Top Business Model Innovation Experts

Rita McGrath, one of the world’s top experts on strategy and innovation, is consistently ranked among the top 10 management thinkers globally and has earned the #1 award for strategy by Thinkers 50. She leads the Rita McGrath Group and is the founder of consultancy and innovation platform Valize, a company that helps organizations build true innovation and change proficiency, based on her pioneering work on Discovery Driven Growth. She is a long-time professor at Columbia Business School and has authored 5 popular books on leadership, business and organizational management. A trusted partner and strategic advisor in the C-suites of many of the world’s biggest and most well-known companies, Rita is a go-to advisor for leaders and senior teams, helping them grow, evolve, strategize, innovate and embrace an uncertain future with confidence. She is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on strategic inflection points, the topic of her most recent book - Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen. Her work on discovery-driven growth was praised by the late legendary management thinker Clayton Christensen as offering “some of the most important tools of management and strategy that have ever been developed.” Known for her energy, positivity, storytelling, and ability to connect with audiences, Rita is a sought-after corporate speaker and a long-time professor at Columbia Business School where she leads its popular Executive Education course ‘Leading Strategic Growth and Change,’ frequently guest lectures and is active in a number of initiatives including the launch of the Human Future of Work program, a project engaging with senior HR leaders to re-imagine the workplace of the future. The author and host of the popular podcast and newsletter Thought Sparks, Rita regularly sits down with high-level authors and leaders in her Fireside Chat series on YouTube. She is one of the most frequent contributors to the Harvard Business Review and other premier journals. She has received many awards for her scholarly impact, including the prestigious C. K. Prahalad award from the Strategic Management Society, the “Theory to Practice” award from the Vienna Strategy Forum and multiple “best book” awards. A proud graduate of Barnard College (B.A.), the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (M.P.A), and the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania (PhD), Rita also co-leads the Silicon Guild, a group of thought leaders and best-selling authors who write about trends in business, society and culture.

Mark Newsome is the owner of You Can Market Online Now and a marketing consultant focused on helping small businesses improve revenue through more effective use of their existing resources. His work centers on practical marketing strategies that prioritize customer retention, repeat business, and more efficient conversion rather than increased advertising spend. With experience working with small business owners and service providers, Newsome has developed a clear understanding of the constraints these organizations face, including limited budgets and time. He focuses on identifying gaps in current marketing efforts and implementing structured approaches to improve performance using channels and assets already in place. His approach emphasizes fundamentals such as messaging, offer structure, follow-up processes, and customer relationship management. By refining these areas, he helps businesses generate more consistent results without relying on constant acquisition of new customers. Newsome is a credible source for commentary on small business marketing, customer retention strategies, revenue optimization, and practical approaches to improving marketing performance. He provides clear, experience-based insights grounded in real-world application and measurable outcomes.

Alison Blackman is the founder and editor of AdviceSisters.com, one of the internet's longest-running independent beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and consumer advice publications. Since launching the site in 1997, she has personally tested thousands of beauty products, interviewed leading experts, covered emerging trends, and helped millions of readers make smarter buying decisions through honest, experience-based reviews and practical advice. Known for her editorial independence and straightforward approach, Alison has spent nearly three decades evaluating skincare, makeup, fragrance, fashion, wellness products, and consumer services. Her goal has always been the same: to help readers spend wisely, avoid marketing hype, and discover products that truly deliver results.

Stepan Kazaryan is a Business Management Consultant focused on digital presence, professional evaluation, and how public information shapes decision-making in modern business environments. His work centers on helping organizations and professionals understand how they are perceived before direct interaction occurs. In search-driven systems, evaluation often happens silently and quickly. Stepan advises clients on building structured digital foundations that support credibility over time. His approach emphasizes clarity, consistency, and responsible positioning rather than short-term visibility tactics. He works with executives, founders, and professional service providers who recognize that digital footprints influence trust, partnerships, and opportunity flow. By aligning websites, public profiles, and third-party references, Stepan helps create stable professional narratives that reduce uncertainty during evaluation. Rather than focusing on reactive measures, his advisory framework prioritizes preparation. This includes analyzing how search results present a name, how information connects across platforms, and how inconsistencies affect perception. The goal is to strengthen long-term positioning in a way that feels natural and sustainable. Stepan frequently writes and speaks about digital identity, credibility signals, and the structural factors that influence professional trust in online environments. His perspective reflects a broader shift in how professionals are assessed in the age of search and public information accessibility. Through disciplined strategy and steady execution, Stepan Kazaryan helps clients maintain clarity in environments where perception often forms before conversation begins.

