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 should focus on how to accelerate innovative ideas, ensuring that they are not just reactive but proactive in creating positive change within their congregations.

Leadership Applications

Encouraging Initiative: Leaders can create an environment where members feel safe to propose new ideas, such as starting a community service project or a new class, by actively listening and providing support.

Building Support Networks: Forming small groups or committees within the ward can help individuals collaborate on innovative projects, leveraging their unique skills and experiences to enhance church activities.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation: By promoting a mindset of continuous improvement and openness to new ideas, leaders can inspire members to contribute creatively to the church’s mission, ultimately strengthening the community and its outreach efforts.

00:03:34 – Framing Innovation in Church Leadership
00:05:25 – Innovation in the Context of the Restoration
00:07:51 – Challenges of Innovation in Large Organizations
00:09:36 – Autonomy in Local Church Leadership
00:11:25 – Encouraging Local Innovation
00:12:39 – The Role of Individual Members in Innovation
00:14:31 – Importance of Innovation in Church Leadership
00:16:06 – Proactive vs. Reactive Innovation
00:18:07 – Individual Innovation and Community Impact
00:19:25 – The Need for Innovation to Avoid Disruption
00:21:15 – Creating a Culture of Innovation
00:22:02 – Five Principles of Innovation
00:23:32 – Recognizing Potential in Others
00:30:26 – The Power of Enclaves in Innovation
00:40:50 – Enabling Ownership of Innovative Ideas
00:42:11 – Building Support for Innovative Initiatives

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

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