Sara-Jane Ring

• How is your presentation relevant to the theme of this year’s BBC conference: Innovation in the Fast Lane?

Banking is changing. We are expected to deliver quicker, faster and cheaper to customers whose expectations increase everyday. We need new thinking about how we organise ourselves in an environment that is changing daily. Innovation is about ‘staying relevant’ – understanding our customers and stakeholders, the value we provide and continually evaluating ourselves to improve, adapt and focus on the things that make the difference.

Our presentation at BBC2018 will share our experience of designing a new organisation, how we challenged our leaders, teams and stakeholders to examine fresh ideas and concepts. We applied our BA techniques in a new context, to prompt creative thinking and be more daring and innovative with our designs. Using a structured framework of BA ideas to give confidence, while stealthily encouraging people to think differently. Join us on Conference Day 1 and see how we pushed people out of their comfort zone!

• What are your top tips for companies or employees wishing to innovate?

Start saying ‘Yes!’ – be brave

Be willing to take a risk – it’s ok if an idea doesn’t work as expected, you will have learnt something important along the journey

Allow people time and space to think – it’s hard to explore different ideas if you are bogged down in the day-to-day. Give them some freedom

Ask ‘Why?’ more often. And listen to the answers!