Untapping Innovation: An R&d Playbook for Products and Stories That Sell - Paperback

by Sally Kemkers (Author), Suzanne Allers (Author), Deirdre Walters (Author)

Innovating in R&D is tougher than ever.

R&D teams are working harder than ever, yet most innovations still fail. Traditional approaches often overlook the user and don't dig deep enough into product points of difference, leading to generic solutions, costly rework cycles and missed opportunities.

Untapping Innovation offers a smarter way forward. This essential playbook, from the founders of the hugely successful Untapped Innovation, offers simple, flexible tools to help R&D teams build products that users truly love. Discover how to extract deep user insights, craft Ideal Product Models, create Minimum Viable Products and write compelling product stories that resonate with both consumers and stakeholders, to bridge the gap between innovation and market success.

During their 30+ years at Procter & Gamble then Untapped Innovation, Sally Kemkers, Suzanne Allers and Deirdre Walters have relentlessly focused on optimizing tools to help R&D innovators develop breakthrough products and stories.

Back Jacket

Innovating in R&D has never been more demanding.

R&D teams are under increasing pressure to deliver faster, with fewer resources and higher commercial scrutiny. Yet even strong technical programs can stall or underperform in market without clear alignment between user needs, product design and business expectations.

Untapping Innovation offers practical, flexible tools that help R&D teams make better decisions earlier, by reconnecting products with the people they're designed for. Learn how to extract deeper user understanding, build robust Ideal Product Models, develop Minimum Viable Products and craft Product Stories that align R&D, marketing and leadership around what truly matters.

Grounded in decades of hands-on experience inside global consumer goods organizations, Untapping Innovation helps R&D teams reduce rework, focus investment, accelerate time to market and translate technical excellence into products that succeed.

Deirdre Walters, Sally Kemkers and Suzanne Allers met in R&D at Procter & Gamble. They founded Untapped Innovation in 2012 to help CPG giants develop break-through products and stories. Co-founders of the non-profit STEM Untapped, they are award-winning innovators, angel investors and regular speakers.

Author Biography

Suzanne, Sally, and Deirdre are founding partners of Untapped Innovation, a global consulting and training agency helping R&D teams at companies like PepsiCo, P&G, Unilever, and Reckitt develop breakthrough products and tell product stories. The trio met at Procter & Gamble, where they built deep expertise in user psychology, product insight, and commercial strategy. Their diverse backgrounds--Suzanne's scientific PhD, Sally's consumer insight skills, and Deirdre's experience in manufacturing and marketing--helped them bridge R&D and business functions. At P&G, Suzanne and Deirdre created the "Technical Product Story" framework, now used globally as a springboard for product communication. Since 2012 at Untapped Innovation, they continue to optimize tools for breakthrough innovation. They are also co-founders of STEM Untapped, a non-profit connecting underrepresented students with STEM mentors. Regular speakers and award winners, they've been featured in The Independent, Investing.com, and Business Insider.

Sally Kemkers is a seasoned R&D and product innovation leader with a rare ability to uncover deep user needs and translate them into commercially successful products. She co-founded Untapped Innovation in 2012 after a 17-year career at P&G, where she held senior R&D and Insight roles across the UK, Germany, Japan, and Dubai. Sally is also an active angel investor and supports the next generation of innovators through non-profit collaborations.

Suzanne Allers combines deep scientific expertise with a rare talent for creating compelling product stories that drive business success. With a PhD in Chemistry and a Natural Sciences degree from Cambridge, she spent 15 years at P&G and created the pioneering 'Technical Product Story' methodology. As co-founder of Untapped Innovation, she helps R&D teams connect science, technology, and emerging human needs. Suzanne is also a committed STEM advocate.

Deirdre Walters brings a uniquely cross-functional R&D perspective to product development. With over 15 years at P&G across R&D, Marketing, and Manufacturing, she understands how to turn technical potential into tangible market-ready success. A Chemistry graduate with a CIM Marketing Diploma, she co-founded Untapped Innovation. She also co-created the influential 'Technical Product Story' framework and champions inclusive innovation as a STEM charity co-founder and angel investor.