How does a company as massive as Microsoft keep innovating year after year? Patrick McGinnis sits down with 20-year Microsoft veteran Dean Carignan, co-author of The Insider’s Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, to find out. Dean reveals the surprisingly learnable and scalable strategies behind the tech giant’s transformation, from launching Xbox to navigating the AI frontier.
You’ll learn why innovation isn’t just about invention, how a growth mindset reshaped Microsoft’s culture, and why the company’s “innovate with everyone” approach actually works. Plus, Dean shares lessons from Microsoft’s biggest misses and how they paved the way for its biggest wins. Whether you’re leading a startup or driving change inside a big company, this episode offers a real-world roadmap to sustainable innovation.
Dean Carignan’s career spans international economic development, startup ventures, and strategic roles in technology. An alumnus of Georgetown University and INSEAD, he was a charter member of McKinsey & Company’s advanced technology practice.
During his 20 years at Microsoft, he has guided new businesses—including the early internet division, Xbox, and multiple AI efforts—through the critical growth phases to their first billion dollars in revenue. Most recently, Dean has focused on leading AI innovations within Microsoft Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist.
His intrapreneurial spirit, deep institutional knowledge, and expansive internal network made the behind-the-scenes perspective of The Insider’s Guide to Innovation at Microsoft possible.
For media and speaking requests, and to suggest a guest for the show, please email letsconnect@patrickmcginnis.com.
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