At Fronteer, the role of a Connector is pivotal in shaping the success of our co-creation sessions. These sessions are where ideas are born, challenged, and refined into solutions that can truly make a difference. The key to achieving this success lies in the diversity of the experts we bring together. Diversity isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity that drives innovation and ensures the solutions we develop are relevant and impactful.

When we talk about diversity, we mean more than just a mix of backgrounds or demographics. Diversity encompasses age, gender, educational background, upbringing, and fields of interest. Bringing together a group of experts who walk, talk, and think differently leads to richer discussions and more innovative solutions. If everyone in the room shares the same perspective, the chances of developing a solution that only serves a narrow audience increase. Over the past decade, we’ve learned that the more diverse the group, the more effective the co-creation process becomes.

In one of our recent sessions, we witnessed firsthand the power of diversity in action. The group of experts ranged widely in age, which created a dynamic where seasoned professionals brought depth of knowledge, while younger participants injected fresh perspectives and a critical eye on current societal trends. This blend of experience and openness led to a session where everyone felt valued, and the outcome was a solution that will likely resonate with a broad audience.

But how do we ensure this diversity? At Fronteer, our Connectors play a crucial role. They constantly seek out interesting individuals from within our network and beyond, investigating trends and making sure that every voice is heard during the sessions. This careful curation of diverse experts not only enriches the discussions but elevates the final outcomes to a whole new level.

To achieve this diversity, we’ve identified five key types of experts that are essential to any co-creation session:

• The Customer: This expert represents the perspective of the end user or target audience. Whether it’s moms, frequent flyers, or young families, understanding the needs and desires of the customer is crucial.
• The Professor: This role is filled by someone with deep, factual, or conceptual knowledge. While this can be an academic, it might also be someone who is an informal expert with extensive knowledge on a specific subject.
• The Professional: Industry veterans or experienced entrepreneurs fall into this category. They bring practical, real-world experience to the table, helping to ground ideas in reality.
• The Connector: This person has a broad industry perspective and is up-to-date on trends, gossip, legislation, and developments. They know what has been tried before, what succeeded or failed, and why.
• The Wild Card: An essential component in future-oriented projects, the Wild Card is an independent thinker without industry knowledge. This person asks the tough questions, challenges preconceived notions, and proposes out-of-the-box ideas.

Each of these roles adds a unique perspective to the co-creation process, ensuring that all angles are considered and that the final solution is well-rounded and innovative. By assembling a team with these diverse roles, we can crack even the toughest challenges.

In conclusion, diversity in our co-creation sessions is not just about better group dynamics or more representative outcomes—it’s about necessity. To create solutions that truly resonate with a wide audience, we must ensure that different perspectives, people, and opinions are always included. At Fronteer, this commitment to diversity is what sets us apart and drives our success.