NORTHERN VIRGINIA
CHAMBER BLOG

Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce | Tysons, VA
  • Events
    • Chamber Events & Registration
    • Annual Awards
    • Meeting Room Reservation
    • The Greater Washington i-LIST
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Why Join
    • Member Directory
    • Our Partners
    • 2019 Investment Opportunities
    • 2018 Year in Review
  • Get Connected
    • Business Development & Networking
    • Community Partnerships
    • Thought Leadership Areas of Focus
    • NOVA Biz Guide
    • Blog
  • Business Advocacy
    • NOVABIZPAC
    • Policy Committee
    • 2018 Legislative Session
    • 2019 Legislative Session
    • Workforce Programs
  • Media Center
    • Press Room
    • Northern Virginia Chamber in the News
    • Doing Business E-Newsletter
    • Advertising Opportunities
    • The Business Voice Magazine
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • A Letter from the President & CEO
    • Career Opportunities
    • About Northern Virginia
    • Strategic Plan
    • Directions to the Chamber
    • Certificate of Origin

GREATER WASHINGTON INNOVATION AWARDS™ FINALIST Q&A

3/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Refraction
Community Impact Innovator of the Year Finalist
Rachael Stott, Director and Co-founder, Refraction 

In your opinion, what makes a company innovative? 
I think, and studies suggest, innovation is about connection. Connection to a problem, connection to your end users, connection to collaborators with skills different than yours, connection to the other stakeholders that your innovation will impact, and connection to the passion that made you want to change something in the first place. The more connected you are to these things, and the more willing you are to be uncomfortable, mistaken, and a student to these things the more likely you are to build something truly valuable and innovative. 
 
What makes your company innovative? 
Coworking is still an emerging industry, and yet the approaches to it remain strikingly similar; take a space, make it look and feel cool, sell memberships, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We see coworking differently. Coworking to us, is a driver of economic development, ecosystem, and ultimately innovation. Refraction is a piece of the solution for sure, but we are not a complete solution, so we extensively consult and partner with internal and external stakeholders. Again, what that looks like from the outside is connection. 
 
The crux of our innovation in who we connect with and why, we are inherently non-competitive and inclusive. The more people working on building the culture and ecosystem of innovation in the region the better, and the more we can help them all the more innovative we become. Our member companies don’t need real estate, they need a space that flexes with their growing team and that helps their team collaborate - we built it with experts and architects. Our companies need interns and talent - so we are working with local high schools, community colleges and colleges not just to find students but to help those institutions understand what our startups need. Our companies need an environment that supports their growth, so we connect with legislators at a county and state level, advocating for the needs of startups.
 
What or who are some innovative companies or people that inspire you and your team? 
Thanks, for the softball question! The companies we are inspired by are our members, of course! We get front row seats to watch them build incredible companies, there is nothing more inspiring than that.
 
As for the companies that inspire and guide our work - the companies that inspire how we approach our work look very different to us. Think The Container Store, Pixar, Patagonia, Alphabet (Google), Kayak.
 
What are some publications, print or digital, you read daily or have read that help you stay on top of your game? 
I am a research fiend, and over the past 5 years have collected a library of over 600 journalistic and academic articles. For example, I read every business related paper that comes from the Standard Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. My go-to's are always evidenced based solutions, so I look to HBR and Bloomberg most frequently.
 
What advice would you give to up-and-coming leaders striving to be innovative in today’s business environment?
Diversity of thought will always deliver the most innovative solutions, the best outcomes. Ensure your team and your advisers don't resemble you too closely, surround yourself with those who have different backgrounds, expertise, experience, and perspectives. Where possible ensure your talented team resembles your stakeholders and end users, treat them well and leverage the best that they have to give - thats where the innovation is found.


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

Contact us
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
7900 Westpark Drive, Suite A550, Tysons, VA 22102-3853
Phone: 703-749-0400 | FAX: 703 -749-9075


Home of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce

    Sign up for the Northern Virginia Chamber Newsletter

Subscribe to Newsletter
Picture
  • Events
    • Chamber Events & Registration
    • Annual Awards
    • Meeting Room Reservation
    • The Greater Washington i-LIST
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Why Join
    • Member Directory
    • Our Partners
    • 2019 Investment Opportunities
    • 2018 Year in Review
  • Get Connected
    • Business Development & Networking
    • Community Partnerships
    • Thought Leadership Areas of Focus
    • NOVA Biz Guide
    • Blog
  • Business Advocacy
    • NOVABIZPAC
    • Policy Committee
    • 2018 Legislative Session
    • 2019 Legislative Session
    • Workforce Programs
  • Media Center
    • Press Room
    • Northern Virginia Chamber in the News
    • Doing Business E-Newsletter
    • Advertising Opportunities
    • The Business Voice Magazine
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • A Letter from the President & CEO
    • Career Opportunities
    • About Northern Virginia
    • Strategic Plan
    • Directions to the Chamber
    • Certificate of Origin