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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Soren Kaplan

    Founder & Managing Principal; Co-Founder

    InnovationPoint LLC & Praxie

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.He is a leading expert in driving innovation and strategic business transformation, recognized by Thinkers50.
    • 2.He is the bestselling author of 'Leapfrogging,' 'The Invisible Advantage,' and 'Experiential Intelligence.'
    • 3.Kaplan pioneered the concept of 'experiential intelligence' (XQ) to foster effective leadership and culture.
    • 4.He is the founder of the consultancy InnovationPoint and an Affiliated Professor at USC's Marshall School of Business.

    About Soren

    Who is Soren Kaplan?

    Soren Kaplan is a distinguished expert in innovation, leadership, and organizational culture. He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in helping organizations achieve breakthroughs and adapt to evolving business landscapes. Kaplan is an Affiliated Professor at the Center for Effective Organizations within the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and the founder of InnovationPoint, a leading consultancy.

    He is the author of the bestselling and award-winning books "Leapfrogging," "The Invisible Advantage," and "Experiential Intelligence." His insights are frequently featured in publications such as Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and Psychology Today, where he shares his expertise on high-performing teams and innovative cultures.

    What is Soren Kaplan known for?

    Soren Kaplan is best known for his expertise in driving innovation and strategic business transformation. His work centers on identifying "surprise" as a critical ingredient for breakthrough innovation and developing methodologies that enable organizations to "leapfrog" their competition by creating radically new offerings or approaches. He has pioneered concepts such as "experiential intelligence" (XQ), emphasizing its role in fostering effective leadership, teams, and organizational culture.

    Kaplan's contributions extend to advising numerous global firms, including Visa, Colgate-Palmolive, Disney, Philips, PepsiCo, Medtronic, Kimberly-Clark, Cisco, NBCUniversal, and RedBull. He is recognized by Thinkers50 and Business Insider as one of the world's top management experts and consultants, a testament to his influence and thought leadership in the field of innovation.

    What is Soren Kaplan's background and experience?

    Soren Kaplan brings a rich and diverse background to his current roles. He previously served as a Manager of Business Innovation and Technology Solutions at Hewlett-Packard (HP) during the 1990s, where he honed his understanding of corporate innovation and strategy within a fast-paced Silicon Valley environment. Building on this experience, he co-founded iCohere, an early web collaboration platform that revolutionized online learning and communities of practice.

    In 2003, Kaplan established InnovationPoint LLC, a highly respected consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations navigate complex challenges and foster innovation. He is also a co-founder of Praxie, an AI-powered platform designed to optimize business workflows, reflecting his continuous engagement with cutting-edge technological advancements.

    Academically, Kaplan holds Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Organizational Psychology, an area of study that profoundly influences his work on human collaboration and organizational dynamics. Beyond his current affiliation with USC, he has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Executive Education at Copenhagen Business School.

    What topics does Soren Kaplan speak and write about?

    Soren Kaplan is a prolific speaker and writer, covering a broad spectrum of topics related to innovation, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. He frequently discusses disruptive innovation, business model design, and the cultivation of an innovation-centric culture. His insights often explore how organizations can leverage strategic collaboration and build high-performing teams.

    His books, including "Leapfrogging," delve into strategies for achieving business breakthroughs through unconventional thinking and adapting to unforeseen opportunities. He also writes extensively on leadership, specifically emphasizing the development of experiential intelligence (XQ) to enhance decision-making and drive impactful change within organizations. Kaplan's articles and webinars offer practical guidance on transforming organizational culture and fostering environments where innovation can thrive.

    How does Soren Kaplan contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    Soren Kaplan is a valued expert within the Best Practice Institute (BPI), sharing his extensive knowledge and insights through various platforms. He has presented webinars, such as "Leapfrogging to Business Breakthroughs," where he teaches BPI's audience about fundamental principles of game-changing innovation and strategic differentiation. His contributions empower BPI members with cutting-edge strategies to foster innovation, enhance leadership capabilities, and cultivate dynamic organizational cultures. Kaplan's work with BPI reinforces the organization's mission to provide actionable best practices from leading experts to its global community.

    Background & Perspective

    Background and Academic Career

    Soren Kaplan holds Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Organizational Psychology, which provide the foundation for his work on human collaboration and organizational dynamics. His academic appointments include serving as an Affiliated Professor at the Center for Effective Organizations within the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business and as a former Adjunct Professor of Executive Education at Copenhagen Business School.

    Professional Experience

    Kaplan's career began in Silicon Valley, where he was a Manager of Business Innovation and Technology Solutions at Hewlett-Packard (HP). He later co-founded iCohere, an early web collaboration platform. In 2003, he founded InnovationPoint LLC, a leading consulting firm that helps organizations with strategy and innovation. He is also the co-founder of Praxie, an AI-powered platform for optimizing business workflows. His consulting work has supported global clients such as Visa, Disney, Philips, PepsiCo, Medtronic, and Cisco.

    Areas of Expertise

    Recognized by Thinkers50 and Business Insider as a top management expert, Soren Kaplan's work focuses on innovation, leadership, and organizational culture. His key areas of expertise include:

    • Innovation Strategy
    • Disruptive Innovation
    • Business Model Design
    • Organizational Culture
    • Leadership Development
    • Strategic Collaboration

    Key Contributions and Publications

    Soren Kaplan is a prolific author and speaker known for pioneering concepts such as "experiential intelligence" (XQ) and developing methodologies that help organizations "leapfrog" their competition. He is the author of the bestselling and award-winning books "Leapfrogging," "The Invisible Advantage," and "Experiential Intelligence." His insights on high-performing teams and innovative cultures are regularly featured in prominent publications, including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Inc. Magazine.

    Areas of Expertise

    Innovation StrategyDisruptive InnovationBusiness Model DesignOrganizational CultureLeadership DevelopmentExperiential IntelligenceStrategic CollaborationInnovation Consulting

    Research Topics

    InnovationLeadershipOrganizational CultureBusiness Strategy

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