In boardrooms from Silicon Valley to Singapore, Cris Beswick has established himself as the go-to advisor for organizations seeking to transform innovation from aspiration to organization-wide capability. His approach, which challenges Peter Drucker’s famous dictum that ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast,’ offers Fortune 500 companies and governments worldwide a more nuanced perspective: strategy, leadership, and culture must eat breakfast together, inspiring a new era of innovation.
“The organizations that excel at innovation have achieved a delicate equilibrium,” Beswick explains. “They’ve aligned their strategic direction, leadership capabilities, and cultural dynamics to make innovation systematic rather than sporadic.”
This insight comes from Beswick’s unique journey as a serial entrepreneur turned global thought leader. Having advised leadership teams across industries—from financial services and healthcare to manufacturing and technology—he’s witnessed firsthand what separates genuinely innovative companies from those merely adopting innovation language.
The Systemic Approach to Innovation
Unlike consultants who treat innovation as a program or initiative, Beswick approaches it as a systemic capability that must permeate every aspect of organizational life. His methodology focuses on three critical pillars:
- Strategic Clarity: Beswick helps leadership teams precisely define their innovation ambition, creating a compelling narrative that connects innovation to broader business objectives.
- Leadership Capability: “Innovation leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking better questions,” Beswick notes. His work transforms how senior teams lead, shifting from command and control to enabling breakthrough thinking at all levels.
- Cultural Architecture: Rather than viewing culture as something that happens, Beswick helps organizations deliberately design environments where experimentation, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous learning become normalized.
From Diagnosis to Transformation
What distinguishes Beswick’s approach is his ability to translate innovation theory into practical, actionable frameworks. His engagements typically begin with a comprehensive diagnostic of an organization’s innovation maturity—often revealing significant gaps between perception and reality. This practical approach reassures leaders and instils confidence in the transformation process.
“Most leaders I meet believe their organization is more innovative than it is,” Beswick observes. “We start by establishing an honest baseline and identifying the specific barriers holding the organization back.”
This unflinching assessment creates the foundation for transformation. Working directly with C-suite executives, Beswick designs bespoke strategies that reorient companies around innovation-led growth. His client portfolio includes numerous Fortune 500 companies that have substantially outperformed competitors after implementing his innovation frameworks.
Building Future-Ready Organizations
In a business environment where disruption has become the norm, Beswick focuses on building what he calls ‘future-ready organizations’—enterprises capable of anticipating change rather than merely responding to it. This proactive approach empowers organizations to take control of their future.
“The most successful companies I advise don’t just adapt to the future—they actively shape it,” he notes. “They’ve mastered the ability to sense weak signals in the market, rapidly experiment with new models, and scale successful ideas before competitors recognize the opportunity.”
While many know Beswick from his dynamic keynotes at global conferences, his most profound impact happens in confidential boardroom sessions. There, he challenges executive teams to confront uncomfortable truths about their innovation readiness and commit to the systemic changes required to thrive in an era of accelerating change.
By bringing strategy, leadership, and culture to the same breakfast table, Beswick is helping global giants survive the future and define it.
Cris Beswick is a globally recognized thought leader on innovation strategy, leadership, and culture. A serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and strategic advisor, he works with leadership teams of Fortune 500 companies and governments worldwide to build forward-thinking cultures and drive innovation-led growth.