Interviewed on fostering innovation by Future Talk TV

Marty Wasserman interviewed me regarding fostering innovation, for a half-hour Future Talk TV show.

Future Talk is a monthly Palo Alto-based cable show that examines the global impact of technology, both for good and for bad, and tries to see where the new technology is leading us. It’s been seen on nearly 300 stations in the U.S. and abroad. Here are a list of programs and links to the programs. (For Comcast subscribers in the service area of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Atherton, Menlo Park and Stanford, it can be seen on TV channel 27 according to this schedule.)

I enjoyed working with Marty and hope that people will gain insight about fostering innovation – for organizations, society, and themselves.

I would like to thank Marty, Future Talk volunteers, and the staff on the Midpeninsula Community Media Center for making this show possible.

(Marty notes that there are two YouTube channels: www.youtube.com/deeperlook and www.youtube.com/futuretalktv that host all the episodes seen on the website. The latter has every episode in its entirety, while the former, which was begun earlier, also has every episode but divided into 3 or 4 shorter segments.)

BPI Network posts innovation perspective

BPI Network (Business Performance Innovation Network) posted perspective I contributed regarding innovation.

I provide thoughts about 5 questions BPI is asking “Game Changers.” The questions are …

1. How do you build organizations and cultures that embrace innovation and change?
2. What are the biggest impediments to innovation in today’s enterprise?
3. How is the innovation process changing within your company or those you work with?
4. What technologies will drive the biggest changes over the next two years?
5. What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innovation mindset?

I appreciate Sally Quigley’s work that made this possible.

Also, I note that Robert David contributed to this series of perspectives. He works for the University of California, Berkeley Extension and plays a key role regarding my planned Intensive Workshop in Accelerating Innovation.

Attended Charles Townes 99th birthday event

I attended a celebration of the 99th birthday of Charles Townes, held on his birthday, July 28, 2014, at the University of California, Berkeley.

Charlie and I talked briefly, after the formal part of the event. (Photo below, by Taran Singh) I gave him a copy of “Physics Math Reset.” (Previously, we met via Caltech-related events, I provided him some computer advice, and he and I served on the advisory board for Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public policy.)

It was good to learn more about Charlie’s many accomplishments and interests.

At that event, I met Taran Singh, who is producing a film, Unturned Stones (and link), about Charles Townes. Taran and I plan to stay in touch, regarding the film and perhaps other matters.

It was also good to talk with various people who have had long-term relationships with Berkeley’s Physics Department.

Charles Townes and Thomas J. Buckholtz (photo by Taran Singh)

Interviews posted for TCP/IP 40 event

Interviews, including one of me, have been posted for an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Vint Cerf’s and Bob Kahn’s drafting of specifications for TCP/IP.

While I was not involved in the effort 40 years ago, I tried to provide perspective about thinking and action – especially within the U.S. federal government – about networking and telecommunications standards during the period 1989 to 1993 (when I served as a General Services Administration commissioner, with roles including that of co-CIO [chief information officer] for the Executive Branch of the federal government.)

Many people contributed much to make the event and interview possible. Some of these people include Greg Berkin (who interviewed me), Vint Cerf, Tammy Chan, Bill Daul, Mei Lin Fung, Kennan Kellaris Salinero, and Shannon McElyea.

To speak on improving the value of HR/OD services

I look forward to providing a webinar on how to measure and improve the value of services provided by human-resources and organization-development groups and people.

The name of the webinar is How do you stand with your clients? Measure and improve the value of HR/OD services. The day and time are Wednesday, May 14, 2014, starting at 1 PM (Pacific Daylight Time).  I appreciate that Lucy Freedman and Syntax for Change are organizing the series Cultivating Change: Master Class for Change Agents in the Workplace and that they have invited me to participate. There is no fee to participate in the series. People can register for this series via the sign-up part of this registration page.

For a copy of the slides, please see link.  For a copy of slide 8, please see link.

Interviewed on innovation by “Critical Mass for Business”

On February 27, 2014, Ric Franzi interviewed me regarding innovation.  His radio show, Critical Mass for Business, posted the interview at http://ceopeergroups.podbean.com/2014/03/01/critical-mass-coast-to-coast-radio-show-february-27-2014-thomas-j-buckholtz-and-craig-forbes/ .

I would like to thank Glenn Perkins of Renaissance Executive Forums for recommending to Ric that I appear on his show, Ric for interviewing me, and Crystal Nguonly for helping make all this possible.

