Teaching Innovation and Season 4 of The Purpose & Profit Podcast
This week, I was blessed to give the first two of seven talks I’ll be giving over the next five weeks. My heart is full. 🥹
Innovation + AI
The first was an opening keynote and innovation workshop for a group of digital nonprofit marketers hosted by Five Q and sponsored by Meta. As a bonus, we got to try the newest Meta Quest 3 VR headsets and my favorite, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.
Above: Trying out the new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which are capable of not only taking video and photos but also with AI technology describing and understanding one's environment.
I count it as a huge honor – and great responsibility – to get to share, teach, inspire, and communicate about all things innovation, subscription giving, and AI in fundraising and marketing.
At the workshop, we worked through several key tools to lead breakthrough innovation, including the stages of innovation and the six types of Working Genius (you can read more here – Where Innovation Goes Wrong).
We talked through several other key principles, including the myth that innovation is only about the latest-and-greatest, shiniest inventions.
The keynote ended with a discussion on the problem of expertise and lessons we can learn from 15th and 16th-century innovators like Filippo Brunelleschi and Martin Luther. (Stay tuned to next week’s Wave Report for more on what this is and how to overcome it.)
Later in the week, I was honored to share at the NRB Convention with colleague Yvonne Carlson on six ways to work with AI as a co-worker. I’ll also share more about this shortly, along with a new guide based on the 12 Ways to Leverage AI in 2024 article series I did earlier this year.
If you had told me ten years ago I would be giving keynotes and in-depth workshops to thousands of leaders, I would not have believed you. And, if you had told me how much WORK it would take to research, create, and deliver those talks, I might also have said, "No thanks!"
But I love it. A ton of work goes into crafting these moments, but it's so gratifying. I love meeting leaders, learning from them, and seeing the moments of insight and impact of sharing what I'm learning.
Let me know if you are at any of the following upcoming events – I always enjoy connecting with other leaders.
Faith & Fundraising Conference - Feb 26-29 (Myrtle Beach)
Sustainer Day - Mar 20 (Washington DC)
Nonprofit Fundraisers Symposium - Mar 21-22 (Washington DC)
CLA Outcomes Conference - Apr 9-11 (Jacksonville)
My number one thought for every single opportunity is, "How can I most bless this audience today?" If you are at any of these upcoming events, I hope you walk away blessed.
Premiere: Season 4 of the Purpose & Profit Podcast
Many of you know I co-host the Purpose & Profit Podcast – a show all about the surprising ideas at the intersection of non-profit causes and for-profit brands.
We just wrapped Season 3 a couple of weeks ago with an episode titled “What Greeting Cards and AI Have in Common.”
What Greeting Cards and AI Have in Common
Join Dave and Carly as they talk about how Artificial Intelligence is transforming various industries and aspects of our daily lives. Dave shares lessons and insights from hundreds of hours researching, speaking on, experimenting with, and using different AI tools.
And good news – you don’t have to wait long… Season 4 of the podcast premieres next week!
We’ve got a great line-up this season, including conversations with:
✅ Robbie Kellman Baxter, author of The Forever Transaction: How to Build a Subscription Model So Compelling, Your Customers Will Never Want to Leave.
✅ Tom Beck, a founding partner at Blockbuster, Boston Market, and Einstein Bros Bagels, and now the Chief People and Culture Officer at Compassion International.
✅ Ted Vaughn, author of Culture Built My Brand: The Secret to Winning More Customers Through Company Culture Hardcover.
✅ Dan Reed, partner at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem with a redemptive imagination, supporting founders, funders, and innovators motivated by their faith to address the major issues of our time.
✅ Nathan Chappell, author of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges.
✅ And more, including a few episodes with just Carly and I, talking about lessons we can learn in innovation from big brands and impactful causes.
You can sign up to receive email updates every time an episode drops on the website, and you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts.
It’s going to be a good one!
🙌 Special thanks to our guests this season and our partners who have made it possible – Masterworks, Virtuous, and my own Imago Consulting.
Until next week… Surfs Up! 🌊
- Dave
About the Author | Dave Raley
Consultant, speaker, and writer Dave Raley is the founder of Imago Consulting, a firm that helps non-profits and businesses create profitable growth through sustainable innovation. He’s the author of a weekly trendspotting report called The Wave Report, and the co-founder of the Purpose & Profit Podcast — a show about the ideas at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands.
Want to receive insights like this weekly?
Every Friday, we send out The Wave Report, highlighting one trend or insight “wave,” from donor and consumer trends to innovation in different industries or new models for growth.
Subscribe today to receive free weekly insights in your inbox here: