one of the most powerful experiments innovators can engage in is living and working overseas. Our research revealed that the more countries a person has lived in,the more likely he or she is to leverage that experience to deliver innovative products,processes,or businesses. In fact,if managers try out even one international assignment before becoming CEO,their companies deliver stronger financial results than companies run by CEOs without such experience roughly 7% higher market performance on average,according to research by Gregerren,Mason A.Carpenter,and Gerard W.Sanders.P&G's A.G.Lafley,for example,spent time as a student studying history in France and running retail operations on U.S.military bases in Japan.He returned to japan latar to head all of P&G's Asia operations before becoming CEO.His diverse international experience has served him well as the leader of one of the most innovative companies in the world.