Robert Wolcott
Robert Wolcott

MARKETING; ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION
Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kellogg Innovation Network

Print Overview

Robert Wolcott is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN) and a member of the faculty of the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Wolcott teaches corporate innovation and entrepreneurship for Kellogg in Evanston, Miami and Hong Kong (with HKUST), and is formerly a visiting professor at the Keio Business School (Japan). He also serves on the advisory boards of Nordic Innovation for the Nordic Council, Oslo, Norway, and GE’s Innovation Accelerator.

His book with Dr. Michael Lippitz, Grow From Within: Mastering Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation (McGraw-Hill, 2010), shares a decade of research regarding the emerging approaches companies use to take innovation from idea to market at scale and has been published in Chinese and Japanese. Wolcott’s work has appeared in MIT Sloan Management Review, The Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, Business Week, The Financial Times (European Edition), The New York Times and numerous overseas publications. He is a frequent speaker at events worldwide.

In 2003, Wolcott founded the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN), a network of senior executives dedicated to driving sustainable innovation. The KIN’s annual summit, KIN Global, takes place in late spring and includes leaders from around the world from business, government, academia, non-profits and the arts, who collaborate around issues of significance for their organizations and for humanity (www.kinglobal.org). Wolcott also co-founded Clareo Partners LLC, a strategy consultancy specializing in growth (www.clareopartners.com). Subsidiary Clareo Capital owns equity in social enterprises such as crowd funding leader IndieGoGo (www.indieGoGo.com), student loan innovator Lumni (www.lumni.net), and healthcare app and data provider SA Ignite (www.saignite.com).

Wolcott received a BA, European and Chinese History; and an MS and Ph.D., Industrial Engineering & Management Science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Areas of Expertise
Corporate Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Globalization
Innovation
Small Business Management
Print Vita
Education
PhD, 2001, Industrial Engineering & Management Science, Northwestern University
MS, 1997, Industrial Engineering & Management Science, Northwestern University
BA, 1991, European History, Northwestern University

 
Print Research
Articles
Kotler, Philip, Robert C. Wolcott and Suj Chandrasekhar. 2009. Playing Well with Others. Executive Adviser. June 22, 2009
Link
Wolcott, Robert C. and Michael J. Lippitz. 2007. The Four Models of Corporate Entrepreneurship. MIT Sloan Management Review. 49(1): 75-82.
Abstract
Wolcott, Robert C. and Mohanbir Sawhney. 2007. Eight Innovation Myths. Peking University Business Review. 37
Abstract
Sawhney, Mohanbir, Robert C. Wolcott and Inigo Arroniz. 2006. The 12 Different Ways for Companies to Innovate. MIT Sloan Management Review. 47(3): 75-81.
AbstractLink
Sawhney, Mohanbir and Robert C. Wolcott. 2004. The Seven Myths of Innovation. Financial Times.
Book Chapters
Rogers, P. Clint, Jason Fairbourne and Robert C. Wolcott. 2011. "The Diffusion of Innovations through Microfranchising." In Microfranchising, edited by Nicolas Sireau, 35–49. Sheffield, UK: Greenleaf Publishing.
Conley, James Gerard and Robert C. Wolcott. 2006. "Scaling from Prototype to Production: A Managed Process for Commercial Offerings." In Scale-up in Education: Ideas in Principle, edited by Barbara Schneider and Sarah-Kathryn McDonald, vol. 1, 103-122. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Abstract
Other
Wolcott, Robert C.. "Creating a Culture of Innovation." The Human Factor, June 16-July 17, 2010.
Books
Wolcott, Robert C. and Michael J. Lippitz. 2010. Grow From Within: Mastering Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Abstract
Cases
Wolcott, Robert C., Alex Hurd and Stephanie Wolcott. 2011. The Cambodian National HIV/AIDS Program: Successful Scale-Up through Innovation. Case 5-311-502 (KEL606).
AbstractLink
Wolcott, Robert C. and Michael J Lippitz. 2008. From Low Cost to Global Leadership: Computime Leads Through Innovation. Case 5-208-254 (KEL340).
AbstractLink
Wolcott, Robert C.. 2007. PTC: Launching an Entirely New Product Platform. Case 5-405-752 (KEL316).
AbstractLink
Wolcott, Robert C. and Michael J Lippitz. 2007. BP's Office of the Chief Technology Officer: Driving Open Innovation through an Advocate Team. Case 5-407-752 (KEL366).
AbstractLink
Wolcott, Robert C. and Michael J Lippitz. 2007. Innovation in Government: U.S. Department of Defense. Case 5-207-251 (KEL346).
AbstractLink
Wolcott, Robert C.. 2006. Wawa: Building a New Business within an Established Firm TN. Case 5-306-505 (KEL240).
AbstractLink
Conley, James Gerard, Robert C. Wolcott and Eric Wong. 2006. AstraZeneca, Prilosec, and Nexium: Marketing Challenges in the Launch of a Second-Generation Drug. Case 5-404-775 (KEL336).
AbstractLink
Conley, James Gerard, Robert C. Wolcott and Eric Wong. 2006. AstraZeneca, Prilosec, and Nexium: Strategic Challenges in the Launch of a Second-Generation Drug. Case 5-404-752 (KEL334).
AbstractLink
Sawhney, Mohanbir and Robert C. Wolcott. 2006. Thomson Financial: Building a Customer-Centric Firm. Case 5-405-753 (KEL237).
AbstractLink
Conley, James Gerard, Robert C. Wolcott and Eric Wong. 2006. AstraZeneca, Prilosec, and Nexium: Case Supplement. Case 5-404-753 (KEL335).
AbstractLink

