GT & FC partnership examine innovations opportunities

CHICAGO, NEW YORK, September 24, 2018 — Innovation is one of the most talked-about terms in business and, at the same time, one of the most misunderstood. To tackle this issue, Grant Thornton LLP and Fast Company have announced a year-long media partnership and content series that will explore the meaning of innovation and technology, as well as the opportunities and challenges each pose to organizations.

“If you ask 100 people what the term innovation means to them, you will likely get 100 different answers,” said Srikant Sastry, national managing principal of Advisory Services at Grant Thornton. “At Grant Thornton, we have a culture of curiosity, and we believe that listening to our clients and asking thoughtful questions is critical to our success in serving them. Because curiosity is rooted in Grant Thornton’s culture, we teamed with Fast Company to explore the countless ways innovation and technology can reshape business and society.”

The partnership will explore a variety of topics such as corporate culture wars, the evolution of smart cities, data privacy and digital trust, and keys for measuring innovation, among several others. The content series will feature online articles, videos, executive interviews, live programming and panel discussions throughout the year.

“Innovation can be subtle or it can be groundbreaking. Regardless, it changes the ways organizations operate,” said Amanda Smith, publisher, Fast Company. “As a result, we are excited to collaborate with Grant Thornton to highlight the many ways leaders can prepare their organizations for the future.”

To kick off the partnership, the first article, titled “The Culture of Now: navigating the pitfalls,” will appear online in October and will explore unintentional consequences and potential backlash to the 24/7 world of product and service delivery from the perspective of consumers, workforce and corporations – particularly as they relate to autonomy and mobility.

Grant Thornton will also participate in a panel discussion at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival on October 24 in New York City. The panel discussion will examine how digital trust is shaping the economy, driving companies to innovate and forcing them to be more nimble as they must be able to pivot their data-management strategies on the fly.

Visit the innovation page for more information about Grant Thornton's innovation offerings.

About Grant Thornton

“Grant Thornton” is the brand for two professional-services entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services. With revenues of $2.4 billion for the fiscal year that ended July 31, 2023, and dozens of offices nationwide, Grant Thornton represents a community of almost 10,000 problem solvers, relationship builders, and industry specialists who know that how we serve matters as much as what we do.

Grant Thornton LLP, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and their respective subsidiaries operate as an alternative practice structure (APS). The APS conforms with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards, including those from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Grant Thornton LLP and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC serve as the U.S. member firms of the Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) network. GTIL and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership and all member firms are separate legal entities. Member firms deliver all services; GTIL does not provide services to clients.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is one of the world's leading business media brands, with an editorial focus on creativity and innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with their sister publication Inc. and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.