By John McDonald and Kevin Berkopes A crisis in education is underway, which, like many things, was accelerated by the pandemic. Much has been written about this within the education world, but we look at it from a different angle as innovators and startup creators. In our world, we first […]
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From Classroom to Enterprise: Elevating education through entrepreneurship
With eight states joining the roster of those offering educational choice to all students, 2023 has easily become the Year of Universal Choice. In a matter of two years, the number of students eligible for choice programs has grown by 60 percent, with approximately 20 million students now free to […]
Read MoreMy Story
Realizing that when you don’t write your own story others might write it for you, I offer this. I’ve been materially shaped by the challenges my colleagues and I continue to face in starting and growing innovation startups in Central Indiana. In and through countless conversations with other startup founders […]
Read MoreDemystifying Business Innovation Consulting
Starting a business is hard. Growing and sustaining a business is also hard. Both require innovation. To remain viable, modern businesses often find themselves in a race to innovate, to differentiate and set themselves apart from the competition. How important is innovation in business? According to McKinsey research: 84% of […]
Read MoreThe Case for Economic Development and Community Impact Through Entrepreneurship
By Courtney Zaugg and John McDonald 15 June 2023 Historically, economic development, philanthropic community impact, and entrepreneurship have been substantially separate concepts, but now there is a small and growing group of leaders who increasingly believe that these three things may be the same thing. This evolving viewpoint of interconnectedness […]
Read MoreWhat Is a Strategic Innovation Example?
Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Zoom—all of these corporate superstars are excellent examples of strategic innovation in action. We’ve witnessed these companies bring about some of the most exciting transformations in the world as we know it today. From changing the smartphone game to having a name that is synonymous with […]
Read MoreWhat Is an Innovative Strategy in Business?
An innovative strategy is a plan used by businesses to make sure they will stay relevant over time and drive growth. A business that does not have an innovative strategy as part of its core culture and baked into its running will struggle. Developing and implementing innovations can be pushed […]
Read MoreInnovation Strategy in Business
Whether we’re talking about coming up with innovative ideas and strategies to launch a new business or to grow an existing business, it’s difficult to overstate the importance of innovation strategy. Why is it important for businesses to innovate? At a high level, innovative businesses are better-positioned for relevance, differentiation, […]
Read MoreCharacteristics of an Innovator
Innovators are the driving force behind entrepreneurship and businesses’ products and services development. Without the ability to create and implement new ideas, a business could fall behind its competitors. Consumers want new and improved products, and without an innovative team, it’s difficult for businesses to keep up with demand. According […]
Read MoreInnovation in Business
When an entrepreneur starts a new business, innovation is usually at the forefront of their mind—after all, it’s a key determiner of whether the business is going to be successful or not. Once a business is established, though, it’s human nature to become complacent or content with the status quo, […]
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