It’s been 15 years since IBM (IBM) set what was then the record for the biggest annual loss in U.S. corporate history. Today, thanks to growth in emerging markets, Big Blue is one of the tech industry’s big success stories — and is expected to report healthy second-quarter sales and profits after the market closes today.

The man who started IBM on the path to recovery, Lou Gerstner, copped a Legend in Leadership award at the Yale CEO Summit in New York in last month. At the podium, Gerstner, CEO of IBM from 1993 to 2002 and now chairman of private equity giant Carlyle Group, dished up some wise tips on the topic he knows best: how to transform a Fortune 500 company. Here’s an edited transcript of his advice:

1. It’s very important to distinguish between a transformation and a turnaround. A turnaround involves a company that has fallen off the rails and has executed poorly. It takes a driven executive, but it’s not that bad. A transformation is truly difficult. The company must fundamentally change its model. It’s very, very problematic.

2. If you’re trying to transform a dodo, you’re not going to make it. I agree with Warren Buffett’s rule: “When a management with a reputation for brilliance tackles a business with a reputation for bad economics, it is usually the reputation of the business that remains intact.”

3. It’s all about culture. You have to transform the culture, not just the strategy. Culture is what people do when no one is watching.

4. Integrate as a team. When I arrived at IBM, there were “Team” signs all around. I asked, “How do people get paid?” They told me, “We pay people based on individual performance.”

5. You have to understand what people do everyday — the processes, the values, the rewards. It requires immense involvement by the CEO. If you’re a CEO who tells employees, “That’s it. You know where we’re going,” you’ll find yourself with no followers.

A think tank [from wikipedia] is known as an organization, institute, corporation, or group that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economy, science or technology issues, industrial or business policies, or military advice.

My own definition of what’s an innovation tank should come from same ideas; a place available to anyone to facilitate innovations in any area.

The intent of this blog is just that. My intention is to create a place to store, show and even discuss areas of innovation.

I understand that innovation is not just the act of introduce something new to the world; a new idea, method or whatever. Innovation should create new value “to the world”, to its users, to its customers, to its producer.

Innovation should create growth. And when this growth is sustainable this innovation is worth. And when this growth is good to the humanity, this innovation is more valuable.

¿Quieres un consejo para tu éxito laboral? Ayuda a los otros a sujetarse la careta.

Anónimo Contemporáneo (sic)

"Un día vino un político a mi cancha de golf y me ofreció un lugar en su actividad. Le expliqué que todos los días llegaba, me tomaba un café y caminaba cinco horas. -¡Qué linda vida!-, exclamó. Y yo le contesté: -¿Y usted me la quiere cambiar? ¡Déjese de joder!-”

Roberto De Vicenzo

"Si te encuentras manejando una crisis sin ayuda profesional recuerda:

1. sé rápido o ese rumor se desbordará,
2. mantén la honestidad o esto se volverá en tu contra,
3. da la suficiente información para crear una historia que no comprometa legalmente tu situación,
4. preocúpate y muestra al público qbgvue te importa y
5. mantén relaciones bidireccionales; interactúa con todo el público"

Courtney Simmons (crisis communication expert, US)

"Todo ejecutivo tiene dos tareas pendientes: administrar negocios y construir una organización."

Peter Drucker