Dr. Simone Ahuja She/Her

Dr. Simone Ahuja is a leading global authority on innovation and intrapreneurship.  She serves as an advisor to the Fortune 500 and is also an improvisational comedian. As an entrepreneur and founder of innovation strategy firm Blood Orange, and a best-selling author renowned for her books Jugaad Innovation, and Disrupt-It-Yourself), Dr. Ahuja brings a wealth of expertise to the realm of business innovation and leadership.  Simone’s research and hands on experience within large organizations focus on the democratization of innovation, which she describes as “better problem-solving for all.  

Her work has been published by The Harvard Business Review, FastCompany, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Forbes, and many others.  Simone is widely recognized for her two influential books, Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth (Jossey-Bass, 2012) and Disrupt It Yourself: Eight Ways to Hack a Better Business – Before the Competition Does (HarperCollins Leadership, 2019).  Praise for her work has come from notable figures such as Jim Loree (CEO, Stanley Black & Decker), Eric Quint (CDO, 3M), Julie Guggemos, CDO, Target), Marc Benioff (CEO, Salesforce) and many others.

It has been covered by media outlets like the Economist, CNN Business, and Forbes.  She is committed to helping shape business education and has served in advisory roles to the Judge School of Business, University of Cambridge, and MIT’s D-Lab, where she regularly designed and delivered coursework for industry executives.

Notably, Dr. Ahuja’s practice of improvisational comedy helps her bring energy and interactivity into live and virtual sessions.  As a parent of young children, she shares hilarious stories that demonstrate how leadership practices at work have big impact at home. Her influence has been recognized on Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea and Innovation Award shortlists, and a Pulitzer grant for her work exploring social innovation principles in India.