Valerio Nannini

I am happy to provide feedback on the collaboration between Nestlé R&D and Professor Raphael H Cohen. I was part of the selection committee that had asked Raphael 10 years ago to design and run the “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” training program (originally called MicroMBA) to boost innovation and intrapreneurship at Nestlé R&D. As this program has been facilitated by both Nestlé executives and external top-notch professors selected by Raphael, it combines internal and external perspectives to open participants’ mind. One of the characteristics of this program is that each group of about 5 participants must identify a real innovation opportunity that fits Nestlé strategy and objectives. The group must then develop a compelling opportunity case to convince management to give the green light. The next and most demanding step is to turn this idea into reality: engaging with all stakeholders to implement at least a pilot to demonstrate real feasibility. During the last 10 years this program has delivered close to 50 real bottom-up innovations that have either been implemented as originally intended or have planted the seeds for further opportunities. innovation initiated by this program. They include not only new products but also new services, new business models, new marketing strategies and new processes. Besides the fact that, thanks to these projects, the program pays for itself, it represents an additional channel of bottom-up innovation for Nestlé R&D. With 10 cohorts representing about 230 people, we now have a community of agile and audacious change agents looking for opportunities, even after graduating from the program. As they have increasedd their business savvy and networking skills, our scientists also interact more effectively with the other functions in the company. Many of them have indeed been promoted to handle more complex responsibilities. I have no hesitation to state that Raphael H Cohen has been instrumental in the success of the Nestlé Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. In close cooperation with several of our executives, he has managed the program and coached all the project teams to achieve impressive results. As he has been truly committed to the participants’ success and personal development, he has encouraged them to go out of their comfort zone and reach new heights. Thanks to Raphael’s experience as a seasoned serial-entrepreneur, business angel …