Big results, without big teams

Whether you need ongoing fractional leadership or a finite sprint, I help you move innovation forward without adding headcount.

Cate Trotter working with a client team

Innovation leadership and sprints — impact without headcount

I'm a qualified Chief Innovation Officer with 15+ years' experience leading change in retail, infrastructure and beyond. I founded and sold a global consultancy, advised boards of Fortune 500-scale companies, and served as a Technical Director working across transport, water and energy.

Alongside strategy, I've also built AI tools and practical automation systems - proving how emerging technologies can cut through hype and deliver real results. This mix of boardroom credibility and hands-on building means I know how to design solutions that actually stick.

Work with me in two ways:

Ongoing fractional leadership (1–3 days a week)
I'll steer your innovation portfolio and keep projects moving without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Finite projects and sprints (2 days–8 weeks, tailored workshops)
Focused bursts to test opportunities, fast-track pilots, or align teams around the right next steps.

See how I can help

When innovation stalls, it's rarely about ideas. It's about execution

Common pitfalls

Endless pilots with no clear exit criteria
Innovation as a side project
All strategy, no execution
Consultants deliver reports and leave

A practical alternative

Fixed-timeline sprints with built-in decision points
Dedicated focus until you see results
Start small, test fast, scale what works
Embedded support through implementation

Ambitious vision needs pragmatic foundations. My approach builds the engine room for your innovation ambitions, ensuring you're creating real value while reaching for transformative goals.

Get your innovation unstuck

Signature offers

Fractional innovation leader

Direction, accountability and momentum across your innovation portfolio - 1-3 days a week.

Duration: 3–12 months (flexible).

Enquire about availability

4-week innovation sprint

A rapid, structured push to take one priority opportunity from vague idea to validated concept and exec-ready pitch.

Duration: 4 weeks.

Book a sprint

Define & align, design & strategy sprints

Targeted sprints to clarify opportunities, co-design solutions or shape innovation roadmaps. Suitable for any planning challenge.

Duration: 2 days-4 weeks each.

Explore sprint options

AI pilot fast-track

Identify, test, and prove a high-impact AI application - from idea to prototype.

Duration: 6-8 weeks.

Fast-track an AI pilot

AI ideation & prototyping workshop

A one-day, hands-on workshop to help your team spot opportunities, evaluate them and build first prototypes.

Duration: 1 day.

Book a workshop

Exec briefings and keynotes

When a board or ELT needs the 'why now' in 45–60 minutes, I turn these topics into concise briefings that drive decisions.

Duration: 30-90 mins.

See speaking

Let's move your innovation forward

Book a no-obligation discovery call to see if a fractional programme or sprint is the right fit.

Drop me a line - I'll do my best to get back to you within 12 hours.

Use the form here or email hello@catetrotter.com