Innovation Summit Draws 500 Chicago Business Professionals

Business Wire, Nov 14, 2007

John Kao, Rosabeth Moss Kanter Keynote Second Annual Event at Navy Pier

CHICAGO -- The second annual Innovation Summit, presented by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft, drew more than 500 members of the Chicago business community to Navy Pier on October 27. Attendees heard authors John Kao and Rosabeth Moss Kanter deliver compelling messages about why innovation is crucial to our economy and how it can be achieved. Attendees also saw demonstrations of the latest Microsoft technology, including Surface, which turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive computing platform on display for the first time in Chicagoland.

Kicking off the program, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Gerald Roper cited the Summit as the highlight of Innovation Week, which began on October 22 with an official proclamation from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. James Tyree, Chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial, emphasized the importance of innovation, saying: "We must embrace innovation in our business practices to compete in the 21st century. We cannot take comfort in just doing things as we have in the past."

Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, spoke of the need to "get everyone on the same page, bringing new products to new markets using new processes," employing open collaborative networks and producing new talent for the workforce.

John Kao, consultant and author of Innovation Nation, delivered a number of strong messages about the need for the US to close the innovation gap with other nations, since many formerly third-world countries have leapt ahead in research and development, education, science and better-prepared workforces. "The Innovation Nation begins with each of us," Kao told the audience. "We've got to realize we live in a global environment, where fundamentally we're all citizens." He urged those in business to become "effective stewards of innovation."

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, the Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and author of America the Principled: 6 Opportunities for Becoming a Can-Do Nation Once Again,, keynoted the luncheon program. She commented on the movement of American business "from blue collar to white collar and now from white collar to white coat" professionals, noting that some of these emerging market countries are producing more of these white collar professionals, including engineers, than the US. Her remedy for change includes having open minds "go where the facts take you," forming collaborative networks and implementing flexibility. "Change is always a threat when done to you but an opportunity when you do it," she said.

"As Chicago continues to gain momentum as a global center of innovation, we are proud to support and foster this growth through initiatives such as Innovation Day," said Microsoft Midwest District General Manager Janet Kennedy. "Innovation Week gave Chicagoland an opportunity to showcase innovations and technologies that are changing people's lives and the way we do business. Microsoft looks forward to continuing to contribute to the success of this great city."

Microsoft partnered with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce for Innovation Week as part of a multi-year sponsorship of the events. At the Innovation Summit, Microsoft hosted a Technology Expo that introduced Microsoft Surface, a new product that turns an ordinary tabletop into an interactive computing platform. Microsoft also brought a 42-foot "Driving Innovation" truck to the event at Navy Pier, allowing visitors to experience their latest technology.