Discover Mina Seetharaman, your new host of the podcast on creative confidence

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The Creative Confidence Podcast has been shining for nearly a decade, offering valuable insights to the IDEO U community. Over 120 leaders share their advice, tips, and inspiring stories. Original hosts Suzanne Gibbs Howard and Coe Leta Stafford have masterfully extracted lessons from their expert guests.
Today, we are excited to introduce the new voice of the Creative Confidence Podcast: Mina Seetharaman, Head of New Ventures at IDEO. In a special episode, IDEO’s CEO, Derek Robson, speaks with Mina to explore her journey to creative confidence, the lessons she has learned, and the advice she has for leaders. Also, discover surprising anecdotes, like her animal alter ego. Listen to the full episode to get to know Mina better and welcome her among us.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

From journalism to innovation: Mina’s professional journey
As the Head of New Ventures at IDEO, Mina leads the strategy for IDEO’s learning and media initiatives, including IDEO U. She focuses on finding new client-centered methods supported by technology to deliver IDEO’s lasting value proposition to its clients. Specializing in guiding iconic brands through major transformations, Mina helps them become competitive market leaders.

She has led strategy and operations at renowned media and content companies, such as The New York Times, Gartner, The Economist, and OgilvyOne. An expert in launching new products, developing and leading teams, Mina is also adept at driving cultural and operational changes. Holding a degree in journalism from New York University, she speaks six languages and is an amateur abstract expressionist painter.

Connect with Mina on LinkedIn.

Mina’s mindset: lessons on courage, risk, and self-confidence
Creative confidence is a muscle, not a trait
Mina challenges the idea that creativity is reserved for an elite. She sees it as an ability that everyone possesses and can develop. “Creative confidence is your belief in your ability to flex that muscle — to provoke a result or generate change.”

Growth comes from ambitious roles
One of Mina’s boldest decisions was to take on unprecedented roles. Her mindset? “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Maybe I won’t succeed. But nobody else has succeeded either. I saw an opportunity to grow and learn.”

Leadership is about helping others succeed
At The Economist, Mina had to transition from managing junior teams to overseeing experts. This pushed her out of her comfort zone and led her to define her human-centered leadership style. The powerful question that guided her: “What value can I bring as a leader to help experts excel in their field?”

Create a space for risk-taking
Mina sees the value in creating safe spaces for taking risks, especially when teams go through periods of change. “You take the risk, I’ll take the responsibility. If I believe in the direction, part of my role is to protect you.”

Observing others to spark creativity
Mina’s favorite method of learning is observing how others solve problems. “This often helps me see things I wouldn’t have noticed on my own. Observing others gives me a fresh perspective.”

Letting regret be your driver
When faced with tough decisions or new challenges, Mina leans on a powerful question: Will I regret not trying?
“Often, the answer is yes. And that, for me, is far worse than getting it wrong. This reflection pushes me into a space where I’m ready to be a little uncomfortable to find my own confidence.”

Falling in love with the problem
One of the reasons Mina was drawn to IDEO is our deep optimism and the idea that you can improve anything if you’re curious and persistent. “There’s an optimism in identifying a problem and believing you can make it better. People here fall in love with the problem and listen to understand.”

Believing in yourself as you believe in others
Mina shares that she often finds it easier to recognize potential in others than in herself. Her advice to her younger self? Show herself the same belief and grace she gives to others.
“I’m so quick to see the value of what others bring to the table and so quick to doubt what I could do. I would tell my younger self to believe in myself as I believe in others.”

Don’t miss what’s coming: AI, storytelling, and creative leadership
Mina is excited to go behind the mic and tackle the topics that matter most to creative leaders — such as AI, navigating uncertainty, storytelling, and much more. Be sure to subscribe to the Creative Confidence Podcast to be among the first to hear about upcoming episodes. Also sign up for IDEO U emails to receive invitations to our live podcast events.

The Creative Confidence Podcast continues to strengthen over nearly a decade, welcoming over 120 leaders who share their advice, tips, and stories with the IDEO U community. After many years alongside Suzanne Gibbs Howard and Coe Leta Stafford, we are thrilled to introduce Mina Seetharaman, the new voice of the podcast. As Head of New Ventures at IDEO, Mina brings a fresh and inspiring perspective, enriched by her diverse background and passion for innovation.

Who is mina seetharaman and what is her professional background?

