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Gina O'Connor

  • Professor
  • Fischer Family Term Chair in Healthcare Management
Academic Division: Entrepreneurship
CV
781-239-4446
Gina joined Babson in January 2019 as a Professor of Innovation Management. She conducts research and develops curricula that facilitates learning for graduate students and executives based on her findings on Breakthrough Innovation capabilities in large mature companies. Before joining Babson Gina spent 29 years at the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she held the roles of Professor of Marketing and Innovation Management, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of the MBA program, Director of the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship and Director of the Radical Innovation Research Program. Prior to earning her PhD in Marketing and Corporate Strategy at NYU, she worked as a contract administrator for McDonnell Douglas Corporation and as a research analyst for Monsanto's Department of Social Responsibility in St. Louis, Missouri. Professor O'Connor has published papers in leading journals including the Journal of Product Innovation Management, Organization Science, Journal of Marketing and Journal of Business Venturing among others. Five of her papers have received best paper of the year awards in their respective journals. Gina has co-authored three books on breakthrough innovation. The second of those: Grabbing Lightning: Building a Capability for Breakthrough Innovation, was named one of the top three business books of the year by Strategy + Business Magazine. In 2018 she was named a Crawford Fellow by the Product Development and Management Association, one of only six recipients of that award. Gina's professional objective is to help large established companies learn how to renew themselves through organic growth via step-out, gamechanging, breakthrough, strategic innovation, which introduces high levels of uncertainty into the innovation process and is typically stamped out in organizations. She is a firm believer that, to be successful, companies must develop an innovation function, complete with its own people, processes, metrics and culture that operates within the company to translate emerging science, technology and business models into whole new platforms of growth that will fuel the company's future health in spite of itself. She is an active speaker and consultant for a number of US and European companies, and is passionate about developing the next cadre of innovation leaders. On the personal side, Gina's permanent home is in Albany NY, where she lives with her husband. Their three children are spread across the country doing their best to make the world a better place. They are all members of the Board of Directors of a larger family owned operating foundation, Fostering Hope, which serves the needs of foster parents. Gina can be reached at goconnor@babson.edu.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph D, New York University
  • MBA, Saint Louis University
  • BA, Saint Louis University

Academic Interest / Expertise

Breakthrough Innovation, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Organizational Design for Innovation, New Market Creation.

Awards & Honors

  • 2021 — Top Scholars Ranking, Elsevier BV
  • 2019 — Visiting Chair, Lazaridus Institute, Wilfred Laurier University
  • 2019 — Best Book nomination, Academy of Management
  • 2019 — Best Books on Corporate Innovation, Innovation Leader
  • 2018 — Crawford Fellow, Product Development and Management Association
  • 2017 — Paper named one of the "Twelve Essential Insights of the Decade", MIT's Sloan Management Review
  • 2013 — Top 50 scholars in the field of Technology Management and Innovation , International Association of Management of Technology
  • 2009 — Outstanding Teaching Award, Lally School of Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • 2008 — People's Choice Professor Award, Lally School of Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • 2006 — All Campus Teaching Award, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Association
  • 2005 — Outstanding Teaching Award, Lally School of Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Courses

