Interdisciplinarity

Published

Interdisciplinary Careers: DEI + Product Management

LinkedIn published its annual Jobs on the Rise list in the U.S., featuring the 25 fastest-growing job titles over the past five years.

This list provides insight into what’s next and the opportunities on the horizon.

What if we push this further? What if we explore interdisciplinary opportunities by combining jobs on the list?

Let’s look at Diversity and Inclusion Manager + Technical Product Manager

Here are some interdisciplinary opportunities with this combination:

Build products for everyone
Products have limited reach when built with one type of user in mind. To build for everyone, include everyone in the build.

Embody the diversity in product management
Product management is enhanced when teams have different backgrounds, ideas and approaches. Put this in practice.

Recognize and remove bias
A diverse perspective can help identify biases that are built into the algorithm. Diversify user acceptance testing.

Break down barriers to tech
Create opportunities and promote representation so people see others who look like them in product spaces.

*************************************************************

What are some other benefits of combining DEI + Product Management? I would love to hear below!

Share this article with others!
Published

Dr. Philip Syng Physick: Physician + Lecturer + Inventor

I took a recent tour that provided an overview of Dr. Philip Syng Physick’s life (1768 -1837) and his mansion, an example of the Federal Style of American Architecture.

Dr. Physick studied at the University of Pennsylvania, was known in his lifetime as the Father of American Surgery, and trained many surgeons as a Lecturer at Penn. He was responsible for the design of a number of surgical instruments and operative techniques and innovatively treating dislocations and fractures.

💡Why was I intrigued by his story?

Although he was very close to his grandfather and wanted to follow in his footsteps as a silversmith, his father Edmund Physick insisted he pursue a medical career, consistent with the family’s societal status at the time.

Can you relate to this? So many times you’re passionate about a field but society, family etc. dictate what the “right,” and often singular, path is for you.

I was happy to see that ultimately Dr. Physick tapped into his interest in silversmithing by inventing medical products and brought his multiple interests together in his contributions.

These are some of Dr. Physick’s Product and Other Contributions:

✅️ Invented the tonsil guillotine and needle forceps
✅️ Pioneered the use of the stomach pump
✅️ The first to use animal ligatures as sutures in surgery
✅️ Performed the first successful human blood transfusion
✅️ The first to practice capillary puncture of the head for hydrocephalus
✅️ Believed that dental conditions could affect the overall personal health
✅️ Treated depressed skull fractures by attempting to elevate the bone
✅️ Introduced cataract surgery to America
✅️ Used autopsy as a regular means of observation and discovery
✅️ Introduced artificial carbonated water to America for the relief of gastric disorders
✅️ Offered the first Health Insurance in America. For $20 a year, he would take care of an entire family’s medical needs
✅️ Contributed a modern referral system
✅️ Contributed the use of medical students as clinical clerks

💡What’s the takeaway?

Humans are dynamic beings with many interests, skills, talents and experiences. Lean into the things you enjoy and look for ways to bring them forward. Seek opportunities to combine them to solve a customer’s problem. Innovation usually happens at the intersection of different fields.

My love of experiential learning and research led me to this post. I took a self-guided walking tour, then I took a focused 40-minute docent-led Physick tour, performed additional research including here, wrote this and pressed Post!

*************************************************************

Share this article with others!
Published

Jake Tapper: Journalist + Cartoonist + Author

I was watching CNN’s “State of the Union” hosted by Jake Tapper a few Sundays ago.  In between the interviews with top newsmakers on politics and policies, “State of the Cartoonion” started. This cartoon had a refreshing and funny approach to political satirical.   At the end, I noticed it was signed “Jake.”

I stopped to think for a second.  The same Jake who hosts the show?!

This led me to some digging on the interwebs to put the pieces together. I was pleasantly surprised with what I discovered.  Jake had proudly embraced his multiple interests and made it possible to be a journalist, cartoonist and author!

Source: CNN

Journalist + Cartoonist + Author

Jake was born in New York City and was raised in Queen Village, a neighborhood in Philadelphia.  He studied history and visual arts at Dartmouth College and had a cartoon in the Dartmouth school newspaper. Jake briefly attended graduate school at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television.

Jake is the Chief Washington Correspondent for CNN and hosts “The Lead with Jake Tapper” in addition to “State of the Union.”  Prior to CNN, Jake worked for ABC News. He was honored by the White House Correspondents’ Association for his work as Senior While House Correspondent for ABC News with three Merriman Smith Memorial Awards for broadcast journalism. Jake also earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story for his contribution to the coverage of the inauguration of President Obama.

Jake’s  book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor debuted in the top 10 on The New York Times Bestseller list. Jake’s book and his reporting on the veterans and troops were cited when the Congressional Medal of Honor Society awarded him the “Tex” McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism.

During the week of May 23, 2016, Jake was the guest illustrator of Scott Adams’ Dilbert comic strips. The original cartoons were auctioned to raise money for the Homes for our Troops Foundation which specializes in building mortgage-free, specially designed homes for disabled veterans.

“Hopefully Scott and I can raise some money for the organization by auctioning off the original comic strips for anyone out there who appreciates the uniqueness of this venture and the worthiness of the cause.” – Jake Tapper

It is awesome to see Jake embrace his different interests and make it work for him. He chose not to neglect his interests and instead found a way to combine them and excel at their intersection. It is noteworthy that he has been successful across his multidisciplinary interests per the sample of his accomplishments above. Further, he leverages his interests to have an impact and help others.  Jake is an inspiring example of living out what is true to you, even when it isn’t conventional.

State of the Cartoonion: Oprah for President?

Do you have interests across multiple disciplines? Do you have a hard time figuring out how they all fit together?  Is Jake Tapper’s story helpful to show that it is possible to combine your interests and be successful? I’d love to hear where you are in your process and how this story inspires you.

Share this article with others!