Ep. 2: The Pioneers of Change: How Innovation Shapes The World with Tracey Robertson Carter and Howard Herring

We’re here to reimagine who qualifies as an innovator and to provide practical tools to help anyone discover their hidden innovator. Hosted by Leigh-Ann Buchanan, this podcast features dynamic conversations and solo episodes designed to help you learn how to use innovation more adeptly in your day to day life. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

In this episode, I am joined by Tracey Robertson Carter, Director of The Carter Project, and Howard Herring, President & CEO of New World Symphony.

Together, we dive deep into the dynamics of fostering environments that breed innovation and fulfillment. Tracey and Howard share their profound insights, spanning from the fundamental essence of innovation to the pathways individuals traverse to become innovators themselves. We unpack the critical importance of access and representation in the art world and the intersectionality of innovation across sports, culture, and education. We also explore the pivotal role of mentorship, entrepreneurship, and creativity in driving innovation forward, as well as highlight the transformative power of envisioning goals as a key component of achieving success in the realm of innovation.

Don't miss out on this captivating discussion as we unravel how innovation extends beyond personal gratification, particularly through the lens of embracing the arts and creativity.

KEY POINTS:

- How Tracey and Howard define innovation

- Tracey’s and Howard’s paths to becoming innovators

- On creating an environment for innovation and fulfillment

- Discovering platforms for innovations

- The importance of access and representation in the art world

- On understanding innovation in sports and culture

- The importance of representative exposure to encourage pioneers in innovation

- On mentorship, entrepreneurship, and creativity

- The pivotal role of envisioning your goals to achieve success

- The significance of people in driving innovation and dealing with challenges

QUOTES:

“The act of education or the creation of an institution that pursues education in, an integrated, creative, imaginative way, is a platform. Music is the ultimate platform.” — Howard Herring

“To be an innovator, you constantly have to be thinking around: ‘How can I bring a dream or imagine something [or] bring that dream into reality?’ And that's something we have to think of every day” — Tracey Robertson Carter

“It is important to think about this whole identity of an innovator which is having exposure —- representative exposure — to people who are relevant to your experience.” — Leigh-Ann Buchanan

“The purpose of innovation is to solve problems that relate to the human condition. It's not necessarily for selfish gain or self-fulfillment.” — Leigh-Ann Buchanan