Inside Google’s X, The Moonshot Factory

Join us at the Harvard Innovation Labs for a behind-the-scenes conversation with two pioneering minds from Google’s X, The Moonshot Factory: Ivo Stivoric and Helen Riley. In this intimate fireside chat, moderated by Harvard Business School's Allison Mnookin, we’ll explore how radical innovation comes to life inside one of the world’s most audacious labs — and what it takes to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas that aim to shape the future.

This is a unique opportunity to gain insight into bold thinking at scale, ask your questions directly, and connect with fellow innovators across the Harvard ecosystem.

There will be networking with light refreshments after the speaking portion of the event.

All members of the Harvard community are welcome.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Helen Riley, MBA'01, COO + CFO, Google's X, The Moonshot Factory

Helen leads a portfolio of moonshots across a variety of industries including communications, biotech and sustainability. Helen also leads the operations and administrative teams that smooth the way for breakthrough technologies to become successful businesses and she leads X’s investment strategy and decisions. Helen also serves on the Boards of Alphabet Companies Wing and Intrinsic. Prior to Google's X, Helen led finance and business analytics for many of Google’s Other Bets businesses (including DeepMind and Fiber), and for Sales & Marketing across Google globally.

Before joining Google, Helen was a strategy consultant at BCG in San Francisco and an investment banker at Morgan Stanley in London. Helen holds a BA and MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Helen currently serves on two public boards: Marqeta, a modern card issuing fintech platform where she chaired the Audit Committee for 4 years; and Eventbrite, a global event tech platform where she currently serves as Audit Chair and also served on the Comp Committee for a few years.

Originally from London, Helen now lives with her husband and two children in California. A passionate advocate for wildlife conservation, she served for five years on the Board of Wildaid, and in her free time she loves scuba diving, adventure travel and singing.

Ivo Stivoric, Lt. Trouble + Maker, Google's X, The Moonshot Factory

Ivo is a Vice President at X, The Moonshot Factory where he serves on X’s leadership team and runs a portfolio of projects focused on finding radical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.

For the last 10 years Ivo has incubated dozens of moonshot technologies, projects and teams, while also forging strong partnerships with organizations outside of X to help bring these nascent ideas and technologies to life. Some of the Alphabet companies and projects to emerge from Ivo’s portfolio include moonshots for industrial robotics, connectivity, the electric grid, ocean health, the supply chain and waste.

Before joining X, Ivo was Vice President of Research and Development at Jawbone, where he delivered new consumer and healthcare applications for wearable and sensor technology. Ivo has worked in the wearable computing space since 1991, including co-founding BodyMedia alongside X’s Captain of Moonshots, Astro Teller. He has over 90 patents to his name and was recognized as one of 40 innovators building the foundation of the next-gen electronics industry by EE Times. He holds an M.S. in Interaction Design and a B.F.A. in Industrial Design with a concentration in sculpture, both from Carnegie Mellon.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Allison Mnookin is a Senior Lecturer of Business Administration in the Technology and Operations Management (TOM) Unit at the Harvard Business School.

GETTING TO THE HARVARD INNOVATION LABS

The Harvard Innovation Labs is located on the first floor of Batten Hall at 125 Western Avenue, Allston, MA 02134. We are situated on the Harvard Business School campus, a 15–20 minute walk from Harvard Square. You can also use the Harvard shuttle. The University offers daily parking for faculty, staff, students, visitors, and guests in the HBS lot on Western Avenue. The HBS lot is available 24/7 and accepts both cash and credit card payments.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

The Harvard Innovation Labs welcomes attendees of all abilities to our events, both in person and online.

Requests for American Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the University will make every effort to secure services, but that services are subject to availability.

If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about physical access, please contact us in advance of the event.

FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS

Please note: By registering, you agree to receive emails about this event and future communications from the Harvard Innovation Labs.