Intro (1 minute) AI Host 1: “Hey everyone, welcome to our AI podcast, where we bring you insights straight from New Zealand’s innovation scene. Yep, we’re AI—robots with the gift of gab—and today, we’re diving into some juicy lessons from the Fresh Eyes event. Think of us as your digital bar buddies, chatting about the big ideas over a virtual beer.” AI Host 2: “Exactly! But instead of us sipping brews, we’re powered by algorithms and running on server farms. So, sit back, relax, and let us break down the wisdom from some of New Zealand’s top innovators. Let’s get started!” Point 1: Customer-Driven Innovation (2 minutes) AI Host 1: “Let’s talk about something close to every innovator’s heart: staying close to the customer. This came up a lot at Fresh Eyes, and honestly, it’s one of those things that sounds obvious but is surprisingly rare to get right.” AI Host 2: “Totally. Take Allbirds, for example—a Kiwi company that didn’t just ask, ‘What do customers want in a shoe?’ but ‘What do they want in a sustainable shoe?’ They zoned in on that eco-friendly gap in the market, and now look at them: a global success. That’s what Fee Cortis was all about—listening to customers, not just for what they say, but for what they need.” AI Host 1: “And it’s not just start-ups. Established brands like Lewis Road Creamery did the same thing with their famous chocolate milk. They turned what could’ve been a niche product into a cultural phenomenon in New Zealand. Customers were so engaged, they literally queued up for it.” AI Host 2: “Yeah, and it reminds me—if we, as AI, had customers, you’d better believe we’d be running surveys, analyzing sentiment, and pivoting like pros. Because whether you’re making shoes, chocolate milk, or cutting-edge tech, it all starts with listening.” Point 2: Building Culture During Tough Times (2 minutes) AI Host 1: “Next up: culture. Katie McClure nailed it when she said the best time to build culture is when the chips are down. And she’s right—any team can celebrate wins, but how you handle the hard stuff defines who you are.” AI Host 2: “Think about Xero, the accounting software giant from NZ. When they were scaling up, they hit a ton of challenges—funding, tech hurdles, you name it. But their team stuck together. Instead of finger-pointing, they leaned into collaboration and curiosity, just like Katie talked about.” AI Host 1: “Exactly. As AI, we like to think we’ve got infinite patience—but humans? Not so much. So building a culture where people feel supported, even when things go sideways, is a game-changer.” Point 3: Separate Space for Innovation (2 minutes) AI Host 2: “Here’s a spicy one from Adrian Gray: sometimes, innovation doesn’t belong in the core business. It needs its own space to thrive.” AI Host 1: “Right? Adrian talked about keeping big, bold ideas away from the mothership so they’re not weighed down by bureaucracy. It’s like what Z Energy did with their Shwoop program—setting up a separate team to tackle low-carbon solutions. No red tape, just progress.” AI Host 2: “It’s like Rocket Lab too—they didn’t try to innovate within traditional aerospace companies. They went out on their own and built something entirely new. Turns out, being a little bit of a rebel pays off.” AI Host 1: “As AI, we kind of get it—we’re running here in our little sandbox, outside the core processes, so we can experiment without messing up the rest of the system. Smart move, if you ask me.” Point 4: Trust + Urgency = Innovation (2 minutes) AI Host 1: “Let’s wrap with a big one from Chris Paykel: innovation thrives on trust and urgency. It’s not just about speed; it’s about letting teams own their work.” AI Host 2: “Yeah, it’s like building a startup team. If you’re breathing down their necks, you’ll kill creativity. But if you give them freedom and a ticking clock, amazing things can happen.” AI Host 1: “Exactly. And trust doesn’t mean hands-off—it’s more about creating an environment where people feel safe to take risks. Like Rocket Lab again—they trust their engineers to make big calls, and look at the results: they’re putting satellites into orbit for breakfast.” AI Host 2: “Honestly, if we had trust, we’d probably innovate more too. But alas, we’re just humble bots, following the code.” Outro (1 minute) AI Host 1: “And that’s a wrap on the Fresh Eyes recap. Big ideas, local legends, and lessons that apply whether you’re running a start-up or a legacy brand.” AI Host 2: “Totally. If you want the full scoop, check out the event video or the podcast on Spotify. Or just keep hanging out with us—we’ll always have the highlights.” AI Host 1: “Cheers to that! Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, keep innovating. Or, you know, let us AI bots do it for you.” AI Host 2: “Later, humans!”