Falling in Love with Innovation: A Journey ofCuriosity, Culture, and Creative Solutions

Some people fall in love with music—others with books, travel, or even
numbers. For me, it’s always been innovation. Not the buzzword version of
it—the kind plastered on slideshows and corporate manifestos—but the
real kind: the quiet, persistent drive to make things better. To question how
things work, to explore what could be different, and to seek out elegant
solutions to messy problems.

It started early. I was the kind of child who couldn’t just accept that
something worked – I had to know why. I would take apart everyday objects
(much to the frustration of those around me), not to destroy them, but to
understand the mechanics within. This instinct to question, reimagine, and
improve became the foundation of everything I’ve done since.

Innovation in Unlikely Places

That same curiosity followed me into academia. During my PhD journey, I
had the opportunity to work in a significant space—improving medication
adherence among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in developing countries
with high prevalence of the condition. However, the challenge wasn’t just
medical or due solely to patient-related factors; it was contextual, cultural,
psychological, and systemic. Contrary to the traditional approach of trying
to fix the patient to improve adherence, I turned my sight on the clinical
interactions that the PLHIV were having with their healthcare providers.
That idea led me to motivational interviewing (MI), a person-centred
technique designed to work with Western culture, based on open dialogue,
empathy, and collaboration to drive behavioural change.

On the surface, it seemed promising. But I quickly realized it wasn’t a plug-
and-play solution. As I was working in a developing country with entirely
different cultural dynamics, it became apparent that concepts like
personal autonomy and open emotional expression, foundational to MI
didn’t quite translate in the same way. So, I had to adapt the approach to fit
the context and implement the adapted version to train the physicians.

Essentially, I spent time understanding the local values, how people
communicate, what trust looks like, and how authority is perceived. I
reworked the methodology—not to water it down, but to make it fit. The
results were powerful. Patients became more engaged, more empowered,
and surprisingly, the trained clinicians started applying the approach in
other clinical contexts like with patients with diabetes and high blood
pressure.

This was a defining moment. It showed me that true innovation isn’t just
about invention—it’s about translation, adaptation, and empathy. It’s about
meeting people where they are and helping them get to where they need to
be.

Falling Deeper: From Research to Real-World Innovation

That experience opened the door to a role with the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the first instance, and then in
innovation consultancy—working with Fortune 500 companies to tackle
their most complex challenges. These weren’t the kind of problems you
solve with a spreadsheet or simply by a brainstorming session. They were
big, systemic, deeply layered issues involving legacy systems, shifting
markets, siloed departments, and human resistance to change.

And I loved every second of it.

Because at the heart of each problem was a human need—a disconnect, a
missed opportunity, a friction point waiting to be smoothed out. I applied
the same mindset from my PhD work: listen deeply, understand the
context, and simplify the complex. Whether we were helping a
multinational company rethink its business strategy, understand how to
improve market share or design novel product communication concepts,
the core principles were the same.

Innovation, I’ve learned, isn’t just about technology. It’s about perspective.
It’s about asking better questions and refusing to settle for the first
answer.

Homegrown Innovation: Solving Local Problems with Global
Lessons

Now, I’ve brought that passion home—quite literally. Today, I work with
businesses across Norfolk and the East Anglia area, helping them solve
problems that matter. These aren’t billion-dollar companies with teams of
consultants. They’re local manufacturers, service providers, start-ups, and
family-run firms trying to navigate change, scale sustainably, and stay
relevant.

What I love most about this work is how personal it feels. When a small
business solves a problem, the impact is immediate and tangible. You can
see it in the owner’s face, in the way the team operates, in the way
customers respond. There’s a raw honesty in this environment—a no-
nonsense drive to make things better and fast.

Here too, I see the same patterns: complex challenges waiting for simple,
thoughtful solutions. Whether it’s reducing waste in a production process,
helping a company pivot after a market shift, or guiding a leadership team
through a transformation journey, innovation is always at the core.

And here’s the truth: innovation doesn’t care where you are. Whether
you’re in a Nairobi clinic, a New York boardroom, or a Norfolk warehouse,
the principles stay the same —curiosity, empathy, clarity, and courage.

Innovation in the Everyday

Perhaps the most surprising thing about falling in love with innovation is
how it seeps into every part of life. I find myself thinking about how to
optimize morning routines, improve the layout of my living room, or reduce
friction in everyday tasks at home. My family has learned to smile (and
sometimes roll their eyes) when I suggest rethinking how we do laundry or
our diet to keep the doctor away.

But that’s what love does—it doesn’t stay in one lane. It colours everything.
Innovation has become more than a career. It’s a lens through which I see
the world. And while some people find comfort in routines, I find
excitement in reinvention. Not for the sake of change, but for the sake of
progress. Because even small tweaks, done thoughtfully, can lead to big
results.

Why I’ll Never Stop

Some people ask me, “Don’t you ever get tired of constantly looking for
ways to improve things?” And my answer is always no. Because innovation,
at its heart, is an act of hope. It’s a belief that things can get better. That
system can evolve. That people can grow.

In a world full of uncertainty, innovation gives me a sense of purpose. It
allows me to contribute – to make things work a little better, feel a little
smoother, or impact someone’s life a little more meaningfully.

And once you fall in love with something like that, you don’t let go.

Final Thoughts

Innovation isn’t flashy. It’s not always about the next big app or a disruptive
technology. Sometimes, it’s about listening more carefully, asking a
different question, and looking at an old problem through a new lens. And
sometimes, it’s about making peace with not having the answer yet but
trusting that it will come if you stay curious.

I fell in love with innovation not because it was easy, but because it was
endlessly rewarding. It challenges me, surprises me, frustrates me—and
ultimately, fulfils me.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s this: anyone can
fall in love with innovation. All it takes is a willingness to see the world not
just as it is, but as it could be. So, ask the questions. Take things apart.
Imagine something better.

And then? Build it.