Innovating SMART - first-person stories of sustainability

THE INNOVATION:

My team and I have created a place to collect first-person stories of "SMART" innovation.  We hope to advance a cultural narrative of sustainability-driven professional work.

 
Sue Lebeck, Director

InnovatingSMART

www.innovatingsmart.org

Why is this work important to do?  And why is it compelling to you personally?

As an innovation advocate for the past five years, I found myself especially appreciative of the sustainability-driven innovators.   Their work is important to the planet, intellectually savvy, and has the power to transform the designs of our industrial and social systems and infrastructures.  The work takes patience, commitment, and wisdom.  To me, SMART innovators are today's heroes.

There needs to be a place where any innovator anywhere can add their first-person story to the collective narrative of SMART innovation.   At its core, this is a human effort, even more than it is a technological one.  By sharing our stories, we will learn from and be inspired by one another.

We hope that creative people everywhere will recognize themselves in these stories, and see how they might build SMART design principles into their work, whatever it may be.

What wisdom would you like to pass on to tomorrow's innovators and entrepreneurs?

When creating something new, always dance in the space between what you imagined your innovation to be, and what it wants to become.   Don't be afraid to let it morph and change, but also don't let go of the essential gold of your original idea.

How might others help you?

It's not possible for us to reach out and personally interview all the SMART innovators we've met.  And there are so many more who are unknown to us.   You can help create the collective narrative of sustainability of telling us your own SMART story, or by "sharing" our invitation with a friend or colleague who is doing SMART, sustainability-driven work.  Thank you so much!