Lars Behrendt is the CEO of Granny&Smith, one of Europe’s most recognized innovation firms. A bestselling author and widely regarded authority in real-world innovation, he has led more than 700 innovation projects and over 50 venture builds for international companies. His Accelerated Innovation Framework is used by corporations, family offices, and investors seeking predictable, market-ready outcomes. Often referred to as “Mr. Innovation,” Behrendt is known for turning ideas into real products—fast, systematically, and with measurable impact.

Marieke van der Poel is Proef’s creative mastermind and founder. She​ is highly regarded within the industry for her capability to connect high-​level long term trends to time targeted and space-time-people relevant​ translations. Her proprietary approach allows us to find opportunities,​ craft concepts, build strategies, and create tangible and makeable​ directions.​ Marieke has a background in editing, working as consultant for Italian,​ English and Dutch brands and magazines. She advised Peclers Paris​ as a trend consultant for five years and worked with the International​ conglomerate of trend agencies collected under ESP Trendlab as a​ strategic partner, before founding Proef at the age of 31.​ It is Marieke’s honor to serve on several advisory boards and function​ as an advisor to the Dutch innovation attaché in San Francisco.​ Working across the Atlantic, calling both San Francisco and​ Rotterdam home, our CEO has been featured in international​ media and has presented at major events and trade shows. A frequent guest lecturer at various prominent colleges around the​ world. Available for interviews and speaking on: Short- and long-term cultural and consumer trends, and how they evolve across industries Translating intuition and analysis into clear strategic direction How to identify what is relevant now, and what will matter next Bridging conceptual thinking with practical, actionable outcomes Cross-industry pattern recognition and future-oriented innovation With 20 years of experience in forecasting strategy, my work is two-fold: on the one end, highly conceptual, on the other, highly pragmatic. My aim is to create relevance, generating proven long- and short- term growth. We have created this type of emotional pertinence for the largest CE-, retail-, heritage, sports active and fashion brands, but also for cities, foundations and cultural institutions, with my company, Proef. Since 2010, Proef is fortunate enough to work with talented individuals that are out there, in the world, active in their fields, intuiting what is coming, inspiring highly conceptual strategic forecasting, spanning verticals. Our work bridges art and technology, culture and commerce. We combine the forward intuition of philosophy, art and high design with the understanding of what is possible. We are always excited about new ideas, possibilities and connections, Let's make a beautiful future, together.

I'm a specialist commercial finance broker with 16 years of experience helping Australian business owners access commercial property finance. As founder of Smart Business Plans, I've overseen $550 million in commercial finance across more than 3,300 clients, with a 92% approval rate working across a panel of 60+ specialist lenders. My expertise sits at the intersection of commercial property, business finance, and wealth strategy — particularly for small to medium business owners looking to buy their own premises, invest through their SMSF, or fund development projects. I work exclusively in the commercial space, which means I specialise where the major banks often can't or won't go. I'm also the author of The Premise Effect (2026), which makes the case for why Australian business owners are leaving millions on the table by renting rather than owning their business premises. I'm available to comment on: commercial property finance, SMSF borrowing, business lending, commercial mortgage rates, Australian property market trends, and small business wealth building.

Helping companies get mentioned in LLMs and gaining a deep understanding of why and where they need to be cited.

I’m an Innovation & Commercialization Strategist who studies the hidden mechanics of how ideas become real. For more than 20 years, I’ve helped organizations understand the structural moment when an idea either becomes a market force or quietly fails. I created Engineered Business Performance (EBP), a systems‑engineering approach that treats commercialization like a machine with architecture, friction points, and performance thresholds. My work focuses on the cognitive distortions and structural blind spots that undermine early‑stage ventures, from founder overconfidence to capability‑terrain mismatches. I also developed Business Development Engineering (BDE), the applied methodology that turns these insights into actionable commercialization systems. Today, I advise innovators, executives, and investors who want to build engines that accelerate innovation, reduce risk, and convert performance into market impact.

Traci Robinson‑Williams, MBA, is an innovation & revenue growth strategist who helps growth execs find hidden revenue in their existing product portfolios. Over 25+ years, she has used this approach to help lay the foundation for more than $1B in new revenue for Fortune 100 and mid‑market companies, including GitLab, Accenture, and Verizon. Through her firm Claroti and her InnoMagination™ framework, she advises PE‑backed and growth‑stage firms on unlocking untapped opportunities in their current products and services. She is the author of InnoMaginate!.