  • Degree Courses 2024

    • EPS 9508 BUILDING CORPORATE INNOVATION CAPABILITY

  • Degree Courses 2023

    • EPS 7507 CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
    • EPS 9508 CORP INNOV AS A PROF:DESIGN INNOV ROLES

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Baros, R., Salerno, M., O'Connor, G., Melos, J. (2023). Startup Engagement: A Strategy Framework For Established Companies. Innovation and Management Review. Issue: ISSN: 2515-8961. Emerald.
  • Miyao, M., O'Connor, G. (in press). The Uncertainty-handling Function of Organizational Politics in Breakthrough Innovation Projects. Journal of Product Innovation Management.
  • Liu, W., O'Connor, G., Thompson, N.C. (2023). Unleash the Unexpected for Radical Innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review. Vol: 65, Issue: 1, Page: 22-28.
  • O'Connor, G. (2023). Domains of Innovation Intent: A Key Leadership Responsibility. Industrial Marketing Management. Vol: 113, Issue: August, Page: 352-356.
  • O'Connor, G., Robbins, P. (2023). Innovation Management: Time to Turn Pro?” . Vol: 40, Page: 593-609. Journal of Product Innovation Management.
  • Soltanifar, M., Hughes, M., O'Connor, G., Roijakkers, N. (2023). Unlocking the potential of non-managerial employees in corporate entrepreneurship: A systematic review and research agenda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Research. Vol: 29, Issue: 11, Page: 206-240.
  • Zhao, H., O'Connor, G.C., Wu, J., Lumpkin, G. (2021). Age and Entrepreneurial Career Success: A Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Business Venturing. Vol: 36, Issue: 1. link
  • Bagno, R.B., Salerno, M.S., de Sourza Jr., W.C., O'Connor, G. (2020). Corporate Engagement with Startups: Antecedents, Models, and Open Questions for Innovation Management. Vol: 18, Issue: 1, Page: 39-52. Product Management & Development. link
  • Shaikh, I.A., O'Connor, G. (2020). Understanding the Motivations of Technology Managers in radical innovation decisions in the mature R&D firm context: An Agency Theory Perspective.. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management. Vol: 55. link
  • O'Connor, G. (2019). Real Innovation Requires More than an R&D Budget. Harvard Business Review (Print Edition). link
  • Perri, S.T., Farrington, T., Johnson, S., O'Connor, G.C. (2019). Today's Innovation Leaders. Research Technology Management. Page: 21-29.
  • Choi, B., Ravichandran, T.R., OConnor, G. (2018). Organizational Conservatism, Strategic Human Resource Management and Breakthrough Innovation. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 99, Page: 1-28.
  • Markovitch, D.G., , .C., Harper, P.J. (2017). Beyond invention: the additive impact of incubation capabilities to firm value. R & D Management. Vol: 47, Issue: 3, Page: 352--367.
  • O'Connor, G.C., Euchner, J. (2017). The People Side of Breakthrough Innovation: an Interview with Gina O’Connor. Research Technology Management. Vol: 60, Issue: 4, Page: 12-18.
  • Markovitch, D.G., Harper, P., O'Connor, G.C. (2017). Beyond Invention: The Additive Impact of Incubation Capabilities to Firm Value. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 47, Issue: 3, Page: 352-367.
  • Badir, Y., O'Connor, G.C. (2015). The Formation of Tie-strength in a Strategic Alliance’s First New Product Development Project: The Influence of Project and Partners’ Characteristics. Journal of Product Innovation Management. Vol: 32, Issue: 1, Page: 154-169.

Books

  • O'Connor, G.C., Corbett, A.C., Peters, L.S. (2018). Beyond the Champion: Institutionalizing Innovation through People. Page: 344 pages. Stanford University Press.
  • Narayanan, V., O'Connor, G. (2014). Encyclopedia of Technology and Innovation Management. Issue: 2. Blackwell-Wiley.

