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Great managers of innovation?

I’m writing chapter 9 of 10 (so close!) this week – its focused on how dependent, or not, innovation is on the role of the team leader or group manager.

Many legendary innovations, from the Apollo moon landing, the Xerox PARC lab, the Macintosh, the Palm Pilot and the i-pod, were all driven by strong leaders (JFK, Bob Taylor, Steve Jobs, & Jeff Hawkins respectively).

Who else deserve mention on the list of great mangers of innovation?

Or specific to your own experience:

• Have you worked with, for, or around someone who excelled at managing innovation projects? (Or are you one yourself?)
• What are the traits, tactics and talents they used to be successful?
• Or do you have a horrific tale of an innovation-assassin, who was somehow charged with managing an innovation effort? What anti-patterns did they use?

I hope you’ll take a minute and share a story or thought.