As a newly indoctrinated practitioner in creativity and innovation, I envisioned myself as a kind of the mad scientist at the lab, bubbling my test tubes together to create new solutions.
I knew that partnerships and collaborations were an important part of innovation, yet I thought of them as “creative collisions”, engendering “aha” moments as challenges and opportunities were shared. Experience has adjusted my view in two ways:
- Weaving and fostering your networks is a critical part of the work;
- Cross-pollination occurs with unexpected encounters.
Networks:
I am a passionate hobby interior designer, it’s the part of me energized by visual art, color and pattern. To feed this passion, I went outside my comfort zone and attended the Nantucket By Design event. While looking forward to learning about the professional design world, I did not anticipate how I would be able to apply new insights to my Innovation Philanthropy work. Hearing keynote speaker, Martha Stewart, discuss continual reinvention led me to the importance of affirming your strategic framework while also evolving within the structure. A designers’ panel on brand collaborations sparked thinking about how philanthropic partnerships can be constructed to increase impact. I was excited to share the “reinvention” and expansion of the Innovation Philanthropy Initiative branding and online presence.
Buffalo AKG Art Museum’s ongoing collaborations, celebrating “One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama”.
Video by Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Cross Pollination:
In the fall, I spoke at a gathering of stakeholders in Upstate Venture Connects, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in Upstate NY. The fireside chat with founder, Martin Babinec, was about the role philanthropy plays in community building. Hand-in-hand with entrepreneurial investment, philanthropic investment amplifies the capacity to grow and nurture vibrant communities. UPC aims to achieve more in building an entrepreneurial environment by thinking of upstate New York in regional terms- why has philanthropy failed to explore this? This got me thinking, what are the intersections of my work and philanthropy that might lend itself to a regional approach?
Its important to have the courage to engage in new networks, even when you feel you might not belong. New things and conversations are fun and interesting, they keep you energized and give you different lens through which to view your work. Whether exploring design conferences, entrepreneurial ecosystems, or collaborations that seem outside your wheelhouse, say yes to the invitation. The best discoveries often happen when unexpected elements combine. Your next strategic breakthrough might be waiting in someone else’s lab.
The Momentum Project:
Imprint Collection at Patina 250.
Video by Curate Hospitality