Spoke on Dark Matter and Dark Energy, for NextNow

Recently, I gave two “Shedding Light on Dark Matter and Dark Energy and More” talks for NextNow.  One talk was July 18 in Berkeley.  The other was July 27 in Portola Valley.  (Each municipality is in the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California.)  Here is a link to a video of the second talk.

I was pleased that “non-scientists” seemed genuinely interested and asked good questions.  I discussed (in non-science terms) research that attempts the following.

• Suggest descriptions of dark matter and dark energy.
• Explain quantum gravity and unify it with electromagnetism.
• Compute the mass of the Higgs boson and suggest masses of neutrinos.
• Suggest a basis for P violation, CP violation, … and reframe concepts of such violations.
• Predict undiscovered elementary particles and basic interactions.
• List known elementary particles and find new uses for the Standard Model.
• Provide other results.

I was one of several speakers (4 in Berkeley and 8 in Portola Valley).  Each talk was limited to 5 minutes.  11 of the 12 presentations each had 20 slides, with an automated change of slide every 15 seconds.  The format is called Ignite.  Other speakers discussed software and patents (Randy Farmer), a youth program based on sailing and discussing STEM {science, technology, engineering, and mathematics} (Ian Andrewes, The American Youth Sailing Force), the future of NextNow (Jay Cross), the practice of happiness (Randy Taran – Project Happiness), chocolate and writing (Birgitte Rasine – Birgitte Racine’s author web site), how to write books (Joel Orr), and why smart is sometimes dumb and dumb sometimes wise (Prasad Kaipa).

I would like to thank Bill Daul, Jay Cross, and Tammy Chan for offering these speaking opportunities and recording video.  Bill started NextNow years ago.  I have been privileged to be a member.  Various people, including Jay and Bill, are helping to try to even more invigorate the group.

Coincidentally, CreateSpace (an Amazon.com subsidiary) listed my book, Physics Small and Vast: Basic Interactions (via Create Space), earlier on the day of my presentation in Portola Valley.  And, the book is now available via Amazon at Physics Small and Vast: Basic Interactions (via Amazon.com), Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, and Amazon.fr.

Thomas J. Buckholtz talks with NextNow in Berkeley (photo by Jay Cross)

Thomas J. Buckholtz talks with NextNow in Portola Valley, July 26, 2013 (photo by Tammy Chan)

NextNow audience in Portola Valley (photo by Bill Daul)

Setting up for Thomas J. Buckholtz to speak for NextNow in Portola Valley (photo by Bill Daul)

Led Discussion on From Great Potential to Not-So-Great Results – What are we missing?

Recently, Mark Finnern and SAP hosted an “open mike” Future Salon.  I led a discussion on “From Great Potential to Not-So-Great Results – What are we missing?”  (link: https://t.co/shxaWiaF , starting around minute 26:20 and ending around minute 38)  People presented concepts.  There did not seem to be much disagreement with the concept that society can and should try to frame more important issues, solve more important problems, and capture more specific opportunity.  In response to a question, I mentioned opportunities to reconsider to what extent people and discussion focus on individuals and to what extent people and discussion focus on groups.  I also noted opportunities to consciously improve self-awareness and thinking skills.

Another person led a later session and recommended people’s focusing more on deciding what they want to achieve compared to trying to achieve what they think they want.

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Interviewed by Personal Branding Pioneer

Recently, Peter Sterlacci, who is pioneering personal branding in Japan, interviewed me and produced the “Branding Mechanics’ Video Interview: Dr. Thomas J. Buckholtz” (link).  I hope I provided useful insight in areas such …
• The importance – for a team or individual – of what people think about when they think about “you.”
• The potential to use my game “2-Brains: Tell it & Sell it” to help develop marketing messages, including personal branding messages.
• The potential to use checklists from my book “Create Crucial Insight” to support the above two items.

It was my pleasure to work again with Peter. Previously, he led the San Jose State University program via which I led classes on American government (plus leadership and innovation) for more than a dozen groups of China government officials.
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Gave presentation for Phi Beta Kappa

Recently, I led an after-dinner session on “From Great Potential … To Not-So-Great Effects. What is society missing? What can we do about it?” for the Northern California Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

I very much appreciate audience members’ contributing much during the presentation, Cal Wood’s having invited me and being such a considerate host, the opportunity to help support Phi Beta Kappa’s scholarship fund, and my being able to enjoy some time at Asilomar State Beach.

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Click for information about Thomas J. Buckholtz