‘We can all be entrepreneurs, but it’s how you think about it that makes it innovation’: Amanda Beckett, psychology, leadership  

Are you currently working on a startup or developing an idea for one?  

Yes, I am currently working on, I would say an idea. It is the Table App – it is a platform that connects young adults to diverse Christian events and resources. The big part of the Christian community IS community and just being able to have some type of interaction with one another. I just want to be able to provide that for young adults and have a one stop shop for them through a platform. 

How have you demonstrated innovation or entrepreneurial skills during your time at Iowa State University? 

First I would say joining this class [Start Something LAS], in general. If you would have asked high school Amanda, would you join an innovation or entrepreneurship class? She would say “No, I’m going to be a doctor.” Then when I came into the class, I came in with the mindset that I would do Christian apparel.  

So as an innovator, you’re going to pivot and that’s something that you have to embrace if you’re going to be an entrepreneur or innovator.  

How have Iowa State’s resources, such as the Start Something LAS Academy, contributed to growth academically and/or professionally? 

The [Start Something LAS] Academy has so many different resources, it’s actually kind of crazy, because when I think of resources, I do think of a diverse aspect. They literally have everything a student could possibly need to get up and running – like any type of business or app or anything a student wants. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know, so I think they’ve provided a pool of resources for students. 

What are your career goals and aspirations? 

I originally came to Iowa State as open-option and then I was like, you know what? Let me go into psychology because I know that’s broad. I would like to say first, that nothing about me is like a traditional psychology student. But I do like providing people with resources and I like to do it in such a way that benefits them on the professional side of things and career side of things. Coming from a family, where I’m the youngest of ten, I’d like to be able to pave a way. One of my career goals is to open up my own non-profit organization to give back to my community and to give something that wasn’t there when I was growing up, but I knew would benefit me or others. 

What career-enhancing skills have you gained through the Start Something LAS Academy? 

I would say the innovative mindset – networking and pivoting when needing to because not everything is going to be the same. So like I said, if I were to open a non-profit, how can I make it different? How can I make my non-profit stand out? That’s something I would not have ever thought about if I didn’t go through the Start Something LAS Academy. 

How do you see yourself employing a mindset of innovation throughout your career? 

Going in with a growth mindset and failing forward. Some things are going to fail and that’s okay. Jeff [Bull] always tells us that it’s okay to mess up; if you’re not messing up, you’re not doing something right. It’s so hard because we live in such a perfectionism time right now and you want to get it right the first time, and that’s not always going to happen in innovation. 

In what ways has your engagement with innovation and entrepreneurship at Iowa State shaped your perspective on the world? 

There’s always a need, and then there’s always someone that needs to fulfill that need. We can all be entrepreneurs, but it’s how you think about it that makes it innovation. I’ve been allowed to see that for sure, just knowing that there are different ways to fulfill a need. 

Why should someone be interested in joining the Start Something LAS Academy – even if they don’t want to start a business? 

Because you’re going to be like me. You never know what is going to come out of it. As a proud Gen Zer, I think one thing that we’re all proud of is that we have growth mindsets and we’re willing to get it out the mud. If they’re willing to come up with some type of idea, they never know what that will get them.  

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in innovation, but doesn’t know where to start? 

Ask questions. Don’t be afraid because the only person that stops us is us. Do your research and don’t compare yourself to other people because your paths and your journey is definitely going to be unique and different. Comparisons are the thief of joy. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. So you may not know where to start, but if you know that right person, they’ll know and if they don’t they know someone who does.