WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“People believe innovation is some magic reserved for a select few companies and individuals. In reality, innovation is an ability that can be learned and mastered. Bob taught me many of the necessary skills over a decade ago, and through this book, he can teach you, too.”

—Jon Lax, Vice President of Design AR/VR at Meta

“New product innovation is the only real growth engine for a business since all of its existing offerings and capabilities are built into the current value. But innovation is often a very risky business and doesn’t always turn out the way we expect it. Innovation doesn’t have to be a crapshoot. There are tools to make innovation more predictable and successful. In this book, Bob combines science and practice into a playbook on how to do innovation right and build products that customers will find useful and are willing to pay for. All of the five skills in this book are learnable and, together, are one of the best frameworks that I have seen for creating magical products. In particular, Bob masterfully explains the Uncovering Demand skill, which is probably the most critical part of an innovator’s journey. I wish I had known about these when I was in my twenties.”

—Moe Tanabian, Vice President at Microsoft AI

“I have always deeply enjoyed talking and listening to Bob Moesta. He makes you think about things, differently with a compelling logic. In Learning to Build, there is much that you will nod your head and agree with while smiling at how well it is described till you’re hit with a left hook that you never saw coming. In a very productive way, he knocked me out of my conventional view of things and gave me insights on how to be more systematic in creating entrepreneurs and innovators. I love this kind of systematic approach to improving our ability to innovate, and I highly recommend this to ALL entrepreneurs to help them know good habits from bad. Go ahead and take the red pill—you won’t regret it.”

- Bill Aulet, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan School of Management, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, and author of Disciplined Entrepreneurship

  • “Bob is one of the industry’s masters. In Learning to Build, he distills years of experience into a practical guide toward building those skills essential to innovation. It’s a must-read for entrepreneurs, business owners, and all those seeking to innovate in their lives and work.”

    —Max Wessel, Executive Vice President and

    Chief Learning Officer at SAP

  • “Through well-researched content, personal anecdotes, and reflection on his own experience as an innovator, Bob reveals the skills required for success. This book is vital for those who want to master innovation.”

    —Terry Waters, CEO of Devada, Inc

  • “Organized around five critical skills—and the valued mentors who influenced his thinking—Learning to Build is perfect for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone else hoping to acquire the skills necessary for innovation.

    —Todd Rose, Co-founder/President of Populace and

    author of Dark Horse and The End of Average

  • “It is a great thing for the world that Bob the builder is increasingly Bob the teacher. There are many books on innovation methods and tools. While this unique book includes those, it is more about what he refers to as ‘the stuff in between.’ Innovation methods and tools are like bricks in a foundation—but bricks don’t work well without mortar in between them. Learning to Build provides mortar that firms and strengthens as you practice the five skills of an innovator in your life and work.

    —Jay Gerhart, Vice President of Innovation Engine at Atrium Health

  • “Regardless of your profession, having a strong set of thinking tools is the difference between status quo and consistent progress. This book brings to life the critical skills of innovation that aren’t taught in school and are often drowned out in a sea of buzzwords. Through personal experience and reflection on the wisdom of his mentors, Bob offers advice on how you can put these skills into practice in your work.”

    —Andy Weisbecker, Senior Director of Digital Experience

    at Target Corporation

  • “I couldn’t put this book down. The amount of practical learning per page is phenomenal. Bob takes his personal story and learnings to explain the foundation of what it takes to be a successful innovator like no one else has—and shatters several myths of ‘the best’ ways to innovate in the process.”

    —Michael Horn, author of Choosing College and Disrupting Class