What if you didn’t have to start from scratch to spark real innovation?

In this episode, I talk with Natasha Munshi, a former cancer researcher turned strategist and business school dean, now driving impact through executive education. With roots in science and strategic leadership, she’s reshaping how leaders learn and innovate by blending social impact with smart business thinking. From her early work in breast cancer research to launching programs for minority women entrepreneurs, Natasha’s journey shows what’s possible when purpose meets creativity and resourcefulness.

We unpack what social innovation looks like, and it’s not limited to nonprofits or large-scale initiatives. Natasha shares how using existing resources, forging unlikely partnerships, and thinking creatively can lead to sustainable, meaningful change. We explore cross-sector collaboration, the value of generalists, and how even tools like sketch-noting and doodling can unlock big ideas.

This conversation is full of insights on rethinking potential, the future of education, and the deeply human traits that still matter most in an AI-driven world.

Key Takeaways:

Social innovation isn’t just for nonprofits.

Cross-sector partnerships are powerful.

You don’t need to start from scratch to be innovative.

Education should meet people where they want to go.

Both generalists and creative thinkers are crucial in today’s fast-changing world.

Human traits like empathy, curiosity, and emotional intelligence are more valuable than ever.

Resources Mentioned:

Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques by Michael Michalko: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Thinkertoys-Handbook-Creative-Thinking-Techniques-2nd/dp/1580087736⁠

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214484⁠

Connect with Natasha:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-munshi/⁠

More About Building Thinkers:

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.