Episode Details

Roy Zwahlen has extensive background in innovation. He serves as Chief Strategy Officer at the Eshelman Institute of Innovation, which develops therapeutics and digital health technologies and startups. Roy recently co-authored the book Race to Innovation: Unleashing the Power of Entrepreneurship for Everyone. He also serves as Associate Dean at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Roy has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brigham Young University and a Juris Doctor from the George Mason School of Law. He has executive education in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Chief Strategy Officer executive training from Wharton School of Business.

Roy loves spending his early mornings hassling 20+ teenagers as a Seminary teacher in Pittsboro, North Carolina. He has served in bishoprics, elders quorum presidencies, Sunday School presidencies, and in various teacher callings with Primary clearly being the best. Roy, his wife, and their five children—all of whom are much cooler than he is—live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Links

https://www.racetoinnovation.net/
Race to Innovation: Unleashing the Power of Entrepreneurship for Everyone
Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

In this episode, Roy discusses the intersection of innovation and church leadership, emphasizing how Latter-day Saints can embrace creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to build the kingdom of God. He outlines five principles of innovation that can empower individuals and leaders within the church.

Key Insights

Innovation in the Church: Innovation is rooted in the ongoing restoration of the gospel, with historical examples from church leaders like Joseph Smith and President Nelson demonstrating the importance of adapting and evolving.

Recognizing Potential: Leaders should actively recognize and nurture the divine potential in all members, encouraging creativity and new ideas rather than dismissing them due to comfort with the status quo.

Power of Enclaves: Supportive groups or enclaves foster innovation by providing emotional and practical support, enabling individuals to take risks and share their ideas without fear of failure.

Enabling Ownership: Leaders should empower members to take ownership of their ideas, allowing them to lead initiatives rather than relying solely on institutional approval.

Unique Perspectives: Embracing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of members can lead to innovative solutions that enrich the church community.

Accelerating Change: Leaders sho