A key ingredient in innovation is the ability to challenge authority and break rules.

Doing the right thing doesn't always bring success. But compromising ethics almost always leads to failure.

The most important skill of the future will be the ability to learn and adapt. You need to be resourceful, keep your eyes open for advances coming out of nowhere, and embrace the new opportunities as they emerge. You need to be able to collaborate with others and build relationships. You need to be able to share ideas, inspire, and motivate.

No matter how well things are going, failure and disaster are just around the corner. So celebrate the good, but be ready for the bad.

The goal should be to build a sustainable lifestyle business that does good for employees and customers - and that steadily builds wealth.

Innovating Women is more important today than ever. Things are changing for the better. The recent announcements by Google, LinkedIn, Yahoo, and Facebook of their diversity numbers—and a pledge to improve these—are the most recent victories. The Boys Club is under fire and is trying to reform itself. Women are achieving success and helping each other. Advancing technologies are leveling the playing field. Women are in the catbird seat for the new era of exponential innovation. This is the time to inspire and motivate—and that is what Innovating Women will surely do.

A key ingredient in innovation is the ability to challenge authority and break rules.