I wish I had this book at the start of my career. It's a fast-track education on the how-to of repeatable, scalable, responsible innovation. Go behind the scenes and beyond the who, what, and when to learn how innovation actually happens at one of the most valuable companies in the world. Learn how to innovate every day, over the years, with everyone, and more than technology.Author bio: JoAnn Garbin is a sustainability and technology entrepreneur with a 25-year track record of leading teams “from nothing to something to scale,” creating numerous innovative products and profitable businesses. During her tenure as Director of Innovation in Microsoft’s cloud business, she guided her team in developing billion-dollar opportunities, including the Regenerative Datacenter of the Future. In 2024, she founded Regenerous Labs, a collaboration committed to creating cross-sector transformations. JoAnn is an active alumnus of Villanova University, where she studied mechanical engineering and philosophy. Her fresh eyes and thought leadership were instrumental in driving novel insights into The Insider’s Guide to Innovation at Microsoft.

Driving innovation at the intersection of the sustainability, technology and the built environment employing repeatable, scalable methods that demystify the creative journey. - Created and led the Regenerative Datacenter of the Future program.- Secured 3X (yoy) investment in H2/3 innovation based on a $1B value proposition. - Established regenerative design as a program/discipline in Microsoft.- Created one of the first Director of Biomimicry roles in any large company, the first in big tech.- Co-authored The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft - a personal project to uncover the patterns of how innovation really happens in the company. Half company-insider case study built through interviews, half expert analysis offering adoptable practices and tools for readers in any company.(Post Hill Press, Pre-Order June 2024 https://a.co/d/5KeTWN7)

After a 6-month sabbatical, got back to work, offering strategic advisory services to both longstanding corporate partners and dynamic startup clients. During this time, I dove into diverse domains, including biomimicry, venture investing, and social equity. Simultaneously, I explored various paths, contemplating the launch of a new business venture or embracing a personalized role at Microsoft. Ultimately, the challenge of the cross-country move and the possibilities of big tech drew me to Microsoft.

Chief question asker, idea gatherer, change driver, and team enabler.Led the development and co-led the execution of a company-wide strategy addressing people, product, quality, sales and service. By 2017, delivered Aircuity 2.0, a complete redevelopment of its offering - enabling a new, future-ready value proposition as a smart building platform. Aircuity creates measurably better environments and delivers significant energy savings for a wide range of commercial, institutional and laboratory buildings.

Launched KnowE, a WBENC, to develop a financial technology solution to empower retail investors to align their retirement portfolios with their values. Bootstrapped prototype development by providing advisory services to large corporate clients and startups. Tripled revenue over 3 years. Grew team to include 2 full-time and 3 part-time employees.

Director – Advisory Services, North & South America, 2011 Program Director – Information Services, 2010 - 2011Manager – Information Services, 2008 - 2010Ultimately accountable for helping 30 international corporate and domestic public sector clients set and achieve their energy and sustainability goals. Oversaw all account relationships, designed new analytical products and services, and led or supported global business development initiatives.Joined Johnson Controls through the acquisition of PWI Energy. Advanced rapidly through the organization by assuming responsibility and exceeding expectations. Led transition of product management and development from PWI to JCI corporate. Mentored corporate engineering on agile development and human-centered design before joining the business development team then returning to lead advisory services.

Led or supported 50+ projects and programs for global organizations while leading all aspects of developing and delivering the Energy & Emissions Management System (E2MS), a web-based enterprise software solution (SaaS) that was acquired by Johnson Controls in 2008. E2MS included a suite of tools to support global energy and environmental management and reporting: utilities, meters, greenhouse gas inventory, waste, water, and projects. It was the platform enabling the global programs of Pfizer, Wyeth, Dell, Lockheed Martin, Xerox, and several others prior to its acquisition.