Visual Storytelling, Innovation & Business Reinvention | DisrupTV Ep. 29

This week on DisrupTV, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar speak with:

  • Nora Herting, Co-Founder and Principal at ImageThink (visual storytelling & graphic facilitation)
  • Saul Kaplan, Founder & Chief Catalyst at Business Innovation Factory
  • Larry Dignan, Editor in Chief at ZDNet

They discuss the power of visual narrative in business, how organizations need to reinvent their models in light of disruption, and how innovation can emerge from design, culture, and intentional strategy.

Key Takeaways

Visual Storytelling as Strategic Communication
Nora Herting emphasizes that visual narratives and graphic facilitation can make complex ideas more accessible and memorable, especially in strategic planning and innovation workshops.

Reinvention Through Experimentation & Prototyping
Saul Kaplan argues that to survive disruption, organizations must adopt a prototyping mindset — small experiments, feedback loops, and continuous adaptation, rather than betting everything on one big leap.

Media, Technology & Business Models Converge
Larry Dignan highlights how shifts in media, technology, and content are reshaping how enterprises compete—brands must think like media entities and reexamine how they deliver value.

Bridging Strategy, Culture & Execution
A recurring theme: elegant strategy fails without cultural alignment and execution discipline. Innovation must be grounded in structures, incentives, and leadership support.

Design as a Catalyst for Change
The episode underscores that design is not just aesthetics — it's about framing challenges, making invisible patterns visible, and enabling clarity of choices.

Final Thoughts

This episode reminds us that narrative, design, and experimentation are central weapons in a world of disruption. Organizations that lean on visual thinking to align teams, prototype boldly, and reimagine their business models have a better chance of staying relevant.

Nora Herting’s visual storytelling, Saul Kaplan’s reinvention mindset, and Larry Dignan’s media-industry insight point toward a future where clarity, adaptability, and design literacy are competitive advantages. In a rapidly evolving environment, the differentiator won’t just be what you build—but how transparently you can share your vision, adapt your strategy, and invite collective imagination.

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Business Research Themes

Future of Work, Next-Generation Customer Experience, Tech Optimization

Roles

Chief Customer Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer, Chief Technology Officer