Kia Hallaji
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Even the most supposedly innovative companies are hampered by bureaucracy , process , management , culture , capability ,’ says Kia Hallaji BSc ( Hons ) ’ 10 . In his role as a Senior Inventor at ? What If ! Innovation , he sees these problems up-close and helps to solve them .
So , what is a Senior Inventor ? ‘ I help organisations invent new things - products , brands , businesses , services . Or I help them to be more inventive , either by teaching them capability and process , or by helping to refresh their culture in meaningful ways , to set them up to be innovative .’
Kia has found himself ‘ digging into probate law , to build a business that eases the admin that surrounds losing a loved one , or working with a “ Big Five ” energy company to figure out the future of clean energy .’ One of his proudest achievements was helping a haircare brand expand successfully into male grooming by understanding the difference between what men said they wanted and how they behaved in real life .
Since 2017 , Kia has been developing the ‘ leading growth cultures ’ practice , helping companies change culture so employees can thrive . Features include helping business leaders unite in sharing stories and role-modelling behaviours , as well as redesigning employee journeys – from recruitment to pay structure . Staff and leaders are encouraged to ‘ experiment with their behaviour ’. Kia describes it as ‘ corporate CBT ’ ( cognitive behavioural therapy ).
Kia says encouraging innovation is about unlocking something hidden in all of us : ‘ Human beings are innately creative because of evolution . Our brains expanded to make creative collisions occur , where you make uncommon connections between stuff . It ’ s why we can hunt with tools . Kids are the most creative people on the planet . Creativity is trained out of us through education . And then in business , generally your job is to mitigate risk rather than seek opportunity .’ to playing music . ‘ If you ask anyone where they have their best ideas , few will say , “ Oh , sat at my desk with a spreadsheet in front of me .” They probably say , “ When I ’ m walking the dog .”’
Kia and colleagues fill rooms with interesting stimuli . Then use playfulness to relax people into the brain state where they can make uncommon connections . He ’ s done this in all kinds of industries – from financial services to food and drink , from life sciences to the world ’ s biggest toy manufacturer .
There may not be an obvious link between Kia ’ s degree in Music and Sound Technology and his current role on the 30th floor of a Shanghai office block . But to him , the connection is clear : ‘ At Portsmouth you ’ re in such an interesting melting pot of people with different backgrounds , of different classes , colours and religions . The labourer living next door to the consultant living next door to the skater boy . It gives you this really interesting perspective on life and diversity .’
And where will Kia ’ s spirit of openness and curiosity take him next ? Ever forward , into the new .
‘ CREATIVITY IS TRAINED OUT OF US THROUGH EDUCATION . AND THEN IN BUSINESS , GENERALLY YOUR JOB IS TO MITIGATE RISK RATHER THAN SEEK OPPORTUNITY ’
So , how to reconnect with our innate creativity ? ‘ First , fill your brain with loads and loads of stimulus .’ And second ? Trust your subconscious . ‘ There ’ s a closed door in the back of your brain and it opens when we sleep . That ’ s why we have dreams . You release hormones which allow you to relax into a more playful state and take those journeys in your brain .’
Rather than napping at work , Kia suggests many ways to get into a subconscious-friendly brain state - from going for a walk , to having a shower ,