Julian Keith Loren

Current

Speaker and Workshop Lead at Innovation Management Institute
Chief Innovator & Strategist, Customer Value Creation at AgilePoint

Past

Strategic Innovation Consultant at GameSpy Technology (Fox Interactive Media, IGN Entertainment)
Chief Innovator, Architect & Engagement Manager at Digiratti
[Digiratti Engagement. Role: Solution Architect] at UCSF

[Digiratti Engagement. Role: Interim Director of Technology] at Questus
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Lead Architect, R&D Technical Product Manager] at The Associated Press (AP)
Co-Founder at The MuGeum Institute
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Senior Architect & Technical Lead] at U.S. Senate / Foster Care System
[Digiratti Engagement. Role: Senior Architect & Technical Lead] at Agency.com / Omnicom Group
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect & Tech Lead] at PG&E
[Independent Consultant. Roles: Senior Architect & Developer] at Blue Shield of California
[Independent Consultant. Roles: Senior Architect & Programmer] at No-longer-existing Start-up in Lower Manhattan
Inventor & Developer at CUNY Thesis Project
CTO at EM2EC
[Independent Consultant. Roles: Architect & Development Lead] at VidCard Productions
CTO & Chief Architect at Direct Media Systems
[DMS Engagement. Roles: Senior Architect & Lead Developer] at Knight Ridder (McClatchy)
CTO at Media2Life
[DMS Engagement. Roles: Lead Architect & Developer] at Equity One, Inc. (MyShoppingCenter Project)
[DMS Engagement. Role: R&D Geek] at Royal Caribbean International
[DMS Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect, Tech Lead] at Carnival Cruise Lines
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect & Engagement Manager] at Stadium of the Future (later Choiceseat)
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect, R&D Boss-Geek] at MGM Casinos (formerly Wynn Resorts)
CEO & Chief Architect at Digiratti Companies
Consultant at Sonic Solutions
Geek at MTC
Realty Specialist, Region 9, Real Estate Development Division at General Services Administration

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Education

IE (Instituto de Empresa)
City University of New York Graduate Center
FAMU

University of Miami
University of California, Berkeley
Concord High School
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
Ukarumpa High School
Ukarumpa International School

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6 more...

Recommended

9 people have recommended Julian Keith

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Management Consulting

Websites

Julian Keith Loren’s Summary

COLLABORATION:
If you agree that failure rates for innovation initiatives are too high, then let's work together to do something about it! Please come collaborate at the Innovation Management Institute group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1701727

INNOVATION TRACK RECORD:
(With thanks and credit to the phenomenally talented people I've had the pleasure of working with)
Hundreds of individual innovations across all categories.
INNOVATION INITIATIVES (consisting of many individual innovations):
* All Categories:
TOTAL: 67
REALIZED: 65
ADOPTED: 48
* Information Technology:
TOTAL: 61
REALIZED: 60
ADOPTED: 46

EXPERTISE:
Innovation Stimulation and Management.
Innovation "Alignment" to minimize risks and maximize opportunities.
Innovation Process Optimization through the Full Innovation Cycle--including strategy, analysis, ideation, vetting, filtering, prioritizing, productizing, implementing, iteratively refining, external sourcing (Open Innovation and crowd-sourcing), and laying the groundwork for broad and long-term adoption at every step of the way.

EXPERIENCE:
16 Years of hitting home runs on ridiculous complex and high-risk innovation initiatives.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW:

* Series of 5 mini-webinars on building an Innovation Team. 1 of the topics is briefly outlined here: http://ow.ly/mQA8

* 2nd "Sneak Preview Edition" of 'Full Innovation Ahead.'
If you'd like a copy of the 1st "Sneak Preview Edition," it is available on Amazon: http://ow.ly/mNWE

* Executive-targeted article on cloud-computing strategy and costing. Please see article that was recently published by the International Association of Software Architects: http://ow.ly/kpit (p. 14)

ADDITIONAL CLIENTS (not listed below):
Safeway, General Electric Information Services, Autodesk, and Kellogg.

