by Kaylee Holland - Most organizations see innovation as complex, time-consuming, and reserved for a select few. But according to innovation strategist and author Carla Johnson, that belief is exactly what’s holding companies back.
“Innovation feels big and complex, and that makes people think, ‘I’m not smart enough to do that’ or ‘That’s not my responsibility,’” Johnson explained. “But innovation and innovative thinking truly are everybody’s business inside an organization.”
Johnson, author of Re: Think Innovation, will share her insights and a practical five-step framework for generating ideas during an upcoming IABC Philadelphia webinar. Her message centers on accessibility—making innovation something that anyone, in any role, can practice every day.
Rethinking the Definition of Innovation
Through her research, Johnson discovered that innovation often suffers from what she calls a “complexity bias.” “We only believe things have value if they’re highly complex,” she said. “But innovation doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.” When Johnson asked her LinkedIn network to define innovation, she received hundreds of different answers. “That’s part of the problem,” she said. “Without a shared definition, innovation feels out of reach.”
Johnson defines innovation as “the ability to consistently come up with new, great, and reliable ideas.” A new idea, she explained, doesn’t have to be groundbreaking—it just needs to be new within a given context. A great idea is one that gets you excited about its potential. And a reliable idea is one that affects the bottom-line of a business. “Innovation happens when you can do that consistently,” Johnson said.
Innovation is for Everyone
At the heart of Johnson’s upcoming presentation is her “Wheel of Innovation”—a five-step process that helps professionals transform everyday inspiration into actionable ideas. The model is both repeatable and scalable, integrating seamlessly into existing workflows. “This isn’t about stopping your work to ‘go innovate,’” Johnson said. “It’s about shifting how you approach the work you already do.”
By using the process, she says, communicators can make new ideas feel more familiar and less risky—raising the chances that stakeholders will say yes to trying something new. “It’s a way to connect the dots between what inspires you and how that inspiration becomes a real, relevant, and executable idea,” Johnson explained.
The Key Takeaway
If there’s one thing Johnson hopes attendees remember from her session, it’s this: “Innovation is your responsibility.” By reframing innovation as a daily practice rather than an elite function, Johnson believes every professional can contribute to making their organization more creative, adaptive, and resilient. “I think everyone deserves to wake up on Monday morning and feel excited about what’s possible,” she said. “And when we make innovation accessible, that’s exactly what happens.”
Kaylee Holland is a communications intern and a driven advertising and public relations student passionate about crafting meaningful connections through strategic storytelling. She thrives on shaping public perception and executing campaigns that leave a lasting impact. Kaylee enjoys traveling, crocheting, singing in choir, staying active, and musical theatre. Her blend of creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking fuels both her interests and her ambition to build strong, authentic brands.