How to Build a Diverse Innovation Team (and Why it’s Critical)

Without diversity of thought, experience, and perspective, the end result of innovation only serves those at the table, very likely missing unintentionally those not represented, even if they are the focus. In addition, it’s been widely shown that diversity unlocks innovation and new ways of looking at a problem.

The benefits of having a diverse team are well known, and today especially in healthcare are critical. Unfortunately, healthcare innovation has historically relied on small groups of individuals that belong to the same network, resulting in very similar ideas, experiences, and failures. Systemic racism and gaps in health outcomes have always been underlying problems in the sector, but Covid-19 has made them impossible to ignore. If healthcare, as an industry, is going to address the issues exacerbated by a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the time is now. Founders, innovators, and investors need to step outside the familiarity of who and what they know, to ensure all perspectives are accounted for, especially in the early stages of innovation and development.