Julian Keith Loren’s Specialties:

Innovation Stimulation and Management;
Innovation Process Optimization (balancing the flexibility needed for great creativity with the goal-oriented coordination necessary for great results);
Research & Development Management;
Fostering Innovation Culture;
Selecting, Recruiting, Rewarding, and Retaining Innovators;
Training, Mentoring, and Educating Managers of Creative and Innovative Teams.

Julian Keith Loren’s Experience

Speaker and Workshop Lead

Innovation Management Institute

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

2009 — Present (less than a year)

Please see http://www.innomgmt.com for presentation and workshop details.
Chief Innovator & Strategist, Customer Value Creation

AgilePoint

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

2009 — Present (less than a year)

Focused on increasing our already-substantial capabilities to help companies dramatically and continuously improve the way they do business.

Where we are:
Beautifully-Architected Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) for Flexibility-Demanding Enterprises.

Where we're going:
Platform for Collaborative Process Improvement across the Ecosystem (Multi-Enterprise Business Environment or Supply Chain) and Closing Many ______-to-BPMS Gaps -- Operational BI, Advanced Expert-Driven Process Capabilities, Governance for "Side-Door" Enterprise Solutions like SaaS Offerings and SharePoint, Agile Integration with Not-So-Open Solutions like SAP, etc.

If you have any challenges related to "where we're going," then please contact me. I'd love to collaborate. You get your dreams, and we get better customer-driven innovation!
Strategic Innovation Consultant

GameSpy Technology (Fox Interactive Media, IGN Entertainment)

(Privately Held; Computer Games industry)

2008 — 2009 (1 year )

It was a great pleasure to work with the highly-collaborative, exceedingly-innovative management team at GameSpy. Areas of focus included:
* Cross-functional and multi-disciplinary collaboration.
* Ideation in a multi-disciplinary team and within a highly-critical, organizational-aligned framework (using Innovation Alignment process, Design Thinking approaches, and the full menu of ideation methodologies).
* Creating "Innovation Clusters" (generating and organizing ideas so that they are mutually-reinforcing)
* Strategically-driven innovation (identifying "Blue Oceans" and creating Innovation Clusters to reach them quickly)
Chief Innovator, Architect & Engagement Manager

Digiratti

(Information Technology and Services industry)

2003 — 2009 (6 years )

Boutique consulting firm specializing in version 1.0 of complex, mission-critical, enterprise-scale information systems and solutions.
[Digiratti Engagement. Role: Solution Architect]

UCSF

(Educational Institution; Research industry)

2007 — 2008 (1 year )

Used Analytical Map Process (covered in Full Innovation Ahead!) to select foundational solutions. Used Agile Architecture and Agile Documentation to design and describe the first large-scale service-oriented and component-based architectures in this division.
[Digiratti Engagement. Role: Interim Director of Technology]

Questus

(Privately Held; Marketing and Advertising industry)

2007 — 2007 (less than a year)

Implemented Full Innovation and Full Agility methodologies with terrific results!

Headed reorganization of the technology division and helped refine the business development practice. Accounts: Major League Baseball (MLB), Verizon, Wyndham, Suzuki.
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Lead Architect, R&D Technical Product Manager]

The Associated Press (AP)

(Broadcast Media industry)

2006 — 2007 (1 year )

Extensively used Agile Architecture and Agile Documentation methodologies. Was able to apply the Full Innovation principles related to avoiding "Collective Tunnel-Vision" with spectacular results! Learned some hard lessons about the fragility and core components of innovation culture as I watched a lean, mean innovation machine disintegrate following the departure of a key innovation-championing executive.

Innovation and design for next-generation core global news distribution framework. Worked with a great team to design and build version 1.0 of a news distribution framework that was tuned to the current and future needs of the AP's many member organizations.
Co-Founder

The MuGeum Institute

(E-Learning industry)

2006 — 2006 (less than a year)

Great little project combining many of my interests and passions--innovation, collaboration, GIS applications, geography, and history.

The MuGeum Project allows curators, educators, and interested members of the public to create "museums of places." MuGeums can be powerful tools for sharing information, teaching, and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Senior Architect & Technical Lead]

U.S. Senate / Foster Care System

(Government Administration industry)

2005 — 2006 (1 year )

When I took on this project, it wasn't just a "sinking ship" it was a "burning ship" ... I don't know how else to say it. After six months there was nothing to show. Mustered everything I knew (at this point) about Innovation and Agility to rescue this project and then work with a stellar team to build something that surpassed expectations.

