Robb Olsen

Robb Olsen Email and Phone Number

Adjunct Associate Professor, Engineering Design and Innovation @ Duke University Pratt School of Engineering
Wake Forest, NC, US
Robb Olsen's Location
Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States, United States
Robb Olsen's Contact Details

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Robb Olsen personal email

About Robb Olsen

My purpose is to help ensure a healthy & fulfilling future for humanity while creating new value for worthy organizations via the creative application of Innovation Science. Rigorous, ethical human(ity)-centered design & innovation at all levels are required, from policies to products, social structures to services. Let's build the future together!Focus areas include: 1) Building organizations that are more innovative & productive 2) Inspiring & teaching future innovators, & 3) Creating new business models, products, services, research programs & curriculum. Experience across Industry (35yrs P&G, 5yrs TransOrbital Dynamics), academia (15 yrs multiple institutions) & startups (7 years).In academia, I craft creative partnerships between industry, academia, government and NGOs that 1) unleash more transformative innovation into the world 2) create better educational experiences for students. This includes building robust degree programs and associated curriculum, and teaching the most effective innovation paradigms & processes. Roles include adjunct professor, board member, executive in residence, industry sponsor, program leader, and PI for multi-$M research and innovation programs.Through my TransOrbital Dynamics consultancy, I help author collaborative tales of the future that become tomorrow's successes: Building more effective innovation organizations, crafting the right teams & leaders, mentoring senior managers, & coaching programs from discovery through commercialization. TransOrbital's IDEI innovation framework is highly evolved, using the best from past models like Design Thinking & Lean Startup, then building in state of the art behavioral science & decades of experience.Together we uncover $B's in market potential, then make it real.At Procter & Gamble I helped build some of the worlds largest and most iconic brands, & some of the smallest. I led global communities of thousands and teams of a few visionary individuals. Global leadership roles included heading up our Products Research community of practice (>1500 enrollment), creating and commercializing new platform technologies (with numerous >$B opportunities identified), designing effective new innovation models, crafting the Behavioral Science for Innovation program (a company-wide pivot away from traditional market research), & as leader of the Web-enabled R&D digital transformation. In line businesses, led creation of multiple product initiatives that reached market, each delivering >10% volume growth. The latter led to many patents.Reach out! The possibilities are great!

