At Harvard, it’s Zero Ideas ?? Wasted

I had the mind ?? blowing experience of judging the Harvard Innovation Labs’ President’s Innovation Challenge, and we met the winners last night. Want to feel like a slacker? Hang out at this event. Nothing like meeting MD/Ph.D.’s who are revolutionizing the birthing process to reduce infant and maternal mortality to feel like you’ve got more work to do!

I was struck by this message, “Zero Ideas Wasted.” Harvard President Lawrence Bacow talked about how great ideas can easily slip through our fingers if we don’t capture them. How often are we letting brilliant concepts evaporate into the ether because we’re not putting processes around gathering, prioritizing, and experimenting with them to see if they could succeed? How often do we ignore the ideas of co-workers from unusual corners of the business, vendors, or partners in favor of just hitting the quarterly numbers and playing it safe?

Even when we grasp the idea and ride that bucking bronco, we are constantly asked to pivot, find new partners and business models, and find product/market fit, to ensure our ideas reach their finish lines. It can be a rough ride, but boy, when it works, it’s so worth it.

“Zero Ideas Wasted” is why I started Innovation Storytellers. I wanted to ensure that every great idea would be paired with the stories necessary to connect inventors with their most critical audiences. And why I LOVE teaching innovators to become amazing storytellers so that each of you gets the resources, runway, and recognition you and your visions deserve.

I can’t wait to hear the stories these Harvard innovators will share with the world.

Congratulations and thank you to President Lawrence Bacow?Matt Segneri,?Rebecca Xiong, PhD,?Leo Guyshan, the?#HiLabs?team and all the students who poured their hearts ?? into their businesses. Your ideas are NEVER wasted.

Check out all the winners here: https://lnkd.in/dSB7dtvE

#innovation?#harvard?#hbs #storytelling