Episode Description

Today, Tyler chats with Lauren Hansen-Armendariz, a national security innovator and design thinking facilitator. Lauren recently concluded her service with the Army after nine years of active duty in the Army. Her last post was as the Innovation Officer within XVIII Airborne Corps, giving her a distinct perspective on the way the Defense department approaches innovation and technology use. In this episode, she opens up to Tyler about some changes, both tangible and philosophical, that she believes would serve both soldiers and the greater mission through boosting morale, increasing retention, and driving innovation at an unprecedented scale.‍

What’s Happening on the Second Front

• Dealing with ‘innovation fiefdoms’ that often prevent scaling
• Becoming ambidextrous: Why we need to execute and invest in parallel 
• Lauren’s constructive criticisms for the Army 
• Tips for empowering your team to drive innovation and retention

Connect with Lauren

• LinkedIn: Lauren Hansen-Armendariz
• Website: XVIII Airborne Corps

Connect with Tyler

• LinkedIn: Tyler Sweatt