Embracing Growth: Lessons from 35+ Years in Academia and Innovation

The Innovation Edge

Exploring the intersection of authenticity, leadership, and transformation.

Throughout my professional journey, which has lasted more than 35 years, one fundamental truth has emerged—growth follows a nonlinear path. Rather than proceeding in a straight line, it unfolds through pivotal moments, challenges, and opportunities that shape our evolution. My path from Miller International as a young design assistant to my current position as Chief Strategist of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University exemplifies this principle. Actual growth encompasses evolution, adaptation, and the willingness to explore new territories with curiosity and courage.

Building the Foundation: Learning Through Hands-On Experience

My early career at Miller International centered on mastering the technical elements of fashion design and production—patternmaking, garment construction, and the intricate details of textile development. This immersion in technical fundamentals would later prove invaluable. However, at the time, I did not recognize how these skills would inform my future approaches to leadership, education, and innovation strategy.

Those foundational years revealed an essential truth: each skill we develop becomes a building block for future opportunities, often in unexpected ways. What began as hands-on experience in apparel design evolved into the framework through which I now approach education, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Transition to Academia: A Pivotal Shift

My entry into academia arrived unexpectedly yet became transformative. In 1994, an opportunity to co-teach computer-aided design to vocational educators in Beijing ignited my passion for education globally. My industry experience provided a distinctive perspective on connecting theoretical concepts with practical applications, and my travel provided a global perspective on people and education.

As I developed curricula, mentored students, and established educational programming, I witnessed education's power to catalyze transformation. The teaching experience compelled me to articulate knowledge in new ways and deepened my understanding of innovation. The role extended beyond information sharing to empowering others to recognize their inherent potential.

Leadership and Impact

Assuming leadership roles often demands embracing challenges beyond our comfort zones. As Department Chair for Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management at Iowa State University, I led an academic unit encompassing over 900 students and 51 faculty and staff members. This significant responsibility required a clear vision, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

This leadership chapter proved especially rewarding, enabling me to advance meaningful initiatives, foster faculty, and student success, and nurture a department built on innovation and inclusivity. Authentic leadership transcends position—it focuses on creating lasting impact through positive change.

The student-operated initiatives I helped establish, including INNOVATE 1858, SPARKS café, and the Culinary Creation Lab, and securing donor and industry resources, aimed to create meaningful opportunities for students to gain practical experience and apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

Innovation as an Ongoing Journey

My work consistently bridges creativity, education, and technology. Whether designing wearable art for juried exhibitions or spearheading technology-driven curriculum innovations, I have discovered that sustainable growth demands technical expertise and creative thinking. The most innovative solutions often emerge at the intersection of diverse disciplines.

Founding iNNOVATION Insights represented another step in this journey, combining academic expertise with entrepreneurial vision. This platform is more than a business venture—it provides a medium for knowledge sharing and professional empowerment, helping others embrace their unique paths toward growth and innovation.

Essential Lessons in Professional Growth

My career has yielded several fundamental insights about professional development:

1. Value diverse experiences – Every role across industry, academia, and entrepreneurship enriches your capabilities in unexpected ways.

   
   

2. Cultivate meaningful relationships – Strong collaborative networks and mentorship create expanding circles of success.

   
   

3. Maintain curiosity – Continuous learning drives innovation and adaptability.

   
   

4. Generate opportunities for others – Authentic leadership focuses on empowering others to achieve their full potential.

   
   

5. Embrace strategic pivots – Adaptability remains essential for sustained growth in an evolving landscape.

   
   

Looking Forward: Innovation and Education

The future holds tremendous promise as I continue advancing innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. The rapid evolution of education, design, and business presents endless opportunities for creative problem-solving and meaningful impact.

For professionals navigating their career paths, remember that growth extends beyond reaching destinations. It encompasses embracing the journey, learning from challenges, and remaining open to new possibilities. Often, unexpected career turns lead to the most profound opportunities for transformation.

As you contemplate your next professional chapter, consider the following: What story will you write in your growth journey?

Eulanda

Connect with me on LinkedIn - Here