We are about a week and a half out from State of Innovation '16, when 1,000 of the Boston's leading professionals will hit the Seaport to discuss the biggest issues and trends facing our city. (If you haven't scooped your ticket to be among them, read on, you just may be in luck.)
The lineup for this year's event is stacked. Over the past few weeks we've invited you to get to know this year's speakers beyond their professional bios with our new Series, "4 Questions With...". (Catch our previous interviews with Diane Hessan, Corey Thomas, Jodi Goldstein and Art Papas.)
Today we're hosting a rapid fire round with five more panelists: Sarah Hodges (VP of People and Places at Pluralsight), Vinayak Ranade (founder and CEO of Drafted), Jennifer Lum (Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Adelphic), Ellen Chisa (VP Product at Lola) and Jordan Fliegel (founder of CoachUp).
BostInno: How would you describe the "state of innovation" in Boston?
Jennifer Lum: Boston continues to lead innovation in biotech, robotics, mobile and digital health.
Vinayak Ranade: I think Boston is A+ at producing amazing innovators, but a B at retaining and helping them hit it out of the park.
BostInno: What's the best career advice you have ever received?
Jordan Fliegel: Just be yourself, and do what you love.
Ellen Chisa: Always assume the most respectful possible interpretation of someone else's actions.
BostInno: What was your first job?
Jordan Fliegel: Polishing steel in Somerville, MA. I was 14. I rode on the back of a pickup truck to work at 5:30am and worked mornings before high school started, and on weekends. I'm still grateful to my friend's dad who took a chance on me and gave me the job. The metal and bolts that we polished were used to build a bridge in Japan.
Sarah Hodges: Working the counter at an upscale delicatessen in Seattle.
Vinayak Ranade: Packaging loose tea leaves in Pune, India.
BostInno: What's your favorite watering hole in Boston?
Jennifer Lum & Jordan Fliegel: Drink
Ellen Chisa: I love going to Aeronaut for a small beer and sometimes dinner after rock climbing at BKB with friends (we go Tuesday nights around 7pm, if anyone wants to join us...)
Sarah Hodges: Deluxe Cafe
Vinayak Ranade: People's Republik
Thank you, everyone! Join Sarah, Vinayak, Jennifer, Ellen and Jordan on June 7 at State of Innovation. See the full lineup of speakers at bostonstateofinnovation.com.
Enter promotional code 4QuestionsWith at checkout for 15% off tickets.
