In this short audio reflection, Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson shares the thinking behind her recent CHELIP essay, Why Innovation Fails: Reflections From Where I Sit.

Drawing on her lived experience in senior leadership roles and her ongoing work with higher education leaders through IngenioUs, Dr. Morriss-Olson reflects on why innovation so often stalls—not because of bad ideas, but because of how institutions respond to uncertainty, risk, and discomfort. She explores the pull toward consensus-building, risk avoidance, and waiting for perfect conditions, especially in a moment when leading change feels harder than ever.

This audio clip is intended as a brief companion to the full essay.

👉 Read the full blog article here:

We hope this reflection resonates and invites you to think differently about what leadership and innovation are asking of us right now.