Innovation, leadership and Women in Technology

• This article was originally published in THE LINK, a publication of Edith Cowan University (Sept 2018). Access and subscribe via https://thelink.space/newsletter/ or email [email protected] to receive further information.

Q&A with Pia Turcinov, Women in Technology WA (WiTWA)

Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) is a Perth-based, not for profit organisation providing a framework for women in technology to extend their network and expand their knowledge on a broad range of professional topics. WiTWA encourages diversity and supports women and young people in technology, science and innovation.

What excites you about innovation in Perth? Many pinpoint the genesis of what we now call the "WA innovation ecosystem" to 2010; a mere 8 years ago! Now, it's not as if we weren’t innovative before that time – our State’s illustrious history in bringing incredible mining, resources, agricultural and marine solutions and projects to market, is testament to this. 

What has changed in recent years however is that the innovation dialogue is being turbocharged by disruptive technologies across multiple and diverse industries. Wrapped in a new language, we now commonly hear entrepreneurs and industry players alike, referencing MVPs, pivots, angels, hacks, IPOs, hubs, crowd sourcing and all things co-working. Having undergone our own start-up phase, we are currently witnessing the maturing of the local innovation ecosystem in WA; one that is building exciting and far-reaching networks across the globe.

Why is leadership important to foster Innovation? Innovation is about change, and the ability to imagine (or indeed re-imagine) how things can be done requires creativity, foresight and leadership. Whether it’s the individual entrepreneur or a collective of organisational intrapreneurs, it is the ability to lead and deliver strategic positive change that in essence “executes” innovation. Without pro-active leadership the chances of creating an environment open to embracing innovation and creating “stickiness” are slim.

What can be done to further support the local innovation ecosystem? From the entrepreneur’s perspective driving and enacting change can be lonely, frustrating and taxing. There is only so much anyone can achieve on their own! Hence the importance of working and leveraging a multitude of enablers within an ecosystem.

WA’s entrepreneurial network is rapidly evolving with nodes forming not only in the wider metropolitan area, but also regionally. These in turn are increasingly connecting to national and international innovation networks, attracting not only new funding avenues, channels to market and international expertise, but also adding a greater diversity of thinking into the mix. It’s this collaboration and connectivity that must be rapidly cultivated and expanded upon, it we are to reach the next stage of maturity and potential for WA.

Do you think collaboration with university can help businesses in becoming successful? The short answer is, yes! Businesses have been collaborating with other enterprises within their industry sector or supply chains for a long time. The notion of collaborating with universities has however until recently been very much relegated to the domain of the big end of town. But the tide is turning, and mindsets are slowly changing on both sides of the equation. 

The idea of being able to collaborate with researchers and use readily accessible applied research to fast-track commercial solutions is starting to resound with not only greater numbers of SMEs, but start-ups as well. Many are now looking to universities as partners to solve specific challenges, validate ideas, de-risk the adoption of new technologies or leverage innovation grants which require industry to collaborate with research institutions. This engagement process is also being made significantly easier with the rapid increase in industry focused outreach programs by universities and the creation of specific industry engagement portfolios charged with a more outward focused approach to collaboration.

Top tip for leading a collaborative and innovative team? 

A. Focus on building an inquisitive collective mindset, positive culture and environment of genuine trust.

B. Look outside your sandbox to learn from, connect with and work with others who can add a different perspective into the mix.

C. Demonstrate through action that failure is acceptable and a natural part of the innovation process. Fail fast – learn fast.

How do you assist companies to achieve sustainable growth? The notion of how to create long term value with finite (and usually limited) resources goes to the heart of most businesses. Achieving sustainable growth requires the right combination of sound market insights, strategic planning, access to the right skillsets (whether internal or sourced from outside the organisation) and a demonstrable (and preferably) unique value proposition.

Being able to provide not only the technical competence to add value to your customers, but also communicate a robust and cohesive narrative as to your value offering, is crucial if you are seeing to cut through what is becoming an increasingly noisy and global competitive marketplace.

Why collaboration is important for business growth? Would you rather have a small piece of a big pie, or a big piece of a small pie? When starting out doing everything yourself on shoestring budget is often not a choice, but rather the only option available. Yet when it comes to scaling a business and pursuing a growth strategy, the benefits of collaborating within a supply chain or indeed the broader value chain, can be significant.

Unlocking skillsets and knowledge beyond internal teams, partnering to access new or larger channels to market, securing investors who not only offer capital but also experience and networks, and leveraging government incentives and support, are all opportunities for a business to grow and thrive.

How can we empower women with STEM skills to ensure gender balance within the innovation ecosystem? Innovation does favour or come more naturally to any one gender. Research demonstrates that the issue that needs addressing doesn’t appear to be female aptitude for STEM professions, but rather one of visibility and choice. When the conversation turns to relative strengths, we see that countries that empower women also empower them, indirectly, to pick whatever career they’d enjoy most and be best at (or think they’d be best at or enjoy). So, in a system which celebrates choice, how do we proactively interest young girls to pursue STEM fields and empower women to unleash their entrepreneurial value?

1.  Let’s take gender out of the narrative when it comes to describing jobs, roles and careers. Using gender-inclusive language starts in early childhood and must remain top of mind right through to professional circles eg the language used in career descriptions and job ads.

2.  We must continue to grow networks for women to highlight the opportunities available, provide education around the language of innovation and start-ups, and increase comfort levels in respect to financial literacy.

3. Surround and support female entrepreneurs with role models, mentors and sponsors (there is an important difference) to build confidence, access supplementary skill-sets and identify tangible and actionable opportunities.

4. Continue to work on changing deeply ingrained unconscious biases; from all sides of the equation - including the potentially lethal and debilitating levels of self-bias often seen in women. This means we also need to boost risk tolerance, enable resilience and redefine what failure looks like.

5. Continue to hold governments to account to provide direct investment in programmes that support women, as well as develop policies and initiatives intended to assist the broader innovation economy. 

Let’s acknowledge the significant economic impact greater diversity within the innovation ecosystem can offer not only Perth, but Western Australia and Australia as a whole. Diversity is not a nice to have, but a must have if we have any chance of maintaining global competitiveness!

We would like to highlight 4 women led STEM start-ups – what are your top recommendations?

Catherine Resnick, Kinchip Systems 

Louse Daw, Co Founder of MiPlan now bought out by Hexagon Mining 

Lucie Hammond, Being VR, Founder 

Brenda Lai, Co-Founder UnoCart 

THE LINK is a collaboration between the City of Joondalup and Edith Cowan University. You can subscribe via https://thelink.space/newsletter/ or email [email protected] to receive further information.