Connecticut Innovations: After devouring Creative Humans in one sitting, something that really stood out was your statement that the most powerful ideas don’t simply solve problems—they reframe our understanding of what the problems really are. Can you expand on that?

Dr. Alana Ackerson: Many of the greatest breakthroughs in history didn’t come from solving problems as they were originally framed, but from redefining the questions entirely. When you shift from asking “How do we improve X?” to “What assumptions are we taking for granted?” you unlock the potential for exponential change. The most powerful ideas come from those willing to challenge the invisible constraints of their industries.

CI: A powerful insight! What advice do you have for creative minds who are grappling with ethical issues like data privacy, mental health, economic inequality and the like?

Dr. Alana Ackerson: The most impactful innovators don’t just build new technologies—they build them with intentionality. Ethical dilemmas aren’t obstacles to innovation; they’re design challenges that demand creative solutions. My advice is to lean into first-principles thinking: Ask what kind of world your technology is enabling and who it’s serving. Surround yourself with a variety of perspectives, because the best solutions emerge from interdisciplinary conversations. The builders who will shape the next era of technology are the ones who see responsibility not as a constraint, but as a competitive advantage.

CI: Many investors look at the experience of a founding team before they’ll back a new venture, yet you’ve had considerable success backing young, unproven entrepreneurs. What appealed to you about their approach to problem-solving?

Dr. Alana Ackerson: It’s less about age and more about identifying founders where certain grooves aren’t deep yet and they have a very open orientation to new possibilities. Now, that does often correlate with age. The young founders I’ve worked with have an innate ability to synthesize complex ideas, question first principles and challenge entrenched systems, which can be a stronger predictor of success in getting a new project off the ground than experience. Experience adds more value at scale. So rather than filtering for track record, I look for founders who demonstrate an almost obsessive curiosity and the ability to turn insights into action. The future isn’t built by those with the longest resumes; it’s built by those with the boldest ideas and the resilience to see them through.

CI: With so many irons in the fire, how do you find balance?

Dr. Alana Ackerson: Ah, the elusive balance. I don’t look for it! Instead, I focus on integration—not seeing my time as being divided between work and life but instead blurring the lines between what is traditionally considered “work” and what is personally fulfilling. My best ideas emerge when I’m deeply engaged in conversations that challenge my thinking, when my professional pursuits align with the questions that naturally consume me, and when the people I collaborate with inspire me on multiple levels. I do that throughout each day, and into the weekends. My work, my intellectual curiosity and my relationships aren’t separate spheres—they’re interconnected, feeding and reinforcing each other. That integration is what keeps me energized, stretching and growing.

CI: What advice do you have for CI’s entrepreneurs who are already working to cure rare diseases and solve critical issues like climate change and financial inclusion? How can they benefit from this book?

Dr. Alana Ackerson: The key is to identify the precise foundational shifts required to make real progress—not just incremental improvements. Every breakthrough comes from recognizing a hidden truth about the world that others have overlooked or dismissed as impossible. The challenge isn’t just to build within the current paradigm but to catalyze a shift that fundamentally redefines what’s possible. This requires an almost forensic level of clarity—understanding not just what needs to change, but how and when the conditions will align to make that change inevitable. Creative Humans provides mental models and historical examples of how transformative thinkers have identified and executed on these shifts, offering a framework for founders who aren’t just solving problems but reshaping entire landscapes. More than anything, it’s a reminder that creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for solving humanity’s hardest challenges.

CI: Thank you, Dr. Ackerson.