One of the most significant innovators and inventors in American history, is perhaps best known for inventing the first long-lasting, commercially practical incandescent light bulb. He was the father of many other breakthroughs, including the first phonograph and the motion picture camera, and he was influential in developing
the first economically viable way of distributing light, heat, and power from a central station.
Thomas Edison
The iconic American entrepreneur and
founder of Apple will go down in history as one of the great innovators. As CEO of Apple in the 1980s and again in the late 90s and 2000s, Jobs played a central role in the
personal computer revolution and in developing its key products, including the McIntosh, the iPod and the iPhone.
Steve Jobs
A great inventor, engineer, and futurist, helped develop the AC electrical delivery system. Infamous for his wild experiments and colorful personality,— ‘s creative
work regarding the production and transmission of power was
far ahead of his time.
Nikola Tesla
One of the great businessman/philanthropists of the last century, Gates founded and built Microsoft into an
unmatched software behemoth before leaving to state the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, a multi-billion dollar philanthropic enterprise working to enhance global healthcare and reduce
poverty.
Bill Gates
One of the founding fathers of the United
States, was a brilliant polymath, inventor, political theorist, scientist, statesman, and writer. He had a prodigious
scientific mind, and his interests varied widely, but in addition to politics, he is perhaps best known for his experiments with lightning and electricity.
Benjamin Franklin
The original “Renaissance man,” Da Vinci
is best known for his paintings (the Last Supper, the Mona Lisa) but he was also a philosopher, engineer, and inventor. He left
behind him a collection of extraordinarily prescient drawings depicting future technologies (helicopter, tank, solar power)
Leonardo Da Vinci
Da Vincis’ prescient drawings depicting future technologies are
(helicopter, tank, solar power)
A Scottish inventor and engineer, was awarded the US patent for the telephone in 1876. His work on telecommunications, aeronautics, and many other areas (he invented the metal detector) earned him a reputation as one of the great figures of the nineteenth century.
Alexander Graham Bell
A Scottish-Canadian innovator and inventor, used his engineering, surveying, and
mapmaking skills to help build the transcontinental railways of the nineteenth century. He was also the inventor of worldwide standard time and the standard times zones used today.
Sandford Fleming
The first female winner of the Nobel Prize
in 1903 (she won it twice in both physics and chemistry), was a pioneering physicist and chemist who is known for her breakthrough ideas in radioactivity and her
discovery of two elements(Polonium and Radium).
Marie Curie
Marie Curie discovered discovery of two elements called
Polonium and Radium
Orville & Wilbur Wright invented
and flew the world’s first successful airplane in 1903. Their persistence, experimentation, and work on the principles of flight made them legendary inventors and
innovators.
The Wright Brothers
The legendary Italian genius whose
breakthrough ideas helped usher in the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century, is often called the “father of modern science”. Forced to defend
his views of heliocentrism against the Roman inquisition, and spending most of his life under house arrest for heresy, Galileo has become an icon of scientific integrity in the face of religious dogmatism
Galileo Galilei
One of the great scientists of the
twentieth century, breakthrough ideas in
Quantum theory helped revolutionize that field. He once challenged students to explain why a spinning plate wiggles when tossed. His playful approach led to
insights on rotational motion
Richard Feynman
MAIN TRAITS OF AN INNOVATOR
One of the most important traits of an innovative
person is the ability to embrace failure and learn from
mistakes. Innovative individuals see failure not as a setback
but as an opportunity to grow. They know it’s a natural part
of the creative process and helps them get closer to
success.
Accepts Failure and Learns from Mistakes
MAIN TRAITS OF AN INNOVATOR
Innovative individuals constantly seek better ways to
do things and aren’t afraid to challenge how things have
always been done.
They take risks and try new approaches, even if that means
defying conventional wisdom.
Thinks Outside the Box and Challenges the Status Quo
MAIN TRAITS OF AN INNOVATOR
They ask questions, explore different viewpoints, and
constantly seek knowledge. Their curiosity allows them to
view problems from different angles and develop creative
solutions.
Has a Curious and Open Mind
MAIN TRAITS OF AN INNOVATOR
Innovators step outside their comfort zones, try new
things, and take calculated risks. They see change not as
a threat, but as an opportunity for progress.
Takes Risks and Embraces Change
MAIN TRAITS OF AN INNOVATOR
Innovators understand the power of collaboration.
They value feedback and diverse perspectives as tools to
refine their ideas and improve outcomes
Collaborates and Seeks Feedback
CORE SKILLS OF AN INNOVATOR
The ability to successfully connect seemingly
unrelated questions, problems, or ideas from different fields
is essential to innovation.
Associating
CORE SKILLS OF AN INNOVATOR
Most innovative entrepreneurs can recall the specific questions they were asking when
inspiration for a new venture struck. Effective questioning often involves: Why? , Whynot? , and Whatif?
Questioning
CORE SKILLS OF AN INNOVATOR
Discovery-driven
executives generate uncommon business ideas by
examining common phenomena, especially
customer behavior.
Innovators carefully, intentionally, and
consistently observe small behavioral details of
customers, suppliers, and competitors to gain
insights into new ways of doing things.
Observing
CORE SKILLS OF AN INNOVATOR
Fronzetti et al. (2023) found that innovators’ communication tends to be oriented toward innovation and the market. They use words related to business performance, innovation, and marketing, and express concern for company growth and new business
opportunities.
Thematic Orientation
CORE SKILLS OF AN INNOVATOR
Like scientists, innovators actively test new ideas by
building prototypes and launching pilot programs.
The world is the innovator’s laboratory. As an innovator,
you must be capable of designing and running experiments.
Experimenting
