Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire sit down with Sandra Hodzic, the director of strategic innovation and design for the Government of New Brunswick. Sandra has over ten years experience in corporate innovation and has a deep understanding of how to identify breakthrough ideas and take solutions to market. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Davis, and Sandra discuss the methodologies used to further social innovation and what that looks like throughout Canada.
Shownotes:
(0:59) Introduction to Sandra
(1:48) About Strategic Innovation and Design at the Government of New Brunswick
(9:24) What Innovation Can Look Like
(11:50) Social Innovation throughout Canada
(17:48) Methodologies Used in Social Innovation
(28:10) Organizations Fostering Social Innovation
(30:10) Challenges Moving Forward
(34:39) Advice to Younger Self
(36:17) Closing Thoughts
Links:
Quotes:
“Innovation isn’t the panacea to all social ills. It’s just one set of mechanisms that can be deployed amongst a variety. Actually, I would argue that it works best when it’s complemented by other methods as well because a lot of them do work very well and in unison.” – Sandra Hodzic, (4:21)
“Innovation is doing cool stuff that matters. I think that’s ultimately what we try to create is we try to work on interesting things that make a difference and that matter in the lives of the individuals we collaborate with, the public that we serve, and the people that we’re there to represent.” – Sandra Hodzic, (8:33)
“…whenever I embark on a project where that individual’s leader allowed them the space and the time in their workday to focus on being playful, and being disruptive, and being divergent, and employing new methods of overcoming risks or de-risking a model, those are the ones that have led usually to the most success.” – Sandra Hodzic, (25:12)
Creating Strategic Innovation and Design
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire sit down with Sandra Hodzic, the director of strategic innovation and design for the Government of New Brunswick. Sandra has over ten years experience in corporate innovation and has a deep understanding of how to identify breakthrough ideas and take solutions to market. Throughout the episode, Caleb, Davis, and Sandra discuss the methodologies used to further social innovation and what that looks like throughout Canada.
The Government’s Role in Social Innovation
With Sandra’s influence, the Government of New Brunswick has put an emphasis on social innovation. She has long been passionate about helping those that are vulnerable and have been disadvantaged, which led her into government. Over the last ten years, she’s become interested in the challenges that prevent the government from providing optimal services for the people it’s built to serve, and she is determined to make change happen.
“Innovation is doing cool stuff that matters. I think that’s ultimately what we try to create is we try to work on interesting things that make a difference and that matter in the lives of the individuals we collaborate with, the public that we serve, and the people that we’re there to represent.” – Sandra Hodzic, (8:33)
With the Department of Strategic Innovation and Design, Sandra provides a consultancy service that assists other governmental departments, helping resolve challenges and push for progress. Her department’s goal is to equip others with everything necessary to continue innovating and progressing long after Sandra’s team moves on to another department.
“Innovation isn’t the panacea to all social ills. It’s just one set of mechanisms that can be deployed amongst a variety. Actually, I would argue that it works best when it’s complemented by other methods as well because a lot of them do work very well and in unison.” – Sandra Hodzic, (4:21
In the past, social innovation relied on community effort rather than the government, but Sandra and the Department of Strategic Innovation and Design have flipped the script. Now, New Brunswick’s government has the tools and resources needed to tackle social innovation issues.
Thinking Outside the Box
While innovation often means solving the main issue at hand, it’s accompanied by being divergent and creating something new. According to Sandra, the most innovative solutions are a result of thinking outside the box. This allows for creative solutions that outperform traditional resolutions.
“…whenever I embark on a project where that individual’s leader allowed them the space and the time in their workday to focus on being playful, and being disruptive, and being divergent, and employing new methods of overcoming risks or de-risking a model, those are the ones that have led usually to the most success.” – Sandra Hodzic, (25:12)
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