I'm the founder and Editor-in-Chief of ExpertReviewHQ, where I synthesize the findings of more than 250 professional review outlets — Wirecutter, Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and others — into consensus buying guidance across 100+ product categories. Rather than re-testing products myself, I map where the expert testers agree, where they diverge, and what that disagreement means for an individual buyer. I bring 20 years in enterprise portfolio management (PMP, BRMP) to the site's editorial methodology. I can speak to where the reviews align or conflict in almost any consumer category, what buyers consistently overlook, and how to read product reviews critically.

Dr Leanne Elich is an unshakeable optimist. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Leanne has devoted her professional life to helping advance a vision of the world. She is fascinated by the people and organisations that make the greatest and longest-lasting impact. Her work has uncovered remarkable patterns in how people think, behave, and communicate in the environments in which they operate at their best. Dr Leanne Elich is an award-winning Neuroscientist and Behavioural Economist, and a sought-after expert in psychology and neuroscience applied to business and high-performance teams. She is the CEO of Leanne Elich Consulting, an advisory firm that works with individuals, teams, and organisations, specialising in teaching tools, tactics, and strategies to ethically influence consumer behaviour. With a PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology and an extensive publication record, Leanne was awarded the 2023 Top 20 Women in Business and the 2024 Women in Impact Award, and was inducted into Forbes Women Australia. She is a graduate of the University of Sydney, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Medical School. Leanne’s unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership have attracted international attention. She regularly contributes to national and international media outlets, including ABC Radio, Sydney Morning Herald and Psychology Today. Her mission: Changing business, one brain at a time.

I am a multidisciplinary business owner and consultant with expertise spanning recruitment, HR strategy, technology, and creative design. As the founder of Talent Shark (https://www.talentshark.ae), a recruitment and HR consulting firm in Dubai, I help organizations across industries — from healthcare and IT to corporate and creative sectors — build high-performing teams and implement solutions that drive business growth. What sets me apart is the ability to bridge people, business, and technology. With a background in talent acquisition, data science, IT solutions, and graphic design, I bring a unique perspective to problem-solving, blending strategic HR insights with technical and creative innovation. This allows me to not only connect companies with the right talent but also support them in areas like digital transformation, workforce automation, and brand development. I am passionate about building scalable systems, improving processes, and helping businesses unlock new opportunities through a mix of human expertise, technology, and creativity. Expertise & Skills Recruitment & Talent Acquisition (Healthcare, IT & Multi-industry) HR Consulting, Payroll, PRO & Compliance Data Science & Business Analytics IT Solutions & Digital Transformation Graphic Design & Creative Strategy Employer Branding & Marketing Support Training & Development Programs Process Improvement & HR Automation

Clotaire Marmignon is the CEO and co-founder of Marmignon Brothers and the creator of e-dutainment, an immersive learning method designed to make English training more practical, engaging, and effective. His work focuses on the intersection of EdTech, language learning, digital training, and artificial intelligence. With Marmignon Brothers, he helps companies, professionals, schools, and institutions develop more effective training experiences in English, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and innovation. He is particularly interested in how films, series, interactive content, and AI can transform traditional e-learning into a more active and memorable learning experience. Clotaire Marmignon’s expertise covers business English training, immersive pedagogy, digital education strategy, AI-powered learning tools, and the design of scalable training solutions for organizations of different sizes. He is also involved in broader projects related to entrepreneurship, digital communication, and the creation of innovative educational products.

Mike Podesto is a Career and Job Search Expert and the Founder & CEO of Find My Profession, a leading reverse recruiting firm that manages full job searches for professionals and executives. As a pioneer of reverse recruiting, Mike has helped thousands of candidates navigate competitive hiring markets by combining targeted job sourcing, direct outreach to decision-makers, and data-driven job search strategies. His team works across industries including technology, engineering, marketing, and executive leadership, supporting clients from mid-level professionals to C-suite executives. Mike’s expertise spans job search strategy, resume and LinkedIn optimization, networking, recruiting, and hiring trends. He is known for his practical, results-oriented approach to the job search process, with a focus on helping candidates stand out in crowded applicant pools and secure interviews faster. Under his leadership, Find My Profession has earned over 1,000 five-star reviews and has been recognized for its innovative approach to job search management. The company’s model is built on real-world recruiting experience and has helped place candidates in roles ranging from $100K to $1M+ compensation packages. Mike regularly advises on topics including job market trends, hiring practices, interview strategy, and how candidates can position themselves effectively in today’s evolving employment landscape. His insights are especially relevant for professionals navigating career transitions, layoffs, or competitive executive-level searches.

