Do you want to develop an innovation mindset and create something meaningful? Check out the latest podcast episode by More Details, Please, where hosts Angela and Emmanuel talk about what it really means to innovate with purpose. They are joined by Jenny Brown, CEO and founder of Dutton Farms, who shows what you can achieve when you design with people, not just for them. 

You can listen to the episode here: The Innovation Mindset.

Diving Into the Innovation Mindset: Could This be Done Better?

People often think innovation is linked to new technology, big ideas, or flashy tools. But as Angela points out, it really begins with something simpler: how you see the world.

‘It’s noticing what’s missing, where things aren’t quite working and being curious enough to ask, could this be better?’ she says.

This way of thinking is at the heart of DetailXPerts story. ‘We knew washing cars with water wasn’t quite working because it was wasting our precious resource, water,’ explains Angela. So, they built their green mobile cleaning business around steam technology and a greener approach. Their success came not from following the industry, but from rethinking it.

That’s what makes innovation powerful. It doesn’t have to start with something big. Often, it begins with one question, one observation, and a new way to move forward.

Designing With People, Not Just for Them

This episode celebrates the belief that innovation works best when you include people from the start. For example, when employees, customers, franchise owners, and communities are part of the conversation early, the results are more practical, trusted, and successful.

This means asking questions, listening to feedback, and not being too quick to assume you already know the answer. Instead of deciding what people need, great innovators make space to hear directly from them. Emmanuel says that’s often where the best ideas come from. Focus groups, feedback, observation, and honest conversations can all lead to stronger ideas and better outcomes.

Turning Innovation Into Action

This episode shows that innovation is not just about coming up with good ideas. It’s also about the choices you make, the systems you build, and the people you include along the way. When people are involved in shaping a solution from the start, your work takes on new meaning. 

Angela says, ‘You’re not just asking, does this work? You’re asking, does this actually help? And when people are part of the process, trust builds faster and solutions tend to last longer. So, some of the most meaningful innovations don’t come from tech companies. They come from thoughts and that co-creation with people.’

Creativity Loves Company

The podcast also dives into the fact that you don’t have to do everything yourself. Innovation can be a lonely road if you’re on your own. Emanuel also reminds you that creativity loves company. Creativity is something we all have access to. But to tap into it, people need space to think, contribute, and collaborate.

This leads to the importance of an inclusive work culture, where people feel included, respected, and safe enough to share their thoughts and experiences. As Angela puts it, innovation comes from people who are paying attention to real life, to real families and communities and systems that weren’t designed with everyone in mind.

Solving a Problem

Jenny Brown brings her story to this episode’s theme through her work at Dutton Farm. What started as a personal mission to create opportunities for people with disabilities grew into something much bigger. 

Jenny explains how her sister’s experience helped her understand inclusion and inspired her to build a nonprofit focused on work, dignity, and belonging.

Jenny’s honesty about her journey stands out. She explains that Dutton Farm was never meant to become what it is today. But as more families came forward with similar needs, it became clear that her work was filling a major gap.

Jenny discusses how she coped with the growing business. ‘We really had to figure out how to put our business hat on and act like successful entrepreneurs so that the organization would be sustainable.’ Tune in to the episode to discover her steps and tips.

Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship

Jenny also realized that business principles can help solve complex social problems and that making a profit and doing good can go hand in hand, helping you grow your business.

She also talks about the importance of practicing what she preached. In the episode, Jenny shares how she realized she needed to do more for those too often overlooked by traditional employers. This was the drive behind her starting a bath and body company. ‘I wanted to show that a business could be profitable while also accomplishing social good,’ says Jenny.

Jenny’s advice: Do something you really, truly care about in your heart and soul. If you don’t genuinely care, you won’t have staying power when the going gets tough. Our social entrepreneur podcast has more tips.

Setbacks, Uncertainty and Moments of Doubt

Jenny shares how hard COVID hit her organization and how, for a moment, it felt like everything they had built could be lost. 

She talks about how what kept her going was not just determination, but the people around her who refused to let her give up. ‘It’s important to have people in your life that don’t tell you what you want to hear when you’re feeling sorry for yourself, but you have people in your life that are able to force you to keep your chin up,’ she says.

That part of the conversation is something every entrepreneur needs to hear at some point. Innovation sounds exciting, but building something worthwhile always comes with setbacks, uncertainty, and moments of doubt. Perseverance is part of the process.

You Can’t Be a Leader if You Don’t Have a Generous Mindset

Emmanuel, Angela and Jenny all agree that to be a great leader, you must have a generous mindset. And this means letting go of the belief that you have all the answers. True generosity is giving people your time, knowing you can learn from them.

Jenny also shares another one of her important leadership lessons in the episode: ‘Individuals with disabilities that most people would never assume could contribute anything became my mentors. And I learned from them what the community really needed.’ For more on this topic, tune into our mentor and mentee episode.

Instead of thinking she knew everything, Jenny learned from the very people she was serving. Their experiences shaped the programs, revealed the real needs, and helped Dutton Farm grow in the right direction. This is a great example of innovating with people, not just for them.

Conclusion

This episode on achieving an innovation mindset is a great listen if you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone creating solutions for real people in the real world. And it is a reminder that the best ideas don’t come from chasing trends. They come from listening, observing, and being willing to rethink how things are done with the people they’re meant to serve.

Watch the Full Podcast Episode

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode

Are you interested in innovating with people? Listen to the full episode of More Details, Please and explore how you can create and innovate with passion and purpose.

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