Innovate and Grow with Paul Reeder
1. I read your Linkedin profile and learnt that at OSU you do a lot of innovation work. I don’t know what innovation really means. Can you please explain it?
Paul says that innovation is a way of thinking differently that allows people to change their behavior. This was the big idea he shared but he then broke it down with an example. For e.g, in swimming, you can swim countless laps to build strength or speed, but you might not necessarily improve your overall performance. But an innovative coach might introduce new techniques or training strategies that change the swimmers behavior making them so much better in their overall technique and performance. An innovative mindset allows creating new businesses, solving problems differently and changing the way something is done for the better. He concluded by saying that innovation is a mindset and it is a way of thinking.
2. What kind of problems do you and the students at OSU solve?
Paul and his student teams solve big problems that individuals might experience, communities might experience or the entire society might experience. Recently, they completed a project to help the immigrant population that moved to Columbus lead a better life by having access to transportation and mobility with their daily chores like jobs and groceries. With their solutions, they were thinking about how the community could thrive and the overall society works better and be inclusive and diverse. Another fun example he shared was about why some people do not like peanut butter. This brought a big smile to my face and I wanted to learn more. It sounded weird but it sounded like many teenagers didn't like peanut butter so they went around and asked a simple question to a bunch of high school students. I suggested that they can ask college students the same question as well. Paul said, by asking and interviewing people, we learn a lot. By listening to what people have to say, students had the opportunity to work on innovative solutions for increasing their liking for peanut butter.
3. Can you give me some ideas on what innovation may look like in middle school?
Paul and I collaborated to brainstorm innovative ideas for middle school. We started with 2 ideas: school lunches and Pokémon cards. Regarding school lunches, we discussed the importance of student input. Instead of simply providing the cheapest options, an innovative approach would involve surveying students about their preferred foods. This would not only reduce food waste but also enhance student satisfaction. For Pokémon cards, we explored a more nuanced approach to gathering feedback. Rather than a simple yes-or-no question, we could ask peers to elaborate on their reasons for liking Pokémon cards. This deeper understanding could lead to more innovative and engaging activities related to the game. This discussion helped me understand the meaning and importance of innovative problem solving.
4. I was curious about the PAST foundation? Can you explain what it is?
Paul explained that the PAST Foundation is a pioneering organization dedicated to Partnering Anthropology with Science and Technology, and serves as a hub for innovation. By connecting education, industry, and diverse communities, PAST empowers individuals to address the evolving landscape of work and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning. Through a variety of STEM programs, including weekend workshops and immersive summer experiences, PAST provides opportunities for students, educators, and the community to explore cutting-edge technologies and develop critical thinking skills. By offering essential resources and fostering collaboration, PAST is committed to transforming education and bridging the gap between learning and real-world application.
5. I learned that you are an Industrial Designer by education, what is industrial design?
Paul’s job in industrial design was collaborating with different engineers to make a product that would be more useful to people. To give a better understanding of what industrial design is you could think of a phone, he explained. There is a lot of engineering that goes into the phone to make it operate. As an industrial designer Paul’s job is to think about small details that could change the entire product. Designers have to think about how the final product could be useful to people. Continuing with the example of the phone the designers use key factors like, how thick the phone would be and how big should the icons for your apps be. One of the very first products that Paul designed was a kickboard that is shaped like a stingray. Paul’s intention of making this kickboard was to help swimmers kick more efficiently. This discussion helped me understand what Industrial design is.
6. How did you use these skills to build your businesses?
Paul combines his skills to think differently and his drawing skills to show people how his products would work when being used. Paul’s drawing ability allows him to communicate with other people what ideas he would like to share. He gave an example of how he uses his skills in the business world. When Paul designs a pair of swimming goggles and doesn't really give a visual of the product, it wouldn’t give his buyers a good understanding of what he was trying to sell. Most of the time when you buy a product on Amazon for instance, there is always a picture of what the item you’re trying to buy so you know that it’s what you want to purchase. Going back to the example of goggles, if Paul created a visual for his customer it would give his buyers a better understanding and have a response that would generate feedback to improve.
7. What are the key skills you built during your business that you didn't learn in school?
One of the skills Paul learnt while building his startups was the ability to listen. He said, in school the teachers don’t actually teach you how to listen properly and that it was very important to build this skill in your growing up years. Another skill that Paul had learnt while developing his business was asking questions and being curious. When you have all the information you can take the data that you have gathered and help that person solve a problem. In addition, Paul shared that being financially wise is generally important in life but more important in business. This conversation gave me some very different and insightful perspectives about building skills for myself.
8. What advice would you give to me and other middle schoolers on what skills are important to build today that will help us in future?
He gave some very important advice. Paul told me that it would be better to learn how to be a good presenter earlier because this skill will always come handy throughout your entire life as a way to organize your ideas and be confident while sharing them to anyone. He said, no matter whatever professional journey you embark on, you will have to learn how to organize your thoughts and present in a way that will allow you to make an impact. Another piece of advice Paul gave me was having a positive and growth mindset. He said everything can get better; you just have to take the next step to make something even better than it already is.
I had such an awesome conversation with Paul. I could really connect with him. He has taught me to always keep a growth mindset everyday. I would like to thank Paul for his time and I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed interviewing him and writing this blog!
You can reach out to Paul on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulreederosu/
I would really love to hear your feedback and comments. Please reach out to me@hanikachhajer.com.
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