Okay, maybe I got a little carried away there with the title, but let’s be honest – the women I had the honor of training deserve a little pizzazz!
I recently collaborated with the awesome folks at Bank Etihad’s Shorouq Women Program to deliver a series of workshops about creativity and innovation. Imagine a room buzzing with brilliant women, all determined to reignite their careers after taking time away for family or other amazing life chapters. It was inspiring!
So, what did we talk about?
- Creativity vs. Innovation vs. Invention – What’s the Deal? Okay, let’s clear the air. Creativity is like your superpower of fresh ideas. Innovation is taking those ideas and turning them into something awesome that rocks the world (or at least your company). And invention? That’s like a whole new gadget that changes everything.
- Innovation All Around Us: We dug deep into examples of innovation that sometimes we take for granted. Post-it notes? Genius. Ride-sharing apps? Changed the game. Heck, even those meal kits you try because you’re so over deciding what’s for dinner – that’s innovation!
- The Innovation Toolkit: No, we didn’t break out hammers or anything, but we explored frameworks to get the innovation juices flowing. Brainstorming, design thinking – all tools to help turn problems into incredible opportunities.
- Sparking the Flame: How to Stay Innovative: The best part? We worked on strategies to cultivate creativity and innovation as habits, not just one-time events. Because let’s face it, these women are unstoppable!
And the biggest takeaway? It was NOT about being formal or cliché. The atmosphere crackled with energy and laughter! These participants weren’t just absorbing information; they were diving into their own potential. It was a reminder that sometimes the most powerful innovation is finding innovative ways to reclaim your own career path.
