028: Beth Comstock on Curiosity, Creativity and Courage.

A change maker inside NBC, the instigator of Hulu, a driver of innovation and the first female vice chair of GE, best selling author of Imagine It Forward, is this week’s guest, Beth Comstock. In this expansive episode, we discuss the impact of her upbringing on her propensity to embrace ambiguity, be a accelerate digital transformation inside traditional organizational structures and inspire teams through her curiosity and imaginative mindset. With candor and thoughtful introspection Beth discusses the challenge of being introverted and overcoming her innate shyness as she grew her reputation and stature as a provocateur of innovative action taking and bold decision making inside traditional business structures. I hope you enjoy this episode of curiosity, creativity and courage with industrial change-maker Beth Comstock. What we discuss The push and pull of influence of her father and mother How she combines core characteristics of both parents Her introversion and its impact on energy The difference from shyness How her curiosity fueled her How her parents nurtured her innate curiosity The role of play in her upbringing and driving her imagination She explains how her competitive nature was apparent from an early age Documenting her ambition aged fifteen years old The desire to build a career in journalism The resilience of early rejection The struggle with her lack of confidence versus her persistence and stubbornness Diane Sawyer impact Where serendipity impacted her life Witnessing fear inside GE of early to mid career managers Passion for creative courage Recognition that her difference was her strength Her concerns over how we are preparing our children for the future The issues with the curriculum and lack of creative problem solving Job crafting Field Trips Her NBC experiences The Five Elements of the Book Self Permission Discovery Agitated Inquiry Power of Storycraft Creating a new Operating System Her advice - get used to living in the in between ‘Figure it out’ classes How she views curiosity Beth’s ‘Just Start’ Mantra What advice Beth would give under 30 Beth Her “Gap’ Year and writing her book We discuss emergence in our ambiguous world Following Gut vs Data Social Links Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Links In the Show Diane Sawyer Three Mile Island 21 Rules for the 21st Century Brooklyn Maker Space Sixth Sigma Ecoimagination OODA Loop Imagine it Forward Hulu NBC Universal Michael Ventura SubRosa The Looming Tower Sam Harris Podcast What Jihadists Really Want Walter O’Brien on Tim Ferris Show Bibblio Twila Sharp The Creative Habit