Robb Olsen's Current Company Details
Duke University Pratt School of Engineering

Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering

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Adjunct Associate Professor, Engineering Design and Innovation
Wake Forest, NC, US
Robb Olsen Work Experience Details
  • Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering
    Adjunct Associate Professor, Engineering Design And Innovation
    Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering
    Wake Forest, Nc, Us
  • Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering
    Adjunct Associate Professor, Engineering Design & Innovation
    Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering Mar 2022 - Present
    Durham, North Carolina, Us
    Building new rigorous, human-centered design and engineering curriculum, capability and industry/government/NGO partnerships at Duke Pratt School of Engineering! New graduate curriculum created includes eLuminate Studio, an industry centered innovation experiential course where students move from challenge to fundable propositions in 15 weeks, and Design Defense Studio for DoD members, taking on strategic DoD issues with practical solutions at the tactical edge. Also collaborating with colleagues on advancing Pratt's Design and Innovation ecosystem, strategy and offerings, as well as deepening the engagement with the US Department of Defense.
  • North Carolina State University
    Executive In Residence, Technology Entrepreneurship & Research Commercialization
    North Carolina State University Jan 2020 - Present
    Raleigh, North Carolina, Us
    Building new innovation capability and helping to commercialize breakthrough technologies at the academia/industry/startup intersection with administrators, faculty and graduate students at North Carolina State University.
  • Transorbital Dyanamics, Llc
    Founder
    Transorbital Dyanamics, Llc Jan 2019 - Present
    TransOrbital Dynamics co-creates transformative innovation strategies, organizational structures, new innovation capabilities and game-changing projects with forward-thinking industry, academic, government and NGO partners. We utilize unique, hybrid startup and hybrid innovation approaches that accelerate innovations from idea to market. TransOrbital Dynamics' approach to solving tough innovation challenges is built on the latest innovation and behavioral science from industry and academia combined with decades of practical experience in tough innovation environments. Together, we can transform your innovation trajectory!
  • Innovatrium
    Lead Instructor, Aim Hi (Academic, Industry & Military Hybrid Innovation)
    Innovatrium Sep 2021 - Jul 2023
    Ann Arbor, Mi, Us
    Building new innovation capability, skills and communities with the US Air National Guard, using a very cool mash up of the Competing Values Framework and the innovation models and methods I've created in TransOrbital Dynamics. Advancing the mission and unleashing constructive creativity!
  • Penn State University
    Adjunct Assistant Teaching Professor
    Penn State University Aug 2020 - Mar 2022
    University Park, Pa, Us
    Having fun teaching rigorous, human-centered design and innovation to Penn State Engineering students, and building new capabilities with the School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs faculty, staff and industry partners!
  • The Wide Wide World
    Ceo Of Me, Partner With Kate
    The Wide Wide World Jan 2018 - Jun 2019
    Wrapped up 35 years at Procter & Gamble doing global innovation: Strategy, capability, brand, experience, and product innovation. Now having fun with the love of my life and exploring the REST of the innovation world.
  • Procter & Gamble
    Principal Scientist | University-Accel. Innovation | Transformative Technologies | Behavior Science
    Procter & Gamble Apr 2016 - Dec 2017
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Focused on Bigger Innovation, Stronger Innovators, Better Innovation Measures that have a lasting impact on all of P&G and partner universities.Brought rigorous human centered design and innovation to our Global Transformative Platform Technologies organization. Created and implemented holistic, transformative, and inclusive innovation acceleration processes for P&G's most advanced global platform technologies utilizing latest thinking and practices.Using the Intersect P&G innovation accelerator process, unlocked multiple $B in growth potential using carefully crafted 12 week long innovation sprints..Focused especially on the Life Science and Premium Beauty domains where integrations of product, service and community can unlock tremendous latent innovation potential from the latest advances in genomics and big data.Continued to lead and globalize our University-accelerated Innovation program, expanding our programs with University of Michigan, and enrolling partner universities in Asia (Singapore) as well as our Asian innovation centers, cross-fertilizing industry and academic innovation insights, teaching and best practices to the benefit of all. Led and expanded our Behavioral Science for Innovation program to include a robust pipeline of breakthrough foundational research programs in partnership with global business units and academic partners at U Michigan (North America) and Nanyang Technological University (Asia). Left P&G on a high note 😎😉👌
  • Northwestern University
    Industry Innovator In Residence, Northwestern University, Segal Design Institute
    Northwestern University Sep 2015 - Apr 2016
    Evanston, Il, Us
    Building innovation capability and great graduate education experiences at Northwestern University Segal Design Institute utilizing real-world product innovation projects from Procter & Gamble. Created the successful new experiential program "Intersect CPG: Breakthrough Product & Business Model Innovation" with P&G as industry partner, whereby student teams create fundable new hybrid startup propositions in just 10 weeks. Working at the intersections of industry, academia, engineering, physical sciences, social sciences, and design thinking. Very powerful place to be now, and even more so in the future we're creating together!
  • Procter & Gamble
    Principal Scientist, Global Products Research, Fabric & Home Care + Northwestern Univ. Edi Board Mem
    Procter & Gamble Jul 2010 - Sep 2015
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Connecting Consumer, Business and Technology in breakthrough new ways to delight consumers and build business in P&G's largest business, Fabric & Home Care, and related corporate innovation programs.Led category packaging innovation strategy and core team focused on resolving consumer tensions in our largest product form, liquid laundry detergents, Generated new innovation platforms that resolved tensions, drove consumer choice and improved business outcomes affecting $B's in revenue. Multiple patent applications. Lots of fun!As member of the Northwestern University Engineering Design and Innovation advisory board, helped to expand degree scope from 9 to 15 months with internship, identified science of consumer understanding elective arc to strengthen consumer science theory and practice, led university-industry partnerships, and had even more fun!
  • Procter & Gamble
    Leader, Global Products Research Capability
    Procter & Gamble Oct 2008 - Jul 2010
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Crafting breakthrough new innovation capability for P&G and the 1800 Products Researchers in P&G R&D.Currently working to advance the state of the art in product innovation models, work processes, and capabilities. This includes -leading edge work in the areas of innovation models and their links to building successful brands, -new behavioral, biometric and neurometric techniques for understanding consumers and designing winning product experiences, -identification and delivery of transformative and disruptive new product innovations, -successful integration of these advances into innovation strategies and activity systems that drive business results.
  • Procter & Gamble
    Co-Leader, Global Products Research Community Of Practice
    Procter & Gamble Aug 2004 - Oct 2008
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Products Research is a key innovation in the approach to industrial Research & Development that was created more than 80 years ago at P&G. This unique function delivers substantial competitive advantage by incorporating direct consumer and business understanding into R&D.As co-leader of this community of practice, my mission is to improve the business and technical contributions of the ~1600 global Products Researchers across our line businesses through the development of new capabilities, models, methods, training, work processes, and knowledge sharing. I accomplish this through a comprehensive strategy that utilizes a broad range of internal and external resources. Key accomplishments include the creation and launch of a new global innovation model, connecting the global community digitally and through live symposia and training events that hosted thousands of participants which resulted in >$200M in increased innovation capability, co-creating a new Products Research training curriculum and pedagogy that combined live and digital experiential learning in 24 intensive short courses, creating and leading the Products Research Technology Council to help guide PR principles and practices into the future, founding our Behavioral Science for Innovation program and the associated Biometrics Institute which brought together leading behavioral and neuroscientists from around the globe in collaborative research programs to advance our knowledge of how to understand humans and measure the success of innovation, and launching many new Chapters and Special Interest Groups to advance the science of innovation.
  • Procter & Gamble
    R&D Knowledge Management Transformation Leader & Intranet Business Owner
    Procter & Gamble Apr 1998 - Aug 2004
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Led the successful P&G R&D digital transformation to a revolutionary web based knowledge sharing and innovation capability strategy. Developed a unique and powerful R&D/IT partnership to enable effective delivery. Utilized state of the art Products Research models and consumer understanding methods to guide the work, pioneering agile, human centered UX and CX application development prior to the popular adoption of these methods in the IT industry. Delved deeply into the innovation processes in use across all of P&G globally to identify areas of opportunity for increased R&D capability by leveraging the scale of our intellectual capital. Effort sponsored by the CTO.Key results: •Dramatically expanded the ability of the entire R&D organization to connect. Eliminated barriers of distance, time, and access by creating digital means for sharing the breadth and depth of R&D expertise. •Delivered the most used intranet in P&G (5 million documents, 2.5 million hits/mo.). •World class results when benchmarked vs other firms including Microsoft and IBM. •+20% increase in personal effectiveness across all R&D, worth $288 million/year in increased innovation capability.
  • Procter & Gamble
    Upstream Product Development
    Procter & Gamble Jan 1986 - Apr 1998
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Feminine Care (1991-1998)•Led the successful upstream development through market introduction of two global initiatives in the $3 billion Feminine Hygiene category. •Led a global product development team in Upstream Feminine Hygiene, developing and applying new materials and technologies to resolve fundamental issues of product interaction with human physiology and thereby improve the consumer experience, acceptance and performance of our category-leading products. Co-ordinated development efforts of professional project team members around the world.•Product improvements led to >10% share and profit growth for our most important product forms.•Co-inventor on 17 product patents.Family Care and Adult Incontinence (1986-1991)•Led multifunctional teams to deliver five successful new product initiatives to market for the Puffs and Attends brands. Directed work in my group to understand consumer needs and translate these needs to meaningful new product designs, thereby improving consumer satisfaction, volume, and profit a minimum of 10% with each initiative. Led a self-organized team to introduce Attends Youth Brief to fill a huge unmet need for older children with certain physical disabilities. Worked closely with marketing and sales to deliver all initiatives.
  • Procter & Gamble
    Product Development Engineer
    Procter & Gamble Jun 1982 - Jan 1986
    Cincinnati, Ohio, Us
    Process development, formulation and product design for foods and adult incontinence R&D.