The keys to this project were not necessarily in the technology (although it was very technologically-complex). There were core strategic issues and business model innovations that had to be sorted out before any useful technical designs could be created.

This project provides an interesting case study in the process of moving beyond the obvious, but unsatisfactory solutions, to an optimal solution that is "extremely non-obvious" but perfectly matches the requirements. I wrote up an Information Systems Management mini-case related to this project, which I'm happy to share.
[Digiratti Engagement. Role: Senior Architect & Technical Lead]

Agency.com / Omnicom Group

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

2005 — 2005 (less than a year)

Design tools and an application design and delivery framework for Visa projects. There are some good examples of cross-functional and multi-disciplinary innovation from this project.
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect & Tech Lead]

PG&E

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; PCG; Utilities industry)

2004 — 2005 (1 year )

Super high-stakes, high-risk project. Not an industry that I usually target, but definitely flattering to be entrusted with the design and development of this kind of system. Interesting case study in extremely difficult requirements gathering.
[Independent Consultant. Roles: Senior Architect & Developer]

Blue Shield of California

(Non-Profit; Insurance industry)

2004 — 2004 (less than a year)

A great example of the importance of a complete Innovation Alignment Process early in the innovation cycle. This was a major innovation initiative which had tremendous value to Blue Shield, but had been cost-justified against a few trivial incidents. The fundamental misunderstanding of the innovation initiative's value contribution added tremendous risk to the project.

Fortunately, we had an absolutely remarkable innovation team thanks to the uncanny team selection and building capabilities of Bill Storage. Talk about Agility! The system came together with remarkable speed and outstanding coordination. Thanks guys!
[Independent Consultant. Roles: Senior Architect & Programmer]

No-longer-existing Start-up in Lower Manhattan

(Information Technology and Services industry)

2003 — 2004 (1 year )

The beauty of start-ups is that you don't have to beg to stay around for the Full Innovation Cycle. The problem with start-ups is you may also be asked stay around the clock. This was a lot of intense and grueling work across a complex cluster of innovations--products, processes, technologies, business models, the works.

It was a great pleasure to work with some real stand-out creative and technical talents, and some really savvy business strategists. But it makes me sleepy just thinking about the long hours ;o)
Inventor & Developer

CUNY Thesis Project

(Animation industry)

2002 — 2004 (2 years )

Revolutionary system to generate 3D models of heads from 2D images.
CTO

EM2EC

(Internet industry)

2001 — 2003 (2 years )

Designed and managed development of an e-Commerce platform that supported hybrid online marketing campaigns (mixing CPM, CPC, and CPA) and managed revenue distribution (i.e. escrow function).
[Independent Consultant. Roles: Architect & Development Lead]

VidCard Productions

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Online Media industry)

2001 — 2002 (1 year )

Designed and developed an authoring platform for VidCards (business card CDs with video and animation).
CTO & Chief Architect

Direct Media Systems

(Online Media industry)

1997 — 2002 (5 years )
[DMS Engagement. Roles: Senior Architect & Lead Developer]

Knight Ridder (McClatchy)

(Newspapers industry)

1998 — 2001 (3 years )

Designed and managed development of a flexible content management and distribution framework.
CTO

Media2Life

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Entertainment industry)

2000 — 2000 (less than a year)

Designed and developed a revolutionary online Production support system for use in conjunction with Radio & TV broadcasts. Filed business method (process) patent.
[DMS Engagement. Roles: Lead Architect & Developer]

Equity One, Inc. (MyShoppingCenter Project)

(Real Estate industry)

1999 — 2000 (1 year )

100% dynamic, database-driven Flash site (right after Flash 5 came out).
[DMS Engagement. Role: R&D Geek]

Royal Caribbean International

(Public Company; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

1998 — 1999 (1 year )

Had the honor of working alongside some stellar talents in Mr. Otteson's amazing R&D team (which had the moniker "Decision & Workflow Technology," or something similarly ostentatious and misleading).
[DMS Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect, Tech Lead]

