The Human Side of Innovation Takes Center Stage at Regions

For sixty full seconds, hundreds of Regions Bank associates sat in complete silence during an exercise that speaker Lisa Bodell promised would feel uncomfortable. Yet that brief pause revealed something bigger: innovation begins when we give ourselves space to think.

At the bank’s first RegionsLEADS in Action learning event of 2026, CEO of FutureThink and bestselling author Lisa Bodell delivered a compelling invitation to rethink the way we work. As the author of Why Simple Wins and Kill the Company, she focuses on helping people simplify work and spark meaningful change. She brought this approach to life through live polls, quick activities, and moments of reflection that helped associates see how small shifts can lead to big breakthroughs.

“Helping our associates grow is one of the most important investments we make at Regions,” said Seanna McGough, head of Learning and Development. “When people have space to think, question and explore new ideas, they build the skills that drive innovation. Experiences like this strengthen our teams today and move both their careers and our organization forward.”

Helping our associates grow is one of the most important investments we make at Regions.

Four Essential Skills for Innovation

Throughout the session, Bodell highlighted four skills essential for innovation: curiosity, creative problem-solving, decision-making and agility. These distinctly human skills, supported by technology, enable people and organizations to imagine new possibilities.

Building the Best Team

These shifts may be simple, but they’re powerful—small, intentional habits that fuel innovation over time. And they align with the leadership principles Regions reinforces across the organization. The bank’s longstanding commitment to developing associates is built on the belief that every person is a leader, regardless of role or tenure.

Leroy Aaron Abrahams II, Consumer GenAI & Automation Lead, Regions Bank was among the attendees who left the event challenged and energized.

“I think we’re at a really interesting time—globally, locally and as a company. And because of that, we really need to challenge ourselves to learn, to question things and to be more curious,” he said. “For me, what stood out most was the importance of cultivating the values that create a culture of innovation. Opportunities like this help us build that kind of culture and push ourselves to grow in new ways.”

Opportunities like this help us build that kind of culture and push ourselves to grow in new ways.

Events like this RegionsLEADS in Action session with Bodell—along with career-building tools, tuition assistance and other professional development benefits—give associates opportunities not just to learn new skills but to shape the careers they want while helping Regions grow stronger and more innovative.

AI and Innovation

While the session focused primarily on human innovation, Bodell acknowledged the elephant in every workplace: artificial intelligence is everywhere. But what matters, she said, is thinking differently.

“Pretty soon AI is not going to be the competitive advantage … because everyone will have it. The advantage will be bold thinking,” she said.

And while technology can speed up tasks, it does not replace the human qualities innovation depends on. Judgment, creativity, imagination and decision-making will determine how organizations grow, compete and serve customers.

Bodell closed the session with a hopeful message: the future will not be defined by who has the most tools or the newest technology. It will belong to those who think bravely, question generously and stay open to what’s possible.