Data shows that women consistently volunteer at higher rates than men, often taking on community-driven roles, even when these roles remain informal. Yet, if women participate in larger numbers in volunteer-led innovation initiatives, why are they so underrepresented in the metrics that “count” in innovation, such as patents or leadership roles in the field?

Some organizations are more reactive than proactive when it comes to change management. In this blog, I explore the relation between innovation and change management, and why both need a proactive approach to increase chances of being successful.

How is AI going to shape our roles over the next three years? Here is a suggestion.

Artificial Intelligence remains a hot topic, and for many, it’s a source of apprehension rather than excitement. Most people still view AI as a threat instead of an opportunity to leverage. It’s not surprising, considering the uncertainty around the rapid development of large language models. Common questions like, “Will I still have a job?” or “What does this mean for my career and my children’s future?” reflect widespread unease.

Innovation practices can seem playful and chaotic to those accustomed to traditional project management. In response, we’ve emphasized structure, but the way we communicate these processes can still feel confusing and overly linear. Bridging the gap between the “safe space” of an innovation program and the realities of project implementation is challenging. This article explores some of the things we’ve tried to bridge the gap.

How can we experiment in our sector? While "experimentation" might seem like an unnecessary luxury, it's actually a powerful way to unlock new value and drive innovation. In the public sector, where processes are often rigid, structured experimentation can create space for creative solutions. Innovation methodologies like human-centered design and lean startup guide us, but we shouldn't feel confined by them. Instead, we can adopt a flexible, toolbox approach, choosing the tools that fit the moment. Mainstreaming experimentation means making it accessible to everyone, transforming it from an isolated process into a core part of our daily work.

Innovation teams are often seen as a luxury in the public sector, but should they be? Let's explore why these teams are critical for driving progress in international organizations.

With the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future adopted at last week’s Summit of the Future, there is a reinforced expectation for a more future-proof United Nations driven by innovation.

Our innovation team was created to become irrelevant at some point. We are reaching almost ten years of this mission, and at this point we are even asking ourselves, how are we supposed to do that? Is it worth it?

In this post, we explore what it would take to foster an ideal innovation culture across the United Nations. It challenges us to rethink how we can turn a broad strategy into meaningful change and cultivate an innovation culture that thrives across the organization.

You probably don’t like the word bureaucracy. If you work in a small private sector company and have ever considered a switch to the public sector, one of the key factors you likely weighed was the level of bureaucracy. I don’t blame you; I’ve spent years working on innovation inside bureaucracies, and there are plenty of moments when I wonder why I still do.

How to Overcome Fear of Uncertainty to Foster Innovation?

Fear is a natural protection mechanism that has helped humans survive and evolve. This instinct, while useful in dangerous situations, often manifests in the workplace, particularly during times of uncertainty. This protective reaction can stifle creativity and innovation, how to overcome it?

At the start of international organizations there was a big dream. The dream to solve pressing societal issues like maintaining global peace, reducing the pace of climate change, reaching gender equality, or reducing global poverty. These ambitious goals are the reasons why many people aspire to join our organizations, and it was certainly the reason that inspired me.

When I was doing my bachelor’s in international relations back in Colombia, I dreamed about working in a big international organization with people from all over the world, helping to make the world a better place. I didn’t know exactly how to get there.