Growing the Business Through Open Innovation
Innovation Roundtable
August 8, 2006, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Many organizations can benefit from shifting their focus outside to define the right partnerships to create value for their customers, shopper and users. Cheryl Perkins will discuss opportunities to grow the business through insights and open innovation. Learn more.
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Event to Outlook 
Where
Gleacher Center
Room 100
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, Illinois
Who
Cheryl A. Perkins
Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
Kimberly-Clark
Program
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Guest Speaker
7:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Q&A
8:00 PM: Networking
Registration
Register Online
Please register by 8/8/2006
Questions
Atul Setlur, '04
312.451.4807
Event Details
Organizations need to develop or acquire certain capabilities in order to successfully innovate and deliver growth.
Insights and innovation are the link between a customer, shopper and user need that exists in the market and the strategic creation and execution that takes place inside a company to meet that need. Infusing insights, mega-trends and partner capabilities can help accelerate the innovation process. Learn more about the reason Kimberly-Clark leverages external partners to speed development: enhancing the power of established brands, accessing manufacturing expertise and available capacity, gaining access to unique health and hygiene technologies, creating new categories in untapped market spaces, and becoming a thought leader for key customers.
These partnerships cover many different types of alliances including supply agreements, licensing agreements and joint development agreements. Choosing the right partner and structuring an effective agreement is critical to winning in the marketplace. Key discussion points include:
- Infusing insights and mega-trends to accelerate the innovation process
- Leveraging partnerships to speed development
- Choosing how and where work gets done
Speaker Profile
Cheryl A. Perkins
Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
Kimberly-Clark
Ms. Perkins is responsible for providing major advances in K-C�s core technologies of fiber, absorbency and non-wovens and overseeing the development of new technologies and new business initiatives to create competitive advantage for K-C.
Ms. Perkins earned a bachelor�s of science degree in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1983. Before joining Kimberly-Clark in 1984 as a Researcher in Roswell, Ga., Ms. Perkins was with Smith-Kline Laboratories in Atlanta where she was involved in work on cancerous tissue testing and identification. In 1987, she transferred to K-C�s Non-wovens Technology and Product Development group where she developed and implemented new processes and treatments related to synthetic fabrics � work that resulted in significant annual costs savings and improved product performance. Concurrently, Ms. Perkins earned a master�s degree in Polymers from the Chemical Engineering Department of Georgia Institute of Technology in 1989 under Kimberly-Clark�s sponsorship.
In 1994, Ms. Perkins moved to Neenah, Wis., as a Research Manager in Absorbent Technology where she led the company�s development of advanced, proprietary absorbent technologies and products. In 1996, she was appointed Director of Absorbent Technology and then Director of Feminine Care Research and Development later that same year.
In 1999, Ms. Perkins was named Vice President Global Feminine Care R&D. During this time, she led the development and implementation of new and improved feminine hygiene products, line extensions, processes and technologies worldwide. In 2000, she was appointed Vice President and Senior Technical Officer and then Chief Technical Officer in 2001. She was named to her current position in 2002. During her career at Kimberly-Clark, Ms. Perkins has been granted eight U.S. Patents. She also led an effort to develop a corporate patent strategy and re-engineered the intellectual asset generation process.
Ms. Perkins serves on the board of directors of the Fox Cities Children�s Museum in Appleton, Wis., the Institute of Paper Chemistry Research Advisory Committee in Atlanta and the Georgia Institute of Technology External Advisory Board for Textile and Fiber Engineering. In 2000, Ms. Perkins was selected as a Georgia Institute of Technology Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni.
Cheryl and her husband, Mark, have two sons and live in Appleton, Wisconsin.