Book Chapters

  • Soltanifar, M., O'Connor, G., Hughes, M., Hayton, J. (2023). Corporate Entrepreneurship Education as the Forgotten Stepchild: Revisiting Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for CE. : Futurology in Education and Learning. Page: 103-145. World Scientific Publishing. link
  • O'Connor, G. (2022). Facing Organizational Uncertainty Head-On: Winners: Creating Value in Challenging Times, Innovation Leader's Pointers. InnovationLeader.
  • O'Connor, G. (2022). Designing your Newstream Capability: Eight Management System Elements Needed to Support Strategic Innovation: Checklists and Tips for Corporate Innovators: Innovation Leaders' Pointers. InnovationLeader.
  • Baregheh, A., Carey, T., O'Connor, G. (2022). Beyond the Champion – Governance and Management of Strategic Innovation in Higher Education Teaching and Learning: Governance and Management in Higher Education. Vol: 43, Page: 173-201. Emerald Publishing Group.
  • O'Connor, G. (2022). Strategic Innovation as a Management System: The Innovator’s Handbook: The Best and Latest in Corporate Innovation. Innov8rs.
  • O'Connor, G. (2022). Strategic Innovation as a Management System: The Innovator’s Handbook: The Best and Latest in Corporate Innovation. Page: 13-15 (Lead Article) . Innov8rs.com. link
  • O'Connor, G. (2021). Domains of Innovation Intent: Pointers: Creating Support Up & Down the Org Chart. Innovation Leader.
  • O'Connor, G., Pierantozzi, R. (2021). A Portfolio Strategy for Going Beyond Incremental Innovation: Pointers: Adjusting Your Innovation Portfolio for Success. InnovationLeader.
  • O'Connor, G. (2020). Why Aren’t Companies Getting Better at Strategic Innovation?: Pointers. Innovation Leader.
  • O'Connor, G. (2019). What’s essential to launching an innovation program – and what you can build as you go: Pointers: Getting an Innovation Program Started-Advice for the First Year. Innovation Leader. link
  • Peters, L.S., O'Connor, G.C., Shaikh, I.A. (2018). An Examination Of Organizational Systems Used to Sustain Breakthrough Innovation: Aspects of Entrepreneurship: Practice and Passion. Page: 89-129. Cambridge Scholars Publishing .
  • O'Connor, G.C. (2018). Institutionalizing an Innovation Function: Moving beyond the Champion: Handbook of New Product Development Research. Edward Elgar .
  • , .C. (2016). Institutionalizing corporate entrepreneurship as the firm’s innovation function: reflections from a longitudinal research program: Handbook of Research on Corporate Entrepreneurship . Page: 145-174. Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • O'Connor, G.C., Narayanan, V. (2015). Knowledge Management as Intelligence Amplification for Breakthrough Innovations: Design Thinking: New Product Development Essentials from the PDMA . Page: 187-203. John Wiley and Sons.
  • Narayanan, V., , .C. (2015). What are Emerging Technologies?: Encyclopedia of Technology and Innovation Management. Page: 1--4. John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd Chichester, UK.

Conference Proceedings

  • Josue, R., O'Connor, G. (2020). The Effect of Previous Experience On The Opportunity Elaboration Process: A Cognitive Perspective. Academy of Management.
  • O'Connor, G., Ravichandran, T., Choi, B., Ma, J. (2017). Organizing for breakthrough innovation: leadership, structures, and processes: Academy of Management Proceedings. Vol: 2014, Issue: 1, Page: 12870. link
  • Shaikh, I., Peters, L.S., O'Connor, G.C. (2017). The Governance of Radical Technological Innovation: Proceedings of the Strategic Management Society.
  • , .C., Shaikh, I.A. (2017). Motivating Radical Innovation: An Agency Theory Exploration: Academy of Management Proceedings. Vol: 1, Page: 1. Academy of Management. link
  • Ma, J., Choi, B., O'Connor, G. (2016). Marketing's role in capturing value from innovation: Knowledge resources, strategic emphasis, and firm value: Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), 2016 Portland International Conference on. Page: 1271--1277.

Articles - Circular or newsletter (e.g., Babson Insight)

  • Meyer, C., O'Connor, G. (2021). Here’s What AI Will Never Be Able to Do: Entrepreneur Magazine online. link
  • O'Connor, G. (2021). Invest in Innovation now to be competitive in the post-COVID-19 World” Fast Company: Fast Company. link
  • O'Connor, G.C. (2018). Beyond the Champion: Building Strategic Innovation Capability: Center for Innovation Management Studies Innovation Management Report. Page: 7-9. Center for Innovation Management Studies, North Carolina State University.
  • OConnor, G.C. (2015). It’s Time to Professionalize Innovation: Center for Innovation Management Studies Innovation Management Report. Page: 1-2. Center for Innovation Management Studies, North Carolina State University.