Mina Seetharaman currently holds the position of Head of New Ventures at IDEO, where she leads the strategy for learning and media initiatives, including IDEO U. Her role focuses on finding new client-centered approaches supported by technology to deliver IDEO’s long-standing value proposition to its clients. Through her expertise, Mina helps iconic brands undertake major transformations and become competitive market leaders.

With a rich and diverse career, Mina has led strategies and operations at renowned media and content companies such as The New York Times, Gartner, The Economist, and OgilvyOne. She has extensive experience in launching new product offerings, developing and managing teams, as well as driving cultural and operational changes. Holding a degree in journalism from New York University, Mina speaks six languages and enjoys abstract painting as a hobby.

Her background perfectly illustrates her ability to navigate between different sectors and bring unique value to each role she occupies. To learn more about her fascinating journey, reading this article on innovation culture can be an excellent complementary resource.

What is mina’s vision on creative confidence?

Mina views creative confidence as a muscle rather than an innate trait. She challenges the idea that creativity is reserved for a select few, asserting that everyone possesses this ability and that it can be developed over time. According to her, “creative confidence is your belief in your ability to flex that muscle to achieve a result or effect a change.”

This approach encourages everyone to step out of their comfort zone and embrace challenging roles. Mina shares: “One of my boldest career moves has been to take on roles no one had held before. My mindset? What’s the worst that could happen?” This mentality has pushed her to seize opportunities for growth and learning, even in the face of uncertainty.

By adopting this philosophy, Mina encourages leaders and teams to brainstorming-inclusif/” target=”_blank”>organize inclusive brainstorming sessions, thereby fostering an environment where innovation can thrive. She firmly believes that creative confidence is strengthened through practical experiences and ongoing challenges.

What key lessons does mina share on courage and risk?

Mina highlights several essential lessons for cultivating creative confidence, centered around courage, risk, and self-belief. Here are some of the most notable:

Creative confidence as a muscle

Mina questions the notion that creativity is an innate quality. She emphasizes that creativity can be developed and strengthened with practice and perseverance.

Growth comes from expanded roles

Taking on unusual or innovative roles is a way for Mina to challenge herself and grow professionally. This approach has allowed her to successfully navigate complex and diverse environments.

Human-centered leadership

According to Mina, true leadership is about helping others succeed. She has developed a human-centered leadership style, continually questioning how she can add value to help experts thrive in their respective fields.

Creating spaces for risk-taking

For Mina, it is crucial to create safe spaces where teams can take risks without fear of negative repercussions. “You take the risk, I’ll take the responsibility,” she says, thus emphasizing the importance of supporting bold initiatives.

Learning through observation

Mina embraces a learning approach through observation, drawing inspiration from the methods and solutions of others to broaden her own creative perspective.

Letting regret motivate action

When faced with tough decisions, Mina asks herself: “Will I regret not trying?” This reflection drives her to act even in uncomfortable situations, thus strengthening her creative confidence.

Falling in love with the problem

Mina is attracted to complex challenges with the optimism of being able to improve them. “There’s an optimism in identifying a problem and believing you can make it better,” she says, reflecting IDEO’s spirit of deeply engaging with problems to find innovative solutions.

Believing in oneself as in others

Recognizing that she often finds it easier to see potential in others than in herself, Mina encourages everyone to treat themselves with the same kindness and confidence she extends to others.

These lessons resonate deeply with the themes discussed in resources such as lateral thinking in solving complex problems, offering concrete strategies for developing creative confidence within teams.

What are mina’s upcoming projects for the podcast?

As the new host of the Creative Confidence Podcast, Mina Seetharaman is eager to dive into topics that matter most to creative leaders today. Among the upcoming themes, she plans to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity, managing uncertainty, and the art of storytelling in leadership.

Mina also plans to highlight in-depth discussions on digital transformation and its role in innovation. She aims to create episodes that not only inspire but also provide practical advice for listeners looking to enhance their creative leadership skills.

To not miss any upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Creative Confidence Podcast and sign up for IDEO U emails to receive invitations to the live podcast events. With Mina at the helm, the podcast promises to be a continuing source of inspiration and valuable insights for anyone looking to boost their creative confidence.

In summary, Mina Seetharaman brings a wealth of experience and an innovative vision to the Creative Confidence Podcast. Her human-centered approach and passion for innovation promise to energize the podcast and provide even more engaging and relevant content for its listeners.