We asked some very talented folks to tell us about the most innovative thing they’ve done in their career.

Sunir Patel

For us, the most innovative thing we’ve done doesn’t sound super exciting, but I feel that it was quite an achievement. For an entire year, we operated a retail business without a retail showroom while building a retail store around us. Read More>>

Dreama (Simeng) Lin

Innovation in architecture isn’t just about new materials or iconic forms—it’s about rethinking how spaces enhance well-being and adapt to changing needs. Throughout my career, I’ve integrated strategic, evidence-based design to improve user experience, from reimagining healthcare environments to fostering healthier workplaces and more intuitive retail spaces. My approach challenges conventional design constraints by prioritizing adaptability, environmental responsiveness, and human-centered solutions. These innovations, while not always flashy, have real impact—shaping spaces that promote health, efficiency, and engagement. This is the foundation of my work and why I believe design can be a catalyst for broader systemic improvement. Read More>>

Tori Scarborough

As social media was evolving and was a creative way to interact and reach broader and younger audiences, I pitched an idea to the team at HHS that we host the first-ever White House Twitter Town Hall on Public Health. Included in this townhall were experts in health policy. Our audience members were very diverse and incredibly interested in what the bill included and how it would impact their key constituency members. It allowed the administration to hear from our stakeholders and constituents about their needs and any improvement areas we needed to consider as we continued to implement, inform, and empower the country with this legislation. Read More>>

Kelly Fox

In the Spring of 2024, I was set to go on tour with a band as their photographer. By what felt like an act of God at the time, the tour was cancelled and I found myself with a month of free time and no idea where my next check was coming from. Fortunately, my parents needed some manual labor done at the time and had a small budget, so I went home to work. Around the same time, I had interest from a merchandise company that liked our product, but needed it to be more polished. As I painted and sanded and weeded and mulched, I redesigned the product in my head and sketched it out on breaks. At night, I chatted with suppliers and eventually brought my design to manufacturing. To this day, I credit that tour cancellation for the real start of my company! Read More>>

Tim Eads

I’d say one of the most innovative things we did for our company was about how we took care of our team. During a particularly strong year, we decided to rethink what a sustainable and supportive workplace could look like, especially in the middle of Covid. We raised everyone’s pay to a shared base level—including management—because we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable to the success of the company. We also rolled out full health coverage (including dental, vision, and disability), a 401(k) with immediate vesting and matching, a four-day work week, and even profit sharing. It was a big shift, but what it showed us is that you can absolutely run a profitable business while putting your people first. Read More>>

Tammie Jenkins

Thank you so much for asking this question the most innovative thing I’ve done in my career well is not directly associated with my company. It is an insight into how I think as a business owner in 2001 my Godbrother Ezekiel Phillips received a packet from his middle school on innovative ideas that Could solve world problems. He came to me. I was a student at UCLA at the time with two little ones and working part time, and you know getting it through as a woman of distinction chancellor award winner at UCLA amongst other things and I said I’d definitely be willing to help you with this so we sat down and we had our brainstorming our powwow our meeting in his mom‘s two bedroom apartment and I asked him what is the problem that he was experiencing in his life at the time that he wanted a solution too. Read More>>

Valerie Goodew

Innovation isn’t just about flashy gadgets or Silicon Valley it’s about reimagining what’s possible in your industry and elevating the experience for your clients in ways that feel intuitive, luxurious, and future-forward.

Drawing from my experience as a brand educator and beauty advisor with Ulta, Sephora, and third-party consulting firms like Headcount, I’ve seen firsthand where the beauty industry often leaves people behind. We are influenced and sold to but left to our own decisions at home with limited knowledge of how to actually maintain our skin. Particularly when it comes to personalized, skin-conscious guidance. As a licensed Esthetician, I’m reclaiming that space by offering consulting services designed to bridge that gap. Read More>>

Mandy Hurley

When I first started my business, Simple Sundries, in 2019, it was a home-delivery mason jar refill service of soaps, lotions and cleaners. A service that allowed people to reuse and refill their own containers with home and personal care products. I’d deliver shampoo, dish soap, whatever they ordered from my online store, in mason jars and during delivery would pick up the empty jars from their previous order. But once the pandemic hit, canning became popular and the traditional mason jar lids I’d been using for my jars became scarce. I couldn’t find enough to keep up with my orders! Read More>>