Key Team Members
A Profound Experience
This work was initiated through a report of recommendations, one of which was to create a different kind of organizational structure that would enable Vancity to operate at two speeds – one speed that meets the regulatory requirements of a credit union, and another speed that embraces design thinking and innovation.
Berlineaton was asked to assist in the design and implementation of this two-speed organization, which resulted in the creation of the Explorer Network at Vancity, a new, non-hierarchical network of employees tasked with discovering new opportunities to achieve real impact for members, and that are scalable across the Vancity enterprise.
Practical Solutions
Over the course of two years, we worked with Vancity, engaging with well over 500 staff from the frontline to the C-Suite, in support the Explorer Network, a unique approach to igniting corporate innovation Delivering large-format Open Space Conferences, while supporting a series of well-led retreats engaging all management-level staff, we served alongside Vancity’s CEO and VP of Strategic Management to provide employees with the opportunity to discover, design, and test innovative ideas in support of the organization’s future vision.
Bolder Futures
Dozens of these new ideas were championed forward, with the most promising ones being presented at a company-wide “pitch fest” for real-time peer evaluation and further feedback. Top-rated pitches became leading candidates for corporate innovation projects, and this novel approach continues to generate positive improvement and action throughout Vancity.
