Build the skills that turn ideas into reality
Innovation in Action
Build the skills that turn ideas into reality
Innovation starts with ideas, but the real challenge is turning those ideas into something that works, scales, and lasts. That takes more than inspiration. It takes leadership, experimentation, and the ability to drive change in complex environments.
Innovation in Action is a hands-on program designed to help leaders build the skills to move from inspiration to impact. You won’t just explore innovation concepts, you’ll put them into action. You’ll apply design thinking and key innovation frameworks, harness the potential of AI, and gain the tools to drive real results in your organization.
You’ll tackle a real-world innovation challenge, bringing your own or working on one from the program, and work on it as a team. You’ll prototype, test, iterate, and pitch your solution before a jury, then step back and reflect on what it truly takes to drive innovation from the inside.
Just as importantly, you’ll strengthen your ability to engage people in your vision. Through storytelling and rhetorical skills, you’ll learn to communicate with clarity and conviction, mobilize those around you, and earn the support of key stakeholders in your organization.
Along the way, you’ll gain fresh perspectives from industry keynote speakers and learn how innovation happens across different sectors.
By the end, you’ll walk away with a tailored plan to bring innovation to life in your own context.
Your journey combines 3 live virtual sessions (25 Aug, 1 Sep, and 8 Sep 2026) with 5 days on campus and in the Lausanne area (14 – 18 September 2026), taking you from foundational concepts through hands-on application and reflection.
Senior Strategy & Operations Salesforce, Switzerland
Innovation in Action was an inspiring program where I experienced a dynamic interplay between sophisticated theoretical principles and their direct application in real-world scenarios. The highlight? Connecting with incredible people driven to shape the future!
Head of Education, Federatia Romana de Fotbal, Romania
I totally recommend this course to anyone who leads a team. The power of the group is a main takeaway as well as the ability to use the innovation frameworks. Also, being creative and working in a group helped me better understand the value each person brings in forming a great and complex project.
Global Head Retail Innovation and Experience, LEGO Group, Denmark
I came out from Innovation in Action refreshed with new energy and now see innovation from different angles, in ways I have not done before.
Senior Sector Specialist: Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Transport and Logistics, Absa Group
Innovation in Action challenges you to play a role as a leader amongst leaders and ultimately makes you question how you can use innovation in the space you are in to make a meaningful impact on business and on society.
Experience IMD for yourself
Join a complementary masterclass of information session and dive into topics such as leadership, AI, strategy, and more. You’ll discover more about how we teach and explore our executive programs along the way. See all upcoming IMD events.
“Many organizations tell us they want to be fast, agile, and re-invent the value they can bring to business and society, but game-changing offerings are hard to come by. Most executives struggle to define what it means to be truly innovative. And they want tools that will help them keep up with the rapid pace of change occurring in their business environments.”
Cyril Bouquet is Professor of Strategy and Innovation. An award-winning researcher and teacher, he specializes in helping organizations and executives tackle complex challenges through innovation and creativity and supporting them with their transition journeys as they seek to create change and deliver progress for society.
Projects he has recently taken on include helping Nestlé to achieve its carbon neutrality objectives, working with O-I Glass to define the company’s ambition and advance its…
Cyril Bouquet is Professor of Strategy and Innovation. An award-winning researcher and teacher, he specializes in helping organizations and executives tackle complex challenges through innovation and creativity and supporting them with their transition journeys as they seek to create change and…
Cyril Bouquet is Professor of Strategy and Innovation. An award-winning researcher and teacher, he specializes in helping organizations and executives tackle complex challenges through innovation and creativity and supporting them with their…
Length: 3 live virtual sessions + 1 week face-to-face
