Dr. Tessa Forshaw

Tessa Forshaw, a cognitive scientist who studies how adults learn and innovate, debunks common brain myths and reframes creativity as a trainable skill. She explains why brains resist new ideas, the aerodynamics of creativity (lift, gravity, thrust), and how metacognition, diverse teams, and T-shaped people boost innovation. Practical practices and AI’s impact on creative skill are also explored.

In this engaging discussion, Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden, authors of Innovation-ish, share their insights on making innovation accessible to everyone. Tessa, a cognitive scientist, emphasizes innovation mindsets and the importance of metacognition. Rich, a creativity educator with a background in improv, highlights practical innovation moves that adapt to context. They explore AI as a co-intelligence tool and explain how diverse teams can creatively problem-solve, making innovation not just for the elite, but attainable for all.

Tessa Forshaw, a cognitive scientist and co-founder of Harvard's Next Level Lab, teams up with Rich Braden, founder of People Rocket, to explore accessible innovation. They debunk the myth that creativity is a rare gift, emphasizing that everyone can be innovative with the right guidance. The duo introduces their 'innovation-ish' concept, discusses the six essential mindsets for fostering creativity, and shares practical strategies to overcome 'innovation hesitation.' They also highlight the importance of saying no as a form of progress in the innovation process.