Articles

Originally posted in our October 2023 Top of Mind Newsletter. Tragic optimism, the antithesis of toxic positivity, is a concept rooted in the belief that even in the most challenging and adverse circumstances, one can find meaning and the potential for positive change. This mindset aligns remarkably well with the core principles of entrepreneurial thinking. Entrepreneurs, by nature, confront adversity head-on. They don’t turn a blind eye to problems; they engage with them, dissect them, and…

Originally posted in our August 2023 Top of Mind Newsletter. As key stakeholders in entrepreneurship ecosystems, educators are often at the forefront of changes to the landscape. But, it is in the classroom and on campus that widening gaps in access are often most apparent, too. The digital divide is a topic we’ve heard much about as technological advances continue to leave humans’ adaptability in the dust, and with the addition of AI, we may be…

Originally posted in our August 2023 Top of Mind Newsletter. Those of us in the entrepreneurial ecosystem have likely felt the sensation of being adrift at sea with no sight of land. For some, it feels like there’s not enough support, and for others, there’s so much you don’t know where to turn. It’s feelings like this that lead to unneeded competition and mismanaged communications. But there are dynamics at play that make the term ecosystem…

Originally posted in our June 2023 Top of Mind Newsletter. In the vein of entrepreneurial leadership, one core capability Senge et al. discuss is the importance of fostering reflection and generative conversation. In this recent piece from the New Yorker, we read about the “civilizing power of conversation” and how we’ve fallen so far from this as a society. “As the philosopher Michael Oakeshott observed, in conversation, ‘there is no ‘truth’ to be discovered, no proposition…

Originally posted in our June 2023 Top of Mind Newsletter. Many have heard ELI talk about the importance of everyone learning to think like entrepreneurs. One such way that the most successful entrepreneurial thinkers “do it” is by applying the tools of systems leadership. Put simply; systems leaders are those who can take action while also considering the situation they (and their team) are in, in order to foster collective leadership. In this article from Peter…