Meet Nora
For over a decade, Nora has worked at the intersection of design, innovation, and entrepreneurship, leading human-centered strategy in corporate, consulting, and startup environments. Her story is best told in her own words:
My story is one of serendipity in small but meaningful ways. It's been shaped by intentional and unintentional twists and turns, unexpected opportunities and opportunities I've created for myself. Moments of intellectual chaos followed by complete clarity.
I chose my college major (anthropology) with no plan, just an interest in the subject. I was hired for my first job out of college because of the perspective studying anthropology gave me. I evolved in that role due to great collaborators, my own initiative and an opportunity (remember when iPhones and "mobile banking" were new?). I met my husband while coaching swimming, filling in at my old high school when another coach quit. I have pursued unique opportunities when I see them, growing and learning through my work at Parson's School of Design and through my PhD. All of it a mixture of things I've done and unexpected opportunities, insights, and occurences that I've acted on.
You've probably experienced these too - a "chance" encounter with a post on LinkedIn that becomes relevant in a meeting, the crystilization of unexpected key pieces of information into a coherent strategy, an unexpected encounter with someone that is crucial to moving an inititiave forward. Even an unexpected insight that leads to a new invention, market or innovation.
Too often we see these as "luck" or "good fortune" but that's not entirel it. And they're not entirely out of our control. We can create the conditions for these unexpected occurences, we can be learn to notice them and then act on them when they occur. The potential of this practice drives my work every day.
By translating this pattern into a practice, a habitual application of intentional mindsets and behaviors, into reliable sources of insight, inspiration, and innovation we can all become “practicing serendipitists.”
It’s empowering, every day and in every way. It answers the question of how to stay inspired; what to do when you're stuck; it provides tools and methods when things feel chaotic; and it provides a roadmap for a way to engage with the world. And it’s fun.
Unsure of what I mean? Check out some of the stories of serendipity on the “Practicing Serendipitist” Substack. They include stories about everything from the Apple I computer to Graza Olive Oil, the rolling suitcase to Good American clothing, and so much more.
Join me. Engage, learn and become a practitioner. Write your own story.
