Global Marketer Melissa Choi on Structuring Innovation With Think Bigger

As a global marketer, one of the biggest challenges I face is generating innovative ideas that are not only creative but also strategically relevant and result-driven. This challenge led me to enroll in the ‘Think Bigger’ program, as I was eager to learn how to develop bold, innovative ideas that can be implemented in a larger strategy and can effectively solve critical business problems.

Every aspect of this program was impressive, but what stood out the most was the strategic framework, six-step methodology, and the insight that big ideas begin with a deep understanding and clear definition of the problem. In business, challenges arise daily, but it was eye-opening to realize how difficult it can be to identify the true problem you are trying to solve, the sub-problems, and what to prioritize.

Professor Sheena Iyengar and Professor Bill Duggan provided invaluable practical examples from their experiences with various corporations, which was helpful in relating the methodology to a real business environment.

I also appreciated the collaborative environment where the cohorts coming from different industries and countries, exchanged their critical business problems and helped each other to come up with creative solutions.

The biggest takeaway is that innovation starts by defining a problem, selectively combining existing ideas from various fields, and making strategic choices.
The ‘six-step methodology’ is a powerful framework and tool that can be applied in any business functions and industries to solve different business challenges. 

If you have questions about the program or are interested in enrolling or sponsoring someone in your organization, please don’t hesitate to contact Cristina Ordonez at cristina.ordonez@gsb.columbia.edu or +212-853-4823.