Session: Creativity Unleashed
Innovation is critical to business growth, and creativity lies at the heart of innovation. What can we do to raise our creativity quotient? This session explores the psychology of creativity and identifies ways in which we can find inspiration for ourselves and for our teams. Participants will learn about the many habits that hold back our creative selves, including fear of judgment, self-doubt, the problem with being too busy, and the many distractions that interrupt the creative thought process. Discussion will include methods for overcoming creative pitfalls and how to actively and purposefully foster creativity in our teams. The talk highlights a selection of renowned “original thinkers” and provides examples and short exercises to foster audience engagement.
Bio
Kate Maxwell is the Chief Technology Officer for Defense & Intelligence in Microsoft’s Worldwide Public Sector. She is an accomplished technology leader and strategist with almost 20 years of experience supporting Defense & Intelligence customers around the globe. Maxwell is a recognized digital transformation thought leader, innovator, and passionate STEM advocate. Prior to joining Microsoft, Maxwell held various technical and engineering leadership roles within Raytheon Technologies, including Tech Director, Innovation Center Director, and Chief Engineer.
Maxwell was named one of 100 Women in Tech Leaders to Watch in 2022 and 2023 by WomenTech Network, and #40 on the global list of the Top 100 Women in Tech by Technology Magazine in 2021. She was also honored with the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) Tech Executive of the Year award in the Public Sector category for 2022, as well as multiple Society of Women Engineers national awards.
Maxwell resides in Indiana with her two sons and is an outdoor enthusiast with a great love of skiing, paddle boarding, and finding adventure wherever life takes her.