What if the most game-changing innovations don’t come from executives at the top—but from the people doing the work every day?

In this powerful episode of (un)conversations®, Dr. Alison Schmidt sits down with Michael Bergmann, Founder of IncubatorU, former Nike leader, and author of Innovation from the Ground Up. With more than 30 years at Nike, Michael reveals how real innovation happens when doers are empowered, creativity is decentralized, and organizations embrace bottom-up thinking.

Michael breaks down his signature 5-Step Innovation Methodology—Imagine, Identify, Initiate, Implement, Integrate—and shows how these principles reshaped Nike’s tennis category, built global development teams, and now fuel his mission to develop employee-led innovation engines for companies everywhere.

From testing shoes as a teenager to transforming performance footwear, Michael’s story is a masterclass in courage, curiosity, and (un)conventional leadership.

🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• 🎾 Behind the scenes of transforming Nike’s tennis division

• 🧩 How design thinking + cross-functional collaboration solve real problems

• 👟 The story of the Teddy ToeDragger machine (yes, it’s real)

• 🏎️ What Formula 1 tires taught Michael about elite footwear design

• 🚀 How IncubatorU became a blueprint for employee-led innovation

• 🧠 Why innovation should start at the foundation, not the executive suite

• 🌟 The (UN)words shaping Michael’s journey: Unwavering, Uncharted, Unconventional

Whether you’re a creative leader, startup founder, or corporate intrapreneur, this episode will reframe how you think about progress—and give you the tools to drive it.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome to (un)conversations
(00:28 ) Meet Michael Bergmann
(01:47) The (UN)word Effect
(03:16) Exploring (UN)words: Unwavering, Uncharted, Unconventional
(15:35) The Impact of Sports on Leadership
(17:31) Pushing Boundaries at Nike
(29:32) Innovative Solutions in Tennis Footwear
(56:16) The Birth of IncubatorU
(1:04:10) IncubatorU’s 5-Step Methodology
(1:09:17) The (UN)wrap Up + Why Innovation Starts from Within

About the Host & Guest

Dr. Alison L. Schmidt, Ph.D., Founder & CEO of Unconvention and host of (un)conversations®, helps leaders and organizations unlearn what no longer serves them and embrace authentic, courageous, purpose-driven leadership.
Website: www.unconventionllc.com

Michael Bergmann, Founder of IncubatorU, is a former Nike product innovation leader who specializes in bottom-up innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and employee-led transformation.
Website: www. incubatoru.com

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#BottomUpInnovation #CreativeStrategy #CorporateInnovation #UnconventionalLeadership