# S6E27 Stephen Hinch | Lessons from HP & Disruptive Innovations

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-07-04
- Length: 56m
- Episode: 27
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations

## Summary

Stephen Hinch, a former HP and Agilent executive and author of 'Winning Through Innovation', discusses the challenges of fostering disruptive innovation within large corporations. He shares his experience launching a calibrated fiber optic oscilloscope line at HP, detailing how he used a 'phantom product' to gather customer data while hiding the true innovation from competitor Tektronix. Hinch also explains the 'curse of the corporate business model,' where risk-averse managers prioritize short-term profits over long-term R&D, and offers advice on building an innovation-friendly culture and using AI effectively.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=1) Introduction and Career Background
- [4:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=288) Transitioning from Engineering to Marketing
- [17:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=1045) The Phantom Product Strategy Against Tektronix
- [23:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=1385) Incremental vs. Disruptive Innovation
- [28:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=1698) Creating a Culture of Innovation
- [38:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=2305) The Curse of the Corporate Business Model
- [44:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=2659) AI in Engineering and Business
- [49:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-04-s6e27-stephen-hinch-lessons-from-hp-disruptive-innovations#t=2998) Advice for Engineers Moving into Leadership

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Hewlett Packard (company)
- Agilent Technologies (company)
- TeamLogic IT (company)
- Tektronix (company)
- Winning Through Innovation (product)
- Simutech Group (company)
- Flamin' Hot Cheetos (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [509: Swarmed by Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-09-05-509-swarmed-by-engineers) (Embedded.fm)
- [Exploring Innovation as a Mindset with Chuck Swoboda](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-24-exploring-innovation-as-a-mindset-with-chuck-swoboda) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Q&A with Chuck Swoboda & Chris Luecke | Discussing Innovation as a Mindset](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-03-31-bonus-q-a-with-chuck-swoboda-chris-luecke-discussing-innovation-as-a-mindset) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [8 Silent Business Killers For Manufacturers w/ Steve Blue](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-02-28-8-silent-business-killers-for-manufacturers-w-steve-blue) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Live From HIBT Summit: Payal Kadakia, Tristan Walker, and Perry Chen on Innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-07-22-live-from-hibt-summit-payal-kadakia-tristan-walker-and-perry-chen-on-innovation) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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