2018
Author Frans Johansson honors Dr. Butch Herod at Innovation Fellows event
Sep 26, 2018
To say author Frans Johansson was an influence for the West Houston Institute (WHI) would be a vast understatement. The concept of the WHI is based on the principles from “The Medici Effect,” which shattered assumptions about how great ideas happen and was named one of the “Best Books on Innovation” by BusinessWeek and one of the top 10 best business books of the year by Amazon.com. So, of course, it was an honor to have the esteemed author, entrepreneur, and consultant speak at the institute to members of the Innovation Fellows program.The visit was even more special for WHI Director Dr. Edmund “Butch” Herod when, at the end of the program, Johansson awarded Herod with the first ever “Medici Voyager Award,” for his leadership in steering the Medici Effect to life at the WHI.
"I am incredibly proud of the work that Butch has done with his team in creating an inclusive space for innovation on campus,” said Johansson. “The many intersections--of students, faculty, and the Houston community--forged at the West Houston Institute will advance innovation in teaching and learning in a monumental way. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with HCC in the coming years."
Herod said this award was an honor not only for him but for the entire team at the WHI.
“The West Houston Institute's innovative spaces and programs are leading the re-imagination and reinvention of higher education while serving our students and our community in new and different ways. I am very proud of the entire WHI Team, and I remain inspired by the seminal thinking in "The Medici Effect,” he said.
The WHI’s Innovation Fellows is a new program wherein 15 HCC faculty and administrators are given released time from their teaching and work responsibilities to have an in-depth learning experience in innovation, creativity, design thinking, and entrepreneurship at the West Houston Institute. The program commenced this last Friday and runs for an entire year. During that time, Fellows will develop the mindsets and skillsets necessary to be the vanguard leaders and knowledge creators to effect innovative changes at HCC. They will also help to further develop the Fellows Program by working at the West Houston Institute on both individual and collaborative projects.
After his visit at the WHI, Johansson posted a LinkedIn article specifically talking about the power of space at the WHI. Click here to read it and click here to learn more about The Medici Group.