“Innovation” is everywhere—splashed across corporate memos, LinkedIn posts, and marketing strategies until it can feel more like a buzzword than a meaningful ambition. So what separates genuine breakthroughs from empty rhetoric?
Ahead of Fast Company’s 12th annual Innovation Festival, we asked 12 of our speakers what the word means to them, what their number-one rule is when it comes to innovation, and what attendees can expect from their sessions:
What does innovation mean to you in 2026?
“Innovation should make life better, not more complicated. In 2026, that means using technology to put trusted expertise at people’s fingertips, helping them understand what to do and when it matters. The best technology makes knowledge more useful and accessible without replacing the human judgment, taste, and experience behind it.” – Martha Stewart, Cofounder, Entrepreneur, and Author, Hint
“Innovation means creating sustainable solutions for the next generations. Lakota values teach us to think about seven generations ahead. If the innovation doesn’t hold up for the people coming after us, it’s not really innovation and possibly just a trend.” – Sean Sherman, Founder and CEO, NATIFS and the Sioux Chef
“Innovation in 2026 is not about chasing the newest idea, it is about deeply understanding the consumer, challenging long-held assumptions and turning insight into meaningful action. The best innovation creates real consumer value while advancing both the business and its purpose.” – Lindsay Shumlas, CEO, Cotopaxi
“At adidas, innovation starts with our athletes and consumers. Understanding what they need and delivering only the best for them is what drives everything we do.” – Bjørn Gulden, CEO, Adidas
What is your number one rule when it comes to innovation?
“My #1 innovation rule is to design for an N of 1. Committees produce generic products that excite no one, entrepreneurs create compelling products that inspire obsession.” – Jake Bullock, CEO, Cann
“Never fall in love with the solution before you’re clear on the problem. The best innovation solves a real consumer tension so intuitively that, once it exists, people wonder how they ever lived without it.” – Melis Del Rey, CEO and Board Director, Supergoop
“It’s okay to fail. Don’t be a perfectionist. It only hinders you.” – Bob the Drag Queen, Comedian and Entertainer, Purse First Studios
“Protect the path to the unexpected. You rarely get to innovation in a straight line. You need space for human wandering: curiosity, imagination, strange connections, culture, constraint. Technology can accelerate the path, but people still have to imagine somewhere worth going. I think eroding that process of creative originality is a real risk today – we have to protect it.” – Brooke Ellis, Chief Design Officer, Block
What is one takeaway you hope attendees will gain from your session?
“I want to inspire people to live with a ‘Why not you?’ attitude – to believe in themselves, trust their ideas and know that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to. Some of the greatest innovations come from ideas that others may not immediately understand. Quiet the outside noise, stay committed to your vision and don’t be afraid to think differently. Your ideas may go further than you ever imagined.” – Russell Wilson, Super Bowl Champion, Analyst on CBS Sports’ “The NFL Today,” Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist; 3Brand, Why Not You Foundation, WNY Productions, and Good Man Brand
“I hope people leave thinking a little less about the big swing and more about the small, honest moments that actually build a product people want to come back to. We tend to talk about starting something as if it all comes down to having one great idea, but so much of building something lasting is really about paying attention and listening to your customers. You don’t have to have every answer on day one. You just have to stay curious, keep listening, and be willing to evolve.” – Elizabeth Banks, Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer, Archer Roose Wines
“Innovation must happen faster than ever before. Consumer trends can pivot overnight because information now moves instantaneously. Well-positioned innovation can scale rapidly across multiple channels, so the runway to bring an idea to life and stay relevant in the marketplace is shorter than ever.” – Dave Ritterbush, CEO, Califia Farms
“The best creator partnerships are relationships, not transactions — brands that invest beyond a single post will out-perform (and out-last) the ones optimizing for reach alone.” – Nadya Okamoto, Cofounder and Chief Marketing Office, Pie
Don’t miss these speakers and many more at the 12th annual Innovation Festival. Check out our full schedule, secure your tickets, and we’ll see you in New York City this Sept. 14–17!