Book Reviews - practitioner journals

  • O'Connor, G.C. (2020). Review of "The Innovation Navigator: Transforming your Organization in the Era of Digital Design and Collaborative Culture" by Tucker J. Marion and Sebastian K. Fixson. Vol: 63, Issue: 2, Page: 60-61. Research-Technology Management Journal.
  • O'Connor, G. (2020). Tucker and Fixson's The Innovation Navigator: Transforming your Organization in the Era of Digital Design and Collaborative Culture : a Book Review: Research Technology Management.

Presentations

  • Organizational Design For Breakthrough Innovation Capability In Established Firms Danneels, E. O'Connor, G. Strategic Mgmt Society 43rd Annual Conference, Toronto Canada (2023)
  • Opportunity finding in Technology Market Dyads Reynoso, J. O'Connor, G. JPIM Research Forum, New Orleans, La (2023)
  • Migrant Status as a Determinant of Necessity Entrepreneurship: Personality, Experience, and Migration Considerations Soltanifar, M. Bijmolt, T. O'Connor, G. Hughes, M. Roijakkers, N. Conference on Migrant Entrepreneurship Research: The state of the art & future perspectives. , Paris (2023)
  • Maintaining the Capacity for Breakthrough Innovation in the Face of Resource Uncertainty O'Connor, G. Robeson, D. R&D Management, Seville Spain (2023)
  • Organizational Design For Breakthrough Innovation Capability In Established Firms Danneels, E. O'Connor, G. Strategy Science Conference, LMU, Munich Germany (2023)
  • A Framework for Responsible Commercialization of Emerging Technology O'Connor, G. Bucic, T. Paper Development Workshop, University of California-San Franscisco (2023)
  • The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices on Employees' Breakthrough Innovation Behavior Miyao, M. O'Connor, G. Journal of Product Innovation Management Research Forum, Orlando, Florida (2022)
  • Enablers And Constraints Of Internal Resource Allocation For Radical Innovation Projects: Borrowing Resources From The Mainstream To Feed The Newstream Paz, T. Paes Leme, A. Salerno, M. O'Connor, G. R&D Management Annual conference, Trento Italy (2022)
  • R&D in the New and Next Normal Fixson, S. , G. Annual Meeting, Innovation Research Interchange, New Orleans, LA (2022)
  • Organizational Design for Breakthrough Innovation Capability In Established Firms Danneels, E. O'Connor, G. DRUID 22 conference, Denmark (2022)
  • Encouraging Autonomy & Empowering R&D Teams Guinan, P. O'Connor, G. Shuttleworth, D. Bailey, J. Innovation Research Interchange - Accelerating Value Creation, New Orleans, LA. (2022)
  • Extracting Value from Corporate Venturing Parise, S. O'Connor, G. Livada, V. Corporate Entrepreneurs’ Network, Babson College (2022)
  • Exploring the Future of Market Driving in B2B Markets O'Connor, G. Day, G. Jaworski, B. Carpenter, G. Fischer, E. American Marketing Association Winter Meeting, Las Vegas and online (2022)
  • Encouraging Autonomy & Empowering R&D Teams Guinan, P. Oconnor, G. Bailey, J. Shuttleworth, D. Babson Research Day, Babson College- (2022)
  • Panel: Strategic Innovation Management in Post-Covid Context: What will be Different, What Will be the Same? O'Connor, G. McGrath, R. Zott, C. Innovators' Handbook 2022 Launch Event, virtual (2021)
  • Panel: New Breed of Innovators on the Rise O'Connor, G. Sandoval, M. Skerritt, D. Front End of Innovation annual conference, Boston (2021)
  • Resourcing Breakthrough Innovation: Enablers and constraints of borrowing from the Mainstream to Create the Newstream Salerno, M. Barbosa, A. O'Connor, G. Innovation in an Era of Disruption, virtual (2021)
