Specialized Training in Innovation Management

Facilitate
Applied Creativity

January 20–21, 2027
Montréal (downtown)

Overview

Having trained more than 400 participants over the past 15 years, the “Facilitating Applied Creativity” training is being offered as a preview to members of the Innovation Leaders Club.

Objectives

  • Build a solid foundation in applied creativity management.
  • Explore a range of facilitation practices suited to different innovation maturity levels.
  • Practice, practice, and practice again — applying the techniques in an environment that encourages constructive feedback.
  • Master generative AI within the creative process.
AI Update

AI update: participants will be trained on the basics of using artificial intelligence responsibly. Then, during hands-on workshops, they will experiment with a library of AI prompts designed to boost their applied creativity activities and increase efficiency. These prompts help identify more ideas around their innovation target, generate more concepts, and analyze their feasibility in greater depth.

How the Training Unfolds

Two consecutive in-person days in Montréal, preceded by a kickoff web conference.

Before the Session

Kickoff Web Conference

  • Basic AI concepts
  • The fundamentals of a good prompt
  • Responsible use of AI
  • Participants’ AI infrastructure
AM
Day 1
  • Fundamentals of applied creativity management
  • Phases of the innovation maturation process (opportunity, idea, concept)
  • Overview of techniques and suggested deliverables for each phase of the process
  • Winning conditions for facilitating applied creativity
Day 2 AI Update
  • Understand the four roles of AI in the creative process
  • Use AI to prepare your opportunity sheet
  • Integrate AI into creativity workshops
  • Quickly prototype concepts and test them with synthetic customers using AI
PM
Hands-On Workshops — both afternoons
1

Study of a real case

2

Detailed review of the creativity techniques included in the toolkit

3

Hands-on practice of the techniques and facilitation of a real case

4

Constructive feedback on the facilitation sessions

Toolkit

A French-language toolkit worth more than $5,000 will be provided to all participants. It can be shared and edited electronically within the participating organization.

Toolkit – Applied Creativity

French-language toolkitValue of $5,000+

For Each Applied Creativity Technique

A set of tools is provided, including:

  • A description of the technique
  • Why to use it
  • When to use it
  • How to use it
  • The materials needed
  • Expert tips

Overview of the Toolkit Provided to Participants

1
Phase 1

Identify and Articulate a Need / Opportunity

The information sheetThe abstraction ladderUniversal questionsReframing the problem as challengesPESTEL analysisCreative SWOTAlternative scenariosThe empathy map
2
Phase 2

Generate and Select Ideas

Divergence toolsThe purgeBrainstormingThe crushing techniqueDefect analysisThe customer corridorConvergence toolsThe idea sheetAffinity groupingThe screening gridMulti-voting
3
Phase 3

Develop a Robust Concept

Best from worstStep by stepDevil’s advocate / angel’s advocate (simplified de Bono hats)Attitude / influence matrixThe concept document
4
Phase 4

Sell a Concept Internally

Communication planStoryboardingPresentation best practicesStorytelling vs. the factual approachThe empathy map (see phase 1)
5
Phase 5 — AI Update

Enhance Applied Creativity with AI

Frame strategically before using AIGuide AI creativity through promptingDiverge in a structured way: human first, AI secondConverge and decide with enhanced rigorStrengthen concepts through critique and visualization
January 20–21, 2027Two consecutive days
Montréal (downtown)
$2,000/ participant $1,500 for the training and $500 for toolkit access
20% off for third participant and more from the same organization.

More than 25 years of gathering high-performing innovation management practices, shared by members of the Innovation Leaders Club.

Overview of the 2026–2027 Training Offering

To implement missing practices or optimize current ones — focused, in-person, 2-day sessions, four distinct trainings in Montréal.

Strategy
Front-End
Innovation
Portfolio
Management
Development
Launchcoming soon

Develop an Innovation Strategy

December 15–16, 2026·Montréal (downtown)·2 days·$2,000

  • Align innovation with the organization’s strategic plan.
  • Establish clear strategic direction for innovation.
  • Shift from a “reactive and tactical” organization to one that is “proactive and focused on strategic innovation.”

More details

Facilitating Applied Creativity

January 20–21, 2027·Montréal (downtown)·2 days·$2,000

  • Train applied creativity facilitators.
  • Build a solid foundation in applied creativity management.
  • Explore a range of facilitation practices suited to different innovation maturity levels.

Implement an Innovation Program

February 2–3, 2027·Montréal (downtown)·2 days·$2,000

  • Train innovation program leaders.
  • Implement / optimize innovation program management practices, based on an approach proven by Innovation Leaders Club members (2024 theme).

More details

Evolve Your Innovation Management Practices

March 2027·Montréal (downtown)·2 days·$2,000

  • Implement / optimize innovation management practices to integrate AI and gain efficiency in upcoming innovation projects.
  • Establish an innovation cycle that supports front-end innovation activities.

More details

Specialized Training Tailored for Innovation Leaders

Practical Content Straight From Members

The core value proposition of the specialized trainings is to provide a practical approach, including complete and in-depth Implementer Bundles, for the successful implementation of innovation management practices. The content is based on best practices shared by Innovation Leaders Club members.

Our Promises

Concrete Content, Continuously Updated

The training offering from the Innovation Leaders Club Academy draws on more than 25 years of gathering high-performing innovation management practices. Every training comes with an online toolkit that is updated annually. This cloud-based approach ensures participants always have access to the best content available, even years after the training.

AI Update

Tools That Integrate AI

As part of this continuous-improvement approach, the Innovation Leaders Club Academy has evolved its tools to include an artificial intelligence component in every training, helping participants gain efficiency.

A ready-to-adapt organizational AI policy template is included with the Implementer Bundle.

Hands-On Application Workshops

Beyond building participants’ innovation management knowledge, each training aims to put the proposed methodologies and tools into practice so they can be applied quickly back at the organization.

Accredited Trainers

The Innovation Leaders Club is a training organization accredited (accreditation number: 59141) by the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail, under Québec’s Act to promote workforce skills development and recognition.