Innovation Ecosystems

In an era of constant disruption, innovation is no longer optional-it is essential for survival. In Innovation Ecosystems, organizational transformation expert Ilene Fischer presents a practical model for embedding innovation into the DNA of an organization while creating workplaces where employees feel energized, purposeful, and engaged.

Drawing on decades of experience and her work with management pioneers Tom Peters and Peter Senge, Fischer introduces a dynamic seven-phase innovation process-Release; Align and Frame; Establish Infrastructure; Ideate; Pitch; Integrate and Test; and Acknowledge, Learn, and Celebrate. The model engages employees at every level, helping teams collaborate more effectively, generate bold ideas, and turn them into meaningful business results.

Combining insights from design thinking and systems thinking, the methodology can be applied to challenges ranging from strategic initiatives and product development to cultural integration during mergers and acquisitions. Featuring insights from forty-five leading thinkers across industries, Accelerating Innovation offers leaders a clear, actionable framework for building resilient organizations where innovation thrives and people find genuine purpose in their work.

Ilene Fischer is the founder and CEO of Sophia Network, LLC, a consultancy specializing in innovation, organizational transformation, and disruptive change. She previously served as Managing Director of the Tom Peters Company and as a partner at Peter Senge's Innovation Associates, experiences that shaped her approach to helping leaders navigate complex strategic change. Fischer advises executive teams through mergers and acquisitions, rapid growth, organizational redesign, and innovative product launches across industries including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotech, digital health, consumer products, government, and non-profits.


Prior to founding Sophia Network, she launched WomenLEAD, an online mentoring platform advancing women's careers. The venture was named a MassChallenge finalist and received the Verizon Powerful Answer Award. She also served as CEO of WEST, where she expanded the organization's revenue and membership while championing women leaders in STEM. A longtime advocate for women's advancement, Fischer founded one of the first battered women's shelters in the United States in 1976 and led the Northeastern Pennsylvania chapter of NOW, focusing on ERA ratification.