What does it take to move from technical expertise to enterprise leadership?
Mark Smerznak, Senior Vice President and Chief Research & Development Officer at The Clorox Company and a 2013 alumnus of IRI’s Shaping Innovation Leaders program, reflects on more than three decades of global R&D leadership and the lessons that have shaped his career.
In this profile, Smerznak explores why successful innovation leaders need both depth and breadth, how organizations can balance core, adjacent, and transformational innovation, and why leadership increasingly becomes less about solving problems yourself and more about enabling others to succeed.
From staying close to the consumer to building credibility through evidence, curiosity, and clear communication, his perspective offers practical lessons for R&D professionals looking to expand their impact beyond the lab and help shape the future of their organizations.
Read the full profile to explore Smerznak’s lessons on innovation, leadership, and building a career that connects technical expertise with lasting business impact.
