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FOCUS ON INNOVATION On the Edge of Innovation by Sharon Shinn I f innovation is the go-to strategy of the decade, Cheryl Perkins wants to be the go-to consultant on the topic. She's founder and president of Innovationedge, a consult- ing firm based in Neenah, Wisconsin, that helps companies and individuals develop innovations and business solutions. Perkins was no stranger to innovation before she launched her own firm in 2007. She has held a variety of positions at consumer products company Kimberly-Clark, most recently as senior vice president and chief innovation officer. In that role, she was responsible for inno- vation and enterprise growth in areas such as R&D, engi- neering, design, safety, and environmental sustainability. She and her colleague at Innovationedge, Jeff Lindsay, recently distilled some of their learning into the book Conquer- ing Innovation Fatigue, and they offer ongoing insights online at innovationedge.com/blog/. In the past five years, Business- Week listed Perkins as one of the top 25 Champions of Inno- vation in the world, and Consumer Goods Technology magazine named her a top executive driving vision within that industry. While she's highly focused on what businesses must do to thrive, Perkins knows that many executives count on higher education to support their efforts to grow and change. That's especially true during uncertain economic times, when many workers—including top managers—are returning to school to acquire new skills. 20 BizEd JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 Consultant Cheryl Perkins helps business leaders determine the products and processes that will provide them with winning strategies.