Robb Olsen Skills

Innovation Product Design Strategy Consumer Products R&d Consumer Behaviour Product Development Customer Insight Product Innovation Leadership Market Research Brand Equity Open Innovation Program Management Cross Functional Team Leadership Marketing Research Segmentation Consumer Insight Personal Care Commercialization Fmcg Innovation Management Competitive Analysis Sensory Evaluation

Robb Olsen Education Details

  • Northwestern University
    Northwestern University
    Design & Business Model Innovation
  • Nanyang Technological University Singapore
    Nanyang Technological University Singapore
    Human Decision Making And Innovation Adoption
  • University Of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School Of Business
    University Of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School Of Business
    Innovation
  • Northwestern University
    Northwestern University
    Engineering Design And Innovation
  • University Of Michigan
    University Of Michigan
    Human Decision Making And Innovation Adoption
  • Northwestern University
    Northwestern University
    Rigorous Human Centered Design
  • University Of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School Of Business
    University Of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School Of Business
    Innovation
  • University Of Michigan College Of Engineering
    University Of Michigan College Of Engineering
    Design Science
  • Procter & Gamble
    Procter & Gamble
    Technical & Innovation Management
  • The University Of Toledo College Of Engineering
    The University Of Toledo College Of Engineering
    Chemical Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions about Robb Olsen

What company does Robb Olsen work for?

Robb Olsen works for Duke University Pratt School Of Engineering

What is Robb Olsen's role at the current company?

Robb Olsen's current role is Adjunct Associate Professor, Engineering Design and Innovation.

What is Robb Olsen's email address?

Robb Olsen's email address is ol****@****ail.com

What schools did Robb Olsen attend?

Robb Olsen attended Northwestern University, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, University Of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School Of Business, Northwestern University, University Of Michigan, Northwestern University, University Of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School Of Business, University Of Michigan College Of Engineering, Procter & Gamble, The University Of Toledo College Of Engineering.

What are some of Robb Olsen's interests?

Robb Olsen has interest in Social Sciences, Children, Hand Crafted Computers, Economic Empowerment, Environment, Education, Advances In The Physical, Science And Technology, Coaching Baseball, Running.

What skills is Robb Olsen known for?

Robb Olsen has skills like Innovation, Product Design, Strategy, Consumer Products, R&d, Consumer Behaviour, Product Development, Customer Insight, Product Innovation, Leadership, Market Research, Brand Equity.

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