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# On innovation, scale, and profitability
- URL: https://www.pesec.no/on-innovation-scale-and-profitability/
- Published: 2026-05-07T07:00:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-07T07:00:52.000Z
- Description: A conversation with Florian Haufe of the Business Unbound podcast.
- Author: Bruno Pešec
- Tags: Podcast, Innovation, Strategy

I recently took a deep dive into corporate innovation, managing innovation at scale, and generating attractive returns with Florian Haufe of the Business Unbound podcast. We discussed a number of topics:

- the difference between innovation theater and genuine enterprise innovation capability;
- vertical-slice governance and why innovation boards should stay lean, direct, and cross-functional;
- stage gates, evidence thresholds, and what leaders should look for before releasing the next tranche of support;
- core, adjacent, and transformational portfolios as a way to map innovation risk and strategic balance;
- bureaucracy as organizational defense against trauma, especially in regulated industries;
- the distinction between R&D, innovation, and corporate venture investing as separate organizational functions; and
- AI, optionality, and why enterprises should remain pragmatic while staying alert to structural change.

You can listen to the episode [here](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-innovation-is-a-management-problem-not-an/id1855281376?i=1000766379478&ref=pesec.no) or using the player below:

Alternatively you can also watch the episode [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=964HYTij-ro&ref=pesec.no) or using the player below: