BROADCASTS.com

b'

During this episode, You Me and Your Top Three host, Gregg Garrett, speaks with Michael Farber, Managing Partner of Ratio Companies and former EVP, Booz Allen Hamilton. Michael speaks to his 30+ year career in driving large transformation in both federal government agencies as well as market-leading companies and shares how innovators need to not just disrupt to disrupt, but rather define the purpose of being different. Michael explains how making safe spaces and encouraging people to explore and embrace differences is key to being a true leader in today\\u2019s rapidly changing world and notes how this digital transformation needs to be met at the cross-section of capabilities. And, of course, Michael shares his top three \\u2013 from the woman who makes him brave, to the teachers that made being different purposeful, to the colleagues who solidify structure innovation, and finally to the client executive who is acting as a window to a thirty year career. You have to hear what Michael has to say about how the key to transformation is really an art of orchestrating trust.

Michael is the Managing Partner of Ratio Companies and a former Executive Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton. He helps clients and business partners invest in and accelerate the identification, creation, adoption, and enablement of advanced, edge, emerging, disruptive and transformational technologies.

As often as he can, Michael looks to leverage technology for positive public change and the societal good.

Michael holds a MPA from Columbia University\'s School of International and Public Affairs and a BA from the School of Architecture and Planning at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He also continued his education through post-graduate doctoral studies in public policy and administration at New York University.

Michael lives in Laguna Beach with his wife Donna and dog Finn -- he and Donna have two children who they followed out to the West Coast. They plan to stay a while...

Segment 1: Overview

1:24\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Where does innovation occur?

4:15\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Michael Farber: Assisting the United States\\u2019 federal agencies to transform. (Booz Allen Hamilton.)

5:49\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Michael\\u2019s Background: From baseball and architecture to public policy and planning consulting. (Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. Weston Solutions.)

Segment 2: The \\u201cTop Three\\u201d \\xa0

9:47\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Michael\\u2019s \\u201cTop Three\\u201d: Michael\\u2019s wife, Donna \\u2013 being brave, having the courage to try things, and having a benchmark for the past.

12:01\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Michael\\u2019s \\u201cTop Three\\u201d: Michael\\u2019s Educators: Mrs. VanOrt, Professor Gary Scott Danford, PhD , and Professor Steve Cohen , PhD \\u2013 engage, ask questions, and do the research. (University of Buffalo.)

14:03\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Michael\\u2019s \\u201cTop Three\\u201d: Susan Penfield \\u2013 celebrating the ability to think about things in a different way.

16:36\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Encouraging exploration and discovery in parenting \\u2013 creating the environment safe space to try things and explore.

19:24\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The role of innovation at Booz Allen Hamilton \\u2013 innovation was there, but how do we create the innovation environment?

21:17\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Michael\\u2019s \\u201cTop Three\\u201d: John Bear \\u2013 transforming leadership and culture in addition to the business and having the courage to take time and be patient.\\xa0\\xa0 (MISO.)

Segment 3: Industry Disruption & Transformation \\xa0

25:40\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What topic motivates Michael to get up in the morning? \\u201cThe enormity and complexity of what has to come together for transformation.\\u201d

28:42\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What styles of innovation are working today?

34:39 \\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 \\u201cYou could start with outcomes and objectives, but new capabilities are allowing you or others to see things that you would have never thought to ask for.\\u201d

35:41\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Breaking down artificial boundaries for innovation.

39:09\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 \\u201cFocus more on what you\\u2019re trying to accomplish or solve or address than prescribing potential solutions or defining the requirements set so narrowly where you\\u2019re just constraining any innovation at all.\\u201d

43:43\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The government as a major R&D player.

48:10\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 \\u201cThe mistake I made several times was to not recognize the need to change workflow / \\xa0capability / competency / etc, while trying to introduce disruptive technology and having a mismatch with culture.\\u201d

51:05\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Hint to overcoming: 1) insulate a new capability internally, and 2) create it outside of the organization.

52:51\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 An important part of disruptive change: \\u201cHow much trust is there within the organization?\\u201d

Segment 4: Leadership & Wrapping Up

56:50\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 \\u201cLeadership is vision.\\u201d

59:07\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 \\u201cThe leaders were best evidenced by their followership.\\u201d

1:00:38\\xa0 Hint for tomorrow\\u2019s leader: \\u201c [The key] is your network, your trust in other folks. Trust is key; absolutely essential.\\u201d

1:02:32\\xa0 Build your net.

1:03:24\\xa0 Stay in touch with Michael via email: farbermf@ratioim.com

Contact Michael Farber:

• Michael\\u2019s LinkedIn
• Michael\\u2019s Email

Contact Gregg Garrett:

• Gregg\\u2019s LinkedIn
• Gregg\\u2019s Twitter
• Gregg\\u2019s Bio

Contact CGS Advisors:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter