Articles

Originally posted in our May 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. A recent Big Think article highlights how curiosity can rewire the brain—boosting learning, memory, and adaptability. At ELI, we’ve seen firsthand how curiosity fuels the entrepreneurial mindset. It’s what enables individuals to spot opportunities hidden in problems and stay engaged through the often-challenging process of building solutions. But curiosity isn’t just outward-facing. It also drives self-reflection, helping us question assumptions, confront biases, and improve decision-making. Without…

Originally posted in our March 2025 Top of Mind Newsletter. Check out this summary of a 2018 panel co-hosted by Innovators Magazine and the Knowledge4Innovation (K4I) Forum in the European Parliament, exploring how gender-diverse leadership leads to better outcomes. At ELI, we emphasize the value of diverse perspectives in fostering entrepreneurial thinking — a mindset that drives creativity, critical problem-solving, and resilience. By encouraging inclusive environments where all voices are heard, organizations can unlock innovation and…

Originally posted in our November 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. In a recent Derby Informer article, ELI contributor Anne Dewvall emphasizes the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in youth through local events. Rather than solely focusing on business plans, these events should prioritize cultivating attitudes of curiosity, resilience, and innovation. In traditional plan and pitch competitions, the focus is often on the idea rather than the process of discovering a need and testing potential solutions.…

Originally posted in our October 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. Articles like this piece from The Conversation emphasize the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within universities, focusing on the campus community. This mindset can provide a valuable outlet for innovative thinking, but its true potential is realized when universities improve their outreach and partnerships with local communities. By integrating academic innovation with local needs, universities can benefit the surrounding areas significantly. This approach not only…

Originally posted in our September 2024 Top of Mind Newsletter. The HBR article “The Discipline of Innovation” underscores the need for structured approaches to foster sustainable, innovative growth. In it, Peter Drucker identifies key sources of innovation, such as unexpected occurrences, incongruities, and industry changes. Applying these principles to community entrepreneurship is vital to enhancing local economic development. By systematically exploring opportunities and leveraging local resources, community entrepreneurs can drive impactful, culturally relevant innovation, ultimately creating…