Iteration as a Practice: In the Classroom and Beyond

In global impact circles, we often talk about iteration and the value of testing, learning, and adjusting as we go. These same principles power social innovation and entrepreneurship. But this mindset is just as effective in the classroom.

This semester, I’ve been teaching a capstone-style university course at Mercy University on global challenges. Instead of traditional lectures, we’re using an iterative incubator approach. Students select a global issue and refine their ideas as they apply research methodologies, uncover insights, and exchange peer feedback.

The course has become a kind of proof of concept, showing that incubation can also be transformative outside startups and labs. It’s a critical thinking approach that can shape how we teach, lead teams, build partnerships, and pursue long-term impact.

As I’ve seen in my consulting work, valuable lessons often emerge when proven methods are applied in new contexts. Bringing an incubation model into an academic space has sparked cross-disciplinary dialogue, mirroring what’s needed across sectors: people with different lenses testing, challenging, and strengthening ideas together.

I look forward to seeing where this approach leads my students throughout the semester—and continuing to explore how proven approaches in one sector can drive impact in others.