Magic in the Room #89: Creating an Innovative Environment with Kevin R. Strauss

February 15, 2022
Many companies strive to be innovative, but they don't create a culture and environment that encourages innovation. In this episode of Magic in the Room, Hannah and Ben join guest Kevin Strauss to discuss his new book, Innovate the 1%. Kevin makes the case that the real foundation of innovation is healthy, high trust, relationships.

Find Kevin and his book Innovate the 1% at kevinrstrauss.com or on LinkedIn.
Find Kevin’s company at UchiConnection.com

About Kevin Strauss
Kevin R. Strauss, M.E. loves solving problems. He has earned over 75 patents and published more than 10 peer-reviewed papers across multiple industries. He has earned two industry awards for innovation. Kevin’s ideas have helped save lives around the world and generate billions of dollars in revenue. Kevin believes everyone can innovate and he teaches the diverse array of people in organizations and schools how to strengthen the foundational areas.

Find Kevin’s book Innovate the 1% at kevinrstrauss.com/innovatethe1percent/

Listen now on your favorite platform!


Research in this episode:
Find our latest online learning courses at www.purposeandperformancegroup.com/online-learning
Get a free Magic in the Room hat by posting a review and sending a screenshot to: info@purposeandperformancegroup.com

By Sarah Whitfield December 3, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room. 
November 4, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.
Show More