 
Print Teaching
Full-Time / Part-Time MBA
Corporate Innovation & New Ventures (ENTR-903-0)
This course addresses the emerging practice of "corporate entrepreneurship," also called "intrapreneurship," broadly defined as the application of entrepreneurial capabilities to the development of new ventures within an existing firm. In this course, we will examine intrapreneurship from the perspective of corporate strategy; relate intrapreneurship to other functions such as corporate venturing, new product development (NPD), research and development (R&D) and corporate labs; examine entrepreneurship for clues to the successful practice of intrapreneurship; explore actual intrapreneurial ventures with practicing executives; and develop an “intrapreneurial toolset.” Although there are no textbooks required for this course, Peter Drucker’s "Innovation & Entrepreneurship" is recommended for context. All readings will be included in the course pack, including a summary article of Drucker’s book from the HBR.

Global Innovation: Kellogg Innovation Network (ENTR-915-0)
This course, which focuses on global business challenges to be addressed at the Kellogg Innovation Network Global Summit (KIN Global), challenges students to put their professional experiences and classroom knowledge to work. Teams of four or five students produce research projects concerning real-world challenges outlined by our partner organizations — the U.S. Department of State, The Nordic Council, Kraft, Raytheon and others. The teams will work closely with faculty advisors, corporate delegates and other partners. Students are then invited to not only present their projects, but also to enhance and expand their research with KIN Global delegates at the summit. This one-credit course spans both winter and spring quarters. Students may designate the full quarter for either winter or spring, or they may count one half-credit per quarter. As a member of the class, you will also be a delegate at KIN Global, May 17 to 19, 2010. For more information, please visit kinglobal.org.

Global Innovation: Kellogg Innovation Network (ENTR-915-A)
This course, which focuses on global business challenges to be addressed at the Kellogg Innovation Network Global Summit (KIN Global), challenges students to put their professional experiences and classroom knowledge to work. Teams of four or five students produce research projects concerning real-world challenges outlined by our partner organizations — the U.S. Department of State, The Nordic Council, Kraft, Raytheon and others. The teams will work closely with faculty advisors, corporate delegates and other partners. Students are then invited to not only present their projects, but also to enhance and expand their research with KIN Global delegates at the summit. This one-credit course spans both winter and spring quarters. Students may designate the full quarter for either winter or spring, or they may count one half-credit per quarter. As a member of the class, you will also be a delegate at KIN Global, May 17 to 19, 2010. For more information, please visit kinglobal.org.

Global Innovation: Kellogg Innovation Network (ENTR-915-B)
This course, which focuses on global business challenges to be addressed at the Kellogg Innovation Network Global Summit (KIN Global), challenges students to put their professional experiences and classroom knowledge to work. Teams of four or five students produce research projects concerning real-world challenges outlined by our partner organizations — the U.S. Department of State, The Nordic Council, Kraft, Raytheon and others. The teams will work closely with faculty advisors, corporate delegates and other partners. Students are then invited to not only present their projects, but also to enhance and expand their research with KIN Global delegates at the summit. This one-credit course spans both winter and spring quarters. Students may designate the full quarter for either winter or spring, or they may count one half-credit per quarter. As a member of the class, you will also be a delegate at KIN Global, May 17 to 19, 2010. For more information, please visit kinglobal.org.

Executive MBA
Innovation Strategy & Management (MGMTX-450-0)
The course will focus on innovation within business entities, from the typical technology and product innovation programs, to broader, process, marketing and other forms of innovation. The course will address innovation as a holistic strategic management imperative not limited to Research & Development or New Product Development. While the course will provide a theoretical foundation, the focus will be on real world issues, products and systems.