Harnessing Fun and Innovation to Transform Corporate Culture with Elizabeth Bieniek

2138 - Harnessing Fun and Innovation to Transform Corporate Culture with Elizabeth Bieniek

Corporate Culture| Innovation
April 13, 2025•3 min read

Navigating the Challenges of Corporate Innovation

In a recent episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur Show, host Josh engages in a compelling conversation with Elizabeth Bieniek, an accomplished author and speaker. The discussion centers around Elizabeth's new book, "Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation." Elizabeth shares valuable insights from her extensive career, particularly her experiences running an internal startup within a large corporation. This blog post will explore the key themes and lessons from the episode, offering actionable advice and thorough explanations to guide listeners and readers alike.

Elizabeth delves into the core themes of her book, explaining that "Cake on Tuesday" is not just a collection of lessons but a reflection of her journey navigating corporate innovation. She recounts her experiences leading an internal startup, emphasizing the importance of fostering a culture of innovation within large organizations. Elizabeth shares specific lessons she learned, such as the significance of collaboration, the need for agility, and the value of embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. The title "Cake on Tuesday" captures a significant period in her career, where she and her team injected fun and celebration into their work by celebrating small wins, like having cake on a Tuesday, to maintain morale during demanding projects.

As the conversation progresses, Josh inquires about Elizabeth's consulting and speaking engagements. Elizabeth confirms that she consults and speaks on topics related to joy in the workplace and the principles outlined in her book. She explains that "Cake on Tuesday" is structured into five sections, each containing valuable lessons from her entrepreneurial journey. The episode concludes with Josh encouraging listeners to purchase Elizabeth's book and connect with her for more insights. Elizabeth expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share her experiences, leaving listeners inspired to embrace joy and innovation in their own work environments.

About Elizabeth Bieniek:

Named one of the most influential “Female Pioneers in Technology”, Elizabeth Bieniek is an author, founder, and Fortune 100 leadership veteran focused on “good peopling” as the secret to exceptional execution. After turning corporate innovation on its head with her own unconventional success story, Elizabeth now helps leaders tap into the individual genius within their teams to unlock unrivaled innovation and uncover joy in the journey

About her book "Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation":

Cake on Tuesday is a deep dive into leadership, innovation, and personal growth, drawing from Elizabeth Bieniek’s experience in developing Webex Hologram. She shares insights on fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, advocating for disagreement and curiosity as essential drivers of creativity. Bieniek encourages leaders to step outside their comfort zones, seek inspiration from unconventional sources, and embrace unique opportunities that disrupt existing norms.

The book is structured into five parts, each addressing a key aspect of innovation. From "Starting is Hard," where she stresses the importance of embracing discomfort and simplicity, to "Insights from the Rearview Mirror," where she reflects on the value of persistence and mentorship, Bieniek provides a comprehensive guide for aspiring innovators. Throughout, she blends personal stories with practical leadership advice, empowering readers to navigate challenges and unlock their full potential in their leadership journey.

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Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Want to learn more? Check out Elizabeth Bieniek website at https://www.elizabethbieniek.com/s/

Check out Elizabeth Bieniek on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbieniek/

Check out "Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation" on Amazon at https://a.co/d/fZ5ql7s

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Josh Elledge is U.S. Navy veteran who became a serial entrepreneur who builds the companies he needs most in the world. In 2014, He launched UpMyInfluence to help entrepreneurs like himself attract the perfect audiences and grow their authority and influence. However, while growing their better-than-PR agency, UpMyInfluence discovered that building 7-figure B2B Sales Systems for consultants and agencies (with zero paid advertising) is actually what they do better than anyone else on the planet. UMI was the natural outgrowth of his first startup, SavingsAngel.com which had grown to more than 50 employees and grossed more than $6 million in sales with zero paid ads. He did it all through building authority and serving audiences in the media. Josh is a frequent speaker at business and startup conferences including Social Media Marketing World and a Tony Robbins event for his Business Mastery grads. He’s a weekly consumer expert on Fox 35 Orlando and News 13, writes a syndicated column for nine newspapers (with total readership above 1.1 million readers), and regularly appears on more than 75 TV stations across the country. All told, Josh has appeared in the media more than 2500 times. Passionate about his family, physical fitness (an avid fitness geek and 5K to marathon runner), and breaking out of Escape Rooms, Josh now lives in Orlando with his wife and three children.

Josh Elledge

Josh Elledge is U.S. Navy veteran who became a serial entrepreneur who builds the companies he needs most in the world. In 2014, He launched UpMyInfluence to help entrepreneurs like himself attract the perfect audiences and grow their authority and influence. However, while growing their better-than-PR agency, UpMyInfluence discovered that building 7-figure B2B Sales Systems for consultants and agencies (with zero paid advertising) is actually what they do better than anyone else on the planet. UMI was the natural outgrowth of his first startup, SavingsAngel.com which had grown to more than 50 employees and grossed more than $6 million in sales with zero paid ads. He did it all through building authority and serving audiences in the media. Josh is a frequent speaker at business and startup conferences including Social Media Marketing World and a Tony Robbins event for his Business Mastery grads. He’s a weekly consumer expert on Fox 35 Orlando and News 13, writes a syndicated column for nine newspapers (with total readership above 1.1 million readers), and regularly appears on more than 75 TV stations across the country. All told, Josh has appeared in the media more than 2500 times. Passionate about his family, physical fitness (an avid fitness geek and 5K to marathon runner), and breaking out of Escape Rooms, Josh now lives in Orlando with his wife and three children.

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