beyond Technology 🔹Understanding Human Problems in Innovation 🔹Competing Pressures in Product Development 🔹The Dance of Sales and Product Management 🔹Understanding Customer Needs and Market Dynamics 🔹Navigating Product Changes and Customer Expectations 🔹The Human Element in Business Decisions 🔹Curiosity and Innovation in Problem Solving 🔹The Frustrations of Applicant Tracking Systems #frontline #nnovation #ProductManagement #HumanProblems #BusinessStrategy #CustomerNeeds #TechInnovation #Leadership #ScalingSoftware #ProblemSolving #ApplicantTrackingSystems Resources: 🔹Kim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbrushaber/ 🔹Link to full episode: https://youtu.be/d65A-Hfi2iM

Episode 3 with Brooke Hamrick and Shar Babaie

On this episode of The Frontline Innovation Podcast, I welcomed Brooke Hamrick and Shar Babaie to the show. We explored the essence of innovation, problem-solving, and organizational dynamics. We talked on the importance of understanding customer needs, holistic problem analysis, and incremental innovation strategies. We looked into the mindset of problem solvers and entrepreneurs, incremental versus big-bang solutions in innovation, and organizational structures and incentives affecting problem-solving efforts. Discussion Areas: Customer experience & buying journey - Customer experience and sensory design - Innovating customer experience and buying journey - Packaging and delivering solutions effectively Discovering problems & understanding people - Identifying unmet needs and recurring problem-solving patterns - Understanding problems through data and human factors - Understanding people and personality types in problem solving Validation & iteration - Incremental problem solving using customer feedback - Validating ideas via customer conversations - Focusing on small problems and quick wins - Avoiding overbuilding and lack of adoption Strategy, market, and broader innovation - Innovation beyond technology - Holistic approach: market, people, and resources - Adapting strategies as markets change Organizational dynamics and leadership - Aligning incentives and reducing organizational silos - Navigating organizational culture and internal friction - Leadership and the people side of problem solving Business mechanics - Pricing strategies and value-based solutions - Negotiation, procurement, and evaluating solutions Innovation foundations - Entrepreneur and problem-solver mindset - Innovation fundamentals: people, processes, and product #frontline #innovation #problem-solving #OrganizationalCulture #CustomerExperience #BusinessStrategy Resources: - Link to Full Episode: https://youtu.be/8ajNXcuUaJ8 - Website: https://limitlessconsulting.agency/ - LinkedIn: (Brooke): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookehamrick/ - LinkedIn: (Shar): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharbabaie/ - The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition Paperback, by Don Norman: https://a.co/d/0fIt3ZqO

Episode 2 with Dr. Chadwick Denman

On this episode of The Frontline Innovation Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/notifications/?filter=all#], I welcomed Dr. Chad Denman [https://www.linkedin.com/notifications/?filter=all#] to the show. He shared his personal and professional journey into sleep medicine and breaks down why sleep apnea is far more than “just snoring.” We explored its real-world prevalence, who is most at risk, and the growing evidence linking untreated sleep apnea to heart disease and cognitive decline. Dr. Denman walked through how diagnosis is shifting from traditional sleep labs to more accessible home testing, what the patient experience often gets wrong today, and how screening and airway assessments can improve early detection. We also covered the full spectrum of treatment, from CPAP and oral appliances to surgical approaches, along with emerging innovations that could reshape care. Finally, we dug into how smart devices, AI, and better use of data may enable more personalized sleep medicine, and why reimbursement and policy changes will be essential to expanding access. If you care about performance, longevity, or better healthcare outcomes, this conversation is a clear reminder: sleep health is foundational—and it’s time we treat it that way. Topics Covered 🔹 The hidden impact of sleep apnea on heart and brain health, cognition, and longevity 🔹 Sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment options 🔹 Gaps in traditional care and the need for better patient experiences 🔹 Advances in diagnostics, from lab testing to at-home and imaging-driven insights 🔹 Treatment evolution: CPAP, oral devices, structural solutions, and beyond 🔹 Innovative sleep care technologies and approaches 🔹 The role of weight, anatomy, and lifestyle in sleep health 🔹 How AI, smart devices, and data are reshaping personalized care 🔹 Barriers in healthcare systems: cost, insurance, and policy limitations 🔹 The future of sleep medicine—and why awareness and early action matter On the front line, we dived into they systemic issues effecting the very wellbeing of people, inside and outside your organization. 🔷 Any obstacles hindering you our your organizations' ability to serve people and meet their needs is in scope for deeper understanding and dismantling. #frontline #innovation #sleepapnea #sleephealth #medicalinnovation #sleeptechnology #sleephealth #healthcareinnovation #preventivecare "Snoring can occur when airway structures sit too close together, and more severe breathing disruptions like sleep apnea may lead to serious health risks such as heart arrhythmias and even early death. Deep sleep is crucial because it supports the body’s repair and regeneration processes." Resources * Website: https://sleepcyclecenters.com/ [https://sleepcyclecenters.com/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-denman-749bb421/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-denman-749bb421/] * Take the STOP/BANG Test: https://sleepcyclecenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/STOP_BANG.pdf [https://sleepcyclecenters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/STOP_BANG.pdf]