Rebels Leader Series - The Absurdity of Life with Richard Bilodeau (March 2023)

Richard Bilodeau, Professor at University of Southern Maine, joins the Rebel Leader Series to share his professional journey and lessons learned as a Chemist, entrepreneur, and Professor at University of Southern Maine

In conversation with: Derek Lundsten, President & Chief Culture Officer, LifeGuides.

Episode Highlights:

• Explains how spending more time experimenting and acting vs planning can lead to taking in information faster and to being more creative and innovative
• How some of the most important learnings can come from failure
• How every job can have a great learning opportunity

Show Notes:
In the classroom: 3:31
Transition to Business: 4:50
Experimenting & Acting: 11:40
Teaching Influences: 13:03
Gratitude: 17:07
The Absurdity of Life: 18:26
What would I do differently?: 22:01
Cognitive Bias: 28:40
How to get people to action: 36:25
Where to find Richard: 37:40

BIO: Professor Bilodeau teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in entrepreneurship, creative strategies, design thinking, business sustainability, and marketing. He is an entrepreneur who is a partner in two growing businesses (one in the direct marketing and the other in television production and research). He also has an active consulting practice with clients located in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to his teaching, Professor Bilodeau oversees USM’s Center for Entrepreneurship, is the Interim Director of the Center for Economic and Business Research, is the Faculty Chair of the Hussey Leadership Institute, and serves on the Honors Faculty Council. Professor Bilodeau’s current research focuses on the role our neurobiology plays in our creative and business decision-making and design thinking process. He also studies practice models for innovation, sustainability, resilience, and leadership.

Prior to his career in business and education, he worked in a clinical laboratory where he conducted research and testing involving tumor markers.

In his free time, Professor Bilodeau enjoys yoga, meditation, traveling, drawing, and exploring the vibrant restaurant scene in Portland, Maine (where he resides) and Montreal, Quebec (where he visits often).

Follow Richard on LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bilodeau-487879/