As a child, I was taught to take risks and color outside the lines. Later, I discovered a love of organizations, particularly visionary companies, and what makes them successful. Creativity, innovation and bringing products to market are not linear processes. It’s messy, complex, exhilarating, frustrating—and it can be done successfully when everything falls into place.
Laura B. Cardinal, Ph.D., SmartState® Endowed Chair + Director, Center for Innovation + Commercialization
Our Focus Is Providing South Carolina with a Strategic Innovation Toolkit So Growing and Established Organizations Flourish.
These are the organizations and people that inspire and motivate us.
We are the strategists, the innovators, the doers who make things happen.

Spring 2022’s Cohort Delivers Many Firsts for Strategic Innovation
This semester’s MGMT 776 Strategic Planning (SP) course at the University of South Carolina delivered many firsts for Laura B. Cardinal and her Strategic Innovation Certificate (SIC) program. The course,… (continued)

SC Innovates Proudly Launches Strategic Innovation Certificate
From technological advancements and innovations to industries converging and colliding, there’s no doubt that today’s workforce is emersed in a world of accelerating change. No matter the challenges, a demand… (continued)

Southeast Life Sciences Conference Brings Opportunities to Network with Innovation and Technology Companies
What do dogs, the Governor, and our very own Endowed Chair, Laura B. Cardinal, have in common? All were part of the fun and the conversation at the ADVANSE Life… (continued)