How 3M is Using Hackathons for Fast Innovation with Elizabeth Bright

“Perseverance in innovation is about embracing the process, not just the success.”

Elizabeth Bright is a leader in sustainable materials and innovative adhesive technologies at 3M. With a portfolio that spans product development, ethnographic research, and front-end innovation, Elizabeth sits down with hosts Margaret Kelsey and Matt Greeley to share how 3M uses Hackathons to create a competitive edge in innovation.

In this episode, Elizabeth explains her work on optimizing adhesives for recycled materials, the science behind products like Cushion Lock, and her role in fostering a culture of innovation at 3M. She speaks openly about product development trials, the emotional rollercoaster of dissertation defenses, and her passion for mentoring the next generation of innovators.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

Innovative Culture Supports Failure and Risk-Taking: Elizabeth emphasizes that innovation requires a tolerance for failure. The best ideas thrive in environments where experiments can fail, learnings are embraced, and teams are driven to make those ideas succeed.

Personal & Professional Growth through Making: Elizabeth shares how her upbringing in her dad’s upholstery shop influenced her creator mentality, underlining the importance of making and improving things personally. This hands-on approach helped her problem-solving skills, contributing to her professional journey in innovation and product development at 3M.

The Power of Cross-Functional Hackathons: The episode shows the necessity of cross-functional Hackathons in driving innovation at 3M. These collaborative events bring diverse teams together, from marketers to engineers, fostering an environment that generates novel ideas and prototypes that can evolve into robust, commercial products.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret and special guest Elizabeth Bright
03:31 Liz Bright’s background and academic journey 
09:11 The importance of choosing the right advisor 
13:30 Utilization of small-angle X-ray scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance
19:00 Launching notthesciencetype.com for blending science with creativity
27:22 Liz explains how she navigated her current role 
36:41 Liz’s creativity portfolio and the benefits of it 
43:59 What hackathons look like at 3M
 46:47 The role of frontend and what that looks like 
53:09 The individual contributor route versus the management route
 57:47 Creative hackathon concept
 1:01:02 Make hackathons fun 
1:05:55 Closing