Ryan Backer

Background

About Ryan Backer

Ryan is a breakthrough thinker & change agent who connects dots, sees possibilities & creates novel solutions to business challenges. His "superpower" is the ability to lead the transformation of systems, processes & culture to catalyze game-changing innovation & create the future. Ryan has been a Corporate Entrepreneur & Leader of Innovation in Big Food for over a decade in roles at the intersection of insights, innovation & strategy across Consumer Insights, Marketing & R&D functions. His experience spans Corporate Ventures, Emerging Tech, Channel/Customer, Accelerated & Disruptive Innovation, Natural & Organic, B2C/B2B, Lean Startup, New Business Models & numerous additional "side hustle" strategic initiatives (notably, leveraging his knack for making external connections, storytelling & influence to pioneer the Modernization of Market Research Movement at the industry level & the creation of G-Works, GMI's Corporate Ventures Studio). Ryan also founded modernMR, an innovation consultancy specializing in helping clients transform their research, insights and experimentation capabilities via leveraging today's ( & tomorrow's) emerging technologies. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS •Ideated & launched GMI’s G-Works Corporate Ventures Studio, an innovation lab designed to leverage Lean Startup principles to incubate new brands and create the Future of Food. Due to the success of the 1st launch (Good Measure), the lab has grown from 1 pilot team to 10 teams that are working on novel start-up concepts focused on Food-as-Wellness. G-Works is now a key pillar in GMI’s mission to become America’s Most Innovative Food Company. •Revitalized GMI's yogurt offering after years of declining Yoplait sales due to the emergence of a functional Greek/protein segment. Pioneered a new “intensive” Consumer-First Design approach, directed the exploration & insight-generation that led to the creation of Oui French Style Yogurt. an award-winning, segment-creating premium yogurt concept. •Transformed GMI’s Marketing Research & Consumer Insights capabilities, leveraging emerging tech to generate never before accessible, richer and more real insights. Presented globally to influence the industry. These efforts resulted in recognition as a Top 5 “Most Innovative” MR/CI organization (Greenbook). EXPERTISE •Future Vision & Strategy •Health & Wellness Revolution •Corporate Venturing *Business Model Innovation •Bigger Better Idea Culture •Consumer-First Design •Lean Startup & Innovation Labs •Futurism & Emerging Tech •Innovation & Experimentation •Consumer Insight & Intelligence