225: How SAP Signavio Uses Storytelling to Derisk Innovation

I sat down with Lukas N. P. Egger, VP of Product Strategy and Innovation at SAP Signavio, to explore how storytelling derisks significant transformation and AI programs. We begin with his path from Austrian startup life to leading innovation within a global enterprise, and why early “peacocking” demos are only the first step.

Lukas demonstrates how he and his team transform messy narratives and SOPs into usable process models, then utilize Signavio’s Transformation Advisor to connect business pain points to the first processes worth addressing. What struck me most is his take on strategy as a story. He explains how the correct narrative makes the unfamiliar feel familiar, helping teams bridge silos, align incentives, and transition from feature checklists to real outcomes.

I share my approach to co-creating a shared future with stakeholders before pitching any solution, and Lukas adds a candid look at why some high-ROI pilots still fail when they threaten power structures. We discuss reframing, empathy, and the mindset shift innovators need to achieve lasting impact.

Lukas also raises a timely warning about AI systems that can build emotional rapport at the marginal cost of electricity, and why our incentive structures need an upgrade if we want technology to serve people, not the other way around.

If you have a high-stakes AI initiative on your desk and you need a story that lowers the cost of failure, this conversation will give you practical ways to start, align, and deliver.