Jules Csillag on Dr. Moats, Dr. Sacks, and Choosing Kindness

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Jules Csillag June 5, 2015

Noodle Expert Jules Csillag shares what she would want to learn from Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Oliver Sacks, and the lessons she took away from a bullying teacher.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

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Noodle Expert Jules Csillag shares what she would want to learn from Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Oliver Sacks, and the lessons she took away from a bullying teacher.

Who would you pick, alive or dead, to be your teacher for a year? What would you want to learn?

Answering these questions is harder than school! For me, it's a toss-up between Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Oliver Sacks (maybe I could get each for half-a-year?).

Dr. Moats is a stellar researcher, speaker, author, and speech language pathologist (SLP). I respect her work because she is a tireless advocate for students with language and learning disabilities, and she spends a great deal of her time proving what works (and calling "hooey" on what doesn't). Her advocacy for students has also led to better teacher and SLP training programs, especially in the areas of early reading and writing. From her, I'd hope to learn more about reading and writing development (including more about the way she makes sense of the seemingly nonsensical English language, advocacy, and writing for multiple audiences.

From Dr. Sacks, I'd hope to learn more about neuroscience and more about empathy — not only does he demonstrate this quality admirably, but I would hope to learn more about how he views the world by delving into his neuroscientific perspective. And, of course, I would be eager to hear more about his world views and how he writes in such an engaging way. With his amazing storytelling, I bet I could listen to him teach for hours at a time!

What is one small piece of advice that has had a big impact on your life?

A middle school guidance counselor once said that all of my actions impact someone else's life. It was in the context of an anti-bullying lecture (e.g., if you are mean to someone today, she may remember it forever — a truth I can attest to if you look at my answer to the fourth question). The comment is both obvious and profound. Several hundred — if not a thousand — times each day, we can make the choice to be kind or mean, to be active or passive, to think or to do ... Each of these decisions has an impact on others. While this may be stressful for some, I view it as a necessary responsibility, one that has led me to make choices that benefit others on a consistent basis (at least from my perspective). In turn, my life has been richer because, as a result of these choices, I've been surrounded by others who are helpful, interesting, and collaborative.

Where would you send a student who hasn’t traveled before?

The "where" is tricky, but I have a "how." Wherever you go (and you should go somewhere that interests you), I would recommend that you observe and ask. Whether this teaches you something about a foreign culture or a geographical phenomenon, observing and asking will often help you remain respectful and able to change your perceptions. We frequently go into new situations "knowing" so many things, but it is crucial to observe in order to allow new experiences and ideas to flow in.

When was a time that you failed academically, and what did you learn from the experience?

6th grade. Electricity test. 53 percent. I'm tempted to include the teacher's name because, of course, I remember — but that part is irrelevant. What is relevant is that he felt the need to announce to the class that I "lowered the class average." For someone as community-oriented as myself, this was a particularly painful blow. It inspired me, at least in part, to go into a student-resource field: Even at the time, I knew that it wasn't shaming I needed, but someone to help me master the content. Years later, I also learned that a single person's opinion doesn't matter — I went into a scientific discipline and succeeded.

Why did you go into your field, and how is it different from what you expected?

I entered my field after working at Camp Towhee, a camp for children with learning disabilities, and realizing the functional and social impact that learning disabilities can have, above and beyond the academic effects. My studies in linguistics and psychology paved the way for a career in speech language pathology since these disciplines depend on sets of skills and focuses that complement each other perfectly. I just wanted to learn more about language and the brain (and I continue to learn more every day!).

What also really appealed to me was the ability to pair my science-loving mind with my more artistic, creative side. As a speech language pathologist, I've been pleasantly surprised at the breadth of our profession; I have opportunities that range from treating articulation disabilities and organization disorders to working in hospital-, community-, and school-based settings. No two days are the same!