Earlier this year, I was awarded a fellowship with the Royal Academy in London entitled Leaders in Innovation Fellowship. The idea behind it is to help researchers turn their innovative ideas into products hoping that will lead to “sustainable” social impact. The training consisted of two-weeks of intense training on entrepreneurial thinking followed up by one year of mentoring for the fellows and the potential for obtaining generous funding if the fellows make significant progress during that year.
As a researcher, the temptation to see my work outside the lab implemented at scale is hard to resist. For that to happen, however, decisions like choosing a business model and working to make money might have implications on changing my research approach and methods. I am happy to wear the entrepreneurship for the next year.
One of the most amazing take aways from the training was the networking with entrepreneurs and researchers from Egypt, Africa, India, and China all working on vital societal challenges. Thru this network, I was introduced to Marcelo Bravo, an inspiring angel investor, businessman, and CEO who interviewed me about my fellowship project. This interview is one of a series he made to encourage global entrepreneurship.
My one-minute interview with Marcelo Bravo.
ShaimaaLazem 