  • How Can Large Mature Companies Succeed in Commercializing Breakthrough Innovation? O'Connor, G. Ask Me Anything Innov8rs Unconference, virtual (2021)
  • Leveraging your research to make impact O'Connor, G. Rice, M. Shay, J. Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference, Babson Park, MA (2021)
  • Scaling and Transitioning New Ventures O'Connor, G. Wolters, P. Innovation Roundtable Summit, virtual (2021)
  • Life After Innovation: How to Build a Sustainable Career), International Society of Professional Innovation Managers Robbins, P. O'Connor, G. ISPIM Annual conference, Berlin and virtual (2021)
  • Life After Innovation: How to Build a Sustainable Career O'Connor, G. Robbins, P. ISPIM Berlin conference, Berlin (Virtual) (2021)
  • Building a Strategic Innovation Capability One Step at a Time O'Connor, G. Conference on Corporate Venturing and Innovation, virtual (2021)
  • "Encouraging Autonomy & Empowering R&D Teams: Pilot Research Project Guinan, P. O'connor, G. Bailey, j. IRI Networks Interim Meeting , ONLINE (2021)
  • From new venture idea to viable business: The three competencies for breakthrough innovation in established firms O'Connor, G. Danneels, E. Innovation and entrepreneurship Seminar Series, virtual (2021)
  • Innovation Beyond R&D: Roles, Responsibilities and Careers for Innovation Professionals O'Connor, G. Corbett, A. New Business Development Webinar Series, virtual (2021)
  • Innovation Councils O'Connor, G. Innovation Leaders Professional Dvlpmt Workshop Series, virtual (2021)
  • Organizational Proficiency for Strategic Innovation O'Connor, G. Fireside Chat, virtual (2021)
  • Strategic Innovation as a Profession: Roles, Responsibilities and Careers O'Connor, G. Innov8rs Connect, virtual (2021)
  • Building a Capability for Strategic Innovation O'Connor, G. Innov8trs Workshop, virtual (2020)
  • Incubating Emerging Businesses: Managing Uncertainty in a Corporate World O'Connor, G. Innovation Leader IMPACT 2020 conference, virtual (2020)
  • Building a Capability for Strategic Innovation: Principles and Frameworks O'Connor, G. Bose R&D Lecture Series, virtual (2020)
  • Building a Capability for Strategic Innovation: Principles and Frameworks O'Connor, G. US National Security Agency's Invited Speaker Series, virtual (2020)
  • From New Venture Idea to Viable Business: The three competencies for Breakthrough Innovation in Established Firms, Danneels, E. O'Connor, G. Academy of Management, virtual (2020)
  • The Effect of Previous Experience On The Opportunity Elaboration Process: A Cognitive Perspective Reynoso, J. O'Connor, G. Academy of Management, virtual (2020)
  • Time for Big Leaps, not Small Steps O'Connor, G. Charting the Future, virtual (2020)
  • Innovating in Turbulent Times O'Connor, G. Innovation Research Interchange webinar series, virtual (2020)
  • Innovating in Turbulent Times O'Connor, G. International Society of Professional Innovation Managers conference, virtual (2020)
  • Succeeding at Breakthrough Innovation O'Connor, G. IRI Spring Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pa (2019)
  • The Uncertainty-handling Function of Politics during Breakthrough Innovation: Nemawashi in Japanese Firms Miyao, M. O'Connor, G. Niwamoto, Y. Journal of Product Innovation Management Research Forum, Orlando Fl (2019)
  • Towards a Theory of Entrepreneurial Search: A Cognitive Approach to the Elaboration of New Opportunities Reynoso, J. O'Connor, G. Journal of Product Innovation Management Research Forum, Orlando Florida (2019)
  • Digital Transformation in the Making: Strategic Innovation as a Capability.” DeLuca, L. Covin, J. O'Connor, G. JPIM (Journal of Product Innovation Management) Research Forum, Orlando Fl (2019)
