Thanks to the generosity of David and Judy Frey, John Kao was in town to talk about innovation as a Frey Distinguished Visiting Professor. Before his public talk, he came to the studio to talk to me about innovation and related topics.
John definitely has the big view of innovation. He has written on the relationship of jazz improvisation and business in Jamming, and on the “wicked problems” that the world is facing that need broad thinking in Innovation Nation. John played keyboards in 1969 with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention during the Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Weasels Ripped My Flesh era. Here’s our chat, which includes Zen, jazz, and “beginner’s mind.”
