“Innovation” has become one of the most overused buzzwords at conferences and in the media. Everyone in business talks about it – yet how many of those conversations end with tangible solutions, measurable revenue growth and market impact? And how many dissolve into well-intentioned discussions, costly workshops, and growing frustration?

In many organisations, innovation operates in bursts – from one “creative session” to the next “inspiration sprint” sparked by a new trend report. This is what we call innovation smoke and mirrors – activity that generates costs, not value.

What Matt Ridley Teaches Executive Boards in the Age of AI

Fortunately, there’s a book that cuts through the noise. How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley is not another romantic tale of lone geniuses changing the world from their garage. It’s a compelling evidence-based argument that innovation is not an accident – it’s a system. A gradual, evolutionary, and above all, collaborative process.

In the era of AI, where change accelerates exponentially, treating innovation as an occasional event is no longer an option. It must be managed as a professional system – just like Finance, Sales, or HR. Only then can it become a reliable source of strategic advantage and sustainable growth.

So, what can today’s business leaders learn from Ridley’s thinking?

• Lesson 1. Innovation Is Gradual, Not Sudden.

True innovation rarely comes from a single “big idea”. It’s usually the sum of many small, persistent steps, improvements and iterations.

CEO Insight:

Stop waiting for a “eureka” moment. Instead, invest in a culture and a process that support continuous improvement. Just as you optimise logistics or sales funnels, treat innovation as a discipline of systematic enhancement. Patience and persistence – not fireworks – create lasting value.

• Lesson 2. Innovation Is Collaborative, Not the Work of a Lone Genius.

Progress emerges at the intersection of different perspectives, skills and experiences. It’s not a solo act – it’s a collective endeavour.

CEO Insight:

Don’t chase after “star innovators”. Build diverse, interdisciplinary teams and create platforms that allow people to share knowledge freely. The most resilient and scalable business solutions are born out of collaboration, not competition within silos.

• Lesson 3. Innovation Needs Freedom, Not Bureaucracy.

Breakthroughs thrive where teams are free to explore, test and take calculated risks – without being suffocated by control mechanisms.

CEO Insight:

The role of the board is to define strategic direction and goals, and then give teams the trust and space to experiment. Micromanagement and rigid planning are the fastest ways to kill creativity.

• Lesson 4. Failure Is Data, Not Disaster.

Every successful innovation is built on a series of failed experiments.

CEO Insight:

In innovation, failure is an investment in market intelligence. Organisations that treat well-designed but unsuccessful experiments as valuable learning opportunities systematically outperform those paralysed by risk aversion.

Why the Innovation System Matters More Than Ever in the AI Era

Would you ever imagine running a Sales Department without targets and a CRM system? Or a Finance Department without a controlling or a budgeting process? Of course not.

So why should the area responsible for your company’s future revenue streams operate without a strategy, dedicated resources, and measurable performance indicators?

In the era of Artificial Intelligence, this question has become business-critical.

As I explain in my article “How to Manage Innovation in the Age of AI” for IT Reseller Magazine—a leading Polish publication on technology and digital transformation—AI is dramatically accelerating the pace of change. Access to global knowledge and advanced tools such as Generative AI, often available for the price of a modest subscription, has democratised innovation. Capabilities that were once the privilege of tech giants are now accessible to every company. 

However, those without a structured innovation system will not be able to harness this power. They’ll lag behind.

The data speaks for itself. Despite being the 7th largest economy in Europe by GDP, Poland ranks only 23rd in the European Innovation Index. When it comes to AI adoption, Polish businesses sit even lower—around 30th place in the EU.

This isn’t just a statistical curiosity. It’s an early warning of potential technological exclusion that could cost Polish enterprises dearly in the coming decade.

At Booster of Innovation, we believe the antidote lies not in another “innovation sprint”, but in building a repeatable, measurable system—one that transforms creativity into consistent business value.

Our experience shows that professionalising innovation isn’t a luxury reserved for large corporations. It’s a scalable model that works equally well for small and medium-sized businesses seeking growth through smarter experimentation and better execution.

From Theory to Practice: Building an Innovation System That Generates Profit

At Booster of Innovation, we turn Matt Ridley’s timeless principles into a practical, tailor-made system that delivers measurable results.

Our work demonstrates that the professionalisation of innovation is not the privilege of global corporations. It’s a proven framework that can be effectively adapted to the scale and ambitions of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Our methodology is built on three key pillars:

1. Audit and Strategy

We begin with a clear understanding of your business goals and define where innovation can generate the most significant value. Based on that, we design a dedicated innovation strategy aligned with your growth priorities.

2. Operational Programme

We translate strategy into action – designing specific processes, structures, KPIs, and team roles to ensure innovation doesn’t remain a slide deck aspiration but becomes part of the company’s operational DNA.

3. Implementation and Scaling

We support the roll-out of the innovation system and ensure it remains flexible and scalable as your organisation evolves.

This model works – and the proof lies in the trust placed in us by market leaders such as Deloitte Central Europe, Orange Polska (Orange Poland, a leading telecom operator) and Polpharma (one of Poland’s largest pharmaceutical companies), for whom we have successfully designed and implemented innovation strategies.

Voices of Leaders Who Chose to Professionalise Innovation

Theory is one thing – real-world execution is another.

Our clients’ experiences demonstrate that innovation, when managed systematically, delivers tangible business results.

Marcin Ratkiewicz, Head of Innovation, Orange Polska (Orange Poland)

“I highly value the results delivered by Booster of Innovation. Their approach, based on a deep understanding of client needs and the ability to tailor solutions to our team’s specific requirements, was key to achieving our objectives.

The workshops led by Krystyna effectively strengthened our innovation culture and team engagement, which directly enhanced the efficiency of implementing new initiatives.

What stood out was their holistic perspective – Booster of Innovation not only addressed our immediate needs but also helped us define a long-term strategy that will guide future challenges. The workshops were engaging, interactive and rooted in real-life business cases – a perfect blend of inspiration and practical know-how.”

Monika Jasłowska, Transformation Advisor, Polpharma

“Implementing innovation is a never-ending process of improvement. Booster of Innovation supported us twice in redesigning our employee innovation programme.

Thanks to their insights, we were able to review and refine the programme so that it better serves our business goals – and it worked brilliantly.”

Agnieszka Kurek, Director of Innovation, CRH Group (Building Materials Industry)

“Krystyna Jarek’s presentation was one of the most valuable moments of our programme – both thought-provoking and action-inspiring.

The content was highly educational, offering practical guidance on preparing an organisation for innovation and building strategies that make the most of modern technologies and tools.

Her ability to challenge ‘business-as-usual’ thinking and identify new, optimal solutions tailored to each company’s strategy was compelling.”

Rafał Smuga, Innovation & ESG Hub, ING Bank Śląski (ING Bank Poland)

“Booster of Innovation is an irreplaceable partner in projects related to ESG and innovation, bringing unique value at every stage of collaboration.

Their ability to see across diverse industries and trends – to ‘connect the dots’ that others miss – is awe-inspiring and forms a strong foundation for innovative thinking.

We particularly value their deep business understanding. Every idea they propose has the potential to generate real and lasting impact. The projects we’ve developed together not only meet our current needs but also open up entirely new growth perspectives.”

Your Decision: To Shape the Future or to Chase It

Innovation is not magic. It’s a manageable business discipline – one that, in the era of AI, determines who gains a market advantage and who is left playing catch-up.

The question is not whether your company needs an innovation system, but how soon you can build it – before your competitors do.

We invite you to a 30-minute strategic conversation, where we’ll show you how to diagnose the innovation potential of your organisation and translate it into new, measurable revenue streams.