With over 30 years of experience in leading established and startup businesses across various industries and regions, I am a strategic growth, innovation, and leadership expert who helps organizations and their leaders generate sustained results. As the Managing Director of Innovation Junkie, I partner with C-Suite and executive leaders who are looking to scale their organizations more efficiently and create disruptive solutions for the key problems facing the world today. I am also a three-time best-selling author, a certified executive coach, an instrument rated multi-engine pilot, a podcast co-host, and an investor. My books, The Innovator’s Field Guide, The Top Performer’s Field Guide, and Creating Startup Junkies, provide practical insights and tools for entrepreneurs, innovators, and change agents. My passion is to inspire and empower others to achieve extraordinary living through innovation, leadership, and personal growth.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience in affiliate marketing, e-commerce, and digital growth strategy, I’ve helped brands scale profitable online partnerships and build high-performing affiliate ecosystems. As the founder of BestAIFor.com - a fast-growing AI tools directory, benchmark platform, and independent review hub - I now combine my performance marketing background with deep expertise in the AI landscape. I personally evaluate and benchmark hundreds of AI tools every month, tracking real-world metrics like speed, accuracy, pricing shifts, ROI, and usability across productivity, content, marketing, and creative workflows. My work focuses on cutting through the hype to deliver actionable, data-backed insights that help solopreneurs, marketers, and businesses choose the right AI stack for 2026 and beyond. Whether I'm setting up affiliate programs for AI tool makers, optimizing campaign performance with AI-powered automation, or identifying emerging trends through original benchmarks, I’m driven by one goal: turning complex technology into practical growth advantages. I’m passionate about sharing transparent, no-BS analysis and helping the industry move faster with better information. You’ll often find me publishing fresh benchmarks, “State of AI Tools” micro-reports, and strategic guides on BestAIFor.com.

Award-winning marketer with 18 years of experience in tourism marketing, tribal economic development and SMB Local SEO. An author of two award winning books, and a half dozen others on topics related to sales, marketing and motivation. Notable experiences including building and selling a merchant services company, as well as buying, restoring, rebranding and selling a Lake Superior hotel. Everything stems from the ability to market and reposition.

Oksana Matviichuk is the founder of OM Strategic Forecasting, an AI-native strategy and transformation firm advising founders and mid-market B2B leaders on how to redesign growth, operating models, and market trust as AI reshapes competitive advantage. With 20+ years in top-tier agency environments, including global networks such as WPP and Publicis. She has led growth and transformation work for Fortune 500 clients including IBM, Dell EMC, Verizon, Lenovo, AWS, and Ford. She brings operator-level rigor to a question most companies are still avoiding: what becomes uniquely valuable when AI is embedded everywhere. Based in Boston, Matviichuk is WBENC-certified and Forbes-featured, and has been recognized by Women We Admire as a Top Women Leader of New York (2022–2024). She is also a USA Today bestselling author. Known for translating AI ambition into measurable outcomes, she helps organizations move from pilot-thinking to AI-native business models—modernizing offers, building operating leverage, and strengthening reputation with credible, market-moving narratives. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy, reputation, and AI-driven execution, positioning her as a sought-after voice on AI-native business models and the leadership decisions defining the next decade.

I started GiftDeal Australia back in 2020 because I saw a real need for a local, reliable source for trending products within the Australian market. Over the last few years, I’ve managed to grow the business from a simple idea into a full-scale e-commerce platform that now handles over 6,000 different products. We cover everything from kids' toys and home gadgets to car accessories and fitness gear, which has given me a pretty broad perspective on what Australian consumers are actually looking for these days. Running a business of this scale has taught me a lot more than just how to move inventory. I’ve spent a lot of time in the trenches of digital marketing, focusing on SEO and building a solid brand presence through high-authority backlinks to make sure we stay competitive. I'm very focused on the domestic retail sector here in Australia, and I’m always looking for ways to improve how we serve our local customers—whether that’s through faster shipping or better local support. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned about scaling an e-commerce brand, managing large inventories, or the technical side of digital marketing for small businesses. If you’re working on a story about retail trends, small business growth in Australia, or the realities of running a multi-category online store, I’d be glad to provide some honest, boots-on-the-ground insights.