TEDxInnovation Drive

Vision To create Connecticut’s premier innovation event that that challenges assumptions, expands how we define innovation, and equips people to build and teach innovation in any organization. Goals • Present ideas on how to build innovation into any organization • Challenge deeply held assumptions about creativity, sources of innovation and who becomes an innovator • Strengthen the “innovation muscle” of influencers: educators, leaders, and employers • Inspire curiosity, disciplined risk-taking, and creative confidence that lasts beyond the stage Audience - By Invitation Only • Companies making truly innovation products in an innovative way. • Companies with a Chief Innovation Officer • Those that think deeply about innovation (Thought leaders) • Public Service employees who walk the walk and believe in Innovation • Educators (Teachers, Principals, Superintendents): K-12 to college level considered innovators aspiring to teach better • Innovators – in any field not mentioned above: the arts, science, sports, entertainment, psychology, health, etc. Speaker topics we like: 1. Embracing “failure” 2. Importance of the Identification of problems to solve / problem solving/asking the right question – Einstein – Give me an hour to solve a problem and I will spend 50 minutes framing the right question and a few minutes solving it. 3. Innovation is coming from “amateurs” and unexpected places; “misconception of the amateur participant”. often outside the traditional process while collaborating with others Challenge traditional “gatekeeping” and following the “experts” 4. People who are not trained in a particular field often come up with solutions – using InnoCentive as the “story” to make the point [Simon Hill, Founder & CEO of Wazoku has committed to be a speaker] 5. Cultivating Creativity: The 4 Factors (frictions) That Stop Innovation: Inertia (stick w what you know), Effort (how much perceived effort), Emotion (anxiety, concerns), Reactance (aversion to be changed by others). How to overcome them. 6. Importance (or not) of collaboration in innovation 7. Explore successful innovation in Certain Cultures: Most notably, in certain Indian sects, Nigeria (Ibo’s), and Israel (Start-up Nation). What can we learn? 8. Do Innovation “hubs” work 9. Raising creative, curious children in an era of standardized education 10. Examining major innovations in sports, the arts, business, and technology 11. Gamification of innovation: Developing Games and interactive activities that spark creativity 12. Challenge the 10,000 hour rule 13. Procrastinators are more creative 14. How Frustration Can make us More Creative Cost: $250 per person