Innovation Through Experience: The Impact of Varied Backgrounds on Leadership—In conversation with Beth-Ann Eason
Modern business is increasingly defined by the need for adaptability and diverse experiences. Leaders who have navigated various corporate structures — public, private, family-held, and across multiple industries — bring invaluable insights that can drive organizational success. We are in conversation with Beth-Ann Eason, to delve into how such diverse experiences can enhance leadership strategies and influence corporate effectiveness.
Beth-Ann Eason is a versatile executive renowned for her extensive experience across public, private, family-held, and small businesses. Her work spans a variety of industries, equipping her with transferable skills that significantly contribute to the success of organizations. With a reputation for fostering innovation and collaboration, Beth-Ann’s insights into the importance of diverse experiences are critical for today’s dynamic business environment.
How has your extensive experience across public, private, large, small, and family-held businesses, as well as various industries, influenced your approach? How do your transferable skills help companies be more successful? Do you think companies can overlook the value of diverse experiences? Could you provide some examples of how this diverse background has informed your strategies?
“From my perspective, a successful company finds the right mix of a customer need, their ability to uniquely solve for that need with excellence and to be able to execute. I believe that can happen across a variety of different corporate structures. My journey through these types of organizations has been driven by digital capabilities accelerating the speed with which a company can emerge and become a dominant player. My experiences in smaller companies and startups have taught me the importance of agility and quick decision-making, which is crucial not just for early-stage companies but also for larger organizations trying to adapt.
“The innovation necessary to thrive must be carried through all types of organizations. In family-owned businesses, the executive team’s dynamic is particularly important due to the personal investment and commitment of the individuals involved. I find that my strength in seeking consensus and ensuring everyone has a voice has been essential across every company I’ve worked with, especially in family-run businesses. Everyone needs to collaborate to achieve success.
“A good example of maximizing advantages from both big and small companies is my time at Condé Nast, where I was running Epicurious. I leveraged my entrepreneurial skills to reimagine our consumer offerings, and the acquisition of ZipList was a strategic decision that highlighted the resources available in a larger organization. This access to capital allowed me to consider buying options instead of only focusing on building partnerships.
“As Global President of Innovid, a video advertising technology platform I was acutely aware of the importance of branding and positioning oneself as a significant player, even when resources are limited due to the company size. Before securing a larger marketing budget, I would personally attend industry conferences to better understand our target customers and their needs, honing my ability to listen and adapt.
“For instance, two years into my role at Innovid, when funding increased, I was prepared to request specific marketing strategies that aligned with our insights, ultimately allowing us to innovate our presentations at key conferences. Instead of a standard booth setup, we created the ‘Living Room of the Future’ to demonstrate how connected TV technology could enhance consumer experiences, showcasing innovation and the clients excelling in that space.
“Eventually, each experience at each type of company is important. They all equipped me with different skills, each being extremely valuable.”
Thanks for sharing, Beth-Ann.
You can connect with Beth-Ann on LinkedIn