Carnival Cruise Lines

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; CCL; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

1997 — 1998 (1 year )

Expert system that does a silly amount of unattended work. Not getting residuals on this kind of system is a crime!
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect & Engagement Manager]

Stadium of the Future (later Choiceseat)

(Privately Held; Sporting Goods industry)

1996 — 1997 (1 year )

In-stadium, interactive, sports/entertainment prototype system. Very sweet and hugely complex project! I had roughly 80 people working for me at the end of this project.
[Digiratti Engagement. Roles: Chief Architect, R&D Boss-Geek]

MGM Casinos (formerly Wynn Resorts)

(Public Company; Gambling & Casinos industry)

1996 — 1997 (1 year )

Designed and managed development of a prototype in-room gaming system. Got shot down by the gaming commission ... but what a blast!
CEO & Chief Architect

Digiratti Companies

(Information Technology and Services industry)

1995 — 1997 (2 years )

Primarily focused on design and development of innovative entertainment, sports and gaming systems. Within the first 18 months we built this company to 135 employees and nice 8-figure annual revenues. It was a great pleasure to work with some really amazing talents, and to manage both the technical and creative sides of the business. I've lost touch with many of the animators and artists who used to work for the Digiratti Companies. If you're one of them, please contact me through LinkedIn!
Consultant

Sonic Solutions

(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; SNIC; Computer Software industry)

1995 — 1995 (less than a year)
Geek

MTC

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Telecommunications industry)

1994 — 1995 (1 year )

I've lost touch with the CMO and COO of MTC during this period (they were new hires too). I'd love to get in touch.
Realty Specialist, Region 9, Real Estate Development Division

General Services Administration

(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; Government Administration industry)

1993 — 1994 (1 year )

Thanks to my excellent and patient mentors at GSA, especially Tom Hixson!

I was given tremendous latitude to come up with innovative solutions, and won awards for financial analysis and property management applications that I designed and developed.

Julian Keith Loren’s Education

IE (Instituto de Empresa)

International Executive MBA , Business Administration , 2007 — 2008

Class consists of 32 executives representing 21 nationalities and currently living and working on five continents.

Congratulations to IE on getting the #15 ranking world-wide from Business Week for their Executive MBA programs--a higher rank than any other business school outside of the U.S.!

Congratulations to IE for holding on to the #5 spot worldwide in the 2008 Financial Times global EMBA rankings. Fourth year in the top 5!
City University of New York Graduate Center

Film & Entertainment Computer Science 2002 — 2004

Thesis Project: Computer-vision and automated modeling software to create 3D models of human heads from single 2D photos with a basic description of light sources.
Other Projects: Developed an Online Digital Media Fusion Lab.
C#, OpenGL, MEL, Maya, 3D Studio Max, Poser, Final Cut Pro, Avid Xpress DV, Premiere, Flash MX

Activities and Societies:

City University of New York, CUNY, Graduate Center
FAMU

Film 1999 — 1999

Film Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts, Prague
University of Miami

Film 1998 — 1999
University of California, Berkeley

Architecture 1988 — 1993

Designed and developed ray-tracing and vector analysis applications.
Concord High School

1987 — 1988
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange

1986 — 1987

Activities and Societies:

CBYX, Congress-Bundestag, PPP, Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm
Ukarumpa High School

1982 — 1984

If you're an alum, please join our Ukarumpa International School group here on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=862067
Ukarumpa International School

1982 — 1984

If you're an alum, please join our Ukarumpa International School group here on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=862067

Additional Information

Julian Keith Loren’s Websites:

Julian Keith Loren’s Interests:

innovation effectiveness, peace innovation, social innovation, design thinking, multi-disciplinary collaboration, blue ocean strategy, mind-mapping, rapid prototyping, using video game rendering engines to develop rapid animation pipelines, digital modeling, computer animation, GIS applications, GPS, 3D scanning, computer simulations

Julian Keith Loren’s Groups:

Innovation Management Institute, Executive Technology & Networking, ExecTec, Bay .NET Users Group, eBIG, Bay .NET Architecture and Design Working Group, Sun Developer Network, International Game Developers Association (IGDA)