  • Time to Stretch our Thinking O'Connor, G. PDMA Doctoral Consortium, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2019)
  • “Corporate Entrepreneurship for Strategic Renewal Results from a Longitudinal Research Program Agenda for Continued Work & Beyond O'Connor, G. University of Massachusetts--Lowell Academic Speaker Series, U Mass-Lowell (2019)
  • Assessing Transition readiness for breakthrough Innovation: Negotiating responsibility for Scaling O'Connor, G. Innovation Roundtable , Newark Delaware (2019)
  • Building The Ambidextrous Organization: Do’s And Don’ts O'Connor, G. Innovation Roundtable, Newark, Delaware (2019)
  • Emerging Roles for Breakthrough Innovation: Skills & Leadership for Discovery, Incubation & Acceleration O'Connor, G. Innovation Roundtable, Newark, Delaware (2019)
  • Corporate Entrepreneurship for Strategic Renewal: Results from a Longitudinal Research Program Agenda for Continued Work & Beyond O'Connor, G. Lazaridus Marketing Symposium, Waterloo, Canada (2019)
  • Universities and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems O'Connor, G. Entrepreneurship in Engineering (guest lecture to students in a course), Denmark (via skype) (2019)
  • Beyond the Champion: Roles and Responsibilities for an Innovation Function O'Connor, G. European Innovation Forum, Rome, Italy (2019)
  • Beyond the Champion: Institutionalizing Innovation through People O'Connor, G. Berkeley Innovation Forum, University of California, Berkeley (2018)
  • Motivating Radical Innovation: An Agency Theory Exploration Shaikh, I. Peters, L. , . Academy of Management, Chicago (2018)
  • Establishing a Breakthrough Innovation Capability: the Case of SE Denmark Agopian, G. , . JPIM Annual Research Forum, Chicago (2017)
  • Opportunity REcognition in Emerging Industries: the Influence of Market and Technology Trajectories on Product Strategy Reynoso, J. Simons, K. OConnor, G. JPIM Annual Research Forum, Chicago (2017)
  • Motivating Radical Technological Innovation in the Large Firm Setting Shaikh, I. Peters, L. , . Administrative Association of Canada conference, Montreal (2017)
  • Organizational Learning in Differentiated Structures: The Characteristics of Radical Innovation Hubs Reynoso, J. Choi, B. Ma, J. , . Ravichandran, T. JPIM Annual Research Forum, Atlanta, Georgia (2016)
  • Marketing's Role in Capturing Value from Innovation: Knowledge Resources, Strategic Emphasis and Firm Value Ma, J. Choi, B. , . PICMET Annual Conference, Honolulu Hawaii (2016)
  • The Governance of the Discovery-Incubation-Acceleration Typology , . Shaikh, I. Peters, L. Academy of Management, Anaheim, California (2016)
  • The Art of Academic Publishing: Luck or Skill? , . International Society of Professional Innovation Managers, Doctoral Consortium, Boston, Ma (2016)
  • Agency and Strategic Choice Perspectives on the New Venture Board's Involvement in Breakthrough Innovation Strategy Shaikh, I. Peters, L. , . Babson Conference on Entrepreneurial Research, Wellseley, Ma (2014)
  • Entrepreneurial Regimes for Sustaining Breakthrough Innovation Shaikh, I. Peters, L. , . Eastern Academy of Management, Newport, Rhode Island (2014)
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Professional Services

  • Committee Member Product Development and Management Association Academic Committee (2002 - Present)
  • Editor, Associate Editor Journal of Product Innovation Management (2019 - 2022)
  • Editor, Associate Editor Journal of Product Innovation Management (2019 - 2021)

Department & College Wide Services

  • Babson/IRI Research Collaboration (Spring 2018 - Present)