Q. How do you define innovation in your field of work and teaching? 
A. I see innovation as a process of discovery and transformation. It begins with the willingness to challenge our own thinking and to explore unknown spaces. In my field, this means creating environments that invite experimentation, celebrate failure as a source of learning, and foster creative confidence. Through methods that unlock new perspectives and uncover deep user insights, I help teams move from assumptions to understanding—and from ideas to solutions that are relevant, inclusive, and future-oriented.

Q. What are some key lessons from your journey in innovation and entrepreneurship that you would like to share with students or early-stage researchers? 
A. One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is: don’t just design for your audience—become them. Step into their shoes, not just on paper, but in real life. It’s easy to write down what a persona thinks or does, but it’s something entirely different to truly embody their role for a day. This immersive approach leads to deep, embodied insights that no focus group could ever deliver. It sharpens empathy, challenges assumptions, and often reveals what people would never articulate in interviews. I’ve also learned that deep insights often lie beyond words. Asking people to show rather than tell—to demonstrate an experience or reenact a situation—can uncover hidden needs and behaviors. Innovation begins where observation meets empathy. 

Q. From your perspective, what should the innovation ecosystem of the future look like – and how can initiatives like EELISA help shape it?
A. The innovation ecosystem of the future must be deeply systemic—where human and non-human stakeholders are treated with equal relevance. Nature, technology, culture, and community are all part of the same interconnected field. Innovation should no longer be driven solely by utility or markets, but by responsibility, empathy, and long-term impact.

EELISA has the potential to nurture this kind of ecosystem. By bringing together diverse perspectives across countries, disciplines, and cultures, it creates fertile ground for ideas to grow. Like seeds carried by the wind, some impulses will land where conditions are just right – and from there, grow into meaningful change. This open, evolving exchange is key to shaping an innovation culture that is inclusive, adaptive, and regenerative.